One of the beloved authors of Regency Romance, Jane Ashford, joins us today to chat about the Regency Romance in advance of her new release, THE BRIDE INSISTS, available March 4 from Sourcebooks. Welcome, Jane!
Some of my Favorite Things about the Regency Period
Prinny! The Prince Regent was a royal like no other – extravagant, petulant, charming, pathetic, artistic, unreliable. His outrageous behavior made its mark on society as a whole.
The language. Wit was highly valued. People wrote letters and kept diaries. The slang was colorful and diverse. All this makes for lively narration.
The manners. There was less swashbuckling than the eighteenth century perhaps. But a certain freedom and eccentricity were accepted. The more restrictive Victorian mores hadn’t taken hold. Society could be fun!
The clothes. The styles were far more free and easy than the elaborate toilettes of the previous generation or Victorian bustles and corsets to come. I find the empire waists and puffed sleeves very appealing. And so easily slipped out of!
The rules. Restrictive laws, particularly for women, create many opportunities for romantic complications.
The science. The Regency was pre-industrial, yet right on the cusp of gaslight and many other innovations. Explorers were visiting new parts of the world. Lots of material here for interesting plots.
The women. Regency females were reading more (those pesky novels) and starting to receive more education. They were writing books themselves (Austen!) in what Nathaniel Hawthorne called “a damned mob of scribbling women.” Many fascinating characters to be found among them.
The romance. This was the heyday of the Romantic Period in English literature. Byron, Shelley, Walter Scott, Wordsworth and Coleridge spoke of the romance of nature and love. Marriage began to be seen as a place for passion and fulfillment as well as legal status. So many love stories to tell!
Mahalo, Jane, for being my guest today. Indeed, we look forward to reading your love stories! Three of Jane’s beloved backlist titles are now back in print! Look for MAN OF HONOUR, THE THREE GRACES, and THE MARRIAGE WAGER in stores now!
For a chance to enter to win a prize package of all three of these wonderful backlist titles, leave us a comment below—tell us your favorite thing about the regency time period, or leave a question for Jane. Open to US and Canada only. Comments are open through Saturday, January 18, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 19.
Jane Ashford also has a BRAND NEW book coming out in March 2014: THE BRIDE INSISTS:
Sparks fly in this sexy, fast-paced Regency romance by acclaimed, bestselling author Jane Ashford
When governess Clare Greenough learns she’s inherited a fortune, the good news comes with a catch: it will be held by her cousin until Clare can find a husband. To stave off ruin, Jamie Boleigh, the seventh Baron of Trehearth, agrees to marry Clare under the condition that she controls the money, a provision he hopes to overturn. Their passionate relationship becomes a battle of wills. When the cousin tricks Jamie into betraying his wife, he’ll have to prove the truth or lose her forever.
To Preorder The Bride Insists:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Books-a-Million
Chapters/Indigo
IndieBound
iBooks
Sourcebooks
Discover a New Love
Join me on March 3 for my review of THE BRIDE INSISTS!
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
To learn more about Jane and her books, check out her website at janeashford.com.
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| The Bride insisted on a Hawaiian wedding! |
