Coming on Monday: A Recipe for Punch

Oh rest thee, my darling,

Thy mother will come,

With a voice like a starling;

-I wish she was dumb!

--a line from a Nineteenth-Century 

Punch & Judy script

This week, Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square concluded after four hundred chapters.  Throughout the novel, Punch and his beloved Robert battled foes both old and new, discovered a half-sister, Lennie, about whom he never knew and he and Robert adopted a troubled young girl named Fern.  Meanwhile, downstairs in the handsome Belgravia townhouse, Gerard and Gamilla were engaged, and, then married.  We fell in love with Mrs. Pepper, Ethel, Georgie and Maudie, while Charles and Violet flirted with the idea of romance, and, we mourned the loss of beloved kitchen-maid, Jenny.

On Monday, October 28, we'll follow our friends on a new journey in A Recipe for Punch.  This new online novel will focus on Punch's return to Fallbridge Hall in Yorkshire.  Always magnanimous, our Mr. Punch has volunteered to take his newly-found sister to Fallbridge Hall so she might learn a bit about her heritage and so that Colin can see his future inheritance.

Their plans are quite simple.  Lennie is to be schooled in Fallbridge history and become acquainted with the legacy, both good and bad, of her mother, the late Pauline, Duchess of Fallbridge.  The trip will also give Lennie a chance to spend some time with her fiance, Matthew, Earl of Cleaversworth, before they set a date for their wedding.  Meanwhile, Robert will be working on his book about other like Punch who live with more than one "personality."  The visit to the country is meant to be relaxing and educational--a time for Colin to grow and explore, a time for the staff to have a break from the city and for pregnant Gamilla to enjoy some clean air.

However, beneath it all, our Mr. Punch will be faced with the very demons which created him within Julian, the Duke of Fallbridge.  

The sprawling stately home holds more than just the Fallbridge Family treasures.  It harbors secrets both new and old, and on the outskirts of the estate lurk many dangers which will not only challenge Punch's "sanity," but also the lives of Lennie, Colin and Robert.

Furthermore, the staff will face new challenges as Mrs. Pepper realizes that she doesn't have as much say at Fallbridge Hall as she did in Belgrave Square.  Georgie is tempted by some new voices and Ethel and Maudie discover that they must come together to protect the boy they both love.  While Charles and Violet grow closer, Charles' genetics get the better of him. And, Gamilla's pregnancy reveals some inner powers which she never knew she had.  

You'll meet some new characters and learn more about those who have figured prominently in Punch's Cousin.  We'll explore racism, homophobia and changing ideas about mental health, as Gamilla, Robert and Punch realize that though they've made a peaceful world for themselves, others may not share their ideals.  Furthermore, we'll test the notions of genetics as Charles and Lennie, and even our Mr. Punch, worry that the sins of their ancestors will ultimately be their own.

It's going to be a touching, frightening, and wild visit to majestic Fallbridge Hall.  I hope you'll join me as we assemble an intriguing puzzle in A Recipe for Punch.

Coming Soon: A Recipe for Punch

Tomorrow, with its four-hundredth chapter, Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square will come to a conclusion.  Throughout the last four hundred chapters, Punch and his beloved Robert battled foes both old and new, discovered a half-sister, Lennie, about whom he never knew and he and Robert adopted a troubled young girl named Fern.  Meanwhile, downstairs in the handsome Belgravia townhouse, Gerard and Gamilla were engaged, and, then married.  We fell in love with Mrs. Pepper, Ethel, Georgie and Maudie, while Charles and Violet flirted with the idea of romance, and, we mourned the loss of beloved kitchen-maid, Jenny.

On Monday, October 28, we'll follow our friends on a new journey in A Recipe for Punch.  This new online novel will focus on Punch's return to Fallbridge Hall in Yorkshire.  Always magnanimous, our Mr. Punch has volunteered to take his newly-found sister to Fallbridge Hall so she might learn a bit about her heritage and so that Colin can see his future inheritance.

