Category: Risky Book Talk

Posts in which we talk about our own books

Book Release Day! Contest!

Updated on November 7, 2013 by Janet Mullany

In all the delightful chaos of my life (but not as delightful as Ms. Jewel’s–all those dongles! It sounds rude) I have naturally dithered about promoting my new book A Certain Latitude which is now available on Kindle. Huzzah! And here’s the blurb:

1800—Allan Pendale, lawyer and the youngest son of the Earl of Frensham, is bound by ship for the West Indies, to impart the news to his estranged father that his mother has died. But he also has another mission—to find out the truth of his origins.

Miss Clarissa Onslowe is also on board, traveling to take up the role of governess to the daughter of the wealthy planter Mr. Lemarchand. There is nothing to keep her in England. An indiscretion five years before led to her reputation being ruined; her abolitionist family has disowned her and no gentleman would marry her now. But now she seeks redemption with her family by revealing the truth about the miserable lives of the slaves who work on the sugar plantations.

Clarissa’s previous encounter with love has left her aroused and restless, and Allan is a man for whom lust is a daily pastime; thrown together belowdecks during the long sea voyage, they embark on a sensual odyssey where no desire is left untested. But if they thought their exploration and ecstasy could not be bettered, then there are more pleasures to be taken and boundaries to be broken at their island destination—where “March” Lemarchand, sugar king and master of seduction, awaits them both…

You can read an excerpt here.

Now if all this sounds familiar, there was another book, six years ago (that’s about six centuries in the age of digital publishing and mass market fiction) called Forbidden Shores, by one Jane Lockwood, a name the publisher insisted I adopt to protect those who didn’t know my natural tendency to produce ~~total filth~~ finely crafted erotica. I got the rights back, rewrote, got a new cover, woohoo, we’re in business. (My first selfpubbing experience. It was educational.)

It’s delightful to be able to reinvent oneself and get the chance to spruce up a book that never quite worked. I just hope it works now. But hear for yourself. If you’re in the Greater Washington DC area, I’m reading at our new Lady Jane Salon this Saturday in Rockville along with Eliza Knight and Meredith Bond. Check it out. And enter the contest–I’m giving away five copies of A Certain Latitude.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted in Giveaways, Risky Book Talk | 22 Replies

Sex and Opera

Updated on October 10, 2013 by Janet Mullany

In honor of Verdi, whose 200th birthday is today, I’m giving you an excerpt (slightly cleaned up) from my soon-to-be released erotic historical A Certain Latitude. The very vague connection is that there is mention of an opera here. The picture is not of Verdi but of Dominic Cooper as Willoughby in the latest BBC adaptation of Sense & Sensibility, who looks something like my hero.

Note that both hero and heroine are in a, uh, horizontal position.

“Tell me about your mistress.”
“Which one?”
“How many have there been? To start with, the one whose husband chased you to the dock.”
“Ah. Lady Ann. A dreadful woman.”
“Then, why on earth—”
“This part of me—” he thrust upward—“did the thinking. And if her husband had sued for divorce, I would have been named and then obliged to marry her.”
“But it doesn’t seem fair. What will her husband do to her?”
Allen ran his hand over her neck, pushing hair aside. “Expect her to be more discreet next time. It’s the way of the world.”
His breathing became faster. Already she knew the signs; she had learned the lessons of his body.
“Who else?”
“Who else what?”
“Who else have you bedded?”
“Hmm. You wish for the whole list?”
“List?” She put her lips to his ear and sang, “Ma in Ispagna son già mille e tre … mille e tre.”
Beneath her, he rumbled with laugher. “Not in Spain, but in Bristol maybe.”
“A thousand and three in one city? You mean you outdid Don Giovanni himself?”
He shrugged and fell silent.
“Is my singing so dreadful?”
He muttered, “I shouldn’t—I had this bad habit of seducing merchants’ wives. Silly, bored, rich women, for whom I was a consolation, an entertainment. I didn’t like any of them particularly. I don’t think they liked me much, either. Each one at first presented a challenge, a mystery, but afterward I found I was lonelier—” He stopped and turned his head away.
“Allen—”
“Except,” he added, “this never happened with them.” He laughed, a dry, ironic chuckle. “You may tell me it doesn’t matter. I believe that’s the acceptable, sympathetic thing for a woman to say under the circumstances. God knows it’s never happened before, so I’m not quite sure of the etiquette the situation demands. But, by all means coo something sweet while pitying me—even though you suspect this happens all the time.”
“A moment.” Clarissa eased herself onto her elbows. “May I borrow your writing slope? I must make note of this for any future encounters.”
He laughed and gripped her arms, turning his face to hers. “Don’t move. Do you know, Clarissa, I think you may be the only woman I’ve had that I actually liked?”
“How appalling.” She rubbed her nose against his. “Have you ever been in love?”
He shrugged. “Quite frequently, but it faded. I proposed to a couple of women, but fortunately they turned me down. I suspect I’m a little in love with you, Miss Onslowe, but have no fear. The condition will pass.”
“I rejoice to hear it.” Was it disappointment or relief she felt? “Love might well be a complication for us both. You are quite right.”

