Article re: Writing Historical Fiction at Love Romance

I have neglected all of you while completing the final revision and edit of my mediaeval novel set in the reign of Edward II, and writing my new novel, Tuesday's Child, set in the Regency era.

 

Just popping in to let you know that, to day, I am Dawn Roberts' guest at Love Romance, where she has posted my article about writing historical fiction.

http://dawnsreadingnook.blogspot.com/2016/03/guest-author-day-with-rosemary-morris.html

Rosemary Morris

Author of Romantic Historical Novels

Rosemary Morris

Free Flash Fiction Prize Winning Short Story.

Watford Writers invited members to submit a Flash Fiction 350 word Valentine's Day story. I'm delighted to have won second prize for Unchained Love. I hope you enjoy it. Your comments will be very welcome.

Unchained Love

 

The consultant broke the news. “I’m very sorry to tell you both that Paul only has two months to live.”

He and I packed as much as possible into December and January. His last birthday celebrated at a restaurant, although he could eat little. Christmas, at our daughter’s house. My final goodbye at the graveside.

February brought slate grey skies and curtains of rain. Valentine’s Day approached. No cards or flowers for me this year

The shop is filled with heart-shaped balloons. Invitations to Be My Valentine. Cards ornamented with glitter, beads and ribbons are filled with romantic messages, and decorated with roses or cupids with bows in hand ready to shoot arrows.

I splash my way to Paul’s tombstone where I prop my card, wrapped in cling film. The rain washes away my tears, but can’t kill the powerful fragrance of red roses. It pierces my heart. I arrange the flowers in a vase and place them on the marble slab. God, please bless, my darling. One day, may we be reunited?

I trudge between graves, on some of which are sodden teddy bears. So much loss. My own threatens to overwhelm me. I want to run back to Paul’s last resting place and fling myself onto it. To tell him life is unbearable without him. Instead I catch the bus to the house we shared, every part of which brings poignant memories. Oh, we weren’t the perfect couple. Sometimes we had arguments, but they couldn’t have been important because I can’t remember what they were about.

I answer a knock on the front door. My next door neighbour holds out red roses. She smiles but looks curiously at me. “These came for you while you were out.”

Who on earth could they be from?

Alone, I read the card that nestled in the heart of the bouquet.

“My love, you filled my life with joy. Although I’ve left you, for my sake, please fill yours with happiness.”

I don’t know if I can ever again be happy, but day by day, for Paul’s sake, I shall try.

Book Club Interview

Yesterday, I was interviewed by Book Club

http://www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com/…/book-club-friday….

Unfortunately, an 80 year old relative, who has a pacemaker, fell down the stairs from top to bottom. Blood everywhere from a cut on his head. Shocked, battered and bruised, he is fortunate not to have broken an arm and a leg. I went to the hospital and returned late to tired to promote the interview yesterday,

All the best,

Rosemary Morris

Historical Novelist

Special Offer. False Pretences. Regency Mystery/Romance

Special Offer.
I am delighted to announce an Exclusive MuseItUp & Amazon e-book deal for my Regency  Mystery Romance  False Pretences.

#False Pretences is available for £0.99 - $1.41 until the 30th January.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Plot, Well Researched, Enjoyable Novel, 

J. Pittam “Maythorn” (Hertfordshire, England.) 

This review is from: False Pretences (Kindle Edition)
I very much enjoyed this novel by Rosemary Morris. It is set in 1815, but is not what I'd call a typical 'Regency Romance'. There certainly is a romance involved, eventually, but there's an elegant, well-told mystery story before we get there. The plot is intricate and the research superb. I very much enjoyed following Annabelle's search for identity, which involves bitter discoveries about her father and half-brother’s political intrigues, covers her own fears and worries for her sister and servants (she's a compassionate lass, is Annabelle, and inclined to pick up waifs and strays) and finally the moment when she succumbs to a delicious hero.

All in all I hope Rosemary Morris has some more books under her sleeve.

This book is suitable for those who like their history accurate, their heroine to be a real person, the hero likewise (but gorgeous). There is no explicit sex in this novel. As a kindle read it's also suitable for those with a visual disability.

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

Who? A Question for an Author to Answer

Whether you are writing non fiction or fiction, at the beginning it is necessary to engage a reader in the story by establishing who it is about as soon as possible.

In Tangled Love, set in Hertfordshire, in 1693, the unpopular King James, brother of Charles IInd has fled England and his daughter Mary and her husband William now sit on the throne. In the prologue, nine year-old Richelda’s father explains his dilemma.

     “With a sigh, Father lifted her onto his knee. ‘Richelda, I must follow His Majesty for I swore an oath of allegiance to him. Tell me, child, while King James lives how can I, with honour, swear allegiance to his disloyal daughter and her husband?’

