Prior to embarking on the MD2 book blog tour, I emailed a couple of authors who routinely do blog tours with fabulous giveaways and asked them 1) how could they afford it? And 2) did people donate? and 3) what are your secrets? Not surprisingly, I had no response.
Then I had an awesome idea. I emailed Jana of Divergent Pathways who, it was rumored, created a Miss D inspired painting, and asked if she would be willing to provide me a print of the heretofore unseen painting as a giveaway. Not only did Jana agree, she insisted on giving away the original painting which, as it turns out, has a whopping $530.00 value based on the prices her beautiful artwork routinely commands.
I was thrilled.
Especially when I saw it.
Wow.
But Jana’s generosity didn’t stop there. She has reviewed Miss Delacourt Has Her Day on her blog, and as part of her review is giving away a signed-by-the-author copy of MD2 and a set of notecards with the Miss Delacourt’s Roses image. So, get yourself over there to read what Jana has to say (I must confess, I love her enthusiasm!) and get entered in her contests!
Jana is also the artist behind this book that I reviewed HERE, a post that touches on some of the other generous things Jana has done for me. You can read her very impressive bio HERE. I highly recommend it. I am so lucky to be able to call her my friend.
Luck seems to be the order of the day because I have a second review to link to, posted by another publisher of books, Rebecca Irvine. You can find her very fun Family Home Evening scripture books Here and Here. Becky was the first to suggest to me that Ginny’s and Anthony’s story could stand a sequel so I am very indebted to her. She, like Jana and all the other awesome bloggists doing reviews, are people I met through blogging and via their enthusiasm for Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind.
Until you publish a book, you can’t comprehend how much it means to have this kind of support from those who, in most instances, you have never met face to face. It’s a wonderful thing, far more wonderful than I can adequately express. Go HERE to read Becky’s review. Thanks SO much, Becky!!!
When Grandaunt insisted I return to the country to check on her roses, I thought she was perhaps a bit past her prime. Not that she is precisely ancient, only that she looks terribly old and always has as far as I can tell. Anthony insists the portrait of a young woman from the past century hanging in the gallery at Crenshaw House is she but I daresay I would never have recognized her despite the painfully pointed nose (a Wembley trait I feel enormously grateful for having skipped me) as I simply can’t imagine her ever looking anything but positively vintage.
But I digress. Though I thought perhaps she was a bit mad to send me packing off to the country for such a paltry reason, I also knew I was hardly likely to cut much of a dash amongst society, especially after that incident at Lady Salisbury’s dinner party involving a man and his ratty toupee, and, I must admit, my unruly tongue. The country was as good a place to hide my shame as any. A mere fortnight later, I was a woman in love and betrothed to as fine a specimen of manliness as ever was.
And to think it all started with the roses.
I understand our courtship and engagement has been put forth in a set of volumes (based on the scribbling I did in my journal, which, by the way, has disappeared under mysterious circumstances) and details of my life are being consumed like so many ices from Gunter’s on a hot, summer day. If you have read therein, you will surmise how roses seem to absorb much of my grandaunt’s thoughts. As a result, you will perceive how most every object in her home is adorned, in some fashion, by the noble bloom. If you permit, I will proffer an example.
Of course, the hamper itself has escaped a life of any but one of plainness. It is the very one Anthony and I took out for a picnic the day after our engagement. (The quarantine was at an end and we were finally home at Dunsmere to “check on the roses”. After weeks of confinement, we relished the warmth of the sun on our faces as we ate our meal of bread, cheese, hot-house strawberries in cream, Shepherd’s Pie and a variety of sweets). It is what we found inside that we deemed so typical of the Dowager Duchess of Marcross, otherwise known as Grandaunt Regina.
Why, we could barely chew our luncheon, so consumed with mirth were we over the quantity of roses depicted on every piece of china (somehow we got a hold of the unadorned silverplate—I suppose the “good” (i.e. rose-adorned) silverplate was deemed too precious for a picnic) from the berry bowls through to the tea pot (though the one we poured from is deemed more suitable for hot chocolate). Why, when I think back on it, we hardly ate anything at all, though, as I recall, it had little to do with the roses. Lips touched with the juice of strawberries are ever so sweet! I suppose someone living in your day might say “too much information” but a woman whose entire romance is outlined in books has hardly any claim to privacy.
Well, I should be off. Now that I am wed and “enceinte” (tho, not the least fat or old, despite Lucinda, er, Lady Avery’s childish claims—will I never be rid of that woman?) there is much to do. I shall leave you in the hands of my capable scribe who will explain how you can be the owner of this splendid hamper full of rosy charm. Until next time, adieu.
Well, I should be off. Now that I am wed and “enceinte” (tho, not the least fat or old, despite Lucinda, er, Lady Avery’s childish claims—will I never be rid of that woman?) there is much to do. I shall leave you in the hands of my capable scribe who will explain how you can be the owner of this splendid hamper full of rosy charm. Until next time, adieu.
There you have it, straight from Lady Anthony, nee Delacourt, herself. This week’s
giveaway, which runs through to the end of the month, is something only the rose-passionate might care for. We all know this is something the dowager duchess and I have in common, but the rest of you? We shall see. The basket itself, as well as all the items inside (except for the Ralph Lauren napkins) are vintage and a few items could be deemed “antique”. I would place them more from the late 1800’s to mid 1900’s. They have a combined value of about $150.00 so it’s no paltry gift (but no stunner like Jana’s painting which is bigger than she realized and worth even more than the original $300 quote). Shipping on this giveaway is going to be fairly large so I will have to limit this one to the United States only. The contents are: one vintage wicker picnic hamper, one hand painted chocolate pot marked “Bavaria”, a pair of demitasse cups and saucers marked “Carlsbad Austria”, a pair of hand painted berry bowls marked “Germany”, a pair of Homer Laughlin Virginia Rose (the flat rose pattern) bread and butter plates as well as a pair of dinner plates, two Ralph Lauren (brand new!) cloth napkins, an old butter knife, a pair of tiny teaspoons for stirring your chamomile tea marked “Rogers Bros”, and a set of very fine silver plate teaspoons marked “Wallace”. Finally, a lovely printed version of Ginny’s discourse above will be printed up and included as “provenance” (tho, in fact, all of these items but the napkins came from my own personal collection).
