I'm reading as well as writing...

In between working on my three new projects--four new projects if you count the one that is not a Regency--I am reading some chicklit, some historical fiction and some Regencies from the TBR pile. And I'm enjoying two books with a basis in Jane Austen:

Jane Austen's Guide to Romance: The Regency Rules by Lauren Henderson
Pub. by Headline ISBN 0-7553-1463-8 pbk

I really like this book--if I had read it at eighteen, I would have been a much happier young woman, and I would have made far better choices. It even lives up to its back cover blurb "full of sage advice and wise strategies". But you don't have to be dating to enjoy the book. The author pulls out the relationships of Jane Austen's characters and illuminates modern life through the actions of Elizabeth Bennet, Elinor Dashwood, Darcy, Bingley and the rest. It's a fun read and a good book to give to those young women in your world. I asked my twenty-something daughter to have a look at it, and she liked it. The commonsense, the style, and of course, Jane Austen's great characters all combined have great appeal.

Voices from the World of Jane Austen by Malcolm Day
Pub. by David & Charles, ISBN 0-7153-237902 hc
I came across this book quite by chance when I was browsing ChaptersIndigo for something quite different. I can't believe I haven't heard anywhere about this book--it is great! Essentially social history, it uses "diaries, essay, travelogues, sermons, treatises, journal articles and notices--and Jane's novels themselves..." to show the world of the early 1800's. Day has used chapters such as 'Domestic Life', 'The Rhythm of the Year' and 'Work and Social Rank' to contain excerpts from all kinds of material--wonderfully fascinating stuff for any student of history. This is a research tool not to be missed by any author of Regency era fiction. I'm so glad I found it.

I still haven't had time to watch the version of "Northanger Abbey" put out by BBC in January! And now I have on order the BBC 'Beau Brummell' which has been unavailable in North America until recently. I will be watching it immediately it arrives, and hopefully NA soon after. Now if I could only get a copy of 'Byron', also a release by the BBC unavailable here!

Talk to you soon...

Lesley-Anne

Clare Darcy

Please note that the Clare Darcy mystery has been solved by an anonymous comment on this blog post. Please check the comment by Anonymous for the details. And go to Wikipedia and search under Clare Darcy for more information and here for the definitive answers. Thanks, Anonymous--whew, what a relief to finally know. Lesley-Anne 2011/06/29

I've contracted for three new works of Regency fiction over the next two years, but in between working on and worrying about those, I've been re-reading the books of Clare Darcy. She wrote in the 1970's, just as Georgette Heyer was ending her career. At the time, she was the closest thing to GH that I could find, and I loved her for that.

On re-reading, I find her books stand the test of time. She has a very authentic voice, a wide variety of heroes, heroines, and plots and a wide knowledge of England and the period. In fact, if her book jackets did not specifically say she was from Ohio, I would have thought she was British born and bred.

I would give my eye-teeth to find out more about Clare Darcy. There is nothing on line about her. Every biographical clue leads to a dead end. Who was she really? What was her real name? I have no doubt that Darcy is her penname. Why did she stop writing? Is she still alive? She was an experienced writer, no doubt of that, so the Regencies may have been a side-line to her (or his?) main work.

If you ever hear anything about Clare Darcy, please, let me know! In the meantime, if you love Regency romance--read her books, and enjoy.

Back to work on 'Emilina's Conquest'...it's the first of the three new contracted works. It will be released in early 2009 by Uncial Press.

Until next time,
Lesley-Anne

Georgette Heyer's Regency World

I've been doing research lately; it really is wonderfully enjoyable. I've been searching specific details on the Internet on inheritance, and on costume, and I have been checking maps and investigating different counties of England.

I have also been reading a book that I wish I had been able to consult when I very first began writing Regencies. It is titled "Georgette Heyer's Regency World" and it is written by Jennifer Kloester. The book was published in 2005 by Heinemann through Random House Group.

It is invaluable. If you can only buy one book for either research purposes or simply for background material to your reading of Jane Austen and Regency romances, this should be it. The book covers the basics in all aspects of Regency life with chapters such as "Getting About", "At Home in Town and Country" and "The Sporting Life". As well it has chapters on clothing, food and people. The information is tied into Georgette Heyer's work, but not excessively so. You have neither to read, nor have read, Georgette Heyer's books to appreciate the material presented.

Information is offered clearly, concisely, and in an entertaining manner. I can't guarantee that every fact is correct, but I have not seen any major errors in my reading of it. The illustrations, by Graeme Tavendale, that accompany the text are delightful with a woodcut feel to them. The 'Who's Who in the Regency' at the end of the book is a series of fascinating pocket biographies.

As you can tell, I can't recommend this book highly enough.

I hope you'll check out my website at the end of August. There will be a new short story posted titled "The Portrait". It's not really a story so much as the rather surprising musings of a woman of fashion. Also there will be new colouring pictures in the Regency Colouring Book and details about the November 14 release of "The Education of Portia".
And of course a new contest!

Till then,
Lesley-Anne