Word Wenches

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.

Anne Gracie and The Summer Bride

Mary Jo here: 

Since Anne Gracie and I both have July releases, we decided to interview each other!  Anne talked to me about Once a Soldier last week, and now it's my turn to enthuse about Anne's The Summer Bride, the last of the Chance Sisters quartet.  I enjoyed reading it so much that I promptly reread the first three books in the series.  

The book has been well received,  Romantic Times says, "Gracie's Chance Sisters have captivated readers and stolen their hearts, perhaps none more than Daisy, whose fast-paced story will delight fans.  All the characters readers adore are part of the tale, and which the charming plot enchants, it's the characters who take center stage."  

Library Journal’s verdict was: “Passionate and sumptuously witty, this final book in Gracie’s sparkling quartet has the entire household rooting (and plotting) for Daisy and Flynn to get things right.”

MJP: Anne, the premise for The Chance Sisters is brilliant, and the first book, The Autumn Bride, was listed as one of the ten best romances of the year by Library Journal, as well as being a Romantic Times Top Pick.  Can you tell us about the premise?  And do you have any idea of where such a great idea came from?  (Probably not. <G>)

AG: Actually I do know where the inspiration for the first book came from — it was a dream I had, in which an old lady was lying in bed, ill and in a desperate state, and a young woman climbed in her window. I scribbled it down in my notebook, and it kept nagging me and throwing up questions — who was the old lady, why was the girl climbing in the window — for no honest reason, surely? And that’s how I knew it was the start of a story.

The basic premise is, four girls band together as “sisters of the heart” in order to survive. When they find Lady Beatrice ill, neglected and abused by her servants, they pretend to be her nieces, and the girls and the old lady form a kind of family.

MJP: The four couples have been very different, so their romance are all quite different.  But in The Summer Bride, Daisy and Flynn are the most unusual of all, particularly Daisy.  Will you tell us about her?

AG:  Daisy is the Cockney maidservant who risked her safety to help Jane and Damaris escape from the brothel where they were imprisoned. She started off in my mind as a minor character, but as soon as she hit the page, she sprang to life.  She’s gutsy and outspoken and has a dream. I loved her from the start, so I was determined to give Daisy her own story.

Here’s a small snippet of Daisy’s thoughts:

    Daisy had no illusions about herself. She was a little Cockney guttersnipe with a gimpy leg and a foul mouth—though she was working on the swearing, and her grammar. But she loved beautiful clothes and—praise be!— she was good at making them.
    She was going to be somebody, and she was going to do it all herself; Daisy Chance, Dressmaker to the Toffs, with a shop and a business all her own. That was her dream, and she was so hungry for it she could almost taste it.

MJP:  The hero, Flynn, is one gorgeous hunk of Irishman.  Tell me more!

AG:  Again, he’s not a typical hero. And in the spirit of “show don’t tell” I’ll use another snippet from the book. Flynn aims to marry “the finest lady in London.’ Here he’s talking to Lady Beatrice, who’s cross with him for not taking her into his confidence:

    She eyed him narrowly. "Finding you've aimed rather too high, have you? I did warn you. A low-born, uneducated sea-captain, Irish—and Roman Catholic to boot!" She shook her head.
    "Lapsed, m'lady, and though all you say is true, I don't believe I'm aimin' too high," Flynn said mildly. He was comfortable in his own skin and knew his own worth. "I'm also rich—a self-made man with a fleet of ships and a tradin' empire that spreads from here to the four corners of the earth."
    Lady Beatrice sniffed. "Money acquired in trade."
    Flynn grinned, undeceived by her disparaging tone. "Aye, m'lady, lots of nasty vulgar money at me disposal which the poor lass who consents to become me wife will have to help me spend.  'Twill be a terrible burden for her, I'm thinkin'."
    Lady Beatrice's finely painted lips twitched. "Undoubtedly. Modesty is not one of your virtues, is it, Mr. Flynn."
    Flynn shrugged. He'd never seen the point of hiding his light under a bushel.

MJP: Though Daisy and Flynn are connected with members of the beau monde by bonds of friendship, they are both openly involved in commercial activities – in “trade!”  How does that tie into the larger society?  

AG: It’s actually one of the things Daisy and Flynn bond over. The upper classes tended to frown on “trade” – they liked money. of course, but it was vulgar to refer to it, and they tended to look down on shopkeepers. But Daisy and Flynn also argue about business—she’s stubborn and her background has made her wary of trusting others—especially men.

     “You’re looking exhausted,” Flynn said bluntly.
    “So what? Hard work never killed nobody. I’m startin’ a business, remember?”
    “I know, and that’s why I decided to come tonight, when nobody else was here to overhear what I have to say.”
    Daisy gave him a flinty look. “What’s it got to do with you?”
    “Nothing. But I know a lot more about how to run a business than you do, and I have to tell you, you’re goin’ about it the wrong way.”
    Daisy stiffened. She set down her teacup with a clatter. “Well, thanks very much, Mr. Flynn, and now you’ve told me, you can get back to your bloody ball.”
    “Settle down, firebrand, I mean no insult.”
    “No? You tell me I’m doin’ everything wrong—me, who’s workin’ my fingers to the bone every hour God sends, making beautiful clothes for Jane and the others—clothes that other ladies want to order—an’ you expect me not to be angry? Bloody oath, I’m angry! What the hell would you know about ladies’ clothin’ anyway?”


MJP: Thanks so much for sharing a little of the book, Anne.  Now I'm ready to reread The Summer Bride!   Leave a comment or answer this question by midnight Thursday to get into the drawing for a copy of the book.

Anne's Question: Editors are always telling me that people only want to read about aristocratic heroines. Is that true for you?

MJP:  Thanks so much for the lovely interview, Anne.  We'll have to do this again if the book release schedule permits!

Kathleen Gilles Seidel Pays a Call!

by Mary Jo

I'll say this up front: Kathleen Gilles Seidel is a marvelous writer.  We are both members of the Washington Romance Writers chapter of RWA, so I've know her for many years.  At the WRW annual retreat, a slot would always be reserved for her to talk fascinatingly about some aspect of writing.  (She has a PhD in English from Johns Hopkins University, so she's really good at this sort of thing.) I've heard many of her thoughtful lectures and stories as well as being addicted to her writing.  So I feel very pleased that she's agreed to visit the Word Wenches today. 

Kathy has twice won RITAs for best contemporary romance of the year.  Her work is known for originality, wonderful keen observations about the human animal, and a delicious dry sense of humor.  She later moved from romance to women's fiction, and they're great, too.  (One of her books is entitled Keep Your Mouth Shut and Wear Beige. Who can resist that?)

What inspired me to invite Kathy at this point in time is that I saw that her novel Again is now available as an e-book, along with several of her other older titles.  Naturally I downloaded Again and read the story for the fifth or sixth time.  I also mentioned the book to the other Wenches, several of them read and adored it, and we all thought it would be a fine idea to invite Kathy to visit us.  

Celebrating with Susanna Kearsley & Pamela Hartshorne

Anne here, with Susanna Kearsley and Pamela Hartshorne dropping by to celebrate our 10th anniversary with us. Both Susanna and Pam are  'dual timeline/time slip' authors and Honorary Word Wenches (HWW). They're also representative of international wenchdom, as Pam is from the UK and Susanna from Canada. Welcome, Susanna and Pam!

