NEW! » Will Wilhelmina and Penelope from the Merry Widows trilogy get their own books?

Yes, and no. Wilhelmina is the heroine of a novella that will be in the anthology It Happened One Night which goes on sale September 30. As the oldest of the Merry Widows, I had initially intended her to be no more than a friend and mentor to the younger women. But I got so much mail about her that I decided to give her a happy ending of her own. As for Penelope, I never intended to give her a book of her own, as the books were meant to be a trilogy only. But she does get her happy ending in Lady Be Bad.

NEW! » Do the Merry Widows books have to be read in order? And if so, what order?

Each book in the trilogy stands alone and you need not read any of the other books beforehand. However, if you enjoy reading stories in chronological order, the books should be read as follows:
In the Thrill of the Night
Just One of Those Flings
Lady be Bad

See what other books are connected.

NEW! » Are your books available in any foreign languages?

So far my books have been translated into French, German, Russian, Dutch, Polish, Italian, Spanish, and Chinese. Look for some of the foreign covers on the book page for each specific book, ie you can see foreign covers for Once a Scoundrel here.

NEW! » Are your books available in e-format?

All of my Avon books are available in various e-formats via the HarperCollins website. From my author page click on any of the books to see the various e-formats available. Kindle editions are also avaialbel via Amazon.com. My NAL books (ie the Merry Widows trilogy) are not available in e-book format.

» I remember reading a blog where you said you developed a large family tree for Prudence in Once a Gentleman. Will you ever post the family tree on your website?

Yes, I had a HUGE family tree chart for Once a Gentleman. I wanted Pru to have this big aristocratic family that would not only be a contrast to the hero's small not-very-noble family but would also be a constant in-your-face reminder to him of her aristocratic roots.

So I figured I needed to know who this family was. I knew Pru's father was the youngest son of a duke, so I just started with the duke and created a family tree of all his offspring, their spouses and children. I gave the duke 12 children, so Pru had a boatload of first cousins. And I gave every person on the chart a name and title! Hardly any of these people made it on the page, but I knew I was going to have a few family gatherings, and I didn't want to be scrambling for relationships and names as I wrote. So, whenever I needed a cousin or uncle to wander on the scene, I just looked up to my family tree chart and picked one. Frankly, it came in very handy and I'm glad I did it.

But no, this chart will not show up on my website. It was just a tool for me to use as I wrote the book and would not be that helpful to readers. Any relationship mentioned in the book is hopefully made clear.

» Are there any plans to re-publish any of your out-of-print books?

Not at the moment.

» There is a term used in In the Thrill of the Night that surprised me because it sounded very modern. Did they use the term "shag" during the Regency to mean what it means today?

Yes, they did. It does back at least as far as the 17th century and possibly earlier. It was referenced in my 1811 version of the Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, so I felt safe in using the term. But since so many readers have written to ask about it, perhaps I should have used another term that did not sound so modern!

» Do the books in the Ladies' Fashionable Cabinet trilogy need to be read in order? And if so, what order?

Each book in the trilogy stands alone and you need not read any of the other books beforehand. However, if you enjoy reading stories in chronological order, the books should be read as follows:
Once a Dreamer
Once a Scoundrel
Once a Gentleman

See what other books are connected.

» Will you be writing books about any members of the large Armitage family introduced in Once a Gentleman?

No, absolutely not. Even though Prudence had 5 brothers and 52 first cousins, not a single one of them will be featured as the hero or heroine of a future book. They did not endear themselves to me in the writing and I don't feel any of them deserve a book.

» Who is MacDougal in A Garden Folly?

Though this book was released in 1997 and quickly went out of print, I still receive mail asking about MacDougal. I deliberately gave him an air of mystery with some hints that he might be more than he seems. However, everything he does can be logically explained. It is only the context of his actions that sometimes make him seem more mysterious than he actually is. I decided to leave it to the reader's imagination to decide who MacDougal might be. A ghost? An angel? A reincarnation of the heroine's father? Or simply a loyal retainer? He is whoever you want him to be.

» Will you be writing any more short Regency Romances, like Miss Lacey's Last Fling?

I doubt it, since they aren't being published anymore by New York publishers. I still love them and think the shorter format lends itself to strong character-driven stories. But the hard truth is that you can't make a living writing short traditional Regency romances. The books are targeted to a small niche market and have very limited print runs. I do, however, plan to continue writing about the Regency period. It's still my favorite setting. I'll just be using it within a longer format.

» There are several unfamiliar terms and phrases in your books. Dictionaries don't always help. How can I find out what they mean?

