December’s Monthly Tea: Six Writing Productivity Myths

 

Join us on December 14 at 2 pm EST for a members-only talk on all things about setting productivity goals for 2024! (Be sure to SAVE YOUR SPOT via the button below!)

When we struggle with productivity, we often find ourselves asking why any one particular method won’t work for us. Or why we aren’t more productive. Or why other people are more productive than us. This workshop is specifically designed to answer those questions. Join Becca Syme, author success coach and writer, for an opportunity to learn about productivity systems and the concept of success alignment. Don’t miss it!

About Becca Syme

Becca Syme holds a master’s degree in transformational leadership and has been a success coach (primarily utilizing the Gallup Strengthsfinder®) for over fifteen years. She’s coached over 5,000 individual authors and creatives through her Write Better-Faster and Strengths for Writers classes & coaching cohorts: six- and seven-figure authors, major award winners, midlisters, and new authors alike. Becca is the host of QuitCast for Writers and a mystery author. Connect with Becca at betterfasteracademy.com.

Register Now!

Balancing Research and Imaginative Creativity in Historical Fiction

 

Mark your calendar! Our September Monthly Tea is this Friday, September 22, at 2pm ET (5 pm PT).

Whether you write romance, mystery, fantasy, or some other subgenre of historical fiction, knowing when to stop researching and start writing is crucial to getting your novel on the page.

In this talk, author and translator Jenny Bhatt will discuss the unique challenges of researching and writing historical fiction. She will discuss how to approach research in an organized manner, where to look for primary and secondary sources, how to parse through which details will serve your story, and how to be believable with invented details to fill in the gaps. Plus, she will provide food for thought on how to read between the lines of historical records where chroniclers’ blind spots and biases left people out of the story.

Save your spot for this hour-long discussion of how to research and – more importantly – how to make that research work for your writing!

RFW Members: Simply follow the link in Jenny’s bio to sign up!

Not a member? Click on the membership link in the banner above  to become one and take advantage of this, and all our upcoming Monthly Teas.

Featured Member for July: Bill Haggart

QG: When did you first get hooked (and what hooked you) on the Regency era?

From an early age, I loved reading about the Napoleonic Wars, laying a foundation for my later love affair with the Regency period.  The 1995 Pride & Prejudice and then reading Austen’s novel hooked me. From that point, I read all the Regency romances I could.

QG: What is your favorite thing about the Regency – what do you like to write about?

How similar, yet different the period is from today. I enjoy exploring that theme with time travel romances, where so many of the unspoken assumptions shared by the Regency culture compared to ours can be explored. I do still enjoy writing ‘straight’ Regency romances. I suppose one thing that fascinates me about the Regency was the heavy emphasis on ‘not saying’ what you really meant to communicate, everyone then translating.    

QG: What is your favorite Jane Austen book and Georgette Heyer books? 

 Of course, Pride & Prejudice. For Georgette Heyer, I am torn between Fredricia, An Infamous Army, Nonsuch, and Regency Buck. They all have fascinating characters and are very different from each other and many of Heyer’s other, some more popular works.

QG: What advice would you give to writers just starting out?

Write what you enjoy writing.  Too much time is spent on ‘analyzing’ the market and trying to write ‘what sells’ or is the latest craze.  I have a niece, a fantastic writer, who wrote several books of what she thought would sell.  They didn’t.  She then wrote a book she enjoyed writing, the kind she enjoys reading. She received a $150,000 advance on that book, and a three-book deal with Berkeley. The other advice is, if you want to be published, perservere, perservere, perservere.

QG: Tell us about your current project or latest release.

It is a time-travel Romance that begins during the 1808 British retreat to Corunna, Spain and ends up in London. It involves a U.S. Army Ranger captain and a Regency miss with the army.  That is done and soon off to the editor.  The next one is called The Problem with Buying a Wife, and then a sequal to Stealing Time.

QG: What is the most surprising or amazing thing you discovered while researching a book?

Between 1756 when a restrictive divorce law was enacted to 1872, it was not illegal to sell your wife. Conventions grew up around the practice over 100+ years. During the Regency, it was done in the street, at livestock auctions, ads were placed in London papers by gentry, military men, and cits alike offering their wives for sale.

QG:  What comes first, plot or characters?

Oooh, good question. Neither. I start with events, imagining, say, someone selling their wife. Why, where?  Once I have some scenes in mind, even some dialogue, I think about the characters who would create such a scene.  Last comes the plot.

QG: Who was your favorite author as a child?

Andre Norton and Robert Heinlein

 QG:  Pantser or Plotter or hybrid?

