Beyond Bliss

A behind-the-scenes look at the themes, historical context, tropes and character analysis of the historical romance novel, Burnt Bliss

[pacificnorthwesterngothic]

Reminder to us all to remain thoroughly “out of hand”

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More Character mood boards!

Here's Will sister, Lily!

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More character mood boards, here's Will's best-friend-turned-love-interest, Augustus!

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So on my latest Twitter poll which topic to cover next, there was a tie between sexuality themes & historical context. So I've decided to do a little of both. I believe in the future this will serve me well, as it's an easy way to explain the mores of the times & give context to many aspects of the story.

An easy way to explain what the mores of the 1660's were like, this was just after Puritan rule in the 1650's. The Puritans were very strict about their lifestyle and had a rather dour view of the world & their role in it. Most of all, they were fiercly religious with an extreme, fire-and-brimstone mindset. They literally believed anything fun was sinful simply because it was fun.

To that end, they had banned playing all sports, acting & theater, selling or wearing makeup & fancy clothes, parties, selling or drinking alcohol, music, dancing, singing, even celebrating Christmas! But after Oliver Cromwell died, the people of England didn't really want to continue all of his strict rules. They wanted Charles to come back (he was in exile in France after his father was executed,) and be crowned as their next King, thus the Restoration of the monarchy. Many of the Puritans did not like the idea of him coming back, so quite a few of them were the Puritans who ended up founding the United States when they left England for what is today the US.

The best analogy I can think of to explain the extreme cultural differences of the Puritans and the ilk of King Charles II, is to think of the difference between the 1650's and the 1660's in England as akin to the difference between the 1950's and 1960's in the US.

In the 1950's in the US, there was an emphasis on correct behavior, which explains why there were so many educational videos made for youth on things like etiquette & social niceties. You needed to follow society & project the proper image: a suburban nuclear family, a home with a white picket fence, mom barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen, dad working his office job in the city and his boss coming over for dinner. On TV, June Cleaver was doing the dishes with a face full of makeup and a string of pearls. Then in the 1960's, you had the rise of youth culture, especially the hippie counterculture movement. That movement, beyond the political/social change aspects, touted an era of "free love" and "sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll", culminating with Woodstock starting the Drug Era in 1969.

A prime example for the moral changes in the Restoration is the rise to fame of real-life teen actress Nell Gwyn. She was born about two weeks before Augustus, yet she was a mistress of King Charles II, having caught his eye at the theater as an orange seller. "Pretty, witty Nell" was especially skilled in comedy and became one of the world's first female actresses, (along with dramatist Mary Saunderson.) Charles was about 15 years older than Nell, but it was of her own volition and she was considered an adult at the time. Charles had dozens of mistresses and fathered many, many children from them. To explain what kind of man he was, the first time Charles got a girl pregnant, he was only 15 years old!

Another example is the unusual success of Madam Cresswell. In Chapter 8 of Burnt Bliss, we find Augustus owns an obscene pamphlet (which is how they printed pornographic material in this time period,) featuring drawings of girls who worked for Madam Cresswell. She was a real Madam in England during this time period. She had a unique legal position where basically, she didn't get in trouble for running all her brothels because she provided her ladies for the members of the Court. The pamphlets would double as pornography and an advertisement for her business. Brothels would often print pamphlets for men to peruse and hopefully inspire them to patronize their business.

As for my novel specifically, I wanted to have a combination of historical accuracy and what could be seen as typical teenage behavior, no matter the era. Some may take issue with Will and Augustus, plus Sarah and James having sex with their respective partners at 16. However, a few things need to be explained:

•Age of consent laws didn't exist

•People married (and thus had children) much earlier than they do now; 17-18 was the usual marrying age, especially if their family was rich, so they could start having children early to carry on their lineage

•Even the most brilliant scientists of this era didn't understand the adolescent brain, or much about psychology in general.

In this era, human development was basically seen as you're a baby, then a child, then a slightly overgrown child, and then you're instantly an adult. No learning curve. You are expected think, act, handle your emotions, reason, make important decisions, have children, care for them and work all day just like an adult would--immediately.

So when Will's father says he's "a man now" while making a toast at his birthday party, he means it literally. That's why Will drinks alochol a bit more often (not just on rare special occasions) and has sex with Augustus after he turns 16. He even writes in his journal about it: "We're both adults now. Who can stop us?"

Even in England today, their age of consent is 16. So, while some may decry the presence of any sexual relationships with characters under 18, given 21st century attitudes in the US, it's perfectly legal to have sex at sixteen in England, where the story takes place. Even here in the United States, more then half of the States in our Union have an age of consent of 16. So even if my work were set in present day US, it would might likely be perfectly legal.

