Category Archives: World-building
Jo Received a Most Intriguing Letter Today
It appears to be from an acquaintance in California, and the contents were just as intriguing. Sounds like another young lady cut from the same cloth as Jo and Fred. She does seem to attract them. This reference to shenanigans … Continue reading
Posted in General Post, World-building
Tagged engaging an audience, letter, Wyndie Deaver, Wynwords
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Fashion in the Conn-Mann Chronicles
Fashion in the 1870’s was in a state of flux. (Isn’t fashion always changing?) Skirts were narrowing and the fabric was moving to the back of the skirt instead of the sides. A fashionable lady–like Leonora or Aunt Emily–would be … Continue reading
That’s Entertainment!
The above is an actual program from a variety show that is preserved in the Library of Congress. If Alistair and Jo get back from the Continent in time, they could actually attend this show. If you look very closely, … Continue reading
Posted in References, World-building
Tagged blogging, Dime Novels, entertainment, Ephemeral New York, free ebook, theater, variety shows, vaudeville
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1875 in New York City
The Conn-Mann series is set in the 1870s in New York City. This is an important thing to remember about the books in the series. It was a time and place that I’ve taken certain liberties with, but it was … Continue reading
Today We Discuss the Menagerie…
Today’s Book Tour stop is an interview at As the Page Turns. We’ve been discussing jobs that the men and women of The Conn-Mann Chronicles. There are other characters in the books that have the important job of providing comfort … Continue reading
Posted in General Post, World-building
Tagged blogging, books, Cane Corso, cats, Cerebus, Doctor Who, dogs, Ghosts Gears and Grimoires, Himalayan Mastiff, K9, Miss Priss, Mocha Memoirs Press, The Conn-Mann Chronicles, The Elderly Earl's Estate, The Fiercely Formidable Fugitive, The Incredibly Irritating Irishman, VBT, Virtual Book Tour
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Getting a Late Start Today…
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com …sorry about that. Today’s stop is at Jazzy Book Reviews and is the first chapter again if you haven’t had a chance to read it yet. Yesterday I talked a bit about the jobs that my … Continue reading
Back Aboard the Tour Train!
As you may (or may not) have noticed, I took the weekend off and did no blogging while the train wasn’t running. It was a lovely break, but I am eager to get back to it. Today’s tour stop … Continue reading
Posted in General Post, References, World-building
Tagged blogging, Dear Reader Love Author, promotion, research, VBT, Virtual Book Tour
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No Stop Today…
…so I thought I would share some of the pictures from last summer’s trip to Dublin. In Book Five of the Chronicles, Jo and Alistair travel to Ireland to settle her grandfather’s affairs. They start the trip in Dublin. Now, … Continue reading
Posted in General Post, References, World-building
Tagged blogging, Dublin, Ireland, photographs, The Elderly Earl's Estate
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When a Character Has a Real Tombstone…
When I was getting ready to write The Elderly Earl’s Estate, set in Ireland, my next-door neighbor put me in touch with the Irish Consul here in Austin. The gentleman in that office at the time suggested I put Lady … Continue reading
The Conn Mann Chronicles 