Viola Morne's Blog
July 27, 2016
Farewell, Mrs. Pringle
Back in 2014, I conceived the idea for a new series of books, historical romances based in the Regency period. Entitled The Marriage Broker, the series would tell three interconnecting love stories, with very loose allusions to three fairy tales. Mrs. Minerva Pringle, marriage broker and spy—or agent for the Crown—was a secondary figure in the first two books, accompanied by the faithful Oliver, her foster brother.
I always know how my books end before I begin writing. Anything else makes no sense. But when I started How to Marry a Beast, my Beauty and the Beast story, I had the hazy idea that Minerva’s husband would re-surface in the last book, confessing his devotion and winning her love. But then something happened. I know that the most dedicated of plotters may sneer, but Oliver changed my mind. He was so…hero-like. Strong, devoted, a man of few words ready to defend those in need. It didn’t hurt that he was handsome, with long dark hair and broad shoulders.
So, if I couldn’t resist Oliver, how could Minerva? Over the course of writing that first book, it became evident how close Minerva and Oliver were—and how perfectly matched they were. Their relationship grew throughout the second book, How to Rescue Rapunzel, when they were involved with assisting Thor and Angelica to find their own happy ending. And then Minerva’s husband showed up at the end of that story—with a cliff hanger no less.
And then I couldn’t finish the book! I wrote other books and kept going back to Minerva and Oliver, without ever completing their story. I kept writing it, bit by bit, until the problem revealed itself. Oliver had been cast as the second banana in the two previous books, a solid supporting character. In order for Oliver to become the hero of his own story (apologies to Charles Dickens) I needed to know more about him and about where he came from. I had to go back to the beginning.
I adored Minerva, but here I faced another set of problems. I had a solid grasp of Minerva, who she was and what she sounded like—brave, resourceful, no-nonsense, and not very warm-hearted. Again, why was she like this? Oliver’s backstory begat Minerva’s. As I wrote it, I realized the germ of Mrs. Pringle’s origins had been in my mind since the beginning. I knew Minerva believed her husband had nearly killed her, but I had to go back to her childhood to really discover what made her tick.
I had planned that Minerva’s story would allude to Little Red Riding Hood and once I began to really get into the story, I saw how the fairy tale could work within Ravishing Minerva—at least, I hope it did!
So, farewell, Mrs. Pringle. It was a pleasure to meet you.
I always know how my books end before I begin writing. Anything else makes no sense. But when I started How to Marry a Beast, my Beauty and the Beast story, I had the hazy idea that Minerva’s husband would re-surface in the last book, confessing his devotion and winning her love. But then something happened. I know that the most dedicated of plotters may sneer, but Oliver changed my mind. He was so…hero-like. Strong, devoted, a man of few words ready to defend those in need. It didn’t hurt that he was handsome, with long dark hair and broad shoulders.
So, if I couldn’t resist Oliver, how could Minerva? Over the course of writing that first book, it became evident how close Minerva and Oliver were—and how perfectly matched they were. Their relationship grew throughout the second book, How to Rescue Rapunzel, when they were involved with assisting Thor and Angelica to find their own happy ending. And then Minerva’s husband showed up at the end of that story—with a cliff hanger no less.
And then I couldn’t finish the book! I wrote other books and kept going back to Minerva and Oliver, without ever completing their story. I kept writing it, bit by bit, until the problem revealed itself. Oliver had been cast as the second banana in the two previous books, a solid supporting character. In order for Oliver to become the hero of his own story (apologies to Charles Dickens) I needed to know more about him and about where he came from. I had to go back to the beginning.
I adored Minerva, but here I faced another set of problems. I had a solid grasp of Minerva, who she was and what she sounded like—brave, resourceful, no-nonsense, and not very warm-hearted. Again, why was she like this? Oliver’s backstory begat Minerva’s. As I wrote it, I realized the germ of Mrs. Pringle’s origins had been in my mind since the beginning. I knew Minerva believed her husband had nearly killed her, but I had to go back to her childhood to really discover what made her tick.
I had planned that Minerva’s story would allude to Little Red Riding Hood and once I began to really get into the story, I saw how the fairy tale could work within Ravishing Minerva—at least, I hope it did!
So, farewell, Mrs. Pringle. It was a pleasure to meet you.
