'Tis the Season to Be Wicked...by Collette Cameron

 As always, when researching for my stories, I learned several fun facts pertaining to Christmas in Scotland and England during the early 18^th century. To begin with, Christmas and Yule weren’t openly celebrated in Scotland.

Late in the 16^th century, St. Mungo’s Cathedral wished to abolish the pagan rituals associated with Yule (originally the Viking festival jól) and the Kirk threatened everyone with excommunication caught participating in Yule. In 1640, an Act of Parliament made Yule illegal, and the intolerance was taken a step further when an ordinance passed (supported by Oliver Cromwell) that banned the feast of Christmas as well. Several sources record that during that same time period, he also forbade the eating of pie.

Those are fighting words! I adore pie.

Though the ordinances and laws were repealed a few years later, the Kirk (Church) still frowned upon the celebration of Yule and Christmas. Hence, most Scots didn’t openly acknowledge the holiday until 1958. Another interesting tidbit I uncovered was that Christmas was outlawed in Boston, Massachusetts from 1659 to 1681.

My research regarding clove oranges also proved quite fascinating. Pomander balls date back to as early as the mid-thirteenth century. However, the clove orange gained popularity in the 17^th and 18^th centuries. I used to make them myself as a child.

To stay within the bounds of historical accuracy as much as possible, I researched the origins of sugar plums and gingerbread. First mentioned in literature in the 16^th century, sugar plums are not sugar-coated plums but comfits. A comfit is a sort of sweet with a sugar shell around a center, often an almond.

I was delighted with what I learned about gingerbread. The very first recipe for gingerbread is attributed to the Greeks over two thousand years before the birth of Christ. A European version was developed by the late Middle Ages. However, lavish decorated gingerbread is attributed to Queen Elizabeth I. Those cookies were decorated with gold leaf.

Finally, in order to embellish the homes in my stories with holiday greenery and to allow the ladies to make kissing boughs, I needed to snoop around a bit to see precisely what types of greenery grew in the Highlands or Midlands in 1720. I was delighted to discover holly is a native plant to Scotland, and although mistletoe isn’t common, it can be found. Other greens such as pine boughs, rosemary, and ivy were all easily accessible to decorate with as well.

I’m tickled to share four holiday-themed books with you. Three are multi-author anthologies, and the fourth is my contribution to the second round of the Wicked Earls’ Club.

Earl of Scarborough,
The Honorable Rogues
(Wicked Earls’ Club)

’Tis the season to be wicked…

When a woman desperate for a job saves the life of an earl…both of their plans for the future are thwarted.

Amazon: https://collettecameron.com/EOSam

Barnes and Noble: https://collettecameron.com/EOSbn

Ibooks: https://collettecameron.com/EOSit

Kobo: https://collettecameron.com/EOSko

Google Play: https://collettecameron.com/EOSgo

Winter Wishes (A Yuletide Highlander)

Exciting new anthology of thirteen never-before-published Regency Christmas Romances.

Amazon: http://bit.ly/WinterWishes_Am

Barnes and Nobel: http://bit.ly/WinterWished_BN

Kobo: http://bit.ly/WinterWishes_K

iBooks: https://apple.co/32YCtEC

Once Upon a Christmas Rogue (A December with a Duke)

Allow yourself to be enchanted by these delightful Regency Christmas romances.

Amazon: http://bit.ly/OUACR_Amazon

Barnes and Nobel: http://bit.ly/OUACR_BN

Kobo: http://bit.ly/OUACR_Kobo

iBooks: http://bit.ly/OUACR_IB

Stars are Brightly Shining (A Christmas Kiss for a Highlander)

From the bedecked halls of Regency England to the cold and crisp air of Medieval England, and everything in between, welcome to the magic of a holiday collection that will bring the joy of the season into your heart and into your home.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2mYVZRE

Introducing Genre-ista Maeve Greyson!

MAEVE GREYSON

I am honored to announce that Highlander Time Travel Romance Author Maeve Greyson (who guested with us in October) will join us as our third Wednesday of the month Genre-ista beginning in December of 2016! She is an award-winning, multi-published (and multi-publisher) author.

Maeve lives in the middle of a five acre wood in Kentucky. When she's not at her full time job at the steel mill, she's tapping away on her laptop, recording her daydreams of sexy Highlanders and the headstrong women who drive them crazy.

Check out the link below to visit Maeve Greyson's Book Page!
~Sarah Raplee

http://www.maevegreyson.com/books.html 

My Seductive Highlander – from Random House Loveswept

In this scintillating novel from the author of My Tempting Highlander(“Another exciting and heartwarming time-travel romance.”—Vonnie Davis), the ladies’ man of Loch Ness meets a hot-tempered lass who sets his heart aflame.
 
Though part of a legacy of time-traveling sisters, Lilia Sinclair is planted firmly in twenty-first-century Edinburgh. Her granny’s matchmaking with thirteenth-century Highlanders isn’t about to lure her into the past, especially as ancient Scotland enters troubled times. After all, Lilia is blessed—or cursed—with dire prophetic visions. To protect herself, she’s put up an icy emotional wall no man could cross—until a pair of gorgeous, rippling arms breaks right through.
 
