Pride and Prejudice - Colin Firth

Those of you in America who haven't yet seen Andrew Davies' 1995 critically acclaimed adaptation of Jane Austen's best loved novel are in for a treat when the first episode hits your television screens tomorrow. A strong cast, led by Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, bring Austen's Britain to life so impressively that when it was first shown in the UK it attracted a whole new generation of fans to Austen's novels.

David Bamber, in turn pompous and obsequious, makes a superb Mr Collins whilst Alison Steadman's portrayal of Mrs Bennet, cringe-makingly embarrassing at times, reminds us there were were few stratagems a mother with five daughters to marry off wasn't prepared to stoop to in order to see them comfortably settled.

Ehle shines in the role of the principled and spirited Lizzie Bennet but it's Colin Firth's Darcy, with his searchingly aloof expressions and brooding good looks that stays with the viewer long after the credits have rolled. His powerful performance conveys the impression of arrogant superiority attributed to him in the book but manages to hint as well at a heart brimming with sensitivity lurking beneath his fastidiously correct exterior.

By and large the adaptation remains true to the book but there are, of course, a few deviations, the most widely documented being the famous scene where Darcy returns to Pemberley a day earlier than expected. The weather is warm and impulsively he strips off his outer garments and dives into the lake. His emergence, dripping wet, clothes stuck to his impressive torso, earned him a cult following of adoring female fans at the time. Firth himself was reported to be surprised by this, wondering how anyone could find him even remotely sexy!

Enjoy!

Wendy Soliman

Mills & Boon 100th birthday party

The cover artwork is the copyright of Harlequin Mills & Boon Ltd. The cover I am featuring was A Damnable Rogue, which won the RNA Romance Prize of 2004

Yesterday, wearing my Anne Herries hat, I went to the 100th birthday party of this wonderful publisher. Harlequin Mills & Boon is probably the largest and most successful publisher of romance worldwide. Its books are enjoyed by millions of readers, because you can always rely on them to cheer you up and banish the blues.

The party was held at the Wallace Collection in Manchester Square, London. There were torches flaring outside and girls dressed as pink flamingoes on stilts waving feathers at arrivign guests. Inside there were wonderful flowers, a candyfloss stall and the champagne was flowing. It was a 'sad crush' as they liked to say in Regency times. So many people talking all at the same time that it was difficutl to hear the tenor and the speeches.

All the ladies were given a beautiful scented red rose and we all had goodie bags as we left. It was a glittering occasion and should bring the publicity in for the publisher. I am proud to be an HMB author and I am glad I went to the party. I met some friends and also an author who was popular in the fifties. It was quite a night and something to remember! Anne Herries

http://www.lindasole.co.uk/

The Reticule

"All young ladies accomplished! My dear Charles, what do you mean?"

"Yes, all of them, I think. They all paint tables, cover screens, and net purses. I scarcely know anyone who cannot do all this, and I am sure I never heard of a young lady spoken of for the first time, without being informed that she was very accomplished." From Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Chapter 8.

Handbags! Where would we be without them? Recently I decided to find out more about the reticule, those bags made of net or beading or brocade that ladies carried. Being able to knit, net or crochet a purse was considered a feminine accomplishment in the late Georgian/Regency period. They were usually fastened with a drawstring, but later in the period a clasp replaced the string. The straight lines of Regency gowns did not allow for pockets and so a lady had to carry all items of importance in her reticule, or "ridicule" as it was also sometimes called. These purses were often circular or lozenge-shaped and in the same way that a handbag complements the outfit it goes with, the bag was often chosen to match a particular gown.

Here are some guidelines from the Jane Austen Centre for making your own reticule:

Materials: green silk, purple morocco [fine soft kid as from gloves] and pasteboard. Cut the bottom out of pasteboard the size you wish, and cover it with the morocco, bringing the morocco a little up the sides as a finish, the pasteboard having first been turned up for that purpose. Then sew on the four pieces of silk, and complete with a drawing string of sewing silk below to match the silk of the bag.

If we compare the contents of our handbags today with the reticules of the past, there aren't that many differences. Here is a list of the items one lady carried in her reticule:

A pocket handkerchief, a bottle of scent, a fan, a small parcel for the post, some small change, a snuffbox and powder, a mirror, smelling salts and a love letter!

In celebration of the approach of Valentine's Day I am offering visitors to my website the opportunity to win their own reticule for those all important love letters. This reticule is made of velveteen and contains a pen, pearl mirror and an advanced copy of my forthcoming Edwardian book, The Last Rake in London. To win your own reticule just log on to http://www.nicolacornick.co.uk/!

Andrew Davies talks about adapting Jane Austen

PBS have put an interview with Andrew Davies on Youtube, so if you haven't seen it, what are you waiting for! You can watch it by clicking here

Repeal of obsolete laws

People often ask where writers get their ideas from. The answer is that they come from all over the place. They can be sparked by anything: an overheard phrase, a picture, a piece of music etc.

Something recently caught my eye which sparked various ideas in my mind, because I saw on the news that a number of obsolete laws in the UK are being repealed, including a law from 1792 which made it a criminal offence to give a false reference for a servant.

Several 'false reference' story ideas popped into my head: a good servant whose mistress gives her a bad reference because she doesn't want to lose her; or a bad servant whose mistress gives her a good reference because she wants to be rid of her.

Either one of them would lead to an interesting set of circumstances as far as Regency romance is concerned, the good servant perhaps leaving anyway and finding someone who would take her without a reference. But who would it be and why would they do that? A recluse, perhaps, scarred by the war, who found it hard to get a servant because of his disfigurement? This idea would lend itself to a Beauty and the Beast type of story. Or perhaps the maligned servant would decide to go into employment on her own account and open a milliner's shop, stepping into a new world and a new set of possibilities.

The bad servant would perhaps get a position in a good household because of her glowing reference and then create havoc, maybe because she drinks or is a slattern or a thief.

If the story was set before 1792, what would the new employer do about it? Without legal redress, would they accept the situation, or try to pass on the servant in the same way by giving a false reference, or try and curb the servant, or would they call the last employer a liar, leading - if both were men - to a duel? Or, if a man passed a bad servant on to a woman - a widow, perhaps - would she go and see him to remonstrate with him, and where would that lead? Would he be contrite? Would he tell her she was making a fuss about nothing? Would he laugh at her? Would he say that the servant worked well for him?

And if it was set after 1792, then would the new employer use the law, and where would the legal process take them? Would it form the backdrop for the book, with the hero and heroine meeting this way, perhaps with the hero being a lawyer and the heroine being a defendant wrongly accused? Or would it be a minor incident which put the heroine in a bad temper, leading to an altercation with the hero at their first meeting? Or perhaps her bad temper led to an error of judgement with serious consequences; so serious that she decided never to ride / drive a carriage / argue again? With the hero then helping to heal her.

Would the servant remain in the book as a minor character, perhaps for comic relief? Or would they disappear from the book once events had been set in motion?

All those ideas came from one small item of news. It remains to be seen if they ever transform themselves into books!

Amanda Grange

You may have seen in our newsletter that this cover of Dance for a Diamond has been nominated for the 2007 cover awards, the winner to be chosen later this year by the members of www.covercafe.com. This is a particular favourite of mine as the girl is perfect for my heroine, who describes herself as "a poor little dab of a girl, nothing to win the heart of a man of fortune or fashion!”

