Short #HistoricalFiction Audiobook for #Summerween: Rhapsody in Blood

Stream "Rhapsody in Blood" now on Spotify.

For fans of historical fiction and readers of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, this vampire fantasy features fictional versions of blues singer Bessie Smith and composer George Gershwin. Vampire Bessie senses that George is not long for this world and offers to pass on her dark gift to him.

'The Valley of Amazement' by Amy Tan

The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Have I read anything else from this author? Yes, I read The Joy Luck Club in college. Nothing else since.

Was this book better than this author's other book(s)? No, it isn't as good as The Joy Luck Club, but that's a very high standard to live up to.

Was this book enjoyable? Yes, this book is highly enjoyable. I felt a strong, nearly instant bond with the main character, Violet.

Did I learn anything new from this book? I may have incidentally learned a little bit about the timeline of U.S.-China relations, but this book is meant to entertain, not teach history.

Where did I get this book? I bought this book from a library used book sale, originally for my grandma. She read it and I inherited a stack of her books when she passed away.

Do I recommend this book to other readers? Yes, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. If you liked The Invention of Wings or Hemingway's Girl, you might like this one too.

#BookReview: 'The Invention of Wings' by Sue Monk Kidd

SPOILER ALERT: I'm going to spoil the ending!

I wouldn't say I "enjoyed" this book, since it made me sad and angry more than anything. For one thing, the Black men in this novel are treated brutally, and that would be bad enough if it were only historical, but obviously it's something that's a huge problem in the U.S. right now, in 2016.

That the Black women are also treated brutally is made even more unpalatable by the fact that our three main protagonists, Hetty, Charlotte, and Sky, are all such brilliant, likable women. Charlotte and Hetty are not only deeply intelligent, but also brilliant textile artists, as befits women of the Fon (also called Dahomey) people, who are known for their textile arts.

I applaud the real-life Sarah Grimke for speaking out against slavery and for the cracks she made in the glass ceiling. I really do. But the fictional version of Sarah comes across as a mediocre-to-bad abolitionist, since she can't even save her alleged "friend" from her sadist of a sister, Mary, until Hetty is 45 years old. It seems as if this novel is praising an ineffectual, if well-meaning, white woman while a brilliant Black woman languishes in captivity.

It's not exactly fair to judge women in the early Victorian period by 21st century standards, I know. But I can't really buy the story of Hetty and Sarah's supposedly deep and heartfelt friendship if Sarah is barely going to raise her finger to help her friend get free.

This book is really well-written and spellbinding, but with all the backlash against feminism and against the human rights of African-Americans that we deal with on a daily basis now, it's hard not to be angry that the wounds of the past have been festering for the last 200+ years. It's to Sue Monk Kidd's credit that she makes it so difficult to divorce fiction from reality, but my feelings are the way they are.

I checked this audio book out from my local library and was not obligated to review it in any way.

Stay Tuned for 'The Devil's Due' by L.D. Beyer

The Devil’s Due is a historic thriller set in Ireland in the early 1920s. Long story short, my grandfather served in the Irish Republican Army during the War for Independence. Family legend held that he was forced to flee Ireland below a false passport with a price on his head by both the British and the IRA. Like most legends, this one grew over time with each retelling, and with each beer my uncle drank! Reality, I suspect, may have been far less dramatic. However, real or not, it makes for one great story line!

It’s from this legend—and a couple of pints in a pub in Dublin—that The Devil’s Due comes to life.

Guilty of a crime he didn’t commit, Frank Kelleher flees through the streets of war-torn Ireland with the British and the Irish Republican Army both trying to put a bullet in his head. Branded a terrorist by the government and a traitor by his friends, he’s forced into hiding until he can figure out how to right the wrongs of his past.

The Devil’s Due will be released in June. Stay tuned…

Now for the really good news:

Because of your support, today my first book, In Sheep’s Clothing, reached # 1 on the best seller list for Amazon Kindle Assassination Thrillers and # 1 for Terrorism Thrillers!

To celebrate and to continue to drive momentum, I have decided to hold an Irish Sweepstakes and I'm offering the Kindle version of In Sheep’s Clothing for only 99 cents!

This special offer ends on Sunday, March 20th, so act fast.

To get your copy, go to:

http://www.amazon.com/In-Sheeps-Clothing-Action-Packed-Political-ebook/dp/B012U9608E/

L.D. Beyer
www.ldbeyer.com

Authentically-Told Historical Fiction About Two Amazing Women

Miss Emily: A Novel by Nuala O'Connor

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First, a caveat: this will be a very difficult book to read for anyone who is sensitive to depictions of sexual assault. An incident of sexual violence is described in detail and becomes a key plot point for the second half of the novel.

That said, this novel is a winning depiction of a fictionalized Emily Dickinson, told in part in Dickinson's own voice and in part through the voice of her Irish-born housemaid, Ada Concannon. Emily sees Ada as a friend and an equal. Over the course of the novel, Emily will confront her own agoraphobia (if we may apply that late 19th-century word to a mid-19th-century woman) and put herself in danger for her new friend. My favorite thing about this novel is its beautiful depiction of female friendship.

The only verified photo of Emily Dickinson, taken in 1847-48. Public domain.

