In A Bird in the Hand, “my” hero, Christopher Morton, is a young vicar and as such, he has special responsibilities during Allhallowtide. Thankfully, he finds time to secure the hand of his love despite it. He is definitely distracted this year. For my part, I am prepared to forgive him, but let’s hope by next Allhallowtide he is more able to keep his mind in his work!
original cover art for Creatures of Habit
The mellow yet playful plot of Creatures of Habit popped into my head pretty much whole cloth while I was on my return flight from the 2019 Historical Romance Retreat. Plots don’t come to me in quantities, so when one shows up, I start taking notes! I spent the entire six hour flight writing the beginning of Lawrence and Eugenia’s story, filling up the small stenographer’s notebook I had brought along.
I admit that the cheery hours spent in Cherrybrook, the fictional late Regency or early Victorian country town where this young couple lives was a welcome distraction from my seventh or so edit of a medieval novel which I’m still working on.
It’s also fair to mention that reading and writing are havens from the fear and unrest that the current world conditions are bringing to the forefront. Without doubt, Cherrybrook gives me a place “away”.
Any lovers of Lisa Kleypas’ Love in the Afternoon here? It’s my favorite book in her Hathaway series. I think a seed of Lisa’s protagonist in that book, Beatrix, as well as Beatrix Potter, landed close to dreamy British actor Rupert Penry-Jones and they blossomed into animal loving Eugenia and quiet, steady Lawrence. I should warn you however, there are no dukes in Creatures of Habit, and while my lovers flirt when they’re smitten, the action stays at sitting room/kisses only level.
A small bit of Lawrence and Eugenia also subconsciously came from “Little Women”. Certainly I felt the boy-next-door energy coming from my Lawrence, as well as a bit of Jo’s tomboy nature in Eugenia.
Creatures of Habit is my first published story. I owe a debt of gratitude for the pleasure I get from writing to my mother, who resurrected my love of fiction by gifting me a vintage copy of I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, and my loving husband, who bought me my very first genre historical romance written by a contemporary author, and all my writing friends who have given me community.
Lawrie was influenced by Rupert Penry-Jones as Captain Wentworth
detail from original cover art of “A Fair-Weather Friend” August 2020
For those of you who read “Creatures of Habit”, A Fair-Weather Friend is a pleasing summer sequel which settles the romantic fate of Eugenia’s friend, Marian Lyle. One of the eligible men that the ladies saw at the Militia Dance has stayed on in Cherrybrook and is now the focus of Marian’s attention.
Reading subtexts and motives have never been a strong suit for Marian, so finding true love is not without some missteps!
Marian is a talented seamstress and assistant to her vicar father. Today, we might guess that she’s on the neurodivergent spectrum. I sympathize with Marian. She has the tendency to be compliant to a fault, and she’s so unlike her friend Eugenia, that there is a very real chance that love on her own terms may be out of her reach.
My mom gave me the nugget of the idea for this book, and so I have happily dedicated it to her. When I was thinking of new book ideas, she mentioned always having liked the movie classic, While You Were Sleeping and before long, a pair of brothers popped into my head and began to argue. I can do something with you, I said. “Pray continue whilst I take notes!”
Some photos are ahead, but here’s a bit of plot:
Can the wrong brother be the right man?
When Marian Lyle, the local vicar’s daughter, believes she’s just about to receive her first and only offer of marriage from charming Cherrybrook newcomer Jonas Talbot, when he leaves town suddenly and without explanation.
Soon, his curmudgeonly older brother John arrives. After an uncomfortable introduction, John persuades Marian to stay with his mother and younger siblings while together they seek to discover Jonas’s whereabouts.
Despite John’s initial coldness, it doesn’t take long for Marian to fall in love with the Talbot family.
If Jonas returns and secrets are told, will Marian be willing to risk it all to win the right husband?
I painted the original cover art myself, and in the newest edition as shown above, you can still see it in the background behind Marian.
I chose a favorite scene from my story and spent a weekend happily painting while listening to English cottage gardening videos and (YouTubers) Kirsten & Joerg, a darling couple of Germans living in England. Once in a while, I dashed into the kitchen for my decaf Earl Grey and honey and then back to peaceful work time until I was finished.
Day One - sketch and get inspired by Gordon Beningfield
The old, original book cover with full art
Here is my vision of Mr. Talbot. I think he’s a bit of Phillip Glenister and Richard Armitage:-). On the right is a painting that caught my eye after I’d written A Fair-Weather Friend. The house and setting is very much how I imagine the Talbot family home.
British actor, Phillip Glenister
British actor, Richard Armitage
A detail of a Helen Allingham painting that looks like how I imagine the Talbot House
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“The End”
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