Today I am talking about the problems I have had with my muse, and one I borrowed, at LadyScribes. Stop by and let me know if your muse has ever given you trouble.
http://ladyscribes.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-trouble-with-muses.html
Monday, August 13, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
A Misguided Lord
Now Available . . . A Misguided Lord
It is
time for Clayton Trent, Earl of Bentley, to take a bride. He knows exactly what he needs and the type
of lady who should become his Countess.
His life is orderly, scandal free and exactly the way it should be until
Miss Eleanor Westin careens into him, upsetting the perfect balance of his
world. She is everything his father said
he should not marry. Yet, he cannot put
her from his mind, not even when a decade old scandal threatens the very
foundation of his family.
Miss Eleanor Westin has spent
her life in the country on the brink of poverty and raising her siblings after
the death of her parents until her grandfather finally decides to do his duty
and brings her to London. Eleanor simply
wants to find a gentleman who is willing to take on her family in the
bargain. Love is not even a
consideration if she can land security.
Unfortunately, the only gentleman who has made any offer is Lord
Bentley, and he will never do. If only he
would stay out of her dreams so she could forget him and his intoxicating
kisses.
Available at:Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Available at:Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Sunday, February 26, 2012
The Betting Season
In
AVA STONE's By Any Other Name...
Lady Philippa Casemore caused quite a scene at her very first ball of her very first season. She even landed herself, somehow, on the pages of the infamous betting book at White's gentleman's club. Unfortunately, she doesn't remember one moment of the night in question. Not the music. Not the notorious rake she'd dragged into the middle of the dance floor. Not the flask of opium-laced brandy she'd downed without realizing it's contents...
Jason York, the wicked Earl of St. Austell, can't quite forget the lady who stole his breath away the previous night. Of course, his broken nose, courtesy of the girl's brother, did have a way of making an impression. When he stumbles into Lady Philippa the next day, his ego is more than bruised when she doesn't seem to recall him at all and a scheme to make certain she never forgets him again quickly forms in Jason's mind.
~ * ~
In CATHERINE GAYLE's Flight of Fancy...
Cedric Loring, the Earl of Montague, has been an honorary member of the Bexley-Smythe family for years. He’s always had a special, if sometimes strained, bond with Georgie. But when her name ends up in the betting book at White’s before she’s even made her debut, he knows no one can protect her quite like he can. If only she’d stop chasing after the very gentleman who could single-handedly see to her ruin.
Lady Georgianna Bexley-Smythe has the uncanny ability to remember nearly everything she’s ever read, and thus knows everything about almost everything. But as knowledge and experience are not interchangeable, she intends to make her first Season one of adventure. What could be more adventurous than seeing London from Lord Haworth’s gas balloon? Now she must avoid Monty long enough to make Haworth’s acquaintance and beg an airborne adventure.
~ * ~
In JANE CHARLES's Landing A Laird...
Heiress Lady Moira Kirkwood will do anything it takes to marry a laird to take her north - far, far away from London and her domineering mother. Unfortunately, a pair of gentlemen overhear her jest about Scotland and compromising a fellow if she has to. Before the sun has risen the next day, Moira’s name and a scandalous wager have found themselves inside the infamous betting book at White’s.
One penniless gentleman after another begs Gideon Baxter, Viscount Ainsely, for his assistance in wooing Lady Moira. Unfortunately, Gideon would like to woo the charming lady himself. If only she cared more for him than for the location of his estate, he’d could be assured of where her true feelings lie.
~ * ~
Lady Philippa Casemore caused quite a scene at her very first ball of her very first season. She even landed herself, somehow, on the pages of the infamous betting book at White's gentleman's club. Unfortunately, she doesn't remember one moment of the night in question. Not the music. Not the notorious rake she'd dragged into the middle of the dance floor. Not the flask of opium-laced brandy she'd downed without realizing it's contents...
Jason York, the wicked Earl of St. Austell, can't quite forget the lady who stole his breath away the previous night. Of course, his broken nose, courtesy of the girl's brother, did have a way of making an impression. When he stumbles into Lady Philippa the next day, his ego is more than bruised when she doesn't seem to recall him at all and a scheme to make certain she never forgets him again quickly forms in Jason's mind.
~ * ~
In CATHERINE GAYLE's Flight of Fancy...
Cedric Loring, the Earl of Montague, has been an honorary member of the Bexley-Smythe family for years. He’s always had a special, if sometimes strained, bond with Georgie. But when her name ends up in the betting book at White’s before she’s even made her debut, he knows no one can protect her quite like he can. If only she’d stop chasing after the very gentleman who could single-handedly see to her ruin.
Lady Georgianna Bexley-Smythe has the uncanny ability to remember nearly everything she’s ever read, and thus knows everything about almost everything. But as knowledge and experience are not interchangeable, she intends to make her first Season one of adventure. What could be more adventurous than seeing London from Lord Haworth’s gas balloon? Now she must avoid Monty long enough to make Haworth’s acquaintance and beg an airborne adventure.
~ * ~
In JANE CHARLES's Landing A Laird...
