HIS OBSESSION Available Now

Two and one-half years ago the Sizzlers of Southern Sizzle Romance united to pursue our path to publication together. Tomorrow, with the publication of His Obsession, we will meet our goal.  All seven of us are in print, an achievement to celebrate. Check out our titles on the right. The  blurb and a short excerpt  for His Obsession with buy info is below.

In 1788 when Emeliese Alexander, a student at an elite Parisian finishing school, boarded a yacht bound for England, she never imagined she would be kidnapped and sold into slavery. Devastated by Robert Montclair’s betrayal and doomed to live in a pirate’s harem in the Republic of Bou Regreg, Emmy vows to create a life for herself and her unborn child – whatever the price.

EXCERPT:

Off the coast of France, 1788

     Emmy’s skin crawled. She opened her eyes to find her captor staring at her, his eyes traveling up and down her body, assessing her like the merchants examined the cargoes of her family’s ships when they came into port.

     “You are a beautiful girl, all golden. Small for my taste, perhaps, but perfect. Some men find that very desirable. My son does have good taste in his women.”

     “You are Robbie’s father?” A silly question. He had just said that, but she was still a bit groggy. She must put her fear aside and gather her wits, then discover his intentions. His men had thought nothing of murdering Jacque. Was he toying with her before she met the same fate or worse?

     “I admit my guilt.” He saluted her with his snifter. “Jonathan Montclair, the seventeenth Earl of Ashford, at your service.”

     ”Robbie is from a noble family?” Robbie had introduced himself as Robert Montclair, he had never mentioned that his family was noble. The English nobility were very particular about who their offspring could and could not marry. She would almost certainly fall into the “could nots,” and Robbie knew why.

     The earl cocked a brow. “Baron Montclair. The heir. He did not tell you? I thought you were a fortune hunter looking for a wealthy protector.”

     “No, I am a student at Madame Foret’s Academy for Young Ladies. I am not looking for anyone. I will return home to my family next year.” At least, that had been her intention until she had met Robbie. Her future was neither bright nor secure now. The man was evil or insane or both. And he controlled her fate.

Read more/preorder/buy: http://www.bookstrand.com/his-obsession    

Scheduled for release April 10^th, Preorder available now  (M/F, R)

(eBook $3.99, on sale for $3.59 through April 17)     Until next week, Rita Bay

Moonday: His Obsession

SO counting the days until next Tuesday (April 10th) when Siren BookStrand releases His Obsession, my Georgian Regency historical novel. Love my cover. Artist Jinger Heaston pictured Emmy and Robbie before he begins his courtship to win her back. Perfect choice of models, too. Emmy is small but feisty – a student at an elite finishing school in Paris, and Robbie is a champion fencer, a nobleman on his Tour of the Continent. A young couple in love but Robbie’s father has other plans for his son and kidnaps and sells Emmy into slavery in the pirate stronghold of Bou Regreg in North Africa. His Obsession is historically accurate, using primary sources including the centuries-old captive narratives of British slaves ransomed from North Africa. All this week I will feature historical background posts for His Obsession at ritabay.com. Until next week, Rita Bay

Moonday’s Heroic Hunks in History: The Beauty of Torcs

Before introducing you to the beauty of torcs, I want to commend Sizzler Jillian Chantal for her outstanding work in chairing the Silken Sands Writers Conference that was held this weekend on beautiful Pensacola Beach, FL. Loads of fun and food with old and new friends and an awesome lineup of editors and agents. Awesome scenery, too - beautiful beaches and handsome hunks on Spring Break. Then there was the St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl through 17 pubs on Santa Rosa Island. Anyway, on to torcs.

It’s so exciting to watch my first book (a historical romance), HIS OBSESSION,  journey towards publication with Siren BookStrand next month. Part of the process allows the author to complete a Cover Art Questionnaire that gives the artist ideas for the cover. I recently completed the cover art for HIS DESIRE, the second book in the Monclair Chronicles which will be released in May. While searching for a pic of a torc, one of those gorgeous necklaces/bracelets worn by the ancient Celts and Anglo-Saxons, I discovered an old friend and a new hottie – both wearing torcs and little else -  which I had to share. SO,  meet my 2,000+-year-old Celtic Dying Gaul (his long hair was  reshaped due to damage) which is in the Capitoline Museum in Rome and a modern – Greek, I believe – hunk modeling torc jewelry.

Until next week, when my countdown to publication begins with pirates and other outrageous characters,  Rita Bay

Meet the Silken Sands Editors

A short note before I introduce out Silken Sands editors. I’m blogging today at  The Writers Vineyard on Avoiding the Dreaded Anachronism, my search for accuracy while researching for Amazona, a story about a Pictish Princess who bargains with a Roman nobleman for help in searching for her kidnapped brother. You can check it out at http://thewritersvineyard.com/  .  

