www.isabellahargreaves.com/isabella at home - ISABELLA HARGREAVES

Forbidden Valentines - excerpt

7/6/2016

Here's an excerpt from the third short story in Forbidden Valentines - 'George'.

I've posted excerpts from the first two stories on Facebook already see; https://www.facebook.com/IsabellaHargreavesBooks/.

“Stop tidying, George, and get to bed.”
“Oui, my lord.”
“Don’t ‘my lord me’. Come here.”
George banged around in the dressing room a little longer, closing wardrobe doors, before exiting to respond to James’s order. “Yes, my lord? Is there something more I can do for you this evening?” George raised an eyebrow.
James’s heart beat strongly in his chest. “Come here, I said.”
George stepped to him and waited with a look of enquiry.
“There is something you can do for me.” James tugged on the black stock at George’s neck. It fell open on the shirt.
George glanced down at the material then raised dark eyes to James with a questioning look and a half smile.
James pushed the black coat from George’s narrow shoulders. It fell unhindered to the floor. “Not going to pick that up, George?” he taunted.
“Non.” George watched him intently.

Pre-order now. Available: 10 June.
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1OmViIZ
Amazon.co.uk: http://amzn.to/25bY8bt
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1113894691
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1TTkHc8
B&N: http://bit.ly/1VWlj4m

Win a free ticket to the ARRA book-signing event

21/5/2016

I'm one of the authors involved in the Treasure Hunt to win a free ticket to attend the ARRA book-signing event in Adelaide in August. The Treasure Hunt competition is now on! For details see:
https://australianromancereaders.wordpress.com/2016/05/21/book-signing-event-treasure-hunt-2/
The list of signing authors, plus details for the Chocoholics Competition is here:
https://australianromancereaders.wordpress.com/2016/05/20/book-signing-event-in-adelaide/)

Facial Hair - what's your fancy?

20/3/2016

I don't know about you, but I think the nineteenth century outdid itself for the variety of facial hair sported by the men of the day.
Let me show you...

<- This painting is reputedly of Beau Brummel, that leader of fashion in the Regency period. He sported a very nice pair of side-levers - a popular fashion item early in the 19th century.

By the time Queen Victoria married her Albert on 10 February 1840, he owned not only luxurious side-levers, but a natty moustache as well. ->

Marriage of Victoria and Albert
Painting by George Hayter

The Young Victoria poster - 2009 movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0962736/)

Jane Eyre (2006 BBC mini-series) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780362/?ref_=ttawd_awd_tt

<- Charlotte Bronte's popular novel, Jane Eyre, was written by August 1847. Her hero, Edward Rochester, in one well-known version of the story, had the trendy long, sharp side-levers of the time, as well as long locks.

Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South, written in the 1850s, has John Thornton as its hero from The North. In the popular mini-series of the book, actor Richard Armitage sported more restrained side-levers, and an under-shaven chin. I do wonder how common that unshaven look was amongst the well-heeled men of the time. ->

North & South (2004 BBC mini-series) (http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2981566976/
tt0417349?ref_=ttmd_md_nxt)

General Ambrose Burnside. Photo by Mathew Brady

<- But the penultimate decade of facial hair, in my opinion, was the 1860s, when luxurious side-levers, or side-burns as they became called after General Burnside (shown left), met up with massive moustaches on many well-regarded faces of the time.

The American Civil War, as shown in the movie rendition 'Gettysburg', was an outstanding period for facial hair. Never have I seen such an amazing array of lady-ticklers! Let me show you...

Gettysburg, 1993 movie (http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2991496960/tt0107007?ref_=ttmd_md_nxt)

But that wasn't the end of facial hair. In 1870s Australia, Ned Kelly's flamboyant beard was a fashion many embraced. ->

Hume Photographic Collection, University of Queensland Fryer Library.

.

Ned Kelly, 1870.

<- However, the 1880s brought a more restrained and sombre look, as these three gentlemen from the mid-1880s show...

Throughout the next two decades the Prince of Wales led the fashion for neatly trimmed beards . This coronation picture of King Edward VII was taken in 1902, but his tidy facial hair was an already established fashion. ->

I wonder if any century before the nineteenth covered such a variety of fashions for men's facial hair?

In this age of the hipster we certainly live in a time of variety.

Are you similarly entertained by men's facial adornments? Leave a comment. I would love to hear your opinion.

cheers, Isabella

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isabella.hargreavesbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/IsabellaHauthor

#facialhair #beards #moustachelife #moustache

For the love of books

11/3/2016

If you've read any of these books and enjoyed them, please leave a review on any of these sites:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1nBe6re

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/search?Query=isabella+hargreaves

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1pk7UFG

Reviewing a book only needs to be a few words long or a star rating. I'm grateful for every single one!

Thank you,
Isabella H.

