Me, looking up what kind of paper they used in the mountains of Southern Italy in 1785 for 1/2 a sentence. The internet: Oh, you want to history of paper? Why yes, as a matter of fact that sounds amazing!
I present to you The History of Paper, complete with machine illustrations, rag-grades, and my very firm desire to never have to do any of this for a sheet of paper, please.
Woah, I managed 2 chapters today! In my defense, it was cold and rainy and super windy and no day for even a short walk. I did nap and listened to Christmas music! In addition to the normal weekend chores like laundry and cleaning the kitchen. Did a little decorating, too.
Day 27:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 5,435
Total: 66,476
November through February are the months I light scented candles or use wax melts. Not any other time, only these cold, dark days when the sun goes down at 5 and I never want to leave my house.
Candles help create something in my house I hadn't realized until I stumbled across this article about feeding your senses. Seems they just make you feel better. I prefer light scents, peppermint, pomegranate, things like that. Just enough to brighten the inside of the house, if not the outside.
What are your feelings on candles? How do you brighten your inside house during the winter months?
As I close in on the 30th, I'm excited over what I've accomplished. Progress is always a great feeling! Also, trying to figure out what I mean by certain things. What does this sentence mean? No idea. Not sure what that wall is all about. 🤷 There's no wall mentioned in the previous 3 chapters and I've no idea what type it might mean, either. *le sigh*
He didn’t like this openness, didn’t like the last of a wall behind him, or the sheer number of people here.
Day 26:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 1,582
Total: 61,041
Didn't get a lot accomplished, being Turkey Day and all, but I did manage 5 chapters of editing this morning before heading over for dinner. Luckily, I baked everything I had to Wednesday, so I was all set. Mostly.
Added a bunch of words to a chapter I half-assed (I'm looking at you, chapter 15) with a bunch of notes for Future Me (tm) so feeling better about that one.
Sunday's deadline is looking promising! 2 chapters to finish and look over, a few notes to make sure I hit everything, and *phew*. Then off to Esme's story! (And sleep. I really want sleep!)
Day 24:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 1,004
Total: 58,352
Happy I'm Grateful You're in my Life Day! I know it's Thanksgiving here in America, but that's here. And I'm grateful you're on this journey with me no matter where you live.
Day 23:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 1,722
Total: 57,384
I'm to the editing stage of my writing, which means my goal is to read 5 chapters per day this week. Make sure I haven't messed up any plot too badly and know where I'm headed with the rest of this story. I have 2-3 chapter left to write and plan on finishing those this weekend.
Day 22:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 1,504
Total: 55,626
I have to say, once I reached my NaNo goal, it was a lot less pressure to accomplish anything. I still wrote a chapter, which I'm very pleased with and needed to finish, but there's no word count stress over it.
On a side note, anyone know the history of Italian inheritance laws? Specifically, pre-Napoleonic Era in the Papal States?
Day 21:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 2,801
Total: 54,122
I'm researching prisons in Italy in the 1700s and from my limited research discovered that they aren't that different than Italian prisons today. There are changes to bring them more in line with European Union regulations, but Italy follows the ancient Roman law and the Napoleonic law, which is based on Roman law.
The point? There's no bail in the 1780s.
Why is this important? For my purposes it means a huge plot point. But it also means that if one was imprisoned in Italy during the 18th century, one remained in jail until guilt or innocence was proven.
Here are 2 interesting cases I read about in my research.
Gironima Spana - Wikipedia who was a professional poisoner. Which was apparently a thing.
Astorre I Manfredi - Wikipedia a captain in the guard
UK history of bail: Bail in the United Kingdom - Wikipedia
France's Napoleonic Code: Napoleonic Code - Wikipedia
It's my birthday! Well the 20th, when I wrote the words I'm posting about. Had a lovely morning, quiet with a nice fire and puppy snuggles. Finished the chapter, then food with the fam and lots of birthday wishes. Thank you everyone!
And look at this, made my NaNo goal! 🎆🎆
Day 20:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 5,460
Total: 51,321
It's winter here in the northern hemisphere and that means everything is dry. My scalp, my skin, my lips. No matter how much lotion I moisturize with, it's never enough. I did find a foot peel at the pharmacy the other day and plan on trying that. If nothing else, it'll make me laugh as I place the peel on my feet!