My second-favorite thing about this novel is the fiction Dickinson's characterization. Personally, I believe Emily Dickinson is the English language's second-greatest genius after Mr. William Shakespeare. It's wonderful to spend time with the poet in her home environment, getting peeks into the origins of some of her best-known verse. If you read Seth Grahame-Smith's The Last American Vampire (and I don't necessarily recommend that you do), you may remember a footnote that suggests Emily Dickinson's famous reclusiveness was a result of her being a vampire, and a not-heterosexual one at that. I liked that image, and although this novel has nothing to do with vampirism, it does make it clear that Emily's feelings toward her sister-in-law are of a romantic nature. This Emily may be married to words and to her homestead, but she's clearly neither asexual nor heterosexual. And it works as characterization in this context, whatever one may believe about the historical Emily Dickinson.

Nuala O'Connor is the Anglicized name of Irish author Nuala Ní Chonchúir (not to be confused with Northern Irish technology expert Nuala O'Connor). I'm not sure why, in the 21st century, an Irish name would need to be Anglicized, even for the American market. That the English tried to ban the speaking of the Irish language and cut my European cousins off from our ancestral tongue is a sad historical fact. Our indigenous language might well have died out if not for the systematic attempt in Irish public schools to reconnect the current generation with the mother tongue. So I say, at the risk of sounding like a Hyperbole and a Half comic: Irish language all the things!

But that's a bit beside the point unless you're a passionate Irish-American word nerd like me. Bottom line: this is a beautifully written novel about two amazing women and the people and things they care about. Whether you're a devoted American literature fan or simply a lover of authentically-told historical fiction, you will find much to appreciate here.

I received this book through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for this review.

View all my reviews on Goodreads

Another book that's available for Amazon Vine review is Amherst: A Novel by William Nicholson. It centers on Alice Dickinson, an English advertising agent who's researching the story of an affair involving Emily Dickinson's brother, Austin. While conducting her research, she begins her own torrid affair with an Amherst College professor.

But I shouldn't order another free book for review from Amazon Vine because I need to finish my library book (The Shadows by J.R. Ward - you know I can't stop reading the Black Dagger Brotherhood series).

On top of that, I have two more Vine books already coming: The Originals: The Loss by Julie Plec (a book based on the TV series The Originals spun off from the TV show The Vampire Diaries based on L.J. Smith's book series) and Unmasking Juliet by Teri Wilson, a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet centering on two rival chocolate-making families. Amazon Vine knows my dirty little secret: that I love books that are intertextual with books I've already read.

American Girls Beforever: A Choose-Your-Ending Book Starring Rebecca #KidsBooks

The Glow of the Spotlight: My Journey with Rebecca by Jacqueline Greene

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an adorable book. I got it with the intention of sharing it with my American Girl-obsessed, 8-year-old niece, who has the Rebecca doll. Of course, I had to read it first. I liked how it incorporated bits of history and taught a little bit about what life would have been like 100 years ago. It was done in a fun way that seemed like part of the story, not like a boring history lesson.

I never had very good luck with "Choose Your Own Adventure" books when I was a kid; I was always falling off a cliff or getting bitten by a snake and the story was about four pages long. This one isn't like that; it's actually fun to read. Choose-your-ending books have come a long way since I was a child.

Now I'm looking forward to reading to book about Kaya.

View all my reviews on Goodreads

I received this book from Amazon.com in exchange for an honest review.

Historical Romance #BookReview: The Ringmaster's Daughter by Grace Elliot

The Ringmaster's Daughter by Grace Elliot
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this historical romance, set in a pleasure garden (an early version of an amusement park) in Georgian England, shortly before the American Revolution (1770s). Henrietta "Hetty" Hart is a lovable heroine, a kind woman who dotes on her ailing father and finds her inner strength when circumstances force her to take over her father's act. In the Georgian era, performing was still considered somewhat scandalous for a "respectable" woman, and Hetty's animal act - innocent as it would seem to us now - is salacious simply because a woman is in the ring. Hetty pushes the boundaries even further when she alters her father's ringmaster costume and performs in male dress as "Henry."

Hetty finds a foil in Tobias Wolfson, the pleasure gardens' new manager after a change of ownership. Mr. Wolfson's vision for the gardens conflict with the way things have been done since Hetty was a child. Only the worthiest acts will make the new cut, and Hetty is unsure if she can continue to support herself and her father. Unsurprisingly, after many clashes, Ms. Hart and Mr. Wolfson find themselves falling in love.

I found myself wholly invested in these characters and wanting a happy ending for them because they were written in such a likable way, two people who are rather proud and stubborn but who, in many ways, complement each other nicely.



Obstacles in their pathway include Mr. Wolfson's past and sense of duty, a famous show horse who may or may not form a bond with his new owner Hetty, and the scheming local lord.

Grace Elliot is not only a romance novelist, but also a veterinarian, and her love of animals shows through her fiction. All of the Harts' performing animals are well cared for and essentially treated like four-legged members of the family.

This novel was a pleasure to read, and the ending was a satisfying one. I'm glad I had the chance to read it.

Disclosure: The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, fair review.

View all my reviews on Goodreads



Social Media, Writing, and Editing Services I Offer - Erin O'Riordan

David Ewald's Clever Take on "Historical" Fiction, 'He Who Shall Remain Shameless'

How could this tale fail to fascinate? The protagonist is David Ewald - not the author, but a fictional character with the same name as the author - and he's on a mission to protect some of history's noteworthy, yet relatively obscure, from being erased from memory forever. Ewald is, in a very literal sense, accompanied by the Internet as a companion. This is fresh, unexpected writing, with a little bit of everything: an action-adventure tale, a paranormal mystery, occasional flashes of romance, and ultimately a message that makes the reader question the very meaning of existence. It's a dark, heavy novel that never feels too heavy. Lovers of cerebral metafiction will delight in it.

