The Legacy Series - Plans for the Future

I've been thinking quite a bit about The Legacy Series.  In past reviews there have been a few call-outs of errors on my part, all warranted.  

The Price of Deception does contains instances where I use the incorrect verbal address for a Duke (I beg your forgiveness, your Grace.) Those criticisms have come from reviewers in the United Kingdom.  

I will admit that I was somewhat lax in making sure I used the correct form of address for aristocrats when the book was released in October of 2011. (Of course, it was pre-Downton Abbey days, so who knew?) However, I did research many other aspects in the book to make sure it was historically accurate.  The same thing with The Price of Innocence.  A lot of what is in that story is unbelievable to some readers. I make no apologies for the reality of poverty in Paris in 1870 and not romantically sugar-coating the book to make it easier. There is nothing in there that I did not find from hours of research about life of the homeless, being a laundress, or a prostitute.   

As far a The Price of Love goes, all of the formal verbal greetings of aristocracy done by staff, society, close friends, etc., have been researched to death by me and correctly included.  I found many references on line, one being on Wikipedia:  Forms of Address in the United Kingdom.  I even researched Austrian nobility too.

What are my plans for the future?  I will be updating The Price of Deception text after release of The Price of Love to make sure corrections are made.  I will also no longer make it exclusive to Amazon KDP program for the first two books and will begin to resell it worldwide on Sony, iTunes, Kobo, B&N, etc., in eBook format.

The Legacy Series has sparked either love or controversy from readers.  From the first day The Price of Innocence made it to #1 in Historical Romance Free Books in May of 2012 (Amazon US) and stayed there for four days (22,000 plus downloads worldwide) it drew a lot of attention. 

Some of that attention turned out to be critical, but I have my thoughts where that came from but won't go down that road.  Needless to say, as much as it has been criticized, it continues to sell well worldwide every month. (Even though readers have been warned by reviewers to save their money, it appears readers prefer to make their own decisions).  

Regardless, I have a wonderful fan base of people who love the series. As an author, you focus on those who appreciate your work and realize that you cannot please every reader's taste in the entire world. It's an impossibility from the very famous writers who sell millions to the writers who sell a few. It's part of the gig of being an author.  You either handle it professionally or have a meltdown and quit. I prefer the first route.  

As far as The Price of Love, I am now up to Chapter 7 in editing.  This is a very slow process, but I refuse to let this book fly out the door in a hurry.  Once again, be patient, as I bring it to a close (though I know people are going to email for number four.)

Next time I post, I'll write about Angelique.  I'm sure you'd like a little character sketch beforehand.

Thank you,

Vicki

I'm Editing & Revising - Second Draft & Reading Royal Commissioned Traffic Reports

I promised to keep you in the loop! I'm up to Chapter 6 in my first round of revisions and edits.  Pray for me.

In any event, I had to do a little more research on the side.  Did you know the population in London during 1905 had a staggering total of  five-million plus people?

Sixty-five (65) percent of the streets still had horse-drawn omnibuses and hackney carriages, while motorcars were fighting for room on the road. Of course, the "tube" had already begun its weaving underground London too.

I spent time yesterday picking up a few facts from a copy of a Royal Commissioned study. It's really interesting!  I just wanted you to know that I do research what I write, even though I've been accused otherwise.

The streets of London were as crowded as they are today (frankly I don't see much difference when I visit).  In the report the commission makes all sorts of recommendations for fixing the traffic problems, including making it a law that slower traffic drive close to the curb (or "kerb" as they penned it) and adding more electric tramways above ground.

The information about the demographics of London and those who traveled into the city to work are fascinating as well.

Who knew your author would get excited about a London traffic report from 1905?

Report of the Royal commission appointed to inquire into and report upon the means of locomotion and transport in London.

Published 1905 by Printed for H.M. Stationery off., by Wyman and sons, limited in London .
Written in English. 

 

Angelique will be enjoying a ride in an early Rolls Royce. The Chambers family (you remember, the ones who made their fortune off slave trading and sugar plantations) will own a motorcar.

Yes, The Price of Love is coming along.

Cheers,

Vicki

If you feel like reading the report, here you go! For a report over a hundred years old, it's pretty comprehensive and very impressive.

First Draft of The Price of Love is Done!

The first draft of The Price of Love is DONE!!!!  

85,962 words (which will change a bit during revising and editing) consisting of 33 chapters.  

Whew! 

This picture pretty much tells it all . . .

Teaser

Just writing, writing, writing. Pounding keys.

I'm developing Angelique (who you'll know as Jolene); deciding if I really want a love interest for her; fleshing out young Robert's character; and many other things in the plot.

The book is heavily focused on her life and those in her inner circle as she searches for her identity in London and Paris. Robert, Suzette, Philippe are more secondary characters, but definitely still very much a part of the discovery as the story progresses. It will be an interesting conclusion!!! Just wait to see how she does it!

