Diane Gaston

Anne here, introducing my guest for today, Diane Gaston. It's not Diane's first visit to the WordWenches, and I'm sure it won't be the last. Diane made a splash in the regency world when her first book was picked up by Mills and Boon (Harlequin Historicals UK) with a riskily-premised courtesan heroine — and started a trend. Since then she's written 18 books and won many awards, including the top award for romance writers, the much-coveted RITA. Her latest book is A Lady of Notoriety, and it hit the shelves this week—and isn't that a stunning cover?

Anne: Diane, you described A Lady of Notoriety to me as both a book-of-the-heart and the third book in a two-part series. Would you care to expand on those two intriguing statements? (As someone who's written a four book trilogy and a five book quartet, I do understand.)

Diane: Ha ha, Anne. First let me say what a delight it is to be here again with the Word Wenches! When I planned The Masquerade Club series, it was intended to be two books, because I thought up two heroes – the hunky gambler/soldier/bastard son, Rhys, of A Reputation for Notoriety, and the incredibly handsome Xavier Campion, the “beauty” in my Beauty and the Beast story, A Marriage of Notoriety.

To my surprise, though, a character emerged in A Marriage of Notoriety who simply begged for a story of her own. Daphne, Lady Faville, played the “Gaston” (no relation) role in the Beauty and the Beast book. She was somewhat of a villainess in A Marriage of Notoriety, but she intrigued me--a beautiful, wealthy woman used to getting her way through her looks alone. Could she learn to be something other than a selfish, self-centered person? Could she be redeemed? Luckily I had a hero left over from the series, Hugh Westleigh, the younger son.

Anne: Oh, the delights of finding a hero waiting in the wings. Tell us about A Lady of Notoriety 

Diane: A Lady of Notoriety is a book about redemption. The beautiful but self-centered Daphne nearly destroyed The Masquerade Club and created such a scandal for herself that she was forced to live abroad for a couple of years. She wound up in a convent in Switzerland where she faced her less than sterling character and struggled to learn how to be a better person.

On her way back to England she is rescued from an inn fire by Hugh Westleigh, brother of Phillipa, the woman she hurt in A Marriage of Notoriety. Hugh’s eyes are injured in the fire and Daphne winds up caring for him. Because he is blinded he has not seen her and she does not tell him who she is. He is captivated by her kindness and her mystery, and she falls in love with his strength and courage. For the first time Daphne feels truly desired for herself alone, not merely for her beauty. When his bandages come off, though, will he despise her, both for her injury to his family and for deceiving him? Will he believe in her redemption? Will she?

Anne: You seem to have a penchant for heroines who skim the boundaries of polite society — or cross them outright. What do you enjoy about risky heroines?

Diane: I think the most interesting women in any era of history, even in the present day, are those who push against societies expectations of women. These are the women who see the confines of their lot in life as walls to be broken down. They are doers, not victims. These are strong women, women I’d aspire to be like, although I’ll probably not rise much higher than being ordinary.  So I take a superficial woman such as Daphne and challenge her to put others needs before her own. Or I choose a prostitute (she wasn’t really a courtesan) from that first book, The Mysterious Miss M, and make her passionate about giving her child a better life. My other heroines have run a school for courtesans (A Reputable Rake, the RITA winner), or have led social protests, or have been actresses, singers, governesses willing to fight for what is best for the children. I think readers like heroines they can identify with and aspire to be like. And, of course, readers want heroes they can fall in love with.

Anne: Yes indeed, and that's your RITA winning hero on the right. So tell us about the hero in A Lady of Notoriety? Were there any special challenges about writing a blind hero? (That's not a spoiler, I hope, because it's in the back blurb)

Diane: Hugh, the hero of A Lady of Notoriety, was a challenge because he had to spend half the book unable to see. How do you keep a blind hero from being an invalid? Hugh starts out raging against his situation, but immediately resolves to be as independent as possible. So the reader sees him heroically refusing to be dependent. My inspiration for him was the countless soldiers who come back from war with terrible injuries but who fight their way back to living active lives.