Heiress Lady Moira Kirkwood will do anything it takes to marry a laird to take her north - far, far away from London and her domineering mother. Unfortunately, a pair of gentlemen overhear her jest about Scotland and compromising a fellow if she has to. Before the sun has risen the next day, Moira’s name and a scandalous wager have found themselves inside the infamous betting book at White’s.
One penniless gentleman after another begs Gideon Baxter, Viscount Ainsely, for his assistance in wooing Lady Moira. Unfortunately, Gideon would like to woo the charming lady himself. If only she cared more for him than for the location of his estate, he’d could be assured of where her true feelings lie.
~ * ~
In JERRICA KNIGHT-CATANIA's The
Marriage Trap...
When Miss Patience Findley discovers, at her first ball of her first Season, just how much her father's scandal has affected her chances of marriage, she resigns herself to being alone and dying a spinster. That is, until she hears that her friends' names have landed in the Betting Book at White's. In a moment of desperation, she asks her reprobate cousin to place a bet on her behalf, in hopes of trapping an unsuspecting gentleman into marriage.
Tristan Wallford, Lord Swaffham, loves a good challenge. So when his friend, Rowan Findley, claims that his cousin Patience cannot be cured of her melancholy state, Tristan lays a bet that he will be the one to cure her. He could certainly use the money, after all. But as the game begins, Tristan begins to realize that not only does Miss Findley not need curing, but she might be worth trapping for himself.
When Miss Patience Findley discovers, at her first ball of her first Season, just how much her father's scandal has affected her chances of marriage, she resigns herself to being alone and dying a spinster. That is, until she hears that her friends' names have landed in the Betting Book at White's. In a moment of desperation, she asks her reprobate cousin to place a bet on her behalf, in hopes of trapping an unsuspecting gentleman into marriage.
Tristan Wallford, Lord Swaffham, loves a good challenge. So when his friend, Rowan Findley, claims that his cousin Patience cannot be cured of her melancholy state, Tristan lays a bet that he will be the one to cure her. He could certainly use the money, after all. But as the game begins, Tristan begins to realize that not only does Miss Findley not need curing, but she might be worth trapping for himself.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Seeing Where the Road Leads
Today I have a guest. Welcome, Catherine Gayle!
They say there are two types of writers out there: plotters and pantsers. If you’re new to these terms, a panters is one who writes “by the seat of their pants.”
They say there are two types of writers out there: plotters and pantsers. If you’re new to these terms, a panters is one who writes “by the seat of their pants.”
I started out my writing life as a pantser. That
didn’t last long. I finished two manuscripts that way, but spent two to three
times as long revising and rewriting and revising again as I did writing in the
first place. Doing it for two 100,000 word manuscripts was enough to convince
me to try another path.
After that, I decided there had to be a better
way. I researched plotting methods, tried several, and found what worked for
me. At that point, I knew I’d never go back. After all, I could finish a
manuscript without needing to spend months on end reworking it into something
that made sense.
Yet a few months ago, I found myself picking up
a new project and writing without a clue where it would take me. I tried to
plot it, but it didn’t work. No matter what I did, nothing would come together
until I started writing a scene and the characters dictated where it would go.
It worked. But that was just a novella. I’m not
sure I’m ready to give up the reins like that again on something full length.
But yesterday, I started writing something new again, and yet again, I have no
clue where I’m headed. I guess I’ll have to wait and see where this road leads
me.
The novella I did successfully write as a
pantser recently is called An Unintended Journey. It’s part of the Regency
Christmas Summons anthology, found in A Summons From the Castle.
Blurb:
What once was lost…
Abby Goddard’s life is going along just
swimmingly, apart from the disappearance of her life’s love—Wesley Cavendish, a
man well above her station. Just before Christmas, Grandmama dies after
revealing the identity of Abby’s grandfather. The Duke of Danby, no less. Now
the entire family will travel to Yorkshire to confront Danby, hoping to gain a
dowry for Abby. But then Wesley reemerges, sparking a hope Abby thought long
destroyed.
Now is found…
Shall the prodigal son’s sole inheritance be an
unsightly gash? Wesley Cavendish aspires to the political realm, despite his
father’s near-murderous opposition…not to mention his opposition to Abby
Goddard. But since Father died, will the new Earl of Fordingham rescind Father’s
disgraceful allegations? Fordingham thwarts Wesley at every turn, threatening
marriage to a prominent Tory family—which precludes Abby—to put an end to
Wesley’s Whig involvement…unless Wesley can find a loophole.
Excerpt:
The thwarting of her exodus left Abby trembling again. She
took two full breaths and briefly pressed her eyes closed to fight down her
sorrow before turning again. This time, her eyes passed over the baron, then
traveled to Lady Pritchard, and finally settled on their guests.
Her breath caught.
Mr. Daniel Pritchard, the baron’s eldest son and heir, had
come home from his recent travels—but he wasn’t the man who left Abby with a
tingling sensation in the pit of her stomach, and a knot the size of Mount
Olympus in her throat, and her toes curling within her half-boots from the
desperate need to run as fast as she could and not look back.
No, such a reaction could only be due to one man’s presence.