To qualify for this drawing you must comment on this post and say that you want to be entered. (My brain is NOT functioning so you should be obvious about it. Saying “what a lovely painting” is not obvious enough for me. Apparently.) You must give me a way to contact you. If your name is not hyperlinked to anything with an email address or even a blog, you can’t be included in the drawing. So sorry.
You can blog about this giveaway and/or FB it. If you have NOT already posted an Amazon or Goodreads review for either book (Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind or Miss Delacourt Has Her Day by Heidi Ashworth) or requested either at your library, then you could do any or all or any combination there-of for one entry each. (This is different from before when you were automatically given entries for these things if you had already done them for a previous giveaway). Come back here and tell me what you did so I can be sure to count everything.
Finally, Christina of Books Are Life, not surprisingly, reads a lot of books, reads a lot of regencies and reviews many books on her blog. Christina and I run in different blog circles but she massaged by inflamed author-ego a few years ago when she asked me to please send her MD1 to read and review on her blog. When MD2 came up, I immediately thought of Christina and so it was I, this time, who asked her to do the review. This one had me smiling from ear to ear. You can read her short but sweet review HERE.
Thanks for being here. You know. This far in the post. In the book tour. In my life.
Today I am off to buy a bit of this and a touch of that for the store. It opens two weeks from today and I am running like a chicken with its head cut off--only, not as attractive. Compelling? Yes--but attractive? Let's just say I don't look good in paint. The face crimson with exertion from painting the walls of said store doesn't look too good on me, either. The Spouse is off this morning to finish the rest of it while I get to shop. Can I just say Hallelujah? (Bless you, Spouse!)
Before I go, I would like to do a little review on the giveaways going on this month. I feel like people aren't taking full advantage and that makes me sad. All you have to do to be entered in any of these giveaways (which means "free", people, free!) is to comment on the appropriate post. The reason for insisting you go and comment somewhere other than here is to help me keep track and by so doing, avoid the spectacular melt-down that is already brewing. If I could only look like Merle Oberon's Catherine whilst I did so, it could almost be worth it. (Alas, aging dames with stunning daughters aren't cut very much slack in this world. If one in such a position should have a spectacular meltdown, one should do it in utter privacy. Better yet, skip it all together.)
So, take pity on me (as well as any and all potential witnesses) and make sure that, if you desire this painting with every fiber of your being (as do I), please go HERE and make a comment. Of course, additional entries can be earned by following the instructions there-in. None of them are hard, just a tad inconvenient, but I would say this painting is worth it. Jana, the artist, has agreed to sell some of her work at Dunhaven Place, TRE. I am thrilled!!!
The same goes for this set of adorable mugs. Heather of Audrey Eclectic is doing up some custom dishes for the store and I can't wait to see them. I'll be sure to share when they're ready for their photo shoot. (Go HERE to bid on a beautiful painting she did to aid the victims of the earthquake and Tsunami in Japan.) Meanwhile, go HERE to enter this contest--like the others, it runs until the last day of March.
These are the twins. They don't look a lot alike. Perhaps I should have referred to them as "soul mates". No matter. They are yours for the price of a comment and the luck of the draw. How hard can this be? If you already have the first one, you can give it away. If you feel hesitant as to whether or not these books are for you, check out the reviews in my side bar. They make excellent reading in and of themselves so you won't be sorry. If, after that, you decide you want to give these a whirl, go HERE. (See my sidebar for three chances to win a copy of the singleton, Miss Delacourt Has Her Day.)
Which brings me to this week's giveaway. It's coming . . . later this week. What's coming up right now is a new perspective on Miss Delacourt Has Her Day as written by Janelle of Regally Blonde, a talented blogger and mother of four tow-headed girls who are darling and sweet and lots of fun. I first met Janelle when she came to my book signing for Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind but we already "knew" each other a bit through blogging. She asked me to come and visit with her book group and talk about Miss D which was a lot of fun. Since then, she has been a great support to me in many aspects of my life. I appreciate her taking the time to review MD2 for me. The perspective from which she presents her review is certainly a unique one and a very loving and thoughtful one that had me leaking quite a bit from the eyeballs. Love you, Janelle!
A fresh perspective is always a good thing. The photo above is the first one I received of Miss Delacourt's Roses from the artist. It's lovely and wonderful. Then, the other day, I received a photo of it that was a bit different (see below).
The colors are more clear and bright and the painting is turned sideways. She explained to me that it was meant to be vertical but she suddenly decided she liked it better arranged horizontally. That is one of the things I love about this painting--no matter which way you turn it, It. Is. Gorgeous. And so are each of you.
A fresh perspective is always a good thing. The photo above is the first one I received of Miss Delacourt's Roses from the artist. It's lovely and wonderful. Then, the other day, I received a photo of it that was a bit different (see below).
The colors are more clear and bright and the painting is turned sideways. She explained to me that it was meant to be vertical but she suddenly decided she liked it better arranged horizontally. That is one of the things I love about this painting--no matter which way you turn it, It. Is. Gorgeous. And so are each of you. 
Am I disappointed that the covers to my two books, one a sequel to the other, two sides to the same coin, have covers that are so at odds with each other? One says “contemporary” (unfortunate, since it’s not) while the other says “in the past”. One is dark, the other is light. One is cold in its striking beauty, the other is warm in it’s glorious golden gorgeousness. Thye really don’t go together at all except that they are both beautiful and both star Miss Delacourt and her determined beau, Sir Anthony.
Mostly, they are a great way to introduce my post about opposites. Below is a photo of a buffet we bought as a fixture for our store. (Sorry for the orbs of light—they are not evidence of departed souls but rather proof of my lack of camera savvy.) I think of “brown” furniture as masculine. Even when they have beautiful, curvy lines such as this one.
Below is a photo of the same piece after being sanded, painted and adorned with rose garland appliqués and new drawer pulls (though I’m still waiting for the knobs for the cabinet doors). (And again, sorry for the rotten picture. This thing is heavy to move and I have made a pact with my sore muscles that we’re not budging it from its current location until it goes on a truck bound for Dunhaven Place TRE.) I think of a piece like this as feminine.