For my scalp, I use argon oil shampoo year-round. It's a blue bottle, large...nope, don't remember the name but I love it! Keeps my scalp moisturized and my hair healthy without all those additives.
For my skin, I use a dry brush weekly. This removes the dead skin and lets that lotion seep in better.
What are your winter skin care routines?
Busy Saturday, but I finished my chapter. I'm a little worried I'll wrap up this story much sooner than my word count planned, but as long as it makes sense, I'm not concerned. The story is the story and whatever it ends up being is fine so long as I include all that's needed.
Day 19:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 2,515
Total: 45,861
No sign of the cricket, my knee feels better, and I'm bundled beneath my fuzzy blanket because it's 35 outside. Today is not the night to be out and about. Also it's been a long work week, and I'm beat.
Research topics today: Places in the south of France to visit and what an 18th century Italian bureau looks like. Also how to spell bureau, which I can't and have never been able to. Lots of u's there.
Day 18:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 2,903
Total: 43,346
Despite twisting my knee so badly I couldn't put pressure on it and a mischievous cricket hopping along my living room floor, I managed a chapter! So proud of myself. The line between mystery, friendship, and romance it thin, but I think I'm walking it.
Day 17:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 2,819
Total: 40,443
Still making progress! I'm 60% (+/-) finished with this story and am so happy with what I've written! I want to write more, but there's life, day job, and stress to juggle, and I'm not very good at the juggling part.
Even with my slow 257-word day, I'm writing daily and that makes me happy.
Day 16:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 1,118
Total: 37,624
It was a dark and stormy night...no really, it was! And my dog decided she'd rather be in bed at 7pm than anything, so while she snoozled I finished my scene. She's making grumbly noises that I can just hear, talking to me. No doubt telling me I need to stop and get to bed, too, so she can lay across 3/4 of it like a dog 3 times her size!
Not a bad writing day, I figured out my mystery twist I needed for the next 2 chapters and did a crap ton of research on the Italian Prison System pre-20th century. It was not pretty. I'll share more information on that next week.
Day 15:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 1,247
Total: 36,506
I'm just fleshing out the details for Esme and Landon's story and have tried a dozen work arounds for sabotage and saboteur. Why? Because it wasn't a word until 1910.
I look up a lot of words, because language has changed so much in 200+ years. I don't just mean computer or call me or modern terminology phrases we use. I mean words like saboteur. Would anyone notice? Who knows, but I do try.
Esme is Kaya and Paul's eldest who is tracking down the person responsible for disrupting several of her family's cargo shipments. Landon, The Most Honorable Marquise of Strathan, is searching for a French spy. The year is 1806, the ship is the Brittiana, he's a titled gentleman and she's the daughter of--horrors--a merchant.
They have 35 days between Portsmouth and Halifax. What could possibly happen?
Did I mess up my days again? Yes. Not in counting but in posting. I'm clearly meant to live in the here and now and not the past. Or future I suppose.
Yesterday was not a good day for writing. It wasn't a bad writing day, just a bad day for it. Very little time and lots of interruptions. But tomorrow is going to be great! I know it. Plus, I know where the next chapter is headed.
Day 14:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 257
Total: 35,259
The French Revolutionaries abolished slavery in 1794. About 3 years after the Haitian slaves revolted and overthrew the French. It doesn't seem as if the new French government abolished slavery out of any sense of equality, but rather because they couldn't govern their own country effectively so ignored the Carribean. (An oversimplification to be sure...)
Once Napoleon seized power, he returned everything to pre-revolutionary times.
And did I mention the Haitian indemnity? Yeah. France still hasn't canceled this debt.
2 great documentaries:
The Haitian Revolution: A Documentary History
Egalite for All: Toussaint Louverture and the Haitian Revolution
The Haitian Revolution: Successful Revolt by an Enslaved People (thoughtco.com)
The Haitian Revolution: The Slave Revolt for Independence (historycooperative.org)
French Revolution | Slavery and Remembrance
The French Revolution and The Abolition of Slavery - Free Essay Example - 1456 Words | SupremeStudy
Kaya & Paul's book 3 is all about accepting the future. The good, the change, the bad, the uncertainty. What to do in life and how to do it together. It's one thing to walk around the Italian Peninsula making love and talking. But when others become involved, the dynamic changes. And meeting people who can become lifelong friends means figuring out what their next step is.
