The Sisterhood of the Jaunty Quills would like to wish everyone a warm, happy Thanksgiving with all of your favorite people and dishes. Jaunty wishes pine nuts for everyone!

It’s hard to believe March is here already. March is a big month for the Jaunties. Robyn DeHart has a new book out. If you saw her interview with Jaunty P. Quills yesterday, you’re sure to want to get your copy right away.

Our blog is also being featured at the end of the month at Ashley March’s March Madness, a celebration of historical romance readers and writers. Be sure to check out March Madness on these dates…

Monday, March 7: Robyn DeHart blogs
Monday, March 28: Shana Galen blogs and the Jaunties are featured

Robyn and Shana will be giving away copies of their books.
In addition to the recent releases, upcoming books, and ARCs given away by historical romance authors each day, historical romance readers will also have a chance at winning:
1. A bundle of 5 historical romances every Sunday.
2. 8 Victorian lady postcards
3. 8 “Do you know the way to Pemberley?” postcards
4. 8 “Well behaved women rarely make history” medieval postcards
5. A “Romance Reader & Proud of It” tote bag
6. Two secret prizes (to be announced during the month)
7. A Grand Prize package of historical romance books and a Victorian-styled lovebirds necklace

Aspiring historical romance writers also have a couple of things to be excited about:
1. Kris Kennedy’s agent, Barbara Poelle of the Irene Goodman Literary Agency, has generously agreed to give away a partial critique to the writer she believes has the best 3-sentence written pitch. One of Kris Kennedy’s books will also be given away, as an example of the type of work Barbara loves.
2. Ashley March will provide a full critique of another aspiring historical writer’s completed novel.
There’s more, so be sure to check in for all the rules.

The Jaunties have some fun contests coming too, so don’t forget to check in with us every day. Tomorrow our own Catherine Kean is blogging.

’Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
The Quills were so busy, they didn’t notice the mouse.

Margo was baking and wrapping with care, 
In hopes that her family would enjoy her fine fare.
Kristan was up to her elbows in dough,
Dreading the wrapping (she can’t tie a bow).

Emily and Robyn sipped their hot eggnog
And talked about what they’d put in their next blog
While sleepy Nancy, in her PJs, sat with a cat in her lap,
Christmas card writing preempted her nap.

Shana finished her page proofs right quick!
She knew in a moment she might meet St. Nick.
More rapid than wifi her fingers they flew,
Then she tweeted, and facebooked, and wrapped presents too!

Then the Quills got all nestled snug at their desks
In warm, cozy offices that were quite picturesque.
They looked over their day’s work in a quick recap
As Kate settled her kitties for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
That Cindy’s Blue Heeler shot outside to see what was the matter.
Away to the windows the Quills flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash.

But Terri was searching for the presents she’d hid
Just as she did each year for each kid.
Then enjoying the lights on the tree a’twinkling
She wondered if anyone even had an inkling.

She didn’t see the little old driver so lively and quick
The man they all knew must be St. Nick!
Right to the door Catherine went at a run,
With the ribbon she’d been using in present-wrapping fun. 

The wind was howling like a cold winter demon
And Jan was bundled up, lost in copy edit readin’
Just when she got to the best part of all
Down the chimney St. Nick came with a fall. 

A bundle of gifts he had flung on his back,
And Baby Galen looked hopefully up at his pack.
His eyes, how they twinkled – His laugh, how he shook,
He could have been the hero of anyone’s book.

But Robyn had her own hero  – the professor she had wed,
A sweet, funny guy with plenty of brains in his head.
They set out their cookies for St. Nick on a plate
And watched as he grabbed one and returned to the grate. 

And then it was quiet, and the Quills felt content
Knowing they’d witnessed a special event, as special as
Katherine standing under the mistletoe
Awaiting a kiss from her favorite beau.

The Quills they all rushed from their crannies and nooks
To find stockings filled with fresh muses … and books!
Emily’s little ones were so surprised and thrilled
That their Christmas wishes had all been fulfilled.

Christmas morning dawned crisp and clear
All the Quill lawns marked with prints from reindeer.
They reached out to their readers with holiday cheer
And sent out their good wishes – all true and sincere!

Read the two blogs posted below for the RITA-nominated books in Series Contemporary and Best First Book! You’re sure to find some new authors and some old friends listed there.

Every romantic hero and heroine will be finding something special in their Christmas stockings from their lovers. Here’s what the Jaunties’ characters are doing for each other this year! If you can take a few minutes out of your busy day, please tell the Jaunties what your favorite part of this day has been.

Cindy Kirk’s Merry Christmas Cowboy: Seth would be most likely to jam a cabbage patch doll in Lauren’s stocking.  This is because that particular type of doll was a gift she’d desperately wanted as a child but never received.