And the point of this little lesson? (While you’re thinking of your answer, take a peek at a drum table I painted pink—love it!!!) (You can see a corner of it in its masculine state in the first photo of the buffet.) (Just saying .. . )
The point is that, today, we have review of Miss Delacourt Has Her Day from both the feminine and masculine perspectives, in point of fact, from the perspectives of a married couple. She is the subject of the poem “written” by Sir Anthony in MD2. He is the person who actually wrote it and was generous enough to let me use it. As I say on the acknowledgements page, Sir Anthony couldn’t have said it any better. I am grateful to James and Rebecca for all of their support. It really means a lot to me. Hugs, you guys!!!
So, be sure to read how HE and SHE view the same romance novel. I think it’s fascinating stuff and very well written fascinating stuff, at that. Plus they say very nice things that made me want to blush, laugh and cry all at the same time. And if you want a crack at winning the Miss Delacourt set of books pictured above, see the sidebar for a link to it and a few other great giveaways going on for the month of March. (It’s madness, people, madness!)
The only clutter, litter, disaster free surface in my entire house. Once upon a time, I didn’t comprehend the concept/phrase/quote implying that incorruption comes from corruption. It always sounded backwards to me and there was too much of the word “corruption” in it to feel like a positive statement. Then, one day, I happened to glance down at the clump of gerbera daisies growing by the walkway outside my front door and, gasp! The gorgeous deep pink petals were now sullied with a clutch of hoary seedlings with white cobwebby wisps trailing from them. It hurt my heart. I knew that dandelions did that (they do it in a much cleaner, pleasanter way) but I wasn’t expecting it from my adored gerberas. I felt the way a new mother does when someone calls her baby ugly (and, yes, I do assign my flowers, as well as my books, a kind of living, breathing humanity one would expect from only the most mentally unbalanced). (And, no, I have never had anyone tell me my baby was ugly.) (Would be a total lie, if they had, anyway) (in spite of the fact that the Big Guy’s face looked like a landslide on the one side and things were a bit askew) (but, still . . . .)
It actually made my flesh crawl to look at it. Once I got over the shock (I know, I’m weird . . .) I started to think about it. That phrase of corruption becoming incorruption came to my mind and I realized that amongst the awful corruption of that tangled mass of seeds was the possibility of rebirth for this beautiful plant in its totally incorrupt state.
Dunhaven Place. It's a thing.Fast forward to the last couple of years, very hard ones for me, mostly due to widespread health problems in our household. Most of them mine. However, out of that corruption of pain, sickness, lack of options and utter frustration has come the incorruption of possibility, opportunity and inspiration. Just like the four inch, 20 stitch scar on my face has begun to fade and heal into a thin, cancerless line, my other afflictions are still present, but much better, while having served to teach me valuable lessons about life, living, and why it is so important to protect your skin from the sun. Ain’t life grand?
As I scurry around, moving, sanding and painting furniture, painting walls of the new store, spending every other day nursing fibromyalgia pain, all while trying to make a dozen decisions at a time whilst trying not to trip over the utter and colossal mess that is my home, I remind myself that, out of this corruption will, one day, come incorruption and there will be peace and quiet in the valley once again. Or, at the very least, I will be in my neat and tidy store where I will be surrounded by order and beauty. (One can’t have everything.)
Stuff, living where I tossed it.Meanwhile, I have felt sad that I haven’t been able to fully appreciate and enjoy my blog tour as I would have liked because of all the chaos. Yet, each time I read a review written by one of the fantastic people who has agreed to read my book and blog about it (it’s a bigger deal than one might think—there’s pressure and responsibility and inconvenience) I am touched and happy and joyful. It helps me forget about all the things I am trying to do at all at the same time and how there is so much to do and not enough time, etc. etc.
Out of the chaos rises beauty and I feel peace.
Lara at Overstuffed (as in, overstuffed with blessings but could also be as appropriate to say overstuffed with beauty, brains and talent) has written such a review for Miss Delacourt Has Her Day (a whole .71 cents off the cover price on Amazon.com today!) and as has been the case with each reviewer, has found a unique and pertinent thing to say about the book and its characters. PLUS she is giving away a copy! I am overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of all these wonderful people for the time and effort they have put into reviewing my book. As for Lara, she is often the go-to source for book reviews. She’s a pro at it and I asked her to do it for MD2 because I respect her opinion so much. She is the mother of three beautiful girls and blogs about them and their happy, sad, fun, frustrating and timeless experiences which she punctuates with her own gorgeous and eye-catching photography. Thank you, Lara!!! As for the rest of you, thanks for being here to read this. Now go HERE and read that. Thank ya, kindly. And then, go to the sidebar to find out how to win some great giveaways including the gorgeous painting below!
There is tons to do today to get ready for the grand opening of Dunhaven Place, the retail establishment--a charming little place chock full of painted and hand distressed furniture, silver plate fripperies, books, house wares, holiday décor, Yankee candles and whatever else my frivolous heart desires. There is nothing remotely like it where I live and I’m hoping that people will see it as a place to warm the cockles of their respective hearths.
As a result, I must keep this short but please take note of three things. One—the photo above is a digital photo of THE painting and when I say THE painting, I mean the one that will be printed on giclee and given away to a very lucky entrant (see sidebar for ways and means to enter). Did I mention that this is a $300 value and it painted by the one and only Jana Winters Parkin? It is inspired by Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind and is called, aptly, Miss Delacourt’s Roses. We all know roses are very important to Miss Delacourt and they play a role in Miss Delacourt Has Her Day, as well. (Dad knows why.) I think it is stunning, breathtaking, and gorge-wah (saw that term for the first time the other and I love it!) and am totally jealous that I don't have a chance to win it. This is a very generous thing that Jana is doing and I owe her Big Time. (In other words, please be properly appreciative by lusting after this painting. Thank you.)
