Larissa Lyons: Kate, I’m happy to see you bright eyed and chipper on New Year’s. Guess that means you didn’t party too hard on all that spiked wassail! (Neither did Mr. Lyons or I…we were in bed shortly after 11 ) So what draws you to write Regency romance? What brought you to the genre?

Kate Dolan:  Like so many Regency readers, I’m drawn to stories in this setting because I absolutely love the books of Jane Austen. I also really enjoy “time-traveling” to the past and a well-written historical novel provides a great mini-vacation that you can’t get through a travel agent. While I find most historical settings interesting, I’m particularly drawn to settings involving Anglo culture probably because it is directly related to the culture we live in today and because my ancestors were products of that culture.

LL: Mini-vacation. I never thought of it that way, but it’s perfect! (Based on that theory, I’ve been “tripping” regularly for years!) Do you have a favorite story or Regency author?

Kate:  My favorite Jane Austen book is Persuasion. Unfortunately, Jane didn’t leave us nearly as many books as she should have! And try as we might, modern authors can’t quite capture the flavor of era – we are just too far removed. But I recently started reading the stories of Frances Burney and I’m finding them to be almost as compelling as the Jane Austen books.  One reason I enjoy these stories so much is that my favorite period of study is the 18th Century, and Burney’s stories were written and set in 1770s London.  I can see her as kind of a precursor to Jane Austen. Their stories share many of the same elements, but Jane refined the art a bit more, her characters and plots are a little less extreme and more true to life.

LL: Thanks for the new-author tip, I’ve never heard of Burney before and am always on the lookout for new sources of entertaining history. Your mention of Persuasion brings to mind The Lake House. In the movie, Persuasion is Sandra Bullock’s favorite book too, and it even helps shape the plot. I wonder if authors in days of yore had even an inkling of how long their stories would endure or the manner of entertainment (movies, television shows) they’d inspire. Speaking of things that endure, would you like to share a favorite holiday memory with readers?

Kate: One of my favorite Christmas stories has nothing at all to do with history – except my own. When I was about ten-years-old, I got up real early on Christmas morning to sneak a present downstairs for my mom. Later, when we were officially “allowed” to get up, my dad wouldn’t let us go downstairs until after he had the video camera set up and rolling. I thought he was crazy. I’d just walked through the living room and there was nothing worth making such a fuss over. But anyway, we waited until he was ready to go and then we walked down the stairs to discover two ten-speed bikes fully assembled in the living room. I had walked right past them earlier in the morning and not even noticed them! Now that was partly due to the dim light, but mostly it was a case of only seeing what I expected to see. I try to use that as a lesson to myself that I need to keep watch for the unexpected – or I might walk right by something wonderful again without even noticing.

LL: What a great present! I’m thankful you didn’t trip over those shiny ten-speeds, and what a good life lesson. My only lesson with bicycles is — don’t take off the training wheels until you’re truly ready! Now for some more fun holiday stuff (can you tell I’m not letting go of the holiday season a moment before I have to?) what can you share about your story in Cotillion Christmas Spirits?

Kate: My story, “Bride of Belznickel,” is a about a Christmas demon. Does that put you in the holiday spirit? Maybe for Halloween…but Christmas? In actuality, the story is more about family than anything else. Family tensions that smolder during the rest of the year tend to burst into flame around the holidays. In my story, the heroine is forced to spend Christmas far from home with her cousins. And since the cousins are insecure teenagers, they make themselves feel better by making fun of their visitor at every opportunity. To get even, the heroine tries to frighten them by making up a scary Christmas story.  At first, the cousins laugh. But when the story starts to come to life, it doesn’t seem quite so amusing.

I had a lot of fun writing this tale! It’s my first holiday story and my first ghost story.

LL: Hmmm…I notice you keep the hero’s part a secret. Guess that means readers need to learn for themselves whether he puts a stop to these demons stories, or supports them wholeheartedly. You’ve intrigued me! How long have you been writing Regency? Do you have a favorite story of your own?

