What the New Year Will Bring

I'm awaiting edits from my critique partners before THE EARL'S ENGAGEMENT is ready for publication. Not too long now. Another week or two.

I'm not one for making resolutions, but I do have some goals in mind for the new year.

The first one is to finish rewriting THE LADY'S MASQUERADE. I've changed so many things around in the published books, that MASQUERADE really doesn't make sense any more. Hence the rewrites. I'm hoping to get through with that during the next couple of months. I have to add in more of Lady Olivia's story and how this series all started so I can finish the series with all of the unanswered questions, answered at last. (I'm hoping you'll enjoy it all.)

The second thing I'm hoping to do is finish writing THE CAPTAIN'S LADY. That is the second book in the Reluctant Grooms series. I started it about 3 years ago, and after learning all I could about the slave trade, I decided the book needs a major reconstruction. I love the story and Richard is one of my favorite heroes. I've based him on this character.

Richard has been a very quiet character. He does show up in some of my other novels, but for the most part, once he gets back from America, he and Amanda live a sedate country life. However, he does make an appearance in THE EARL'S ENGAGEMENT.

Third on the list is to work on an extensive outline for THE SEDUCTION OF MR. SUMMERVILLE. I've written books without outlines, allowing the characters to take me where they want to go, but found to my detriment, that is not always the best way to write. Then again, I have written outlines, and find I never use them. However, with SEDUCTION, there is a LOT of stuff going on and I have to make sure my research, characters, and timelines are in sinc. SEDUCTION will be the final book in the series and everything needs to be completely tied up in a bright bow. However, that book will not even be started until either late fall or the beginning of 2014. I have several other projects that need to be finished in my "other" genre (contemporary women's fiction).

As for short stories -- I'm not sure where I stand with those yet. I don't have any characters knocking around in my head wanting me to tell their story. But maybe I'll be inspired at some point. 

I also have to find time to reformat everything for sale in paperback and let me tell you how much time reformatting takes. Unfortunately, I can't spend every day writing, there is also the business aspect, and marketing and promotion takes time away from my keyboard.

So, those are my goals. I hope you come along for the ride. 

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.