I know I provided an almost-transcript of my sermon (man, that feels weird to type, LOL) from the other week, but I thought it would be fun to post the video today. As always, things changes a bit as I turned written notes into spoken words.
I hope everyone is having a great week!
It’s my day at Colonial Quills! So you know what that means. =) For a bit of fun history, hop over there, where I’m talking a bit about the paper-making process in Colonial America.
These days there’s a lot of talk of going “paperless.” Why? Because
paper clutters things up. We have stacks upon stacks of it. Reams
sitting, waiting to be used. In my house, there are desks full to
bursting with sketches and crayon drawings on paper of all weights and
colors and sizes. Need a bookmark? Grab a slip of paper. Need to make a
note? Grab a Post-It. Everywhere we look, there it is: paper.But paper wasn’t always so bountiful, nor was it cheap, nor was it made
from wood pulp like today’s paper usually is. Paper, in Colonial days,
was like most things: precious, and coming as a result of much toil.
One of my husband’s favorite shows is Top Gear–the British version. Being a car show, they have cause to say lots of things that are different than how we say it in America. Boot, bonnet…and aluminium instead of aluminum. On one particular show, the presenter is talking about an American car and quotes that it’s made from “aluminum–whatever that is.”
First, it made me laugh. Then it made me wonder why we say it differently. Looking up the answer made me laugh again. =)
Sir Humphry Davy coined the word aluminum in 1812, taken from the Latin alum. In 1809 he’d called this metal alumium, but he changed it for reasons unknown, and American kept this second incarnation of his word. Editors that same year, however, amended it still further:
Aluminium, for so we shall take the liberty of writing the word, in
preference to aluminum, which has a less classical sound. [“Quarterly
Review,” 1812]
So there we have it. Aluminum didn’t sound classical enough. Love it. =)
Fourteen years ago today, I pledged myself to David. The man I loved since we were 15, the man I knew with all that was in me was The One. Sometimes, I think he’s much more than that.
It seemed an appropriate day to muse (not for the first time, I know) on Love–and to share some of the awesome pictures from our gorgeous beach wedding. =)
, I’ve known a lot of love.
That feeling that Mom and Dad will always be there, always encourage, always believe in my dreams–even when those dreams defy convention (like when I get engaged at 17 and married just before I turn 19).
That we have friends and family willing to travel hundreds of miles to share our Joy. And that after traveling all day, they’ll put more hours into decorating the rental house hosting our big day.
These days, love is also cuddling warm little bodies with damp curls pressed against your cheek, it’s watching graceful ballerinas beam with pride. It’s running “scared” when little “dinosaurs” chase you through the house–and looking over into each other’s eyes and thinking, “This is us. These are ours. This is family.”
Thank you, Lord, for all those you’ve put in my life. For my family, for my friends. For editors and agents who believe in me. For those who know how to read my heart in the lines that I write.
Thank you most of all for the man who bends over backwards to make my dreams come true–who not only believes in them with me, but who chases them down for me when my legs begin to fail.
It’s been so much fun to share a sneak peek at The Lost Heiress with you! I hope everyone enjoyed the first chapter that I shared on Thursday.
As I was chatting with the team about this contest, they suggested a cover reveal as part of the festivities, which got me SUPER excited–I didn’t know I could share so soon! But oh my gracious, y’all. Oh my gracious. This cover for book 2 in the Ladies of the Manor series is beyond gorgeous. And so, with no further ado, allow me to present Rowena from The Reluctant Duchess!!
I cannot begin to express how much I adore this cover. I love the cover for The Lost Heiress and really didn’t know how they’d top it, but…RED! I love the red dress. Seriously, truly love it. And I just have to point out what a fabulous job the cover team did. This is the photo I sent them for what I’d based Rowena’s physical appearance on:
My editor said she loved the expression on Emma Watson’s face here and that she’d tell them to try to match it. And they did! The soft eyes, the not-quite-smiling mouth, the hesitancy but honesty. Perfect for my reluctant duchess. =D
Here’s the official blurb for book 2.
Lady Rowena Kinnaird may be the heiress to a Highland
earldom, but she has never felt good enough—not for her father, not for the man
she thought she’d marry, not for God. But after a shocking attack, she’s
willing to be forever an outcast if it means escaping Loch Morar and the men
who have jeopardized her life.
Brice Myerston, the Duke of Nottingham, has suddenly found
himself in possession of a rare treasure his enemies are prepared to kill for.
While Brice has never been one to shy away from manor-born ladies, the last
thing he needs is the distraction of his neighbor, Lady Rowena, who finds
herself in a desperate situation. But when the moody Earl of Lochabar tries to
trap Brice into marrying Rowena, Brice finds he’s not as opposed to the idea as
he expected to be.Rowena wanted to escape the Highlands, but she’s reluctant to resort to marrying
a notorious flirt just to gain his English home. And when she learns that Brice
is mixed up in some kind of questionable business with a stolen treasure, she fears
she’s about to end up directly in the path of everything she was trying to
avoid.
Now back to the giveaway! I’ve added a new option for earning entries, so have at it and good luck!
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. Having successfully launched two homeschool grads, she now spends her time writing fiction, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years, as well as a fantasy series and contemporary mysteries and romances. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.