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Rosemary Morris's Blog (40)

Guest blog with The Romantic Novelist's Association of Great Britain

Tomorrow, 13th March, I will be a guest blogger at the Romantic Novelists Association of Great Britain.

You are cordially invited to read about me and to learn about the RNA.

Link: htp://www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org

Added by Rosemary Morris on March 12, 2012 at 4:46am — No Comments

Helen Hollick the international best seller's guest.

I am a guest at Helen Hollick's blog.

 

Helen asked me to invite ten guests.  I think you will be surprised by my choices.

 

http://helen-myguests.blogspot.com

Added by Rosemary Morris on February 29, 2012 at 3:49am — No Comments

5* review of Tangled Love

I am delighted to share the 5* review of Tangled Love at Amazon Kindle uk.

 

Love, betrayal, treasure trove,  

By 

 

J. Pittam "Maythorn" (Hertfordshire, England)

  

This review is for: Tangled Love (Kindle Edition)

I very much enjoyed this new author. Tangled Love is set at the turn of the 18th century it follows the fortunes…

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Added by Rosemary Morris on February 29, 2012 at 3:48am — No Comments

The Sad and The Good

One Year On

 

This time last year I was mourning the death of my mother at the age of one hundred.  Although the last years of her life were impaired by macular vision and hearing loss, she remained mentally alert.  When asked how she was, Mum always replied she was amongst life’s lucky ones because she had a lovely flat…

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Added by Rosemary Morris on January 2, 2012 at 2:34am — No Comments

The Little Madeleine by Mrs Robert Henrey

As a historical novelist I enjoy reading about eras which have gone with the wind. I have just re-read The Little Madeleine by Mrs Robert Henrey, which relates the joys and sorrows of Madeleine, a French girl, loved by her mother, who earned a living as a talented seamstress, and her father, ‘a picturesque figure from the Midi.’



"Mrs Henrey’s autobiography is the story of her girlhood in Montmartre and the wasteland near the Paris fortifications, or city walls,…

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Added by Rosemary Morris on November 27, 2011 at 1:13am — No Comments

Thoughts on Creating Believable Historical Characters

 38 Entries

Thoughts on Creating Believable Historical Characters



So far, I have only written historical novels set in England, but regardless of when and where a novel is set the characters must be believable.



Before I start writing a historical novel I name my characters. I find The…
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Added by Rosemary Morris on November 27, 2011 at 1:06am — No Comments

Madeleine Grown Up by Mrs Robert Henrey

I have finished re-reading Madeleine Grown Up. the sequel to The Little Madeleine in which the authoress, Madeleine aka Mrs Robert Henrey, writes of her life as a child in Montmartre and elsewhere in France. Madeleine Grown Up covers the period from 1928 to 1929 when she worked as a manicurist in the Savoy Hotel.  Her observations of life in Stacey Street, where she shared a room with her mother, who continued to work as a dressmaker, are fascinating and so are those of the Savoy, her…

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Added by Rosemary Morris on November 20, 2011 at 6:30pm — No Comments

The Challenge of Writing Historical Fiction

All the good advice given in books on how to write fiction is applicable to writing historical fiction. 

 

Writers must enjoy writing even when they encounter obstacles.  This is particularly true of writing historical fiction.  Historical novelists require a profound interest in all things historical.

 

The historical novels that I read more than once sweep me into the activities and ‘mind sets’ in a way which I enjoy. 

 

When writing historical…

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Added by Rosemary Morris on November 12, 2011 at 12:30pm — No Comments

How I Write Historical Fiction

How I Write Historical Fiction

 

Although there are books on the subject of How To Write Historical Fiction, which are useful, I am sure that novelists develop their own techniques.

 

I read history books and sooner or later something triggers my imagination.  For example, I read that most of the English nobility disliked James II, his politics and his religion.  After James fled to France, first his older daughter, Mary, and her…

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Added by Rosemary Morris on November 7, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

How I Plan A Novel

Although there are many excellent books on ‘How to Write a Novel’ I decided to share how I plan mine.

 

Once I have an idea, I don’t plot my novels in detail, chapter by chapter, but I do have a plot in mind.

 

It is said that every plot can be found in classical fairy tales, folklore and mythology.  The hero or heroine goes on a journey, a pilgrimage or a quest and encounters obstacle after obstacle. So I consider which of seven basic plots suits…

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Added by Rosemary Morris on October 29, 2011 at 1:30pm — No Comments

The Little Madeleine by Mrs Robert Henrey

I have just re-read The Little Madeleine by Mrs Robert Henrey which relates the joys and sorrows of Madeleine, a French girl loved by her mother, who earned a living as a talented seamstress, and her father, ‘a picturesque figure from the Midi.’

