Newsletter number seven

Are you all turned out like the Queen of the May and dancing madly around your poles? (No, I’m no madder than usual, just English and it’s May day.)

News:

I’ve uploaded the freebie story “My True Love Sent to me” to my website and it’s featuring at the Summer Reading Trail here, where you’ll also find various other free reads.

I’ll be all over the internet (like a rash) doing stuff for Last Gasp and Lessons in Trust, both of which come out next week, so please come and say hello and ask me really hard questions.

I hope you’re all aware of the Macaroni's blog. It’s a great place for finding all sorts of things related to historical romance, writing, fit blokes and other things of interest. You can read articles by some of the great names in gay historical romance, like Alex Beecroft, Lee Rowan and Erastes.

Daftness:

At a chat, a few months back, I got asked to write some scenes featuring Ralph and Lavinia (from the Cambridge books). For those who’ve not come across this couple, Lavinia is Jonty’s sister, Ralph is her husband and their sex life is non-existent.

Lavinia swept down the stairs like Boadicea on one of her grumpier days.
“But darling…” a voice followed her from the top of the stairs.
“Don’t ‘darling’ me, Ralph. I’ve said I wouldn’t and I won’t.”
“But, my precious one, it’s the sort of thing any wife would do.”
“I find it hard to belief that any wife would – literally – stoop so low.”
“My mother did it for my father.”
“I bet she did and I don’t care a jot. It’s not natural, even in the bedroom.”
“But…”
“That’s an end to it, Ralph. I will not cut your toenails and that’s final.”

***

Ralph’s eyes shone. A puzzle. A real, important puzzle, must better than the sort of word games he was fond of.
“What’s amusing you?” Lavinia’s hand crept into his, squeezing affectionately.
Ralph swallowed hard. He dearly loved his wife, but sometimes squeezing hands was as good as it got. “This Woodville Ward thing. Think, Lavinia, we could be the people to solve the mystery, after hundreds of years.”
Lavinia rolled her eyes. “Don’t let Mama hear you, then. She’s going mad with all the Woodville Wardery that’s invaded the place. ‘No peace to be had anywhere, dear, unless you lock yourself in the bathroom and it’s too chilly for such nonsense’.” The imitation of Mrs. Stewart was uncanny. “And why there’s all this fuss when there are bigger mysteries to be solves beggars belief.”
“Bigger mysteries?” Ralph’s eyes enthusiastic grin grew even wider.
“Of course.” Lavinia’s eyes twinkled. “Working out where the males of the family last saw their brains…”


Inspiration:

I’ll be posting at the Samhain blog next week about the place which inspired Lessons in Trust. If you want to have a sneak peek at the place where the Cambridge lads will be causing mayhem, look here.

Any questions you've wanted to ask about Britain...

but you were too scared to? alex_beecroft and I will be chatting at Samhain Cafe at 7-9pm UK time, 2-5pm EST, and we'll asnwer any questions about Britain - customs, language, whatever you want.

No enquiry will be regarded as too daft!