Check my Regency Glossary. It lists several words and phrases that are specific to the late 18th and early 19th century. Many are slang expression that you won't find in a dictionary -- unless you happen to have a copy of the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, one of my favorite reference books!

» Why don't the people on your covers look like the characters described in the books? Do you have any input into cover design?

I have very little input, at least not at this stage of my career. For those of us with people on our covers, we are generally asked to confirm hair color of the hero and heroine, but that's about it. And even that information isn't always used. On the cover of Once a Dreamer, for example, an extremely buff hero is shown with long flowing dark hair. In the book, Simon is tall, thin, and with short red hair. On the cover of Once a Scoundrel the hero is shown with dark hair, though in the book Anthony is blond. These were not accidental mistakes by the art department, but deliberate choices. Sales and marketing data has shown, apparently, that dark-haired heroes on the cover sell better than fair-haired heroes.

» How can I get your books in hardcover?

All of my historical romances (ie not the short traditional Regencies) have been published in hard cover by the Rhapsody Book Club, and are also available through the Doubleday Book Club. These editions are exactly the same as the paperbacks, in terms of text. Only the binding is different. And the print size. For those of us of a certain age, that larger print is welcome! The Rhapsody books do go out of print rather quickly, so you'll have to check to see what's currently available.

» NEW! How do you choose your characters' names?

Sometimes the name just comes to me. Sometimes I actively search them out. I have several books I use to help me choose names. For first names I use the Wordsworth Dictionary of First Names, as well as Naming Through the Ages, and the Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook (which was written by author Sherrilyn Kenyon). Main characters generally get simple, common first names. An unusual first name can make a bold statement about a character, and I haven't yet found a hero or heroine who needed one. I will, though, use an unusual or quirky Dickensian name for a minor charcater. For last names, the resource I most often use is A Dictionary of English Surnames. I try to pick last names that go well with the first names, and also try not to have too many characters whose names begin with the same letter. If I need to name a new character, I look at my character list and then will decide, for example, that I haven't used a surname beginning with M, so I look up M names and try to find a good one.

For titles (eg Lord SoAndSo), I use place name books, since most titles were/are associated with a place. But I won't use a county or town name that is well known, like Devonshire or Kent or Bath. Occasionally I will simply make up a title based on no particular place. Like Lord Thayne in Just One of Those Flings. I knew he would be called by his title and I wanted a strong, one-syllable title for him. So I just made it up. Lord Rochdale in Lady Be Bad was a special situation. You can read about how I chose his name here.

Naming is a very serious business for me. I usually set aside a full day at the beginning of a project just for naming characters. I will even make a list of potential minor characters, like the hero's friends or the heroine's suitors or the hostesses of balls, etc. That way, when I need a name, I already have a list and just grab one.

» Do you have a fixed schedule for your writing day?

I'm a nightowl, so my most productive writing time is between 10:00pm and 3:00am or so. I've tried to impose a more reasonable schedule on myself, but it never works and I always fall back into my nightowlish ways. During the day I do a lot of online work, read and respond to email, do promotional work, etc. I also do a lot of reseacrh during the day. But actual writing happens when everyone else goes to bed.

» Do you have plans to include favorite or most useful reference books in your Regency World section?

Not at the moment, but it is something I will consider if people think it would be helpful. I'm afraid it would be a huge list, however, and would take quite a bit of time to compile. In the meantime, we often discuss favorite reference books and research websites on my Regency Discussion Board.

» Is it true that you got published as the result of a writing contest?

Yes, that's true. As soon as I decided to try my hand at writing romance, I joined Romance Writers of America. One of the many benefits they offer unpublished members is the opportunity to enter writing contests that provide valuable feedback from judges — regional contests as well as one important national contest. I won two of the four regional contests I entered, and the winning entries for one of the contests were sent to acquiring editors. Mine was sent to an editor at Berkley/Jove, who wrote me asking for the full manuscript. Minor problem: I didn't have one yet. I only had nine completed chapters. She asked me to send them to her, and she bought the book based on those few chapters. I realize how extremely fortunate I was to sell my first book without a completed manuscript. I will always be grateful to Judy Stern Palais at Berkley for taking a chance on me and publishing A Proper Companion.

» Does that mean you don't have a bunch of unsold manuscripts under your bed or hidden away in a closet?

That's right. I have never completed a manuscript that wasn't already contracted. I often wish that wasn't true. Then I could perhaps unearth one of those early attempts and polish it up. Instead, I always have to start from scratch with each book.

» Where do you get your ideas for stories?

