The Price of Innocence - Free This Weekend

The Price of Innocence is free on Kindle this weekend for only two days - Saturday, July 28th and July 29th. I have another three days that I will probably put it up again sometime in August.

I continue to get quite a few reviews on this book. A lot are on Goodreads and Amazon. The same emotions are polarized on both sites - love it or throw it against the wall. One comment that seems to be repeated from some readers is the character I developed in Suzette Rousseau. Many women think she's weak-willed, and they don't like that type of heroine. Others don't like how Robert treats her either. At least, the book elicits a reaction. Whether that be good or bad, I've done my job.

Suzette's personality was created for a reason. In 1870 strong-willed women weren't exactly filled with rights and privileges that we have today. I think that many equate how they think she should act based upon a modern day woman in the 21st century. I made her weak for a purpose, because I wanted to take her through circumstances that were out of her control and make her face difficult decisions. It was the story I had planned on telling, and the price she paid.

It may anger some readers, but others seem to like the reality of her situation. I also find that reviews from people in the UK or Europe are more favorable than the US, and I wonder if that's a cultural reaction about how different cultures view life. It's been an interesting study on reader reaction besides writing the book itself.

In any event, it's FREE for the weekend to Kindle readers.

Thanks for your support,
Vicki

A Post Worth Reposting

Below is a post that sits over on my author blog. It was penned January 9, 2010, after the release of The Price of Innocence. Recently, it's been getting a lot of hits, so I thought it might be well worth re-posting on this site, too. As you can see, The Price of Innocence has elicited reactions since it was released. The post further confirms, it's historical romance with romantic elements. Recently, I had The Legacy Series recategorized on Amazon to: Fiction/Historical & Fiction/Sagas. In any event, here were my thoughts penned two and half years ago, which seem to be extremely timely considering the recent stir of reviews.

What a hoot! My book is stirring emotions in people more than I expected. I've made readers laugh, cry, angry, touched, frustrated, excited, and sleepless. Perhaps I should put a disclaimer on the book to read at your own risk! I must confess it gives me great joy to know that what I write can prick, poke, and make people think. It assures me that I'm penning a worthwhile read.

I am surprised at the emotions this story elicits. Some readers are going into it with pre-conceived ideas, but I've thrown them for a loop. The first in the series is not a typical romance - it is historical fiction, with romantic elements. However, when I birthed the story in my mind, it went far beyond the 81,000 words I wrote. There is much more to come that will no doubt stir more emotions until my two lovers finally come together.

In addition, when I wrote it, I pulled no punches on reality. This is how it was in 1878 Paris, France. The rich - the poor - the struggles - the privileges. Marriage was for convenience and children. Prostitutes and mistresses were for love and passion. It was a way of life, so if you're looking for a moral book, look elsewhere. It was a day when the church turned a blind eye to the practices of men, though protestants preached repentance to the street walkers. Immorality was a social norm, and so was the high rate of sexually transmitted diseases. At one time there were over 30,000 registered prostitutes in Paris, and a large portion of the population had syphilis.

The story is fiction, but the lifestyle is fact. Men did not marry below their status without a price to pay. Had I written anything beyond that, it would have been a fairy tale and that was not my goal.

Life has it struggles, its up and downs, and highs and lows. I know that many read to escape reality and therefore gravitate toward books that have more uplifting stories for their imaginations with satisfying happy endings. It's becoming apparent to me that this will be my biggest challenge in marketing this first work, because my story will leave you hanging and perhaps unfulfilled.

I'm off to pen the sequel now, bringing together the two main characters, which I've been yelled at for keeping apart at the end of my book. Patience my dears. Sometimes even reality has a happy ending. I will try my best to satisfy all your longings for Robert and Suzette, but not without a bit of pain first!

New Release - Dark Persuasion

While you are patiently or impatiently waiting for the release of The Price of Love, in the interim, my newest book will soon be available in print and Kindle. In the future, it will be distributed worldwide on other ebook platforms, print, and eventually audio. Currently, copies are available for sale on B&N, iTunes, Diesel, and Smashwords. I'll let you know when Kindle arrives.

Hope you enjoy! You can be assured, it contains a happy ending and more closely follows the traditional historical romance format.

Kindle KDP - I'm Not the Norm

This past week, I participated in the Kindle KDP program on Amazon. The Price of Innocence was placed free for five days from May 1-May 5. I did very little promo regarding its availability, and for some odd reason it skyrocketed to number one and remained there for two days until the promotion ended. As a result, The Price of Deception is now in the top 100 best sellers on Amazon, as well as The Price of Innocence, for paid historical romance.

I have since this book was first released in 2009 consistently advertised it as historical fiction, with romantic elements. If you’re looking for traditional feel-good romance, that is not The Legacy Series. If you read the series, proceed with caution. It’s not the normal cookie-cutter story to sweep you off your feet.

