It’s January–Ho-Hum

Posted on January 15, 2022 by diannefreeman

That’s pretty much how I feel about January. It’s just not my month. The holidays are over. The days are short and cold, even in Arizona. I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. If I need to change something, I’m not going to wait until January 1st to address it. I’ll change it immediately, or at least as soon as I can talk myself into it. Right now, I think I need to change my attitude about January. To do that, I’ve created a list of anything I can think of that’s good about this month. It was a challenge.

1. It’s the beginning of a new year—a fresh start. And when something is just starting out, you have to give it a chance.

2. I tend to read at night, so since the days are shorter, I’ve read more books. That’s a good thing!

3. January is National Hot Tea Month! Who knew? Some of you might remember my blog last year about tea and my lack of knowledge about the beverage. And the fact that I never drank it. Well, after researching, I was tempted to do some taste testing and it turns out I really like the rich, black teas like Assam. I found a brand that throws dried elderberries into the mix, and I’m in heaven drinking a cup every morning!

4. I ran out of good things and my thoughts started drifting, so this item is slightly off topic. The characters in my mystery series have been living in 1899. In A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder, it will be February, 1900. For those of you who don’t recall the celebrations for, and concern over, going from December 31, 1999 to January 1, 2000, it was pretty crazy. Some were giddy about the dawning of a new century. Many thought the world would end. Others feared Y2k, which meant our computers might cease to operate, shutting down just about every industry. The rest of us just partied like it was, well, 1999. Though I don’t have a New Year’s Eve 1899 story, I wondered what the thinking was at the time. How did they celebrate the new century? Were there any fears of Y1.9K?

I scoured the old newspapers and found—nothing. At least nothing out of the ordinary—just regular news. Turns out they didn’t celebrate the new century until January 1st 1901, which, mathematically, makes sense. Everything I read about the new century and the new year was optimistic and positive. That takes me back to item #1 above. The best thing about January is the whole idea of a fresh start. Here’s hoping January gives all of us a positive and optimistic outlook on the rest of 2022!

Happy New Year!

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My Favorites of 2021

Posted on December 15, 2021 by diannefreeman

Hard to believe 2021 is coming to an end. When I looked back at this year’s posts, I was surprised that I haven’t talked about many of my favorite reads. I thought it time I made up for that with a list of some of my favorites from 2021.

January was not a good month and Jenn McKinlay provided the perfect escape, filled with warmth and humor, in PARIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA. 
When her widowed father announces he is remarrying, Chelsea Martin’s reaction forces her to realize she’s lost her joy for life. While I’m not sure her reaction was off the mark, I was all for her solution—recreate a trip she took many years ago to Ireland, France, and Italy. This was the last time she recalled being truly happy. In each country was a man who held a piece of her heart. Maybe one of them was the key to finding her joy again. Her quest is complicated by the unexpected arrival on the scene of her work rival and nemesis, Jason Knightly. The story of Chelsea revisiting her past with an eye to her future was pure delight and full of laughs.

THE WINDSOR KNOT by S J Bennett This mystery not only takes place at Windsor Castle, but Queen Elizabeth II actually orchestrates the investigation of a young Russian pianist who met with a suspicious death in one of the castle bedrooms during a “dine and sleep.” The actual investigation is carried out by Assistant Private Secretary, Rozie Oshodi, aided by subtle suggestions from the queen. Rozie is clever and resourceful and the story is filled with little details of royal life. I loved it and can’t wait for the next.  

I devoured Rhys Bowen’s stand-alone novel, THE VENICE SKETCHBOOK in one weekend. The story is told in dual timelines. In 1938 art teacher Juliet (Lettie) Browning has brought her class to Venice for a study trip. Juliet had visited the city ten years earlier and hopes to reconnect with the man she left behind. At the turn of the 21st century Caroline’s ex-husband has left her in England for a more exciting life in New York City and she’s (rightfully) concerned that he plans to keep their son in his custody. She receives a bequest from her late great aunt Lettie—a sketchbook, three keys, and the request to scatter her ashes in Venice. Caroline travels to Venice with the sketchbook and the keys, clues that when deciphered, reveal a new chapter in Letty’s life. Juliet and Caroline’s story ultimately weave together to form a satisfying though bittersweet conclusion.

