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Monthly Archives: August 2010

Interview With Hope Tarr!

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Today, the Riskies are honored to welcome author Hope Tarr, a lovely person and a great writer. Hope lives in New York City, where she always looks fabulous (at least when I see her), is very involved in animal rescue projects and is one of the founders of Lady Jane’s Salon, a monthly romance novel gathering. Read the official deets at the bottom of the interview, and comment to win a signed copy of Hope’s Vanquished. Two commenters will be chosen for the prize!

Hope has two books out for your pleasure; the first is the Victorian-set The Tutor, which is out now, and the other is a reissue of her novel A Rogue’s Pleasure, out in just a few days.
What inspired you to write The Tutor?
When I concluded my “Men of Roxbury House” Victorian trilogy a few years ago, it occurred to me I’d left some loose ends dangling, two loose ends, to be exact. At the end of the final book in the series, UNTAMED, two secondary characters Lady Beatrice—Bea—Lindsey and former East London street rogue turned semi-respectable private secretary, Ralph Sylvester had begun falling for one another, landing squarely in the shadow land between lust and love. Only there hadn’t been time, or in my case, pages for me to devote to unfolding their story. And I thought that was rather a shame.

In THE TUTOR, Bea is all grown up and about to wed a decent but dull fellow whom she knows needs a map when it comes to taking a woman to bed. Determined to have decent sex if not love in her marriage, she turns to her secret crush, Ralph Sylvester for seven sexy nights of private lessons.


What intrigues you about the late Victorian period?

The short answer is: everything! If I had to focus on one aspect, I’d have to say the cultural contrasts, the glorious almost black-and-white differences between public morality and private behavior, the not always easy balance struck between innovation—the telegram, the typewriter, and even the telephone—and centuries’ old standards and conventions, and last but not least, the clothes!

We love risky writing; share some of what makes your book so unusual.
In life as well as fiction I’m a big fan of not only self-made men but also self-made people in general, so even though British set historical romance is my first love, I rarely write heroes who are members of the peerage or even middle class by birth. In THE TUTOR, Ralph has a checkered past, to say the least. He’s the son of a prostitute. After his mother abandons him, he joins a “flash house,” a thieving den for young boys, and earns his keep by picking pockets and running street scams. That he manages to better himself, to become not only respectable but self-sufficient in a society where class distinctions bordered on a caste system, isn’t just laudable to me. It’s damn sexy.
Did you come across any interesting research when you were writing the book?
Always. ☺ In this case, I had a lot of fun perusing The Kama Sutra, the original translated text by Sir Richard Burton (note: not the late actor). In THE TUTOR, Ralph uses the centuries’ old Indian sexual advice manual as a teaching…tool for his seven lessons with Bea. In keeping with that theme, I have each chapter start out by introducing the “lesson” along with a quote from Burton’s text.
You and a couple other authors founded the highly successful Lady Jane’s Salon; tell us about it, and what its purpose is.
Thank you for asking! I’m enormously proud of Lady Jane’s and so any opportunity to brag about m/our brain child is most welcome.

Launched in February 2009, Lady Jane’s Salon is New York City’s first and so far only monthly reading series for romance fiction and like most “firsts” it was born in response to a need. One night in November 2008, I was sitting in Hudson Bar and Books in the West Village with romance authors Leanna Renee Hieber and Maya Rodale and book blogger, Ron Hogan. We’d just returned from a “literary fiction” reading and were lamenting the lack of any literary forum in the city where romance writers and readers could come together and share the books we love. Amidst scotch and cigars, we mapped out the Salon, which in the sober light of the next day still seemed like a really good idea. ☺

Lady Jane’s meets on the first Monday of the month (unless otherwise noted) from 7-9 PM at Madame X (94 West Houston Street, Soho, New York). Admission is $5 or one gently-used paperback romance novel. Net proceeds support an end-of-the-year donation to a New York City women’s charity. With two articles in TIME OUT New York, a feature article in The New York Post, and author bookings through mid-2011, Lady Jane is going strong and ramping up for Her second birthday on Monday, February 7th. It promises to be quite a party.

