Regency Research: A Regency Repository

When I first began researching the Regency era, I quickly discovered A Regency Repository, a comprehensive featuring information on the era's military, politics, fashion, and education. Although the fashion page doesn't feature images, it does offer a comprehensive list of sources for interested researchers, including a set of links. In fact, the entire website offers over 400 links to browse, and of special value is The Regency Romances page, which provides fans of the genre with links to information about their favorite authors. If you're new to the era, this website makes for a good starting point to learn basic information and interesting facts about Jane Austen's time.

Nancy Mayer: Regency Researcher

I just discovered this website today and am impressed by the wealth of material that it contains. Nancy Mayer: Regency Researcher offers a comprehensive array of information on the Regency era, with subjects spanning dance, education, law, marriage, medicine, Parliament & politics, period publications, peers & peerage, Regency fashion, and titles & names. Nancy Mayer has been a long-time contributor to the Writing Regency listserv, and she is considered an authority on the era. I was lucky enough to take an online class on the Regency era with Nancy a few years ago and can attest to her knowledgeable handling of a variety of topics concerning this era. If you can't find the material that you need, Nancy offers an "Ask Nancy" function that allows users to email Nancy with their questions. For the aspiring romance authors out there, I recommend checking out the "Marriage" section, which discusses issues such as common errors in novels and marital law. In addition, since many Regency romances incorporate scenes at balls, Nancy's page on "Dance" is informative and interesting, with images of popular dances and a bibliography at the bottom of the page.

Researching the Regency Era

To inaugurate a month of profiling the best Regency websites, I've decided to start with a popular site that has even earned kudos from the History Channel: Cathy Decker's Regency Fashion Page. If you're fascinated by Jane Austen's novels and have always wondered about the details of Regency dress, which Austen omits in her descriptions of her heroes and heroines, the Regency fashion page will provide insight into all the varieties of male and female fashion. By the time you finish browsing the numerous pages and images, you'll know the difference between spencers and pelisses and turbans and bandeaux, as well as have a working knowledge of the more important historical figures of the era.

In addition, Decker's work on Princess Charlotte's Wedding Page offers a unique glimpse at one of the lesser known figures of the Regency era. Since all of Austen's novels end with weddings, but leave out any descriptions of wedding finery, Decker's page allows the reader to have a better understanding of how this momentous occasion would really appear. Finally, the lovers of Regency literature will appreciate Decker's Portraits of Women Writers, which profiles lesser known authors such as Mary Brunton and Susan Ferrier alongside more popular authors such as Hannah More and Elizabeth Inchbald.

Wrap-Up: Moonlight & Magnolias Conference

In conclusion, I would highly recommend the GRW Conference to fellow writers. When you're constantly sitting at the keyboard, immersed in writing stories, it's easy to get caught up in the solitary writer's life. Attending a conference such as the Moonlight & Magnolias Conference reminds you that you're not alone in the journey toward publication. If you missed the conference, the Georgia Romance Writers have been kind enough to post the entire conference booklet online. Also, they're already gearing up for the 2009 conference, which will feature Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love, and Tami Cowden, the author of one of my favorite writing books, Heroes and Heroine: Sixteen Master Archetypes.