A ROGUE’S COMPANY by Allison Montclair is the third book in the Sparks and Bainbridge mystery series. Set in London after WWII, Iris Sparks and Gwendolyn Bainbridge, two opposites who work perfectly together. Both women are recovering from the effects of the war. Gwen lost her husband, the love of her life, and now has a precarious relationship with her in-laws with whom she lives along with her young son. Iris did things during the war that she’d rather not talk abou.t. Together have formed a marriage bureau, The Right Sort. As in the first two books, a client sets in motion their next adventure/mystery. This time the crime strikes at the center of Gwen’s family and she finds that she is stronger than she, or the reader, thought. In order to help her partner, Iris has to call in a favor which gives the reader a glimpse into her past. The mystery is twisty but the characters are what make me devour each book in this series.

DENIED by Mary Keliikoa. This second book in the PI Kelly Pruett series is just as loaded with twists, turns, secrets, and lies as the first. Kelly thinks she’s taken on a simple missing person’s case for an old friend, but it quickly becomes clear that nothing is straightforward about this case or the victim. Though the plot is engrossing and suspenseful, the best part is Kelly Pruett herself, so well-developed she steps right off the page, full of tenacious stubbornness and humanity. I can’t wait for her next case.

 How many ways did I love WILD WOMEN AND THE BLUES by Denny S. Bryce? The dual time line was handled deftly. Sawyer in 2015 is trying to authenticate a piece of film by interviewing centenarian Miss Honoree about her life in the 1920s. The history was fascinating—black life in 1920s Chicago, Bronzeville, Jazz, poverty, riches, dreams, and ambitions. The mystery reveals itself slowly and there’s a bit of romance, which I loved. The story-telling was enticing. I was involved before I even knew I was interested. It was hard to put down and though the end was satisfying, I hated to say goodbye to the characters.

MURDER AT MALLOWAN HALL by Colleen Cambridge takes the reader to the English countryside and the home of famous author, Agatha Christie, for a wonderful mystery. But when a dead body is found in the library during a house party, the sleuth is her housekeeper, Phyllida Bright. Phillida is a former army nurse, confident, intelligent, and an admirer of Christie’s character, Hercule Poirot, whom she styles herself after. It’s amazing to watch her manage the servants, the guests, and the police while she uses her little grey cells to analyze the clues that lead to the killer, all while running the household. This is a fabulous start to a new series!

 I just finished DOWN A DARK RIVER by Karen Odden. This is the first book in a new series set in London in 1878 and featuring Inspector Michael Corravan. Corravan is working on a missing woman case when he’s called in on another case involving a dead woman found in a small boat on the Thames. Not the same woman, but as the inspector works the case it slowly becomes clear that the murders of the women are linked to an act from the past. Corravan is a fully fleshed out character, relatable and flawed. The mystery is intricately woven and London, both the posh neighborhoods and the slums, simply jump off the page. A beautifully written and satisfying book!

What have you been reading this year? Any recommendations?

Wishing all of you happy holidays and lots of books in the coming year!

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A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder

Posted on November 15, 2021 by diannefreeman

To me it feels like A Fiancée’s Guide to First Wives and Murder just released, but things are already in motion at my publisher for the next book, A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder! I just finished copy edits and–I have a cover! 

Yes, Frances and George will be walking down the aisle in this book. But honestly, they should have known they couldn’t have a quiet, simple wedding. Here’s a little bit about the book:

On the eve of her marriage to George Hazelton, Frances has a great deal more on her mind than flowers and seating arrangements. The Connors and the Bainbridges, two families of American robber barons, have taken up residence in London, and their bitter rivalry is spilling over into the highest social circles. At the request of her brother, Alonzo, who is quite taken with Miss Madeline Connor, Frances has invited the Connor family to her wedding. Meanwhile, Frances’s mother has invited Mr. Bainbridge, and Frances fears the wedding may end up being newspaper-worthy for all the wrong reasons.

