I’m delighted to be interviewing Maggie Sims, author of the School of Enlightenment Series. Her romances are of a spicier subgenre than mine and I’ve been looking forward to this chat. Welcome, Mags!
 
Before we get carried away about books and writing, won’t you tell us a little about yourself?

Thank you for hosting me!

My love of reading started early. Even prior to my teen years, I would ask to be left at the public library for hours on a Saturday or during summer. I read Jane Eyre for fun, long before it was assigned in high school. In between the classics, I found the rounders of Harlequin and Silhouette books – anyone else old enough to remember the lavender covers?

My other big hobby is travel. Before marrying my dad, my mother was one of those glamorous flight attendants on Pan Am international flights. I inherited a passion for any and all travel from her – I can barely stand to eat at the same restaurant twice, for want of discovering new places.

My undergrad was at a small liberal arts college, giving me more opportunity to read and to learn to write better before I turned to business. I earned a CPA and an MBA and moved up the ranks of the corporate world.

Between that and living in New York City for much of my twenties, I was way too busy to settle down. Two moves and many trips later, I ended up in the San Francisco Bay Area and met the love of my life at the tender age of 32. We’ve been together ever since and retired a year before COVID. We currently reside outside Austin, Texas and have one old dog and two four-month-old kittens.

I love that we live in the same state.  :)

What do you like to read? Do you have a favorite book or two? How about a favorite author?

If left to my own devices, I read romance almost exclusively. In fact, I joined a friend’s book club to force myself to get some exposure beyond romance. Within romance, I read pretty much all heat levels except sweet, and all periods – from ancient times to future, from paranormal to historical fiction (fictionalized versions of historical figures and events).

Does any author you know have a favorite book? I’d be amazed! Keeping it PG-13, I’ll pick two of my favorite comfort reads – the books I reread when my brain needs a break. They’re really different, so you’ll get what I mean when I say I pan-read romance:

• A Different Kind of Forever by Dee Ernst (I personally believe all women over 40 should read this for escapism, it’s lovely)
• Naked in Death by Nora Roberts writing as JD Robb (futuristic romantic suspense…sure, this series got repetitious by the time it hit book 30, but Roarke and Eve’s meet-cute still gets me)

You write erotica. I don’t read erotica and can’t imagine writing it. To me, it’s like a wild frontier. Even prolonged, steamy sex scenes make me somewhat uncomfortable. So this is new territory for me.

Ssooo…first, I don’t write erotica. But thank you for mentioning it. LOL! It gives me an opportunity to clarify.

Erotica does not necessarily include an HEA (happily ever after) or even an HFN – happy for now – ending. It’s about the sex; plot, story arc, and character development are secondary. (And if you’d like to further investigate the difference, I can point you…😉 teasing!)

Erotic romance on the other hand is a romance story, full character development – goals, motivations, conflicts, both internal and external, and a romance plot arc. What most in the industry specify as erotic romance is when the sex is integral to the characters’ journey: if you take the sex out of the story, the story doesn’t make sense. Example, trying to keep it PG-13 – in my first book, the heroine sees her hosts (cousin and his wife) fooling around and is curious. The 18-year-old turns to her cousin’s best friend to explore that curiosity, which leads to her being compromised and them needing to marry, etc. etc. – and that is only the first half of the book. Erotic romance is also different from steamy romance in the language used (think other four letter words vs. euphemisms for body parts, even in a more open-door romance).
 
Good to know!

When writing the more erotic scenes, is the writer concerned with showing tender emotions and the characters' physical reactions to each other? 

In an erotic romance, it’s still about the romance. So while the characters might engage in sexual play earlier in their relationship than in a less steamy romance, their emotions are still engaged. Or maybe they experience unexpected emotion during the intimacy, or just after. The sex is included in the story because it’s a physical manifestation of their attraction to one another, which is emotion-based. Their thoughts and their physical reactions are on the page (if it’s done right) so the reader can relate to the characters’ growth in the relationship. It’s still a romance at the core of the story.
 
Would you mind going over the heat levels in romance? I’m assuming that erotica has varying heat levels within the subgenre as well?

Within erotic romance and erotica the differentiations are actually a different scale, honestly – for the different kinks (read kinks as personal preferences for sex, just as all of us have our own personal preferences of how and when and where we like to be touched). There are hundreds of nuances of BDSM (bondage, dominance/submission, sadism and masochism – a person can enjoy literally only one kind of bondage and nothing else, or that and some dominance, etc. etc.). Even without bondage and impact play, there are role plays and many other kinks/preferences…there are threesomes and foursomes and reverse harem, etc. (You asked!)

