Having a Ball! How to Host the Event of the Season
WITH Louisa CornellRegistration ends November 11, 2025!
Class Description
Someone in your Regency Fiction is throwing a ball! What could be simpler than that? Wellington’s battle plan at Waterloo, perhaps? Hosting even a small ball was a major undertaking with dozens of moving parts. From the decision of location to the guest list, to the choice of décor, to the order and list of dances, every detail would have been carefully discussed and delineated by the host and/or hostess and a legion of servants and experts in the various skills necessary to put on the event of the Season.
This class will examine every little detail necessary to put together various sorts of balls. Invitation lists were often political instruments. Flowers and décor would have to fit a theme and a season. Where might one purchase or rent pineapples? Who would cater this affair or would the menu be created by the household staff? What musicians would be hired? What rooms would be provided for activities other than dancing? Where might the invitations be engraved and how would they be delivered? What sorts of information did one need to ensure attendance at one’s ball? What dances would be on the list, in what order, and why?
Whilst one might not want to include all of these details in a work of Regency fiction, knowing precisely how a ball was put together can help writers to understand their importance and their function in society. Not to mention the many ideas for characters and stories one’s imagination may create once one knows the myriad possibilities and minutiae that go into throwing the perfect Regency ball.
About the Instructor
Louisa has been employed as everything from a veterinary technician to a bakery manager to night manager at a funeral home. Her education background includes a B.S. in Music Education and a B.A. in Vocal Performance from Judson College, a Master of Musical Arts and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Opera Performance and Music History from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a year’s fellowship at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria.
After retiring from a European career as an opera singer Louisa returned to her first love, writing Regency romance. A two-time Golden Heart finalist, three-time Daphne du Maurier® winner, and four-time Royal Ascot winner—she is a member of RWA®, Southern Magic RWA, and Regency Fiction Writers. She is both indie-published and published by Scarsdale Publishing. Her first published work, the novella A Perfectly Dreadful Christmas, won the 2015 Holt Medallion®. Her novel A Study in Passion won the historical romance mid-length category of RWA®’s 2021 Vivian Award. Her 26th book A Pearl Seduced will be published in August, 2024. Her first contemporary romance Cajun in a Kilt will be published in December, 2024.
Louisa has taught workshops for the Academe and has presented multiple workshops for Regency Fiction Writers Annual Conferences. She has also taught writing craft workshops for RWA chapters, her local library, and RWA®’s Pen-2-Paper program.
Her hobbies include collecting Regency research books, studying the history of Gothic romance, creating Regency hats, and playing doorman and maid to a herd of small, yappy dogs. She visits the UK as often as she can!
Visit the instructor’s website at https://www.facebook.com/RegencyWriterLouisaCornell or http://numberonelondon.net/
Class Delivery
Class Format
4-WEEK COURSE
Written Lectures: available as downloadable PDFs
Pictures: yes
Class Fees
$40 for RFW members
$55 for non-members
Registration ends November 11, 2025!
Scholarships are available for members