The Diabolical Baron!

The Return of The Diabolical Baron!

by Mary Jo

I've been slowly reissuing my older books digitally, and now the time has arrived to send my very first Signet Regency, The Diabolical Baron, back into the world.  It's the first in my Putney Classics Series, which will include Carousel of Hearts and Lady of Fortune. 

Back when I was writing my Fallen Angels Series, my publisher asked me to revise several of my early Signet Regencies into historical romances.  I was happy to do that with some of the stories that became Petals in the Storm, Angel Rogue, The Bargain, and The Rake, but I didn't feel that was appropriate for the three books I'm calling Putney Classics.  These stories are just too traditional Regency to become rewritten as longer, sexier historical romances. 

So, say hello to the newest edition of The Diabolical Baron! To this day, it's an object of wonder to me.  I started writing the book three months after buying my first computer for my design business.  I'd always had stories in my head (I thought everyone did!) so I decided to see if I write a story myself. 

I was a huge reader and rereader of Georgette Heyer and the modern Walker Regencies I found at the library.  Because I like history and happy endings, naturally when I decided to see if I could write a book, what emerged from my curious fingers was a Regency romance. 

However, any author who is considering reissuing her older books has to consider if they're so weak that they'll send readers screaming into the night, so I reread the Baron. 

I hadn't looked at the story for years, but as I read through (removing a few of the excessive adverbs) I realized that the beginning was so very Georgette Heyerish that I should probably pay royalties to the Heyer estate. <G> Jason, Lord Kincaid, the dashing, arrogant lord, the shy young girl from the country, Jason's pleasant but somewhat dim best friend, the casual wagering--all very Heyerish without being as good.  Here's a very Heyerish excerpt from the first chapter that shows the set-up:

"Fine color this wine has, George,” said Radford as he held the glass up to the candlelight. “I’m glad I laid in several cases’ worth. By the way, I believe I’ll be getting married.”

 "I say, Jason, perhaps we’ve had enough to drink. It sounded distinctly like you said you were going to marry, and when one starts hearing voices it’s time to lay off the wine. Otherwise, I’ll have a headache that would flatten a plow horse on the morrow,” said Mr. Fitzwilliam with owl-like solemnity.

The friends did not much resemble each other. Lord Radford associated with  sporting Corinthian set and affected an elegantly simple mode of dress which perfectly suited his athletic form. Shorter, fair-haired and slighter in build, the Honorable George Fitzwilliam looked much younger than Radford, though in fact only three years separated them. While he was described by some as a “fashionable fribble,” it was an unjust accusation that would have wounded his sensibilities. Since he was charming and correct in his manners, hostesses always welcomed him for his willingness to dance with even the most regrettable female guest with never a loss of good nature. Radford always found him to be enjoyable, relaxing company.

"You heard me correctly, George. As my Aunt Honoria has kindly pointed out, it is time I married. So I shall do the deed.”

“How splendid! What lovely lady has consented to be your bride?”

"None yet. That’s why I wanted to talk to you. You’re much more au courant with the fashionable world than I. What is the selection this Season?

“Do you just mean to choose one, like a horse at Tattersall’s?”

“George, you do me an injustice! I spend considerably more thought on selecting my horses.”

“But…but what about love?” The Honorable George was something of an authority on the subject since he succumbed to the emotion several times a year.

“Bah, love is an illusion of the young and feckless, an illusion maintained by lady novelists for their own enrichment. How many couples of our order have you known to stay ‘in love’ for any length of time?”

“Well, there are the Grovelands. No, he’s taken to keeping opera dancers again. Lord and Lady Wilberton… No, I heard they had a flaming row at a ball last month and haven’t spoken since. And, well, my own parents are dashed fond of each other. You see?”

"On the contrary, you confirm my point. Surely theirs was an arranged marriage? A system that has gone out of style, but which had much to commend it. A rational analysis of family background, fortune, and station in life is surely the best foundation for a successful union.”

 “I very much doubt it,” George said boldly. “And even if you don’t believe in love, young ladies do.”

 Lord Radford’s mouth crooked cynically. “I’m sure any young lady will find it easy to fall in love with my title and fortune even if my person fails to please. I have been defending myself from matchmaking mamas and ambitious debutantes for years. Now that I am ready to throw down my handkerchief, I should have my pick of the available fillies.”

