Thursday, October 4, 2007

KJ Howe Interviews Christine Wells

Christine Wells is an author to watch closely. Her credentials include winning a Golden Heart, the Emily, and the “Best of the Best” in the Indiana Golden Opportunity Contest. This former lawyer has taken the historical genre by storm, securing praise from such greats as Mary Balogh, Kathryn Smith, Kathryn Caskie, Anna Campbell, and Sophia Nash. In her debut novel, Scandal’s Daughter, Christine brings Sebastian and Gemma to life, two characters whose spark is so powerful they set the society crowd and each other on fire. Released in September by Berkley, Scandal’s Daughter is a must read. After a sleepless night devouring the novel from cover to cover, I had a few questions that had me burning with curiosity. She was kind enough to answer them below:

Scandal, disrepute, illicit love. Scandal’s Daughter has them all! The story made it sound like having your reputation tarnished was almost as horrifying as being lead to guillotine during the 1800s. Just how important was it to maintain an air of propriety? In your research, did you discover certain women who broke the rules but maintained their reputation because of their impressive discretionary tactics?

KJ, that’s right. For a single woman in the Regency era, reputation was everything. It’s more to do with the way men saw women as breeding vehicles for the son and heir than anything else. They wanted to be certain the lady they married was a virgin so that the heir to their estate would be of their own blood. After the heir was born, the rules became more flexible, but the appearance of propriety still had to be maintained. Even if everyone was pretty certain that Mrs Y was having an affair with Lord X, they didn’t say it openly and everyone was happy. A supremely hypocritical way of life.

After reading Scandal’s Daughter, I picked up on several themes: don’t judge a book by its cover, appearances can be deceiving, what is most important is often not said. Tying all the knots together, I noticed a trend that spoke of illusion. Do you consciously thread themes into your novels or do they evolve on their own?

That’s very perceptive of you, KJ. It was a trend I noticed myself only after the book was finished so it was unconscious at first. Society’s perception is often founded on very little and it rarely matches a person’s idea of themselves. I’m interested in identity and the way we can only find peace when we act to please ourselves and our loved ones instead of worrying all the time what ‘people’ will think.

Your background as a corporate lawyer is a far cry from the escape of historical romance. What experiences as a lawyer helped your writing and what aspects of being a lawyer might have been an impediment to writing romance?

My legal training made me acutely aware of the way words can evoke a reaction in the reader. There’s a real art to writing threats that seem ever so polite on the surface! And there’s the experience of the way business works and legal knowledge which has been helpful here and there.

However, being a lawyer probably hindered me, too, because when writing as a lawyer you have to be precise and succinct. As a fiction writer, I had to learn to be more expansive, though hopefully not verbose.


The ending was very satisfying as you tied all the loose ends together. Are you a plotter or a pantser and how did that affect the writing process of Scandal’s Daughter?

Thank you! I don’t plan what I’m going to write in detail before I start. It makes it terribly difficult to write a synopsis for my editor! But I usually know the premise or the hook and I can visualize a few key scenes. I’ve learned that my characters often won’t cooperate if I present them with a carefully constructed plot, so I try to go with the flow and let them dictate what happens next.

I usually find a way to make the resolution work even though I haven’t planned how it will pan out. Sometimes, small details I’ve added throughout the novel, not knowing why, suddenly become important when I need to tie up loose ends. The subconscious is remarkable that way. I’ve always felt that the story is happening on some other plane and my job is to watch and listen and translate it to the page as best I can.


What would be the one piece of advice that would you give unpublished writers to help them break through?

Can I give two? The first—write what you love to read, or what you would love to read but haven’t found yet. The second—you can take all the courses and read all the ‘how-to’ books you like, but the only way to learn how to write well is to write.

Fans love learning about the personal lives of their favorite writers. Can you share something about yourself that might surprise us?

My father, Ian Diehm, is a published author of books on the history of Rugby Union and cricket. Seeing him achieve such success in his field inspired me to strive for publication myself.