Anne: Could we have a brief taste A Lady of Notoriety, please?

Diane: This excerpt takes place while Daphne is caring for Hugh and they are getting to know each other (and falling in love):

“I am not angry with you, Daphne.” He turned to her, but could not see to face her directly. He placed his hand over hers. “I hope sometime you will trust me enough to tell me what it is that makes you so sad, but you are correct that tonight is not the night. I need to get myself in order first.”

His fingers, long and strong, wrapped around hers. The gesture brought tears to her eyes. No one touched her anymore. No one held her, not since the Abbess had once enfolded her in her arms. Daphne, sobbing like a wounded child, had clung to the old woman as if the Abbess had been her last hold on forgiveness. She wished she could be held now. She wished Hugh could hold her and comfort her like the Abbess had once done, but she didn’t deserve his embrace, not after wronging his family and deceiving him.

To her surprise, he released her fingers and slid his hands up her arms, to her shoulders, her neck, her face. His palms were warm and gentle against her cheeks and his touch roused her like no man’s touch had ever done before.

His cane fell to the floor and he cupped her face with both hands. “I wish I could see you,” he murmured.

He’d never touch her if he could see her, she knew. This might be her only chance to receive the comfort for which she yearned. There was no resisting it.   

Here’s a link to a longer excerpt, the beginning of the book. You can buy the book here.

Anne: That's a lovely excerpt, Diane. Thank you for sharing it. You're coming up to 10 years of being published. Has anything surprised you along the way?

A Lady of Notoriety is being released almost exactly ten years after The Mysterious Miss M! Time does have a way of passing in the blink of an eye! Ten years ago I don’t think anyone could have anticipated the remarkable changes in the publishing industry. The ebooks. The self-publishing. The closing of Borders and other independent bookstores and the rise of Amazon.  More personally, though, I am surprised at how difficult it is to produce fresh new stories each time. I have to challenge my creativity to come up with something I haven’t written before. Writing is harder work than I thought it would be, but I would not trade my writing life for anything! I am still living my dream.    

Anne: That's wonderful. What's next for Diane Gaston?

Diane: I’m starting a new series, tentatively titled the Scandalous Summerfield Sisters. There are three sisters and a half-brother who each have dreams of marrying for love and living happily ever after, but instead their marriages merely cause them more scandal. There should be four books in this series, but you never know! I may have to sneak in a fifth book.  
Thanks so much to the Word Wenches for having me as their guest!

Anne: Thanks so much for being our guest, Diane.
Diane is giving away a copy of A Lady of Notoriety  to someone who leaves a comment on the blog or responds to this question: Do you have a favorite heroine? A real person you admire or one from history or even a fictional one? Who is your favorite heroine and why?   

 

Comments

[Carol Marinelli]

What a great interview. I especially love the sound of A Lady of Notoriety. I think I might have to get reading! I don't have one favourite heroine, I just like strong ones who are a bit different and perhaps not your regular heroine, so this sounds a must read for me.
Carolx

[Trish Morey]

Hi Diane! Lovely to see you here. Anne, DIane and I finaled in the Golden Heart contest together way back in 2003, how cool is that? Hard to believe that's 11 years ago now, it's just flown.

Diane, I love the sound of A Lady of Notoriety, sounds like a great read and one I need to read :)

I do have a favourite heroine from history (well, a couple really, but this one in particular is inspiring my story right now) and I have no doubt you know her well. It's Jane Digby of course, a trailblazing woman like your own, who stepped outside the bounds and constraints of her society and led a remarkable life. A truly remarkable woman who embraced love, a real romance heroine to me.

Best wishes for your upcoming series, it sounds fabulous.

Trish

[HJ]

I love The Mysterious Miss M and all of Diane's books. It's amazing that it's been 10 years.

