Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone, I hope you achieve all your goals this year. For me I'm going to push myself to get three Regency novels finished and submitted (submitting one in March). I'm also working on a contemporary romance to indie publish later this year.

I've decided that I'll indie publish my contemporary romance novels. I have a few on the go that need editing badly.



My three Regency novels are a series titled 'Hero to the Rescue'. Book one I seem to have been writing forever, hopefully books two and three will be a lot quicker to write.



I'm also going to look at my Australia historical romance this year. It's almost finished but needs a lot of work doing to it and more research.



From next week I'm going to be posting twice a week on different subjects from fashion & recipes to the research I do on my novels. I'll give you some handy research sites as I come across them.



For now it's back to writing.

Have a wonderful 2015

Sandie

Eleven Weeks Cover Release Day for Lauren McKellar

I am so pleased to be able to show you fellow HRW member Lauren McKellar's new cover for her January 2015 release Eleven Weeks.

Title: Eleven Weeks, book two in the Crazy In Love series

Author: Lauren K. McKellar

Genre: Contemporary Romance (New Adult)

Cover Design: KILA Designs 

On sale: January, 2015

About Eleven Weeks

Seven shots

Five siblings

Two boys

One heartbeat …

***

Stacey is

good at pretending.

She pretends

that the boy she’s in love with doesn’t exist.

She pretends

that she’s happy to live and die in this small town.

She pretends

that her life is carefree while her best friend’s life crumbles before her very

eyes.

But Stacey’s

got a secret …

And it’s going to ruin everything,

Excerpt

I wake to the sound of a drill-saw attempting to channel through a concrete pylon right next to my head.

“Why?” I grunt. Only it sounds more like “uggghhh”, even to my ears. Apparently being woken by drill-saw seriously impedes my ability to form words. I reach my hand out and slam something in front of me, presumably the drill-saw, most likely a clock radio. Regardless, the action makes the noise stop, thank hell.

Ugh. While the blast of noise has stopped, there’s still a ringing in my head of dizzy-making proportions. Not to mention that my tongue tastes like I’ve been eating road-kill. Yuck.

I squint one eye open and then scrunch my lid shut immediately as protection from the harsh yellow light coming in through the window framed by black-flowered curtains. What fresh hell is this? Who has opened my—

Shit.

I don’t have black-flowered curtains.

I inch open my lid at snail’s pace, this time preparing myself for the assault of light from the left of the room. Yep. Black floral curtains still there.

I open my eyes wider and take in more of the room in front of me. Aside from the window, there’s a black bedside table with a digital clock on the top of it, right next to a red lamp. The floor is covered in a shaggy-looking cream carpet, a black skirt and red lacy bra lying on top of it.

Oh, no. Please, please no …

I slowly raise the white sheet from my body. Yep, exactly as I’d suspected.

My black skirt and red bra.

This, of course, leaves only one question. But do I really want to look? Can I?

I rack my brain, trying to put together the pieces of the night before. There was the party at Joe’s. I’d gone there with Kate, because Dave and the band were playing. Michael. I saw Michael. Tequila. Lots of tequila.

I glanced down at my hand. Seven little lipstick lines mar its surface. One for each shot. At least I can remember that.

But how the hell did I get here? And, more importantly, where is here? 

Books in this series:

(cover linked to Goodreads)

Praise for The

Problem With Crazy

“Heartbreaking,

life-affirming—one of my all-time favourites.” Glass Paper Ink Book Blog

“This story is beautiful,

heartbreaking and will leave you thinking about it for days to follow.” A.K.A.

The Book Harlots Review

The Problem With Heartache will be released in February, 2015, and is

the conclusion to Kate’s story.

About the Author

Lauren K. McKellar is a writer and editor of fact

and fiction.

For more information on her editing services, click here.

For more information on her YA Contemporary (Escape

Publishing, Harlequin Australia) Finding Home,

or her NA Contemporary The

Problem With Crazy, please click on the appropriate links.

In her spare time, she likes long walks on the beach

with her puppies and drinking delicious cocktails prepared by her bar-owning husband.

Author Links:

   

GIVEAWAY:

a Rufflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal Organized by:

Ackermann's Fashion Month ~ Sunday - October 1810

Good Sunday morning. Today we are looking at October 1810.

