Like many of the Riskies, I attended RWA2013 last week, and am still tired–but enthused. As in years past, I roomed with fellow Risky Carolyn Jewel, who remains one of the savviest and sharpest writers I know; she’s been blogging her post-conference thoughts at her own site. Plus she was able to outlast me on the dancefloor on the last night of conference! That never happens!

I got to dance A LOT with Amanda McCabe (as well as trade snark texts during the RITA ceremony; all we want to say is, “that lipstick shade is not your friend!”), and I hugged Janet Mullany and Diane Gaston, and waved at Susanna Fraser. It never gets tired to hang out with smart women who understand what I love and like to do.

Anyhoo, while out there, I discussed various projects I might be working on, and now I actually have to work on them. So there’s that. And that’s good. More news as I have it.

Meanwhile, I am tormenting my Critique Partner, Myretta Robens, with plotting my next historical, leading to the burning question–why WOULDN’T my heroine want to marry the handsome, snarky, charming Duke? I mean, what is WRONG with her? Myretta and I came up with a few ideas, including that she is a private person who values her anonymity, and Duchesses were not anonymous, as well as that she is desperately frightened that she will lose her own identity if she marries, as well as lose her independence. Of course, the handsome, snarky, charming Duke (HSCD) will get her to change her mind–eventually–but it’ll be a struggle.

It’s fun, but hard. Like most rewarding art, right?

So if anyone has examples of that type of heroine in novels, and care to share their motives (and the titles) in comments, that’d be great. I need to gather as much fuel as I can for her being reluctant to wed the Regency Billionaire, because DUH.

Megan

First off, thanks to Carolyn for ceding her day so I could talk about a remarkable author whose book is just out.

A Woman Entangled, Cecilia Grant’s third book, was released this week, and I got a chance to read it prior to publication, so I can wax eloquently about it. Or as eloquently as I can wax.

The book’s premise is a familiar one–the beauty of a family wishes to elevate her family’s standing through marriage, and has a plan to make that happen. Her immediate family has been disowned by her extended family because her mother was an actress who married her father. The two are in love, and have had children, and seem content with their lives. But the heroine, Kate, wants more. She thinks she deserves more, also, because she is so beautiful, and she is practical enough to know she should utilize her beauty to do things for the people she loves.

Pride and Prejudice is frequently referenced in the book, and acts as a sort of leit motif, but looking at the two heroines–Kate Westbrook and Elizabeth Bennet–they are opposites of each other, at least in the most crucial way to women of that time; Kate is absolutely determined to barter herself in a marriage to help her family, while Elizabeth will not, even though her family’s circumstances are more dire than the Westbrooks.

Which heroine is more honorable? Is it better to be true to yourself, or to be true to your family? Kate can be, frankly, unlikeable during the course of the book because she is so set on her course. But her unlikeability–told in Cecilia Grant’s amazingly layered and elegant prose–makes her real, someone who is more than just a pretty face (even if that is all she sees!).

While the hero has an equally compelling storyline, A Woman Entangled is truly Kate’s story, since she is the one with the power to make decisions that will affect her family, the object of her affections, and herself. It’s a remarkable position for a woman to be in at any time, much less this time, and A Woman Entangled is a remarkable book.

Given what I’ve described of Kate, would you take the Kate path of sacrificing yourself for your family, or take the Elizabeth path of staying true to yourself? A random commenter will win a copy of A Woman Entangled!

Megan

Hey everyone!

Thanks to Myretta for always stepping in when I flake over here–which has been happening far too often (rhetorical question: Does life EVER slow down?).
I’d like to share the cover and the blurb for my novella, Baring It All, which comes out June 24th.

Megan Frampton turns up the heat on one bride-to-be and her oblivious bridegroom in this steamy and scandalous eBook original novella of Regency romance.

It is with great discretion that this columnist discusses the sensitive topic of undergarments. Some ladies, it seems, do not pay strict attention to what they wear under their gowns. A crucial error, my ladies.

Lady Violet knows Lord Christian Jepstow is interested in women. The problem is, he hasn’t seemed to realize that Violet is a living, breathing woman—a woman with needs. Which is a huge problem, considering the fact that Violet and Christian are betrothed. Violet has no intention of saying her vows without knowing if her husband has the capacity to love her properly, so she does what anyone would do in her situation—she steps into his study and offers to take off her clothes. What happens next could be an utter disaster . . . or it could be surprising, seductive, and sizzlingly sexy.

I’ve just gotten the edits back for my October full-length, What Not to Bare, and so will be immersed in that world for the next week or so (the edits are minimal, yay!).

And now back to writing, and battling ear infections (ugh!), and trying to convince a recalcitrant 13 year-old to brush his very long hair, and such.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Megan