Please check out our web site at www.LadyJaneSalon.com and chat with us on Twitter and Facebook.

What are you working on next?
My very first novella, Victorian-set, of course! “Tomorrow’s Destiny” is in A HARLEQUIN CHRISTMAS CAROL (November 10, 2010), a Christmas anthology based on the Dickens’ classic, with bestselling authors Betina Krahn and Jacquie D’Alessandro. It’s a very sweet trio of stories that I think readers of the genre as well as anyone who loves the winter holidays will both really enjoy.

Thanks so much for having me as a guest at the Riskies. What an honor! I hope visitors today will enjoy VANQUISHED and perhaps try out my two single-title historical romances out this summer: A ROGUE’S PLEASURE and MY LORD JACK, both originally published with Berkley and reissued as digital-first releases with Carina Press.

Hope Tarr is the award-winning author of thirteen historical and contemporary romance novels, one novella and numerous nonfiction articles on health and relationships, fashion, travel and leisure. Visit Hope online at www.HopeTarr.com where you can read her weekly blog and enter her regular and special contests. Photo by BizUrban.com.

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Guest Blog–Mistress of Riversdale

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I’m very excited to introduce Mrs. Rosalie Calvert, who in her twenty-first century existence is Katherine Spivey. Katherine has read everything I’ve read, and more (and Katherine, I still have one of your books. Sorry about that). This Saturday, Mrs. Calvert, dressed to the nines, will appear at Riversdale House Museum, MD, when we celebrate the Battle of Bladensburg, an inglorious defeat at the hands of the British that took place just a couple of miles from the mansion.

Mrs. Calvert is graciously receiving callers at her splendid house. Come on in and have a nice cup of tea and enjoy some sophisticated, witty conversation of the sort so rarely met with on these shores …

Thanks, Janet, for inviting me to be a guest blogger. I’m honored. Janet and I volunteer at Riversdale House Museum in Maryland, and we’ve co-presented on 18th- and 19th-century literature. At Riversdale, Janet’s a docent, and I’m a historical interpreter/reenactor/person who dresses up and pretends to be someone in history.

The person I interpret is Rosalie Stier Calvert, an emigre from Belgium who came to the United States in 1794. She married into the Calvert family, her parents built Riversdale, and then her family moved back to Europe. We’re enormously lucky to have as a source her treasurer trove of letters, which were discovered in Belgium around 30 years ago, translated, and published by Johns Hopkins University as Mistress of Riversdale: The Plantation Letters of Rosalie Stier Calvert. Few letters have provided such a robust picture of American life from a foreign and female viewpoint. I’ve been playing her since 1995.

Since she wrote her letters to family and not with an eye to publication, she reveals many things: customs and manners in the fledgling United States (she dislikes most American women), the travails of raising a family (although a large family is delightful if the children are well-behaved), the effects of the embargo and the war (no one has any cash!), gardening and horticulture (“I am disgusted with all controversy except for politics”), politics (her low opinion of President “Tommy Jeff”), fashions, and the economy (she acted as business agent for her father and brother).

In one of her letters she describes the aftereffects of the burning of Washington in 1814. During the Battle of Bladensburg, she saw the “rockets’ red glare” from her bedroom windows. Her husband and son went to the battlefield to render aid and bury the dead. She stored the recovered rifles in her bedroom.

Before the British invaded, people had defined themselves by state, but after the burning of Washington the country united: “We are all Americans now.”

How did I get started reenacting? I met some people at a ball at Gadsby’s and started dancing. Then I started participating in civilian reenactments for the colonial period at places like Carlyle House in Alexandria and the State Department. Then I stepped in as Rosalie Calvert at one of the period dinners during Maryland’s tricentennial: three hours of being a character live. I couldn’t script the conversation; I just had to be Rosalie Calvert: say the sorts of things she might say, include topics she would introduce, betray the opinions she held. While I’m Mrs. Calvert, I don’t say favorable things about Presidents Jefferson and Madison, even though my other reenacting character is Mrs. Madison.