Dedicated Pantser. I minimally plot. I love discovering the story right along with the characters. I have tried outlining but found it boring.  Pantsing the story feels ‘fresher.’  Obviously, instead of spending the time outlining etc., I am having to go back to change details and events when the story or characters go off in interesting directions.

QG:  What music do you play when writing

I tend to find a piece that I know the character will like and play that, such as my heroine in Stealing Time, who loved Cold Play’s “Clocks.” For a time-travel romance, there is something ironic there. I more generally play what is called ‘epic music’ by such composers as Two Steps from Hell and James Paget. Both are known for their movie scores.  No words, just dramatic music like that of Game of Thrones or Pirates of the Caribbean.

QG: What would surprise people most about you? Generally, I am not that ‘surprising’ a person, so many friends are surprised to discover I competed in the bareback event during a Rodeo in Cimmaron, New Mexico.

Biography

 One day in 1993, after tossing some badly written Romances, Bill began writing because the love of his life, Joy dared him to do better.  It wasn’t that easy. After entering 4o odd writing contests, winning several, a judging editor asked to see his manuscript. His first novel was published in 2020.

https://www.bwhaggart.com

The RFW Conference is Coming!

 

2023 Regency Fiction Writers Virtual Conference

“Navigating the Regency Era One Story at a Time”  July 13-15, 2023

Hello!

On behalf of the RFW Board of Directors, we’re thrilled to officially announce our 3rd annual Regency Fiction Writers conference, “2023 RFW Virtual Conference: Navigating the Regency Era One Story at a Time.” It will be conducted virtually via Zoom on July 13-15, 2023.

This Year’s Keynote Speakers

We’re even more excited to share with you our amazing keynote speakers for the conference, two ladies who are legends in the Regency storytelling world: Julia Quinn, the NY Times bestselling author and creator of the Bridgerton series, and RFW member Cathy Maxwell, a multi-award winner and NY Times and USA Today bestselling author.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn loves to dispel the myth that smart women don’t read (or write) romance, and if you watch reruns of the game show The Weakest Link you might just catch her winning the $79,000 jackpot. She displayed a decided lack of knowledge about baseball, country music, and plush toys, but she is proud to say that she aced all things British and literary, answered all of her history and geography questions correctly, and knew that there was a Da Vinci long before there was a code. On December 25, 2020, Netflix premiered Bridgerton, based on her popular series of novels about the Bridgerton family. Season 2 premiered on March 25, 2022, and season 3 is forthcoming.

Cathy Maxwell has been in publishing for thirty years. Yes, that makes her a war horse, i.e. she has seen a lot of stuff.  Over the course of that quarter of a century, Cathy has written forty historical romances, hit the New York Times and USA Today lists, been nominated for or won some nice awards, made dynamite writing friends, and has had the time of her life. Her latest book is A KISS IN THE MOONLIGHT. You can find out more about her at her website, or, if you wish to stalk her, you can find her on Facebook. She usually yaks back.

We are grateful to both authors for accepting our invitation to participate in our conference.

General Conference and Registration Information

The RFW Board voted once again to hold our annual conference virtually as we have the past three years. Conference Chair Cecilia (Cece) Melton and her committee of volunteers are hard at work creating yet another conference to remember.

Preliminary Conference Schedule July 13-15, 2023

Day 1, Thursday, will be dedicated to industry workshops and the business of writing, while Days 2 and 3, Friday and Saturday, will feature historical, marketing, and writing craft workshops. Cathy Maxwell’s RFW Member Keynote will occur on Friday, and Julia Quinn’s Guest Keynote Q&A will happen on Saturday.

The conference will culminate on Saturday evening with our Soirée. The evening will include breakout rooms, the final hours of our Silent Auction, and fellowship. Never fear, CeCe’s got a few surprises for us, too!

Conference Registration is now open!

Please join us for three days of Regency learning, fellowship and fun! Early Bird Registration is back with a special opportunity for early registrants (see below for more!).

Registration is as follows:

  • Early Bird – Saturday, April 1st through Thursday, June 1st
  • Regular – Friday, June 2nd through Friday, July 7th

There will be no late registrations.

Early Bird Special Opportunity: Submit Your Questions for the Julia Quinn Keynote Q&A

Do you have a question you’ve been dying to ask Julia Quinn? Maybe you’ve wondered how she came up with her character names? Or who her favorite actor was in the Bridgerton series on Netflix? Or how her story process has changed over time? Well, here’s your chance to ask.

When you register before the Early Bird deadline of June 1, 2023, you can submit your questions for the Julia Quinn Keynote Q&A!

