Karen Foley
Lynn Raye Harris
Ellen Hartman
Diana Holquist
Samantha Hunter
Shirley Jump
Dee Tenorio
Jeannie Watt
Welcome Guest Authors Emily Bryan, Alissa Johnson and Jennifer Ashley!
USA Today Bestseller Jennifer Ashley, Emily Bryan and Alissa Johnson have joined forces to bring you A Christmas Ball . We’d like to share a little about how this anthology came to be.
A Christmas Ball is the brainchild of Dorchester editor, Leah Hultenschmidt. She conceived a holiday anthology where all the stories were linked by virtue of time and place--a grand Christmas Ball. She invited the three of us to contribute novellas and we set to work. Other than the setting and the date of our stories (December 19, 1822) we were given free rein.
But we had to agree on a few common elements. First of all, who are the hosts of the ball? Leah entertained suggestions and settled on Lord & Lady Hartwell (Emily hoped their Christian names could be Robert and Evelyn, because those are her parent's names. Turns out in 1822, Evelyn was a man's name, so Leah opted for Robert and Julia as our hosts.) Lord Hartwell is a force to be reckoned with in the House of Lords and his wife is the consummate hostess. Their annual Christmas Ball makes staying in London over the holidays bearable for the politically well-connected members of the ton who normally would celebrate the holiday at their country homes.
Where is the Christmas Ball being held? Since all our characters would be sharing the same space, we had to agree on the layout. So we did what all good writers do. We borrowed a little from a real London mansion and then altered matters to suit us. The majestic Georgian home we decided on is Spencer House, the ancestral seat of Princess Di's family.
For the purposes of our stories, our fictional Hartwell House needed a few changes from the Spencer model. For one thing, we turned the Great Room on the First Floor (which would be the 2nd floor in the American system of reckoning) into our Ballroom. It helped to have a visual floor plan to consult and sometimes required altering our storylines to fit the space. Emily, for example, had to rewrite a scene where her hero watches the heroine from outside in the snow. Since the Ballroom was up a level, Ian Michael had to climb a tree to do it in the final draft! But Spencer House gave us a wonderful point of commonality for our stories and a strong sense of place to get us started.
Jennifer used Hartwell House as a jumping off point, but she took the story then to the English countryside, where a foreign ambassador's wife is determined to have a very, very English Christmas--including ice-skating, taking round a wassail bowl, mistletoe, a Yule log, and other things. Most distracting for her hero, Valentin, the ambassador's aide, who is busy trying to win Mary Cameron's heart.
A Christmas Ball is due to hit the bookshelves on September 29th! If you'd like a taste of our stories, please visit Jennifer Ashley.com , EmilyBryan.com and Alissa Johnson.com! Two readers who leave a comment or question today will win their choice from Emily Bryan or Alissa Johnson’s backlist. We’re talking about setting. How important is the setting (the place, decorations, food, etc.)to you when celebrating a holiday? Or reading a book?
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Welcome Ladies :)
Isn't writing with other writers a blast? I just had my first taste of it with our "Dressed to Thrill" miniseries, which we loved so much that now we're continuing to write together with round robin twitter novellas... can't get enough. :) It sounds like you had a blast writing together, as well.
I think setting is huge. It's the basic component of any world we build, and I tend to set books, generally speaking, only in places I've been. I trust the details more if I've seen them, since these days even maps can't be trusted, as things change daily.
Your books sound like fun, although it hurts me a little to think of Christmas this early... :)
Sam
Places I've been
Hi Sam. Thanks for having us!
I hear what you're saying about only using places you've been for settings. But even though I've been to London several times, I still haven't been to 1822 London. There will always have to be an element of the author's imagination in a historical setting.
Buildings change. The grand old homes we tour now were new then. Traffic changes. Building the Westminster Bridge cut back on ferry traffic on the Thames. In all my travels, I've yet to see a night-soil wagon rumbling over the cobbles in the early morning hours. Or worry that my clothing will be dirtied by the ubiquitous coal soot in the air.
I also agree with you about Christmas feeling far off. I'm hoping this year will see me more organized for the holiday since I'm getting a jump on it.
I think setting is very
I think setting is very important in holiday romances. I want to participate in the holiday along with the characters.
It's the same in real life - there are certain places that just call out to be seen during the holidays! I'm hoping to convince the DH to head to Port Orchard (Cedar Cove in Debbie M books) to stay at a B&B during the holidays. Just seems like it would make it that much more special.
