Thanks to some ongoing computer issues here, no Heroine of the Weekend this week, but I am at the Riskies launching my new book The Shy Duchess (and giving away a copy!). Come visit me there....
An historical author shares her obsessions with books, tea, chocolate, wine, and whatever takes her fancy!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Shy Duchess launch!
Thanks to some ongoing computer issues here, no Heroine of the Weekend this week, but I am at the Riskies launching my new book The Shy Duchess (and giving away a copy!). Come visit me there....
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Hottie Monday, Oscars Edtion
I am finally digging out from under the weekend's computer crisis, yay! And in honor of this weekend's Oscars ceremony, our Hottie Monday is a few nominees. Enjoy! (And who are you cheering for to win?)
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Labels:
Hottie Monday,
Oscars
Friday, February 18, 2011
Hello Kitty Mania!
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How did I miss that Sephora had a new Hello Kitty line before??? Anyway, I just made up for it by ordering way too much stuff. Happy Friday to me!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
My Dark Obsession
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I'm sharing my deep, dark love of "Vampire Diaries" on the Heroes & Heartbreakers blog today (which is an awesome place to visit, BTW...)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Tuesday
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Over at the Riskies today, talking about exercise and avoiding the dreaded Writer's Butt Syndrome! Also, I heard that my book To Catch a Rogue is a Cataromance Reviewer's Choice Award winner, yay....
Monday, February 14, 2011
Hottie Monday (Valentine's Day Edition)
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Heroine of the Weekend
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Born in London, Louisa is the only foreign-born First Lady in US history (though her father, Joshua Johnson, was an American merchant from Maryland, her mother was English). She grew up one of 6 sisters in Nantes, France and London, which gave her a cosmopolitan view of the world. Her father was appointed US consulate to London in 1790, and it was through this connection that she met John Quincy Adams. They married at the church of All Hallows, Barking on July 26, 1797, though happiness was short-lived. Her father was soon after forced into bankruptcy and minor scandal, and her family moved back to Maryland (causing friction between Louisa and her new husband--his high standards as an Adams didn't expect bankruptcy and trouble!)
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In 1814, John was sent to France for the peace negotiations after Napoleon was deposed, and to join him Louisa made a grueling journey across Europe in the middle of winter with her small son just as Napoleon returned. (The subject of O'Brien's book). But she then had two years of relative peace in England with her husband, until they were called back to the US in 1817 when John was appointed Monroe's Secretary of State. Her years of entertaining in Europe paid off when her salon became THE place to be in Washington.
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Louisa remained in Washington after her husband's death, and died on May 15, 1852. She was buried with her husband and his family at the United First Parish Church in Quincy.
Some sources on her life:
Michael O'Brien, Mrs. Adams in Winter (2010)
Paul Nagel, The Adams Women: Abigail and Louisa Adams, Their Sisters and Daughters (1999)
Labels:
Heroine of the Weekend
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Exhibit Alert!
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I really, really, really wish I could make it to England this spring to see the "Dress to Excess" exhibit at the Brighton Pavilion! A whole collection of Regency fashions--sigh...
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
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