The Two Nerdy History Girls Talk About Life 250 Years Ago

Some years have passed since author Susan Holloway Scott and I posted for the last time at our Two Nerdy History Girls blog.* Since that time, however, Meena Jain, Director of the Ashland (Massachusetts) Public Library, has invited us back regularly for virtual chats about history.

This time, Meena has asked us to be part of the Ashland Public Library’s sesquicentennial (try saying that fast three times) celebration series. As usual, we’ll leave politics and battles to those who are experts in these topics. We’ll focus on everyday life in 1776. As you can imagine, some aspects of life went on as usual while others changed, as they are bound to do in a time of upheaval.

The Two Nerdy History Girls - Everyday Life in 1776

''Pulling Down the Statue of George III", oil painting by William Walcutt (1819-1882), circa 1854.

  7-8PM on Monday 13 July 2026 via Zoom

To learn more about the program and to register, you can follow the link below:

Virtual - Celebrating America's 250th: The Two Nerdy History Girls Discuss Everyday Life in 1776

˜ ™™In Other News

SAVE THE DATE: Whether you are writing or hope/plan to write a book set between the late 1700s and the before-Victoria 1800s, you might want to join us at the Regency Fiction Writers Conference July 30th – August 1st, 2026. Again, you don’t need to leave the comfort of your home or wherever you do your staring at the screen. I can attest to the educational and fun aspects of the conference. As always, we have an excellent speaker lineup, including, I’m happy to report, my good friend author Caroline Linden, who’s a keynote speaker this year. You needn’t be a member of RFW to attend, although you can save some $$ if you are. You’ll find all the details at the conference link above.

*Though we stopped posting at the end of 2018, the blog remains, although I can’t promise that all the links will work.

One Nerdy History Girl's Conversation with Meena Jain

Since historical fiction author Susan Holloway Scott was unable to join us for the planned Two Nerdy History Girls chat, Ashland Public Library Director Meena Jain shifted to an author interview. Happily, she prepared our audience in advance, and they came with questions.

We talked of many things, with the focus mainly on the process of writing books. How did such and such a book come about? What inspired this series or this character? What about those himbos? Why are the hats so cruelly treated? These and so many other interesting questions. No doubt there were more, and we probably could have gone on for another hour—although brain fatigue would probably have set in. But I never have trouble talking with Meena, whether it’s as one of the Two Nerdy History Girls with Susan or at an event at the Ashland Public Library (and I will very likely be there again for the RomCon in May, if not before), or, as in this case, for a one-on-one conversation, with excellent audience participation. If you were there, THANK YOU!

If you were not there, you can watch us at your convenience here on the Ashland Public Library YouTube channel. The program is titled Q&A with romance writer (and nerdy history girl) Loretta Chase.

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that we talked quite a bit about Lord of Scoundrels and the circumstances under which it came about. What might surprise you is the new edition. Author Julia Quinn, of Bridgerton fame, has recently announced Lord of Scoundrels’ inclusion in this year’s JQ Special Editions. I have seen the preliminary design and illustrations, and can assure you it’s beautiful. I’m both honored and excited about having my book celebrated in this way.

Let me also take a moment to welcome all those who subscribed to this blog after the chat, and to thank those of you who’ve hung on through the long stretches of nothing punctuated by sudden floods of stuff. The website labels this a blog, but it’s also a newsletter. I’m still debating whether to change the page title from Blog to News. The label must be something short, either way. Suggestions?

Two Nerdy History Girls Minus One

Unexpected events have obliged historical fiction author Susan Holloway Scott to be absent from the forthcoming Two Nerdy History Girls session. That leaves me. While I cannot be the Two Nerdy History Girls (Susan & I have different strengths and areas of focus), I plan to do what I can, with the help of my host, Ashland Library Director Meena Jain. We’ll chat about my books, the research that goes into them, and the thrills and chills of exploring history. (Well, historical research is thrilling and chilling to me.)

Please go ahead and bring questions. I’ll answer to the best of my ability as a solo act. And we'll all look forward to having Susan back at a future session.

Details, details: Monday 5 January 7:00—8:00 PM Online - Zoom

More info here.
To register: https://tinyurl.com/apl-loretta-chase

Program sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library, collaborating with a multitude of Massachusetts Libraries to bring this program to their communities.