I purchased this as a Nook e-book from Barnes and Noble. I was not asked to write this review, nor was I compensated for it in any way. 

I first learned of this book in 2011, and I believe it was through the Coffin Hop. It's been on my to-read list for years. (Lots of things are. If you're expecting a review from me, you'll have to be very patient.) I couldn't get it completely out of my mind because the cast of characters includes many based on real people, now deceased, who were famous or infamous in their time, had a brush with history, or should be more well-known. What most of these real-life stories have in common is that it's hard to find information about them, even in the Internet age. Part of the fun of this novel is that it encourages the reader to interact, to look these people up and test how famous or obscure they really are. 

Congressman Leo J. Ryan, 1973 - official Congressional photo. Public domain image

Probably the most famous of these characters is Leo Ryan, the U.S. Representative who was murdered by followers of Jim Jones at Jonestown, Guyana, in 1978. Ryan is actually quite an interesting person, because he liked to experience things firsthand. When he was a California assemblyman, he once booked himself into Folsom Prison for ten days so he could experience prison conditions while he was working on prison reform. He went to Newfoundland to investigate inhumane seal hunting. When concerned relatives of Jonestown cult members came to Ryan, he went to Jonestown to investigate. He became the only member of the U.S. legislature ever to be killed in the line of duty. Ryan isn't obscure; you can find out lots of things about him on the Internet. It's just that his story is rather overshadowed by that of Jim Jones, the cult leader. 

The northern Aegean Sea, in an image by Andrew Dalby. Creative Commons image. 

Another figure who doesn't quite count as "obscure" is Aegeus, the figure from Greek mythology for whom the Aegean Sea is named. The legendary Athenian king was the father of Theseus, who slew the Minotaur. Mistakenly believing Theseus had been killed by the monster, Aegeus killed himself. In He Who Shall Remain Shameless, the narrator David manages to communicate to the ancient warrior-king that Theseus was still alive. 

One of the more interesting characters is Christine Chubbuck, a woman much more famous for her death than for her life. She was a news reporter, first in Cleveland and then in St. Petersburg, Florida. She struggled with depression through most of her life. Supposedly, she got into an argument with the news director because he cut one of her reports to cover a shooting, complying with directions from the station manager to concentrate on "blood and guts." Three days later, during a live broadcast of the digest news program on which she appeared, Chubbuck pulled a loaded handgun from her purse, placed it behind her left ear, and shot herself in the head. She died in the hospital fourteen hours later. Her family got a court order to keep the tape of the broadcast from ever being aired again. 

Boulevard of Broken Dreams: Christine Chubbuck from ten100 on Vimeo.

Chubbuck's dramatic on-air suicide and the cynical decision that escalated it were, according to pop cultural legend, some of the inspiration for Paddy Chayefsky when he wrote the screenplay for Network. If you're interested in the weird world of Chayefsky, Network, and his other film Altered States, you may read "Paddy Chayefsky and the Wonders of the Invisible World" by VISUP. It's a fascinating article, the first in a series, with references to Baal, Hecate, Kali, and Robin Goodfellow/Puck/A Midsummer Night's Dream. But I digress. 

That the fictional Chubbuck appears to the fictional Ewald in a post-suicide, ghostly state is one of the reasons this book fits into the paranormal/borderline horror - but clearly speculative - genre. Another character who fascinates because of the horror of his real-life story is Andrew Kehoe. 

Andrew Kehoe circa 1920. Public domain image.

Kehoe was the perpetrator of the worst act of school violence in U.S. history on May 18, 1927. He killed 38 schoolchildren using explosives. He also murdered his wife, killed five other adults, and committed suicide. An additional 58 people were wounded. Kehoe detonated a bomb at the Bath Consolidated School in Bath, Michigan. When rescue trucks arrived on the scene, Kehoe drove up in a vehicle rigged with explosives, killing himself and bystanders. Apparently he became upset with the town of Bath after he wasn't re-elected as the township clerk, and his farm was in the process of being foreclosed on. 

The fictional Kehoe in Ewald's novel is described as being remorseful for his actions. 

Almost all the characters based on real-life people died in some violent or tragic way, some of them from illnesses. Linda Gary, a cartoon voice-over artist, died from a brain tumor. Her voice would have been well-known to '80s kids like me because her credits included the Masters of the Universe and She-Ra cartoons - special favorites of my brother and me. She has an IMDB page and, of course, a Wikipedia page, but it's hard to find much more about her. 

But she, like all of the characters in the novel, gets a little extension on her fame when you read the book. You'll have to decide for yourself whether or not these people deserve to be included in the story. One might argue that some people, like Kehoe, deserve to stay buried in the past, because evil actions don't deserve any extra notoriety. Others would say that if we don't remember the past, we'll only be doomed to repeat it. Maybe there's something about mass violence that Kehoe's example can teach us even today. This book will make you think about things like that. It's dark, but very interesting. 

Book Club Friday: Hemingway's Girl

I'm currently halfway through reading Hemingway's Girl by Erika Robuck. I can't even wait until I finish this book to blog about it because I love, love, love this book. This is a case of "I waited forever to pick it up, but once I did I was sorry I ever waited."