On the day itself, Frances is relieved to note that Madeline’s father is not among the guests assembled at the church. The reason for his absence, however, turns out to be most unfortunate: Mr. Connor is found murdered in his home. More shocking still, Alonzo is caught at the scene, holding the murder weapon.

Powerful and ruthless, Connor appears to have amassed a wealth of enemies alongside his fortune. Frances and George agree to put their wedding trip on hold to try and clear Alonzo’s name. But there are secrets to sift through, not just in the Bainbridge and Connor families, but also in their own. And with a killer determined to evade discovery at any cost—even if it means taking another life—Frances’s first days as a newlywed will be perilous indeed . . .

Are you intrigued? I hope so! The book releases June 28, 2022, but you can pre-order from your favorite bookstore right here.

Since George and Frances were to get married in this book, I had to learn a bit more about late Victorian wedding ceremonies and receptions, which, surprisingly, weren’t that much different than today. Here are a few Victorian wedding details that I found interesting.

According to Goodey’s Lady’s Book the reasonable cost of a wedding gown in 1850 was $500! By 1861 the more elaborate gowns could cost as much as $1,500. This was when a furnished house in London’s west end could cost 5 – 25 pounds a week.

A bride who is marrying for a second time could wear a shade of white, but no orange blossoms, which were intended to signify purity. She was also not expected to have attendants.

In the late Victorian era, black was suggested as an appropriate color for the mother of the bride.

Weddings were held in the morning and a wedding breakfast followed usually at the home of the bride’s parents. Unless there was room in the house for tables to be set up, the guests were served standing. There was no entertainment as the honor was in attending the wedding itself.

The wedding cake was very different from what we have today. It was usually a rum-soaked fruitcake, covered in white icing and heavily decorated. Because of the high fruit content, the cakes were very heavy. Because of the high alcohol content, they could last for a remarkably long time. Queen Victoria’s wedding cake was 14 inches tall with a 10-foot circumference.

It is reported to weigh in at 300 pounds! All the guests were given a slice in a decorative box. Boxed slices of her cake have come up for auction as recently as 2018! (Above images are from Royal.UK)

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The Victorian Life

Posted on October 15, 2021 by diannefreeman

I’ve been off social media and laying low for the past few weeks. My back surgery was successful and now that I’m out of the hospital and back home, my life feels a little like that of a Victorian lady.

Have you ever wondered how it felt to spend all day, every day in a corset? I don’t wonder any longer. My back brace is pretty much the same thing. It fastens in front with Velcro, then you pull out those little handles to tighten the laces in back. (see pic below) I’m supposed to wear it “comfortably snug” but the problem is that what’s comfortably snug in the morning feels like a torture device by the afternoon, and while it provides me with much-needed stability, I can’t wait to get rid of it. Three more weeks sounds like a nightmare, but I think it will become more comfortable as my incision heals. For the record, I have no problem breathing in it, but that’s also because I’m not moving around like a ball of fire these days. A Victorian fainting couch would be perfect because I am still SO TIRED all the time!

Tired or not, I must walk! Because I’m a little wobbly, I’m not allowed out without my footman—okay, it’s really my husband, but he’s there to keep my on my feet and carry things for me. And while this isn’t particularly a Victorian notion, he’s been stuck cleaning up after me which is perfectly ironic. I realized shortly after we were married that I apparently signed up for walking along behind him with a mop and a dust rag. He doesn’t move without a cup of coffee in his hand and the coffee almost never stays in the cup. Trash doesn’t go into the trash can. It goes on the counter next to the trash can. He has a similar affliction with laundry and the laundry basket.

Well, I am unintentionally getting my revenge. The first two weeks after surgery my hand-eye coordination was really off. I dropped, spilled, or knocked over everything! AND I’m not allowed to bend over, so guess who has to pick up behind me? (No, I don’t find this humorous at all!) I’m also amazed at how many times I can miss the wastebasket.

Dan has actually been great, but I am getting really restless which I think means I’m feeling better!