Susanna here, happy to be here to share in the Word Wenches’ tenth anniversary!

I am, as it happens, an Honorary Word Wench—a  noble and cherished designation that not only comes with the perk of being able to add the letters “H.W.W.” to my signature (always much appreciated by someone like me, who never finished university), but also stands as a sometimes much-needed reminder that I’m never really writing on my own.

It’s a thing about writing: so much of it needs to be done on your own in a room by yourself, shut away from distractions, that it would be easy to feel disconnected…if we didn’t have this amazing community.

The first time I took my elder son to FanExpo here in in Toronto, he looked across the lines of people standing in their cosplay costumes waiting to get in, and said, “My people!” And I knew exactly how he felt.

I feel it, too, whenever I’m with other writers and readers who treasure historical romance. When I don’t have to explain why I’d rather shut myself away with a pile of 18th-century newspapers and a big pot of coffee than go to the mall. When I can say I’ve just surfaced from being in another time, and people understand. It’s a wonderful feeling, to be understood.

It’s in places like this one, with hosts like the Word Wenches, that we’re all able to find one another. We cheer each other, teach each other, share our craft and learn in equal measure; and, as evidenced by this past week, we give each other comfort.

Back when I was gifted with my Honorary Word Wench title, on September 23 of 2009, this group was a mere three years old, and I only knew Nicola. Since then I’ve met nearly all of the Wenches, and from sharing an event with Joanna to sharing drinks and laughter with Anne, to having her and Mary Jo come and stand at my shoulder when I won my RITA, the Word Wenches really and truly are “My people”. (Susanna's first interview with the wenches is here.)

May they continue another ten years, and beyond that.
And I’ll keep on adding “H.W.W.” after my name, with great pride.

Susanna Kearsley  

Susanna's most recent publication is A Desperate Fortune 
Her website is here.

And now, here's  Pamela Hartshorne:

It is a great honour to be an Honorary Word Wench, especially when I spent so many years writing strictly contemporary romances for Mills & Boon as Jessica Hart. But I have always been fascinated by the relationship between the past and the present, and in fact started writing to fund a PhD in medieval history (although I ended up as an early modernist) so my historical leanings have always been there.

Throughout the (very) many years it took me to complete that PhD, the question I was asked most often - after ‘Have you ever thought about writing a real book?’, of course - was whether I was going to use my research to write a historical romance. My answer was always ‘no’: I fretted about authenticity and how I could possibly get modern readers to identify with characters who thought and spoke and acted so differently in the past.

But after writing 50 romances, it felt like time for a new challenge and I decided to get over myself and have a go at writing not a romance but a ‘time slip’, part historical novel, part ghost stories, part psychological thrillers – and, in my case, part romance too, because romances are about emotions, and emotions are what connect us to the past, whether that past is our own, or a more distant one. I let go of the authenticity issue; the truth is that no amount of academic research will tell us what it was ‘really like’ in the past. The only way we can know that would be to somehow go back and re-experience life as somebody who lived then (ooh, precisely the premise of a time slip!)

For me, the real appeal of historical novels, romances or otherwise, lies in the tension between everything that is different and intriguing about the past, and everything that is the same – and what never change are the human emotions that lie at the heart of every great story - love, hate, fear - and that we can all identify with, wherever and whenever we live.

The temptation for all those of us fascinated by the past is to get bogged down in details, and squeeze in every interesting piece of our research (I can’t tell you how much about dung heaps and cleaning gutters I had to force myself to jettison from my first drafts of Time’s Echo) but this is where historical romance comes into its own: focusing on the emotional relationship between the characters gives it the perfect structure to draw readers into the story while keeping them interested and intrigued with a dazzling backdrop of historical detail. (Pam's first interview with the Wenches is here.)

So let’s hear it for historical romance – and let’s hear it for the fabulous Word Wenches, and a blog that has been invariably interesting, entertaining and inspiring for an incredible ten years. Many congratulations to you all!

Pamela Hartshorne 

Pam’s latest book, House of Shadows (not to be confused with Nicola Cornick’s House of Shadows!) is out now.
Pamela's website is here.

Anne again — thank you so much, Susanna and Pam for coming to celebrating this exciting milestone with us! And dear readers, to quote Pat Rice, "we would love to shower all of you with champagne and cake. But instead, at the end of the week, we'll be handing out gifts to random commenters."
And here's a question for readers: — what historical period or geographical location would you love to see explored in a time slip or historical romance? 

Wench Tenth Anniversary Guests

 
The Word Wenches are presenting comments from readers, authors, and other industry professionals on the last ten years of romance, history, and the world in general. Welcome our guests, please!

Christina Courtenay

I’ve been in love with romance ever since I first read a fairy tale – in fact, I was probably born a romantic!  The princesses in peril, the dashing princes to the rescue, the treasures and magic; I just didn’t want any other stories.  After discovering Georgette Heyer in my teens, I was totally sold on historical romance and I’ve never found anything else as satisfying.  There’s just something about immersing yourself in a fictional past, with strong heroes, lords and ladies, beautiful clothing and endless adventures that will never cease to pull me in, and I think historicals remain a favourite with readers for a reason – it’s just such fun!  The Word Wenches produce some of the very best in this sub-genre and, as well as the lovely books, I’ve enjoyed each and every post on this blog over the years – such diversity and I always learn something new.  Congratulations on this wonderful anniversary and I hope you’ll continue for a long time to come!

Christina

 

Eileen Dreyer

I was a historical romance reader before I was a historical writer. In fact, through the first 20 years of my career, I wrote contemporary category romance as Kathleen Korbel and medical/forensic suspense as Eileen Dreyer. And then one day the wonderful RT reviewer Melinda Helfer and I were talking Regency Romance, and she sealed my fate. “You should write Regencies.”

I laughed at the time. Six regencies later, I'm not laughing. Why do I love writing them? First, I love history, especially in the times when the world was in upheaval. And if there's one thing you can say about the Napoleonic Era, it's that the world was in upheaval. I love to see how it played out in the lives of normal people. The soldier, the debutante, the companion. I especially like to write a strong woman hemmed in by the mores and expectation of the society and time in which she lives. And of course I love to give her a man who's worthy of her. And clothes. Beautiful clothes. And humor. And suspense(which is easy then, since they were at war and we can imagine all the nefarious spies we want, even if it isn't entirely correct). And so was born DRAKE'S RAKES, who are all gentleman spies in service of the crown, who run afoul of a nefarious plot and strong heroines.  Just the kind I like to write. To learn more(you know you want to), stop by my website www.eileendreyer.com www.facebook.com/eileendreyer @eileendreyer 

 

Nina Paules, ePublishing Works:

Ten-ish years ago, while on an extended business trip, I bought my first romance novel, Mary Jo's A Kiss of Fate. I was embarrassingly (because "good girls" didn't read romance) hooked, and unknowingly fated.

As a wanna-be author, I emailed Mary Jo to say how much I enjoyed her book, and for reasons I still can't pinpoint, we became fast friends. That was Fate's first move.

Many fun and educational conversations on the Word Wenches' blog led me to create three Regency gowns (with all the underpinnings), and ultimately a two-part guest post about a modern-girl trying to live in a Regency Corset. The rewarding effort convinced me I could write.

A few years later, Mary Jo asked if I could use my computer "expertise" to make an eBook (when eBooks were a novelty), which opened the door for ePublishing Works. Today, ePW proudly publishes and promotes books for five of the eight current Wenches, plus nearly 100 other authors. Funny what a little romance novel and a blog can do.

