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'LOVE IN DISGUISE' INSIDER NEWS


portrait I came across this black and white portrait of a young man in a book about Victorian artists and fell in love with what I saw in his haunted face. It's by Sir Edward John Poynter, and is simply called: "Head of a Young Man." I couldn't stop thinking about him, and so he became Warwick Jones, the hero of "LOVE IN DISGUISE". I sent this picture to the artist who was doing my cover, but alas, beauty really is in the eye of the beholder, and while Warwick looks very well on the cover, he doesn't look like this. What do you think? Is this how you imagine Warwick to be?

This book became a trilogy (although it wasn't planned that way). Signet was starting a new line of "extended Regencies" and wanted me to write the lead off one. I loved the concept - so much more room to move around in! But the story had to merit all that space, it had to be complex and literally moving... I found the perfect vehicle for it - a coachman! (If you don't like puns, I suggest the "let's sulk" website, where none are allowed.)

I love Christmas Eve in NYC, there's something so magical about it. When I was trying to plot my first extended Regency, the Kindly Old Doctor and I, and Our Susie, were walking down Fifth avenue, near Rockefeller Center. She tugged at my sleeve - because she saw a... coachman. Now, understand please, we Native New Yorkers leave carriage rides for the tourists. But this coachman!

Blond as ice, with a face that belonged in a top-rated Soap. (In fact, Susie was convinced he was an out of work actor. I think he was literally heaven sent.) We talked the amiable Doc into letting us take a coach ride. But he was shocked at our choice. "That horse doesn't look so good" he said of the old gray nag pulling the carriage. Men can be so naive.

There was a line of tourists waiting for this particular carriage - mostly female, dragging confused males with them. But we are, after all, native New Yorkers. We commandeered it. The coachman was beautiful. He was charming.

He became Julian, Viscount Hazelton, down on his luck, and so up in the driver's seat of the Brighton Coach, one of the heroes in LOVE IN DISGUISE, and reason for the entire trilogy.

I love coaching, obviously. And the Regency of course.

And gorgeous coachmen...
you'll have to find those for yourself.

By the way. We checked back, and so did many others. Our blond hero was never seen driving a coach in New York City again. There's something about Christmas Eve in New York City that's so magical..... But if you ever happen to catch sight of him, there are a whole lot of people who would like to know about it. He looks just like Julian, Viscount Hazelton. Drop me a note if you see him!

A question. The "Extended Regency" concept didn't have a long life. The line was eventually dropped. It was a hybrid, true. But I sure enjoyed writing them. Did you like the concept? Just wondering.

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