For overall romance, the general standard I see in Facebook groups for readers is as follows:

Mild (ex. PG movie, Hallmark, “sweet”, some handholding, a chaste kiss, no detailed descriptions of intimacy, any intercourse and steamy scenes occur off the page or it fades to black, lots of emotional tension. There are further levels within this of no sex before marriage – one of my fellow Austin-area TWRP authors is Mormon, for instance.)

Medium (ex. PG-13 movie, second base, kissing and touching and intimacy shared but less focus on the body parts, majority of the sexy stuff is still behind closed doors)

Steamy (ex. R movie, sex on the page, doesn’t fade to black but might follow the participants through the door and into the bed)…on Instagram, ‘steamy’ refers to this and level 4, FYI, in case folks follow bookstagrammers for reading suggestions

HOT HOT HOT (ex. NC-17 movie, explicit sex, graphic language, anatomically descriptive in detail)…on TikTok this is called ‘spicy’ FYI
 
As a last note on this, you’re not alone in being uncomfortable with this subgenre of romance – spicy romance authors have been arguing with Amazon for the last two years, since they moved their ‘erotic romance’ category out of romance, and under Literature & Fiction / Erotica / Romantic Erotica. This stinks for authors put there (they call it ‘the Amazon dungeon’) because books under Erotica will not come up in general searches by readers – e.g. “Regency Romance”). But to find more categories of erotica and erotic romance, take a look at the Kindle store categories under Erotica.
 
Thank you for explaining all of this with patience and eloquence. What inspired you to write erotica... I see now I must correct myself... erotic romance? Please tell us about your writing and your writing journey.

I love sharing how I ended up writing the stories I chose to start my career as a romance author.

My mum is British, and I’m of an age where many of the full-length romance novels from my early romance-reading days were historical – Kathleen Woodiwiss, Johanna Lindsay, etc.

More recently, I found Maya Banks (her early books were much better than recent ones) and a couple other spicy / erotic romance authors. Then Fifty Shades came out and so many readers were looking for more of that, and authors were making bank.

Once or twice in my corporate career I had breaks between jobs. Back around 2000 I had one and I started to try to write a Harlequin romance novella (it’s still unfinished and has pay phones in it, so that will never see the light of day!). When we retired, I found I did not sit still well, and my husband did not enjoy my project management efforts left over from my corporate life (go figure…). And I was reading a lot.

I wondered how historical romance authors would tell a more kinky story. But when I searched for historical erotic romance, there were only a handful of authors who had written that. The business side of my brain woke up and said, “if you’re going to attempt this, go for the niche market where there is higher demand and less supply.”  Sadly, in the 5 years it took me to learn the craft, write, rewrite, rewrite again, and rewrite again Sophia’s Schooling, there are a lot more on the market. And younger readers don’t read as much historical romance.

I am still amused at the two sides of my brain attempting to make this profitable. 😊
 
I cannot imagine you being anything but successful at whatever you attempt. 

Do you feel that there are misunderstandings about your chosen subgenre?

Well, given that you did not differentiate between erotica and erotic romance, sure… 😊 But my guess is that many readers who don’t know that would probably not read either type of story. And that is ok. I’ll never (other than for peer reviews) knowingly pick up a book where the couple doesn’t have sex as part of their journey. As I told my friends when we were single – none of us would buy a $100 returnable dress without trying it on, so why would we want to commit to someone for the rest of our lives without testing all interactions for the right fit? But I also respect the fact that while that is right for me, it’s not for everyone. So I market accordingly, and tag bookstagrammers who read what I know to be at least something close to what I write, etc. I’d rather people read my book and love it, knowing what they’re getting, so they aren’t disappointed…and so I don’t get bad reviews, of course.
 
Your new series, School of Enlightenment, has a historical setting. Did you have to do a lot of research in that regard? Please tell us about it and about the first book in the series, Sophia’s Schooling.

The School of Enlightenment (4 books eventually) is a secret school that empowers young women of all classes in Regency England to take their future and their pleasure in their own hands. It helps titled young ladies navigate their husbands’ world of the House of Lords to influence the passing of laws that protect women and children, it helps working class women learn to manage their own finances. And yes, it teaches these ladies to know their bodies and how to derive pleasure from sex.

