Bookmarks: Royalist Rebel

For this second installment of PDP's Saturday Bookmarks series, I'd like to introduce you to author Anita Seymour, aka Anita Davison. I met Anita due to our mutual admiration for The Brimstone Butterfly, Caro Riikonen. Caro blogged about and posted photos of the great British houses and castles she toured. She was a private person with a unique voice, and I eagerly awaited her every post.

One day Caro's friends posted a final message to her readers. Caro had taken her own life.

Saddened, and wanting to know more, I googled Caro. I found a post by Anita, lamenting Caro's passing. I commented, and we've been corresponding ever since.

Royalist Rebel, Anita's new book, will be released in five days! Here's a glowing blurb from international best-selling historical fiction author Gillian Bagwell, formerly of the Pasadena Shakespeare Company:

"Royalist Rebel brings to vivid life the perilous days of the English Civil Wars, when the families who had been the most loyal to the crown had the most to fear. Elizabeth Dysart is an engaging heroine, and our blood thrills with hers as she looks danger in the eye and meets every challenge with courage. Anita Seymour skillfully recounts one of the most tumultuous periods in Britain’s history, and her novel is a great addition to the heartbreaking story of those times."
--Gillian Bagwell, author of The Darling Strumpet, The King’s Mistress (U.S. title The September Queen) and Venus in Winter. 

Royalist Rebel by Anita Seymour

Intelligent, witty and beautiful, Elizabeth Murray wasn’t born noble; her family’s fortunes came from her Scottish father’s boyhood friendship with King Charles. As the heir to Ham House, their mansion on the Thames near Richmond, Elizabeth was always destined for greater things. 

Royalist Rebel is the story of Elizabeth’s youth during the English Civil War, of a determined and passionate young woman dedicated to Ham House, the Royalist cause and the three men in her life; her father William Murray, son of a minister who rose to become King Charles’ friend and confidant, the rich baronet Lionel Tollemache, her husband of twenty years who adored her and John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale, Charles II’s favourite.

With William Murray at King Charles’ exiled court in Oxford, the five Murray women have to cope alone. Crippled by fines for their Royalist sympathies, and besieged by the Surrey Sequestration Committee, Elizabeth must find a wealthy, non-political husband to save herself, her sisters, and their inheritance. 

Royalist Rebel by Claymore Books, an imprint of Pen and Sword, is released on 17^th January 2013

http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Historical-Fiction/c/146/

For a little background on the novel, see Anita’s Book Blog.

The National Trust Website of Elizabeth Murray’s former home, Ham House, at Petersham near Richmond, Surrey. 

Anita’s Blog, The Disorganized Author. 

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The Brimstone Butterfly remains a superb resource for authors of history and historical fiction who need a peek inside those famous houses. And though Caro never knew it, she introduced me to a friend. Royalist Rebel is featured on the front page of the Ham House website. It may not surprise you that the Brimstone Butterfly visited Ham House, too.

Global Colding

The guy on the radio said we might have frost on our windshields tomorrow morning. 32 degrees is our predicted overnight low. That's considered freezing on the Fahrenheit scale.

Frost. Pasadena.

For yesterday's dog walk, John wore a woolen scarf around his neck. He also wore shorts, but still, something's not right.

These old houses--okay, this old house--is porous. I've never been crazy about dusting (warn me if you're coming over) but the cool breeze floating in around the window frames is even more disconcerting than the particles it brings with it.

Our heater works, so we'll have ourselves some winter and I'll cozy up indoors at the window. The skies are inordinately clear. The mountains rise, sharply, to meet the blue. The clouds are so towering as to inspire religion.

But doesn't it seem unusually cold for Pasadena?

Meanie Streets

I thought I was brave to snap this photo with a car coming. Now that I upload it, the car looks far away.

One thing I love about January: I can take night shots and still be home by 6:30. I tempt fate! I brave the night! I will stay out until 6:45! 7:00 maybe! I dare to stand in front of an oncoming car that's a mere 500 yards away, going 15 miles an hour! Haha! Bring it on, you dastard. I AM NOT AFRAID. Try and stop me, JUST TRY.

Silly one, you cannot stop me. I am fearless. I have an iPhone, a packet of kleenex, and a little tub of Vaseline in my very pockets. I have keys! And my companion is a dangerous, elderly dog who obeys my every command except the ones he doesn't know, like "kill" and "come here."

So don't mess with me or I will take your picture! And my dog will ignore you to death!

Girl, Interrupted

 

"Suzie! Time for dinner!"

"Okay!"

Scuffle scuffle run run run blam! In the chair.

"Did you wash your hands?"