[Cassie P]

Di you always have great covers to go with your wonderful books. You must have been blessed by the cover fairies. Can't wait to read your new book.

[Linda]

Such glorious covers! I've read a few of your books & enjoyed them & would love to add to my collection

[Mary Jo Putney]

Terrific interview, Anne and Diane! Diane, I love seeing that you're continuing to push the boundaries with your heroines, in the best possible way. *G* Congratulations on ten years of success! A Lady of Notoriety sounds like a worthy successor to Mis M.

And Jane Digby! Swoooon!!! I did a version of her in Silk and Secrets. She was our kinda gal. *G*

[Kristine Hughes]

Can't wait to be with in England in September, Diane. Hopefully, some of the places/things we'll be seeing will find their way into one of your Summerfield books!

[Diane Gaston]

Thanks, Carol!! It was one of my favorite books to write.

[Diane Gaston]

Jane Digby!! She's proof that there are remarkable women in any era, women who find a way to live life on their terms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Digby

It is great to hear from you, Trish Mo!!

[Diane Gaston]

I'm amazed, too, HJ!

[Diane Gaston]

I usually like hunky heroes on my covers, but I do LOVE this one! It is Daphne's story and the cover shows that.

[Diane Gaston]

Thanks, Linda!

[Diane Gaston]

Mary Jo!!
I NEVER forget that you helped me plot the story that became The Mysterious Miss M and you were encouraging when an editor said to me, "Diane, this book will never sell. I'm telling you, it will never sell."

[Diane Gaston]

You can bet they will, Kristine!!!

I can't wait for The Duke of Wellington Tour!!!!

[Susan King]

Hi Diane, welcome back to Word Wenches and congrats on all the lovely successes since we last saw each other, lo these many years. :) And what a great interview - kudos to Anne as well.

Your Lady of Notoriety sounds fascinating - I'm impressed by the multi-challenges you took on with the hero as well as the heroine - they each have a mountain to climb. As a writer, I love that sort of challenge, and as a reader, I'm very intrigued. Well done! I'm off to order the book straightaway...btw, what a gorgeous cover!

[Diana Cosby]

Diane,
I enjoyed your interview, and I love how you choose your heroines and their causes. I wasn't surprised as you're such a nice, caring person, it made sense you'd pair the heroines with such wonderful causes. Congratulations on the success of The Masquerade Club series, and I wish you the very best with A Lady of Notoriety! So proud of you!!! *Hugs*

[Helen Hester-Ossa]

Hi, Diane,

I love this cover, but I think my favorite is still "The Unlacing of Miss Leigh."

Helen

[Lavinia Kent]

Great interview and beautiful covers!! I can't wait to read.

[Cheryl St.John]

Great interview, Diane! I love strong heroines too. Your newest book has an exquisite cover, befitting your story.

[Terry McLaughlin]

Hello, Diane (and Anne--waving hello to you, too!). What a gorgeous cover for your latest book! And its story sounds incredible, just begging to be read.

My favorite literary heroines are always the ones I'm spending time with at the moment. I love diving into their stories and spending time with them for awhile--wondering what they're up to when I'm away, wondering whether they'll find what they're searching for. I'm incredibly fortunate that the authors here at Word Wenches have given me so many hours of happy reading time. Thank you, all!

Best of luck with your latest, Diane, and congratulations on the writing anniversary. A new book is a terrific way to celebrate :-).

[Terri Brisbin]

Diane --

Great interview! I am looking forward to this new book....

[Patricia Rice]

I love what you said about heroines! Women who push down barriers are the kind of women I love to read about. Thanks for stopping by the wenches!

[Louisa Cornell]

Typepad is not my friend. I commented and apparently Typepad ate it. Lets try this again and if it shows up twice, blame my dial up internet and the (*&*^^&%^%^ at AT&T who refuse to bring any other type of internet the 1/4 mile down this dirt road to reach my house.