Kristan Higgins’ The Next Best Thing: I think Ethan would give Lucy a really cool retro apron, since she’s a baker. And Lucy would give Ethan a Chia head, because wo wouldn’t love a Chia head?

Margo Maguire’s Taken by the Laird: Hugh is going to compose a new set of marriage vows and write them on an expensive piece of vellum, then put his beside Brianna’s in a gilded frame. Because the vows he said when he was forced to marry her were nothing special. Not at all. 

Dawn, the half-Nightmare heroine from Kathryn Smith’s Dark Side of Dawn, would probably buy her hero, Noah a bunch of organic grooming products for men from Sephora, her favorite store. She would then buy a bunch of stuff for herself as well. Then she’d go to an upscale dept store and buy him some new jeans because his are all torn. She’d probably buy him a shirt she’d like to see him in also. Then, she’d go to their makeup dept and spend more money on herself. Oh, and she’d buy a new pair of shoes — for herself. She would then go to the jewelry dept and buy Noah a nice stainless steel bracelet — nothing too fussy because he wouldn’t like that. And she’d probably get a big pair of funky costume jewelry earrings for herself. And finally she go into Noah’s dreams and do all she could do to make the good ones come true, because she’s literally the woman of his dreams, and he’s the man of hers.

Julien, in Shana Galen’s The Making of a Duchess, would give Sarah a tonic that cures the ailing stomach and intestines. The government of England thinks the duc is a spy for the French, and she, a simple governess, has been sent in to secretly uncover his treachery. The task gives poor Sarah more than a few twinges in her belly.

In Emily McKay’s  January book, Affair with a Rebel Heiress, the heroine Kitty Biedermann has sold off her family home and several family heirlooms to funnel money into her company, Biedermann’s Jewelry. I think the hero, Ford Langley, would hunt down her great-grandmother’s Victorian necklace and buy it back for her. It would make the perfect stocking stuffer and the gesture would mean the world to her.

Reid Barclay, the hero in Janette Kenny’s A Cowboy Christmas, would surely buy Ellie Jo a cookbook or two, and a newfangled stove that cooked evenly, because she surely burns everything on that old woodstove. Not that he complains overmuch, for he wouldn’t mnind a repeat of sharing a burned pie and more than a few kisses with her in the pie pantry.

In Katherine Garbera’s The Moretti Heir, Marco will be putting a brand new charm bracelet in Virginia’s stocking this Christmas with charms from he collected as they travelled on the Grand Prix circuit.   They are both giving their son Lorenzo a tiny version of the Moretti Motors Vallerio roadster and Marco can tell that his son has the same love for racing and speed as both he and his legendary grandfather did.

Aldwin Treynarde, hero of Catherine Kean’s medieval A Knight’s Temptation (Knights Series Book 3), would buy Lady Leona Ransley a gold pendant.  This is sure to bring a smile to Leona’s face.  Their love was sparked by Aldwin’s quest to retrieve an exquisite ruby pendant Leona had in her possession and return it to his lord, a mission that prompted Aldwin to kidnap her.  Keeping the pendant safe led them on a dangerous, exciting, sexy adventure together that caused them to fall in love.  While they snuggle by the crackling fire, sharing a goblet of mulled wine, Leona will no doubt find a suitable way to thank Aldwin for his gift.

Nancy Robards Thompson: A portion of my book, An Angel in Provence, takes place during the holidays. So I guess you’ll just have to read it and see what they put in each other’s stockings. But without giving anything away, the hero Philippe would put lavender bath salts and red nail polish (for her toes) in Rita’s stocking, and Rita would give Philippe an antique Provencal “Welcome Home” sign. All very significant to the story.

If the characters of Terri Brisbin’s book, A Storm of Passion, were to celebrate Christmas (year-end festivities did happen in medieval Scotland and among the Norse, but nothing like what we think of as ‘Christmas’), Connor and Moira would give each other a celebration filled with family and friends — something they were both lacking during most of their lives and something that is the most important thing to them now.  Happy Christmas to you all!

 Most people don’t think of writing as a team anything. We carry the image of the writer alone, struggling with unyielding pages, or tap-tapping into the night, driven by inspiration and caffeine. Writing is a solitary profession, right?

 Not if you’re married to your co-author!

 As a couple writing romance together, there is nothing lonely about it. In fact, sometimes we could each wish for a little *less* input into the process (grins). But like any other team sport, we each take the role we’re best suited for. Anthea is our historical researcher and the one that stares down the blank page and powers through first drafts. She also writes the spicy scenes (it is woman’s fiction, after all). Lawson is the plot fixer, dialogue shaper, and the sneaky inserter of quirky characters like the man in the bottle-green coat in our first book Passionate and the villainous sportsman in All He Desires. Always we talk, talk, talk about the characters and the story, growing it through a dialogue that stretches over weeks and months. It’s not always easy, but even when we disagree, we know that together we write better books then either of us could alone. Our goals are the same: to write in the big leagues and tell stories that sweep readers away to another place and time.