 

 "Mrs Henrey’s autobiography is the story of her girlhood in Montmartre and the wasteland near the Paris fortifications, or city walls, where the apache wielded his knife.  Her father was a picturesque figure from the midi.  Her…

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Added by Rosemary Morris on October 22, 2011 at 1:44pm — No Comments

Spinach and Curd Cheese Curry

Spinach and Curd Cheese Curry

 

¼ kilo paneer – curd cheese

½ kilo  baby spinach

¼ kilo fresh or frozen peas

3tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil

2 tablespoons of finely grated ginger

1 or 2 chilies optional.

Juice of one lemon

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

 

  1. Cut curd cheese into cubes.  Deep fry until golden brown and put in a bowl of cold water to keep it soft until…
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Added by Rosemary Morris on October 16, 2011 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Memories of Kenya & The Bolter by Frances Osbourne

Memories of Kenya & The Bolter by Frances Osborne

 

 

I have mixed memories of my life in Kenya from 1961 to 1982.  On the plus side are my happy recollections of the coast with its golden beaches, the grasslands teaming with wild animals, the lush green highlands.  On the minus side I was always a stranger in a strange land. I missed my family and friends in England and in spite of a privileged lifestyle wanted to live in…

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Added by Rosemary Morris on October 16, 2011 at 3:14am — No Comments

Writing Historical Fiction

Writing Historical Fiction

 

Historical fiction embraces different periods. 

 

Prehistory, Ancient civilisations such as Egyptian and Indian, Classical (Mainly Greek and Roman History)Biblical, From the 1st century to the 20th century, Multi-period, Timeslip, Historical Fantasy, Alternative History, Children and Young Adult.

 

Historical Fiction can also be divided into different…

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Added by Rosemary Morris on October 2, 2011 at 5:10am — No Comments

From Highgate (London, England) to Kindle

 

From Highgate Hill to Kindle

When my mother was a small girl, my grandfather, Charles, stood holding her hand on Highgate Hill.  Together they watched one of the first aeroplanes fly overhead.  He looked down at Mother and said: ‘Nothing will come of those flying machines.”

Born within the sound of Bow Bells, the eldest of eight children, Charles was a scholarship boy at Westminster Boys School and sang in the choir at Westminster Abbey.  Unfortunately,…

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Added by Rosemary Morris on September 11, 2011 at 12:41pm — No Comments

How to critique a Novel or A Short Story

How to critique a Novel or Short Story

 

As the recipient of many critiques and assessments of my work I have sometimes been dismayed by a critiquer’s comments about my novels and short stories.  On the other hand, on occasions, a critiquer has been too full of praise instead of suggesting improvements.  The best critiques have been a balance between the positive and the negative.

 

I belong to three online critique groups and Watford…

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Added by Rosemary Morris on September 5, 2011 at 4:00am — No Comments

Writers' Workshops

Writer’s Workshops and Linda Spur

 

As well as belonging to three online critique groups, where I can post a chapter of my historical novels in progress and receive constructive critiques in return for critiquing other members’ chapters, I also belong to Watford Writers. Every Monday the society meets in Cassiobury Park, Watford, Hertfordshire, England at Cafe Cha Cha at 7.30 p.m.

 

From time to time Watford Writers arranges for guest speakers and…

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Added by Rosemary Morris on August 20, 2011 at 12:29am — No Comments

Redbournbury Watermill and Bakery, Hertfordshire, England

Redbournbury Watermill and Bakery

On Saturday the 31st of July my six year old grandson and I visited Redbournbury Watermill, which is surrounded by farmland and water meadows. The latter provide a habitat for herons and kingfishers that feed on sticklebacks, trout fry and other fish.  Generations of water fowl have eaten, defended their territory and mated in this fascinating area where there was probably a Watermill in Saxon times.

There has been a…

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Added by Rosemary Morris on August 7, 2011 at 10:34am — No Comments

Hatfield House

Hatfield House

 

A fortnight ago I visited Hatfield House with a friend and made notes.

 

When visiting a stately home, personal items always make a great impression on me.  In one of the display cases are Queen Elizabeth I’s straw garden hat which has an intricate pattern, a pair of her gloves and a pair of silk stockings, which are believed to be the first pair made of silk to be worn in England.  In another display case I saw a…

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Added by Rosemary Morris on July 24, 2011 at 11:51pm — No Comments

A Historical Novelist's Road to Publication

 

A Novelist’s Road to Publication

 

Most published novelists agree that it is extremely difficult for a new writer to find a publisher.

 

I wrote my first novel when I was a young woman.  The first publisher I submitted it to accepted it.  From there everything went downhill.  I did not know that the date of publication should be included in my contract.  Without this the publisher could withhold publication…

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Added by Rosemary Morris on July 19, 2011 at 12:11am — No Comments

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