I send out my e-newsletter two or three times a year to subscribers. Here is the latest issue...
Love and Magic
Deborah Hale Newsletter
Vol. 10, No. 2
A Full and Rich Year... I apologize for being so long getting out another issue of my newsletter. Between multiple rolling deadlines, conference-going this summer and a computer crash, it's been challenging to get this one out. I hope it will be worth the wait. If you'd like to keep up with what I'm doing and writing on a more frequent basis, visit me on Facebook .
Naughty! One project that has been keeping me very busy lately is my first venture into self-publishing. Confessions of a Courtesan is a different historical novel than I've ever written before. Based on the true story of one of the great courtesans of the 18th century, it is written in the first person and is grittier and more sensual than any of my previous books. Though it ends with a touching love story, it is not a conventional romance. For those reasons, I have published it under the pen-name Elizabeth Charles . So far, the story has received a very warm reception from readers. One Amazon reviewer wrote: "For anyone interested in this time in history, I could not recommend a more satisfying book," while Paula Altenburg , co-author of the Game Over trilogy and author of the forthcoming Demon Outlaw series says, "Confessions of a Courtesan is one of the most fascinating historicals I've read in a very long time. Writing as Elizabeth Charles, Deborah Hale has taken her remarkable research skills and crafted a story that delves into a side of Georgian life rarely seen in romantic fiction." Confessions of a Courtesan is currently available in digital format on Amazon (at 99 cents for a limited time!) and Smashwords and will soon be available in print! Click here to read an excerpt.
And Nice... Meanwhile, the second story in my Glass Slipper Brides series will soon be available from Love Inspired Historicals . The Captain's Christmas Family is about governess Marian Murray, who must persuade the new owner of Knightley Park to let her two orphaned pupils remain there for one last Christmas before their aunt comes to collect them. Though tempted to believe the worst about gruff, solitary Captain Gideon Radcliffe, Marian soon discovers the truth is much more complicated. Romantic Times Book Review says, "This is a beautiful love story readers will delight in..." Click here to read an excerpt.
Coming in the New Year My next book for Harlequin Historical, His Compromised Countess will be published in the UK in hardcover in February 2012 and paperback in April. Due to scheduling changes the book will not be out in retail in North America, but will be available by order from Harlequin and hopefully in digital format also. The third book of my Glass Slipper Brides series for Love Inspired Historicals, The Baron's Governess Bride is scheduled for retail release in June 2012. You'll hear more about both these books in my next newsletter!
Marking a Milestone! This summer at the RWA annual conference in New York, Harlequin Enterprises hosted a fabulous Black and White Ball at the Waldorf for its authors. That evening I received a special pin commemorating twenty-five books I've written for the company since I sold my first in 1998. It was a wonderful evening made even more special by the distinguished company of other 25-Book authors and my darling husband, who has been so amazingly supportive of my writing over the years. Click here to see some pictures from the evening and other highlights from the conference!
Proud Mom Moment Delighted as I am with my career achievements, I am even prouder of my children. They were all quite young when I sold my first book so they grew up sharing me with my literary offspring, eating take-out food during deadline crunches and having me talk to their English classes. They've turned out very well in spite of all that. This year my eldest received his Bachelor of Engineering (second in his class!) and my two youngest graduated high school with honors and both won the Technology medal for highest marks in computer studies. They were accepted into the Information Technology program at Nova Scotia Community College. When they were diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder at the age of four, I could not image how far they would go, how independent they would become and what cool characters they would be!
And The Winners Are...! The winner of my Anthology Giveaway was Carole B and the winner of my newsletter giveaway is Rose B. Thanks to everyone who entered and best of luck in my next one!
On Hallowe'en, check my website contest page for a special multi-author giveaway A Novel Trick-or-Treat. My prize for one lucky commenter will be a signed copy of Beauty and the Baron and a free digital download of my short story Midsummer Masque along with a sweet treat from Godiva! Best of all, I'll send you on to one of my author friends for another chance to win and she'll send you to another... I hope you'll come and visit me on Hallowe'en for this special event!
After Hallowe'en, return to enter a Naughty and Nice Christmas Giveaway! I also have a giveaway on Goodreads for advance copies of The Captain's Christmas Family.
Newsletter Giveaway The prize for my next newsletter giveaway will be an advance copy of His Compromised Countess. How do you enter? You already have! All newsletter subscribers will automatically be entered in each contest. The winner of this drawing will be announced in the next issue of the newsletter, along with the prize in the next contest. Stay tuned! As the sweepstakes people say..."You may already have won!
Deb's Writing Workshop Debra Dixon's book Goal, Motivation and Conflict is an awesome resource for authors which I often use when I'm starting a new story or I'm bogged down with a current one. I was thrilled to hear Debra speak at the RWA conference this summer and it got me wishing she had used more romantic films to illustrate the concepts in her book. I decided to try it myself, beginning with the Richard Gere-Julia Roberts film Runaway Bride ! The result was an article which I may turn into a series: GMC Goes to the Movies: Runaway Bride .
Until next time!