Much has changed in how we read romance: paper giving way (mostly) to digital, and perusing physical bookstores exchanged for curated reading recommendations received via email. But the thrill of a good story with a powerful hook, that's peopled with engaging characters who grab the heart and mind, remains unchanged. Even better, a well-written Historical Romance is timeless in its ability to entertain, even as the delivery mechanisms change at lightning speed.

Thank you, Word Wenches, for all you have given me, for your faith in me, and for all you continue to do for the author and reader communities. It excites me to know that digital publishing assures the great stories that captured my heart a decade ago will be equally available to new readers for the next decade and beyond. Congratulations on the first 10 years!

 

Thank you to our dear friends and colleagues for celebrating a remarkable milestone with us! And dear readers, we would love to shower all of you with champagne and cake. But instead, at the end of the week, we'll be handing out gifts to random commenters. Thank you so much for stopping by!

Wit and Wisdom from Eloisa James and Lauren Willig

 

by Mary Jo

Today, we're resuming our sadly interrupted anniversary celebration, and I have the pleasure of welcoming Eloisa James and Lauren Willig, both of whom have wonderful insights to share with us.  

First up is Eloisa James, who has been a visitor to Word Wenches for both her romance and for her delicious memoir, Paris in Love.  Today she ponders romance and what might lie ahead in our genre:

 

Eloisa James:

I read widely in romance sub-genres, with the exception of scary Romantic Suspenses.  I’m just going to make a more-or-less haphazard list of the trends I’m seeing, skipping Historical because the Word Wenches have that covered.  Please tell me in the comments what I’m missing or where I went wrong!!

Interview with Jeannie Lin

Joanna here. 

I’m interviewing Jeannie Lin, writer of most excellent

Historical Romances set in Tang Dynasty China and Steampunk set in an alternate but formidably realistic historical China. She writes love, adventure, complicated family relationship, and high stakes in a world that sets all our assumptions wobbling. These are not your everyday Romances, folks.

This week Jeannie and I celebrate the release of our new novellas — hers and mine — in the e-anthology Gambled Away.

Joanna:  Howdy Jeannie. Glad to see you.

Jeannie: Hello! So glad to be back here with the Wenches. Can you believe Gambled Away is finally here?

Joanna:  I'm so happy to share an anthology with you. Oddly enough, I think both our stories are, at the core, about women escaping the constraints that narrow and bind their choices. 'Taking their lives into their own hands' as you put it.

My Aimée, in Gideon and the Den of Thieves, was sold into the service of Lazarus, the King Thief of Regency-era London. One does not just walk away from that service. One runs. We see Aimée trying to free herself from Lazarus.

Jeannie: I must admit after reading Lazarus, I had big baddie envy. I want to go back and rewrite the entire last half of my story. *smacks hand* Lazarus is so dark and twisted and complicated! Completely unpredictable.

My crime lords are much more straightforward — they're businessmen. They don't make emotional decisions, which makes them neither evil nor good. Unlike everyone else in the story, they have  nothing to hide and their goals are quite clear. It's all the other characters who sneak and lie and betray one another, often times believing they are doing the right thing. 

Joanna: I’ll just reassure you that there is no lack of menace in your crime lords. Pretty chilling customers.

While my Aimée faces the obvious practical problem associated with dwelling among the brutal and larcenous, Wei-wei’s life is more comfortable -- on the surface. But it is not, perhaps, more free.

 

Jeannie:  There's two sides of that coin for me. Chinese women in imperial times are known for being subservient — it's a stereotype often perpetuated in the West. But for me what's interesting is the ways that women have empowered themselves while keeping the illusion that they were not wresting power. When Chinese women were forbidden to write, they came up with their own written language, for instance.

The Word Wenches' 10th Anniversary Celebration!

by Mary Jo

Can you believe it?  Today is the 10th anniversary of this blog--that's 597 years in internet time, you know. <G>  The world has changed, publishing has changed, we've all changed--yet here we are, still musing about romance and history, interviewing interesting guests, and inviting you all to join in the conversation!

The idea for a historical romance writers' blog was sparked when Susan King and I were having lunch with Eileen Buckholtz, our friend and web wizard, and she suggested that since we were interested in blogging, a group blog was the way to go: more content, less work. <G>  This sounded like a fine idea to us, so Susan and I listed people we'd love to have join us.  To my surprise, everyone we asked agreed, and a blog was born.  Sherrie Holmes, our first site manager and cat herder, came up with the name Word Wenches, which we all loved, and here we are, ten years later.  

I believe we're the only romance blog to have published two Christmas anthologies, Mischief and Mistletoe and The Last Chance Christmas Ball, both with Kensington. Both were great fun to write. 

To celebrate this anniversary, we decided to invite back a few former guests to muse or reminisce with us.  Because we received such thoughtful responses, we'll be posting every day this week, with Friday being wrap up comments from all of us Wenches.  

And because we love giving books away, we'll be doing eight giveaways to eight lucky commenters from our Anniversary Week celebration.  (Winners to be chosen by the end of May.) Let the celebration begin! 

Our first guest: Candice Hern, one of the old gang of Signet Regency writers where so many Regency writers started our writing careers.  Candice is not only a fine writer who has one of the best Regency websites anywhere, but because she was already an experienced blogger, she was extremely helpful when we started our own blog.  Thank you, Candice!  

Congratulations, Word Wenches, on your first TEN YEARS!

Quite a milestone on the internet. Not many group blogs survive that long. I have been reading your blog since Day 1 and continue to do so. I always learn something new, especially when one of you dives into an historical research topic. I love the diversity of the group, both in your books and your blog posts. (And I still miss Edith.) Here's wishing you all another ten years of entertaining and educating those of us who love historical romance. Way to go, ladies!

Next up: Mary Balogh. A romance star ever since her first Signet Regency was published a lot of years ago, Mary offers these insights:

Where Romance is going:

Romance is going in whatever direction the imaginations of romance writers take it—or should I say directions? In the past several years we have seen it explode into innumerable sub-genres and trends, some of them enduring, some not.

I decided almost as soon as I started writing more than thirty years ago (ouch!) that I would no longer read romance or take any notice of trends or jump on any bandwagons. I cheat (a lot) on that first decision, but even so I would say that 90% of my reading is non-romance. So who am I to talk about where romance is going? I will continue to follow my own imagination for as long as I am willing and able and as long as I still have readers.

One thing that has pleased me greatly this month of May is the almost overwhelmingly positive response I have had to my new book, Only Beloved, the final book of the Survivors’ Club series. The hero is 48, the heroine 39. I held my breath as the publication day dawned. But readers had no objection to the older characters.

The same thing happened with the novella that came out with one of Grace Burrowes’s in Once Upon a Dream in April. The hero and heroine are both 40 or close to it. With so many aging authors still writing (ahem) and so many aging readers still reading, maybe this is one direction I will take more often in the future. Love, even romantic love, is not an exclusive preserve of the young, after all, is it?

And on the subject of the passing of time…congratulations Word Wenches for keeping your really excellent and intelligent blog site going for ten years. That is a remarkable achievement. May you continue for at least ten more.