The 2012 Silken Sands Conference is set for March 16-18, 2012, at the Hampton Inn (2 Via DeLuna) in beautiful Pensacola Beach. Meet the editors are scheduled to attend the 2012 Silken Sands Conference who are scheduled to participate in pitch sessions: 

AMANDA BERGERON, Associate Editor, Harper Collins/Avon

Amanda Bergeron joined William Morrow/Avon in 2008. She acquires romance of all subgenres for both Avon and digital-first imprint Avon Impulse. Some recent and upcoming titles on her list include A Town Called Valentine by Emma Cane, Second Chance at the Sugar Shack by Candis Terry and Brazen by Margo Maguire. She also acquires historical fiction, commercial women’s fiction and the occasional mystery/suspense project.

SANDY SULLIVAN, Executive Editor, Secret Cravings Publisher

Sandy Sullivan, an established author in her own right, founded Secret  Cravings Publishing in January 2011. She started SCP to give authors a place where they had more say and more control over their manuscripts.

GRACE BRADLEY, Editor Ellora’s Cave

Grace Bradley began working with Ellora’s Cave in 2009. She currently  acquires across all sub-genres of romance, with heat levels from sweet to erotic, as well as erotica.  She lives in Atlanta with her husband, two children, two dogs and one very spoiled cat. 

HOLY BLANCK, Editor, St. Martin’s Press

Holly Blanck is an editor at St. Martin’s Press who is acquiring both adult commercial fiction and young adult novels for all parts of the list and for all formats. Holly graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey and began her publishing career at BookEnds Literary Agency. She is actively looking for all areas of romance, strong commercial women’s fiction, urban fantasy and humor.

ANGELA JAMES, Executive Editor, Carina Press

Angela James, executive editor of Carina Press, Harlequin’s digital-first imprint, is a veteran of the digital publishing industry and a long-time advocate for digital publishing. She has enjoyed nearly a decade of experience in her field, including successfully launching, building and serving as executive editor for two digital-first presses, most recently Carina Press. She remains active in the writing and digital publishing community via social media, as well as national and international publishing and writing conferences.

Counting the Days to Conference.

Next week, a Gorgeous Torc with a Twist. RitaBay

Moonday’s Heroic Hunk in History: Sir Issac Newton

Moonday’s Heroic Hunk in History is Sir Issac Newton. He is usually pictured as an older man in a long white wig getting conked on the head with an apple—you know, the gravity thing. Our Newtie, however sober in his later years, was no saint in his youth. Thanks to the Fitzwilliam Project which is part of  The Newton Project (an effort to assemble everything Newtonian and post it on the internet.) we know exactly, in his own words just how naughty Newtie was.  In 1662, he recorded his misdeeds of his 19^th year for posterity.  A list of all his sins is much too long to include here but peruse the edited list below. 

When you’ve read your fill and giggled at his misdeeds, check out the post about the Sizzlers at Champagne’s Blog . You get the story of how we met and started the Southern Sizzle Romance Blog. You’ll also gets some bio on Arabella (Wet Wednesdays) that she did NOT approve and a look at her Georgian romance Proof of Love that just made a bestseller list. Here’s the link:  http://champagnebooks.blogspot.com/

Newton’s Sins

Putting a pin in Iohn Keys hat on Thy day to pick him.

Threatning my father and mother Smith to burne them and the house over them

Wishing death and hoping it to some

Striking many

Having uncleane thoughts words and actions and dreamese.

Setting my heart on money learning pleasure more than Thee

A relapse

A relapse

Punching my sister

Robbing my mothers box of plums and sugar

Calling Derothy  Rose a jade

Falling out with the servants

Caring for worldly things more than God

Beating Arthur Storer.

Striving to cheat with a brass halfe crowne

Glutony (listed numerous times)

Next Moonday, a Gorgeous Duo and another Sizzler    Rita Bay

Moonday’s Paranormal Hunks

Putting on my paranormal persona today to celebrate the return of Being Human.  Being Human came to the US for its first season last year.  The series’ second season premieres tonight. SyFy brought three paranormal beings together as roommates in a house.  Aiden is a vampire (Sam Witwer from Smallville) who is tortured (most of the time) by his taste for blood and what he must do to get it.  Josh (played by Sam Huntington), a former genial med school student, is a recently-turned werewolf who must learn to live with his new life in which he awakens naked in strange and public places. The third member of the trio is Sally (Reaghan Rath), a lonely ghost who is doomed to live in the house in which she died (or was murdered). The SyFy channel is treating fans to a Being Human marathon all day Monday. Check out the pics of the stars.