P.S. If you're interested, an Isabella Hargreaves Readers' group has formed to discuss my books: https://www.facebook.com/groups/223984487953919/

#historicalfiction, #Historicalromance, #romance

Writing Serendipity?

28/2/2016

Above: Mail by camel transport - Charleville & district. Source: NAA, Item: 3296500. Below: Early mail coach PMG possibly Charleville. Source: NAA Item: 1650785. Bottom: Earliest known motor mail in Queensland, Isisford to Ilfracombe, 1910. Source: NAA Item: 3025042.

Ever written something which later you found out was absolutely spot on, but you didn't know it at the time?
I've had this happen a couple of times when writing my historical stories.
The first occurrence happened when I wrote All Quiet on the Western Plains - about a place I had never visited - although I had read extensively about western Queensland and poured over historical photographs.
A month after the novella was published, I travelled to western Queensland for the first time, visiting Blackall, Barcaldine, Aramac, Isisford, Longreach and places in between.
The country was as amazing as I thought it would be and my description of it had been accurate. What a fluke, I thought.
When I came to write the sequel, Journey's End on the Western Plains, also set in 1924, I started the story with the hero,hitching a ride in the mailman's truck.
At the end of the story he applies for the mail run contract and gets the job.
As a writer, I thought it was the perfect solution for my characters and story. Mail contractor was the perfect job for the hero as it allowed him to live in the mythical town of "Idavale" and regularly visit his family's property at the other end of the mail run.
At the time I thought, oh yeah, he'll have the same chance as anyone else. He's a good bush mechanic, he'll be able to fix any breakdowns.
Recently I attended a talk about early mail services in Queensland in the 19th and 20th centuries, held by the National Archives of Australia in Brisbane.
The NAA have over 1000 photographs relating to Cobb & Co mail coaches, mail men, their horses and trucks and post offices in the collection, plus numerous written records.
What astonished me was the discovery that, after World War I, the Australian Government awarded mail contracts on a preferential basis to returned servicemen - like my hero.
I was gobsmacked by this discovery.
I had got his ideal job so right.
Here was proof that my character would have been awarded that contract - as long as no other returned serviceman had applied at the same time!
As far as I'm concerned, serendipity* in research and writing is a real phenomenon.
Have you had similar experiences?

To search the National Archives of Australia site for records see: http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/search/
*Serendipity: a happy chance, a happy accident.

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Suffragette - the movie

20/2/2016

Suffragette is the movie every woman in the world should see and that every school should include in its curriculum.
Suffragette shines a light on not only women's struggle for the vote, but also their working and social conditions; and the oppression women endured not just in the early twentieth century, but in every century before that.
For me, the most confronting frames, in a film with many disturbing scenes, were the last roll-through list showing the years in which women gained the vote in countries around the world. Read the list and weep - for all those women who waited, and those who still wait - to be considered as human beings deserving the right to vote and help determine their future.

Happy Valentine’s Day in 1888

15/2/2016

Today, Valentine’s Day is a popular and highly commercialised celebration.

However, in 1888, Valentine’s Day in Australia was regarded by one colonial journalist as declining in popularity, although he provided no explanation as to why.

“This day is by no means so generally observed as it used to be. Even the custom of sending those highly sentimental missives called valentines appears in a great measure to be falling into disuse.

A few years ago the 14th of February occupied a much more prominent position in the calendar than it does as present.

The manufacturers of this description of stationery began their preparation for the next festival soon after the last was past. Hundreds of women and girls found occupation in the construction of these dainty trifles, their fingers being found specially skilful in putting together the different parts of which they are composed. A heart from this box, a cupid from that, a wreath, some lace-edge paper and a scrap of tulle – this last to soften the effect and perhaps suggest wedding veils – a few paper springs to make the
figures or flowers stand out, and then a daub of gum here and there, and with a few deft touches the valentine is competed, lightness of touch and rapidity of construction being essential to produce a fresh appearance.

For weeks before the day itself the shop windows are crowded with them, valentines of every sort, size or description, pretty ones, ugly ones, expensive ones, cheap ones, valentines for the upper ten, valentines for the million, valentines for everyone to choose from as they will.

And choose they did; the shop counters were besieged with eager buyers some wanting one kind, some another….

And when the eventful day arrived what an important man the postman became, how he was watched for …”*

The death knell was rung too soon and I'm not sorry he was wrong. I love to receive Valentine’s cards and gifts. I hope your day is happy and brings you all the tokens love that you desire!

Source: *South Australian Register, 14 Feb 1888, p. 6.

99c - All Quiet on the Western Plains

5/2/2016

Part 1 of my Western Plains series is now 99c US.

All Quiet on the Western Plains tells the story of Jack Edgarson overcoming his wartime trauma and finding love with heart-sore British nurse Fleur Armitage, after his return to western Queensland from World War I.

The story continues in its sequel, Journey's End on the Western Plains , which is also set in outback Idavale.
In All Quiet, you met Jack's army mate, Bill Carter, who hasn't been able to settle down to any job or return to his family home since he came home from the war. Then he meets Matron Marion Henderson and his life starts to change.

