The Time Between

Indoors



Outdoors



It's still Eastertide--there are 50 days of it--so technically I haven't missed out doing an Easter blog.

The woeful lack of blogging resulted from some rather intense activity associated with my primary project. I perhaps have mentioned that the Chap and I intend to move away from our beloved Lodge and take up residence in the Capital City. There are logistical reasons--proximity to his office and the locations of our volunteer activities--and a desire to be nearer friends and services. For 19 happy years we've lived out our dream of rural living beside our little lake. And though we love this house and our 21 acres of woods and the wildlife and birds so often featured here, we've had an increasing sense that our days in this environment are numbered.

I began the serious house-hunting 11 months ago, searched throughout the summer and autumn and all this winter. Overall, I wandered through 22 houses (that's my best count.) My doubt about finding anything suitable increased with every showing. Last October we found a house that seemed just about right--not ideal, but a good location and the size limitations were fixable. It was de-listed at the start of the year, then popped up again around my birthday. So we looked again. Despairing of finding anything better, we even made an offer. Price negotiations stalled.

Disappointed but determined, I suggested to the Chap that we look at the in-town house whose online listing had caught our attention. A week ago today we saw it. We had a curious sense of recognition, despite the fact that it's bigger than we wanted, offers multi-level living instead of the single storey we had decided upon, it's in a part of town we hadn't even considered but turned out to be ideal--he could walk to his office on nice days. It is partly historic and partly contemporary. It has perennial beds and shrubs, a mostly fenced-in yard that can easily be fully fenced to contain the dogs. And there's a stand of trees directly across the road as an antidote to culture shock.

We could see ourselves there. Our realtor could see us there.

We thought and we talked and on Sunday after church we visited the house again. I had begun to think of it as the "sunshine house" because each time we saw it the sun was streaming through the windows and skylights. This time we measured and we looked in closets and cupboards and made a meticulous assessment. Within an hour of leaving the place we made a purchase offer. The following day a price was agreed. The closing date is determined and the requisite home inspection is scheduled.

As ice goes out completely on the little lake--any minute now--I will record the event in my nature diary for the last time. I will remain here long enough to mark the return of the phoebes and orioles and hummingbirds and goldfinches (the robins have arrived already), and I shall witness the flowering of bulbs and even my roses before our ties to this property are severed. I veer between exultation and sadness when I think about what lies ahead. It will be a long goodbye to Lodge living.

And that's all right. Now that I know where I'm going, I don't need to rush being gone.

Palm Sunday

Twenty days? Yes, I know, it's been a long absence--too long! But there has been much activity on the domestic, diocesan, and literary front. I'm either not at the Lodge, or I'm at the Lodge working frantically to meet various deadlines.

We have endured some fairly drastic snow storms this month...and therefore the landscape doesn't look like springtime does in most places. But in New England, this isn't abnormal. But the days are longer, the sap is running well, maple syrup season is off to a good start. In fact, this is Maple Syrup Weekend and sugar houses around the state are having their special open houses. Unfortunately, we aren't participating this year, due to the aforementioned hectic activity.

Some recent scenes, all from the Lodge except the one from the Big Lake.











I shall return as soon as I can!

"March Forth!" 2013 Edition

We didn't have a blizzard or snowstorm at the weekend, for the first time in about 4 weeks it seems. We woke to nearly an inch of snow and flying flakes on Sunday (yesterday), just enough on top of the snow piles to freshen them, and to put us in the mood for the final day of Sled Dog Racing Championships in Laconia, on the other side of the Big Lake beside Paugus Bay.

Because of the aforementioned storms, the race had been twice delayed. But the conditions yesterday were perfect--good snow pack, and the course was in great shape for 3 days of constant usage. The festivities began with the singing of the US National Anthem and the Canadian one (in French--it's an international event, and many of the mushers came down from Quebec. (And from farther away.)

When we arrived, the Youth Class comptetition was about to begin.



The star attraction was little Misha, who wasn't working at all, simply looking cute and drawing the papparazzi!



These young ladies were less interested in the sled dog racing than their community of snowmen.



Anakin and Misha, two very lovely Siberian huskies.



Over in the race prep area, people and dogs were getting ready for the Open Class.



In Open Class, you can hitch up any number of dogs. The most we saw was a dozen.



This beautiful Border collie spectator very much wanted to work...I enjoyed watching her watched the racing dogs.



We had a pre-birthday meal at a Mexican restaurant we once visited on that side of the lake, which we very much like.

