Please welcome debut author, Vicky Dreiling to The Season Blog today. Vicky is a friend and a sweetheart and she comes bearing gifts in the name of her brand new release, HOW TO MARRY A DUKE. 😉 We’re also doing a swap. I’ll be on Vicky’s blog chatting about the history of the titles for both my books (Promotion is very tiring work).

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HOW TO WRITE A REALITY SHOW IN REGENCY ENGLAND

BY VICKY DREILING

 

A long, long time ago (well actually about five years), there lived a wanna-be romance writer who couldn’t figure out what to write. She had previously written one historical romance several years ago and somehow that deeply flawed manuscript managed to make the finals in the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart contest for unpublished writers. She wrote a great three chapters, but the rest of the book was frankly a mess and got rejected. Life got in the way with a trip back to college and a new career in marketing.

After several years of establishing her marketing career, Miss Wanna-Be yearned to return to writing. She had a vague idea about writing a book about a matchmaker, but that was as far as she got. Miss Wanna-Be procrastinated and read numerous How to Plot books. She read so many plotting books she concluded she could write one herself. The poor wanna-be romance writer was hopelessly stuck. Yes, that wanna-be writer was me.

My writing life took a surprising turn one night while changing 800+ TV channels. I happened upon a hilarious reality TV show with a hunky bachelor and twenty-five bachelorettes all scheming vying for his heart. Of course, the crazy antics and alliances appealed to me. When the episode ended, an Idea popped into my head: The bachelor in Regency England (minus the hot tub and camera crew).

All those plotting books helped after all as I’d conjured up a high concept premise. The marketer in me realized a Regency-era version of the TV show would differentiate my novel from all the other historical romances on the shelves. But first, I had to write the book. How hard could it be?

Snort. If I’d had any idea of the difficulties I would face, I probably never would have attempted to write HOW TO MARRY A DUKE. My first task was to decide who should be the starring characters. I decided to keep the matchmaker. Thus, Miss Tessa Mansfield, a wealthy and independent matchmaker, became the hostess of this zany courtship. Since I adored powerful dukes, I created Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne, a man who desperately needed a wife to produce the requisite heir and spare. I soon discovered he was England’s Most Eligible Bachelor, and every belle in the Beau Monde was chasing him. Exasperated and tired of shopping at the Marriage Mart, Tristan decides to hire a professional. Tessa, however, concludes the unromantic duke needs lessons in how to properly court the young ladies.

While the bridal candidates form alliances and plots to stay in the competition, Tessa and Tristan try to resist their forbidden attraction. Everyone in London is watching, and they dare not risk scandal.

Writing the book presented numerous challenges, but I admit to having fun reinventing modern dating practices to fit the Regency era. In the end, Tristan and Tessa stole my heart.

Have you ever tried your hand at matchmaking? Or have you ever had a blind date?  What aspects of courtship have never changed since the nineteenth century?

I’m giving away one copy of HOW TO MARRYA DUKE in a random drawing, so be sure to leave a comment. May the Magic Romance Fairies be with all of you.

To read an excerpt and learn more about Vicky and her upcoming books, visit her website: http://www.vickydreiling.com/index.php

Backcover copy:


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Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne is a man with a mission: find a wife he can tolerate as long as they both shall live. No love is necessary—nor desired. But how to choose amid a dizzying array of wealthy-yet-witless candidates? Hire London’s infamously prim and proper matchmaker. Then pretend she’s not the most captivating woman he’s ever met . . .

Helping a devilish Duke create a contest to pick his perfect mate is the kind of challenge Tessa Mansfield relishes. Her methods may be scandalous, but she’s determined to find the notorious bachelor more than a wife—she’ll bring him true love. Yet when Tessa watches the women vie for the Duke’s affections, she longs to win his heart herself. And after a stolen kiss confirms Tristan’s desire, Tessa knows she has broken a matchmaker’s number one rule: never fall in love with the groom.
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debutshistoricals
By Authors, Giveaways, Grand Central55 Comments on Vicky Dreiling’s making a splash with her debut!

55 Replies to “Vicky Dreiling’s making a splash with her debut!”

  1. Hi there Vicky. Congrats on the debut release. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of this book. I have had it on my wishlist for months now and can’t wait to read it. I love “The Bachelor” premise. I myself, thankfully have never been on a blind date. That would be so hard for me. It usually takes awhile for me to warm up to someone and be able to have a full blown conversation. I can be so shy at times.
    Thanks agian for the chance to win this book.

  2. OMword, that book sounds so good. Lovely guest post, Vicky!!!
    Was ‘How To Marry A Duke’ your pick or title, or did you have others you choose from?
    ‘Who Wants To Marry a Duke’ would have gotten my thumbs up, but I like the title you have now, and the blurb, and the cover, and the excerpt, and the book trailer: yeap, I’ll probably love the insides too!!