Could you please tell us about your next project AND how long we’ll have to wait for the next Christine Wells blockbuster?

The Dangerous Duke is scheduled for September 2008. It’s a Regency historical about a duke who accidentally steals a lady's erotic diary. The book is set against a background of political upheaval, when Liverpool declared a state of emergency and people were locked up without trial for sedition. My heroine's brother is a country vicar thrown in jail for aiding suspected arsonists. She threatens to expose government secrets by publishing her political diary if the authorities don't release him. My hero steals what he thinks is that diary, only it turns out to contain the heroine's secret erotic fantasies. I had a lot of fun with that one!

Christine, thanks for taking the time to chat with me today and for sharing your expertise. I look forward to following your career!

Thank you, KJ. It’s been a pleasure.

Anyone who is interested in learning more about debut author Christine Wells, please visit her website at http://www.christine-wells.com/


KJ Howe, a double Daphne du Maurier winner and triple Golden Heart finalist, writes international romantic suspense. A graduate of the Master’s in Writing Popular Fiction program at Seton Hill University, KJ enjoys interviewing other authors when she isn’t researching or writing. Visit her at http://www.kjhowe.com/

Now, let me ask the bandit readers a question. If you were a Regency lady and knew you'd get away with it, with absolutely no consequences, what would you take the opportunity to do? One reader who comments will win a signed copy of Scandal's Daughter.

73 comments:

Caren Crane said...

Kim, thank you for interviewing our beloved Christine. Christine, "Scandal's Daughter" was such a wonderful book! I adored Scovy and Gemma. They were both so wounded and this story showcased the quintessential Regency dilemma: misunderstandings that brewed in families for decades because nobody talked about anything--gah! I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

If I were a Regency lady, I'm afraid I would be quite scandalous. If unmarried, I would want to write a gossipy newsletter like Lady Whistledown, reporting on society's foibles. I would also love to drive a fast, dangerous high-perch Phaeton around Hyde Park. My manners would be beyond reproach, but I might have a reputation as a lady with a rapier-sharp tongue and wit. Oh, I adore the Regency!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the great interview! :)

If I were a Regency lady and knew I could get away with it, I would find moments for myself without a chaperone. Having those instances without worrying about someone else's censure would be lovely :)

Anonymous said...

Christine, it's so funny that you mention the need to be succinct as a lawyer, and more expansive as an author. One of the things I find so impressive about SD is the way you take the reader to another world--the detail is so evocative and beautifully written, it's like sitting next to Jane Austen as she describes a Regency setting.

I, on the other hand, can't seem to break the habit of using as few words as possible. (Not in my comments, clearly, but in my OTHER writing!)

If I were in Regency times? You know, much as I love reading Regencies, I don't think I'd like to have lived back then. Unless, of course, I could be an extremely rich orphan with a very old (and perhaps senile) guardian. I think I'd live my days like Gemma thought she might--pounding around on my horse and surveying my estate. ;-)

Amy Andrews said...

Great interview. And Happy Birthday Christine for the other day.

I'm with you Kirsten - don't think I'd want to live in an era with no refrigeration, no votes for women and no tampons.

Great outfits though.

Amy Andrews

Joan said...

Great interview KJ.

Christine, as you know I ADORED Scandel's Daughter and between you and Anna have renewed my interest in the Regency period. It is a fantastic read.

Andrea said...

What a wonderful interview, Christine and KJ!

Hmmm....I really like Caren's response of writing a gossipy newsletter a la Lady Whistledown. How much fun would it be to say scandalous things and get away with it?!?!

I won a signed copy of Scandal's Daughter when Christine blogged over at RR a while back. I can't wait to get it and read it as I've heard nothing but great things about it!!

Congrats again on your debut, Christine! :) And The Dangerous Duke sounds devine!

~Andrea

doglady said...

