12 days until Christmas, Gentle Reader, if that’s your thing. Here is a bit of fun from the Finishing School Tumblr. Something you can bake for others? Crustless White Chocolate Cheesecake. I made mine with added lemon rind. Dark Chocolate Orange Almond Cake. Both are naturally GF, which is to say the original recipe never called for […]
Dec122016
12 Days Until Christmas, Finishing School Style, Plus Gift Ideas for the Gail Carriger Fan In Your Life
Oct172016
Character Names & The British Aristocracy
I was reading Vanity Fair recently, Gentle Reader, and they had one of their swanky photo bits on this British aristocratic wedding in Suffolk (Alexander Spencer-Churchill and Scarlett Strutt). Crazy British Names I just glanced over the names of the wedding guests and they gave me the giggles. One of the things I get asked about a […]
Oct142016
Con Report: Fun at Gaslight Gathering in San Diego
I had a wonderful time at the Gaslight Gathering in San Diego recently, Gentle Reader. I highly recommend it if you can make the trip in future. It’s a well run, entertaining, educational convention. I met up with fans who had driven from Tucson and Las Vegas (waves at the Entwives). And it was a […]
Jan252016
Victorian Money Means Coins! Research Behind Steampunk
This is one of those blog posts in which I demonstrate the nitty-gritty of research in an aggravatingly nit-picky way. This is an amended reboot from 2012 when I first started writing Prudence. Read at your own risk. To protect the guilty I’m not going to name any names, Gentle Reader, and I’d like to state […]
Jan172016
All About Steampunk: Goggles, Gaiters & Glory
The World of Steampunk: Goggles, Gaiters & Glory To me there are two main kinds of steampunk. The first, which I shall be call, traditional steampunk, envisions a future as the Victorians imagined it. The writings of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne are good examples. The second, which I think of as industrial steampunk, sees […]
Dec142015
Gifts for the Gail Carriger Uber Fan
So, here are some gifts that I, in my limited expert experience on the subject, think that a Gail Carriger fan would really enjoy. Just getting into the spirit of the season. Gifts for the Gail Carriger Fan Badali Bumbersnoot necklace or Sophronia’s bladed fan. Sparkly fan! Silk Fan with Green Sequins for Dimity from […]
Oct122015
A Conflagration of Research: Victorians & Food, Etiquette, Photo Resources
Today my dear Gentle Reader, I have a collection of stuff (all the stuff!) I thought might be of interest. Have fun! Some stuff about the Victorians and Food! Two of my most favorite subjects rolled together like a pig in a blanket. “As, for the fashionable, dinner moved later, after-dinner tea was no longer […]
Oct72015
Gail Carriger Interviews Jaime Lee Moyer about Against a Brightening Sky
Today, Gentle Reader, we have a guest author interview on the blog with Jaime Lee Moyer. I am constantly getting questions from readers about what to read while waiting for my next book. So I have invited Jamie by for tea and a chat in the hopes that she may help fill in the gap. […]
Sep162015
20 Random Things You Might Not Know About Gail
For you, Gentle Reader, here are 20 random things from a random mind trying to get this blasted book finished… Imprudence research. While other kids played marriage with their barbies, I played divorce court. The stuffed animals were the jury. I cannot do any tongue-related tricks. Nope. Not that either. I listen to podcasts […]
Aug172015
Teapot Carrier AKA the Carriage Cozy: Transporting Tea (Victorians On the Go)
Some time ago, Gentle Reader, a dear friend gifted me with a teapot carrier AKA carriage cozy. At first, when I saw it I was confused. Why would she give me one of those 1950’s hair dryer cases? Then I opened it up and inside was a perfectly nested teapot! I thought, “My my my, […]
Jul222015
Victorian Slang for Lord Akeldama
1811 Slang for Lord Akeldama Backgammon player ~ A sodomite A bang up cove ~ A dashing fellow who spends his money freely Bachelor’s faire ~ Bread and cheese and kisses Blanket hornpipe or Buttock ball ~ The amorous congress Pink of the fashion ~ The top of the mode Prinking ~ Dressing over nicely; […]
Jul102015
Alternate Historical Names for Clothing in the Victorian Era
1811 ~ Alternate Historical Names for Clothing Togs ~ Clothes Articles or Inexpressibles ~ Underthings, sometimes Breeches Farting crackers or Galligaskins ~ Breeches Buntlings ~ Petticoats Fallalls ~ Ornaments, chiefly woman’s, such as ribands, necklaces, etc. India wipe ~ A silk handkerchief Specked whiper ~ A coloured handkerchief Knuckle-dabd, or knuckle-confounders ~ Ruffles Brogue ~ […]