Biltmore in Asheville
I know what you mean, Sabrina. When we lived in NC, we liked to visit Biltmore, a lavish estate that belonged to the Vanderbilts, up in the Carolina mountains. They decorated the place so incredibly, it was always worth the trip!
More in tune to setting
Hi Emily! I just realized that since you had posted this question on your blog, I have become more in tune to setting in the historical romances that I've been reading. And not just the food aspect, by the way, thank you! Setting definitely enriches my reading experience and when it's a Christmas story or occasion, setting is even more critical. Can't wait to read ACB!
Tuning in
For me, it's a question of world building, something you normally associate with paranormal and fantasy authors. But historical writers must recreate a world gone by.
And just for you foodies, I do have a scene in My Lady Below Stairs where my heroine (dressed as her well-born half-sister) is eating a typical Regency dinner in the grand dining room where she was forbidden to appear even to serve. Bon appetite!
Hi Emily, Alissa, and
Hi Emily, Alissa, and Allyson,
Loved to here how this book was put together so thanks for sharing that. Setting in a book is very important to me because it helps me visualize the world that I am reading about and really makes it come alive and become more immersed into the story...to loose myself in the characters and story.
As for settings in real life. They can be nice, but are definitely not necessary. As long as I have the people that I love surrounding me it does not really matter where we are, of course I would love to have good food, but that too is not as necessary as the company. Happy Holidays in September and good luck with A Christmas Ball!
Take me away . . .
Hi Booklover!
The setting helps me get that escape quality in my reading. I want to be someplace else when my nose is in a book.
In real life, I'm not a terribly detail-oriented person. I could be happy with take-out for the holidays, though I do make a full turkey dinner with all the trimmings because it pleases the DH and kids.
anthology
I love Christmas stories! An anthology of related Christmas stories sounds amazing!
Unrelated Relativity
Actually, Chey, our stories are only linked by setting and time--1822 London, Lord and Lady Harwell's Christmas Ball on the night of December 19th.
Which is why our heroes and story lines are so diverse.
When my DH and I lived in downtown Seattle, we often went up to the roof garden of our highrise and looked down on the city. All those lives, intersecting and then separating like streets at each corner. A CHRISTMAS BALL is a little like that. Our characters all share the same space, but don't interact except with the characters in our particular stories.
Hello ladies! Thanks for
Hello ladies!
Thanks for the welcome, Samantha! This Anthology has been a lot of fun. Wow, round robin twitter novellas. That sounds intriguing. . .and challenging.
Sabrina -- Oh, I bet Port Orchard is absolutely beautiful at Christmas time. I’ve only been there in the summer.
Hi Etirv and Booklover!—I agree-- A solid feel of time and place can really help bring a story to life.
Round Robin
HI Alissa!
Why don't you share a little about how the setting in A CHRISTMAS BALL affects your story, TRADITIONS?
William and Patience
Hi Emily—
With many of the public rooms at Hartwell House otherwise occupied, I decided to create a family parlor so my characters, William and Patience, could find some much needed privacy. Of course, I had to clear the idea with Leah first. Asking for permission to build a room was definitely a new experience for me!
Hi Jane--
I firmly believe one is never too old for a Christmas stocking. I spend the holidays with my parents and fill a stocking for both of them every year. Naturally, I look forward to having the gesture returned. : )
Hello Julie--
Love the idea of a necklace! You’re right, though, we’d have to be careful about the size. I believe Emily has some crafting skills, maybe we could convince her. . .
Finding hidden passageways in the walls
Hi Alissa,
Guess we both did some construction on Hartwell House. Can you believe it? I discovered there was actually an elaborate system of secret passages behind the walls that the servants used to get from one place to another without being seen or disturbing the family they served!
Christmas Traditions
Good Afternoon Ladies!
I am very traditional in my Christmas settings, I love to decorate with family heirlooms and use the fancy Christmas dishes ect. It is quite eventful at our house! My kids who are grown also have certain things they look forward to at Christmas and if I don't do it or try something new, they sure let me know! I think it is funny how important certain things are to kids, even when they are grown! Mine always want a Christmas stocking! OK, they are 28, 25, 21, but heaven help me if I don't have their stockings LOL!
I like detail settings in my reading, I want to smell the aroma of the bread baking and scents of the holiday, in the way authors project their stories! I think it is amazing if an author can do this through the pages! Have a wonderful day ladies and happy blogging!
A Grandma's touch
My grandmother had the most wonderful "Christmas" house. It was a big old two storey Craftsman style with a long banister running up the stairs, which she bedecked with evergreens. She always had the biggest real tree they could fit in the door, covered with angel hair and tinsel. And since they didn't have a real fireplace, she had a special cardboard one set up every December from which to hang all the grandkids stockings (I still have mine!).
