TEACH ME: The Language of the Fan

By Cassandra Dean

It’s so much fun researching bits and pieces for my stories. I really enjoying throwing in the random little tidbit to add flavour and colour to a scene or a situation. Such happened in TEACH ME. The story of a curious widow who turns her curiosity to erotic pleasure and the cold, unemotional earl who teaches her, I thought it would be fun to include other things Malvern teaches Elizabeth, including erotic poetry, burlesque performances and fan language.

It’s a throwaway bit, less than a page. The first mention is a sentence or two and the second mention is a tiny bit longer. However, I really enjoyed discovering fan language. To begin, here’s the second mention of fan language in TEACH ME:

Deliberately, Elizabeth took the Venetian lace fan he’d purchased for her birthday in her right hand and raised it to obscure her features.

A faint smile touched Malvern's lips as he deciphered the message. Foolish woman. He would have followed her anyway. Had he not proven that by his very presence at this tedious ball?

As she departed, her fan rested lightly on her bare shoulder, and his fingers itched to stroke her ivory skin. […]Perspiration broke on his forehead and his hold on the façade of detachment slipped, his desire for her the only thing that could force such a reaction.

As she passed through the door, she glanced at him one final time. Her look promised all his fevered mind […]imagined and more, the fan’s handle resting lightly on her lips. Burning with the need to kiss her as she had invited, he cursed himself for ever teaching her that damned fan language.

Nifty as, hey? :)

Fan language developed due to the restrictions placed upon women during the Georgian era. Private communication wasn’t allowed between men and women, and so a language developed for furtive lovers. Being as fans were so prevalent, the language took the form of specific actions using the fan. Here are some examples:

Touching right cheek – yes

Touching left cheek – no

Twirling in left hand – we are watched

Twirling in right hand – I love another

Open and shut – you are cruel

Open wide – wait for me

With handle to lip – Kiss me

In right hand in front of face – Follow me

Drawing across the cheek – I love you

Further to the above, the wonderful television show, Horrible Histories, has a delightful video about fan language. If you haven’t watched Horrible Histories before, I highly recommend it. Developed for children, there are some amazing historical facts boiled down into succinct and informative facts, delivered tongue firmly in cheek. Check it out below:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY3npLFwCYs]

And that’s it from me. I really enjoyed finding out about fan language, and I hope you have, too!

Cassandra

xx

Ever curious, Elizabeth, Viscountess Rocksley, has turned her curiosity to erotic pleasure. Three years a widow, she boldly employs the madam of a brothel for guidance but never had she expected her education to be conducted by a coldly handsome peer of the realm.

To the Earl of Malvern, the erotic tutelage of a skittish widow is little more than sport, however the woman he teaches is far from the mouse he expects. With her sly humor and insistent joy, Elizabeth obliterates all his expectations and he, unwillingly fascinated, can’t prevent his fall.

Each more intrigued than they are willing to admit, Elizabeth and Malvern embark upon a tutelage that will challenge them, change them, come to mean everything to them…until a heartbreaking betrayal threatens to tear them apart forever.

Available NOW

Decadent Publishing

Amazon: AU | UK | UK

ARe | Smashwords | B&N

Cassandra grew up daydreaming, inventing fantastical worlds and marvelous adventures. Once she learned to read (First phrase – To the Beach. True story), she was never without a book, reading of other people’s fantastical worlds and marvelous adventures.

Fairy tales, Famous Fives, fantasies and fancies; horror stories, gumshoe detectives, science fiction; Cassandra read it all. Then she discovered Romance and a true passion was born.

So, once upon a time, after making a slight detour into the world of finance, Cassandra tried her hand at writing. After a brief foray into horror, she couldn’t discount her true passion. She started to write Romance and fell head over heels.

The love affair exists to this very day.

Cassandra lives in Adelaide, South Australia.

You can find Cassandra at:

CassandraDean.com ~ Cassandra and Lucy ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Goodreads ~ Tumblr ~ Pintrest ~ Amazon.com 

I’ve been to Paradise, but I’ve never been to Wyoming

COMING SOON!

Hi peeps! Cassandra Dean here, ready to chat all about Rough Diamond, my newest release with Decadent Publishing’s Western Escape!