To wrap up today's posting, Carola Dunn joins us.  She started out writing Walker Regencies, which were the first such romances I discovered in the library when I began to look beyond my well worn Georgette Heyers.  She moved from Regency romance into historical mysteries--I've been obsessively following her 1920's set Daisy Dalrymple series for years--and like Mary Balogh, she has some thoughts about older characters.

Pass Time with Good Company

I wrote my first Regency 37 years ago (Toblethorpe Manor, published 1981) and followed it with 31 more, as well as a bunch of novellas. As in most romances, the heroines were almost all youthful—even the oldest, at 42, seems youthful from my present age! When I started writing mysteries, I made my amateur sleuth, Daisy Dalrymple, 25. For reasons I won’t go into, over the course of 23 books she’s aged by only 5 years.

A decade ago, after turning 60, I decided I wanted a protagonist nearer my own
age. That was the genesis of Eleanor Trewynn, the main character of my Cornish mysteries. For many years, she and Daisy have been living in my head. Luckily, I find them excellent company. It’s gratifying to hear from so many readers that they too think of Daisy and Eleanor as good friends they want to spend more time with.

Thank you, Candice, Mary,  and Carola!  You've all created wonderful characters we want to spend more time with.  (And you're all on my personal keeper shelves.)  

Visit Word Wenches again tomorrow, when the inimitable Eloisa James and Lauren Willig will share their thoughts on romance! And remember, commenters might win books, and what reader doesn't love winning books?

Mary Jo

Guest Tracy Grant on writing historical fiction

Andrea/Cara here, As most of our readers know, I'm a big fan of historical mysteries, and the Regency-set series by Tracy Grant featuring Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch is one of my favorites. So I'm delighted to welcome Tracy back to the Word Wenches to tell us a little about her love of history and how she weaves it into her intricate plots. Like the Wenches, Tracy loves research and is an expert on the people and places that makes the Regency such a fascinating era. From the cloak and dagger spy intrigues of the Napoleonic Wars to the details of Mayfair's elegant ballroom, she paints a vivid picture of  a time of upheaval and fundamental change, and how individuals react to those challenges. So, please join me in welcoming Tracy as I hand the proverbial pen to her!

 

Christine Wells and the 18th century Crim. Con.

Nicola here. Today I am delighted to welcome Christine Wells to the Word Wenches. Christine is a former corporate lawyer turned award-winning author of Regency historical romance and her beautifully written and emotionally poignant books have always been on my auto-buy list. You may imagine my excitement when I discovered that Christine was taking her writing in a new direction with The Wife's Tale, a sweeping novel set in the eighteenth century and the present. No spoilers here as I want everyone to discover and enjoy this fabulous book for themselves but I will say that The Wife's Tale is a book whose characters and their story stayed with me a long time after reading. I even dreamed about it! Now it's over to Christine to talk about the fascinating history of the Criminal Conversation trial, a theme that lies at the heart of The Wife's Tale.

Thank you very much to Nicola and the wonderful Word Wenches for having me here today. I’ve always been a fan of this blog (not to mention the novels of its authors!) and I’m thrilled to return today to share some background from my new novel, THE WIFE’S TALE.

Those of you who are devotees of Georgette Heyer might recall fleeting references to the latest scandalous “crim. con.” news in some of her books. Heyer never goes into detail about these court cases but as a former lawyer myself, I found the cause of action intriguing.

When embarking on a slightly new direction with my historical fiction, I wanted to marry my professional experience as a solicitor and love of legal history with my passion for the history of English country houses. I suddenly recalled the action of criminal conversation and realised it would be a perfect springboard for a story full of intrigue and scandal about English aristocrats in the late eighteenth century.

An Interview with Sally Mackenzie!

Nicola here. Today it is my very great pleasure to welcome bestselling author Sally Mackenzie to the Word Wench blog to talk about her new book, How to Manage a Marquess, which is released tomorrow! I first came across Sally's writing in her wonderful Naked Nobility series and I love the way that the humour in her books combines with poignancy and emotional depth. I enjoyed How to Manage a Marquess so much I went straight out and bought the rest of the Spinster House series and glommed on it. Sally, welcome to the Word Wenches! Please tell us a little about How to Manage a Marquess.

How to Manage a Marquess is the second full-length novel in my Spinster House series, preceded by a novella, In the Spinster’s Bed (which was first released as an e-book, but will be included in the print edition of Marquess) and the first novel, What to Do with a Duke.

The series is built on events that happened in the village of Loves Bridge two hundred years earlier. The then Duke of Hart got spinster Isabelle Dorring pregnant and almost immediately married another woman. Legend says that Isabelle, understandably distraught, cursed the duke’s line and then drowned herself and her unborn baby in Loves Water. Before ending her life, however, she left instructions that her house could be occupied only by a spinster, and that whenever there was a vacancy, the Duke of Hart had to come himself to choose the next tenant.

Whether the curse is real or not, the fact is that for two hundred years, no Duke of Hart has lived to see his heir born.

Spies under every Tudor rock! An interview with Kathy Lynn Emerson

by Mary Jo

I'm delighted to welcome my friend Kathy Lynn Emerson today to talk about her newest historical mystery, Murder in the Merchant's Hall.  Though best known for the mysteries she writes under her own name and as Kaitlyn Dunnett, Kathy has also written Tudor historicals as Kate Emerson, and her long and distinguished career has also included romance, children's stories, and non-fiction.  She won the Agatha Award in 2008 for best mystery nonfiction for How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries and has been an Agatha finalist for her fiction as well.  

Currently she writes the contemporary Liss MacCrimmon Mysteries (The Scottie Barked at Midnight) as Kaitlyn and the historical Mistress Jaffrey Mysteries as Kathy (Murder in the Merchant’s Hall). The latter series is a spin-off from her earlier “Face Down” series and is set in Elizabethan England.
 
And in the spirit of the season--Kathy's Liss MacCrimmon mystery Ho-Ho-Homicide is now available in paperback, and she lives on a Christmas tree farm in New England. <G>  Kathy, thanks so much for joining us today.  Tell us about the new book!

Kathy Lynn Emerson: As an avid reader of novels written by the good folks here at Word Wenches, I’ve noticed that many of them have plots that deal with espionage. I have a weakness for such stories myself.

This turns out to be fortunate, since I write mysteries set in the Elizabethan era. Not to put too fine a point on it, but you couldn’t turn over a rock during the late sixteenth century without uncovering some treasonous scheme to undermine the government, assassinate Good Queen Bess, or otherwise wreak havoc.

Heyer Walk With Pictures, Part 2

Anne here, continuing the delightful walk through Georgette Heyer's London, conducted by my friend, author Sophie Weston. The first part of the tour is here.
But first, a photo of the scales on which Byron used to weigh himself. It was mentioned in the previous post, but the photo came to me later from a friend. Notice the lead weights neatly stacked beside the scales.

St James’s Palace  (below)
Even today Ambassadors present their credentials to the Court of St James's. During the Regency, the King lived mostly secluded at Windsor or Kew and the Queen restricted her Drawing Rooms, so there were few opportunities for debutantes to be Presented. Even so, Jenny from A Civil Contract managed it and so did Arabella, who was much impressed by Princess Mary.

The Prince Regent’s marital difficulties prevented him from formally running an alternative Court at Carlton House and when the Hanoverian Jubilee was in full swing in 1814, he received the Crowned Heads in St James Palace – getting seriously annoyed when the Czar, for whom rooms had been refurbished especially, refused to stay there. He preferred to join his sister, Grand Duchess Catherine, already ensconced in the Pulteney Hotel. Oh the lure of the flushing loo!