I wanted to be realistic and present my work in an honest way, scandalous though it may be to some. So be it.

Stay tuned for future analysis!

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Character Mood Board!

First up, the main protagonist, William Garnett

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Part 2: Family Drama!

I recently conducted a Twitter Poll, asking my followers which theme I should cover first when analyzing my historical romance novel Burnt Bliss, and the overwhelming winner was a theme about family. Families back in the 1660's (the Restoration Era,) had a lot of differences from families today.

Will is a teenager, so naturally he still lives with his parents, and his relationship with various members of his family provide for much of the conflict throughout the novel. I'll be analyzing and expanding on four aspects relating to family in the story:

•How Will and Augustus’s families know each other

Will’s relationship with

•his mother

•his sister

•his uncle

The Garnetts and the Blacks

Will and Augustus met when their fathers began working together; the boys were probably about 5 or 6 years old. Will’s father Francis owned their Merchanting company with Uncle Deus, and Augustus’s father Richard worked for them, unloading their goods on the docks of the River Thames, as both families lived in London at the time. The Garnetts moved away when Will was ten, Lily was eight, and Margaret was pregnant with their littlest sister, Elizabeth. The Blacks had come to visit a few times since Will’s family moved to the countryside.  

Will & Margaret

Throughout the story, Will clashes with his mother, mainly due to their differences: her snobbery, materialism and obsession with a good reputation are vastly at odds with the egalitarian view Will has, especially after reading Utopia and learning from Augustus how unfair the socioeconomic divide can be. Yet they also have some of their biggest fights because they're so similar. When we first meet both Will and his mother in the book, I symbolized this push and pull between what they have in common and how they differ by them each wearing the color blue, but in two very different shades.

The color blue denotes sensitivity and could represent both sky and water. Water tends to denote those who are emotional and sensitive, as both Will and Margaret are. Air as an element denotes communication, something they both struggle with. Margaret is meek and submissive when dealing with her husband, who can occasionally be abusive. Will struggles with being able to express himself openly because of the taboo nature of his romance with Augustus, so he writes furiously in his journal to express himself covertly, similar to how Margaret suppresses her opinions around her husband. 

They’re also both extremely stubborn, especially when they believe they're correct. Despite all this, there are also moments where they bond and while this doesn't happen very often, they are genuine moments of sensitivity and understanding. At least as well as either can manage, given their usually strained relationship and the seemingly opposite things they want for Will's life.

Will & Lily

Will and Lily are more than just brother and sister, they’re genuinely friends. They’re opposites in their interests, invoking the Sibling Ying Yang trope. Will’s a sensitive, thoughtful bookworm and Lily, above all else, is practical and rational, rarely taking emotions into account. 

This is symbolized by her love of mathematics and her genius-level intellect in logical pursuits. Will, on the other hand, is terribly bored by all the accounting work their father keeps giving him, and he struggles to keep up. He’d rather read philosophy, and muse about how the world is, and how it could be. Lily’s a pragmatic realist, Will’s a romantic daydreamer. 

They also differ widely when it comes to relationships. Will thoroughly enjoys his passionate relationship with Augustus, and finds it gives him a certain feeling of freedom and self-expression he simply can’t fulfill anywhere else in his life. While Lily is neither asexual or aromantic, she thinks fussing over boys is something that’s too frilly for a facts-first girl like her. Their Odd Couple friendship also works because one provides what the other doesn’t have. When their father gives Will accounting work he hates and barely understands, Will lets Lily do it for him, though she does try to explain it to him. When Lily feels vulnerable over the trials and tribulations of growing up, Will gives her emotional support and comfort she needs, especially since they rarely get this from their parents. 

Will & Uncle Deus

Will and Uncle Deus are two peas in a pod. At first it’s merely hinted at that he’s a bit of a Parental Substitute, as Will and Francis have little in common and never seem to bond. Soon enough, it’s made explicit, showing Will’s uncle being genuinely concerned about Will’s happiness and encouraging his aspirations and self-confidence. Time and again, Will turns to his uncle for advice and guidance, never bothering with Francis for such things, largely because Francis is the one forcing Will into a life he simply doesn’t want.

Both Will and his uncle are curious about the world around them and ponder about how they can make it a better, more interesting place. His uncle is one for scientific pursuits and is on the cutting edge of a field that’s young and growing rapidly during the Restoration. He’s also a matchmaker on the side. To represent him being open-minded and forward thinking, Will mentions he makes matches by genuine attraction, not wealth or status. This is especially interesting when, given his keen abilities to sense attraction, he sees that Will and Augustus like one another, and are unknowingly flirting with each other shortly before they become a couple.