Two—Braden Bell, author of The Road Show, has written a review of MD2 that, once again, brings up totally unique points and gives us an original spin on certain aspects we haven’t seen as of yet (except for me--I was there--one of the many benefits of being the author and creator). He has been a good friend to have in this business and I am grateful he has taken time out of his schedule as very busy husband, father and middle school drama teacher to give us his take (his manly take, I might add) on what some might see as pure drivel. Or pure cotton candy. Take your pick but I’m betting the cotton candy tastes much better.
As a result, I must keep this short but please take note of three things. One—the photo above is a digital photo of THE painting and when I say THE painting, I mean the one that will be printed on giclee and given away to a very lucky entrant (see sidebar for ways and means to enter). Did I mention that this is a $300 value and it painted by the one and only Jana Winters Parkin? It is inspired by Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind and is called, aptly, Miss Delacourt’s Roses. We all know roses are very important to Miss Delacourt and they play a role in Miss Delacourt Has Her Day, as well. (Dad knows why.) I think it is stunning, breathtaking, and gorge-wah (saw that term for the first time the other and I love it!) and am totally jealous that I don't have a chance to win it. This is a very generous thing that Jana is doing and I owe her Big Time. (In other words, please be properly appreciative by lusting after this painting. Thank you.)
Two—Braden Bell, author of The Road Show, has written a review of MD2 that, once again, brings up totally unique points and gives us an original spin on certain aspects we haven’t seen as of yet (except for me--I was there--one of the many benefits of being the author and creator). He has been a good friend to have in this business and I am grateful he has taken time out of his schedule as very busy husband, father and middle school drama teacher to give us his take (his manly take, I might add) on what some might see as pure drivel. Or pure cotton candy. Take your pick but I’m betting the cotton candy tastes much better.
Lastly, this week’s new giveaway (the lovely painting giveaway as well as the regency gent and lady cups are still going on until the end of the month--see sidebar) is a set of books, almost like a pair of twins, they are, but around here we simply refer to them as Miss D. For those who never had a chance to hold a copy of MD1 in her (or his—let’s be open minded, shall we?) hot little hands, this is a chance to own a signed copy of your very own, along with MD2 which very few of you, hot-handed or not, have had the chance to hold as of yet.
If you want to be in on this giveaway, you can do one or more of the following, one entry per “followed suggestion”.
You must comment here to let me know you want in on this giveaway. Be very specific, please. Any old comment just won’t do, you have to say you want in (in so many words) (yours, to be exact).
You can blog about this giveaway or either or both books (both counts as two entries)
You can FB (same as above)
You can tweet (same as above)
You can post a review on Amazon, Goodreads or Barnesandnoble.com (you must have read the book to do so but it counts for MD1 as well as MD2)
You can request either/both at your library. If you do this, please tell me the name of your library system. (I need more library sales, people!)
You can merely enter it on your Goodreads TBR list
If you have done any of these things since the beginning of March and you want to be in on this giveaway, I will automatically grant you as many entries as you have already earned for any other giveaway this month. Sound fair?
If you can think of any other way to get the word out about my book(s), let me know and we can add it to the list.
Thanks so much for all of your support—I really can’t do it without you!
If you want to be in on this giveaway, you can do one or more of the following, one entry per “followed suggestion”.
You must comment here to let me know you want in on this giveaway. Be very specific, please. Any old comment just won’t do, you have to say you want in (in so many words) (yours, to be exact).
You can blog about this giveaway or either or both books (both counts as two entries)
You can FB (same as above)
You can tweet (same as above)
You can post a review on Amazon, Goodreads or Barnesandnoble.com (you must have read the book to do so but it counts for MD1 as well as MD2)
You can request either/both at your library. If you do this, please tell me the name of your library system. (I need more library sales, people!)
You can merely enter it on your Goodreads TBR list
If you have done any of these things since the beginning of March and you want to be in on this giveaway, I will automatically grant you as many entries as you have already earned for any other giveaway this month. Sound fair?
If you can think of any other way to get the word out about my book(s), let me know and we can add it to the list.
Thanks so much for all of your support—I really can’t do it without you!
We open our doors in 3-4 weeks and I am too tired and busy to be nervous. Of course this is the reason (THIS calender year) (because we all know that I have been full of excuses for a long time, now) that I haven’t been getting around to seeing how you are all doing. This is the reason my posts as of late sound like I’m “phoning it in” (shades of James Franco). This is the reason why I haven’t been able to focus on the debut of my book to the extent I would like to. This is the reason I haven’t even started on MD3.
However, once the store opens and I am sitting behind the sales counter twiddling my thumbs 9 hours a day, I will have lots of time to catch up on what all of you are up to. Time, as well, to bring Ginny’s daughter (Luisa) and Lucinda’s son (Herbert but I call him Harry) (and not because of a certain currently infamous prince but because it's the Spouse's middle name and I have loved it (and him) since before Mr. Wales was born) to life. They’re a fun pair already, I can tell you that. They keep dancing around the edge of my brain asking that their story be told. They aren’t terribly demanding yet, it’s not in their nature, but should they be in danger of being lost, they’ll show their true metal, I have no doubt.
Soon there will be a website (Dunhaven Place.com) (no need to click, because, like my brain, there's nothing to see. Yet.) to check out with all the fun pictures of what we are up to at the store. It will involve lots of DIY projects and painted furniture and all around delicious eye candy. But first we will collect the keys to our space and start moving things in and doing inventory and all of those fun things that store owners do. I can tell you right now that I plan to feature some beautiful dishes by this artist here. She’s the one who made the adorable regency cups that are being given away on this here blog this here month. I can also tell you that there will be artwork by this gal here. She is the one giving away the beautiful painting inspired by Miss D. You can enter to win it (a $300 value!) by checking out the rules HERE.
Other giveaways include copies of Miss Delacourt Has Her Day being given away HERE, HERE, and HERE, as well as a new one that started today by the Lovely L.T. of Dreams of Quill and Ink. She wrote a very intriguing review of MD2 today that gives away just a teensy bit more of the plot than we have seen in the other reviews. The review is worth reading simply for her writing. L.T. is a lexicon lover of no small talents. I often imagine her sitting at her beloved lappy, rolling words around her tongue like a mouthful of gourmet chocolate. She absolutely loves them and they clearly love her. She is also a huge supporter of writers she enjoys reading. I would call her a “fan” but that doesn’t quite fit. She’s more like a peer-in-waiting, already busy rubbing elbows with published authors and giving them lots of love. When she officially joins the ranks, she’ll fit right in. Be sure to read some of her previous posts. She makes words sing.