Their plans are quite simple.  Lennie is to be schooled in Fallbridge history and become acquainted with the legacy, both good and bad, of her mother, the late Pauline, Duchess of Fallbridge.  The trip will also give Lennie a chance to spend some time with her fiance, Matthew, Earl of Cleaversworth, before they set a date for their wedding.  Meanwhile, Robert will be working on his book about other like Punch who live with more than one "personality."  The visit to the country is meant to be relaxing and educational--a time for Colin to grow and explore, a time for the staff to have a break from the city and for pregnant Gamilla to enjoy some clean air.

However, beneath it all, our Mr. Punch will be faced with the very demons which created him within Julian, the Duke of Fallbridge.  

The sprawling stately home holds more than just the Fallbridge Family treasures.  It harbors secrets both new and old, and on the outskirts of the estate lurk many dangers which will not only challenge Punch's "sanity," but also the lives of Lennie, Colin and Robert.

Furthermore, the staff will face new challenges as Mrs. Pepper realizes that she doesn't have as much say at Fallbridge Hall as she did in Belgrave Square.  Georgie is tempted by some new voices and Ethel and Maudie discover that they must come together to protect the boy they both love.  While Charles and Violet grow closer, Charles' genetics get the better of him. And, Gamilla's pregnancy reveals some inner powers which she never knew she had.  

You'll meet some new characters and learn more about those who have figured prominently in Punch's Cousin.  We'll explore racism, homophobia and changing ideas about mental health, as Gamilla, Robert and Punch realize that though they've made a peaceful world for themselves, others may not share their ideals.  Furthermore, we'll test the notions of genetics as Charles and Lennie, and even our Mr. Punch, worry that the sins of their ancestors will ultimately be their own.

It's going to be a touching, frightening, and wild visit to majestic Fallbridge Hall.  I hope you'll join me as we assemble an intriguing puzzle in A Recipe for Punch.

Coming Soon: A Recipe for Punch

On Monday, with its four-hundredth chapter, Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square will come to a conclusion.  Throughout the last four hundred chapters, Punch and his beloved Robert battled foes both old and new, discovered a half-sister, Lennie, about whom he never knew and he and Robert adopted a troubled young girl named Fern.  Meanwhile, downstairs in the handsome Belgravia townhouse, Gerard and Gamilla were engaged, and, then married.  We fell in love with Mrs. Pepper, Ethel, Georgie and Maudie, while Charles and Violet flirted with the idea of romance, and, we mourned the loss of beloved kitchen-maid, Jenny.

On Monday, October 28, we'll follow our friends on a new journey in A Recipe for Punch.  This new online novel will focus on Punch's return to Fallbridge Hall in Yorkshire.  Always magnanimous, our Mr. Punch has volunteered to take his newly-found sister to Fallbridge Hall so she might learn a bit about her heritage and so that Colin can see his future inheritance.

Their plans are quite simple.  Lennie is to be schooled in Fallbridge history and become acquainted with the legacy, both good and bad, of her mother, the late Pauline, Duchess of Fallbridge.  The trip will also give Lennie a chance to spend some time with her fiance, Matthew, Earl of Cleaversworth, before they set a date for their wedding.  Meanwhile, Robert will be working on his book about other like Punch who live with more than one "personality."  The visit to the country is meant to be relaxing and educational--a time for Colin to grow and explore, a time for the staff to have a break from the city and for pregnant Gamilla to enjoy some clean air.

However, beneath it all, our Mr. Punch will be faced with the very demons which created him within Julian, the Duke of Fallbridge.  

The sprawling stately home holds more than just the Fallbridge Family treasures.  It harbors secrets both new and old, and on the outskirts of the estate lurk many dangers which will not only challenge Punch's "sanity," but also the lives of Lennie, Colin and Robert.

Furthermore, the staff will face new challenges as Mrs. Pepper realizes that she doesn't have as much say at Fallbridge Hall as she did in Belgrave Square.  Georgie is tempted by some new voices and Ethel and Maudie discover that they must come together to protect the boy they both love.  While Charles and Violet grow closer, Charles' genetics get the better of him. And, Gamilla's pregnancy reveals some inner powers which she never knew she had.  

