Word Wenches

What We're Reading: Ghostly Tales

 Hallowe’en is drawing nigh, "whare ghaists and houlets nightly cry" (thanks, Robert Burns!) -- so for our October What-We're-Reading post, we Wenches are sharing some favorite ghostly and paranormal stories. 

Classics, cozy mysteries, romance, fantasy, paranormal, scholarly and tales of real ghostly encounters  . . . haunted houses, ghosties and beasties – we’ve included some downright spooky fun in the following picks. So if you’re not too busy answering the door and tossing treats to little witches, vampires, superheroes, butterflies and fairy princesses – and if you're in the mood for a Halloween thrill -- check out some of these great reads!

Andrea Pickens/Cara Elliott

I confess that I don’t read horror, or much paranormal, so am woefully ill-equipped to offer any first-hand recommendations for Halloween reads. What can I say—the genre just doesn’t tickle my fancy. However, I did spot this intriguing-looking book. Haunted—On Ghosts, Witches, Vampires, Zombies, and Other Monsters of the Natural and Supernatural Worlds is just the type of take on the subject that I’d find appealing, and so have put it on my TBR pile. Here’s the blurb: “An award-winning scholar and author charts four hundred years of monsters and how they reflect the culture that created them.”

Patricia Rice

I love paranormals as long as they’re light and not filled with violence. I cannot begin to name all the series I scarf down, many of which I’ve mentioned before. The ones that leap to mind immediately are Ilona Andrews’ Innkeeper Chronicles where you can have everything from ghosts to aliens, Juliet Blackwell’s Witchcraft Mysteries where the heroine is a witch who keeps bumping into things in the night, and of course Darynda Jones’ Charley Davidson series which is a tour-de-force of humor and sexiness and a heroine who is the passage between earth and heaven. Then there’s Angie Fox, who can inject humor into anything from biker granny witches to southern spirits, just choose your preferred creature:

Ilona Andrews Innkeeper Chronicles CLEAN SWEEP and SWEEP IN PEACE 
Juliet Blackwell witchcraft mysteries SECONDHAND SPIRITS 
Darynda Jones Charley Davidson series 
Any series by Angie Fox

Mary Jo Putney

When Susan suggested that we choose ghost stories for the October WWR, I wasn't sure if I could offer much since I'm not into horror or ghosts.  And then I thought of Ammie Come Home . . . . 

 

Charlotte Betts on The Highways and Byways of Research

Today it’s my great pleasure to welcome author Charlotte Betts to the Word Wench blog. Charlotte is a multi-award-winning author of historical novels who describes herself as a daydreamer and a bookworm (so she’s in good company here) who lives in Hampshire in a C17th cottage in the woods. I first met Charlotte years ago as a fellow member of the Historical Novel Society and the Romantic Novelists’ Association. I love that she has written in different time periods and very different settings, from the Great Fire of London, to Revolutionary France to the Regency. Her books are full of adventure, mystery and romance, with rich backgrounds that make the past come alive. Today Charlotte is talking about her research and her latest novel, The House in Quill Court. Welcome, Charlotte!

Recently I clicked ‘send’ and gave an exhausted cheer as my manuscript for The Dressmaker’s Secret flew off to my editor. As any author knows, that cheer isn’t a signal to take an extended break. The deadline for finishing the first draft of a novel always seems to coincide with the launch of the previous one, while the publishers are simultaneously asking for an outline for the next one. Non-writer friends sometimes ask how I manage to keep all the details of each story in my head at once but really it’s no different from watching several drama series on the television on consecutive nights; you simply jump from one world into another.

Finishing a book

Anne here, and I’ve just finished a book — finished in that I've written the full draft, submitted it to my editor for comment, and revised it with her comments in mind. It’s now gone off to copyediting and I’m celebrating — well, that’s the theory. Here's the cover -- pretty eh? 

I always plan to do something wonderfully exciting and celebratory when I’ve finished a book, and as I’m in the last frenzied stages of the book, my head is full of plans for what I’ll do once the book is in . . .

