You could WIN one of Four GRAND PRIZES!

Historical Romance Club is celebrating it's 4th Anniversary with a HUGE Contest! With over Forty books generously donated by some of your favorite Romance Authors, we are giving away Four GRAND PRIZES. The Diamond Prize Package; The Ruby Prize Package; The Emerald Prize Package; and The Sapphire Prize Package. Each package contains a mix of both eBooks and Print Books.

Prize List:

The Diamond Prize Package:

Faery Special Romances (print and bath salts) by Jacquie Rogers
The Importance of Almack's (ebook) by Denise Patrick
In the Wind's Eye (ebook) by Charlotte Boyett-Compo
Long Strange Trip (print) by Vicki Gaia
Midnight Magic (print - hardcover) by Shari Anton
Midnight Marriage (ebook) by Jean Fullerton
Secrets in the Annex (ebook) by Ann Cory
Summer Wind (ebook) by Charlotte Boyett-Compo
Tethers (ebook) by Sara Reinke
The Tribute (ebook) by Beth Williamson
Twilight's Kiss (print) by Marly Mathews

The Ruby Prize Package:

The Accidental Countess (ebook) by Melissa Schroeder
A Knight of Passion (ebook) by Ingela F. Hyatt
Allegra's Seduction (ebook) by Monica M. Martin
Always, My Love (ebook) by Phyllis Campbell
An Unexpected Engagement (print) by Sara Reinke
The Cheiftain's Bride (ebook) by Kate Hill
I'll Be Yours (ebook) by Marly Mathews
The Irish Countess (print) by Janet Quinn
The Mad Knight's Bride (print) by Kate Hill
Melting Iron (print) by Ann Cory
Sword of Rhoswen (ebook) by Brenda Williamson

The Emerald Prize Package:

A Dark Guardian (ebook) by Donna Grant
A Knight of Passion (print) by Ingela F. Hyatt
Come The Night (print) by Angelique Armae
Crossing the Line (print) by Catherine Stang
Dance of Desire (print) by Catherine Kean
My Lady's Protector: Knight of Pentacles (ebook) by Monica M. Martin
Prisoners of the Wind (ebook) by Charlotte Boyett-Compo
Twilight's Kiss (ebook) by Marly Mathews
Under a Warlock's Spell (ebook) by Ann Cory
Vows Of Deception (ebook) by Phyllis Campbell
The WyndMaster's Lady (ebook) by Charlotte Boyett-Compo

The Sapphire Prize Package:

Book of Days (ebook) by Sara Reinke
Cradle the Light (ebook) by Vicki Gaia
Cutlasses and Caresses (ebook) by Jean Fullerton
Dead Walkers The Protectorate (ebook) by Angelique Armae
The Earl's Enchantment (ebook) by Sara Freeze
Holding Out For A Hero (ebook) by Phyllis Campbell
In Sunshine or In Shadow (print) by Cynthia Owens
The Kilted Governess (ebook) by Janet Quinn
The Passenger (print) by Joie Lesin
Silk and Magic 2 (print) by M.A. duBarry
WindFall (print) by Charlotte Boyett-Compo

How to Enter:

Simply visit HRC ( http://www.HistoricalRomanceClub.com ) and click on the Contest Logo at the top of the Romance News on the index page. Be sure to read through the Contest Rules before filling out the entry form...And remember, you must be 18 or older to enter. ;)

Contest Closes:

July 31, 2007 at 9:00pm EDT, so hurry and enter today!

And while you're visiting HRC, check out our extensive list of HRC Authors, Reviews, and Interviews.

Ingela F. Hyatt
Editor & Publisher
Historical Romance Club
http://www.HistoricalRomanceClub.com

"Where daring Damsels meet noble Knights between the Covers..."

Laundry Day Through History

It's a
Wishy-Washy Subject

People have been washing clothes (or furs) for a long time. Most sites say that humans finally got a clue that good hygiene made for better health. I'm of the opinion that people liked to be comfortable then as now. Their skin chafed and got rashes just like ours does, so it stands to reason that they'd want to rid themselves of particulate matter just as we do. Take a look P&G's overview of laundry methods from prehistoric times until the present for good information on products used, and when.

