Entries tagged with newrelease2020

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Dust me off!

Look, I know we are all sick of hearing about it, but by now we all understand the challenges I've faced with publishing and the front cover of my book. This week I had dealings with a venue which was hoping to sell my book over the course of a medieval event, but, in an exceptionally tactless way, informed me that they felt the cover was (and I quote) "A bit on the nose" and that it wasn't suitable for a family-friendly festival in their gift shop.

I completely understand that the original cover screams SEX in large, unwieldy letters, which is one of the reasons I printed a dust jacket. That and the nipple censorship thing, of course.

The venue was not particularly happy with the dust jacket either, so with an extremely limited time frame, I got this one off to the printer for a new dust jacket. The venue conceded that this one was (and again, I quote) "A bit better." They insist that the book be wrapped somehow so it can't be perused by potential customers. I really would have just given it all a solid miss for the way they feel, except for the fact that they are actually potentially interested in stocking my book all year round.

Anyway, I'm now waiting for these to arrive, so I can trim them and wrap the books with their new "bit better, less on the nose" jackets.

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ho ho ho!

Mango Publishing in the USA would like to let you know that they are 30% off site-wide, including my book! Have you got your Secret Santa pressie yet?

No? Well then!

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Medieval Cat Ladies

When writing about medieval women and sex, one's thoughts turn to gifts of love or companions for our single lady forebears.

Did we like cats? What's not to love?

Cats were often seen as being sexually promiscuous due to their reproductive abilities, so there was a concern that their lustiness might rub off on their female owners, but by and large, cats were seen to be a suitable companion for a woman. Even a nun might have one for a pet, as long as it was not overly coddled and was mainly for catching mice.

For more of medieval women, why not explore more? The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women is available online and in all good book shops.

69. Days until Xmas, that is.

Mango Publishing would like me to remind you that it's 69 days (stop that snickering) until Christmas. Now there's a spooky thought for you.

Why not horrify your Secret Santa with a copy of The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women?

They sure won't see it coming? (look, cut it out, okay?)

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Medieval woman: Joan Willys of Harpenden. Forced abortion.

Church records are usually incomplete when it comes to the finer details of court appearances, citing only the bare bones of the cases. This is often frustrating for historical researchers, but it does allow a very small glimpse at the lives of medieval women, and very often, gives them a name.

From Lincoln in England, we find Joan Willys, who was a household servant.

She is named as part of a case in the Visitations records in Lincoln, England where her employer, John Hunt has been taken to task for improper conduct, namely living unmarried and having a sexual relationship with her as his servant.

Joan has taken certain herbs to terminate a pregnancy, but later is married to the man in question. No indication is given whether she was a willing participant in the intimate activities or whether she had no choice and was forced as his household servant. Either way, the use of the word "persuaded" when it comes to the part about ending her pregnancy is used, hinting that perhaps she wasn't entirely on board with that part.

Many medieval women had a strong church background and the fear of hell was absolutely a real thing, so deliberately ending a pregnancy may have been a decision she may not have been comfortable with.

After the Visitation, John and Joan were married, but again, there is no indication whether this was a state desired by both of them. There are a number of reasons why the marriage happened:

1. forced upon them under pain of being removed from the church
2. to legitimise John's child and provide an heir
3. they loved each other

Which of these is true, we will never know.

For more medieval women, the Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women is available online and through all good book sellers.

Medieval giveaway!

Love giveaways? So do I!!

You can play my medieval guessing game at the Abbey Medieval Festival this weekend and enter to WIN for FREE! Find Rosalie's Medieval Woman in the Marketplace (near Stag Inn) and say the SECRET word. That's all there is to it!

Winner called on Sunday to collect your prize. I can't post out, sorry.

Prize includes The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women book, bookmark, coffee mug, elderflower cordial, elderflower conserve and notebook.

Festival ready!

Meet the girls!

Well, here we are all composited into one picture! It's been impossible to get everyone together for a group photo, so that will wait until the Saturday morning at the festival. Thank goodness for digital technology.

It was a bit of fun making this, but cutting everyone out and pasting us together is time consuming. Still, it's a nice break from sewing!

I've given the ladies the option to mask up or not, but it's a bit covid-y out and I will be. I usually hope for correct shoes, but quite frankly, I'm feeling that since we are in the Marketplace and not re-enactors (for me this year) that gumboots and dry feet are quite okay also.

It's looking very wet on the grounds and today I would have been setting up my tent but it's too wet. I've got all my fingers crossed that it's not raining on Thursday for the grand setting up. I've packed extra surcote and hoods for warmth. I thing we will need them.