Book 1 is about the untitled cousin of an earl who was orphaned, and the earl’s best friend—a second son with a secret he considers shameful—who is suddenly thrust into the earldom.

Book 2 is about a working class girl with East Indian heritage who wants to open a bakery combining British pastries and her great-grandmother’s recipes.

Book 3 is about a widow who owns an apothecary and an earl who is connected to the school…but I haven’t figured out what I’m sharing in the blurb yet, so I’m keeping that vague.
 
Each of these books, in addition to having all the romance steps of discovery and interest, doubt and dark moments, and ultimately a grand gesture and an HEA, have some historical details about laws and road surfaces and workhouses, and tell a story of strong women who navigated behind the scenes, around the same time that the Blue Stocking Society was working out in the open for changes. I am just sad that my research had to be mostly from my home due to COVID.
 
If anyone is interested despite all my warnings above 😊 then Sophia’s Schooling can be found here on all major retail platforms. Or if anyone is unsure and wants to dip their toes in my world without committing to buy a book, sign up for my newsletter that talks about books, wine and travel once a month, and they’ll receive a free 23k word novella. Sign-up link is on my website www.maggiesims.com.
 
Love the premise! Is the next book in the works?

Book 2 is actually available for preorder on some platforms currently here and everywhere on October 19.

There is also a spinoff short story from Book 2 that is coming out in a winter holiday anthology on October 18 – and I didn’t even ask for that date.

Books 3 & 4 are in the works now – yay!
 
Wow! Go, you! Any last thoughts you’d like to leave us with?

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to talk about my books and my subgenre. I know your audience is less likely to be mine, but I hope this has been somewhat informative. My experience to date with The Wild Rose Press has offered me the chance to get to know many fun, friendly authors, especially you.

It’s also helped me read quite a bit outside even romance – if I may plug the suspense book Not My Child by Lis Angus, and the YA Fantasy From Brick & Darkness by J.L. Sullivan – they are TWRP 2022 debut authors like you and I.

Your book is one of the next on my list to read, and I’m excited to continue this journey with you.

If your readers want to know more, they are welcome to visit me at www.maggiesims.com, and/or follow me on social media (I’m mostly on Instagram). They are also welcome to email me directly, especially if they have specific questions or concerns, at maggie@maggiesims.com. 😊
 
Thanks so much for joining us today, Maggie. This has been great -- educational, interesting, and fun. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you through The Wild Rose Press and look forward to sharing our writing journey, too! I just love your sense of humor and your confidence. I wish you much success.

And now, for those of you who might be interested in some extra spice, following is more information about Maggie's books along with some excerpts!

Sophia’s Schooling (School of Enlightenment Book 1)

​An innocent country girl...a jaded earl...an education in pleasure.

1816–London
Orphaned at eighteen, Sophia has learned love means loss.  Now she must leave her country home to navigate the opulence of the London Season, although she has no desire for romance or a husband.
 
Edward, the newest Earl of Peterborough, is struggling with the business of his family estate. He has shunned marriage due to a shameful secret, but with his title comes the need for heirs.
 
Despite their misgivings, Sophia and Edward cannot resist their attraction.  When she accidentally discovers his penchant for spankings, her curiosity is her undoing.  A clandestine meeting risks a scandal. Only marriage to a reluctant bridegroom can save her reputation. But perhaps the School of Enlightenment can give her an education in love.

Excerpt:
Edward gave a mental snort. “You continue to disobey orders.”

Sophia groaned in frustration, probably suspecting where his statement was leading. “I’m very sorry.” She sucked in a breath. “I shan’t do it again. As I came out alone, I thought it would be safe.” She sent him a sidelong glance. “Is this a punishable offense, my lord?”

Perfect. She knew she was wrong. She saw what was coming. Her side-eyed glance told him she mayhap even invited it. Who was he to refuse a girl a spanking?

He took a deep breath, wishing… No. She’s not mine to covet. But she is mine to punish tonight.

His eyes shuttered as he considered. Was he taking advantage of her naiveté about Ton rules? He knew she’d enjoyed the last punishment and could not deny either of their desires. He almost heard the turn of the key as his conscience was again locked away.

He pushed, “We have been over this, Sophia. Punishment is an important learning tool. Hopefully, it shall be an incentive for you to obey specific directions in the future.”