Should I go for a little holiday? Some of my writing friends always take themselves off on a lovely little holiday somewhere when they put a book in. Or should I go a little lower-key and just invite a bunch of friends around to celebrate? Or maybe I should go shopping, splash out and buy something I’ve always wanted. Whatever that is.

But somehow, once the book is in, those plans just seem to evaporate. I look around the house, blinking like a new-wakened bear and see that the housework has banked up disgracefully and my office is a bomb — and not in a good way — so a week of washing and vacuuming, scrubbing and polishing lies ahead.  Yay. 

As well, I have a stack of emails to be answered, and a pile of little literacy books to be laid out ready for the printer and some new stories to write for series #8 of PageTurners. And there are bills to be paid and sorted through because my tax is due —yes, there's no end to the dissipation and wild partying here. Or maybe I'll just step out and enjoy the garden —it’s spring downunder —and admire the luxuriant abundance of healthy . . . weeds — oh the joy!  

A Feminine Lens

Susanna here, just back from the Surrey International Writers’ Conference in beautiful British Columbia, where I’ve been privileged to be a presenter the past several years.

It’s always difficult to choose a conference highlight because honestly, there are so many, but this year my highlight has to be the panel session that I shared with Mary Robinette Kowal and Elizabeth Boyle, moderated by our friend Nephele Tempest, in which we discussed viewing history “Through A Feminine Lens”.

Terroir

By Mary Jo

Terroir has nothing to do with terror, horror movies, or upcoming Halloween.   Instead, terroir is a French word derived from Latin "terra" and French "terre" meaning the earth. 

Most often it's used to refer to the natural conditions of soil, sun, weather, climate, et al, that produce specific flavors in food and drink.   In other words, it's the agricultural version of "we are what we eat."   We all more or less know this even if we don't think about it much, but in wine cultivation, terroir is an important concept.  I might add that I am no wine specialist and my house wine is box pinot grigio, which is a perfectly good table wine.  

But the concept of terroir is interesting.  I started thinking about it when I was writing my most recent book, Once a Soldier.  My fictional San Gabriel is a small kingdom between Portugal and Spain and wine is its most significant product. and the only one that has the potential to bring in revenue through exports.  

The English Village

Nicola here. Today I am musing about life in the English village. So many of the historical romances I’ve read are set it cities such as London or Bath, or smaller towns like Brighton or Cheltenham. This makes sense. These places were the epicentres of activity in the Regency era, the venue for balls and other social events, a place where people might go for their health, for sea bathing or to take the spa waters. They were a good hunting ground for ladies looking to secure a titled husband, or for men seeking an heiress. It feels as though all the excitement is focussed on the towns and cities where there are lots of new people to meet and lots of things going on. After all, as Jane Austen wrote in Northanger Abbey: “If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad.” 

In some ways, things haven’t changed much in two hundred years. When I was younger I lived in a number of different English cities: Leeds, London, Leicester. They were vibrant places with a mix of cultures and events that was very stimulating. Even today a trip to London, or Edinburgh, or Oxford is something of a treat. The combination of history and shopping is irresistible and much more exciting that what is on offer at home. So where does that leave the English village?

Hidden in History . . .

Andrea/Cara here: As someone writes both historical mysteries and historical romance, I think a lot about women and their place in history. In creating a heroine, it can sometimes be a delicate balance. On one hand I believe human nature hasn’t changes all that much over the centuries, and so every era had its fair share of brilliant, talented, curious women who pursued their passions despite whatever strictures existed in the society of their times.

\ And then, of course, on the other hand are readers who will wave the rule book and argue that—for example—a Regency lady would never explore the Middle East, write feminist manifestos or become one of the top astronomers in the world. (As you guessed, there are real life examples who have done just that.)

The trouble is, there are precious few role models for inspiration when we look to craft a female character. We authors just don’t have the same depth and texture to choose from as we do with men. There are, of course, many reasons for this, the most basic being that under very recently it was men who wrote history. And sadly—as this current climate has highlighted—all too often women are only written into history because of their sexuality rather than their achievements.

