Welcome to Word Wenches Blog!

  • The Word Wenches include Jo Beverley, Nicola Cornick, Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose, Anne Gracie, Susan Fraser King/Sarah Gabriel, Mary Jo Putney, Patricia Rice, and Joanna Bourne.

Contact Us

  • Send a message to the Wenches via sholmes[at]holmesedit.com

The Wenches


  • Jo Beverley

  • Mary Jo Putney

  • Patricia Rice

  • Susan Fraser King/
    Sarah Gabriel

  • Anne Gracie

  • Nicola Cornick

  • Cara Elliott/
    Andrea Penrose

  • Joanna Bourne

In Memoriam


  • Edith Layton
    Word Wench 2006-2009

FIND-A-WENCH

  • Want to read ALL the posts by a specific Wench? Just scroll down to the bottom of her post and click on her name!

Word Wenches Staff

Wenches Statistics

  • Years published - 164. Novels published - 231. Novellas published - 74. Range of story dates - 9 centuries (1026-present).

    AWARDS WON: RWA RITA, RWA Honor Roll, RWA Top 10 Favorite, RT Lifetime Achievement, RT Living Legend, RT Reviewers Choice, Publishers Weekly Starred Reviews, Golden Leaf, Barclay Gold, ABA Notable Book, Historical Novels Review Editors Choice, AAR Best Romance, Smart Bitches Top 10, Kirkus Reviews Top 21, Library Journal Top 5, Publishers Weekly Top 5, Booklist Top 10, Booktopia Top 10, Golden Apple Award for Lifetime Achievement.

    BESTSELLER LISTS: NY Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Waldenbooks Mass Market, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Chicago Tribune, Rocky Mountain News, Publishers Weekly.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

  • Copyright (c) 2011 Word Wenches. Permission required for outside use.

    Contact:

    sholmes [at] holmesedit.com

« Things in Store for 2010 | Main | Exploring Georgian Ireland with Laurel McKee! »

Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

Linda Henderson

I enjoyed your interview very much. I think it's fascinating the amount of research writers do to make their books so authentic. I enjoy learing about different time periods and I've learned a lot reading historicals. I will look forward to reading your book.

Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose

Just a quick note to all our readers. As Lauren will be traveling to and from New Haven for her teaching debut at Yale today, she will be a little hard-pressed to respond to comments/questions until this evening. Sp please be patient and check back here later. She's really looking forward to "chatting" with everyone!

Maggie Robinson/Margaret Rowe

I absolutlely adore your books, Lauren.You've managed to combine historical and contemporary voices in one great package, and flip from one to the other cleverly and seamlessly (let's see---how many more adverbs can I use?). Anyhow, count me as a huge fan, but you make my head spin with all your accomplishments at such a tender age. Good luck to you and Andrea as you enlighten the Yalies!

Lauren Willig

Thanks so much, Maggie! I'm so glad you've enjoyed the books!

And, thanks, Cara, for giving everyone the heads-up about my otherwise mysterious silence.... I'll be back at the computer this evening after a full day of Adventures in New Haven, dying to read all your comments!!

Heather Watson

I so adore the Pink Carnation series and am eagerly anticipating the new book!

Thanks for the interview. I so enjoyed it.

Lauren Willig

Thanks, Linda! I couldn't agree more about historical fiction being a great introduction to other time periods.... I first got interested in India through M.M. Kaye (ah, "Shadow of the Moon"!). And watching the "Young Victoria" movie the other day sparked fond recollections of reading "Victoria Victorious" as a young 'un. Best way to learn, ever.

Courtney

This is my most eagerly anticipated release for 2010! Can't wait to read it.

MJ

I love the Pink Carnation series and will be at my local bookstore on Tuesday to pick up a copy of your new book. My question: How did your publisher react when you said you wanted to set a book in India? I know other authors have received very lukewarm responses with this setting. Is this still a setting that only best selling authors like yourself can use or are the NY markets opening up to such a setting for new authors?

Meghan

I've loved the Pink books since I first saw a blurb about them in the Metro when Pink 1 came out - local interest since LW was a Harvard grad student at the time.

I read that article, thought "I need to read that book", so I ditched class to hightail it to the Pru to buy it! I haven't looked back yet.