Great interview, Anne and O Divine One. Maddy of the Mysterious Miss M is one of my favorite heroines ever. Then again I love all of Diane's heroines because they all fall a bit outside the norm of Regency heroines. They are the sort of women who moved women's roles forward. My kind of gals! :)

Daphne sounds a treat and I cannot wait to get my hands on this book. I'm also looking forward to your next series. I know you will have tons of tidbits and tales to add to the series after the Wellington Tour.

I think I admire Maddy the most because she is willing to do anything for her child. Even sacrifice her own happiness. Many young single mothers today don't realize once they have a child the child's needs come before their own. Maddy never even considered doing anything other than what was best for her child. That's a heroine worth remembering.

[Diane Willems]

I really enjoyed The Marriage Bargain and Improper Wife (as Diane Perkins.) Any chance of seeing them in ebook?
Another Diane

[Shannon]

So many books to read, so many authors to like. It's been a while since I've read one (or more) of Diane Gaston's books. So of course, I click-clicked on this trilogy. The Kindle is loaded, the weather is supposed to be nice, the pool water is warm, so this is going to be a great weekend: reading and swimming. (Although I may have to shift to the modern era for Jersey Boys.)

[Barbara Monajem]

LOL. Typepad is not my friend either...or maybe it's just another of those days. I've already forgotten to put the rice on and broken a plate.

Anyway, Diane -- what a gorgeous cover, and I love that your heroine needs redeeming. So often we reserve that role for the hero :)

[Marcy Shuler]

I enjoy your books, Diane, and A Lady of Notoriety sounds like one I'd love since I'm a sucker for a wounded warrior. It makes me sound cold, but I do love that vulnerability in an otherwise strong hero.

[Diane Gaston]

Thanks, Susan!
Do you remember that you were the prize critiquer of the Marlene contest when I won with what became The Mysterious Miss M?

I hope you like the book!!!

[Diane Gaston]

Awwww, Diana!
Thank you so much!!

[Diane Gaston]

The Unlacing of Miss Leigh was a pretty cool cover (see it here)
http://dianegaston.com/books/unlacing.php

And, Helen, as one of my ORIGINAL critique partners, you have a piece of this book and Unlacing!!

[Diane Gaston]

Thanks, Lavinia, my friend!

[Diane Gaston]

Thanks, Cheryl.
Readers, if you love Westerns, read Cheryl's books and she's also written a terrific How To Write book, called Writing With Emotion, Tension, and Conflict: Techniques for Crafting an Expressive and Compelling Novel
Check it out!
http://www.cherylstjohn.net/

[Diane Gaston]

Thanks, Terry!!!

[Diane Gaston]

Thanks, Terri!!!

And congratulations for At the Highlander's Mercy making the finals of Bookseller's Best Contest!

[Diane Gaston]

Thanks for having me, Pat. I love the Word Wenches!

[Diane Gaston]

Thank you, Louisa. I think Maddie's devotion to her child helped readers forgive her for being a prostitute (even though she was forced into it)

I always knew readers would love her.

[Diane Gaston]

Hi, Diane!!!
I actually have the rights back to those books and hope to release them as ebooks soon!!

[Diane Gaston]

Thanks, Shannon. Hope you enjoy them!

[Diane Gaston]

Hi, Barbara!

And congrats to you for your Holt Medallion Win with Heart of Constantine !!

[Diane Gaston]

I guess I like that kind of hero, too, Marcy. I've written him before.
Thanks for the nice words about my book.

[Lilian Darcy]

I'm with Marcy, a sucker for wounded warriors. Also a sucker for heroines who we hate in one book and then come to love in another.

This sounds like a great story. Thanks for telling us about it, Diane, and for asking all the right questions, Anne!

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Carol. I think you'd enjoy Diane's books. You both write edgy, interesting heroines.

[Anne Gracie]

Hah, Trish, I thought you and Diane were in the wet noodle posse together -- for those who think that's a spaghetti club, it was a blog formed by that years Golden Heart finalists -- some of whom turned out to be absolute winners!)

