The Captain and The Countess - Special Offer

I am delighted to announce the Captain and the Countess, has been republished by Books We Love.

The Captain and The Countess by Rosemary Morris is available for £0.99 and $1.45 from the 8^th of June to the 15^th June from www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com.

 

London. 1706

 

Why does heart-rending pain lurk in the back of the wealthy Countess of Sinclair’s eyes? 

 Captain Howard’s life changes forever from the moment he meets Kate, the intriguing Countess and resolves to banish her pain.

 Although the air sizzles when widowed Kate, victim of an abusive marriage meets Edward Howard, a captain in Queen Anne’s navy, she has no intention of ever marrying again.

 However, when Kate becomes better acquainted with the Captain she realises he is the only man who understands her grief and can help her to untangle her past.

 

 

 

18th Century historical fiction. The Captain and The Countess by Rosemary Morris

I am delighted to announce that my novel the e-book edition of  The Captain and The Countess set in Queen Anne Stuart's reign, 1702-1714, has been published by We Love Books.

It is available at www.amazon.co.uk and www. amazon. com.

The link is B01FCENLKE

Guest on Anastasia Pollock's Blog

11^th April. Today I am a guest of Anastasia Pollock, crafts editor and reluctant amateur sleuth, on her blog, Crafty Knitters. My article features naval captain, Edward Howard, the hero of my novel, The Captain and The Countess. Edward’s outstanding artistic ability makes him more perceptive than most gentlemen in Queen Anne Stuart’s reign, 1706-1714. 

LINK:

 

http://www/anastasiapollack.blogspot.com/2016/04/crafts-with-anastasia-guest-author.html

 

Rosemary Morris

Multi Published Historical Novelist

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

Massage

Although I take regular breaks from the computer and laptop I admit to becoming a bit sore and stiff.

The deep tissue massage I had on Thursday, given by a well-qualified masseur, worked wonders, but her advice was to rest on Friday and to drink plenty of water to get rid of toxins. I took her advice, am less sore and stiff and ready to start blogging again.

Interesting interview

I am delighted by my interview at: http://margaretfieland.com/blog1/2014/10/15/rosemary-morris-interview-oct-15/

However I am mortified  because my brain tricked me into writing that Napoleon escaped from Brussels. Of course, he did not. I'm also mortified because I misspelt lives.

Apart from that I hope you will enjoy the interview, I enjoyed answering the questions.

Plotting and Rewriting My Novels

I don't plot my novels in detail, but I usually have some important scenes in mind. I only have a few more chapters to write before I finish Monday's Child, a traditional Regency novel, the follow on from my published novel, Sunday's Child. Unfortunately, a scene I really wanted to include when I wrote it doesn't work. Deep, deep sigh, I'll have to rewrite it using different circumstances. I find it very hard to - as the saying goes - kill my darlings.

Organic Gardening

As well as growing herbs, fruit and vegetables I also grow ornamentals, sometimes interspersed with the latter. I'm aiming for an English style cottage garden. Today I planted primulas and pansies in the rose bed to give winter colour, and I re-potted my blueberries in fresh ericaceous compost. Another mild day but the weather is about to change. Nevertheless I hope to get a lot more done before the first frosts.

50 to 80% Off Selected Novels

MuseItUp Publiishing is selecting its 4th Anniversary with 50 - 80% off selected novels.

The Link is.
https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/component/content/article/3-about/about-us/470-museitup-4-year-anniversary-specials#top

My historical novels set in the reign of Queen Anne Stuart 1702-1714 are included in the specials.

Far Beyond Rubies. 50% off  £1.90  $ 3.09       When Gervaise sees Juliana for the first time, he recognises her, but not from this lifetime…

Tangled Love. 50% off.  £1.84  $2.99     Tangled Love set in England in 1706 during Queen Anne Stuart’s reign, a story of two great estates, duty, betrayal and passionate love.

The Captain and The Countess 50% off  £1.99  $3.09     His heart captured by the Countess only Captain Howard sees pain behind her fashionable façade and is determined to help her.

To read the first three chapters and view the book trailers visit www.rosemarymorris.co.uk. Rosemary will be pleased tor read your comments.

MuseItUp Publishing 4th Anniversary

MuseItUp is celebrating its 4 Year Anniversary with 50% to 80% OFF specials until the 31^st October.

The Link is. https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/component/content/article/3-about/about-us/470-museitup-4-year-anniversary-specials#top

My historical novels are included in the specials.

Sunday’s Child. 80%off. £0.77p. $1,25

Tangled Love. 50% off.  £1.84  $2.99

Far Beyond Rubies. 50%off  £1.90  $ 3.09

The Captain and The Countess 50%off  £1.99  $3.09

To view the book covers and read the first three chapters of each novel please visit my website.

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

 

 

 

                                             

MuseItUpPublishing Fourth Anniversary

MuseItUp is celebrating its 4 Year Anniversary with 50% to 80% OFF specials until the 31^st October.

