Fresh Fiction Blog | Patricia Rice

When I first started writing, I was told to write what I know, and what I knew was American history. But ever since reading Austen in grade school, the books I loved to read were Regency romances. So when my editor told me she desperately needed more material for the Signet Regency imprint, I helpfully provided her with a few.

That's how the Regency Nobles started—as three small related category Regencies (they're still available as e-books online, published by RegencyReads.com. Two characters appeared in the last of those stories who absolutely begged for their own books—the American marquess who inherits a dilapidated manor, and his mysterious "brother" Michael, who doesn't seem to have a name of his own.

My editor agreed that the American marquess deserved a bigger book, and Signet published THE MARQUESS in 1997. After a bidding war, I sold THE ENGLISH HEIRESS, Michael's story and another sequel, to a new publisher. Except the publishing world was in turmoil then, as it is today, so THE ENGLISH HEIRESS and the sequel never made it to print. I kept the advance and walked away with two manuscripts years later, when I was contracted for too many other books to restart the series. The books languished on corrupted disks and in piles of paper in my basement for well over a decade, despite many demands for Michael's story.

I heard reader cries and sympathized, but I was helpless until the advent of good scanners and e-books. Finally, I had the means to release them. THE ENGLISH HEIRESS revisits the characters introduced in THE MARQUESS, which I've reissued as an e-book as well. (It's on sale for $2.99 for a few weeks, if you want the first full-length book!)

Regency romances take place during a unique period of English history. It was an era of wealth and scientific advances, a transition between the rowdy Georgian era and the prim and proper Victorians. The British Empire was at its zenith controlling large portions of the globe. THE ENGLISH HEIRESS occurs in 1819, which is just barely inside the Regency years. The old king died, and the Prince Regent finally inherited the throne, on January 20, 1820. The problems of the Regency lingered, with medieval criminal laws and discontent and rebellion among the masses, while the London ballrooms were still filled with beautiful laughing aristocrats in gorgeous gowns. In ways, it foreshadowed the 1920s prosperity, a period of transition before the hardship of depression and war that followed.

I already had a strong understanding of the Regency era from reading when I began writing my first Signet. I've loved researching and learning more, although I've forgotten so much in the years of writing contemporary and paranormal romances. I've been brushing up on my research as I've edited these books.

It has been a unique experience revisiting these characters I loved so much back then and so many readers have requested since. Had I stayed with the Regency historicals that became so popular a few years later, instead of branching into paranormal a few years ahead of the market, I might not be releasing these books at all now.

I hope you'll enjoy both these books, because I'm having a great deal of fun resurrecting the third, THE IRISH DUCHESS. All the books stand alone, but it's highly entertaining watching the characters mature over the years!

The Marquess
Regency Nobles
#1.0
June 2012

The English Heiress
Regency Nobles
#2.0
June 2012

Comments

From one Patricia to another, I think in another life I was a Victorian! Love your books....Keep writing!

Patricia Pascale
(Patricia (Pat) Pascale 3:03pm July 8, 2012)

Thanks for the history and great sizzling covers on your books. I've heard the same thing about write what you know, but find so many other things more interesting.
(Alyson Widen 4:21pm July 8, 2012)

It is interesting to write about what you can research. It broadens all of us who
read what you write. No matter how you got started keep doing it! You found
the right way for you (and your readers.
(Sandra Spilecki 4:42pm July 8, 2012)

I love reading historical romance. So much to learn really!!
(Vicki Hancock 5:40pm July 8, 2012)

I can't wait to read your Regency Series of books. I enjoy historical fiction.
(Robin McKay 7:01pm July 8, 2012)

It's a strange coincidence that I was watching a documentary that my Husband checked out of the library on the British Monarchy that took place from the very beginning. He knew that I would enjoy it, because I've always enjoyed reading books about the subject. I read Queen Elizabeth's Autobiography about a month or so ago, and enjoyed it immensely!! Anyway, I am behind with my reading, but I know that I will enjoy your books. They are the best of both worlds - England and History, rolled into one!! Thank you for taking the time to do the research, and for keeping History alive, so that others can not only read about it, but can get a learning experience at the same time - even if they don't realize it!!
(Peggy Roberson 9:08pm July 8, 2012)

always interesting how things can come around full circle in a way. congrats on finally being able to tell these stories.
(d Kenney 9:11pm July 8, 2012)

Historical romance novels are also my favorite. I love reading it; not sure if I would have wanted to live it:)
(Barbara Studer 10:09pm July 8, 2012)

I read the Georgette Heyer ones when I was younger because my mother had them all. However they never had any poor characters. The odd maid or butler would go on and off stage, that was it. I prefer stories which give a more rounded picture of the way everyone lived, although as a friend of mine remarked, the focus often has to be on weathly people because they were the only ones who could travel or do anything besides work fourteen hours a day or steal.
(Clare O'Beara 5:13am July 9, 2012)

When I was in school, history, as taught then, was dry and boring. All we did
was memorize dates, name and events without any real interesting story
attached. Now, with the new genres of novels out, history is fun. I'm all for
making it mandatory that students read a "fiction" novel of their choice in the
time period being studied in class and do a report on it.

I'm very much looking forward to reading "The English Heiress."
(Connie Fischer 6:58pm July 9, 2012)

You can never have too many Regency books on your bookshelf.
(Mary Preston 3:24am July 10, 2012)

They can exercise considerable influence over the offerings of the publishers for whom they worked, and many unknown writers owed their first sale to a sympathetic publishers' reader. Thanks.
Regards,
how do you write a research paper
(s Santa 9:43am August 16, 2012)

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