Fabulous interview, ladies! Have you come down from the cloud of your debut yet, Christine? I cannot wait to read Scandal's Daughter and my goodness the Dangerous Duke sound divine! I like Caren's idea of writing a gossipy newsletter as well. It would be wicked fun! Better yet, I would love to write a wicked, wicked novel that scandalized everyone, but everyone was dying to read. Being able to run my own estate with oodles of money would be nice as well. Of course it would end up being a refuge for abandoned and abused animals.

CrystalGB said...

If I were a Regency lady, I would probably sneak out in disguise and go to places that weren't appropriate like gaming hells, disreputable balls, bordellosm to see what went on there. ;)

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Great interview Kim and Christine. Scandal's Daughter was a delightful read, (especially after several books I couldn't finish!).

As for the Regency period, I'm pretty sure I'd either be a nursemaid or the governess. Of course I'd tempt the Lord of the house to leave his lifestyle and live a decadant life with me out on the contenent or in the country! :)

Kate Carlisle said...

Kim, what a brilliant, revealing interview! I'm so impressed with your skills. Thanks for revealing more fascinating facts about our lovely Christine.

And Christine, I just loved Scandal's Daughter and am thrilled to hear the story line for The Dangerous Duke. It sounds so different and intriguing, I can't wait to read it.

A Regency lady? Me? Snort! While I absolutely love books and movies of the era, I can't even imagine me living during that time. Hmm. I'd have to be extremely wealthy. And a great beauty, of course. ;-) I'd fund archaeological expeditions to Egypt and discover, you know, old things. Then I would spend the rest of the time being honored for my work--and my great beauty, of course. LOL

ruth said...

I would buy up a huge amount of land, have a homein the cuntryside where I would have horses and a farm which would employ city workers who have no jobs and are destitute and I would devote my life to this endeavor.

Buffie said...

Hey Christine!!!

Let's see . . . what would I do if I had the opportunity and there were no consequences?? That's easy -- I'd do EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't wait to read Scandal's Daughter! I love the name Sebastian for a hero. Great, great name.

Christine, what kind of law did you practice? I'm a paralegal in real estate law.

Caren Crane said...

Kate, I love Egyptology! If you funded expeditions and had people send you loads of artifacts (that should have been left in Egypt ahem), I would force you to throw huge, themed masques. We could dress up as Egyptian historical figures (scandalously and scantily clad) and wear masks so no one would know who we were (right!).

Such fun! So, when do we get to be Regency ladies?

jo robertson said...

Great interview, KJ. I loved hearing more about Christine's writing now that I've read SD and can't wait for her next release.

Christine, I didn't know your father was also a published writer. How exciting to be carrying on the torch.

If I were a Regency lady, I'd love to go to all the places where women were not allowed, especially men's clubs, but I'd like to be in disguise so the men actually wouldn't know a woman was observing their behavior. I'm really fascinated by what men do in the absence of women. I find them intriguing creatures LOL!

Hellie Sinclair said...

Have a wild and passionate affair with Lord Byron, of course. Or maybe Shelley. (Keats has my heart, of course, but he's not really who you go to for a "passionate" affair.)

THEN I'd publish my memoirs about it.

Oh, wait, didn't Caro Lamb do this very thing to Byron?

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

I have to go w/ Kirsten and Anna - I'm not cut out for the Regency life. I'm too blunt, and too irreverent. I'd be arrested in a heartbeat for sedition. Snork! I might make it for a day, though. And in that day, I'd put on the most awesome-ly flattering riding habit and ride around my grand estates, and meet my mysterious neighbor for an *ahem* unchaperoned picnic in the woods. Grins. Thank goodness most of the men of the ton knew how to do up those infernal buttons! He'd be out of luck on the cravat thing from me though. I can only tie a tie on a cadaver. Snork!

brownone said...

Great interview!!

As for me...I think I'd NEVER make it. I'm too stubborn and would probably end up in jail for "indecency"...

