It's been a long gestation ... but finally, my 13th book is on the shelves today! I've been blogging about it for days already, with many more exciting guest posts and personal appearances to come . . .
You can visit me today at another of my homes away from home, the History Hoydens blog at http://www.historyhoydens.blogspot.com/ , and all this week at the myriad events set up by the fantastic Octobloggers of the Historical Fiction Round Table. Scroll down to my previous post to see who and where they are.
Special thanks are due to my amazing husband Scott for being so kind and patient and understanding through the long hours of research and writing.
And here's a double-barrelled question for my readers: who is your favorite royal couple, and why?
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19 comments:
I went to the bookstore today to buy this...but they didn't have a copy. :( Can't wait to get my hands on it!
Ack! What bookstore? Where? Phooey! Shame on them! I hope you asked them to order it for you ... and told them that several dozen of your like-minded friends would be interested in reading it, too. :)
Loved it Loved it! My favorite couple by far was Nicholas and Alexandra of Russia. They were so truly in love and then it was so tragicly cut short.
I was at a Books a Million. They had Royal Affairs...but I couldn't find this one anywhere. I didn't even think about asking them to order it.
I am going out tomorrow to get my copy. Hoping our Borders will have it if not I will have them order it for me! So excited to read your new book. I have my degree in History and loved studying the royal marriages so I am excited about this book. We are also expecting our first baby so I am always looking for good books to read while pregnant since I know once the baby comes it will be hard for me to get away to read. Thank you for writing this fantastic book!
OOh, gorgeous wedding photo, JRose! Congratulations on expecting your first baby ... and I have it on the best authority (Carlyn Beccia, author of THE RAUCOUS ROYALS) that NOTORIOUS ROYAL MARRIAGES is a terrific book to read when one is pregnant. Carlyn read and reviewed it right before she gave birth.
I don't know where you live, but people have seen the book in NYC and in New Hampshire Borders locations.
Hi Leslie, I was just directed to your blog from Hist-Fic Chick, and so glad I came. I've signed up as a follower; planning a shopping trip to Barnes and Noble later this month (I live over 100 miles from any city of the size to have big book stores) and will look for both of these books. As far as favorite royal couple - Henry and Eleanor; and Joanna and Llewelyn.
Welcome, Linda! I'm so glad to have you here. Wow ... 100 miles from a big bookstore. Is there an independent bookstore anywhere near where you live?
I am finding it so interesting (from a cultural standpoint) that many of the readers who have responded here, and on Allie's blog and the other Historical Fiction Bloggers' sites, are planning to purchase NOTORIOUS ROYAL MARRIAGES (or have already done so) by physically walking into a bookstore rather than buying the book online. I don't know what it says about history buffs (I like to look a book and hold it in my hand the day I buy it, too!) that we enjoy the human interaction and the communion with all those books that comes from walking into the store rather than clicking the mouse.
It just struck me, so I thought I'd share. Any thoughts on this phenomenon, ladies?
Interesting question, Leslie. Lately I've found myself wandering into bookstores to ask questions about various e-readers (trying to decide if they live up the fuss), and each time I do,I find myself spending more and more time in the stacks, touching and smelling all of the new books.
I don't think Kindle smells good.
Congrats on your release!
Hah! Leslie, that's so true! Amazon has just about everything, and if you have a computer you can purchase on there. Or on any major seller's site. But I do so love to "peruse" the premises of a good old bookstore.
Christine, you crack me up! I'm glad that there are additional formats in which people can read (and purchase) my books, but you won't find me picking up a Kindle any time soon. I see people reading them on the bus and it hurts my eyes to even peek over their shoulders. The e-readers are so soulless. And besides, I spend all day in front of a screen writing books. The last thing I want to do is spend the rest of my day in front of a screen reading one. As much as the computer and the internet have become indispensable to my career, it feels wonderful to step away from technology sometimes and enjoy curling up with an actual book. You know, the paper things with the pretty covers.
Allie, I admit to buying many of my research books from Amazon because their used booksellers often have the out-of-print or hard to find titles that I need, and which the New York Public Library lacks in its stacks. But when it comes to choosing a book for pleasure, or as a special gift for someone and I want to be sure it will please them, nothing beats wandering through the bookstore and seeing what's new in all the genres and perusing the ones of interest.
"Look inside the book" -- go to the bookstore and do it all you want! :)
Side note!
aside from loving the book, I love the cover! :o)
Lauren, you have a copy, don't you? If not, let me know and I'll make sure my publicist sends one right out.
Oh, I keep meaning to tell you, I ordered the collection of recreated 18th c. perfumes that you blogged about back in October, after my agent sold the Marie Antoinette historical fiction trilogy. I tried not to oversplurge, so I just got the eau de toilette versions.
I do and I am enjoying it very much!
Do you love the wig scent as much as I do? What is your favorite? (I love them all)
They are all amazing from the vantage point of a historical novelist. Eau de Coquette is SO strong, I can just imagine my Marie Antoinette practically choking on clouds of her rival's scent!
But I would agree, Cyprian is my favorite. Most of them are soooo heavy, but they really inform me as a writer. I might not personally wear such heavy perfumes, but my characters would!
hahah Now I am laughing at the thought of Antoinette choking on Du Barry's fragrance, Du Barry, of course, finds it exotic- stronger the better right?
Exactement! You got it!!
Hello Leslie! I bought this book a couple of weeks ago and finished it yesterday, it's such an interesting and entertaining read! I'm very fond of historical biographies and am looking forward to reading more of your books :)
I was wondering -- why did you choose not to include Isabella "She-Wolf" of France and Edward II? They seem like a pretty notorious couple to me!
p.s. the blog is a great idea!
Hi, Rubine!
Welcome! I'm so glad you enjoyed NOTORIOUS ROYAL MARRIAGES. And you asked a fabulous question. The reason I didn't include Isabella, the "She-Wolf" of France and Edward II is because I covered them extensively in my first nonfiction book, ROYAL AFFAIRS: A Lusty Romp Through The Extramarital Adventures That Shocked the British Monarchy (published by NAL in June, 2008 -- and still readily available!) In my chapter on them in ROYAL AFFAIRS, I was therefore able to include Edward II's extramarital relationships with Piers Gaveston and Hugh Despenser the Younger, as well as Isabella's affair with Roger Mortimer.
As I had said it all in ROYAL AFFAIRS, I didn't need to revisit their story in NOTORIOUS ROYAL MARRIAGES.
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