Ahem, it's August 2015, and I've still got a long way to go
Should've kept my mouth shut about publishing #3 this year.
However, I thought it would be wise to set a goal in the new year. Publicly.
It might still happen -- do note the passive, 'mistakes were made' tone of that.
I'd hoped to be deep into editing the finished draft by now, not still trying to get the action down in order. But no.
May I blame it on menopause and mind fog? If not, I'll blame it on wrist surgery.
However, an encouraging number of recent readers have emailed me to goose me along, for which I am very grateful. It's working.
I'm close to finishing the first draft, after which it's knives out to edit, a 2-3 month process for me.
If you've read a great Regency, plug it here so others can enjoy it, too.
Let it not be said that my blogging serves no earthly purpose.
Oh, Maggie Fenton's #2 due out in Oct. Can't wait.
However, I thought it would be wise to set a goal in the new year. Publicly.
It might still happen -- do note the passive, 'mistakes were made' tone of that.
I'd hoped to be deep into editing the finished draft by now, not still trying to get the action down in order. But no.
May I blame it on menopause and mind fog? If not, I'll blame it on wrist surgery.
However, an encouraging number of recent readers have emailed me to goose me along, for which I am very grateful. It's working.
I'm close to finishing the first draft, after which it's knives out to edit, a 2-3 month process for me.
If you've read a great Regency, plug it here so others can enjoy it, too.
Let it not be said that my blogging serves no earthly purpose.
Oh, Maggie Fenton's #2 due out in Oct. Can't wait.
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I'm looking forward to your book whenever it's finished - sorry to hear about the wrist - I've done both mine in after stitching tapestries for more than 30 years. I've been reading books by Jade Lee, Elizabeth Hoyt and Eloisa James this week. I also can't wait to buy Maggie Fenton's new book.
So looking forward to #3 - I hope you're enjoying the creative process! I'm shouting about The Magpie Lord trilogy by K.J. Charles and almost anything by Sarah Woodhouse, especially India Widow. Happy editing and reading!
@Georgiana I have most (if not all) of Sarah Woodhouse's books in paperback from when they first came out. I wish they were available digitally.Otherwise, I've read lots of good stuff this year so far, and there is more to come, I'm sure. I can't remember them all, but I'd definitely second Jill's rec. of Kelly Bowen, and Georgiana's of K.J Charles - her new book, A Fashionable Indulgence is excellent. Like LW, I'm enjoying the new Balogh books and the audios of Loretta Chase by Kate Reading who is awesome.
I hope Maggie Fenton has a good (strict) editor and proof reader this time around.
@Caz, I've noted and added a number of the books you've enjoyed. Such great reviews, you make them irresistible. (Tho I am resisting until I get through the 1st draft, etc.)@Georgianna, I've added Magpie Lord in my amazon wish list, sounds v. intriguing, great suggestion!
@Jill, am adding A good rogue is hard to find…because a good Regency can be hard to find. And may I add that I hope you read more. What will I do without your reviews? Caz and Lady W are sharing, so I'm not totally wandering in the wilderness, but I hope you find the time.
@Sandra, do you mean to tell me KNITTING could've been the cause of this mess in my wrist? Yikes! I love to knit. Esp. when I can wear without shame the thing knitted. (So gratifying to see something unconscionably expensive and knit it up for myself. Heh heh.)
@ Lady W.: Me, too, I fell into the first(maybe?) of Mary Balogh's Survivor's Club series, and loved the entire cast. I think I auto-buy them, but I have not allowed myself quality time with my kindle in months, or I'd grow too discouraged. (Frankly, I could get by re-reading (and listening) to L. Chase, M. Balogh and G. Heyer.) Chase's audiobooks are terrific!!!! The reader of Knave's Wager is excellent, too. BUt K. Reading is outstanding. I bought her version of Pride and Prejudice after hearing her performance of Lord of Scoundrels, which is effing BRILLIANT.
BTW, Wrist is fine, just figured it was more compelling an excuse than the dog ate my laptop…Happy reading and keep the recos. coming.
Miranda wrote: "@Caz, I've noted and added a number of the books you've enjoyed. Such great reviews, you make them irresistible. (Tho I am resisting until I get through the 1st draft, etc.)@Georgianna, I've adde..."
Unfortunately, I think Sandra may be right. I used to knit and do needlepoint all the time, but I think that and 35+ years of clarinet playing have buggered up my wrists and right shoulder (that's mostly the being a clarinettist, I think). I do suffer from a particular from of RSI in my right thumb joint, but fortunately it doesn't stop me typing. Ask me to hand-write more than a note for the milkman though, and it's difficult!
Oh, and another rec - I can't remember if you like historical mysteries, but Deanna Raybourn's new one A Curious Beginning - is fab and I'm currently reading the new Meredith Duran, Luck Be a Lady which is shaping up really well so far.
Jill wrote: "Caz wrote: "Miranda wrote: "@Caz, I've noted and added a number of the books you've enjoyed. Such great reviews, you make them irresistible. (Tho I am resisting until I get through the 1st draft, e..."Yep. Come rain or shine (and it's mostly rain, here!), the milkman always delivers :)
I hope you are doing well Miranda and we are behind you all the way! I just finished When A Scott Ties the Knot from Tessa Dare, which I really enjoyed. But recently the one book I can't get out of my head is Reconstructing Jackson by Holly Bush, a post Civil War romance but is so much more than that. Not a regency I know, but very much worth the read.
