The Not So Secret Project Story Update

For any of you keeping up with this Not So Secret Project, I thought you would all like to know, I'm half-way through writing it. I propose it to have 10 chapters, some short, some long (the first chapter alone is 10 pages) and hoping to have the total come in around 40-50K words. At least that's what I'm hoping for. We'll see how that works out.

Also, I found a title (YAY! You can't even begin to know how much it drove me crazy NOT to have a title before I started writing). And if I do say so myself, it's a very fine title for a book such as this.

Because, if you haven't heard, this is NOT my usual Regency romance. Let's get that out of the way right now. This story is about the enduring friendship between two women teachers. As I've mentioned before, this story is a prize for the winners of an auction held at my daugher's school in April. Yes, it does have a romantic storyline that runs through it, but it is not primarily a romance.

Also, there's a lot of religious history embedded in the pages, (as the winners are teachers at a Catholic school). I try to maintain a little bit of factual history in all my books, so this one is no different. My views on the Catholic faith are not relevent, but the characters, (who are based on REAL ACTUAL LIVE people) are. I don't jam them down your throat, there's no preaching, and there's no "inspirational" theme (not my genre folks) it's more or less a commonality of the characters that binds them together.

And I have a cover. But alas, I'm not revealing that or the title until I get the okay from the women I'm writing it for. But let me tell you what, it's a great cover if I do say so myself. A little different from my usual Regencies, but with the same theme, if you know what I mean.

I'm gearing up for a publication date for October 1, 2013. Why so long if I propose to have the book all wrapped up and ready to go by the end of August? Well, this book is also part of a fundraising project for said school, and part of the royalties will go to help the new media center. So I'm going to be promoting it for a few weeks before hand.

I'm also planning on doing a paperback version for it (as I said, fundraising project) which should come in under $10-. I also plan on having a book signing at some point, so that should be fun if I can get my ducks in a row.

And I think that's it.

Hope you're having a terrific summer, and I'll see you next week.

Anne Gallagher (c) 2013

Intimate Portrait -- Rory, the Earl of Bailey

First and foremost, I just wanted to let you all know, that I have FINALLY gotten around to rewriting/revising Rory and Rosamund's story. After much consternation reading the reviewer feedback, I decided to change a few things, add a few things, and soften much of the ending. I hope that helps.

*****

Rory, or Gregory Scott, Earl of Bailey, is a fairly new character for me. Whereas, William, Robert, and Richard, have been with me since I first started working on the Reluctant Grooms series (almost 10 years ago), Rory came into being recently. (In book years, about two years ago.)

Scott G.F. Bailey

He's based on a composite of several different people I know, most notably, one Scott G. F. Bailey, a fantastic writer of literary genius. Scott allowed me to use his name for Rory's character (naturally I changed it around a little bit), and though never having met Scott in person, I do know that he puts his writing first and foremost above all else in his life. (Well, after his lovely Mighty Reader of course.) And that is what I took away from Scott to create Rory.

Almost from the very beginning, Rory declares he's not in want of a wife. In THE LADY'S FATE, where we initially meet Rory, he is duped into coming to London to rescue the fair Lady Violet from the vicious rumors circulating about her. She needs a husband because Haverlane is not forthcoming in his declaration of love for her. Lady Olivia has a plan and that plan is to make Haverlane jealous enough to come up to scratch. Naturally, it works, because I wrote the book. Haverlane denounces the rumors surrounding Violet and they finally marry and fade off quietly into the sunset.

But then, I had Rory's character I really enjoyed and wanted to do something with. I also had a secondary character named Rosamund (who's also been with me since the inception of THE LADY'S MASQUERADE from 10 years ago) and I thought, Hey, why not put those two together.


And so Rory had his story.

Rory, to me, is a lot like Darcy in his initial aspect. He looks down his nose at Rosamund because, even though she is a lady, she acts fairly common. What he doesn't understand is that she's trying to save her family from utter destitution. What he comes to realize, is that the poor girl had no choice. After a debilitating humiliation during her first Season, Rosamund gives up her life in Society to take care of her now, aging and infirm father. No one truly knows what Rosamund's life is like at Primrose, especially her extended family, and when Rory is thrust into the middle of it, his eyes are opened.

