This is true. And it's nice, sometimes.

word from people who attended the national Romance Writers of America convention last week is that the market isn't looking good for historical romance, especially works that are more serious in tone. While I know that the market won't die altogether, it's still depressing news.

Fuck markets. Spend your time worrying about that crap, and you'll never write anything.

Tell the story you want to tell.

Wow, Victor, you're foamy when you're brilliant. I've had a very bloody morning...carnage, near-nudity, and almost, not quite, heroism at fairly impossible odds. Just another day at the office.

OK, can I get an opinion? Specifically from those of you who have read Matty Groves recently?

I want - in fact I think I need - to add a short scene. There's a period in mid-book, pointed out by Ginger, where there's simply too long a run of unbroken research-expository stuff. It needs an action break.

What I want to do is to write a short scene in which I incorporate Lord Callowen's terrifying pet, the peregrine falcon called Gaheris (yes, the horse is called Lothian, and yes, there's a bit of theme, and yes, I suspect he thinks he was once King Arthur or Mordred or something). A nice scary scene, at night, at the point in the book after the big ghostly event in the ballroom, after everyone has left Callowen House and is/are staying at the Rectory at St. Giles to get the hell away from the evil bad crazy ghost. I want to use something involving the falcon because I think that, having the bird in the story, I really ought to use him, you know?

Question: since I've already done a two scenes in which the POV of characters who are not among my main four (that is, not Ringan, Penny, Jane or Albert Wychsale) are explored, can anyone think of a reason why I shouldn't do a scene using Lord Callowen's POV?

Now that you mention it...

I stink at thinking of suggestions like this, because ultimately, someone else's story. But having heard it, I think breaking up the introspection and research with some here-now is brilliant. And, also, now that you mention it, Lord C having worn Gaheris through a lot of the book like a smoking gun, I do realize now I was sort of holding my breath waiting for him to go off. Er, as it were.

And I have been actively prevented from getting through the ms. in a single run, and I apologize for my lateness. Prevented, I tell you.

But distractions have mostly been dealt with, and it shall happen. All I've got so far in 200+ pages is some line editing, so I'm not at all sure it will even be worth anything to you. But have it you shall.

Kewl. Bev, that was my feeling as well - the hawk needs to have a bit of a thing going on, and if it serves as the trigger to make Callowen get his head out of his autocratic arse and decide to help, so much the better.

What Beverly said about the falcon being a gun waiting to go off. Given the evil ghost's reason for being around in the first place, it might make sense for him to try to possess or suborn Lord C. Then, Gaheris could be instrumental for helping to bring him 'round in some manner.

Conversely, it might be interesting to see what happens if the falcon goes wiggy and tries to attack Lord C. with deliberate malice. That would definitely shake him up a bit and make him understand just how high the stakes are. Also, (spoiler font), if the bird does something ridiculous that makes him laugh at it, it would be an additional clue about how to get rid of the ghost.

I can't think of any reason to not use Lord Callowen's POV. I think it would be good because:

• like Chekov's gun above the fireplace, you do think the falcon needs more of a role than just local color.
• Lord Callowen is kind of a cipher. I'd like to see him have more personal motivation to get rid of the ghost.

I'm thinking in terms of Lord C waking up because he hears the birds out in the mews, screaming their heads off, and goes outside in slippers and robe to calm them down, and things happen...

Just got an email from the contest coordinator for one of the writing contests I entered in June, and I didn't final. Another slapdown for Hubris Girl. However, this was the one that was open to published authors, indeed sponsored by the Published Authors Special Interest Chapter of RWA. So I'm telling myself I must've been directly competing with Jo Beverley and Julia Quinn. Anyway. The first round scoring was by booksellers, and the score/comment sheets are to go in the mail this week. Should be an interesting source of feedback.