Mr. Wesley
Cavendish, the Earl of Fordingham’s wayward brother, stood before the hearth,
looking like an ancient Roman warrior ready to race his chariot through the
Coliseum—only a warrior oddly stuffed into modern fashions, with his dark,
slightly curling hair falling down over his cravat. His straight nose and
black-as-midnight eyes were just as she’d always remembered them. He regarded
her so intensely she felt as though she’d sprouted six scaly heads and started
singing opera from each of them whilst in the nude.
Have you ever taken off on a path you swore
you’d never again travel, and had it turn out okay? Every commenter who leaves
an email address will be entered in the prize extravaganza outlined at
www.catherinegayle.com/news.html, where you could win a Kindle or one of many
other prizes.
Catherine Gayle
Catherine Gayle
Friday, October 28, 2011
A Danby Regency Christmas Summons Prize Extravaganza
Presented by: Lilia Birney, Christi
Caldwell, Phyllis Campbell, Jane Charles, Aileen Fish, Catherine Gayle,
Samantha Grace, Suzie Grant, Julie Johnstone, Olivia Kelly, Jerrica
Knight-Catania, and Ava Stone, in honor of the release of our Regency Christmas
Anthology, consisting of A Summons from
Yorkshire, A Summons from the Duke,
A Summons from the Castle, and A Summons from His Grace.
In
celebration of our release on November 1, we’re hosting a six-week-long prize
extravaganza. Follow us on Twitter, like or friend us on Facebook, visit our
websites, and look for announcements of ways to enter. Any time one or more of
us blogs about the Regency Christmas Anthology, comment and leave your email
address for an entry in the drawing. If one of us hosts a Twitter contest, follow
the rules outlined on Twitter for your chance to enter.
What can
you win?
·
1
$79 Kindle from Amazon
·
1
of 3 $50 gift cards (2 from Amazon, 1 from Barnes and Noble)
·
1
of 3 $25 gift cards (2 from Amazon, 1 from Barnes and Noble)
·
1
complete set of Catherine Gayle’s LORD ROTHEBY’S INFLUENCE series
·
1
complete set of Ava Stone’s SCANDALOUS series
·
1
of 2 copies of Jerrica Knight-Catania’s THE ROBBER BRIDE
·
1
copy of Suzie Grant’s FOR THE SAKE OF SIN
·
1
copy of Suzie Grant’s THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER
·
1
copy of Suzie Grant’s WRONG KIND OF PARADISE
·
1
complete set of Jane Charles’s ONCE UPON A TIME trilogy
·
1
copy of Jane Charles’s TO WALK IN THE SUN
·
1
copy of Aileen Fish’s THE MISTLETOE MISHAP
·
1
copy of Aileen Fish’s THE CHRISTMAS DRAGON SCHEME
·
1
copy of Phyllis Campbell’s SPANISH EYES
·
1
copy of Phyllis Campbell’s QUEEN OF HEARTS
Entries will be accepted
and collected from November 1 through
December 15, prizes will be drawn on December
15, during a live chat event at the
Lady Scribes blog (8-10 pm, Eastern),
and winners will be notified by email or Twitter if not present in the chat.
You do NOT need to be present in the chat to win.
Anyone who already follows this blog and leaves a comment between November 1st and December 15th will automatically be entered in the drawing, as will anyone who becomes a follower of this blog between November 1st and December 15th (as long as I have an e-mail address so we can find you if your name is drawn)Monday, October 10, 2011
Handfasted (To Love a Governess Regency Novella)
Katrina Clark had two goals. To secure a position as a governess and
discover the secrets of what happened between a man and woman before settling
into spinsterhood.
Lord Timothy Strotham wanted nothing more than to purchase
the contents of the Clark’s Book Shop and Lending Library and be on his way. He
did not count on getting the deceased owner’s daughter as part of the bargain.
Handfasted to preserve her reputation, they set out for a
three day journey. Will Katrina learn
all the secrets before she arrives at her destination or will Timothy be able
to deny his own desires and leave Katrina as pure and innocent as he found her?
Monday, October 3, 2011
Regency Christmas Summons - A Christmas Anthology - Coming Soon
The Duke of Danby has summoned all of his wayward grandchildren home for the holidays! 12 short stories about the Whitton cousins.
Available November 1st on the virtual bookshelves of Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.
Available November 1st on the virtual bookshelves of Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.
Compromised for Christmas by Jane Charles
Lady Elizabeth craved excitement and adventure. Unwilling to endure further boring Seasons, she convinces her uncle, who has lived a more adventurous life than anyone else she knew, to let her work for him. A few short years later Elizabeth was established in Tuileries Castle, a servant in Napoleon’s court known as Lisette Renard.
John Phillip Trent has been working for the Home Office and in the stables of Tuileries as Jean Pierre Bouvier for the past two years. His only English contact being Lisette Renard, a lovely blond lass, who he desired but kept at a professional arm’s length.
When Lisette receives a summons to return home for Christmas, John learns that she is none other than the granddaughter of the Duke of Danby and she had named Jean Pierre as her husband, and the reason her grandfather believes she lives in France. Their cover is compromised with the same letter and the two find themselves escaping the palace and France, knowing they could very well never see each other once in England.
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