My birthday began with the opening of cards and gifts. After the Chap headed to work, I baked a birthday cake, using his aunt's famous pound cake recipe. I mixed it with my new KitchenAid professional model mixer, purchased last week. My older one, which belonged to my Grandmother Evans, will live on at the lake cottage.

The phone rang all day long--I talked at length to so many kind relatives and friends who rang me up on my special day. Lovely!

Tonight I'm making paella. Happy to celebrate at home, as it's a busy week and I'll be dining out on most evenings.

I just heard the bubbly pop! Time to celebrate some more!

Guest Blogging

My friend and writing colleague Anita Davison, who was recently a guest blogger here, kindly returned the favour and invited me to her blog. I discuss some of the background for The Love Spoon.

My Guest Blog at The Disorganised Author

No snowstorm this weekend!

An Honour to be Nominated....

And even more fun to win, of course!

After the 3rd snow storm in three weeks, the Chap and I felt very brave venturing onto dangerous roadways to attend the Red Carpet Fundraiser and Academy Awards show viewing at the independent cinema in downtown Concord. (We are members and supporters...I was present at its grand opening 5 years ago.)

The theme of this year's event was "Classic Hollywood" and black and white attire was encouraged. We complied--easy for the Chap, as his tux meets the specifications! I found a gown with lots of top structure (boned bodice, white rosettes) and a full skirt with crinoline beneath to add body. Because the glamourous female stars of the 30's and 40's often wore plumes in their hair, I created a matching headdress.



Part of the tradition involves walking the Red Carpet, being interviewed by a reporter for community television, and a line of "paparrazzi" snapping photos. A buffet was served in the smallest screening room, dubbed "The Stork Club" for the evening, where a jazz combo was playing. We circulated, meeting friends and making new ones. My ensemble received lots of attention and compliments, which was gratifying.

The Oscar telecast was streamed live in one of the large screening rooms. During commercial breaks the hosts led a Oscar trivia game. As usual, I scored a prize, thanks to my knowledge about Daniel Day-Lewis. (Prophetic, perhaps, as later in the evening he won the award for Best Performance for male lead!)

Adding to the fun is the chance to have a photo taken holding an real Academy Award. I didn't do it last time, but this time we did photo op--together and separately. The award belongs to Ernest Thompson, author of On Golden Pond, who won for his screenplay. Things I love about this particular statue:

1. It was awarded for writing!
2. On Golden Pond was filmed in New Hampshire's Lakes Region (mostly on Squam Lake) and some of the boating scenes were shot on our Big Lake!
3. Our cottage looks almost exactly like the one in the film, except that one has two levels of living space and ours has only one (our lower level is a wood shop and crawl space.)

We didn't stay for the entire broadcast, as the Chap was starting his new job (!!) today. The DVR was running at the Lodge, but of course I followed the action via Facebook and Twitter on my cellphone during the homeward drive.

In contrast to the elegant evening, we had spent much of the day clearing snow--shovelling and raking and so on--and worrying that we'd lose electricity. We had about 14 inches total, which is twice what the weatherman predicted for our area. The clouds rolled in Friday night and it was still snowing on our white-knuckle drive home from the Oscar party, late Sunday.

This is the scene on our decks this morning. It was back to shovelling for me, because--did I mention the Chap has a new job?

Accumulated snow on the decks.



In the "honour to be nominated" section of this post...the cover art for The Love Spoon has been so designated for February releases. You can read about it here.

I'm thrilled that the novella is doing well. It cracked the Top 100 bestseller list for Amazon Kindle in Short Stories (not just romance, but all short stories) as well as romance. Thanks to everyone who purchased it! And thanks to my very talented cover artist!



I'm guest-blogging later this week and will return with a link when the post goes live.

Valentine's Day & The Love Spoon

Happy Valentine's Day!

What better time to release a new Ebook? Well, actually a novella with bonus material. It's my first truly very new work in quite a few years, which is quite exciting. Last year's Ebook releases were backlist titles.

You can purchase The Love Spoon at these vendors:


The Love Spoon for Kindle
The Love Spoon for Nook
The Love Spoon for Kobo
The Love Spoon on Smashwords



A love spoon is a traditional Welsh love token, carved from wood and featuring hearts in the design. My cover art, created by illustrator Ravven, used my photograph of the spoon I purchased in North Wales. It hangs in our dining room.



In this tale, Gwendolyn Pryce and Hugo Meredith meet at a family wedding in Wales in the late 18th century. As well as struggling to accept their differences, they also discover they share a connection to a hafod, a Welsh hill farm, in Snowdonia.