The publisher's description as found on GoodReads says:

“She remembered when Hemingway had planted a banyan at his house and told her its parasitic roots were like human desire. At the time she’d thought it romantic. She hadn’t understood his warning.”

"In Depression-era Key West, Mariella Bennet, the daughter of an American fisherman and a Cuban woman, knows hunger. Her struggle to support her family following her father’s death leads her to a bar and bordello, where she bets on a risky boxing match...and attracts the interest of two men: world-famous writer, Ernest Hemingway, and Gavin Murray, one of the WWI veterans who are laboring to build the Overseas Highway.

"When Mariella is hired as a maid by Hemingway’s second wife, Pauline, she enters a rarified world of lavish, celebrity-filled dinner parties and elaborate off-island excursions. As she becomes caught up in the tensions and excesses of the Hemingway household, the attentions of the larger-than-life writer become a dangerous temptation...even as the reliable Gavin Murray draws her back to what matters most. Will she cross an invisible line with the volatile Hemingway, or find a way to claim her own dreams? As a massive hurricane bears down on Key West, Mariella faces some harsh truths...and the possibility of losing everything she loves."

I've been a little obsessed with Ernest Hemingway ever since I was 18. My Novel class read A Farewell to Arms, and then we went on a class trip to Oak Park, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago). We visited a Hemingway display at the public library, Oak Park and River Forest High School (Hemingway's alma mater), and Hemingway's childhood home (where you'll find his earliest short story, "Cat," written and illustrated when he was four).  Because I'd already bonded with the deceased author in his home environment, it was that much exciting in 2004 when Tit Elingtin and I visited the Hemingway house in Key West, Florida. 

(I personally took the following two photos. They're not great photos, but they're mine.) 

Hemingway's bar. When he drank there, it was called Sloppy Joe's. There's still a Sloppy Joe's in Key West, but it's at a different location. 

Inside the master bedroom. (I don't know the person pictured; she's just another tourist.) 

I have a Hemingway bond - which is why I nearly blow a blood vessel when I watch Lost and Henry/Ben says Ernest Hemingway "fought in the Spanish Civil War." Hemingway covered the Spanish Civil War as a journalist, and before that he was wounded in the First World War, not as a combatant but as a civilian Red Cross volunteer. Ben Linus can quote John Steinbeck at will, so he should be well-versed enough in American literature to understand that distinction. 

Now, Hemingway's Girl is completely fictional. Mariella Bennet is a product of the author's imagination. Even though some names and places are based on real life, Robuck states up front that she's taken artistic license with them. No one should mistake this book for history. 

Reading Hemingway's Girl brings back a lot of pleasant memories of our vacation to Key West. The 1930s (Depression-era) tropical setting is really enjoyable, and I recognize some of the major Key West landmarks, like Mallory Square at sunset. I'm loving this book for a number of other reasons as well. For one thing, Mariella Bennet is the kind of strong, self-reliant, confident heroine you just have to love. She's wrestling with her own conscience, fighting her attraction to "Papa" and developing her attraction to the scarred World War I vet Gavin. She never loses sight of her goals, though: making sure her two little sisters are taken care of now that their father's gone and saving money to open her own charter boat business. 

Mariella is a fully developed character, with goals, flaws, weaknesses and strengths. Hemingway as a character, too, has flaws and strengths; he is neither overly romanticized nor reduced to a caricature of himself. 

Another place I really have to give Robuck credit is in the relationship between Mariella and Hemingway's wife Pauline. This could have been just another example of two female characters who have a cold, bitchy relationship characterized by rivalry - the old stereotype that women are like beta fish and you can't put two in the same fishbowl without a fight to the death. Pauline is a well-developed character with faults and strengths. We can empathize with her even though she can, at times, be jealous or condescending. Instead of setting them up as enemies, Robuck allows the women to be characters who each have their own needs and concerns, some of which are in conflict, but who also can sympathize with and help each other. I love a book that respects its female characters enough to let them be human. 

Even though I haven't finished it yet, I'd recommend giving this book a chance. I don't think I'm going to be disappointed with it, whatever Mariella decides in regard to her relationships. (We know from the prologue that, 25 or so years after the events of the main narration, Mariella has an adult son. I presume that Gavin is going to be that son's father, but I can't know for sure yet.) You never know - sometimes it's possible to love, love, love the first half of the book and then get disenchanted with later chapters (Her Fearful Symmetry, I'm looking at you).

If you read this, let me know whether you liked it or not.

Guest Post ~ "The 50 Shades Effect" by Erotic Romance Author Samantha Holt

Hopping by from the Coffin Hop? Please visit THIS POST. 

Unless you’ve been living under a rock recently, you will be aware of the 50 Shades of Grey phenomenon. In fact, even if you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have heard of it. I tried that, didn’t work.

Love it or hate it, 50 Shades has affected the face of both romance and erotica. It’s opened people (women mostly) up to the idea of reading erotica for enjoyment (not that just that kind of enjoyment) but for a bit more than just getting your kicks! It’s also allowed people to explore a whole different side of themselves. Ann Summers have reported a huge boost in their sales of bondage gear since its release.

