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Monday, September 13, 2010

Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer and Me: The Lure of Regency Romance


Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer and Me: The Lure of Regency Romance
by Jacqueline Seewald

I love reading all kinds of romance novels. I enjoy a varied diet. But I consider Regency romance the most delectable and enjoyable, a veritable bonbon of pleasure. I’ve read many hundreds of novels in the genre. In this regard, I am like many other devoted readers. Regency romance has endured for a long time and I believe will continue to be popular.


First, for those who are not familiar with Regency, let’s define it. When we talk about the Regency era, we mean the brief period lasting between 1811-1820 in England. However, for the sake of the novels, the era begins at the tail end of the Georgian period in about 1800. It includes the scope of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, a period of turmoil, social unrest and political revolution.


The novels of Jane Austen have caught the imagination of both readers and writers for centuries. I’ve read each of her novels more than once but love PRIDE AND PREJUDICE best for its wit, charm and integrity.


Georgette Heyer was one of the writers who created her own novels set in the Regency era. These romances have also influenced many readers and writers. Her novels even introduced their own unique vocabulary.


At the time I initially wrote TEA LEAVES AND TAROT CARDS, I was working as a librarian with easy access to a multitude of reference sources. So my research proved both enjoyable and relatively easy. Now the internet offers so much valuable information on the Regency era which makes research more convenient. Here are just a few of the wonderful websites I recently located:
http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/social-customs-and-the-regency-world/
http://www.thenonesuch.com/lexicon.html#Dictionary
http://www.susannaives.com/nancyregencyresearcher/


Some of the characters in my novel are based on real historical people. However, I did place my own spin on the novel. For instance, at one time Regency romances allowed no sex scenes. I prefer to read and write novels that do have sizzle. I also have a paranormal edge to the book.

I created a heroine, Maeve, who is part gypsy and has psychic abilities. Adam, the Marquess of Huntingdon, doesn’t believe in such things. He is a world weary cynic, but he would certainly like to make the mysterious Maeve his mistress. Maeve leads him a merry chase.The novel is a sensual historical romance with elements of mystery, the paranormal, romantic suspense and humor.


Here is what Jayne Ann Krentz had to say about the novel:

Dear Jacqueline:

Thank you for letting me read Tea Leaves and Tarot Cards. I enjoyed it. Following is a quote that you are free to use:

"Jacqueline Seewald's Tea Leaves and Tarot Cards delivers an unusual and intriguing heroine together with fast-paced historical romantic-suspense. Seewald is very much at home in her early 19th century setting."

I wish you the very best with the publication of Tea Leaves and Tarot Cards.

Sincerely,
Jayne Ann Krentz
(Amanda Quick)

This novel is now available at a discount from Barnes and Noble online:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Tea-Leaves-and-Tarot-Cards/Jacqueline-Seewald/e/9781594149146/?itm=1&USRI=tea+leaves+and+tarot+cards

You will also find it listed with Amazon.com, Borders.com, and in the Five Star/Gale catalog:

http://rdsinc.com/servlet/ItemDetailServlet?region=9&imprint=000&titleCode=TP907&cf=p&type=3&id=251513

Since the novel has just been published, I am giving away a free copy to celebrate. For the next week, send your comments here and I will select one poster at random who I will then contact and the announcement will be made.

So drop by. All comments and discussion most welcome!



20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your book sounds wonderful, Jacqueline and congratulations on its release! Thanks for the websites-all very good. Best of luck!

Jacqueline Seewald said...

Rebbie,

Thanks for the good words!

Pauline said...

Congrats on your release! I am a huge fan of Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen. And congrats on the cool quote for JAK. The book sounds fun. Here's to many sales!

Jillian said...

Can't wait to read it- sounds right up my alley- love a good historical and a good romantic suspense. The two together will have me in a state of bliss.

Jacqueline Seewald said...

Pauline and Sherry,

Thank you for the lovely comments. I hope you do read the novel and enjoy it.

Arabella Stokes said...

Oh, this sounds fabulous!!! Cannot wait to read it!

Unknown said...

It's wonderful how you've taken the basic regency recipe and spiced it up by adding the right amounts of sizzle and paranormal to serve a delicious read. And I love the title. Congrats! Toni Zuma (www.tonizuma.webs.com)

Terry Odell said...

I've never been big into history, so I'm the perfect reader for historical fiction because I would never spot an error. And I'll confess I've never read Jane Austen (although I did find her books in the free Kindle store, and I downloaded Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility to my phone. We'll see how I enjoy 1) the books and 2) reading on that tiny screen. Normally, I used my dedicated e-reader for digital books.
Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery

Cindy Sample said...

I love the combination - Regency romance, paranormal and sizzle. The title is terrific as is the cover. Can't wait to read it. congratulations.

Sharon Ervin said...

I want the book. Can I get in on the drawing?

Sharon Ervin

Jacqueline Seewald said...

Sure, Sharon, everyone who drops a comment has an equal chance. Think I'll put each name on
a separate piece of paper and then just draw one out of a hat.

Unknown said...

Congratulations, and what a great review. Much good luck to you.

BD Tharp

Joyce Elson Moore said...

Jacqueline: Great post! I don't write Regency, but I put your 3 referenced websites in my Favorites, because I want to include them in my next Researching for Historicals workshop. Regencies are always popular, so I know the sites will be welcome news to anyone who loves the period.

editordevil.blogspot.com said...

Why did you pick a character that was psychic/gypsy for that time period?

catslady said...

What a wonderful quote. I've been hearing a lot lately about books written in the style of Pride and Predudice - sounds fascinating. I think I need to do a reread on that book too!

catslady5(at)aol.com

Jacqueline Seewald said...

Thanks for all the wonderful comments.

Since Editor Devil has a question, I'll try to answer it. Maeve is an underdog. Instead of the typical heiress most Regency authors write about, I decided to create a character who's had a difficult life. Maeve is more complex than most Regency heroines. I suppose I could be accused of writing out of the box. My novels are not formula romances and so not for everyone.

LORETTA CANTON said...

I love heroines that have psychic abilities both then and now.

loretta
lbcanton@verizon.net

Jacqueline Seewald said...

Thanks for the comment, Loretta. The fact is that some real people do have these abilities.
I know specifically of one woman who helped the police find the body of a woman murdered by a serial killer when no one else could. She provided the family with closure. So I don't believe that such things are so "far out".

Janet Lane said...

Your novel sounds fascinating, Jacqueline, and MEGA CONGRATS on the strong author blurb from Jayne Ann Krentz ... very impressive! May your books leap off the shelf!

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