The Link is. https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/component/content/article/3-about/about-us/470-museitup-4-year-anniversary-specials#top

My historical novels are included in the specials.

Sunday’s Child. 80%off. £0.77p. $1,25

Tangled Love. 50% off.  £1.84  $2.99

Far Beyond Rubies. 50%off  £1.90  $ 3.09

The Captain and The Countess 50%off  £1.99  $3.09

To view the book covers and read the first three chapters of each novel please visit my website.

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

 

 

 

                                             

Can't Take It

4 and 3/4 year old granddaughter cane out of her reception class at primary school, looked at her mother, pressed her hand to the side of her forehead and said: "I can't take this any more."

Daughter thought. Sorry kid you've got ten more years to go.

Mind you granddaughter's excellent teacher said she has settled in very well and made several friends.

Y is for Year Books

Y is for Year Books

 

The Writers and Artists Year Book, Children’s Writers and Artist and Year Book, The Writers Handbook,  Writers Digest Yearbook, contain lists of agents, publishers and other useful information can be consulted in libraries before deciding whether or not to buy one.

 

e-books available from https://museituppublishing.com, www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk & elsewhere. Sunday’s Child, False Pretences, Tangled Love, Far Beyond Rubies, also available as a print book, & The Captain and The Countess.

 

Rosemary Morris

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

V is for Viewpoint

For the reader to identify with the main protagonist in each scene everything needs to be shown through the eyes of the viewpoint character.

For example, the following is a brief extract from my novel The Captain and The Countess, in which Edward, Captain Howard sees the Countess for the first time.

  
    “Lady Sinclair,” someone murmured.
     Edward turned. He gazed without blinking at the acclaimed beauty, whose sobriquet was ‘The    Fatal Widow’.  
    The countess remained in the doorway, her cool blue eyes speculative.
    Edward whistled low. Could her shocking reputation be no more than tittle-tattle? His artist’s eyes observed her. Rumour did not lie about her Saxon beauty.

The reader sees Edward's reaction to the countess and his reaction to her beauty.

Instead of 'head-hopping' - switching from one person to another person's viewpoint - sticking to a single viewpoint makes it clear to the reader which character they should identify with.

Of course, if a short story or novel is written in the first person the entire story is from a single viewpoint.

 

 

Special Offer

My novel set in the reign of Queen Anne Stuart – 1702-1714 is on special offer for $0.99 during August from https://museituppublishing and at sites listed on the website.

 

The Captain and The Countess by Rosemary Morris

 

Back Cover

 

Why does heart-rending pain lurk in the back of the wealthy Countess of Sinclair’s eyes? 

 

Captain Howard’s life changes forever from the moment he meets Kate, the intriguing Countess and resolves to banish her pain.

 

Although the air sizzles when widowed Kate, victim of an abusive marriage meets Edward Howard, a captain in Queen Anne’s navy, she has no intention of ever marrying again.

 

However, when Kate becomes better acquainted with the Captain she realises he is the only man who understands her grief and can help her to untangle her past.

 

5* Review on Amazon

 

I'm a fan of Rosemary Morris's writing. She always delivers something little different, with style.

The 'Captain and the Countess' is a powerful historical romance. Powerful, because of the stakes involved - missing children, love, desire. The theme of a search for missing children is really well done, with tension and at times heart-rending scenes.

(I sniffed into my hankie a few times, reading this novel.)

The 'Captain and the Countess' is rich in its detail of customs, beliefs, cities, classes, servants, fashions, meals and more. Set a time when ancient superstitions can destroy a young woman's life, the novel shows the transition between our more modern 'rational' time and the older medieval age with great accuracy.

The 'Captain and the Countess' is a moving romance, too. Edward is a wonderful hero, patient, caring, direct, insightful. Kate, the heroine, is tender and delightful, beset by troubles and a tragic past but always striving, always hoping. They are well-matched and I was willing them to find their HEA together, which they do.

Finally, the novel is original in the way it tackles certain themes. The hero and heroine don't simply bicker for the sake of tension. They argue because it matters and they don't sulk afterwards but seek to work together. The historical period Rosemary Morris has chosen, that of Queen Anne, just before the Regency, is wonderfully fresh and springs to life through her skilful words.

Lindsay Townshend

H is for Historical Fiction

I dislike fiction set in the past in which the characters act and speak as though they are 21st century people.

I enjoy historical fiction which has obviously been meticulously researched and in which the characters behave realistically according to their time.

In my opinion, it is not possible to recreate the past with 100% accuracy no matter how hard a historical novelist tries to do so. However, it is possible to successfully  present the era in which the characters lived  and to get nearly everything right after careful study of the events and economic and social history.

I write historical novels - not period novels in which the background is skimmed over. Although my main characters are fictional they are very much of their time. I show what they wore, what they ate, their religious and political beliefs and much more.

