by Thank you, Sybil, for inviting me to participate in your Harlequin Historical spotlight. I’m really excited by this opportunity to talk about one of my favorite subjects – Regency England.
Betrayal, my July 2008 release, is the third and final book about the St. Simon brothers. Deverell, the youngest brother fights at Waterloo and is wounded. Pippa LeClaire finds him on the battlefield while searching for her lost twin, Phillip.
The idea to open BETRAYAL at Waterloo came to me while doing general research (one of my favorite pastimes).
Carolly Erickson’s book Our Tempestuous Day talks about the battle and it’s aftermath. What struck me particularly was the fate of Frederick Ponsonby (Lady Caroline Lamb’s brother). Ponsonby was injured in both arms, had a lance driven through his lungs, was ridden over by horses as the battle raged around him and laid on the battlefield wounded and near death for eighteen hours – and he survived to write his story! I was caught.
Next, I went to John Fisher’s book, 1815:An End and A Beginning to research the actually field conditions and military layout for Waterloo. It was also a great source for Wellington.
From this information, I built my prologue and opening chapters. Pippa finds a wounded Deverell while searching for her beloved twin. Neither realize that later Wellington will order Deverell to find Phillip LeClaire, a suspected spy for France, and bring the traitor to justice. Even as Dev falls in love with Pippa, he knows his honor will demand that he betray her.
BETRAYAL was great fun to write. Not to mention the research!
Along the lines of research, who better to help than the readers? Tell me, what are the top three things are that you look for in a romance? And I will pick someone from the comments to win a citrine and silver pendant for Her Rebel Lord and an autographed copy of the British issue of BETRAYAL.
Hi Everyone,
I’m wondering if any of you would like to comment on what the top three things are that you look for in a romance. As a writer, I’d love to know. Thanks
oops
sorry forgot that last part *G* let me know if I need to edit again…
Ooh this book sounds really good! I haven’t read anything by you but you sure are going on my list of authors to try out. Betrayal sounds just like what I’m in the mood to read, I’ll try to get to this series soon…woo hoo, Welcome to Blogland! =)
The top three things I look for in a romance? Hmmm. This is a good question.
#1 – Believeable characters, ones who aren’t perfect, ones that I can relate to, even when the book is set in another era.
#2 – Believeable emotions from the characters, whether they are expressed outloud or internally.
#3 – I’m old fashioned. I like a happily-ever-after ending. When a book is well-written (like Georgina Devon’s) there’s nothing more satisfying!
Georgina, sounds like you had to do a massive amount of research to get all the details of Waterloo in “Betrayal”. I can’t wait to read it!
Suz in Tucson
I was fascinated by the Pippa’s use of herbs and garlic oil to clean Deverell’s wound. Can you tell us more about that — your research for this time period, any favorite sources, etc.? BTW, LOVE the excerpt. Grabbed me right in.
I should clarify — medical research for the time period. How did you go about finding that?
Hihi!
1) a novel with an actual plot that moves along and progresses! I hate sitting down to a novel and then becoming bored with it really quickly because nothing happens. good flow is VERY important
2) strong characters that stay true to themselves and do not immediately change everything about themselves so that they can ‘become’ perfect for there mate. love should just happen, you should not have to force it or change yourself 100% to make your partner happy
3) i love a good romance novel that just sweeps you away into its world. i like to be transformed into either the time period, the place, etc that the book takes place in. this affords me the opportunity to sort of get out of my head and enjoy being in someone elses
4) a sexy, strong, funny hero that i just wanna fall in love with. he is imperfect, but just because he tries is good enough for me!
xoxoxoxo
Suz and Becky Jean, thanks so much for the input. I’ll keep it in mind when writing the next book.
Anita and Rowena, thanks for the kudos on the exerpt. I think Sybil picked it and it couldn’t be better.
Anita, as for research. I used Culpepper’s Herbal. Garlic was used on wounds then. And if Culpepper said so, I figured people used herbs the way he recommended and for the properties he said they had. I don’t have my copy anymore, but I think it was originally published in the 1500-1600s, so it was around for the Regency.
Thanks everyone for responding.
Oops! I think my comment got lost (or I put it in the wrong place). I love the rich details, like the use of herbs & type of bandage that drew me into the scene. Pippa’s a great character – determined and skilled enough to pull off her deceopton, but not so bold as to make things seem easy. I’m anxious to find out if she finds her twin.
I look for the same thing in romance as in any novel. Strong characters who triumph in the face of believable obstacles, and a hopeful message to those of us who are still struggling. 🙂
Three top things I look for in a satisfying romance ….