Another reason—a more positive one—I’ve been thinking of the topic is because I was talking about it at lunch the other day with a wonderful non-fiction writer whose WIP is about a turn-of-the-century woman who is amazingly accomplished but unknown to most. (Sorry, I can’t say more as I am sworn to secrecy, but it’s going to be a fabulous book!) And so we started chatting about all the unsung heroines in history and all the astounding stories that are out there, just waiting to be discovered and told . . .

There must have been some karmic buzz in the cosmos, for the very next day I stumbled upon a fascinating article on Aaron Burr’s daughter—a real life story that, while little known, has inspired novels and poetry and countless legends. So let’s take a quick look at one of those interesting women hidden in history.

It all starts with a painting . . .

Ask A Wench: Why We Write Historical Romance

Pat here with today’s Ask A Wench "Why do we write historicals and not contemporaries?" 

I can’t say that I don’t want to write contemporaries since I have, but historicals are my main love. I researched contemporary subjects for the contemporaries, but researching a town or a career isn’t quite the same as digging into the culture and politics of two hundred years ago. I can put my 1830 people on the cutting edge of industry and inventions and know those industries and inventions won’t be outdated tomorrow, they’ll always be fixed in 1830. But if I write, as I have, about a techie in the 21st century who uses the latest greatest device, a thumb drive—by the next year, that book is completely outdated. And man, cell phones really ruin suspense!

The Happy Ending

Anne here. I participated in a symposium on Genre Fiction at Melbourne University last week. It was a fascinating day and I enjoyed myself immensely. I was on two panels and at the end of the day took part in a debate — "In the battle of the genres, romance will always win." It was lovely, lighthearted fun.

One thing that surprised me though, was that so many of the other participants in the day (not the romance writers) confused "romantic books" (in which one or both the lovers end up dead) with "romance novels" (in which the lovers end up alive, together, and happy.) They mostly talked about the former, and pretty much ignored the latter.

It was as if they weren't comfortable with the notion of "a happy ending" — which is a vital part of the definition of genre romance. As if it was a bit embarrassing to have to admit to. Or something.

Why American History Matters

Pat here: I promised in my last blog to continue my nattering about American history because it’s relevant and it’s interesting (which is why I wrote those six ROGUES AND DESPERADOES books early in my career!).

I don’t want to make any political points, but I’ve heard the arguments about whether the writers of the US Constitution were God-fearing Christians or Deists, which is to say they didn’t adhere to a particular religion. Both categories are an over-simplification. The 18th century is not the 21st. There are huge cultural differences. One must know American history to understand the background of our founding fathers.

Bouncers, Rattlepates and Popinjays—Let's Talk Regency!

Andrea/Cara here, No, it’s not a fudge or a Banbury tale! Today I’m going to prose on a bit about Regency cant all the delightful top-of-the-trees expressions that color the era. (I’ll try not to be a windsucker, or to make a cake of myself.)

Like many of you, I fell under the spell of Regency romance on reading Pride and Prejudice. For me, Austen created an endlessly fascinating world—her sharp and slyly witty views on society, family and the elemental tensions of falling love really captured my fancy (honestly, who can resist balls at Netherfield or Mr. Darcy?)

But it was reading Georgette Heyer’s delightful novels that really made me want to write Regency romance. I think part of it was the wonderfully evocative cant she sprinkled so liberally throughout her pages. Expression like “ape-leader,” “under the hatches” or “in his cups” were such fun! They added wonderful color and texture to the stories and helped whisk me away from the ordinary, everyday world to a more exotic—and magical—place.

A Cavalier Chat with Christina Courtenay

Susanna here, hosting my very first Word Wenches Interview—and it’s especially wonderful because my guest is a friend of mine (and, I believe, a great friend of this blog as well): Christina Courtenay!

I first met Christina in London in 2009, at my very first Romantic Novelists’ Association function, and knew straight away I was in the presence of a kindred spirit. She is, simply put, one of my very favourite people, and any time I get to spend with her—even if only by email—is time I look forward to.

