Reply by: Jo, Dec 22, 2010

Thanks, Sharon. Sorry for the delay. I've just realized this discussion area isn't alerting me to messages. I'll have to find a way to do that.

You're right about the Arradale thing. I assume it's life span and earl span. I'll check that and sort it out. Thanks!

Yes on Cleeve/Leyden, too. I changed the title in the process of writing the book, and the Cleeve was still in some of my notes. (That's the sort of thing that makes this wiki process so useful.) I'll fix that, too.

And the others.

What a wonderful eye you have for detail. Thanks again!

Forgot to mention that Libella is correct. They have some odd names in that family. It means little tenth. The younger family members all have names from their number, as Fitz is Octavius.

(5) Favorite Malloren by: DS, Dec 4, 2010

I was wondering who your favorite Malloren is?
Mine is Lord Cyn.

Reply by: Jo, Dec 23, 2010

I can't play favourites. Jo :)

(6) Possible error by: FG, Dec 23, 2010

You mention that Rothgar receives a diamond ring from Diana. If I remember correctly, she gives him a sapphire ring after they first make love, while he gives Diana a diamond "star" ring upon their engagement.

Reply by: Jo, Dec 23, 2010

Ah, that definitely needs checking. I have a terrible feeling I might have made an error in a later book. Thanks for pointing it out!

Reply by: FG, Dec 23, 2010

I only noticed this because Devilish is one of my all time favorite books! I love it, and have read it many, many times :)

(7) Horses by: SG, Dec 23, 2010

I have often wondered about the horses used while traveling long distances by carriage. They change horses periodically at inns and hostleries along the road. They obviously started from home with horses they owned, or did they own them? When they change horses they don't have those specific horses any more. So, are those horses picked up again on the way back home, or are they given (or rented, or what) to another party after they are sufficiently rested? Or, were traveling horses not owned by whomever was using them, but rather leased or rented for the
period of time they were used by a specific individual or party? I know a valuable horse would not have been used to pull a wagon, cart or carriage. They obviously had some system whereby horses were switched and kept track of, but how it would work escapes my modern mind. Any light you could shed on this topic would be greatly appreciated.

Reply by: Jo, Dec 24, 2010

It's a bit complicated, but some people used their own horses for the whole journey. In that case they would travel more slowly as the horses would need rest, food, and water.

A few very rich people would either keep their own horses along routes they traveled frequently -- ie Rothgar Abbey to London.

An alternative for the rich planning a journey in advance would be to send out teams of horses to await along the route. But that would be extraordinary.

Mostly those with money would hire both chaise and horses right from the start and travel at speed because the chaise was a light vehicle and they'd change the team every 10 miles or so.

Most people who traveled did so by a public coach or by wagon, as Petra does in A Lady's Secret. Or walked.

BTW, if traveling by chaise, there were connection options.
1. If they were a long way from the post roads someone from home could drive them to the inn, or a plain coach from the posting inn could come to collect them.
2. If they were nearby and the road not too rough, the chaise would come to the door.

(8) Ongoing by: Jo, Feb 24, 2011

I'm adding bits here as I come across them, or as I make them up as I write A Scandalous Countess, the next book.

Just added a bit about travel along the river and the stairs used to get into and out of boats. It's under transportation.

(9) RWR Article 2011-8 by: BW, Aug 8, 2011

Thanks for a helpful article, "Wikispaces: Bringing Order to your Writing" and for being so generous in letting me and others study your own Wikispace. It is inspirational and a fantastic self-guided tutorial.

Reply by: BW, Aug 9, 2011

Jo, I just want to thank you again. The Wikispace I've created (thanks to you) has not only helped me organize my WIP, but has created a fun, exciting momentum and the impetus for me to finish this project. Also, I just discovered I can export to a pdf (printable) format, which is just the cherry on top.

Reply by: MM, Aug 31, 2011

Many thanks! I'd just started on the third of a seven-book series and had already forgotten details about characters in the first two books. Following your guidelines in RWR, I started a wiki and already feel that I have a much better handle on what I've done and will be doing in the future. Thanks so much for sharing.

Reply by: Jo, Sep 7, 2011

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'm happy it's helping others as much as it's helped me. My Malloren wiki's a bit behind the times as I've been embroiled in house buying and renovating and writing a book!

Interesting about the pdf, BW. I'll have to explore that.