I'd venture to guess that every avid reader, and most average readers have come
across an error or six in the books you've read over the years. Some errors you
probably forgave for the sake of the narrative, but others may have been the
kind of howlers that ruined the whole story for you.
For the author the whole process of being edited can be disconcerting. My most
recent novel, THE PEACOCK
THRONE, is a Regency adventure story with spies, and treasure, and high
intrigue. It is just releasing from Lion Fiction a new-to-me publisher based in
England. The editing process was even more rigorous than I am used to. Here are
some of the things the editors questioned:
Chocolate. Specifically, did they have chocolate candies in England at
the time, or simply drinking chocolate? Answer: Contrary to conventional wisdom
among regency fans, chocolate candies were available. In Savoring the Past: The
French Kitchen and Table from 1300 to 1789, culinary historian Barbara Ketcham
Wheaton cites a 1750 cookbook that specialized in desserts: "There are also some
chocolate candies: the still familiar diablotins -- flat disks of bitter
chocolate, thickly sprinkled with nonpareils, chocolate "olives" (which we call
chocolate truffles), and a conserve of chocolate, which turns out to be very
like fudge."
Dressing gowns. The editor thought only men had dressing gowns, in the
form of Banyans at this time, could I check. Thank the Lord for the internet!
Answer: Women did have dressing gowns at this time. 'The dressing gown
constituted a curious split between men and women. Men were dazzling and women
were drab.' ('Fashioning the Bourgeoisie' by Philippe Perrot, 1981).
English breakfast. Did the full English breakfast actually exist as such
at this time? Did you know there is an English Breakfast Society? Me neither.
But these brilliant folks saved my bacon. Answer: It dates back to the early
1800s, and originally was only really available to the gentry due to cost.
Did they call them morning rooms or sitting rooms in Government House (Raj
Bhavan) in Calcutta, (now Kolkata) India in 1802? Argh! Never did find an
answer on that, even after managing to find a map of the facility. I finally
just scrapped that phrase as a descriptor and moved the scene to another kind of
room entirely.
Don’t even get me started on the words I had to scrap because they weren’t
around in 1802. Cagey-had to scrap it. Knapsack-kept it.
Lummox-scrapped. Pallet-kept. On and on it went. The perfect word
to describe something and elevate the rhythm of the narrative tossed out on its
ear because it was too young. Frankly, I think they could file discrimination
charges.
Keep in mind. None of these details have any bearing on the plot whatsoever. Not
any. At all. Except of course that it does if sloppy research means that readers
are disappointed in the story because of it. Then the whole plot becomes pointless.
Getting all the questions can be deflating, even frustrating, but the point is
always to make the work stronger. Those fresh eyes are key to weeding out things
that are going to trip up readers and we disregard editorial suggestions at our
peril. I'm thankful for editors who keep me on my toes!
Lisa Karon Richardson is the author of several novels including Diamond in
the Rough, Vanishing Act, and Curtain Call. Her novella,
Impressed by Love, was a Carol Award finalist. Lisa and her husband are
currently planting a home missions church in the USA, having previously been
missionaries to the Seychelles and Gabon.
A mysterious throne holds the key to two murders; an epic adventure
steeped in treachery and romance
When Miss Lydia Garrett's guardian is
murdered, and the authorities refuse to investigate the odd circumstances, she
vows to catch the culprit. The same night the Earl of Danbury is murdered in his
bed. Against all odds it appears that the murders are related - and Anthony
Douglas, the new Lord Danbury, is bent on revenge.
The clues point to the
former Earl's first naval command. In 1758 the Earl spirited away and hid the
magnificent Peacock Throne at the behest of the Indian royal family. To draw out
the murderer, Anthony and Lydia agree that they must locate the throne. However,
they are not the only ones interested in the Peacock Throne.
Marcus
Wiltshire, agent of His Majesty's intelligence services, has received hints that
Bonaparte intends to return the throne to India and leverage its mystical
significance to foment rebellion and cut England off from her most important
trading partner. When the amateur sleuths join forces with the professional
agent, the quest for the throne leads them around the globe on an adventure
steeped in danger, treachery, and romance.
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