Regan Walker's Blog: Regan's Author Blog, page 20

The Smells of 18th Century London...

My latest novel, To Tame the Wind, is the first I’ve set in the 18th century. It’s the prequel to my Agents of the Crown trilogy and it’s set in 1782 in London, Paris and the waters of the English Channel. I do have several scenes that take place in London: on the London quay, on the Thames and on Oxford Street. I did not wander farther afield to the poorer areas like St. Giles. But all of London in the 18th century had a stench one could not miss.

To say it did not smell very good would be an understatement.

There was no sanitation. Water was unpurified and raw sewage ran down city streets in open drains. In the air, there was the famous London fog, smoke from burning coal for heat and the general dirt of the city. And that was only the beginning. See More.

Setting a story on a ship...

I love the sea and the ships that sail upon it. I also love a good seafaring romance. Throw in a pirate or a privateer and I'm there. But I want it to be historically accurate. To Tame the Wind is my second novel set (at least in part) on a schooner of the Georgian period involving a privateer hero. In doing the research for Wind Raven and my newest release, To Tame the Wind, I have learned much about the challenge of setting a romance on a ship.

When I began, I had no idea where my adventure would take me.

I'm on USAToday's HEA column today talking about what I did. See More.

An English Spy in Paris during the American Revolution...

When Benjamin Franklin arrived in Paris in December 1776 to solicit France's aid to the American cause, a spy moved in with him... Edward Bancroft who became the secretary to the American Mission. In that role, Bancroft was privy to many secrets and reported them to the English using secret ink and messages left in a tree. Sound fantastic? Well it happened! Read about it HERE.

From my research for my new Georgian romance, TO TAME THE WIND!

Privateers in the American Revolutionary War...

At the time the Colonies declared their independence, the Continental Navy had only 31 ships (that number later increased to 64). But the sea fighting ability of the young America vastly increased as Congress issued Letters of Marque to nearly 1,700 American privateers.

Privateers were a large part of the total military force at sea during the 17th and 18th centuries. During the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), privateers acting for their respective governments—American, British and French, among others—seized thousands of ships, sometimes the same ship more than once! See the rest of the story HERE.

Tom Hall Cover Artist Extraordinaire

You may not know the name but you will recognize his art. Tom Hall is an icon when it comes to romance novel cover art. His art has graced covers long treasured by readers of historical romance.  

Hall became famous during the 1970s with 200 book covers to his credit, including such books as The Thorn Birds, Shanna and Ashes in the Wind, which sold multiple millions. New York art directors called him the “leading paperback artist in the country” and “a giant in the industry.” So he was and so he remains. See more.

To Tame the Wind is here!

Click the cover for Amazon Looking for an adventure? How about love on the high seas as the American Revolution rages? Well, To Tame the Wind is here for your reading pleasure. The prequel to the Agents of the Crown trilogy, it's #1 in Amazon's Hot New Releases for Sea Stories since it's publication on May 9. Here's what some reviewers are saying:

“A sea adventure like no other, a riveting romance!”
             – NY Times Bestselling Author Shirlee Busbee

 “Intrigue, adventure, and love, everything a romance reader wants in a great story."    — Written  Love Reviews

 “An adventurous, romantic and mysterious page turner from the gifted story teller Regan Walker—another keeper!”                   — Tartan Book Reviews

  “I was hooked from the first page! Political intrigue, a bit of mystery and a beautifully developed romance that swept me from Paris to London and to the waters of the English Channel! Very, very, very well done!”              – The Reading Cafe

How we got to where we are today...a recommended reading list of historical romances for the uninitiated!

Sometimes when I talk to fellow readers of historical romance, or even authors, and I mention a name from the past, an author who helped shape the genre, like Kathleen Woodiwiss or Rosemary Rogers, I get a blank stare in return. It occurred to me that as lovers of a genre it might be helpful to read some of the classics to see where we’ve come from and to enjoy the greats who have contributed so much to the craft.

I’m not going as far back as Ivanhoe or Jane Eyre. I’m not even reaching back to the seminal novels of Georgette Heyer in the early 20th century. Except for three novels of note in earlier decades, I’m starting in the 1970s when the bedroom door was flung open never to close again. And while I may not have included your favorite author, by reading the romances on this list, you’ll have a good idea of our beginnings and what so many wonderful authors have done for the genre. Think of it as an education in modern historical romance.

So, here’s the list of the historical romances I recommend you read. Each has something to show you. Some may require you to shop online for a used book though many are available as eBooks. Some that are out of print can be downloaded online. I’m not saying they will all be your favorites, or that they are all mine, and I know that some readers will think I left off one I should have included. This is just a sampling meant to give you a picture of how the genre has developed. Most are novels I’ve rated 5 stars, so I promise you won’t be bored. See MORE.

My tribute to Historical Romance Icon Bertrice Small

Today, I was to have a very special guest on my blog, one I’d been looking forward to for a long time: historical romance icon Bertrice Small. Alas, she passed away in February. We will all miss her. I could not let this month go by, however, without doing a tribute to such a wonderful woman and author.

For those of you who don’t know, she was the author of more than 60 novels, 42 of which are historical romances. They include her first, THE KADIN, which I will review this month, the beloved O'Malley Saga and one of my favorite series, the Border Chronicles, among others. See MORE.

Goodreads Giveaway for To Tame the Wind!

Enter the GIVEAWAY for the prequel to the Agents of the Crown trilogy...To Tame the Wind: 5 copies of the paperback, autographed to US winners.

“A sea adventure like no other, a riveting romance!”
       --  NY Times Bestselling author Shirlee Busbee


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Giveaway ends May 09, 2015.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

It's here! To Tame the Wind, prequel to the Agents of the Crown trilogy

The long-awaited prequel to the Agents of the Crown trilogy is here!
[Click the cover to order on Amazon]

TO TAME THE WIND:

Paris 1782…AN INNOCENT IS TAKEN

All Claire Donet knew was the world inside the convent walls in Saint-Denis. She had no idea her beloved papa was a pirate. But when he seized Simon Powell's schooner, the English privateer decided to take the one thing his enemy held most dear... her.

A BATTLE IS JOINED

The waters between France and England roil with the clashes of Claire's father and her captor as the last year of the American Revolution rages on the sea, spies lurk in Paris and Claire’s passion for the English captain rises.

“A sea adventure like no other, a riveting romance!” –NY Times Bestselling author Shirlee Busbee

“I was hooked from the first page! Political intrigue, a bit of mystery and a beautifully developed romance that swept me from Paris to London and to the waters of the English Channel! Very, very, very well done!” – The Reading Cafe