Author: Author Cherith Boardman
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Hae a Braw Wee Christmas
Happy December, dear readers! When researching Mistaken Premise, my little nerd heart tap-danced whilst learning the multi-faceted and fascinating history of Christmas in Scotland. As one could expect, there is evidence of neolithic people’s observances of the winter solstice, but the real fun comes after the Viking invasions starting in the eighth-century AD. The Vikings…
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Remember, Remember, The Fifth of November
As I used Meryton’s Bonfire Night for a scene in Mistaken Premise, and as the history of Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators tie directly into the history of King James I of England, VI of Scotland, I thought I would share the history of the Gunpowder Plot in honour of Guy Fawkes’ Day on Sunday.…
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Down the Rabbit Hole!
It hardly seems possible, but the tenth anniversary of starting Second Son fast approaches: November 13, 2013. (The meet-cute scene between Darcy and a young Lizzy during the dinner at Chatsworth was the first scene I wrote.) I remember those heady days of researching anything and everything, including a deep dive into the history of…
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What Is In a Name?
Good morrow, fair readers. This morning I thought I might muse on a topic unexpectedly dear to readers hearts: the names JAFF authors bestow upon the multitudinous unnamed characters in Jane Austen’s novels. Several JAFF authors are adamant about bucking trends – giving the otherwise unnamed Colonel Fitzwilliam the Christian name of Edward, for example…
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Hug Him and Squeeze Him and Call Him George
Above image: King George IV’s landing at Leith Scotland, by William Lizar, August 1822 Next Tuesday marks the 201st anniversary of King George IV’s, known to Regency readers as Prinny, visit to Edinburgh, Scotland – the first official visit of Great Britain’s monarch since the exiled King Charles II’s Scottish coronation in January 1651 amidst…
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Textiles and Tartans
When researching Mistaken Premise, I learned much about tartans and their role in Scotland’s history. Tartans are a woven textile, or its representation, made of a pattern of interlocking stripes in both the warp and weft (horizontal and vertical) of the cloth. It varies from tweed, that other invariably Scottish icon, by using a two-over-two…
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Happily Ever After
June is the month of weddings, and my second son married a fantastic young lady during a lovely, outdoor ceremony overlooking the river on June 3rd. The expression on his face as his bride walked to him brought tears to my eyes. I enjoyed watching my son and his new bride celebrate with their friends…
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In Defence of King Jimmy
King James VI of Scotland, I of England (1566-1625), is a prominent figure in the history of Great Britain, and the Scottish king’s ascension to the English throne plays a key role in Mistaken Premise. King James was the only child of Mary, Queen of Scots, with her second husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, a…
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Mutual Admiration Society
‘Also read again and for the third time at least Miss Austen’s very finely written novel of Pride and Prejudice. That young lady had a talent for describing the involvements and feelings and characters of ordinary life which is to me the most wonderful I ever met with. The Big Bow wow strain I can…
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Look Out! My Nerd is Showing! (plus a Giveaway)
Good morrow, fair readers. Happy spring! When writing Mistaken Premise, I did my usual nerd thing of looking for sources to capture the prevailing thoughts of Scotland, its people and its history, in the early Regency period. Following the Jacobite Rebellions, English society viewed their northern compatriot as a land of barbarous savages, but several…