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New Year’s Resolutions of the Regency

January 12, 2006 February 5, 2013 Amanda McCabe/Laurel McKee 15 Comments

Comment on today’s post to win a copy of Amanda McCabe’s 2005 Regency The Star of India! (Plus a cover flat of A Tangled Web, the non-Hello Kitty version, thrown in)

By this time, nearly two weeks after the start of 2006, most people (okay, me) have probably already slacked off on their New Year’s Resolutions. I resolved to run every morning, go to more yoga classes, eat more leafy green veggies and less candy, read more “good for me” literature, spend less time online. Yada yada yada. Now, here I sit with a bag full of Hershey’s Nuggets searching for goodies on Ebay.

I’m not sure if resolutions were a big part of Regency life, but I did start wondering–if they were, what would all our favorite people of the period (fictional and real-life) resolve to do? For instance, some of Austen’s characters:
Elizabeth Bennett–resolve to be less proud (or prejudiced?) and emulate her sister Jane more in her dealings with people
Mr. Darcy–ditto (except for the Jane bit)
Emma Woodhouse–make no more matches. After she sees the new girl in town settled.
Mary Crawford–steer clear of clueless future vicars
Jane Fairfax–take a loooong, solitary vacation on the Continent, courtesy of her late aunt-in-law’s jewels
Catherine Norland–read fewer horrid novels and more Fordyce’s Sermons. Just as soon as she sees what’s behind the locked door in Chapter Ten…

Of course, this can be done for all manner of people. Caro Lamb–hmm, maybe she’d resolve on less waltzing, or maybe moving out of her in-laws’ house. Byron could resolve to stick to his diet of boiled potatoes (if only he had heard of Atkins…). Your task–should you choose to accept is–is to let us know what your favorite character/figure might have as their New Year’s resolution. For instance, Prinny maybe. Or Emma Hamilton and Admiral Nelson. Harriette Wilson, Prinny, the Patronesses of Almack’s, Sarah Siddons, Percy and Mary Shelley. What would they desire for 2006? (Or 1806, as the case may be!)

You can find more info on the prize at http://ammandamccabe.tripod.com

Who’s your favorite Mr. Darcy?

January 11, 2006 February 5, 2013 Elena Greene 32 Comments

BLOG PARTY DAILY CONTEST! Comment on this post for the chance to win a copy of Elena Greene’s September release, LADY DEARING’S MASQUERADE. (Comments may be posted through Saturday, January 14.)

I’m feeling very self-indulgent today. My New Year’s resolutions don’t allow me to pig out on chocolate, so I’ll treat myself and everyone to some eye-candy instead.

So here they are. As many cinematic Mr. Darcys as I could find. Enjoy!

Laurence Olivier (above left), playing Darcy opposite Greer Garson in the 1940’s version. Elegance and arrogance—almost (but not quite) good enough to distract me from the ridiculous leftover “Gone with the Wind” costumes worn by the actresses!

David Rintoul (right), playing opposite Elizabeth Garvie in the 1985 BBC production. I have to admit, he looked good but his acting was so very stiff, so haughty (not even softening much at the end) that I felt they could have substituted one of those lifesize cardboard figures (the sort you often see of Lord of the Rings characters, etc…)

Colin Firth (left), playing opposite Jennifer Ehle in the 1995 A&E version. The first Darcy to really work for me—kind of like my first love. What a gorgeous man, with such speaking eyes and such a sexy voice….

Ahem, moving along.

Orlando Seale (right), playing opposite Kam Heskin in “Pride & Prejudice: A Latter Day Comedy” (2003). I once caught a few minutes of this Mormon reinterpretation, couldn’t watch it all, but it looked cute. As does he. If anyone has seen the whole movie, I’d love to hear your opinions!

Martin Henderson (left), starring with Aishwarya Rai in the Bollywood production “Bride & Prejudice” (2004). Intriguing, definitely on my “must rent sometime” list. Has anyone seen this? What did you think?

Matthew McFadyen (right), opposite Keira Knightley in the recent Working Title Films adaptation. Not a pretty boy, and a new interpretation of Darcy, showing a shyness and a vulnerability that I found very appealing. His performance grew on me even more on the second viewing of the film. I don’t know, Colin may just have to move over…

So who is your favorite Darcy? And why? The guest with the most original and/or passionate answer will win a copy of LADY DEARING’S MASQUERADE.

Don’t forget you can still comment on the earlier posts to win books by Janet Mullany and Cara King. And be sure to enter the Treasure Hunt for a grand prize including books by all the Riskies!

Elena
LADY DEARING’S MASQUERADE, 2005 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award nominee
www.elenagreene.com

What’s YOUR Regency Fantasy?

January 11, 2006 February 5, 2013 Cara King 22 Comments

BLOG PARTY DAILY CONTEST! The best comment on this post will win a copy of Cara King’s debut novel, MY LADY GAMESTER. Comments may be posted through January 14, and will be judged on thoughtfulness and enthusiasm.

Imagine this: you magically (or science fictionally, perhaps) find yourself transported back in time to Regency England. What’s more, you find yourself quite wealthy — perhaps a member of the aristocracy, or a fabulously successful writer, or anything else you can dream of.

Today’s question is: what would you most enjoy about your new life? What ultimate indulgence would be your personal favorite? What’s YOUR Regency fantasy?

Would it be your fantastically beautiful stately home? If so, why? What about your gorgeous new home would you particularly delight in? (Let your imagination run free here!)

Would your favorite thing be the grounds of your breathtaking new home? Gardens, fountains, statues, mazes, woods, rivers — what? Or would be be your library? (I love the one pictured here!)

