The Next Big Thing!

I’ve been tagged in The Next Big Thing by Alison Stuart (no relation but it would have been cool). I’ve known Alison for a few years through Romance Writer’s of Australia and our mutual love of all things historical. Alison’s next book Secrets in Time is coming out with Lyrical Press at the same time as mine in April! Two great books for you all to read!

According to the instructions, I have to tell you about my next book and then tag a few other authors so they can tell you about their next big thing. What a fun way to share the love and new releases!

What is the title of your next book?

Behind the Courtesan comes out in April 2013 with Carina Press and I am beyond excited! I don’t have a cover yet though. Not a super long read at 74,000 words but I hope it will be memorable.

Where did the idea come from for this book?

Unlike my last book Scandal’s Mistress, I actually do remember where this idea came from. I was wondering what the best kept courtesans and mistresses of the ton did when their gentlemen were off hunting or spending time with their families. Did they party with each other? Did they take the time to follow their own pursuits and what of their own families? It wasn’t like you could dial up your mother and ask her how she’s been. And then I started thinking about how these women ended up in their chosen occupations. Some were run-aways like Sophia and most had terrible pasts.

Sophia ran away from home at the tender age of fourteen after being savagely raped by the then Duke. When her brother asks her to attend the birth of his first child, she decides it’s time to go home and face the demons of her past and the men she left behind. The story is sad and a little twisted but I like depth in my characters and love stories. It always makes the happy endings so much more satisfying and deserved.

What genre does your book fall under?

Miss Anna Campbell is known in some circles as the Queen of Regency Noir. Mine fits in there. It’s regency but so much darker and emotional than most others.  

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I’m not someone who visualises an actress or actor for my characters. I see them in my head and they’re just there. But. In this one, I totally saw Gerard Butler for Blake. Big and buff and awesome. Can you tell I have a little man crush?

And I love the images of Amy Lee from Evanescance for Sophia. Think wild dark curly hair and big blue eyes only a little more historical and a little less make-up.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

This will be my second release with Carina Press and I still could not be happier. My editor is amazing and pushed me really hard to get Behind the Courtesan as perfect as I could, pointing out my plot holes and too modern language. Everything is so fuss free with Carina, just the way I like it!

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I have no idea… I like to work on a few different manuscripts all at the same time but I would say about six months. I work a day job and have two full-on little girls so not a huge amount of time left over sometimes.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I absolutely love Anna Campbell and until I read her debut novel Claiming the Courtesan in 2007, I didn’t even know this kind of darkness ‘fit’ into regency. I’d always stuck to the Stephanie Laurens’, Eloisa James’ and Julia Quinns of historicals. To say I was amazed would be an understatement. I am completely addicted to her stories now.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Mostly the above but once I started, I had to tell Sophia’s story. I have a very close girlfriend who suffered three miscarriages over a number of years due to the lack of folate retained in her body (very long story there too). I also once read an article about a woman who had nine miscarriages due to the same issues. When I needed a little extra torture for Sophia, I knew it would fit into the story perfectly. I think we tend to not think about what we conceive as modern problems and how they would have been faced in those periods. Women lost more babies then than they ever would now. At the time, I wanted to show that if Sophia could beat the odds, then so could my girlfriend. She now has a bouncing boy. While Sophia doesn’t have a baby in the story, I like to think it all would have worked out okay for her too.

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?

I like to think my voice and story-telling ability would be enough to pique interest. Perhaps the fact that my courtesan is involved in a tug of war between a peer of the realm and a tavern owner? Or the fact that she has more demons in her closet than you could poke a stick at?

Please check it out! I promise you won’t be sorry!

I'm coming in at the end of the month so here are the next four authors who are going to reveal or have already revealed their Next Big Thing so make sure you take a look!

Liz Flaherty
Alison Stuart
Carla Caruso
Joanne Ellis


Thanks for coming!