 “Hasn’t there ever been anyone that you really wished to marry?”

 “Well… once when I was very young,” Radford said with a softening of his eyes. He gently swirled the wine in his crystal goblet, divining the past from its burgundy depths. “I was just down from Cambridge, and hunting in the shires when I met her. I thought she was the most dazzling female I’d ever laid eyes on. Rode like Diana, hair like flame, and a figure that would keep a Cyprian wrapped in jewels for the rest of her life. It appeared to be love at first sight, but when I offered her my hand, my not inconsiderable fortune, and my honorable name, she threw them back in my face.”

 “You actually made an offer for her, and she turned you down?” George gasped. Having seen women languish after his friend for years, he was hard put to imagine so firm a rejection. “Was she attached to someone else?”

 “She gave every evidence of returning my feelings,” Radford said, then stopped in mid-sentence at an unexpectedly vivid stab of long-buried pain. A gentleman could not talk about it, but he had never forgotten those forbidden kisses stolen in the garden one magic night. Such sweetness, and such fire….

 He had searched in many places for their equal, but without success. And finally he had ceased searching.

But I also remembered my original vague concept for the story, which was rather subversive for the time: a heroine who wasn't interested in marriage because she was a creative person, and her passion was music.  Here's the blurb I'm using now:

Rich, handsome, and fashionably jaded, Jason, Lord Radford, knows he must marry to get an heir, but assumes that any well bred young lady will do, so he offers for Caroline Hanscombe, whose name he draws at random.  Caroline is pressured by her family to accept, but shy and musical, she finds her new fiancé alarming.  Will this be a match made in heaven or hell?  Or might Caroline quietly find herself a man who suits her better…?

As I continued reading the book, I saw how the writing improved as it went along, becoming more fluid and less formal.  By the end, it was looking like a pretty decent story.  I also recognized elements that I've been using every since: the weary Peninsular soldier, characters with creative passions, lost love regained, and happy endings all around.  (Anything worth doing is worth overdoing!)

My working title for the book was Lady of Note, a reference to my heroine Caroline's musical passions.  My editor pulled the phrase "the diabolical baron" out of the manuscript and it does make a much more dramatic title.

Authors aren't good judges of our own work, butThe Diabolical Baron was a Regency Rita finalist and won the Romantic Times awards for best first Regency novel and new author, plus the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf award for best historical romance, so some people liked it!  If you enjoy traditional Regencies, or you're interested in the work of a very newly fledged romance writer, here it is.    

I'll finish with the cover of that first edition, which I've always really liked since it has the tenderness I like to see in my covers.  Scattered through this blog are other covers--in 30+ years, a book gathers a lot of covers, and that's not counting foreign editions!

I'll give away an original print copy of the book to one commenter between now and Saturday night.  I hope you've enjoyed this trip down a writerly memory lane!

Mary Jo

Comments

[Janet Gahagan]

I don't need an original copy. I still have mine!

[Susannah]

I’ve never seen that cover - thanks for sharing it! I’m so glad you’re reissuing these. I introduced one of my best friends to your books last year, and she’s been devouring your backlist. So good to know she’ll have these three available to enjoy too.

[Pamela DG]

You are one of the handful of authors I invest in reading their back list. Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, Grace Burrowes, Ella Quinn and maybe a couple others, so it's a heaping handful. I would love to read this!

[Rosemary]

I read a lot of those old Signet Regency stories. Loved the covers. I don't have this one, but I do have The Rake and the Reformer.

[Jenny Wilcox]

Yes, I have and have read and very much enjoyed The Diabolical Baron, but not in the original. While it may be a bit "Heyerish", I am sure that that is what would have attracted me to start off with. I do like that original cover, too.

[Alice]

I have a copy with the original cover and bought it as I love The Rake, which I have lost count of the times I have re-read. The Diabolical Baron is a great book, even more so as it was your first. So much better than others I have read by long term writers. Looking forward to the others being issued as e-books as they are expensive to buy second hand

[SUSAN WARD]

I do have a copy of your original Severn house issue in hardback but will probably buy the ebook as well now , I also have an ebook copy of the sequel the Rake. It will be interesting to see any differences.

[Sue McCormick]

I also love this story and I also have my copy is good shape. Glad to hear that it's back in print!