Would your favorite part of your new life be the fact that so much of the land around you is NOT paved over, but instead is fields and farms and flowers and trees, with no Walmart or Tesco in sight? Would your walks in the English countryside be your favorite part of the day?

Or would it be the food? Everything fresh, cream right from the cow, fruit right from the tree, with a million recipes thick with butter and eggs? And of course, you have your own personal cook to make you anything you want.

How about having servants? Your servants, of course, will be delighted to come work for you (because you pay so well), and are all experts at their jobs. You will never have to scrub another oven, or wash another dish.

Or would you most enjoy hobnobbing with the amazing writers who populated the Regency? Imagine it: Shelley, Byron, Jane Austen, Keats, Scott, Wordsworth, Coleridge… Or you could hang out with actors like Mrs. Siddons, or perhaps meet Beethoven. Whatever you want, is yours.

Or would you most delight in the lovely clothes you would wear — elegant creations in silk and velvet… If you’re a woman, would your favorite thing be all the men, so handsome in their flattering, form-fitting clothes? If you’re a man, would your favorite thing be all the women in their flowing, clingy gowns, their corsets giving them the memorable décolletage that Jennifer Ehle impressed you with in “Pride and Prejudice”?

Or would your favorite thing be something quite different from all these? What would it be?

What’s YOUR Regency Fantasy?

Cara
Cara King, www.caraking.com
MY LADY GAMESTER — out now from Signet Regency!!!

Pulp and Prejudice

January 9, 2006 February 5, 2013 Janet Mullany 21 Comments

And, kicking off the daily contests–today, win a signed copy of Dedication by Janet Mullany

Man Chase by Joseph Chadwick
Three women wanted him – His wife…for the wedding ring she didn’t deserve; the redhead…who “forgot” to tell him she was married; the blonde…for the affair she craved.
What…no brunettes? What’s wrong with the man?

Summer Widow by Florence Stonebraker
What did the beach boys have that her husband didn’t? Maggie meant to find out – and did!
Florence Stonebraker??! Do you think that was really her name?

Hell is a Woman by Garrett W. Deas
Helen loved other men behind his back…Mary Ann loved them in front of him… Lorna loved too, but in very special ways… They taught Ben Randall how to separate the women from the girls!
Hell? Sounds like old Ben isn’t having that bad a time. And “very special ways”? What on earth could those be?

Lust in Paradise by William Vaneer
Island paradise – or tourist trap? Blissful isle – or haven of lechery?
Well, let me see, now. I wonder which it would be…

I’m a great fan of eBay, where you can find things you didn’t even know you wanted, and certainly don’t need. It was there I found this batch of pulp novels circa 1960 and which inspired my contest contribution.

Your task, dear reader, is to rewrite these (original) cover blurbs as though they were Regencies or lost masterpieces by Jane Austen. All, or one–I won’t judge on quantity, but on quality (unlike the defunct Beacon press which churned these lovelies out). If you find that too daunting, give us the first sentence(s). Grammar and spelling are not as important as wild creativity and the ability to make tea come out of my nose.

Here’s an example: Summer Widow–visiting Brighton to recover her health, shy widow Maggie Stonebraker (oh, I just love that name) finds herself strangely attracted to the bronzed, handsome young man who drives her bathing machine…and his donkey.

I know you can do better than that. Go to it, and win a copy of my book Dedication (which will probably seem rather tame in comparison). You have until Saturday at midnight to post your entry.

And have you entered the Treasure Hunt? Go on, don’t be shy…and visit every day for more thrills, chills n spills with daily prizes.

Janet Mullany
www.janetmullany.com

Treasure hunt!

January 8, 2006 February 5, 2013 Amanda McCabe/Laurel McKee Leave a comment

It is I, Bertram St. James, Regency Time-Traveler Extraordinaire, here to tell you about the deliciously exciting Risky Regencies Treasure Hunt!

Enter now! Answer the six questions that follow, “e-mail” them to the “e-mail address” provided, and you will be entered to win literary treasure!

How do you find the answers to these questions? It is excessively simple. Just search this “blog.” Have delirious fun while doing so. Indeed, become so distracted by all this fun that you almost forget to put on your cravat.

Oh, very well. Having all that fun is not actually a prerequisite for winning. (The prize-winner shall be the entrant with the greatest number of correct answers. If there is a tie, the winner shall be picked at random from those entries which contain the most correct answers.) Of course, anyone finding all six correct answers will have all the fun that I described above — and quite possibly so much more.

The best part of all this? The triumphant winner (who shan’t be paraded by chariot through the streets of Rome crowned with laurel, but really ought to be, if you ask me) will win many books written by the Risky Regencies authors — you are guaranteed at least six free autographed books (personally inscribed with your name) — and most likely more than six. You will also win a variety of delightful Regency-themed or English-themed items, which may include tea, or bookmarks, or who knows what else!

You have through Saturday, Jan 14, 2006 to enter. Email your answers to elailah@yahoo.com (you cannot post your answers on this “blog” for reasons that are so obvious that even I can figure them out).

And the questions (drum roll, please):

If Megan could be any character from a Regency romance, which character would it be?
What is Janet’s favorite museum in the city of Bath?
What Regency era pastry recipe did Elena recreate for her Regency Tea and booksigning?
What product was once marketed to worried consumers when the fear of Grave Robbers was prominent?
Which Jane Austen movie heartthrobs won the top votes in the Risky Regencies poll in each of the three categories: (a) hottest, (b) most loveable, and (c) most marriageable? (You must name the character AND the actor for each!)
What two Christmas novellas did Amanda write for Signet? And which one contains her personal favorite couple of her own creating? (Name the couple for bonus points!)

Best of British luck to you all!

Bertram St. James, Exquisite

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