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Gina Conkle | How Do You Like Tall, Dark, and Mysterious?
May 22, 2014
That’s what happened when MEET THE EARL AT MIDNIGHT
started in my head. A man kept showing up covered from head to toe in leather complete with leather
boots and leather gloves. But wait…before you picture a modern biker, my hero
wore a black tricorn pulled low, and the year was 1768. The only sign of humanity was a sliver-sized view of his face. I saw topaz
colored eyes and the top of a blade straight nose, and he was brilliant…a
brilliant recluse. But, why was he hiding? And who was this woman walking into a midnight meeting
at a ramshackle inn? Add the “It was a dark and stormy night…” feel and you have MEET THE EARL AT MIDNIGHT,
book one of the series Midnight Meetings. So, I started writing. This new hero, Lord Edward, gave me a pleasant break. I’d been so focused on
developing two Viking series that this Georgian era romance balanced nicely
against the Norsemen in my head. There were a lot of surprises along the way,
writing this unexpected story with an unexpected hero and heroine. Those little astonishments made me smile like this book was meant to be. Here
they are in countdown style: 5. Serendipity Strikes. Many scenes included rain and thunderstorms, a lot more than the usual bracing
English weather. But I kept writing. Then, I checked the weather records for
1768 London, which turned out to be an extraordinarily wet and stormy year. 4. Serendipity Strikes Again. My heroine, Lydia, is passionate about art. In the course of events, she strives
to get more art in London, and for something to happen later in 1768 to this
effect. To my surprise, King George III founded the Royal Academy of Arts
December 10, 1768 as a personal act to promote the arts. Isn’t it great when
fact plays well with fiction? 3. But wait! This is a romance… My history nerd (which comes with a healthy dose of science love) can get lost
in the history, not so with this one. Edward and Lydia banter a lot, pushing
each other with fun lines and quips ranging from humorous to the emotional and
upset. Here are few I love: Her eyebrows shot up at his daring tone, and Lydia planted a hand at
her hip. “Is this all some kind of game for you?”
“Game?” One side of his mouth, the scarred side, curved up. “If this is sport,
then you’re the most diverting woman I’ve had the pleasure of sparring with in a
very long time.”
* * * He smiled and moved closer, his hand within reach of her knees.
“Actually, you’ve given me a new trial to face.”
“What’s that?”
“The dilemma of talking with a woman for no particular reason over no particular
subject. Usually I’d find out what I needed to know or impart necessary
information and leave.” He smiled at her. “I’m learning to converse for no other
purpose than conversation itself.”
“Dreadful, isn’t it?” She gibed with a sleepy, teasing smile. “Having to
converse with a woman and not necessarily have a deep topic or explicit factual
task at hand.”
* * * “What do you want,” she asked.
“Is reason and logic in a dress too much to ask for?”
2. Corset issues For some reason corsets, or the lack, of them cropped up a fair amount of times
in the story. The opening line belongs to Lydia, and you guessed it, there’s a
corset involved.
If a woman’s old enough to wear a corset, she’s old enough to
know midnight meetings spell trouble.
1. SacrificeLove is beautiful, something we strive for long for and protect once we have it,
no matter the era. Passion as well can be beautiful, but passion isn’t love.
Edward’s passion is his science; Lydia’s passion is her art. Sometimes love
requires sacrifice. It’s that simple, yet it’s that hard. Hard as it was, I knew someone had to give something up for the other. Have you ever had to sacrifice something for someone you loved?
Comments
27 comments posted.
Re: Gina Conkle | How Do You Like Tall, Dark, and Mysterious?
As long as HE is the Viking, Gina won't say "No"... and neither will I. heheheee.... :D
(Jk Vaid 4:19pm May 22, 2014)
Send the "Tall, Viking-Blonde(optional),and Mysterious/Rich (mandatory)" my way, pls. ;)
(Joy Johnson 4:22pm May 22, 2014)
I'll take tall blonde and Viking and/or a scarred, snarky
hero! So many book heroes to choose from and so much romance
to read! Thanks for stopping by the blog ladies! :-D
(Gina Conkle 5:00pm May 22, 2014)
Love tall, dark, and mysterious.
(Lynne Mauro 7:12pm May 22, 2014)
Hi Lynne, I love a man who can surprise me. I want to know
what's behind the hat pulled low and the collar flipped high.
Thanks for stopping by today and reading the blog.
Have a great day-
Gina
(Gina Conkle 9:13pm May 22, 2014)
I've never made a major sacrifice.
(Janie McGaugh 10:22pm May 22, 2014)
During our first year of marriage my hubby decided to attend a six month lineman school (learning how to climb power poles) about 300 miles north of where we lived. While he was up north I continued to work full time and every other weekend we'd meet halfway between us for about 36 hours. It wasn't easy or fun for me, but I knew it was something he really wanted to do.