The little kidnapped baby has grown into a very bold and opinionated woman, especially about her dysfunctional family...after all, she is a Countess! Questions to think about: 

• How is her identity revealed to her?
• Who will find out first who she is?
• How will she feel about her mother when they first meet? 
• Will she get along with her half-brother, Robert?
• Do you think she'll respect His Grace, the Duke, after breaking up her parent's marriage? 
• Will she be able to find Philippe in Paris? Will he even be alive? 
• How will she reveal the truth to her family what she knows and they do not?
• Will she love them or blame them for what happened to her?

You'll just have to wait to find out. Remember, it is The Price of Love.

I should be at 60,000 words by this weekend. My goal for this series has always been about 80,000 per book.

Let me add, that I've been adding quite a bit of the English lifestyle in the Downton Abbey fashion doing research such as the dining experience among the wealthy. One article I found had a wealth of information about the entire dining experience. It's a new era, with new fashions, motorcars, and changing social attitudes. 

Maybe in the days ahead, I'll post a few "draft scenes" to tease you some more.

My best, Vicki

Update on "The Price of Love" Release

I know it's been a while since I've posted, which really hasn't stopped the questions on Facebook, Blogger, or via email - when will The Price of Love  be released?

Finally, after months and months of struggling with this book, my muse (if there is such a thing) has returned to haunt my mind day and night.  I'm about half way through writing the book.

I didn't want to pursue writing this third book by force, and if you're an author you'll understand why.  When you struggle for inspiration, I don't think the end product is worth publishing. In addition, I know there are very high expectations on how this story turns out!  However, if the tale comes from your heart and you are moved by words and scenes in your mind, then it has a chance of being a decent read.  I owe that to you, my readers, to give you a conclusion that is worth the wait.

I'll keep you updated as things progress.  Should there be no more unforeseen life circumstances to prevent my pace (which have been many in the past year), I should have it out in the next two-three months.

Thank you for your patience and love of the series.

Regards,

Vicki

Daunting Research for The Price of Love

The challenges of writing historical fiction and/or romance can be daunting. I admit that I have procrastinated and run into a huge season of writer's block with The Price of Love. At the present time, I am beginning to chip away at the wall that has been between me and the finished book. I am so very sorry to my faithful readers who have been more than patient! Please hang in there with me a little while longer.

As I move through the story, I often become boggled down with questions. I can write one scene and end up doing hours of research on the Internet to make sure I've got my facts straight. I'm faced with a new era, that brings with it new thinking and fashions. In addition, I've placed myself into another geographical location in Austria, where titles and life are somewhere different. Here are a few of the things I've had to research so far, just to give you an idea of the challenges that I face.

1. I am now writing in the Edwardian era, after becoming well versed in the Victorian. It's new territory. Angelique has just turned eighteen. The time is 1905. My first scene included a trip from her residence to the solicitor's office. An obvious change is that the mode of travel is evolving. Carriages are prevalent, but so are the beginning of "strange motorized brass carriages," which were the first cars. I had to make sure they were in production in 1905 in Austria, and I was able to confirm some very early models were on the streets.
2. The question arose whether Angelique could obtain the title of Countess as an adopted child. Boy, that took a lot of research. Here is the scoop. If she was adopted into a noble family as a daughter, and her father had no male heirs, special permission from the king (Franz Joseph in this case) could be granted whereby the daughter would be treated as if she were male and could inherit the title and the estates. She could pass the title to her children, even if she did not marry another aristocrat.
3. Forms for addressing Austrian nobility had to be researched. Even though Angelique inherits the title of Countess, she must use the title of Komtesse (Comtesse Fr. version) until she weds. (It's interesting to note that in 1919 Austria completely abolished nobility and their titles.) Also, how the male population is addressed has changed. In England we have Mister or Sir; in France we have Monsieur; and in Austria we have Herr as the form of male salutation.
4. When was the height of the London social season? Had to research that one too, since I'm bringing Angelique into the scene with other aristocrats. According to research, the season coincided with the sitting of Parliament and began some time after Christmas and ran until roughly late June.  It was then that the aristocrats, who lived on their vast estates in the country, would travel to London to stay in their residences for the social and political gatherings. Thank goodness, I picked the right timeline for my heroine's quest for identity to begin. 

These are just a small example of why historical fiction/romance takes so long to write. It's true that if you don't get it right, someone will slap your hand. Apparently, an English lady caught my mistakes in The Price of Deception with how the Duke and Duchess were addressed incorrectly by the staff. I should have used "Your Grace," even though the former form of Duke and Duchess was permissible. Since I've been watching Downton Abbey, I think I'm becoming well versed in this area. Here's a great link on forms of address for English Nobility in Wikipedia. 

I'll keep you updated as I progress. And once again, my SINCERE apologies for the lateness of this book. 

 Fondly, Vicki