FASHION FOR LADIES

PLATE 23. – A MORNING DRESS OR COSTUME A LA DEVOTION

            A plain cambric high gown, with surplice sleeves, and Vandyke border round the throat. A Spanish robe of pea-green muslin, crape, or sarsnet, bordered with cable trimming, and buttoned to the shape in front. A winged mob cap, composed of white crape and beading. A bee-hive bonnet of fine moss or plaited straw, ornamented with white sarsnet ribbon. Limeric gloves, and Spanish slippers of sea-green kid.

PLATE 24. – PROMENADE, OR SEA-BEACH COSTUME

            First figure. – A Grecian wrap gown, with high Armenian collar, bordered with treble rows of narrow muslin, or with three rows of appliquéd beading. An Egyptian tunic of pink or lilac, shot sarsnet, ornamented up the front with silk cord and buttons; round the bosom and cuffs to correspond. A hamlet hat of white imperial chip or straw, tied across the crown with white or lemon-coloured ribbon. A foundling cap of lace, exhibited in front, ornamented with corn-flowers. Pale tan gloves, and shoes the colour of the pelisse.

            Second figure. – A white muslin robe, with biased bosom, formed of French net; a high rounded collar, sitting close to the throat, and finished with double plaiting of net; a sash of amber shot ribbon tied on the left side. A Circassian mantle of fine India muslin, with deep border of needle-work or lace. Head-dress composed of a square veil of lace, fancifully disposed over the hair, and confined with a broach in center of the forehead. York tan gloves, and Roman slippers of amber-coloured kid.

Ackermann’s Fashion Month ~ Saturday – September 1810

Today we look at the fashion plates from September 1810

FASHION FOR LADIES

PLATE 17. – FULL DRESS

            A French gored gown of celestial blue crape, over a white gossamer satin slip; stomacher front, laced and edged with silver cord; long Spanish slashed sleeves, appliquéd with white satin, and edged with silver cord; antique laced cuffs, and neck-handkerchief of French net, with deep fan frill. Hair confined in the Eastern style with pearl of diamond comb, falling in ringlets on each side of the face, divided in front of the forehead with correspondent bandeau, Neck-chain and cross of dead gold filigree. Sicilian mantle of white satin, finished with silver tassels, thrown fancifully over the back and shoulders. Slippers of white satin, laced with front with silver cord. Gloves of white French kid; and fan of white crape, with silver jessamine border.

PLATE 18. – PROMENADE COSTUME

            First figure, represented in an Andalusian robe of superfine Spanish lamb’s-wool cloth, of a bright amber colour; long sleeves and high-shirt of French cambric, with deep cuff and collar, edged with plaited net, or scalloped lace; bosom of the robe laced with white silk cord, and continned down the front with a row of correspondent buttons in the center. An installation cap of green velvet, edged with broad gold lace. A white veil, open in front. Shoes of green kid or jean, and gloves of the same colour.

            Second figure. – A plain cambric petticoat and Roman tunic, buttoned down the front, and trimmed at the bottom with a border of gathered muslin; plain high bosom, with rounded collar; long sleeve, gaged at regular distances, and finished with Armenian cuff. A naval scarf of Indian muslin, or royal purple silk. A hamlet hat of white chip, ornamented with purple ribbon, worn over the peasant’s cap of lace. Purple kid shoes, and gloves of York tan. Parasol to correspond.

Ackermann's Fashion Month ~ Friday - August 1810

I’m on top of things today and hopefully for the next few days. We stroll into August 1810 today.

FASHION FOR LADIES

PLATE 11. – PROMENADE OR BEACH COSTUME

            A cambric Indian muslin frock, with long sleeves, Spanish cuffs, and high front and collar, trimmed with double plaitings of French net. An Arabian vest, or tunic coat, of apple-green crape, trimmed round the bottom with two rows of violet floss binding, and tied down the front, at regular distances, with bows and ends of violet-coloured ribbon. Woodland bonnet of straw, or primrose chip, ornamented with violet-coloured ribbon. Slippers of green kid. Parasol of green Chinese silk, with deep awning. Gloves or primrose kid.

PLATE 12. – MORNING DRESS

            A white robe of French cambric or jaconot muslin, buttoned in front from the throat to the feet; German cape, and antique cuffs, edged with Vandyke lace. A plain muslin short pelisse, trimmed with the same. Cottage cap of lace, decorated on one side with a French bow and ends of violet-coloured ribbon, and tied across the crown and under the chin with a silk handkerchief of a lemon colour. Hair in dishevelled curls. Lemon-coloured kid slippers and gloves.

CHILD’S DRESS

A highland jacket and trowers, with cambric plaited tucker; slippers of purple or black kid.

