Hello once again to the talented and lovely Beatriz Williams, who took time out from a crazy pre-launch week schedule to come visit us here on the News page. Below, you can read about what drew her to World War I, her advice to aspiring writers, and– er, how did Bing Crosby get in there?…

Since I’m moving apartments in May, I’ve started shifting some of the prodigious piles of books that pass for home decor in my current place. In the interest of not breaking the movers’ backs, some of them will have to go. For the next few Sundays, I’ll be listing books I’m giving away. If you…

One of the perks of my job is that many fabulous and random things come my way in the course of the day: in this case, Jane Austen cross stitch patterns and marzipan pigs. The link to the Jane Austen cross stitch patterns was sent to me by Rosie. (Thanks, Rosie!) My favorites? Jane Austen…

… Lady B just caught me with a copy of 18th Century Cosmo! But can Lady B resist the watercolor centerfold? Slip over to the Ballroom to find out.

Just in case you’re missing your Sunday evening Downton Abbey fix, here’s the latest of the spoofs: Thanks, Miss Eliza, for sending me the link!

Just in case you were feeling the lack of Downton Abbey on a Sunday night, here are the latest Downton offshoots…. — Downton Arby’s (for those who want fries with that!); — and The Boyfriend’s Guide to Downton Abbey (for the lovable but clueless male in your life): AMENDED TO ADD: Huge thanks to Jessica…

Welcome to my virtual birthday party! Are you all settled in? Cupcakes, champagne, caramel latte? I wish I could offer an actual cupcake, but I imagine it would squish in the electro-transference process, so, until the Star Trek guys perfect the whole “beam up the pastries, Scotty!” thing, we’re stuck with the nursery school tea…

In which this is a Masterpiece Theatre Sweepstakes for a trip for two to England to see the real Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle (click here for the entry form)– — and that is a post today on Jungle Red Writers about favorite historical time periods. Stop by and share your favorite time period!

The wonderful Tracy Grant is blogging on History Hoydens today about spy stories and she has also– drum roll, please!– provided an ARC of her latest, Imperial Scandal, to be given away here on the News page. One of the things I love about Tracy’s Napoleonic suspense novels is that they feature a husband and…

In honor of Valentine’s Day, below is a post I wrote a few years ago about my favorite declarations of love. “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you….” They do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. With that as my excuse, I plan to shamelessly imitate…