Graham MacTavish is pure trouble. Once the dragon bound to Loch Ness, he’s transformed into a philanderer of the first order. In fact, because of his dalliances with other men’s wives, a rival clan wants his head on a pike. Before he provokes an all-out war, Graham is banished to the twenty-first century, where he must win Lilia’s hand—or return to die. But after meeting a lass as fierce as any Highland warrior, Graham knows one thing: life with Lilia, in any century, is a fate 
to embrace.

Medeival Time-Travel Romance by Diane Darcy

You’d like me to write about medieval time-travel romance?

As. You. Wish. (heehee)  

Thank you so much for the invitation to talk about time-travel romance here at Romancing the Genres! I love everything medieval and if you throw in a contemporary character, then this is true love. Do you think this happens every day? (Please tell me I’m not the only one who quotes The Princess Bride on a regular basis?) (*Quotes from The Princess Bride are in italics.) 

Why I write these books, or Murdered by pirates is good!

They’re magical and full of adventure and they always have been! I’ve been reading romance books for years and I love them. The more romantic the better. The more action adventure, the more fabulous! My introduction to time-travel romance was Constance O’Day Flannery, Jude Deveraux, Diana Gabaldon, Lynn Kurland and others. Once introduced to the genre, I searched for more and more books. There were never enough to read as far as I was concerned.  

I’ve always liked books with a bit of a paranormal element to them. I started out writing books that didn’t fit easily into any genre, and when I couldn’t sell them to editors, I eventually tried writing to market. I sent out manuscripts to agents and editors for years. And then one day I’d just sort of had it. I’d been told editors weren’t interested in medieval time travel romance books, but I went to lunch with a friend and told her, I’m done. I’m not going to write books for agents and editors anymore. I’m just going to write what I’d write if I knew I’d never sell a book.  So I sat down and wrote She Owns the Knight. It’s definitely a book straight from my heart.  

Why I chose this genre or Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder today.

True love. (Twu Wuv ha!) I know that historically, people living in medieval times didn’t bathe very often, probably had rotten teeth, and that women were considered property. But I don’t care. Anyone who reads my books knows I love the type of men who treat women like gold and feel lucky to have them. Of course, that’s true of any book I’ve written, but there’s just something about English Knights and Scottish Warriors, isn’t there? Men who trained to fight to hold what was theirs, and when they find that special girl, he’ll hold tight to her, too. After all, it’s who he is.

 What is difficult about writing in this genre or Boo! Boo! Boo! 

I just can’t please everyone. I’m essentially writing in the fantasy genre but I tend to offend historical purists. I love reading about history, and have fun researching, but I do get reviews that mock my ability to stay true to historical facts even though I’m trying to do so! I try not to let it bother me. I know if a modern girl were dropped into medieval England or Scotland that she wouldn’t understand the spoken English or the Gaelic. And I know that most of the aristocracy spoke French. Still, some readers do seem to mind and I’m suddenly the queen of refuse.

What I love about writing in this genre or have fun stormin’ the castle!

The other day I went to Medieval Times, a jousting tournament in California. It was so cool! Goblets, chess sets, flags, pageantry, armor, swords, daggers, food that could be eaten with our hands! Too fun!

When I’m immersed in writing a medieval time travel romance, it’s the same type of fun. It’s the stuff of fantasy and magic. English Knights, Scottish warriors, castles, sword fighting, damsels in distress and in cool dresses. Big brawny sword fighters and horses. Myth, legend, witches, and history all wrapped up in a sweet romance.  

Anything you think readers might enjoy? 

Here’s an excerpt from my latest book Murdoch. It’s Book 25 in the Ghosts of Culloden Moor series or they’re kissing again! Do we have to read the kissing parts? 

 Kenrick ended the kiss. He looked into her face, his expression astounded. How could this amazing, virile, drop-dead-gorgeous man be astounded by her?

She couldn’t deny she’d started it.  "Wow."

His lips tugged into a slow smile, his earlier shyness completely gone as happiness filled his face. “Wow." Those mobile lips formed the word as if tasting it, testing it.

She’d obviously given him the wrong idea. “Maybe this isn’t such a great plan after all.”

 His smile faded. “The kissing?”

“You staying with me.”

“Ye’re not to worry. I’ll not take advantage of ye.”

 She actually believed him. Or maybe she just really wanted to take him home. She certainly didn’t feel uncomfortable in his presence. But the situation would probably look bad from the outside. She couldn’t imagine what her mama would say.

 “Look, I don’t want to give you the wrong impression.”

“And what impression might that be?”

“All I’m saying is, I’m giving you a place to stay in return for your assistance.” She gave a helpless shrug. “Just don’t expect anything else, all right? I know I kissed you first, but I give you my word, I won’t try anything, either.”

That slow smile again. “Ye’re not to worry, lass. I’ll not hold you to that.”

Thanks again for having me here! ~ Diane Darcy

Diane Darcy is a USA Today bestselling author who loves to read and write lighthearted and funny books. She’s a member of the Heart of the West and RWA. She was a finalist for Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart® Award. She’s written romantic comedies in several different genres—some historical, some contemporary, all lighthearted and fun. She makes her home in Utah with her family and is hard at work on her next book. You can contact her at www.DianeDarcy.com.