Happy New Year!

We can still hope.






















Image: World peace with liberty and prosperity--1919--Happy new year, courtesy Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

Recent foreign editions

Having sent Scandal Wears Satin (2nd Dressmakers book) into production shortly before Christmas, and having spent a few days finding and gathering what remains of my brain, I'm happy to present the most recently arrived foreign editions.

 Last Night's Scandal-Italian edition

The Lion's Daughter-French edition

            

Everything I Know about Love, I Learned from Romance Novels

Sarah Wendell of Smart Bitches Trashy Books has written another funny, smart, insightful book about romance, Everything I Know about Love, I Learned from Romance Novels.

Some time ago, as she was working on the book, she asked me for my thoughts on romance novels.  I answered, at length...at great length, unsparing, as always, in my exploitation of the English language's massive vocabulary.  I assumed she'd somehow scrape a useful word or two from the flood of prose.

Well, no.  Sarah gave me a whole chapter, titled, "Loretta Chase Pretty Much Knows Everything."  This is kind of funny: When I tell family members the same exact thing, they just laugh.  Sometimes they make rude noises.

Here at her Smart Bitch Sarah page, you can learn more about the book and, since she's making a number of appearances, you may discover an opportunity to hear her fight the good fight for romance in person.

Color your own 1808 fashions

Loretta reports:

Since these two dresses came in black & white, I thought it was a good opportunity for my readers to get out their paintboxes, crayons, or colored pencils.  The color prints for October 1808 can be seen at Two Nerdy History Girls.

~~~

No. 3.—A Ball Dress.

A petticoat of fine clear white muslin, figured or plain. A peasant's jacket of white satin, with short full sleeve, in the Spanish form. The jacket and sleeves trimmed with silver beading, or cord. A Persian cap of Brussels’ lace, with a bunch of autumnal flowers in front. A composition brooch, representing the flower called the pheasant’s eye. Necklace and earrings of blossom coloured patent pearl. Gloves and shoes of pale blossom-colored kid.

No. 4.—Out-Door, or Carriage Costume

A round robe of white, or pale morone muslin over white cambric; made with long sleeves, and a high collar, edged with lace or beading, confined down the front with a row of small buttons in mother-of-pearl, and fastened round the waist with a correspondent cord and tassel pending from the right side. A Spanish mantle, and hat of morone sarsnet, shot with white (or what is commonly called a silver morone), the mantle edged, and the hat ornamented with white cord, or cut velvet. A full frill of reverse plaiting round the throat, confined towards the left shoulder with a suitable cord and tassel. Gloves of pale York-tan, and slippers of tan-coloured kid.

—La Belle assemblée, Volume 5, 1808.

Recent Foreign Editions

These editions of Last Night's Scandal recently arrived.

Turkish edition

Spanish edition

The English Witch is an Ebook, too

We're making progress with digitizing my older works.  The English Witch, my second book and a sequel to Isabella, is now available for your Kindle & Nook.  You'll notice that we're trying out a slightly different cover format, using a Regency fashion print.  I think this one conveys a bit more clearly its belonging to the traditional Regency, rather than Regency-era historical, genre.

Meanwhile, if you haven't already, please do take advantage of the special 99¢ price for Isabella.  The sweet deal ends after 10 October.

Isabella Ebook now available

A number of readers have emailed me over the years, asking if my traditional Regencies* will ever be returned to print.  I'm not sure about the print-as-in-paper, but I do have good news about Ebooks.   We are bringing out all of my out-of-print books, for Kindle and Nook first, and eventually, we hope, in all digital formats.

During the summer, Captives of the Night made its digital debut.

Now I'm delighted to report that my very first book ever, Isabella, is available for download.

Even better:  From 10 September to 10 October only, it's on sale for 99¢

*These are shorter than the historical romances I've been writing for quite a while, and the smoochies don't go any farther than kissing, although the kissing might be kind of steamy.

20th Birthday of Aventures & Passions

From 7 September through 15 November, Aventures & Passions, a romance line of French publishers J'Ai Lu, celebrate their twentieth birthday.  In honor of the occasion, we authors were asked to make short videos.

You can find mine here.

Readers in France can enter a contest for a trip to Venice.  Yes, Venice!  If you're reading this, and you're in France, I think you won't want to miss this opportunity.

Last chance for the sweet price

In case you missed it or forgot, here's one last reminder, and then I'll shut up:

Though the incredible 99¢ special is over, Avon decided to do an end-of-summer sweet deal of $1.99 for the e-edition of Lord of Scoundrels.

But that time ends when summer vacation does, and for those of us in the U.S., Labor Day is the grand finale.

In other words, today and tomorrow offer your last chance for a terrific deal.

For Kindle click here.
 For Nook click here.


P.S.  Please watch this space for news about e-releases of my out-of-print books, including the traditional Regencies.

Lord of Scoundrels for $1.99

Thanks to Extreme Reader Enthusiasm—that means you!--Avon is extending the sweet price on the e-editions of Lord of Scoundrels.

$1.99

It won’t last forever.  Until Labor Day is more like it.

In case you missed the news of this deal—or forgot to send it as an e-gift to your best friend or your mom or your sister or aunt or babysitter or other dear romance reader in your life—now’s your chance.

All my books in one bag at Dear Author Giveaway

You may want to stop by Dear Author and enter their giveaway this week.  Avon's offering Vera Bradley bags filled with books.  Mine includes all my in-print Avon titles as well as unused, signed copies of my out-of-print older titles,* including the traditional Regencies, which I've contributed from my rapidly-dwindling supply. 

The giveaway ends Friday...

*I've contributed a print copy of Captives of the Night, even though the post says "digital."


Illustration:  F. Boucher, Woman reading a book, courtesy Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA.

Interview at Barnes & Noble

 Melanie Murray over at BN.com has posted an interview with me about Silk is for Seduction.  She's also done a fangirl thread that makes me blush.

But please stop by anyway for some new insights into the book—Melanie asked some very thought-provoking questions.

Captives of the Night digital edition

Readers have been asking about digitized versions of my out-of-print books.  I'm happy to report that Captives of the Night is available for Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook.

The Lion's Daughter is coming very soon.

But wait! There's more!

#6 on the New York Times E-Book Bestsellers

 #18 on the New York Times combined E-Book & Print Bestsellers

 

Lord of Scoundrels a bestseller some more

This just in...

Behold me stunned to report that Lord of Scoundrels is #36 on the USA Today Bestseller list.

Thank you, my wonderful readers!

Interview at Vauxhall Vixens

Had a lot of fun with this interview.  I hope you do, too.