The following extract is from Dance for a Diamond and describes Antonia Venn's first meeting with Sir Laurence Oakford. Sir Laurence has just asked her if she has any talents:

She smiled suddenly, a full, radiant smile that lit up her face.
'Yes, I dance! My dream is to set up my own dancing school, then I need be dependent upon no man.' She looked at him. 'You think it is a foolish idea?'
'Not at all.' he said politely. 'But what about marriage?'
'What of it?'
'I thought it was every young woman’s ambition. I have a sister who seems to think of nothing else.'
She pushed away her plate.
'For me it is out of the question. You said yourself, sir, that I am ruined.'
She cut off a piece of cheese and nibbled at it, watching him. The glow of the candles softened the harsh contours of his face but did not disguise the lines of strain about the eyes. She noticed for the first time the thin scar along his jaw. A rapier, perhaps, or sword….
'Well ma’am?'
His cold tone did not disconcert her.
'I wonder how you came by the scar on your face. The Peninsula, perhaps? You are a solder?'
He ran a finger along the mark.
'Yes. A French sword. But its owner was not so fortunate. I killed him.'
She shuddered slightly.
'I am sure it was necessary.'
'Unfortunately, war makes such things necessary.'
'But the war is over. Bonaparte is safe confined on Elba and that is all behind you now.'
'Aye. Though with this damned leg wound I could not fight an I would!'
'You are alive sir. You must be thankful for that.'
'Ha! I wish to God they had left me to die at Burgos.'
She laid down her knife, shaking her head at him.
'Shame on you, sir. How dare you say so? You think yourself ill-used because you have been wounded, and that not even sufficient injury to call you ‘cripple’! Yet there are many widows in this country who would be glad to see their men with such slight disfigurement - aye, and many orphans, too, who will no longer see their Papa!' she stopped, aware that he was scowling. She said stiffly, 'I beg your pardon sir – I speak out of turn.'
'Since I arrived back in England no one has dared speak thus to me.'
'Perhaps they do not wish to add to your pain.'
'Instead they have allowed me to wallow in self pity. Yet you, a stranger -' he threw back his head, listening to the voices from the passage, a man’s deep voice was followed by a shriek of laughter. Abruptly he stood up and limped across to the bell-pull. Its summons was answered almost immediately by a liveried servant. 'Order my carriage.'
She looked up. 'You are going?'
'Yes – and so too are you. Get dressed, and fetch your things. We are leaving here.' His brows snapped together as he observed the look in her eyes. 'Good God, I have no designs on you! I will give you your fare and set you on the night mail to Bath – how will that suit you?'
'You would do that, for me? But – but why? When I – I have failed so miserably to – to ...'
He smiled grimly.
'Because you have failed so miserably! Now quickly, we must make haste if you are to catch the mail.'
Ten minutes later Sir Laurence walked through the hall with the young lady on his arm. She was wearing a sober brown pelisse and a plain, high-poke bonnet covered her soft brown curls, while in one hand she clutched a small cloth bag. Madame opened her eyes very wide at the sight of the couple and looked a question at the gentleman, who shook his head at her.
'I regret, madam, that I feel you will never succeed with this young person. She has no looks, no figure and nothing to fix the attention of any man.' He drew out a small leather purse, which he handed to the astonished woman. 'She also has friends who could make life very difficult for you. I think you would be advised to forget that she was ever here.'
He swept the young woman out of the house and into the waiting carriage before the startled dame could find her voice.
'Oh dear. Will she be very angry, do you think?'
'Not when she has counted the guineas in that purse. Do you care?'
'Not for Madame, but – is it true?' she asked in a small voice.
'What?'
'That I am so – unattractive.'
He laughed and there was genuine amusement in his voice as he answered her.
'Of course not – you are well enough, but it would not do to tell Madame so.' He took the yellow rosebud from his coat and held it out to her. 'With a little polish and a more becoming dress you would be quite taking. Satisfied?'
She nodded, smiling faintly and leaned back with a sigh of contentment against the luxurious padded seat. The carriage bowled through the dark streets, past shadowy buildings with the occasional lighted window until the pace slowed and they swung into the yard of a busy coaching inn. The gentleman leaned our of the window and directed a series of questions to one of the ostlers, who tugged at his forelock and offered the information that yonder was the Bath Mail and it would be setting off within the hour. Bidding his companion remain in the carriage, Sir Laurence climbed out and went across to speak to the driver. A few minutes later he returned, holding out his hand for her to alight.
'I have purchased your ticket to Bath.' He pressed more coins into her hand as he led her across to the mail-coach. 'This should be enough to hire you a gig or some such thing to get you to your relatives, with a little extra for refreshment on the journey. You should be safe at home with them by tomorrow night.'
'Thank you, sir.' She dropped the coins into her reticule. 'If you will give me your direction I will ensure you are repaid –'
His finger pressed against her lips.
'I want no thanks for this – tomorrow I fear I shall have the very devil of a headache and will doubtless remember nothing, so you had best forget it, too.'
Her hands clasped his and she stared up at him, as if trying to memorise every feature.
'I shall never forget you – I had prayed that some sort of angel would rescue me.'
He bent his head to kiss her, holding her to him. She did not resist and for a brief moment he considered putting her back into his carriage and taking her with him. He might make her his mistress: after all it would be better than the situation in which he had found her. As the thoughts ran through his head he met the glance turned so trustingly upon him and he pushed her away.
'Get thee gone, child, before my good intentions desert me. Wait! Here, take this,' he drew the solitaire from his little finger and held it out to her.
'Oh – but – no sir – I could not!'
'Yes –' he placed it in her palm and wrapped her fingers about it. 'It was purchased for a most unworthy recipient, if you were to throw it in the river it would still be put to better use than the one I had intended.'
She put her hand up to stroke his cheek, running her finger along the fine scar on his jaw.
'She has hurt you very much, I think, sir.'
'Aye. I’ve learned a hard lesson, and I won't make the same error again. Now go, child. Take your seat.'
He bundled her almost roughly into the mail-coach and from the small window she watched as he limped across the lighted yard towards his waiting carriage, the evening cloak flapping about his shoulders like the wings of some dark angel.

Melinda Hammond

Publicity

When we have a book published we have to let people know about it. Posting the news in a blog like this is one of the ways. But there are others. I'm very fortunate to have a pal who runs his own Public Relations company. So each time a new book of mine is published, I invite him over, feed him coffee and home-made cake, and give him as much information as possible about the book's background, the characters, what prompted me to write that story, the fascinating bits of research I uncovered, etc. then leave it to him to pick what he thinks will make the most attention-grabbing press release.

Another excellent form of publicity is local radio. But this is far more nerve-wracking! Publication day for Devil's Prize was Thursday 31st of January. Donna Birrell from BBC Radio Cornwall came over to my house in the morning to do a pre-recorded interview about the book. (I fed her coffee and home-made cake too!) We ended up chatting for an hour, and she phoned me the following day to say that she had so much material she was making two shorter interviews out of it instead of one long one, to be broadcast on her afternoon show after 2.30pm on Wednesday and Thursday the 6th and 7th of February. I was delighted, pleased that I had come across well, and hugely relieved that it was all over!
If you'd like to hear the interviews, you can listen live on-line. Just go to:
www.bbc.co.uk/cornwall/local_radio

Jane Jackson. Devil's Prize, published by Robert Hale. Available from Amazon.co.uk

ADAM LOVEDAY REISSUE

First published 1999 ADAM LOVEDAY was the first of a historical drama series starting in 1786 about the Loveday cousins. This year sees the publication of the ninth book about this wild-blooded family. When another reprint was needed the cover was also updated in line with the current look of the series. Hailed as a sweeping family drama, although the series follows the family’s lives chronologically, each book must stand on its own and each story has its own element of romance.

Extract from Adam Loveday introducing the fortune-huntress Meriel who brings passion and upheaval to the family.

Halfway across the square a male voice called her name from the direction of the lych-gate. Meriel’s heart leapt and she ran towards the church. It was Adam. A figure detached itself from the shadows but as the moonlight fell on the man’s face disappointment smote her.

‘St John, why are you hiding in the churchyard?’ The twins’ voices were similar enough to have confused her.

‘Waiting for a chance to see you, my pretty.’ His tone was low and coaxing. ‘I have a gift for you. Something elegant to match your beauty.’

Meriel was intrigued. She had no money of her own and her father was miserly. St John held up his hand and from his fingers dangled a pair of scarlet stockings. Meriel’s eyes widened with delight. She had never possessed anything so fine and was determined to have them.

Even so, she was wary of his intentions. ‘I could not accept such a gift.’ Her manner was coquettish and her voice heavy with reluctance. ‘It would be immodest.’

How so, when they are given as a token of the esteem in which I hold you?’

She still hesitated and, knowing of the rivalry between St John and Adam, she did not want St John bragging to the brother she preferred. ‘Then why do you not come openly to the inn? Do you think my affections can be bought?’ She allowed her anger to show. ‘I have a regard for my reputation, even if you do not, sir.’

Meriel’s reputation was important to her. She had no intention of remaining in this remote fishing village all her life. She would never end up a drudge like her mother. She wanted a life surrounded by every comfort: jewels, velvets, a grand house and a host of servants. She dismissed the limitations of her birth. She had wit and beauty. This last year she had come to know how men lusted after her. So far she had kept herself pure. Her maidenhead was her greatest treasure. It would be bartered for a wedding band and then only to a man who could provide her with the life she craved. She had faith that Adam Loveday would carve his own wealth and destiny. Unfortunately, it could take him several years.

‘How sadly you wrong me. I have the greatest admiration for you.’ St John hid his irritation at her prevarication. He had sought her out in secret wishing to avoid a confrontation with her ready-fisted brothers. Perversely, her manner whetted his appetite to conquer her and win her from Adam. For that triumph he was prepared to be patient.

His expression was contrite. ‘I had no wish to offend. The purchase was made on impulse. Now what am I to do with these?’ He laid the stockings on the seat beside the lych-gate. ‘They are of no use to me. Perhaps some passing maid will take a fancy to them and think fortune has smiled on her. I bid you goodnight, Mistress Sawle.’

He bowed and took her hand to lift it to his lips. Meriel snatched it back and walked away, her head titled at a haughty angle. When she heard St John ride away she ran back to the lych-gate and retrieved the stockings.

Her mind was busy calculating. Adam had always been her favourite but St John was the one who would inherit the family estate. This autumn held a world of possibilities for her. And she was a woman determined to make the most of them.

Reviews: ‘The whole spectrum of society is present in this fast-moving and exciting story. It also reflects the author’s understanding of the social and economic factors that drove the lives of people at this time.’ Historical Novels Review

‘For anyone who loves a sweeping Cornish drama, the Loveday books are a shining example of their genre.’ Western Morning News

ADAM LOVEDAY is reissued by Headline on 7 February
Kate Tremayne

Regency Romance for Valentine's!

Tuesday 12 February, Northfields Library, London 6.30pm

Kate Allan - Regency Romance

In time for Valentine's Day, romantic historical novelist Kate Allan talks about her Regency romances including Perfidy and Perfection, The Restless Heart and Fateful Deception. She also writes as "one half of " Jennifer Lindsay, author of The Lady Soldier. Free. Please contact Northfields Library to reserve your place. Tel: (020) 8567 5700

Brighton Entertainments

The social round of events at Brighton was a major attraction for visitors. As an important pleasure resort Brighton boasted two sets of Assembly Rooms, which were based at the Castle Inn and the Old Ship Inn. Balls were held on Mondays and Thursdays respectively, card assemblies on Wednesdays and Fridays, a Promenade and Public tea on Sundays. The ballrooms were designed in Adam style, the Castle being considered the more elegant with its plaster mouldings, classical columns and friezes of Dawn and Night.
Captain Wade officiated for some time as master of ceremonies. Bath was mainly a winter resort and Brighton a summer one, so he was able to preside over both until he made himself unpopular at Bath. Apparently, he openly ridiculed an admirer’s love letters and as a result became unpopular, leaving Bath for good in 1770 to make his home in Brighton.
The circulating libraries provided entertainment in the day time. Not only could books be borrowed or bought, but trinkets, music, sketching materials and subscription tickets for the balls could also be purchased. Donaldson’s library was a timber-boarded building, painted white with an arched verandah under which ladies could sit and gossip. As it fronted the Steine, which was a popular place for parading, one can imagine there was plenty to talk about! Sometimes a band performed in the Rotunda, a wooden octagonal building, so gossip and music went hand in hand. Shops of all kinds along the Steyne tempted the passers by. China, tea, lace, muslins and without doubt, Lydia’s favourite, millinery and ribbons, had ladies parting easily with the contents of their pockets. St. James’s Street was compared to London’s Bond Street for its quality of shopping and variety.
Perhaps one of the most popular activities was the evening stroll upon the Steine within the sight of the sea –
Though in pleasing excursions you spend the long day,
And to Lewes or Shoreham, or Rottingdean stray;
Or to drink tea at Preston, to vary the scene,
At eve with new raptures you’ll fly to the Steine.

The print shows the Pavilion and Steine in 1806, Donaldson’s library is on the far right, facing the Castle Inn on the opposite corner. The Pavilion in its early form can be seen further along with a central dome. The Prince of Wales is on horseback just in front of the library.
Jane Odiwe
www.janeaustensequels.blogspot.com

Newsletter

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Can you be accurate and entertaining?

I think you can. Stay true to the period, but provide a strong, entertaining story.
This post was inspired by someone complaining to a yahoo group that yet again, a young respectable woman in a novel turns to prostitution as a "last resort." In the real Regency, that is so unlikely as to be off the scale. Prostitution led to an early death by violence or disease, and the pay was appalling. Very few prostitutes made it off the streets and into the courtesan line, but even if our respectable young lady wanted to become a courtesan, she'd have little chance. it was a "closed shop." How on earth would she introduce herself to the people she needed to know, for a start?

Today, when the nuclear family is the norm, we tend to think that once the immediate family has gone, that is that.

It was a question of honour for a man of any standing at all to make sure his relatives were looked after. Even if he had to employ them himself, marry them off or, (shudder), lock them away in an asylum, they weren't left alone. The scandal, when it became known that his second cousin was walking the streets as a doxy would have been too much for him to bear. Even in relatively recent years, 2 relatives of the Queen Mother were found in an asylum, locked away, not because they were mad or mentally ill, but to keep them tucked away somewhere. Any
respectable female would be taken up and sent to do something, she just wouldn't be allowed to wander the streets.

We do have some weird and wonderful professions in the world of the Regency romance that really have nothing to do with the 'real' Georgian and Regency, and everything to do with the made-up one, the imposing of current assumptions and values on ages past. To take a few:

The Regency spy. Since James Bond, everyone assumes that a spy's life, at least fictionally, was glamorous and aspirational, but in past eras it was the complete opposite. A spy was considered not a gentleman, since he had to do very ungentlemanly things to be effective.

The pirate who happens to be a peer of the realm. A ducal pirate stood to lose, not only his own life and fortune, but everyone else's in his family, since piracy was legally treason.

The Honourable Suicide. A suicide stood to lose his property, leaving his relatives destitute (they were usually seen as "accidents" for that reason) since a suicide's property and estate was forfeit to the Crown

The peer who murders people and gets away with it - because he is a peer. A peer
accused of murder was front page news pretty much forever, and a peer convicted of it made his name virtually immortal (Lord Ferrers).

The daughter of a peer who works in a noble household to spy on the owner, or disguises herself. Firstly, someone is going to notice she is missing. Yes they are, society then was extremely close-knit. Secondly, a lady working as a servant is just not done. Servants had their families an heirarchies too, and they wouldn't easily accept a stranger. And she just isn't going to be able to do the level of work needed. It was destructive to health, if you weren't used to it. No faked ID's are going to get you very far if you want to work in a trusted position in a noble household.

Mind you, I do like to twist a cliche every so often, and make it work. I did it in "A Chance To Dream" where my heroine is - yes - the daughter of a courtesan and the hero is - wait for it - an impoverished earl whose father drank and gambled his fortune away. The hero rebuilt
his fortune slowly, and his initial capital was from when he demolished his big London mansion and went into partnership with a builder to create a small housing estate on the land. The heroine was the daughter of a famous courtesan, but her mother, fleeing from an abusive husband in Italy, always insisted that her daughter went masked in public. (Not spoilers, all that is in the first 3 chapters, that's the set-up).

In "Last Chance, My Love," the heroine needs desperately NOT to get pregnant, even though she's married. Another child could kill her, and I don't cheat. It's true. In an age when contraception was uncertain, this means her husband and herself, still in love, have a big problem.

In the upcoming "Met By Chance" the heroine runs away to do something (which would be a spoiler if I told you) and manages time on her own, but there are consequences. And her hero is a painted fop who isn't all he seems (the Scarlet Pimpernel had a lot of inflence on me, but I
promise, no spies!)

So it can be fun to make a cliche and make it work. But in all those books, I took real instances from the era to make the thing work. I found several peers who increased their fortunes by speculating in the building boom of the mid 18th century (that's where all the mansions
and palaces went!) and I found some extravagant behaviour by courtesans that makes my La Perla seem calm in comparison. In the third one, I made sure there were consequences, this was no hoyden running off on an adventure and she was worried sick most of the time.

If a would-be Regency writer spends even an hour at the Bow Street site online, reading a few cases, she'll have fodder for no end of books! I've culled a few from there, or at least got some ideas. So there's really no excuse for the hackneyed, inaccurate book any more.

None at all.

A Shameful Secret

A Shameful Secret is my new Regency with Amira Press. It comes out in ebook soon and in print in March. I also have a new saga out with Severn House this month - Love is not Enough. My new Regency with HMB comes out in hardback in Feb and in paperback in April.

I would like to apologise to readers for not finishing my serial The Journal of A Regency Lady. This was due to too tight a schedule last year. I am hoping to finish it soon. When I do I shall put the whole thing up on my own blog and give you the url. Best wishes, Anne Herries

The Carstairs Conspiracy

The Carstairs Conspiracy, my latest Regency romance due to be published by Robert Hale on the 31st January, follows the fortunes of Abigail Carstairs, sole heir to the late Duke of Penrith's vast estate. Seldom seen in public, eighteen-year-old Abby is to make her debut at the Duchess of Albion's ball. The event is crowded, everyone anxious to gain a glimpse of the heiress, but Sebastian Denver, Marquess of Broadstairs, in not one such, having no appetite for chits straight out of the school room. He would have much preferred to play cards but is persuaded by his two closest friends to attend the ball. Frustrated by the crowd surrounding Abby, Sebastian's friends fear they have no chance of dancing with her. Sensing there might be some sport to be had at this dreary event after all Sebastian strikes a wager with them, predicting that he will succeed in securing Abby's hand for a dance. This is what happens when he is introduced to her.

Sebastian executed an elegant bow and raised the girl from her curtsey, releasing her hand without inflicting further punishment on her bruised fingers and smiling only in the most perfunctory of manners. 'It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I have heard much about you.' But he ensured that the statement sounded merely polite, bordering on the indifferent.

'Thank you, my lord,' she said, her surprise at his casual manner, following so closely on all the flummery she had had to endure during the course of the evening, clearly apparent. Recovering quickly though her eyes lit up with amusement and predictably, a degree of interest. 'And I you.'

She turned towards his companions, who were treating her with much greater civility than he had been prepared to muster, responding to them with a degree of maturity that again surprised him. There was a marked lack of the giggling and simpering he might have expected, and for that he was grateful. If he had to stand up with the baggage for half an hour, the experience would be less painful if she managed to conduct herself with some degree of decorum.

'Your parents were well known to me, Lady Abigail,' he said to her in an aside when the attention of the others was diverted, 'and I know they would be inordinately proud of you this evening.'

Several mentions had been made to Abby of her parents that evening, but Sebastian could not know that none had been expressed in such simple language, without the intention of making any sort of impression upon her, other than one of genuine regret.

'Thank you, my lord.' She turned a dazzling smile upon him, which was the last reaction he had expected, leaving him feeling somewhat disadvantaged; especially as he felt himself responding to it somewhere in the region of his groin. 'You know,' she said in a contemplative tone, 'I rather believe that they would.'

Sebastian inclined his head in the direction of the dancers. 'I believe a quadrille is about to form up. If you are not already engaged, can I persuade you to stand up with me, Lady Abigail?'

Confident that she would acquiesce, he did not wait for her answer but merely reached for her hand.

'Thank you, my lord, but I find myself fatigued and am not inclined to dance again at this juncture.'

Sebastian dropped her hand as though it had scorched him and looked at her askance, his expression of temporary bewilderment soon replaced by one of abject shock. Had she actually just declined his invitation? Impossible! He must have misheard her. Sebastian could not recall the last time a female had rejected his advances, whatever form they might happen to take. He looked at her with renewed interest. Jenkins and Trump meanwhile appared to be having difficulty maintaining their respective countenances, whilst both Lady Bevan and Beatrice let out small gasps of dismay.

'I beg your pardon,' said Sebastian in a level tone. 'Do I understand you to -'

'No, my lord, it is I who must ask for your pardon.'

Sebastian's eyes rested on the flowers at her waist as he attempted to come to terms with the fact that he had, for the first time ever, actually been cut. His eyebrows snapped together, causing him to look positively lethal, as the truth stuck home. He had been cut direct, in the middle of a ballroom in front of half the ton, by a mere chit of a girl.

He watched her as she impulsively made an embarrassing situation worse by plucking a loose bloom from the corsage at her waist and, standing on her toes, slipped it into his lapel. Lady Bevan groaned and clutched her daughter's arm for support. Sebastian, who found the whole situation exceedingly diverting, spared a moment's sympathy for Abby's aunt, well able to imagine the thoughts that must be running through her mind as she observed her niece committing several simultaneous faux pas.

'So, my lady,' said Sebastian, recovering and feeling a stab of admiration for the child's courage, 'do you really imagine that you can fob me off with a mere flower?'

'I did not mean to -'

'If so,' he mused, cutting across her explanation, 'you have badly miscalculated.'

It is only after publicly embarrassing Sebastian that Abby realises he is probably the only person in London capable of helping her to discover who it is that has made several attempts on her life. But how can she, an unmarried girl who hasn't yet even be presented, possibly approach one of the most notorious rakes in London?

To find out more look out for The Carstairs Conspiracy. All Hale books are available from www.halebooks.com.

Wendy Soliman

Romance in Russia

I am currently writing a trilogy — The Aikenhead Honours — which is set in various locations around Europe. Part of one of the stories is set in Russia, in St Petersburg. (This is the famous frontage of the Winter Palace, alongside the Hermitage, taken from the river Neva.)

I hadn’t ever been to Russia, so I arranged to go on a trip to the Baltic last summer, including three days in St Petersburg. I planned to do the same kind of research I always try to do. I do lots of reading beforehand. Then, on the spot, I take pictures and make tape recordings of information about the places I’m in. I also keep a detailed travel journal, and gather books, leaflets and souvenirs. My baggage always weighs far more on the trip home than it did on the way out, largely because it’s full of books.

It all started out really well. I had with me one of those tiny digital recorders and had managed to record much of the information the various guides were telling me. And I’d taken loads of pictures. Then, disaster. I dropped my camera while it was in the middle of saving a photograph. I’d dropped it before and it had survived OK. But not this time. Its close encounter with a granite path was fatal. The camera’s zoom stopped working properly and the focus became unreliable. Believe me, I could have wept. What’s the point in making a research trip to St Petersburg if you don’t have a working camera?

I resolved to do the best I could with what I had. Point, shoot, and hope. Result? I have loads of pictures, but many of them are unusable. Still, I do have some that are in focus, as you can see.

St Petersburg is an amazing place to visit. It suffered greatly during the Second World War and many of its palaces and monuments were destroyed. These have been painstakingly restored by Russian experts over the last 50 years at huge cost.

Palaces like the Peterhof (left) show visitors the lavish lifestyle of the Russian monarchy and aristocracy. Peter the Great intended it to rival Versailles. It certainly has some of the most impressive fountain systems that I have ever seen.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Russians measured their wealth by the number of serfs they owned. Edward Clark recorded in 1810 that some of the nobles had “70,000 or 100,000 peasants, paying, on average, 10 roubles annually, in specie.” Huge incomes were needed to support palaces like this, Tsarskoye Selo, originally built for the wife of Peter the Great.

Below is the Cameron Gallery, added by Catherine the Great, who spent huge sums on her palaces and their grounds. Unusually, this piece of architecture is plain white, in the Greek style.
And if you’re wondering why everything is painted is such bright colours, I’ll give you the explanation that the guide gave to me. In St Petersburg, the sun shines for fewer than 20 days a year so the buildings are painted to add a little brightness to life.

Best wishes
Joanna
http://www.joannamaitland.com

A Debt of Honour

Eliza Fox, devastated by the death of her father and fiancé recovers by assuming control of the family estate. She crops her hair and rides astride – believing matrimony has no place in her life.
Lord Wydale, a notorious rakehell, wins Grove House from Edmund Fox who returns to his older sister hoping she can save their home.
Mr Fletcher Reed accompanies Wydale to Dedham, under the pretext of wishing to meet John Constable, instead he meets Eliza who steals his heart and makes him realize Wydale is a villain.
Eliza is attracted to Fletcher, but her sister is abducted by Wydale and she sends Fletcher away.
But can she save her sister and herself from ruin or will Fletcher come to her rescue?

This, my sixth book for Hale is due to be released on 29th February. It will be available from www.halebooks.com, postage free and for only £13.95, for the first few weeks.
I am just aobut to begin my thirteenth Regency - this one for My Weekly Pocket Books. I have just heard that finally the copies of The Mesalliance, that came out in LP on January 1st, will be with me tomorrow. Guess what my next blog will be about?
Fenella Miller
www.fenellajanemiller.co.uk

Stormcrow Castle

I've just heard that Stormcrow Castle has won a Reviewers' Choice Award from Single Titles! I'm very pleased about this, as you can imagine, particularly because it's one of my favourite books. And the good news continues, because the same book has just had a good review from Publishers Weekly.

"Grange peppers her story with rich atmospheric details, from a masked ball to a cast of colorful locals. Fans of romantic suspense will enjoy this tale of intrigue and deception on the barren moors."


If you like Gothic romance, with gloomy castles and tortured heroes, then why not give Stormcrow Castle a try? You can find an extract on my website at www.amandagrange.com by clicking here

Amanda Grange

From Jane Jackson

I’m delighted to announce publication at the end of this month of my 24th book and 9th historical romance, Devil’s Prize.

Set against a background of the Revolutionary wars with France, Cornish smuggler Devlin “Devil” Varcoe braves ferocious winter weather and revenue men to fetch the contraband on which Porthinnis depends for survival.
Though drawn to Jenefer Trevanion, whose father finances the smuggling operation, Devlin is bewitched by beautiful wild-child, Tamara Gillis.
When fire destroys her home, killing her father, Jenefer is forced to work in the pilchard cellars.
Meanwhile, craving Tamara for himself, Thomas Varcoe, bitterly jealous of his brother, plots to kill him.
Rejected by Devlin, a pregnant Tamara is pressured by her mother to marry Thomas.
Betrayed by Thomas and captured by the customs cutter, Devlin negotiates freedom for himself and his crew by volunteering to rescue a British agent from France only to be caught in the worst storm in living memory.
It is only when he faces death that Devlin finally recognises the love he never believed he deserved. Then, within sight of the beach, disaster strikes, and he faces a terrible choice.


Excerpt:


He stayed where he was, holding the door and trying to ignore the quick clench in his gut. His attraction to her was wrong for both of them. He had plans for his future and they didn’t include her. He frowned.
“Are you mad, coming here like this? What do you think you’re doing?”
She swallowed. She had expected him to be surprised even irritated. But surely he realised she would never have called on him at home unaccompanied, not without a very good reason. “Getting wetter and colder, and wondering why I bothered.”
“Tamara, if this is your idea of a game - ”
“I don’t play games, Devlin. Not with you.”
His expression signalled disbelief. “Oh no?”
She tossed her head impatiently. “Of course I tease you. How else am I to get your attention? But I’m here now because of something I heard. Something you should know about. It’s important.”
“It could have waited until morning.” Damn the girl. What was he supposed to do? Shut the door in her face? Jenefer Trevanion wouldn’t dream of pulling a trick like this. She was a lady. While Tamara – how in the name of sweet Jesus did you describe Tamara? Able to mimic decorum when it suited her, her behaviour the rest of the time was determinedly unconventional. Yet for all that there was nothing common or vulgar about her. He almost wished there were. For then she would be easy to ignore, forget. Instead she had worked her way under his skin like a barb. Nuisance, irritant, impossible to dislodge she was …herself, unique. And should not be here.
“Oh yes?” Scorn lifted her brows. “I should call on you in broad daylight with all your neighbours watching? They’d enjoy that. Besides, how often are you at home in the daytime? If you’re not on a run you’re out fishing.” She shivered. “Look, are you going to invite me in or shall I just stand here and tell you? Of course it will be all round the village by tomorrow. But if you don’t mind everyone knowing your private business...”
“God’s blood, girl.” He wrenched the door wide. “It’s you they’ll be gossiping about.”
She shrugged, tilting her chin defiantly. “They’ve been doing that all my life.”
Ignoring the shadows in her eyes, telling himself they were caused by the wavering candle flame, he sucked in a ragged breath and clenched his teeth in frustration. Nobody had ever wrong-footed him the way she could – and did.
“If your parents had known what they were getting,” he stepped back, indicating with a jerk of his head that she should enter, “they’d have drowned you at birth.”
“Just think what you’d have missed.” She sailed past him, her shoes squelching as she snapped the umbrella closed and leaned it against the wall. Instantly a puddle formed on the wooden boards.
Closing the door he raked a hand through tousled curls still damp from his own soaking. “Do they know you’re here?”
“Who?”
He shot her a warning glare. “Your parents.”
Her brief wry glance gave him the answer. She fumbled the buttons on her coat, her fingers stiff and clumsy. “They’d only worry. Besides, this has nothing to do with them.”
“It’s late.“
“For heaven’s sake, it’s not even six o’clock yet.“
“But it’s dark. Tamara, you shouldn’t – “
“Do stop fussing, Devlin. I’m not a child.”
His gaze flicked from her heavy-lidded green eyes to her full mouth and down to the curves beneath her close fitting coat. He bit back an oath. She was young, not yet twenty. But she was right. That teasing gaze, husky voice and deliciously rounded body were certainly not those of a child.
She had come here of her own free will and more or less blackmailed her way inside. Trying to protect her reputation – such as it was – had won him no thanks. Indeed he had been ordered to stop fussing. So be it. She could go to the devil. Was probably well on her way already. Why should he worry? She was nothing to him. Oh no? His inner self mocked with bitter amusement. She fired his blood that was all. No, that wasn’t all. She was wild and unpredictable and he had trouble enough in his life.
He’d been enjoying women since he was fourteen. He’d learned how to give pleasure as well as take it: a valuable lesson that made conquest easy and left smiles and sighs when he moved on. But none had touched his heart. Nor would she.
Finally managing to unfasten her coat she pulled it off and dropped it across the table. Her hair hung about her shoulders, sodden tresses dripping water down the creamy swell of her breasts and soaking the lace that edged her bodice. She raised one arm to lift the dark curls off her neck and in the lamplight raindrops glistened on her face like diamonds.
As she looked up he turned away, his teeth clamped so tightly that his jaw ached. Deliberately increasing the distance between them he crossed to the hearth and dropped another log onto the bright flames.
“You might at least offer me a towel.” She forced the words through cold-numbed lips.
Anger roared through him: at her for coming here, at himself for being unable to retain his habitual detachment. She had invaded his home and when she had gone he would still see her here, still smell her delicate floral scent with its hint of lemon. So many of the women he went with smelled of fish. Snatching up the towel he had used he tossed it at her. She flinched as she caught it then swayed.
Devlin cursed under his breath. Her cheeks were pale as candle wax. “Here.” Grabbing her upper arm he pulled her forward. “Sit down before you fall down.”
“I’m perfectly all right.” But the words lacked her usual bite and she sank without protest into the wooden armchair. She just needed a moment and she’d be fine. Coming here had seemed the logical thing to do. She had a genuine reason. And an opportunity to see him alone if only for a few minutes was not to be turned down. Yet though she would cut off her tongue sooner than admit it, stepping over the threshold had taken far more nerve than she expected.
With his back to her he poured a small measure of cognac into a pewter mug then pushed it into her hand. “Drink this.”
She peered into the mug then up at him. “What is it?”
“Poison, what else? Surely your mother has warned you about men and their wicked ways?” Hearing the sarcasm in his tone he took a deliberate breath. “It’s cognac. Think of it as medicine. It will stop the shivers.”
Raising the mug she swallowed a mouthful, coughed, and pulled a face. “Ugh. It’s like drinking fire.” She thrust the mug at him.
Devlin found her violent shudder oddly reassuring. He had expected her to be accustomed to spirits. Most of the villagers used them as a cure-all. Brandy was rubbed on the gums of teething babies, added to bedtime milk to make children sleep, swallowed to ease hunger pangs, relieve the grief of bereavement or blot out the wretchedness of poverty.
“But it does the job. Are you feeling better?”
“I’m perfectly well, thank you,” Tamara lied. She tipped her head sideways and began to rub her hair with the towel, drawing on every ounce of willpower she possessed to force back the horrible dizziness. She was wet and chilled despite having run nearly all the way. Her heart was racing and though warmth from the brandy was creeping through her limbs, her head still felt light and strange. She needed a moment, just a moment, then she’d be fine.
Devlin watched her, relieved to see colour gradually returning to her cheeks. He knew all the little tricks that women employed to attract men or convey interest. He’d been a target more times than he could count. But there was nothing of the flirt in her action. In fact she seemed so absorbed in her own thoughts he might not have been there. What was she doing? What game was this? I don’t play games with you, Devlin. Exasperation flared – directed at himself as much as at her. Like hell she didn’t. He tried to look away but found himself transfixed by the gleam of her skin in the fire’s glow: soft curves and secret hollows, highlights and shadows. A log settled and flames rose. The soft sound broke the spell and increased his anger.
“Well?” His tone was brutal.
She looked up with a start. Her eyes were wide green pools, deep and
mysterious. Eyes a man could drown in. “This important information?” Even to his own ears he sounded unnecessarily grim. It was safer that way. “Are you going to tell me, or am I supposed to guess?”

A Writer's Inspiration

Writers are often asked where their inspiration comes from so I thought I would try to show you what has inspired some of my own ideas. I live in a very beautiful part of England on the edge of the Pennines surrounded by wild, desolate landscapes. When I went out for a walk over the Christmas period I took my camera with me. Unfortunately it was a grey, wet day, so no dazzling winter snowscapes, just miles of open space.

The scenery here inspired me to write The Highclough Lady, the story of Verity Shore who inherits a house in just such an area. Even today it can seem bleak and harsh, and poor Verity is in danger from more than just nature. The picture on the left shows a typical steep-sided clough (pronounced “cluff”): you may just be able to make out the path, a straight line sloping down through the trees on the far side of the clough, separating the grazing land from the rock face. This is where I imagined Verity’s horse bolting, carrying her down the path with the sheer drop on one side: very exciting!

When I am following the bridleways and footpaths around here I think of how bad the roads must have been in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. The main coaching roads were in the best condition but even then it depended upon how well the local parish maintained them. There may have been cobbled streets through the towns but I
think long stretches would have been like the picture on the right, closely packed stone and mud. Imagine travelling in a coach over such a surface – no rubber tyres to cushion the ride! I have also included (below) a picture of a local crossroads, used now only by horses and the occasional small tractor. Many roads would have been like this, and the ravages of ice and rain would soon have torn apart the surface, making it almost impassable.
In A Rational Romance, my hero and heroine drive from London to Dover, then on to Paris: these days we think nothing of such a journey, but I am impressed when I consider how our ancestors travelled – the journey must have been quite gruelling. I admire their stamina.

I hope these pictures will give you some idea of how the countryside may have looked two hundred years ago: even Jane Austen’s Hampshire was not always the picture-postcard place we see when we visit today: I can just imagine Lizzie Bennett walking along lanes such as those above when she made her way to Netherfield to visit Jane: no wonder her petticoats were muddy!

Melinda Hammond

New Loveday Cover

I am thrilled that due to the increasing popularity of the Loveday Series the first book ADAM LOVEDAY is being re-issued in February with a fabulous new cover.Shown here with the sultry blonde woman on the front. The novel was first published in 1999 and has been in print ever since. This book introduces the family of three sets of cousins their loves, passions, rivalries, conflicts and adventures.

I am now writing the tenth book in the series and from the many emails and letters I receive from fans they all say that the Lovedays and their world have become part of their extended family

Review: 'Rich in drama and passion, with the atmosphere and flavour of eighteenth-centure Cornwall, ADAM LOVEDAY...is a story of family relationships that transcends time, and heralds the emergence of an exciting new storyteller' North Cornwall Advertiser,


The original cover shows the a woman's silhouette and the engie house of a tin mine. Which do you think is best?
More information on the series on my website.click here
Kate Tremayne

Award

I am thrilled to announce that I have been given the Reviewers' Choice Award from Cataromance. Forbidden Lady/Anne Herries/ Harlequin Historicals.

Someone asked who had given the award. Cataromance is a Review and chat group on the Internet and their reviewers choose the books they liked best during the past year. Forbidden Lady/Anne Herries/Harlequin Historicals was given a really good review by them in April 2007.

Donkey riding and sea bathing in Brighton

Isn't January a gloomy month? I thought we'd head off to the seaside for the day!
I was interested to read what inspires Lynne Connolly when she is writing historical fiction. I often use paintings or prints as a starting point. When I was writing Lydia Bennet’s Story, this print presented me with an idea for a scene between Lydia and Mr Wickham.
Donkey riding was a very fashionable pursuit at this time and most popular with ladies; tours in a donkey cart could be taken out to the village of Rottingdean. This fad did not last long, the donkeys were soon replaced by ponies, which the ladies preferred.
Sea bathing (and drinking) was also popular as might be expected and was recommended as a health giving exercise. Ladies and gentlemen bathed in designated areas, firstly entering a bathing machine to change into a flannel gown before descending the steps to be ‘dipped’ in the water by the ‘dipper’.

There’s plenty of dippers and jokers,
And salt-water rigs for your fun
The King of them all is ‘Old Smoaker’
The Queen of ’em “Old Martha Gunn”.

The ladies walk out in the morn,
To taste of the salt-water breeze;
They ask if the water is warm,
Says Martha, “Yes, Ma’am, if you please.”

Old Brighton rhyme.

Here is an extract from the ‘Morning Herald’ August 28th 1806.

The beach this morning was thronged with ladies, all anxious to make interest for a dip. The machines, of course, were in very great request, though none could be run into the ocean in consequence of the heavy swell, but remained stationary at the water’s edge, from which Martha Gunn and her robust female assistants took their fair charges, closely enveloped in their partly coloured dresses, and gently held them to the breakers, which not quite so gently passed over them. The greatest novelty, however,….was in a Gentleman undressing himself on the beach, for the purpose of a ducking, in front of the town, attended by his lady, who sans diffidence, supplied him with napkins, and even assisted him in wiping the humid effects of his exercise from his brawny limbs, as he returned from the water to dress.

It is very typical of Lydia that she makes this comment on the view from her room at the Ship Inn where she is staying with her friend Harriet Forster.
'How wonderful is the sight of the sea, its sound so delicious on the ear and its vast waters swimming with gentleman bathers! We have rooms overlooking the water; which provide the most excellent looking post! It is heaven, indeed!'

Jane Odiwe

Regency invitations

Last year I happened to take a day off to go to London and visit The Foundling Museum, which tells the story of Britain's first foundling home for abandoned children, the brainchild of Thomas Coram and established in 1739. The exhibition was very interesting, telling the story of the hospital and what life would have been like for the children who grew up there.


For art lovers there are many interesting paintings, donated over the years, and originally encouraged by the artist William Hogarth who was one of the first governors of the hospital. The paintings were intended to encourage benefactors and in fact the Foundling Hospital was Britain's first public art gallery.


At last we came to the top floor where there is a room devoted to an exhibition about one of England's most famous composers, Handel. Handel was a governor and benefactor of the Foundling Hospital. As well as listening to works by Handel in some rather comfy armchairs, and looking at some original scores, my eyes were drawn to some invitations in one cabinet.

Dating from the turn of the 19th century were several original examples of concert invitations and tickets. I was struck that they did not simply have text but beautiful copperplate engravings. I shall certainly be making sure to include a wonderfully engraved invitation or ticket in a future Regency romance!

Kate Allan
My website

AVON reps jobs

Writing in two genres

As well as writing historical romance, I also write paranormal romance. The paranormals, being contemporary set, are often at a higher sensuality level than the historicals, so that's another difference.
The contemporaries are fairly new to me, but I was surprised at how well they went. True, paranormals are the new black - the bookstore shelves are crammed with them, and the newest names being touted for success do some kind of paranormal - Angela Knight, Lora Leigh, Nalini Singh and the rest.
But what does writing in two different genres mean to the writer?
Lots of things. For me, it's the chance to re-invent myself, write in different styles for different markets. I have always written historical romance, my first novel which I wrote when I was 13, was a historical romance (now, thank goodness, relegated to my mind since the manuscript is long gone). But I always wanted to do something set in the here and now, and I never got any real inspiration until I started to write the first paranormal.
I have found that my style naturally adapts to the genres, once I get myself in that mindset. I use music, more atmospheric than period-specific, for instance, Seal's "Kiss from a Rose" is a historical inspiration for me. I use my research to immerse me in the time, as well.
Now I'm about to start a new historical romance, the fourth Triple Countess book, I'm finding that coming to it fresh from two paranormals, "Topaz Delirium" and "Thunderfire," really gives me the impetus to move back to the ballroom!

The Carstairs Conspiracy

I'm pleased to announce that my fourth Regency romance, The Carstairs Conspiracy, is being published by Robert Hale at the end of January.


Abigail Carstairs suspects that someone is trying to kill her. As sole heir to the late Duke of Penrith's vast estate she can only surmise that her fortune is her aggressor's objective but cannot accept that any of her relations are culpable.


In desperation she turns to the notorious Lord Sebastian Denver. Unable to deny a lady in distress Sebastian inveigles his way into Abby's hunting lodge, where all the prime suspects are gathered. However, distracted by his growing attraction towards Abby, he is unprepared when a further attempt is made on her life.

Sebastian must now delve into Abby's past, laying a daring trap for her aggressors in a race against time to keep her safe.

All Hale books can now be purchased on line from www.halebooks.com.

The Carstairs Conspiracy - ISBN 978-0-7090-8485-3 - A must for all conspiracy enthusiasts!

Wendy Soliman

Sense and Sensibility costumes

Some of the costumes from the new adaptation of Sense and Sensibility will be on display at Chawton House, the home of Jane Austen, which is now a museum. The display will run from 8th March for eight weeks. You can find more details by clicking here

And don't forget, if you'd like a chance of winning some of our signed books, then subscribe to our newsletter. Send a blank e-mail by clicking here and we'll do the rest.

Resting in the Regency

The uncomfortable day-bed was where simpering misses could collapse, waving their fans - or perhaps while away an hour or two reading a lurid novel. I think the chair would have been a better option. The carved feet make both items of furniture look as if they could run away with the occupant at any moment.

'The Mesalliance', my fourth book for Robert Hale, came out on the 1st January in Large Print and I had hoped to be able to post the new cover today, but I haven't seen it yet. However it should be in a library next month, as are all my books.

I hope everyone had a good break and will have a happy and peaceful 2008.

Fenella Miller

Sense and Sensibility Part 2!

We are now two episodes in to the new BBC adaptation of Sense and Sensibility with one more left to go and I must confess that, like Anne, I am enjoying it immensely. The book had never been one of my favourites amongst Jane Austen’s novels and I seem to be one of the few people who weren’t enchanted by the 1995 film but I love this version. Andrew Davies commented in a recent interview that he had fleshed out the male characters in this adaptation and it shows. Edward Ferrers is much less bumbling and Colonel Brandon is masterful. The conversation between Brandon and Willoughby in Part 2 was a classic of male aggression barely cloaked in Regency courtesy!

The BBC Drama website has interviews with some of the cast and in them they raise some interesting issues about the period. Hattie Morahan, who plays Elinor, comments on the limited range of activities available to ladies at the time. When they were trying to decide what they should be doing in some of the scenes they only had a choice of playing cards, or sewing, reading or painting. She comments that unless you were a lady of enquiring mind looking to develop your interests, you would be lost. Charity Wakefield, who plays Marianne, sees her as the type of character who loves the outdoors and feels confined inside, penned in with other people, and again sees the conventions of the time chafing for a woman like that and creating some of the conflict between Marianne’s character and the dictates of society.


There are also fascinating interviews with the costume and make up people, giving an insight into their research and how they suited the choice of clothes to the individual characters. Click here for the site. Sense and Sensibility concludes in the UK on January 13th and is planned to show on PBS in the US on 30th March and 6th April.

Newsletter 2008

As many blog readers know, we run a monthly email newsletter which tells
readers about our new releases, as well as containing Regency snippets and
author news.

To celebrate 2008 we're going to be adding a new feature to our newsletters by running exclusive competitions as well.

So if you'd like a chance of winning signed books, subscribe to the newsletter! It's easy to do and you can unsubscribe at any time. Just send a blank e-mail by clicking here and we'll do the rest.

Sense & Sensibility part one

My latest saga. Artwork copyright of Severn House


I have to say that I actually loved this version of Sense and Sensibility. Brandon looks younger and more like a Regency hero in this one, and I think Marianne's reaction was changed a little too. She did not deny him as vehemently as she normally does, which made it reasonable for Brandon to have hope of her and to be disappointed when she so obviously fell for the dashing young hero who carried her down the hill. He at least looked like a villain from the start and personally I would take Brandon over him anyday - but I am not Marianne's age. It may not be the version for the purist but I found it compelling viewing. I continue to be hooked on these films no matter how often they make them. However, I have a film of an earlier version and I think I prefer this one over the last

Sense and Sensibility 08 - Part 1

Andrew Davies caused a stir with the opening minute or two of Sense and Sensibility, but the adaptation quickly settled down into more familiar territory. There were some excellent moments, John and Fanny Dashwood being the stars of the episode for me. They were very well cast and, despite Austen's wonderful line about annuities being omitted, they were funny and awful in equal measure.

I thought Edward was too confident and Brandon too likeable. I would have preferred to come to know them more gradually, as the Dashwoods do, but this was perhaps because the entire adaptation is only three hours long. I thought Willoughby was not instantly loveable enough. However, I will be tuning in again for Episode 2!

Perhaps the best bit of the show was the scenery. I thought it was a good idea to set Barton Cottage on the coast. It was a bit of artistic licence, perhaps, but easily believable, because so much of Devon is on the coast, and I thought it showcased the English coast wonderfully.

"Barton Cottage" is actually Blackpool Mill which, despite its name, is not in Blackpool, but in North Devon, on the Hartland Abbey estate. The Hartland Abbey website is well worth a visit - click here to visit it - particularly as it has a page devoted to information about the filming of Sense and Sensibility. Apparently, the outside of the cottage was changed so that it was almost unrecognisable, to make it look older. There are more photos on the Hartland website.

But best of all, "Barton Cottage" is a holiday home and is available to rent! So if you fancy pretending to be Elinor or Marianne this year, check out the Hartland Abbey website for details.

So what did you think of this adaptation?

A Good Start to the New Year

I was delighted to receive two excellent reviews for A Rational Romance over the Christmas period. It is always cheering to find others enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoy writing them, and these glowing reviews gave me a real boost at this very drear and dismal time of the year. I am now fired up to get back to work writing even more! If you want to read these reviews, the links are below:-

http://redrosesforauthors.blogspot.com/2007/12/rational-romance.html

http://www.singletitles.com/index.php?p=230%20.

England 1803.

Elliot Malvern, seventh Marquis of Ullenwood is very content with his bachelor lifestyle, spending his fortune on the pleasurable pursuits of gambling and mistresses: Rosamond Beaumarsh is determined to remain unmarried and independent.

What, then, could persuade them plunge into an adventure that carries them to post-revolutionary Paris and takes them on a headlong flight across France?

Only the exercise of logic. The pair embark upon a romantic adventure and learn that rational thought has very little to do with true love……


A Happy New Year to you all, and I hope 2008 is a very good year for us all.

Melinda Hammond

Coming in 2008 . . .

We don't have all the details of our 2008 releases, but here are some to whet your appetite!

Kate Tremayne
Adam Loveday, the first in the Loveday series reissued by Headline(February)
The Loveday Secrets, number nine in the series published by Headline (May)

Wendy Soliman
The Carstairs Conspiracy published by Hale(January)
A Bittersweet Proposal, all about a young woman struggling to keep her latefather´s cider business profitable, published by Hale (Summer)

Fenella-Jane Miller
The Mesalliance, Large Print published by Thorpe (January)
A Debt of Honour, published by Robert Hale (February) and by http://www.regencyreads.com/ (February)
A Country Mouse, published by Linford Romance (April)
Lord Thurston's Challenge, Large Print published by Thorpe (Summer)
The House Party published by Robert Hale (July) and by http://www.regencyreads.com/(July)
The Reluctant Bride, My Weekly published by DC Thomson (Summer) and www.regencyreads.com (Summer)

Anne Herries
The Unknown Heir published by Harlequin Mills and Boon

Nicola Cornick
The Last Rake in London published by Harlequin Mills and Boon (May)
Unmasked published by HQN Books (July)

Jane Jackson
Devil's Prize published by Robert Hale (January)

Amanda Grange
Stormcrow Castle Large Print published by Ulverscroft (January - out today!)
Captain Wentworth's Diary published in paperback by Penguin in the US (May)
Edmund Bertram's Diary published by Penguin in paperback in the US (August)
Colonel Brandon's Diary published by Robert Hale in hardback (2008)

Louise Allen
The Dangerous Mr Ryder published by Harlequin Mills and Boon(2008)
The Outrageous Lady Felsham published by Harlequin Mills and Boon(2008)
The Shocking Lord Standon published by Harlequin Mills and Boon(2008)
There will also be another three titles in the series, Those Scandalous Ravenhursts, a set of six books focusing on the loves and adventures of seven cousins.

Lynne Connolly
The third Triple Countess book, Met By Chance out in February from Samhain.
Further 2008 releases, but I don't have details yet

Jane Odiwe
Lydia Bennet's Story will be published by Sourcebooks in the US

Melinda Hammond
More than a Governess published by Harlequin Mills and Boon in the Us (April) under the name of Sarah Mallory
The Belles Dames Club and A Rational Romance Large Print