Chalk on the Dance Floor: A Regency Tradition

The Regency era. The words inspire thoughts of elegant gowns modeled after Grecian goddesses, elegant balls, and of course the historical romances we can't get enough of.

But one thing I didn't hear about until I started researching balls and soirees for The Earl's Scandalous Lady was the use of chalk on dance floors.

Side note: did anyone else try eating chalk as a kid?

Okay, so it didn't quite look like this. But according to Historical Hussies (http://historicalhussies.blogspot.com/2013/08/regency-ballrooms.html), the wealthiest ton hostesses would have elaborate chalk drawings done on their dance floors.  Not only did this provide traction for dancing slippers, but it spoke to the wealth and prestige of the house. Historical Hussies' article also provides an excellent summary of the types of dance floors and how ballrooms were laid out for big events.

The Queluz National Palace Ballroom, located in Queluz, Portugal

Thanks to Cheri Champagne for the photo!

Fast Facts for Writers

Unfortunately images of this practice were hard to come by.  But for those historical writers out there, a couple fast facts in case you want to use this for future projects:

• This was a practice done most commonly between 1808 and 1821.
• Not a standard practice for just any ball. Events had to be special, and usually only the wealthiest families did this.
• Artists were hired to do the drawings.
• Designs could be anything: nymphs, symbols, flowers, or even people.
• Dancers would rub chalk on the bottom of their slippers to prevent slipping, especially during the more vigorous dances.
• Hostesses with more worn floors could use the chalk to their advantage: wow their guests with their beautiful designs, ensure the safety of dancers and cover up their home's flaws.

Did I Step On His Nose?

The best, and perhaps unique, drawing example I found was courtesy of Donna Hatch and Allison Thompson, who shared that at the annual hunt ball in Warwick in 1813 "...the floor of the ballroom sported a colored-chalk full-length figure of Guy, Earl of Warwick, 'in complete armor,' as well as another gentleman 'in the uniform of a Member of the hunt,' taking a flying leap over a barred fence."

I personally would find it a little odd to look down and be happily dancing across someone's face. 

But maybe that's just me...

Thank You

The articles below, especially the one by Kathryn Kane, were very helpful in researching this practice. While I only make a brief reference to it during a scene where my hero and heroine end up out in the garden together at a ball (scandalous!), I love slipping in those unique details that make the past come alive.

Resources

• Historical Hussies: http://historicalhussies.blogspot.com/2013/08/regency-ballrooms.html
• Cheri Champagne: http://cherichampagneauthor.blogspot.com/2012/10/something-british-monday-in-drawing-room.html
• Donna Hatch: http://donnahatch.com/regency-ballrooms/
• Kathryn Kane: https://regencyredingote.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/the-now-vanished-ephemeral-art-chalking-the-regency-ballroom-floor/
• Allison Thompson: http://www.jasna.org/persuasions/on-line/vol31no1/thompson.html

Book Review: Murphy's Law (Historical Suspense with a Dash of Romance)

I recently took a lovely vacation to Florida for a mini girls' reunion. 6 days away from home meant I needed to pack at least book per day. Thank God for Southwest, where I can take a suitcase of books and not pay extra.

On my trip from Kansas City to the coast I happened to crack open the pages of my now new favorite mystery series...

Quick synopsis, courtesy of Goodreads:

Molly Murphy always knew she'd end up in trouble, just as her mother predicted. So, when she commits murder in self-defense, she flees her cherished Ireland, under cover of a false identity, for the anonymous shores of late nineteenth-century America. When she arrives in New York and sees the welcoming promise of freedom in the Statue of Liberty, Molly begins to breathe easier. But when a man is murdered on Ellis Island, a man Molly was seen arguing with, she becomes a prime suspect in the crime.

If she can't clear her name, Molly will be sent back to Ireland where the gallows await, so using her Irish charm and sharp wit, she escapes Ellis Island and sets out to find the wily killer on her own. Pounding the notorious streets of Hell's Kitchen and the Lower East Side, Molly undertakes a desperate mission to clear her name before her deadly past comes back to haunt her new future.