[Maggie Robinson]

I felt myself relax and smile as I read this excerpt, almost as if it were designed to bring me to a much less stressful time. It may be Heyerish but it's pretty goodish! Congratulations on the Putney Classics!

[Teresa Broderick]

I hadn't read this one so just purchased on kindle. I love the old traditional regency romances and bought a lot of the Signet ones over the years. Yes the old covers are lovely.
I need this kind of comfort read at the moment as we've just had some bad news in the family.
I would still like to be in the draw for the print version. No matter how much I like my kindle and how handy it is for getting books straight away there's nothing like the real thing.

[Lola Gaunt]

Love this story, had not read it but when I heard about it I ordered it thru Amazon. Have many books (nearly 400) on my I-pad, I still really prefer a book in my hands.

[Dianne]

I started with the Silk series and eventually found e ery book on your backlist. Absolutely love them all and thanks for sharing the cover art. Gradually i am adding them to the kindle so it us good news to see this one now available.

[Laini]

The original historicals are meaningful and precious. What a lovely cover and story.

[DandyLady]

I would love a copy! I enjoyed your thoughts on revisiting the book.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Impressive, Janet! It's probably yellowed and maybe a little brittle, but clearly you Take good care of your books.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Susannah, thanks for your handselling of my books! As as reader, I also love book recommendations from friends.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Pamela DG, you place me in very fine company! Thank you.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Rosemary, the Signet Regencies were great, weren't they? Much of the credit goes to our esteemed editor, Hilary Ross. I was proud to be one of her authors. (And she was FUNNY!)

[Mary Jo Putney]

Jenny, the Heyerish Regency language and sly humor was a good part of the fun of these early books! I was very lucky with my first cover.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Susan, the differences between THE RAKE AND THE REFORMER and THE RAKE are slight. It was very long for a regular Regency, so I did a lot of polishing and tightening, but you probably won't notice much difference unless you read them side by sid.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Sue, one of the wonderful things about ebooks is that it makes available all these old books that would otherwise have disappeared.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Thanks so much, Maggie! The Signet Regencies do take us back to a simpler, easier time, don't they? 2020 is a year that encourages escape!

[Mary Jo Putney]

I'm so sorry about the family bad news, Teresa. Books are lovely escapes in hard times as well as good times.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Lola, it's hard to beat having a Real Book in one's hands! But they do require a lot of bookcases. *G*

[Mary Jo Putney]

Dianne, you are one fine book hunter! I'm happy to be able to make these older books easily available.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Laini, I'm so glad you enjoyed reading 'the story behind the story." It's like seeing the ingredients before they go into the soup. *G*

[Mary Jo Putney]

DandyLady, I was surprised at how much came back to me as I reread the story--and how much I didn't know then!

[Annette N]

I am a fan of the old Signet books. I have many. I particularly love the Christmas anthologies.

I admit it, I am a book addict and have kept and reread quite a few of the Signets.

I thank you for the insight into the story and how you approached it.

This is a new to me book. But, looking at the original cover I think that says why I liked the older books. The couple are looking at one another as though they are truly in love. It is a sweet cover. Thanks for sharing.

I hope everyone is staying safe and taking care.

[Beverly Abney]

It looks like many of us are longtime fans. I used to buy all the new Signet regencies when they came out but I only saved the ones by favorite authors. They are in under the bed plastic. I also still have my copy and will take it out and re-read as soon as I finish the 3 brand new library books I checked out yesterday. My library is finally filling holds.

[Pat Dupuy]

As I read the conversation I had to laugh. I can picture the two, lazing about, while they discuss marriage. Shades of Sir Percy Blakeney! Besides thinning out the adverbs, were you tempted to tweak the plot at all?

[LRJ]

Still have my copy. In fact I have just started rereading all of your books over again..I always put the date inside a book when I finish reading it so I know when I last read it..I have more than one reread date in most of your books...favorite series, ‘The Lost Lords’ series, but really enjoy all of them.

[Jeannette]

One of my all time favorites is "The Bargain". I always put Bargain, Baron and Rake together in my mind, not that they are a trilogy but they seem to have continuity. You are the first author I ever read, and I am so glad I picked up one of your paperbacks at the library about ten years ago.

