The Mad, Mad, World Giveaway Winner!

Much thanks to all of you for your marvelous comments in this giveaway--such fun!

Using random.org, the winner drawn is CAT WILKE. 

Congratulations, Cat!

Please choose a book from my regency series:  

Stay tuned next week as I share "The Metamorphosis of a Novel" and run another giveaway.

I'll be showing the various editions of my first novel, telling a little "behind the scenes" info. about each one. I'll hold another drawing for a free book. 

In the meantime, if you haven't seen the hilarious comments from the original post, take a look. (It will give you a chuckle or two.)

See you soon!

Linore
http://www.LinoreBurkard.com
http://www.LRBurkard.com

The Mad, Mad World of Authors and Book Giveaway

READ THE POST TO ENTER THE BOOK DRAWING!

Note: I'm back to blogging. I'll still send out newsletters with all the varied content you've come to expect, but I can link to articles here and write more for those who care to read it.

Such as this...

The Mad, Mad, World of Authors

I was on the phone with a dear author friend of mine--who will remain nameless because of what I'm about to share. She's multi-published, and, like me, has a zillion ideas more than she'll ever be able to write. We can talk for hours about all the writing we're doing, would like to do, and hope to do--as well as other creative projects.

During our last call, she had me laughing silly when she shared that one day she'd been thinking about one of her books and suddenly had a brain freeze. She couldn't remember the title. This was a book SHE WROTE. It was published by a small press and has been out for years--but she couldn't recall the exact title.

I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes--mostly because it struck a chord. I should explain that we authors like to refer to our books in shorthand. For instance, Before the Season Ends, (my newest re-release) is simply B.T.S.E. to me. The sequel, The House in Grosvenor Square, is THIGS. So my friend could only remember the acronym of her book.

When I recently revisited my earlier books to edit them for new editions, I was delighted by some of my own writing as if reading it for the first time. Now--authors grow and improve in their craft, just like people in other fields. So I also saw things that did not delight me--which is why I can say the series has been "newly edited." But the fact remains that we often forget our own words.

Sometimes even our book titles.

Not Just Books

I once had to leave a cart full of groceries at the store because back then I used a debit card and suddenly could not remember my PIN number. I drove to the bank, and there discovered--horrors--I still needed that same PIN number to withdraw cash. And my brain freeze hadn't cleared yet. In the end, I had to go into the bank to withdraw cash and then return to the store to check out our groceries.

You can see why I laughed so hard when my friend couldn't remember her book title. I can relate all too well.

Book Giveaway

You don't need to be an author to have the occasional brain freeze. When was the last time it happened to you? Was it your phone number, your son's birthday, or maybe even the title of a book you've written? Share your answer in the comments and I'll draw one winner to get a copy of the just-released new edition of Before the Season Ends, or, The House in Grosvenor Square, both  heartwarming romances. (Enter the drawing even if you've read the old editions. You'll enjoy the new ones even more.)

Leave a comment to enter the drawing for a free copy!

PS: Don't forget to leave your contact info so I can notify you if you win! Leave email addresses like this: (for example) YourName (at) yourserver (dot) com. --so internet trolls can't glean your info.


DO YOU GET MY NEWSLETTER? If not, sign up here: http://www.LinoreBurkard.com

And the Winners Are...!

The drawing is up! Debbie Lynne Costello has generously allowed two readers to win her new book, Sword of Forgiveness. One winner gets an ebook and one a print book. And the winners are...

 VINTAGE GIRL, who gets a book in print, 

and MARY PRESTON, the ebook! 

Thank you so much, Debbie Lynne.
And thank you to all of you who came by and left a comment. If you didn't win a book this time, sign up for Debbie Lynne's blog where she'll keep you posted on future book giveaways. (She will be doing more of them!)

Debbie Lynne will be contacting the winners for mailing information.

Medieval Romance Giveaway--Part Two

Welcome to Part Two of Debbie Lynne Costello's guest appearance here at Woman of Faith, and to her giveaway. To enter the drawing for a free copy of SWORD OF FORGIVENESS, simply leave a comment after the post. Winners will be drawn next week and the announcement given on Friday, May 1st. (If you also comment on Part One of this drawing, you'll have more than one entry. Both comments will count.)
Please Note: Winners must reside within the 48 continental states. One winner will receive a kindle  ebook and one a paperback. Winners are chosen using random.org. 

Welcome, Debbie Lynne Costello. I'm grateful for your generosity to my readers!

Linore, thank you for having me on your blog! I’m excited to chat with your followers.

And, readers, if you join my newsletter you'll  know when I do other giveaways. To be notified, send me an email at DebbieLynneCostello (at) hotmail (dot) com. 

A Peek at Fourteenth Century Fashion 

by Debbie Lynne Costello

Clothing styles have always changed, even back in medieval times. While changes were slower than today, styles did come and go.  And fashion within the same style varied from country to country. My story is set in the late 1300’s (fourteenth century) but an interesting fact is that as early as the 15^th century sumptuary laws* began to regulate the cost of clothing. This included the length of items such as shoes, hoods, and trains. 

*Note: According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, sumptuary law is "any law designed to restrict excessive personal expenditures in the interest of preventing extravagance and luxury."

The hennin,  which is a steeple headdress, (see illustration, right) became popular during the 14^th century. These cone-shaped headdresses with a flowing veil became so extravagant in heights that they too, were regulated. The higher the hennin, the higher the wearer's status in society.

 

Caul headdresses were also worn. The woman’s hair would be plaited (sometimes adding bulk to the hair) and then covered with fabric, which  would be shaped on each side of the head. (Think about the evil stepmother’s hat in the 1965 version of Cinderella.) The cauls were often jeweled. 

Many types of hats were popular during this time period from the tall hennin to the plain rectangle shaped headrail.

 Other 14th Century Fashion Tidbits

Women plucked the hair on the back of their necks, along with their hairlines, and thinned their eyebrows. Some wore makeup while others sat for hours in the sun trying to get those lovely highlights. 

Both men and women wore clothing made from several different pieces of fabric, dividing them into halves or quarters. Each section was made out of a contrasting color. This popular style also extended into the stockings and shoes as well.

Women wore a cotehardie beneath their darker colored surcoat. The cote-hardie was a fitted dress with long sleeves. The surcoat was a sleeveless over- dress. In the 12^th century the surcoat sides were opened to reveal the fitted undergarment. The church objected, however,  to the new style stating it was too revealing. 

Along with the jeweled cauls the woman would wear a jeweled girdle (belt like) at her hips. 

Her shoes were made of a soft leather or fabric and had elongated toes. They were low cut and buttoned or tied at the ankle. The shoes were often embellished with embroidery and gems.

Hope you enjoyed that peek! Would you like to have been alive when these styles were in fashion? Imagine living without your jeans and flip-flops! Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for my book. 

As a reminder, here's the book being given away:

 Read more about this medieval romance, Sword of Forgiveness, on Amazon. 

Debbie Lynne Costello has enjoyed writing stories since she was about eight years old. She raised her family and then embarked on her own career of writing the stories that had been begging to be told. She and her husband have four children and live in upstate South Carolina. She has worked in many capacities in her church and is currently the Children's Director. Debbie Lynne has shown and raised Shetland Sheepdogs for eighteen years and still enjoys litters now and then. In her spare time, Debbie Lynne enjoys camping and riding  Arabian and Tennessee Walking horses with her husband.