Thank you for brightening up my Januaries with book releases!

morningstar

Thanks for a most informative and very interesting interview, Lauren! You are an inspiration to us all. But - don't you ever sleep? //grins//
morningstar

Sherrie Holmes

From Sherrie:
A woman after my own heart! She rolls down hills in her high heels! (pumping arm) YES! (Says she who lost her slip in the crosswalk in front of a busload of morning commuters)

The thing I love about this blog is that it has introduced me to so many fabulous new authors I've never read before. It's like having a personal book advisor. Lauren, I can't wait to read your Pink series. (Pink happens to be one of my favorite colors!) Cara/Andrea, thank you for bringing another great author to my attention!

Utujm

I'm so jealous of everyone that is able to take that Seminar. Can't wait until tomorrow!

Katie

I really enjoyed the interview. I'm a huge fan of your books and I love history. I really don't have much of a background on what was going on in India at that time but I'm sure your book will spur me to go out and learn more about it.

gretchen fucio

Sherrie is right- this blog has helped me find so many great new authors. I am now off to track down as many of the "Pink" series as I can. Thanks!

maryjoputney

So nice you could visit us here at Word Wenches, Lauren! I'm glad to see that your intrepid characters are now off to India. The subcontinent is so intertwined with British history, and the material there is marvelous!

Good luck at keeping so very many balls in the air. *g*

Mary Jo

Jane Bigelow

Thanks for the details about your writing and researching processes! I've emailed the comparison between writing briefs and writing fiction to my friend the (retired) lawyer and avid fiction reader.

Jane

Tracygrant.wordpress.com

Wonderful interview, Lauren and Cara! I researched early 19th century India a bit years ago for the backstory of the half-Indian hero in a book I wrote with my mom, and I learned just enough to be hungry for more. I'm so excited to read this book, both for the background and to see what happens to poor Penelope and what's next in the Pink mytharc. Also eager to hear about today's class!

xoxo,
Tracy

Leslie Carroll

Fabulous interview, ladies, and I can't wait to get my copy of "...Blood Lily"!

And, oh how I wish I could be an auditing little fly on the Yale walls!

Suzanne

I, too, hate Westlaw & wish I could be as well rid of it as Lauren. Absolutely wonderful interview & I'm very much looking forward to the release of "Blood Lily" tomorrow!

ElaineK

I've enjoyed all the Pink books, but especially the first one since I didn't know what to expect and was very pleasantly surprised. The narrator of the audio book did a good job with it.
Your research sounds fascinating, Lauren, and I am in awe of what you have accomplished. If you had to settle on just one focus, what would it be--writing, teaching or law?

Louis

Interesting interview.

Love your combination of Historical and Contemporary Romance. Looking forward to reading "...Blood Lily".
Have it on order.

Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose

Thanks Tracy and Leslie! The class was beyond fun! We have a great group of students who were eager and enthusiastic—the discussion was terrific and 2 hours just whizzed by. It's going to be a terrific experience working our way through the reading list.

Erin

I loved reading about your writing process and am so amazed by how much you get done. I can't wait till tomorrow!

Lauren Willig

Hi, all! Sorry to be away all day. I was off with Cara/Andrea in New Haven, teaching our very first class. Lots of time on the train both ways, but totally worth it!

Lauren Willig

Sherrie, I love your slip story! It reminds me of another of my more stellar grad school moments. I was crossing the street right in front of Harvard Yard, weighed down by library books (ah, Widener), hit a patch of ice, overbalanced, and managed to land flat on my back in a foot-deep puddle. Right in front of a busload of Asian tourists. All of whom started taking pictures of the Harvard student in the slush. Not one of my more photogenic moments! It wasn't so great for the library books, either....

Lauren Willig

Meghan, I haven't been to the Pru in way too long! Feeling all nostalgic now....

Lauren Willig

MJ, my publisher didn't bat an eye at the India proposal. They took it very much in stride. I don't know if that's because my series has country-hopped before, so they figure that my books are all over the place anyway, or because there is a growing demand for non-England set books (like Meredith Duran's "Duke of Shadows" or Sherry Thomas' "Not Quite a Husband", both of which came out quite recently.) It's an interesting question.

Lyn S

I have wanted to hang out with Caroline of Ansbach since I read the Baroque Cycle. Now I want to hang out with Lauren Willig too.

Lauren Willig

Yay! I'm so glad I'm not the only Caroline of Ansbach groupie!!

Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose

You guys got me curious, so I've just gone and read a brief bio of Caroline of Anspach—and now I want to hang with her posse too!

Patricia Barraclough

What an interesting post. I have one of your books upstair in my TBR pile. I first heard about your books when I was looking up something on the Scarlet Pimpernel. It will be very interesting having you branch out into India. That certainly opens a lot more plot opportunities. I look forward to reading the whole series.

