‘Dair’ to be different…

I met my current guest a number of years ago – not many months after we had both decided to move into independent writing and publishing. We connected because at that time, there weren’t a lot of Australians treading the independent path and the friendship has seen much laughter and happiness as we share in each other’s successes.

We have both been lucky enough to win similar medals (except she added a gold one to her collection) with Readers’ Favorites (USA) and also with the RONE Awards (USA). And whilst I have diverged and gone along the historical fiction path, she has established a very strong brand in her genre, bringing quality writing, stellar research and elegant covers to all that she touches.

She has a magnificent Pinterest account which secured the interest of New York’s fastest growing fine arts blog, Hyperallergic. And most recently, her partnership with a group of American historical romance writers has secured her the coveted New York Times Bestseller title.

I am of course talking about the high-ranking historical romance novelist, Lucinda Brant.

Along with high fliers Ann Swinfen and SJA Turney, she is one of those I invited to be a partner in the Main Character Blog Tour, begun by Debra Brown, the instigator of the massively popular Facebook and blog site – English Historical Fiction Authors.  Ann, Simon, Lucinda and I are in the process of having brand new novels published and to be able to introduce our main characters to you either here, or on our own blogs, is very special!

Welcome Lucinda, and tell us…

1) What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person?

Alisdair “Dair” Fitzstuart, Major Lord Fitzstuart, recently of the 17^th Lancers, and hero of the Battle of Long Island campaign (August 27, 1776) of the American Revolutionary War. He received the nickname Dair Devil from his days at Harrow, where he was known to accept any dare put to him, and that carried over into his adult life. With a reputation to uphold as the Dair Devil, he does not refuse a wager. Major Lord Fitzstuart is fictional.

 

2) When and where is the story set?

London and Hampshire, 1777.

The American Revolutionary War continues to rage on the other side of the Atlantic with the British determined to win the war, and rebel American colonists just as determined to cut ties with Britain and forge a new nation. Yet, life in England is peaceful. For the aristocracy life is opulence personified, with houses the size of palaces, and days spent dressed in fashionable silks and in leisurely pursuits. Yet, no level of society is immune to the war. Members of the nobility hold key positions in the army and navy. And if not directly fighting, like Dair Fitzstuart, are in Parliament debating the war, as well as holding positions in government departments, secret committees and operations to try and bring about a resolution to hostilities before France publicly declares its support for the rebel colonists

The American Revolutionary War is the first war where intelligence gathering (spying) comes into its own, with spy rings on both sides. Spies and spying play a major role in helping both sides gather information on troop movements, supply chains, sympathizers and traitors. Both Dair and Miss Aurora ‘Rory” Talbot are intimately involved in the spying game—more I can’t say for fear of spoiling the story!

 

3) What should we know about him/her?

Dair Fitzstuart is a ruggedly handsome ex-officer who’s a bit of a rogue and a rascal. He’s one of the boys, who’s not afraid to use his fists in an affray. He’s considered vainglorious and arrogant, and is said to keep a mistress and children, with no intention of giving them up upon marriage. And yet, for a daughter of the Georgian aristocracy, he ticks all the right boxes as suitable husband material: He’s heir to an earldom, a direct descendant of Charles the Second, and cousin of the all-powerful Duke of Roxton.

Yet appearances can deceive. People are never one dimensional, and none more so than Dair Fitzstuart, who has a well crafted public façade. What Society—even his family—thinks it knows about him is only what the man himself permits to be revealed.

4) What is the main conflict? What confuses his/her life?

Dair Fitzstuart is prepared to gamble with his life, but never with his heart. That is, until a chance encounter at George Romney’s painting studio where he literally runs into Rory Talbot, one very astute young woman. The attraction is immediate and mutual, and the consequences profound.

Rory Talbot is unlike any other female he has met; for one thing, she cultivates pineapples—not an easy thing to do in the 18^th Century. Pineapples were considered such a rare and exotic fruit that if you had the money you could hire one for your next party; the fruit was the celebrity and the talking point.

