Such Language, Part 31

More wordly wonderment and wackiness, with some help from the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. What's your favorite word this week?

Hugger-mugger: By stealth, privately, without making an appearance. (Lady Alice Lonesley is so shy that she only wanted to invite three people to her come-out ball, but the marchioness would not hold such a hugger-mugger affair.)

Sneaksby: A mean-spirited fellow, a sneaking cur. (Never invite Sir James Haynoose to dine when it’s raining; he’s such a sneaksby that you’ll find your umbrella stand is empty after he’s left.)

Clapper claw: To scold, to abuse, or claw off with the tongue. (The last time he did that, though, Mama so clapper-clawed him that he didn’t appear in public on cloudy days for an entire month.)

Jobation: A reproof. (He richly deserved that jobation, for he also absconded with my French silk parasol.)

Pickle: An arch, waggish fellow. (My aunt always buys jolly Uncle Frederick green waistcoats because he’s such a pickle.)

High water: To have plenty of money. (As he frequently loses buttons from laughing too hard, it is good that it is high water with them.)

Sparkish: Fine, cheerful. (But with buttons or without, we love the sparkish old gentleman.)

Also sparkish is some recent happy writing-related news: What Lies Beneath, my World War I young adult fantasy, is a finalist in the North Texas RWA chapter’s Carolyn Readers Choice Award, in the Specialized category (along with one of my first writing friends, Janet Raye Stevens, and her time travel mystery-romance Beryl Blue, Time Cop.) Very excited!

And also, if you have a moment, do stop in at Lady Catherine's Salon on Facebook, a group for lovers of Regency romance, where I'm guest-hostessing this week. So far we're talking about being history lovers, what we collect, Regency fashions, and more. Come say hello!

 

Spend a Moment in the Salon?

Once upon a time, those who loved stories set in the nineteenth century had to enjoy their books in relative solitude. Oh, they might extoll the virtues to friends and family, some of whom had their eyes glaze over, alas. And they might find a book club willing to read with them on occasion. But then came Facebook Groups, where they could talk, and talk, and talk with like-minded lovers of Regency romances. 😊 Allow me to introduce you to three of my favorite groups.

I am one of the founding authors for Regency Kisses: Lady Catherine’s Salon. The group is for those who love low-heat Regency romances. We occasionally throw in a Victorian. Each week, a different author hosts, offering insights into the time period and their writing life. They also offer fun activities. We’ve had lessons in trimming your own bonnet, setting up a dinner party, and taking a trip by carriage. I hosted a week on the history of the genre. We’ve even had games like a Where’s Waldo in the Regency and online puzzles of period paintings. Readers post reviews on the weekends along with other information about the books they love.

We also hold parties from time to time around a theme like a ball or a dinner. We’re celebrating Valentine’s Day all this week with first kiss scenes. You can join in the fun here. 

The second group I’d like to draw your attention to is Inspirational Regency Readers. Run by authors Erica Vetsch and Julie Klassen (link), this group has fun activities, wonderful pictures, and tantalizing tidbits about the period we all love and the books set in them. Readers are very active in this group. You can join them here. 

Finally, there’s Alissa’s Regency Companions, run by author Alissa Baxter. She finds the most amazing photographs of country houses (exteriors and interiors), ladies in Regency garb, and Regency items I’ve ever seen. She also posts about Regency books on sale or free. Again, lots of interactions among the other members. You can join here.

Hope to see you at a salon soon!

Four Things on a Friday

Hello, my dears! Several things related to the nineteenth century have come across my desk or screen recently, and I thought I would share them with you.

This post by Susanna Ives details information on nursing your nineteenth-century infant. Loved the pictures of the baby bottles! 

I have a board on Regency pets on Pinterest now. The 90 pictures are portraits and other paintings from the late eighteenth century/early nineteenth century, showing pets of some kind, including dogs, cats, birds, and--yes Marissa--bunnies. 

A very talented group of authors has created a wonderful resource to find romance novels written by writers of color. You can sort by theme or time period. Here’s the historical romance section. You might just find your next great read!

Eight authors of sweet but sizzling Regency romance have banded together to host Regency Kisses: Lady Catherine’s Salon, a Facebook group for readers. Join Gail Eastwood, Charlotte Henry, Mary Kingswood, Martine Roberts, Anna St. Claire, Catherine Tinley, Lynn Winchester, and yours truly. In fact, I’ll be the featured author Monday, May 13, through Friday, May 17, 2019.

And speaking of Friday, I am heading off today to Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands to the north of me. I hope to come back with many more historical insights to share.

Happy Friday!