Unable to think of a reply, she lowered her head breathing in his spicy perfume.

Father held her closer. ‘Your mother pleads with me to declare myself for William and Mary. She begs me not to return to France, but I am obliged to serve King James. Do you understand?’

 

Rosemary Morris

Romantic Historical Novelist

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

2016

Wishing all of you a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year,

Rosemary Morris

Historical Novelist

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

My New Novel is On Schedule

I've been neglecting social media. This year I didn't have a new novel published and decided I write too slowly. I need to be more productive without sacrificing quality so I decided to write Tuesday's Child without research, revision or edits. I wanted to finish the first draft by the end of November or December 10th at the latest. I have almost met my target. I wrote 70,000 words and then realised I should revise Tuesday's Child to make sure that I tied up all the loose ends. I have revised and edited 100 pages of the second draft and am making notes on the contents of each chapter. Next, I shall write the final 5,000 words or more. It's a new way of writing for me but, hopefully, I will be ready to submit the novel to MuseItUpPublishing by the end of March, if not before. Phew!

Sepcial Offers $0.99 only on December Second Sweet Historical Romances

 

 

On the 12 days of Christmas my true love gave to me ebooks with food and wine.

For only one day (December 2^nd) my novels are on special offer at $0.99 from:-

 https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore

 False Pretences Annabelle runs away from school into the arms of a charismatic gentleman…but can she trust him to help her to find out who her parents are?

 Sunday’s Child Despite loss and past love, self-sacrifice, brutality and honour, will it be possible for Tarrant and Georgianne to find happiness?

 Tangled Love Tangled Love set in England in 1706 during Queen Anne Stuart’s reign, a story of two great estates, duty, betrayal and passionate love.

 Far Beyond Rubies When Gervaise sees Juliana for the first time, he recognises her, but not from this lifetime…

 The Captain and The Countess.  His heart captured by the Countess only Captain Howard sees pain behind her fashionable façade and is determined to help her.

 To read extracts, view the book covers and the book trailers please visit:

 www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

 

 

Writing My New Novel, Tuesday's Child

fter my last novel, Monday's Child, which will be published in Spring, 2016, took me fourteen months to write I decided I need to write faster. I set myself the task of finishing a 75, word novel in 75 days or less, and to enter a young adult fiction competition as well as a short story competition. I've entered the competitions but fallen short of my target to finish Tuesday's Child yesterday. However, the good news is that I've written 65,000 words without stopping to edit, revise and check my research.

In order to reach my goals I stopped posting on social media. I've missed chatting, reading posts and posting messages but it's been worthwhile.

I know that many authors write a couple of thousand words or more a day but I don't have time to, so I'm pleased with my achievements.

Rosemary Morris

www.rosemaymorris.co.uk

The Body Shop

On my way to the London Chapter of The Romantic Novelist's Association's meeting I couldn't resist popping into The Body Shop. Seduced by various products I'm now way over-budget for the week, but it's worthwhile.

Switching On My Editor

Over half way through writing Tuesday's Child I wanted to move the novel forward from one part to the next without going into unnecessary detail. I wrote half a chapter in which the heroine is looking at herself in a mirror and thinking about several recent events.Then I decided my readers would prefer reading about what happened when it occurred to being told about it through the heroine's thoughts. I had not intended to do any revision until I finished the novel in record time, but changed my mind and rewrote half of the chapter.

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

First Draft Tuesday's Child Sweet Regency Romance

I have found it difficult to write with my internal editor switched off. When writing my previous novels I edited, revised and researched each chapter before I wrote the next one.

 However, I am a historical novelist so some research has been necessary, but even taking that into account, I have written a thousand or more words every day. I hope to finish the first, 95,000word, draft of my stand-alone novel, Tuesday’s Child, (a follow on novel from Sunday’s Child and Monday’s Child) by the 15^th December.

 So far, I’m pleased with my objective to complete a novel more quickly than I did in the past but admit I still have to silence my internal editor.

 

 

Poetry Workshop

I enjoyed yesterday's workshop, Poetry as Therapy, at Watford Writers. The facilitator works with Mencap using art and poetry. We were asked to write a poem about Nature in ten minutes. Mine began with winter.
 

"Snow when we met pristine beneath our feet. Christmas trees, holly bright with berries. Promise of the festive season, And much more." 

I wrote five verses with four lines in each about Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn and a final verse about Winter: 

"Snow when we walk... beneath our feet. Nature retreating in slumber beneath bare earth. Evergreens rich with spicy perfume. Perfume like incense when enclosed in pine your remains rest." 