Aside from walking, dropping things, and sleeping, I’ve done quite a bit of reading since I came home. Here are a few of the books I really enjoyed!

Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor

This is the first book in the Chronicles of St Mary’s series and was recommended in a historical group I’m in. It’s not historical, however, but time travel. I think it was mentioned as a series that ought to be a movie and boy, do I agree. The main character, Madeline Maxwell is recruited by St Mary’s Institute of Historical Research not just to study history but to visit it. These historians go back in time to gather information about huge events in history. For anyone who loves history or has gotten lost in historical research this is your series! The events and images come alive on the page and of course things rarely go according to plan. It’s pure historical adventure! The first book was wonderful and I intend to go back for more. I highly recommend it!

Lyin’ Eyes by Julie Mulhern

I started reading Julie Mulhern’s Country Club Murders series in 2020 and they were just the thing to get me out of a reading slump. Lyin’ Eyes is book 13, so I caught up quickly, easy to do because they are fast-paced humorous who-dun-it’s with a cast of delightful characters. The series takes place in the 1970s among the country club class in Kansas City, MO and feature main character, Ellison Russell, who seems to be cursed with the ability to find dead bodies everywhere she goes. This time she finds a pair of them just before her wedding to detective Anarchy Jones. Fortunately, he passes the case off to his partner. Unfortunately, Ellison becomes a suspect. Between solving the case, preparing for the wedding, and dealing with uncooperative family members, this book just keeps the mystery and the laughs coming!

Infamous by Minerva Spencer

This book brings all my favorite literary things together! There’s a historical setting, Christmas in England, a bit of a mystery, and romance times two! I love Minerva Spencer’s historical romance because she can be counted on to bring certain things—witty dialog, believable characters, and a bit of adventure. I don’t know if it’s because of the dual romance in this book or if it’s because of Christmas, but there’s just something extra in this story that makes it my favorite in the series!

Next up for me is Her Name is Knight by Yasmin Angoe

The main character, Nena Knight is billed as a female Jason Bourne and I’m eager to dig in to this one! The book doesn’t release until November 1st, but it’s an Amazon Prime First Reads selection this month. If you’re a Prime member, you are part of the First Reads program. Check it out!

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A Debut in the Middle of a Feud

Posted on September 15, 2021 by diannefreeman

I’m preparing for back surgery this week and time constraints have me reblogging a post from 2019. Oddly enough, a year after I posted this, I began plotting book 5, A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder, including two families that are very much like the Bonynges and the MacKays. Hope you enjoy the post. I’ll be back and in much better shape next month!

As if a young American heiress didn’t have enough to worry about when making her debut in London society, Virginia Bonynge had to make her splash while her parents were in the midst of a feud with another prominent American family; the Mackays.

Bonynge and Mackay had astonishingly similar backgrounds. Both were Irish immigrants. Both spent their early working lives in the mines around Virginia City, Nevada. Bonynge left the mines to become a stockbroker and Mackay gained his wealth from his mine-contracting business. Both met their wives in Virginia City in the late 1860s. Rodie Daniel, the future Mrs. Bonynge, was struggling to raise her daughter, Virginia, while her husband served a sentence in San Quentin for killing a man in a fight. She and Bonynge fell in love. She divorced her first husband and married Bonynge who raised Virginia as his own daughter. The family moved to San Francisco where Bonynge continued to amass his fortune.

Back in Virginia City, Louise Bryant, a young widow with a small daughter of her own, was taking in sewing and laundry to earn their keep. The local Catholic priest brought her plight to Mackay’s attention, and before long, the two married and also moved to San Francisco, where Mackay became a client of Bonynge’s.

John_William_Mackay

John William Mackay

The bad blood came years later, when Bonynge made some unfavorable public statements about Mackay’s business schemes. This began the cold war between the men that would heat up to a Hatfield-McCoy style feud. By 1886, both families had settled in London. Louise Mackay, a social climber, had already tried to gain social prominence in San Francisco, New York, and Paris but found all her millions still couldn’t open those doors. She decided to try her luck in London society. The Bonynges came to London in the hope of achieving a brilliant match for Virginia.

