Angels (and Devils) on Horseback

angels on horseback (simply recipes)
angels on horseback (simply recipes)

Henry and Martin have several opportunities throughout ACAT and AFC to eat Angels on Horseback as well as their devilish counterparts.

Angels on Horseback date from sometime in the 1880s, and I haven’t been able to find any satisfactory explanation for the name. No one seems to know. They are bacon-wrapped oysters frequently served on bits of toast, so nothing particularly angelic or equine about them.

devils on horseback (culturecheesemag)
devils on horseback (culturecheesemag)

Devils on Horseback are dates, often stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon, also served on toast.  Again, where’s the devilry?

(In the books, they’re eating versions that include a little bed of toast, but I couldn’t find pictures of that, so perhaps the toast is out of favor in modern times?)

I included these particular canapes because they were indeed served frequently at the turn of the century, but mostly because I delighted in the names. Personally, I would not eat these because I’m a vegetarian, and even when I did eat meat, shellfish repulsed me, but I can see how the Devils might be delicious. Mmm, bacon. If I ever eat meat again, it will be bacon.

If you’ve ever had the opportunity to eat these, please let me know what you thought of them.

A Collar and Tie (GQ Book 4)

It’s here!

A Collar and Tie (Ganymede Quartet Book 4) $4.99ACAT 500

A collar and tie are more than just clothes.

To Henry Blackwell, they represent freedom and choice. They don’t mean as much to Martin, but he wears them to the Metropolitan Ball, an exhilarating rite of passage for masters and slaves alike. At the party, drunk on champagne, Henry convinces Martin to act against his better judgment with devastating results.

Fearing Martin will be taken from him, Henry does what he believes necessary to keep Martin by his side, but Martin doesn’t agree with his methods, and they’re at odds when they most need to act in concert. Henry feels he’s been wronged, but can he find it in his heart to forgive Martin? Perhaps more importantly, does he deserve forgiveness himself?

This is the fourth and final installment in the Ganymede Quartet, continuing the story from A Willful Romantic (Ganymede Quartet Book 3).

BUY LINKS:

ACAT @ Amazon
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Buy links will be updated as they’re available.

A Free Choice (GQ Book 4.5)

A Free Choice (Ganymede Quartet Book 4.5) FREE

AFC 500

Love should be a choice, not an obligation or duty.

Martin’s own birthday is just days before Henry’s. Parties have been planned, but with everything that’s happened, will anyone feel like celebrating?

Taking place concurrent with events at the end of A Collar and Tie (Ganymede Quartet Book 4), A Free Choice concludes the series—for now.

FREE EBOOK:
AFC @ Amazon
AFC @ B&N
AFC @ Smashwords
AFC @ Kobo
AFC @ Scribd

AFC can be read for FREE at AO3

 

GQ Book 4 progress/status

When I started publishing the GQ books, I didn’t know what I was doing. I still don’t, really. But I thought I basically had four finished books, and I thought I could put one out every three months. It really seemed reasonable! I wanted to be done by mid-June for reasons. But A Willful Romantic (GQ Book 3) took four months, which meant I only had two months to finish Book 4, which is the longest one, and needed the most retrofitting and work, and that simply didn’t happen.

It’s really important to me to finish this project (or at least the main part of it) and not be interrupted or go off on tangents, so I changed some plans, and I’m giving myself the full three months to finish. I’m hoping to put out A Collar and Tie (GQ Book 4) and the as-yet-untitled Martin story out in mid-July.

And someday I’ll have time to figure out how to format print books :)

NYC, RBF and research

tenement museum
(97 orchard street – tenement museum)

Back in April, I took a trip to New York, which is one of my very favorite places. I visit as often as I can, which isn’t often enough. I went to go to the Rainbow Book Fair–not as an exhibitor this time, but to hang out with Leta Blake, who was an exhibitor. I’ve wanted to be in New York at the same time as her for years now, and this time it worked out. I also wanted to do some research: riding subways, visiting stations, as well as taking a couple of tours at the Tenement Museum.

Continue reading NYC, RBF and research

Valentine’s Day visuals

doubt notI must confess, I think telling someone you love them for the first time on Valentine’s Day is embarrassingly corny–but that’s Henry. He’s sweet and sappy, and he wants to do the same things any young man in love would do. He wants his love to receive the same consideration as a “normal” person’s.

Continue reading Valentine’s Day visuals

Hetaeria and wedding customs

handfasting 2
There is a serious dearth of good handfasting pictures out there

Henry is fortunate enough to be invited to attend a slave party and wedding in early February 1901. Now, I must say, my husband (who knows everything about Henry and Martin despite never reading a word I’ve written) was incensed when I told him Henry was going to a slave party. He was adamant that the slaves deserved something of their own, separate from masters, and I don’t actually think he’s wrong, but the fact is that Henry wanted to go and Martin wanted him there, so he went. I do think it was very unusual for Henry to be there, but it’s well-established that Henry does a lot of unusual things.

Continue reading Hetaeria and wedding customs

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