When I opened my Twitter account in late 2009, I had about two or three close friends follow me. I didn’t have fashionable views on things, and I wasn’t funny or anything that is popular.

I didn’t talk about anything in particular to begin with, and so it continued in this quiet vein until perhaps the end of 2010/early 2011, when I thought I’d be true to myself and start tweeting “On This Day in the #17thCentury!” which I thought few people would be interested in. I had always had a passion for Baroque music, architecture, and history and I thought, perhaps one or two other people might have similar passions.

To my extreme surprise, and delight,  I’ve seen a steady increase in followers – many of whom are active participants in the day’s discourse about occurrences on that day in the 1600s. There has been so much interest, that I have had to relaunch my blog, open two Facebook accounts – one for www.facebook.com/QueenMaryII and another for this site, www.facebook.com/SeventeenthCenturyLady. There are television series about the 1600s which I’ve been honoured to be a part of and my novel about William and Mary is nearing completion.

Interest in the Seventeenth century comes from far and wide. The biggest hits come not only from people here in the United Kingdom, but from those in the United States, Japan, Australia, India and the Netherlands. It’s been fascinating to get in contact with like-minded people from around the world who want to learn about the past. It’s very heartening, and I’m most appreciative of the lovely comments that people have sent in. Some of my Twitter followers have even come on the Garden History Tours that I conduct, which has been really great.

Leyda M. from California became my 1,000th follower last night, and as a thank you to her and to all those who have supported the growth of Seventeenth Century Lady, here is Henry Purcell’s rousing Overture and Rondeau from Aphra Behn’s Abdelazar: Or, the Moor’s Revenge:

I thank thee and bid you goodnight!