Ackermann's Fashion Month ~ Thursday - July 1810

I’m running very late today. I honestly don’t know where the time goes. Anyway, today I’m looking at the fashion plates from the July 1810 edition of the Repository of Arts.

FASHION FOR LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

PLATE 4. – A BALL DRESS

A pink gossamer satin slip, with Grecian frock of white Persian gause, or undrest Italian crape; united up the front and round the bottom with silver filigree buttons and chain. The bottom trimmed with a deep Vandyke lace, and finished at the feet with the same; Spanish slash sleeve, confined with silver filigree buttons and cord. Hair à la Grecque, confined with a pearl comb; the curls parted on the forehead by the introduction of a bunch of Persian roses. Necklace, bracelets, and ear-rings of pearl. Shoes of white satin, spotted with pink foil. Gloves of French kid, below the elbow. Fan with crape, with Egyptian characters in silver.

PLATE 5. – THREE PROMENADE, OR KENSINGTON GARDEN FIGURES.

            First Figure. – A Spanish pelisse of white and lilac shot sarsnet, with Egyptian crape and antique cuffs, trimmed with Chinese scalloped binding, ornamented up the front with the same, and untied with correspondent buttons. A woodland hat of lemon-coloured chip, with curled ostrich feather, lilac and white, dropping towards the left side. Figured lemon-coloured slippers’ lemon-coloured kid gloves; gold neck-chain and broach; ridicule of painted velvet.

            Second Figure. – A round morning dress of white muslin, with appliquéd lace round the bottom; bosom and sleeves ornamented with the same. A unella veil and cloak of superfine black black French lace. Half-boots of blossom-coloured kid, laced with white. Blossom-coloured parasol, with Chinese awning.

            Third Figure. – A white cambric mornig wrap, edged with lace or needle-work. A spencer cloak, with military front and collar, composed of cornelian blue shot sarsnet, ornamented with slk basket buttons, and braids to correspond. A helmet mob cap, formed of the same material, interspersed with joining lace, and edged round the face with antique lace. Blue parasol, and half-boots of blue kid, bound and laced with black.

FASHION FOR GENTLEMEN

The mode of dress has not changed materially from the last month. The coats are cut in the skirts much narrower, and not so long in the waist, with collars long, and stand off; the back to the hips much narrower. Pantaloon and gaiters all in one, of nankeen, Buff waistcoats with yellow buttons, and blue coats, are the most prevailing colours. 

Ackermann's Fashion Month ~ Wednesday - June 1810

Today’s Fashion Plates come from the June 1810 edition of Ackermann’s Repository.

FASHION FOR LADIES

PLATE 37. – WALKING OR CARRIAGE COSTUME.

A round high robe of French cambric, with Armenian collar, and cuffs edged with narrow antique lace; three rows of appliquéd lace beading round the bottom. An Egyptian mantle of lilac shot saesnet, trimmed with broad Spanish binding, and deep thread lace. A Parisian bonnet of the same material, ornamented with narrow stripes of white satin ribbon, and trimmed at the edge with lace, or a plaiting of French net. A small French cap, and flowers appearing in front of the forehead. Chinese parasol, with deep awing of white silk. Ridicule to correspond. Lilac kid slippers or half-boots. York gloves.

Child’s dress of nankeen or buff kerseymere, of the Highland order.

PLATE 38. – EVENING OR FULL DRESS

            A round robe, with long sleeves, and demi-traine of white gossamer satin, or white crape, over pink satin slip. The Maria Louisa pelerine of the most delicate French net, trimmed round with a broad lace, and confined in the center of the bosom with a broach of pink topaz, set round with brilliants. A deep ruffle at the wrist, of lace similar to the tippet. Hair confined from the roots behind, and fastened with a Persian pin of diamonds, flowing in front, and on the side, in blended curls and ringlets: a diamond tulip or crescent in front. Necklace, ear-rings, and bracelets to correspond. Roman slippers of white kid, with silver clasps and binding. An occasional scarf of buff or purple silk, with variegated border and ends. Gloves of white French kid, and opera fan of carved ivory.

SECOND FIGURE

            A white crape, leno, or net frock, over a blue sarsuet slip; short sleeve, rather full; the bosom and bottom of the sleeve furnished with a border of small blue roses; the bottom of the frock edged with scalloped lace: the eagle’s paw clasp of silver confines the extremity of the waist. The ornaments are pearl, and the shoes white satin.