 

Discover more at:  http://www.syfy.com/beinghuman   Next week, Back to our historic hunks. RitaBay

Moonday’s Heroic Hunks in History: Firemen

Hope you had a happy holiday season and will enjoy a prosperous new year. This Moonday’s Heroic Hunk in History from Ireland is representative of all firemen who have protected lives and property. Firefighters were employed in ancient Egypt using primitive pumps and in Rome where the brigade would rush to the fire, wait while the brigade’s owner bargained with the property owner for his fee, then fight the fire when the price was right. No bargain, no fire fighting by the brigade, no house. Why fire and fireman today? Because this month’s theme at Rita Bay’s Blog at RitaBay.com (featuring my NEW website/blog combo) is Discoveries & Inventions. Rita Bay

The Once a Month Curse

Ok, so we’re not going go talk about monthly female issues. No way. And I totally did that title for attention. But I do get a special treat once a month that I don’t think I’ve ever advertised enough. You see I’m a member of the Gulf Coast Chapter of Romance Writers America. The first Saturday of every month I get the oppurtunity to sit down with some of my favorite people, the Sizzlers and many more fabulous authors. This past Saturday the talented Kelly Stone did a presentation and it was wonderful. If you haven’t read any of Kelly’s nonfiction work you really should. As a writer I find her techniques and insight very helpful.

This month I got to sit by Paula and am excited for her. The woman has amazing ideas that I’m sure will become even more amazing books. At the end of each table sat two other Sizzlers, one Ms. Arabella Stokes who for some unknown reason believes she’s in charge. Well, it might have something to do with the fact that she’s our president but still! And on the other table was Ms. Jillian Chantal. It’s always so funny to be at the same table with her, especially at opposite ends because what happens is that we  start the table with one mind set and end it with the identical one! I swear sometimes it’s just scary!!

Along the middle of the pack was the ever happy, Jamie Farrell. This lady just cracks me up all the time just by smiling. She’s always giggling which (shockingly) makes me laugh. Plus she brings her five month old baby who is gorgeous!

This weekend I left, heading to my favorite “after meeting” place to eat. As I’m ordering I see the three women coming in the door with the same idea. Yay! We got to spend even more time together which was fabulous. Jamie showed us this really cool website that rates your books’ best selling capacity just by typing in it’s title. I can’t remember the name of the website but it had us all laughing over the results. And I got the chance to run an idea for a new cowboy book by my friends. I’m excited to work on it now. For some reason I keep writing paranormals but my cowboys just flow so much easier!

Every first Saturday of every month the Gulf Coast Chapter of RWA meets. For more information please head over to our website or email any of us Sizzlers. We’re all members.

And for my ladies here you go. I’m so glad you’re my friends. Rita and Runere, I hope to see you next month!!

Sayde

Moonday’s Heroic Hunk in History: The Merry (and Naughty) Monarch

King Charles II

     King Charles II, “The Merry Monarch,” was born on May 29, 1630 to King Charles I of Britain and his French Catholic wife, Henrietta Marie of France. His father was executed at the Banqueting Hall of Whitehall palace on January 30, 1649.  Charles was forced to live in exile in Europe (after successfully eluding his would-be captors by hiding in an apple tree) during the Interregnum in which Oliver Cromwell ruled. After his death in 1658, following a period of political confusion and unrest, a newly-elected Parliament restored Charles II.  Oliver Cromwell’s body was exhumed and his head was chopped off.

     Charles had the height of (6’2”) his grandmother’s family from Denmark and the black hair and brown eyes of an Italian grandmother and French grandfather.  He was considered “swarthy” for an Englishman.  Charles had a close association with the Catholic Church which, given the religious unrest in England for more than a century, was a cause for concern to Parliament.  His mother and probably three grandparents were Catholic and he himself converted to Catholicism on his deathbed.  Despite his Catholic affiliations, the new Parliament which was Royalist and Anglican passed a series of laws that sought to create a uniform religion and liturgy.

     When Charles returned from exile in the Netherlands in 1660, he inherited a poor kingdom and his profligate lifestyle created even greater debt.  Charles and his family had been relatively poor while in exile and he had lived a less sheltered life than most monarchs.  He had already fathered one bastard son in his mid-teens and quickly acquired a succession of mistresses—most of whom he kept close at his palace.  A popular poem of the period stated:   

          Restless he rolls from whore to whore
          A merry monarch, scandalous and poor.

     Although he acknowledged a dozen illegitimate children by seven mistresses, he and his queen, Catherine Braganza of Portugal, were childless (despite four pregnancies).          

Nell Gwyn

     All of his mistresses lived well but some were more demanding than others. When one of the carriages from the palace was surrounded by a crowd shouting against one of Charles’ particularly greedy French mistresses, Nell Gwyn—a former actress who remained with Charles throughout his life—popped out of the coach and replied: “Pray good people be civil, I am the Protestant whore.“  When a coachman attempted to defend her when she was called a whore, she told him that she was a whore and to find something else to fight over.  Only one woman, Frances, Stuart, was able to withstand all of Charles’ efforts of seduce her.

