Category: writing

Does Social Media Kill Creativity?

A Redditor recently railed against mobile phone usage by writers-more specifically, that it fosters addiction to social media. They claimed that over usage of mobile phones kills creativity and productivity. They went on to talk about the effect on the brain of overstimulation, which will make us want nothing more than constant mindless content. The OP claimed that mindless stimulation does not allow our minds to wander and be creative.

I was happy to see that most of the commenters disagreed. It seems that most writers, like me, use their phones as a tool rather than an escape. While there is some truth to the benefits of allowing the mind to wander, a lot of creativity can come from many things in social media that stimulate our brains.

Our phones can be, and are, used for research, world-building, YouTube videos on writing, finding out what other writers are doing, and marketing. One commenter stated that he wrote most of his book on his mobile phone while commuting. I do a lot of writing on public transport or when I am stuck in a waiting room. I use the dictaphone if I wake up in the middle of the night with an idea.

My phone is one of my best tools because I can use it anytime, anywhere.

How did you come up with your idea for a novel?

A reader asked me this and it made me realize that most of my ideas come from something that resonates with me on a personal level.

I love writing historical romances, and the inspiration for my most recent novel, Marry Me, Duke, came from experience. No, sadly, I did not marry a duke. I was a caregiver for a few years and decided that one of my main characters should be a caregiver.

It turned into a semi-mystery with a bold debutant caring for a handsome duke. She was bossy and controlling but well-meaning and falling in love.

Most of my ideas come to me while thinking of hobbies or situations a Victorian heroine can find herself in, and it is easier to craft a character I can personally relate to.

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The love of the historical romance

My love for Regency romance novels – and writing them – is a tribute to the genre’s ability to provide an engaging blend of history, romance, and escapism. The elegance of the historical era, be it Regency, Victorian, or any other, coupled with strong characters and timeless love stories, creates an experience that I continue to find enchanting and enduring.

Check out ‘A Misalliance with Love’ and ‘Marry Me, Duke’ where you can enter the enchanting world of the Victorian debutant. https://amzn.to/3RVBJLD

On Valentine’s Day, Marry Me, Duke will be released to Kindle Unlimited!

Happy Reading!

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Wit and Banter

Regency romance is known for its sharp wit and clever banter. The dialogue between characters is often a highlight, filled with humor, charm, and intellectual sparring. The verbal exchanges between the protagonists add a layer of entertainment that keeps the storytelling engaging and delightful.

I love good dialogue, particularly centered around conflict, but writers who master the art of comedy in their writing deserve all the accolades. I think comedic scenes are difficult to write because there is no universal standard for humor. When I laugh out loud at a scene, I wonder if others are discovering the same humor in it.

In Marry Me, Duke, I wrote scenes that made me laugh while writing them but did that humor translate well.

Why don’t you find out?

Check out ‘Marry Me, Duke’ where a bossy woman fights for the man and the life she wants. https://a.co/d/9lsK0vX

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Escapism at its Finest

In this world filled with unmentionable and unacceptable activities, historical romance serves as a true escape. Sigh. That has always been so. During the Great Depression, didn’t the world have Shirley Temple and Charlie Chaplin to take people’s minds off of the tragedy of life?

Historical romance books and films full of idyllic countryside estates, grand ballrooms, and intricate period costumes transport us to a bygone era. It’s a welcome retreat from the complexities of the present, allowing us to lose ourselves in the romance and elegance of another time. As a teenager,

I was an avid reader of Harlequins—needing this other world escape. My mind has been trained to build romantic characters and worlds and now, I am happy to share these stories with those who, like me, just yearn for a love story.

Check out ‘A Misalliance with Love’ and ‘Marry Me, Duke’ where love is just within reach. https://amzn.to/3RVBJLD

Image generated using AI – Midjourney.

Strong, Independent Heroines

Regency and particularly Victorian romance shows us strong-willed heroines who defy societal norms. These women navigate a world that expects them to conform, and their resilience is both empowering and inspiring.

My favorite recent ‘girl power’ heroine is the main character in the Miss Scarlet and the Duke masterpiece series. She’s running her own business and coming up against people who believe she should conform to society’s views of what a gently raised woman should be, and ladies certainly do not view corpses and fight villains. Witnessing these characters’ trials and journeys of self-discovery resonates with modern sensibilities.

I have always loved a strong heroine. The fearless women who buck the trends and stomp through life, taking no prisoners, are the best female main characters written. They are fun and exciting.

These are the characters I try to write because these are the ones I love to read. But sometimes, I do stray from this trope. I love a shy character who becomes the person she is meant to be. I love proud accomplishments by the underdog.

My work in progress, ‘An Unexpected Lady’, is about a shy woman who experienced an early childhood trauma that is barely remembered but instrumental in forming her personality. Love makes her bold, strong and determined to pursue her passions-one of which being a certain gentleman. The male main character will draw her out of her shell while having reason to be suspicious of her. Oh, what a tangled web I’m weaving.