See how I titled my last post so strategically? (Scroll down and see . . .I'll wait . . .) Did I do it to get more hits on my blog? If I were smart (smart enough to think of it) I would say “You bet your sweet life!” Instead, I will say that it just sounded good and descriptive and I had no thoughts as to the extra hits I would get from the Colin Firth worshippers around the world (the Jane Austen fans were, no doubt, too busy reading books to notice).
However, this does bring up an interesting topic: Names in Blogdania. I have touched on the subject of why my blog is called Dunhaven Place in a previous post (or two) but it seems a good time to cover that bit of ground once again. For decades, er, hundreds of, er, EVER, The Brits have had this quirky habit of giving their houses actual names. Many of them have no house number at all and the postman is meant to (we would say “supposed to” here in America) know exactly where Hill House sits (on the hill, of course!) and that it is the house on the hill in Nether Wallop as opposed to the Hill House in Titlington Mount (these are real British place names, people, and they just get more and more suggestive as the list goes on--provided you get a hold of the right list). The tradition crossed the waters to America as the British settled the east coast. Louisa May Alcott’s home had a name (Orchard House) and so did so-and-so’s (I don’t have time to look it up just now, just let it suffice that someone famous other than Lou lived in a house with a name in the U.S. of A.). (Thomas Jefferson—Monticello. Thank you, brain!)
If one of my favorite authors (Louisa May Alcott) could have a house with a name here in America and another one of my favorite authors (Jane Austen) could have a house with a name in England, well, then, so could I! I liked the name Dunhaven because it was the brand of the anniversary clock two of my favorite uncles gave us as a wedding gift. And, because my husband has Irish ancestry and I am as much a fan of all things Irish as I am an anglophile, it seemed fitting. “Dun” in Celtic is “home” and “haven” is exactly that—or heaven--you choose. Even though each of our homes had a different name (The Aerie for the three level condo and Rose Cottage for one or another in my quickly fading past) Dunhaven Place is the only name that has ever stuck through the 11 structures in which we have dwelt and called home. (It is less the name of our actual house and more the name for our actual dwelling at the actual time we are dwelling in it.)
Therefore, when it came time to name my blog, it seemed only fitting to name it Dunhaven Place. Which brings me to the lovely gal who has done a review of Miss Delacourt Has Her Day on her blog this afternoon: Debbie of Cranberry Fries. I have never had cranberry fries in my life and have no idea if they even exist but they must be very popular because Debbie CranberryFries on FB has nearly 1,000 friends. And well deserved ones, too. She does a lot of book reviews so I was happy and excited when she volunteered to do a review of MD2. She has shown such a consistently positive and gratifyingly enthusiastic attitude towards Miss D since MD1 that I could hardly say no. Plus, she had already ordered (and paid for) her own copy of the book. I am not a looker of gift horses in the mouth kind of gal.Go read the review and see if you can figure out "why Cranberry Fries:? Also, check out the giveaways going on now by seeing the info in my sidebar . . . (you won’t be sorry!)
It seems that Blogdania is rife with book tours and giveaways these days. As a friend of mine recently said, people are getting “blogged down” by it all. (Isn’t she funny? You know who you are.) It really is a brave new world since my last blog book tour two years ago. Plus, I haven’t been blog-reading eight hours a day like I did last time, either. What this means to you is that your chances of winning the hand painted Regency-era-themed cups above are way better than they would be if people weren’t so blogged down. Or if I was working harder at getting my name, my blog and my book out there. (You’re welcome.) Meanwhile, I think it’s plain to see that these cups are the bees knees for any Jane Austen/Regency era/Pride and Prejudice/Colin Firth fans out there.
These were done by Heather of Audrey Eclectic, the same talented artist who painted Miss Ginny Delacourt’s portrait in my sidebar. Click on it to be taken to her site so you can order cups of your own (or a painting or all sorts of delicious things), just in case you don’t win these I’m offering here. See how the one with the handsome man says “My heart belongs to Mr. Darcy”? See how the one with the lovely lady says “Lost in the pages . . .” whilst she reads a book? Wouldn’t a mug of hot chocolate or herbal tea taste so much better in a cup like this? Especially whilst reading “Emma”? (Or, dare I suggest, Miss D one or two?)
If you want to be entered in this giveaway (of course you do!) do one of the following (or any combination there-of) and get an entry for each one. Easy peasy.
Comment on this post
Blog about it
FB about it
You will need to either email me or comment here that you did these things. Also, say that you want to be entered in the giveaway so that I don’t have to send you naggy emails asking if you were just taking pity on me with your lovely comment or if, indeed, you really want this item. (I would hate to think that anyone who wanted to be entered might not be b/c I am an airhead.) Also, you can still comment even if you don’t want to be entered. It’s not against the law or anything (the former sentence might have something to do with a paucity of comments lately--or not. I don’t go in for actual pity parties, just implied ones. : )
If you want more entries, you can do a Goodreads or Amazon review of either book (kind of unfair to ask you to do a review on a book you haven’t read, I'm thinking) or enter either or both on your Goodreads list to be read or anything else that might unwittingly expose one more person to the glare of the promotion machine. (Did you know that an author’s book advance is meant to pay for promotion? Yep, it’s the author’s job--part of his/her pay!—to talk about their book ad nauseum to anyone who is kind enough to listen.)
Speaking of which, Kim at Temporary? Insanity is the next stop on the book tour. I have to say, I really, really, really like her enthusiasm. Kim is an enthusiastic, kind and thoughtful person who writes blog posts that are beautiful in their well-worded imagery and incredibly real in their crystalline exposure of all things Kim. I think it goes without saying that I wouldn’t have asked any of these bloggists to be on my tour if I didn’t think you should be reading them, too (that’s for those of you who don’t already) and that’s certainly true for Kim. I love that I have met this beautiful girl, esp. since she lives in Canada and I am a zillion miles away in California. (Also, she’s giving away a copy of Miss Delacourt Has Her Day to those who comment on her post—how cool is that?)