After Dair’s chance encounter with Rory, his public persona beings to fall apart. He starts to question his own motivation for hiding behind a façade of blustering arrogance. It helps that Rory has seen through his guise from the start.

 

5) What is the personal goal of the character?

From the moment Dair realizes he wants no other woman but Rory for his wife he sets about convincing her they are destined to be together. He is determined to show her he is worthy of her, and that she, for all her misgivings, is his ideal life partner. It’s not an easy quest. In the process, he learns a few home truths about himself that he would never have dreamed of addressing if not for Rory, and he is determined to be a better man.

 

6) Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?

DAIR DEVIL: A Georgian Historical Romance, Roxton Family Saga Book 4

You can read more about it here: http://lucindabrant.com/dair-devil.php

Go behind-the-scenes of DAIR DEVIL and explore the places, objects, and history in the book on Pinterest:

 

7) When can we expect the book to be published?

The book has just been published and is available from all eRetailers:

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JX9ILWS

Amazon UK: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JX9ILWS

iBooks, Nook, Kobo, and other eRetailers: http://lucindabrant.com/dair-devil.php

 

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Brand: ‘Me’…

I originally opened a Pinterest account as an adjunct to my persona as a writer. The general opinion was that it was a perfect way to give one a brand and to give one’s books a visual dimension. So when I set up my account, I gave it a purely medieval focus – looking at many aspects of medieval life.

Each book I’ve written has its own board and images that underline the story are included in that board. Originally this was just for the readers of my books to become familiar with the worlds I was creating but as time went on and I wrote further books, I found it was inspirational for me as the writer to create a board to refer to during the writing of that book. Consequently you will find Gisborne: Book of Kings has a board, even though it is a long way from publication and has no cover yet. But it’s filled with images which help propel the story forward in my mind.

However, early on, Pinterest began to do its thing – you know the thing I am talking about, whereby you begin grazing through images, finding many that interest you on other levels entirely. For example I stitch, so I found that Me the Writer just had to create a board called Threads. And I garden and so I had to have a board called Tree and Leaf. I love miniature books – Miniscule. Paper Art – Eclectica and so on.

Was this departure from historical fiction and historical fantasy, from the medieval era and from my books good for the brand Prue Batten? And what is a brand anyway?  At its most basic level and according to Wikipedia, Brand is the “name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller’s product distinct from those of other sellers.” Not only that “brand owners manage their brands carefully to create shareholder value”. In the case of novels, that would be you, the reader – you’re the shareholder. So by broadening the so-called brand, does that mean I weaken the Prue Batten brand in your eyes? Probably some marketing guru would say, ‘Yes! Keep it narrow, keep it focused, make it YOU!’

But you see, all of these other facets make Me the Writer. Without stitching, the first two historical fantasy novels would never have seen the light of day as that is a strong theme running through both. The fourth and final in the Chronicles is about paper and silk, something that winds its way through my life on a daily basis. Without stitching and paper, The Chronicles of Eirie would never have been and the third in the series would never have won a silver medal. Likewise, without gardening, I would never have that intrinsic connection with ‘Out There’ that’s so vital in my settings.

There are other facets too that make me … well, Me!

For example – Jack Russell Terriers (Soulmates), a certain part of Tasmania (Heart and Soul), bookish things in general (Bibliophile). Tolkein, Robin Hood, Richard III, Renaissance and so on. All full of glorious images and rich colour. Inspiration by the BUCKETLOAD!

So where does that leave Brand Prue Batten, do you think? Any ideas?

I do have three private boards that I love delving into. They are for my eyes only but relate to writing in one instance and to things that matter to me in the others. I’ll keep them ‘secret’ as they truly don’t add to the so-called brand in any way. But I’m contemplating new ‘public’ boards. Have you got any suggestions for me? What would you like to see in respect of Me the Writer and that strange thing called a brand?