Bowen pulled me in right from the beginning with her vivid descriptions, from Molly's frantic train ride from the scene of her crime to the elegant streets and shops just a few streets away from poverty-stricken burrows in London to the bowels of a ship stuffed with immigrants on it's Atlantic crossing.  I cared not just for Molly but for all the immigrants; little details were used to great advantage, and it definitely provided me with a fresh perspective on this time period.  The scene where the immigrants disembark see Lady Liberty for the first time was especially moving.

The mystery itself, as some on Goodreads have pointed out, was a little too convenient at times, but I didn't guess the bad guy 'til it was revealed at the end, and it was still a fun ride.  I am a romance junkie (gasp! Who knew?), so the developing relationship between Molly and handsome Detective Sullivan was an added treat.

The best way to demonstrate my love for this series is that I went out to three bookstores and tried to find the next one...

That face when you can't find your book 

and you want it NOOOOOW...

But alas, it was not to be. Which resulted in a mad dash to Amazon to promptly order the next three...

If It Was a Movie...

Something new I'm trying for my book review posts: picking out actors and actresses who would play the lead roles if the book were made into a movie. For Murphy's Law:

Karen Gillan as Molly Murphy

Aside from hailing from the same region as Molly (Karen is from Scotland), this girl kicks butt as Amy Pond, companion to the Eleventh Doctor in the rebooted Doctor Who, and as Nebula, the devilish blue fiend in Guardians of the Galaxy. Perfect for feisty, independent Molly Murphy.

Peter Mooney as Detective Daniel Sullivan

Peter Mooney hails from the other side of the pond, namely Canada, and served as Officer Nick Collins in the series Rookie Blue. Aside from being boyishly handsome it wasn't hard to picture Peter in the role of Detective Daniel Sullivan, an intelligent and charismatic member of the police force who doesn't quite know how to handle the relentless Irish immigrant he knows is hiding something. His attraction to a potential murder suspect doesn't make it easy, and even more so when she keeps showing up wherever there's trouble.

Final Tally: 

4.5 stars and highly recommend!

Book Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15793189-murphy-s-law

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Murphys-Law-Murphy-Mystery-Mysteries/dp/1250014085/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

So It's Been Awhile...Life & Updates

The Last Time You Saw Me...

So the last time I blogged I had made a commitment to be a regular blogger.  But life has a funny way of upsetting even the most carefully laid plans...

WARNING: Personal details ahead.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Some strange occurrences with my body prompted me to seek out a new nurse practitioner.  I was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a not uncommon hormonal disorder that can cause fertility complications...and acne that reminded me of the good 'ole days of high school.

My nurse practitioner, Linda* (an amazing woman who I consider a miracle in disguise), was very positive about my chances for being able to control my symptoms and go on to have a family.

Ladies, if you've got the following symptoms consider talking to your doctor, nurse practitioner or health care provider:

• Irregular monthly cycle
• Obesity/weight gain/overweight
• Acne or oily skin
• Infertility
• Type 2 diabetes
• Depression
• Loss of scalp hair
• Excessive body hair (back, face, etc.)

Learn more from this amazing website that's been a valuable resource and support network for me: http://pcosdiva.com/.

Of course these symptoms can represent other things.  But I'm so glad I spoke with Linda and got some answers as well as a healthcare plan for my future.  It's been a gradual adjustment, but I'm excited to move forward and overcome my challenges (with some amazing support from friends and family).

A New Beginning & Silver Linings

I also unexpectedly moved to a new apartment, and while the move was hard it's turned out to have a number of silver linings.  I recently accepted a new job that I'll start in August.  Not only will I love the work, but the schedule will be more flexible for my writing (and reading!).  I'm also closer to my family, including my mom, dad and stepfather, as well as numerous friends...

Not gonna lie, the Barnes & Noble and Half-Priced Books 15 minutes from my apartment versus over an hour from my old house is an extra bonus!




Writing Updates

Despite all the crazy changes in my life I've been slowly but surely plugging away at my book.  I recently entered the Royal Ascot contest and will hear back on finals by the end of May.  I'm actually remembering to show, not tell, and the character development process has grown much easier thanks to the constant feedback and support from my family, friends, critique group and Heartland Romance Authors.

Moving Forward

So here it is...another commitment to blog at least once a month starting now.  Otherwise, I'll see you all in another few months!

  

So It's Been Awhile/NaNoWriMo 2015

So It's Been Awhile

When I first stared this account I made a commitment to blog at least once a month, if not two to four times a month.