Frustrated, she crossed her gloved arms. “Darn it. My feet hurt so much. I did not anticipate my bottom becoming sore, too. I shan’t be able to sit or stand comfortably.”

That wasn’t a no.

Purchase Sophia's Schooling.

Penelope’s Passion (School of Enlightenment Book 2)
​
Schooled in the art of pleasure, her real passion is baking. Required to marry, the earl’s heir finds his new courtesan more to his taste.

1816 - London
After her mother's death, Penelope Wood's hope of opening a bakery falls victim to the real need to support herself. When four retired courtesans present her with a temporary yet lucrative path back to her dream, she wants to hear more. Attending the School of Enlightenment, participating in a Virgin Auction, and becoming a courtesan all sound feasible. The most important rule--do not fall in love.
 
Lord Michael Slade, heir to the Earl of Mansfield, loves his family above all else, cooks for relaxation, and revels in his membership to a discreet spanking club. But his father is ill, and his mother is pushing him to marry. Even so, when he meets a dark-haired beauty who doesn’t mind a good spanking and discovers she's up for auction, he can't let her go to another man. He has to have her...at least until he finds a wife.
 
With an inevitable marriage looming and a vow to remain faithful to his hypothetical bride once he's engaged, both Penelope and Michael must protect their hearts, even as they find a connection they cannot deny.

Excerpt:
“Hmm, a proper greeting first, eh? And a thank you, mayhap?”

“Of course, my lord, I am sorry,” Penelope said, aghast. Gor, how could I have forgotten my training so easily? Leaning up, she brought her lips to his in a gentle kiss. “Welcome, ’tis lovely to have you here with me.”

“All is well, Pen. I was teasing you.” Michael smiled. “But I would not be upset by you removing one article of clothing to thank me.” He arched his brows in hope and took one step back, releasing her.

“Oh!” She considered, tilting her head. Then, with a small smile, she bent and removed a slipper.

“Will that do, my lord?” She slid him a sidelong look. Internally, she berated herself. I should be
thinking of these games. But I like that he created this one. I like playful Michael a lot, I shall do better in the future.

He strolled over and fingered the bread peel, his lips pursed. “At the very least, the pair is really one article of clothing as you always wear them together. Beyond that, I can see I will need to be more specific. Fair enough, young lady.”

Preorder Penelope's Passion.

Roslynn’s Rebellion (free prequel for newsletter subscribers)

He wants to bury his secrets. She is creating a new secret school. Can they work together?

1813 - London
Lady Roslynn St. Pierre has no need for a typical Ton husband. Frustrated with the constraints women are forced to endure, she desires a partner who will show her unbridled passion as well as supporting her ambitions to empower women. If the rumors are correct, the Earl of Suffolk might be precisely the man for her.

Nicholas needs a perfect wife. To advance his parliamentary agenda, he must forge a spotless reputation in Society, putting to bed the whispers of his membership in a spanking club, which so scandalized the Ton. Besides, his lady wife will undoubtedly have no interest in his more prurient desires.

Roslynn is determined to win his heart and satisfy his secret needs. But her plans go awry when her idea for a secret school for women conflict with Nicholas’ expectations in a wife. Together, they must determine whether Ton expectations will dictate their marriage or they will forge their own relationship.

About the Author

Maggie Sims began her love affair with romance before her teen years, drawn to the Regency by her mum’s British influence. In her twenties, she did her best to live the Carrie Bradshaw life in New York City, albeit with less expensive shoes and more books
 
Despite reading hundreds of romance novels in her life, she was still blown away when she met the love of her life, an ex-Marine cinnamon roll with creative woodworking and culinary skills.
 
Having retired from corporate life, they live in Central Texas and are parents to a varying number of dogs and cats. When not writing, Maggie is a wine enthusiast, a travel junkie, and a romance reading fiend. She also sporadically crochets for KnotsofLove.org and does just enough exercise for that second glass of wine at night.
 
To find out more about Maggie’s latest reads, favorite wines, and travel destinations, sign up for her newsletter and follow her on social media.

They swore never to marry. But will the right suitors melt their hearts?

Fiercely independent and daughters of a wealthy countess, twins Dahlia and Diana have no desire to husband-hunt, despite their mother’s pleas. But when the ghost of their late father makes an appearance, he takes it upon himself to guide the girls into marriage – even if his presence will scare off potential suitors.

