It's weird, I keep getting hung up on the fact that I know the historical references and want to get on with the story, but you need to explain the references to folks who may never have thought about the 14th century before. Historical fiction can be a trial for an SCAer: "I know about Tyburn, darn it, get on with what he's found out already!"

Deb is the spoiler source for her own story. Heh.

I don't know if I'm justified, but I'm feeling sorry for the ghost.

I don't know if I'm justified, but I'm feeling sorry for the ghost.

(grinning with pleasure)

Taunting author.

edit: I am resisting the urge to hop to the end to see if my sympathies are justified or not.

"Don't taunt the reader."
"Why, can she hurt me?"
"No, it's just...tacky."

Oh, and I just searched the database we use to check for books, and Famous Flower is already in the OCLC database. You're also listed in our copy of the Cambridge (England) database. OCLC has Flower and Weaver categorized as Ghost stories and Mystery fiction. Lots of other books under your name, too, in the big databases.

Just keep reading, yo. There's all sorts of scary stuff and historical fun in there for you to munch on.

Did I mention that Fed Ex just came by with a box of two dozen copies? Go, me!

In writing matters, I am staring at a beautiful printout of a beautiful map of the Isle of Dogs from 1885. Nic's going to print it out at work, in 11 x 17 size, and then print out a current one same size, so I can sort of overlay. Now if only I could find one from 1950 or thereabouts...

edit: how much do I love having buddies who have access to OCLC? Ah, worldwide libraries....

Oh, mercy.

Thank you, Isis or whoever, for this researcher's dream site

edit: Oh, man, I struck purest gold. Was wondering about the disposition of BD units in London, and trying to figure out whether the event triggering what they think is the haunting in the second book should happen in 1948 (I wanted that year, for some reason) or later.

Looks like 1848 was the right choice:

With the peace came demobilisation and a drastic reduction in all army units. Bomb disposal did not escape. No 14 Company disbanded in February 1946, followed by No 20 in the May. By April 1948 only nine B D Companies remained in the UK.

DBD (Directorate of Bomb Disposal) had been accommodated in Romney House, Marsham Street, throughout the war. In April 1948 it was renamed HQ Bomb Disposal Units (UK) RE and commanded by Lt Col M D Maclagan RE and subsequently moved to Ashley Gardens in Victoria.

In the August of 1949 three more B D Companies were disbanded, leaving just Nos 2, 7 and 16, plus a plant Squadron. By now the ‘Companies’ had been renamed ‘Squadrons’. (snip) In December 1949 a ceiling for B D Personnel (U.K.) was set at 60 all ranks and on 1st January 1950 the three B D Squadrons were also disbanded.

This just saved me hours of work. I fucking LOVE the innernets. Bless you, Al Gore.

Gah! You blasted Brits with your blasted alternate spellings of words! I just spent 10 minutes trying to find a book with the word aluminum in it, then I realized it was spelled by the Brit spelling, with aluminIum! Gah.

All done now.