Review of SO FAIR A LADY

I'm so honored to be back on Colonial Quills today and I'm even MORE honored to be able to share with you a wonderful review of SO FAIR A LADY by the magnificent Rachel McMillain. Rachel is a fabulous writer, and on her blog A Fair Substitute for Heaven she wrote a beautiful review of my debut novel, and was gracious enough to allow me to share it with you today.

Take it away, Rachel!

"Boston, MA 1773: Shards of Eliza Campbell's life crash to the ground when she discovers a devastating secret: her father was a spy for the Sons of Liberty. Determined to uncover the truth, not even a marriage proposal from the dashing British Officer Samuel Martin can dissuade her. When rescued from British capture by handsome patriot Thomas Watson, Eliza discovers what her father risked his life for and yearns to know more. But will her budding attraction to this courageous patriot damage her already wounded heart? 

After years of being blackmailed by Officer Martin, Thomas plans to start a new life in the small town of Sandwich. However, when his actions place Eliza and her sister in danger, he must act quickly to protect them from falling into enemy hands. If the three of them are discovered, their lives will never be the same. Now, not only must he protect Eliza, he must protect his heart from a love that is sure to wound him far greater than any British soldier ever could.

Know what is funny? I have been reading Christian historicals forever and 99 per cent of them are by American authors and so few of them are set during the Revolutionary War. This has always baffled me. People, if you’ve got it, flaunt it! This is a fascinating period of history and I have always enjoyed the surmounting tension that cracks an inevitable rift which births the American nation. Amber Lynn Perry also loves this period to distraction as is evident in her pitch-perfect historical romance So Fair a Lady.

I confess I am not one to read independently-published fiction: mainly because I am always a little skeptical about its editing. Fortunately for me, and for you, prospective reader, Perry is a professional. There is nothing in this book that would lead anyone to believe its publication was one sought independently by its author. Indeed, the prose is so crystalline and scintillating, the characterization so well-rounded and the pacing so perfect, it is a far stronger offering than many books of similar ilk who have their home in mainstream publishing. Also, can we say cover love?

There are several historical romance tropes that are followed here: the spunky heroine who must feign a marriage of circumstance while falling for the unlikeliest of heroes as the proper old suitor is revealed to have off-colour circumstance; family circumstances ( in this case, secret Patriotism, traitorism! spies!) are exhumed and the heroine must re-discover her identity against the pitfalls of a long-buried familial ideology while the hero picks up the ramifications of this fall-out in stride; two people who fight their attraction for each other, often jumping hurdles of mis-understanding that ruffle their journey toward their deserved happy end.

In Perry’s capable hand, these conventions are sought in unique light.  She knows the genre well and she imparts into the traditional her own strengths such as the characterization mentioned, some surprisingly beautiful prose and a strong sense of historical fact.

At one point, our hero Thomas ( he of the printing press—sigh! ) must see our heroine Eliza ( wrought with gumption) and her believable younger sister to safety in Sandwich, Mass.  Their moonlit-canopied adventure, met with danger and unpredictable elements was presented with perfect exposition making it one of my favourite sequences in CBA historicals this year.

There is a strong and encouraging faith element made more potent when explored in conjunction with a tenuous time in history where everyone was acting on conscience and principle. Perry does well at making the motives of both sides understandable and human.

I was surprised and delighted to discover an exciting new voice in CBA historical fiction."

Thank you so much, Rachel!!

Rachel McMillan lives in Toronto and reads a lot of books and watches a lot of baseball. Her bookish ramblings are housed on blogspot at A Fair Substitute For Heaven. Find her on Twitter: @rachkmc

Amber Lynn Perry is a historical romance novelist, focusing on her favorite time in American history--the Revolutionary era. She currently lives in Washington state with her husband and two daughters. Amber loves to hear from readers and you can contact her through her website, www.amberlynnperry.com or through her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/authoramberlynnperry

May's "virtual" Tea Party Picnic!!

With the weather this marvelous, who wants to be inside? 

Join us as we enjoy a wonderful spring-time picnic in the city of Sandwich, MA on beautiful Cape Cod.