Heyer Walk with Pictures, Part 1

Anne here, with a special treat from my friend and Honorary Word Wench, Sophie Weston aka Sophie Page, whose To Marry A Prince is a favorite of mine and Mary Jo's, and Nicola's. (See the interview here.)

A life-long London resident, multi-published author and former chair of the Romantic Novelists Association, Sophie also developed for her friends and colleagues a personally conducted "Georgette Heyer Walk."  I was fortunate enough to experience it myself some years ago, on a damp and chilly day, and most of the photos are mine.

Sophie and her friend, historical novelist Joanna Maitland, have just set up a site called Libertabooks.com for writers and reader to meet and share enthusiasms -- think an angst-free book club but with fringe benefits as readers start to voice what they want from it — and you're all invited to drop by. With 49 novels published by other people, Sophie is also embarking on self-publishing. 

Welcome back to the Word Wenches, Sophie. Let us commence your delightful Georgette Heyer walk.

Sophie: My Georgette Heyer walk is a work in progress, based around Piccadilly, still one of the busiest streets in London. In 1815 there were also horses leaving deposits which boys who kept the crossing had to be tipped to brush out of the way. So when Miss Wraxton did ‘not wish to drive through the streets’, The Grand Sophy had a good point when she replied ‘What, and walk along Piccadilly unattended? You cannot mean it!’

Men, however, strolled everywhere. Byron, would leave his marital home at 13 Piccadilly Terrace; pass the Pulteney Hotel (with flushing loos!) where the Czar and his sister stayed during the Hanoverian Centenary celebrations in 1814, followed by Venetia's glamorous mother; pass the Dandies' club (Watier's 1813-1819) at No 81 and reach his publisher John Murray at 50 Albemarle Street in less than 10 minutes. [photo on left: John Murray's] 

Juliet Marillier

Anne here introducing our latest guest, Juliet Marillier, whose name might be familiar to you, either from your own reading or because I've recommended her novels in a number of posts. I'm a huge fan, and I'm not alone: here's her goodreads page.

Juliet writes historical fantasy— her stories weave folklore/fairy tales into history in, for example, places like ancient Ireland at the time just before Christianity makes its first appearance. She's an internationally bestselling, award-winning author. She's won the American Library Association’s Alex Award, the Aurealis Award (numerous times), the Sir Julius Vogel Award and the Prix Imaginales, among other awards. She's also a passionate dog-lover with a small tribe of rescue dogs. This is Juliet with one of her dogs, Harry.

Today I'm interviewing her about her latest book, the second in the Blackthorn and Grim series. I haven't yet read it (it's still in transit), but I opened Dreamers Pool (the first book) the other day — meaning only to glance through it and refresh my memory. Instead I found myself rereading it from cover to cover again, and being transported, moved, and entranced just as much the second time around.

Anne:  Welcome to the Word Wenches, Juliet. Most of your books involve the re-imagining or re-exploring of fairy tales, woven into an ancient Celtic background, with an added touch of magic. Why do fairy tales appeal so strongly?

Mary Balogh, on covers

Hi, Jo here welcoming bestselling author, Mary Balogh, back to the Word Wenches. I've been delighting in Mary's new covers, and so I'm happy that she wants to talk about the subject. Of course, we're looking forward to your views and comments, and one lucky commenter will win a copy of Mary's book, Only a Kiss. If you already own that one, then you can choose another title.

Mary's recent complete series is the Survivor's Club, about a group of men and women who shared a difficult time during the Peninsula War. The first book is The Proposal, and its cover history illustrates what Mary is going to address.

 

 

 

Over to Mary.

Until recently I would have said that I never choose a book by its cover. After all, the cover is the one thing over which the author probably had very little input or control. Covers are designed within publishing houses according to the current theory of what will sell. In the historical romance genre, for example, if it seems that men with bare, waxed, over-developed chests and the generic white shirt or headless women or women with billowing skirts are what readers are looking for, then chances are that is the sort of cover writers will be landed with whether they want them or not-or whether the picture is historically accurate or not. At present the billowing skirt seems to be in vogue even though the book itself is very likely to be Regency and Regency fashions, in my opinion, are more gorgeous and romantic and sexy than the fashions of any other era.

I do my reading on a Kindle and make most of my book choices by browsing on Amazon. Like most other readers, I choose largely by author and within certain genres. In those cases covers do not have any bearing upon my choice. I will buy the book regardless. But I am always searching for new authors and I like to dabble in new genres just to see if there is anything to take my fancy and broaden my reading horizons. And I have made the discovery that yes, indeed, I am very much affected by covers. I will not buy a book solely upon the appeal of the cover, but that is what makes me stop to take a closer look. There are no doubt countless books I would enjoy enormously and countless new authors whose backlists I would devour voraciously if I could but find them. But it is the cover that draws me-or repels me.

NAKED: A Novel of Lady Godiva by Eliza Redgold

by Mary Jo

One of the pleasures of large book signings is that an author usually ends up sitting next to strangers.  Over the course of two or three hours, much fun and talk occurs.  This happened to me at the Romance Writers of Australia conference when alphabetical order placed me next to Eliza Redgold, a delightful author and academic who looks like one of our romance heroines.  <G>  In July, St. Martin's Press released her new novel, Naked: A Novel of Lady Godiva.  

The cover is stunning and the book kept me enthralled for much of the long flight home from Down Under, so I invited Eliza to visit the Word Wenches. Happily, she said yes.

MJP: To begin with, who is Eliza Redgold?

ER: Eliza Redgold is based upon the old, Gaelic meaning of my given name, Dr. Elizabeth Reid Boyd.  English folklore has it that if you help a fairy, you will be rewarded with red gold. I was born in Irvine, Scotland on Marymass Day and currently live in Australia.

MJP: Naturally, as soon as I read that, I had to go online to find out what Marymass Day is!  The holiday commemorates a visit Mary Queen of Scots made to Irvine, and there is a parade complete with the Queen and the four Marys who were famously her attendants.  Eliza, from what I found online, the festival is in August but the date isn't fixed?

Barbara Hannay — The Secret Years

Anne here, interviewing my friend, Barbara Hannay about her newest book, THE SECRET YEARS. Barbara is an award-winning, bestselling author. She's written many short series romances for Harlequin, and has won several major awards, including RWA's RITA, the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award and Australia's Romantic Book of the Year Award (twice) — but in recent years she's moved into longer, more mainstream fiction.

I mentioned her book Moonlight Plains last month in What We're Reading, but her new book is something else again. It's been listed as a book of the month on iTunes-books, and Penguin Australia has given it one of their coveted "Guaranteed Great Read" medallions on the cover. The reviews are also glowing, and since there is a strong WWII thread in the book, I thought wenchly readers might enjoy meeting Barbara and finding out more about THE SECRET YEARS.

THE SECRET YEARS is set across two eras; World War II England (and other places) and modern-day Australia. As the blurb says, it "spans three generations of secrets, romance and heartbreak."

Anne: Welcome to the Word Wenches, Barbara. There are two intertwining stories in THE SECRET YEARS — a contemporary and a historical story, but since this is a historical blog, let's start with the historical one — your hero Harry and your heroine, George, aka the Honourable Georgina Lenton. Tell us about Harry and George.