And yes, Jane Digby was one amazing woman.

[Anne Gracie]

Mary Jo, your "Silk" series is still one of my all time faves. And your encouragement and generosity to new/emerging writers is legendary.

[Anne Gracie]

England in September? Duke of Wellington tour?
It's not easy being green.... :(

*g*

[Anne Gracie]

Hi Diana, I think we used to be on a loop together many years ago -- the regency loop, maybe. A writers loop, anyway, in the early days of loops. Thanks for visiting the word wenches.

[Anne Gracie]

I'm a fan of Cheryl's writing too.

[Anne Gracie]

Waving hello back to Terry -- thanks for dropping in to the wordwenches, Terry. I have cover envy for some of Diane's covers, too.

And thanks for all the work you do for romance writers, published and aspiring.

[Anne Gracie]

Sorry about the type-pad problems, Louisa -- but persistence pays off. Loved your comments about Maddy.

[Anne Gracie]

Marcy I'm another sucker for a wounded hero -- and I don't think that's cold at all. It's what drives a lot of romance novels.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks Lilian -- yes, interesting how we can really dislike a character in one book, and then come to adore them in the next -- once we learn more about them and get underneath their skin a little. That sounds a bit gruesome, but you know what I mean. *g*

[Andrea Penrose]

Wonderful interview, Diane and Anne! So nice to have you here, Diane, and love how your heroines always challenge convention. That's definitely my kind of woman!

[Dee]

Oh, wonderful to see this book release and I love redeemed characters. I have this in my to purchase on kindle.

[Diane Gaston]

Hi, Lilian!
How nice of you to stop by and comment!

[Diane Gaston]

Hi, Andrea!!
I feel very honored to be here, among all you wonderful wenches! Talk about women who push boundaries....

[Diane Gaston]

You can preorder, Dee!
I LOVE my Kindle. It is my preferred way to read now.

[Janice]

Nobody really gets this, but my favorite heroine is Fanny Price from Mansfield Park, because she has a solid core of toughness that enables her to stand up for her beliefs. No matter how they try (and they do try!) to get Fanny to do things against her principles, she doesn't do them. She doesn't get nasty or confrontational, she just doesn't do them. Now it doesn't matter a bit that a modern person might say she'd be okay to do those things; in Fanny's mind, she wouldn't be and she sticks to her guns about it. In the novel, of course, her judgment is shown to be correct, but it's not being right that endears her to me -- it's that she sticks up for her beliefs even though she risks a great deal - a return to poverty, the loss of her uncle's approval - by refusing to "go along to get along".

You go, girl :)

[Bona]

At first, the book sounds like the opposite version of the trope - the bad woman redeemed by the love of a good man. But then I thought, well it looks like she's already redeemed herself in that Swiss convent. It's society who has to change its mind about her! I really love unusual heroines like this one.

I've been thinking about answering the question, but I couldn't pinpoint just one woman that I admire. There are so many interesting women throughout history! From Christine de Pizan to Marie Curie. From Hersend, a doctor that went to the Crusades to the astronomer Caroline Herschel...

I think I like women that did something different to what everybody expected from them, or from any woman. Reading the lifes of the best-known women from the past -queens and princesses- is usually very sad, because there's always that desperation to have children, and so many of them died in childbirth. I prefer reading about those who did something different, like those amazing English climbers or explorers from the Victorian age - Margaret Jackson, for instance.

[Annette N]

I really like the premise of military men coming home with terrible injuries and overcoming their difficulties. That is exactly what is happening here and now. To find a strong woman who can love and support that man is a wonderful premise for lives that are filled with drama and can develop in wonderful ways.

[Diane Gaston]

Fanny Price would not leap to most people's minds on this topic, but you are absolutely right!
She's like the flip side of pushing the boundaries, too, come to think of it, but what she has in common is the determination to do what is right in her eyes.

