Diamond Tales - sparklers for you!

They say “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” and “A diamond is forever” but that is just marketing. Diamonds have played a far more significant rôle in human culture, and for a much longer time.

The name “diamond” is derived from ancient Greek αδάμας (adámas), “proper”, “unalterable”, “unbreakable”, “untamed”. Stones are thought to have been first recognised, mined and traded in India at least 3,000 years ago, probably longer. Also, significant alluvial deposits of diamonds were found many centuries ago along the rivers Penner, Krishna and Godavari.

Diamonds’ popularity rose in the 19th century because of increased supply, improved cutting and polishing techniques, growth in people’s spending power within a growing world economy and innovative and successful advertising campaigns.

By Mario Sarto CC BY-SA 3.0

Today, we are still fascinated by the sparklers, and authors frequently have a tale to tell about them. Instead of a standard advent calendar, a group of authors are offering their readers a series of scintillating diamond stories, polished to dazzling beauty.

A Roma Nova diamond is there on 17 December – Saturnalia – about the young Imperatrix Silvia, her husband and a very special diamond’s story. In the meantime, start with today’s story from Richard Tearle – a throat-grabber and heart-wrencher. 

3^rd December    Richard Tearle Diamonds
4^th December    Helen Hollick  When ex-lovers have their uses
5^th December     Antoine Vanner  Britannia’s Diamonds
6^th December     Nicky Galliers  Diamond Windows
7^th December     Denise Barnes  The Lost Diamond
8^th December     Elizabeth Jane Corbett A Soul Above Diamonds
9^th December     Lucienne Boyce Murder In Silks
10^th December   Julia Brannan The Curious Case of the Disappearing Diamond
11^th December    Pauline Barclay Sometimes It Happens
12^th December    Annie Whitehead  Hearts, Home and a Precious Stone
13^th December    Inge H. Borg  Edward, Con Extraordinaire
14^th December   J.G. Harlond The Empress Emerald
15^th December    Charlene Newcomb Diamonds in the Desert
16^th December    Susan Grossey  A Suitable  Gift
17^th December    Alison Morton Three Thousand Years to Saturnalia
18^th December    Nancy Jardine   Illicit Familial Diamonds
19^th December    Elizabeth St John The Stolen Diamonds
20^th December   Barbara Gaskell Denvil Discovering the Diamond
21^st December    Anna Belfrage   Diamonds in the Mud
22^nd December   Cryssa Bazos    The Diamonds of Sint-Nicholaas
23^rd December    Diamonds … In Sound & Song

Do look out for the hashtag #Diamondtales on social media.

Enjoy!

Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO, AURELIA, INSURRECTIO and RETALIO.  CARINA, a novella, is available for download now. Audiobooks are available for the first four of the series.

Find out more about Roma Nova, its origins, stories and heroines… Get INCEPTIO, the series starter, for FREE when you sign up to Alison’s free monthly email newsletter