August 2, 2015
Fantastic Adventures
I love fantasy, it’s one of my favorite genres. Add history and romance, and I’m there. So, when I worked on my latest book, The Captain’s Virgin, all these elements came into play. I blame all the great YA fantasy out there which keeps the fires of fantasy stoked in my imagination.
Of course, my own stories are so much naughtier.
The first version of The Captain’s Virgin began a few years back, when I imagined the heroine’s adventure as a straight-up historical romance. But the story didn’t work. My heroine, who was named Damaris in the first draft, refused to do anything but draw and pout. I couldn’t bring her to life; I could barely move her off her delightful behind.
Meanwhile, I had written another story with Lorcan, the warrior of the Obsidian Court, who plays a secondary role in The Captain’s Virgin, as the hero. This was a fantasy romance, with lots of adventure, that I wasn’t quite satisfied with either.
How many stories, outlines, and scribbled bit of paper litter the desks and files of every writer? A garden of lost ideas, some of which keep growing in the imagination, regardless.
Anyhow, the idea came to me to mix these two story ideas together into a brand new recipe: one part fantasy, one part history, and a whole lot of romance. Add an alpha hero, a heroine with a hidden destiny, assorted villains, and the completely delicious Dark King, Gaheris of the Perilous Court, to complete a new book with its own mythology.
It was when Gaheris entered the scene that the story really started cooking:
Finally, she looked up to meet the Dark King's gaze. If Iain's appearance held the golden warmth of day, then this man embodied all the beauty of the night. His hair, the black of crow feathers, with the same hint of blue, fell over his wide shoulders, his brow encircled with a tiara wrought from silver with a blue gem in the center. He was dressed in black velvet doublet, with leggings of the same fabric molding his long, lean legs. His eyes were strange, almost cat-like in shape, and colored the silver of perilous seas. His brows arched above them, rising steeply towards his hairline. His cheekbones were sharp under his white skin, his lips beautifully sculpted beneath a long, straight nose. His was not a mortal beauty, and it terrified her.
The Dark King will continue to appear in the other books I’ve planned for this series. If he keeps being so scrumptious, he may even get his own book. As for Lorcan, stay tuned to find out how he finds his own happy ending. Happy reading!
Of course, my own stories are so much naughtier.
The first version of The Captain’s Virgin began a few years back, when I imagined the heroine’s adventure as a straight-up historical romance. But the story didn’t work. My heroine, who was named Damaris in the first draft, refused to do anything but draw and pout. I couldn’t bring her to life; I could barely move her off her delightful behind.
Meanwhile, I had written another story with Lorcan, the warrior of the Obsidian Court, who plays a secondary role in The Captain’s Virgin, as the hero. This was a fantasy romance, with lots of adventure, that I wasn’t quite satisfied with either.
How many stories, outlines, and scribbled bit of paper litter the desks and files of every writer? A garden of lost ideas, some of which keep growing in the imagination, regardless.
Anyhow, the idea came to me to mix these two story ideas together into a brand new recipe: one part fantasy, one part history, and a whole lot of romance. Add an alpha hero, a heroine with a hidden destiny, assorted villains, and the completely delicious Dark King, Gaheris of the Perilous Court, to complete a new book with its own mythology.
It was when Gaheris entered the scene that the story really started cooking:
Finally, she looked up to meet the Dark King's gaze. If Iain's appearance held the golden warmth of day, then this man embodied all the beauty of the night. His hair, the black of crow feathers, with the same hint of blue, fell over his wide shoulders, his brow encircled with a tiara wrought from silver with a blue gem in the center. He was dressed in black velvet doublet, with leggings of the same fabric molding his long, lean legs. His eyes were strange, almost cat-like in shape, and colored the silver of perilous seas. His brows arched above them, rising steeply towards his hairline. His cheekbones were sharp under his white skin, his lips beautifully sculpted beneath a long, straight nose. His was not a mortal beauty, and it terrified her.
The Dark King will continue to appear in the other books I’ve planned for this series. If he keeps being so scrumptious, he may even get his own book. As for Lorcan, stay tuned to find out how he finds his own happy ending. Happy reading!
May 9, 2015
How to Rescue Rapunzel
How to Rescue Rapunzel, the second book in the Marriage Broker series, is being released this week. This is the second book in the series, which are inspired by fairy tales with a Gothic twist—and lots of naughtiness. The heroine is Angelica, Lady Saxon, a widow imprisoned in a lunatic asylum by her unscrupulous brother-in-law in order to gain control of her fortune.
Thor Ericson, an intrepid young archaeologist, is the hero. He rescues Angelica from the asylum, in exchange for her hand in marriage—and access to her fortune. Thor’s dream is to find a lost Egyptian tomb, and the pair travel down the Nile in search of treasure.
A large part of the story is thus set in Egypt, and the research was intense. You see, in the first book of the series, I had introduced briefly the character of Thor Ericson when he was mentioned by Freya, the heroine of How to Marry A Beast. Mrs. Pringle, the marriage broker, selects Thor as the ideal match for Angelica.
I didn’t realize how much work I was getting myself into—but I loved it. The research varied from trips to the library, scouring the internet, visiting YouTube, consulting maps, and checking just how long it takes to sail from Rosetta to Cairo, and reading, reading, reading.
The problem was that my time period—1812—was just at the beginning of the European interest in Egyptian monuments—barring Napoleon and his expedition and a few curious explorers. That was a challenge all in itself. The term “archaeologist” wasn’t used at the time, I know, but it seemed easier to call my hero by that title than over-explain it hadn’t been created yet. I do make referrals to antiquarians and scholars, but archaeology is such a well-understood term, that I erred on the side of clarity, not accuracy.
I wanted my hero to be someone different, definitely a hot alpha male, but with a twist. Thor has no experience with Angelica’s world of pain and pleasure, but he wants to make her happy. Together, they embark on a remarkable journey. Their travel to Egypt in search of Thor’s lost tomb, is also a journey to love, and, finally, understanding.
Thor Ericson, an intrepid young archaeologist, is the hero. He rescues Angelica from the asylum, in exchange for her hand in marriage—and access to her fortune. Thor’s dream is to find a lost Egyptian tomb, and the pair travel down the Nile in search of treasure.
A large part of the story is thus set in Egypt, and the research was intense. You see, in the first book of the series, I had introduced briefly the character of Thor Ericson when he was mentioned by Freya, the heroine of How to Marry A Beast. Mrs. Pringle, the marriage broker, selects Thor as the ideal match for Angelica.
I didn’t realize how much work I was getting myself into—but I loved it. The research varied from trips to the library, scouring the internet, visiting YouTube, consulting maps, and checking just how long it takes to sail from Rosetta to Cairo, and reading, reading, reading.
The problem was that my time period—1812—was just at the beginning of the European interest in Egyptian monuments—barring Napoleon and his expedition and a few curious explorers. That was a challenge all in itself. The term “archaeologist” wasn’t used at the time, I know, but it seemed easier to call my hero by that title than over-explain it hadn’t been created yet. I do make referrals to antiquarians and scholars, but archaeology is such a well-understood term, that I erred on the side of clarity, not accuracy.
I wanted my hero to be someone different, definitely a hot alpha male, but with a twist. Thor has no experience with Angelica’s world of pain and pleasure, but he wants to make her happy. Together, they embark on a remarkable journey. Their travel to Egypt in search of Thor’s lost tomb, is also a journey to love, and, finally, understanding.
November 3, 2014
Inspired by Poldark
Years ago while backpacking in England, I made a special point to visit Cornwall. My copies of the Poldark saga were dog-eared and I longed to see the duchy made famous in print and on the television series.
Of course, I was not disappointed. Cornwall was beautiful and amazing. We walked on the sand at Marazion and crossed to St. Michael's Mount. We marveled at palm trees growing in Penzance and soaked in the friendly people and atmosphere.
So when the idea for my soon-to-be-published book first surfaced, a riff on the Beauty and the Beast trope, I chose Cornwall as the ideal location for my scarred hero to hide himself away. A marriage of convenience to a spirited young widow drags him back to reclaim his life. But can he claim her love?
How to Marry a Beast - coming soon
Of course, I was not disappointed. Cornwall was beautiful and amazing. We walked on the sand at Marazion and crossed to St. Michael's Mount. We marveled at palm trees growing in Penzance and soaked in the friendly people and atmosphere.
So when the idea for my soon-to-be-published book first surfaced, a riff on the Beauty and the Beast trope, I chose Cornwall as the ideal location for my scarred hero to hide himself away. A marriage of convenience to a spirited young widow drags him back to reclaim his life. But can he claim her love?
How to Marry a Beast - coming soon
