A resource for travel, writing, and history buffs.

                  

   Such a fun site to check out even if you merely take a break and travel vicariously to some sensational place. As a writer I'm always looking for more venues of history.

                               The Historic Traveler

   The Historic Traveler is a unique online destination for history lovers offering article features, travel resources, and stunning photo galleries, along with carefully curated recommendations for historical novels, history books, biographies, films, museums, and more that illuminate some of history’s most treasured stories. 

   Historic Traveler-in-Chief Jackie Lapin shares highlights from more than 500 destinations she has visited and photographed, presented through a quarterly e-magazine, website, newsletter, and the Historic Traveler International membership community—a dynamic network of like-minded travelers and readers. They also offer the semi-monthly Hot 25 Historic Novel Alert featuring the newest historic novels to hit the market. Journey with them.

          Jackie's Face Book page is fun, informative and inspiring. 

                  https://www.facebook.com/historictraveler/

My Stories: 

Western Romance: Break Heart Canyon * Undercover Outlaw * Cowboys, Cattle and Cutthroats * A Cowboy’s Fate*Special Delivery. 

Contemporary Romantic Thriller: Fatal Recall

Medieval Romance: The Dragon and The Rose * Iron Heart  *Promise Me Christmas. 

Victorian Romance: Lady Gallant * Victorian Dream 

Romantasy: The Fae Warriors Trilogy: Solace * Bliss * Portence 

Blog www.ginirifkin.blogspot.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Gini-Rifkin-Author/100001680213365

Amazon author  https://amzn.to/2R53KA9

Pinterest             https://www.pinterest.com/ginirifkin/pins/

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LinkedIn                        https://www.linkedin.com/in/gini-rifkin-15950489/

Universal link                https://books2read.com/u/3JLGMv

The wild rose press     https://wildrosepress.com/?s=rifkin&post_type=product&type_aws=true

The Compass Rose, not just a pretty image.

    Did your historical or contemporary hero use a compass in his travels? The idea of the modern compass started a long time ago. 

     The Chinese measured direction based on the 12 signs of the zodiac; the Arabs used the stars and constellations. The Europeans relied on the winds blowing in the Mediterranean so the precursors to the compass rose, was the stella maris (star of the sea) and the wind rose.

    This device indicated the directions of the eight major winds, the eight half-winds and the sixteen quarter-winds making the 32 points corresponding to the thirty-two headings of the mariner's compass. 

   

   In the1300's, portolan charts first made their appearance. These were charts frequently drawn on vellum (generally calfskin) which showed coastal features and ports. The availability of ports and harbors was especially important as ships were smaller often needing refuge or a place to beach for maintenance.

     As far as navigation went, the early renderings on the portolan maps did not take into account the curvature of the Earth, and so were not useful in crossing open ocean. But they were a great help for dentification of landmarks and harbors, in the Mediterranean, Black, or Red Seas. 

                              

     The term "rose" in compass rose is derived from the figure's compass points resembling the flower.                                      

       For western apprentice seamen, one of the first things they had to know were the names of the points. Using the original Mediterranean words for the eight winds, naming them all off perfectly was known as "boxing the compass".

     There is no absolute standard for drafting a compass rose, and each school of cartographers seems to have developed their own style. 

           On the east side of the rose there was often a cross, indicating the direction to Paradise long thought to be in the east.

Today, wind roses are used by meteorologists to depict wind frequencies from different directions at a location. The compass rose is used in global-positioning systems (GPS) and similar equipment and devices.

                   Today the design is used in rugs, tiles, and inlays
                      

     Also flower arranging, embroidery, and woodworking.

                    

                     

                The symbol is also a favorite in the tattoo world.  

   

 The next time you see a map, look for a compass rose!  

  

Thanks to Bill Thoen for his helpful article.

 

My Stories: 

Western Romance: Break Heart Canyon * Undercover Outlaw * Cowboys, Cattle and Cutthroats * A Cowboy’s Fate*Special Delivery. 

Contemporary Romantic Thriller: Fatal Recall

Medieval Romance: The Dragon and The Rose * Iron Heart        *Promise Me Christmas. 

