Tiny Bubbles By Kathleen Lawless @kathleenlawless

 

Ah, the rabbit holes we writer’s go down in the name of research. Let’s say I write a scene with a character bathing in the river. Let’s also say he or she is using soap. Because, by the 19^th century cleanliness had become synonymous with health, thanks largely to an advertising campaign throughout Europe and America.

 So, would said soap produce bubbles? I love bubbles. I can see the scene in my mind, bubbles lifting in the breeze showing off their rainbow colors before being carried away. My playful inner child owns a bubble wand and I use it a lot in the summer months. Especially at the beach. Alas, the soap used by my character is likely homemade, so probably no bubbles.

 Turns out, it wasn’t until the late 19^th century that soap bubbles became popular. Even though there were images available of children playing with soap bubbles in the 18^th century, it wasn’t until the following century that London-based Pears Soap developed a process to remove impurities from the base soap before adding perfume. Since I doubt my Western settlers had access to manufactured or perfume-scented soap, I settled for no bubbles in the scene. Shame.

 Oh, well. On the bright side, soap in one guise or another has been around for millennia, even if it wasn’t as much fun.

USA Today Bestselling Author Kathleen Lawless blames a misspent youth watching Rawhide, Maverick and Bonanza for her fascination with cowboys, which doesn’t stop her from creating a wide variety of interests and occupations for her many alpha male heroes.   

With nearly 50 published novels to her credit, she enjoys pushing the boundaries of traditional romance into historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense and women’s fiction.     

She makes her home in the Pacific Northwest and loves to hear from her readers.  www.kathleenlawless.com

 

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