Years ago when I first started writing, I picked Biblical accounts because that was my interest and passion. However, back then publishers weren’t buying and my agent requested I try something else. She mentioned the Regency era, which at the time I knew very little about. I dug in, started researching, and ideas began popping like popcorn.
I worried a bit about putting my non-Biblical themed books out under my same name, but I’m not big enough to risk starting a new pen name and trying to find new readers. Besides, Kindle has given me the freedom to write my books the way I wanted to, clean, with nothing offensive to drive away readers who are more conservative. I wanted to be known for books Mom could leave on the coffee table and not have to worry about the kids picking them up and asking, “Whatcha reading?”
As a result, all my books, from the original Biblical themes to Regency to time travel to a modern murder mystery, will come out under my own name. They all fall under the category of Romance, but I hardly call them ‘sweet’ because I try to tackle subjects with some depth to them. To me sweet romance novels imply a somewhat lighter fare. While I love sweet romances, somehow that doesn’t seem to be what I do.
When I first began writing this book, I had a lovely title all picked out. As time grew closer to seriously thinking of a creating a cover, I did a search on Kindle just to see whether my nifty title would have competition. Twelve pages worth! No lie! Twelve pages of variations on the title I had chosen. Most done by authors much more well-known than myself. So I scrapped that one and started over, trying title after title until I finally hit on one I loved. And there wasn’t a single book on Kindle with that name!
I hereby introduce my next book, my third on Kindle, FORTUNE’S FLOWER. Set in 1809-1810 England, the story involves two families, one rich and land-owning (hence the Fortune), the other caught up in the changes in land ownership that came in the late-1700’s to early 1800’s and at risk of losing what little land they still have. It is the tale of a second son and a second daughter named Verbena (hence the Flower).
Class barriers, poverty, death, sickness, the Enclosure Acts, a hint of Napoleon’s War, and secrets all combine in Fortune’s Flower.
(original blog date 10/21/2014)