However, I’ve noticed a worrying rise in the number of reviews that well-established BDSM authors are receiving, complaining that their writing is nothing like 50 Shades. It’s not romantic enough, or it was too hard-core. This is where 50 Shades has muddied the waters slightly. See, 50 Shades is not really a story about a BDSM relationship. In reality, a true sub/dom relationship is nothing like this. There’s a distinct element of control, but it’s also about respect, and what many don’t understand is that it’s a very caring relationship. It’s about the trust that lies between the sub and the dom. Do I know this from experience? No, but I’ve read enough good quality erotica to understand it and have several friends who know this world far better than I and are very willing to share their thoughts.

So there lies the fact is that if you enjoyed 50 Shades, you may not enjoy true BDSM erotica. This is no bad thing, but should be taken into consideration before jumping into the fire. And should certainly be taken into consideration before leaving a scathing review. If it’s not your sort of thing, fine, but please, I beg of you, don’t state that you were disappointed because it wasn’t like 50 Shades! Take a moment to look at the quality of the writing and see around the elements you disliked. And if you loved it - hurray - you’ve discovered a whole world of amazing erotica.

I’ve also mentioned that it’s muddied the waters when it comes to the romance genre too. Personally, it’s had little effect on me as readers tend to understand what they’re getting with my historical romances. A little history, a little romance and some sensual content - much like it has always been with this genre. But 50 Shades bridges this gap between romance and erotica, creating more of an awareness of this cross-genre. Classic romance books will have erotic content but written in the most beautiful way possible or will have none at all. 50 Shades is neither of these and is considered romantic erotica. The issue is that people get confused and no longer know what to expect. It’s become necessary for romantic authors to be more explicit in their descriptions to ensure that readers know exactly what they’re getting. On the plus side, this has opened up a new demand for romantic erotica, with a whole stream of very well written (and not so well) books following the 50 Shades style.

Now, is it a bad thing that women are more open minded and willing to talk openly about sex? No, of course not. Anything that gets people reading and discussing something that has long been considered taboo, in my mind, cannot be a bad thing. And like many fads, things come and go. It won’t be long until we see the next big thing and who knows; hopefully this time it may be something that can be considered a classic in the future. The fact is that 50 Shades will not be something that we share with our grandchildren but Pride and Prejudice still will be. So, for the moment, us romantic writers have nothing to fear and erotica writers will weather the storm and enjoy the increase in sales while it lasts, along with the unfortunate reviews, comforted by the knowledge that we are lucky to have some wonderful, loyal readers who will always stick with us, whether we are the ‘in’ thing or not!

***

Samantha Holt is the author of several medieval romances including the bestseller, The Crimson Castle, and a series of historical erotic shorts. She lives in Warwickshire, England with her twin girls and occasionally her husband, who works abroad. She credits her ability to write about romance to his long absences! You can follow Samantha on Facebook for new releases, free stories and giveaways. 

http://www.facebook.com/romanticfiction

Her latest book, The Angel’s Assassin, is available to download for free on Amazon on the 31st October - 1st November.

As a rebellion sweeps England, Lady Annabel finds her home overrun by rebels. Much to her relief, a dark knight comes to her rescue, claiming to have been sent to protect her by her uncle.

But Nicholas holds a secret about the job he was sent to do and it is a far cry from what Annabel believes it to be. As the attraction between them grows, Nicholas begins to question the dark life he has lived. But is it enough to change him and will Annabel ever trust again after learning the true nature of his sinful duty?

WIP Wednesday: Mary Hart Perry Update

Authors needed - all genres! Are you an author who'd like to share a 100- to 200-word blurb about a current work in progress on a future WIP Wednesday? If so, please send an e-mail to Erin O'Riordan (erinoriordan AT sbcglobal DOT net).

Read Mary Hart Perry's previous WIP Wednesday guest post here.

Mary Hart Perry: As of today I'm diving back into Seducing the Princess, the second book of my new Victorian thriller series that features the daughters of Queen Victoria. The first, The Wild Princess, comes out  August 1 of this year, and I don't have a release date for the second. But I'm hoping to have it ready for 2013 publication...maybe. 


I'm nearly halfway through with this novel, not as far along as I'd have liked, due to interruptions such as an increased teaching schedule at The Writer's Center in DC and a multitude of writer's conferences. But the good thing about being among other writers is you get recharged. So I'm throwing myself into an aggressive writing binge. 

Queen Victoria painted by Franz Xavier Winterhalter, 1843.  Public domain image

By the end of May I hope to have my draft done, leaving the summer for fine tuning. The first novel is about Princess Louise, the fourth daughter of Victoria and Albert, who dreamt of becoming an artist at a time when women weren't allowed the same training in art as men. The second is about Beatrice, whose fate was to be the aging queen's caretaker. Victoria wanted Beatrice to remain unmarried and "pure". (Read that: a virgin.) Beatrice wasn't too thrilled with that idea. Anyway, back to work now. I'm in the middle of a very exciting chapter! Hugs to all as you write and read...


Mary Hart Perry on Goodreads, Twitter and Facebook

Read an excerpt from The Wild Princess on Mary Hart Perry's website

WIP Wednesday with Mary Hart Perry

Guest authors needed - all genres! Are you an author? Would you like to share a little bit about a current work in progress on a future WIP Wednesday? Then I invite you to be my guest. Please e-mail Erin O'Riordan (erinoriordan AT sbcglobal DOT net).

Mary Hart Perry, The Wild Princess

My work-in-progress is the first of a series of romantic Victorian thrillers inspired by my love of cherished stories like Jane Eyre and Downton Abbey. I’m particularly drawn to women who have stepped out of their comfort zone in search of love, who also make a difference in the world.