"Aw, Mom, I'm hungry!"

"I don't care, wash your hands."

"Mom..."

"Wash."

Chair scooch. Stomp stomp stomp. Splash.

"Good. Did you pick up your toys?"

"........" 

Towel flip. 

"........Yup."

 "Fine. Let's eat."

Script Kitchen

UPDATE: 

John and Tara report strong response to Script Kitchen, so they'll open a Sunday class soon. Date and time TBA. Questions? Want in? scriptkitchen@gmail.com

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Tara Samuel and my husband John Sandel finalized plans yesterday for the screenwriting class the two of them will begin teaching in--wow--just over a week. We're pretty excited around here.

Script Kitchen will include 7 students in 6 weekly classes, "focusing on story structure and how the hero determines the tale." John and Tara believe we all know deep down how a good story is supposed to work. (You know when a story doesn't work, don't you?) In their class you'll find out how much you know and how to apply it to creating a screenplay, full length or short.

I'm sorry they're not teaching novel writing. Next time, maybe? I learned everything I needed to know about story structure from John.

There are still a couple of openings. Here's the info:

In the picture, Tara is not taking dictation. I gave her the notepad as a prop because all she had was that little ole' apple and John had a whole bowl of chili. We offered Tara some chili. Really we did.

Zen Monday: #227

I'm sorry we skipped our Zen last week. It was New Year's Day, or Halloween or something, and I forgot.

Regarding today's photo, I was bummed that my camera focused on the background instead of the important information about Hell. Then I discovered the neighborhood had been plastered with these bits of litter paper, so we can all find out what we need to know.

 

I don't usually share this much information on Mondays, but I'm anticipating the flood of requests.

Seeing Sierra Madre

The other day I enjoyed the company of:
Sierra Madre,
Bean Town coffee,
and
Adele,
not necessarily in that order.

Adele is the host/writer/photographer/historian at Seeing Sierra Madre: One Photo at a Time. She and I met at Bean Town for a cup, then headed north on Baldwin Avenue with our cameras. Right away, we came to this cute shop called Belle's Nest. Take a look at their website and just let the slide show play for you.

I might post more Sierra Madre pics from time to time. Adele and I aren't territorial. Meanwhile, check out her blog. She includes a lot of local history in her posts. I enjoy seeing Sierra Madre through her eyes.

Bookmarks

The Battery Books and Music, South Pasadena

Today I begin a regular Saturday feature on writing, reading, and books. Not just my books, but also guest authors, libraries, book shops, ideas, writing tips, and fun stuff. I'm just busting to talk about this stuff. I'm calling it "Bookmarks," and I welcome your suggestions.

I won't limit it to Pasadena, though of course I'll include a local photo. (That's the rule, and I obey the rules, most of the time. It's easier to get away with being bad when no one expects it.)

And what better way to kick off this feature than with footwear? Chain mail--or maille--running shoes for the knights of Camelot & Vine. Or maybe not. So much for literature.

Actually, literature is doing fine. The publishing industry is changing, but reading isn't going away. Just like we changed the way we listen to music (I wish I'd kept those LP's), and the way we watch movies (have you seen a VHS tape lately? I don't miss those), we're reading in new ways. TV wasn't the end of the movie business, and ebooks aren't the end of publishing. They're just another way of reading.

I'm keeping my books, though.

For now, enjoy the documentary Bad Writing, streaming free for the month of January only. I owe thanks for the link to Karin Bugge, the excellent writer known as the Altadena Hiker.

Best of 2012

I said I was going to do a "best of 2012" retrospective and promptly forgot, so I'm a couple of days late. 

Judging from comments, this shot, 2/1 Theme Day: Animals, was the hands-down favorite. I took it during a mid-January sunset at Hahamongna Watershed Park.

Some of these are my favorites, some were favorites of commenters. Really, though, I like them all. I've added links to the original posts.

4/14 Storm

4/15 Sunday Morning Cup & Pup

6/19 Jacaranda

7/20 Julia Morgan YWCA

9/30 A Day Off

12/30 The Other Other Pasadena 

(reminiscent of 2/1 Theme Day, if you ask me).

I enjoyed taking them all. Each photo is a memory for me.

Penny Time

Here's another photo from the archives. These vines grow (or grew) up the backsides of what used to be Madre's restaurant on Granite Park Place. I like the backsides of things. Don't take that the wrong way.

I don't know what it the building houses now. I haven't been getting out much lately. I could blame the economy (and I wouldn't be lying), but really it's because I've been obsessed with getting THE BOOK published. It's almost a full-time job.