I wrote the story with historical accuracy. This was life in 19th century Paris — true to form. On this blog you’ll find a series of posts regarding the background research. My characters face hardship and challenges. The story is filled with reality; and its themes are the price we pay for innocence, deception, and love.

The Price of Innocence has been reviewed by Writer’s Digest, Coffee Time Romance, Nightowl Romance, Mama Kitty Reviews, and others. The book was my debut novel. Though it’s suddenly been shot into the spotlight, it’s by no means unread worldwide already and accepted by many fans who are eagerly following the series.

Once again, be forewarned (if you haven’t already gotten the drift from recent reviews on Amazon), the content may be upsetting. The series is a three-book journey that spans many years. The Price of Love will be released in winter 2012.

Lastly, I want to thank all of my new readers for downloading the book. Whether you love, hate, or average me out, it’s been wonderful meeting you all. I’m not offended if you find the story difficult. Read according to your tastes.

My next release, Dark Persuasion, is far different.


Sincerely,
Vicki

Writer's Digest Critique of The Price of Innocence

Last year I entered The Price of Innocence into the 19th Annual Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards. Winners were announced February 2012. Though I didn't make the top 10, I received a wonderful judge's commentary giving me the highest point available (5), which a contestant could score, in both plot and character development. I received a score of 4 for my design/cover, and 3 for grammar (point taken, even though I had it professionally edited). The judge's review followed:

This is a well-written researched story of iconic love, the first of a series of novels involving some of the same characters, which is set in late 19th century France and England. The characters and their relationships are clearly and credibly defined by their actions. The plot moves along at a steady pace, with interest sustained with each chapter. Some twists come along the way that add to the intricacies of the tale. The descriptions are apt and vivid. The scenes involving sex are integral to the story line, which has a brothel as a main area, and are not at all gratuitous. Overall, the book is a satisfying historical romance. (J. Strawser, Editor)

Needless to say, for my self-published debut novel, I was extremely grateful to receive such a critique from an editor associated with Writer's Digest.

For the next three months, the book has been placed in the KDP program on Amazon, and will not be available on other sites due to the exclusivity requirement. The Price of Innocence is currently free to Prime Members on Amazon through July.

It will be free for everyone from May 1 through May 5, 2012. The link is below.

Amazon - Kindle - The Price of Innocence

Also, I'm happy to report that my newest novel, Dark Persuasion, is tentatively scheduled for release as follows:

• eBook (June/July)
• Print (July/August)
• Audio (September/October)

To follow the progress, please visit Dark Persuasion Blog.

Thanks!
Vicki

Carriage Starters & Cabs

Transportation in the 19th century was an interesting read. In previous books, I pretty much used the term carriage when speaking of any type of movement from one part of the city to another. However, in The Price of Deception, I did get more specific about the types of carriages my characters took for their rendezvous and travels.

You'll find the term hansom cab used throughout the text, and later on I just reference a cab. It denotes the type of carriage in the picture to the left, which was drawn by one horse. The rider sat up back, and the housing of the cab sat two people. It was open in front, except near the legs. The sides had large windows, and the back was solid. They were popular means of transportation throughout the cities.

The term carriage starter is a new one, as well, that you'll see in the text. They were individuals who stood upon the curb and hailed down passing cabs for pedestrians. Robert uses a carriage starter after his tryst at the brothel to hail a cab home to his waiting wife.

Later on, he hires a private enclosed carriage with a coachman, a growler, to pick up Suzette multiple times from her home. It was a four-wheel carriage, drawn by two horses termed a hackney. The hackney has evolved into the cute little cabs you see in London, which I had the privilege of hiring while in England both in Manchester and London. Who doesn't want to hail a cabby in London just for fun?

Jacquelyn arrives to her Paris townhouse in a coach, which was a large type of carriage used for long trips. Her trunks of expensive clothes and outrageous hats are stacked on the back and top.

Later on, Robert goes to the chapel in a landau, which is a convertible four-wheeled carriage drawn by two horses. They are great for romantic weddings, and you'll still see them used for ceremonies and hiring in various cities worldwide as a treat.

In the 19th century, streets brimmed with all sorts of carriages, public transportation carriage buses, and horses. To read more of the various types, follow the link to Wikipedia. Of course, with all those horses traveling the roads, there had to be individuals whose jobs were to pick up the horse droppings. The streets must have been interesting, bustling avenues of humanity during the time of The Legacy Series.

One of my scenes in the book is the evening at the Garnier with Robert and his wife, Jacquelyn. They arrive to a bustling crowd of arriving carriages. I stumbled across this picture on the Internet, and I thought it quite perfect for this article. If you close your eyes, I bet you can just picture yourself in one of those carriages, dressed in a 40-pound dress, with an outrageous feathered hat upon her head. Next to you is a handsome man in his black suit and top hat waiting to take you for an evening at the opera.

I hope that you enjoy the fantasy of romantic times in the Victorian era.