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, Kim and Christine, great interview! I second and third and fourth every person here who has said how fantastic SCANDAL'S DAUGHTER is. Kirsten, you're right about the Austenesque quality. Just gorgeous.

Lots of great suggestions for Regency ladies. I'm making notes and nobody is allowed to sue me if one or all of them turn up in an Anna Campbell one day. Hey, borrow from one person, it's plagiarism. Borrow from a lot of people, it's research!

Cassondra said...

KJ, great interview girl!

And Christine, of course you know I had my sleepless night and resultant bleary-eyed day that was all YOUR fault--several weeks ago.

This is a fantastic read. It's a feel-good read.

And I could SO relate to Gemma's love of the land where she grew up. And I was raised in a family where two of my elders were painfully, unduly concerned with appearances, so I was impressed with how deeply you were able to portray the subtleties of these dynamics. Just a super, super job of writing, and we're all the better for it.

Me, a regency lady? Pfffft. I'd have been hung, guillotined, then they would have burned the body for good measure. In fact, if there's such thing as past lives, they quite likely DID just that. ;0)

When I was a young girl I would have been the perfect little lady everyone demanded, but I would never have been able to marry. My innate sense of the equality of all people would have made me completely unsuitable. If I had money, I'd quite likely have moved to Europe, where the standards of behavior were less restrictive. I would have painted or studied music or done something else that would have scandalized those stuffy British hypocrites.

See? I can't even speak of it without getting all aggravated.

LOL! They would have killed me before I was 20.

Anna Campbell said...

Ms Hellion, wanted to say, I'm so with you on the poets. I had a HUGE crush on Shelley when I was in uni (these days, I think I would give him a punch in the nose but I've grown up a bit since then!). And I can remember sobbing my heart out over Keats's letters. Next time you're in Europe, try and make the Keats House in Hampstead (I think it's still open - they had all the originals of the letters and you could see his health declining in the letters. Man, another sob moment). And the Shelley and Keats museum on the Spanish Steps in Rome is just amazing. Tiny but if you know the work, absolutely heartbreaking.

Cassondra, you're right - running away to a scandalous artistic career on the Continent sounds just the way to go! I could have had an affair with Liszt! Well, maybe not exactly in the Regency as he was born in 1811. Perhaps I could have shown him the love of a good woman before he started chasing all those flibbertigibbets! Quite like the idea of Liszt playing the piano for me in my pensive moments. Hmm, perhaps not in my pensive moments. Lots of crashing chords in Liszt!

See, Christine? You've sure got us thinking!

Hellie Sinclair said...

Ana: I swear we're like sisters who live on different continents! I loved Byron since high school when I discovered his "No More A-Rovin'" poem and realized, "OMG, poetry worth reading! This is awesome! It's about sex! I didn't know you could write poetry about sex!"

Keats was discovered soon after--and I did my high school research paper on him. *swoons, sighs* I love him. Darling, darling man.

Shelley was my third choice, but I figure he must have been pretty wild. Come on. He left his wife and had an affair with Mary Shelley...whom he didn't get to marry until later.

Next time I get to Europe. *clutches sides and laughs* I'd like to make a first time to Europe. It's a goal, a dream. Both. Scotland--but I have to hit some of the English countryside areas. Jane Austen's house. The Bard's house. My darling romantics houses.

Anna Campbell said...

Hope you make it one day, Ms Hellion. Although it sounds like you'll need at least six months! Wish I could come too - seeing as we're sisters, and all! ;-)

I think I had a crush on Shelley precisely because he was so wild. And I love the poetry. The Byron poem that did it for me was She Walks in Beauty. Imagine someone writing that about you (er, me...)!

Christine Wells said...

Thanks everyone for saying such lovely things about Scandal's Daughter!

Caren--
You already have a reputation for a lady with a rapier-sharp tongue and wit! Love the Lady Whistledown idea!