They also are similar based on what they don’t like: Will and Uncle Deus share a disdain for Margaret’s materialism and Francis’s brand of toxic masculinity. Margaret and Francis are both judgmental and stuck in the past, making Uncle Deus a perfect antidote for their negative influence on Will’s life. 

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Part I: Meet the Characters! 

This blog is dedicated to analyzing historical romance novel Burnt Bliss. But before we jump into our first analysis, we have to meet our vibrant cast of characters and see what their initial appearances were like. 

William Garnett: Will lives with his rich family in England's countryside. He's intelligent, he loves to read and often writes in his new journal. At 15, he's now slated for both an arranged marriage and an Accounting position in his parents Merchanting business, but neither of those prospects suit him, especially after he develops feelings for Augustus.

Augustus Black: Will's passionate, affable best friend of the same age he met as a child through their fathers working together. After his youngest sister dies of Plague, he and his other sister move in with Will's family. He is uneducated but very intelligent & is inspired to become a doctor. He and Will soon develop from a friendship to romance. He cares a lot about the poor and working class, and is uncomfortable with the Garnetts' litany of servants.

Lillian Garnett: Will's spirited younger sister. She is gifted with extraordinary abilities in mathematics and wants to have a career one day. Her parents want to ready her for a proper marriage, even at 13. While she resents her expectations as an upper-class young lady, she willingly dresses femininely and isn't a tomboy. She's just extremely sensible and pragmatic.

Margaret Garnett: Will & Lily's mother who enjoys her privileged life and the latest fashion. She's very image-conscious and expects her children to care about what others think as much as she does. She does love her children, but is controlling and manipulative towards them to accomplish her own goals.

Francis Garnett: Will and Lily's father who's unemotional and very sexist. He pushes Will's future career and gives Lily no credit despite her obvious talent. He's much harsher than his wife, who tries to placate everyone. He does actually love his wife, but doesn't show it often or have a warm relationship with his children.

Amadeus ("Uncle Deus") Garnett: Francis's freethinking scientist brother. He's open-minded, quirky and very devoted to Will and Lily. He's a matchmaker on the side. He's the total opposite of Francis and Margaret. He is the lone adult supporting Will and Augustus's relationship.

Sarah Brighton: A wealthy girl about Will's age. Her parents have done business with Will's, and they've set up an arranged marriage for them, but she currently has eyes for her parents' stable boy. She's intelligent and extremely creative, often designing and wearing original dresses. While she appreciates her carefree lifestyle and her parents love and respect her, she eventually longs for more freedom.

Color Symbolism In First Impressions

When we first meet our characters, I use color symbolism via their clothing to denote something important to know about each of them. 

Will is first, and he wears a sky-blue jacket. This specific color makes me think "head in the clouds", Will is someone who daydreams, or analyzes and ponders the world around him. He can be sensitive, and a little shy around new people.

Will is also wearing an opposite color to Augustus, who's wearing a similar coat, but in a scarlet red with gold embroidery. This evoking the Red/Blue Oni trope, fire and ice, & the concept of "opposites attract".

Augustus’s coat being red makes us think of passion, energy, fire, or courage. The specific hue of scarlet may hint at rebelliousness or impropriety. (After all, The Scarlet Letter was set only twenty years before this story) Augustus is someone who has strong morals, and a certain type of bravery that may include acting rash, even if doing what he sees as the right thing puts himself at risk. He’s emotional and unapologetically so. The gold embroidery could symbolize having a ‘heart of gold’ or being ‘bright’ as in clever.

When we meet Will’s mother Margaret, she’s technically wearing the same color as her son, blue. But she wears a very different shade with a very different meaning. She wears a royal blue and black gown of velvet and a string of pearls. She wears pearls here as they're both in vogue for the time period and prove how rich and classy she is. Plus, the name "Margaret" in fact, means "pearl".

So, royal blue, of course immediately makes us think of kings and queens: powerful, important, rich and in an absolute, unquestioned position of authority. This blue paired with black can also denote elegance, mystery and maybe a 'cold' personality.

When we first met Will’s sister Lily, she's wearing a gold dress with a brocade fabric. The color gold and the fashionable, expensive material shows she's rich and able to keep up with the latest trends, much like teenagers do today. The gold color can also be seen as someone with high aspirations, like the term "going for the gold". It's described as a "brilliant" color to signifying her exceptional intellect.

The last important color symbolism is with Augustus’s mother Caroline. She wears a forest green wool dress, which is described to be “as comforting and familiar as her voice.” This tells us several things: if it’s as familiar as her voice, she probably wears it often, implying she can’t afford to have dozens of dresses to chose from. The wool fabric, while good for the winter weather, isn’t nearly as fancy or expensive as Margaret’s velvet. The color symbolism of forest green shows us Caroline is grounded, “down to earth” and has a healthy, natural way of viewing the world, not needing anything flashy to show off to others.