Since she’s already an Honorary Word Wench I’m sure many of you know her work already, but for those who don’t, Christina writes time slip, historical romance, and—as Pia Fenton—YA contemporary romance, all published by independent publisher Choc Lit. She’s a former chairman of the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association, and her novels Highland Storms and The Gilded Fan have both won the RoNA Award for Best Historical Romantic Novel of the Year (in 2012 and 2014 respectively). Her newest time slip novel is The Velvet Cloak of Moonlight, which is being published this week (on Friday, 7th October).

Here’s a summary:

 

Jozi and ROSA

by Mary Jo

Last week I wrote about our safari to Botswana, which was a great getaway with pampering and fine food and lovely, hospitable people.  But even though tales of Tarzan and amazing wildlife loom large in our imagination, safaris and elephants are only a tiny portion of the vast, ancient, and diverse continent of Africa.  

Which is why today I want to talk a bit about modern Africa.  In particular, I want to talk about Johannesburg, a world class city and one of Africa's major hubs.  We spent almost a week in "Jozi," partly because it was the launching point for our Botswana safari, partly we have friends in the city, and also because I had the pleasure of speaking at the annual conference of ROSA , the Romance writers Organization of South Africa.  

So much of our perceptions of foreign countries comes from what we see on the news.  Unfortunately, around the world the news mantra is "If it bleeds, it leads," and I have vivid memories of some of the horrors that took place in South Africa as the nation struggled for justice and equality.  

But while we stayed in Joburg, the TV news channels had major coverage of a police shooting in Charlotte, North Carolina.  That story, while tragic and real, is not the whole story of America any more than South African violence is the story of South Africa.  The country has a complex history and 11 official languages, and I won't even try to describe the nation's history.  But its diversity is celebrated on September 24th, Heritage Day, which took place while we were visiting.  

Jozi has a very specific history since the city was founded in 1886 when large gold deposits were discovered in the Witwatersrand hills.  The city grew rapidly (though no one is sure which Johannes the city is named after. <G>)  Like Denver, it's a mile high city, and is about the only major city in the world that isn't located on the ocean, a large river, or a lake.  (At left, Gandhi Square with a statue of Ghandhi, who lived many years in South Africa and developed his political ideals there.)

The elevation gives it one of the world's best climates, with lots of sunshine and moderate temperatures.  (I know some of these facts because we took the very interesting Red Bus tour of the city, which had excellent commentary which was apparently GPS based because the narration could say things like, "To your left you'll see Witwatersrand University" no matter what the traffic was like. 

The northern suburbs were planted with ten million trees to make the city the largest urban forest in the world.  (A view of the northern suburbs at right, from the Westcliff Hotel.)

I can't begin to do justice to this brief portrait of a vibrant city with energy and creativity.  It has a lively press, too--I was quite taken by this headline about water rats.  (Turns out that the area is in drought and water rats are people who use more than their share of water.)

Less than an hour from the city is the "Cradle of Humankind," a wonderful new museum located in an area of limestone caves where some of the most ancient early human remains have been found.  Africa is indeed the home of humankind, and the museum is a delight.  I'd love to go back and see more someday. 

Our first nights, we stayed in the Saxon Hotel, a gorgeous place full of African art such as the mask shown here.  It was also the place where Nelson Mandela wrote his memoir, Long Walk to Freedom.  I had a total fan girl moment when I learned that!

ROSA

As I mentioned, we have friends who live in Joburg and they were wonderful tour guides.  The culmination of my visit was joining the members of ROSA for their annual conference.  The group is small compared to the romance writing groups in the US or Australia or New Zealand, but I was impressed by the professionalism of its members, and the way we all participate in a world wide romance community.  (American editors and agents took pitches via Skype from ROSA members.)

Here's a picture of me at ROSA with fellow authors Joss Wood, Rebecca Crowley, and Rae Rivers.  The picture below is of my author friend Alissa Cantrell, and Romy Sommer, who was not only the conference chair but a RITA finalist this year for her contemporary romance, Not a Fairy Tale. 

Romance is universal--and so are romance writers!

Mary Jo