Caught cheating in one of their university courses, twin brothers Anthony and Andrew’s dreams of a Grand Tour are shattered when their father pulls the plug on their allowances. They had hoped to put marriage off as long as possible – but with their father withholding their allowances until they are wed, they have no choice but to face the daunting task of a lifelong commitment. There’s only one problem – although one of the brothers wants to marry, the other feels as if he‘s being forced to wed for money.

Brought crashing together by fate and aided by the girls’ late father, both pairs of twins must learn to see through their differences and get along. But marriage is no easy decision, and it will take more than a miracle to convince these sisters to tie the knot.

Are the twins a match made in Heaven? Or will the girls’ independence and the brothers’ lack of a fortune serve to drive them apart?

Artfully blending a beautiful 19th-century backdrop with all the classic charm of British aristocratic life, this scintillating historical romance novel by bestselling author Linda Rae Sande is a delightful read that’s perfect for anyone looking for their next emotional fix. Scroll up and grab your copy now…
 
Amazon         *         Bookbub         *         Goodreads

A self-described nerd and lover of science, Linda Rae spent many years as a published technical writer specializing in 3D graphics workstations, software and 3D animation (her movie credits include SHREK and SHREK 2). Getting lost in the rabbit holes of research has resulted in historical romances set in the Regency-era as well as Ancient Greece. A fan of action-adventure movies, she can frequently be found at the local cinema. Although she no longer has any fish, she follows the San Jose Sharks. She is a member of Novelists, Inc. (NINC) and makes her home in Cody, Wyoming.
 
 
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

​Ruth A. Casie, welcome. I’m excited and honored to be hosting you. Congratulations on your latest release, The Lady and Her Duke. I love your books, which always contain a dazzling combination of adventure and romance. Your highlanders and pirates are absolutely thrilling. This latest series, The Ladies of Sommer by the Sea, is clearly no exception, but it does have a different feel than your previous publications.

Can you tell us about the inspiration for this series?
Anastasia, thank you so much for inviting me to your blog today. I’m so glad you enjoy my stories.

Medieval versus Regency
​
Your observation, that The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea a Regency Era series, has a different feel is spot on. My other historical stories are Medieval ones, a wilder time with sword fights, pirate battles at sea, stories of witches and other with druid masters one tingling with magic, the other traveling through time.

To me the Regency is a more restrained era that required less physical action and more cerebral gymnastics although… Good versus evil is a strong theme in my stories centered around trust and betrayal.

In my earlier stories, the nature of the time period lent itself to a physical conflict. Knights fought for justice and the fair maiden. For me, the Regency is a more restrained era. Moving out of the countryside and into the towns and cities required a different set of skills. The very strict guidelines of this era demanded a different approach to settling conflicts. You will see in my new story, The Lady and Her Duke, in 1815 dueling at dawn was already forbidden.

In this series the fight scenes are the last resort, when the villain has gone too far, or the love interest is in jeopardy and there is no other course of action available. The hero may be restrained by society, but he will protect and fight for the heroine, and she for him.

The Inspiration for The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea

What was the inspiration for The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea or why Regency?

There are several reasons I wanted to write this series:

1. World changes during this period was a great backdrop that begged to be exploited.
2. Women are coming out of very restrictive society and are being accepted more and more. My stories are about some of these pioneering heroines.
3. There are men in this era who see a woman’s value as more than pretty face and mother of their children.

My heroines do a great job of finding those men to partner with, not only to solve the mystery or the murder at hand, but to their amazement, as a life partner.  

The Setting

I appreciate the setting. Is the village based on a real place? Was it fun creating a wonderful school for women?

Sommer-by-the-Sea is fictitious place. Here is what I think a realtor would say about the village.

Welcome to Sommer-by-the-Sea, a vibrant village nestled on the rugged northeast coast of England, 15 miles north of Newcastle upon Tyne. Here, the world is centered on the country village and the lives of the landowning and professional families. Sommer-by-the-Sea is populated with aristocrats, gentry, self-made men, shop owners, local workers, and servants, a cross-section of the people of the time. Steeped in history dating back as far as the original Vikings settlers, the villagers are proud of their ancestors and celebrate their heritage.

Everyone from the elite summer residents to the year-round residents keep businesses flourishing and gossip thriving. As with any small village, there are challenges and successes, secrets, disagreements, and feuds. There is no shortage of romance, mystery, drama, and even a murder or two.