This novella was (as usual) inspired by my having spent time in the region. My grandparents were fond of Betws-y-coed, which I've visited three (I think) times. My own Welsh forbears migrated from Wales to Chester, so it also features in the story. It's among my favourite cities in Britain, and I've been there repeatedly as well.

Here are two views taken from Pont-y-pair bridge, mentioned in The Love Spoon





You can see more of Ravven's wonderful work here. I'm delighted with the way she took a spoon photo I sent her and my basic concept and turned it into such an eye-catching book cover!

In home news, we still have massive amounts of snow on the ground. But we've had sunshine lately, and some slightly warmer weather. I was in Concord yesterday, attending an Ash Wednesday service with diocesan staff and picking up some Valentine's Day items for the Chap!

Finding (Blizzard) Nemo

Here are some images of what we woke to this morning at the Lodge. We have measured--for accuracy's sake choosing a spot where the snow seemed not to have drifted--and it appears we have 26 inches of accumulation. But the blizard warning continues until 4 p.m.

Jewel realises she won't be going onto the deck any time soon.

In the dog yard, the little one (Ruth) leads the way, trying--and failing--to leap over the snow.

She sank like a stone. For a time she was completely buried but surfaced almost immediately. Then she worked out how to swim through the snow...and she does love to swim!

The Chap came along to tread a path for them.

They played in the drifts for a little while.

It's quite the winter event. Fortunately we needn't go anywhere, have plenty of food, a generator to tide us over in case of a power cut--which at this point seems unlikely. After shovelling as much as we can, we'll enjoy a peaceful day, and hearty meal, a nice fire. Church has been called off tomorrow, so we don't have to leave the Lodge tomorrow, either!

Update! Proof that I went outside.

I did my share of shovelling walks and removing the snow mountain in front of the garage. That hill behind me was 1/2 made by the snow plow guy, and 1/2 of it feel from the sky. The ground is normally quite flat, and during the warmer months we park the 3rd car in that space!

Mistress of the Sea by Jenny Barden: A Review

This morning the temperature was minus-something Fahreinheit, and the day was advanced by the time the mercury hit 0 degrees. On these very cold and occasionally snowy days, curling up with a wonderful book is the best defence against the winter weather.

When I visited the UK in the autumn, one reason for being there was the Historical Novel Society conference. I met Jenny Barden, whose debut novel had just been published. Had I not been traipsing all round southern England at the time, I would have purchased it then and there. However, soon as I was home again I contacted Amazon UK. Writing and editing projects, NaNoWriMo, events related to the bishop transition, hosting our English guests at Christmas--for weeks Mistress of the Sea sat unread. Until last week, when a cancelled meeting provided enough time to sit and savour.

I simply couldn't put it down, and fortunately I didn't have to. So I finished it in one go, thoroughly absorbed.

Here is my review:

Mistress of the Sea
by Jenny Barden
Ebury Press, 2012
Hardcover (paperback edition not yet released)

Adventure, suspense, action, poignant loss and conflicted love--Jenny Barden's Mistress of the Sea offers all this, and more. Driven by concern for her ailing father, a disguised Ellyn Cooksley boldly stows away on Sir Francis Drake's Panama-bound vessel--also carrying her admirer Will Doonan. She leaves behind a reclusive mother, a pair of eager suitors, and all the luxuries of a Plymouth merchant's household.

Shipboard discomforts and the deprivation she experiences on a remote tropical island are only the beginning of her trials. A lone female in a very masculine environment, the resourceful Ellyn remains a woman of her time and place--though displaced in a fashion unimaginable to the average 16th century maiden. Will Doonan is on a mission of vengeance and discovery, desperate to learn the fate of his lost brother Kit. His concern and deep feelings for Ellyn are at odds with his very personal need to strike at England's great enemy.

Drake's risky attempts to seize Spanish silver and gold threaten the lives and test the loyalties of Ellyn, Will, and all the crew as they strive to outmaneuvre the Spaniards. People of the Old World and the New forge alliances, meet in battle, and constantly struggle for survival in harsh yet exotically beautiful surroundings.

Jenny Barden deserves highest praise for her historical fiction debut, intelligently and sensitively written. Readers will be eager for her next novel.

As part of the conference banquet there was a costume parade and competition. That's Jenny in her gorgeous Elizabethan gown...I'm just sorry the chairs are blocking the skirt.

Click for Mistress of the Sea on Amazon UK. I do hope there will be a US edition.