Check out ‘A Misalliance with Love’ and ‘Marry Me, Duke’, where the women are strong and fight for what they want. https://amzn.to/3RVBJLD

Image generated using AI – Midjourney.

Writing my Third Novel

I’m working on my third novel, An Unexpected Lady, and asking myself – what is the hardest phase of writing a historical romance?

There are struggles with every single step, but for me, the very beginning is by far the hardest. I have an idea. I have the general story arc. I’ve been world-building for a while. Now I have to pull it all together into something cohesive and outline each chapter. What is the purpose of the chapter? What are we supposed to feel? Why am I making it so complicated?

All my thoughts end up in such an untidy collection of dialogue, description, and backstory. I have to ignore the fact that it’s a huge mess that I will come back to and make sense of. It will be refined and made into something readable, but it seems so daunting at this stage. It feels endless and chaotic. Nothing is in the right sequence at this point and I can’t even determine if the chapters are superfluous or not – if I’m deviating from the original storyline. This phase is all about ideas. And they are so very rough that it looks unlikely that it will ever become a readable, much less enjoyable.

Then, when I have each chapter outlined and a jumbled mess of words serving as placeholders, the second phase starts. This is the most enjoyable because it’s where I take each chapter and make it into something I like. With each read through, I allow the quirks of personalities to come forward and get ideas about external factors and minor characters. I delve into feelings and personality quirks.

And when all that’s done, in the final draft, I try to create prose that I’m proud of – to build ambiance, nuance, and emotions. There are a million ways you can rewrite something, and finding just the right way is so frustrating but it’s also so much fun – even when the words don’t come easily.

Historical Intrigue

Regency novels and shows are often set against the backdrop of historical events, which add a layer of intrigue and authenticity. From political unrest to major societal changes, these stories give us a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of the time. There can be a captivating blend of history and fiction that enhances the overall narrative.

Some of my favorite tropes include romance during the Napoleonic wars, and most recently, I am enthralled by Victorian Era social changes for women. The Married Woman’s Property Act was a game changer that gave women the right to their own property. This makes a huge difference between Regency and Victorian Romances.

In the books I write, which are Victorian, I plan to continue giving women their own property. I confess I always despised the helplessness of Regency women and how everything was taken from them. They were always at the mercy of the men around them. Though I love the time period, this grates on the nerves. Setting novels in the Victorian era eliminates this default helplessness to a degree and I enjoy reading and writing these novels because of it.

Check out ‘A Misalliance with Love’ and ‘Marry Me, Duke’ – my novels, on Amazon. The women are strong and fight for what they want.

Image generated using AI – Midjourney.

Slow burn in Romance novels

At the core of Regency romance lies a timeless love story. Whether it’s the tension between headstrong heroines and brooding heroes or the delicate dance of courtship, the genre weaves tales of passion and love that resonate across generations. The slow burn of romance builds anticipation, keeping me eagerly turning the pages or glued to the screen.

But I also enjoy how the genre has adapted to modern times, and in a sense, current Historical Romances are far more realistic than classical novels. There is sex – and lots of it – often before marriage. And I do believe that that is more realistic than the old-fashioned view that everyone had the discipline to wait until the vows were said, and no one had uncontrollable urges.

My novels are closed-door (sex is implied and not explicit) simply because I love writing about characters more than action. I love the tension and slow build and then a hint of passion.

In my recent novel, Marry Me, Duke, there is a scene (spoiler alert) where the main character, Ginny, is in a marriage that has not yet been consummated. She is chomping at the bit and her husband Hugh has his reasons for holding back.

She is very attracted to her husband and is baffled by his reticence. In one scene, she gives Hugh a massage, and it leaves her wanting and unsatisfied. I confess I loved writing that scene. I could feel her frustration – and his as well. I think I would have liked the scene much less if it had been explicit, and I hope I left readers wanting more.

Oh, how I love a slow burn.


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A Passion for Regency Romance

In the realm of literature and television, the allure of Regency romance has captured the hearts of so many, myself included. This genre, set in the early 19th century, holds an irresistible charm that transcends time. I have always had a love for history and an addiction to romance novels from an early age.

With the most popular time period being Regency, thanks to authors like Georgette Heyer and television shows like Brigerton, lovers of history and romance can immerse themselves in the Elegance and Etiquette of a bygone era.

The Regency era is synonymous with refined manners, elaborate balls, and intricate social codes of conduct. How did they master all of that? The current fascination with this time period is such that one can find many YouTube videos on how to dress in the style and exhaustive details about how people lived, what they ate, how they worked, courted, married, gave birth, and raised their children.

But back to the novels – my favorite form of escape. Regency and Victorian novels and shows transport me to a world where every gesture and word is laden with meaning: how one holds a fan to which flowers are given to a lady. Perhaps the allure is simply because it is a world that is so foreign to anything I have ever known. And the extraordinary has always held a fascination for me.

It is no wonder that is my preferred genre in my writing. A Misalliance with Love, Marry Me, Duke, and my work in progress, An Unexpected Lady, are all Victorian-era novels, and I look forward to starting a Regency series soon.

Image generated using AI – Midjourney.