Today we are pleased to celebrate the release of TWO wonderful novels: SO FAIR A LADY (Amber Lynn Perry) and THE PURSUIT OF TAMSEN LITTLEJOHN (Lori Benton)!

We couldn't be more thrilled to have you! Please feel free to find a place on the quilt and allow us to pour you a drink and offer you some refreshments. Amber has brought her homemade blackberry jam to accompany our fresh biscuits. Lori has arrived bearing character Janet Allard’s famous apple pie. “No one makes a better pie west of the mountains,” neighbor Jesse Bird has been heard to say of Janet’s yummy pies. There is plenty of tea, fresh fruit, bread, cheeses and meats to suit your palate.

Amber Lynn Perry, debut author of SO FAIR A LADY, is wearing a lovely floral top and simple green petticoat--similar to something heroine Eliza Campbell might have worn. (You might even recognize it from the cover!!)


Lori Benton, author of the thrilling THE PURSUIT OF TAMSEN LITTLEJOHN, is wearing a gown from the era of her story (1780s), created by Tamsen, who is a marvelous seamstress, with a fitted bodice and overskirt printed with a pattern of floral sprays, and a white quilted petticoat beneath.

Please do tell us your name and what you are wearing, we always love to get to know our guests!

While you enjoy your drinks and yummy treats, allow us to share with you the two authors and their stories we are sharing with you today.

Amber Lynn Perry's So Fair a Lady begins in Boston, but quickly takes a turn for high adventure as the patriot hero, Thomas Watson, and courageous heroine Eliza Campbell must escape sixty miles south to Sandwich or risk capture by the British—but the danger is only beginning.

A woman who needs the truth.

A man who needs to escape it.

Boston, MA 1773: Shards of Eliza Campbell's life crash to the ground when she discovers a devastating secret: her father was a spy for the Sons of Liberty. Determined to uncover the truth, not even a marriage proposal from the dashing British Officer Samuel Martin can dissuade her. When rescued from British capture by handsome patriot Thomas Watson, Eliza discovers what her father risked his life for and yearns to know more. But will her budding attraction to this courageous patriot damage her already wounded heart? 

After years of being blackmailed by Officer Martin, Thomas plans to start a new life in the small town of Sandwich. However, when his actions place Eliza and her sister in danger, he must act quickly to protect them from falling into enemy hands. If the three of them are discovered, their lives will never be the same. Now, not only must he protect Eliza, he must protect his heart from a love that is sure to wound him far greater than any British soldier ever could.

Sandwich is the oldest town in Cape Cod and boasts a rich history dating back to the year it was founded in 1637. Make sure you take some time to explore this wonderful place when our picnic is over. *wink* Amber loves America and its God-blessed history. She hopes that you will not only love this story as a historical romance, but that you will also increase in your own love for this wonderful country.

* How are you enjoying yourself so far? Do you need more tea? Please feel free to help yourself to another treat while you learn more about this next magnificent novel! *

Inspiration for The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn came straight from the pages of history. While researching the 18th century, Lori came across mention of the Lost State of Franklin—an attempt of the citizens of western North Carolina to form a separate state. Had they succeeded (and they nearly did) Franklin would have been the fourteenth state admitted into the Union. This first post-Revolutionary War attempt at independent statehood spanned a short but tumultuous period (1784—1789), marked by courthouse raids, fisticuffs, and battle, while two governments vied for the same territory. How, she wondered, could such a situation result in anything but chaos—and a setting that begged for a story to be woven through it?

Frontier dangers cannot hold a candle to the risks one woman takes by falling in love.

In an act of brave defiance, Tamsen Littlejohn escapes the life her harsh stepfather has forced upon her. Forsaking security and an arranged marriage, she enlists frontiersman Jesse Bird to guide her to the Watauga settlement in western North Carolina. But shedding her old life doesn’t come without cost. As the two cross a vast mountain wilderness, Tamsen faces hardships that test the limits of her faith and endurance. 