I’d love to hear…

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Oh Christmas Tree, oh Christmas Tree…

I wanted a tree to suit our little coastal cottage and found some wonderful ideas on Pinterest.

So I walked the beach and found driftwood in shifting shades of grey and ivory.

Brought it home. Cut it to different lengths.

Laid it on the new men’s shed floor and stared at it.

Cooked my husband and son a really nice dinner and encouraged them to realise how perfectly they would be able to build me a driftwood tree in the new purpose built men’s shed. I mean they had to christen the shed – surely!

And this was the result.

So, then it was my turn to decorate it to fit into our tiny little cottage (the men’s shed is as big as the cottage!).

Putting string on the baubles – no string at House so had to use my precious embroidery wool.

But it all worked out.

Oh little Christmas Tree!

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The Flying Carpet…

As the end of the first draft of Gisborne: Book of Knights rapidly approaches, space appears in the mind for new novels. I have three little rooms slowly filling and occasionally, when time permits, I hop on my flying carpet to travel from room to room to investigate the ideas.

I’ve always wanted to write a novel about Richard III’s timeframe, but not about the monarch himself. In preference, I’d rather concentrate on a tradesperson – about how what they do impacts on their life in the most stellar and harrowing way.

I’ve also wanted to write a novel where my protagonist begins in Venice at the time trade was expanding and beginning its rise to that of Mediterranean super power. I like the connection Venice had with Constantinople and the African coast: a connection made all the more powerful by reading Dorothy Dunnett’s books and thence moving to non-fiction texts to expand the interest.

And I’ve always loved books set in Turkey. Constantinople in the 14^th and 15^th centuries glows with heroic deed and misdeed and seen through the eyes of a female ingénue, could be fun. I remember trawling through my own memories of travel in exotic places when writing A Thousand Glass Flowers (set in a fantasy version of places such as Turkey, Tunisia and Northern India) and becoming inspired by the recall.

When I set up the Pinterest board early in 2012 for A Thousand Glass Flowers, I became filled with joy at the colour and depth of subsequent images. It is the perfect depiction of the fantasy world within that novel but in addition, it continues to inspire and enthrall. I often return to the board and just click through the pins. It’s like sitting on my flying carpet and being taken on a sensual ride through a bazaar filled with the scents of cumin and turmeric, of hashish and ma’sal, or jurâk. Of men in keffiyeh and bisht, and women in kameez, thawb or abbaya. Of rainbow silks and food that thrills the palate. Of simple things like plump dates, sultanas and figs.

Recently I read two novels set in Istanbul. One was by Colin Falconer – a dark narrative called Harem,  about the insidious machinations of the hourie Hurrem within the courts of Suleiman the Magnificent. I am yet to read its sequel, Seraglio,  but look forward to it as a further revelation of a timeframe that has its own fascination.

The other novel, and one I am still reeling from in terms of pace and intrigue is the cracking A Thief’s Tale by SJA Turney. Brilliant. Loved every minute of it. And so excited that it is to be a trilogy. Turney’s book is set in the fifteenth century Ottoman Empire and is filled with the basest political intrigue. But it balances the cruel outcomes with street cred of the most jaw-dropping kind. There are chases through ‘old’ Istanbul that could sit comfortably with Dorothy Dunnett’s brilliant 5 star ‘rooftops of Blois’ chase. And Dorothy Dunnett aficionados will know exactly what I mean.

So…

I’m enjoying my carpet ride at the moment.

Tell me, where is your carpet taking you?

NB: all images of paintings taken from Wikimedia Commons.

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The Universe Speaks to Me…

While my book-sales take a Springtime nosedive, and I spend more time in the garden or working around the farm to worry about my failing writerly profile, or even how ill-disciplined I am toward my writing (to give myself a pat on the back: I did write from 11-12.15PM and reduced myself to tears as I wrote), I came inside this evening to find a link sent to me by my daughter for the most delicious and witty blog called Faux Fuschia.