Buy HERE

So, the writing of Rough Diamond was an interesting exercise. I never thought I’d write a Western, and only when my editor on my previous release, Teach Me (available now! You peeps should totally buy it!), suggested I give it a crack did I consider it. Then I kinda freaked out a little. I mean, I’m Australian. As in, from Australia. A country that is not the United States of America (as are most countries). What do I know about a town in Wyoming? What do I know about cowboys? Ranching? Mountains? Snow? 

FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, WE CALL COWBOYS DROVERS AND RANCHES STATIONS, HERE. WHAT ARE YOU GETTING YOURSELF INTO CASSANDRA, YOU FOOL?

Ahem.

So. Once I calmed down a little, I looked into the whole Old West thing. Deadwood was rewatched. Western romances were reread. Google was googled. I even managed a little trip to Sovereign Hill, an open air museum in country Victoria, frozen in the 1850s Australian gold rush. Ah. Maybe this won’t be so bad. And you know, peeps? It totally wasn’t.

It was really interesting learning about the Wyoming of the time, of the bits and pieces that went into making up a just-starting town. In creating a saloon and a lady owner to go with it, a seemingly empty-headed Englishman and his true purpose. Much fun was had, and I’m so glad my editor suggested it!

Thanks so much for stopping by, peeps!

Cassandra Dean

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Tumblr ~ Pintrest ~ Amazon.com

Owner of the Diamond Saloon and Theater, Alice Reynolds is astounded when a fancy Englishman offers to buy her saloon. She won’t be selling her saloon to  anyone, let alone a man with a pretty, empty-headed grin…but then, she reckons that grin just might be a lie, and a man of intelligence and cunning resides beneath.

Rupert Llewellyn has another purpose for offering to buy the pretty widow’s saloon—the coal buried deep in land she owns. However, he never banked on her knowing eyes making him weak at the knees, or how his deception would burn upon his soul.

Each determined to outwit the other, they tantalize and tease until passion explodes. But can their desire bridge the lies told and trust broken?

Available from:

Decadent Publishing

Amazon.com ~ Smashwords ~ All Romance eBooks ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Amazon.co.uk 

~ Excerpt ~ 

Lifting the glass, Alice studied its contents. “There is nothing quite like the enjoyment you get from a good whiskey. There’s the look and color of it, and the way it burns in the light.”

“It’s the same color as your eyes,” Llewellyn breathed, his own wide and empty of thought.

A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. That’s right. Fool me into thinking there’s not an ounce of calculation to your words. “Is it? Mighty kind of you to notice.”

A happy grin was her response.

Well now, she was surely going to enjoy this. Setting her own half-smile, she tilted her glass, watching as the whiskey caught the light of the candle. “Have you ever noticed the feel of glass? It’s smooth against your fingers, and though the whiskey burns you, the glass is cool. It seems strange, doesn’t it? That such fire could come from something so cool.”

Intensely aware of his gaze upon her, she brought the glass to rest on her bottom lip. “You lift the glass to your lips, and all that coolness rests upon your flesh. The scent of the whiskey hits you, sweet and fiery. Your mouth waters, and you can’t wait to have it inside you. Slowly, so slowly, you tip the glass, teasing yourself as long moments in want of its taste stretch unbearably.”

He no longer wore a smile. Dark eyes watched her as strong fingers dug into the glass before him.

A prickle washed over her skin, her heart a steady beat in her chest. With hushed voice, she continued. “Liquid slides down your throat. The flavor explodes inside you, a glorious rush of sensation that overwhelms and consumes. You curl your tongue, enjoying the lingering sensation in every part of your mouth. Then, you look at the bottle.” Finally, she met his gaze direct. No subterfuge. No tease. “And you know you can do it again.”

And now, a contest#! Comment below and leave your email address to go in the running to win any Decadent Publishing ebook from my back list, a signed ROUGH DIAMOND postcard and ROUGH DIAMOND magnet! Good luck!

=====================================================================
# The small print: Comment before midnight on 15/11/2012 (Australian Central Daylight Time) to be entered to win any Decadent Publishing ebook by Cassandra Dean bar ROUGH DIAMOND, one (1) signed ROUGH DIAMOND postcard and one (1) ROUGH DIAMOND magnet. . Winner will be selected via random.org, with winner’s name posted on this blog by 16/11/2012. Cassandra will also contact the winner by e-mail; the winner will be required to reply with their postal address so Cassandra can send the prize to them.