All Quiet on the Western Plains buy links:
Amazon Oz: http://bit.ly/1OkElha
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1kgyb5b
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1061997574
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/all-quiet-on-the-western-plains-1

Journey's End on the Western Plains buy links:
Amazon, Oz: http://bit.ly/1OkDYDx
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1HjJvrm
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1061997251
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/journey-s-end-on-the-western-plains

Wooing the Wealthy Regency Widow

18/1/2016

In the short story, Wooing the Wealthy Widow, [Wanton Widows] Sir Hercules Standfast captures Viscountess Helena Tremoyne's attention with his unusual idea about what makes a marriage work.

Of course, Sir Hercules is just another ruthless fortune-hunter, but there is something intriguing about the man and Lady Helena decides to implement her fool-proof system for weeding out unsuitable suitors....

This is what happens when they meet...

“Lady Helena, I have come with a proposal.”
“For a business venture?” She acted intentionally obtuse.
“No – of marriage, your ladyship.”
“But we have just established we are barely acquainted. How can you propose marriage?”
“It’s for that very reason that I believe we should marry.”
What?
She must have looked askance at him because he explained, “Marriage is a great journey through life, during which two people come to know each other intimately. The difficulty, I believe, is that when people marry knowing each other well already, they ruin the journey. Whereas, if we were to marry knowing nothing about each other, then we would have our whole lives to discover the other person.”
He seemed perfectly serious in his belief.
“I take the opposite view, I’m afraid, Sir Hercules. I believe that people marry before knowing the right things about each other.”
However, his was an intriguing argument. One she had not heard before from any of the army of fortune-hunters who had pursued her wealth and proclaimed a great love for her.
She made a spur-of-the-moment decision – not something she did often – and decided to assess his suitability, although she knew nothing about him.
He looked about to argue their differing viewpoints so she forestalled him. “You haven’t yet proposed to me,” she reminded him.
“Would you consider me if I did? If not, I won’t take that honour upon myself.” He gave a cheeky smile.
Intriguing though he was, she kept her manner sombre. “Should you propose, I will take your offer seriously and give you a considered answer after we have gotten to know each other better.”
“In that case…” He dropped to one knee in front of her and taking her hand in his said, “Lady Helena Tremoyne, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?” He smiled in his beguiling way.
This time, she couldn’t help but return his smile. “As soon as I have made my decision, I will inform you, but it may take a week or two. Now we must get to know each other and to achieve that there are some social events to which I would like you to accompany me.”
“I am at your disposal, Lady Helena.” He flashed another charming smile.
“Good. Do you have a carriage?”
“No.”
“Never mind, I have two. This afternoon you will accompany me in my landau for the circuit around Hyde Park, at the fashionable hour.”
“I will?” He looked bemused.
“You shall. Please arrive promptly.”

Australia. Amazon.com.au buy link: http://bit.ly/1OeVvZG
UK. Amazon.org.uk buy link: http://amzn.to/1OEcgOI
USA. Amazon.com buy link: http://amzn.to/1M5AHpX
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1D0LzlV
Also available at your favourite ebook retailer.

Inspiration for Western Plains stories

8/1/2016

What do a World War I hero, a bush larrikin, a British nurse and a bush hospital matron have in common?

Well, they all exist in two new ebook romances set in Western Queensland in 1924.

Ever had a character or story stick in your head and reverberate around and around?

I read about one World War I Victoria Cross recipient and couldn't stop thinking about his life and experiences in the war. That started me reading lots of biographies of Australian soldiers and nurses who served in WWI. Western Queensland was the home of one of these men and my hero's story suddenly had to be set there.

Who would I choose as the love interests for my returned soldiers come home to the bush?

Up until the mid-20th century small private hospitals existed in towns across Queensland, as I found out when I researched the history of the Isisford District Hospital in Western Queensland and the Australian Inland Mission Hospital at Birdsville.

The Chairman of the Isisford District Hospital Committee in the 1920s said, half joking, that his real role in hiring nurses for the hospital seemed to be finding wives for the women-starved men of the district, as the nurses he hired often married the locals and stopped working!

So, two nurses became the heroines.

In late 2013 I wrote ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN PLAINS about my tortured war hero, Jack, who meets a British nurse come to Western Queensland to forget the war and all her losses.

As I wrote their story, Jack's war-time friend, Bill Carter kept trying to take over, but I kept him in his place and finished Jack and Fleur's romance.

However, when a reader asked 'What about writing Bill and Marion's romance?', I thought, why not? JOURNEY'S END ON THE WESTERN PLAINS was the result - published on 30 November 2015.

Both are available from Amazon or your favourite ebook publisher.

I hope you enjoy these outback historical romances. If you do, please write a review or send me a comment. I'd love to hear from you.