Kate:  I started writing traditional Regencies at about the time the major publishers decided to discontinue them. Let’s just say I’m not doing this for the money.

I first came up with the start of a story, where a young ingénue is invited to London and set up with a round of wonderful engagements but instantly announces that she has to leave. Then I had to figure out why she had to leave. And I came up with a whole crazy family and a million reasons why she couldn’t ever do what she really wanted to. That first story was A Certain Want of Reason, so I guess I’d have to say that’s my favorite, since it started everything. I’m still writing about the crazy family and still enjoying them a great deal. There is a lot of truth in their mad ramblings!

LL: Those crazy families sure can suck us in, can’t they? As a writer, I’ve been surprised by more than one unexpectedly entertaining sibling who made an appearance in the story I was currently composing and immediately demanded their own. Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers?

Kate:  A lot of times, I feel like I’m not actually writing my stories at all. My characters take over and start talking and I just write it down.

If I were to say that any place else, I might find myself in a padded room with lots of scheduled medications. But instead I slap a byline on it and call it “work.”

Nice, huh?

LL: Excellent!  Ain’t it grand how very entertaining our own “crazy” minds work? I know as long as I have a pen and spiral notebook in hand, I’ll never be bored or complain of wasted time.

Something Kate didn’t mention, but I will after poking around on her site, is the wonderfully entertaining articles about history she posts periodically. Excepting the ugly bug picture (Kate, you have my permission — and encouragement — to put that article at the bottom of your page!) there’re many neat facts and stories accessible from her Living History page.

Next week, I’ll be interviewing the remaining contributor to the anthology — myself. Yes, Larissa interviews herself. It’s a strange job, but someone has to do it.

Have a wonderful start to the new year!

For many folks, today marks one of the most celebrated holidays of the entire year. But unlike today’s modern celebrations in which many perceive December 25th as the culmination of Christmas, in Regency times, it was the beginning! In fact, today is considered the very first day of Christmas, so we still have 12 more wonderful days to celebrate.  See what neat things one learns when researching ?

It’s time to talk with Regency author Carolynn Carey, and learn about her contribution to the Cotillion Christmas Spirits anthology, and more about her love of all things Regency. So as your family celebrations and large holiday indulgences (think fudge and Turkey and all the trimmings!) wind down, I invite you to spend a few quiet, calorie-free moments with us.

Larissa

Larissa Lyons: Hi Carolynn! Why don’t you get things started by telling us what draws you to write Regency romance?

Carolynn Carey: Writing Regencies is a treat for me because, although I love Regency romances, I tend to write contemporaries more often these days. Still, because writing Regencies was my first love, I was pleased to have an opportunity to participate in both the 2008 and 2009 Cotillion Christmas anthologies. I enjoy the fact that these anthologies center around themes. The 2008 theme was “Christmas in the country” and the 2009 theme is “Christmas spirits.” Because I don’t ordinarily write paranormals, working on a story for the 2009 anthology allowed me to stretch my writing skills a bit and I had fun plotting my ghost story.

LL: Regencies were my first love too, but I was too chicken to write them initially, being afraid of the research aspect, so I applaud your bravery in starting with them! Do you have a favorite Regency story or author?

Carolynn: Like many other Regency writers, I was drawn to the time period by the works of Georgette Heyer, who will always, I’m sure, be my favorite Regency author. I’ve read and re-read her works and have a collection of her books. I have several hardback copies, most of which I found in an antique book store in New Orleans, but I also own the paperbacks. I admit that I haven’t read her books in a number of years, and recently I’ve found several contemporary Regency authors I enjoy. None of us, however, can quite capture the period as Ms. Heyer did, at least in my opinion.

LL: It’s nice to hear additional compliments about Heyer’s work. Based on Jeanne’s prior comments, I’m happy to report Santa delivered An Infamous Army to my stocking this morning! Speaking of Santa and his deliveries, would you like to share a favorite holiday recipe or memory with readers?