The first strike came from the Mackays. Presentation at court was vital for acceptance in society, but shortly before her presentation, a London paper revealed that Rodie Bonynge was divorced, which meant she had to stay home while her daughter was presented, a huge embarrassment they attributed to the Mackays. In turn, the Bonynges provided some details of Louise Mackay’s past as a laundress in Virginia City.

The attacks went back and forth for years. Both families hired agents to feed information to the newspapers, who gleefully printed each nasty word. The final strike came when Virginia Bonynge accepted the proposal of Ronald Greville, the eldest son of Lord Greville. Almost immediately, word got out that Virginia was not the daughter of Mr. Bonynge, but of a murderer who served a term of imprisonment in San Quentin. Since Mackay (and Bonynge) were in San Francisco at the time, the story must have come from Louise Mackay.

Though the scandal ended her engagement, many stood by Virginia and the Bonynges including Princess Christian, which allowed them to maintain their social standing. The story spread however, and back in the US, Bonynge sat down with a reporter from the San Francisco Call, where (without naming him) he discussed Mackay’s attempts to libel him. Mackay was outraged and upon spotting Bonynge at a bank where he also had business, strode into the office and punched the man in the face. The men, both in their sixties, fought until bank employees managed to separate them.Lady deerhurst

Viscountess Deerhurst from The Lady’s Relm, 1904 

Eventually the feud was called off. Both families had attained their standing in society and Virginia received another offer of marriage from Viscount Deerhurst, heir to the Earl of Coventry. After all she had to deal with, one hopes it was a happy marriage.

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Researching The Hard Way

Posted on August 14, 2021 by diannefreeman

I just finished the first draft of book 6 in the Countess of Harleigh series. (Hooray!) For me, first drafts are short and mostly made up of plot points and dialog, and perhaps most importantly, sidebar comments noting everything I need to research. There are usually dozens of those comments. I arrived at this point for book 4, A Fiancée’s Guide to First Wives and Murder around October of 2019. I had expected to take a research trip to London in September of 2019, but an illness in the family put an end to that plan. No problem, I thought, I’d go in the spring of 2020.

I’m sure you all know how that worked out.

When you can’t go to a place, you have to get creative with your research. Much of what I needed; a history of the Romanov family, theater in the late Victorian era, information about the Prince and Princess of Wales, all could be found in biographies and historical websites. But there were two locations I use in this book that I have never visited. That could pose a problem.

Two scenes in the book take place inside Marlborough House, which in 1899 was the residence of the Prince of Wales. One of the reasons I wanted to visit London in September of 2019 was that Marlborough House, now home to the Commonwealth Foundation, is only open to the public during London’s Open House Festival in September. I had really hoped to see it in person, but I consoled myself with the reminder that it is now used for a completely different function and wouldn’t be furnished or decorated as it was in 1899.

I was fortunate to find photographs and the notes of others who have been there. At this website Marlborough House, Royal Castles, Homes, AVICTORIAN.COM the writer actually describes moving from room to room which is very helpful in getting a spatial sense of the place. And I would never have known how large the murals were without this fabulous photo of the staircase.      4b62f18709da5cac0081b7fa459b8d86.png (1291×665) (pinimg.com)

The Royal Opera house is another location I had hoped to visit. Even though it was closed due to Covid, there was video after video on their YouTube channel (25) Royal Opera House – YouTube as well as some historical films which show the grand staircase and images from the royal box.

Of course, I wish I could have traveled to London to see these locations with my own eyes, but when that just isn’t possible, I’m so glad others have documented their travels so well.

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It Never Gets Old!

Posted on July 15, 2021 by diannefreeman

I belong to a group of authors with whom I share an agent. Some of them have been published for years and some are just starting out. One of them asked the question, Is the release of book two less exciting than book one? Does it become routine as you publish more books?
 
The answer, of course, is yes and no. For a writer, it’s hard to believe anything else in your career will match the thrill of launching your debut novel. Every step you take is a first—getting a book contract, going through edits, seeing your book cover for the first time, signing a book for someone for the first time.
 