Convinced that Tamsen has been kidnapped, wealthy suitor Ambrose Kincaid follows after her, in company with her equally determined stepfather. With trouble in pursuit, Tamsen and Jesse find themselves thrust into the conflict of a divided community of Overmountain settlers. The State of Franklin has been declared, but many remain loyal to North Carolina. With one life left behind and chaos on the horizon, Tamsen struggles to adapt to a life for which she was never prepared. But could this challenging frontier life be what her soul has longed for, what God has been leading her toward? As pursuit draws ever nearer, will her faith see her through the greatest danger of all—loving a man who has risked everything for her?


Thank you so much for joining us today!! We do hope you have enjoyed the picnic. Such a peaceful way to enjoy the day with friends. Make sure you enter the giveaway below for a chance to win one of TWO fabulous gifts.  Can't wait to see you again next month for our next Tea Party.

GIVEAWAY!!

Two separate winners will be chosen in the drawing.
One winner will receive a signed copy of Amber's novel, So Fair a Lady and a cookbook featuring delicious recipes from Cape Cod. Lori is giving away a signed copy of The Pursuit of Tamsen
Littlejohn plus a DVD documentary on The Lost State of Franklin to one winner (US addresses only).

We are using rafflecopter this time around, so simply follow the instructions in the box below to be entered!! Thank you again and God bless!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jumps vs. Stays, by Amber Perry

Being a writer is fun for many reasons. (Not to mention a lot of work!) But for me, the hard part is often the fun part: research! I've had a fabulous time researching the clothing of the mid-1770's. One thing I have noticed that I find particularly interesting is the difference between stays and jumps--particularly because there is little information on jumps what actually were and who wore them, as well as few remaining pairs of them, from what I understand. (If you know more, please feel free to comment below!)


Many fabulous articles have been written on stays--the 18th century version of a corset, if you will. So I won't spend much time on that. But for those of you who might not know, I'll give a brief description. Stays were worn over the chemise, to give that popular cylindrical shape. Laced in the back and/or front stays were sometimes pulled quite tight and a woman often began wearing them at a very young age. Below is a picture of what a woman's undergarments looked like. Though as you can see, this was not a "homemaker" of sorts, this woman would have been quite wealthy. She is wearing her chemise, pocket panniers and stays on top.

In this illustration below, you will see what a more common woman might have worn. As a woman of a working class, she might have worn stays more for help with her posture, as opposed to wearing them for impressing people with the shape of her figure.

But the thing that I want to focus on in this article, is the difference between jumps and stays. In my research (I actually first saw something about them on etsy.com, if you can believe it.) I came across something called jumps--a garment similar to stays, only . . . different. *wink* Immediately I was interested, and started looking for more information. But to my dismay, there isn't much available--because there isn't too much documentation! However, what we do know is fascinating.

Apparently, jumps were worn more particularly by the working class as an alternative to stays. They were cut very similarly to stays as well, but with little to no boning, allowing for easier movement, etc. However, that doesn't mean that women of higher classes didn't wear them, as well. They were worn to keep that similar "slim" shape, and if a woman didn't feel the need to be as formal in her attire, she might have donned her jumps instead of stays. It also appears that jumps were sometimes worn without a bodice or jacket on top, as you would have done (most of the time) with stays.

I WISH that I could have found a non-copyrighted illustration/photograph of jumps, but alas I could not. However, below I have included two links where you can find pics, and additional information.

I particularly enjoy this link: http://www.couturemayah.info/engjumps.html
Her in-depth description of how she made the jumps is fabulous, and the pictures are wonderful! I would love to own a pair!

Here is a link that shows a woman's undergarments, very interesting. With a great picture of jumps (and stays)--and this pair does not include the shoulder straps. http://www.villagegreenclothier.com/showroom/shifts.html

Also, I really must thank my good friend Shannon McNear for helping me gather these great links and information!!

If you happen to know more about jumps, or know of any links, please comment below. I would love to know more about this lesser known 18th century clothing article.

The 18th Century Shoemaker, by Amber Perry

I'm fascinated with the trades of the 18th century. So many important jobs had to be done everyday just to keep people's lives running. Of course, that's not unlike today, but the jobs back then--though similar in some respects were oh, so different.