How St. Nick managed to get into the house through that cardboard fireplace was one of the great mysteries of my childhood. But since he was always very good to me, I was willing to take it on faith!
The Christmas Ball
Sounds like you gals had a 'ball'!!!!
Writing is so often a solitary thing, so working together to write this remarkable book surely must have been something wonderful and exciting!
I love the cover art, too - very festive and definitely Christmas! Here's an idea . . . market the jewelry! That pendant, with a nice gold chain, would be great for the holidays! Not too big, though . . .
The story sounds like a real page turner. It takes place in one of my favorite times, and in one of my favorite places. While I've never been to 1822 - or England - and it's unlikely I'll ever get to 1822 (England is possible), I still adore books that take me there!
It's interesting that Julia was chosen for Lady Hartwell's name over Evelyn - my given name is Julia (although I prefer Julie). I already feel a special connection to Lady Hartwell! I wonder if she'd let me, a poor commoner, into her home . . .
Best of luck with this book, ladies. I'm as excited for you as you are!!
Lady Hartwell
The marchioness is the soul of gracious hospitality, so I'm sure she'd welcome you, Julie!
The setting doesn't matter
The setting doesn't matter as long as the story is well written.
No substitute for good storytelling!
I agree that a fascinating setting won't save a poorly written story. But if you place a well-written tale in a glittering setting, it's like a fine diamond ring. The setting displays the stone to best advantage. That's what we were trying to do with the setting for A CHRISTMAS BALL.
Hello
Hi ladies,
It's fun preparing and decorating for the big holiday dinners. Sometimes I have a hard time choosing which table cloth and kind of plates to use. I think settings are important when reading a book, it enhances the story. You want to get a feeling of the place and the customs of the people.
Making the decorations fit
I'm a condo dweller now since we moved to Boston and I was a little concerned that I wouldn't be able to make things as festive. Everything has to fit a much smaller space. Last year, I found a tall, narrow tree that was perfect for our limited room.
My good china is still back in Missouri, so no worries about what plates we'll use! LOL!
Settings
I definitely enjoy a book more when the author brings the setting alive with his/her descriptions. There are some stories where the setting really does seem to come alive. For my own holidays I enjoy some good food and seeing my family.
The eye of the beholder
I think one of the things you'll notice in A CHRISTMAS BALL is that the setting may seem different in each of our stories because Hartwell House is being seen through the eyes of our very different characters.
A Christmas Ball
I think that when reading a book that the setting is very important! It helps me to visualize where the characters are and what is around them. In historical romance novels I think is especially important because it is harder to visualize a different time period.
I can't wait until your book is released, I am a big fan of all of you!
Best wishes!
Chris M
Thank you!
Thanks, Chris! We're your fan, too. Without readers, we'd have to go back to a dayjob!
I'm a stickler for setting--not a ton of description, but enough so my characters aren't floating in an all white room.
Welcome ladies!
I think the settings are very important in a book. Because I travel in books and believe me when I say I have been about everywhere in books. I love it. I get right in that book with the characters. Also wanted to say I love reading Christmas anthologies, so I can't wait to read yours. Thanks for sharing with us today ladies!
Armchair traveler
Isn't it grand to see the world and yet be able to sleep in your own bed at night?
I'm almost afraid to ask--why do they call you lead bottom?
The setting is important.
The setting is important. When a writer can portray a place or a time so vividly that it can evoke a picture in my mind, I am hooked! In particular, Anne Rice's novels were written so skillfully I felt like I could taste New Orleans!
Using the senses
My e-critique partner who lives in Seattle is a stickler for using all the sentences. She's always saying, "I can't smell this scene!" And I head back to the computer to make her happy.
Hi everyone!!!
The setting is very important. The characters have to match the setting or they just seem out of place.
In the mood . . .
Lots of times, I'll use setting the way movie directors use a sound track--as a way to set the emotional tone of the scene. Or as a stark contrast to the character's emotions to make them more vivid.
Hi everyone!
Hi ladies, and thanks so much for hosting us today! I am happy that I was able to get here, LOL! Deadlines are fun.
I really did have a good time writing for this collection. I got to tie the story to one of my series (Regency/slight paranormal, which starts with Penelope & Prince Charming), plus I got to "live" an English country Christmas.
There was a tradition that if the footmen were too slow bringing in the holly to decorate the house, the maids could steal their trousers and nail them to the gatepost. Fun stuff!
