Karen Foley
Lynn Raye Harris
Ellen Hartman
Diana Holquist
Samantha Hunter
Shirley Jump
Dee Tenorio
Jeannie Watt
Welcome Guest Author Mary Jo Putney!
Guilty Secrets: Mary Jo Putney
For anyone who has been reading me for years, it will probably come as no great surprise when I confess that I adore that hoary old plot device, amnesia. That's as both reader and writer, which isn't surprising, since what we love to read is probably what we'll want to write. (I also love stories about identical twins, but that’s a confession for another day.)
So why amnesia? It’s the question of identity, really. Part of the fun of historical romance is the over the top plotting. Stable boys who are dukes. Actresses who are the daughters of French nobles. People thought dead returning alive and well. I love them all! I get enough reality from my daily newspaper, even though it's been shrinking steadily.
Hence, my new release, Loving A Lost Lord first of my Lost Lords series. And the hero is indeed lost, and very likely dead. Except this is romance, so maybe less dead than presumed.
When I returned to classic historical romance after several years of refilling the well with other kinds of books, I needed a premise akin to that for my Fallen Angels series, where most of the heroes met each other at Eton and became de facto family. I like to build my series around male friendship, because it’s appealing when guys bond and visibly care about each other. But I didn’t want to do Eton again.
Aha! How about a school for boys of “good birth and bad behavior?” The Westerfield Academy was founded by Lady Agnes Westerfield, an independent and far-traveling duke’s daughter who needed a project to keep her busy once she returns to England.
Lady Agnes found her purpose when she met Adam, the very young Duke of Ashton, who has been wrenched away from his Hindu mother to be raised as a proper English gentleman. Lady Agnes saw not a duke of disgraceful mixed blood, but a desperately lonely little boy, and invented the Westerfield Academy on the spot.
Twenty years later, Adam has grown up to be an extremely proper and conscientious duke, a good friend even as he is a bit of an enigma in return. He has an interest in objects mechanical, and he’s working with engineers in Glasgow on a new steam yacht. Then the yacht explodes on a trial, people are killed, and we’re back to dead heroes.
And this is where the fun begins. The heroine, Mariah, pulls an almost drowned man ashore on her recently inherited estate in Cumberland, the far northwest of England. Who is he? A foreign sailor with dark skin, green eyes, callused hands—and no memory of who he is.
Mariah has no idea who this stranger is, but he’s pretty literally the answer to a prayer. The former owner of her estate is trying to coerce her into marriage and she knows it’s a bad idea, but she’s alone in the world and the offer is not without some appeal. In self defense, she tells her unwelcome suitor that she’s married—and here’s a man who not only accepts her impulsive statement that they’re married, but likes the idea just fine.
Obviously this is a good launch for a rollicking plot, but I’m more interested in the question of who a person is once memory is stripped away. And in this case, there is no one around who has any preconceptions about this stranger. The man Mariah has dubbed Adam must learn what he knows, what he can do—what the essence of his nature is.
The ticking clock in an amnesia scenario is recovery of memory. Like many other writers of fiction, I shamelessly use amnesia to manipulate the plot and characters. In the case of Loving A Lost Lord , the amnesia became a way for Adam to integrate his public and very English persona with the hidden Hindu side of himself which he has concealed from everyone, even his closest friends. As his memories returns in pieces, he gradually learns not just about the past of the Duke of Ashton, but who Adam Darshan Lawford really is.
Is Mariah warm and tolerant enough to accept her gift from the sea in all his splendid differences? It’s a romance, so that hardly needs answering. But it was great fun to write. The second book in the Lost Lords series is written and scheduled for May 2010, and I’m contemplating how to kill off the hero of the third book.
I’m giving away a signed copy of Loving A Lost Lord . (You must be registered here at Cigars to win; Sam will choose the winner.)
But for now—do you like amnesia plots? If so, why? In not, why not? And do you have any particularly favorite amnesia stories?
Thanks for having me here!
Mary Jo Putney
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Welcome Mary Jo!
Thanks so much for coming to chat with us!
I love love LOVE amnesia. It's my favorite premise of all. As I mentioned to you, you are the first person I have met who loves it as much as I do. :)
My second Blaze, About Last Night, was an amnesia book. I'm revising an ms to put up on Kindle that is an amnesia story, and I have an amnesia Blaze coming out Dec '10.
I think for me, it's the fascination with having a clean slate. How would everything change, what becomes possible if we leave behind all of the baggage that might keep us from going one way or the other? I know in real life, amnesia isn't nearly as romantic -- I get ticked when I can't find my keys or forget an appt -- so I don't think I'd like it, but I do like the idea of it, and playing with it in fiction.
I don't read too many historicals but I love amnesia stories, and your description is so enticing, the Kindle is downloading another book today!
Sam
First, congratulations for
First, congratulations for your new release !!