But, lazy person that I am, I'm more interested in gadgets, so let's start a little later in the game . . . say, the 1800s.

The washboard appears to be invented in 1797 and none of the sources cite the inventor, so we'll let that one slide. Before that, in Lancaster, England, Mr. Rogerson received a patent for the machine he invented to 'wash, press out water and to press linen and wearing apparel.'

In the US, Hamilton Smith invented the rotary washing machine in 1858. Try as I might, I couldn't find a single picture of it or a facsimile. :sigh:

The next great step forward in the history of laundry is the invention of the electric motor to drive the agitation, and in 1907, the Hurley Corporation came out with the "Thor." This washer had a wooden tub, and the motor was mounted underneath to drive the paddles. It had two drawbacks: 1) many pre-WW1 houses had no electricity, and 2) because of the unprotected motor, on occasion a laundress was electrocuted, which, shall we say, dampened their spirits some.

Before I forget, if you wanna know about the Japanese evolution of washers, try the Toshiba Museum.


The 1911 Maytag Model 42 had a swinging, reversable wringer--definitely a plus for the lady of the house! You can see many vintage washing machines on the Maytag Collectors Club page.

Several other improvements were made along the way, including the Maytag 1918 model which featured a revolving cylinder that forced water through tumbling clothes.



From museumofcommunications.org:
Western Electric distributed this washing machine in 1924. As an advertisement of the time said, "Here is a Clothes Washer that combines pleasing appearance with the stoutly-built mechanism needed to get clothes really clean." I dunno . . . we're still not quite to a machine that I'd trust with a nice blouse.




How about durability? The Maytag Model E was manufactured from 1939 until 1983. My mother had one of these, and it lasted for 30 years of heavy use. I doubt very seriously that the machines manufactured today will be able to make such a boast.

Several washing methods were developed, but only two stood the test of time: agitating (top loaders) and tumbling (front loaders). Agitating landed the majority of the American market, but the Europeans preferred front loaders. Here's a 1950 front loader.


Whatever washing methods we choose, I'm just glad we have one. Happy writing, and enjoy your nice, freshly laundered clothes.

Jacquie



Jacquie Rogers
2006 PEARL Award Winner, Best Short Story
Faery Special Romances Available now!
Check out the book video
Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

--
Posted By Jacquie to Unusual Historicals at 5/27/2007 07:39:00 AM
__._,_.___

Festival of Stars!

Sometimes I let my scribe post things. This time, she's posting a review of a book she read. I'm telling you, my scribe is a total sucker for faery tales!

Festival of Stars
by Eilis Flynn
ISBN: 978-1419909054
Publisher: Cerridwen Press

Who doesn't love fairytales? Eilis Flynn pens a compelling story of two lovers destined to be together, yet driven apart. The ravens flock to urge the lovers together in the Japanese tradition of Tanabata--Festival of Stars.

Dare Borodin learned early in life to hide his half-Japanese heritage. Kristin Olafsson takes great pride in her mixed heritage, using cultural skills learned from her Japanese mother and her Swedish grandmother.

When first the ravens flocked, Dare had broken his wrist in a car accident and went to the ER for treatement. Dr. Kristin Olafsson confused him with her Japanese looks and Swedish height. He managed to say everything wrong; needless to say, the lovers weren't meant to be together that night. Two years later, he hurt his knee, and once again Dr. Olafsson treated him. The stars seemed more aligned this time, but a terrible faux pas separated the couple once more.

What an incredible interweaving of Japanese tradition and modern romance! Kristin and Dare are wonderful characters in this story of love, loss, and loving again. Ms. Flynn ties ravens, a second chance, racial prejudice, and true love altogether in a riveting story--a romantic tale to warm your heart.

I highly recommend this book!

http://www.cerridwenpress.com/productpage.asp?ISBN=9781419909054

reviewed by Jacquie Rogers
author of Faery Special Romances
Highland Press

Faery Special Romances by Jacquie Rogers

Once Upon A Time, the faery princess Keely tried to match . . .. . . a misguided faery maiden and a surly but handsome knight, the pirate Devlin Angell and the ever-hopeful Myra, a faery under the ruse of Lord Kembell and a lady of noble birth, a blacksmith and a duchess, a flapper and a barnstormer pilot . . .But can Keely keep her own heart?



read more | digg story

Sparkles to Celebrate!