Well, it was a challenge but people particularly liked my lines: "Daffodils trumpeting their joy for us to share" and "Apples and pears like Christmas baubles on the trees." 

Members of the Writers' Group interpreted nature in varied ways and, as usual, I am very impressed by their talent.

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

Poetry Workshop

This evening I'm attending a poetry workshop at Watford Writers. The subject is writing poetry as therapy.  The theme is nature. Personally, I don't think I need therapy but the workshop might be interesting . Anyway, I tend to write mostly in my own comfort zone, historical fiction, so its good for me to dabble in other forms of writing. However, if I'm bored this evening, I shall leave half way through the workshop during the break for refreshments.

About: Far Beyond Rubies: Early 18th Century Novel

 

 

Far Beyond Rubies by Rosemary Morris

Back Cover

 

 Set in 1706 during Queen Anne Stuart’s reign, Far Beyond Rubies begins when William, Baron Kemp, Juliana’s half-brother claims she and her young sister, Henrietta, are bastards. Spirited Juliana is determined to prove the allegation is false, and that she is the rightful heiress to Riverside, a great estate.

 

On his way to deliver a letter to William, Gervaise Seymour sees Juliana for the first time on the grounds of her family estate. The sight of her draws him back to India. When “her form changed to one he knew intimately – but not in this lifetime,” Gervaise knows he would do everything in his power to protect her.

 

Although Juliana and Gervaise are attracted to each other, they have not been formally introduced and assume they will never meet again. However, when Juliana flees from home, and is on her way to London, she encounters quixotic Gervaise at an inn. Circumstances force Juliana to accept his kind help. After Juliana’s life becomes irrevocably tangled with his, she discovers all is not as it seems. Yet, she cannot believe ill of him for, despite his exotic background, he behaves with scrupulous propriety while trying to help her find evidence to prove she and her sister are legitimate.

 

Far Beyond Rubies is available from: MuseItUp Publishing, Amazon Kindle, Nook, Omlit, Bookstrand Mainstream, Kobo and elsewhere.

To view the book trailer, read the first three chapters and reviews please visit. www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

 

 

 

Writing Historical Fiction and Romance

I am pleased because I've nearly written half of my book, Tuesday's Child, a stand alone, follow on novel from my Regency Romances, Sunday's Child and Monday's Child. I had decided that I write too slowly so my plan was to finish Tuesday's Child without spending hours researching the historical background. I have notes in bold to indicate where I need to research something, or check if something is correct. However, I have found it impossible to develop the plot without some research. Fortunately, it hasn't prevented me from reaching my daily output, and keeping up with other 'writerly' matters. 

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

Writing Competitions

I enjoy writing historical women's fiction but every once in a while I think it's good to challenge myself. I enjoyed revising my young adult fiction competition entry which I submitted to Fish yesterday. So I have high-lighted all the competitions of interest to me in Writing Magazine's Supplement: 2016 Competition Special. Years ago, I completed the beginner's, intermediate and advanced Open College of the Arts' Writing Courses. The 3000 word stories I wrote are based on classical Indian literature, which rivals classical Greek literature. One of my stories was published but the others have languished in a box file. The tutor was enthusiastic about the stories so it's time to 'test the waters' by entering one in a competition.
www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

2nd Opinion of Multi Cultural Competition Entry

I whittled my entry into the young adult fiction competition down to 5,000 words. The novel is multi-cultural. To make sure someone unfamiliar with some of the customs  in the first chapter understood them, I asked another author, who visited my house today, to read the first chapter while we drank tea. He really liked it,  and the hook in the first paragraph intrigued him so much that he wanted to know how the plot would be resolved at the end of the novel. Phew! I felt a little more confident so I edited and revised 2,500 words.
www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

Children's Writing Competition

A long time ago I wrote a multi-cultural young adult novel. However, it is only 30,000 words long so I thought there would not be a market for it. So, while browsing Writing Magazine's 2016 Competition Special I was delighted to find Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Comp for full-length novels, 30,000 words suitable for readers 7-18. So, I am revising the novel and plan to enter it in the competition.
www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

Turning Off My Internal Editor

During today's tea break I read an article in Writing Magazine. It is A Novel in A Month by Steven Chapman. The topic is the annual NANoWriMo challenge about getting 50,000 words in a month.

I am still resisting the urge to revise and edit each chapter of Tuesday's Child before I finish the first draft, so I found the following of particular interest.

"By beating your inner editor into submission you'll soon realise how good a writer you actually are. It sounds contradictory but without that nagging voice beating your every move, you'll focus on plot and character development rather than fussing over the finer details."

Historical Novelist
www.rosemarymorris.co.uk