Bonnie--
I can identify with wanting to shirk the chaperone! I like being alone a lot(I'm a writer!) and I couldn't stand having someone hover over me all the time.

ChristyJan said...

What a great interview.


If I were a Regency lady, I would go with CrystalG and go to gaming hells, brothels, etc.

Christine Wells said...

Kirsten--
I've died and gone to Heaven! To have Austen mentioned in the same sentence!LOL I have worked *very* hard on layering description and setting into my writing, but my first drafts always look like they're set in a vacuum. Atually, having read that fabulous short story of yours, Kirsten, I don't think you have any worries!

The senile guardian sounds like a good option. You could do whatever you liked, although in that situation people would say you needed a chaperone, preferably not one like Aunt Matilda!

Christine Wells said...

Hey, Amy!
Thanks for the birthday wishes! And did you *have* to mention the lack of tampons? Come on, we're talking about the fantasy version of the Regency here:)

Christine Wells said...

Joanie T--
you're a sweetheart! So glad Foanna and I could draw you back into the Regency web. Come here, my pretty...*g*

AndreaW--
Your copy is on its way! I'm so sorry for the delay. Yes, I can just see our PoshT (Caren) as the Lady Whistledown of the age.

Christine Wells said...

Doglady--
What a laudable ambition! I think a shelter is a wonderful idea, although they say Englishmen treat their dogs better than they treated their wives.*g* And I think the novel idea is fantastic. I'd love to do that too.

Christine Wells said...

Crystalg--
Now you're talking! That would have been verrry interesting!

Suz--
So glad you enjoyed it! Love your governess turned seductress story! Very nice.

Christine Wells said...

Kate--
You always make me snork! I love the idea of funding archeological expeditions (while being lauded for your great beauty!) And perhaps you'd meet a handsome archeologist? Or maybe Rupert from Mr. Impossible, which would be even better.*G*

Christine Wells said...

Ruth--
You and Doglady could set up house together. That is such selfless ambition and employment was sorely needed, especially after Waterloo.

Buffie--
Haha! Everything covers a lot of ground. Good on you! And being a real estate paralegal means you do all the work, right? I really admire people who can work in property. You need to be so precise. I was a corporate lawyer with a bit of tax on the side--capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, that sort of thing.

Christine Wells said...

Caren--
You were clearly born in the wrong era! Hey, I'm going to write a Bandita time-travel.*g* Wouldn't that be a scream?

Jo--
KJ is a wonderful interviewer isn't she? She always has a great insight into character and theme. Yes, I put that in about Dad because I'm so proud of him. He is very modest about his achievements. He's the sort of person who just gets on and does it. But he's very familiar with--are you finished that book yet? Are you published yet? So we've shared a lot of war stories.

I'm with you on going to the clubs. I think we'd probably be horrified! But it would be interesting to know.

Christine Wells said...

MsHellion--
Love it!! And I'm so glad to find another Keats lover. He's my favourite poet of all time. When I have fears that I may cease to be... Ahh, so tragic.

And you've already won Scandal's Daughter, m'dear, from another post! Hurry up and send me your details (see my website for the contact page www.christine-wells.com)

Christine Wells said...

Jeanne--
I think that sounds like a plan! And I'd say there were quite a lot of blunt-spoken women in the Regency--you could skip the debutante stage where you had to be sweet and good and move on to a more interesting phase of life!

Anna--
Why do you think I asked? I'm looking for ideas for book 4, of course!

Christine Wells said...

Brownone--
You wouldn't go to jail because you *wouldn't get caught*! So you can be as wild as you like!

Cassondra--
A jaunt to the continent--after Waterloo, of course. Great idea!

Anna--
DId you see the movie about George Sand and Liszt et al? I can never remember what it was called, something like Prelude? It had Judy Davis and that fellow who was in Room With a View playing Liszt. I'm sure you would have seen it but if not, you must!