Yeah...

Life happened, as it always seems to do.  I went to Paris with Hubby for our five year-anniversary.  I decided to do a thesis for my master's degree because I figured graduate school alone wasn't painful enough.  I bemoaned my lack of writing ability too many times to count, ripped up my kitchen floor, ripped up my bathroom floor, tried to build new shelves for my mudroom, continued to work full-time, continued to work part-time, and bemoaned some more.

However, I'm happy to report that I'm not only back to writing (and not just on my blog), but as of Sunday I entered a writing contest.  One more step towards getting published.

NaNoWriMo15

It was during this re-commitment process to my dream career of being a romance author that a friend on Twitter pointed out that National Novel Writing Month, affectionately nicknamed NaNoWriMo, was just a few weeks away.

If you haven't heard of NaNoWriMo, it's when thousands of published and unpublished writers attempt to write a 50,000-word novel in one month.  The clock starts ticking at 12:01 a.m. on November 1 and seems to speed up at an alarming rate until 11:59 p.m. on November 30.

Some decry NaNoWriMo, arguing that writing a quality novel in that length of time is almost impossible.  Others believe it's simply a way to get words on paper and that the writer can go back and edit at a later date.

I tried it last year.  I got about 10,000 words in when that dreaded combination of writer's block and fear choked me.

Despite my less than amazing experience with it last year, after some internal debate I decided to give it another shot.  My schedule (fingers crossed) will be a lot calmer in November.  And one of my biggest problems with writing is getting words on paper.  I'm a perfectionist and a horrid critic of my own work (although what author isn't).  Too many times I'll write a sentence only to hate it and get fixated on making it perfect.  So what could have been a productive half hour turns into 30 minutes of me stabbing the paper with my pencil.

I've also learned a lot in the past year.  I've continued to have amazing support from the Heartland Romance Authors group (http://www.heartlandromanceauthors.com/) as well as Hubby, family, and close friends.  I've learned to identify my areas of weakness as well as play to my strengths as an author.  I've also been working on an outline that I'll have done prior to November, something I need desperately as a writer.  While some can just write by the seat of their pants, I do best with a guideline.

If you're a writer who's considering tackling the beast known as NaNoWriMo, I've included two links below that provide good resources and good advice.  

At the very least, try it once.  If you succeed, remember to stop by my blog again.  If you curse the existence of whoever encouraged you to take on such a ridiculous, hair-pulling, profanity-inducing endeavor, send me your address and I'll send chocolate.

Happy writing, everyone!

• How to Prepare for NaNoWriMo: To Outline or Not to Outline by Brian Klems: http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/how-to-prepare-for-nanowrimo-to-outline-or-not-to-outline
• 25 Things You Should Know About NaNoWriMo by Chuck Wendig: http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2011/10/04/25-things-you-should-know-about-nanowrimo/ (WARNING! Some graphic content).

Homemade Poison Ivy Treatments

Since I've struggled to write a blog post on writing for the past few months, I decided to do one on another topic that is near to my heart: gardening.

Beware the Fuzzy Ones

I've been working on doing some landscaping this year in addition to planting my flowers, vegetables and herbs.  My projects have included building some raised flower beds, digging up a section of my yard for a path and creating a fire pit.

I have a couple island flower beds in the middle of my yard, mostly hydrangeas and little trees with a ring of irises.  I like the beds, but in recent years they've become covered in climbing ivy and were a pain to mow around.  So I decided to rip out the ivy, add some more irises and lilies, and put in a border.

I've been fortunate that in the five years we've owned our house I've never gotten poison ivy, despite my penchant for running around barefoot and gardening in shorts and flip-flops.  I didn't see any poison ivy leaves, and after the afternoon started to warm up I shed my gloves and began digging and pulling weeds barehanded.  This included occasionally swiping my hand across my brow, scratching at my arm, etc.

The next day my left eye had swelled to the point I had trouble seeing.  The day after that the left side of my face swelled and erupted in a red rash that spread down my neck, dotted my chest, stomach and arms, coated my left thigh and continued to wind its way down to my feet.  Turns out I had struck the mother lode of poison ivy vines and roots sans leaves.

So what's a girl to do when the desire to scratch those nasty welts overwhelms the desire to finish my favorite author's latest book?

