Vicky Dreiling's Blog, page 3
January 11, 2014
Lives of Victorian Servants
This is 60 minutes long, but absolutely fascinating. I hope you enjoy!
December 13, 2013
Early Excerpt from WHAT A RECKLESS ROGUE NEEDS
After the carriage rolled off, Colin moved over to Angeline’s bench. “Give me a kiss.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“We’re affianced now. Well, secretly.” He plucked her sketchbook out of her hand and set it aside.
“It is only a trial engagement to see if we suit,” she said.
Devilment showed in his eyes. “Well, since it is a trial, we should practice so that we can perfect our kisses.”
“You need no practice. You are clearly an expert.”
His smile stretched across his face. “Like my kisses, do you?”
“They are…tolerable.”
When Colin pulled Angeline onto his lap, she shrieked.
“Good thing it’s so noisy on the road. Otherwise, John and Agnes might suspect I’m having my wicked way with you.”
“I might point out that there is plenty of room on the seat,” she said. “So I’ll avail myself of the space.”
He clamped his arms around her. “Please, can I have a kiss? Just one?”
“Very well.” She pecked him on the mouth, thinking to escape, but she’d underestimated him. He plucked at her lips and she opened for him without a thought in her head. The sweep of his tongue mesmerized her. She grew a little bolder and experimented touching her tongue to his, and when he groaned, she knew he liked it. She wanted so much more from him, but their wraps and gloves prevented them from going farther. It was probably for the best. Then his hands burrowed inside of her cape. “We must not,” she said.
“I know, but I yearn to touch you and for you to touch me.”
Love it? WHAT A RECKLESS ROGUE NEEDS will publish March 25, 2014 and is available for preorder at the following: Amazon: http://amzn.to/JgVokI
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1bCC2Nn
iTunes
November 2, 2013
Cover Reveal WHAT A RECKLESS ROGUE NEEDS Coming March 25, 2014!
I am so excited about WHAT A RECKLESS ROGUE NEEDS and am anxious for all of you to read it! 
October 30, 2013
Foreplay – Sophie Jordan!
Check out the video for my friend Sophie Jordan’s New Adult release FOREPLAY!
October 29, 2013
Say Something
The Music for the black moment when all seems lost for Lucy and Harry in WHAT A DEVILISH DUKE DESIRES. 
October 27, 2013
October 24, 2013
September 14, 2013
Writing When Life is Hard…
If you write romance, I hope you have joined RWA and taken advantage of all of the resources available there to you.I understand that finances can be a major hurdle, but membership in RWA is worth every penny, if you can possibly swing it. If not now, don’t give up. I speak from experience.
I remember when I was a single mom in college in 1999 & had very little money. My ex left me $50,000 in debit. Yeah. I’ve never been so scared in all my life. Every year my ex-husband’s father sent my kids $150 for Xmas and $100 for me. I can remember trying to weigh what else I could give my kids with the $100 he sent me versus the membership in RWA (it was $75 back then I think). It was a hard, hard choice, because my kids always came first, but I was scared that if I gave up the membership I would never return to writing. Now all these years later I know I made a good decision.
The day I called RWA to report my first sale in July 2009 for PAN membership I choked up on the phone when they asked me how long I had been writing. I explained that I had to give up writing for several years while I went back to college & did an internship with the major ad agency Ogilvy & Mather. It was hard to give up writing, but it was necessary, because I needed that degree in order to land a job that would support my kids & me.It was the right decision at the time, but it was hard. I was double majoring in English & Marketing, and getting by on 4 to 5 hours of sleep as I had the commute from hell to the university (2 hours round trip in an old van that I prayed would keep running every day I got on the freeway). The only writing I was doing was for my classes and internship. I knew Id made the right decision, but even after I landed my fantastic job at Compaq Computer, my doubts plagued me. I was starting a brand new career & had so much to learn about technology & the computer business. There is only so much you can cram in your brain, especially if you’re a single mom & getting little or no support from an ex. If not for my parents, I don’t know if we would have made it, but I think the hardships made us all that much stronger. I’m so proud of my uber successful son & daughter.