Only one entry per ISP address. Entrants must be over 18 years of age. By entering, you agree Cassandra can use your name when announcing the winner if you should win. If potential prize winner forfeits or does not claim the prize, prize will be re-awarded, in Sponsor’s sole discretion. All prizes will be awarded. International entries are welcome. No purchase necessary to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Void where prohibited by law. 

~ Bio ~ 

Cassandra grew up daydreaming, inventing fantastical worlds and marvelous adventures. Once she learned to read (First phrase – To the Beach. True story), she was never without a book, reading of other people’s fantastical worlds and marvelous adventures.

Fairy tales, Famous Fives, fantasies and fancies; horror stories, gumshoe detectives, science fiction; Cassandra read it all. Then she discovered Romance and a true passion was born.

So, once upon a time, after making a slight detour into the world of finance, Cassandra tried her hand at writing. After a brief foray into horror, she couldn’t discount her true passion. She started to write Romance and fell head over heels.

The love affair exists to this very day.

Cassandra lives in Adelaide, South Australia.

My very first PRINT book!

Buy Teach Me HERE!

By Cassandra Dean

Peeps! Exciting news! Teach Me is now available in PRINT!!! I’m so thrilled that I can now hold a print copy of a book I wrote in my hands. I was so very proud when my first book, Enslaved, was published in ebook. I was equally proud when Teach Me was published, also in ebook. However, there's just something different about holding a copy of the book you wrote in your hands, all professionally bound and looking like those book things you've purchased and devoured for years.

Now, something I created can sit amongst the books from authors I've admired for years. I can't tell you the thrill such a notion gives me! I so love this book. The idea for it came about during a dark period in my life, where I was convinced I would NEVER. WRITE. AGAIN. All my ideas had dried up, and not even an ember of creativity resided within me. It was a horrible time, and I hope it never happens again.

Anyhoo, to cheer myself I decided upon a three month holiday to Great Britain and Europe. I had always wanted to visit my ancestral homeland (England and Scotland), and this time seemed to be ideal. So I bought myself a backpack and a plane ticket, and hied myself to the UK.

First up, a few days in London visiting with a friend. Fun times abounded, and slowly all the negativity and yuckiness sloughed from me. Next up, a two week bus tour of Scotland. Huzzah!

I'd always wanted to see the land of my great-grandfather, and due to the rather awesome historical series, A History of Britain, had a mad hankering to see Skara Brae. While on this bus tour, all of a sudden a complete scene popped into my head. A cold, impassive man watched a bright, bubbly woman from across a ballroom, love and amusement winding through him, though none could observe such on his face. She catches him looking and, flirtatiously, beckons him come to her. He, devoted to her and rather amused by the depth of his love, acquiesces. Sexy times abound. Well, peeps, I couldn't believe it. I was creative again, after so long without even a whiff. Frantic, I recorded the scene and spent the next two months fleshing the story out. The eventual result was Teach Me . I am so very happy to be able to share this story with you all, and I hope you'll drop by and let me know what you think!

Thanks so much for hanging with me, and I hope you all enjoy Teach Me!

Cassandra Dean

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Teach Me

Ever curious, Elizabeth, Viscountess Rocksley, has turned her curiosity to erotic pleasure. Three years a widow, she boldly employs the madam of a brothel for guidance but never had she expected her education to be conducted by a coldly handsome peer of the realm. To the Earl of Malvern, the erotic tutelage of a skittish widow is little more than sport, however the woman he teaches is far from the mouse he expects. With her sly humor and insistent joy, Elizabeth obliterates all his expectations and he, unwillingly fascinated, can’t prevent his fall. Each more intrigued than they are willing to admit, Elizabeth and Malvern embark upon a tutelage that will challenge them, change them, come to mean everything to them…until a heartbreaking betrayal threatens to tear them apart forever.

~ Excerpt ~

Moments passed, the Earl’s impassive gaze weighing heavy upon Elizabeth. An overwhelming urge to twist her fingers assaulted her, but what if her fidgeting made him refuse? He seemed to make some decision.

“I shall show you carnal pleasure, madam. As you say, both to receive and to give. However, pregnancy should be avoided at all costs.” His eyes flickered, the first sign of something resembling emotion crossing his face. “I will not marry you, no matter the circumstance.”

Well, of course he wouldn’t. She wouldn’t wed him either. In any event, conception was not a concern for her, not after a marriage that had never yielded— Good Lord. He spoke of practical application. He spoke of touching and kissing and—was it warmer of a sudden?

