(Warning: this is going to be a post that depends a lot on you, because I am interested to see what everyone thinks!) Often when I’m wasting my time, er, doing valuable research online I love to read blogs about fashion, beauty products, opera and ballet, jazz, all sorts of things, and I especially love blogs about movies. (Even though this means my Netflix account is totally out of control because of it). One of my favorite movie blogs is the Self Styled Siren, a wonderfully witty and intelligent look at classic movies. She recently had a fascinating post called “Unearthing the Uncool”.

This post started with a statement the Siren made on Facebook: “It is much easier to proclaim dislike for a popular movie than to admit liking an uncool movie,” which sparked a fascinating stream of comments and proclamations of love for movies and actors that are generally deemed “uncool.” (For instance, the Siren defends the 1940 Pride and Prejudice, stuff like Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Stewart Granger, and, gasp!, even Kevin Costner). I myself have a deep and abiding love for movie musicals, like The Sound of Music, Brigadoon, and Camelot, that others often hoot at derisively. (you know who you are, haters!). I know this is also true in literary fiction, and that in mysteries some sub-genres are looked at as “cooler” than others, so I started to wonder if this could apply to romance novels. We definitely don’t seem to have that “cool”/”uncool” divide that movies do, though I suppose there are genres or authors that have a cooler reputation than others. Is it “cool” to admit to liking old-skool stuff like Whitney My Love? (I think I just came to reading historicals too late, when tastes had changed, to get into them. I had very different romantic fantasies). Is it “uncool” to admit we can’t really get into, say, urban fantasy, which seems very cool (as I mostly can’t, much as I want to!)?

Traditional Regencies certainly used to be “uncool,” considered by some to be dry books for stereotypical grannies (I had someone tell me once I couldn’t possibly write them, I looked too young! Which was flattering, of course, but kinda made me want to get all lecture-y on them about the intelligence and variety of trads. Ditto for a friend of my mine who ONE TIME read a Regency, didn’t like it–even though she couldn’t remember the title–and decided they were all like that one). But now that they’re obscure and out-of-print and all that, maybe they’re like some little indie band out of Austin. And on some book blogs there are often threads like “books you like that no one else has read” or “books everyone liked that you hated,” which I guess can be sort of like cool/uncool. Mostly, though, romance genres seem to be pretty much anything goes. If I don’t like something, someone else will, and vice versa, and I like it that way. The variety is what makes it fun.

So I am sending it to you! Do you think there is that “coolness” factor in romance fiction? If so, what would it be? And what movies do you love that others make fun of?

(p.s. I have not seen that movie The Enchanted Cottage, but I totally want to! I mean, look at that poster. People were whispering about them! The whole town!)

One thing I love about February around here is that it’s big book sale month! There are 3 library sales (one is HUGE), and a couple private schools (which also include bake sales, yum). I always find treasures at these sales (even if they’re just treasures to me!), and it’s so much fun to dig around on the tables and in boxes, never knowing what’s going to show up. I already hit one sale last weekend, and found almost a complete set of Will Durant’s Story of Civilization (for $1 a volume!), stuff like The Civilization of Europe in the Renaissance and Life in Medieval France, as well as oddities like an intriguing memoir called Love is a Mix Tape, a book of watercolors of Louisiana plantation houses from the 1950s, and some Heyer hardbacks in like-new condition. And this isn’t even the BIG library sale (which is on February 20).

I also like February because it’s Valentine’s Day, which means more stuff about romance novels in papers and magazines, and lots and lots of chocolate in the stores. It’s also release month for me this year, and not just Countess of Scandal! If you’re in the UK, Harlequin is releasing my Renaissance Trilogy in their “Super Historical” line, starting this month with A Notorious Woman. See more about it here…

And yesterday marks the birthday of actor John Philip Kemble, scion of the famous theatrical family and brother of Sarah Siddons! I’ve been fiddling about with a Georgian theater story myself, and thus reading lots about the subject, so this was a nice find. (And thanks to Elena for recommending the book Fashionable Acts! It’s great).