However, I'll be getting out on January 12th and I hope you'll join me. We all talked about going to Penny For Your Thoughts together, a sort of PDP coffee outing. The owner, Millie, and I picked January 12th at 10:30 am. Come join us!

Penny For Your Thoughts is at 1365 N. Hill Avenue in Pasadena. There's plenty of parking in the rear. Bring extra money because besides coffee and pastries to enjoy while we're there, the store is full of treasures to take home.

Bad Photos of the B2 Bomber

Here's what my iPhone's zoom lens made of the B2 when it was circling with its buddy over the mountains. (Yes, there were 2 B2's.)

It headed our way. I waited.

It was a lot faster than these pictures.

Couldn't hear it 'til it was almost on me.

I knew it was going to fly over the eucalyptus tree but I didn't have time to move to a better spot.

Then it was over me.

Then it was gone.

A lot of people waited on the bridge. In other words, it's likely that much better photos are available.

Six, Day One

First things first! You should be able to see the Tournament of Roses Parade right here. We'll chat after the parade.

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I hope you enjoyed the parade! I'll add links later as I find them.
Here's one already! Dive is watching the Parade in Norwich, England.

The first of the year is traditionally a theme day for City Daily Photo. In the past we've shared our "best photo of the year." We're skipping that today and will do a different theme later in the month. I'll do a little "best of" retrospective tomorrow.

For now, here's a favorite picture I haven't posted before. I took it in December of 2008, while Boz and I were gallivanting about in the Lower Arroyo near the Colorado Street Bridge. I began this blog on January 1, 2008, which means today marks five years of daily blogging.

I am nuts.

You get it down to a system, but it's still nuts.

Rewarding, but nuts.

Thank you for visiting and commenting, for your support and encouragement. I wish you the happiest new year. Make every day better than the last.

Rarin' to Go

I went out to get a picture of snow on the mountains. I was too late for the best of the stuff, and I got rain instead. It was cold out, though, so maybe that rain will be snow tomorrow. Always look on the bright side!

Down here in the flatlands there'll be sun, a parade, and a football game to kick off the new year. From my house I'll be able to see the Goodyear blimp floating over the Rose Bowl Stadium. (We saw a low-flying plane pulling a banner ad above the Arroyo Seco yesterday--some folks start early.)

2012 was a good year, yet I'm ready for 2013. Rarin' to go, actually, with my big fat plans. What are yours?

The Other Other Pasadena

Snow topped the mountains yesterday, but I didn't get that picture.

The Other Pasadena

New year's day is a big deal here in Pasadena. The Tournament of Roses Parade. The Rose Bowl Game. Just three more days.

White-Suiters, those insiders in the ToR organization who volunteer countless hours for the planning, organization and implementation of these events, sometimes grow up in the tradition, and their children follow after them. It is time-honored stuff, almost as old as Pasadena itself. I know people who've never missed a Rose parade.

I might see one myself some day, though I haven't done so yet. Crowds, noise and cold are not my cup of tea.

Alas, I blaspheme.

At least for the next few days I live in "the other Pasadena"--the one seeking a route to the grocery store without bumping into a parade float, hiking in the mountains north of town on game day, and looking for a restaurant so far from Colorado Blvd. that only the locals know about it.

And that's fine. In fact, it's downright fabulous. I want everyone to have a wonderful time! I look forward to the pictures!

Cold is Relative

How cold does it get where you are?

It got up to 61 degrees Fahrenheit here yesterday, and I know that's warm for this time of year if you live in, say, Fairbanks, or Antarctica, or Norwich. But that's not counting the wind-chill factor. It was so breezy it felt like 55! It gets into the low 40's by the wee hours. Brrr.

There's a pay-off: clear, blue skies and white clouds. Fast clouds, speeding across the mountaintops like puffy space invaders.

Okay, I'm ready to hear about the snow now.

I Love a Grainy Night

Christmas isn't over 'til everyone takes down their lights. A stroll in the neighborhood last night told us that's not going to happen soon. I like the nostalgic glow, but I think it's lost on Boz.

Post-Prandial Perambulation

Our Christmas day walk on the upper path, east side of Hahamongna Watershed Park.

I did not saturate the colors in this photo. When we get rain, we get green.

Considering how we've been eating, it's going to take a lot more walking.

Christmas Wishes

Peace, serenity, tolerance, beauty, prosperity for all...just a wish list. Much like yours, I imagine. May Christmas day and every day hold all of these for you and yours.

Zen Monday: #226

It's Christmas Eve and Zen Monday. What to do? If I must choose (and I must, because I don't have a Zen Christmas Eve photo), then I choose Zen Monday.