Starting next week I’m going to taunt you with snippets from Command Performance, since it comes out at the end of this month. 🙂
But today, since I’ve been on a historical romance reading kick, I’m going to share a snippet from my historical spanking work-in-progress, Disciplining the Duchess. If you like stern, handsome dukes and sweet, slightly rapscallion heroines, then you’ll definitely like this book. I’m telling ya, I’ve got a thing for those dukes!
This is a scene near the beginning. The heroine, Harmony, and her friends are discussing the impending arrival of a much-gossiped-about duke to their house party.
“I believe he must be something worse than a rake.” Viola flushed. “Did you see the older ladies’ expressions when his name was brought up?”
Harmony wondered what could possibly be worse than a rake. From the silent, uneasy pall that fell over the group, she supposed she wasn’t the only one.
“What did the ladies mean by ‘uncomfortable habits?’” Lady Mirabel whispered the last two words.
“I do not know,” said Lady Sybil, “but my brother spoke something of him to papa when he was considering the duke for my hand. Whatever he said, papa refused to repeat it to mama.”
This elicited horrified gasps from the entire company.
“Perhaps he has killed someone!” said one of the more fanciful girls. “A duke could get away with it.”
“I bet he has the most cold and sinister eyes,” another girl said.
“I’m frightened,” whimpered another. “Why would they invite him here among civilized people?”
Lady Mirabel put down her cup with a tsk. “If he killed someone, do you really believe the Darlingtons would have invited him here? And a duke cannot run about killing people on a whim. Dukes are powerful, but not that powerful.”
“Yes,” agreed Juliette. “How silly to leap from ‘uncomfortable habits’ to ‘murderer.’ As for his cold and sinister eyes, I thought he was considered handsome.”
“I have seen him in town,” said Lady Sybil. “He is handsome. Dangerously so.” She raised a brow for emphasis. Harmony was not quite sure how one could be dangerously handsome. Perhaps women fainted just from looking at him.
“He probably keeps dozens of mistresses.” Viola sighed, disillusioned.
“Maybe he cannot keep even one, because he is so awful to them,” said the fanciful girl. “Maybe he draws them in with his handsome nature, and then trods upon their hearts.”
“Or beats them,” suggested another. “Or kills them.”
Harmony sighed as the young women all joined hands, promising to protect one another from the terrifying menace of his wiles.
“Perhaps it is only that he drinks too much at dinner,” she drawled. “Or eats too much, and belches loudly and repeatedly. That would be an uncomfortable habit indeed.”
As usual, when Harmony spoke, all the girls looked at her as though she were mad. Which she nearly was, after days of listening to them natter on about the stupidest subjects. She stared back at them until they all looked down at their plates.
I am really enjoying writing this book. The hero and heroine have come so alive in my mind and their story is very sweet and sexy. I’m guessing it won’t be out until January of next year but I’ll share more news about it before then. I can say for sure that if you enjoyed Lily Mine, you’ll like this book.
Thanks for reading!
By January of next year do you mean 2013 or 2014? With self publishing it is hard to get a fix on how much of a window a writer is talking about needing in the creative process. I know with traditional publishing an author is typically looking at a minimum of 6-9 mo. lag after they complete a first draft until the release date of their novel. Some authors have talked about the ability to get their work out faster as one of the factors in choosing to go the self published route.
On that note, I know that you have worked with at least two different publishers in the past. What made you decide that you preferred to self publish? I am fascinated by the rapidly evolving publishing industry.
Hi Juliane! Yes, the time issue was definitely one of the factors that moved me to self publishing. If I was going through a traditional publisher, it would certainly take until Jan of 2014. As it is, I’ll finish my first draft of DTD probably within the next couple weeks, then send it to beta readers, probably do another round of revising in December, send it to my editor, and polish it up for a release in January 2013. It’s much quicker!
As for why I self publish…there are so many reasons. I make more money at it, I have more artistic control, I have more control over my timeline and content of my books. I do miss the “free” editing of traditional publishing, and the prestige factor of traditional publishing, but with everything considered self publishing has just worked better for me.
Wow puts me in mind of Pride. & Prejudice when the girls where going on and on about the two new arrivals (I love P&P) Now why am I picturing Colin Firth with tight breeches and a riding crop and not a horse in sight.
I can’t wait to read this in 2013. I’m excited that Mason gets to strut his stuff on the “red carpet ” at the end of this month nice bit of candy to chow down on.
HAHA, I love it. Not a horse in sight. I love my naughty little readers. Yes, this one is very Regency! I know it won’t be for everyone but if you’re into that, you will definitely get hot over this book. 🙂
On forgot to add. Sorry about your Kitty kat. Love my four legged family members and hate when we have to say goodbye to them too they bring such love and joy into our lives.
Thanks Maddie. It was so sad. I am finally starting to feel a little better today.
Oh I love r-a-p-s-c-a-l-l-i-o-n heroines… and I just learned a new word!! Thank you very much! And I like dukes too (I’m judith Mcnaught fan too so.)
If you like Judith McNaught I think you will love this one! 🙂
I’m sure I’m gonna like it just cause it’s yours, guuurl!
You are so sweet. You always make me smile!!
Really looking forward to it, I already know I’m going to love it 😉
Let me take this opportunity to thank you for the great books you’ve written so far. They tend to get me every time and lighten up lonely evenings. or nights. or mornings. or… any time of the day, really!
Aww, Bridget, thanks for the wonderful note. it makes all the hard work worthwhile. 🙂
So looking forward to both of these books…….just finished deep in the woods! Started at 11 and read on through till 5 am this morning! Was wondering if you had plans on ever doings female/D and guy/sub or a girl girl or boy boy? I’m sorry as well about your cat …..and hope your naughty spanking saterday goes off well!
Hi Jenny! You are devoted, staying up so late, lol. As for plans I don’t see myself ever writing a dominant woman and submissive man but I’ve learned to never say never. Have you ever read Laura Kinsale’s Shadowheart? It’s a historical but she did a Femdom/malesub layer to that book that was SPECTACULAR. It’s one of my fave books of all time.
Idk why but I’m glad you said no lol. I love how true you are to your thoughts which is the main appeal to your writing. All the women in your stories have the same strengths (by the end) and its the same when ive seen you write about yourself. Id know your writing anywhere cause there’s a honest truth to it. Your not a story teller, your a mirror, a truth of you with maybes and in the maybes is where you find your truths. Your books for me are a rare treat. I hope what I said makes sense lol.
What a sweet note, Jenny. I am really emotionally invested in my stories, that’s true. I love that, to think of myself as a mirror. I’m always looking around in my life to think about things to write about. 🙂
Obviously I’m not the only one who had never heard of rapscallion – love new words – would love them even more if I knew what they meant???? Please enlighten me:-)
haha! I am happy to. Rapscallion is another word for a “scamp” or rascal or troublemaker. Let’s just say our little duchess is lacking in refinement…at least until the duke gets his hands on her. 🙂
Now you have me definitely salivating;-) As I’ve mentioned before – for me you can’t write them fast enough!!!
P.S. Book sounds awsome – can’t wait to read it!!!!