Yes, I'm celebrating!!! My editor has approved the galley and Faery Special Romances is now officially being printed. That means . . . drum roll please . . . there will be an actual, real paper book SOON! Like in a few weeks.

Sherry Walker is busy making Faery Good Bath Salts. Sherrie Holmes is making the most wondrous cards using my cover, and Hurricane Mercedes, well, who knows what she's doing. She sure keeps my scribe hopping, though.

TTFN,
Keely

I've Been Tagged! (Thanks, Glo!)

I've been tagged by Samhain author Gloria Wiederhold. This is very cool because most of the time, my scribe (Jacquie Rogers) is tagged, but no one EVER tags me. So thanks, Glo!

Directions - POST RULES...

1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.

2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.

3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.

4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.



EIGHT RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME


1. In contemporary times, I'm about 950 years old--but very mature for my age, of course.

2. I'm a princess. While my mum has been occasionally criticized for being overindulgent, she sees the need for me to have a variety of experiences for when I begin my reign as Queen of Faeries.

3. My first starring role was in Faery Good Advice. Due to my excellent performance, my scribe won the 2006 P.E.A.R.L. Award from ParaNormal Romance Readers for best short story. You can read the story in No Law Against Love, and again, with a new, satisfying ending (the real one) Faery Special Romances to be released later this month.

4. My first love was the handsome Caedmon, Chief of Portal Police. He didn't even look at me twice, though, since he was completely enamored with Gracie, who was posing as a man so she could play a woman's role in Bill Shakespeare's play, Much Ado About Nothing.

5. Myra gave me quite a run for my money during my first stint as faery godmother. Good grief, you just try finding a son of a viscount for a barmaid!

6. I'm quite a good matchmaker. Several of my couples are living their Happily Ever After's, thanks to moi.

7. My scribe is donating all royalties to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending Neurofibromatosis through Research.

8. Faery Special Romances will be released this month!!! Now, I'm waiting for a Hollywood director to cast me as leading lady in the next summer blockbuster. It's only a matter of time.

I'm tagging these 8 people:
Desperate Writer
Meagan Hatfield
Celia May Hart
Gabrielle Luthy
Shelli Stevens
Heather Hiestand
Eilis Flynn
M.J. Sager

My Name in Lights!

I think she could have put my picture in there one more time. I am the star, you know.

Contest!

A very good friend of mine has written a terrific book that will be released by Cerridwen Press on April 10, called THE SLEEPER AWAKES. It's a real treat for use fantasy readers who like a touch of romance. See my blog of April 7 for a review.

So, you say, what's this about a contest? Subscribe to Eilis Flynn's newsletter, and you could be eligible to win Blue Moon Enchantment, 15 stories about the magic of romance under a blue moon, written by 15 authors. One of those authors is my scribe, Jacquie Rogers. All you have to do is:

Send an email to EilisFlynn@aol.com and cc to jacquierogers@gmail.com. Be sure to put NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION in the subject line. And voila! You could be the winner. I'll even convince my scribe to include some Faery Good Bath Salts. What could be better than a therapeutic soak and a good book?

TTFN
Keely

The Sleeper Awakes by Eilis Flynn

Woot! My scribe's friend, Eilis Flynn is partying this week, because her latest The Sleeper Awakes, is available April 10!!!

I asked my scribe to post her review again, and here it is:

The Sleeper Awakes
by Eilis Flynn
April 2007, Cerridwen Press

Ms. Flynn pens a fantastical tale of adventure and love. Catherine Deveney doesn't have long to live. She has a malignant tumor, a crippled leg, and a lover who would love to marry her to get her insurance money. An earthquake hits Seattle and Cat is crushed under a table. When she awakens, she's in a foreign land with strange people and a macabre natural disaster--waterfire.