Of course, we can’t guarantee to ask her every question we receive, but we will do our best to give you a shout-out during the Q&A if we ask your question. Remember…only Early Bird registrants are eligible to submit questions.

We’ll send a registration reminder and link prior to kick-off, so start thinking about what you want to ask Julia.

Conference Fees and Financial Assistance

The fees for the conference are as follows:

  • Early Bird (RFW Member) – $99
  • Early Bird (Non-Member) – $175
  • Regular (RFW Member) – $125
  • Regular (Non-Member) – $199

Not a member, but want to take advantage of member pricing? It’s easy! Join RFW for $65, then register for the conference at member pricing, and you’ll get the conference and a year’s membership for $10 less than non-member conference pricing alone.

For more information about RFW and all the benefits membership offers, as well as to join, visit our Membership page.

For questions about membership please contact Darlene Marshall, our Membership Director.

Until then, be safe and happy writing!

If You Liked These Popular Regency Romance Novels, Read These Historical Non-Fiction Books

By Katherine Grant

One of the reasons I love reading Regency romance novels is the opportunity to learn something new. As a history nerd, I often find a topic mentioned in passing and dive deep into a research rabbit hole to find out more.

That’s how I have become an “expert” in things as diverse as curricles, the history of buttons, and the presence of lemons in England.

Even more than that, as an author, I love to dig into the larger socioeconomic trends that shaped the Regency world. How many families could afford to hire governesses? Were their gowns really transparent? What was it actually like living on a sailing ship?

For those of you who love to mix historical non-fiction with your historical romance books, read on for research recommendations based on five popular Regency romances!

If You Liked These 5 Regency Romance Novels, Read These Non-Fiction Books

If you liked…

Accidentally Compromising the Duke by Stacy Reid
When Adeline sneaks into a gentleman’s bedroom, she thinks she will be caught in bed with her secret crush. Instead, she is compromised with a duke – who has a reputation for being reclusive, grumpy, and possibly cruel. In their ensuing marriage of convenience, Adeline learns that much of his behavior comes from the deep grief of losing his first wife in childbirth – and fear that he might lose Adeline the same way.

Try…

In the Family Way: Childbearing in the British Aristocracy, 1760-1860 by Judith Schneid Lewis
This fantastic book uses journals and letters from real British aristocratic women to explore what pregnancy was like in Regency England (and how it changed from the Georgian to Victorian periods). You’ll learn everything from the care provided by accoucheurs to how couples dealt with infertility. Since her focus is exclusively on the aristocracy, the book works well for anyone interested in those dukes of the Regency.

If you liked…

The Secret Pearl by Mary Balogh
Mary Balogh, one of the reigning queens of Regency romance, takes on the governess trope in The Secret Pearl. It is one of her darker stories, beginning with a somewhat disturbing encounter between a young woman and a wealthy stranger, who later come face to face again when he hires her as governess for his children. From there, they negotiate the waters of their growing attraction – and his so-called marriage – to find their way to love.

Try…

A Governess in the Age of Jane Austen: The Journals and Letters of Agnes Porter edited by Joanna Martin

This book combines a little of historical context with a treasured primary source. In the intro, Joanna Martin tells us about Agnes Porter and the family she worked for, the Earl of Ilchester (and later his daughter). She also gives us insight into how common governesses were in Regency England and what Agnes expected in terms of lifetime care from her employers. From there, you can explore Agnes’s world yourself with her journal entries and letters. It is a wonderful insight into the world of a noble family and their trusted servant.

 

If you liked…

The Rakess by Scarlett Peckham

The first installment of The Society of Sirens series, The Rakess tells the story of a Regency heroine who doesn’t behave well and doesn’t care what anyone has to say about it. Seraphina is determined to write her memoirs as part of her crusade for women’s rights, and Adam Anderson is just a handsome distraction. Of course, shenanigans ensue once they start catching feelings for each other, but throughout the novel, Seraphina remains a fiercely independent woman who is confident in choosing to live unlike any other.

Try…
Mad and Bad: Real Heroines of the Regency by Bea Koch

This book makes it easy and fun to learn about some of the stand-out women of Regency England. You’ll get quick biographies of everyone from the women who guarded Almack’s Club to the woman who wrote the first English-language Kosher cookbook. As the blurb says, “In Mad and Bad, we look beyond the popular perception of the Regency into the even more vibrant, diverse, and fascinating historical truth.”

If you liked…

A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby by Vanessa Riley
West Indian heiress Patience Jordan is gaslighted – and imprisoned – for questioning her husband’s suicide. To get her child back, she poses as a nanny for his guardian, a duke. Of course, they are both surprised by each other, and soon they are working together to unravel what exactly happened to Patience’s husband.

