The Royal Pavilion Menu

Stumbled upon this today while doing research. A state dinner with the Grand Duke of Russia with an out of this world menu.

What's new?

 

Some updates:

Wicked Affairs – I am disappointed to tell you another year has gone by, and I didn’t get a WA book completed. They are in the works, but I can’t seem to get to THE END. Plus, I had a very interesting ‘idea’ session (meaning I just took a lot of notes) about the children of the WA couples and what a fun series that would be as they move into the Victorian era. Oh, the possibilities.

Infamous Forresters – Books Four and Five are moving right along. I was working hard on Oliver and Lavinia’s story since they had just walked off the boat in England as Love Me Once (Shelene and Roman’s story) wrapped up but Nick and Virginia’s story has been more compelling. Normally, romance is hard times than joy at the end… This is in reverse. They are experiencing a great amount of joy at the beginning of their story but their worlds are about to come crashing down. Nick and Virginia’s story is also set in several different (non-London) settings. That always means more research which I love.

Shot in the dark – Just today I submitted a story to a publisher! I haven’t done that in over six years since Ellora’s Cave closed. This is part of a series, so if the publisher doesn’t accept it, I’ll have to do some rewriting before I can publish independently. I’m trying to reach more readers. Hope this works out.

The Curse of the Weatherby Ball – I’ve got some ideas I am fleshing out here. I do like the idea of this series and want to keep it going.

Maggie Sloane – Another series idea here. Maggie was introduced in An Occasion to Sin. The idea is to have her hoping across Europe with two young men chasing her and she ignoring them while she solves mysteries. Still roughing this out.

That’s it for now!

New Project

It's been several years since I submitted a work to a publisher. However, I found one that is right up my alley. Right now, I'm preparing the submission which includes the first 50-pages or about 25,000 words so I've been cranking that out. My editor will need to do a pass before I turn it in.

I feel really excited about this. Before when I published with EC, it seemed like I could crank out the book because I had real deadlines. Four books a year was very doable. I would love to return to that kind of word production.

And my hero will be a character the likes of which I have never written!!

Wish me luck.

The Infamous Forresters Book 4 and 5 - Coming soon-ish

I just posted a new update on the Infamous Forrester's book pages, but thought I'd put it upfront so you can see what is coming...

Book Five - Oliver and Lavinia - who may or may not be lying about who she is. You met her in Love Me Once as Oliver's nurse while he recuperates from the wounds received at the mutiny aboard the HMS Victorious.

Book Four - Nicolas and Virginia Sinclair - who may or may not be about to ruin her reputation just so she can have a grand, passionate affair before she marries. Oh, and Nicolas may or may not already be married...

Nick and Ginny - free spirits of the Regency world

 "When life is easy and carefree, nothing seems impossible. Not the grand, passionate affair. Not the halcyon days of pleasure. Not the love that cannot be.

Nicolas Forrester and Virginia Sinclair had their glorious moment. Their sunburst. Their stars. Now they have ashes."

The fourth installment in the Infamous Forresters is getting close. I'm at 40,000 words and the chapters are tumbling out. I can barely keep up.

There are no secrets to be revealed, only tragic hurt that may be too difficult to overcome.

Regency Era Calling Card Cases

Sometimes research leads down a rabbit hole that makes you wonder, "why did I not know this?"

This snippet is from the Historical Hussies blog about calling cards, but I was intrigued because I'd never read anything about the actual carrying cases for those cards. And I am clueless why I never thought to look it up before.

Quality calling cards were made from a high-quality paper, often plain as ornamentation on a card was considered to be poor taste until later in the 19th century and they were engraved. They were kept in beautiful cases, which during the Regency era, were primarily of filigree, leather and tortoiseshell, but later in the century became more elaborate—ivory, tortoiseshell and woodwork.

Late in the Victorian era, they were sometimes painted with views of castles or scenery. A gentleman’s card case was slightly smaller than a lady’s since he had to carry it in his pocket.

Observation

 I'm writing Book Four and Book Five of The Infamous Forresters. Oliver's book (hopefully you are familiar with him if you've read Love Me Once) along with Nicolas's Book, who you've barely heard of...

So what is my observation? I've written these books thinking they were going to be about these alpha males (which they are) who conquered their worlds (which they have) but I have been pleasantly surprised by the women I have been writing.

As a whole, they are dynamic, independent women, toeing the line between propriety and their more than slight desires to be something other than what society wants them to be. And I love that the Forresters have been willing and are attracted to women who aren't the typical ton debutantes.

Nicolas and Oliver have been especially smitten. The words are just falling on the page!

Pics of Salisbury, England