(Marcy Shuler 10:59pm May 22, 2014)
My freedom. My husband's side of the family is still of the
belief that women have no say in anything. My husband
doesn't have the same belief but it's hard on me when we
visit his relatives and I have to listen to them tell me how
to live my life, what to cook, how to cook it, even when to
sleep! After 7 years of having to deal with their
expectations, I have finally started to fight for my rights
and they do not like it at all.
(Alyn Yang 11:27pm May 22, 2014)
Okay, you asked 2 questions.. Here goes....
How Do You Like Tall, Dark, and Mysterious?..If he is
Scotish, and Adrian Paul.. send him my way.. but if he is
not Adrian Paul then he would have to be able to support me
and make me laugh. Got any of them?!!
Have you ever had to sacrifice something for someone you
loved? I think each of us has probably done this once in
our lives, in our own opinion. As parents we do to take
care of our children, as well as children taking care of
parent when they get older. But for what I believe you are
asking, IF I really loved the person I don't see it as
giving up something. As the possibility that they are going
to give up something for me just makes it a compromise.
(Tina Ullrich 12:04pm May 23, 2014)
Married 34 years to the same person. There is bound to be giving up on both sides. How else could it work?? When I came home from my volunteer time tonight, I had wanted to watch a show. My husband still had 30 minutes in a movie he was watching. I had to sacrifice
my show.
Seriously though, we all must do it.
(Lisa Hutson 1:48am May 23, 2014)
my husband is 7 years older then me a few years ago my
mother in law said to me that she didnt want me to take
this the wrong way but she said my husband married me
because he thought he could control me and mold me into what
he wanted i asked him this he said no it isnt over the last
16 years i think i showed him that isnt going to happen lol
(Denise Smith 4:26am May 23, 2014)
i have sacrifice alot over the years we have a autistic child
i an a stay at home mom because i have to be so yes that is a
sacrifice.
(Denise Smith 4:29am May 23, 2014)
Oh yes, tall dark and mysterious is wonderful!!!! Love your cover and can't wait to read this book! Thanks Gina!!!
(Bonnie Capuano 9:00am May 23, 2014)
Yes. As it turned out, I had to sacrifice my Family for my
Husband. That, in itself, is a long story, but slowly some
of them are coming around. I've been put in the same boat
as my Husband, and I feel that its' their loss, so now I'm
act much happier that I'm not caught up in the vortex of
Family politics, especially mine, which were getting quite
involved!! I've moved over 200 miles away, due to
circumstances beyond my control, and now that I'm not in the
mix, they're coming to their senses, and see that we're also
an asset to the Family, but now I'm leery about being a part
of their game. I've been hurt too deeply, so I'm taking
things very slowly, until I'm sure their intentions are
genuine. Your book sounds like it'll be a great, page-
turner, and the perfect read for Spring. I love the cover,
and love the plot as well. Congratulations on your book!!
(Peggy Roberson 9:43am May 23, 2014)
Hi Ladies,
thanks for sharing the mix of heroes who've grabbed you and
the unselfish things you've done in life for people you
love. Love also means expressing what you need as well. I
remember when Brian and I were in our second year of
marriage, he took on a job for a commercial cleaning
company. He had to work some long, awful hours and was
sometimes under-staffed. Some nights I volunteered to go
with him and help just because I knew how arduous the work
was and because I wanted to be with him. That, I think, was
the beginning of the twenty-something year old bride
learning what it meant to really love her husband
(Gina Conkle 10:15am May 23, 2014)
Love the idea of all the serendipity that played a part in your story. I love the idea of serendipity. Your book sounds great. Thanks for this chance. I am VERY fortunate in that I've never really had to make anything that I considered a sacrifice in my life. But I truly respect those that do.
(Nancy Reynolds 10:44am May 23, 2014)
I'm sure I have at some point, but nothing huge. I think
everyone sacrifices small things for the ones they love.
(Karin Anderson 11:07am May 23, 2014)
Sounds great, will have to add this to my TBR list.
(Deb Diem 11:47am May 23, 2014)
I haven't had to make any real sacrifices. I think everyone makes small ones like Karin above says.
(Pam Howell 11:52am May 23, 2014)
No, I can't remember making any big sacrifices, maybe little one but not big ones. Perhaps in the long run, I didn't consider them important.
(Anna Speed 11:53am May 23, 2014)
not a specific thing--I did have to move to another state when
I got married. but that wasn't a sacrifice.
(Denise Holcomb 2:15pm May 23, 2014)
Not really.
(Denise Austin 5:12pm May 23, 2014)
Have I sacrifice , most people give up a little of themselves
for loved ones, they are called mothers.
(Deb Pelletier 8:43pm May 23, 2014)
Everything I can think of wasn't really a sacrifice even tho I
did give up some things.
(Diane Sallans 8:58pm May 23, 2014)
did have to give up freedom/my own place to take care of my
mom.
(Stacey Smith 9:43pm May 23, 2014)
Yes, but nothing that wasn't worth it.
(Glenda Martillotti 11:48pm May 23, 2014)
What a great book! Lovely cover. Your serendipity was very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
(Bonnie H 12:27pm May 28, 2014)
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