That title is a little misleading. As we hover on the edge of 2012, the books I’m thinking of are those that made the deepest impression on me in the old year, that impacted or changed me in some way. – Frances Osborne’s The Bolter, which set me off on my Kenya project. – Kate [...]

Welcome to the last reading round-up of the old year! Next time we convene our virtual salon, it will be 2012. Bizarre, no? As the old year barreled to a close, this is what I was reading: – Eve Stachniak, The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great. Catherine’s ascension seen through the eyes [...]

The Orchid Affair twines very closely to some actual historical events and figures. Here are some musings on Orchid Affair and the intersection of fiction and history that I scribbled for The Muse in the Fog. Only five more days until The Orchid Affair comes out in paperback!

The Orchid Affair comes out in paperback one week from today! In honor of Orchid‘s upcoming paperback publication, here are some Fun Facts about The Orchid Affair. – The Orchid Affair was inspired by a Susan Isaacs novel called Shining Through. Okay, if I’m being honest, it was inspired by the moviebased on the novel [...]

The holiday contest is still up and running! If you haven’t already placed your vote for the character you would most like to see in a bonus chapter, pop on by. The polls close on December 31. I’ll be announcing the winner on January 2nd (or 3rd, depending on how much totting up I have [...]

I tend to associate the day after Christmas with biographies (for some reason, those show up a lot in my stocking) and slightly squished chocolate. You’re on your own with the chocolate, but if you like biographies, you’ll probably enjoy: – Antonia Fraser’s Mary Queen of Scots. (This book is the direct cause of my [...]

This is something of a reading round-up in reverse. Instead of the books I’ve already read this week, these are the books I have stashed away to read over the holiday: – Kate Morton’s The Distant Hours I’ve been saving this one as a bribe for finishing the 1920s book. It isn’t quite done, but…. [...]

The Mischief of the Mistletoe is a Night Owl Reviews Top Pick! Night Owl Reviews calls Mistletoe “fun and fabulous”, concluding that all “of these books are sweet, funny and full of intrigue. With the appearance of Jane Austen, I think this was one of my favorites.” Thanks, Danya!

For those of you who aren’t on Facebook, here are my two favorite renditions of The Twelve Days of Christmas. First, the inimitable Scottish Sock Puppets: Next up (thanks, Hilly!), Straight No Chaser: Enjoy!

You all are wonderful. Reading your reactions to the Ivy & Intrigue outtakes made my day. I wish I could give a copy of Ivy & Intrigue to everyone, but since I can’t, the novella goes to… … Kiley! (of Comment #15) Congrats, Kiley! Just email me with your snail mail and I’ll pop the [...]