Jane Austen - What Do you Really Know about Her?

For any one who writes Regency romances or aspires to such, it really is worth getting a copy of Jane Austen’s Letters. The letters are invaluable for finding out prices of goods and fare during the Regency era, and of course, she reveals so much about life in her time.

Below is a snippet (copied exactly) from a letter by Jane Austen to Anna Austen, inclusive spelling mistakes and grammatical errors: note the humour in Jane’s voice alongside encouragement bestowed upon Anna’s writing.

BTW: Jane’s spelling within other letters is shocking!! She was obviously never taught the rhyme of I before E except after C… And her sister Cassandra commits similar literary sins. That said, I thought this letter was highly amusing re Jane’s witty comments about other authors.

…You have been perfectly right in telling Ben of your work, & I am very glad to hear he likes it. His encouragement & approbation must be quite “beyond everything.” — I do not at all wonder at his not expecting to like anybody so well as Cecilia at first, but shall be surprised if he does not become a Susan-ite in time. — Devereux Forester’s being ruined by his Vanity is extremely good; but I wish you would not let him plunge into a “vortex of Dissipation”. I do not object to the Thing, but I cannot bear the expression; it is such thorough novel slang — and so old, that I dare say Adam met with it in the first novel he opened. — Indeed I did very much like to know Ben’s opinion. — I hope he will continue to be pleased with it, I think he must — but I cannot flatter him with there being much Incident. We have no great right to wonder at his not valueing the name of Progillian. That is a source of delight which he hardly ever can be quite competent to. — Walter Scott has no business to write novels, especially good ones. — It is not fair. — He has Fame & Profit enough as a Poet, and should not be taking the bread out of other people’s mouths. — I do not like him, & do not mean to like Waverley if I can help it. — but fear I must. — I am quite determined however not to be pleased with Mrs West’s Alicia de Lacy, should I ever meet with it, which I hope I may not. — I think I can be stout against any thing written by Mrs West. — I have made up my mind to like no Novels really but Miss Edgeworth’s, Yours & my own. —  …

As an aside: do you recognise this passage and in which of Jane’s titles does it feature? It’s taken from an original publication, not a modern revised edition by 20th century editor.   

She looked round the room. The window curtains seemed in motion. It could be nothing but the violence of the wind penetrating through the divisions of the shutters; and she stepped boldly forward, carelessly humming a tune, to assure herself of its being so, peeped courageously behind each curtain, saw nothing on either low window-seat to scare her, and on placing a hand against the shutter, felt the strongest conviction of the wind’s force. A glance at the old chest, as she turned away from this examination, not without its use; she scorned the causeless fears of an idle fancy, and began with a most happy indifference to prepare herself for bed.

Don’t you just love her rambling convoluted sentences...    

I love Jane Austen's letters as much as I love her novels. When reading her private thoughts and asides one hears her true voice, aside from her narrator voice. She was critical of other writers, but in a comic manner. One can even hear a touch of envy in one or two of her more brittle comments, but she conveys admiration too for fellow writers of her day and of those who were penning novels before she began her writings, such as Mrs Radcliffe's Gothic tomes, and Sir Walter Scott. Who we can ponder, inspired her writings?

To obtain a copy of J's letters go here. This particular book compiled by Diedre le Faye is superb, even to the finite details of page numbering and scribbled items Jane penned in margins, headers & footers. 

New Kindle Book - Infamous Rival!

Writing this particular novella was a thrilling experience. In the main because I dabbled with a murder mystery plot, yet a romance is at its heart. I love stories involving scandal/s. Hence, Georgette's disgrace and fall from favour has more to do with gossip mongers than any guilt for her part beyond that of finding herself in the wrong place at the wrong moment. 

Infamous Rival is set against the backdrop of London, Bath and Wells, and as always happens with any novel/las that I end up penning, this story came to me in a glorious overnight dream movie. All the characters stem from viewing portraits a few days beforehand, of which most are featured within the book trailer below. I count myself lucky in the ease with which my characters enter play and take centre stage. Needless to say the image below is Georgette (L) and her misguided and dangerous rival Eliza (R).

Amazon UK link

Book's blurb:

Once the darling of the beau monde, Georgette Lady Beaumont’s reputation lies in tatters after the apparent suicide of Lord Brockenbury’s heir. Shunned by society she embraces a secretive lifestyle in which she endeavours to evade Adam Brockenbury, whom she loathes as much as he desires her. Believing him capable of murder to gain his heart’ desire, she is not alone in thinking his elder brother’s death as somewhat suspicious, and whilst on a clandestine visit to her dearest friends she encounters a stranger of note.