Introducing Kate Forsyth

Anne here, introducing Dr Kate Forsyth, who I first met at a Romance Writers of Australia conference, where she was speaking. I hadn't read her, so before the conference I bought one of her books, Rhiannon's Ride, loved it, and immediately glommed everything she'd written. She's a multi-award-winning author who's written for kids, young adults and adults, and is currently writing historical/fantasy fiction inspired by fairytales.

Her book BITTER GREENS, a reworking of the fairy tale, Rapunzel, was awarded the 2015 American Libraries Association prize for Best Historical Fiction, and was listed as Library Journal (US) Best Historical Novel, as well as many other awards.  THE WILD GIRL is about Dortchen Wild, who grew up next door to the brothers Grimm and told them some of their most powerful and compelling stories. It's already garnering some wonderful reviews, including a starred review from Booklist.

The Brides of Waterloo

Nicola here! Today it is my very great pleasure to welcome to the Word Wenches three fabulous Regency authors who have collaborated on a trilogy to commemorate the 200^th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. Louise Allen, Annie Burrows and Sarah Mallory are the best selling authors who have joined together to write linked books to celebrate the heroes who fought and the women they loved. The trilogy is based on the real-life story of the artillery unit led by Captain Mercer who held one of the most hotly contested sections of the British line, and the love stories unfold in the authentic setting of Brussels society and the field of Waterloo before, during and after the battle.

Now it’s over to Annie to tell us about the background to the Waterloo Brides! Welcome to the blog!

Thanks for inviting us to your blog to talk about our brand new mini-series from Harlequin "Waterloo Brides".

When Sarah Mallory and Louise Allen contacted me, asking if I'd like to join in the project they were planning, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of that iconic battle, I barely hesitated before saying Yes!

For one thing, I absolutely adore writing military heroes - actually, I have to confess I adore reading them, too.  If a book has a navy SEAL or an ex marine hero, I fancy him straight away.  Even before I learn if his eyes are blue, or brown or anything else about how he looks.  He is obviously going to be a Real Man.  He has sacrificially served his country.  Has probably done brave deeds, possibly suffered injury, and will therefore be that irresistible mix of warrior hero, and tortured soul.  At once brave, yet broken.  Needing the love of just the right woman to make him whole again.

So - did I want to write a military hero?  You bet I did!

We warmed up to the series itself by creating the world of Randall's Rogues.  Sarah saw the hero of her book, Colonel Randall, as the creator of a unit of trained artillerymen - the troublemakers from various regiments who are on their last chance before getting hanged.  Or, as Louise Allen put it - a kind of dirty dozen in breeches.

The artillery were, in fact, answerable to the Board of Ordnance, and frequently annoyed Wellington by doing their own thing on the battlefield and on campaign, which was perfect for our purposes!

Before long, Randall's Rogues had not only a motto (Semper Laurifer), a mascot, (a huge, black shaggy dog) and a full complement of men (I could include the spreadsheet here with the names of their staff sargeants, farrier, and smiths!) but also, for aesthetic purposes, a uniform with blue jackets.

And then Louise Allen and I went along to a re-enactors event, to learn as much as we could about camp life (since her heroine is a camp-follower), and because they promised to fire a cannon.

It is one thing reading about the noise of cannon, quite another experiencing it.  The noise of just the one being fired was incredibly loud.  It no longer surprises me that people could hear the cannon fire from Quatre Bras as far away as Antwerp.

 We also saw examples of what a soldier of the time would have carried in his pack. It may surprise you to know (well, it did me, anyway) that soldiers of that time were expected to be clean-shaven, and were supplied with a mirror and razor for the purpose.  You can just see a shaving brush in the picture of kit.

The typical kit for a junior regimental officer would have had to fit into one haversack and two portmanteaux.  In his haversack were clasp knife, fork, spoon, tin mug, and any provisions he might be carrying.  The rest of his belongings were carried in two small portmanteaux, slung on each side of a mule.  In one of these was a uniform jacket, two pairs of trousers, waistcoats (white, coloured and flannel) a few pairs of flannel drawers and a dozen pairs of stockings.  In the other were shirts, cravats, a fitted dressing case, three pairs of boots, two pairs of shoes and a number of handkerchiefs.

All the men were expected to wash regularly and wear clean shirts.  Between the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo, many took the opportunity to shave and change their shirts.  Last time I met up with Sarah, we had a long discussion about whether this explained the appeal of soldiers over civilians at that time.  The rank and file not only had regular pay, and a pension if they were invalided out, but also washed more often and wore clean linen.

Shirts were one thing, the jackets another.  Made of wool, they must have been very hot to wear.  When I asked one of the re-enactors about it, he explained that wool was actually very practical.  It would soak up sweat, and then dry out rapidly when removed and hung out to air.

 In these two pictures you can see two ways the soldiers used to air out their damp jackets - in the first, they've used their stacked weapons as a makeshift clothes horse.  In the second, where the highland regiment are preparing for drill, you can just see, outside each tent, a sort of wooden cross - which had been put up specifically for hanging their jackets on.

Cheap dye could pose a problem, however.  In the rain, it could wash out and stain the trousers, which were often white, so that the unfortunate individual in a cheaply produced uniform would end up wearing shades of pink.

Taking care of the uniforms, and keeping their menfolk smartly turned out, in clean linen, provided plenty of work for the camp followers.

 And yet, in spite of learning about the hard work that went into keeping the soldiers looking smart, the perils of wool on a hot day, and cheap dye in the rain, I still think there is something inherently romantic about a Regency soldier's uniform.

Thank you to Annie, Louise and Sarah for giving us such a fascinating insight into their research. They will be dropping in to chat so if you have any questions for them on the Waterloo Brides series or what it was like to write linked books or anything else, post a comment! To get the (cannon) ball rolling we’re asking you who is your favourite fictional military hero?  One reader who comments will receive a signed copy of "A Mistress for Major Bartlett" by Annie Burrows.

Guest Tracy Grant on Mystery, Mayfair . . . and Governesses

 

Cara/Andrea, Today I'm delighted to welcome back my good friend Tracy Grant, who has come to give us a little historical backstory to the latest book in her marvelous Susanna and Malcolm Rannoch historical mystery series. For those of you who have not yet read Tracy's books, well, you're in for a treat! Set in the late Regency, they feature wonderfully nuanced, complex stories involving the world of espionage—where personal and professional loyalties are often tangled, and moral choices test the concepts of love, family and friendship. Her characters are beautifully rendered and her research of all aspects of the era is impeccable. I've been lucky enough to read an ARC, but rather than say any more, I'll now hand the pen over to Tracy and let her tell you more! Welcome, Tracy!

A Blue Plaque for Georgette Heyer

Anne here, reporting an event that took place in London a few days ago, when Georgette Heyer's house in Wimbledon was given a prestigious English Heritage blue plaque. I wasn't there (sob!) but my friend, Dr Jennifer Kloester, Georgette Heyer's biographer (and an honorary Word Wench) flew over for the opening, and has kindly supplied the photos and much of the information for this blog.

The English Heritage blue plaque scheme, founded in 1866, and thought to be the oldest of its kind in the world, identifies and celebrates "the architecture of London's streets and the diversity and achievements of its past residents."

According to Jennifer Kloester, "An English Heritage Blue Plaque is a prestigious thing. They are awarded to those people who are deemed to have made a contribution to the nation's history. Georgette Heyer has now been admitted to the ranks of those authors who have made a significant contribution to the creative and cultural life of Britain."