    I’ve never been a matchmaker.. Okay, I was once. It was in high school and my Economics teacher was a totally prick, and my music teacher was a bit zany…like, she needed to get laid and quick (argh, I couldn’ts tand eitehr of them). So I said “hey, miseary loves company and I wrote a fake note from Ec teacher and gave it to music teacher. It was addressed, laughed about, and their friendship formed. Everyone was pretty sure they were an item and I got A’s in both classes 😉

    I’ve never been on a blind date, but I’d like to be!!

    And idk about courtship through the years, but maybe the appealing to the girls father for her hand in marriage. I think people still do it and it’s pretty cute =)

    BEST OF LUCK TO BOTH OF YOU. HAPPY Happy Release week!
    -Rita

  3. Congrats on your debut release, Vicky. I have never tried my hand at matchmaking. I don’t meet people and automatically think they’ll be perfect for a friend or acquaintance. Never been on a blind date, but would probably be open to trying it.

  4. Don’t enter me for the contest because I was lucky enough to win an copy of this off a Twitter contest! It is at the top of my “to read” pile.

    Just wanted to say congrats and that the trailer is charming!

  5. Hi Vicky, your book sounds awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    The matchmaker that falls for the groom seems like such a great story & I would love to read it.
    So please, count me in. Thanks. (BTW I love the name Tristan.)

  7. I can tell you first-hand this book is so much fun to read!!! I love the whole premise and how Vicky managed to make it so believable and touching and humorous, too!! It truly rocks. Kudos, Vicky!!!!

  8. congrats on your debut Vicky! I love the blurb, it definitely has me captivated and wanting to read more. I am heading over to put it on my wishlist right now!

  9. Congratulations on your debut Vicky! Your book sounds like a lot of fun! I’ve never been a match maker, but I have been on a blind date that turned out to be a nightmare!

    Best wishes!

    Chris

  10. Your debut sounds so interesting, and I’m definitely adding it to my TBR list. (which keeps growing longer and longer. ha!)

    In terms of what will never change about courtship, I’d have to say the anxiety never really stops. There’s always pressure when a relationship is first forming – what will others think, will my family approve, how will we hide our feelings but end up showing them anyway, how in the world can I get him to kiss me??!!?. There’s always something that stops us from full-out committing, but eventually, we find out things about ourselves that change our view and our anxieties for the next person. It’s interesting to consider what holds us back, and ultimately, what will propel us forward despite those barriers.

    Can’t wait to read the book, and thanks for the giveaway!

    Michaelene

  11. I think a reality show “The Merry Wives of Mayfair” would be fabulous to watch (all that gossip and backstabbing). The premise of your book sounds great and I can’t wait to read.

  12. Congrats on the new release, Vicky! This book sounds so fun! It’s going on my list of to reads.
    Margay

  13. Congrats Vicky on your new release! I am looking forward to reading your work! Best of luck !

  14. Congratulations on your new release. I enjoyed the blurb and can’t wait to read your book.

  15. Congratz on the release ,the books sounds stunning I have it on my wishlist and that cover is lovely ! I adore the name Tristan ! Great work !
    Desere

  16. Thanks everyone for stopping by!

    Danielle, you made my day. I still wake up and think I must have dreamed I published a book.

    Rita, good question! Before selling the book, I experimented with several titles including: Tempting Tessa, What a Duke Wants, and The Duchess Competition (the longest lasting as an unpublished author). After I retained an agent, I had to give her short sketches of follow-up books plus titles. I liked The Duchess Competition, but I couldn’t think of follow-up titles that would align with The Duchess Competition. So I changed the first title to How to Court a Duke. My editor asked if I’d mind changing the title to HOW TO MARRY A DUKE. I said, “Works for me.” So they changed 1 word. 🙂

    Oh, Jane, you are brave to be open to a blind date, but why not give it a whirl? What’s the worst that can happen? Oh, my, an IDEA just popped into my head. Must scribble it down. (Be right back.)

    OK, I’m back. Pardon me, this is what happens to writers. Some random comment or article will lead us down the IDEA path. Just ask my friend Kieran Kramer! Thanks for stopping by, Keiran. I love your books – so much fun!

    Babs, that’s great you won a copy of HTMAD on the Black Friday Twitter contest. That was so much fun. My editor and her colleague came up with the idea while taking the train to work. Isn’t that cool?

    Kirsten, I love Tristan’s name, too. There’s a funny story about the character names. I came up with Tessa easily, but couldn’t think of a name for the hero. My long-time friend Kristi Gold (author of many Silhouette Romances) and I were on the phone looking at baby name websites. I kept rejecting all of her suggestions and insisted on alliteration (where the two names start with the same letter). She got more than a little exasperated with me until we found the name Tristan.

    J & Heather – thanks so much for your kind words!

    Chris, is there a book in your nightmare blind date? See what I mean about authors? Nothing is safe from us!

