New Christian Regency romance from Yours Truly

Camy here! And yes, you read that right! I have a Christian Regency romantic mystery novel releasing … tomorrow? I think? Called Prelude for a Lord, and I’m writing it under a pen name, Camille Elliot. Neat, huh? Here’s the back cover blurb:

An awkward young woman. A haunted young man. A forbidden instrument. Can the love of music bring them together . . . or will it tear them apart?

Bath, England—1810

At twenty-eight, Alethea Sutherton is past her prime for courtship; but social mores have never been her forté. She might be a lady, but she is first and foremost a musician.

In Regency England, however, the violin is considered an inappropriate instrument for a lady. Ostracized by society for her passion, Alethea practices in secret and waits for her chance to flee to the Continent, where she can play without scandal.

But when a thief’s interest in her violin endangers her and her family, Alethea is determined to discover the enigmatic origins of her instrument . . . with the help of the dark, brooding Lord Dommick.

Scarred by war, Dommick finds solace only in playing his violin. He is persuaded to help Alethea, and discovers an entirely new yearning in his soul.

Alethea finds her reluctant heart drawn to Dommick in the sweetest of duets . . . just as the thief’s desperation builds to a tragic crescendo . . .

"This very enjoyable book will appeal to fans of Jane Austen and Linore Rose Burkard." —CBA Retailers + Resources

Camy here: I’m so excited for this book! I wrote it originally on a dare. My editor at Zondervan, Sue Brower, loves Regency romances as much as I do and we’re always talking about Regencies we’re recently read and enjoyed. So on a trip to visit my publishing house in Michigan, she tells me, “I want you to write a Regency romance for your next book.”

I was apprehensive because even though I’ve been reading Regencies since I was thirteen years old and I even read Regency research books just for fun, I never seriously attempted to write one. So I listened to a bunch of Jane Austen novels on audiobook and then dove in to the writing.

My marketing team at Zondervan chose my pen name: Camille since it’s close to Camy and Elliot because my favorite Austen character is Anne Elliot from Persuasion. They wanted to use a pen name because Regency romance is SO different from my normal genres of contemporary romance and contemporary romantic suspense. We didn’t want any readers feeling confused or betrayed if they picked up a “Camy Tang” book but was surprised that it was historical romance, so we decided to print it under a different name entirely. It’s almost like reinventing myself!

Around mid-August, I’m planning a fantastic giveaway on my blog! I’ll be giving away not only copies of Prelude for a Lord, but also hand-knitted lace scarves made by Moi. :) The knitting patterns are late-Regency, early-Victorian patterns, so they’re almost authentic to my book’s time period. I’m also include Jane Austen tea ordered from the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, and little violin Christmas ornaments, all in keeping with my book’s storyline and setting.

If you belong to my Camy Tang email newsletter, you’ll be sure to hear when the contest goes live! To sign up, go to http://www.camytang.com/ and look for the purple chair. My new CamilleElliot.com website should be up this week, too!

Maverick Preachers

I'm Victoria Bylin and I write westerns for Love Inspired Historicals. Welcome to the LI Authors blog!

For just a moment, imagine you own a mansion. It’s called Swan’s Nest and you share it with four friends. You’re a single mother. And you're in Denver in 1875. It's past midnight when you hear a thud on the front porch. This isn't the first time you've had trouble in the middle of the night. Long before you arrived in Denver, you learned about danger in the dark.

That’s how The Maverick Preacher starts. It's my February release from Love Inspired Historicals, and the heroine’s name is Adelaide Clarke. Adie's got her hands full with a baby, a business and a secret. I loved telling her story. She turned into a good friend, and I was happy to introduce her to Reverend Joshua Blue. The book is named for him. Or more correctly, he was written to fit the title. Josh’s faith is strong, and he’s not afraid to break from the crowd.

The Maverick Preacher is officially dedicated to my husband, but it also belongs to the men and women who have knocked scales from my eyes. My husband and I have attended churches of all sizes. One had ten members. Another has 10,000. The leaders in these churches all have something in common. They preach God’s grace.

Reverend Joshua Blue is that kind of minister. He’s unafraid to speak his mind, and he loves people just as they are. He's suffered, and he knows what it means to need forgiveness. Josh has been at the top of the heap and the bottom of the barrel. He's had quite a time of it, but that trip has made him generous, dedicated and wise. This book is my way of saying thank you to all the brave souls in ministry.

Has there been someone in your life--a minister, a friend, a voice on the radio--who’s helped to open your eyes? Is there a moment, maybe a Bible verse, that hit with sudden clarity? I’d love to hear your story!