About amnesia, it's usualy not one of my favorite plot (I'm crazy about the secret baby thing though) but I've loved in a some books. My favorite amesia story so far is Lisa Kleypas "Someone to Watch Over Me".
Yours seems very promising !!
Samantha - I had no idea you had a blog, I discovered it through your facebook page. That's great news !!!
Welcome Mary Jo!
First, wow, it's so great to "meet" you. I discovered you years ago when I found a pretty gold covered book titled "The Bargain", which I absolutely loved. (Particularly the cranky Scottish nobleman/surgeon, lol. Sigh...) It will always be an example of what I aspire to do with my own writing someday, so have to thank you much for the long-standing inspiration.
As for favorite plots, I do love amnesia. I'm not sure why, I hate forgetting things. Maybe I like seeing someone share my frustration, lol. But I also love watching characters open their minds to a side of life they might not have noticed otherwise.
I think my favorite this is a mythological or classical story retell, like a Beauty and the Beast book will get me EVERY time. (Maybe that's why I liked the surgeon so much, lol!)
Glad to have you with us at Cigars!
Dee
Welcome Mary Jo
I love reading amnesia plots and I am not sure why! Maybe because sometimes they remember in the end and realise what is going on. Also wanted to say I love your books! I have read a few of yours over the years. Keep up the good work.
In the end, whatever plot is
In the end, whatever plot is being used, there are always great stories and books that I loved with it, even if it's not a favorite of mine. Amnesia ones, it's not one that I've read a whole lot, so I can't say I like it or don't. . . but even with something like kids in books that I don't look for, I certainly have enjoyed many with kids. It all ends up with what the author does with it and how I come away in the end. And I know I'm going to enjoy this one since I loved the others of yours that I've read! :)
Lois
Thanks for the Cigarish welcome!
Sam, I'm sure there are others besides you and me who love amnesia plots, but I forget who they are. *G*
Of course, normal forgetfulness is a very different manner, but as you say, part of the appeal of the amnesia plot is the clean slate--the chance to start over again and maybe reveal parts of ourselves that haven't had a chance.
It's nice to see some long time readers of mine here! I hope that those of you who try Loving a Lost Lord enjoy the rider.
I've been off getting my hair fixed for RWA, which is in just two weeks in DC! So time for lunch now, but I'll be back....
Sounds like a fun book...
Almost Shakespearean, with the man washing up on shore. Very Twelfth Night. Can't wait to get my hands on it.
I've never read an amnesia book. At least, I can't remember reading one....
:-)
The Amnesia Ploy
Perhaps there are fewer amnesia plots than I thought--I might notice them more because I like them. *g* There's a little Shakespeare in just about all great stories, I suppose. The man definitely covered a lot of bases!
I enjoy amnesia plots. I
I enjoy amnesia plots. I don't have a favorite. I like them all.
Amnesia
Hi Mary Jo,
Congrats on the new release. I love amnesia plots. I like the journey the hero or heroine takes to rediscover who they are and their memories. One of my favorite amnesia stories is Lisa Kleypas' "Someone To Watch Over Me."
Amnesia
Jane, I agree that the journey of rediscovery is a big part of the fun. My editor loved LALL when I sent it to her, but when I sent her the next book, about Randall, she said that book surprised her more, since an amnesia book had a certain arc it had to follow. Not that there's anything wrong with that! But there are other story arcs that are less predictable. A few little surprises along the way are fun. *g*
I liked Someone to Watch
I liked Someone to Watch Over Me by Lisa Kleypas.
Hi MaryJo!!
Its so great for you to be out with your historicals!! So missed your reads!I love the Amnesia theme. This one so sounds great!! I love the feel of this one already! And the title so feels fitting! Did you get to pick it out? Too I know it doesn't make the book, but its part of the package, I adore that cover!!
Amnesa & Covers
I liked wandering in different vineyards for several books, but it's great to return to straigh historicals, recharged. I'm glad you're another amnesia fan. *g*
Titles can often be quite challenging, and seldom is the working title kept. Usually finding the best title is a joint venture with author, editor, maybe agent, and other people at the publishers kicking in suggestions. Generally sales and marketing need to approve the results.
I'm not the one who came up with Loving a Lost Lord, but as soon as I heard it, I saw how well it fit the book! As you say, the title is part of the total package, and an important part.
Book winner!
Caffey, you won my book! If you go to my website, www.maryjoputney.com and use the contact link to send me your address, it will be on its way after the weekend. Congratulations!
Amnesia
Hi Mary Jo,
Congratulations on your new book. Although not my favorite plot I don't mind amnesia if it makes sense in the story. I remember a coupleo of stories that I liked where the character had amnesia from an accident and slowly started regaining their memory and I thought they were well done and made sense in the story.
hi and welcome. I like these
hi and welcome.
I like these kinds of stories. Just imagine, I hardly can, not remembering anything of your past-in essence you have no past. Yikes.