Strian, Prince of Kurit and brother to the Court, is suspicious of Cat and suspects her of spying for the man who killed his nephew while attempting to usurp the throne. But the prince needs her for the Ritual to stay the power of the waterfire and save the kingdom from certain destruction.

The love of the people in Kurit helps Cat become a determined woman, bold enough to fulfill her duty to the people. She agrees to accompany Strian in a physically and mentally challenging quest to complete the Ritual. But her heart has been wounded in her other life, so can she be brave enough to let Strian into her heart?

This debut book pulled me in from the first page and kept me reading way past my bedtime. If you love fantasy with a dollop of romance, this is the book for you. Eilis Flynn is a author to remember, and is definitely a new addition to my autobuy list!


reviewed by Jacquie Rogers
author of Faery Special Romances
May 2007, Highland Press
Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation
ending neurofibromatosis through research

Mike Duncan - Awesome Music!

Why would a faery hang around the Human World, you ask? Because some humans do have magic. They really do. One of them is Mike Duncan. He's so good, both my scribe and my portrait artist added his song to their myspace pages.

See for yourself:



TTFN!
Keely

Visit me at myspace

Dragon's Lair

All things great and small, right? So my scribe talked me into this. But you wait . . . next week these yayhoos will be colored gone! ~~Keely

P.E.A.R.L. Award Winner!

And the Winner Is . . .

I'm very happy to announce that my short story, Faery Good Advice, a short story in No Law Against Love, has won the P.E.A.R.L. Award for Best Short Story!




Winner 2006 PEARL
ParaNormal Excellence Award in Romantic Literature
Faery Good Advice for Best Short Story/Novella

This is the story where I got my big break, as you know. Originally, I was holding out for a blockbuster movie, but hey, a faery's gotta eat, ya know? So I took this small gig starring in a short story. Yes, I know, practically a waste of my talents, but hey, it brought me bigger and better things.

I'm continuing in an anthology of 10 romantic faery tales called Faery Special Romances, ending with the award-winning Faery Good Advice (modified to reflect my new role as princess, of course).

TTFN,

Keely

PS: Visit me on myspace!

Of Course I Am--How About You?

You Are an Exotic Beauty!

No matter what your ehtnic background, you've got a unique look And your one of a kind beauty makes an imprint in every man's mind You hardly ever wear the same outfit twice, and your hair is always changing As a result, your look is always new and fresh - never outdated or stale

What Type of Beauty Are You?

Finally, My Star is Here!

- Get Your Own

2006 P.E.A.R.L. Award Nominations!

Faery Good Advice, a short story

in No Law Against Love, ISBN: 0-9746249-3-4

Nominated for 2006 PEARL

ParaNormal Excellence Award in Romantic Literature

BLUE MOON ENCHANTMENT, ISBN: 0-9746249-7-7

Nominated for 2006 PEARL

ParaNormal Excellence Award in Romantic Literature

I'm quite flattered to learn that:

The story in No Law Against Love, "Faery Good Advice," starring moi, of course, was nominated for the 2006 PEARL Awards in the Best Short Story/Novella category. This is great because that story, in a modified version, is also the last story in Faery Special Romances. Of course, the book is about my life (even though I should have been given a blockbuster movie, I'm happy with starring in a book) so I'm in every story.

Other good news: Blue Moon Enchantment, which features stories by Judith Laik, Sherrie Holmes, and my scribe, is nominated Best Anthology PEARL Award!

I'm a happy faery.

Even more good news: Deborah MacGillivray (my cover artist) has FIVE nominations (one for Best Debut Author!) and Dawn Thompson had FOUR (including for Best Overall Paranormal)! Besides their own fabulous books, they each have stories in Blue Moon Enchantment.

BTW, if you are a PNR member, my scribe and her friends would sure appreciate your vote!

TTFN!

Keely

Jacquie on myspace
No Law Against Love on Amazon (Jan. 2006, Highland Press)
Blue Moon Enchantment on Amazon (Oct. 2006, Highland Press)
Faery Special Romances on Amazon (May 2007, Highland Press)

Pride & Prejudice--Which movie version do you like best?

Do you believe in
Movie Magic?