If you're curious about the story after reading this post, here's the Wattpad link!

https://www.wattpad.com/story/11544455?utm_source=android&utm_medium=link&utm_content=share_reading&

Now that we’ve learned vital information about our characters, our next post will delve into the relationships between them. Stay tuned!

[ghostzzy]

reminder to myself about the process of drafting & revising:

first drafts are for making it exist

second drafts are for making it functional

third drafts are for making it effective

[pippastrelle]

This is the most important thing I’ve learnt in writing my novel. Have fun the first time but know your first pass isn’t going to be perfect

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THIS

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Book 1: Burnt Bliss

Before I post my first analysis tomorrow, I’ll give more general information about Burnt Bliss. This is the back-of-book summary:

“We're planning on meeting with Sarah and her parents next week. How would you like that?"

"That sounds...brilliant." Will plastered on a fake smile and tried to sound excited. It was difficult when he'd just discovered where his feelings truly lay. Not with a total stranger, but with someone he'd known for years. 

Life in Restoration England isn't easy for William Garnett, especially when he realizes he's falling in love with a boy—his best friend, Augustus.

After London's Great Plague claims Augustus's youngest sister, their parents turn to trusted friends. Augustus and his other sister are sent to safely live with Will's rich family in the English countryside. 

Will is anxious as he hides his feelings from the object of his affection and his domineering parents. But he lets go when their feelings become mutual. Will and Augustus brazenly defy society and Will's parents by secretly pursuing their romance. 

Will's strait-laced parents have already planned his future: an arranged courtship and marriage to Sarah, the daughter of another wealthy family. 

They're also pushing him into an accounting position in the family business. His gifted sister Lily would be perfect for the job, but her priority is to start looking for a husband—even at age thirteen. 

Yet there might be hope for Will and his sister! Their free-spirited uncle believes they should follow their own path.

But just when things seem to be looking up, everything changes: through a cruel twist of Fate, things at home go from bad to worse. Soon, Will and Augustus are in grave danger and left to fend for themselves.

As the repercussions of deviating from their rigid society stare them down, they are faced with a daunting choice that could destroy their lives: Will they follow the rules, or follow their hearts?

Burnt Bliss is available on both Wattpad and WebNovel.

Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/story/11544455-book-i-burnt-bliss

WebNovel: https://www.webnovel.com/book/book-1-burnt-bliss_19497457105472405

[batgovernor]

Political poems: Wilmot sniping at King Charles II

Political poems: Wilmot sniping at King Charles II

Restless he rolls from whore to whoreA merry monarch, scandalous and poor. When King Charles II was restored to the British thrones in 1660, eleven years after the execution of his father by Cromwell under the Commonwealth, the people were generally happy to have the Puritan government replaced by a king who was affable, witty and a patron of the arts and science. He founded the Royal…

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[writingadvice365]

Your first draft is not terrible.

It is not any sort of insulting name you call it.

It is a baby.  A young, inexperienced baby that might throw up on your shirt and cause you to lose sleep at night but you love it all the same and will patiently feed it and tuck it into bed at night with a kiss no matter what happens.

You do not call a baby stupid or awful because they are new to the world and do not have the ability or knowledge to function on their own.  Instead, you nurture and teach them so they grow up smart and strong and capable.

Such it is with a first draft.  A first draft is not bad because it needs care and attention. Don’t insult it because it is newly written down with ideas that are not yet fully formed.  In fact, that is the reason why it is AMAZING.  It’s a DRAFT!  The FIRST one for the story!  LOOK at it!  It exists!  It is ALIVE!  And it is YOURS, this story you made.  

So be proud of your first draft baby and, most importantly, be proud of yourself. 

[hailbabel]

No one ever gets anywhere without taking a first step.

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Welcome to the Burnt Bliss official Tumblr page!

Burnt Bliss is a historical romance centered around the life of 15 year-old William Garnett & his best-friend-turned-love-interest, Augustus Black. The boys share heartache and jubilance as they fight for happiness on their own terms and chase their aspirations.

Their love story is set against the lavish backdrop of Restoration England, specifically the 1660's, which was a time of great change, prosperity & new ideas!

Burnt Bliss is available on both Wattpad & WebNovel; a sequel is currently in production.

Each week, we'll explore different themes, ideas and tropes as we engage in analysis of the characters, plot and setting of this passionate saga!

Header Image/Cover Art by Jordan Mislang Samera, 2021

Book I: Burnt Bliss

"We're planning on meeting with Sarah and her parents next week. How would you like that?" "That sounds...brilliant." W...