Murder in Masquerade Book Launch

Thanks to Barnes & Noble in Sioux Falls and to all who joined the launch of Murder in Masquerade! I’m so appreciative of all of you and wish I had pictures of everyone who stopped by. Writing is a solitary occupation, and having friends and family present to celebrate the book was special! From the…

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The Era of the Crinoline

Can you imagine getting dressed in the age of the crinoline? Crinolines were originally attached to a petticoat, but later the cage crinoline left legs relatively unencumbered. Although at first welcomed for its light weight (multiple petticoats could get heavy), the crinoline had its hazards, including fire. Lady Dorothy Nevill recounts being close to a…

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Words and History

Most likely you’ve heard the phrase “flash in the pan” and know what it means. But did you know the phrase was being used in the Victorian era? I wouldn’t have except I’d seen it used by Anthony Trollope, a great writer in the Victorian era. He also used the word “fly,” which meant a…

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Fans

Did you know fans were used to relay secret messages in the Victorian era? A fan across the cheek meant love, a fan through the hand meant hate, and a fan across the eyes meant apology. In fact, there were so many messages that a fan maker printed this leaflet to keep track of them…

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One-Winged Dove

Recently, I noted a dedication to the One-Winged Dove in one of the books I’m reading, and it made me smile. I came across the One-Winged Dove in my research of the London Times agony column and always wondered about her situation. For those of you who don’t know, the London Times published “advertisements” on…

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The Love of Travel

I live a quiet life. Most days, I’m reading and writing with my cats beside me. The hallmark of my day is a walk with my dog or a cup of good tea or my children’s conversations about school. But I love travel. Not the physical aspect, mind you. I’m rather terrified to fly. But…

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A Christmas Carol and Christmas Pudding

One of my favorite seasonal reads from the Victorian era is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. My family and I enjoy the performance of it at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis. I’m happy to share we’ll be going back for the first time in three years this weekend. I’m in love with the music,…

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Halloween Fun

  The Victorians had many interesting Halloween traditions, including the mirror game. I first came across the game by noting all the images of young women staring into mirrors on Halloween greeting cards. What were they doing and why? After a little digging, I found different variations of the game, which was meant to predict…

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Agony Columns in the Victorian Era

Murder in Postscript releases March 28, 2023, and my amateur sleuth, Amelia Amesbury, writes a weekly column under the pseudonym Lady Agony. You might be asking yourself, why Lady Agony? Dear Reader, I’ll tell you. Murder in Postscript is set in London, England, in 1860. At the time, periodicals were being produced in record numbers…

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