by Roseanna White | Dec 4, 2017 | Holidays, Word of the Week
We’ve all heard “wassailing” in some of the old Christmas songs. And you probably have an awareness (vague or otherwise) of wassail being a drink. But if you’re anything like me (before I had to research it for a book a few years ago), that’s the extent of your knowledge. 😉 Which of course makes it a perfect Word of the Week during this Advent season!
Wassail is from the Old Norse ves heill, which literally means “be healthy.” It was first a salutation and then became a sort of drinking salute among the Danes in England, which then spread to the natives. But 1300, it wasn’t only something one said while lifting a glass, but also what was in the glass–particularly spiced ale that was served on Christmas Eve.
By 1600, it had taken on a bit of a “carousing” meaning, which then extended by 1742 to the practice of going house to house on Christmas Eve, caroling and offering the traditional spiced drink. In Colonial America, wassail was traditionally sold by the poor to the rich–an excuse for them to come in and see how the other half lived, and a way for the rich to give alms to the poor.
So this season, if you lift you glass in salute (whatever might be in it), try saying “Wassail!” and see if anyone understands, LOL.
by Roseanna White | Nov 29, 2017 | Announcements, Book News
Book clubs = fun. At least I think so. 😉 So I’m being a bit experimental with my Facebook Live program and seeing how it goes to run an online book club discussion there as a video! Now, there’s a bit of lag between writing of comments and appearance of comments in my feed, so I’m thinking the best way to have a good conversation is to have a few people actual TALKING about the book. How? Skype! Through the magic of all that technology stuff, we’ll be having a panel of talkers right there in the video feed with me.
We’ll be going through the discussion questions in the back of the book…and following any rabbit trails we might get distracted by. 😉 Interested in joining me via Skype? If you’ve read Giver of Wonders (or can do so in the next week) and want to be part of the fun, let me know!
Requirements:
1. You’ve read the book
2. You have Skype
3. You’ll be available between 6-8 p.m. next Monday, 4 December
If that’s you, then let me know! You can either comment here (with contact info please) or shoot me an email at roseannamwhite@gmail.com and I’ll be in touch. (If by chance I get more volunteers than we can handle, I’ll choose by a combination of who contacted me first and what will build a well-rounded group.)
If this goes well, I’ll be doing it for ALL my book releases and others upon request! So you could have a chance to join me for other books even if you can’t on this one!
Even if you can’t join me through Skype, I hope you can join me for the discussion in the comment section of the video!
by Roseanna White | Nov 28, 2017 | Giveaways and Contests
Writing can be a solitary endeavor–and books arguably have one central character. But whether in life or in story, friends are SO important!
My best friend is also a writer, so when she came to me with the idea for a best-friend-themed giveaway, I met the suggestion with enthusiasm! Especially given the books we’re promoting. Her fantabulous The Lost Girl of Astor Street is all about best friends–and what what one will do when the other goes missing. And my Shadows Over England Series is also about best friends–friends so dependent on each other they call themselves sisters.
As two writer BFFs, we know all about supporting each other through highs and lows–cheering each other on through frustrations and disappointments, rejoicing at contracts and good reviews. Though we live a thousand miles apart, rarely does a day ever go by without our Hangouts chiming a message. It’s been just over 10 years ago that Stephanie and I met, and I can’t imagine going through life or writing without her!
This
holiday season, we want to see you and YOUR best friend. Send us a picture or
share one on social media tagging both of us, and you’ll get entered to
win signed, personalized copies of The Lost Girl of Astor Street and A Name Unknown for you AND your best friend. Here are the details:
- Snap
a picture of you and your best friend or get one of your old favorites.
(For the purposes of this contest, your best friend must be human.)
- Between now and December 11th, share the picture in one or all of the following ways:
- Post it on Facebook and tag us. Here’s our author pages: Stephanie Morrill, Roseanna M. White
- Post it on Twitter and tag us. @StephMorrill @RoseannaMWhite
- Post it on Instagram and tag us at Stephanie Morrill and Roseanna M. White
- No social? No problem. Email the photo to us (not as an attachment, but in the email, please) Stephanie@StephanieMorrillBooks.com and Roseanna@RoseannaWhite.com
- Do all four to get entered to win FOUR times!
- Link to the giveaway in your social post to get entered an additional time PER post.
- Please make sure to tag us! If you don’t tag us, we don’t know you’re doing it!
- On December 12th,
we will email winners to get names and mailing addresses for you and
your best friend. Gift wrap is available upon request, and we will even
jot a note to your BFF to let them know how much you love them! (Due to
the harsh reality of international shipping prices, this giveaway is
only available to U.S. residents.)
- Have fun!
Learn more about the books!
(Click on the covers to see descriptions)
by Roseanna White | Nov 27, 2017 | Holidays, Word of the Week
This weekend, advent begins. And so, it seemed the perfect word to study a bit this week. =) And then we’ll focus on holiday-themed words throughout our December Mondays!
Advent means, of course, “coming.” It’s from the Latin adventus, and specifically in Church Latin refers to “the coming of the Savior.” Since the days of Old English, it’s been the word used for the season leading up to Christmas. But it’s certainly worth noting that it doesn’t just mean that coming of the Savior–it’s also the word traditionally used when looking forward to when Jesus returns.
I love keeping that in mind each Advent season. That we’re not only looking backward, to when our Lord became man, but also looking forward, to when He’ll return for His church.
Final note on the word–these days it’s also used to mean any “important arrival,” but that generalization wasn’t accepted until the 1740s. Before that, it was exclusively used in the sacred sense in English.
by Roseanna White | Nov 23, 2017 | Holidays
I know I’ve been terribly silent on the blog the last couple of weeks, but I wanted to jump on to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving, full of wonder at how good is our God. To all who joined me on Monday for my chat on the holiday, thank you! I had such a fun time hearing about what you’re all thankful for this year, and sharing the stories I had on my heart.
Today, just a quick prayer.
This prayer comes from a volume of Puritan prayers entitled The Valley of Vision,
compiled by Arthur Bennett. He doesn’t say who wrote each one, but I am
always struck by the sincere, heart-wrenching faith of those who penned
these words. I pray this one speaks to you today.
Praise and Thanksgiving
O my God,
Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
my heart admired, adores, loves thee,
for my little vessel is as full as it can be,
and I would pour out all that fullness before thee
in ceaseless flow.
When I think upon and converse with thee
ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
crowding into every moment of happiness.
I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,
for adorning it, sanctifying it,
though it is fixed in barren soil;
for the body thou hast given me,
for preserving its strength and vigour,
for providing senses to enjoy delights,
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding,
for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness,
for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.
I love thee above the powers of language
to express,
for what thou art to thy creatures.
Increase my love, O my God, through time
and eternity.
Amen
May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, 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. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.