Christine Wells said...

MsHellion--
I will hope and pray that you do get to Europe. It really is an experience of a lifetime to be in the presence of such a wealth of culture and history.

Sighing all over again about those poets!

Christine Wells said...

Christyjan--
I can't help thinking going to all those places would just be depressing, though!

I think if it were me, I'd go to a masked ball and be seduced by a dashing duke on the terrace! Well, there weren't any dashing dukes in that era, they were all about a hundred, but we're playing make-believe, right?

Anna Campbell said...

Just looked it up - Impromptu. Thought it was a little self-conscious, actually, although it had some great moments. Poor Chopin being chased into an early grave by a sex-crazed George Sand! Just realised the heroine in the book I'm currently polishing was meant to be like George Sand. It's a sign of how far my actual characters stray from the original concept! Anyway, going back to the self-consciousness, "Frederic, I hear you've written your wonderful Scherzo this morning! The one in B Flat Minor!" "Yes, Franz! It will be immortal when your Hungarian Rhapsodies have faded into oblivion." Not a direct quote but similar to a lot that went on in that film. It's a problem with films about artistic people - they seem to have to go about being 'artistic' all the time, don't they?

Hellie Sinclair said...

Oh, it is my intent to trot my happy self to Europe. Research, research, research, baby. I will figure out a way. The more you talk about Keats...and more I think about Scotland...Yeah, I think Ana's right, I will be there 6 months. Or maybe forever. I'm not picky.

Ah, I love "She Walks In Beauty"--*sighs* I can quote it by heart. Keats is so tragic--and I love him so much I reference him in my current manuscript actually--but Byron...what a rogue. *sighs* I'm such a sucker for a rogue.

P.S. I have sent you my information, Christine! *does a happy dance* Thank you, thank you!

Hellie Sinclair said...

Just adding that I know Byron wrote "She Walks" and not Keats. Didn't paragraph my thoughts separately. Apparently just went for the orgy instead. Sorry about that!

Anna Campbell said...

Glad you clarified that, MH. Otherwise the consequences would have been dire. We were going to blackball you at White's and send you to an abbess at Covent Garden! Hmm, perhaps you might get to be in an orgy after all!

Helen said...

I loved the interview and I loved Scandals Daughter it was such a good read I loved the way they came to realise the love they had for each other after all they had been through and I am very much looking forward to The Dangerous Duke.
In the regency era I would very much liked to have been myself and to do what I wanted to do and not have the constraints of always being proper and worrying about what everyone thought of me, but the love that exists between the heros and heroines in the storys I have read yes I would really have liked that
Have Fun
Helen

Annie West said...

Christine,

Lovely interview. Fascinating snippet about your dad, too.

As for being a regency lady - I suspect with my luck I'd be a regency scullery maid! The nearest I'd come to glamour would be cleaning the plates after a sumptuous dinner! But I could dream.

Christine, I have to say how much I'm looking forward to your next story. It's such a delicious premise - I can't wait to see how you handle it! A year - I have to wait a year! Sigh.

Annie

Christine Wells said...

Foanna--
What are you saying? That artists *aren't* artistic all the time? I know I am. I have a real flair for changing nappies and wiping up baby sick! It's all in the wrist action, you know!

Christine Wells said...

Helen--
That's lovely! Thank you for those kind words about Scandal's Daughter. I'm so glad you liked it. And I agree--that everlasting kind of love is what I'd like most in any era.

Christine Wells said...

Annie--
I'm sure you would have been a countess at the least! I know, a year seems like a very long wait to me too but hopefully they'll move The Dangerous Duke up the list.

Lily said...

What I would do, Well in real life I am a med student, so I am sure I would like to pursue this career in regency England... even if there will be scandal!!

Nathalie said...

I am sure it would be fun to seduce a rake... who would afll in love with you!! Like in all the novels :)

Amy Andrews said...