Princess Louise (Queen Victoria’s fourth daughter) had a reputation for being the “wild child” of the family. She insisted upon mixing socially with commoners and being trained in London as a professional artist at a time when girls were denied the same education as boys. So, I wondered, what is a princess to do when she longs to break out of Buckingham Palace and follow her dream—but her mother refuses her and then marries her off to a man who can’t return her love?

It’s not just Louise’s future at stake in the novel. London is a dangerous place in the 1870’s. Desperate men have vowed to free Ireland from the Crown, even if it takes blowing up half of London, and the royal family with it. How will Louise protect those she loves? Needless to say, I’m having such fun with this story!

The release date for The Wild Princess is July 31, but you can pre-order now from Amazon.



Erin O'Riordan is currently reading:

James the Cat approved.

Please Welcome Guest Blogger Diva Jefferson and her Historical Romance 'To Love an Irishman'

She is left with an offer she cannot refuse...

Upon his death in 1823, English nobleman, Lord Peyton leaves his daughter Lady Aveline with two choices—stay single and inherit only a small farm in Ireland, where she might just be able to eke out a living, or get married and live in luxury, inheriting all his wealth and property. Fiercely independent, Aveline heads for Ireland only to run afoul of her father’s farm manager, the devastatingly handsome Ciaran O’'Devlin. Alone in a strange country, Aveline yearns for love and friendship, but Ciaran offers only criticism and disdain. Confused and angered by strange visions and her growing attraction to Ciaran, Aveline is determined to make the farm prosper —despite the insufferable Irishman.


He has a secret he cannot reveal...

Ciaran mistrusts Aveline’s intentions and refuses to admit that a willful, English woman now owns the farm that should have been his. Although he insists Aveline should go back to England, he cannot deny their budding passion. Yet, he knows—even if she doesn’t—that nothing will come of it. Not only can’t a poor Irishman marry an English noblewoman, but when Aveline learns of his past, she’ll want nothing more to do with him. Ciaran has always known that each decision carries a consequence, but it’s only when he stands to lose Aveline that he realizes what a heavy price his past decisions may have.

Aveline turned as the last line echoed back in a man’s voice. Her heart fluttered. “I thought you made it very clear we should not see or talk to each other—” She halted as the air around her became thicker. She felt a silent connection to the Irishman.

Twilight settled in around them.

“So I did.” He chuckled, looking toward the ground. “Something about you strikes odd to me though, cailín.”

She wondered why he thought she was odd. “Whatever could that be, Mr. O’Devlin, for surely I have not done anything to upset you.”

She knew she was more headstrong than most women, but obstinacy does not make a person odd. If anything, he could be labeled as odd, too. A stubborn man who devotes his life to a farm? Bah!

A frown creased his brow. “Nay.”

His eyes met hers and she felt the glow of blue fire on her face. “In truth, you have done far more than I ever expected from you.”

Well, overcoming an Irishman’s expectations is very difficult indeed. “Did you really think, Mr. O’Devlin, I would run and hide from you? I am not a coward, if that is what you are saying.”

His eyes widened. “Right, you are not a coward.” His soft words washed through her. “Ya singing voice is quite brilliant.”

“I’m glad the fact is now established.” Maybe he gave a compliment to weaken her. “It is only a voice after all. Certainly not something to get eager about—”

He pushed her doubts into the dirt. “Nonsense! You highly underestimate...”

Every word he spoke made her weak at the knees, so she ignored him and turned toward the wheelbarrow instead. “I should finish my duties before it is time to wash for supper. The days go by so fast as of late. It was only this morning when I was helping the brothers feed the animals—” She bent to place the last item in the wheelbarrow, lost her balance and fell against the handles. The cart tipped, losing its contents. She fell backward into his embrace.

Setting her upright, Mr. O’ Devlin pulled her around, gently moved the hair off her face, and kissed her full on the mouth.



Excerpt from To Love An Irishman written by Diva Jefferson. Now available from Black Opal Books! Please feel free to contact the author on her website: www.divajefferson.com.


Facebook: www.facebook.com/divajefferson
Twitter: www.twitter.com/diva_jefferson

Phantom Lives Blog Tour - Elizabeth Loraine

Official book blurb of Phantom Lives: Collier (Book One): Abigail Black, an heiress from Memphis is on the run from her abusive boyfriend, Dallas. In the process she finds out that there she is being pulled towards something, and someone, that she thought only existed in her dreams. Another page-turning adventure from Elizabeth Loraine. Phantom Lives intertwines the modern world with the post Civil War world of Collier, a plantation Abigail had dreamt about her entire life. Now she is about to find out why. Another fantasy world of spirits and immortals is built in a way which fans of Ms Loraine’s will again thoroughly enjoy. Find out who Abigail was in the past and how it changes everything.

Find Elizabeth on Twitter, Facebook and GoodReads

The Phantom Lives blog tour:
Our Journey Through Pages and Time
Intoxicated by Books
Middle of the Road Reviews
...At Your Fingertips
Elizabeth writes about her writing schedule
An interview with Elizabeth at Curling Up by the Fire
Elizabeth's interview with Nora Barteau

Acclaimed author Elizabeth Loraine is the author of the Royal Blood Chronicles, the saga of the noble protectors and the evil Dark Vampires, set in the 1800s. The young adult series features a quintet of teenage female protagonists. Elizabeth's latest book is available on Amazon Kindle for the limited-time price of $.99 this week only.

