Victoria & Violet by Rachel Brimble

Please welcome Rachel Brimble author of Victoria & Violet

Rachel Brimble will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Victoria & Violet

by Rachel Brimble

 

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GENRE:   Historical romance

 

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INTERVIEW:

1. What elements are necessary components for this genre?

 

I think historical romance is such a popular genre because it is so transporting – therefore, it is hugely important to evoke a sense of time and place in historical fiction. Readers need to really believe they are in the Victorian, Edwardian or Tudor era. The other necessary components are deep emotion and, of course, a happy ever after that leaves readers feeling entirely satisfied and happy.

2. How did you come up with your idea for your novel?

 

This book and the entire series had been on my mind for about three years and last year, I knew it was time to bite the bullet. I have also held the ambition that I would one day write a novel with real characters and real events, but fear of the unknown and getting it wrong overrode my ability to start.

The pandemic changed that – if Covid has taught us anything, it’s taught us to get on with what we want to do, where we want to go etc, because you have no idea what’s around the corner!

3. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

 

I am just finishing the book that will come after Victoria & Violet (book 2 in the Royal Maids series) and hope to send that to my editor in the next week or so. After that, I will either start writing book 3 or maybe spend some time on an Edwardian series that I have in the works. I love mixing my work up. I find it keeps me fresh, which I hope means my writing remains fresh for my readers.

4. Can you give us a sneak peek into this book?

 

Of course! Here is a little snippet from a scene between heroine Violet and hero James…

 

“She…” Violet hesitated, feeling foolish carrying out the queen’s instructions when James was quite clearly busy and not at all happy. “She suggested we take a picnic.”

“A pic…” His eyes widened before his cheeks mottled. “It’s December!”

“I can pack some hot soup and bread. It will be…fun.”

“Fun? I can’t take myself off for a picnic when there is so much to do. What on earth will the workers think of me?”

His mood made her decidedly uneasy, but she could not defer on the queen’s request. She lifted her chin. “I’m sorry, James, but if the queen commands it, we cannot refuse. Besides, it will be last time you will see me for a while.”

He dropped his hand from his hair, his dark eyes boring into hers. “What are you talking about?”

“I have to go home. My mother claims my father is ill. Not that I believe a word of it, of course. But still, I must go.”

“Your mother is exerting her power again?”

“I have little doubt.”

He exhaled heavily, his gaze softening. “Give me an hour and I will come. Where shall we meet?”

“In the folly.”

“Very well.” His gaze dropped to her lips before he reached around her toward the door and opened it. “You should go.”

He stood so close, Violet could see flecks of blue in his eyes, smell the subtle maleness of him. Her treacherous heart swelled with silly, dangerous love. She forced a smile and ducked under his arm and through the open doorway.

5. Do you belong to a critique group? If so, how does this help or hinder your writing?

I don’t belong to a group although I do have two fabulous groups of writer friends who I see regularly – however, I do have one critique partner who I have worked with for almost ten years and many books! She writes contemporary romance and I mainly concentrate on historical, but we are a great team and really rely on one another – at least, I hope she relies on me like I do her!

 

6. When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step?

 

I have also wanted to write books and when my youngest daughter started school I had a ‘now or never’ moment – that first book was published in 2007 by The Wild Rose Press. The courage to submit came from my desire to be a novelist more anything else, but the encouragement definitely came from writer friends I had made online and through the Romantic Novelists Association. I recommend any aspiring writer to find their tribe – you will need their support over and over again throughout your career.

7. What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)

 

Best – “Give yourself permission to write a crappy first draft.” Julie Cohen – this changed my process entirely and quadrupled by output overnight. I still write the first draft from the beginning to the end without looking back.

Worst – “Give up now, I do not believe you will ever be published.” A chapter contest judge (2006) – 28 published books later, I am very happy that I ignored this particular piece of advice!

8. How do you maintain your creativity?

 

Great question! Sometimes I have no idea, haha! I think all writers have to learn their craft, but they are also born storytellers and it is the pull to tell a story that starts them off on their writing journey. That need to entertain, bring characters to life and explore issues and eras is what maintains my creativity. Time and time again, when the writing is hard, I tell myself I’m giving up and then within a few days, I’m back at the laptop.

9. Are your plotting bunnies, angels or demons?

 

They’re a mixed bunch! Parts of my plots have always flowed easily and others are like walking through very thick mud – novel writing is hard, no matter how prolific an author might become. Each book (at least in my experience!) presents different challenges in different ways – writing is never predictable, trust me!

10. Anything else you might want to add?

 

I would love any aspiring romance writers out there to consider working with me through my First Chapter Critique service! For just £30/$30, I will critique the first 3,500 words of your work in progress or completed novel as well as providing a 3-4 page report on everything from characterization and point of view to setting and dialogue.

I’d love to help make 2023 the year YOU are published!

 

LINK: https://rachelbrimble.com/first-chapter-critique-service/

BLURB:

 

When Violet Parker is told she will be Queen Victoria’s personal housemaid, she cannot believe her good fortune. She finally has the chance to escape her overbearing mother, a servant to the Duchess of Kent. Violet hopes to explore who she is and what the world has to offer without her mother’s schemes overshadowing her every thought and action.
Then she meets James Greene, assistant to the queen’s chief political adviser, Lord Melbourne. From entirely different backgrounds and social class, Violet and James should have neither need nor desire to speak to one another, yet through their service, their paths cross and their lives merge—as do their feelings.
Only Victoria’s court is not always the place for romance, but rather secrets, scandals, and conspiracies…

 

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EXCERPT:

 

“She…” Violet hesitated, feeling foolish carrying out the queen’s instructions when James was quite clearly busy and not at all happy. “She suggested we take a picnic.”

 

“A pic…” His eyes widened before his cheeks mottled. “It’s December!”

 

“I can pack some hot soup and bread. It will be…fun.”

 

“Fun? I can’t take myself off for a picnic when there is so much to do. What on earth will the workers think of me?”

 

His mood made her decidedly uneasy, but she could not defer on the queen’s request. She lifted her chin. “I’m sorry, James, but if the queen commands it, we cannot refuse. Besides, it will be last time you will see me for a while.”

 

He dropped his hand from his hair, his dark eyes boring into hers. “What are you talking about?”

 

“I have to go home. My mother claims my father is ill. Not that I believe a word of it, of course. But still, I must go.”

 

“Your mother is exerting her power again?”

 

“I have little doubt.”

 

He exhaled heavily, his gaze softening. “Give me an hour and I will come. Where shall we meet?”

 

“In the folly.”

 

“Very well.” His gaze dropped to her lips before he reached around her toward the door and opened it. “You should go.”

 

He stood so close, Violet could see flecks of blue in his eyes, smell the subtle maleness of him. Her treacherous heart swelled with silly, dangerous love. She forced a smile and ducked under his arm and through the open doorway.

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Rachel lives in a small town near Bath, England. She is the author of 29 novels including the Ladies of Carson Street trilogy, the Shop Girl series (Aria Fiction) and the Templeton Cove Stories (Harlequin). Her latest novel, Victoria & Violet is the first book in her new Royal Maids series with the Wild Rose Press and releases 17th October 2022.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association as well as the Historical Novel Society and has thousands of social media followers all over the world. 

To sign up for her newsletter (a guaranteed giveaway every month!), click here: https://bit.ly/3zyH7dt

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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Victoria-Violet-Royal-Maids-Book-ebook/dp/B0B6T47ZX5/

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:

 

Rachel Brimble will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

"http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4378