I had crept into the laundry and divested myself of sheep-poo encrusted clothes, scrubbed my mud-filled nails, brushed out my seed filled hair and hauled myself to my wardrobe to climb into trackie bottoms and a polar fleece top. Flung tiny new potatoes on the stove to boil, made (gorgeous) mayonnaise and pulled Creole smoked salmon out of the fridge to eat tonight with white wine alongside. It’s all my aching hands, body and mind could manage.

And then I opened the computer and clicked on the link and stared at this divine woman’s slick home which was overflowing with colour, at her perfectly manicured  nails, her beautifully applied lipstick and miraculously tied Pucci scarves – and thought how far removed from her I was at that moment.

That said; I vicariously enjoyed her perfection knowing I’m too tired to find my own. I also love that the Universe Talks to Her. To be frank it talks to me too, but it obviously says the same things in a different way.

BUT … I loved reading this blog tonight. It absolutely hit the spot because I needed the escape and sometimes things like picturesque blogs and Pinterest are the best medicine.

And tomorrow, if the Universe Talks To Me in the right way, maybe I shall pull out the gorgeous Gucci scarf my children gave me last birthday and try and tie it at least a little bit perfectly and maybe I shall even paint my toenails…

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Pinterest…

For a little while recently, I had observed increasing fascination with Pinterest but had never bothered to look at it myself. My writer’s life is full of research, writing in longhand, transcribing, editing, my blog, Facebook-Writer, Facebook-Private, Twitter and a writer’s office business. I felt introducing any more online bit and bobs into my life would cause my writing to suffer.

A couple of weeks ago I discovered the most perfect, lush Pinterest set up by the author Lucinda Brant http://pinterest.com/lucindabrant/, whose books I thoroughly enjoy. As I read her books, I always have an image in my mind of what she is writing about but with her Pinterest boards, she has given her readers vivid food for their imaginations.

I remember viewing a discussion online about the value of enhanced e-books and some fiction readers saying they didn’t wish to have images placed in front of them as they preferred to ‘imagine’ the books, characters, settings etc in their own way. In terms of historical fiction, the reader is of course able to go to any number of sources to verify what might be in their imagination and such activity thus nullified an enhanced e-book anyway.

In the case of the e-book Gisborne: Book of Pawns, my UK publisher has issued it as an enhanced e-book but on release of the print edition by my Australian publisher, there will be no illustrative plates throughout. It will simply be a work of fictional text.

Which of course brings me to http://pinterest.com/ 

Over the years, I’ve collected files of visual images that inspire me for each of my novels, thus giving me colour for my narrative. Or in the words of one blessed reviewer of Gisborne: ‘…3D and surround sound … in the very best way.’ The files are like old-fashioned scrapbooks and when I saw what Lucinda had done, the thought occurred to me that I too could share my inspirational images with any readers who may tread Pinterest’s path. So I owe enormous thanks to her for showing me the way.

I began shyly. A couple of boards, a few images.

It took 20 minutes to work out the idiosyncracies of the technique, and suddenly, just like with my embroidery I had a new hobby. Not only that, I was finding the most wonderful images on other boards that were feeding my imagination.

There are the inevitable problems with attribution of some images and I’ve tried to circumvent that as best I can. Most of the original images I use are sourced from Wikimedia Commons which is like wandering through the Louvre, the BM, the V and A and any other illustrious arthouse or museum. But in my bookmarked files on my computer, I have many pics I’m unable to pin – stunning pieces from Getty Images or Veere that I would adore to share but which would contravene rigid copyright.

In the meantime, I am having such fun. It’s so addictive and I invite all and sundry to http://pinterest.com/pruebatten/ to view the inspirations for all of my work. Come on over and see real enhancement at work!

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