By book two and three, you know what to expect. It’s not so much that the thrill is gone, as that it’s not surprising, so, in part, it does become more routine. However, holding your book in your hands for the first time never gets old. And there’s always something new—an award nomination, a review from someone who really gets what you were trying to do, a good review from someone you admire, and seeing your book for the first time. It’s still a thrill!
 

This year, my big thrill was being nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Historical Mystery. Authors are also readers and fans. I’m a fan of all these authors and it’s surreal to be up for an award with them—and to be on a panel with them! The only way it could have been better was if it had been in person! Maybe that will be the big thrill for next year, but for now I’ll just enjoy this one!

If you’d like to check out the Agatha Nominee Panels you will find them here: AGATHA PANELS (malicedomestic.org)

I have several fun events going on for the release of A Fiancée’s Guide to First Wives and Murder.

On Release Day (July 27th) I have a virtual event with Schuler books—Coffee and Crime! It’s at 3:00 pm EDT. You can join us using this link: Coffee + Crime with Dianne Freeman | Schuler Books  If you’re thinking of purchasing the book, Schuler Books will have signed copies.

For those of you on FaceBook, I’ll be doing a lunchtime author takeover at Cozy Mystery Launch Party from 1:00 – 2:00 pm EDT on July 28th. There will be giveaways! You can join us here: (8) Cozy Mystery Launch Party | Facebook

August 4th I’ll be (virtually) at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore with Erica Ruth Neubauer. This one will be at 9:00 pm EDT and you can join us here: Virtual Event – Dianne Freeman in conversation with Erica Ruth Neubauer | Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore (mystgalaxy.com)

August 7th I’ll be part of The (virtual) Kensington Historicon at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore at 7:00 pm EDT. You can join us at: https://calendar.time.ly/9plshfqx/event/67174881/20210807160000

If you have a chance, I hope you’ll join me for any or all of them!

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A Dedication

Posted on June 15, 2021 by diannefreeman

My grandmother, Frances, came to the US with her husband around 1918. They settled in the Chicago area and had a family. Genevieve, Ted, Eddie, and Vicki. Fast forward a dozen years and Frances’ husband was killed in an accident. Grieving, and with four kids to support, Frances decided to go home to Poland where she at least had family. Not long after she arrived, she remembered why they left. There was little opportunity for her to support her children.

She and her family came up with a plan. Each of her sisters would house and care for one of her children while Frances returned to the US and tried to establish herself. This time she ended up in Detroit, where she worked cleaning houses and met and married the man who would be my mom’s dad.

They sent money back to her family for passage for the four children, but only three arrived. The oldest, Genevieve was missing. Frances was frantic. The other kids had been housed elsewhere and didn’t know where their sister was. After some exhaustive letter writing they learned the sister who had Genevieve had emigrated to Russia and took her with them.

Frances contacted the Red Cross, the American Embassy, and any organization she thought might help, with no success. They were never able to track down the sister and her family or Genevieve. She was lost to her family.

I tell you all this because this story is why I learned Russian and studied Russian history. At that time, I was still writing for my own entertainment and one day I planned to write this story. Years passed and I never did. A family saga isn’t the type of story I enjoy reading and I don’t see myself writing one. (Photo is of my grandmother and my mom.)

I guess I’ll never write about Genevieve.

Except, I kind of did. At least as close as I could do it. Irena Teskey, the victim in the upcoming book has been raised by people who aren’t her family even though her father is alive and well and taking care of his other child. Irena wasn’t kidnapped and taken from her family. She was pushed away. But I can’t help seeing the similarity to Genevieve, who also had to go through life denied her family.

When I sent the book in to my editor, I didn’t have a dedication. It’s way too late to get one in the book now, so this is my unofficial dedication for A Fiancée’s Guide to First Wives and Murder.

For Frances and Genevieve.

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In the Eye of the Beholder

Posted on May 15, 2021 by diannefreeman

I never provide detailed descriptions of my characters in my novels. When I read, I rarely pay attention to character descriptions and decide for myself what they look like based on their personalities. Ridiculous, I know. People hardly ever resemble their personalities in real life, but this is fiction, and I think readers have enough imagination to fill in the blanks I leave. If you’re like me, you prefer it that way.