Here are some more fascinating facts about Elizabeth Loraine:

*She's from Minnesota.
*Earlier in her career, she was a decorative painter.
*She turned to writing after raising her children.
*She loves fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen.
*Another one of her favorite authors is Anne Rice.
*She writes every day.
*She loved Twilight, but thinks that too many female characters in paranormal YA novels are weak.
*She prefers her fictional females to be strong leading characters.
*To research The Royal Blood Chronicles, she studied the royal lines of Germany and Austria.
*When Elizabeth isn't writing, she loves to cook and take care of her garden.

Thanks to Mystical Events, Promotions and Party Planning for organizing the blog tour.

It's WIP Wednesday Once Again. What are YOU writing?

Erin O'Riordan: Welcome back to WIP Wednesday. Last week, I didn't mention anything creative I was working on. I've been very busy with my mainstream editing job, adding punctuation and pizzazz to career and educational articles. Very soon, I will dip my toe back in creative waters. I have a Shakespearean-inspired short story called "Pucked" coming out in an anthology edited by Barbara Cardy soon.

Kathleen Heady: My first novel, The Gate House, is due to be republished soon by Whiskey Creek Press. My current works in progress are both part of the Nara series. Nara is a young woman with roots in the Caribbean and the United Kingdom.

Lydia’s Story bridges the present day and World War II in a story of family ties and the greed for possessions. As she delves into the past, Nara finds that descendants of a French aristocratic family are on the trail of their own lost possessions, which they believe Nara may have stumbled upon in her search for the truth about her great-grandparents.

In Nara of the Islands, I tell Nara’s story on the fictional island of St. Clare, where she grew up in a laid-back tropical environment, with an undercurrent of magic and belief in the power of charms and potions.

Nara has her own FaceBook page – Nara from the Gate House.
My website is www.kathleenheady.com

Ariel Tachna: Inherit the Sky by Ariel Tachna (work in progress)

Caine Neiheisel is stuck in a dead-end job at the end of a dead-end relationship when the chance of a lifetime falls in his lap. His mother inherits her uncle’s sheep station in New South Wales, Australia, and Caine sees it as the opportunity to start over, out on the range where his stutter won’t hold him back and his willingness to work will surely make up for his lack of knowledge.

Unfortunately, Macklin Armstrong, the foreman of Lang Downs who should be Caine’s biggest ally, alternates between being cool and downright dismissive, and the other hands are more amused by Caine’s accent than they are moved by his plight. It will take all of Caine’s determination—and an act of cruel sabotage by a hostile neighbor—to bring the men of Lang Downs together and give Caine and Macklin a chance at love.



Ariel's website

Image attribution: Evelyn de Morgan, Le Philtre D'Amour, 1903 - public domain

Carol Rivers: IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER begins in the cold Winter of 1919, two months after the Armistice that ended the Great War. Life in London's East End is harder than ever and for young Birdie Connor the battle is only just beginning. Frank, her older brother, has been sent to prison for deserting his army post. Shame is heaped on the Connor family, but Birdie fights to clear their name and squares up to some of the most notorious underworld characters of that era. The novel is out October 2011, paperback and Kindle.

Carol on Facebook

Josephine Baker in Berlin, Safi Coffee and WIP Wednesdays

It's Friday! I'm in love...with sharing my creative writing with the world. If you're joining me from the fabulous Shah Wharton's Weekend Creation Blog Hop, welcome!

Today, I'd like to spotlight "Josephine Baker in Berlin." In this stand-alone short story of just over 4,700 words:

An aging, lonely Josephine Baker has one last chance to dance across the stage, but only if she accepts an invitation to visit Berlin. The destination unlocks long-buried memories of the decadent pre-World War II Berlin, and of a beautiful young woman who reached out the star and eased her loneliness.

Find the e-book in every possible format at Smashwords for $.99. If you do read it, I would LOVE a review.

Jo Baker was a fearless, triumphant woman, and so is Shannon Mulholland, a United Nations emergency coordinator whose side project is Safi Coffee. The fair-trade company works with coffee growers in Kenya, helping them achieve higher living standards. The beans come right to your door, which is awesome, but the best part is how your morning cuppa joe could be doing some real good in the world.

FYI, I've been seriously considering Jane Friedman's advice to blog on a regular schedule. In her most recent article in Writing For Dollars!, Jennifer Brown Banks of the Pen & Prosper blog gives the same advice. So, having heard it from two different but authoritative sources, I believe I will henceforth institute WIP (Work In Progress) Wednesdays.

A lot of people like to do Wordless Wednesdays, with just a visual, but I'm not much of a visual artist. I like the sound of WIP Wednesdays because I can share about what I'm working on, and so can my guest bloggers. Look for that this coming Wednesday.

Send me an e-mail if you're a writer interested in being featured on an upcoming WIP Wednesday.

Update, January 2015: Find "Josephine Baker in Berlin" at my Etsy shop, Writer's Brain Has Wings.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/218683872/josephine-baker-in-berlin-short-story-e

Audiobook at Everand (Scribd): https://www.everand.com/audiobook/919398501/Josephine-Baker-in-Berlin

Audiobook at Kobo, Walmart: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/josephine-baker-in-berlin-1?sId=bbcce908-210e-4557-8179-79b7234cf528&ssId=frYh4xBx4uHpTEfoAAVY4&cPos=1

The House of Women - Guest Post by Anne Whitfield

Blurb: Leeds. 1870. Lonely and brokenhearted, Grace Woodruff fights for her sisters’ rights to happiness while sacrificing any chance for her own.