Try…

Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain by Peter Fryer
This is a read that will stay with you. It defines, defies, and tracks definitions of “Blackness” in Britain starting with Roman invasions through to the mid-twentieth century. It also gives important context for how Regency Britain was deeply involved in the slave trade, how its economy was propped up by colonial plantations powered by enslaved people, and how British society was already diverse by the turn of the nineteenth century.

If you liked…

The Duke and the Lady in Red by Lorraine Heath
Rosalind Sharpe catches the duke’s eye – and decides to make the most of it. When he offers her a ridiculous sum of money for a week in bed together, she agrees. Of course, there is more than just symbolic red between them; very quickly, their connection grows deep and meaningful. The only question is what comes next.

Try…

A Perfect Red by Amy Butler Greenfield
I picked this book up on a whim only to discover the history of the color red has a huge impact on the British economy and norms, even up through the Regency period. In this popular history book, you’ll learn how textiles were made before the industrial revolution, how they were dyed, and how the technology for dying clothes became matters of great political and economic consequence to colonial empires. It is a quick, easy, and fascinating read!

Of course, these five non-fiction Regency books are just scratching the surface. For any of the above books, I recommend checking out the authors’ notes or websites to see if they list other research resources!

As for me, reading each of the books listed above (novels and non-fiction) has inspired my own historical romance novels.

Katherine Grant writes award-winning Regency Romance novels for the modern reader.

Find out more about her books and research by subscribing to her newsletter at www.katherinegrantromance.com! 

Today Regency Fiction Writers (RFW) is One Year Old!

To my fellow members of RFW,

It is October 1st. One year ago, RFW was formed. I just want to take a moment to thank you all for making this day happen, the first anniversary of our international organization Regency Fiction Writers.

It takes boldness and faith and perseverance to do something new, to break from the old, and to stand on our own. We did this together. We should celebrate.

Yet, there is still plenty of hard work ahead. We want to continue to be a beacon and a resource writers of Regency set fiction. We want to have a positive impact on the career of every member who decides to join RFW. We need volunteers and strong participation to keep us growing and leading in the writing world.

All of you, continue to be wonderful. Each of you are, and you all offer so much to RFW. I thank you for your voice.

From the board, our advisors, and every founding member, we are grateful for the faith you have placed in RFW, and we look forward to the future.

Vanessa Riley
Head Cheerleader
President, Regency Fiction Writers


All writers of Regency-set fiction (1780-1840), who have attained the age of 18, are invited to join Regency Fiction Writers, Inc. Please see our membership page for more information. Contact our Membership Director if you have any questions or concerns.

RFW 2021 Annual Silent Auction

Promo image for the 2021 Silent Auction. All details in the text image are in the body of this post.

Bidding opened on July 2nd for the 2021 RFW online auction! More than 100 donations are offered, and your final bid is your final price, as the generous donors have agreed to pay for shipping. The selection of research books is the best ever. In addition to books donated by our members, about 30 books in the auction were donated by Gail Burch, who wrote Regencies under the pen name Maggie MacKeever. Nine authors who’ve been Rita and/or Vivian finalists will be donating critiques. Other author services include a strategy session on marketing with a marketing expert, book coaching, and a cover design.

Proceeds from this year’s auction will be split between the Feather to Fly With—The Emily Hendrickson Scholarship Fund and defraying costs of the 2022 Conference to make it affordable for all.

Start your bidding at 32Auctions.com. Bidding ends at midnight (EDT), July 24. Donors will ship items to the winners shortly thereafter.

The direct link to our public auction is https://www.32auctions.com/RFW2021SilentAuction.

Share the public auction link:

2021 Conference Registration Closes July 15th!

Regency Fiction Writers
2021 Virtual Conference

A navy blue enamel pin in the shape of an open book, with gold lettering that reads 'Regency Fiction Writers' on the left page and '2021 Conference' below a gold silhouette of Jane Austen in a white oval on the right page.

A Brand New Day –
The Many Facets of Regency Fiction

July 22 – 24, 2021


The Board of Directors of Regency Fiction Writers invites you to join us for our Annual Conference and Soirée on July 22-24, 2021.

This year’s conference spans three days with twelve workshops focused on historical, marketing, craft, and, diversity topics. Registration will close at 11:59 pm EDT on July 15th!

We’d also appreciate it if you shared this information (click on any of the sharing icons below or on the main conference page!) with other writers of Regency fiction. We welcome any and all genres and sub-genres set in the extended Regency period of England (1780 to 1840).

Regency Fiction Writers’ Virtual Conference will be live via Zoom and will be recorded for future use so you can take a break if you need to or come back and revisit a session or event at a later date. Please note that one session will not be recorded per presenter’s choice.