With that in mind, I was delighted when I saw the cover for Etiquette and Murder and the characters were essentially cartoons. The artist took a lot of liberty with the descriptions. Frances was perfect, but who was that guy? It couldn’t be George Hazelton, Frances’ partner in crime-solving and potential love interest. Aside from the fact that he was poisoning Frances’ drink, one of the few details I mentioned about him was that he had no facial hair. The man on the cover had a Snidely Whiplash mustache and a goatee. I decided he was just a generic villain and let it go.

George appears again on the cover of my third book, Mischief and Murder—this time with a handlebar mustache! Why?! I give the artist much more specific details about what the characters look like than I give readers, so why does she insist on facial hair? I had already made several changes to that cover and felt a little insecure about asking for one more. I mentioned it to my editor and decided to let him decide if the mustache stays or goes. He let it stay.

To be clear, I have nothing against facial hair. My husband alternates between clean-shaven and a goatee and I like both looks. But in my mind, George doesn’t have any. So, when I saw the cover of book four, First Wives and Murder, I was thrilled to see a clean-shaven George! Halleluiah! I wouldn’t have to go to battle this time.

Then, in one of my historical groups, I saw this photo and thought, well look at that, it’s George with a beard! And I liked it! The cover artist had it right all along. Maybe I should have trusted her imagination.  I might have him grow a beard in book five but I’m afraid she’ll end up throwing that book at me!

Readers, what do you prefer? Do you want to know exactly what the writer thinks the characters look like or would you rather use your imagination?

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A Fiancée’s Guide to First Wives and Murder

Posted on April 15, 2021 by diannefreeman

I spend a lot of time browsing newspapers from 1899, the year my books are set. I do it for a few reasons; to immerse myself in the era, to check for any events of great import that my characters should take note of, and for inspiration. While looking for ideas for book four, A Fiancee’s Guide to First Wives and Murder, I dug into the November, 1899 papers and found both an important event and inspiration. It was a short article about the upcoming visit of Russian grand duke, Michael Mikhailovich and his wife Sophie, the Countess de Torby.

I knew those names! Long ago I studied Russian, and our professor often brought up tid-bits of Imperial Russian history. In 1894, when Alexander was Czar, his nephew, Michael Mikhailovich had the temerity to marry without asking his uncle’s permission. Big mistake! While he wasn’t disowned, he was stripped of his military rank and banned from Russia forever. But Michael wasn’t cut off from the income from his factories, he was still an Imperial Highness, and it looked as if he’d made a love match.

He and Sophie lived in Germany and spent summers in Cannes, which had to be better than dealing with Russian court politics, not to mention the assassinations that came later. Of all the Romanovs, I found this couple to be the most relatable. So, when I read that they were in London to visit the British royal family, I couldn’t wait to write a story around them.

But what story? I ran through my mental rolodex of story ideas, scene fragments, and characters I’ve wanted to write but, for one reason or another, they never quite fit the story I was working on. One was Alicia Stoke-Whitney, a character from the first book. I’ve wanted to bring her back and this might be just the story. Another was a neighbor I once had who constantly made outlandish claims about her past—famous people who were friends or relatives, businesses she ran, and things she’d done. Her claims were extreme and sometimes contradictory, so I thought she was making them up—until I learned that she wasn’t. Regardless of how ridiculous her stories sounded, everything she’d said was true.

I’ve been waiting for the right story for such a character, and this was it. She could claim to be a Romanov, perhaps a distant relative of Michael Mikhailovich. She’d need some other shady claims too, like she’s an actress, she’s very wealthy, and she’s married to my protagonist’s fiancé, George Hazelton. Of course, George and Frances are very much in love and soon to be married, so the woman must be lying. Or is she? To quote Alicia Stoke-Whitney to Frances; “Heavens! And I thought I had problems.”

You can pre-order A Fiancee’s Guide to First Wives and Murder here: Books | Dianne Freeman (difreeman.com)

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