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Monthly Archives: April 2014

Debut Day!

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Murder at Westminster Abbey-1It’s April 1, which means (no fooling!) Murder at Westminster Abbey (book two of The Kate Haywood Elizabethan Mysteries) is launched at last!  I get so nervous when it’s the release date for a book, sort of like watching a toddler take their first few steps on their own.  They are their own person now, not just mine, and it’s scary and exciting and great.  (I also love seeing them on shelves, real books with covers and everything!)

I’ve loved working on this series, not just because it’s a new genre challenge (historical mystery, with a dollop of romance, rather than vice versa…), but because I love getting to spend so much time with one character.  I feel like I’ve gotten to know Kate, a court musician and friend to Elizabeth I, very well.  In book one (Murder at Hatfield House), she was young and a bit naive, having lived all her life in the countryside, but also with an intelligence and shrewdness that comes from watching everyone around her (her father, who was once a court musician to Queen Katherine Parr; Princess Elizabeth and her household…) walk the tightrope of dangerous Tudor politics.  In Westminster Abbey, she learns even more about the world of a royal court, who to trust, who to watch closely, and when to fight back.  She’s good-hearted and loving, artistic, loyal, observant, and stubborn, and she’s started to feel like a friend of mine. 🙂

Murder in the Queen's GardenSo I’m happy to say she’ll be back with even further adventures next year!  Murder in the Queen’s Garden will be out in February 2015, and I am loving the research behind this story, too.  Nonsuch Palace, alchemy and astrology, and the hoards of royal suitors knocking at the new queen’s door–not to mention a romantic choice for Kate.  (will it be the dashing, daring–and unreliable–actor Rob?  Or the handsome, intelligent, brooding attorney Anthony??  If you’ve read the stories, who would you choose for her?)

Also–a winner!  The winner from last week’s post is Louisa Cornell!!  Louisa, email me at amccabe7551 AT yahoo and let me know if you prefer hard copy or ebook…

And here’s a look at the book on Amazon!!!

And my own site, where you can read an excerpt and check out some behind-the-book history…

I hope you enjoy Kate’s adventures at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation as much as I did!

Posted in Former Riskies, Risky Regencies | 1 Reply

Scandalous Blogging

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RoyalWeddingKissHappy Tuesday, everyone, from the gray, stormy, windy, allergy-ridden middle of the country!!!  I have been a bad blogger lately, but now I am back from a few days off and ready to jump back into the Elizabethan world of my WIP (Murder in the Queen’s Garden, book 3 of my Kate Haywood mystery series!).  I also have a little contest, for an apology and also to celebrate the wedding anniversary of the Cambridges. 🙂

Three years ago, on April 29, I got up super-early in the morning to turn on the TV and watch a grand royal wedding at Westminster Abbey (and also have an excuse for cake and champagne before noon!).  It was all so lovely, so elegant and regal, yet also romantic and touching.  I had fun this morning looking at all the images of Kate’s beautiful gown, the adorable little flower girls, the kiss on the balcony.

RunningTemptationCoverThis month also saw the release of my short story Running Into Temptation (part of my Bancrofts of Barton Park series!).  It also centers around a wedding, but a very different one from Kate and William’s.  Melanie Harding and Philip Carrington were sort of the “villains” of Running From Scandal, two fortune hunters who set their sights on the hero and heroine of that story.  But as I was writing about them, I somehow had an inkling that they weren’t as bad as all that.  Sure, their life circumstances had led them to some not-so-great behavior, but they wanted to be better, find their place in life–and they manage to find it in the most unexpected place, at Gretna Green, married to each other (of all people!!!).  I loved getting to spend time with them on their adventures over the border, and finding out who they really were….

So, for a happy anniversary celebration of my own, I will give away one copy of Running Into Temptation to one commenter!!!  What is your favorite royal wedding???

(for more info on the story, you can see it here at Amazon, or at my own website….)

Gretna Green, 1814

After narrowly avoiding scandal with a falsehearted rake, Miss Melanie Harding is sent to live quietly in the country. No balls. No parties. Certainly no flirting with dashing strangers whose dark eyes hint at all kinds of delicious wickedness.

All of Philip Carrington’s practical plans evaporate the moment he encounters Melanie. Is it foolishness to run away with her to Scotland, or the wisest thing he’s ever done? The lovely, impetuous Miss Harding kisses like an angel—and brings out the very devil in him. And together, they may discover the most passionate adventure of all….

 

Posted in Former Riskies, Giveaways | 7 Replies

Are You Covered?

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First, my apologies for missing two weeks in a row. The first time, I was just off by an  day. Last week, I just entirely forgot. Things have been crazy busy. I sent Book two of the Sinclair Sisters series — A Notorious Ruin — out for a first round read. Then I started writing a My Immortals novella, currently titled Dead Drop. It’s for a paranormal anthology and I have to write really really fast. I am on track so far.  But I have to keep to a very aggressive word count. Whew!

 

Covers

I’ve been thinking about covers lately. Looking at lots of images and covers and I’ve been thinking. In the traditional publishing world, if you were selling well enough, you might get a step-back cover. Where the front cover might be a little short width-wise but underneath is more cover and the two make a cohesive image. When you open the top cover, you see a bigger image. I liked step backs. Most of the time, they are very pretty and fun and the artwork is nice.

I’ve not seen anyone doing the equivalent in eBooks. There are a bunch of ways to deal with expanding out an images that’s probably more complicated than it’s worth — except, maybe not. In the hands of the right artist it could be neat. Plus, there’s always the simple thing of just adding another image. A super duper sexy one (if appropriate) or maybe just a beautiful illustration. I’m talking just about some extra bling in the book, not turning into an graphic novel or something.

So, I ask you, assuming you are not making an author-based decision, what kind of covers do you like? What are the things that appeal to you? Colors? Details? Couples? Just the guy? Just the girl? Potted plants?

Assuming an additional image(s) in an eBook didn’t pose a technical annoyance to you (slowing down the device or what have you), how might you feel about a second image inside the book — step-backish in that it’s kind of a cover enhanced? What if there were an illustration?

Let me know in the comments.

Oh! Hey! Also this!

If you are reading this on April 30, it’s my birthday! I’ll send a commenter a surprise thing. Not worth more than forty bucks US, because that’s my budget. It’s a surprise because I just realized tomorrow is my birthday and so I’m not prepared. International is OK.

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Must be 18 to enter. My relatives are not eligible to enter. If I had employees they wouldn’t be eligible either. Winner chosen at random from among the commenters who comment BEFORE midnight April 30th, 2014 Pacific Time. This blog is in the Eastern Time zone, so technically you have until the blog says 2:59:59 AM May 1, 2014.

Posted in Former Riskies, Risky Book Talk, Writing | Tagged , |

A Few Of Your Favorite Things?

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In the comments, if you don’t mind, answer one or more of these questions:

1.  Name a few of your favorite historical romances. Books you’d want with you if you were stuck some place for a long time.

2. Are there types of stories you miss?

3. Duke. Pro or Con?

I’ll answer to get things started.

Mary Balogh’s A Summer To Remember is one of my all time faves. I loved Amanda Quick’s Ravished. I loved Karen Robard’s Loving Julia.

I miss the the big honking saga. I wish there were more Gothics. Once, I read a Regency-Set vampire book and I totally hated it. But now I wouldn’t mind. I can’t explain that.

Pro.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not open to non-dukes.

Posted in Former Riskies, Frivolity, Reading | Tagged , , | 24 Replies