Homemade remedies!  A couple of them that I've tested:

Apple Cider Vinegar

I dabbed a paper towel in plain apple cider vinegar and rubbed it on the welts.  Caution: it burns like the devil when you first put it on, but the desire to itch was gone very quickly.   The one downside is that I have to apply it more often than other remedies.  Some blogs and websites recommend diluting the vinegar with water.

Straight from the Source Aloe

Do you have access to an aloe plant?  Cut off one of the leaves and squeeze out the gel.  Apply directly to the rash.  It was nice and cool, but the vinegar provided more itch relief.

Baking Soda Paste

There are a couple ways to use baking soda against poison ivy.  I tried using the cup of baking soda in a warm bath, and even after dumping in an additional three cups I didn't get too much relief.  However, I've had some friends swear by it.  I've mixed up a paste (Live Strong recommends three parts baking soda to one part water: http://www.livestrong.com/article/87378-baking-powder-poison-ivy-cure/).  I've had more luck with this method for itch relief, but don't plan on going anywhere for awhile.

Others to Consider:

I've also heard recommendations on oatmeal paste, limestone paste and tea tree oil.  Reader's Digest offers great recommendations on 10 home remedies for relieving itching: http://www.rd.com/slideshows/poison-ivy-home-remedies/.

Always make sure to double check any remedy before you give it a try, and I advise using it on a small spot first.

The Writing Side

On the plus side this whole episode, including my amazing hubby holding my hand while the doctor had to give me a shot in the behind (yes, I'm a weenie), has inspired a scene for one of my books.  If anyone asks, I'm just that dedicated of a writer that I decided to put myself in my heroine's shoes.

Happy gardening, everyone!

Owning My Love of Romance Novels

I'm sitting in one of my favorite restaurants, a locally owned bistro filled with the gentle hum of conversation and the soft rhythms of a guitar from a local performer.  I'm thoroughly enjoying my book and sipping on my tea when someone I know from work walks in.

Crap.

 

Maybe if I just raise the book a little higher they won't be able to tell it's me.  But oh, nope, too late.  They've seen me.  They're walking over and I return their smile even as I try to think about the best way to position the book so they can't see the lady who's having her dress peeled off by a half-naked hunk on the cover.

We make small talk and they ask the inevitable. 

"So what are you reading?"

"Uh...it's a really good book about...spies.  Yeah, spies during the Napoleon Wars."

The co-worker's brow arches.  "Oh.  It looks like a romance novel."

"Uh, yeah.  There's a little bit of romance in it, but it has a great mystery."

Does this scenario sound familiar?  One of the reasons romance books are leading e-book sales is due in part to many fans of the genre being too embarrassed to carry romance novels around in public.  Many are concerned about the ridicule, good-natured or not, that can accompany this simple admission; “I like reading romance books.”  

Men and women alike take all kinds of sides in this argument.  Some bemoan the addiction of the modern woman to the sappy romance genre.  Others argue that they create unrealistic expectations of relationships, sexual intimacy and the idea of true love.  Some just flat out refer to it as trash and the people who read them “crazy.”  One article (http://www.livescience.com/14985-romance-novels-bad-women-health-psyche-psychologist.html) talks about how reading romance books can be bad for a woman’s health and her psyche.  The psychologist mentions how there’s even a correlation between reading romance books and negative views towards condoms (side note: safe sex is important.  But how many readers think of rolling on a condom as sexy or want to read about it when they’re simply trying to enjoy a book?  If you do, awesome, but not my preferred cup of tea). 

That’s not to say that some readers don’t take it too far.  But to assume that every reader of romance can’t function in a healthy relationship, doesn’t have a brain or can’t handle reality is eye roll-inducing at minimum.

It was all of this and more that led to my years of carefully hiding books or even refraining from reading them in public places.  It wasn’t until I committed to my writing earlier this year that I made a decision.  I liked reading romance novels.  Yes, I enjoy reading other types of books, but I was going to stop making excuses for it and at times even lying about it.  I enjoy reading romance simply because I enjoy it.  The character development, the sexual tension, the first realizations of love, and the occasional mystery all keep me reading well past my bedtime.  I love how far the genre has come in featuring heroes and heroines from different backgrounds, cultures, times and even traumatic situations.  I also enjoy the more realistic portrayal of relationships, multiple conflicts included, but I always smile and sigh when the book ends on a happily ever after note.  It’s one of the best parts of the genre.  Even though I want the characters to be flawed and have seemingly insurmountable obstacles tossed in their path, I also want the trope kiss and “I love you.”