We’re disappointed that we won’t be meeting in person, but the most important issue is everyone’s safety and wellness and that of our families and friends. It will make the next in-person event all the sweeter!

We hope you’ll join us this July!
Full Registration ends on July 15th!

The main 2021 Virtual Conference page has many more details and the link to registration form is at the very bottom!

If you have any problems or questions, please contact me at conferencechair [at] thebeaumonde [dot] com.

Best wishes,
Ann Chaney
Conference Chair
2021 Regency Fiction Writers Virtual Conference


Promotional Image for RFW 2021 Conference. Details are same as the page linked in the post: https://thebeaumonde.com/conference/.

Early-Bird Pricing on 2021 Conference Registration Ends June 21st!

Regency Fiction Writers
2021 Virtual Conference

A navy blue enamel pin in the shape of an open book, with gold lettering that reads 'Regency Fiction Writers' on the left page and '2021 Conference' below a gold silhouette of Jane Austen in a white oval on the right page.

A Brand New Day –
The Many Facets of Regency Fiction

July 22 – 24, 2021


The Board of Directors of Regency Fiction Writers hopes you will consider joining us for our Annual Conference and Soirée on July 22-24, 2021.

This year, we have expanded the conference to three days with twelve workshops focused on historical, marketing, craft, and, diversity topics. We are currently in the Early Bird Registration window until June 21, 2021 — RFW Members can register for $125 and Non-Members for $200.

We’d also appreciate it if you shared this information (click on any of the sharing icons below or on the main conference page!) with other writers of Regency fiction. We welcome any and all genres and sub-genres set in the extended Regency period of England (1780 to 1840).

Regency Fiction Writers’ three-day Virtual Conference will be live via Zoom and will be recorded for future use so you can take a break if you need to or come back and revisit a session or event at a later date. Please note that one session will not be recorded per presenter’s choice.

We’re disappointed that we won’t be meeting in person, but the most important issue is everyone’s safety and wellness and that of our families and friends. It will make the next in-person event all the sweeter!

We hope you’ll join us this July!
Early-Bird Pricing ends June 21st!
Full Registration will continue until July 15th!

The main 2021 Virtual Conference page has many more details and the link to registration form is at the very bottom!

If you have any problems or questions, please contact me at conferencechair [at] thebeaumonde [dot] com.

Best wishes,
Ann Chaney
Conference Chair
2021 Regency Fiction Writers Virtual Conference


Promotional Image for RFW 2021 Conference. Details are same as the page linked in the post: https://thebeaumonde.com/conference/.

2021 Conference Registration Now Open!

Regency Fiction Writers
2021 Virtual Conference

A navy blue enamel pin in the shape of an open book, with gold lettering that reads 'Regency Fiction Writers' on the left page and '2021 Conference' below a gold silhouette of Jane Austen in a white oval on the right page.

A Brand New Day –
The Many Facets of Regency Fiction

July 22 – 24, 2021


Regency Fiction Writers invites you to our 2021 Conference, July 22-24, 2021! Our three-day conference will be held live via Zoom.

Looking forward to seeing everyone on-line in July! We have an amazing lineup of keynote speakers, workshops, panels and a special one-on-one interview. You won’t want to miss a minute! The conference will be recorded so attendees only can revisit the sessions for at least 90 days.

This virtual experience includes three days of workshops, speeches and panels on topics including Regency-focused publishing industry, writing craft and historical details; a virtual meet & greet; The Beau Monde Annual Soirée with fashion show, door prizes and much more!

For more details and to register, visit our main Conference Page.

Please share this and any of our social media posts with your Regency fiction writing friends. As they say, the more the merrier!

If you have any problems or questions, please contact me at conferencechair [at ] thebeaumonde [dot] com.

Best wishes,
Ann Chaney
Conference Chair
2021 Regency Fiction Writers Virtual Conference


Promotional Image for RFW 2021 Conference. Details are same as the page linked in the post: https://thebeaumonde.com/conference/.

Regency Academe:
Self-Publishing Your Regency Romance with Kim Lambert

Class begins March 21st!
Last day to register is Friday, March 26th!

Self-Publishing Your Regency Romance
Instructor: Kim Lambert
Active Class Dates: 03/21/2021 – 04/30/2021 (6 weeks)
Cost: RFW-TBM Members: $40 USD — Non-Members: $50 USD
Register: https://thebeaumonde.com/classes/
Registration closes on March 26th, 2021
*** MUST use special member-only coupon code to get member price for this class! ***


The class is designed so that, if you have a finished and mostly edited novel or novella ready, you can work through the steps to prepare it for publication as the class progresses.