Today I want to talk about the shoemaker. This humble profession was anything but dreary and certainly not looked down upon as one might thing. The shoemaker was an integral part of the community. From the lowly farmer to the high-society nobleman, everyone needed shoes-- and so everyone visited the shoemaker. Granted, if you were ultra wealthy you may have hired-out your own personal shoemaker, but that certainly wasn't the norm.

The tools needed for the trade were inexpensive for the most part, and easy to obtain if you lived next to a larger city where imports from England were a regular occurrence. For a journeyman shoemaker it would have been an inexpensive trade to start, whereas other trades such as printing or blacksmithing would have been very difficult financially.



Like today, you could often walk into a shoemaker shop and find already made, popular-styled shoes in various sizes. (Like the ones pictured at the top of this post--hanging in the shop window.) If you couldn't find what you were looking for, you could have them custom made, but then of course you would have to wait a day or so, depending on the workload of the shop. Everything from riding boots, to soldiering boots, to every-day shoes, to children's shoes, to women's dress shoes--the shoemaker made them all. And though at times we look at the shoes from that century and wonder how they could be at all comfortable, having been made with leather (though some were made of fabrics, etc) that conforms to your feet, I imagine they weren't quite as bad as we think. Yet, without proper souls and arch support . . . who knows! Perhaps they were terribly uncomfortable. I've never worn a pair, so I can't speak from experience. (Makes me curious though . . .)

What do you think of this trade? Is it something you would have been interested in? Personally, I think it would have been fun, creative and rewarding.

There is another excellent and recent post about this trade by Susan Craft, and her post can be seen here if you are looking for additional information.

Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think!

Blessings!

History of the Pineapple in Colonial America

If you were to show your hospitality to guests at your home today, what would you do? Well, in the 18th century having a pineapple in the center of your table, or in a lovely arrangement over your door would be just the thing to impress your guests and show your prowess as a hostess extraordinaire!

The lowly pineapple was popular in colonial America, you say? Absolutely! You mean, the fruit we associate with Hawaii and tropical islands was the king of fruits in the colonies? Sounds crazy, but it's true.

In Colonial America, if you wanted to show your guests just how much they meant to you, or perhaps how much money you spent in preparing a feast, you would make sure you put a pineapple in the center of your table and "wow" your guests upon arrival. But as you can imagine, obtaining said fruit was nothing short of miraculous, which is another reason for its popularity. Bringing shipments to the colonies from the Caribbean often meant that the conditions were hot and perfect for rotting the cargo. So, if you were able to obtain a fresh, juicy pineapple, you might have been the talk of the town. This was especially true for the more northern colonies where shipments of pineapples were typically only brought to Boston.

The fruit didn't arrive in cardboard boxes like it does today,
but I imagine however it came, it was quite a delight to consumers.

But, let's say you are of the middling class and wish to impress your guests but cannot afford to buy a pineapple. No problem. You can rent one! . . . But only for the day. And let's just hope your guests don't find out you are only renting it because that might not do well for your reputation.

In the 18th century, the pineapple became such a widespread symbol of hospitality that it transferred from the table to patters on wallpapers and even as sculptures adorning wooden entryways, among many other things.

So, next time you want to thrill your guests, try putting a pineapple in the middle of the table. I'm sure they will be impressed. *wink*

The 18th Century Gristmill, by Amber Perry

Dexter's Gristmill, Sandwich, MA

Another view of the mill

Good morning! It's me, the "Sandwich" lady, again. I'm thrilled about today's post! How many of you have visited an historic gristmill? What did you think of it? This was my first experience, and needless to say I was riveted. (But anything historic tends to do that to me. *wink*)
Most gristmills are so picturesque you'd think you are looking at something out of a Thomas Kinkade painting. You can find 18th century gristmills throughout several states in the east, but not all of them still work. This one does work, however, and it is fabulous!