THank you for the support and recommendations! I"m writing, not reading but others should note: When A Scot Ties the Knot from Tessa Dare,
And Reconstructing Jackson Holly Bush.
Thanks Keri!
Happy to hear that you're writing! Nag. Nag. Nag.
Nice of you to nag. Hope all is well with you.
Miranda wrote: "Nice of you to nag. Hope all is well with you."All is okay, thanks. I'll be in Denver next week -- come on up!
Hi Miranda, I like all the your other followers, am anxiously awaiting your next release. I read your books on on rec by our mutual friend Jill, LOVED them, and posted reviews here on GR and am now going to post them on my blog. I'd like to know if you have any other social media links so that our followers can find you. I'll be posting my review for The Duke's Tattoo this week. Again thank you for some terrific writing, and making me smile...Horseman of the Apocalypse make me a very happy girl! ~ Karla
@Lady W.: Mustn't have fun out of town. Mustn't get distracted. Must write!@Karla: First, thank you for holding your nose and trying a self-published author. Second, thank you for the torso shot/identifier. I loves me some rippled abs. Third, I'm a troglodyte social media-wise. I also live in a state full of people wearing aluminum foil hats-New Mexico. (And they're the rocket scientists at Los Alamos, so they must know something we don't.) I prefer to fly under the radar. I'm here on GR and I do read reviews every so often. But that's it. Also, see above.
Finally, I'm so glad you enjoyed poor Ainsworth's trials with Prudence. I'm learning as I go so any criticism or advice is welcome. Thanks to readers, I've renamed main characters, demoted or elevated their predecessors, etc. All very embarrassing to me but I'd rather get things right eventually than stick my head in the sand like an ostrich.
Miranda wrote: "@Lady W.: Mustn't have fun out of town. Mustn't get distracted. Must write!@Karla: First, thank you for holding your nose and trying a self-published author. Second, thank you for the torso shot/..."
So you like my torso..eh? I like it too and got my head handed to me one time when I attempted to change things up a bit...so rippled abs it is, not that I'm complaining.
For the blog we read a review a lot of self-published authors, we are open to everything, and as with traditionally published...there are some we love and some not so much. I happen to love your stories and your sense of humor...and of course the scrumptious heroes and snarky, strong heroines!
It's good that you're open to criticism, but you also have to listen to your heart, and no one knows your characters and the journey they should take as well as you do. I find to often that authors bend to the will of readers and their demands. The characters don't remain true to themselves, the stories have unnecessary drama and become somewhat convoluted. I would rather wait for a quality story, then read something that was written in haste to please the masses. But, what do I know.
As for a Regency rec, one of our reviewers recently did a review for The Temporary Wife by Mary Balogh, it's one of her faves and I hope to read it soon.
My review for The Duke's Tattoo is posted on our blog today {http://bit.ly/1iOwElU} and in the coming weeks, I'll be posting one for The Baron's Betrothal, both are here on GR already.
Anyhoo, I hope we can spread the word a little, doesn't matter who published it, or intent is always to give readers an honest opinion about books we read.
Thank you for your reply, and I look forward to your next release ~ Karla
You are right. Speaking of following one's heart, and having one's head handed over, my second was too on-again-off-again for many. But Clun was such a grumpy dolt, it was right he had to be dragged kicking and screaming to his HEA. And Elizabeth had such gumption, she was strong enough to wait him out. I could only follow their leads once they came fully to life for me. I'd have gotten discouraged, if it had been me. But whatever. Self-publishing for me means writing to make myself happy. (It's so much cheaper to try to write one of these than to read all the ones out there for sale!)I looooove Mary Balogh's books, and will add your rec to my TBR, at the top so I'll see it. My ab. favs of hers are A Matter of Class and Simply Dangerous. She delves into characters' evolving emotions and fears better than just about anyone.
And no, thank you.
I have to say that one regency author that I love is Stephanie Laurens. Not only does she write strong women but she writes a family saga so you get to see more bits and pieces of your favourite characters. Plus Lady Osbaldestone. Gotta love her.Denise Domning's Almost Perfect is quite good as well.
I also really like A Seven Year Hitch by Mary Beeken
the dark lord: the greystow brides isn't bad either.
(By this point, I'm just going through my Kindle library)
It's not regency but if you like historical (Elizabethan in this case I think) paranormal, CJ Archer's Witchblade chronicles are good.
Kate Silver's "And one for all" series is historical romance with women pretending to be musketeers which is very fun.
(I'm finding that I don't have as much regency romance as I thought. Ooops)
The Rake by Amy Watson is short & rather fun.
A Ravishing Redhead is my favourite of Jillian Eaton's books but the others aren't bad either.
Again, not regency but very good is Robin: Lady of Legend.
(I'm now twigging just how much of my library is by the same authors & of similar genres.)
Bronwen Evans's Wicked Wagers I remember as being quite good although I haven't read them in a while.
Again not Regency but still very good is Jill Barnett's Medieval Trilogy.
Hope these help even if they weren't what you were looking for...
Lauren wrote: Hope these help even if they weren't what you were looking for..."THanks for the many options and historical periods. I'm glad you've given others plenty of suggestions. I'm supposed to be writing. I just want to perform a public service in the meantime...Happy Reading, Lauren!
So the thing is
Every so often author Miranda Davis will get a little something off her chest. She's not a ranter, don't worry. Just wants to discuss reading and writing and what not.
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I'm really enjoying Mary Balogh's Survivor's Club series. And the audio versions of Loretta Chase's Carsington series. Kate Reading is superb.