Anywhere and everywhere. The most common source of inspiration is the historical research I do for each book. I am always finding some little tidbit that triggers a new idea. For example, an article in an old newspaper led me to create The Bride Sale. I also find inspiration in the screwball comedy movies of the 1930s. Check out the Behind the Scenes section for each individual book for more specific details about what inspired the story (for example, click here to learn about the article that inspired The Bride Sale). Coming up with a premise, however, is just the beginning. Somehow there has to be an actual plot to support the overall concept. Plotting is the most difficult part of the writing process for me. I am much more interested in character than plot, so I seek help in developing a story line. I have a terrific group of writing buddies. We get together frequently to help one another brainstorm -- anything from a complete plot to a specific scene. These ladies are invaluable to me and I sincerely hope they never get tired of the question, "And then what happens?"

» Do you create outlines for your books, or make it up as you go?

I have discovered there are two basic types of writers: those who outline, and those who fly by the seats of their pants. I'm an outliner. I can't move forward until I know where I'm going. I usually write the first chapter, just to get a feel for the story and the characters. But then I stop and write a very detailed, scene by scene outline. I generally stick fairly close to the outline as I write. Occasionally bits here and there are added or deleted, but for the most part I keep on the path I've built in the outline without much variation.

» How much research do you do, and how do you do it?

I do lots and lots of research, but more because it's fun than because it's required for the story. I love history and I tend to over-research some things just because I can't seem to stop once I get started. I don't spend a lot of time in libraries, though. Acquisitive by nature, I would rather buy books than borrow them. So I have a very extensive library at home. I do not rely much on general histories. Instead, I stock my shelves with books on specific subjects, eg fashion, architecture, carriages, medicine, flora and fauna, etc. And maps. I love maps. For the journey in Once a Dreamer I kept a coaching map from 1799 on my desk. For interesting historical detail, my favorite sources are magazines of the period. You can learn so much about what was important or popular by reading magazines, and I have a small library of magazines from 1794 to 1817. My fascination with magazines led me to create the Ladies' Fashionable Cabinet trilogy.

» Have you always wanted to be a writer?

No. It never occurred to me to write fiction until I was in my 40s. I had only recently discovered the wonderful genre of the Regency Romance. I felt such an affinity for the period (through my collections and through years of reading non-fiction about the period) that I soon began spinning stories in my head. It was only a short leap to capturing them on the page, and I discovered a passion for writing I never knew I harbored.

NEW! » You have sometimes given away a Merry Widows tote bag in your contests. Since I didn't win one, is there someplace where I can buy one?

I have a Cafe Press Store where you can purchase t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, mouse pads, etc -- all with a Merry Widows or Bluestockings theme.

» You used to recommend books on your website. Why do you no longer do that?

The Discussion Board is now used for book recommendations, from me or anyone else who wants to post one. I prefer the more interactive and lively forum in which we can all discuss books rather than for me to simply post my favorites without allowing comments.

» In the photo on the Meet Candice page, what is the painting behind you and where is it located?

Several people have written to me asking what museum or gallery is shown in that picture. It's my own personal gallery! That photo was taken in my dining room. The painting is attributed to Johan Zoffany and is a "conversation piece" showing Mr. and Mrs. Peter Walton. It is not dated, but appears to be from about 1800, judging from Mrs. Walton's dress.

» I am intrigued by the lover's eyes in your collection. Where can I buy one?

Of all the collections on this site, the lover's eyes seem to fascinate people the most. I receive at least one email per week asking where to buy one. The only thing I can recommend is when buying expensive antiques of any kind, always work with reputable, trustworthy dealers. Lover's eyes, in particular, are very expensive items. Genuine ones — and there are MANY fakes out there — seldom cost under $2500, and generally are much more than that. Be very cautious when buying one. I would not recommend buying one on eBay unless the seller offers a solid money-back guarantee. In general, a lover's eye is something best purchased after closely examining it in person. I was at a large antique show recently where three very reputable dealers had eye brooches and lockets and rings available, ranging from $3000 to $10,000. So, even though they are fairly rare, they can still be found — for a price. If anyone wants specific dealer recommendations, please email me privately.

» Where did you find all the Regency images used throughout your website?

The images at the top and bottom of each page as well as the little cropped heads used throughout the site are all details from Regency period fashion plates from my private collection. I currently own over 500 fashion prints from 1798 through 1820.

» Are all the items shown in the "collections" yours?

Yes, the items are all from my private collections unless otherwise stated, e.g. the paintings shown in the article on shoe buckles.

Where would you like to go now?

Visit Candice's Regency World .

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