The One who Got Away

     Nell and Charles apparently were in love.  When he chastised her for naming one of her two sons by him Charles, she replied that he hadn’t given her anything else to call him by.  When demanding a title for her son, she actually held the child outside the window threatening to drop him unless her demand was met.  The Duke’s descendents survive to this day.

     On February 2^nd, 1685, Charles suffered a stroke and died four days later.  One of his deathbed requests to his brother and successor James was “Let not poor Nelly starve.”  James paid off her debts and gave her an estate.  She survived Charles by two years, dying from a stroke at 35.

            While King Charles left no direct heir to succeed him, when Prince William and Kate Middleton have a child who will reign in Britain that will change.  Prince William, through his mother (Princess Diana), is directly descended from two of Charles’ bastards—the Dukes of Grafton and Richmond.  Next week, “Goodbye to the Stuarts.”  Today, I’m blogging at http://www.caseycrow.com/ on “It’s All About Diving In”     Rita Bay

Elizabeth’s Men: The Locals

      Elizabeth was 46 years old when she sent her “frog” Francis, the Duke of Alencon and Anjou, on his way.  Elizabeth told Parliament that ‘If I were a milkmaid with a pail on my arm, whereby my private person might be little set by, I would not forsake that poor and single state to match with the greatest monarch.’  Her councilors, the Parliament, and her people finally realized that she was serious about remaining unmarried. 

     If she would not—by now, could not—bear children, who would succeed her?  Many subjects had known no other monarch.  The English had become accustomed to the stability her reign offered.  The English had become comfortable, if not wealthy, during her reign.  Elizabeth steadfastly refused to discuss a successor. 

     Few wanted a return to their Catholic past which Mary, Queen of Scot offered.  Fortunately, she had fled to England seeking sanctuary from her subjects for her misdeeds.  Instead of sanctuary, she found a prison cell where Elizabeth sent a succession of keepers to insure that she stayed there.  Mary’s teenage son, King James, however, was a staunch Protestant who was a promising monarch. She had strong councilors in her service.  Robert Dudley, the love of her life, realizing that he had no chance with Elizabeth, married Elizabeth’s cousin to start his own dynasty. 

     Elizabeth was healthy but could not realistically look forward to many years.  She, like most Elizabethans, was already losing her teeth and those that she had were turning yellow.  She still rode

Sir Francis Drake

horses daily, hunted often and danced every day. 

     But when you’re Queen, you can create your own world.  She became the Fairie Queen who, thanks to the attention of an army of attendants, would remain forever young.  She allowed herself to be courted by young men who professed her to be the greatest beauty at court and vowed their undying love.  

      Among the new courtiers who attracted her attention was Francis Drake.  From a large, well-connected family, he went to sea early and rose through the ranks.  He quickly assumed command of his own vessel and started his attacks on Spanish shipping.  The share that came to Elizabeth, attracted her praise and attention.  He circumnavigated the world and helped to strengthen the English Navy.

Sir Walter Raleigh

       Walter Raleigh, a young soldier who been in Elizabeth’s service for years, also came to Elizabeth’s attention.  He was said to have spread his cloak in the mud so that she would not soil her slippers.  He was knighted in 1585 and rose rapidly in Elizabeth’s favor.  He was given rights to settle the New World and became very wealthy due to her patronage.

            But Elizabeth’s cousin, Mary Stuart the Queen of the Scots, was restive and scheming in her English prison and Spain was her biggest supporter.  Next week, the passing of an age.  Til then, I’m signing out as Rita Bay.   Please, read on.

      I’m so excited!!  Tomorrow, I launch my new WordPress blog. Of course, I’ll always do Moondays with my Sizzler sisters but Rita Bay’s Blog will feature daily posts on history and culture that you won’t find in a history book.  The post titles–Sunday’s Storytellers, Monday’s Myths & Legends. Tuesday’s Gems, Wednesday’s Worthy Words, Thursday’s Risque Ripostes & Prurient Pics, Friday’s Medicine & Magic, and Saturday’s Seconds –tell part of the story.  

     This February, we salute the Presidents–Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, and Lincoln.  In March, we salute Americana.  Posts topics include Washington’s Distillery (tomorrow), Jefferson’s recipe for ice cream, and tales of Lincoln’s Mad Stone and his meeting with Princess Salm-Salm.  There’ll also be eyewitness accounts of Jackson’s duels and Washington’s and Lincoln’s last hours.  Check out the full schedule at http://ritabay.wordpress.com/   See you there, Rita Bay