NCEPR: Historical romance fans?

[smock]

Hi guys, apparently I can't quit. I wrote ANOTHER book. This one has mistaken identities, a pamphlet war, an unwanted engagement, and a hedge maze.

It's called Engaged to an Earl (spoiler: it's actually the son of an earl, but that didn't make a very snappy title). And it's a sweet historical romance set in 18th-century London (i.e. not steamy; it's more G-rated in a Disney way, like they kiss and get married at the end).

This is my attempt to branch out more firmly into historical romance with some humor. There's a goose attack, a scandalous secret, and lots of visits to London coffee-houses.

I'm launching the book next month––let me know if anyone is interested in a free copy in exchange for a review! THIS time I actually finished the editing/proofing before prepping the ARC copies! Plus no cliffhanger, more lighthearted, and very focused on a love story.

[stinkyfeet]

I'd love to review it!

[smock]

Jun 30, 2021 13:18:21 GMT -5 stinkyfeet said:

I'd love to review it!

Awesome! 🎉 I'll send you a PM.

[Ashley&Scott]

Exciting!! I'd be happy to review it.

[picksthemusic]

ME!!

[smock]

Jun 30, 2021 13:23:42 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

Exciting!! I'd be happy to review it.

Yay! 🎉 Let me shoot you a PM. 

[smock]

Jun 30, 2021 13:24:08 GMT -5 picksthemusic said:

ME!!

Fantastic! PM coming your way!

[lilafowler]

I’ve just gotten back into reading historical romance!

[notsopicky]

Pick me again! Can't wait to read it.

Please tell me the goose attack was inspired by Nest/GBCN.

[jamaicam]

Yes please! I'd like to read some light and funny!

[smock]

Jun 30, 2021 15:26:13 GMT -5 notsopicky said:

Pick me again! Can't wait to read it.

Please tell me the goose attack was inspired by Nest/GBCN.

Ha, it's a total GBCN shoutout in an 18th c. setting. 😆

And thanks, I'll send you a PM!

[smock]

Jun 30, 2021 15:38:30 GMT -5 jamaicam said:

Yes please! I'd like to read some light and funny!

Absolutely, and thanks! I'll send you a PM!

[lilafowler]

I’d like to read it too if the offer still stands! Lol

[idahome]

Historical romance…love it!

I’m so curious about your writing process given the breadth of topics you cover.

Kudos on the new book!

[childofhiphop]

I’ll read it please.

[smock]

Jun 30, 2021 17:06:22 GMT -5 lilafowler said:

I’d like to read it too if the offer still stands! Lol

Absolutely! I should have gone for the hard sell after your first post, but there's a reason I'm a writer and not a marketer. 😆

I'll send you a PM!

[smock]

Jun 30, 2021 17:10:12 GMT -5 idahome said:

Historical romance…love it!

I’m so curious about your writing process given the breadth of topics you cover.

Kudos on the new book!

Thanks! It doesn't actually seem too terribly broad to me, since pretty much everything I've written lines up with my history Ph.D. I started with Renaissance Italy (taught that course), veered off a bit into the Salem Witch Trials (taught that, too), and now I'm in 18th century England (yep, taught it).

The inspiration for this book actually came from a grad school friend of mine who was like "Damn, Rousseau is a huge asshole when it comes to women!" I thought it would be interesting to hear how a woman reader might respond to Rousseau by writing her own pamphlet – there's so much fascinating stuff happening in the 1700s about print culture, women's education, etc. Plus I wanted to write a fancy ballroom scene after watching Bridgerton. 😆

I'm moving more firmly into historical romance in part because it's such a huge market and I've really leaned on the romance genre for guaranteed good feelings during the pandemic. After writing about murders and political intrigue, it was wonderful to delve into slightly lighter matters like "I have to save my family's reputation by marrying a man I've never met" or "the woman I like mistakenly thinks I'm a printer when I'm actually a disowned gentleman." 😉

[smock]

Jun 30, 2021 17:14:23 GMT -5 childofhiphop said:

I’ll read it please.

Thanks! I'll send you a PM!

[idahome]

smock: Makes sense…and I’m looking forward to this new series!

[CurlyQ284]

I'd love to read it! So exciting!

I didn't get into romance until early pandemic when I read about the Courtney Milan vs RWA situation. I read that romance outsells all other genres combined and I was like ummmm I need to see what I'm missing. I've been well entrenched in historical fiction for years so it was an easy leap. And then I basically only read historical romances for the last yearish lol. I've considered writing one too, although further back in history.

[smock]

Jun 30, 2021 21:19:57 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

I'd love to read it! So exciting!

I didn't get into romance until early pandemic when I read about the Courtney Milan vs RWA situation. I read that romance outsells all other genres combined and I was like ummmm I need to see what I'm missing. I've been well entrenched in historical fiction for years so it was an easy leap. And then I basically only read historical romances for the last yearish lol. I've considered writing one too, although further back in history.

Awesome, thanks in advance! I'll send you a PM. 

And you should definitely write a novel! What time period/setting were you thinking? My sister writes medieval historical romance as her full-time job. Her pen name is Emma Prince if you want to check her out!

[CurlyQ284]

Jul 1, 2021 11:09:16 GMT -5 smock said:

Jun 30, 2021 21:19:57 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

I'd love to read it! So exciting!

I didn't get into romance until early pandemic when I read about the Courtney Milan vs RWA situation. I read that romance outsells all other genres combined and I was like ummmm I need to see what I'm missing. I've been well entrenched in historical fiction for years so it was an easy leap. And then I basically only read historical romances for the last yearish lol. I've considered writing one too, although further back in history.

Awesome, thanks in advance! I'll send you a PM. 

And you should definitely write a novel! What time period/setting were you thinking? My sister writes medieval historical romance as her full-time job. Her pen name is Emma Prince if you want to check her out!

I've been into British history for as long as I can remember, I just keep going further and further back. My current interest is between the Roman conquest and the Norman conquest. I literally checked out a translated copy of the Anglo Saxon Chronicles from my library and sat there for days reading monk entries. I'm especially fascinated at the recounts of eclipses, that must have been terrifying before anyone knew what an eclipse was!

I don't know if a romance novel could be set in this time, its not super romantic haha. It might not end up being romance, there's so much war during this time and I get really into that. I have a vague plot in mind but its shape-shifted over the last year.

There will probably be an eclipse 🤣

Just scanned Emma Prince's page and yes please to all of those!

[smock]

Oooh, CurlyQ284, that sounds so cool! I'm actually ghostwriting a book about the history of astronomy right now (ha ha my job is weird), and I found out so much fascinating stuff about eclipses and comets! That would definitely be a very cool setting for historical romance. Medieval historical romance is a huge genre, so why not?

[CurlyQ284]

Jul 1, 2021 13:32:01 GMT -5 smock said:

Oooh, CurlyQ284, that sounds so cool! I'm actually ghostwriting a book about the history of astronomy right now (ha ha my job is weird), and I found out so much fascinating stuff about eclipses and comets! That would definitely be a very cool setting for historical romance. Medieval historical romance is a huge genre, so why not?

I mean I guess. When I think about it, I think of mud and rotting teeth and BO but those things are never mentioned in the novels. Everyone smells like horses and pine 🤣

[Bad Dingo]

If the offer still stands I'd love to read and review your newest book!

[basilosaurus]

I absolutely love historical fiction, but not the romance parts, although I love the story of relationship parts. To give feedback before I read and you know I will read and support of you
What I love about historical fiction is I learn along the way of a good story. The more facts/trivia I learn, the better.

So, that's a response from someone you've not met It's worth less than a penny.

Pack it with stories of harpo and saglacious (I've never spelled that correctly) popes, and I'll love it. And I'll still buy your book of course.

I hope I'm not out of line here. Sorry if I am.

[smock]

Jul 1, 2021 13:40:32 GMT -5 Bad Dingo said:

If the offer still stands I'd love to read and review your newest book!

Yes, the offer definitely still stands! I'll send you a PM! 🎉

[smock]

Jul 1, 2021 14:12:08 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

I absolutely love historical fiction, but not the romance parts, although I love the story of relationship parts. To give feedback before I read and you know I will read and support of you
What I love about historical fiction is I learn along the way of a good story. The more facts/trivia I learn, the better.

So, that's a response from someone you've not met It's worth less than a penny.

Pack it with stories of harpo and saglacious (I've never spelled that correctly) popes, and I'll love it. And I'll still buy your book of course.

I hope I'm not out of line here. Sorry if I am.

Ha ha, I totally get it! It's tough in romance because there's everything from "holding hands and nothing else" to erotica. I personally keep things pretty PG in my writing (in the biz that's usually called "sweet" or "clean" which is knida offensive, or "low-heat"/"no-heat"). My sister writes steamier stuff, which is why I've only read one of her novellas that was low-heat! It sure would be nice if there was a standard system, like a certain number of flames on the cover, to let people know.


Engaged to an Earl is definitely focused on the relationship and it's very much a "meeting of minds" type of love story. Yes, there's a dramatic carriage ride and embracing on a bridge, but there's also a lot of arguing about edits and they start out disliking each other. (I realized that maybe it's a bad thing that my heroines ALWAYS dislike the heroes at first? Like, does that say something about me? 😆)

[basilosaurus]

I went to school with the son of a famous erotica author. His sex ed, in his words, involved being given her book, and after the first 10 blow jobs in as many pages he gave up. She was famous enough to be on Oprah. So was his dad in another field. Kid was messed up! Is now a yogi. Whatever pays the bills!