About My (99 cent formerly free on Amazon) Novella

Update:

The free promotion succeeded beyond my expectations--frankly, I'm not at all sure I had any expectations. On the bestseller lists it topped out at #14 in Historical Romance downloads at Amazon US, #23 in the UK, #6 in France, #2 for Regency in Canada, and #2 for Historical in Brazil. Considering the competition in eBooks, it's hard not to feel somewhat chuffed! Thanks to everyone responsible for these high rankings--I hope you enjoyed the story and will also sample my full-length novels!

"The Apple Blossom Bower" has reverted to the original price of 99 cents, or the equivalent in other currencies. Here are purchase links to most editions (all English language):

US   UK  Canada  France   Germany  Italy   Spain   Japan

The area in which the story unfolds is, as usual, one known to me. As a student I spent time in Devon during summer. I was based in Exeter, and journeyed southwards down the river and northwards to Dartmoor.

One of my most memorable visits to that region served as fodder for the novella. One spring we stayed in the area of Ashsprington and Harbertonford, seeing friends and covering the Tuckenhay-Totnes region as well as visiting the Royal Naval College and Dartmouth. (Where I encountered the real Christopher Robin Milne, who owned a bookshop.)

I remember the food of The Maltsters Arms quite fondly. It was owned by a famous television chef, now deceased, and has the most delightful riverside views.

Just prior to my move from the Rocky Mountain West to New England, my publisher invited me to provide a novella for an anthology featuring some of their bestselling authors. Time being of the essence, I plumbed my memory banks for a location that I knew so well I wouldn't have to do massive amounts of research. The answer was that part of Devonshire. My story that rose from a specific place...and next I needed to create a plausible plot that would be logical for that setting.

I chose not to deal with smuggling directly, but instead with the effect of it upon the daughter of notorious smuggler. I decided also, having driven along lanes bordered by apple orchards in bloom, and having drunk many a pint of good Devon cider, that apple trees would be incorporated somehow.

But I had an even more compelling need to write about apple trees...I was preparing to leave my own backyard orchard. Our apple trees were extremly reliable, excellent bearers. People who "knew" apples judged them to be an older variety--though I tried, I never accurately identified the exact type. I only know it was perfect for eating, cooking, and keeping. Our dogs loved to rest in the shade of the spreading branches of the largest tree.

The locations of my story are mostly fictional. However, the Royal Castle Hotel in its much earlier incarnation is the popular Castle Inn of my story.

Annis Kelland makes a lotion of primroses in an attempt to eliminate her freckles. (I've often used primrose soap on my face.) I took this primrose photo in Devon.

(I grow them in New England.)

Another personal experience related to The Apple Blossom Bower: I recall drinking a fair amount of Calvados (apple brandy) in the name of "research" during the writing of this tale. I hope it's not the worse for it!

Guest Blogger: Anita Davison and Royalist Rebel

I'm delighted to welcome author Anita Davison/Anita Seymour to Periodic Pearls. I've read and enjoyed her historical novels (we share an interest in the 17th century and historical biographical fiction.) In the autumn I had the pleasure of meeting her in person and expressing my admiration--we both attended the Historical Novel Society conference in London.

Her latest novel, Royalist Rebel, is newly released.

~ ~ ~

During the early days of the English Civil Wars, Elizabeth Murray lived at Ham House on the River Thames near Richmond with her mother and three younger sisters while her father, William Murray, was a Gentleman of the Bedchamber at the exiled court of Charles I in Oxford.

In the winter of 1643 as the war edged closer, Catherine Murray took her daughters to Oxford, where they lived amongst impoverished and dispossessed Royalists gathered round King Charles, who plotted to regain London and his throne.

Reputed to be Oliver Cromwell’s mistress as well as a spy for the Royalist secret organisation The Sealed Knot, Elizabeth married twice and died in 1698 at 72 years old, alone, embittered and impoverished in her beloved Ham House. Vilified by society and abandoned by her children, the triumphs of her remarkable life largely forgotten.



If you visit Ham House, which has been restored to the way it looked during Elizabeth’s lifetime, this is the woman the guides talk about; an irascible, embittered widow stripped of her glory and reduced to genteel poverty in her beloved childhood home. They run ghost evenings at Ham, where tales of sightings of the old lady’s spirit that roams the mansion tapping the floors with her stick, her small dog at her side while the scent of attar of roses permeates her favourite rooms announcing her presence.

