The English Country House helps ease the countdown to next Downton Abbey season

I can't wait for the season premier of "Downton Abbey" on January 5. In the meantime, I've been getting my fix of all things British while working on promoting the lovely book, The English Country House. Lifestyle bloggers have been giving this book wonderful reviews, highlighted by examples of James Fennell's fabulous interior photographs. Thanks to The Aestate, From the Right Bank, Inspired Design, Quintessence, and The Zhush for your thoughtful reviews!

'Tis the season. . . . for gifts of coffee table books!

I always love this time of year. . . for many reasons. . . but it is so satisfying to see the wonderful media coverage for the lovely illustrated books I've been working on. It's like Christmas morning as all of the holiday round-ups in daily newspapers roll in. Check out this review of Habsburg Treasures in The New York Times; Beyond Chic and Fifth Avenue Style written up in The Washington Post; and The Art Glass of Louis Comfort Tiffany in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Palm Beach Post (this story also ran on the wire in The Orange Country Register and Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel).