There
is always more to the story than just what ends up between the pages. This page
takes a behind the scenes look at Tempted
by the Night including
research I did while writing the book, character tidbits, and more. Happy reading! ~Elizabeth
avon books
ISBN: 0-060-78402-4
August 29, 2006
So many people have asked why I decided to write historicals with paranormal
elements, and I have to admit that I never set out to do this, rather it was
a story/series idea that would not go away that drove these stories along. I
explained how I got the idea for the Marlowes and
their magic ring here so
it was only natural that after I had written His Mistress
by Morning, I would
never escape without writing Hermione’s story (well, make that Rockhurst’s).
I got so many emails about him, pleading for his story, though this didn’t
surprise me in the least. I sort of suspected that might happen when I was writing
Mistress. Sometimes a character sort of steps off the page and takes a place
in your heart. Temple,
from my Danver’s series, is another such character. The very moment Rockhurst
came striding onto the page I was hooked. I wanted to know all his secrets—just
like Hermione—and I had a wonderful time coming up with his history and
place in this magical version of Regency London I’ve been dreaming up.
I hope I’ve brought out a side of him that is surprising and heroic enough
for his legions of fans.
Now there was another challenge to writing this story that made it fun and unique: an invisible heroine. In my favor, I didn’t have to fuss much over what she is wearing or her hair, (though I am sure that Hermione, clothes horse that she is, would have preferred a story around her rather, um, distinctive fashion sense) but then again, having a heroine the hero can’t see made writing the love scenes, well, interesting.
- Lady
Hermione Marlowe -- Sebastian's scatterbrained sister and Charlotte's best friend
from His Mistress by Morning now takes center stage. Hermione loves riotous
colors and making great poses to attract the attention of her secret love and
now that she has the wishing ring on her hand, she has a chance to catch him—at
least she would if she were visible. Now cast into the world of shadows every
night, Hermione is free to follow the Earl of Rockhurst on his nighttime rambles,
but what she finds when she stumbles into his secret life is nothing like she’s ever imagined . . .
- The Earl of Rockhurst -- What isn't there to love about this rakish cad? He's rich, handsome and every matron’s dream for the perfect son-in-law. Last seen romancing Charlotte Wilmont in His Mistress by Morning, the earl is about to find himself being “shadowed” by just that . . . a mysterious lady who cannot be seen. Now it’s his turn to decide whether to follow his heart or turn his back on love forever.
- Rowan -- The earl’s wonderfully endearing wolfhound. Wolfhounds are great dogs, gentle giants who possess hearts of steel when it comes to protecting their own. I want to thank my friend, Darcy Carson, who allowed me to use her dog, Rowan, as the namesake and model for my fictional hound.
- Quince & Milton -- the magical pair from His Mistress by Morning are back, and this time they nearly get their ring back, that is until Hermione’s wish puts them at odds . . . or does it?
- Miss Lavinia Burke -- The Original with a fortune from His Mistress by Morning, she's still the perfect miss. But now with Hermione’s wish unleashed, Lavinia is about to get her comeuppance.
- The Honorable Griffin Marlowe -- Hermione’s mad-cap brother. An amateur scientist (emphasis on amateur), he thinks he's found a way to "trick time" and he's building a carriage to take him to the 21st century—if only he can finagle the blunt out of someone.
- Lady Viola Marlowe -- The youngest Marlowe, Viola watches the antics of her older brothers and sisters with a bemused eye. But Viola's got a bit of magic of her own, but that, like Griffin's time machine will have to wait.
- Clarice Marlowe, Countess of Walbrook -- The Shakespeare loving, affable and madcap matron of the Marlowe clan, her husband has been gone for over ten years on an exhibition to the far reaches of the world. She presides over her children with advice gleaned from the Bard and a shove in the right direction when necessary. Previously, she was seen working her maternal magic in His Mistress by Morning.
- » See the entire Marlowe family on their very own Family Tree.
I know this probably makes no sense at all, but I wrote this book to Abba. Over and over again. Until my husband would sigh heavily and come and shut my office door. Thank goodness for my iPod. If you are curious why, I had made a trip to London just before I started writing this book and had seen Mama Mia for the first time. I couldn’t get the songs out of my head and when I came home to sit down and write this book, listening to them put me right back in London. Here’s my favs:
- ~ Money, Money, Money
- ~ Thank You For The Music
- ~ Mamma Mia
- ~ Chiquitita
- ~ Dancing Queen
- ~ Lay All Your Love On Me
- ~ Super Trouper
- ~ Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
- ~ Name of the Game, The
- ~ Voulez-Vous
- ~ S.O.S.
- ~ Does Your Mother Know
- ~ Knowing Me, Knowing You
- ~ Take A Chance On Me
- ~ I Have A Dream
Here
are a few of the books I kept close at hand while I was writing:
- ~ The A to Z of Regency London – This detailed set of maps helped me navigate Rockhurts’s travels and Hermione’s adventures out and around London.
- ~ City of Sin by Giles Emerson – An interesting look at London and the pursuit of pleasure and vice through the ages.
- ~ London: The Wicked City by Fergus Linnane. Another excellent peek beneath the polite veneer.
I get asked a lot where I find my books, and the two places I always look first are: abebooks.com and powells.com.
This (at right) is the Regency era perfumery, Floris. This shop is still in London, in the same location offering wonderful fragrances. Ian Fleming had them design a scent for his famous character, James Bond. I have a bundle of samples they kindly gave me of all the perfumes that they still carry which date back to the early 1800s. Good things never go out of fashion.
Here is the garden in the middle of Berkley Square where the Marlowe family has their town house. As I stood there on an early March morning photographing this spot, I wondered how much the gardens had changed, though I do know the fence was there during Hermione’s time period. Pretty place, don’t you agree?
One cannot go to London without going to one of Hermione’s favorite haunts: Old Bond Street. This was a shopping mecca in her time and still is. The funny thing is, as I was walking down the street, one of the very fancy shops had a row of mannequins wearing the latest in fashionable accessories. What was the one in the very front sporting? Of all things, a pelisse in Hermione’s favorite color: capucine.
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TEMPTEd by the night
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