Her travelling companion, although of charming disposition and of considerable handsomeness, something about him airs dark and secretive but unmitigated mutual attraction exists that neither can deny. Unfortunately he’s a Brockebury too, and as love, jealousy and hate take precedence, three murders are committed and Georgette quite believes she will be the murderer’s next victim, but who is the real murderer?          

So tell me, how do your characters materialise? 

Do you know them before you start writing or do you struggle to visualise them as you write?

  

See more book trailers here.

New Paperback - Character Guest Blogging - New Year's Resolution.

A message from Christina Napier (character in Scandalous Whispers). 

A New Year, January 2012 and I have seemingly slipped through time. Until this morning I had no concept of my existence in this other world. So, what or who am I? Now that is something I too must come to terms with. Nevertheless, I am here, in some nether world. My very thoughts, my spoken words now appearing before me on a rather peculiar device. But let me begin at the begin: 

Awakened by a bright light this very morn the concept of book and stepping from its pages became a whole new experience for me. I am, it would seem, a character within a book and my name is Christina. I was born into a fictional world and have no recollection of existence before my 21^st year, for that is where my story begins, along with that of the man I love Robert Lord Devonish.  Do I like this other world? Hmm.

It has many benefits, I shall grant it that: quite luxurious benefits. Though I cannot imagine why one would wish to have a metal carriage, and one that has to be driven to a strange place to be fuelled so that it functions, and then driven away again. Horses are so much more practical: fed and watered on one’s premises, and drive-away at mere request of carriage ordered to the front door at a specified time.

The greatest benefit of this 2012 world, of which I approve most sincere, is that of a bathroom. What a delightful experience!  Oh, and there are wonderful machines for kitchen staff, not least a contraption that washes clothes, washes dishes, and another which sucks dirt from rugs. Just think of the saving in house staff numbers, if all these things could be taken back to my fictional world of England in the year 1818. But of course, they would be useless in our world.   

Another device I find most amusing is that from which I hear a voice, and likewise I can be heard, yet both speakers miles distant. There is also what is referred to as The TV. It’s a rather fun contraption, but the device it requires to function correctly seems to malfunction with regularity. I think I shall be glad to get back to my own world, where women are feminine and men are men, for I have seen breeches everywhere and worn by men and women alike. But I thank my creator for giving me a glimpse of her world, and if not for her New Year’s resolution to publish in paperback I might be trapped inside a Kindle contraption instead of crispy new paperback book.           

Oh, and other people have posted New Year Resolution posts, their links, apparently, here.


Footnote: I thought I had better mention the paperback is a collection of (3) novellas Volume 1: 320 pages. All the novellas are available as individual Kindle books.

New Kindle Book - Scandalous Whisper!

I have again indulged in the Regency period with this love story, but unlike my Georgian novella "The Highwayman's Mistress" this one is set entirely within England.  While heroic officers & gentlemen abound, two of the latter prove themselves more rogues than gentlemen!     

blurb:

England, September 1818, and the Hon Mrs. Napier views the Earl of Kilder as a most desirable suitor for her daughter’s hand in marriage. Forced to engage with the extremely handsome and charming earl, a darker side to his nature is revealed and Christina despises his very presence. Worse, her twin brother cavorts with the earl in unmentionable pursuits, and equally bent on seeing her married to his favoured friend. Luckily, with the return of the 11th Dragoons from France, their eldest brother’s homecoming affords Christina brief respite from the earl’s overt attentions. 

So too, the man Christina admires above all others has returned to the Netherwood Estate. A chance meeting and lingering eye contact with her heart’s desire stirs rebellion within her. Her mother impervious to an act of wilful subterfuge insists Christina will marry the earl, but Christina indulges in secret liaisons with the man of her dreams. With deception retribution must follow and a cruel price is to be paid when Robert Lord Devonish is recalled to duty, the regiment bound for India. What will become of her now there is no one to save her from the earl’s clutches? 

See book trailer here.

The Highwayman's Mistress - Live on Kindle!

Today The Highwayman's Mistress went live as Kindle e-book at Amazon: see left sidebar for link.

Be warned it has three explicit sex scenes.

The first chapter is available to read: see left sidebar, or read sample Kindle version at Amazon.