And what, pray tell, does reenacting have to do with romances? Specifically Regencies? I’d read Jane Austen’s ouevre by the end of middle school. I’d read all of Georgette Heyer’s by the time I finished high school. And I did graduate work at the University of Virginia on 18th- and early 19th-century British novels. I love the pace of the sentences, the graduated degrees of intimacy in conversation, the architecture of the works, and the undoubted moralism (well, Mrs. Heyer not so much).

Indeed, Mrs. Calvert’s life reads like a romance in high life–except that she had a due sense of humor and proportion, enjoyed being busy, and had an undoubted capacity for business. Included in all of this was a love of reading novels: “We have 11 novels in the house,” she says, though her mother reads them to improve her English.

The more I work with her, the more she’s begun to resonate with my own life. I’ve started gardening and getting my finances in order, and I’ve even learned to like anchovies. (Life imitates history, after all.) I may even learn to like hock. I just got back from a weekend at the beach; a reenacting event next weekend means I wore a large hat, went out only between 7-9 a.m. and 7-8 p.m., and slathered enough sunscreen to cover Almack’s. I enlisted my husband in my search for cameo brooches, period-authentic amethyst or opal rings, and long kid gloves that fit.

It’s important to remember that she loved her family dearly. She never saw any of them after they returned to Europe; Rosalie was either pregnant or prevented by war/embargo from going to Europe on a visit. She once went a year without getting a letter from her family. I’m convinced she would have been an early adopter (#federaleramomblogger) of social media and probably would have had a smartphone.

That being said, bring on the questions!

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Wednesday’s Child

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This post is about everything except today (tomorrow, actually, as of the time I write this).

For example, later on I will update this post to include the winner(s) of last week’s contest. Maybe even by the time you’re reading this. I’m starting to think there really should be a Jewel Prize.

ETA:  The winners of Last Wednesday’s contest are:

  • cissikat
  • Carol L
  • librarypat

Please email me at carolyn AT carolynjewel.com and we will arrange your prizes . . .

Next Wednesday, I will be interviewing Elizabth Hoyt and asking her all kinds of Risky questions. Are there any questions I should ask her? Let me know in the comments.

Stuff that Happened on Wednesdays

Forasmuch as cleanliness will contribute to the health, civilization and good manners of our children, the Society do strictly enjoin all the Masters and Mistresses of their several Schools and Nurseries, to cause the children under their care to wear constantly shoes and stockings; to allow them clean linen twice a week, viz. on Sundays and Wednesdays ; to keep their clothes in a proper state of repair, and to be careful that the children are in all respects accustomed to that neatness and cleanliness. . .
Report, 1809-1912 By Great Britain. Commissioners of the Board of Education in Ireland

On Wednesday, February 24,1796 Trial of Patrick Hart for Treason

Here’s some interesting legal matters from The European magazine, and London review, Volumes 77-78 By Philological Society (Great Britain) This strongly suggests how people found out when legal matters could be heard.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.

Mr. Justice Holroyd.—Mr. Justice Richardson.
Berkshire—Monday, February 28, at Reading.
Oxfordshire—Wednesday, March 1, at Oxford.
Worcestershire—Saturday, March 4, at Worcester. ‘
City of Worcester—The same day, at the City of Worcester.
Staffordshire—Thursday, March 9, at Stafford.
Shropshire—Wednesday, March 15, at Shrewsbury.
Herefordshire—Monday, March 20, at Hereford.
Monmouthshire—Saturday, March 25, at Monmouth.
Gloucestershire—Wednesday, March 29, at Gloucester.
City of Gloucester—The same day, at the, City of Gloucester.

For anyone interested in the debate about whether births and marriages were published in our period, from the same source above:

So there. They were.