I didn't finish my chapter, which is my goal until this story is completed. But I'm 1,000 words+/- from it and know I can finish those before breakfast in the morning. Early writing isn't my strong time, but I'm determined!
Day 13:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 1,919
Total: 35,002
I recently heard that John Mellancamp said he wrote 100 songs to find one good song. I believe this is probably true for most creatives. Not everything you do is good. Some of it is hide beneath the bed and never speak of it again.
Same goes for your days. Today won't look the same as yesterday. Tomorrow won't look the same as today. That whole take it one day at a time is a saying for a reason. It's hard. I want my days to be stress free and happy as I do my own thing and not answer to anyone but my dog.
I can dream, right?!
Today was a beautiful day, 75+ with nothing but sunshine. I spent a lot of time outside--and yes, my allergies protested. Still, it was a lovely day and one of the last nice ones for a while. To be fair, it is mid-November, so I'll take any day above 60!
Also started my holiday baking. I'm making a lot of gluten-free baked goods and need to practice first to ensure they bake well. I've had trouble with timing and oven heat, so like to work all that out first.
Day 12:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 2,751
Total: 33,083
Not the best writing day I've ever had. Not the worst, either. I wrote, but between the weather, my allergies, sinus pressure, and general exhaustion, I didn't think I wrote a lot. But I managed another chapter, so I call that a win. I also called it an early night.
Plotting out the mystery now, too. Don't want to get caught in heavy edits because I forgot to add in a clue!
Day 11:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 2,816
Total: 30,332
Not gonna lie, I was afraid I wasn't even going to make my daily word goal, let alone finish the chapter. When I sit to write, I try to complete a chapter (about 3,000 words) a day. This very rarely works. Even when I split the writing between mornings before work, breaks, lunch, after dinner and other responsibilities, I rarely write the entire chapter word count goal in a day.
Yesterday the words flowed like a beautiful river, and it was lovely. I'm so proud of myself and even like the words I wrote!
Day 10:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 2,261
Total: 27,714
Hmm I think I messed up the days yesterday. I'm posting today with yesterday's count, and I put Day 7 instead of Day 8. It gets confusing. Or maybe the time change on Sunday still affects me. Or maybe I need more sleep in general!
I need to find a word count tracker that's a little more technologically updated than this.
Day 9:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 2,106
Total: 25,453
Well, this article on forming habits is discouraging. I like the 18 days far, far better than 254. This one says the same, that 21-days to a new habit is a myth and that's just so sad.
Either way, 30 days of at least writing daily should for some sort of habit, right? Looking back that's probably not true, as I tend to go in spurts with things, writing included. For now, 1 day--and word count!--at a time.
Day 7:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 2,869
Total: 23,347
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On to my daily word count! I'm very pleased with myself, hitting word goals, keeping on. It's been a week since NaNo started and I'm still going strong. What is the theory about a habit? Is it 2 weeks or 4 weeks before whatever you're doing becomes a habit and you create new brain path waves. I'll have to look that up.
Day 7:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 2,430
Total: 20,478
Liberté, égalité, fraternité. Liberty, equality, faternity. The motto of the French Revolution. Overthrow the rich landowners, equality for all. No, not quite. Not for women. Equality? A vote for change?
Their lot during this so-called revolutionary time was basically the same. No vote, their political salons disrupted, and the women arrested. Take, for instance, Olympe de Gouges. Denied her right to an attorney during her trial, eventually executed for royalist sympathies though her plays show anything but.
For more reading:
Women in the French Revolution - Wikipedia
The Many Roles of Women in the French Revolution (thoughtco.com)
OK, back on track with my days. Don't know why the weekend confused me, perhaps it was the bouncing of the clocks back an hour. 🤷 Either way, yesterday (Sunday the 6th) I'm continuing on with Lover's Promise. I'm now into the mystery, we work so well together, smutty goodness part.