An Author at Hampton Court

Hi. Jo Beverley here delighted to welcome Margaret Evans Porter back to the Word Wenches. Margaret is an award-winning, bestselling novelist with a life-long interest in British history, and she generously shares her investigations.

Today she's blogging about Hampton Court Palace, one of the royal palaces. It plays a part in her first mainstream historical novel,  A Pledge of Better Times. "A sweeping tale of ambition, treachery, and passion For generations Lady Diana de Vere’s family loyally served England’s crown. But after King Charles II’s untimely death, her father firmly opposes James II’s tyranny. Charles Beauclerk, Duke of St. Albans—the late king’s bastard son by actress Nell Gwyn—also rebels against his newly crowned uncle’s manipulation.

Political and religious turmoil bring revolution and yet another coronation before Charles returns to from war to claim his promised bride. In palace corridors and within their own household the young duke and duchess confront betrayals, scandals, and tragedies that threaten to divide them. And neither the privileges of birth nor proximity to the throne can ensure their security, their advancement—or their happiness."  

That sounds thrilling, Margaret. I look forward to how Hampton Court plays a part.

Margaret Evans Porter.

As a teenager, entirely unaware of the impact it would have upon my future, I spent a full day Hampton Court Palace. On that initial visit I had my pocket journal, and at some point I recorded my thoughts my chief impression: “Never has history seemed so alive to me.” I was very much taken with the gardens. “I think every flower is in bloom. The roses are as big as my face.” Lunch was a picnic on the grass. I got lost in the maze—temporarily.

 

Travelling the roads of Regency England with Louise Allen!

Nicola here, and today I am thrilled to welcome Louise Allen back to the Word Wenches! As well as being a hugely popular and award-winning author of historical romance, Louise is a lover of London history and especially the Georgian period, and is the author of Walking Jane Austen's London. Today Louise is talking about how her research has led to her writing two other non-fiction books that are a must for both authors and history-lovers alike: Stagecoach Travel and Following the Great North Road. I can recommend both books very highly indeed and it's a great pleasure to hear from Louise about the background to the books.

Over to Louise:

One of the joys of writing historical romance is the research – and, of course, it is one of the worst temptations as a displacement activity. You look up which inns served the stagecoach route to Bath for one sentence in the novel and the next thing you know it is four hours later, you’ve bought a book of stagecoach timetables (expensive), an 1812 route map (even more expensive) and you are side tracked into wondering what the food was like at the inns in Newbury.

Renee Huff on Tokens of Love

by Mary Jo

I met jeweler and jewelry historian Renee Huff at last year's Romantic Times conference in New Orleans, where I fell in love with (and bought!) an unusual Victorian necklace from her.  She's fascinating to talk to, so I prevailed on her to visit us last summer.  (Renee's Etsy shop, Jeweled Legacy, can now ship internationally, if you'd like to browse the wide range of things she carries.) 

Now with Valentine's Day almost here, she's visiting again to talk about historic love tokens.  Renee, tells us about Snakes of Love!

Renee Huff:  It's almost St Valentine's Day. What do you get your Georgian or Victorian era sweetie?

You might get them something with a serpent. The snake has gotten a bad reputation in more recent times, but in the old days serpents were the symbol of Eternal Love and Union, based largely on the ancient symbol of the Ouroboros. It was such a prevalent image that when Albert proposed to Victoria, the engagement ring was a gold serpent. If you were secret lovers, the snake would be less obvious- perhaps woven in the background or disguised as a design element like a bail or the bezel holding in a stone. (MJP: Find the snakes in these gorgeous earrings!)

Clasped hands in what was referred to as the Fede style- from the Italian Mani in Fede, or Hands in Faith were also popular. Eventually they would be modified into the Luckenbooth brooch- a romantic crowned heart with the initials of the two lovers entwined, and the Claddagh--the hands cradling a heart with a crown on top.

Flowers weren't just for nosegays and tussie-mussies. Blooms, whether reproduced in gold, silver or gems, retained their meaning in jewelry as well. Roses, daisies and orange blossoms spring immediately to mind as they have remained in use, but other blooms were also common. Pansies for think of me, Ivy for fidelity, Lily of the Valley for sweetness, acorns for a long life (together), Violets for modesty and of course Forget-Me-Nots for true love.

 Forget-me-nots were frequently made with Persian Turquoise and eventually turquoise took the same meaning regardless of design. It was Prince Albert's favorite stone, and enjoyed great popularity during his lifetime.

Speaking of stone meanings, Garnet symbolized loyalty, fidelity and faithful love. The rich red of garnet was associated with the Goddess of Love and all matters of romance. Many engagement and wedding rings were made with garnets for faithful love and pearls for purity. Pearls were very valuable, a miracle of nature, and I will try not to sidetrack on the staggering expense of large, round matching pearls. Even small pearls were valuable, and parures of 'seed' pearls were considered appropriate gifts for young ladies.

Gemstones were also used to send acrostic messages. The first letter in the name of each gem spelled out things like 'Regard' or 'Dearest'. They looked a lot like our 'Mother's Rings'- a band of gemstones that didn't necessarily look harmonious together. Some of them are hard to distinguish-- love was most often simply Lapis, Opal, orange-red specimens of Vanadinite or Valentinite, and sometimes Emerald, but not always.  

Or you could sideline the gems and give them an imperishable part of yourself- your hair. Rings and watch chains were braided, hidden compartments held coiled locks or woven designs, and hair work designs were set under crystal on every kind of jewelry imaginable. Dresser sets had a dish with an open top, called a hair receiver, to save those precious strands.

The one thing you won't see much of in courting jewelry during this time is diamonds. Diamonds symbolized wealth and maturity. It wouldn't be until the late 1890's that diamonds start to be associated with marriage, but that's a story for another day!

Mary Jo again. I knew that the Victorians were fond of using the hair of loved ones for memento jewelry, and I've seen some elaborate examples, but I never heard of the 'hair receiver' on a dressing table!

It's not jewelry, but I just got some advance reading copies of my September book, Not Always a Saint, so as a Valentine bonus, I'll give a copy to one person who comments between now and midnight Thursday. 

Our historical romance heroines often have or receive jewelry with special meanings, particularly if it comes from the hero.  Do you have any special love tokens that you cherish?  I'd love to hear!

 

Renee, thanks so much for visiting us again. 

Mary Jo, sighing happily over the lovely pictures of bright shinies

     

 

 

 

Guest Amanda (McCabe) Carmack Talks Tudor!

Cara/Andrea here, Today I'm delighted to welcome back my dear friend Amanda McCabe, a favorite with many of our readers for her scintillating Regency romances for both Signet and Harlequin. But today she's wearing her Tudor velvets and jewels as she tells us a little about her historical mystery series, written as Amanda Carmack, set in the court of Queen Elizabeth. (Those of you who haven't read them are in for a treat!) Amanda loves historical detail as much as we do, so without further ado, I shall let her fill you in on some of the fun details behind Murder In The Queen's Garden, her latest release.

Amanda here, Kate Haywood and her adventures are, of course, a work of imagination (even though she often feels like a real friend to me, after I've been lucky enough to follow her through three books!).  But one of the fun “perks” of writing, I've always found, is the research.  The chance to jump into a time hundreds of years in the past, discover the people and places and events, and try to make it feel “real” again—I love all of that.

