Ask the Author: Rachael Miles
Answered Questions (16)
Rachael Miles
Cintia, I've been writing for a deadline, and I haven't been on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, so let me start by apologizing for not seeing your note before now.
Here's my advice: write a little each day. Just 15 minutes every day. Call it priming the pump or pre-drafting or whatever works for you as a metaphor. You can't have an idea if you aren't writing. But if you are writing, you'll be surprised what happens--because you are giving your brain permission to have ideas and a place to be actively creative. It might not happen overnight; you might have to write a little every day for a month, but eventually you will have ideas and ideas that you like. As for reading about the industry, stop reading about it. Write every day for a year. Discover something in your writing that you love, then when you have a grasp of what that is, you can look around at the industry again.
Here's my advice: write a little each day. Just 15 minutes every day. Call it priming the pump or pre-drafting or whatever works for you as a metaphor. You can't have an idea if you aren't writing. But if you are writing, you'll be surprised what happens--because you are giving your brain permission to have ideas and a place to be actively creative. It might not happen overnight; you might have to write a little every day for a month, but eventually you will have ideas and ideas that you like. As for reading about the industry, stop reading about it. Write every day for a year. Discover something in your writing that you love, then when you have a grasp of what that is, you can look around at the industry again.
Rachael Miles
Harriet Vane and Lord Peter? or Nick and Nora? If they are smart (apart and together) and united in some useful purpose, with a bit of witty repartee, I usually love them.
Rachael Miles
Mainda,
Thanks for writing again--for some reason I didn't see your previous question.
Right now, I'm working on a novella -- a prequel about Ophelia's courtship. It and another Ophelia novella are due out this year (2017). The next novel will be out in 2018.
Thanks for writing again--for some reason I didn't see your previous question.
Right now, I'm working on a novella -- a prequel about Ophelia's courtship. It and another Ophelia novella are due out this year (2017). The next novel will be out in 2018.
Rachael Miles
Mainda, I'm so glad you have enjoyed the series. It was fun to write!
Benjamin and Joseph will arc across the books, but Constance's story is part of the next three novels.
We've negotiated 3 new ones with Kensington, and I'll announce them as soon as the contracts are all signed!
Thanks for getting in touch!
Benjamin and Joseph will arc across the books, but Constance's story is part of the next three novels.
We've negotiated 3 new ones with Kensington, and I'll announce them as soon as the contracts are all signed!
Thanks for getting in touch!
Rachael Miles
I'm happy you enjoying Jilting. The third book--Tempting the Earl--is on sale this week in ebook for 99 cents, in case you want to pick it up for later reading!
I'm a new transplant to upstate, so (can I admit this?) I don't even know how far I am from Syracuse! But if you are there and want to set up a chat with other readers, I'll figure out how to get there!
I'm a new transplant to upstate, so (can I admit this?) I don't even know how far I am from Syracuse! But if you are there and want to set up a chat with other readers, I'll figure out how to get there!
Rachael Miles
I'm so glad you found it engaging! I love staying up late to read, but I usually question my judgement come morning. Yes, Benjamin has his HEA.
I proposed 4 possible books (for a 3 book series) to Kensington, and now it's just deciding which 3 to do now. Constance, the bookseller, is the heroine of book 6--I know that much. But the Salon will be active in each of the books, helping our heroines and heroes find their HEAs. So you will meet your favorite women again...
But all of the women have their stories, and I hope to have the chance to tell them all.
Is there anyone in particular you like?
I proposed 4 possible books (for a 3 book series) to Kensington, and now it's just deciding which 3 to do now. Constance, the bookseller, is the heroine of book 6--I know that much. But the Salon will be active in each of the books, helping our heroines and heroes find their HEAs. So you will meet your favorite women again...
But all of the women have their stories, and I hope to have the chance to tell them all.
Is there anyone in particular you like?
Rachael Miles
Hi, Tia. I'm glad you loved it! Thanks for letting me know.
The short answer is yes. Joseph and Benjamin have stories that will arc through the next three books, though there might be a novella or two in there for them.
Adam will get a full book: I'm already thinking on it! But it likely won't be out until 2018. There another book before his that I'm writing now.
If you want more information about upcoming stories--particularly for Joseph, Adam and Benjamin, sign up for my very irregular newsletter at rachaelmiles.com!
The short answer is yes. Joseph and Benjamin have stories that will arc through the next three books, though there might be a novella or two in there for them.