Any opera fans out there? Any favorite operas? Favorite Verdi operas? I vote for La Traviata.

Posted in Music, Risky Book Talk, Risky Regencies | 3 Replies

Lady Dearing’s Masquerade Audiobook Giveaway!

Updated on October 10, 2013 by Elena Greene

I didn’t know much about audiobooks until this summer, when I had the pleasure of working with Robin Rowan, who narrated the audiobook version of Lady Dearing’s Masquerade.

I learned a lot and was incredibly impressed by what the narrators can do to make a book come alive in audio. There were a number of good auditions, but I ended up picking Robin because she did the best job at handling the full range of voices, from the heroine, Lady Dearing, to the many male characters including the hero, Sir Jeremy, and very importantly, the four children Lady Dearing “adopts” from the Foundling Hospital.

Robin was kind enough to answer some questions about the process of narrating this book.

What is it like to narrate a romance novel? How do you prepare to handle all the different characters’ voices?

I find one character (usually the heroine) that I can completely relate to, and then put myself in her situation, in her life, for the duration of the book. It isn’t always a woman, though. I think I especially enjoy the historical aspect of some of the romances I voice. I get to live in another time for a while. I hope the listeners are also transported to another time and can really feel that. I can visualize the characters so well—how they’re dressed, the setting they are in, the particular social mores they have to deal with in the book.

Was there anything particularly challenging about narrating this book?

I have honestly never done a complete book where all the characters and the narrator were British! I’ve done characters before, but I had to “become British” for this book. Did I drive my husband crazy staying in character all the time? Oh, yeah. And how do I prepare to narrate such a book? Why, watch all the Harry Potter movies, of course!

What did you most enjoy about narrating this book?

I could really sink my teeth into this story because of all the different stories and lives that finally merged at the end. And how much fun was it to get to be pompous Sir Digby Pettleworth and the wretched nephew Adolphus? I LIVE for these moments! Keep writing those awful and completely fun characters, Elena!

Thanks, Robin!

I’ll be giving away 10 free download codes from Audible for Lady Dearing’s Masquerade. Comment on this post between now and next Saturday, Oct 19th. I’ll announce the winners on Sunday, Oct 20th.

And check out the Youtube video below which includes a sample from the audiobook!

Elena
www.elenagreene.com
www.facebook.com/ElenaGreene

Posted in Giveaways, Risky Book Talk | Tagged audiobook, Lady Dearing's Masquerade, Robin Rowan | 21 Replies

99 Risky Books! and giveaway

Updated on September 27, 2013 by Elena Greene

This summer I was so busy finishing Fly with a Rogue that I didn’t have time to read for pleasure. By September I was starting to suffer withdrawal symptoms! Now I’m taking a short break between my own projects to refill the well, taking some time to catch up on movies I’ve wanted to see and books I’ve wanted to read.

So it’s a happy coincidence that I’m also catching up on a task I’d put on my back burner: finishing our Risky Books page. We’ve been pretty good about putting the latest releases up in our “Featured Books” section of the right sidebar, but I wanted to get together a more comprehensive listing of our books. As I was working on the page, I was stunned anew by our collective creative output. The listing currently includes 99 titles, and I’m not even done putting in all of Amanda’s books!

Pictured in this post are just some of the backlist treasures listed at Risky Books. So if you’re looking for something new to read, do check it out!

Also I have a few unclaimed paperbacks left of Fly with a Rogue from my giveaway here and another giveaway. If you’d like a copy, please email me at elena @ elenagreene.com (no spaces) and I’ll send them out on a first come, first served basis.

Happy reading, everyone!

Elena
www.elenagreene.com
www.facebook.com/ElenaGreene

Posted in Giveaways, Risky Book Talk | 4 Replies

Megan Frampton’s What Not to Bare: Excerpt

Updated on September 20, 2013 by megan

Hey, happy Saturday! I have a book coming out on October 14, and I wanted to share the excerpt with you guys here. First the blurb:

In Megan Frampton’s witty historical romance, a woman is judged by her gown, and a man by his reputation—until both are shed in one sexy moment of seduction.

Lady Charlotte Jepstow certainly knows how to make an impression—a terrible one. Each one of her ball gowns is more ostentatiously ugly than the one before. Even she has been forced to wonder: Is she unmarried because of her abysmal wardrobe, or does she wear clashing clothing because she doesn’t want to be pursued in the first place? But when Charlotte meets Lord David Marchston, suddenly a little courtship doesn’t sound so bad after all.

David will be the first to admit he’s made some mistakes. But when he gets yanked from his post by his superiors, he is ordered to do the unthinkable to win back his position: woo his commander’s niece. If David wants his life back, he must use his skills as a negotiator to persuade society that Charlotte is a woman worth pursuing, despite her rather unusual “flair” for color. But David does such a terrific job that he develops an unexpected problem, one that violates both his rakish mentality and his marching orders: He’s starting to fall in love.

What Not to Bare by Megan Frampton (Excerpt)

The Random House page has all the possible e-format links for purchase (it’s only available for e-readers).

Thanks for taking a gander at it!

Megan

Posted in Risky Book Talk, Writing | Tagged Megan | 4 Replies