This is the cover, and below the blurb!

The novella is set in 1792 - 1793 respectively: the era of the French Revolution.

Richard Courtenay Viscount Somerton, gallant as heroes come, has agreed to see Miss Diamonta Whitaker, safely delivered to the Palace of Versailles. Half French by birth and daughter of a French countess, Diamonta has more than one reason for accepting a gracious invite to stay at the Royal Court at Versailles. Her heart lies at court, with Francois de Boviere, Count of Saint Mont Marche.

Unfortunately, tide of revolution has swept from Paris to Versailles and heads of French aristocrats are seriously under threat of Madame Guillotine. With Diamonta's coche still en route to Versailles, strange as it seems a highwayman delivers a message by way of robbery to save her life. Can she, upon return to England, ever recover from her mother's wrath once her relationship with a highwayman is discovered, and can he survive a duel to the death?

See book trailer here

Publishing Contract signed - Novella Published & Now Available on Kindle!

A few weeks ago I signed a publishing contract for a contemporary romance, which I'm delighted about, but it won't be published until July 2012. 

In the meantime I've celebrated with "Her Favoured Captain" a historical novella, now available as a Kindle e-book.  

It took a while to get around to posting this historical novella to Amazon but it's there now!

The problem lay with the book trailer: getting it to function as best I could and with the music helping to set the scenes. I never thought book trailers would be seen as so important for e-books. But, I guess all the stops have to be pulled in utilisation of every marketing tool available, especially for something that sits within a virtual book store.

I'm one of those people that's willing to give anything a try, see bottom of post for end result.

Also, formatting for Kindle is no picnic. I'd class Kindle formatting nothing less than a hair-pulling experience. Nevertheless, I cracked it to what I think is as good as perfection given that Kindle automatically (annoyingly) indented first line of first paragraph to every darn chapter. 

Anyhoo, the link to "Her Favoured Captain" at Amazon: see top left side-bar. 

See Book Trailer here.

New Excerpt from Novella.

Writing a novella is something new for me, and I may not, come the ending, feel happy with a shortened story. Who can say? But I'm giving it a go, because like flash-fiction, it's a great exercise in honing one's work, of cutting to the bone yet still conveying a wonderful story. The image below inspired the writing of "Her Favoured Captain"  an ongoing WIP.

It's a Royal Navy ship, and something about the image stirred my imagination.  The dark sky, the chill looking waters and sails lashed in implied (to me) the hulk at anchor, and that aspect inspired dark thoughts.  What if, what if . . . ?  And, from those dark thoughts came Emerald Lady Penhavean and a mysterious Captain of the high seas. If you would like to sample a taste of this novella, go here.
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   Quick add-on: I have now finished this novella, and it has a lovely twist in the tale!

Research or no research!

When it comes to “do you do research for modern contemporary novels?” then the answer is a great fat NO. It’s always seemed as though characters have either lived in places I have or places I’ve visited and fell in love with: sometimes vice versa. Horses have often featured. Hardly surprising because equines are second nature to me, and they make for a great backdrop interspersed with action. Basically, I stick with what I’m familiar with.

However, a historical novel requires much research. Despite my prior knowledge of plots and period setting (1600/1700s), there are facets of every day life I’m unfamiliar with even though I feel a great affinity with the 17th and early 18th century. Basic food, miraculously, proved little different than today with regards bread, bacon (ham) and meat, eggs, plain un-exotic vegetables and fruit, and preserving of such re salted beef, jams, preserves. But, when did cocoa (drinking chocolate) first hit these shores? When did China tea first hit these shores? When did coffee first hit these shores? When did each become commercial properties served in coffee houses? China tea became a commercial item long after having been consumed in private by wealthy elements in society. Another interesting fact: did you know people drank hawthorn flower/leaf tea beside herbal concoctions, ale, and wine? The former, very refeshing and not unlike green tea!

 But, now here’s the thing, I quite got carried away with research on ladies and gentleman’s attire: not style because I’m up on all that. My interest lay in what kind of fabrics were available, where and how sourced? I adore velvet, satin, silk, and damask. With the Elizabethan era at end (see above) square necklines with their stiff upright lace collars, neck-ruffs, and below waist girdles with navel point soon fell out of favour. By 1644 and the Civil War raging in its second year, ladies necklines became softer. And, as can be seen from the images below, styles for wealthy ladies changed back and forth during this period.