Okay, okay, so I'm a heathen. Like you didn't know that already, Christine.
But that's me - practical.

I've decided I could live in the Regency era if I could be a very, very early suffragette. Picture me as Mrs Burns from Mary Poppins.

And just so you don't think me a complete philistine, I have quoted Byron's "She Walks in Beauty" in my last book. The hero whispers it to the heroine under an outback starry night. They both adore Byron and the property is called Byron Downs.

Amy Andrews

Anna Campbell said...

Ooh, Amy, that sounds lovely. I remember as first-year music student, I had to set She Walks in Beauty as a composition exercise. What a pity I have no musical talent whatsoever. The words were certainly mega inspiring! I think that was the first time I read them - gave me goosebumps!

Christine Wells said...

Lily--
I can just see you on the battlefields of Waterloo, storming the male-dominated citadel of medical practice and saving lives left-right-and-centre. And maybe an affair with Wellington in between? Old Hookey liked his Nooky, or so we're told. Hmm, maybe you'd go for someone a little better looking though.

doglady said...

Love all these Byron lovers!! I adore the man and his poetry. You have to if you read the tribute he wrote to have inscribed on his dog's tombstone. Anyone else read it? Sigh!! I have a first edition Byron that my late hubby bought me after he became Dr. H. It sits on a pedestal in my writing room. No matter how rough things got financially after he died, I could not bring myself to sell it. Anna, I'll bet your composition wasn't that bad at all. Actually when I was in high school (no we will NOT mention the year)we sang a setting of She Walks in Beauty in our madrigal singers group. I probably still have the music somewhere. Haven't the foggiest who the composer was. It was dreamy though.

Christine Wells said...

Nathalie--
Good thinking, 99! I'm so surprised no one else said that! It would be near the top of my list.*g*

Amy--
I never said you were a philistine! Perish the thought. I must get my hands on that book of yours. It sounds fantastic!

Christine Wells said...

Anna--
I'm sure you're being too modest about your musical talent! And yes, those words send a shiver down my spine. I'm bad at poetry but I love writing it. Isn't it wonderful how evocative so few words can be?

Doglady--
What a touching story. Some things are more precious than money, aren't they? I hope life is better for you now.

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Wonderful interview Christine & KJ!

And Christine, you just quoted my fave poem by Keats! Of course Aunty LURVED ALL the romantic poets, but tragic Keats stole a special place in my hard-old heart. :-P And yes, Foanna, I've been to that little museum by the Spanish Steps...*SWOON*

As for living in the Regency, NO THANK YOU! Aunty likes her electricity and flush toilets too much. Though sneaking into the gaming hells in masculine dress does sound like fun. Where did I put those bucket boots???

AC

Christine Wells said...

Hi AC--
Yes, I cry every time I read that poem. Sigh!

Gaming hells? What is this fascination y'all have for gaming hells? But with the bucket boots you'd fit right in!

H Maree Davis said...

What a day to come over here!

Hmmm, no doubt whatever I got up to would have had me transported to Australia! Then I'd get to play with that whole two legitimate husbands idea. On second thoughts one is more than enough some days.

Came over to say a huuuuuuge THANK YOU to Anna (Campbell)- the signed book she donated for the St Jude's Children's Research Hospital charity auction and luncheon arrived today. If anyone is in the Peoria IL area it's on Wednesday October 17th. Information is around town. Christine has sent a book too! I'll be back to let everyone know when it arrives. THANKS Christine.

They both showed what great people they are helping out like this.

H! :)

Trish Milburn said...

I so need to clone myself to have enough time to read everything I want to. Christine, I'm really looking forward to reading your book. I have it, just haven't had time to read it yet. I am certain it's fabulous, as are you. :)

Anonymous said...

Amy A: Speaking of philistines...I am much more likely to quote Mary Poppins than Byron!

