Thanks for stopping by to
talk a little about your writing! Let's jump right in. When did you begin
writing and why?
Before I could read and
write, I made up stories inspired by pictures of nursery rhyme characters in delightful,
old fashioned-clothes. This, coupled with my subsequent interest in history and
love of reading historical fiction, historical romance and non-fiction inspired
me, to write novels.
Do you have a favorite
genre? Is it the same genre you prefer to write?
I enjoy my chosen genre, romantic
historical fiction.
Do certain themes and
ideas tend to capture your writer’s imagination and fascinate you?
Yes, the effect of war on
my characters is a recurrent theme in my novels. For example, the hero of
Sunday’s Child, set in the Regency era, witnesses a shocking event. It makes
such a profound impression that, although it is his duty to marry and have an
heir, he decides to wed but never father a child.
More often than not, my
ideas form when I read historical non-fiction. For example, the theme of my
novel Tangled Love developed when I read about James II’s flight from England.
One after another, both of his daughters succeeded to the throne. What, I asked
myself, would be the position of children whose fathers swore an oath of
allegiance to James II and then, out of honour, refused to swear one to either
of his daughters during his lifetime?
Do you have a favorite
author who introduced you to the genre?
As a teenager I loved
Georgette Heyer’s novels and still re-read my favourites, These Old Shades,
Devil’s Cub and An Infamous Army from time to time.
What advantages or
challenges does a writer in your genre face in today’s fiction market?
One disadvantage is how
difficult it is to secure a literary agent or a mainstream publisher.
In the U.K the closure of
Borders and of so many small bookshops have affected the market. The number of
books sold cheaply in charity shops affect a the market and author’s incomes.
So does the sale of books in supermarkets, which offer few titles and, in my
opinion, reduce books to a mere commodity such as essential groceries.
In spite of fierce
competition and the need for the author to promote his or her novels, e-books
and print on demand is an advantage.
What's on the top of your TBR pile right now?
Mademoiselle Chanel by C.V. Gortner.
Tell me a little about the
characters in Far Beyond
Rubies.
Charismatic Gervaise, the hero, served in India with the East India
Company from the age of fourteen until he returned to England. When he first sees
captivating Juliana, the heroine, “he sensed the love they had once shared, but
never before had he thought the Hindu belief in reincarnation was worthy of
consideration.”
When spirited Juliana first meets Gervaise, her father has died,
and her step-brother claims he has inherited Riverside, a great estate. She
does not believe him, so she sets out for London to consult her late father’s
attorney. By chance, she encounters Gervaise, who persuades her to allow him to
escort her. In accordance with the social conventions of the time he behaves
impeccably, while he helps and protects her.
Although Juliana, daughter of an Anglican father and Hugenot mother
mistrusts Gervaise’e exotic background, she cannot deny their mutual
attraction.
Where’s the story set? How
much influence did the setting have on the atmosphere/characters/development of
the story?
The novel takes place in
England in Hertfordshire and London. It is set in Queen Anne Stuart’s reign
1702-1714, during which the Duke of Marlborough won the War of Spanish
Succession, and trade with the east developed.
Compared to the ever
popular Regency era, in which so many novels are set, few novels have been
placed in the reign of Queen Anne, niece of Charles II. When I studied the
period I wanted to share its unique atmosphere through social conventions,
gorgeous clothes, sumptuous food, economic and social history and religious
conflicts, not only in Far Beyond Rubies, but also in my novels Tangled Love
and The Captain and The Countess.
If you had to write your
memoir in five words, what would you write?
I would begin with: ‘Thank
God for my blessings.’
How often does your muse
distract you from day to day minutiae?
Constantly, she even
entered my dreams and introduced me to a young man called Justin, who wants me
to take him shopping at The Royal Exchange. When driving, I have to make a
conscious effort to concentrate.
What do readers have to
look forward to in the future from you?
I am writing a series of
novels set in the Regency era. The first, Sunday’s Child has been published,
the second Monday’s Child, will be published in spring 2016 and I have written
the first draft of Tuesday’s Child. Although each novel features characters
from the previous one, the stories are not dependent on each other.
Far
Beyond Rubies by Rosemary Morris
Romantic Historical Fiction
Published by MuseItUpPublishing
Set in 1706 during Queen Anne Stuart’s reign,
Far Beyond Rubies begins when William, Baron Kemp, Juliana’s half-brother
claims she and her young sister, Henrietta, are bastards. Spirited Juliana is
determined to prove the allegation is false, and that she is the rightful
heiress to Riverside, a great estate.
On his
way to deliver a letter to William, Gervaise Seymour sees Juliana for the first
time on the grounds of her family estate. The sight of her draws him back to
India. When “her form changed to one he knew intimately – but not in this
lifetime,” Gervaise knows he would do everything in his power to protect her.
Although
Juliana and Gervaise are attracted to each other, they have not been formally
introduced and assume they will never meet again. However, when Juliana flees
from home, and is on her way to London, she encounters quixotic Gervaise at an
inn. Circumstances force Juliana to accept his kind help. After Juliana’s life
becomes irrevocably tangled with his, she discovers all is not as it seems.
Yet, she cannot believe ill of him for, despite his exotic background, he
behaves with scrupulous propriety while trying to help her find evidence to
prove she and her sister are legitimate.
amazon.co.uk
& amazon.com
And
elsewhere.
