Characters for Judging Prudence

I'm one of those writers who needs pictures of the characters I have in my head. And because I'm having a lot of trouble with Pinterest these days, (maybe I should have my 12 year old daughter post them for me) I thought I would show them to you here first. Besides, I finally was able to view the boards I have, and if you don't know where to look, you won't know who half of them are. The perils of modern technology.

Anyway... These are the characters for JUDGING PRUDENCE.

Alexander Lowell, Viscount Abernathy

Prudence Shaffer

Alexander's brother, George

                               

Alexander's grandfather,
Earl of  Westmoreland

Lady Lowell, Alexander's mother

       

Alexander's sister, Christina,
Lady Eaves

Lady Lowell's sister, Lady Carter

Alexander's Grandmother, Lady Westmoreland

Patience, Prudence's sister

Lady Prudence Shaffer is the most disliked of all the Dunbury Ladies. She holds no regard for the feelings of others; her caustic tongue and acerbic wit leaves her friendless save for her sister. No one understands the cause for Prudence’s bad manners. She was raised to be a lady, after all.

Alexander Lowell, Viscount Abernathy, dares to brave her criticisms, sees through the veneer she has painted herself with, and finds her attractive enough to court. He realizes he must tame her wicked language if he wishes his mother to consent to a marriage between them.

However, one iniquitous remark at a ball about Lady Lowell has left Prudence dealing with its after effects. She is shunned within Society and her remaining unmarried cousins along with her. A simple apology will not suffice—Lady Lowell refuses to hear it, or allow her son to marry her.

Prudence must change her disapproving ways if she wants her heart’s desire.

It is not as easy as she thinks when no one believes she can.

Coming Soon.

(Before Christmas. Hopefully, by Thanksgiving, but don't count on it. Let's just say sometime around the holidays.)


Anne Gallagher (c) 2017

Intimate Portrait -- Captain Richard Gaines

As we approach the release of THE CAPTAIN'S COINCIDENCE, I thought now would probably be a good time for his Intimate Portrait. I know who Richard is, but you might not.

Richard

Captain Richard Gaines is one of my most endearing heroes. Well, I like him anyway. However, Richard is also one of my most troubled heroes. He's suffering from mental battle scars.(In doing my research I found Trafalgar was the bloodiest sea battle in the Campaign with over 20,000 men, and 52 ships lost - however not one ship was British.) He's filled with angst and anxiety, sleep deprived, depressed, PTSD, can't find anything to snap him out of it. Until he meets Amanda.

Amanda

Problem is, Amanda's married. Yes, she is. To a despicable man, the most villainous villain I have ever created. (Worse even than Thomas Entin-Hicks from MASQUERADE.) Amanda was also best friends with Penny when they were children, so that's part of the plot line. 

When I first began to write Richard's story 10 years ago, I think (looking back on the manuscript now) he was actually my prototype for Ellis (Marquess of Haverlane LADY'S FATE). You know, that strong silent type, feels inwardly, doesn't say much. However, in  rewriting this book, I'm going to give Richard "more".  I'm not sure what the more is at this point, but he won't be too much like Ellis when I'm done.

After Trafalgar, Richard resigned his commission. I know, that's really not done but he did. (It's my book after all.) Since then, he's become somewhat of a detective. Not so much a Bow Street Runner, more like Columbo. He has bodyguards to let out for visiting dignitaries and such, and is often hired to find missing or stolen objects that no one else can seem to find. And because he's rich and has impeccable connections, (His father is cousin to the Earl of Brumbley, Winsbarren's father -- which is how Richard met William through Winsbarren as Winsbarren and William went to school together -- follow that logic if you dare) he's often invited to balls and parties. 

However, he doesn't go to be sociable, he only attends to keep his ear to the gossip. Which is why he's such a good detective. After he helped save Penny (MASQUERADE) Lady Olivia took a liking to him. He's quite possibly the only man in London who isn't afraid of her -- only her matchmaking schemes. 

Amanda's husband

In this story, Amanda has come back to England with her husband who's interested in the cotton mills. (He's a Southerner, with a cotton plantation and slaves, which is how he made his fortune, among other ways.)

Richard meets Amanda briefly one night in London and falls in love with her at first sight. Unfortunately, she's on her way to Manchester to view the cotton mills with her husband. Richard thinks she's a witch and woven a spell over him as he just can't forget about her.


As I started rewriting this novel, I found Richard had more than his fair share of coincidences. Hence the new title. It's been a twisty-turny road to get this novel finished. I had to chuck all my previous research and start from scratch, which has led to more research. And in trying to get it finished quickly, I missed two very important scenes that my lovely critique partners were more than happy to point out to me.

However, we're almost there. Just a couple more chapters and I think we can publish by the end of January. At least that's what I tell myself.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a great week!

Anne Gallagher (c) 2013

The A-Z Challenge Letter Y

For the Letter Y, I will show you the characters for my new book (working title THE SEDUCTION OF MR. SUMMERVILLE). I do not have a story for them, only to say that both women are fighting over the same man. But I found their characters and thought I would show them to you.

This is Lady Ariana Dinsmore. Elegant, genteel, perfect in every way. Knows her destiny, until she meets the wrong man.

This is Lady Arabella Dinsmore. Pretty, accomplished, and very sweet. She adores her older sister, until she meets the wrong man.

This is the Wrong Man. Mr. Ethan Summerville, an American, who now finds himself with a title he does not want, and the affections of two ladies he does not know what to do with.

Countess of Dinsmore. She only wants what is best for her daughters.

The Earl of Dinsmore. Cannot abide the fact both of his daughters are in love with an American, newly titled or not.

The A-Z Challenge Letter X

For the letter X, I will show you my lesser characters. People who have small parts in my books.