There are aspects of the village that I see in places I’ve visited and even British period television series I enjoy watching, Midsomer Murder, Father Browne, to name a few.
For the series, I wanted the heroines to be unique, intellectual women with minds of their own and the wherewithal to succeed, a bluestocking. I wanted these women to have a support group. The idea for a female boarding school came out of a discussion with a group of authors.
Creating the Sommer-by-the-Sea Female Seminary was a lot of fun. I wanted the school to be unique, not only in the subjects taught, but I wanted to make it a prestigious place. Rather than applying, admittance is by invitation of the headmistress only.

Graduates of the Sommer-by-the-Sea Female Seminary have a unique education. Along with the usual studies available, the head mistress has nurtured each woman’s innate ability and helped them develop into the women they are today. This shared unique experience has kept the graduates close.
Each lady has her own story to tell as she is called to action and must demonstrate she is smart, strong, and sensible and must challenge the accepted definition of a “woman’s place.” For these women, arranged or political marriages will not do. If she chooses a husband, it will be for love, on her own terms, and with a man who will accept her as a partner. 

Research

The ladies in the stories are well-educated, smart, and so different from each other! What sort of research did you have to do?
​
I researched women’s education during this era. I found some gems, but I found myself going down a rabbit hole. I investigated women of the era and their little-known outstanding accomplishments. Since I was writing during COVID all my research was online, using google books, historic websites, university papers, and the Beau Monde authors who have a wealth of information.

Lady Alicia is a bestselling author who faced prejudices. Even her own publisher thought her bestselling novels were simply little stories even thought they kept his business afloat.

When her parents arranged Lady Patrice’s marriage, she found that a good friend who enjoyed solving puzzles with her was not a good husband. Overlooked by her parents in favor of her brother, her husband did know and admire her intelligence. Upon his death, he leaves her one last puzzle to solve. The secret code that unearths government traitors.

Lady Katherine’s unique ability centers around her love of gears and how they work. She is an excellent artist and focuses that skill into drafting. Her hobby is lockpicking.

​What’s Next?

One last question: is it too soon to ask if there’s another book on the backburner?

I am currently writing a novella for a winter boxed set. I’ve decided it will be tied to Sommer-by-the-Sea. While our heroine is not one of the seminary ladies, she is bright and resourceful. A Duke in Winter is currently on pre-order and releases December 29. My story is The Duke’s Lost Love. The theme of the box set is Shakespeare with a happily ever after. My theme story is Love’s Labour’s Lost.

Our heroine, Lady Nanette de Chappell, the Comtesse de Moyne is fighting to protect her independence. No suitor is acceptable to her. Her father is at wits end. Our hero, Lord Morgan Fitzhugh, the 2nd Duke of Prestwick. He and three of his friends have decided to spend the next three years in the pursuit of knowledge. They will eat but one meal a day, fast every Friday, and give up women.

Nanette and Fitzhugh met ten years ago. She was a hoyden, and he was usually the person who got her out of trouble.

Nanette’s grandmother has left her a small estate with a castle in Sommer-by-the-Sea. It is in the center of Lord Fitzhugh’s grander holding. Her quest? Secure the property for herself and bring back a special artifact from the Dunamara Castle.

This is a work in progress. Sticking to the Shakespearean elements of the story, the two are thrown together and their love grows. As in the original story, our heroine returns home. However, our twist will be our hero returns with her to ask for her hand.

Since this is a short story and there are really four couples involved, the other three will have their own books.

Also, I have plans to develop the stories for four more Ladies in Sommer-by-the-Sea.

In closing…

This is wonderful news! Thank you for spending time with us today. I look forward to reading and reviewing The Lady and Her Duke and all the book in the series!

Anastasia, thank you for hosting me today. Your questions were brilliant. I had a wonderful time!

Information about The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea

The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea books are free for Kindle Unlimited readers. Here is a link to the series where you can purchase the digital or paperback versions individually or together.

​Happy Medieval Monday! This week, I'm pleased to announce the publication of Tremors Through Time. It's been quite a journey, first writing the story, self-publishing, and then the story being picked up by The Wild Rose Press. It's been fun, challenging, emotional, wonderful. And now, I'm well on my way to finishing Book Two in the series! FYI, there will be four books.

I thought I would share a small excerpt from Tremor Through Time for a dual celebration: the book release and Medieval Monday!

“My job.” He shrugged. “I like it well enough, I suppose. As they say, it pays the bills. It’s very different from anything I’ve done before. Do you like yours?”

“I love my job, but I know that I’m one of the lucky ones.”

