Reading News
The Good News is that my Regency Historical short story, Moonlight, is now available for your reading pleasure. If you read it at my website, you can see the lovely artwork. You can also download it as a pdf. I’ve released it under a Creative Commons license, details at my website.
Since our last Regency Read Along, I have read more books by Georgette Heyer;
- The Talisman Ring
- Sylvester
- Frederica
- The Grand Sophy
They were all very good to very very very good. One of them was not my favorite. If one of you were to force me to reveal my favorite I would confess that it’s Frederica. Just saying. I believe another of the Riskies was going to lead a read along, that that I’m hinting at anything at all . . . **cough**AmandaMcCabe**cough** Everyone who’s interested in another read along should email Amanda and ask her what the heck is up.
Yesterday, I received copies of my historical Scandal in Italian. The cover is very pretty and I believe the title is something along the lines of The Rake Gets Married only in swoony Italian.
Plots Afoot
Here’s a question for everyone to answer in the comments:
I need to know on account of I’m about to start writing The Next Historical.
This may not be considered a type of plot, but I like romances that take our h/h on the road. This often means they are both out of their usual comfortable element and more dependent upon each other.
Sure it’s a type of plot! The Road Trip. Yes, I like that too.
LOL–I would be happy to lead a read-along, after this wretched WIP is done. ๐ (and “Frederica” is my very favorite Heyer!)
I also vote for road trip plots. And friends-to-lovers. ๐
I like reformed rake plots… and reunion stories. And a bunch of others, too. I’ll be interested in what our commenters have to say!
I’m ready for a read-along!
And your short story was charming, Carolyn. The artwork was stunning.
This isn’t a plot per se, but I like stories where the hero and heroine are part of communities and there are well-realized secondary characters around.
I like the secret marriage: Hero and Heroine are married but living apart until he/she can control his/her inheritance. Occasionally they meet at a house party or something for some hot sex (using Birth Control of a sort because a pregnancy would riun the whole scheme). Matchmaking relatives, friends, and parents add conflict…
I adore road romances also. Fun!
But my top three faves are Marriage of convenience, Marriage of convenience, and Marriage of convenience. ๐
Sigh. If I can’t have a good MOC story, I would also take a good revenge plot. For some reason, heroines seeking revenge never complete their revenge or go as far as the hero seeking revenge. Big problem there.
Frederica is one of my favorites, too!
As for favorite plots, it’s hard to say. I don’t know if this is exactly a plot type, but I love stories that involve some sort of awakening or setting free, drawing on the Sleeping Beauty or Beauty and the Beast myths.
I love swash and buckle, but you’ve sort of already done that. Not that it doesn’t bear repeating!
Mistaken identities or longlost identities can be really great or really tricky.
I love when characters play against type, like that excellent bit in ‘Mr. Impossible’ where the heroine almost gets bitten by a snake and comes close to fainting, and the hero, rather than exclaiming over her, comforting her, and being very manly supportive in her weak moment, exclaims over and comforts the snake who was quietly minding her own business, and dumps the heroine very ungently into her saddle.
That’s not a kind of plot, but as you can see from the detail it sure sticks in my mind.
Marriage of Convenience and Revenge are excellent (and can be combined…) I’ve always been fond of, I guess Home Building would be the best label. Either physically rebuilding the house, or reviving the neglected estate. Or building/rebuilding family connections. The hero is usually someone who doesn’t have or doesn’t think he wants roots. Watching the hero and heroine creating Home and Family really works for me.
I like marriages of convenience aka sex with a stranger, grownups behaving badly, and a bit of funny stuff with a dog.
Yes, Amanda, let’s have a readalong! I vote you start it.
“and a bit of funny stuff with a dog.”
Very “Shakespeare in Love” ๐
This WIp is due October, so we can all do a readalong in November (maybe!). More later…