I love your comparison to Mrs. Burns, in so many ways. That movie really asks some very difficult questions for working parents, don't you think? Staying home with the kids rather than fighting the good fight? Perhaps we should have a blog where we deconstruct Disney. :-)

Anyway...well done, sister suffragette! :-)

Anna Campbell said...

Heather, you're most welcome. As you say, the cause was a very worthy one. Hope you get lots of takers for the basket!

Hmm, two husbands, hey? I haven't even worked out if I could handle ONE!!!

H Maree Davis said...

That little historical anomaly sparks my writerly imagination. But I can't for the life of me write historical.

I wonder if any of them got back to England? Caused problems in Aus if the first spouse showed up and of course there was the problem of which children should be considered legitimate, after all the church said it was okay.

Amy Andrews said...

Oh Kirsten, yes.
Its funny you know, I watched that movie as a kid a few times and the deeper issues went over my head. It was just about a groovy, singing, magical nanny.
But as an adult the sub plots add so many rich layers. And trust me - my daughter adores that movie, I think I've seen it as an adult as
many times as I've seen DD. And I'd watch it again right now if she said "Lets watch Mary Poppins Mummy." Even though I'm behind on the WIP!!!

Its okay Christine - I was being self deprecating ;-) And I just lurve that word - philistine. It's so.....juicy.

Amy Andrews

Kammie said...

I'd like to run around naked in the Vauxhall Gardens. lol Just kidding. I love to read romance books during this time, but I don't think I'd really like to live in those days. Women have come a long way.

Scandal’s Daughter sounds really good!

Christine Wells said...

Heather--
Just one question-one husband is enough work, why would you want two??? And you're very welcome.*g*

Trish--
No worries! There are so many books to read now all our friends are selling! And you already do too much.

Christine Wells said...

Amy and Kirsten--
You've convinced me to watch Mary Poppins! I'd no idea it was so multi-layered. And Amy, I like philistine as a word, too. When my boss and I were setting up a company I wanted to call it Philistine P/L (combo of his name --Philip and mine--Christine, get it?) but he wasn't amused:)

doglady said...

Yes, Christine, some things are worth infinitely more than money. My life now is great. I have so many great friends and I have gone back to writing, which has widened my circle of friends even more. I always tell people the reason I decided to write romance is because I lived one. Hmmm. Two hubbies. If I could pick them from the ranks of some of those cover models I might take that on. Come on, Anna C! I know you could deal with a hubby or two. No problem!

Christine Wells said...

KimW--
Naked at Vauxhall? That might be a little chilly! And you might receive certain unwelcome attentions from evil rakes! Come to think of it, not a bad idea.*g*

doglady said...

I have a friend with whom I attended high school who sang the role of the mother in Mary Poppins on Broadway. The musical did a good job of bringing out some of those subtexts.

Christine Wells said...

That's wonderful to hear, Doglady. I'm so pleased for you.

Nah, I'd be willing for a fling with those cover models but husband material, uh-uh, I don't think so! One is definitely enough for me!

Anonymous said...

Wait a minute--YOU HAVEN'T SEEN MARY POPPINS?!!?

AWKK! The horror! Julie Andrews? Dick Van Dyke? Never seen it?!

Christine, get your gorgeous self to the video store (they have those in Oz, right?) and rent it. You are in for such a treat. We were just watching it a few nights ago and it get better every time. The four year old will love it and you'll just bawl at the end.

(let's go fly a kite, up to the highest height, let's go fly a kite and send it soaring...!)

Amy Andrews said...

LOL Christine - great name for a company.

Yes, I'm with Kirsten. To the video store, poste haste!

Amy Andrews
(no relation to Julie)

Christine Wells said...

Amy and Kirsten--
I've definitely seen Mary Poppins but I can remember very little about it except Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
All those deeper layers were lost on me as a seven year old.

Hellie Sinclair said...

I cry at the end too--when the Daddy takes the kids out to fly a kite. *sighs* It's just so perfect.

Well, except for where Mary Poppins leaves of course.