This book tied me in knots. I questioned every decision. Did I include too much history? Did I give enough clues? Did the cover convey a mystery book that wasn't dark or bloody?
Ultimately, its up to the readers now. (That's you!) Feel free to let me know! I'm already knee-deep into the story about Mary, the Queen of Scots. Her life was complex, tumultuous and tragic. It's going to take a lot of mental energy to package that woman up! In the meantime, I'm taking a trip to Portugal soon. It's definitely a vacation. I won't be imaging Iris sitting across the table from me while I dine in restaurants. I'll avoid walking into anything that looks like a bookshop, and I'll turn my back on anything that appears remotely medieval. I'm such a liar.
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I'd hoped to have the book published by now, but a new friend (a fellow writer) said she experienced a little confusion when reading certain passages. This series incorporates more history (condensing a lot of material ) so I wasn't terribly surprised. Still. It's torture wanting to release a book, and then finding out it's not quite ready...
Then I remembered a quote from a letter King Henry the Eight wrote to Anne Boleyn: "One can't do more than the possible." Except for those love letters, I didn't care for the guy, but he did have a good point. Anyway, I'm back to my laptop, and I promise I'll do my best to make this novel sparkle by the time I'm done! PS. I'm reading Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Shelley, and it's nothing like I imagined from those movies. I'm floating.
This newest novel has taken more time, more research, and more stamina than my previous books and I hoped it would it would excite readers. It has. Early readers not only enjoyed the book, they found it fascinating! As usual, when I'm doing research, I often come across ideas that need exploration. In this case, I read an article about some smudges on a book of prayers belonging to Anne Boleyn. Only, it turns out, they weren't water stains like everyone assumed. My imagination went wild. At the same time, I'd noticed a trend when I was out shopping. There was more merchandise marketed toward the occult. Tarot cards. Crystal sun catchers. Bundles of sage. I sensed a current in the fabric of our society. A quiet revolution. Witches, once feared and exiled, were on the rise. What did it mean? Surprisingly, my research led me in a big circle.... I'm working on the cover and expect to be releasing the book in another few weeks. Meanwhile, I feel like Mary, the Queen of Scots is demanding an audience. This quote I found online could've been written for her: "You will never be crowned if you always back down." From my research so far, I know Mary took everything life threw at her and she... DID NOT BACK DOWN. I'm already looking forward to introducing you to another queen.... I've finished the first draft of book one in a new series, and I think you're going to like it. Along with a modern day mystery, the Executed Queen series will share tantalizing bits about the lives of Anne Boleyn, Mary Stuart (Queen of Scots), and Marie Antoinette.
I'm starting with Anne and the prayer book she took to her execution. Did you realize King Henry VIII destroyed everything related to his second wife? Many women risked their lives to preserve that book and you might be wondering why... I think I can help you with that question, but you're going to have to give me some more time! In the meantime, what do you think of the tagline for the series? Three dead queens is nothing to lose your head about... |
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October 2023
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