John Philip Kemble was born February 1, 1757 at Prescot in Lancashire, the second child of actor-manager Roger Kemble. His mother was Catholic, and thus he was educated at the Sedgley Park Catholic seminary, and at the English college at Douai, with the expectation that he would become a priest. He found he had no vocation, though, and returned to England to join the theatrical company of Crump and Chamberlain, debuting as the title role of Theodosius at Wolverhampton on January 8, 1776. In 1778 he joined the York company of Tate Wilkinson, making a splash in roles like “Wakefield” in The Recruiting Officer, Macbeth (in Hull on October 30), and in York as “Orestes” in Distresset Mother. In 1781 he obtained a “star” engagement in Dublin, appearing there as Hamlet in November. He was a big hit in Ireland, as Hamlet, Raymond in The Count of Narbonne (a play from Castle of Otranto).

By 1783 his acclaim, along with the immense fame of his sister Mrs. Siddons, landed him an engagement at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, where he debuted as Hamlet on September 30. His greatest role there was Macbeth, and he also got rave reviews opposite his sister in Edward Moore’s The Gamester. They went on to play together in numerous productions, including Othello, Julia, The Carmelite, and Kemble own adaptation of Philip Massinger’s A Maid of Honor. In 1787 he married the actress (and widow of an actor) Priscilla Hopkins Brereton, and soon after was appointed manager of Drury Lane, which gave him the opportunity to indulge his own vision of the plays they presented (and to take whatever parts he fancied, including a wide variety of Shakespearean characters). He resigned this position in 1802, and in 1803 became manager of the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden (which he had bough a sixth share in for a high price). The theater burned in September 1808, and the rise in ticket prices after its re-opening led to the Old Price Riots, which suspended performances for over 3 months and nearly ruined Kemble financially (he was saved by a loan, later made a gift, of 10,000 pounds by the Duke of Cumberland). He retired from the stage after a last performance of his best-known role, Coriolanus, in 1817. He died in Lausanne in 1823.

In 1785, the critic Richard Sharp wrote to his friend, the actor John Henderson, after viewing a performance by Kemble: “I went, as promised to see the new ‘Hamlet,’ whose provincial fame had excited your curiosity as well as mine…yet Nature, though she has been bountiful to him in figure and feature, has denied him a voice; of course he could not exemplify his own direction for the players to ‘speak the speech trippingly on the tongue,’ and now and then he was as deliberate in his delivery as if he had been reading prayers and had waited for the response. He is a very handsome man, almost tall and almost large, with features of a sensible but fixed and tragic cast; his action is graceful, though somewhat formal, which you will find it hard to believe yet it is true. Very careful study appears in all he says and all he does; but there is more singularity and ingenuity than simplicity and fire.”

Some sources for this post I found were:
Herschel Baker, John Philip Kemble: The Actor in His Theater
Linda Kelly, The Kemble Era: John Philip Kemble, Sarah Siddons and the London Stage
(And a book I really like, but which is about John Philip Kemble’s great-niece, a stage star in her own right who married an American plantation owner: Fanny Kemble’s Civil Wars, by Catherine Clinton)

What have been some of your best book sale finds?? Seen any good plays lately?

The winner of Countess of Scandal is…Caroline Storer! Please send your snail mail address to laurelmckee7551@yahoo.com to claim your prize….