The cover of this book is awesome. The picture is pretty, but the real thing is amazing. It's a matte finish with embossing--it looks like a real engraved invitation. They did a beautiful job.
Hey Jennifer!
I know you're in crunch time with a couple deadlines, so I'm glad you were able to surface for a bit.
Too funny about the maids and the footmen!
When I passed the cover flat for A CHRISTMAS BALL around my RWA chapter, all my friends went nuts for it. It's absolutely gorgeous!
Hello all welcome. This was
Hello all welcome. This was a great post, I am really looking forward to reading this one it sounds awesome. My Husband is a christmas Junkie. he would bankrupt us on the holiday if he could. he would go all out with decorations, food and presents. I enjoy the holiday too but not quite so much as him. lol
Confessions of the Anti-Shopper . . .
Let me guess. You're the one who pays the bills when they come due!
It's easy to get carried away with the holidays. We all want to show the people we love how much they mean to us. I don't want to encourage unrestrained baking, but if I had any talent in that area, I'd be sharing homemade goodies instead of going shopping. (Of course, that might be because I am the Anti-Shopper! Whip me, beat me, don't make me shop!)
Fortunately, books are fun to pick out and easy to wrap!
A Christmas Ball authors
librarypat
Three great authors make this a must buy book. I love anthologies. The shorter story format makes it easy to read when I'm busy. Can finish at least one of the stories and get to be at a reasonable hour. Having the stories connected by a single event and/or place makes it even better. We are seeing things from different viewpoints and often realizing that events aren't necessarily what they appear to be. From what I've read, these three stories are very different but complement each other well.
Good luck with the, Ladies. I hope the book does very well.
Just the right size
Hi Librarypat!
Oh, yes, the shorter length is one of the reasons I adore anthologies. I can get my romance fix even on my busiest days.
Thanks to all for the fun and insightful comments!
A Christmas Ball
Decorations are Very inporten for the Holidays & Food is Very Very Inporten For all tipes of Holidays.Your books sounds good.
sasluvbooks@yahoo.com
Homemade goodies
Thanks, Stacey. I'm not a terrific cook, but my family looks forward to my homemade noodles. They're pretty labor-intensive, but they taste like love.
Setting adds to the richness
I think anything that adds to the depth and experience of the story makes the relationship more grounded. I read holiday stories and love all the details of the decorations and background. Looking forward to the anthology.
Lindsey
Details
I usually don't spend reams of time on the details. I look for something unique that will give readers a taste of the setting without beating them over the head with minutia.
Welcome to Cigars...and to
Welcome to Cigars...and to Boston! I've lived and worked in the Boston area my entire life and can't imagine being anywhere else. Okay, sometimes in January I imagine being on an island somewhere in the South Pacific....
First of all, your cover is gorgeous and I cannot wait to pick this book up. It sounds wonderful. I love historicals, especially if the author has done her homework and captured the details of the setting. I love curling up with a good book and escaping to another era, and I especially enjoy reading about the clothing, the furnishings, and the unique customs of the time. I can't wait to read this anthology! Congratulations on your new release!
Happy in Beantown
Thanks, Karen! We're really enjoying New England.
About the details, in an anthology things have to pop, so there's not room for lots of descriptions, but here's how I think of it. I'm inviting the reader to take the unique details I provide and fill in the rest. Regency is a well-known and loved time period and the readership is pretty sophisticated. Thats' why the specific details I include have to be fresh.
setting
The setting is important. Of course, if the setting is the kind you actually know, like a familiar place, you notice more easily if something is different as compared to the real thing.
Familiarity breeds . . . comfort
Readers love what they know. When I wrote my Viking romances as Diana Groe, I had to give more setting and background info because the way of life in the Dark Ages is not so well known.
We Have 2 Winners!
Sam just informed me that 2 winners have been chosen.
Tucco--You have won your choice from my backlist! Please check out all my titles at www.emilybryan.com and send your mailing info and choice to me at emily@emilybryan.com
Lindsey--You have won one of Alissa's books. If you'd like to send your mailing info to me, I'll make sure she gets it.
Thank you to everyone who came by today. Thanks again for having us, Sam! Love the name of your blog!
setting, food importance
Food and decorations are a big part of making my holiday special.
As for the setting of a book - doesnt really matter but it does give something special to the story if food is part of it - I love my good and a special setting like Paris, Italy or the east coast where I am from. I like a nice description of the area - some of the cowboy stories taking place in Mt, Tx are wonderful.
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