Outer wheel

While on my "research" tour of Sandwich, MA last spring, I had the privilege of getting a personal tour of Dexter's Gristmill--one of the last still-working 18th century gristmills in the country. It was restored in the 1960's, and is in excellent condition for its age--considering it originally "started operating" in 1654! Yes, you read that right. That's over 350 years ago. Amazing, isn't it?

Not only that, you can order organic cornmeal ground from this mill every fall. But you have to hurry, because from what I understand supplies are limited. (Contact the Sandwich Chamber for more information.)

So, the pictures are lovely from the outside, but what about the inside? How did it work?

The inside! At the top, you can see the large granite millstone.

Well, gristmills are typically near a water source--as this one is. Thomas Dexter built this gristmill next to Shawme Pond, and constructed a small dam near the edge of it. (Pictured at the bottom.)

The dam forces the water to flow over the large outer wheel and cracks it, which moves the large wheels/gears that are inside the mill. (pictured below.) Those inner gears move the large and very heavy millstone (pictured above) which grinds the grain into flour. Pretty simple, right?

Large inner-gear that is moved by the outer wheel.

View of the small dam in front of the gristmill

Mills of this kind would often grind several different grains, even though today this one grinds only corn. Typically, the farmer would bring his grain and give it to the miller to grind, and the miller would retain his "toll" as payment for the work.









I am fascinated by this kind of historic site--I just wish I could have seen it when it was in its prime! But I am very happy that there are people interested in restoring and maintaining sites like this for myself and others to enjoy. I didn't get to see it in action, but it sounds like it is quite a production.

So have you ever visited a gristmill? If so, which one and what did you think?

The 18th Century Printing Press by Amber Perry

18th century printing press

Oh, the glories of modern technology. Information is everywhere, and we can access it as easy as turning on our phones!

Well, back in the 18th century they did not enjoy such luxuries. To produce books, newspapers and other such means of education and information, the work was long, tedious and often backbreaking. On a recent visit to Colonial Williamsburg I took particular interest in the printing press. I am truly amazed at what people did day-in and day-out to make sure that the people of the colonies were well informed.

This was no cake walk! Typically a print shop would employ two to three men, but if it was small, the work could be done with one person--it just would take a very long time. The "compositor" gathered the type and arranged it in composing sticks and then into galleys, the "beater" would spread the ink--a mixture of varnish and lampblack--over the galleys, and the "pressman" would pull the lever once the carriage (the place where the galleys were secured) was ready to go. A lot more work than just sitting at a computer, huh?

Still want to know more? Or perhaps you think you could do this "easy" job, huh? OK! Let me show you what it takes to print only ONE page using 18th century technology, and when we're through, tell me if you still want to take up this all-important trade!



Step 1: Gather your letters

Ever wonder where we get the terms "upper case" and "lower case"?
Well, in the top case are the capital letters and in the lower are, well, the
lower letters. *grin* Once you have the letters you need, you can fill your composing sticks.
Remember to put all the letters in backwards so you can read it correctly when the print is done. 

Step Two: Fill the composing sticks and set them in the galleys. 
This job often took hours. A printer's day was not easy and often lasted up to 14 hours or more.

So, you've filled all the composing sticks and placed them securely in the galleys. Good work!

Step Three: Get your paper. 

Now, the paper a printer used had to be damp--not dry--to allow the ink to adhere properly. So, the printer had to wet all the paper before he used it. It needed to be just damp, not dripping, so he would wet the papers in a large vat of water, take out the stack and let it sit, until the papers reached the right dampness. Just another step in the process that seems insignificant, but is very important.

Hold your paper carefully. Since it's wet, it is more likely to tear--and we don't want to waste.
 Next, secure it in place.

Step Four: Cover the galleys in ink.

As stated, there were different types of inks used, but the ink of choice was typically varnish and lampblack.

Inkballs were used to adhere the ink to the galleys--this was the "beater's" job.

Make sure when you apply the ink, to cover all the letters evenly.

Step Five: Move the carriage under the platen and pull on the lever.
What's a platen? Oh, that's the thingy that goes up and down and presses the paper to the ink-covered galley. *wink*

Close the paper over the galleys, then move it under the platen and pull!! You will
need a strong upper body to do this all day long.