The course will walk participants through the concepts, considerations and processes involved in going from finished draft of your novel to having published it yourself.

Topics covered will include: the pros and cons of self-publishing; going wide vs. being exclusive; deciding when to DIY and when to outsource; writing to market, meeting reader expectations, and identifying your sub-sub-sub genre; formatting for paperback and digital; considerations for cover design; creating your author branding apparatus; building teams of beta readers and advance readers; marketing and ad strategies for Regency; the importance of keywords and categories; launching a book; release strategies; and much, much more!

A resource list of tools will also be provided.

Course Format: There will be three to four lessons a week, for six weeks. The class will include written lectures for each section and a live webinar for direct Q&A. There will be pictures including screenshots, and possibly short video demonstrations.

Is the course image heavy: Moderately. There will be screen shots, and there will also likely be some videos, and/or a live webinar or two.


Instructor Biography: Kim Lambert (who writes regency as Arietta Richmond – more than 40 books so far) has published more than 100 books, most her own, but also some non fiction for Australian business people, and also does editing, formatting and cover creation for others as a business. She also provides mentoring services for those who wish to have detailed one-on-one support on launching themselves into publishing.

Kim went the indie/self-publish route from the start, preferring to expand upon her already existing skills rather than enter the never-ending submission roundabout of traditional publishing.
She first published a book in 1990, via her family company, when none of it was as easy as it is now! She worked in the IT industry for over 30 years, and when the current self-publishing capability began to be available around 2008, she set herself to apply her graphics, photography, Word and other application skills to this new field.

As the tools for self-publishing have evolved, it has become obvious to her that there are certain approaches which work better for specific genres – and from the research she has done in support of optimizing the publication her own regency novels, and the understanding of others’ uncertainties she has come to, from answering innumerable questions on Facebook and in emails, this course was born.


Visit the Regency Academe page for more information on our forum platform and a full list of upcoming classes or visit the registration page to see all classes currently open for enrollment.

To get notifications of class offerings direct to your inbox when registration opens, subscribe to our Class Announcement mailing list.

View previous class announcements to get an idea of what we send. We try to only send repeat class reminders to those who have not already enrolled in the current class.

For information about becoming a presenter or submitting a workshop proposal, contact Courtney Scalo, our Academe Coordinator.

President’s Welcome & Update

As of today, Regency Fiction Writers–The Beau Monde has 176 members and counting! It’s our promise that RFW-TBM will open and welcoming to all writers of Regency-set fiction. I like to think of it as we have an enormously long dining table with enough chairs for anyone who wants to pursue their dream of writing Regency set fiction. We will always find another chair.

We are excited to introduce you to our well-rounded portfolio of resources, many accessible here on our website. Continue reading “President’s Welcome & Update”

Introducing Regency Fiction Writers

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2020

Contact: Ann Chaney, President
Vanessa Riley, President-Elect
contact@RegencyFictionWriters.org
Regency Fiction Writers

New Writing Organization Walks in the Footsteps of Giants

 

• October 1 marks the birth of a new international writer’s organization for authors of fiction set in the Regency period of England.
• Regency Fiction Writers offers writers at all stages of their careers inclusion, networking, advocacy, and education.
• Until December 31, 2020, first year dues are only $25, rising in 2021.

Houston, Texas—A new writer’s organization is following in the footsteps of some of literature’s greatest stars. Regency Fiction Writers advances the professional interests of writers of the extended Regency period of England (1780 to 1840) through inclusion, networking, advocacy, and education. The international non-profit welcomes writers of all types of fiction set in the period that brought the world Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Sir Walter Scott, Byron, Keats, and the Shelleys.

“The Regency period is a perennial favorite among readers,” said Vanessa Riley, critically acclaimed author of more than 20 novels set during that time. “It has spawned hundreds of bestselling books and dozens of popular movies.” Riley is President-Elect of the new group and will take the reins in January 2021.

“Our authors write award-winning stories that cross genres,” added Ann Chaney, 2020 President. “History, mystery, romance, and speculative fiction, among others. It’s a rich heritage.”

Between October 1 and December 31, 2020 first year dues are $25, rising to $50 plus a processing fee in 2021. For that fee, writers of any race, creed, religion, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or ability can network with their peers around the globe through online forums. They can also learn from monthly programs on history, marketing, and industry insights and gain additional visibility for their books through active online properties and marketing initiatives.

Regency Fiction Writers is an outgrowth of the Beau Monde Chapter of Romance Writers of America®. The chapter recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Chapter members voted to leave Romance Writers of America in part because they hoped to expand beyond the boundaries of the romance genre.