Rory comes across at the beginning of THE EARL'S ENGAGEMENT as a pompous aristocrat. Which he is. I wanted him that way, otherwise, how could he change so dramatically as the story moved forward.

However, what I really liked about Rory is that underneath all his snobbery, is a good, kind, gentle-hearted man, who will do what's right for the people he loves. In the beginning, naturally, Rory has no idea he's doing all the things he's doing because he loves Rosamund. He declares he's doing them in his regard for Rosamund's father. Which he is.

Rosamund is a surly character (I mean, wouldn't you be too if your life was spent in drudgery), and thinks Rory is only at Primrose to out her for writing her father's last research paper for the Royal Historical Society. He's not, but she doesn't know that and treats him abominably. Even after he does all the things he does for her and her parents.

It was so much fun to make these two characters fall in love. I also like the way they changed their ideas about one another. Rory makes a declaration to Rosamund, that he thinks of her as "a most beloved sister." And Rosamund goes into a tailspin because her parents and old governess keep telling her he's doing all the the things he does for her. She has no clue what to believe.

And the more Rory spends time in her company, the more he realizes what a strong, independent woman she is, so unlike the ladies of Society, (who are mostly all cut from the same cloth). His idea of a most beloved sister was shaken to the core when he sees her at a dinner party, all dressed up and acting like the lady she is supposed to be.

I know that was kind of cliche, seeing the ogre turn into a Princess, but it's my story and I'm sticking to it. I mean, how else could Rory understand that Rosamund, would indeed be the perfect wife for him.

Sharing only one kiss in the entire book, I think the romantic aspect of the is story is genuine. Rosamund is clearly undone by the kiss, and her eyes are opened to the idea that she does love Rory. He is not the thorn in her side that she made him out to be.

And Rory, finally realizing he does love Rosamund, takes the hero's role to new heights and finds her father's missing fortune. Yes, another cliche, but isn't that what hero's are supposed to do -- rescue the damsel in distress?

*****

It's funny how over the years, every story I write is my new favorite. From William and Penny, to Greenleigh and Illora, and Dorcas and Daniel, Davingdale and Ophelia, to Robert and Fiona, and Ellis and Violet. I love all my characters and their love stories, but I think I love Rory and Rosamund's love story the best.

(Okay, maybe second best. I still love Violet and Ellis more.)

Anne Gallagher (c) 2013

The New Story

First off, thanks again to all those who entered my Goodreads give-away last month. The books have been sent out so the winners should receive them by the middle of next week, I hope.

*******

And now, after much consternation, teeth-gnashing, and sleepless nights, I have finally broken ground on the new story. The Not So Secret Project story. I've written 1500 words so far, which may not be a whole lot by some writer's standards (nor mine either, actually) but I've gotten the beginning down. Yay!

Remember the prologue I wrote a couple of weeks ago? Yeah, that's not going in. It wouldn't work with what I finally decided to do.

My problem with this story has been the beginning -- where to start. And also the research. I was bogged down by too much, but after doing a little bit more (ugh -- 3 hours just to trace French nobility) I was finally able to come up with a backstory for Dianne's father which coincided with what was going on in France between 1785 and 1801. So yay again.

I had debated starting the story in media res but that would just confuse everyone. And as I've always maintained, I like to start at the beginning.

So, here we are. I'm hoping to add to it every day (real life and fallen trees and flooded basements keep interrupting me) and really think I can finish it by the end of July. Really, I do. I know where it goes, what happens, and who's in it, so it's just a matter of finding the time to sit down and write it with nothing to break my concentration. You know how it goes, I'm sure.

Well, that's all the news I have this week. Sorry to be such a party pooper, but I've got a story to write.

Have a great week!

Anne Gallagher (c) 2013

And The Winners Are....!!!

Erin Larkins, Tina Baker, and Erika Kraus



Thanks so much for participating in my Goodreads Give-away for THE LADY'S MASQUERADE. I think I had over 700 entries. It was fun watching the number grow every week.

I'm sure not everyone who entered really wanted to read the book (because some people enter contests just to enter) but still, it was nice to see the number. I feel as though I found 700 new fans.

I even received a few nice letters from people who wanted to know if I would be holding give-aways for any of my other books.

And you know, I just might. Let me finish writing the new story and then I'll see which one I put up.

Congratulations again to the winners! I'll be sending your books in a few weeks.