Archive for the ‘About Their Graces’ Category

Do you have a friend who is so fabulous, sometimes you can hardly believe she’s your friend? Duchess Máire Claremont is like that for me. I adore her. Sometimes my phone will ring and I’ll look down and see her name (and, of course, her gorgeous author photo!) and I’m like, Me? Lovely Miss Máire wants to talk to me?

But the fact is, Máire and I go way back to 2006, when we met in Atlanta at the RWA National conference. I even have photographic evidence! It was love at first sight, and we’ve been critique partners–with BFF benefits–ever since. That is why I absolutely had to be the one to interview her on The Dashing Duchesses Blog. So, without further fangirling from me, here she is! Read the rest of this entry »

There’s always cause to drink champagne with the Duchesses.

Duchess Debuts, Bestsellers, dreams made and kisses sealed forever. Today, we celebrate five new authors, eleven delicious books, a parcel of good news, and the brisk smoothing of skirts that got us here.

Please join us in raising our glasses, and our teacups, to the indomitable duchess spirit within us all.

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We love good news. Divulge yours in the comments and share the bubbly.

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Today is the day I’ve been dreaming of for eight years! THE TROUBLE WITH BEING WICKED is available in the US at all of the major e-tailers, and will soon be available at The Book Depository for those of you outside the US. I hope this is a story you fall in love with!

THE TROUBLE WITH BEING WICKED is my debut novel and the first book in my Naughty Girls series. The Naughty Girls is a six-book series set to be released over the next two years, and can be summarized as a double trilogy featuring three courtesans and three country hoydens who marry into the notorious Alexander family. These five charming Alexander rogues (and their deliciously starchy neighbor) give my girls six excellent reasons for behaving badly. Read the rest of this entry »

Society ladies, resplendent in multi-hued ball gowns, exchange on-dits behind plumed fans. Gentlemen, the stark black of their eveningwear broken only by well starched cravats of pure white, eye the card room, but dare not removed themselves just yet. From the ballroom, the strains of a waltz rise on a lilting note, but, for the moment, no one is tempted to take the floor. Anticipation and excitement infuse the air about the entrance, for the latest gossip has proclaimed this to be an exceptional event.

Three newly invested duchesses are to make their appearance in society for the first time. They are, quite naturally, fashionably late.

What’s this? I do believe I’ve heard the sound of imminent arrivals. I push myself onto my toes and crane my neck in the direction of the double doors. All around me, conversation gives way to a silence so profound, I can hear the rustle of my silk skirts. Even the orchestra has ceased playing. Read the rest of this entry »

Happy August, Dear Readers! As the temperatures continue to rise, and the last, quiet month of summer becalms the publishing world (and some of our schedules), it is the perfect moment to dive into a new book. Below you will find reading recommendations provided by Her Graces, as well as a list of books currently available for scorching hot deals.

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Duchess Anne Barton recommends: For a historical romance junkie like me, it can be hard to leave behind
castles and ballrooms, even for a brief time. But I’d heard so many great things about Jill Shavis’s Lucky Harbor series that when I saw AT LAST at my favorite beach bookstore, I snatched it up. Now I can’t wait to read the rest of this series!

But back to AT LAST: Amy is a waitress (and talented artist) who’s tough and vulnerable at the same time. I think I fell in love with her when, after a little hiking mishap, she worries that (incredibly hot) forest ranger Matt will see her granny panties. Also, she has a deep and abiding respect for chocolate, which I (shockingly) identify with. Matt is an ex-cop who’s trying his damnedest to keep Amy out of trouble. And he’s really good at fighting bad guys and protecting the people he loves. A sigh-worthy hero—even if he doesn’t have a title or a castle in the countryside. A wonderful summer read for any duchess!

Read the rest of this entry »

Congratulations to her grace Elisa Beatty for winning the Golden Heart® in the historical category with her manuscript DEVIL MAY CARE!

Congratulations as well to our other Duchess finalists: Tracy Brogan, Eileen Emerson, Wendy LaCapra, Jen McQuiston and Sharon Wray!

In addition, congratulations to Tessa Dare and Joanna Bourne, two authors who have been gracious enough to appear on our blog and who won Ritas last night. We like to think we have something to do with that…

Duchess Darcy Burke makes her curtsey with HER WICKED WAYS! A Golden Heart finalist and Suburban goddess, Darcy brings us the exciting tale of a good boy highwayman and a bad girl aristocrat. NYT Bestselling Author Courtney Milan says HER WICKED WAYS is a “deliciously wicked debut.” 

So call for tea, Darlings, and stay to chat. Who doesn’t want some wicked deliciousness!

Duchess Leigh: I am thrilled to interview you today and let the world know about your fabulous debut, Darcy! Tell us a little about HER WICKED WAYS.

Duchess Darcy Burke: Thanks for having me. The tea is divine and the company even more.

I sometimes describe HER WICKED WAYS as Paris Hilton meets Robin Hood, but Paris Hilton does not evoke a very sympathetic heroine! Miranda is like Paris Hilton in that she’s very wealthy, very popular, very used to getting what she wants, and perhaps not always good at making the right choices. I loved the idea of taking that kind of character and plopping her completely out of her element—sort of like Paris and her friend in that reality show, The Simple Life. (Although, I do love a select few reality shows, I cannot claim to have ever watched that one.) Fox is the perfect foil for Miranda because he’s the good guy that bad girls tend to overlook when they’re attracted to a bad boy. Luckily for Fox, he gets to be both the good guy (orphanage-owning-hero) and bad boy (sexy highwayman).

Read the rest of this entry »

Being of a literary bent (Dare we admit to being bluestockings?), the duchesses have a more than a few manuscripts under their collective belt. You might even see a few of them in the bookstores.

Today, however, we’re going to let you look under our skirts—our bed skirts, that is. Yes, we’re going to lift that dust ruffle, but not to check up on the upstairs maids. Instead, we’re going to shed some light on something truly scary (at least in my case).

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Pop the champagne! The Duchesses are taking Town by storm. New sales! Golden Heart Finalists! We couldn’t be prouder of Her Graces.

New Sales

Tracy Brogan SOLD two books to Montlake Publishing. TOTALLY DODY, a contemporary, releases October 2012

Anna Randol SOLD three more historicals to Avon Books

Jennifer McQuiston SOLD three historicals to Avon Books

Maire Claremont SOLD her Golden Heart winning historical to Pocket. THE DARK LADY releases November 2012

Golden Heart Finalists

Elisa Beatty “The Devil May Care” Historical category

Tracy Brogan “Highland Promise” Historical category

Wendy LaCapra “Scandal in Spades” Regency category

Jennifer McQuiston “A Private Affair” Historical category

Sharon Wray “Rogue’s Return” Romantic Suspense category

Other Awards

Lecia Cornwall’s  SECRETS OF A PROPER COUNTESS is nominated as Best First Book in the National Reader’s Choice Awards

New Releases on the Horizon

Darcy Burke        Leigh LaValle           Anna Randol    Cheryl Ann Smith                                                                                 

May 2012               May 2012              June 2012           June 2012

Yesterday, the Romance Writers of America® announced the finalists in the Golden Heart® contest. This contest is held every year to celebrate the best unpublished romance manuscripts in a number of various categories. In fact, the Duchesses largely came together as a result of last year’s Golden Heart contest.

This year, we are proud to say that several of their graces once again number among the finalists. They are:

Elisa Beatty

Tracy Brogan

Wendy LaCapra

Jennifer McQuiston

Sharon Wray

Well done, ladies, and have fun at Nationals!