Highlighting the facts about smugglers with Ruth Casie.
Thank you Caroline for inviting me to post today. My new release, The Lady and Her Quill, centers on a story about Lady Alicia Hartley and Captain Justin Caulfield, both are authors. There is a question about who is the better author. A challenge is proposed. Both will write on the same topic. May the best author win.
Lady Alicia is sure Captain Caulfield will write a war story in keeping with the genre he writes. She decides to write a story about a smuggler, a romance in keeping with what she writes best. My heroine was in the thick of things and what did I know about smugglers? Other than smuggling cookies out of the kitchen at night, nothing.
In researching smugglers, I found some very interesting facts:
- In order to pay for wars in America and on the Continent, England levied high taxes that doubled, at times tripled the cost of goods. Smugglers saw an easy way to make money.
- Smugglers took to creating ploys to fool captains onto rocky shoals or shallow water. Abandoned cargo could be claimed by anyone without penalty. Cargo could not be taken off of any ship if one sailor remained. The smugglers response was kill any sailor that survived.
- On the beaches, the villagers who helped with the transport were told to turn their backs on the smugglers. This made it impossible for the villager was asked to identify the smuggler.
- The Boston Tea Party was a demonstration against England’s high duties on tea following the French and Indian War. The colonies weren’t the only target of this high duty. Duties were also high in England, as much as 129%. In 1784, William Pitt cut the duty on tea to 12.5% With the price reduced, the smugglers found another commodity, tobacco
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Importing French brandy was banned during the wars with France. There was a large outcry from the wealthy patrons.
- Smuggling groups were well organized and took orders for a variety of goods. Besides tea and tobacco, there was wool, spices, coffee, chocolate, playing cards, and jewelry.
- Smuggling involved a variety of people. Seamen brought the contraband to England by ship. Efficient groups of smugglers transported the contraband across the country. Bankers were needed to finance the enterprise. Merchants were needed to receive and buy the goods.
- Soldiers returned when the war with Napoleon was over, but many were unable to find work. Once again smuggling increased except now with the soldiers available, resources on land and sea could combat smuggling.
About the Book: The Lady and Her Quill
Her mind kept telling her to stop loving him, but her heart couldn’t let him go.
Renowned author Lady Alicia Hartley has lost her muse after a bad review. She blames it all on the author JC Melrose. A chance encounter with a handsome, witty Justin Caulfield has her heart racing, and her muse seemingly back. Is he her savior or her worst nightmare?
He didn’t see the turbulent ocean. He was too busy dealing with a different tempest.
The recently retired Captain Justin Caulfield is facing his own demons. As gifted author JC Melrose, his stories honor men who died at the hand of one man. His only focus is to avenge their deaths, that is, until he meets and falls in love with Lady Alicia.
The two authors take on a writing challenge based on a story of stolen gold taken from the newspaper headlines all to determine the better writer. While researching the story, Lady Alicia is captured by the thieves’ ringleader. Can Lady Alicia turn this mystery into an award-winning story? Can Justin save his real-life heroine? Can they both overcome their own challenges for a happily ever after?
Releasing November 16 – Now on Pre-Order A Kindle Unlimited book on Amazon (amzn.com/B09HX46D3B)
About the Author
Ruth A. Casie has always had stories in her head. Encouraged by family and friends this ballroom dancing, Sudoku playing, aspiring gourmet has given way to her inner muse. Now, rather than write project plans and marketing/communications for a major US bank’s international business, she writes historical fantasies about strong men and empowered women and how they cope with unexpected challenges.
Ruth is involved in social justice causes and has served as board president on her local county’s women’s shelter for victims of domestic violence. She has also served as the board president on a local section of a national organization advocating for women, children and families.
When not writing you can find her home in Teaneck, New Jersey, reading, cooking, doing Sudoku and counted cross stitch. Together with her husband Paul, they enjoy ballroom dancing and going to the theater. Ruth and Paul have three grown children Staci, Cori, and Ari and four grandchildren Olivia, Alex, Caylee, and Logan. They all thrive on spending time together. It’s certainly a lively dinner table and they wouldn’t change it for the world.
Ruth is a USA Today bestselling author and hopes her stories become your favorite adventures. For more information, please visit www.RuthACasie.com or visit her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest , or Instagram