Carolynn: Although I’ve lived in an urban area for many years, I was born and raised in the country. One of my favorite Christmas memories involves going into the woodland to cut our own greenery. There was an absolutely gorgeous hemlock on my parents’ property, and I’d go every year and cut some of the smaller hemlock branches that were covered with small cones and then make a wreath for the front door. I often wonder if that tree is still there and if it has escaped the hemlock woolly adelgid (a non-native insect that has killed most of the hemlocks over a wide area in the Appalachians). I have heard that some hemlocks in the county where I was raised are not yet infested, so I’m choosing to believe that “my” hemlock still stands tall and beautiful on the edge of the creek in the woodland of my youth.

LL: Oooo…making your own wreaths. I’m suitably impressed! The closest I’ve ever come is buying a grapevine wreath from Michael’s and gluing on a bow and ornaments. I hope your hemlock tree is hale and hearty! What can you tell us about your story in Cotillion Christmas Spirits?

Carolynn: ”A Spirit of Christmas Forgiveness” involves a ghost who appears as a beautiful woman dressed in red. This lovely lady rarely makes an appearance, but when she does, it’s always during the Christmas season. Her goal is to teach forgiveness and in the process to bring together a man and woman who otherwise would never meet and fall in love. Enter Anna Marshall, our heroine, who refuses to visit London because she can’t forgive her aristocratic London relatives for the way they treated her deceased mother, and our hero, the notorious Earl of Ashington, who can’t forgive his country neighbors for the way they treated his sister when she was a child. But the lady in red has plenty of tools to aid her, including freak snowstorms, and her machinations eventually teach Anna and the earl the value of both love and forgiveness.

LL: Excellent! I love meddling ghosts. Initially, the specter in my contribution also wore red…I had to streamline out the description due to word count restrictions, so I’m glad to hear another female ghost got to keep her crimson attire. How long have you been writing Regency stories? Do you have a particular favorite of your own?

Carolynn: I completed my first Regency almost twenty years ago. That book and the one that followed were learning experiences for me and will forever remain on floppy disks hidden deep in my desk. The second Regency, however, was a finalist in RWA’s Golden Heart contest for unpublished writers, as was the next Regency I wrote and the next. These latter books came close to publication but it wasn’t until 2007 that I contracted with Cerridwen Press to publish my fourth Regency, which by then was ten years old. That traditional Regency, Compromising Situations, is my favorite of those I’ve written, and I’m pleased that the print version received the National Readers’ Choice Award in the Regency category. Although I now predominately write contemporaries, I still love the Regency period and am convinced that I’ll never completely stop writing them.

LL: Wow! Carolyn, those are some fabulous credentials. Part of me can’t help but wonder if those older three regencies might not be worth shaking the dust off and polishing them up. It’s so tough for me to fully let go of any story that I spent months (or years) writing. Lucky for me, I have a critique partner who keeps kicking me in the tush and keeping me focused on the future not the past (well, other than stories set in the past. Those, she approves of…it’s just me pulling out really old, unfinished attempts she discourages). Aren’t we lucky our writing improves with effort and time? Carolynn, thanks so much for spending today with us and sharing such great information about your writing and Christmas memories!

Have a fabulous holiday season! I’ll be back next week talking with another Cotillion author.

Larissa (who likes her reindeer so much, she used him twice)

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!

Read Larissa’s Miss Isabella Thaws a Frosty Lord

part of the Cotillion Christmas Spirits anthology from Cerridwen Press

Miss Isabella Thaws a Frosty Lord

Dominated by her father’s rigid ways since a twist of fate stole her sight, Isabella uses the magic of Christmas to steal away for an adventure of her own when invited to join friends for the holidays. Oh, how she adores Christmastime!

How he abhors Christmastime! Lord Frostwood lives up to his name, freezing out everyone since a childhood tragedy hardened his heart. Everyone, that is, until a spirited wench falls at his feet and proceeds to warm his cold existence, thanks to some strategically placed mistletoe and their resulting Christmas kisses.