For more information on the new organization and to join, see its website at https://RegencyFictionWriters.org/.

END

The 2016 Mini-Conference & Soirée

Each year on the day before National conference begins, many members of the Beau Monde chapter of RWA® gather for a day filled with Regency workshops and after the Literacy Signing they reconvene for our annual Soirée. This year’s gathering included breakfast and time to mingle and check-in for the conference, followed by the Annual General Meeting with the usual various committee reports and the changing over of the board. Thank you to the 2015-2016 Board and Committee members for all your hard work but especially our conference chair Janna MacGregor, catering wrangler Sharon Sobel, and workshop coordinator Isobel Carr for doing such a fantastic jobs in organizing the event for us!

The Morning Sessions

A photo of the Jo Bevereley tribute at the 2016 Beau Monde mini-conference. The screen reads, "Remembering Jo Beverley (1947-2016)."
Remembering Jo Beverley (1947-2016)

We had a very special tribute to former Beau Monde member, Jo Beverley who lost her bout with cancer at the end of May this year.

Photo of Diana Belchase paying tribute to Jo Beverley.
Diana Belchase shared what is thought to be the last video interview with former Beau Monde member Jo Beverley.

Member Diana Belchase, had filmed an interview with the author for her TV show BookSmart and was gracious enough to share the unaired footage with the chapter members present. Jo’s wit, grace and perspective, not to mention her love of historical romance, shone through during the interview and are just a small part of why she and her wonderful books will be long remembered.

We spent the rest of the morning learning about Spies and Codes with Patricia Coleman, Regency Era Titles with Ella Quinn and The Education and Training of Medical Professionals in the Regency Era with Georgie Lee.

Our Keynote Address

After lunch, Jade Lee gave our keynote speech. If you know Jade, she’s funny and always cracking jokes. She did that. But she was also fiercely serious about how writing is also an ART, not just a craft and business.

Keynote Speaker, Jade Lee
Keynote Speaker, Jade Lee

Jade pointed out that the RWA National Workshop list included around 54 Craft/Research sessions, 65 Career Track topics and another 16 on Writer’s Life/Block/Depression. She told us she was going to talk about the one thing that never gets discussed– the ART of writing. Commercial Fiction — not literary. Every book has a core message in it. Not just the basics of genre or tropes, every book has a deeper more personal message. At its core, your book has a message that YOU need to hear.

“Art has us look at issues we are dealing with in our real life and look at them in a new way.” But digging in your soul is hard to do. Theme is one way as writers and even readers we do this. Look closer at your books and see what you keep coming back to again and again. Think about the last book you read that touched your heart and why?

She recently read Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art. Did you know Hitler wanted to be an artist but resistance beat him? It was easier for him to start World War II than to face a blank canvas. “Don’t start WW3, face that dark and awful blank page instead!” She urged us to tell that story that your soul is crying out for. Someone else out there needs to hear it too. Please, she begged us, go forth and write those stories. Because we are all artists in the truest, most beautiful sense of the word.

The Afternoon Sessions

The rest of the afternoon was spent in more workshops where Louisa Cornell helped us navigate the Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Regency World both in terms of what was known/thought of mental illness at the time and various places where and ways in which people were ‘treated’ for their madness. Then, we charted a course in The Age of Sail with Alice Eakes and learned all about ships, different types of sails, and other nautical terms to use in our stories.

A special treat was the extended Q&A session on The State of the Regency Romance with Sarah Wendell – SBTB, Leah HultenschmidtGrand Central Publishing, Theresa Romain – Author, and Kevan Lyon – Marsal Lyon Literary Agency on the panel. The afternoon concluded with a look at The Grand Tour with Cheryl Bolen before we took a break for dinner and the Literacy Signing.

Photo of Kevan Lyon and Theresa Romain
Kevan Lyon and Theresa Romain
Photo of Leah Hultenschmidt and Sarah Wendell
Leah Hultenschmidt and Sarah Wendell

All sessions were recorded and they will soon be made available for purchase by members.

Our Annual Soirée

That evening, the soirée was quite an elegant affair. Cara King was our dance mistress for the evening and taught a variety of country dances including a Scottish Reel. Not all of the attendees dressed in their Regency Era finery, but the many who did looked absolutely wonderful, and a fabulous time was had by all.