1)Especially when reading historicals, I want an “I am there” experience, in which I feel transported to the book’s time and feel like I’m living it along side the characters. In that vein, I want to see the characters acting true to their times without 21st century intrusions or “soap-boxes” that would pull me out of the story.
2)The hero & heroine must be people I can root for — heroic qualities, even if the characters in question are flawed. I want to see them act in selfless ways, putting others first and, yes, if need be, putting themselves in danger for others or for a noble cause.
3)I do require a happy ending and like to see justice meted out for villainous deeds.
Anita
Vicky and Anita, Thanks for posting. I agree with everyone on the qualities they want in a romance. It’s nice to see that generally readers want the same things from a good story.
Oh the excerpt I sort of stole from your website… so I would hope you like it *g*
I know I suck like that. I think I had the best of good intention to ask but yeah didn’t. oops BUT I get points for remember the rights stuff 🙂
Welcome Georgina,
I look for likeable characters, a plot that keeps the story moving along towards the conclusion and a HEA.
Sybil, I knew it was a good exerpt. LOLOL
Jane, thanks for telling me what you look for in a good romance.
First I look for great chemistry between the hero and heroine. Then I want a great story for them, something that makes sense to me and I can see it happening to two people. And the last thing is a great ending, which means that I can see these two people together years and years from now.
Maureen, I really like your last point about seeing the two characters together years later. Thanks for pointing that out.
I want to see chemistry between the H/h, like witty bantering, to see the relationship develop, not just instant attraction and no reason why, and of course, that happy ending that will last.
#1 Chemistry. you want to be able to feel like you are right there with them.
#2 Fireworks. I want the couple to be passionate and stubborn at the same time.
#3 The story and characters. A strong hero and heroine. I hate reading a book with a wimpy hero or a heroine that is either wimpy or whiny. I love a story that is exciting and keeps you on your toes. I want to be so involved in my romance that I do not want to put the book down.
Georgina,
Hi, I’m popping in late to say that I love Our Tempestuous Day, a book that gives a wonderful history of the whole Regency period for readers who love Regencies and want to know more. A Waterloo book that reads like a novel is Waterloo: Day of Battle by David Howarth. I love that book!!! (and I’m going to look for the other book you referenced too; I can’t resist a good book on Waterloo.)
June 18 is the anniversary of the great battle, so quick order Georgina’s book from eharlequin and read Betrayal in honor of the battle! Risky Regencies http://riskyregencies.blogspot.com/ is doing a whole week on the battle starting Monday.
The book I’m working on now ends at Waterloo!
Diane (whose next HH is out in October – Scandalizing the Ton)
Hi, Georgina!
Betrayal looks like a very interesting book–best luck with it!
What are the three top things in romance for me? Pretty much the same as in any other genre, I’d say:
Believable characters, not cut-out stereotypical hero/heroine, but flawed people. People who react to their circumstances instead of being figure heads serving the plot.
Believable circumstances–and this works for fantasy, science fiction and paranormals. Basically, whatever the conflict around the characters, it has to be consistent with the world within which they exists. Changing the rules (Deus Ex Machina, IOW) will ruin a book for me nine times out of ten.
Language. This one is tricky, because it’s not just writing well to create those believable characters and their believable circumstances, but also being able to separate the writer’s own voice from that of her characters, and allow them to speak as they would.
Gorgeous cover and great excerpt! I’ll be waiting when it comes out–love love love anything in the Regency with a military slant to it.
Diane, thanks for another book to add to my researchbookswanted list!
BETRAYAL sounds like a great book! It has something I think generates a great plot: a horrible dilemma. Others have already mentioned two of my big three things I look for in a romance novel: Well drawn characters, and a plot that moves along briskly. To that I’d like to add humor. I’m talking about characters who share a quirky or wry attitude even while they’re dealing with a serious situation.
Frances
I look for (1)a strong romantic story- the time period doesn’t matter, (2)a heroine who is intelligent, witty, and loving, and (3)a hero who is protective, loving, in need of a lifelong partner, and devoted to family
Interesting post and good question.
The top three things I am looking for in a romance novel:
1. Main characters that I genuinely like or grow fond of as I learn about them in a book. And secondary characters which are given more depth than surface description…it just makes the read richer.
2. Convincing build of the relationship and the sexual tension that goes with it.
3. An interesting plot without holes and without loose threads unless the latter will be addressed in a following book (either sequel or continuation of series), but prefer not to have cliff-hangers.
I just got back from a couple days on Coronado Island and read the latest posts. Thanks everyone for your comments. They are all useful to me as a writer and I appreciate the time you took to post them.
Diane – another new reference book. Yum…