Never one to turn away from a battle, Kaya Conrad is ready to fight for her still-new marriage, whether that be the demons from Paul's past or the highwaymen they face as they trek across Italy. When they stumble upon a woman being robbed, Kaya steps in to help.
Paul Conrad wanted to make amends. He's never been proud of his past, but after it reared its ugly head and threatened Kaya, he's ready to completely change his ways. The only problem is, he's never been any good at atonement and nothing in his life has ever gone as planned.
When the woman they helped is accused of murder, Kaya vows to clear her name. When their good deed threatens their own freedom, Paul must do everything in his power to protect Kaya. Because his vow to her and their marriage is everything.
Day 6:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 3,453
Total: 18,048
One step forward is better than treading in place.
I think I forgot to update my word count yesterday. It's the whole day after that's messing me up. Still working on Kaya and Paul's 3rd story, I really do love this couple.
Day 5, which was Saturday.
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Day 5:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 3,267
Total: 14,595
One of my favorite things to write is a fun, smutty scene. Not just the sex, but the laughter and closeness behind it. And Paul absolutely worships Kaya, which is awesome to write!
I haven't even logged into my NaNo account to update anything, and now it's far too late to say I've been writing every day. I'm ok with that, this is keeping me on track!
Day 4:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 2,551
Total: 11,328
Day 3 seems to be right on track. I'm pushing ahead nicely with Lover's Promise which is just as well since I have a November 20th deadline and send it to my editor by November 27th. Which means I should have it ready for pre-order by the end of the year! I'll have the cover by early December.
I've also finished Esme and Landon's outline. No title yet, but Esme is Kaya and Paul's eldest who is tracking down the person responsible for disrupting several of her family's cargo shipments. Landon, The Most Honorable Marquessof Strathan, is searching for a French spy. The year is 1806, the ship is the Brittiana, he's a titled gentleman and she's the daughter of--horrors--a merchant.
They have 35 days between Portsmouth and Halifax. What could possibly
happen?
Day 3:
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 2,763
Total: 8,777
I'm finished with Intrigue with You, Louise and Malcolm's 3rd story. I had hoped to have it ready for this last Sunday, but it's ready now! Or will be on Sunday. If you're subscribed to my newsletter, it's free to download!
Day 2
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 2,856
Total: 6,014
Day 1
I should've had my outline completed by now but that's not how I roll, apparently. So I'll work on that this week while I finish up Lover's Promise, Kaya and Paul's 3rd and final book.
Goal: 1,667
Actual: 3,158
Total: 3,158
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More importantly there are 59 days left in the year and it's the start of NaNo wherein I shall once again attempt to write 50,000 words in 30 days. I have not once accomplished this. Between October 1 and December 31 there's a lot going on. Not just holidays but birthdays including my grandmother's upcoming 96th.
What am I working on this NaNo? Editing Malcolm and Louise's 3rd story which I tried to have finished last month and will now have ready this weekend. Finally!
And Kaya and Paul's eldest daughter's story. I'm so excited to write this one, though I admit to having chapter 1 already finished. The inspiration struck me this summer and suddenly I know what I wanted to write for her story and plotted the majority of it out. Well, the major points of it at least.
Well, I say plotted...it's plotted for me. It's got scene ideas, a bit of dialog here and there, and a juicy middle. The ending, well, not so much fleshed out, but I can't wait to see what happens!
Samhain has a fascinating history dating back to a 3-day festival in ancient times. It's traditionally celebrated at sunset on October 31 to sunset on November 1, which is about 1/2 between the autumn equinox and winter solstice. Of Celtic origins, it was a celebration of the end of harvest and the start of winter.
More importantly, for our Halloween celebrations, it's a time when the boundaries between worlds thinned.
Want more? Here are a few links on the history.
Samhain - Traditions, Halloween, Wicca - HISTORY
Samhain | ancient Celtic festival | Britannica
Samhain Folklore, Superstitions and Legends (learnreligions.com)
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The Lady's Pirate Excerpt 2 : ✔️Man in distress ✔️Allies to Lovers ✔️Sexy times ensue “You’re still here,” she said into the dark...
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