Lord of Scoundrels an E-Book Best Seller

Just got word this evening that Lord of Scoundrels has climbed up to #8 on the New York Times E-Book Best Sellers (for 7 August).  It also made USA Today's Top 150 Best-Selling Books.

Thank you, my beautiful readers!

Yes, more Dressmakers are coming

A number of readers who've finished Silk is for Seduction have emailed me asking about further stories. 

Yes, this is the first book in a series.  The next book stars Sophia Noirot & the Earl of Longmore.  It will probably appear next summer.

Leonie's story comes next


And you can definitely expect Lady Clara's saga to continue.

Beyond that, I can't say.  it's all in the hands of the writing gods.

Silk is for Seduction news

I forgot to brag.

Silk is for Seduction made the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists.

It also garnered starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal...
as well as...
A great review at Heroes & Heartbreakers  and a Top Pick (with 4-1/2 stars) at RT Book Reviews Magazine.

Lord of Scoundrels now only $0.99!

Yes it's true.

From today through 27 July, you can get the Kindle edition of Lord of Scoundrels for only $0.99.

Latest foreign editions

Left:  French edition of Last Night's Scandal.
Right: Slovak edition of Lord of Scoundrels.

 

 Below:  Spanish edition of Don't Tempt Me.

A remnant of Northumberland House

The hero of Silk is for Seduction requiring a domicile in Town, I looked around early 19th century London for a little something suitable for a duke.  I'd already moved characters from previous books into St. James's Square, so that was getting crowded.  Where, then?  Berkeley Square?  Nope.  I'd already stuck a family there.  Somewhere overlooking one of the parks? Nice, but none of the houses seemed to suit my hero

Eventually, my real estate search led me to the Strand, a much less fashionable neighborhood.  Once upon a time, (the time of Susan's historical novels, for instance) all the great noble palaces lined the Strand.  By 1835, the area had gone into trade.  But Northumberland House, home of the Duke of Northumberland, remained. 


So I stole—borrowed it, called it Clevedon House, made some architectural and decorative adjustments, and gave it to my hero.

Over at Two Nerdy History Girls, you'll find a post with lots of links to historical information about this fascinating holdover.  It occupies several pages in Christopher Simon Sykes's wonderful Private Palaces:  Life in the Great London Houses.  In London today all that remains is the street named after it, Northumberland Avenue, a doorway carefully preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum, and a miniature of the room the doorway belonged to, the Glass Drawing Room. 

 Photos courtesy me.

Silk is for Seduction Reviews

Some very nice reviews have been posted for the new book:

At Long and Short Reviews, you'll also get a chance to vote on Saturday & Sunday in their weekend poll.  Check in here on Saturday & Sunday, to find out about it.

Fresh Fiction

Eye on Romance

A perfect 10 at Romance Reviews Today.

Interview for Silk is for Seduction

Not Another Romance Blog has posted an interview with me.  Please comment for a chance to win a signed copy of Silk is for Seduction.

Fashions Marcelline would have seen at Longchamp

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES

(No. 9—Costume De Long-champs; Walking Dress.—The plate represents one of the most distingué toilettes brought out for the fashionable promenade of LongChamps. The hat is of toile de soie; the front rather deeper, and longer at the sides, than those that have been worn lately. At the sides it sits close to the face, but at the same time is rather evasive. The crown is neither very high, nor is it pointed. The border round the front of the hat, as well as the small roleaux on the crown, is of blue satin, forming a pretty contrast with the delicate straw colour of the hat. The bows, brides, and bavolet, are likewise edged with pipings of blue satin. (See plate.) Redingotte of a new silk called Elysienne. The corsage fits tight to the bust. The skirt, which is very full, is fastened down the left side with a row of silk buttons;j on each side of the opening is a bias of satin. A large pelerine of the same, likewise edged with a bias hem of satin, nearly covers the corsage: the ends of the pelerine fasten beneath the band in front. The sleeves, which are quite new, are of an uncommon form. (See plate.) The under sleeve, which is long, fits as tight as possible to the arm; a second short sleeve, which is left loose, and is very full, reaches nearly to the elbow, and is edged with a narrow rouleau of satin. It is rather deeper on the outside of the arm than on the inside. The large falling collar of India muslin is embroidered and trimmed with a deep lace, set on tolerably full. It is fastened in front with a brooch. White silk stockings; black shoes of drap de soie; ceinture of gros grains broché; parasol of broché silk. The sitting figure gives the back of the dress.

—The Lady's magazine, Vol VI, 1835

For more about my new release, Silk is for Seduction, please stop by Two Nerdy History Girls.

White wedding dresses before Victoria

My story in the recently released Royal Weddings anthology is set on the eve of Queen Victoria's wedding in 1840.  Many people believe that Queen Victoria was the first to wear a white wedding dress.  This is simply not the case.  Brides were wearing white long before this, and 19th century periodicals offer ample evidence.  Here are some examples.  Here's more.

And here's another, from Ackermann's Repository of Fashions, August 1829:

    

Why it's so hard to get those e-Books outside the U.S.

For all my readers outside the U.S. who are wondering why it's still so hard—or impossible—to get books in digital form, this New York Times article offers some insight. 

Illustration: "Dig," by Sadie Wendell Mitchell, c1909, courtesy Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA.