Guest Blogger: Wendy Soliman, An English Author of Regency Historicals

Hi, Pat, and thanks for inviting me to visit your blog.

I was fortunate enough to grow up on the Isle of Wight in southern England, which is full of historic buildings, Roman ruins, spooky castles and constant reminders of the Island's colourful, sometimes bloody, past. Perhaps that's how I gained my love of all things historical. It sort of seeped into me like osmosis, I suppose, without my being aware of it. Anyway, looking back, the only things I can recall being any good at when I was a kid are riding horses and writing stories. I still do both, lots of years on. The only difference is that my stories now get published!

I made my first attempt at a full length novel when I was just fifteen. Nowadays, any kid showing that sort of flair would be sent on courses and given all sorts of encouragement. If that had happened in my day, who knows...

Anyway, my next novel came about ten years later and languished in a back of a cupboard, until I was moving house and setting up home in Andorra some eight years ago. (In case you're wondering, that's a small principality high up in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain). I read that novel through and it set me off again...only now I had the time to devote to it properly. Little did I know what I'd set in motion.

I was lucky enough to be successful quite quickly and had five historical romances set in the colourful Regency period published by Robert Hale in England. With those under my belt I gathered up my courage and decided to have a crack at the American market. A Reason to Rebel, published by Samhain in print and e-book form is the result. And I'm pleased to say that I have two more historicals coming out this year with Carina Press. The first, Of Dukes and Deceptions, will be released as an e-book on March 14.

People often ask me where I get my inspiration. It's a difficult question to answer. I guess I simply have the gift of imagination, a bit like some people can draw, some can cook, others can make beautiful flower arrangements. I can't do any of those things!

I never plan my stories but simply ask myself that age old question, 'what if?' With Of Dukes and Deceptions I asked, 'what if I create a young, single, handsome and, naturally, rich duke who's been brought up to consider himself superior to ordinary mortals and behaves accordingly?' What does he need to have happen to make him see there's more to life than riding roughshod over everyone's feelings and thinking of no one but himself?

The love of a good woman is the obvious answer but he's swamped by those at every turn. So when he visits a stud farm he counters his boredom by striking a wager with his henchman that he'll bed the poor relation, Alicia Woodley, before the end of his sojourn at Ravenswing Manor. But this time he's miscalculated. Alicia is disgusted by his arrogance and wants as little as possible to do with him. But at the same time she feels herself gradually falling under his thrall and can't help being flattered by his attentions. Will she be able to hold out against his coercive charm?

Find out when Of Dukes and Deceptions is released by Carina Press on March 14 and visit my website http://www.wendysoliman.com/ where you can read the first chapter and enter a contest that offers you the chance to win a copy of the book.

Happy reading!