Anne Gracie

Fabulous interview, Cara/Andrea and Lauren, thank you so much. I am in awe of anyone who can wear three inch he--er do such excellent research. ;)

I love reading old journals and diaries -- if the write is interesting, that is. I've come across some extraordinarily lively and expressive writers in my meanderings. I expect a lot of them will be turned into e-books in the future and become more accessible, so we don't have to read them in some secure reading room somewhere.

Re the Indian setting, it does seem as though publishers are more willing to take that risk. For a while there it was as though they couldn't see outside London -- except to Scotland. I personally love exotic settings, and I'm off to order some of your books.

Margay

I love the detail with which you write. Pink Carnation came highly recommended to me and let me tell you, it is one of my favorite books now.
Margay

Julie

I enjoyed the interview and all the detailed research that was revealed (my inner academic is very gleeful). Thanks for the chance to win!

Sherrie Holmes

From Sherrie:
Lauren, I laughed out loud when I read how you fell into a mud puddle in front of a busload of Asian tourists. I can just visualize it! I can tell by the tone of your interview that you have a sense of humor.

You're one up on me. So here's another one from me. I had dropped off my car at the shop during my lunch break, and was waiting on the street corner for a co-worker to pick me up. I happened to be standing on the sidewalk of a seedy hotel that was right next doors to the car shop. It was on a very busy street. The co-worker was late, and I got bored standing on the street, so I decided to get a little exercise by walking up and down the sidewalk. I was wearing a floaty dress and heels, and one of my other co-workers drove by and honked. I waved back at him. I noticed that the Asian hotel manager had been glowering at me, and he finally came out and made indignant shooing motions, telling me to go away. He had a thick accent, and it took me awhile to understand that he was saying, "New management! No hookers! Go away!"

Keira Soleore

Lauren and Andrea, what a great interview! Looking forward to picking up LILY soon. I remember how we talked about the titling on your Facebook page. That was so much fun.

I'm dying to hear how your first day of seminar went. And I'm jealous as all heck about those folks who are able to take the class.

Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose

Oh, Sherrie, we need to do an interview with you about funny incidents. You are too much! LOL

Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose

Thanks, Keira! The class was really fun! We have a great group of students and I think we're going to have some wonderful discussions. We'll you all posted.

Sherrie Holmes

I'm really looking forward to hearing about your class! I'll bet you learn as much as your students do. That's what I love about in-person classes (as opposed to online). You get that exchange going between students and teachers. You guys are breaking ground and giving romance a good name.

Sherrie Holmes

**Oh, Sherrie, we need to do an interview with you about funny incidents. You are too much! LOL **

It's Lauren's fault. She started it.

Lyn S

Anyway after the course is over we could get a reading list? As if I really need more books to read :)
Lyn S -- who for some insane reason started her EdD

Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose

Lyn S, we're working on a "master" reading list, which is taking on a life of its own! We hope to whip it into a manageable length, and then share it with everyone. Stay tuned!

Tracy

I am a huge fan of the Pink Carnation series and imagine my delight when I discovered the release of the next installment. I can't wait to read it!! I want to add that reading your interview revealed to me why I really love your books. Being an academia myself, I really appreciate your attempt to bring history alive through historical fiction and your devotion to scholarly research to support your writing. I always follow up reading historical fiction with a check of the facts. It's a great way to learn about history. The last comment I want to make is your choice of an alternative period in which to live. I enthusiastically agree with your choice and for much the same reasons you stated. I can't wait to consume your future writings and if you ever need a good researcher to support you, I'd love the job!!

cialis online

Indian maps are great.

home teeth whitening

HELLO FROM YOUR COMMENT I find very interesting your topic
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ME MORE AND READ MORE OF YOUR COMMENT

The comments to this entry are closed.

Your email address:


Powered by FeedBlitz

Winners

  • Winners: please contact Sherrie at sholmes [at] holmesedit [dot] com if you haven't been contacted. Here are the latest winners: Pearl Berger won a book from Nicola. Ora E. Amis and Laura Jordan both won books from Mary Jo. Helene Grannes won a book from Anne. Ann Stephens and Kathryn each won a book from Jo. And last but certainly not least, Artemisia won a book from Joanna. Congratulations, winners!

Announcements

  • UPCOMING GUESTS/DATES:

    April 6 - Eloisa James

    April 16 - Ask-a-Wench

    April 23 - Anna Jacobs

May 2012

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
    1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31