Jane Austen was brilliant!

[Diane Gaston]

Bona, you are right in a way. Daphne has made the decision to change, and she mostly does things in a new way, but she makes some big mistakes, like hiding her identity from Hugh, effectively lying to him. That's the old Daphne.

You are right about society having to change their minds about her. She deserved the censure of society and of Hugh's family in particular.

[Diane Gaston]

As the daughter of an Army colonel, I grew up in the Army life and it just kills me to see so many of our brave men and women dealing with catastrophic injuries. Saying "Thank you for your service" just isn't enough!! Their bravery at home is to be commended, I completely agree.
So I'm right with you on this one, Annette!

[Kathryn Johnson]

A lovely interview to perk up a cloudy day. Thanks, Diane and Word Wenches! And aren't those covers to die for? Yes, more books for the beside-the-bed pile. Yum!

[Susan King]

Diane, yes!! What a wonderful story that was -- I remember being so impressed, and so pleased for such a gracious person and gifted writer. Hugs! :)

[Shannon]

About wounded heroes, there are civilians who also suffer PTSD. A friend of mine who lived through 9/11 at the Pentagon is having problems again. She's walking through some of the darkest of places. I am hoping that she finds the love and support that our heroes and heroines discover. After listening to her journey through sadness, among the many things I told her is that I have used books with HEAs to get through the places and times when all I could do was eat sugar and gulp down books.

[Barbara Monajem]

Thanks, Diane! :~))

[Cathy Phillips]

Hi! Loved the interview! A LADY OF NOTORIETY sounds really good. My favorite heroines are strong and feisty women that aren't afraid to go after what they want.

[Glenda]

Hey Diane! I don't have one favorite heroine fictional or real life. I do like the women who are willing to break rules if it is the right thing to do. Just the other day I realized one reason I am so fond of historical romances is that there were so many societal rules in the past. Many of them could be broken without any physical harm coming to the women who did the breaking. These days there are fewer rules. :-)

[Jo Banks]

I admit it I have a thing about people who loose their sight but I am already half way thru A Lady of Notoriety and thoroughly enjoying it which must prove it is a very good book ! I also have a soft spot for villains turned hero or heroine when you get to know them better in another story.I have just re-read Mary-Jo's the Diabolical Baron and The Rake Reggie Davenport is a great example of the villian with the soft centre!!

[Donna]

Another great interview - thank you ladies! And Ms. Gaston, after reading so many positive reviews of your books, I put your name down in the notebook I keep in front of me by the computer as an author to check out. So this has done it! I'm off to download A Lady of Notoriety. It sounds wonderful!

Favorite heroine... that's a hard one, but two names that immediately jump to mind (both fictional) are Bristow's Celia Garth and Marguerite from The Scarlet Pimpernel. Celia was a courageous spy during the American Revolutionary War and Marguerite ended up rescuing her hero in the end!

In real life, Mother Teresa hands down.

[Diane Gaston]

Oh, absolutely. Reggie is one of the reasons I fell in love with Regency Romance!

I'm glad you are enjoying the book!

[Diane Gaston]

My heart goes out to your friend, Shannon! I was close enough to the Pentagon to see the smoke that day. I still burst into tears whenever there's a show or something on the radio about 9/11. I can't imagine how it is for the survivors.

[Diane Gaston]

Hi, Kathryn!!!!

I do love my covers.

[Diane Gaston]

Mother Teresa! great one.

I hope you enjoy the book!

[Diane Gaston]

Breaking rules for the right reason is heroic. Doing it for selfish reasons is just wrong. Or illegal. I don't admire people who break the law.

[Diane Gaston]

Amen to that, Cathy!!

[Karin]

Hi Diane, coming late, but I just wanted to tell you that "The Mysterious Miss M" broke my heart. Such tragedy and redemption! I've read and enjoyed many of your books, but that's the one I can't get out of my head.