[Kareni]

What an enjoyable post, Mary Jo; it's certainly interesting to hear the story behind the story. Best wishes for the success of these reissued favorites!

[Anne H]

I have mot read this book, but will add it to my TBR list. I am the same as others, in that Heyerish writing would have attracted me to the book. I too like the original cover better than any of the others *except the current one)

[Patricia Franzino]

I'm a great fan of Heyer as well. It's a lovely cover and a story that sounds scrumptious.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Alice, I love putting out ebooks because they're so affordable all over the world. Readers in other countries often pay a lot more for books than Americans do.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Annette, I think everyone loved the Signet Christmas anthologies, both writers and readers! Yes, that original cover is lovely, and it's even a scene from the book.

[Mary Jo Putney]

LRJ, putting the most recent reread date in the cover is a great idea! I with I'd thought of it. Probably too late for me to start now. *G*

[Mary Jo Putney]

Jeannette, I was the first author you read? I'm glad my stories spoke to you so much! The three books you mention above, the Baron, Bargain, and Rake, were all early books, and I agree that they have a similarity of voice and sensibility.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Thank you, Kareni! Naturally I'd like the reissues to do well, but a good part of the reason for doing them is just to make the stories available for those who are interested.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Anne H, the original cover and this new one that I had done are sweet and tender. I like that in a romance, and in a romance cover.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Patricia, if you read the book, I hope you enjoy the Heyer-ishness!

[Mary Jo Putney]

Pat Dupoy--while I'm tempted to improve the language, I've never once had a desire to change the plot. The basic stories were sound when I wrote them, and they're sound still. Though the writing can always be spiffed up!

[Lakshmi]

Love your books...Heyer is someone to read when you have time to savour the language and settings. Have to agree that the old cover looks more romantic. Take care.

[Mary T]

Win or buy - it is on my TBR list. Good luck with it.

[Margot]

What a great posting this is. As a non writer I can not imagine what it must be like to re-read one of your older books. I don't like re-reading old letters I wrote as my thoughts might be quite different, the way I expressed myself might seem awkward the second time around. I must say thought that I am so happy that you have enhanced some of your old books as I have enjoyed them recently. Hard to find these older titles so I am always thrilled to see them as a new release - in book form preferably. Nice to see the various covers

[LindaB]

I love hearing about how stories came to be, and their history after they've been published. I wish all the Wenches would do that for their re-releases (hint, hint). Take care.

[Cindy A]

I've read so many of your books, but I'm not sure if I've read that one. The excerpt doesn't sound familiar. Soooo, I hope I win!!!

[Mary Jo Putney]

Lakshmi, that's so true about Heyer needing reading time to savor the language and wit. So many of us owe her so much as both readers and writers!

[Mary Jo Putney]

Thanks, Mary T!

[Mary Jo Putney]

Margot--digital books are great for making older stories available. The print version will come soon.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Linda B, I'll tell the other Wenches that!

[Mary Jo Putney]

Cindy A, this book first came out in 1987--a long, LONG time ago!

[Amy J]

Conveniently, my bookshelves are in what is now my work-from-home office - so I can see that The Controversial Countess is the only classic Signet at hand, along with a whole shelf of holiday anthologies from over the years. Think most of my reading back then was from the library, and rarely my own purchases.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Amy, libraries are wonderful places, especially when we are thin of funds but desperate for reading! Today I visited my local library for the first time in three months. They aren't fully open, but taking returns and delivering books on hold. The librarians are VERY happy to be back!

[Jane axelrod]

What find memories of the signet regencies. I waited impatiently fo4 the new ones every month and was very sad when they stopped being published.
But i remember yours with great fondness , ms Putney. Such good stories and writing!
I am so pleased that you are re releasing them so others can enjoy them!

[Margaretta Bir]

I discovered regency romances while my husband was serving abroad with the CIA. He was gone as much as 50% of the year. We had young children so the evenings were long. I continued to read them after we returned home. I used to buy them at a lovely little book store in a neighborhood shopping center. It was so convenient to run in and grab a magazine or just browse the titles. The owner always saved copies by my favorite authors for me! Barnes & Noble may have overwhelming selections, but I miss that store. Many of us cried when we said goodbye at their closing sale. I still have those regencies neatly stacked behind the hard cover books in the glass fronted bookcases.