My good pal Marilyn Bryant, author of A Summer in Europe, tagged me to take part in this blogging hop-along, and I thought it sounded like fun. I’ll answer some questions about my current work in progress (WIP), and then tag five other authors to do the same thing on their blogs next week.
So, here goes on my Next Big Thing:
What is your working title of your book? A Royal Seduction.
Where did the idea come from for the book? From reading histories and biographies about the British Royals during the Regency period.
What genre does your book fall under? Regency-set historical romance.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? I’ve already got them picked out. Hugh Jackman would play my hero, and the heroine would be played by Piper Perabo.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? The illegitimate son of the Prince Regent, who is also a spy for the British Crown, must protect a young noblewoman (a beautiful and brilliant cardsharp) from kidnapping and forced marriage to a Russian prince.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? This is the first book in my new series, The Renegade Royals, for Kensington Publishing.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? Four months, which included the beginning of revisions.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? It’s a sexy Regency historical, with some adventure and a spy for a hero, so I’d say it’s similar to what Shana Galen writes. But I also have quite a bit of humor and Regency social settings in my book too, so I think readers who like books by Katharine Ashe will like it, too.
Who or what inspired you to write this book? I read a wonderful biography of the Prince Regent, the eldest son and heir of George III. Like most of his brothers – who were a pretty scandalous lot – he had at least one or two illegitimate children. All told, the brothers probably had close to twenty illegitimate offspring, some of whom were never identified. I thought it would be pretty cool to write a series about those children who never emerged from the shadows of history. They were the sons of princes, and yet had such murky backgrounds. This WIP is my story of Aden, the Prince Regent’s bastard son.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? I really love the heroine and think she’s a very interesting character. She’s funny and sweet, and a total math genius. Her family is a nightmare, always spending themselves into massive debt, and Vivien has to use her math skills at the gambling tables of the ton to keep her family afloat. She was a lot of fun to write.
And now I get to tag a few awesome author friends too, who’ll be posting about their latest projects on their blogs next Wednesday, Dec. 5th. Can’t wait to hear what they’re working on!!
Cynthia Eden, author of Angel in Chains
Monica Burns, author of A Bluestocking Christmas
Kris Kennedy, author of Deception
Manda Collins, author of How To Romance A Rake
Theresa Romain, author of Season For Surrender
Readers, be sure to check out these talented ladies next week and find out what they’re working on!
I would happily cast Hugh Jackman in everything.
LOL! I have to agree with you there, Mary. He’s pretty much one size fits all.
A Royal Seduction sounds awesome!
Thanks, Cynthia!
Your new series sounds great, Vanessa! When does it kick off? Can’t wait to read A Royal Seduction.
T, the first novella comes out in Dec. 2013, and then books one and two come out in Jan. and Feb. 2014.
Oh, Vanessa, I *love* the sound of this!! What a fabulous premise. And…swoon…I’d watch anything with Hugh Jackman in it — we must get this movie made ;). Thank you so much for playing along!
xox
Thank you so much for thinking of me, Marilyn!
Hi Vanessa!
I was thrilled when I read your post and found out the time period in which A Royal Seduction is set! Last week-end my husband and I watched the movie The Madness of King George and it was fascinating finding out details of the King’s illness and hadn’t released before seeing the movie that it was dementia that affected King George III.
After watching the movie I wanted to know more about the Prince Regents being married to a Catholic woman and found out that the illegal “marriage” to Maria Fitzherbert did not end until 1794. I don’t know what you do when you find out information like that but I know that now I have to find out what prompted the Prince to 1. Wait that long and 2. What was the determining factor to make him change his mind and dissolve the marriage!
Have you ever had the same problem when you’re writing a story and doing research for one of your stories and find the more information you un-cover the more you just have have to know?
I love the premise that Aden, of one of Prince illegitimate sons, is a spy for the Crown and that Vivien is going to try to con the ton at the card tables! Talk about a rollicking good read!
With all the illegitimate brothers and sisters that Alden has hopefully this will become a very long series!
Hi Jeanne! Yes, the marriage to Maria Fitzherbert was never legal, but there’s little doubt that he did love her for quite a long period of time. That, however, did not stop him from sleeping around. Constancy was not the watchword for most of these princes!
I am excited! I want to say don’t stop for anything…but since it is going to be Christmas soon..Take a break for that, then right back at it Vanessa!
Lexi, thank you! I actually decided today that I’m going to take a short break from blogging and such over the holiday. I’ll still be writing, but stepping back from the other stuff for a few weeks.
Ooh Vanessa, it sounds delightful, I can’t wait to read it!! 😀
Thanks, Stella!