Our writing process is a social one, but we are not alone in that. We know many writers – published and pre-published – who have all kinds of players on their team. Critique groups, writing partners, RWA chapters, on-line loops. And yes, sometimes even spouses.

 We’d love to give away a copy of our brand new book, ALL HE DESIRES, to one lucky commenter. Tell us — Who keeps you going, who is on your home team?

 Anthea Lawson is the pseudonym for a husband-wife team who write spicy Victorian romance. Their debut novel, PASSIONATE, was nominated for a Best First Book RITA in 2009, and their newest book, ALL HE DESIRES, is being called “luscious”, “sweeping” and “a powerful love story.” Find them on FaceBook (Anthea Lawson), follow them on twitter (AntheaLawson) and visit their website (www.anthealawson.com) for all their latest news!

     As some of you know, I’m over in Scotland on a three-week tour. I’ve been dreaming and planning and wishing for this trip for a long time — I’m doing this by myself! I rented a car and have already driven all over SW Scotland and on several islands (Mull, Skye, Harris/Lewis) as well as a good portion of the western Highlands (Glasgow up to Oban, through Ft. William out through Lochalsh).  One of the best things about this trip is that I’m taking advantage of several different festivals and special events happening as part of Homecoming Scotland.

     The Blas Festival (Blas means ‘a taste’ or ‘a bit’ or ‘to savor’ in Gaelic) features lots and lots of music — and so far, I’ve attended 3 events:

Eilean Donan Castle

Dunvegan Castle

Calum MacCrimmon

St. Mary's Church, Portree, Skye

    If I had not been trying to act discreetly, I would have snapped a bunch of  photos of the men….in kilts…. in the choir. One in particular looked as though he’d walked out of a historical romance! But, I was behaving — it WAS a church after all!

   Now — about the magic. . .

    Sometimes, on my trips here and to England, strange things happen to me. In the Tower of London, in one of the medieval rooms, I knew that there should have been a door instead of a wall. The plans in the next room showed it. In Glamis Castle, I could feel a terribly cold draft coming from one place in a wall in a medieval chamber. Turns out that three men were walled up in a chamber to die behind that wall.

      This time?

       Sitting in Eilean Donan Castle as the narrator spoke of the tall, brawny, black-haired, bearded MacRae warriors, she mentioned that they were known for their ferocity and strength….and she whimsically wondered if maybe one was listening to her story…. Just after she mentioned the name of one of the founders of the clan, someone put their hand on my shoulder and I turned to see what they wanted. . . Yeppers, no one was there! No one. 

    And the latest bit of magic? I stopped at a viewpoint for Kilt Rock and suddenly the sun came out and this appeared right in front of us:

   I can’t wait to see what other magic and music await me on my tour…..

       So, is there some special place you’d like to visit in the world? What makes it special to you? Please post it and I’ll send out some special Scottish souvenirs to one lucky commenter!

 Terri B – reporting from Scotland!

PS — yes, I am terribly behind in sending out prizes, but I promise they will get there!

Ah, the marvelous, Ms. Marvelle. *ensnares her into the nesting lair* Lord of Pleasure, on shelves today, is your second book in your School of Gallantry series. What is it about the school that you love?

What I love about the school and its headmistress, Madame de Maitenon (and her granddaughhter, Maybelle), is how every man is forced to face who he really is and what he really wants not just out of a woman, but out of himself. Although there’s a lot of humor and banter that goes on between the headmistress and the students, there is am underlying question that hovers between all of them. Is it really ridiculous to want more out of life?

Tell us more about this Lord of Pleasure. Is he a porcupine in disguise?

LOL, no Jaunty. The Lord of Pleasure isn’t a porcupine in disguise. And though every man would LOVE to be you, Jaunty, the Lord of Pleasure is just that. A man. An earl, more specifically, who was once a party boy but when his father dies has to take on responsibilities that include the entire estate, his five sisters and his mother (who is like a teenager gone wild….at least from his POV). When he meets the heroine, he is torn between wanting to return to his party boy days and what is expected of him and ends up making not only himself miserable but everyone around him. He learns rather quickly, however, that one must ALWAYS be true to one’s self. No matter what.

And your heroine, Lady Chartwell, Conductor of Admissions…would she admit a poor pining porcupine who could use a few pointers?

