I get very excited about my research--it's so much fun, and every once in awhile you stumble upon some delicious bit of history that'll make your story that much stronger. F'r'instance, I recently stumbled upon the concept of a "gentleman volunteer" in the British military of my era--i.e. a man with the social standing to be an officer who lacked the means to purchase a commission. Such a man could show up with a letter of reference or two and fight with the men for a common soldier's pay but dine with the officers. If he proved promising, he could earn a commission the next time a vacancy came up.
Originally I was going to have a lieutenant be something of an enemy to Jack and Anna, who tries to blackmail Anna by threatening Jack's life. But I've now made him a gentleman volunteer, because that just makes the power and rank dynamics so much more convoluted and fun. Though I need to do more research. Must see if I can track down the author of the book wherein I discovered this gem and see if he knows any details that didn't make the book.....
Ugh, Ethan Frome. I think she had a virus of some sort while she was writing that one. Only one of hers I don't love.
I've been doing research on Gilded Age Manhattan and the phenomenon of penniless British nobility marrying American heiresses near the turn of the century for years, and the book I have in mind is one I probably won't write for years, if ever.
I assume you've read
To Marry An English Lord,
right? What else do you recommend?
Small tour update--confirmed readings in Orange, CA and Redondo Beach, CA for Jan. 25th and 26th, respectively.
Will be doing some sort of salon-type thang in Los Angeles, and I'll make sure everyone here has the details. The hostess will be my good friend, Carlye Archibeque, one of the finest writers in the city of angels.
Was hoping to do the "Writers With Drinks" series in San Francisco, but it's beginning to look like the timing will be all wrong. This means our Bay Area reading will likely instead be in Berkley or Oakland. Which,ironically, will probably have bigger audiences and pay better. But it's still not "writers with drinks," y'know?
More details as they come...
I assume you've read To Marry An English Lord, right? What else do you recommend?
Oh yeah! I love it. I picked up The Glitter and the Gold by Consuela Vanderbilt herself, and I have a bunch of books on old Manhattan. Oh, and I have A Backwards Glance by Edith Wharton, too. A lot of other research has been piecemeal, on the web, or just thumbing through books in the library.
I've got a bunch of old etiquette books from that era. Fascinating reading.
This - a picture of the Isle of Dogs circa 1961, on the left - is so damned pretty. Makes me nostalgic for London, which I rarely get.
Hey all. We have a misterpoll set up to gauge how many people are interested in attending Target Tampa with Suzanne Brockmann to celebrate the release of her new book.
Weekend with Suzanne Brockmann Poll
There will be signings of her new book, and your library, as well a party and some writing workshops.
We also have a mailing list if you'd like updates on this event.
target-tampa-announce-subscribe@lists.emahollywood.com
Deb, still plugging on Flower (stupid real life). They off to France, and I'm still all "Go, Agnes!" Is it wrong of me that I prefer the ghost to the living heroine? Penny's a nice lady and all, but Agnes seems so much more real and vibrant.