This is Winsbarren's father, the 8th Earl of Brumbley. He appears in A WIFE FOR WINSBARREN.

This is Bartholomew Wood, Amanda Pomeroy's despicable husband in THE CAPTAIN'S LADY.

This is the Earl and Countess of Briden.

Rosamund Smith's parents in

THE EARL'S ENIGMA.

This is Lady Georgiana Baxter, villainess extraordinaire in THE LADY'S FATE.

This is His Royal Highness, Prince George. Prinny to his friends.

The A-Z Challenge Letter U

I have nothing for the Letter U, so I will show you some of my lesser characters.

This is Violet's younger sister, Camillia. We meet her in THE LADY'S FATE. I'm hoping someday she'll have a story of her own.

This is Countess Rose Flowers, Violet's mother. She also appears in THE LADY'S FATE. We don't like her very much.

This is the Reverend Andrew Perry, who also appears in THE LADY'S FATE. He helps Haverlane overcome his reticence to loving Violet.

The A-Z Challenge Letter S

S is for Servants.

This is Edwards, butler to Robert and Fiona at Carlton House in THE DUKE'S DIVORCE.

This is Manning, butler to the Marquess of Haverlane at St. Stephen's Square, in THE LADY'S FATE.

This is Mrs. Jeffers, housekeeper at Fairhaven, in THE LADY'S FATE.

This is Gibbs, butler for the Earl and Countess of Briden in THE EARL'S ENIGMA.

This is Aggie, housekeeper and cook for Winsbarren in A WIFE FOR WINSBARREN.

The A-Z Challenge Letter M

This is Lady Marion, Duchess of Chesnick. Ellis and William's mother.

I thinks she's the meanest mother in the universe. She's manipulative and only thinks of herself and her position in Society. And she despises Violet in THE LADY'S FATE.

A-Z Challenge Letter L

This is Charles Leighton, Duke of Olmstead. Penny's father in THE LADY'S MASQUERADE.

He's a bit of a pompous aristocrat, and wants his daughter to marry no less than a duke, or his heir, but has his reasons. He's nephew to Lady Olivia's late husband Fitzhugh.

The A-Z Challenge Letter J

This is Lady Joanna. Robert's mother, the Dowager Duchess of Cantin.

In THE DUKE'S DIVORCE, Lady Joanna tries to persuade Robert he needs to remain married to Fiona. He doesn't want to hear it. But when his friends tell him, "Mother knows best" he wonders if they are all in cahoots.

I like Lady Joanna. She's very kind and does offer up some very sage wisdom.

New Characters -- New Book

The other day I was trolling for a picture for one of my characters, Amanda Pomeroy.  I cannot write a character without a picture of some sort. It helps me flesh them out, bring their "essence" to the forefront of my mind. When I have a picture, I know I'll "get" them and their story.

Well, in looking for Amanda, I also found several others that I just had to have in my "characters" picture file. And lo and behold, I found a complete family with a butler and a hero. Now, to be quite honest, I have no story. I have no plot other than the two sisters are in love with the same man. That's it. No inkling of how, why, when, where or how this is going to play out. I don't even have a title. But I have the characters.

This is the Earl of Dinsmore. Handsome, distinguished, no nonsense. Have no idea what his name is, or where he's from. Don't even know what kind of role he's to play in the scheme of things.

His wife, Countess Dinsmore. Beautiful, and brilliant. Stands by her husband. I think she might be related to Lady Olivia in some way.

Lady Ariana Dinsmore, the eldest daughter.

Lady Arabella Dinsmore, the youngest daughter.

This is the guy both sisters are fighting over. I have no idea who he is, or what he's up to, but I do know he's going to be in a heap of trouble when the sisters realize he's flirting with both of them.

And this is the butler. Have no idea who he is either, but he seemed like a good butler.






So there we have it. I have the characters, but I have no story. I'm sure one will show up sooner or later, but for now, it's nice to know they're here.

Talking Heads

Most writers can't let go of the idea they may be schizophrenic at least once or twice in their lives. They have people living inside their heads. They hear voices, they talk to themselves.

I'm no exception. Standing in line at a grocery store not too long ago, I blurted out to the cashier, "That's why Ophelia didn't recognize Davingdale, she wasn't wearing her glasses!" Naturally, the cashier thought I was nuts.

Living in our heads with other people is hard. Especially when you accidentally call your children by your characters' names. Or your significant other. Somehow, they're always there. You can't escape them.
Hence the shcizophrenia. (And please, for all intents and purposes, this is just a playful concept. I know and understand that schizophrenia is a dreadful and serious disease.)

My characters come to me out of the blue. I don't ask for them. I don't look for them. They just magically appear out of thin air. Sometimes it's only a name. Sometimes a snippet of conversation.

Penny and William (THE LADY'S MASQUERADE) appeared to me in a gazebo having a conversation. I had no idea who they were or what they were doing, but there they were. And I took that conversation and wrote it down. Mind you, that first conversation morphed into something completely different for the novel, as a matter of fact, that first conversation had nothing to do with the book. The only thing that remains is the gazebo.

Likewise, for Violet and Ellis (THE LADY'S FATE). Their first conversation was in a flower shop, which was discarded for a river, and a boat dock.

Sometimes I'll see someone on the street, or like last year at the beach, and a full-blown character is born. I called him "Jack" and by the end of my two week stay in Narragansett, I thought I knew him inside and out. Of course, never having spoken to him, I'm sure he was nothing like the "character" I made him out to be, but he served a very singular purpose. He became the love interest for my latest leading lady.

So the next time you see someone talking to themselves in the bookstore, or writing feverishly in a coffee house, ask them if they're a writer. Who knows, it might be me.