The Art of Creating a Deliciously Desirable Hero

Cara/Andrea here, I'm delighted to kick off our regular blog schedule for the new year by welcoming back my good friend and Honorary Word Wench Miranda Neville. Nt only does Miranda craft delightfully smart and sophisticated Regency romances, but as those who have read her books know she also draws on her expertise in period history and art to create a wonderful ambiance of the era. In her latest book, which released just last week, she found inspiration in an unexpected place . . . so without further ado, I shall hand over the pen and let her tell us all about it!

Miranda here,
For The Duke of Dark Desires, I used a remarkable creation of the Regency period. One of London’s best art collections is also relatively unknown, probably because it’s inconvenient to reach by public transport. Dulwich Picture Gallery opened in 1817 and is the oldest public art gallery in England. It houses an extraordinary collection of Dutch, French, Italian and Flemish Old Masters including Rembrandt, Rubens, Raphael, Poussin, and Fragonard, as well as English masters like Gainsborough and Lawrence.

The existence of this great museum in a fairly obscure part of south London arose from the career of a pair of eighteenth-century art dealers, Noël Desenfans and Sir Francis Bourgeois. Commissioned by the King of Poland to assemble a ready-made collection of masterworks, the paintings were left on their hands when Poland (not for the first time) succumbed to more powerful neighbors. Failing to find a buyer elsewhere (both the Tsar of Russia and the British government turned it down), the collection was bequeathed by Bourgeois to his old school, Dulwich College, with the stipulation that it be displayed to the public.

Not only was it the first public gallery in England, it was also the first purpose-built gallery in the world. Sir John Soane, one of the most interesting architects of the day, designed the building, including revolutionary roof-lanterns that provided natural top light ideal for viewing art. Adjacent to the gallery space, slightly macabrely, is a mausoleum for Bourgeois, Desenfans, and the latter’s wife.

Before he inherited the title, Julian Fortescue, the hero of my latest book, had to work for his living so he followed his passion and became an art dealer. Though still considered trade, it wasn’t unusual for gentleman to do a little genteel wheeling and dealing, tracking down European treasures to meet the voracious appetite of wealthy Englishmen for works of art. (Sir William Hamilton, Emma’s husband, is a famous example.) Revolutionary Paris offered rich pickings as aristocrats fled the country.  Such a story is at the crux of the plot of The Duke of Dark Desires. I also incorporated elements of the Dulwich history into the book, as well as the long, fruitless effort to establish a national collection, which succeeded only with the foundation of the National Gallery in 1824. Best of all, I was able to raid the art galleries of the world to assemble Julian’s collection.

I don’t want to give the impression that The Duke of Dark Desires is a treatise on art history. This is the short blurb:

Julian Fortescue never expected to inherit a dukedom, nor to find himself guardian to three young half-sisters. Now in the market for a governess, he lays eyes on Jane Grey and knows immediately she is qualified--to become his mistress. To find the man responsible for the deaths of her family, Jeanne de Falleron enters the Duke of Denford's house as governess Jane Gray. As she discovers more clues about the villain she seeks, she's faced with a possibility more disturbing than her growing feelings for the duke: What will she do if the man she loves is also the man she has sworn to kill?

I’m always pleased when I can tailor real historical events to fit my novels and I especially enjoyed the inspiration of the Dulwich Picture Gallery. I will be thrilled if I encourage a few people to visit this gem. Incidentally, there’s an excellent café!

I am a keen museum goer and I love discovering new ones. Do you have a favorite “lesser known” museum or historic site? Perhaps there’s a hidden gem in your area. If so, I would like to know. One commenter will be chosen at random to win a copy of The Duke of Dark Desires.

Through the academic lens

Hi, Jo here, delighted to welcome Dr. Catherine Roach to the Word Wenches. Catherine is Professor of Gender and Cultural Studies at the University of Alabama. I attended her fascinating at the Romantic Novelists Association conference last July and invited her to be a guest on the blog. I'm so pleased she agreed, because her feminist angle on romance novels made me think, and what's more, she's a romance novelist herself.

Her talk was about the core claims of the romance storyline -- the underlying beliefs of the romance reader and the messages contained in the books, and I thought many of them are particularly powerful in historical romance.

However, I'll begin at the end, with Catherine's final paragraph in her paper, as it sets up the discussion. "The romance story. An analysis of the human condition. A prescription for happiness. A blue print for how to live the good life. An illusion. A recipe for disaster. An addiction. A universal truth. Esteem enlivened by desire. The bonding of two into one. The brainwashing of individuals by power structures with something to gain. You decide. Me, I think it's some of all of the above. And more."

Talking Tudor Fiction with Suzannah Dunn

Nicola here. Today I have the very great pleasure of welcoming best-selling British historical author Suzannah Dunn to the Word Wenches. I first came across Suzannah’s books when she was writing contemporary novels and she became an auto-buy for me. When I discovered that she had turned to writing Tudor-set historical fiction I was very happy indeed! The May Bride is her new book and tells the story of Jane Seymour and Jane's friendship with her dazzling sister-in-law Katherine Filliol. It’s a multi-faceted book with mystery, history, romance, intrigue and family relationships intermingled in a fascinating whole.

Suzannah, welcome to the Word Wenches! The May Bride has Jane Seymour as its narrator but it is as much the story of Jane’s sister-in-law Katherine Filliol as it is of Jane. How did you come across Katherine Filliol’s story? Why did it appeal to you?

I can't remember when I first came across it - it seems always to have been there, off to one side but
sort of disappearing whenever I turned to try to look at it, if you know what I mean.  It was never - anywhere - more than a mention, more than a footnote.  And that fascinated me.  Because how could something so big, as it were, have almost disappeared?  Edward Seymour was - became - a Big Tudor, he was Lord Protector for several years of the boy-king Edward V1's reign: ie effectively, he ruled England for those years  (which were years of great change, years which made much of the England that we recognise today).  How did he come to have such a hideous scandal in his private life - and by the way, he was such an unlikely person to have had a hideous scandal in his private life, which also fascinated me - and we know next to nothing about it? (Answer:  Edward was nothing if not efficient, and he was very efficient in keeping this under wraps...)

 

Regency Masquerades

by Mary Jo

Such a deal!  In Regency Masquerades, six talented Regency veterans have released a box set containing six full length Regency novels, including the RITA winning Gwen's Ghost by Alicia Rasley and Lynn Kerstan.  (This might be the only RITA won by a writing team and the book is great, with Alicia and Lynn writing different characters so the story is integrated seamlessly.)  AND they're offering the set for a special introductory price of 99 cents to reward their long term readers!  
 
So here, forthwith, are Alicia Rasley, Allison Lane, Brenda Hiatt, Lynn Kerstan, Elena Green, and Gail Eastwood:


Alicia: What's In a Mask?
Romance readers love masquerades.  A masquerade implies intrigue, elegance, illusion, and even naughtiness.  A masquerade can be used to create alter egos and secret lives.  But the real fun comes when the mask slips, revealing all that the players have been hiding.  That's when love steps up to accept, forgive, and forge new identities and alliances.
 
In this boxed set, we have assembled six novels, each with some variation of the ever-variable theme of masquerade. Whether it's disguise or deception, the characters have reason to mask themselves in some way. As you read, see if you can tell how each character unwittingly chooses a "mask" that reveals the true self… and somehow aids in true love.