    Cheers everyone! And don’t forget to visit my blog today because Beverley Kendall is giving away 1 copy of her fabulous A TASTE OF DESIRE. The cover is just gorgeous. Here’s a link: http://www.vickydreiling.com/blog/

  17. I’ve never tried to matchmake my friends (but sometimes I can’t resist thinking “well he’s kind of perfect for her…”) and I refuse to go on blind dates, so I would be a horrible contestant, haha. Congratulations on your release!

  18. Congratulations, Vicky, on your debut release! I just bought this book on Monday and it is on the very top of my TBR pile. (Don’t enter me in the contest since I already have the book.)

  19. Congratulations on the release,Vicky! I would love to win a copy.After reading it,maybe I too will be able to get a Duke march to the altar with me!!

  20. Hi Vicky!!! (Waving madly)!!! Remember me??? Congrats, dear. Publication could have happened to a sweeter person. Getting ready to whip open my copy of HOW TO MARRY A DUKE.

  21. Congrats on the debut. I love the idea of taking modern thinking and incorporating it into a historical time period. I also love that the idea still fits along with marriage ideas of the past, because women were competing by having their debuts to show them off to them most eligible men.

  22. I love finding new authors and can’t wait to read How to Marry a Duke! The love the premise you came up with Vicky and can’t wait to find out about your second release and how long we will have to wait for it! Hopefully it’s written and will be coming out soon!

    Congratulations – what a terrific way to start of the New Year.

  23. Congrats on your new release, How to Marry A Duke, Vicky! What a hot cover and wonderful premise for a book!

    I have never been on a blind date or arranged one for someone else.

    I think the one thing that hasn’t changed about dating over the years is that you date someone you don’t object to right away but are hopefully attracted to.

    Thanks so much for this giveaway!

  27. Congratulations on the release! How To Marry A Duke, sounds so different. I can’t wait to read it!

  28. Congrats on the new release! It sounds like a wonderfully delightfully fun story, I’ll be putting it on my “gotta check out” list for sure 🙂

  30. What a different concept. I love it. I look forward to reading this. Congrats on your Debut release. You must be very excited. Wishing you many sales. I tried matchmaking once and never again. It was almost a disaster but hilarious. They actually became good friends but they wanted to choke me lol
    Carol L
    Lucky4750@aol.com

  31. Vicky, I want to wish you such good luck on your debut novel. I’d love to read it. You must be over the moon with excitement!

  33. This book sounds so good I will be looking out for this one congrats Vicky

    Have Fun
    Helen

  34. Cool, congrats on your debut.

    Looks like an interesting story….I would love to read it.

    Valerie
    in Germany

  35. Loved everything – the trailer, blurb, excerpt and especially the interview and I know I would love the book too!!

  38. Thank you all for sharing your comments and for your kind words about HOW TO MARRY A DUKE. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed hanging out in cyber space with all you. Happy Reading and Best wishes for a wonderful 2011 to all of us!

  39. I’m a romantic at heart and I always try to fix my friends up! I married my High School sweetheart, so I was fortunate enough to find my match early. I loved the excerpt and I’ve added it to my wish list. Thank you for sharing!!

  40. I am always looking for new authors to read. Your book sounds really good and I can’t wait to read it.

  42. Congrats on your new release Vicky! Your books sounds fabulous and I love to read authors debut books so I will be putting this one on my list.

  43. I’ve never tried my hand at matchmaking because I’m not too good at it. I’ve never had a blind date either. I think the idea of finding someone you have something in common with, that you can have a conversation with are the same as they were in the past – that is when you were allowed to have a choice.

  47. Pingback: Interview with Vicky Dreiling « Historical Romance Addicts

  48. The Bachelor meets Regency England. I have to say, that’s one of the most inventive storylines I’ve heard of recently. Best wishes on the release.

  49. Cute video. I have certainly thought of matchmaking, but since I resented it when done to me, I decided to stay away from it. Translating The Bachelor to Regency England was a nice touch. You’ll have to admit, the Marriage Mart doesn’t seem to be all that different. The rounds of salons, parties,dances, etc. seemed to be one big contest to get a man and get him to the altar. You couldn’t blame a man for feeling hunted.
    Best of luck with the release of HOW TO MARRY A DUKE. It must be exciting to see it in print.

  51. I just finished this book last night and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Vicky gave us funny, tender, heart-wrenching and heart-warming moments…and a delightfully romantic ending!

    Great job Vicky! Looking forward to reading more of your work.
    ♥Isalys

  52. Hi Vicky,

    Congratulations on the release of your debut book. It sounds like a lot of fun…it is going on my books-to-buy list right now. Now that the debut is out of the way, what’s next for you?

  53. Congratulations on your debut! It looks like a fun story. I never tried matchmaking because I know I would be terrible at it and I never had a blind date either but I have heard some awful stories of people who have.

  54. Congrats on your debut, Vicky! Sounds like a wonderful story. Beautiful cover!
    I’ve never tried matchmaking and never had a blind date.

  55. I have watched the trailer and read the book cover and I can’t wait to read this book, as soon as I have a little extra $ this book is mine

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