Victorian Romance: Lady Gallant * Victorian Dream 

Romantasy: The Fae Warriors Trilogy: Solace * Bliss * Portence 

Blog www.ginirifkin.blogspot.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Gini-Rifkin-Author/100001680213365

Amazon author  https://amzn.to/2R53KA9

Pinterest             https://www.pinterest.com/ginirifkin/pins/

Goodreads                     http://bit.ly/2OnHbrK

Barnes and Noble          http://bit.ly/2xPs9S4

AudioBooks                  https://adbl.co/2OlWbGJ

LinkedIn                        https://www.linkedin.com/in/gini-rifkin-15950489/

Universal link                https://books2read.com/u/3JLGMv

The wild rose press     https://wildrosepress.com/?s=rifkin&post_type=product&type_aws=true

Lady Gallant. The original Crimean War.

 The Crimean peninsula is often in the news of late. With ports on the Black Sea, it has historically been a desirable piece of land and a hot spot for war. 

My book Lady Gallant takes you to the heart of the action, where Florence Nightingale, the first British war correspondent, Tolstoy, Mary Seacole, and Nurse Posey, all fight to survive in the turmoil of war. 

                               Available here

Blurb: 

   Disowned by her father and still mourning the death of her fiancé, Josephine Posey joins Florence Nightingale’s brigade of nurses bound for the Black Sea. Thousands of British soldiers desperately await these angels of mercy and a new life awaits Josie. Amidst the chaos of death and despair, she finds a spark of hope, lighting the flame once more inside her soul.

   In search of the truth, Garrick Allen, one of Britain’s first war correspondents also journeys to the Crimean Peninsula. To him the soldiers seem all but abandoned by Queen and country, and as he smokes his cheroots and makes friends with a bottle, he writes his bold but honest dispatches for The Times. Not wanting anything more than to finish his job and go home, Garrick is blindsided by a nurse with attitude who offers him a new slant on life and a reason to love.

                             Available here

Long and Short Reviews says:

  Josie was prepared for many things when she decided to go to the Crimean Peninsula, but she was not prepared for Garrick Allen. Josie’s first meeting with Garrick is less then cordial. His manners and appearance are more than a little rough, but something about him intrigues Josie. After the death of her fiancé, she never expected her heart to be stirred by another man. Is Garrick her second chance for love?

  Garrick Allen doesn’t want anything to do with women and romance. He lives his life as a loner, free from attachments of any kind, and that’s the way he likes it. He was completely unprepared for a woman like Josie. She’s beautiful, smart, strong, and more than a match for him. Garrick soon finds himself thinking about her more then he’d care to admit. Will Garrick open his heart to Josie or close it off forever?

  As if life on the Crimean Peninsula wasn’t complicated enough for Josie, Danford Smythe enters the picture. Danford is wealthy and makes it clear that he is interested in Josie. While Danford seems like a perfect gentleman, something about him makes Josie uncomfortable. Is Danford more then he seems, or is just Josie’s imagination?

  I truly enjoyed getting to know Josie as a character. Her devotion to her soldiers and all human beings is admirable. She manages to thrive in an environment that has defeated many others. Garrick is the perfect hero for Josie. He is the classic tough guy with a soft heart. I loved watching his tough exterior slowly melt away to reveal the caring man underneath.

  Danford Smythe also proved to be an interesting villain. Throughout the story, I thought I had his character figured out. However, at the end of the story, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Danford still had a few tricks up his sleeve.

  When I first picked up Lady Gallant, I have to admit that I was only vaguely familiar with the Crimean War. I have read many stories set against the back drop of various wars throughout history. I was intrigued at the possibility that this story might offer something fresh. I was not disappointed. It is clear throughout the text and the notes at the end of the story that Ms. Rifkin researched her setting in order to make it as clear to the reader as possible.

  I must also add that I enjoyed reading the quotes from various historical figures at the beginning of each chapter. I found them interesting and thought-provoking and they all seemed to fit the tone of the story well.

 Available here

 

My Stories: 

Western Romance: Break Heart Canyon * Undercover Outlaw * Cowboys, Cattle and Cutthroats * A Cowboy’s Fate*Special Delivery. 

Contemporary Romantic Thriller: Fatal Recall

Medieval Romance: The Dragon and The Rose * Iron Heart        *Promise Me Christmas. 

Victorian Romance: Lady Gallant * Victorian Dream 

Romantasy: The Fae Warriors Trilogy: Solace * Bliss * Portence 

Blog www.ginirifkin.blogspot.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Gini-Rifkin-Author/100001680213365

Amazon author  https://amzn.to/2R53KA9

Pinterest             https://www.pinterest.com/ginirifkin/pins/

Goodreads                     http://bit.ly/2OnHbrK

Barnes and Noble          http://bit.ly/2xPs9S4

AudioBooks                  https://adbl.co/2OlWbGJ

LinkedIn                        https://www.linkedin.com/in/gini-rifkin-15950489/

Universal link                https://books2read.com/u/3JLGMv

The wild rose press     https://wildrosepress.com/?s=rifkin&post_type=product&type_aws=true

 

What is Wassailing the trees

                        

 For some reason, I've always associated Wassailing with Victorian Christmas caroling. The wassailing of trees, however, was celebrated on Twelfth Night January 6, or to be strictly correct on "Old Twelvey Night" (January 17) the true date before the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar in 1752.

The word 'Wassail' is quite old and derived from the Norse 'Ves heill', from whence came the Old English salutation 'Wes Hal', meaning 'Be thou hale'. As it stems from Anglo/Saxon, it is thought to predate the Norman Conquest.  

  I love trees, and was truly enamored at the thought of  singing to their health. And although it is a rather riotous celebration, it's taken quite seriously by those who depend on a   good harvest the following fall. 

 Reciting poems and singing to the trees was meant to promote their health and insure the trees lived through the winter.

The chanting of incantations, banging on drums and pots and pans and even firing a volley into the branches was meant to drive away evil spirits.

             

 The wassail King and Queen led the procession from one orchard to the next. As a gift to the tree spirit, the wassail Queen would periodically be lifted up into the boughs of the tree where she placed a piece of toast soaked in Wassail.                   

             Another reason to celebrate the season. 

    Be kind to, and look after, your trees, and thank them for                helping to clean the air we breathe. 

Blog www.ginirifkin.blogspot.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Gini-Rifkin-Author/100001680213365

Amazon author  https://amzn.to/2R53KA9

Pinterest             https://www.pinterest.com/ginirifkin/pins/

Goodreads                     http://bit.ly/2OnHbrK

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AudioBooks                  https://adbl.co/2OlWbGJ

LinkedIn                        https://www.linkedin.com/in/gini-rifkin-15950489/

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Mistletoe

                                    

                      Associate with love ,we generally think of it as a 

                               Victorian Christmas tradition.                                                        

     But the plant has a long history of symbolic importance. First as a sacred plant of fertility and protection for Celtic Druids. Later, it became a peace symbol in Norse mythology. The use of  it medicinally is effected depending on the species of mistletoe and the part of the plant used. As a poison, the side effects can be significant, nausea, vomiting, chills, fever, itchy skin, headache, and fatigue. 

                                         Mistletoe on an apple tree. 

   However, the seemingly innocent plant can also damage others. While healthy trees can tolerate a light infection, heavy infestations can lead to stunted growth, dieback, and eventual death. So our love plant can also be deadly.

   Mistletoe vs Holly: Because the plant was associated with pagan practices, early Christian churches banned its use. Instead of mistletoe, the church encouraged their followers to use holly. Which is supposedly how holly became associated with Christmas,

  Kissing under mistletoe gained popularity in the 1700's. But going back even farther, one popular myth involves the Norse goddess Frigg, who is said to have declared that anyone who passed beneath the mistletoe deserved a kiss. I leaned toward the older beliefs about mistletoe's connection to love and fertility when I used the trope in my Medieval story, Promise Me Christmas. A great Christmas Eve read.

 From Promise Me Christmas: "When they passed the lone apple tree near the sally port, Guy smiled, and reached up and snagged a handful of greenery growing in the branches." 

        Available here 
         Book Trailer Promise Me Christmas

                      

National Excellence In Story Telling

  Colorado Authors' League Finalist 

My Stories: 

Western Romance: Break Heart Canyon * Undercover Outlaw * Cowboys, Cattle and Cutthroats * A Cowboy’s Fate*Special Delivery. 

Contemporary Romantic Thriller: Fatal Recall

Medieval Romance: The Dragon and The Rose * Iron Heart        *Promise Me Christmas. 

Victorian Romance: Lady Gallant * Victorian Dream 

Romantasy: The Fae Warriors Trilogy: Solace * Bliss * Portence 

Blog www.ginirifkin.blogspot.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Gini-Rifkin-Author/100001680213365

Amazon author  https://amzn.to/2R53KA9

Pinterest                         https://www.pinterest.com/ginirifkin/pins/

Goodreads                     http://bit.ly/2OnHbrK

Barnes and Noble          http://bit.ly/2xPs9S4

AudioBooks                  https://adbl.co/2OlWbGJ

LinkedIn                        https://www.linkedin.com/in/gini-rifkin-15950489/

Universal link                https://books2read.com/u/3JLGMv

The wild rose press     https://wildrosepress.com/?s=rifkin&post_type=product&type_aws=true

Promise Me Christmas is at Still Moments Magazine

 Monday Mood - Promise Me Christmas

Are you in the mood for a medieval Christmas where love must battle the storm? As war closes in on Darkenwald Castle, one woman’s holiday wish becomes a fight for her family’s future. We recommend, Promise me Christmas by Gini Rifkin, which received a five star review from Still Moments Magazine.

Book Title: Promise Me Christmas 

Release Date: 2023 

Teaser: “I approve of your bold attire, my lady. Such beauty warms more than the cockles of this weary warrior’s heart.” 

Their castle under siege, their passion denied at every turn, will they survive to celebrate Yule together? 

The nights are growing longer and the winter snows are coming—Darkenwald Castle is under siege. 

  Lord Guy Blackthorne is prepared to lay down his life for his children, his wife, and all who seek his protection. But as renegades, mercenaries, and political intrigue surround his ancient family stronghold, he’s forced to stay his hand against those who would dare to attack his fortress. 

  As supplies and hope dwindle, Lady Vespa fears Yule will not be one of good cheer, and the children shall have no gifts this year. At least she and Guy have one another, for that she is thankful. But there are few private moments to share their love, and every endeavor to satisfy their passion is interrupted when the enemy attempts to invade the castle. 

   On Christmas Eve, when a battle to the death begins, Guy faces his greatest challenge. Now Vespa’s wish for a happy Yule celebration turns to a prayer for her beloved’s safety. 

Author Bio. Gini Rifkin writes stories of romance and adventure. Her settings include the American West, Medieval England, Victorian England, and Contemporary thriller and fantasy. When not reading or writing, she has the privilege of caring for a menagerie of abandoned animals including ducks, goats, donkeys, and cats. Among other honors, she has received two Excellence in Writing awards from The Colorado Author’s League, and The Beverley Award from Romance Writers of the Rockies, and two National Excellence in Story Telling (NEST) awards. When not reading or writing, she is trying to master the art of processing, spinning, and weaving various fleeces taking it from lamb to loom. Her writing keeps her hungry to learn new things, and she considers family and friends her most treasured of gifts. 

 

My Stories: 

Western Romance: Break Heart Canyon * Undercover Outlaw * Cowboys, Cattle and Cutthroats * A Cowboy’s Fate*Special Delivery. 

Contemporary Romantic Thriller: Fatal Recall

Medieval Romance: The Dragon and The Rose * Iron Heart        *Promise Me Christmas. 

Victorian Romance: Lady Gallant * Victorian Dream 

Romantasy: The Fae Warriors Trilogy: Solace * Bliss * Portence 

Blog www.ginirifkin.blogspot.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Gini-Rifkin-Author/100001680213365

Amazon author  https://amzn.to/2R53KA9

Pinterest             https://www.pinterest.com/ginirifkin/pins/

Goodreads                     http://bit.ly/2OnHbrK

Barnes and Noble          http://bit.ly/2xPs9S4

AudioBooks                  https://adbl.co/2OlWbGJ

LinkedIn                        https://www.linkedin.com/in/gini-rifkin-15950489/

Universal link                https://books2read.com/u/3JLGMv

The wild rose press     https://wildrosepress.com/?s=rifkin&post_type=product&type_aws=true