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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Time Travel Fun! By Terry Spear

Welcome back to History Undressed, guest author Terry Spear!  Today, she's talking about one of my favorite genres: Time Travel. And she's taking us on an adventure! I hope you enjoy her post as much as I did! On lucky commenter (USA Only) will win a copy of Ms. Spear's book, A GHOST OF A CHANCE AT LOVE.


Time Travel Fun!
By Terry Spear

So you want to time travel back to the 1870’s? Good for you. Let’s go!

Wait! First, there are rules. No taking back stuff that wasn’t made in the earlier time. You don’t want to upset the known world back then, do you?

Years ago when games were first being made for the computer, I played a neat time travel game where the player could take back items, like a comb, that had been made in ancient times. But anything that was a more recent development, the player would lose if she took it with her on the journey. It was amazing to me how early some items had been made, and how recent others were.

So when we take this trip back to Texas in the 1870’s, remember this:

No cell phones, no laptops, no flip flops or T-shirts. No pants, no shorts, no bikinis or halter tops either. Hide those pierced ears, or any other piercings you might have! Tattoos are out. Unless you’re a pirate. No bras, no pantyhose, no silky panties either.

Still with me?

It’s hot in Texas and what do we have to wear?

Long dresses, petticoats, corsets, and pantaloons, short boots and stockings.

Are you still coming?

Remember your parasol, a fan, and fringed purse for the ride.

Don’t wear much makeup or you might be taken for a lady of ill repute.

And for goodness sakes, if you’re a grown woman, not a little girl, your dress must cover your ankles and your hair must be UP. Very important.

Why? Long hair and bare ankles are just too sexy for men to witness without them…getting ideas.

Yeah, I know, I totally agree how silly this sounds, but I didn’t make the rules!

So we’ve picked out some authentic looking clothes, have our hair up, no nail polish, and makeup is non-existent, to a barely-there look, and we’re ready to go. Right?

Wait! Money!!! Even though bartering was an accepted practice, we definitely don’t have anything to barter with, ahem, that we would be willing to barter with, so money can help. No credit cards, debit cards or writing checks either. Although, sure, checks were written back then, but they wouldn’t look like OUR checks! Did you know that the routing number on checks came into existent after a man stole so many payroll checks and then after they caught him, he helped the banking institution to stop people like him from robbing companies blind by coming up with the routing number?

So we’ll have to find some old money to tide us over. Which can get pretty costly, but we’re game, right?

The money’s tucked into our fringed purse…wait, I know it’s already hot out, but we have to wear some gloves, and we’re off. Well, no, we need smelling salts for when we’re overcome from the heat, the clothes, and the corsets binding us! Then we’re ready!

The great part in going to the past is that there are more men out here in the west who are dying to have themselves a woman.

I won’t say whether they’re a great catch themselves, or how hardy you have to be to last out here, or how much fun you might really have…

Remember, we’re here just to witness how things were done in the old west—not like the movie versions, and then, well, if we can wrangle some hot guy who still treated a woman like a woman and wanted to bring him with us into the future, that might work!

But what if you decided you liked the old way of life, found the rancher of your dreams, a family you could love, and wanted to stay? That could work too! And you might even slip some of those lacy bras and sexy silky panties under your long gowns for when you’re alone with your man.

So anyone game?

Thanks so much, Eliza, for having me, and hope everyone had fun dropping by to see what time travel might be like to the 1870’s in a small western town in Texas!

Terry Spear

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality.”


A Ghost of a Chance at Love

Lisa Welsh only wishes to leave a messy divorce behind for a couple of days stay in Salado, Texas but wakes to nightmares and a cowboy in her bed, and she has no earthly idea how he got there. But the situation gets worse when she learns she's now living in 19th Century Salado. Even more worrisome is the tall dark stranger, and everyone else in town believes she's some woman named Josephine Rogers who is supposed to be dead. Jack Stanton can't believe the clerk gave him an occupied room at the Shady Villa Inn, but worse, he was ready to ravage the woman in that bed-until he realized his mistake. Now the woman he thinks is Josephine claims to be some other woman-and though he could never abide by Josephine's fickle ways, this Lisa Welsh intrigues him like no other. Still, if she isn't Josephine, he figures he best help her find her way back to where she really belongs no matter how much he wants to keep her with him. Together, Lisa and Jack must solve the mysteries and face the troubles in their worlds or they will never be free to share the love that binds them across the ages.


 
About the Author...
Award-winning author of urban fantasy and medieval historical romantic suspense, HEART OF THE WOLF named in Publishers Weekly's BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR, NOR Reader Choice for BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE.

Terry Spear also writes true stories for adult and young adult audiences. She's a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves and has an MBA from Monmouth University and a Bachelors in Business and Distinguished Military Graduate of West Texas A & M. She also creates award-winning teddy bears, Wilde & Woolly Bears, to include personalized bears designed to commemorate authors' books. When she's not writing or making bears, she's teaching online writing courses.

10 comments:

Terry Spear said...

I'm off to work, thanks so much, Eliza, for having me! I'll drop by from to time when I can. :0

Lynn's Romance Enthusiasm said...

I loved the snippet. It definitely makes me want to travel back in time to see what happens next. Thank you.

lareynolds0316@gmail.com

Dawn Marie Hamilron said...

Fun post, Terry. You gave me a Wednesday morning smile. Thanks!

btw: Love time-travels.

Marin McGinnis said...

Interesting post, Terry! It's fascinating to think about what's changed over the last 140 years in terms of day-to-day life in the US. Even a time travel to the 1970s would be a shock!

Linda LaRoque said...

Loved the post Terry. You know how I love those time travels. I've been meaning to read this book. Maybe I'll win it!

Bella Street said...

Anachronisms are such a pain. LOL Great post!

Gena Robertson said...

This is why I love to read your books, Terry - I can escape in the comfort of my home, and pretend all I want that I really want to escape when in reality, if I were to time travel back, I would certainly horrify those poor folks with my lewd manners and they would certainly think me a very loose woman, LOL!

Excellent post - Love it!!

Gena Robertson
robertsongena@hotmail.com

Terry Spear said...

Thanks, lareynolds! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Dawn, I'm glad I could make you smile this morning! I tried to comment from work, but couldn't get logged in. *sigh*

Yeah, you're so right, Marin! Even my son said that HE'S outdated as cell phones didn't come out until when he was a boy! :)

Linda, thanks so much! I love time travels too. My favorite read!

Bella, thanks, too funny!

Thanks, Gena. Can you imagine that if we went back in time with shaved legs, that would be really frowned upon? LOL!

diva donna said...

I read this exciting story. And I felt like a time traveling ping-pong ball. I didn't know where or who I was at all, and looking in the mirror didn't help. I recommend it highly. Whatever you do, don't look under the bed.

Terry Spear said...

OMG, what's under the bed? LOL, you're too funny, Donna! :) I'm teasing. I remember what's under the bed. Trouble. :)