Published - Lady Rosamund's Recluse

Kothgorr Castle

 

Lady Rosamund's Recluse is now live on Amazon. I've dragged myself away from constantly tweaking it here and there, as the next book in the series 'Lord Felix and Miss Fraser' is pestering me to get started on it.

 

The novel's cover

 

 

 

 

I'm sure I've written an outline of Rosamund's and Petroc's story previously, but here is what I've put on Facebook about the novel:

    " ....I have to say that writing this book has been a wonderful experience - Rosamund and Petroc are the perfect protagonists, and the grim granite Kothgorr castle is ideal for a gothic romance. The story is set in Cornwall, where Lady Rosamund arrives incognito, as Mr. Ross Fothergill, to act as temporary secretary and amanuensis to Petroc Tregannon, Viscount Kothgorr. Petroc has been a recluse since Waterloo having suffered disfiguring and disabling injuries. Rosamund has dubbed him 'the rudest man on the planet' but is willing to put up with him to get access to the family records and continue her research into her colourful ancestor, Lady Thomasina. As they learn to work and live together, Petroc is intrigued by his clever assistant, and Rosamund finds herself relaxing with this surprisingly interesting man. However, servants notice everything, and ..... Well that's enough spoilers for now!"

Lady Thomasina - Rosamund's ancestor and role model!

 

 

 It is my favourite book in the series - I just love Rosamund and Petroc, they are funny, clever and endearing (without being mawkish). John says the book is spooky, especially near to the end (which is good because it is supposed to be a 'Gothic' Romance, but we are not talking anything that will keep you awake at night!)

 So, a couple of days rest and then serious writing starts on Felix. It's a tale of a very bored Felix accidently getting involved in bringing justice to Catriona Fraser, who has been robbed of her brithright by unscrupulous relatives. However, Catriona wants nothing of it - pursuing justice may cost her her life, so she sets about thwarting the plan hatched by her Grandmother, Lady Diane de Hauteville Vaisey and Felix. Mayhem ensues! I'm not saying much more as plots invariably change as you write them, and in the numerous revisions made later. I think it should be good, and hope to publish by Christmas.

 

Writer's block or something else?

A hint of what I think Kothgorr Castle might look like on a stormy day!

 

 

 

Good morning, and apologies for the long gap between postings. The reason is that I kept writing myself into a corner with 'Lord Nathaniel's Nemesis'. I suspect it had a lot to do with the the fact that I hadn't really got a handle on the characters of the two main protagonists, Nathaniel and Rebecca, when I started. I knew basically who they were, but not why a romance would develop between them. They are both very sensible people, living rather priveledged, if a bit humdrum lives. Ordinary and nice do not lend themselves to an obviously scintillating plot. And you need a bit of drama to make things interesting in a story. I needed to go away and let my subconscious work on them and their circumstances. 

So, I abandoned Nathaniel and Rebecca to work themselves out somewhere in my brain: to find out what makes them tick and how their relationship is to develop with a few high and lows to keep things interesting. Some drama please, brain! It's coming on slowly!

The cover for Lady Rosamund's Recluse - though her appearance is somewhat different in the novel!

In the meantime, I have not been idle. 'Lady Rosamund's Recluse', Book Four, has been simmering nicely on a back burner for months. So I decided to launch myself into that, as I knew who the protagonists both were, and the main plot line. I have to say that the first draft is going nicely, and I am pleased that some elements of comedy have crept in, as a nice contrast to the slightly Gothick undertone of the storyline. The setting is helpful for the dramatic elements - a grim, granite castle - Kothgorr, on the extreme south west coast of Cornwall.

Something like my mental image of Petroc - though it needs a bit of work!

Historic piracy, recusancy, and family feuds in the sixteenth century provide the back story to Rosamund's and Petroc's somewhat tricky relationship. Family secrets provide an unexpected menace to our unsuspecting heroine. Legends, secret rooms, odd servants (possibly malevolent), and a castle where 'Heaven' is situated right next door to 'Hell' all feature prominently in this novel! Yes, I'm in full gothick horror mode! It's great fun to write.

However, writing Book Four before I have really got to grips with Book Three, means that there will be a delay before the next book is published. They may even be published together - we'll see. 

In the meantime, I hope to add more to the The Chronicle so that you know what's going on in the lives of the various members of the Brockworth Family.

Lady Isabel's Inheritance and Lady Serena's Secret are free on Amazon (ebook only) on two Saturdays per month, (most months) if you wish to give them a read, without commitment! Enjoy.

Detta