Lady Chartwell is a tough cookie and would put you through quite the test to see if you have what it takes to get into the school first. Once she thinks you’re not someone who plans on goofing off, and that you’re serious, she will graciously admit you into the school. From there, you’ll meet other pining individuals who need a few pointers themselves. I’m sure you’d fit right in and have a lot of fun!

I’m speaking of a porcupine friend, of course. One who could use a few pointers. Not me.

Of course there are other porcupines needing a few pointers!!! I would have NEVER thought you needed pointer, Jaunty. You tell them if and when they decide to enroll discretion is completely in place. So they don’t have to worry about the porcupine ladies ever finding out.

No, really.

I TOTALLY believe you Jaunty. Really.

I am a philandering porcupine with mad porcupine skillz.

*pets Jaunty* You have me TOTALLY convinced. Totally.

Ahem. Moving on. What attributes bring Hawksford and Lady Chartwell together even as they push against the attraction?

The bottom line is that both Lady Chartwell and Hawksford, though they try not to admit it, they are both very lonely individuals who have experienced a different side of life that most people would never understand considering the strictures of society. They learn to appreciate and love one another for who they really are and not what society expects them to be.

Sounds porcupinelicious! It was a lordly pleasure interviewing you, Ms. Marvelle. I can’t wait to continue to read all about how this school works. So I can tell my friend. Oh, and give this to Lady Chartwell, if you please. *slips Delilah his card* For my friend, of course.

Jaunty, I will take *his* calling card and put in a good word for him. Grin. Thank you for the fantastic interview! (Grabs both sides of his face and kisses him soundly on the lips….because that’s the sort of girl, Ms. Marvelle is…)

Anne (a reader not the JQ) is the winner of Tera Lynn Childs’s books Oh. My. Gods. and Goodess Bootcamp!

Anne, email Tera at tlc@teralynnchilds.com with your mailing address and how you’d like the books signed. Congrats!

I’ve been having so much fun researching 11^th century Brittany, Normandy and England for my current trilogy for Harlequin Historicals – the stories center on three Breton knights who fight for William the Bastard in his quest to take over England. One thing I’ve discovered is that William never heard of anger management!   

            How bad was he? Let me explain –

            After becoming Duke of Normandy at about age eight, William eventually had to fight for control of his lands and title and watch as his first three guardians were killed and other nobles tried to take over everything he’d inherited. So, when he won his first pivotal battle and became Duke in fact, he ruthlessly retaliated against those who’d plotted against him. We’re talking dead…lots of dead.

            Then, in the marital realm, he decided to marry a lovely noblewoman from Flanders whose bloodlines went all the way back to King Alfred the Great. We’re talking seriously blue-blooded. And William, as we all know, was a bastard…..er….illegitimate and not quite as highborn even though his father was a duke. So, the story says that when Mathilda first heard about the proposed marriage, she balked. William had some issues accepting this rebuke quietly and it’s said he went to her father’s house and dragged her out of her room and tossed her to the floor. The good news is that, in spite of this very-iffy beginning, their marriage was a long and fruitful one.

By now, you’re probably thinking – well, that’s not THAT  bad, is it? We are talking Middle Ages. We are talking a time of kill or be killed. We are talking about a man also called The Conqueror. Some other notable examples of his lack of anger-management skills?

In Alencon, he cut off the hands of those townspeople who dared to mock his base origins (his mother was supposedly the daughter of a tanner). In Brittany, those who threatened to take over his lands while he was busy invading England seemed to die, with poison being the most favored of his tools. Then, in 1068, when those in the north of his kingdom still rebelled, William destroyed everything in his path, in a campaign known as the Harrowing of the North. Nothing was left standing as he burned crops and buildings, killed cattle and people, and completely overwhelmed his opponents.

Did he ever get his anger under control? I’d like to say yes, but word is that he actually got worse after Mathilda died! Yikes! But, I guess when you’re the ruler of a large part of what became modern-day France and England and command fighting forces in the thousands, there aren’t many people who can stop you. 

Was that too much info? As I said, I found it fascinating when I began to look into the life and times of one of the most influential men of the Middle Ages as I was planning and plotting my stories.  Now I can’t wait to get back and begin to look further at another interesting person or place in history for my NEXT writing project. . .

Is there some time or place or person in history that interests or intrigues you? If you could go back and see one event or meet one person what or who would that be? Leave a comment and answer that question and Terri will pick one person to win a special gift and an autographed book!

Terri’s current release is A NIGHT FOR HER PLEASURE, a Harlequin Historical Undone short story, available now at eharlequin.com or amazon.com. This introduces the four sexy warriors who fight for William the Bast. . . Conqueror in 1066. Her next book, THE CONQUEROR’S LADY, the first of the Knights of Brittany trilogy is a July release from Harlequin Historicals. Stop by her website at www.terribrisbin.com for more info about upcoming books, contests and events!