Letters from Mrs. Elizabeth Carter, to Mrs. Montagu, between the …, Volume 3 By Elizabeth Carter, Mrs. Montagu (Elizabeth), Montagu Pennington

I saw Mr. Montagu on Wednesday at Mrs. Garrick’s, and he seemed as well as it is possible for a lover to be in his condition ; fretting most heartily, at the slowness and unfeelingness of lawyers. Lord Southampton is quite reconciled to his son’s marriage with Miss Keppel, and has behaved kindly and liberally to the young people, which I am glad of, for they were much attached.

Every body is preparing for the commemoration of the birth-day, after which the town will probably grow very empty. As neither commemoration nor drawing-room form any part of my system, I propose, in all quietness and simplicity, to set out for the sea-shore on Monday next.

I am just returned from our poor suffering friend; would to God it was all over. I thought before I closed my letter, I should inform you of the conclusion of poor Mr. Vesey’s twilight of mortal existence; but it is not yet total darkness, though very near it; he is quite insensible, and cannot swallow, yet she cannot be prevailed on to quit him. She desires her love to you, and has often expressed a deep sense of your kindness in the assistance you offered her, though she is determined not to accept any from any person whatever. I hope all will turn out well; but the will is in Ireland, and I have fearful doubts. Adieu, my dear friend; if either you or Mr. Montagu want a trust-worthy servant, the man who has gone through so much, with such fidelity and affectionate care with Mr. Vesey, will soon be at liberty. AH their servants are exemplary ; but our dear friend is the charm that moves them, it is impossible to resist not only her will but her wishes; and her conduct through this trying time has been most admirable. Once more adieu.

And then this:

Sporting anecdotes: original and selected; including numerous characteristic … By Pierce Egan

SINGULAR CRICKET MATCHES AND RACES BETWEEN ELEVEN MEN WITH ONE LEG AGAINST THE SAME NUMBER WITH ONE ARM, ALL OF THE MEN GREENWICH PENSIONERS.

From the novelty of an advertisement announcing a Cricket-Match to be played’ by eleven Greenwich Pensioners with one leg against eleven with one arm, for one thousand guineas, at the new Cricket-Ground, Montpelier-Gardens, Walworth, in 1790, an immense concourse of people assembled. About nine o’clock the men arrived in three Greenwich stages; about ten the wickets were pitched, and the match commenced. Those with but one leg had the first innings, and got ninety-three runs. About three o’clock, while those with but one arm were having their innings, a scene of riot and confusion took place, owing to the pressure of the populace to gain admittance to the ground: the gates were forced open, and several parts of the fencing were brake down, and a great number of persons having got upon the roof of a stable, the roof broke in, and several persons falling among the horses were taken out much bruised. About six o’clock the game was renewed, and those with one arm got but forty-two runs during their innings. The one legs commenced their second innings, and six were bowled out after they got sixty runs, so that they left off’ one hundred and eleven more than those with one arm.

The match was played again on the Wednesday following, and the men with one leg beat the one arms by one hundred and three runnings. After the match was finished, the eleven one-legged men ran one hundred yards for twenty guineas. The three first divided the money.

I’ll leave you to thoughts of Wednesdays.

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Telling Stories

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Happy Tuesday morning, everyone! I hope it’s nice and cool where you are–it’s another 100+ scorcher here (I am sooooo ready for autumn), perfect for staying in the AC and getting some work done. Like Diane, I’m still recovering from RWA and missing all my friends and the fun we had. It’s not always easy to settle down to working on the WIP and getting used to my quiet house. (Though I did have fun hitting the school supply sale at Target this weekend! I bought new pens and pretty, shiny new Disney Princess notebooks, perfect for this new book…)

I had a ridiculous amount of fun on my one day at Disney World, which really was a “magical day”! (Big thanks to Michelle Willingham for introducing us to the “Unofficial Guide” plan, which means never waiting in long lines and getting to see everything in a reasonable amount of time!). I loved the rides, seeing the adorable children in their costumes (especially the tiny pirate twins sword-fighting on the sidewalk), and eating lunch at Cinderella’s Castle. I must, must, must get back there for a real vacation ASAP! One thing I was especially struck by was the storytelling of many of the rides (and also how clean and tidy everything was). The details of rides like Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, and Snow White’s Scary Adventure were amazing, and a good lesson in building worlds and adding depths and layers to our own stories.