Meanwhile, see my sidebar for the previous stops on this tour (awesome, each and every single one! I love how they each have something unique to offer in their reviews--blog tours rock!) as well as the giveaways that are going on all month—a Miss D inspired painting by the uber talented Jana Parkin, a Goodreads contest and an LDSpublisher contest, both giving away one free copy of Miss Delacourt Has Her Day).
Lastly, being published is fun so, go forth and write!
I'm the one with the hand over my eyes . . . my little brother hadn't been born, yetPsychologists say that growing up one of eight siblings, one of seven daughters and one of a set of twins are all "adversities". I, however, thought it was great fun! I adored each and every member of my family, wanted to be just like them and even hero-worshipped a few of them. However, I did have one problem: as daughter number six, born five minutes after the child who was expected to be a single until two weeks before our birth, I must have felt a bit lost in the shuffle. I don’t remember thinking that consciously but, looking back, the feeling that there was no niche left for me has dictated many of my actions throughout the years.
For example, my sisters were, variously, smart, wise and witty, funny, fashionable and pretty. There were the ones who were very popular with the boys, the ones who had lots of friends, the ones who had lots of talents, the ones who had my parents’ respect. It seemed to me the only labels available by the time I arrived were “dramatic”, “sensitive”, “vain”, “conceited” and “she who will not eat beets”. I didn’t have my own room, my own look (since my twin and I looked pretty much exactly alike) or even my own birthday. In fact, until my little brother was five years old, I didn’t even have my own name! He thought each of us was called “Heidiandholly”. Or was it “Hollyandheidi”?
When I was in the sixth grade, I remember going to our rival elementary school for a softball game between our team and theirs. The catcher was a lovely girl with lots of curves and long, dark, hair who was clearly very popular because everyone was constantly calling her name. It was “Heidi, Heidi, Heidi,” all afternoon and they weren’t referring to me. I despised her not for her beauty or popularity but because she had the one thing I had ever really been able to call my own—my name.
Meanwhile, I had wonderful, fantastic parents who were, understandably, fully consumed with the business of raising a large family. Getting any one-on-one time with them was rare and an opportunity to be cherished. When I was seven, my dad spent some time with me teaching me to play chess. I was so proud of myself for beating him a few times and feeling like I really knew how to play. It was years later before I realized he must have let me win. However, this was such a happy thing for me that I wrote a little story about a chess piece. As soon as I finished it, I brought it to my mother to read. She was out in the backyard pulling weeds but she stopped what she was doing to carefully read it and to encourage me.
From that moment on, I knew what I was going to do with the rest of my life: I was going to be a writer. I had found my niche, my definition of myself that was as much uniquely mine as my name and thenceforth I spent countless hours scribbling little stories and reading everything of interest. I studied the lives of the authors I admired and took typing classes in Jr. High as well as High School so I would be able to submit proper manuscripts when the time came. I wrote pages and pages of poetry, subscribed to writer’s magazines, entered contests and eventually wrote several full-length books. I even submitted one for publication (it was rejected—that time). As a newly married wife, I took a correspondence course in writing children’s literature and later, as a young mother, I took a class in writing romance novels and joined various writer’s groups including an online email group frequented by some of my favorite authors.
In short, I was determined.
I remember well the day I knew I must give it all up. We were living in Littleton, Colorado and the Columbine massacre had just occurred. There was a lot of speculation on the news about the boys who had committed these murders and their character—or lack thereof. Knowing little to nothing at the time of the Big Guy's physical, mental and learning disabilities but fully aware of the result they had on the people around him, I felt a lot of fear that he would one day be just like these two boys who had killed so many and cast a pall of grief over the entire town.
For example, my sisters were, variously, smart, wise and witty, funny, fashionable and pretty. There were the ones who were very popular with the boys, the ones who had lots of friends, the ones who had lots of talents, the ones who had my parents’ respect. It seemed to me the only labels available by the time I arrived were “dramatic”, “sensitive”, “vain”, “conceited” and “she who will not eat beets”. I didn’t have my own room, my own look (since my twin and I looked pretty much exactly alike) or even my own birthday. In fact, until my little brother was five years old, I didn’t even have my own name! He thought each of us was called “Heidiandholly”. Or was it “Hollyandheidi”?
When I was in the sixth grade, I remember going to our rival elementary school for a softball game between our team and theirs. The catcher was a lovely girl with lots of curves and long, dark, hair who was clearly very popular because everyone was constantly calling her name. It was “Heidi, Heidi, Heidi,” all afternoon and they weren’t referring to me. I despised her not for her beauty or popularity but because she had the one thing I had ever really been able to call my own—my name.
Meanwhile, I had wonderful, fantastic parents who were, understandably, fully consumed with the business of raising a large family. Getting any one-on-one time with them was rare and an opportunity to be cherished. When I was seven, my dad spent some time with me teaching me to play chess. I was so proud of myself for beating him a few times and feeling like I really knew how to play. It was years later before I realized he must have let me win. However, this was such a happy thing for me that I wrote a little story about a chess piece. As soon as I finished it, I brought it to my mother to read. She was out in the backyard pulling weeds but she stopped what she was doing to carefully read it and to encourage me.
From that moment on, I knew what I was going to do with the rest of my life: I was going to be a writer. I had found my niche, my definition of myself that was as much uniquely mine as my name and thenceforth I spent countless hours scribbling little stories and reading everything of interest. I studied the lives of the authors I admired and took typing classes in Jr. High as well as High School so I would be able to submit proper manuscripts when the time came. I wrote pages and pages of poetry, subscribed to writer’s magazines, entered contests and eventually wrote several full-length books. I even submitted one for publication (it was rejected—that time). As a newly married wife, I took a correspondence course in writing children’s literature and later, as a young mother, I took a class in writing romance novels and joined various writer’s groups including an online email group frequented by some of my favorite authors.
In short, I was determined.