Excerpt:
Author’s note.
On her way to London Juliana sold her hair to a
travelling hair merchant, who will sell it to a wig-maker.
* * * *
“Mistress Kemp, you sold your hair!” Mister Seymour
exclaimed.
Juliana nodded and eyed his shocked face.
“If only I knew you were in such need. Should you
require more money, a travelling companion or aught else, I am at your
service.”
Although she despaired of ever again experiencing
happiness, the stranger’s concern for her welfare cheered
her.
“Thank you,
sir, you are more than kind. I lost my purse. Without the means to go to London
I would have been undone if -”
“You cannot travel alone.”
Mister Seymour did not have the right to tell her what
she could or could not do. “Yes, I can, my boots are stout enough to walk to
the next post house where I shall hire a horse.”
“You cannot walk so far. I will not permit it.”
“You will not
permit it?” Although his concern warmed her she stared at him angered by his
presumption.
“Mistress Kemp,
please forgive my arrogance. I’faith I have no right to prevent you going to
London alone, but it is obvious you are in distress. As a gentleman, it is my
duty to assist you. Will you not permit
me to help you?”
Tempted to
share her troubles with the stranger, she wondered whether she should confide
in him. No, she could not. “You are generous, sir. There is naught to say other
than I must reach London without delay.”
“The matter is
easily solved, Mistress Kemp. I am on my way to London and would be happy to
escort you. Indeed, you should not travel
alone. Footpads and highwaymen are the
curse of the land.”
“Are you sure I
would not inconvenience you, Mister Seymour?”
“How could someone as far beyond rubies as you
discommode anyone?”
Conscious of
her blushes in response to his complimentary biblical reference, she looked at
his square face with its cleft chin, slanting eyebrows and large cornflower
blue eyes fringed with long, thick lashes the same shade as his chestnut
hair. Everything about him, his pleasing
features, his fashionable yet not ostentatious clothes, and his respectful tone
inspired trust. In spite of her
uncertainties, she smiled. “To be
honest, desperation drives me. So I
thank you and am pleased to accept your kind offer.”
“I shall partake of breakfast in the public room while
you order breakfast to be served in your bedchamber. Can you be ready to depart within the hour?”
“Yes, but first I must assure you I am not far beyond rubies.” Her eyes threatened to brim over with tears. “God rest his soul, my late father would have told you I am often wilful.”
* * * *
At first sight of Mistress Kemp’s clipped hair brushing the vulnerable white nape of her neck, Gervaise had wanted to cradle her in his arms and comfort her. When she turned, the sight of her loose-fitting gown flowing over her shapely breasts and curvaceous hips had sent a jolt of desire through him. He blotted the delicious image of her from his mind. It was ridiculous for a man with his experience of foreign climes and beautiful women to lust like a mere youth.
Later, after he ate a hearty breakfast, Gervaise made
haste down the stairs. The lady’s image returned. The thought of intimately
touching her satin smooth skin thrilled him. He squashed the vision in his
mind’s eye, and swore on all he held sacred that, even if the opportunity
presented itself, he would never, under any circumstances, take advantage of
Mistress Kemp. Her shorn hair, and the glimpse of the tender white nape of her
neck had not only aroused his sympathy, it made him want to protect her. His
unruly imagination quenched, he decided to be the lady’s knight-errant.
Prepared to face any number of dragons on her behalf, he controlled his desire.
However, he could not help wondering whether she would be his prize if he
vanquished the fiery creatures. Yet, did he want such a prize? No he did
not. In the past he knew profound love
and harmony. To be honest with himself, he admitted he believed he would never
again achieve such exquisite happiness with any other lady.
Meet the Author
Rosemary
Morris was born in Sidcup Kent. Her parents moved to Bromley, Kent, and then to
Sutton, Surrey, where she attended St Hilda’s Primary School in Carshalton, and
then Wallington Grammar School for girls.
At seventeen,
Rosemary went to London and worked in a travel agency. There she met her future
husband, who was reading law at Middle Temple. He encouraged her to continue
her education at Westminster College and persuaded her to study, British
Constitution, Economics and Economic History. In retrospect, Rosemary admits
that although she passed the exams with proverbial ‘flying colours’ the
subjects bored her. Afterwards she never made use of the subjects and put them
out of her mind. Rosemary says she should
have studied English Literature, History and Philosophy, which have always
fascinated her.
After her
father-in-law died, Rosemary and her husband, moved to Kenya where he was born,
and where she lived for twenty years. After an attempted coup d’état, Rosemary left Africa with four of
their five children – by that time, their eldest son was living in England. For
four years they lived in an ashram where she, and her sons and daughter, who
attended school, studied philosophy, religion, Sanscrit literature and much
more.
Throughout
her life, Rosemary had always written fiction. Back in England, she completed a
College of the Arts Course in Creative Writing and wrote historical fiction.
She also joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association, The Historical Novel
Society and Watford Writers.
So many
people have dreams that never materialise, but Rosemary’s is grateful because
she has realised her ambition to be a multi-published author of Romantic
Historical Fiction
To view her
book covers, read the first three chapters of her novels and watch the book
trailers please visit her website.
Htttp://rosemarymorris.blogspot.com
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