(This weekend I’m soooo happy and excited to launch Laurel McKee’s debut book here at the Riskies! Countess of Scandal is on the shelves now, and we’ll also be giving away a copy here to one commenter–along with an Irish lucky penny. The lovely Kwana Jackson from Kwana Writes agreed to interview me about the book, and then I in turn interviewed my editor at Grand Central Publishing, Alex Logan, to get her take on the book…)

“Countess of Scandal combines a passionate romance with a nail-biting plot. The author’s research shines through to make the era come alive, as well as her characters. An exciting tale out of the common mold” —Romance Reviews Today

“McKee sets the stage for a romantic adventure that captures the spirit of Ireland and a pair of star-crossed lovers to perfection” —RT Book Reviews, 4 stars

“How is it possible to take such a devastating time in history and turn it into a heart-warming, tender love story? The answer it appears is the writing ability of Laurel McKee and the talent to turn what could be seen as only sadness and despair into love and romance. This book gives you a history lesson that makes you understand how personal this fight was and help the reader understand how tragic the circumstance was but yet how two people that really love one another can make the best of the worst time. Excellent Read!” —The Reading Reviewer, 5 stars

“Laurel McKee’s magical pen captivates you instantaneously! In Countess of Scandal she has fashioned a hero that takes your breath away, a heroine that you immediately wish were you, blistering sensual romantic scenes, and a love story that will forever be etched in your mind. I don’t know how I’ll manage the wait until book two is out!” —Romance Readers Connection

Kwana: Hi, Amanda! Thanks so much for having me over here at the Riskies. It’s an honor to be hanging with so many women that I’m a huge fan of and admire so much. I’ll try and contain myself and do a proper interview.

So, I was thrilled to receive a surprise ARC of Countess of Scandal in the mail recently by someone named Laurel McKee. I was like, now where did I hear that before? That said, let’s talk about this alter ego of yours, Laurel McKee, shall we? Is this anything like the whole Beyonce/Sasha Fierce alter ego thing? How is Laurel different from Amanda McCabe?

Amanda/Laurel: LOL! Well, I don’t have a weird robotic glove thing like Sasha Fierce, though maybe I should get one. And I like to blame any dumb thing I do on Laurel (she’s always forgetting to pick up milk and dog food, and buying shoes that don’t match anything else in the closet). I once read that Beyonce uses Sasha to help overcome shyness and let loose on stage (not that Beyonce ever seemed paralyzed by shyness to me…), so that could be really useful! (Luckily Laurel is my real-life middle name, so she’s not entirely unfamiliar to me)

But when it comes to writing we’re not so different. I do a ton of research on all my stories (that’s one of the fun parts of this job!), and I love to use history to create conflict. Real life is usually so much weirder and more interesting than anything we could totally make up! Laurel’s books are a little longer, a little more action-packed and fast-paced, and the length means I can use more secondary characters and subplots to add to the main conflict.

Kwana: How did the idea for the “Daughters of Erin Trilogy” come to you?

Amanda/Laurel: I’ve wanted to do an Irish-set book for a very long time! My own Irish family background is very inspiring, and Ireland itself is such a gorgeous country, with a dramatic history filled with passionate people. But I knew I would have to find just the right characters and situation. A few years ago, I happened to read 3 books about strong women in Georgian Ireland–Janet Todd’s Daughters of Ireland (about the scandalous King sisters and their heiress mother), Stella Tillyard’s Aristocrats (along with the gorgeous “Masterpiece” series), and an old book I found in an antique store called Women of ’98 by Mrs. Thomas Concannon. And I also remembered touring Castletown, the enormous, beautiful estate of Lady Louisa Conolly (one of the Lennox sisters from Aristocrats, who married the richest man in Ireland, and transformed this Georgian house into one of the most elegant places in 18th century Ireland–which is saying a lot. Georgian architecture reached a zenith in Ireland!). That was how I happened to meet the 3 Blacknall sisters and learn their stories.

Kwana: Now Ireland during a bloody rebellion doesn’t sound like the most romantic setting, and at times it was very bloody and downright heartbreaking. What drew you to this particular era for Eliza and Will’s sexy love story in Book 1, Countess of Scandal?