I remember well the day I knew I must give it all up. We were living in Littleton, Colorado and the Columbine massacre had just occurred. There was a lot of speculation on the news about the boys who had committed these murders and their character—or lack thereof. Knowing little to nothing at the time of the Big Guy's physical, mental and learning disabilities but fully aware of the result they had on the people around him, I felt a lot of fear that he would one day be just like these two boys who had killed so many and cast a pall of grief over the entire town.
In fact, I had known before then that something at my house had to give—it had been so painful to have my focus constantly pulled away from my writing by the unusually high demands of my undiagnosed (therefore, un-helped) family members. Suddenly, never being published, a dream of mine for twenty plus years, seemed a small thing compared to the agony of regret I would feel if my husband or children became the lead story on the six o’clock news because I was too busy pursuing a writing career to meet their needs.
Over the course of the next ten or so years the dream would rise to the surface now and again like an unquenchable thirst. When that happened I always pushed it down and away, reminding myself that I was barely managing my much more important role of wife and mother and there was no time to give to the writing of books. One of these times was when a friend with whom I had taken a writing class years before finally found a publisher for the sweet romances we both enjoyed writing. I was so happy for her and only a little sad for me. It wasn’t until she sold her third book that she really started to pressure me into submitting a manuscript I had written over a dozen years before. I always changed the subject when she said these things but she never gave up. Then, when my youngest was out of kindergarten and in school all day, I finally felt like I had the time to deal with the demands of this particular publisher. After re-tooling the manuscript for a broader audience (i.e. someone other than die-hard Jane Austen fans who know that a beaver is not an animal but a hat, a spencer is a lady’s jacket because a jacket was something only a man would wear and that envelopes had not yet been invented) I submitted it.
Eight months later, I received the call that made me a published author. I was so incredibly sick with a rotten cold that day I could barely enjoy it but I have known much joy since then as a result of my succeeding at something I had worked at for so long.
Even better than the approval of a real live editor was the A- my father gave my book (he claims it would have been an A+ if I had developed a better relationship between the hero and his horse, if I had set the story farther out west and if there had actually been bullets in the gun for the duel but not all books can be Westerns), and my mother’s reaction. She told me that as she read it she chuckled and said to herself “She did it!”
And I had. Finally, I had done something that none of my sisters had and I, in some small way, had a chance to stand out for something good and positive that I had achieved.
I “did it” in more ways than, that, however. As much as I have craved the recognition and approval of my parents (it is often thus in large families) I have benefited far greater from the personalized, intimate attention from my Father in Heaven. Though much of the world might think being a published author is an unworthy desire (at least in the grand scheme of things), He knew exactly what it meant to me and why. When I gave it up to better honor the stewardships I was given by Him, He took my sacrifice and turned it into the sweetest gift of frosting a cake has ever known---and not just because my little book finally made it between covers but because, in spite of the billions of daughters He has . . . He knows my name.
Eight months later, I received the call that made me a published author. I was so incredibly sick with a rotten cold that day I could barely enjoy it but I have known much joy since then as a result of my succeeding at something I had worked at for so long.
Even better than the approval of a real live editor was the A- my father gave my book (he claims it would have been an A+ if I had developed a better relationship between the hero and his horse, if I had set the story farther out west and if there had actually been bullets in the gun for the duel but not all books can be Westerns), and my mother’s reaction. She told me that as she read it she chuckled and said to herself “She did it!”
And I had. Finally, I had done something that none of my sisters had and I, in some small way, had a chance to stand out for something good and positive that I had achieved.
I “did it” in more ways than, that, however. As much as I have craved the recognition and approval of my parents (it is often thus in large families) I have benefited far greater from the personalized, intimate attention from my Father in Heaven. Though much of the world might think being a published author is an unworthy desire (at least in the grand scheme of things), He knew exactly what it meant to me and why. When I gave it up to better honor the stewardships I was given by Him, He took my sacrifice and turned it into the sweetest gift of frosting a cake has ever known---and not just because my little book finally made it between covers but because, in spite of the billions of daughters He has . . . He knows my name.
The main difference between when my first book came out and my second book came out? I have known my blog friends for two years longer and they are the best! They have been such a support to me in all my doings and love me no matter what. And I love them!
I'm off today to my new job (I'll be blogging about that later . . .) and don't have time to really do today's reviewer justice (Crash from Crash Test Dummies) but I hope she knows how grateful I am to her for her kind words about MD2 (and one). Plus, she writes very amusing blog posts so, even if you don't care a bit for books, or romance, or regency romance, or me, go read her post. It rocks.
Also, please be sure to check the sidebar for the three different giveaways going on this month--two copies of MD2 and a painting by the acclaimed Jana Parkin!
(Props--and an extra entry in the incredible rose painting giveaway(a $300 value--pics to follow)--to those who know from which seasonally appropriate musical I stole my post title. An additional point to those who know the actual song title. Email me at write2me@heidiashworth.com)
As yesterday’s blog reviewer pointed out, sequels in romances just aren’t done. At least, not with both the same hero and heroine. Often you get the same heroine who has learned that her hero was in all actuality, a villain, and off she is on a new adventure with a new guy. In fact, when it was first suggested to me (by Becky) that I write a sequel I was pretty adamantly against it. However, it didn't take me long to warm up to the idea. Once I decided I was going to do it and came up with an idea, my editor said “We don’t do sequels”. Well, of course they don’t. They just aren’t done.
However, once I told her how I was going to do it, she said “try it” and I did. And now it’s a book. I think I made it work, too, and I have to say, I’m proud of myself for being a bit of a trail blazer.
Of course this brought up a hairy dilemma. A decision that needed to be made and rather quickly. A matter of such importance that I gave it much brain space and might have even asked for advice on FB with regards to the direction I should go. In short, what charm should I choose for my charm bracelet to represent a sequel to a first time novel?
