Author Archives: Maria Grace

To be an Accomplished Lady

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Regency women strove to become an accomplished lady, but what did that mean? During the Regency era, a proper education was crucial to a middle or upper class young lady’s future. Since a woman’s only ‘proper’ aspiration was to marriage, her education focused on making her noticeable to potential husbands. Her accomplishments enabled her to display cultural distinction and set herself apart from women who were merely ‘notable’—those who could only manage a household but … Continue reading →

A library chat and an exciting announcement!

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 The last week has been a bit of a whirlwind, trying to get back into my groove again. I ended up taking a bit of a break away from fiction writing–one because my excessively flighty muse finally decided to reveal the missing piece of my WIP “Pert Opinions and Fine Eyes’. While I’m completely thrilled that I now understand what was missing, it does mean I have to totally rewrite the first half of the … Continue reading →

When it rains…

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  I missed checking in last week, we had an unexpected death in the family that made everything turn upside down.  Our cousin’s husband had been battle genetic kidney disease all his life.  a number of years ago, as a last resort, unable to find a transplant organ, our cousin, his wife, gave him one of her kidneys. It was not an ideal match, but against all odds, the transplant was very successful. A few … Continue reading →

A Touch of Quill and Ink: Regency Letter Writing

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Before telegraphs or telephones, email or texts, Twitter or Facebook, letter writing was the only way to maintain connections with distant family and friends. During the Regency era, writing letters, reading them, and sharing the news they contained was an essential part of social life, one largely slated for the women of the household.  Typically, women would write letters in the morning, before breakfast. They kept track of the letters they received and to whom … Continue reading →

Anne Reflects on the Crofts Arrival at Kellynch

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It is Michaelmas and Anne’s thoughts turn toward Kellynch and the Crofts who have now taken residence there.   “WOULD YOU CARE FOR some blackberry jam?” Charles Hayter asked, lifting the dish in her direction. Oh bother, she must stop daydreaming before someone at the dinner table took notice, or worse, offense! Anne smiled, “Thank you, yes. I think I shall miss picking them.” “It is a shame there are still so many on the bushes … Continue reading →