Photo of 8 people in Regency costume at the 2016 Beau Monde Soirée.
You might recognize these Beau Monde members from the Regency Era report with Sarah MacLean during the Rita/GH ceremony on Saturday night.
Photo of Sir Reginald Scott, Lady Elena Greene and Lady Cara King at the 2016 Beau Monde Soirée.
Sir Reginald Scott, Lady Elena Greene and Lady Cara King at the 2016 Beau Monde Soirée.
Photo of Alanna Lucas, Alina K. Field and Ann Cleeland, dressed as a highwayman.
This dashing highwayman made an appearance at the Soiree! Perhaps Sir Reginald had some competition?
Photo of Erica Ridley (left) an Emma Locke (Right) in their Regency finery.
Erica Ridley (left) an Emma Locke (Right) in their Regency finery.
Photo of Regency Dancing at the Soirée.
Learning a Country Dance
Photo of the Beau Monde Soirée as the dancers learn a Scottish Reel.
Learning a Scottish Reel

Awards and Congratulations to Beau Monde Members

Photo of President Karen Dobbins presenting Cheryl Bolen with the 2016 Lady of the Realm award.
Cheryl Bolen received the distinction as our 2016 Lady of the Realm. Thank you for all that you do for the chapter, Cheryl!
Photo of Elizabeth King winning the Grand Prize for the Royal Ascot writing contest with her manuscript TAMING THE EARL.
Elizabeth King won the Grand Prize in the 2016 Royal Ascot with her manuscript, TAMING THE EARL.
Rita Inspirational Romance Winner:
A Noble MasqueradePhoto of Kristi Ann Hunter A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter
Baker Publishing Group, Bethany House
Raela Schoenherr, editor
Golden Heart Historical Winner:
Photo of Elizabeth King “The Earl and the Pussycat” by Elizabeth King

Registration for Mini Conference & Soiree

Just a reminder that registration is open for the Beau Monde’s mini conference!

Quick details: The conference will be held Wednesday, July 23rd in San Antonio (kicking off the national RWA conference!). Registration includes breakfast, lunch (featuring our keynote speaker Vicky Dreiling) and delicious treats at the soiree, plus access to six Regency-themed workshops!

For more information (and to register) check out the link here: http://thebeaumonde.com/resources/annual-conference. Early Bird prices available until June 15, 2014. Full conference fees include breakfast, lunch and soiree (available separately).

We hope to see you there!

Prescription for Sagging Middles   by Cheryl Bolen

Award-winning Regency romance author, Cheryl Bolen, whose romance novel, A Lady By Chance, is part of the Scandalous Brides boxed set, offers some valuable writing tips. In today’s article, Cheryl shares some secrets from a prolific author on how to avoid those sagging middle sections which can bog down a great story.

Perhaps some of these tips will be just the thing you need to help you liven up the middle part of your book when your enthusiasm for the story begins to flag.

Continue reading “Prescription for Sagging Middles   by Cheryl Bolen”

TBM Forum:   Working on the Web Round-Up

This month’s Working on the Web section of the Beau Monde forum features an article which will be of great interest to those researching British history. A web site which is a rich treasure trove of resources on various aspects of the history of the British Isles is reviewed this month. Authors of historical novels set in any period of English history, including the Regency, will certainly want to book mark this site for regular research visits.

This will be the final Working on the Web round-up post at the Beau Monde blog. Beginning in January 2014, posts to the Working on the Web forum will no longer be on a monthly basis, eliminating the need of a round-up post. However, there will still be intermittent posts to that forum for the benefit of our members.

If you are not yet a Beau Monde member, and would like to join us, please visit our Membership page for details.

TBM Forum:   Working on the Web Round-Up

Blogging best practices were the focus of the Working on the Web section of the Beau Monde forum this month. This new article explains the value of both categories and tags, as well as the important differences between them. This information will help Beau Monde members who blog better understand how to give their readers the best possible experience in navigating their blog. Readers tend to spend more time at blogs which are easy to navigate, so it is well worth the time and effort to implement these best practices at your blog.

Next month, the Working on the Web forum will feature an article on perhaps the richest treasure trove of British history to be found on the Internet. This site is an invaluable resource for those writing novels set in England during any period of history, including the Regency.

If you are not yet a Beau Monde member, and would like to join us, please visit our Membership page for details.

The Sophistication of the Romance Novel   by Cheryl Bolen

Today’s article is a verbal time capsule, courtesy of Cheryl Bolen, award-winning Regency romance author and Beau Monde member. This article was first published in 1999 and in it, Cheryl reflects on the differences between the romance novels published at the end of the last century and those of the 1980s. She also provides some statistics regarding those who were actually reading romance novels at that time. Now, more than a decade after this article was first published, do you think romance novels are even more sophisticated, or have they taken a different path? Has their readership broadened or contracted over the intervening years?

Continue reading “The Sophistication of the Romance Novel   by Cheryl Bolen”