Amanda/Laurel: It’s definitely true that an uprising is not the first setting people think of when you think ‘romance’! (though you can’t get away from them in writing about Ireland!). A Regency ballroom, maybe, or a Medieval castle. But Ireland in the late Georgian/early Regency period has so many of the things I love in a great Regency story (beautiful architecture, glittering parties–the Irish Ascendancy loved to party!, dashing men, and especially really great clothes. My stories have to have great clothes!). It also has passionate convictions and heightened emotions, acute danger, as well as the deepest of stakes. It made Eliza and Will’s love story feel very immediate and Romeo and Juliet-ish to me. At times I feared for them, even though I was the one writing the story!!! (They were childhood sweethearts, torn apart when they were young by family expectations, and going on to their own lives–marriage and rebellion for Eliza and the Army for Will. Even when they met again as adults, free to make their own choices, the fact that they stood on opposite sides seemed to keep them apart! Every day was a new adventure writing about them…)

Kwana: Tell us a bit about your research process for your stories. How do you begin and how deep do you go in order to be historically accurate?

Amanda/Laurel: Research is one of my favorite things! I would have happily stayed in school forever, buried in a library, and this gives me a chance to do that in a way. Once I had the idea for the story of Countess of Scandal, I started with the books I already had on my shelf–the 3 I’ve already mentioned, plus sources like Thomas Pakenham’s The Year of Liberty and Thomas Bartlett’s The 1798 Rebellion: An Illustrated History, as well as books with visual resources, like the gorgeous volume Irish Georgian from the World Design series. (there’s a more complete list of sources on my website here, along with some historical background info). I wanted to be very careful to give an accurate portrayal of the country and the events.

Kwana: Anna’s story is up next (Duchess of Sin, December 2010). Give us a little bit about Anna. What makes her a heroine to get behind?

Amanda/Laurel: Oh, I love Anna! Ever since the first time I met her, in the assembly room scene in Countess, I looked forward to telling her story. She’s the middle daughter, the ‘beauty,’ not considered as “intellectual” as her sisters, maybe a little spoiled, but very generous and big-hearted, fun-loving and kind. Her experiences in the rebellion affect her very deeply, and when we meet her in her own book (set around the upheaval of the Act of Union between Ireland and England in 1800/01) she tries to erase the trauma with parties, card-playing, and mischief. It’s during one of those escapades that she encounters again the dark, dangerous Irish Duke of Adair. Since their book is out in December, I got to do research on an Irish Christmas!

Kwana: Finally, the cover gods seem to be totally on your side! They are just gorgeous. Tell me, do you have some shrine hidden in your closet or a chant that you’d like to share with the rest of us mortals?

Amanda/Laurel: Well, you need sandalwood incense, a bowl of wine, a dish of sea salt, set up before a statue of the Goddess of Covers (whose name shall not be said). Then you need to find someone to teach you the Super Secret Cover Chant (which I have sworn to said goddess not to reveal).

I’ve had a few covers that weren’t so great (IMO), but they just make me appreciate the beautiful ones all the more. Grand Central has done an amazing job on these first 2 covers–they’re beautiful and eye-catching with those bold colors, and also suit the stories. I can’t wait to see what they do for Book 3, Caroline’s story (Lady of Seduction, 2011). Harlequin has also been doing some lovely covers lately–I couldn’t be happier! (Though I do give that cover chant before opening any email cover attachments from my editors!)

Kwana: Thank you so much for letting me interview you today, and being here at Risky Regencies. It was an honor and I thoroughly enjoyed Countess of Scandal!

(Watch for Kwana’s review of the book to be at Booksquawk)

(And my editor at Grand Central, Alex Logan, was kind enough to take time to be interviewed as well…)

Amanda/Laurel: What was it that first drew you to this book when it landed on your desk?

Alex: For me, the main attraction of this book was the historical backdrop of war-torn Ireland. We often talk about the setting as one of the characters in a book, and this is a good example. From the glittering society parties to the fatal battles in the countryside, Ireland during this period comes alive. We receive many wonderful Regency-set submissions every single month, so the Irish history really made this one stand out!

Amanda/Laurel: And what do you think readers will like best in the story?