You'll meet some new characters and learn more about those who have figured prominently in Punch's Cousin.  We'll explore racism, homophobia and changing ideas about mental health, as Gamilla, Robert and Punch realize that though they've made a peaceful world for themselves, others may not share their ideals.  Furthermore, we'll test the notions of genetics as Charles and Lennie, and even our Mr. Punch, worry that the sins of their ancestors will ultimately be their own.

It's going to be a touching, frightening, and wild visit to majestic Fallbridge Hall.  I hope you'll join me as we assemble an intriguing puzzle in A Recipe for Punch.

Coming Next Week

Make sure to come back next week to read about Bertie's account of his vacation and my description of a very interesting journey that I took on my own.

Coming Soon: Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square

On July 26, 2010, I introduced readers of Stalking the Belle Époque to a new online novel Punch’s Cousin.  The story, as of this week entering 497 chapters, is set in 1852 and follows the life of Julian, Duke of Fallbridge and his companion Dr. Robert Halifax.  Julian, a jeweler for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, has traveled to New Orleans in search of his sister, Lady Barbara, who fled England with her illegitimate baby and the family’s priceless blue diamond—looking to sell her child and begin a misguided life as a prostitute.

Along the way, Julian discovered quite a lot about himself—most especially that within him, another personality (or personalities) dwelled.  The dominant personality—in this time before Dissociative Identity Disorder was understood—was that of Mr. Punch, the long-beloved puppet anti-hero who this year will celebrate his 350th birthday.  As a boy, Julian’s only friend was his puppet figure of Mr. Punch.  Years of confiding in the puppet caused agoraphobic and abused Julian to develop an alternate personality called “Mr. Punch” who was stronger and braver (albeit a little rougher and more prone to hitting).


Throughout their journey, Mr. Punch/Julian and Robert endured many tortures at the hands of a murderous “madam” called Iolanthe Evangeline, Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, and an insidiously evil man named Edward Cage.  When Punch/Julian began to develop a relationship with his sister’s son, he realized that he wanted to raise the child as his own.  However, Mr. Cage had already purchased the child from Iolanthe Evangeline.  Punch, Robert, Robert’s family and their servants then battled to rescue the boy as well as regain the missing diamond.

This week, with Chapter 497, we’ll begin the conclusion of their long battle. Punch’s Cousin will conclude with Chapter 500 on March 29, 2012.  All five hundred chapters will remain permanently in the Punch’s Cousin Chapter Archive which includes two summaries up to Chapters 100 and 200 respectively.

In its place, a new story will debut on April 2, 2012—Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square.  The story will begin with the return of the Duke of Fallbridge/Mr. Punch and Dr. Robert Halifax to London where they will take up residence in Julian’s posh London townhouse in Belgrave Square.  Though a Duke, Julian is a favorite of the Queen, and therefore, will be required to return to his post as an advisor to Their Majesties, Victoria and Albert—working with Prince Albert especially on his many jewelry projects.

Life in the Royal Court will not be easy for Julian/Mr. Punch who will continue to struggle with the personalities within their shared body.  They’ll also have to contend with unexpected prejudices and rivalries as they struggle to maintain their place in the Court without losing their right to live free and comfortable lives.

I look forward to sharing this story with all of you.  I have been so touched with all of the support I’ve received from Punch’s Cousin’s many faithful readers.  Punch’s Cousin had many literary and plot ties to my first novel,The Garnet Red.  So, if you enjoyed Mr. Punch’s time in New Orleans, The Garnet Red would be a fun read for you.

I’m also very glad to continue the story of our Mr. Punch, Julian and Robert.  I’ve grown very fond of Mr. Punch—my version of the character.  Since I’m one of the few “Punch & Judy Men” in the U.S., it’s been a joy for me to adapt the traditional puppet story into this work and I am quite excited to see how his tale continues.

I hope you all enjoy the conclusion of Punch’s Cousin.  I assure you that Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square will be a gripping and emotional ride that will keep you coming back for more.  This story, like the last, will be posted every day except Sunday.  Look for more information in coming days…