The eldest of seven daughters, Grace is the core of strength around which the unhappy members of the Woodruff family revolve. As her disenchanted mother withdraws to her rooms, Grace must act as a buffer between her violent, ambitious father and the sisters who depend upon her. Rejected by her first love and facing a spinster’s future, she struggles to hold the broken family together through her father’s infidelity, one sister’s alcoholism, and another’s out-of-wedlock pregnancy by an unsuitable match.

Caring for an illegitimate half-brother affords Grace an escape, though short-lived. Forced home by illness and burdened with dwindling finances, Grace faces fresh anguish –and murder– when her first love returns to wreck havoc in her life. All is not lost, however. In the midst of tragedy, the fires of her heart are rekindled by another. Will the possibility of true love lead Grace to relinquish her responsibilities in the house of women and embrace her own right to happiness?

Excerpt

Grace blinked to clear her frozen mind as her mother and Verity climbed the staircase. If Verity was here then was William here too? Movement at the door caused Grace to close her eyes. She couldn’t bring herself to open them and see the one man she’d longed for since she was sixteen.

‘Miss Woodruff?’ Doyle inquired at her shoulder.

Startled, she spun to face him, but she was blind to him, blind to everything but the sensation of having William here. Crazily, she wondered if she would swoon like a maiden aunt.

Doyle’s hand reached out, but he quickly tucked it behind his back. ‘What is it, Miss Woodruff?’

Grace swallowed, feeling the fine hairs on her arms and nape prickle. He is here.

‘Good evening, Grace.’

At the sound of William’s deep velvety voice, her heart stopped beating, only to start again at a rapid pace. Her stomach clenched and her legs felt unable to support her anymore. Slowly, she swiveled to gaze into William’s blue-green eyes and knew she was lost again. William smiled his captivating smile. He had aged, no, matured since their last meeting. He looked leaner, but broader in the shoulders. There was an aura about him, something that females of any age wanted. He made all other men around him seem insignificant. A magnetism, a mystical air surrounded him, catching Grace in its clutches once more.

Pre-order The House of Women from Amazon.com, or The Book Depository, which has free postage and currently on discount.

An Excerpt From 'Day of Revenge' by Deanna Proach

Emmanuel has known about Samuel’s intent to fight the revolutionaries for a number of months. But now, Samuel’s desire for revenge against the Robespierre government is more urgent than ever. That is why he sent for Emmanuel—so he can discuss his entire plot with him. As Emmanuel stands out of his seat, prepared to alert the servants and Madame La Font of Samuel’s absence, the familiar click of the entrance doors being opened rings throughout the large manor. Emmanuel stops.

His young, handsome face beams with a mixture of joy and relief. He lets out a huge sigh. He’s here. Nothing dreadful happened. Thank goodness.

“My God is it dark in here,” Samuel says upon entering the parlor.

“Emmanuel, are you here?”

“Yes, Samuel,” he says from out of the darkness.

A bewildered look appears on Samuel’s sun-kissed face. “If you were here the entire time, why in God’s name did you not light the candles in the wall sconces? You know perfectly well where I keep extra candles.”

“Samuel, I…”

“Never mind! I will have the servants come and light the room,” he says. “Have you eaten dinner?”

“No,” Emmanuel says. I would really like to know who Samuel was visiting. His curiosity gets the better of him.

“Samuel, I do not mean to interfere in your business, but what kind of errands would keep you away for more than two hours? Did you meet Monsieur La Metz?”

There is a long pause. A nagging pang of anxiety beats against Emmanuel’s chest. He rubs his sweaty palms over his legs. Oh no, I hope he doesn’t have terrible news.

About 'Day of Revenge':

"The French Revolution provides a vivid backdrop for Proach's passionate, fast-paced anti-"Vive le Republique!" historical romance debut. More than four years have passed since the 1789 Bastille riots, and the summer of 1793 finds a counter-revolutionary plot brewing against the bloodthirsty Citoyen Robespierre and his red caps. Young Lyon nobleman Emmanuel d' LeVasque and his family, along with other deposed aristocrats like Samuel La Font, fear Robespierre's next move after Jacobin Capt. Citoyen Henri Varennesh arrests their friend Pierre La Metz for possessing a counter-revolutionary letter. Varennes becomes disenchanted with Robespierre and eventually joins the counter-revolutionaries. After Metz is guillotined, a prison rescue of young Dauphin Louis is launched. Proach makes a valid point about Robespierre's fanaticism, and she also includes feverish romance: Emmanuel's brother Emil pursues a relationship with orphaned vineyard worker Elle, while Emmanuel is tempted by La Font's cousin Lisabetta. Featuring a well-developed cast of characters, this is a sympathetic portrait of imperiled French aristocracy." From Publishers Weekly.

About Deanna Proach:

Deanna Proach was born and raised on the southwest coast of British Columbia, Canada. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in History at the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, BC. She currently resides in Sechelt where she is acting and writing her second novel, To be Maria. Feel free to visit her website at www.deannaproach.com and her blog, http://desstories.blogspot.com.