At the moment I am writing Monday's Child the second in my series set in the Regency era and revising a mediaeval novel set in the reign of Edward II. I have also written three novels set in the reign of Queen Anne Stuart who reined from 1702-1714 and have an idea for a 4th novel set in the same period.

So, what are the main categories of Historical Fiction? They are listed in Writing Historical Fiction. How to Create Historical Fiction and Get it Published by Marina Oliver.

Fictional Biographies, Fiction firmly based on Fact, Series - a connecting theme such as a place or a house, Family series - a connecting theme such as a place or house, Sagas, Regencies, Period, Wartime, Westerns, Adventure, Gothics, Paranormal, Timeslip and Crime.

(I omitted Bodice Rippers from the above list because I think they send out the wrong message - at the worst that rape is justifiable if the heroine subsequently falls in love with the hero.)

Historical novelists are fortunate to have a wide canvas to choose from. Personally, I do not want to become stuck in a proverbial rut when writing. My mediaeval novel has a touch of the paranormal in it, a theme I hope to develop in another novel. I'm also considering writing a saga that begins in the early 20th century and or a timeslip.

To conclude, from a very young age history fascinated me and I enjoy writing, reading and researching historical fiction.

G is for Getting the Point i.e. Grammar

Getting the Point is "A Panic-Free Guide to English Punctuation for Adults" by Jenny Haddon and Elizabeth Hawksley.

I highly recommend the authors' amusing innovative approach to grammar using stories of "squabbling dragons, the ups and downs of the Whole Nut Café and Cassanova's thoughts on love. There are quizzes - with answers - throughout to help you practice."

Whatever you write this book is an "ideal guide".

D is for Dialogue

Wednesday, 11 June 2014

D is for Dialogue

Over the years I have made many notes on creative writing. Amongst them are the following, but, unfortunately I did not make a note of the source so I can't attribute them.

Every line of dialogue in fiction should:

1. Convey essential information.
2. Move the tale forward.
3. Reveal the character and mood of the speaker.
5. Establish the relationship between characters.
6. It should be consistent with the character's historical period, geographical origins and social class.

I write historical fiction so I use dialogue to indicate class distinctions. The upper class use very few contractions -mostly don't to avoid the cumbersome do you not, the middle class use some contractions and the others always use contractions and, sometimes, dialect. However, dialect shouldn't be overdone. I've critiqued several unpublished novels for members of groups I belong to and the worst fictional dialect is a pseudo Scots one. The authors are addicted to ye, dinna, etc, and they don't distinguish between Highland and Lowland Scots and everything else in between.

These basic principles are so simple but sometimes my characters waffle on and need to be controlled.

Discipline - Historical Novelist

Every day I write and engage in 'writerly' activities for a set number of hours in the morning, early afternoon and evening. To complete a novel I need to be self-disciplined, and this includes time spent working on the laptop and computer. I force myself to take a five minute break every half an hour in order to exercise my body in various ways. I roll my shoulders ten times, press my shoulders down then release them slowly ten times, and I stretch up and hold onto the top of the door then allow my body to sag. This stretches my muscles and helps my joints not to stiffen. During some other breaks I choose one activity sorting the laundry and putting it in the washing machine, rinsing dishes and utensils and loading the dishwasher, popping out to water some plants, tidying up a few things, etc.,. The important thing is not to sit in one position for hours on end.

Cold Tea Bags and Cucumber Slices

When we work on the computer or laptop for a long time very often we don't blink. This results in dry, itchy eyes. To maintain eye health exercising them helps. I'm trying to do them three times a day. It only takes a minute or two and result in moistening my eyes,

1. Hold a pencil ten inches from the nose. Look at it and then look into the distance ten times.

2.Roll the eyes to the right ten times.

3. Roll the eyes to the left ten times.

4. Look up to the right corner of the eyes and then to the left corner ten times.

5. Look to the left corner of the eyes and then the right corner ten times.

6. Finally look up and down ten times.

P.S. Don't forget to close your eyes and apply cold tea bags or slices of cumber to your eyelids whenever your eyes are tired.

Simple measures but we owe it to ourselves to take good care of our eyes.

Cold Tea Bags and Cucumber Slices

When we work on the computer or laptop for a long time very often we don't blink. This results in dry, itchy eyes. To maintain eye health exercising them helps. I'm trying to do them three times a day. It only takes a minute or two and result in moistening my eyes,

1. Hold a pencil ten inches from the nose. Look at it and then look into the distance ten times.

2.Roll the eyes to the right ten times.

3. Roll the eyes to the left ten times.

4. Look up to the right corner of the eyes and then to the left corner ten times.

5. Look to the left corner of the eyes and then the right corner ten times.

6. Finally look up and down ten times.

P.S. Don't forget to close your eyes and apply cold tea bags or slices of cumber to your eyelids whenever your eyes are tired.

Simple measures but we owe it to ourselves to take good care of our eyes.