In the gallery is this portrait of Elizabeth, painted by Sir Peter Lely when she was eighteen. This was the young woman I wanted to discover and subsequently began writing about - the beautiful, intelligent and passionate young girl on the verge of womanhood who was dedicated to Ham House, the Royalist cause and the men in her life; her father William Murray, son of a minister who rose to become King Charles’ friend and confidant, Lionel Tollemache, her husband of twenty years who adored her, Oliver Cromwell who was fascinated by her, and John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale, Charles II’s favourite on whom he heaped honours and riches, only to ostracise him after a bitter quarrel.

Royalist Rebel is the story of that girl.

Anita Seymour Davison, January 2013

Anita’s Blog The Disorganised Author
Royalist Rebel Blog
Ham House Website
~ ~ ~

Thanks so much, Anita, for visiting, and all best wishes on the launch!

Epiphanies Great and Small

We had snow right after Christmas. Jewel and Ruth were happy, they love chasing each other through the drifts.

And it makes for lovely photographs, like this one featuring the colours red, white, and blue.

And it allowed for cooling of this bottle of Morte Subite (Belgian raspberry beer) that I enjoyed on New Year's Day.

The return of snow--we had so little of it last year--reminded me how very much I enjoy this season of hibernation. However, the first week of 2013 proved busy, with diocesan meetings and plans and projects...and the Investiture of our new bishop.

Our Friend from the North Country spend the night at the Lodge on the eve of the Investiture, which took place on the Eve of The Epiphany--also Twelfth Night. I'm afraid we didn't have the traditional cake...but we and our FFTNC did enjoy a nice lunch together in downtown Concord.

I was a lector at the investiture service, and read Isaiah 60, verses 1-6, the Epiphany prophecy. I love those verses, appointed for the Feast of Epiphany, which was yesterday.

With Christmastide behind us, we have entered a season of light. Our days have been beautifully sunny, the sky perfectly blue and cloudless. At the Lodge we've used our fireplace at night. And when we're out in the late afternoon, we notice that the days are already lengthening.

I did so well with my sole (and extremely rare) New Year's Resolution for 2012 (electronically publish some of my backlist titles), that I followed my former tradition and made none for 2013. I have goals and ambitions and plans and dreams...and the ones that are realised will of course be detailed here on the blog!

2013: A Fine Beginning!

This celebratory photo dates from 2012, taken in my favourite London bar on the eve of my return to the States. It adequately conveys my mood on this, the first day of 2013.

Here at the Lodge, in accordance with our custom, we opened the bottle of bubbly just before midnight in London, and ushered in the UK New Year with a toast. With a repeat at midnight in New England.

Today I learned that, thanks to my friends Kristine and Victoria at One London One, I'm nominated for a blogger award.

This honour comes with certain requirements.

1. Thank the person who nominated you. (Many thanks, Victoria & Kristine!)
2. Add the ‘One Lovely Blog Award’ image to your post.
3. Share seven things about you.
4. Pass the award on to seven nominees.
5. Include this set of rules.
6. Inform your nominees* by posting a comment on their blogs. (I'll also send email notification.)


Seven Things About Me

1. My first appearance on stage came very early in my life...while in utero. When she was slightly pregnant, my mother played an Oriental princess in a children's play.

2. I was partly raised by a Weimaraner. This explains a lot. For example: my love of dogs, my habit of sitting or lying on the floor, the fact that I sometimes bark when very excited, my loyalty and devotion to persons dear to me.

3. My early novels were published prior to my 30th birthday.

4. I love to eat calamari.

5. As well as studying at UK universities, I've made between 35 and 40 trips to Britain and/or Ireland. (I gave up counting at the 30th one, but I daresay my husband knows exactly how many. He's good at metrics.)

6. I cannot think of a single county/shire in England that I've not visited.

7. I currently possess 2 titles: The Hon. Margaret Porter (came from holding a state office), and Lady Margaret Porter (bestowed upon me at Christmas). I don't use either one...dread of pretension and fear of an attack of the giggles.


In choosing my nominees, I'm highlighting writers, readers, travellers, dog people. Drumroll....

Seven Nominees

1. Melissa Jensen
2. Lauren Royal's Crumbs From my Keyboard
3. Thomas at My Porch
4. Isabella & Loretta, the Two Nerdy History Girls
5. Scandalous Women
6. Sarah at Reading the Past
7. Anita, the Disorganised Author


Today marks the 27th birthday of a very special horse--Fling, who appears in Kissing a Stranger (eBook currently on sale for 99 cents at Amazon US,, Barnes & Noble and for 77p at Amazon UK.) If you search, you'll find him pictured on the cover of the digital edition of KAS.

A very happy, healthy, prosperous, productive New Year to all!