“Tell me, please, your job title again? Joe kept talking about it the last time he was home.”

Deidre laughed. “He did seem surprisingly interested when we talked about it. I’m Director of Medieval Studies at the University of Houston.”

Medieval studies…Lachlann struggled for words. He knew what “medieval” meant. If he had one question, he had a thousand. Simple ones would have to do for now.

“What do you like about it?”

“There’s so much,” she replied. “The ongoing learning, the students…I love teaching.”

“Why did you choose medieval studies?”

Deidre opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it again. Glancing down at her plate, she pushed around a carrot. “I…I’ve been interested in medieval artwork and history since I was a little girl. It’s always fascinated me.”

“Why?”

“I…” She paused again, her brow knit, her soft lips twisting a little as she searched for words. “Life was so different back then,” she finally said. “People were different, and yet they were still human.”

Lachlann blinked. “Well, of course they were human!”

She put a hand up. “Now, hear me out. For all intents and purposes, they lived in a different world from ours. Almost everything they knew was different from what we know. Agreed?”

“Agreed.”

“But their humanity was no different from ours. They had the same emotions, the same feelings, the same basic needs.”

“How do you know how they felt?”

“They left us art, music, writing, and so much more.”

“But their languages were different. How did anyone ever learn to read their writings?”

“Languages changed slowly,” she explained, “and one translation led to another.”

“But if a group of people died at once, their language would have died with them. Isn’t that true? So would their history.”

“That would be true in some cases, but not all. Is there a particular language or culture you have in mind?”

Lachlann hesitated, sorting his thoughts, still trying to get past her “yet they were human” remark. What had happened to his own language? Should he mention it? Could it hurt?

“Have you heard of Norroena?”

“Norroena.” Her eyes widened. Clasping her hands together, she leaned toward him. “Lachlann, are you talking about Norn?”

“Norn?”

“The language of the islands, of Orkney and Shetland.”

“Aye, that’s the one.” He tried not to show his excitement. She knew of it!

“But the people didn’t all die at once. I believe Norn was spoken well into the sixteenth century.”
“Was it?”

“Yes, it was.”

He thought that over for a moment. “It still died out. But it was spoken on the mainland as well as the islands, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, it was.” She smiled at him. “It was spoken in Caithness. You know your history.”

“Where else?”

She was silent for a moment, that thoughtful little frown forming between her eyes, and then she shook her head. “I haven’t seen evidence that it was spoken anywhere else.”

But it had been, damn it.

“If it’s any consolation,” she continued, “Norn lasted longer than many other ancient languages. What’s sad is that we’re not sure how it sounded, and there are very few examples of written Norn.”

He couldn’t help her with the written part, but he’d love to surprise her, to speak his language to her.

“That’s why history is so important.” Deidre’s voice drifted off.

“Why?” he asked, glad he had caught that last sentence.

“So that we won’t forget.”

He felt the familiar constriction in his chest. “You’re saying that if the history is lost or no one cares about it, everything happened for nothing.”

She looked shocked. “That is most certainly not what I’m saying. It’s not true!”

“It is.”

“It isn’t! Nothing is ever really lost.”

He sat back, folded his arms, and forced himself to speak calmly. “I disagree.”

I hope you enjoyed this little peek. Tremors Through Time is available at your favorite online bookseller. 

Be sure to visit the beautiful blogs of Barbara Bettis and Mary Morgan for more medieval fun! 

Wishing you a wonderful Medieval Monday!

She's made mistakes and paid the price, but Deidre Chisolm is no quitter. She'll never again be a fool for a man, not even her gorgeous new neighbor with his haunted eyes and strange accent. She'll be friendly, but nothing more.
 
Lachlann has to go back to fourteenth-century Scotland. He can't forsake his family, his son. But when a beautiful, kind, funny lady buys the house next door, he's never been so drawn to anyone in his life. Would she believe his story? After years of struggling through nightmares and flashbacks, headaches and illiteracy, dare he ask her to help him return?

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 Bronze, damp, male…Lachlann’s powerful torso glistened before her, barely covered by a form-fitting, white muscle shirt. He was the most amazing sight she’d ever laid eyes on.

He was still sawing boards on a makeshift sawhorse and had worked up a sweat. His T-shirt was slung over the back of a chair. She watched, fascinated, as he sawed a thick board.