A couple weeks ago I was getting ready to walk down to my favorite restaurant, book in hand.  One of my male co-workers asked what I was reading.  Rather than skirt the issue, I smiled big and said “A historical romance.”  He smirked and asked “Like a Fabio book?”  “Yes,” I replied, “but the hero has better hair” (sorry, Fabio, no hard feelings).

I don’t take my half-naked heroes and heroines and rub them in people’s faces.  I don’t read intimate scenes out loud just so people know that I read romance.  But I don’t shy away from the topic anymore.  When someone says, “Oh, my mom/grandma/great-aunt reads those” I now respond with a smile and a “Oh, cool!  Who’s their favorite author?” rather than a blush of shame.

Everyone has their own preferred genre.  My husband prefers the old-school style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle along with more recent sci-fi works like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.  One of my co-workers (we’ll call him Dan) enjoys non-fiction books on hunting.  If I had to read one of these hunting books, I would moan, groan and probably start to pull my hair out by page ten.  But for Dan it’s a true pleasure.  And in the end isn’t that all that matters?

Your Body on Stress: Incorporating Reality Into Your Novel

This is a slightly different type of post than my previous ones.  The idea came for it when I hit a serious case of writer's block trying to describe a chase scene involving my heroine.  As I was describing the scene I realized that while the reader would get a pretty good idea of how the action was occurring they had zero idea of what the heroine was experiencing.  Was she scared?  Was she hot, cold, numb, in shock, terrified?

I tried to go back and add some detail but everything just sounded cliche:

• "Her heart raced."  
• "Her heart leapt in her throat."
• "Her blood pounded in her ears."

My amazing hubby obliged me by sitting in the living room and acting out the scene to get a better idea of how the action would progress, what my heroine would feel, etc.

While I got more ideas for action (and hid a smile at my super tall hubby pretending to get thrown off a horse), I still got very little in the way of content for describing what my heroine was going though.  My college physiological psychology professor would be so proud if he knew that my next step was to start looking at how the body physically responds to stress.

So what does happen?  We all know some of the telltale signs, racing heart and frantic breathing included.  But what are some of the other symptoms we experience, not just physically but emotionally? 

HelpGuide.org provided an excellent table that summed up a tidy list of symptoms that people can experience during stressful situations:

Stress Warning Signs and Symptoms
Cognitive Symptoms	Emotional Symptoms
Memory problems Inability to concentrate Poor judgment Seeing only the negative Anxious or racing thoughts Constant worrying	Moodiness Irritability or short temper Agitation, inability to relax Feeling overwhelmed Sense of loneliness and isolation Depression or general unhappiness
Physical Symptoms	Behavioral Symptoms
Aches and pains Diarrhea or constipation Nausea, dizziness Chest pain, rapid heartbeat Loss of sex drive Frequent colds	Eating more or less Sleeping too much or too little Isolating yourself from others Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)

While the symptoms were general they still provided an excellent starting point for me to incorporate more detail and show the event through my heroine's eyes versus simply telling the reader what was happening (one of my biggest weaknesses).

This chart is a great jumping point for those who need a quick idea or are great about adding on detail.  I still wanted to get some additional insight to make sure future scenes didn't mirror this one too closely, so I collected a few more resources that I've included below:

• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/19/body-stress-response_n_2902073.html
• http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/stress-symptoms/art-20050987
• http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-symptoms-causes-and-effects.htm
• http://www.healthline.com/health/stress/effects-on-body
• http://www.patient.co.uk/health/acute-stress-reaction-leaflet

I finally got a first draft of my chase scene down.  It will definitely undergo some changes during the rewriting and editing phases, but it was a step in the right direction.

The research also helped me realize that yes, some of my characters' responses were going to sound banal because many people experience the same symptoms when faced with stressful situations.  

I enjoy writing.  If that means that my heroine's heart "beats wildly in her chest" or "her face turned pale," so be it.

As always, thanks for reading!

-Scarlett