Some of you might have read my Mormon Women: Who We Are post in which I share my charm bracelet and how I use it to preserve my personal history (among other ways—another is to write about your life, put it in a book and call it fiction. JK. Sort of). You can read about it HERE, but for the rest of you, let’s just say that I bought a charm of a rose to represent Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind. I could have chosen a book but there’s just something about roses I can’t resist.
sorry for the really crummy picture quality-I tried, more than onceWhen it came time to look for a charm for the sequel, I was at a bit of a loss. One good friend suggested a hot air balloon, an idea I loved for reasons obvious to none but those of us who have read the book, but I didn’t love any of the hot air balloon charms I found. I looked at wedding dress charms (for obvious reasons for anyone who has seen the cover of my book) and wedding cakes (tho there is none to speak of in the book) and even more books. Finally, I chose this (below) for reasons that should be obvious to anyone who has had the tolerance to read this far. I suppose I should have looked for one that sported two roses but I love the idea of the wedding bouquet (which was how it was advertised). In short, a perfect fit in every way.
another uber crummy photo--mea culpaNow we come to today’s reviewer, Rachel, a lovely woman whose complexion makes me think of an English rose every time I see her face on her blog. She’s a delightful blogger who writes about her observations of her home and surrounding areas in England. I had the privilege of reviewing her new novel just a few weeks ago, Here. Click HERE for Rachel's take on Miss Delacourt Has Her Day. (Hint, that sequel thing comes up again. Plus, some observations that come from a truly British perspective. Love it! Thanks Rachel!)
Don't forget the giveaways! This week's giveaway (tho it will run all month long) is so great! An original painting of a rose, inspired by Miss D, by Jana Parkin, a $300 value! See the sidebar for the links to all the giveaway rules. You can win a copy of Miss Delacourt Has Her Day by entering the Goodreads giveaway or the LDSpublisher giveaway--see sidebar for details. And have a great day!
It’s hard to believe it was two whole years ago (could it really have been that long?) I was hard at work over the beastly mid-section (always the hardest part to write) of Miss Delacourt Has Her Day. Hard to believe that it was two whole years ago I was working hard (it's been a hard two years, hence my affinity for the word "hard") at promoting Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind. Two whole years ago that I was preparing for a trip to Utah where I had the chance to meet so many of my blog friends. It kind of boggles the mind, or, at least, my mind, easily boggled as it is.
It was two years and roughly two weeks ago that I had a Valentine’s Day book signing here in the San Francisco Bay area and I was privileged to meet a local blog friend for the first time. What a gift! She has been so kind, so supportive and the best kind of friend a gal could have ever since. (Bless you, Blogdania!) She was also the first of my blog friends to read Miss D (she boldly asked if she could please read it before it was even between hard covers, and I said yes. I barely knew her at the time but it was a great trade because now I know her well and, like I said, what a gift!) and one of my super smart readers to critique MD2 before it even got to my publisher.
I think it only fitting that she should kick off the Miss Delacourt Has Her Day book tour. She promises she has good things to say. The trouble is, I don’t know if I made all the changes to the manuscript she suggested so I could be in for a dressing down of a most public kind. (Just kidding! Or am I? . . .you'll have to go and find out.)
But, before we go there, I want to talk about this week’s giveaway. Another dear blog friend, one who held a book club/book signing event for me at her house, fabulous water-color artist, Jana Parkin, has painted a “Miss D inspired” picture of a rose (those of us who are in the know, know that Miss D is all about roses). When she told me about it, I asked if it were possible to give away a print of the original but she very generously offered to give away the actual painting itself. Wow! (Go here for examples of her work and be sure to check out her bio—again, wow!)
In order to have the chance (or many chances) to win this painting (photo of the actual art work to surface later today, this week, this month, not sure yet . . .) you must do one of the following—doing more than one increases your odds accordingly. (And, yes, this is a flagrant attempt to spread the word about my book, which, incidentally, is .24 off the cover price on Amazon.com today. I’m self-promotional that way.)
1. comment on this post
2. blog about the contest
3. include a link to this post on your FB status
4. add Miss Delacourt Has Her day to your Goodreads “to read” list
5. post a Goodreads review of Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind (if you’ve read it)
6. post an Amazon review for Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind (if you’ve read it)
7. request that your library buy either or both Miss D books
8. Tweet about it (I don’t tweet or twitter--though I sometimes twit (to taunt, ridicule or tease)--so I’m totally going to have to take your word on this one. Remember, cheaters never prosper.)
You will need to leave me your email or blog address so I can contact you if you win. Also, you will need to let me know which of the above you have done so I can count it (most of it is verifiable so I’ll be checking). This contest starts today and runs through the end of the blog tour on March 31st. You will want to win this contest, I guarantee it! Good luck!
In the meantime, if you scroll down to the previous post or click HERE you can find the Goodreads giveaway of Miss Delacourt Has Her Day going on all month, as well. Sign up and hope for the best!
Now, on to Jami at Superfluous Miscellany who took time out of a super busy day and arm wrestled her kids for the computer to create a piece of art totally worth the read, in and of itself. Wow! (That's pretty much all I can say.)
Contributors
- Heidi
- Wife, mother, novelist, gardener, bloggist, lover of good books, roses and vintage charm; passionate about her family, words, roses, vintage home decor, found treasures and the color pink.
Books of Which Even Jane Would Approve
Start Reading for FREE With One Click!
Part of the Power of the Matchmaker series
Read an excerpt with one click!
A Midwinter Ball
Pin it!
O'er the River Liffey
Add it to your Goodreads Shelf
Every Hope
a Triple Treat Romance
Which Jane Austen Heroine Are You?
The Scandal in Honor
Book Two in The Lord Trevelin Mysteries
The Devil in Beauty
The Lord Trevelin Mysteries
A RONE Award Finalist
Miss Armistead Makes Her Choice
Read An Excerpt With One Click!
Crowned Heart Recipient
A RONE Award Finalist!
The Lord Who Sneered and Other Tales
Like me on Facebook!
Read an Excerpt NOW with one click!
A Miss Delacourt Adventure
My Novel
Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind (Book 1)
The Sequel
Miss Delacourt Has Her Day (Book 2)
Start Reading Now with One Click!
A Miss Delacourt Adventure #3
It Happened Twelfth Night
my anthology novella
The Large Print Version
My heroine-Ginny Delacourt
by Audrey Eclectic
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