The Earl's Engagement Cover Reveal

Well here it is. Hope you like it. I'm trying to finish it and get it out within the next two weeks.

The Mid-Point

Well, dear readers, I am more than half-way through writing THE EARL'S ENGAGEMENT. My poor innocent Rosamund has gone through several ups and downs, most notably dealing with the Earl of Bailey. As she says, "He is a mordant, vexing, prig of a man!"

And that he may be, but he is also a gentle man, and kind, and thinking only of Rosamund's best interests. Unfortunately, his plans for her will soon be filled with all kinds of bumps and bruises, and in the end, it will take some strong convincing for her to truly believe he is in love with her.

Yes, that is a spoiler, but as everyone knows, romance books are written with the intention of a happy ending, so it should be no surrprise to you that Rosamund and Rory will end up together at the end. It is the journey to how they actually get there that is the story.

In this book there are also several appearances by old friends -- Haverlane and Violet, Robert and Fiona, of course Lady Olivia has another best supporting actress role, and William and Penny also make a very brief appearance toward the end.

I like adding characters from my other books, as a writer it allows readers to think about reading those other books, but more importantly, it keeps my sanity intact. Having developed this series as a wrap-around series instead of sequel-driven, it's like I have all my old friends near me if I need them. And as I'm getting closer to completing series, I want to utilize everyone equally.

I had wanted to get this book finished and published by the end of September. Well, as we all know, months fly by like leaves falling from the trees and December is no exception. Unless I somehow manage to get several marathon writing sessions in, I'm now looking at January. I hope you don't mind.

However, I am going to publish LADY CADORET'S LONGING as a separate novella, even though I said I wasn't. I think her story should have equal billing among the others. And as also it's a lead in for another novella I'm going to write next year, I think it's important for the characters in that book to be heard from.

So that's what I'm doing, and where I am, closer to the end, but not quite. Perhaps I'll have some better news for you next week.

And also, just wanted to let you know, I've finally figured out how to do the conversion process for the NOOK, so look for my books at Barnes & Noble coming soon.

A New Story

Yes, I've up with an idea for a new story. Another novella type short story actually. I'm not giving away any titles, or cover reveals this time because for some reason I've found this to be detrimental to my writing process. Makes me want to ditch what I have been writing for something I have no idea how I'm going to write.

Any-hoo, my next short story will star this woman. Lady Ariana Dinsmore. The eldest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Dinsmore. The story will be somewhat of a prequel to THE SEDUCTION OF Mr. SUMMERVILLE. In SSS (my anachronim) a lot of loose ends will tied up from the first book in the series THE LADY'S MASQUERADE.

You may wonder how can I write the last book if the first book isn't even out yet. Well, MASQUERADE has been written for the last 5 years. Problem is, as I've been writing the series (and subsequent short stories) Lady Olivia has hidden secrets from her past and in SSS all of them will be revealed. I give hints in THE EARL'S ENGAGEMENT. However, that being said, the foreground of all these secrets is laid in THE LADY'S MASQUERADE, which I have to insert. That poor book has been in revisions for most of these years and every time Lady Olivia does something I have to remember to re-insert that into the book.

Anyway, Lady Ariana Dinsmore has arrived back in London with her family in time for the Christmas season 1812. I know the story opens with the Twelfth Night Gala Ball at Lady Bellingham's. I know her younger sister, Lady Arabella is going to meet someone else. However, Lady Arabella has an understanding with Stephen Summerville. Although not quite engaged, it is imminent. What happnes at Lady Bellingham's that night will set the stage for what will happen in SSS. And boy howdy, when it blows up, it will leave everyone shaking their heads at the little upstart Arabella.

And even though this new short story is mostly about Ariana, I love my old characters, like seeing old friends and many will be in attendance. I think it's going to be a sweet little title and I hope you'll read it.

I have no idea when it will be finished, but I started it last night. I just can't get it off my mind. Hopefully,  before Christmas.

So there you have it. Another crazy idea.