Continuing the mini-interviews with my fellow Cotillion Christmas Spirits authors, this week we hear from long-time Regency author Jeanne Savery. I’ll let you in on a nifty tidbit — 10-15 years ago, well before I ever started writing romance, I held several of Jeanne’s books in my hands as I read her stories! When I first saw she was published with Cerridwen Press, I recalled those long-ago romances. Now to be featured in an anthology with one of my stories alongside one of hers? Wow! What a great feeling. Larissa

Larissa Lyons: I’m thinking you touched on this last week when we exchanged e-mails over Barbara’s interview, but now I’m asking officially: Do you have a favorite story or Regency author?

Jeanne Savery: I can’t imagine that anyone who loves the Regency is unaware of Georgette Heyer’s books. She invented the genre! I discovered her when we were in England and they were reissuing her books. I’d sit giggling at something. D.H. would want to know why so I’d read a bit–and he’s as hooked on Heyer as I am.

LL: I love hearing about husbands who read romance! To me it’s like men who wear pink — it takes a confident guy to pull it off and admit it. Bravo! While Mr. Lyons hasn’t braved reading any other romance authors, I’m happy to report he always reads my stories and offers valuable feedback before I submit them. What can you tell us about your story contribution to Cotillion Christmas Spirits?

Jeanne: “Jenna’s Eternal Lover” is actually the final scene which should follow a four book series, my Ghost series. Jenna and her dead lover work hard to see that the four heirs the late Lord Everston left unentailed property to actually succeed in fulfilling the requirements he set for them to do so. What he hoped was that each and every one would overcome various personal problems…and that they would also find happiness with the one they love. Three of those four books have been published. The Ghost and Jacob Moorhead. The Ghost and Sarah Tomlinson. The Ghost and Patrick Tomlinson. Unfortunately the fourth book is still in progress. My characters simply refuse to behave themselves and, worse, a whole bunch of secondary characters are trying to upstage the stars! That book, when finished, will be The Ghost and Roman Trent. Actually, I think I’m finally beating them all into submission and the book should be finished soon. As for Jenna, she’s not young. She’s tired of adventures and she can’t wait to join her lover in eternity. “Jenna’s Eternal Lover” shows that love really can be forever.

LL: I know what you mean about pesky secondary characters who don’t know their place! Glad to hear you’re getting them corralled and that your fourth book is coming along. I gave a bit of a spoiler in your introduction, but now you can share the specifics — How long have you been writing Regency? Do you have a favorite story of your own?

Jeanne: When I discovered Heyer I fell in love with her work but I swore I’d never ever attempt to emulate her. I couldn’t. I didn’t know enough! Instead I tried for far too long to write contemporary romance. And got rejected again and again–often with very nice letters, but still, it was rejection. I’d get mad and swear I’d show ‘em.  And then that straw that breaks the camel’s back? In the form of still another rejection, it landed on mine. I got depressed. When I get depressed I read Heyer. One or two and I’m smiling again. How can one not smile at her characters and situations? Except this time it didn’t work. I read my whole shelf and wanted more. I sat down and wrote one. My crit group told me I’d been writing the wrong thing all the time. They must have been right. My second “real” Regency was a Golden Heart finalist. It “won” me a sale!

Since that first visit we’ve returned to England a number of times, because I needed to research some particular area of the country. (D.H. only belatedly realized I was setting my books in new regions just so I’d have that excuse–a bit dense of him, what?) One consistent part of any visit to England were visits to used books stores where we collected everything from published letters and diaries, biographies, history and social studies of the era, architecture—and on and on. By now I’ve yards of research material where I can find almost any bit of information I may need.

One story I have a special affection for is The House Party. That one was named a RITA finalist! My first Regency was published in 1991. Zebra, before they stopped their Regency line, published or re-published nearly thirty full length novels and perhaps half that many of novellas in their collections. It’s nearly twenty years later and my books are now coming out in the Cerridwen Press Cotillion line. I hope they print another thirty or so!

LL: I love this! Huge congratulations on the Golden Heart placing and resulting sale, the RITA recognition, and your great longevity writing Regencies. Isn’t it amazing how so often our heart knows what we should be writing even when our heads tell us something else? Mr. Lyons and I are currently saving up for our very first trip to England. I detest flying and airplanes (just looking at an airport, I somehow get heartburn — eek!). I told him if I was going to board one again–I’ve successfully avoided them for over a decade–then we were staying for a minimum of three weeks and exploring the bazooka out of that entire island! Since becoming a Regency author, I always make a beeline for the history section of every Half Price Books store I come across, but I never thought of the gold mine I could find at actual English bookstores! How to bribe the airline so I can bring back suitcases loaded with books? Hmmmm…

Jeanne, huge thanks for joining us and sharing more about your writing. Here’s to those next 30 Regency books — may they fly from your fingertips and off the cyber and store shelves!

Tags: Regencies, Regency romance