Adam will get a full book: I'm already thinking on it! But it likely won't be out until 2018. There another book before his that I'm writing now.
If you want more information about upcoming stories--particularly for Joseph, Adam and Benjamin, sign up for my very irregular newsletter at rachaelmiles.com!
Rachael Miles
Hi, Jan! I'm so glad you liked Chasing (and Jilting!) Tempting the Earl comes out in October--I have proofs on my desk right now. After that, I'll be writing up my proposal for the next three books of the Muses' Salon... because Em really needs to have her story, and Edmund, and...
Rachael Miles
I can promise that Benjamin's story has light and happiness...and his own HEA. I like that metaphor, Barbara. I think only if the characters experience real dark, can we care about them getting their light. But there are problems with the Duke part, aren't there? if he comes back, then Aidan will of course step aside, but is that the best answer? No spoilers here...but Benjamin's story arcs across the books.
Rachael Miles
Usually, I pick names from 19thC documents: birth records, period novels, place-names. But sometimes (and this is happening more often) people ask me to use their name. If I were to write your name in, what character would you play?
Rachael Miles
As an researcher, I focused on popular writing and on 19thC women writers, especially one, the Countess of Blessington, who was the most financially successful woman writer of the 1830s and 1840s. And one day I realized that though I spent lots of time reading popular women's fiction of the 19thC, I didn't do the same with women's fiction of my OWN time. So, I started reading romance and reading and reading, and I started analyzing how it worked in terms of techniques and strategies. So, when I finally started writing, it made sense to write romance...besides, who doesn't love a HEA? What strikes your fancy with romance?
Rachael Miles
Hi, Joanne! I'm glad you loved it: I loved writing it (and re-writing it). I have two more books coming out featuring the members of Sophia's salon. They are stand-alone books, but the characters from Jilting appear to help out or, in the case of Charters, cause trouble.
In Chasing the Heiress, Aidan's brother Colin is on a mission for the Home Office, and he's helped by Lucy, an heiress on the run who is pretending to be a scullery maid. Charters is working for Lucy's family to find her and steal her inheritance. It's out in June.
Then in Tempting the Earl, Walgrave and his estranged wife Olivia work together to solve the mystery of the Hummingbird code, all the while opposed by Charters who still doesn't know whether his name is on Tom's list. It's out in October.
In Chasing the Heiress, Aidan's brother Colin is on a mission for the Home Office, and he's helped by Lucy, an heiress on the run who is pretending to be a scullery maid. Charters is working for Lucy's family to find her and steal her inheritance. It's out in June.
Then in Tempting the Earl, Walgrave and his estranged wife Olivia work together to solve the mystery of the Hummingbird code, all the while opposed by Charters who still doesn't know whether his name is on Tom's list. It's out in October.
Rachael Miles
Hi, Jan. Thanks for reading the book! I'm glad you liked it. This is my first work of fiction--actually the first novel I wrote. But I understand how you feel about Malcolm's story: I wanted a character in the story to have had a dramatic change of heart in order to help Aidan imagine his own. But there's always time to write more of Malcolm and Audrey's story. Possible cat-burglar, that she is!
Rachael Miles
That's a great question, Ashley! Thanks for asking.
Sophia likes the novels of Fanny Burney, particularly Camilla. For this reason, she asks Mr. Murray to send her Burney's 1816 Wanderer at the beginning of Jilting the Duke.
As for her political leanings, Sophia grew up on the radical politics of writers like Mary Wollstonecraft and Anna Letitica Barbauld. As a result, she is strongly anti-slavery and adamantly pro-education for women and girls, etc. Sophia appears in all three books of the Muses Salon series--and her social and political ideals play a role in both Chasing the Heiress and Tempting the Earl.
Sophia likes the novels of Fanny Burney, particularly Camilla. For this reason, she asks Mr. Murray to send her Burney's 1816 Wanderer at the beginning of Jilting the Duke.
As for her political leanings, Sophia grew up on the radical politics of writers like Mary Wollstonecraft and Anna Letitica Barbauld. As a result, she is strongly anti-slavery and adamantly pro-education for women and girls, etc. Sophia appears in all three books of the Muses Salon series--and her social and political ideals play a role in both Chasing the Heiress and Tempting the Earl.
Rachael Miles
I'm currently finishing book 3 in the Muses' Salon series: Tempting the Earl. It will be out in October 2016.
Rachael Miles
Jilting the Duke began with a question, "What would it be like to have to go home when going home was the last thing you ever intended to do?"
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