Suellen Ocean's Blog
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Jun.17.2013
During Roman times, lavender was used to perfume bathing water. The Latin word, Lavandula means, "to wash". The Romans also started the art of topiary, the creative pruning of plants, which they used lavender for, as well as rosemary and juniper. After Rome fell, the art of cultivating gardens fell...
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Jun.17.2013
A fleshpot is so ancient it dates back to the book of Exodous, in the Old Testament of the bible. It was a pot for cooking meat, and back in the day, because of the large size of the tribes, it must have been a huge pot. The word became associated with bodily comforts, luxury, excess and...
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Jun.12.2013
During the 1960's and 70's, I began hearing the word, "freak". The word was used by hippies who liked differentiating themselves from mainstream America. When I heard the expression, I envisioned Frankenstein, so was not endeared to the term, as were those who used it proudly. Jimmy Hendrix used...
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Jun.12.2013
Rugby is like football but instead of kicking the ball down the field, it is picked up and carried. The sport began in 1823 in Warwickshire, England when a fellow named William Ellis, at Rugby School, picked up the ball and carried it this way. In 1875 Rugby was introduced into the United States...
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Jun.10.2013
The Portuguese and Spanish nouns are mulato (masculine) and mulata (feminine). These nouns are used to describe a person of mixed African and Caucasian ancestry. According to a very old dictionary, the noun is used for the first generation, "offspring of a pure negro and a white". It seems an old-...
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Jun.10.2013
When the Spanish Inquisition came to the New World, it extended into Mexico and became the Mexican Inquisition. The Mexican Inquisition brought with it continued persecution of the Jews. One was arrested if they lacked the necessary certificate, Pureza de la sangre, which translated means, "purity...
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May.30.2013
Yes, President Lincoln had suggestions for building colonies outside the United States for freed slaves. President Lincoln originally wanted the emancipation of slaves to be gradual. He wanted to offer southern farmers financial incentives in exchange for freeing their slaves and had plans in mind...
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May.24.2013
The historical events that led to the Civil War are not simple nor interpreted the same by historians and conspiracies abound. In the United States, during the 1800's, the economy of the North differed vastly from that of the South. The South had many large agricultural plantations that prospered...
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May.23.2013
During the 1800's, the United States spread across North America creating new territories. The South's economy was based on plantations. A great many of those plantations used slaves to do the labor. The South wanted any future and newly acquired territories to accept slavery. In Congress and the...
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May.21.2013
Last weekend my husband and I watched the whole second season of Downton Abbey in less than 24 hours. We really enjoy the show, stopping it often to make comments and to try to guess where the plot may be headed. I appreciate all the characters, all the actors are superb, I especially appreciate...
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May.20.2013
Prodigal means given to reckless extravagance, characterized by wasteful expenditure, lavish, squandering. The story in the bible about the prodigal son was one of welcome. The father welcomed his son home, even though he had squandered his wealth. The father saw the son as being alive again. This...
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May.20.2013
If a woman is a wife of a king, she is a "queen consort". If she is a ruling queen, she is a "queen regnant". If she is the widow of a king, she is a "queen dowager". If a queen has a son or daughter who is either a king or queen, the mother is called "queen mother". Suellen Ocean is the author of...
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May.15.2013
There are many who reminisce fondly of the days of plantations. Today, the large plantation homes are tourist destinations. The skill that went into building them fascinates all who visit. Unfortunately, most of these grand homes were built by slaves during the 1700s and 1800s. Antebellum means "...
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May.15.2013
Why would the Prince of Britain be called the Prince of Wales? Well... back in 1301, King Edward had a son whom he named Edward and he was given this title. His father, King Edward had done a lot of conquering so he may have been trying to appeal to the sentimentality of the Welsh.
Suellen...
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May.08.2013
After two months of not blogging, I'm happy to be back. I finished, "Black Pansy" and have begun the research for another historical romance. Thanks to all who read my blog and books!
Here's the description for "Black Pansy":
Mabel McCrutchon has a touch of black blood running through her veins...
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About Suellen
Historical fiction writer Suellen Ocean has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sonoma State University. The former radio personality has a "knack for storytelling and for making characters come alive." Although the stories are rather sexy and string romances...
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Suellen’s Favorite Books
"Rembrandt’s Jews", by Steven Nadler, "Clan of the Cave Bear", by Jean M. Auel, "The Red Tent", by Anita Diamant