His shoulders were massive; they moved almost like separate entities. His chest was vast, muscular; his abdomen lean, ripped. Deidre’s mouth went dry. She was hyper-focusing.

The board split. He looked up, wiping his brow on his forearm, and smiled at her. Deidre didn’t smile back. She’d forgotten how to breathe.

Today, he wore his hair bound back in a ponytail, revealing the chiseled perfection of his face. Broad cheekbones, a strong nose, light, slate-gray eyes. His wasn’t a pretty face. It was too strong, too masculine, to be pretty. Except for his lips, which were full, sensual. She stared at his mouth.

Kissable.

Swoon.

She set the tray down.

“Thank you,” he was saying. “I’m hungry. I’ll just go and wash up.”

He walked to the side of the house where she’d arranged a small basket with hand soap, a scrub brush, and a couple of hand towels near a hose. The day before, he’d set his bar of soap on a brick and dried his hands on his jeans. The least she could do was offer small conveniences.

“It’s hot!” he said, returning to the patio. He grabbed his T-shirt. “I thought it was supposed to be cooler in October.”

“Cooler, yes, but not yet cool,” she replied as they sat down. “And you’re working hard. I can’t believe how fast you are. You really don’t like power tools?”

“I told you I’m old-fashioned.” He helped himself to a sandwich. “But in all truth, I haven’t had much need of any up till now, and it’s not as though I have my own workshop. Joe wouldn’t begrudge me the space, but his garage is full as it is.”

“I understand. Don’t get me wrong. It’s just that I’ve never seen anyone so fast with a saw. You’re…” She stopped and felt herself blushing.

“I’m what?” he questioned, frowning slightly.

“You’re strong,” she answered and hurriedly continued, striving to cover her embarrassment. “Do you work out?”

He looked confused. “Outside?”

“No. I mean, do you work out in a gym?”

“Ah, work out. No, I hate gyms. I understand training for warriors…”

“Warriors?” she interrupted.

“Soldiers,” he said quickly. “I can understand training for the military, or policemen, and others who protect people, and for certain other jobs. But otherwise, I believe that people’s daily lives and work should keep their bodies strong enough to suit their needs.”

“But what if, like me, a person’s job largely involves sitting?”

“You sit when you teach?"

“No, not usually. But I do have a desk. Lots of people sit at desks all day.”

“They shouldn’t, no matter what their job. But if they earn their livelihoods sitting, why do they need to be muscular?”

“Because it’s healthy?” Deidre sputtered.

“It’s all about health, then?”

“Yes! No!” She blew out a breath. “All right, some of it has to do with vanity, but not all of it. I walk. Do you consider walking a vain pursuit?”

“Walking is a normal activity. You’re an active person. When you’re at home, you’re outside a lot, working, moving. I live next door, remember? You take care of your garden, you work on your pool. You don’t just sit.”

“Well, I’m from the country. I like being outside and working in my garden. But you’re awfully hard on people who are just trying to look good and be healthy.”

“Am I?” He shrugged. “I don’t mean to be. It’s their time, not mine. I feel sorry for them. It seems unnatural, not using one’s body enough to sustain a healthy life.”

“I can agree with that,” she conceded. “Not everyone does, though, and not everyone looks like you.” She almost gasped. Never mind that it was the vastest understatement in the history of understatements. Was she losing her mind?

“Me?” He grinned broadly. “How do I look? Do you like it?”

Wasn’t it supposed to be cooler in October? Deidre fanned herself with her napkin. She had to get hold of herself and this conversation which, she knew only too well, she had started. She forced a laugh.

“How am I supposed to answer that?” she teased. “If I say ‘no,’ you might stop working. If I say ‘yes,’ your head might become too big for such menial labor.”

“Honesty is the best policy,” he quoted pompously.

Smiling, she put a hand to her chin and pretended to assess him, giving herself a moment to think. Good thing he wasn’t a mind reader. She wasn’t any good at flirting. But could she be honest? It seemed easy enough. Never, not even for a moment, had he seemed anything but supremely unaware of his appeal.

“All right, I’ll spoil you with the truth just this once.” She held up her ale. “Here’s to the world’s most handsome gardener.”

His eyes widened. Unbelievable! His grin stretched like a kid’s from ear to ear.

“And to the world’s most beautiful gardener.”

They clinked their bottles, and she hoped he would attribute her blush to the heat. Her whole face was burning! He’d flipped tables on her.
​
She could count on one hand the number of men who had ever called her beautiful.