Alex: Despite all the wonderful things I just said about the setting, I think readers will love Captain Will Denton best! We have a strong heroine to admire, too, but I think a good romance is all about falling in love with the hero. I can’t say it better than author Michelle Willingham: “I wanted to lick the hero like an ice cream cone”

Amanda/Laurel: LOL! What are you looking for in submissions right now (besides lickable heroes)?

Alex: Well, I’m working on quite a few continuing historical series right now. So I wouldn’t rule out another great historical if it came my way, but I’m actually setting my sights on romantic suspense. I like my romantic suspense pretty gritty. If there are any writers reading this and thinking “Me, too!” please let your agent know to send it my way. Thanks!

So there you have it! Comment on this weekend’s post for a chance to win a signed copy of Countess of Scandal…

Today is going to be a Miscellaneous Day, since I’m totally distracted with wrapping up the WIP and getting back into the day-job schedule, etc. Here’s what else I’ve been thinking about lately:

1) More covers! Just got this one for Duchess of Sin, the second “Daughters of Erin” book, which will be out in December. I love the red and gold colors, the dress, the holly! Speaking of the “Erin” books, Amazon says Countess of Scandal is shipping today, and it’s been spotted in some bookstores (sadly, not here yet!). I am so excited I can’t stand it!! We’ll be having the launch party (with giveaways) this weekend here at the Riskies.

2) The new Emma on PBS! I have read complaints of the series and Romola Garai’s performance, but I think if parts 2 and 3 continue on the same way she will probably be my favorite Emma. I like both the Paltrow and the Beckinsale versions (aspects of them both, anyway), but Emma is such a delicate balancing act, a perfect mixture of sweetness and acerbic wit that makes the story of the book just right. Paltrow leaned more to “cuteness” (as did the secondary actors), Beckinsale to crankiness (and fugly hats), where Garai has a little more of the mix down. Sure, Emma is spoiled and arrogant and bossy, but she’s also kind, well-meaning, and fun to be around, which is what makes (almost) everyone in Highbury love her and want to be around her. So I’m liking this Emma a lot.

I also wholeheartedly approve of the houses and costumes (especially love Emma’s coral-red dress with the teal-green sash, and all her pretty shawls). I was doubtful of Jonny Lee Miller as Knightley, but am coming around (the chemistry between Emma and Knightley here is palpable, which helps!). Miss Smith is pretty, sweet, and dumb as a box of rocks, as she should be, and Elton vain and silly, as he should be (can’t wait to see Christina Coles’s Mrs. Elton! She was such a good wicked-snobby Blanche Ingram in Jane Eyre). I’m not sure Michael Gambon is not a little too robust for Mr. Woodhouse, but he’s good as always, and Miss Bates is excellent in the way you can see the despair behind the cheeriness with just a look. I wish Jane Fairfax was a bit more charismatic–as it is, I’m not sure why everyone is so interested in her. And Frank Churchill (aka Margaret’s whiny brother from North and South) is a dud. But I’m enjoying this version a lot, and am so glad Emma finally got the series treatment, instead of cramming it all into 2 hours! (Now if they would just do the same for Mansfield Park)

3) Yesterday in history–Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn were married in a secret ceremony at Whitehall Palace in 1533. Er–happy anniversary?

And today in history, Mozart’s opera Cosi fan tutte had its premier at the Burgtheater in Vienna in 1790. The cast at this performance was Adriana Ferrarese as Fiordiligi, Luisa Villeneuve as her sister Dorabella, Francesco Benucci as Guglielmo, and Vincenzo Calvesi as Ferrando. It’s theme of “fiancee swapping” didn’t in the least offend the sophisticated Viennese audience, but it was considered quite scandalous in the 19th century and was rarely performed until after World War II. Now it’s on Opera America‘s list of the 10 most-performed operas.

So, to sum up: Covers, book releases, Emma, ill-fated weddings, and opera! What did you think of Emma? What’s your favorite opera? (Mine is Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, or maybe Tosca). And what’s your favorite ill-starred couple of history???