One of the best rides for this was the Haunted Mansion. I’m glad I did a little reading about it before we left, because it’s so easy to get caught up in the moment and miss lots of fun, clever little details! I think the Mansion at Disney in France actually does feature a narrative through the whole ride (a tale of a bride and a Phantom), but the Orlando attraction is more of a vignette-style, but a good example of storytelling for all that. Here is a little of what I observed from my “Doom Buggy”:

The Haunted Mansion opened in 1971, and underwent a large refurbishment in 2007. It can be found in Liberty Square, a portrayal of colonial America, and the exterior is built in a “Dutch Gothic Revival” style reminiscent of millionaire’s mansions in the Hudson River Valley (according to the Disney World site…). On the walk in you go by a hearse and a little graveyard, which includes a tombstone for Madame Leota which is supposed to open its eyes and blink at you (though I didn’t catch that feature!). Once inside the crowds are pressed into an octagonal room hung with portraits and the wall behind you slides closed (the scariest part of the whole ride, IMO!). A ghostly voice intones “Welcome, foolish mortals, to the Haunted Mansion!” and goes on to say “Is this haunted room actually stretching? Or is it your imagination, hmmm?” The walls do stretch upwards, revealing humorously macabre scenes in the portraits–then the lights go out, lightning flashes, and there’s a glimpse of a hanged silhouette on the wall. I think I did shriek a little at that point…

They say if you hang back a little in the stretching room you can hear the gargoyles on the walls whisper and a voice telling you “Get out!”–but the staff doesn’t want you to linger. They hustle you along a dark hallway with portraits that turn from people into ghouls as you watch and into your two-person “Doom Buggy”. (I now like to imagine what riders would see of my WIP if they rode a doom buggy through the pages…)

There are rooms of Escher-like stairways floating in mid-air, floating candelabras, talking portraits, a library with moving ladders and flying books and a stormy forest beyond the windows (while “Grim Grinning Ghosts” plays throughout in the background). The Buggies spin backwards to reveal new scenes, like a conservatory full of dead flowers and a coffin with someone trying to get out (while nails hang out of the coffin’s roof!), with a raven looking on. A corridor is full of ghosts trying to escape, knocking, swirling around, breathing doors, and a demonic clock that chimes 13 as the hands spin backward and a claw’s shadow passes over it.

Then there is my favorite part–the ballroom! Diners sit around a table consuming a phantom feast, while a ghost plays the organ and ghostly couples spin around and around (and latecomers arrive in an open coffin on a hearse). I loved the portraits of the two dueling men, which shoot at each other across the wall. Then comes the attic, full of dusty items and portraits of a murderous bride with her various husbands (each husband morphs into being headless as a voice intones “Until death do we part!”). The buggies go out a window and into a cemetery where so much is happening it’s impossible to keep track–I glimpsed a king and queen on a teeter-totter, children on swings, a tea party, a dog, an arm coming out of the crypt holding a wineglass, spirits on bikes.

As you exit, a tiny girl ghost above the door whispers “Hurry back! be sure to bring your death certificate if you decide to join us. Make final arrangements now. We’ve been dying to have you…” Very creepy. And then an uninvited guest joins you in the buggy to follow you home….

I loved this ride! If only I could have gone on it at least a couple more times to catch some of the details I missed. (I found out after I got home there is a whole fan site for this ride, Doom Buggies, with lots of great info!)

Have you been to Disney World? What is your favorite ride there, and what little details have you noticed? Where have you found some unexpected inspiration???

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