We’ve loved our spy fiction for over 100 years. The early years of the twentieth century saw the start of the genre, with Kim, by Rudyard Kipling, several books by Joseph Conrad, The Scarlet Pimpernel, by Baroness Orkzy, even some of the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sexy heroes, thrilling encounters, mysterious […]
Her Grace of Haverford answered a question about her plans for the evening, while watching her younger son prowling her private parlour, picking up ornaments and putting them down, smoothing out a crinkle in a linen mat, twitching a flower out of a vase to smell it and put it back in the wrong […]
I’m still processing the Romance Writers’ Conference. One of the presentations was very timely, as I’ve been rethinking my publication sequence because readers are asking me to complete some of my series before going on to others. I’m not one for serials. In a serial, you have to go to the next book to find […]
Haverford House, London, 1787 Fitz-Grenford balanced the delicate porcelain cup carefully on his knee, not taking his eyes off his hostess. Her Grace was remarkably contained, given she had just announced her intention to defy both Society and her husband. The Duke of Haverford was not a gentle man, and did not tolerate rebellion in […]
Okay, I can learn from past errors. Last year’s letter to 2017 had exactly the opposite effect I intended. Instead of responding to my pep talk and improving over 2016, 2017 managed to exceed 2016’s ill effects in every way. Let’s not even go there. Instead, let’s look forward. Here are my wishes for the […]
As I race toward the release of my third story collection (If Mistletoe Could Tell Tales), I’ve been thinking about my brief (so far) career as an independently published historical romance writer. My first post on my blog was three years and three months ago, on 16 September 2014. ‘Tentative first steps’, I called it. […]
My latest set of short stories has hit the New Release Bestseller lists on Amazon UK and Amazon US, and my newsletter short story was opened by more than 200 people. I enjoy the short story format. Two main characters, one tight plot arc, and a gallop to a happy ever after you can enjoy […]
Eleanor paused in the doorway of the schoolroom, where her three foster daughters were drawing under the supervision of their governess. The subject was a collection of objects: a flower in a rounded glazed bowl, a trinket box open to display a set of coral beads that trailed over the edge onto the polished surface […]
As I may have mentioned, I’ve been a bit slowed recently by a shoulder injury and a repeating winter cold. The shoulder is finally responding to treatment, but being limited in the number of hours I can type has been a real nuisance. The demands of the day job have to take priority so the […]
Lord Jonathan Grenford, younger son of Her Grace the Duchess of Haverford, was doing his best to lounge with nonchalant ease, in imitation of his more sophisticated brother. But his interview with his progenitor had left him fizzing with frustration and anger. Impossible to discharge such energies in the presence of the duke, who was […]