The cover for the paperback version of Fly with a Rogue is fixed now. It took a little longer than I’d hoped, but that’s what I get for finding problems over a holiday weekend! Anyway, the paperback is available at Createspace right now and will be up on Amazon soon. Which means I can do a giveaway. 🙂
I never did talk about what is risky about this book. Basically, the whole premise seemed risky to me, based on the lukewarm response I got from the few industry professionals to whom I pitched the idea, years ago.
One told me I needed a sexier idea than a balloonist hero and suggested I try writing a courtesan story. The problem was that I’d read some good courtesan stories and couldn’t think of a fresh take on the concept.
Another seemed puzzled by the combination of my hero Gil’s military backstory and ballooning. The mix of dark and light elements didn’t make sense to her. I probably didn’t pitch it well, because at the time I didn’t have a clear idea of where the story was going. Most of my stories emerge in the writing.
But this story was the one I really wanted to work on. Once my husband had recovered enough from his stroke that I had a few hours here and there to write, I resolved to make those hours as fun and fulfilling as possible. I decided not to worry about the market, because who knew if or when I would ever finish. I’m still not sure Fly with a Rogue fits with market trends—not a duke or duchess in sight, though I’ve been seeing “rogue” in a lot of titles lately. I’m just glad I finally managed to give Gil and Emma their happy ending.
So, for the chance to win one of five paperback copies, let me know what trends you enjoy in Regency era romance. Anything you’d like to see more of? I’ll pick winners next Thursday and announce on Friday.
Elena
www.elenagreene.com
P.S. I still haven’t heard from the following winners of the e-book version: bn100 and Annette. Please email me at elena @ elenagreene.com (no spaces) and let me know if you prefer Kindle, Nook or a Smashwords coupon.
There are certain storylines that I always like, marriages of convenience, friends to lovers, second chances, and wounded heroes. If the author writes a compelling story, it always seems fresh. I’d love the opportunity to read this book. Thanks.
Bonnie, I like a lot of those, too. I think I’ve written variations on all of them, come to think of it!
I like reforming a rake, poor girl becomes a member of ton, governess, marriage of convenience and wounded heroes.
Governess is something I haven’t tried, maybe because I’ve read so many good ones. I’m not ruling it out, though, if I think of a fresh twist.
I’ve noticed that there are more stories that involve characters who are not in the aristocracy. I enjoy the titled characters but I also like to see misters and misses too.
That’s cool, Maureen. for a while it seemed as if every other title had “duke” in it somewhere, but I’ve been in my writing cave for a while and need to see what’s out there now.
This is the first time I have visited this blog site. Thanks.
I like the trend of more humor in Regencies, the novella size stories and more self-made characters and not ashamed of it.
I like what you’re saying about stories featuring self-made characters. Now that I’ve finished this book, I must seek some out.
I enjoy the stories that come about because the secondary characters in a book are so wonderful that the author is “forced” to write another story about those characters. These people are often not the aristocrats but rather the “base-born cousin” or the governess or companion. It’s easy to make a wealthy duke or duchess appealing to the reader. It takes more thought and planning to make the less fortunate character a great hero or heroine.
I’ve had some secondary characters surprise me that way, and it’s also fun to be able to see the h/h from the previous story again.
Trends: unhappy widows who find true love the second time around (15 years ago this trend did. not. exist.)
More mention of housepets, specifically cats or other non-canines. I don’t think cats were considered appropriate house pets until the Victorian era.
Less rape-to-love. Yuck. I hated this in the early 80’s, and time did not improve my tolerance.
Lisa Kleypas started a trend for aristocratic women with non-aristocrat husbands. This can be difficult to make believable, but Anne Mallory, Melody Thomas, and Mary Balogh have also done it. In the hands of a competent plotter, it can be compelling.
I did that happy-the-2nd-time-around widow story with Lady Dearing’s Masquerade. I like making things turn around for someone who’s had a rough time.
FWAR has a cat, because the heroine lives in a thatched cottage where a good mouser is needed to control the critters that like the thatch. Some people did keep cats as pets but I agree, it doesn’t seem as common as pugs.
Rape to love–no. With the possible exception of Laura Kinsale’s Shadowheart, which felt very different somehow.
Marriage across societal class lines lends itself to a lot of interesting conflicts. I once wrote a gentleman farmer hero–absolutely loved him.
It’s always right to follow your heart, Elena. No need to put my name in the contest. I’ll be getting my own copy.
Thanks, Myretta. I appreciate the support.
This is my first time here. My story emerges as I write too. I love any idea that breaks the norm. A child out of wedlock for a titled character, a maid catching the eye of a Duke…
We’re glad you visited. It’s a nice place to chat about the stories and time period we all enjoy.
I’m also into stories with a new twist, and those that play around with class differences.
like all kinds of stories- royalty, forced marriage
not really interested in scientific characters or widows
Yes, some cool stories with royalty. An older one, which I still love, is MY DARK PRINCE by Julia Ross.
The current trend of looking at the lesser children of nobility or gentry is fun. Reality is these were the majority of the upper class and england was quite parochial in that everyone knew everyone else. And, I like the ones where we see the emerging middle classes and industrialists. And, characters that step out of the norm which your balloonist story is likely part of.
Dee, I agree with you about the younger children. Younger sons have a whole different set of challenges and I like variety in my fantasy men!
I like heros and heroines that not knowing await adventures, danger and attraction between each other that grows. I like stories that introduce the hero as a dark, unfeeling man, scarred from his past. I like books where the female has a secret, or does what she wants to do, just as a male would do, with out regard to her fate. I just like books that are different.
I like heroines with secrets, too. And wounded heroines, who seem less common than wounded heroes. Probably my favorite strong on the outside, wounded on the inside heroine is from FOR MY LADY’S HEART by Laura Kinsale.
I absolutely love novels involving masquerades or deceptions. My favorite tropes are governess/lord, maid/lord, and heroines who are courtesans. Just can’t get enough of these stories, where the hero falls in love despite social status and money, and extra points if the heroine is actually an heiress in hiding!
Mary, I’ve already written three books with masquerades/deceptions–which is funny, because in real life I’m a very straightforward person, can’t lie convincingly if I tried! Maybe it’s a fantasy of mine, to try out being a different person for a change. Or maybe I could do it if I had a really good reason, like my heroines have.