Step Six: Remove the paper
Wow! Finally, a printed page. Now, you get to do this over and over again until your newspaper is finished . . . 14 hours later. *yikes*

You should be very proud of yourself!

But, your work is not yet done. The paper--not to mention the ink--is still damp and needs to dry so it won't smear.

Step Seven: Hang the paper over the ropes near the ceiling (make sure the fire is roaring nicely during cooler months) and wait until its dry to remove it.

These are the ropes for you to hang your finished product on. Just make sure
that the fire in your fireplace is roaring nicely. That will help the drying go faster.

So, what do you think? Would this have been your trade-of-choice? Personally, I would have loved it! (And yes, woman were known to work in print shops, though not as a general rule. In case you were wondering . . .)

I hope you have enjoyed your tour of the 18th century printing press. Thank you for joining me!

What did you think? If printing isn't your forte, what trade would you have chosen?

Sandwich, anyone? By New CQ Contributor Amber Perry

Sign for Historic Sandwich

Sandwich, anyone?
by Amber Perry

I have been obsessed with all things colonial and Revolutionary War since I was knee-high-to-a-grasshopper. I’ll never forget the day, at the ripe old age of fifteen, when my parents told me they were taking me to Boston so I could tour the historic sites. I was jumping up and down, and squealing so much you’d have thought I’d won back-stage passes to see The Backstreet Boys in concert.
But for me, this was WAY better than that. I mean, way better.

Newcomb Tavern, known in the Revolutionary era
as Tory Tavern 

While there, on a whim we decided to visit Cape Cod, since it is just about an hour or so from the city.
Little did I know, from that day on I would never be the same.
I remember sitting in the back seat of the rental car, inhaling that new-car smell and marveling at the beauty that dashed past my window when my dad said, “This little town is called Sandwich.”
Of course that got my attention. Sandwich? Who names a place after something you eat? Well, now I can look back and say, “Oh, Amber dearest, how cute and uneducated of you.”

Hoxie House, built in 1675

Once I got over the name, I was captivated by the quaint, historic homes and the magnificent setting. I promised myself that someday, I would go back. I’m sure I’ve never seen a more beautiful little town—and one with such fabulous history that is unknown to most people, unless you’ve been there. (Though I’m sure that can be said for many towns in the U.S.) I never forgot Sandwich, and if you have ever been there, I’m sure you can’t forget it either. * wink *

Inside the Hoxie House

Sandwich, Massachusetts was founded in 1637 and is the oldest town in Cape Cod. Named after a seaport town in England, the land was originally part of the Plymouth Colony. About sixty families first settled the area, and it continued growing after that, however slowly.

Shawme Pond

The Quakers of the colonial era were often persecuted in many places, but found a bit of refuge in Sandwich and the religion began to thrive. In fact, the Monthly Quaker Meetings held in Sandwich, are the oldest continual Quaker meetings in America. So says the Sandwich “historical” website . . .

View of Newcomb Tavern across Shawme Pond

During the Revolutionary War the colonists of Sandwich were very supportive of the patriot cause, but as with most places, there were a number of Tories who insisted on making their own strong feelings known. A well-beloved proponent of the patriot cause, Doctor Nathaniel Freeman, was a fearless leader among the patriots of Sandwich and after a political rally, was attacked by three Tories in front of Newcomb Tavern. If I could, I would reeeeeaaaally like to tell you all about the drama that ensued between the Whigs and the Tories in my favorite Cape Cod town, but I will have to leave that for another post.

Dexter's Grist Mill

Mainly a farming community during the colonial era, Sandwich has a large, centrally located pond (more like a small lake) that people and livestock used on a daily basis. On the pond stands a gristmill, powered by Shawme Pond, that was originally built in 1640 and still grinds corn today!

If I could, I would visit Sandwich every year. No, scratch that—if I could, I would LIVE there, but alas, I fear that will never happen. *sigh* But I do love it and hope to go back again someday.

Inside the gristmill

Have you ever been, and if so, what did you think?

Tell me about your favorite historical town!