My scribe belongs to a unique group called the GoofyGirls. They don't officially do anything, but sometimes they watch movies, sometimes they brainstorm, sometimes they critique, and sometimes they poke fun at one another. But always they learn--or at least that's how they justify laughing hysterically at their own lame jokes.

Last Monday they had a movie day and watched all 6(?) episodes of the A&E version of P&P starring Colin Firth, and then viewed the 2005 version starring Kiera Knightly. That's a long time to sit. I sure wouldn't have been able to do it, but my scribe said the day was worth the T(ired)B(utt).

Both versions are excellent but each has its strong points. Comparing the cast, Scribe says:

Kiera Knightly was excellent as Elizabeth. The eyes have it.

Macfayden (Mr. Darcy in the new version) needed a haircut and that annoyed me the entire movie. If he has 10,000 pounds a year, then he can afford a good haircut. Other than that, she thought Macfayden did a great job acting even though she was all set to give the role to Firth, hands down. (Personally, I still love Colin Firth in that role, but hey, MM gave an outstanding performance.) Firth gets the edge here but it's pretty much a dead heat.

Unless, of course, you count the dance scene between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy in the new version. Whew! Nearly blew my hormonal scribe's socks off!

She loves Donald Sutherland's acting. Even so, she told me she wouldn't have thought he could be such a convincing Mr. Bennett because let's face it, he's a bit short on English accent. But wow, he was totally wonderful. Mrs. Bennett goes to the new movie, hands down, because the shrillness of the A&E Mrs. Bennett started to irritate the heck out of my scribe along about the 4th episode. She liked Lydia in both movies, but Wickham in the new movie. Mary seemed more true to the book in the A&E version.

My scribe definitely liked the Charlotte in the A&E movie better and so did I, not because she gave a better performance per se, but because her looks and mannerisms are far more how pictured Charlotte before we ever saw a P&P movie. Same with Jane in the new version. She fit the role better in the looks department, but with her, we thought she played Jane in a slightly more animated way, which we both liked.

Bingly's second sister didn't lend anything, really, and could have been cut from the A&E version with no notice.

But one thing the A&E version did that my scribe said was cut short shrift in the new version, was Elizabeth's visit to Charlotte and Mr. Collins. That's where the biggest share of the romance is developed, and without that foundation, a lot of the other events don't make that much sense. So the new version didn't seem as romantic to us.

Overall, both versions are wonderful and worth seeing. A&E version has more depth, but the new version is much faster paced and held my interest every second.

Next, we might have an Emma day. Then a LOTR day, a Sharpes day, an Antonio Banderas day . . . the possibilities are endless!

P.S.: My scribe and I also saw The Brothers Grimm. She loved it, but I thought they wouldn't know a real faery if she bit them on the arse, which no self-respecting faery would do . . .

TTFN!
Keely

Visit my scribe on myspace!

What Kind of a Reader Are You?

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Dedicated Reader You are always trying to find the time to get back to your book. You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Literate Good Citizen
Book Snob
Fad Reader
Non-Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

Is My Scribe Spoiled?

Ya gotta love these quizzes. I wanted to find out if my scribe was spoiled or if maybe the problem was with me . . .

You Are 4% Spoiled

You are definitely not spoiled. You've worked hard for what you have. Down to earth and grounded, you don't need a lot to make you happy.

Are You Spoiled?

Nah, surely I'm not the spoiled one!

TTFN,

Keely

Happy 2007!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are geared up for the best New Year ever! My scribe was pretty tickled because on January 1, Boise State Broncos upset the Oklahoma Sooners at the Fiesta Bowl, and then one of the BSU players proposed to his girlfriend on bended knee. Does it get any better than that?

So now it's back to work. I'm nattering to my scribe all the time, hurrying her along. I really, really want my book out soon! :sigh: Anyway, here's a picture of one of my friends. Her name is Shaylah of the Green Clan and she's the leading lady in the first story of Faery Special Romances, called Faery Much In Love.

TTFN!
Keely

What's Your Elf Name?

Christmas Elf Name My Christmas Elf Name is Get your Christmas Elf Name at JokesUnlimited.com