Regency Mystery
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A CODE OF THE HEART Blog Tour!
Stop by one of these blogs and enter the giveaway for a chance to win.
March 20th– What I’m Reading
(Stop 2) Amazing Reading Experiences
COVER REVEAL!
Here it is! The cover reveal for A CODE OF THE HEART, book 3 in the Code Breakers Series. Another job well done from the wonderfully talented Kim Killion.
A CODE OF THE HEART, the story of Amelia Bonnington and Derrick Brinsley, is scheduled for release in February 2015.
The Lively Quadrille
In the opening scene of A Christmas Code, Lady Gwyneth Beaumont is performing the quadrille, a lively dance performed by four couples in a rectangular formation. The dance first became prevalent in France in the mid-1700s and was introduced to English society shortly after the turn of the century. It became popular in the upper classes about 1816. Many dance historians claim the quadrille was the precursor to the contemporary style know as square dancing.
You can see this energetic and popular dance performed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSD37PF2_Dw
A Christmas Code is available for just 99 cents at online retailers through the holiday season.
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Regency Halloween Traditions
Halloween has been celebrated for centuries, although not in the commercial context we know today. Many scholars believe today’s candy-and-goblin version of Halloween originates from a 2,000-year-old Celtic festival know as Samhain (“summer’s end). In the 8th century, this pagan ritual was incorporated into Christianity by blending it with All Saints Day. Over time, the original customs and traditions change.
Dressing in costumes and begging for treats are thought to have evolved from early practices of “mumming” and “guising”—folks would disguise themselves and ask neighbors for food. The medieval Hallowmas “souling” custom is similar; on November 1, poor people went door-to-door, offering prayers for the dead in exchange for food. The disguises were also a way of tricking malevolent spirits.
During the Regency period, All Hallows Eve traditions were mainly practiced in England by country folk, although people in Ireland and Scotland upheld the customs although not for the same reasons. Children would dress up in costumes and march through the streets. Soul cakes, representing the food given to poor beggars, became sweet treats eaten on the holiday.
Other Regency traditions include pumpkin carving (Jack’s Lanterns, carved and illuminated to ward off evil spirits), ducking for apples (catching one was said to give you the ability to see into the future) and a practice stemming from the Scot/Northern English name for October 31, “Nut-Crack Night” (tossing hazelnuts into a fire to foretell the future for you and your love).
What is your favorite Halloween tradition?
A CODE OF LOVE now available in audio
A few months ago I began the process of converting A CODE OF LOVE from print to audio. After an exciting adventure working with the talented and accomplished British voice actor Pearl Hewitt, the audiobook is now available from Audible, iTunes and Amazon.
I hope you’ll give it a listen. Even at the book’s author, I discovered new nuances to the story from the aural version. Pearl’s tone, inflection, pitch and pronunciation added emotional depth by bringing the characters to life through sound.
Listen to an audio excerpt from A CODE OF LOVE.
There is also a new book trailer available for A CODE OF LOVE. Again, I was struck by different elements of the story through the application of a different medium. I’d love to hear your reaction to both the audiobook and the trailer.
Watch the book trailer for A CODE OF LOVE.