It was many years before I summoned up the courage to write again. My doubts plagued me ,but eventually I knew it was now or never. So I took advantage of every opportunity that came my way. There was a silver lining in that I got to travel to Europe & NY almost every month. In between these cool trips, I wrote when I could. I want to let those of you who are struggling know that I understand how much harder it is when you have life challenges. Just know that I’ve been there. When it seems too hard, when you question whether you will ever overcome all the obstacles, I want you you to remember my story. Believe, believe in yourself, believe that you can conquer anything by sheer determination. If I could do it, so can you. Big hugs.
Vicky
September 8, 2013
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A REGENCY SPY? by Shana Galen
Elinor did not feel needed at all. Her daughters had governesses and music teachers to oversee their studies, they had their own friends and amusements, and more than once she had offered some advice or tried to participate and felt as though she was an unnecessary appendage.
Caroline and Georgiana rolled their eyes at her when they thought she wasn’t looking.
Perhaps it was time to seek her own interests and the excitement she’d always craved. She’d read so many accounts of all the bravery during the Peninsular War against Napoleon. She thought of all the daring acts of courage by soldiers and generals. She could not fight a battle, but she could do something less explicit. She could work on the fringes.
She could do something she’d only dared read about and prove she was more than a mother and Society hostess. She could act as a spy.
In my new book, True Spies, a rakish and mysterious gentleman attempts to enlist the heroine Elinor as a spy. Elinor decides to take the opportunity for an adventure, despite her underlying misgivings. Her biggest misgiving just happens to be the aloof man she’s married to, Baron Winslow Keating. Little does Elinor know that Winn knows a thing or two about spying himself.
Think you have what it takes to be a Regency spy? First you have to decide if being a spy is right for you. This is a commitment, not to be taken lightly. After all, we are counting on you, to keep the country safe.
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A REGENCY SPY?
1.) In True Spies ,Baron Winslow Keating goes by the code name Baron. In Lord and Lady Spy, Adrian and Sophia Smythe are Wolf and Saint. In The Spy Wore Blue, Blue’s code name is, well, Blue. You get the picture, so the first thing you will need a code name. My code name would be Solo, because writing is a relatively solitary profession. And of course, it’s in honor of Han Solo, the handsome and roguish pilot of the Millennium Falcon.
2.) You also need a manner of defense. Elinor is keen to be assigned a weapon, but Winn is less than thrilled with the idea. Elinor’s first weapons are an oversized book and her wits. Winn tends to use his fists and brawn. Choose your manner of defense wisely. My method of defense would be tickling. Never underestimate the power of a good tickle to bring your adversary to his knees.
3.) You need someone to share your secret with—a contact. The best person to share secrets with would be another spy. Winn doesn’t want his wife to be a spy, but he’s tired of keeping so many secrets from her. Can Winn share his secrets to save his marriage? Who will you share your secret identity with? I would share my secrets with my cats, Mickey and Maisy, as no one keeps a secret as well as a cat.
So what about you? Shall we sign you up to be a Barbican operative? Share your codename, manner of defense, or confidant to be entered to win a copy of True Spies.
Amazon | B&N | iBooks
indiebound
TRUE SPIES BY SHANA GALEN – IN STORES SEPTEMBER 2013
Warning! This agent’s secret identity—and his heart—have been compromised!
Winslow, an elite spy in Regency England, has managed to keep his identity secret from everyone—including his beloved wife Elinor. But his success with these covert affairs has taken a toll on their marriage, leaving Elinor to entertain the idea of a secret liaison with a rakish spy. She believes she will finally have the danger and excitement her marriage has never afforded her—until things get too dangerous, and she ends up being kidnapped. In this world of intrigue, Elinor discovers that no one is who they seem to be—not even her own husband.
Shana Galen is the author of fast-paced adventurous Regency historicals, including the Lord and Lady Spy Series, the Jewels of the Ton Series, as well as the Sons of the Revolution Trilogy. A former English teacher in Houston’s inner city, Shana now writes full time, and is working on more regency romance novels! She’s happily married to the Ultimate Sportsfan and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making. Shana loves to hear from readers: visit her website at www.shanagalen.com or see what she’s up to daily on Facebook and Twitter.
