London, 1814
Sarah Jardin has been quite dreadfully in love with David Rochester her whole life. As the youngest of five daughters, her family and society neglect her. She’s outspoken, brash, and terribly ungraceful. In short, not at all a lady...until she’s taken under the benevolent wing of Lady Lancaster and invited to join the Young Ladies Garden Society.
But Sarah’s new life—filled with the mysteries and intrigues of high society—is interrupted by an unexpected scandal. Her scandal. In a moment of kindness, David comforts her...and they are discovered and forced to marry. Even as the newlyweds must come to terms with their new arrangement, they find themselves drawn into the investigation of a dangerous conspiracy.
With life and love on the line, their unexpected marriage will either end in rapture...or ruin.
“Who” You Know
I have wanted to be writer for as long as I can remember. Pretty much from the beginning, I was told “write what you know”. So I studied the classics, I read everything I could get my hands on, and I wrote down every good idea I thought I had. I wanted to know everything so I could write about anything.
Well, that's not how it works. At least not for me.
After years of rejected submissions and half-started books and stories, I found myself a writer, but one of the technical variety. That is, I was writing user manuals and installation guides for the Tech World. Sure, I was being published (under the name of whatever company I was working for at the time), but inside my soul was dying a little bit everyday.
Things had to change.
So, one day I sat down and tried to think of a new direction for my writing. No longer would I consider things I knew a lot about and had tons of experience in; instead I thought about things for which I had a passion, interest, and desire. This led to Jane Austen, Nancy Drew, Charlie's Angels (the TV series, not movies), empire waist dresses, true life stories, and mysteries. And that was the beginning of the Lady Lancaster Garden Society mystery series.
All the sudden I was writing books. Books set in the Regency period; well before my time. Stories taking place in England; a country to which I have never been. And characters solving crimes and injustices; when I could barely balance my checkbook. But it was working!
I had the internet to teach me about the time, place, history, and crime solving. What I think really brought the stories to life and finally allowed me to finish not just one book but now five books was putting in each of the main characters personality traits that I know better than anyone else.
Instead of writing what I knew, I wrote who I knew. Me. And my mom. My best friend. My dream man. And eventually my husband. In every book, in every character I wrote (and continue to write) you see bits of me and everyone I love...and hate. My sister once posted on Facebook something like, “Don't make my sister angry. She'll make you the villain in her next book”. She was right.
The heroine in my latest book, Enticing Her Unexpected Bridegroom, is a tall gangly klutz who has absolutely no filter on her mouth. Her name is Sarah Jardin and she is the character probably most like me in real life. I had the greatest time writing about her, because she would say and do anything. In all the books, Sarah is the comic relief and I love that about her.
Doesn't everyone have that one person in their live that can make them laugh? That cares not a whit about what anyone else thinks of them? That says whatever they are thinking regardless of the circumstance? Well, that is Sarah and her story is one of suspense, intrigue, love, and betrayal like all of my books, but most of all it is rife with humor and self-discovery. Much like my journey to becoming a publish author.
I learned a good lesson in that journey and I hope I have passed it on to you, as well...
Well, that's not how it works. At least not for me.
After years of rejected submissions and half-started books and stories, I found myself a writer, but one of the technical variety. That is, I was writing user manuals and installation guides for the Tech World. Sure, I was being published (under the name of whatever company I was working for at the time), but inside my soul was dying a little bit everyday.
Things had to change.
So, one day I sat down and tried to think of a new direction for my writing. No longer would I consider things I knew a lot about and had tons of experience in; instead I thought about things for which I had a passion, interest, and desire. This led to Jane Austen, Nancy Drew, Charlie's Angels (the TV series, not movies), empire waist dresses, true life stories, and mysteries. And that was the beginning of the Lady Lancaster Garden Society mystery series.
All the sudden I was writing books. Books set in the Regency period; well before my time. Stories taking place in England; a country to which I have never been. And characters solving crimes and injustices; when I could barely balance my checkbook. But it was working!
I had the internet to teach me about the time, place, history, and crime solving. What I think really brought the stories to life and finally allowed me to finish not just one book but now five books was putting in each of the main characters personality traits that I know better than anyone else.
Instead of writing what I knew, I wrote who I knew. Me. And my mom. My best friend. My dream man. And eventually my husband. In every book, in every character I wrote (and continue to write) you see bits of me and everyone I love...and hate. My sister once posted on Facebook something like, “Don't make my sister angry. She'll make you the villain in her next book”. She was right.
The heroine in my latest book, Enticing Her Unexpected Bridegroom, is a tall gangly klutz who has absolutely no filter on her mouth. Her name is Sarah Jardin and she is the character probably most like me in real life. I had the greatest time writing about her, because she would say and do anything. In all the books, Sarah is the comic relief and I love that about her.
Doesn't everyone have that one person in their live that can make them laugh? That cares not a whit about what anyone else thinks of them? That says whatever they are thinking regardless of the circumstance? Well, that is Sarah and her story is one of suspense, intrigue, love, and betrayal like all of my books, but most of all it is rife with humor and self-discovery. Much like my journey to becoming a publish author.
I learned a good lesson in that journey and I hope I have passed it on to you, as well...
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Win an eCopy of Enticing Her Unexpected Bridegroom!
Thank you for this lovely guest spot and allowing me to give away my book! ❤
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