Like all of you, I’m a voracious reader, and I have a tendency to choose a direction and just go go go until I run out of steam or something new and shiny crosses my path in a way that can’t be ignored. Then I change course – I’m a serial monogamist when it comes to romance genres. For the last few months, I’ve been obsessing over Regency, which has never really been absent from my life, but wasn’t a focus, either. So, I’ve been devouring Sarah MacLean and Joanna Bourne and Sherry Thomas and Ashley Gardner like they’re deep, dark chocolate, and pondering the intricacies of corsets and Polite Society.

I’m finally diving into writing this genre, which is both an exciting challenge and something I’m deathly afraid of – the bar is set pretty high! However, the best part about a new project is the research, and because I tend to lean toward the dark and creepy, I had to start with death customs. One of the things I find so interesting about this period is the strictness of society rules – particularly when applied to women – that were the norm when it came to funerals and mourning.

Here are a couple of links you might enjoy if you’re curious:

https://regencyredingote.wordpress.com/2013/10/18/the-regency-way-of-death-ladies-at-funerals/

http://donnahatch.com/mourning-customs-in-regency-england/

Heaven forbid a lady step out of mourning too soon!

More on what I’m writing in a few weeks, when I have a blurb and some excerpts. I’m tempted to write a romantic suspense set at the dawn of BRIGHT’S FERRY, in the colonial era – but that’s a whole new kettle of fish.

Have a lovely Thursday!