 Round necklines were in, so too soft voile modesty drapes for some while soft lace frills favoured by others. Sleeves became quite flamboyant with puffs, sometimes with velvet outer and slits to allow peep of contrast silk under. Skirts and bodice/girdles often stopped at the waist, and all made from a variety of luscious fabrics: velvets, satins, silks, damask and other. The Puritans on the other hand retained square necklines and adopted modesty drapes and or stiff up-to-the-neck collars. Their skirts and bodice mostly that of wool and girdles/bodice sometimes kidskin: suede as we know it today.

Why need for this much research, one might ask. But, if I’d remained ignorant of this knowledge how could I let a reader see and feel the fabric of the MC’s outfit and that of other characters? By the late 17th century early 18th, girdles/bodice with navel split-points were in favour. Sleeves were tailored narrow from shoulder to frill trim at or below elbow, and frills on skirts in abundance. See left hand image. 

Oh, just a quick reminder: although we're in 2011 it's the 21st century. The years 1600 are 17th century so on and so forth!

Ahem, history lesson over. School out!  ;)



Historical Romance & Research!

As anybody who knows me from regular blogging over at my fun-writer blog (see sidebar), I love writing historical romances. With historicals comes research, and although I often get carried away on research I never allow it to encroach on the story beyond that of background setting. There's nothing worse than getting into a novel and then it appears to be more a lesson in history than that of mere escape to another era where love and romance are supposedly key.   

I love Tudor/Elizabethan novels and adored Jane Austen's works, so too more modern classics written by Daphne du Maurier and others. The latter probably more to my liking writing-wise, in that I haven't as yet felt compelled to write within the Napoleonic era. My favourite period  remains 1700s. After all, it was a truly swashbuckling era when men wore flamboyant outfits and women glorious gowns, the better-off that is.



The richness of embossed velvets, satins, silks and lace trims, literally fabulous in my mind. I quite believe I was born several hundred years too late, because these same fabrics (bar lace) I have draped around the house and, apt to hoard in abundance! In today's lifestyle such fabrics are only suitable for extremely posh functions and special occcasions, and a total no-no for pushing super-market trolleys around. 

My writing often stems from images, mostly that of portraits, and the following became the catalyst to my first venture into writing historicals. I  have no idea why, but the young lady in the portrait introduced herself as Anna Lady Maitcliffe: to the subconscious. 

Subsequently, Anna's story and that of the one she loved above all others came to me in overnight dream movie sequence. 

So taken with  her - and the awfulness of the Civil War - I felt compelled to tell her story. While divided loyalties tear her family apart and hidden truths come to light, her beloved is banished from his family home and estate lands, and her life becomes one of survival at any cost. And, despite trials and tribulations faced by all the characters, and her personal sacrifice for fear of being married off to a young Cavalier rake, war comes to Axebury Hall Estate and turns her world upside down and inside out. Although death heralds a turn in the war, can past deeds and that of heartbreak and betrayal ever be put aside? The new lord wonders whether love or rejection awaits him on his return!       

Dreams can come True!

Thanks for dropping by my blog.

Like all good romance stories, it's up to the hero to find the key to the heroine's heart!

As far as my heroines' go, once the key is found and her heart unlocked, no matter what may occur to cause a parting of the ways all roads lead back to where they came from.   ;) 



As this blog is essentially about my writing, I don't want to clutter this window with waffle about moi.  After all, what am I but a writer casting characters; setting scenes and creating lavish backdrops. Sometimes a hero and/or heroine may cause moi to tread a dangerous path, all the while passion and obsession luring them and me toward a romantic liaison. Sometimes insane jealousy enters play, maybe even revenge when dark emotional pits of despair lie in wait for the unwary and trap them in its evil grip.

Yet always, dreams can come true: but how?  The latter being the reason why - as readers of romance - we love the thrill of the chase, intimate eye contact, fleeting touch of hands, the first sensual kiss and, the moment when the love between hero and heroine becomes all consuming, all possessing and downright hot hot hot! For  now, though, it's back to a second historical novel: one in sequence of three set within same period of history.  ;)  

See what other writers said

(August 2010) re 700 word snippet taken from the Historical featured in sidebar.





Romance is all about placing obstacles in the way of a hero so that an HEA (happy ever after) fails to happen seven pages into a book. 

All barriers, as we expect, will be overcome, eventually.
How that is to happen is the burning question, and whether the execution of the turning point renders believable or ridiculous!