EXCERPT…which takes place after our heroine has been guided to a quiet spot in the drawing room and our hero has just expressed extreme displeasure…

“Then, pray, what is the source of your consternation? Did Mrs. Parksen guide me to a perilous location?”

“Perilous for my sanity,” he muttered darkly. “We’re sitting directly beneath a kissing bough.”

“Noooo…” Oh, the possibilities that brought to mind!

“Yes. An emphatic yes.”

Was he angry? She couldn’t tell. “Yet had you not mentioned it, I would have remained oblivious.”

“True.”

Her lips tingled.

Her whole body burned.

A clock somewhere in the room ticked away the seconds.

Yet for Isabella, time stood still.

His touch along the back of her hand firmed. “I cannot help but notice you make no move to, ah…move.”

Her breath whooshed out. “Nor do you.”

Now what? Did he place his lips against her trembling own? Cup her cheek and smooth his thumb down her temple and get slapped for his efforts?

The innocent feel of her hand upon his thigh brought forth all manner of anything-but-innocent urges. Had since he’d secured it there.

By damn, if a slap was in the offing, he wanted to do significantly more than steal a simple kiss. “But I also want my bloody questions answered.”

“Pardon?”

Reluctantly, Frost released her hand and stood. “Appears to me as though this particular kissing bough has been dedicated for our use, or at least that’s what I’m deciding given its propinquity and position. I’ll just pocket this beauty and we’ll make use of it at a later date, shall we? Hmmm?”

Not that it would fit in his pocket, not without squashing it to a pulp, but she didn’t need to know that. So he tossed it on the settee, out of her reach.

“But that’s not how it works!”

Frost reseated himself, closer this time if that were possible. “I know full well how they work—”

“Of a certainty, a man like you would.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Want to know whether Frost uses the kissing bough? Read Miss Isabella Thaws a Frosty Lord in Cotillion Christmas Spirits

But after debating for months I finally decided to start blogging, with the hope of keeping fans and readers more up-to-date on what I’m working on story-wise, as well as sharing my thoughts — goofy though they may be — on such far-reaching, mind-titillating topics as 007 (yes, James Bond…I’m a fan of both the books & the movies and over time will offer reviews of them all),  the writing life of a health-challenged author who strives to feel better every day and make sure every book is better than the last, and I’ll also be posting reviews of my “Keeper Shelf” — those books that have been in my possession ranging up to 20 years or more, that I considered top of the tops. There’s a ton of traditional Signet Regencies on that list, but also a large number of books in other genres. Lastly, I’m sure there will be the occasional recipe or chocolate fix, or better still — little tips on living well and being happy. Because as far as I’m concerned, there is so much crappola going on in the world around us I think it’s really important when our own corner of this wonderful world is as pleasant and peaceful and smile-engendering as we can make it. That’s what I strive for– in my life, and with my stories–pleasantness and peace and contentment. All good qualities I think may sometimes be overlooked.

For several years now, I’ve attempted to update my Lair every other month or so and share all my writing news and best kitty pictures all at once but sometimes I’m woefully late. I think trying a blogging format, where I can post smaller snippets more frequently, and organize them according to topic, will prove a more efficient way to share what’s going on.

For the next few days, as I wade in a little deeper — and because Alyssa and I have a fabulous release coming out next week — I’ll be posting frequently as I get into my groove, but eventually, I’m not sure how often I’ll add things. I thought about posting just whenever I feel like it, I’ve also thought about attempting to do it on the “5’s” (i.e., on the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th and so on…). I also might try doing it once a week, say on Thursdays…

Haven’t made up my mind yet, but I do think every single day is more ambitious than I’m up for right now, but if you have an opinion I’d love to hear it. Are you someone that enjoys going to a blog every single day? Or is once a week or twice a month good enough?

Share your preference if you have it and have a wonderful day! Larissa