He continued with barely a pause. “Actual penetration will be avoided. While many people extol the virtues of withdrawal, I remain unconvinced. We will discuss methods of contraception during your education, but the most effective method is always avoidance. You are in agreement?”

Still confused but now with cheeks aflame, Elizabeth nodded. In all her life, no one had ever spoken so frankly. This, combined with his matter-of-fact manner and lack of emotion, banished any lingering apprehension and left only the excitement. Glorious, thrilling excitement.

“Excellent.” Stepping close to her once more, he brushed his hand from her neck to her shoulder, the back of his fingers now warm against her skin. “Shall we begin?”  

TEACH ME is available at:

Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Barnes & Noble

The Strange Tale of Bus Tours of Scotland and TEACH ME!

by Cassandra Dean

Hi peeps! Cassandra Dean here, armed and overwhelming ready to chat with you all!

So extremely exciting news – my second book,  Teach Me, is out February 21st, 2012!  Teach Me was a labour of love from beginning to end, and I’m absolutely ecstatic it will be available from Decadent Publishing very soon.

The Story Behind the Story

The idea for  Teach Me  came at a low point in my life. I hadn’t written anything for ages, and was not in the right frame of mind to turn this around. To cheer myself, I decided to achieve another of my life goals, and thus I booked a three-month holiday around Europe.

After a few days hanging out in London with a friend who resided there, I then journeyed to Glasgow to begin the second part of my trip, a two-week bus tour of Scotland. About four days in, the block that had plagued me for so long suddenly lifted and all my creativity came flooding back. Instead of staring at the back of heads, the epilogue of what eventually became Teach Me  popped into my head and I couldn’t for the life of me get rid of it.

However, as I was convinced I wouldn’t need such, I had packed no pen and no paper with me and so couldn’t write my idea down. Silly Cassandra! Luckily, most hotels will set out a lovely pen and pad on the desk in their rooms. Huzzah! So that night I appropriated my assigned pen and paper, and spent all evening detailing my idea. For the rest of the three months I was in Europe, I scribbled away at my pad every spare moment I had. It certainly amused my fellow travellers to no end!

After my return home, I wrote and wrote and Teach Me was born. The rest, as they say, is history!

So what, precisely, is Teach Me all about?  Teach Me  is the tale of a curious widowed lass who seeks to enhance her knowledge of erotic pleasure. She gets more than she bargained for when her tutor turns out to be the dissolute Earl of Malvern...

Not convinced? Well, let me attempt to convince you of the awesomeness of  Teach Me  some more, with cunningly arranged words and punctuation which results in the fabulous blurb below:

Ever curious, Elizabeth, Viscountess Rocksley, has turned her curiosity to erotic pleasure. Three years a widow, she boldly employs the madame of a brothel for guidance but never had she expected her education to be conducted by a coldly handsome peer of the realm.

To the Earl of Malvern, the erotic tutelage of a skittish widow is little more than sport, however the woman he teaches is far from the mouse he expects. With her sly humor and insistent joy, Elizabeth obliterates all his expectations and he, unwillingly fascinated, can’t prevent his fall.

Each more intrigued than they are willing to admit, Elizabeth and Malvern embark upon a tutelage that will challenge them, change them, come to mean everything to them…until a heartbreaking betrayal threatens to tear them apart forever.

Sounds pretty nifty, hey? :D

And now, just because I’m super awesome, a contest! Comment below and go in the running to win a prize* pack containing an ebook copy of Teach Me, a signed Teach Me postcard, a Teach Me magnet and a Teach Me keyring!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all enjoy Teach Me!

Cassandra Dean

Find me at:

 My website

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 Twitter

 Goodreads

 Tumblr

**The small print: Comment before midnight on Friday, March 2, 2012 (Australian Central Daylight Saving Time) to be entered to win one (1) ebook copy of TEACH ME, one (1) signed TEACH ME postcard, one (1) TEACH ME magnet and one (1) TEACH ME keyring. Winner will be selected via random.org, with winner’s name posted on Cassandra’s blog by March 6, 2012. Cassandra will also contact the winner by e-mail; the winner will be required to reply with their postal address so Cassandra can send the prize to them. Only one entry per ISP address. International entries are welcome. No purchase necessary to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. 

Void where prohibited**