I’ve done something terrible.
No, I haven’t murdered my husband (yet!). I didn’t wear black shoes with white
pants, or eat a double serving of death by chocolate. It’s way more serious
than that.
I feel really bad admitting
this, but the brutal fact of the matter is that I submitted a manuscript with too many characters in it.
There I’ve said it!
In my own defence, it was the
third in a four-book series and some of the characters I brought into it were
family members from the previous two. I
don’t know about you, but if I read a series, I do like to know what’s going on
in the lives of the characters I’ve already met. My editor argued that it would
be too confusing for people who might not have read the previous two books.
Worse, none of these characters drove the story forward.
She’s right, as always. Even
so, as I reader I do like to get the full…well, story. Since we’re talking
about my series of Regencies, The
Forsters, let’s take a moment to think about arguably the best-known
Regency romance in the world, Pride and Prejudice. I really would like to have
known more about Caroline Bingley’s reaction when Lizzie and Darcy got hitched.
I’d give an awful lot to know how Wickham felt at the time, too. Yes, I know,
there are trillions of books out there written by modern authors who tell me
all of that, but I’d like to have heard it from Jane’s own pen.
Anyway, there were no such
problems with the second book in the series, Beguiling the Barrister, released by Carina in June. This is a
Regency courtroom drama, set against the backdrop of the famous Old Bailey
Courthouse.
England 1814. Flick- more properly known as Lady Felicity Forster
- was twelve when she decided she was going to marry her handsome neighbour,
Darius Grantley. Now, embarking on her second season, she's no nearer to
achieving that ambition. Drastic action is called for if she's to make Darius
fall in love with her.
Darius adores the lovely, high-spirited sister of the Marquess of
Denby, but he's aware that Flick is far above him socially and he can't afford
to keep her in the style to which she's accustomed. Winning the high-profile
Cuthbert case being heard at the Old Bailey will earn him a promised
appointment to King's Counsel and just enough income to prove a home for his
well-born lady.
But the cards are stacked against Darius. Not only do the
newspapers trumpet his clients' guilt, but a powerful peer bribes the witnesses
and threatens Flick unless Darius sabotages his own case...
The Forsters Book 2 – Beguiling the
Barrister by Wendy Soliman – Available from Carina Press and all etailors from June
25th. http://amzn.to/18f6YFi
Wendy
6 comments:
The book sounds wonderful, Wendy - congrats on the new release!
As for too many characters - sigh - I'm guilty too. For my series (which will be six books when all is said and done, I think), I wanted to introduce my whole team of Mindhunters at the first meeting. My editor nipped that in the bud. LOL So hard to focus on just a few when I know they rely on a team...but the others get their time in the spotlight in other books. Still, it's hard. :)
Black shoes with white pants. I gasp at the mere thought. :)
I love your covers so much. (that sounds way too personal). But seriously, I get addicted to your Regency novels. Congratulations, Wendy.
Oh--this is me in WIP. I know I have too many characters, but but but...the story needs them :) Hard to have suspense when there's only a couple of people to choose from :)
Your book sounds wonderful. Love the idea, so fresh and original :)
Too many characters, Wendy? How many is too many? I'll never forget reading Agatha Christy's Ten Little Indians. She introduces 11 character (including the boatman) in the first few chapters. And none of them is a secondary type, either. All major players--read victims--aIndians is arguably the most popular mystery novel in history. Anyway, that said, I too was told to cut some of the character names in my recent submission, Rooms To Die For. As usual, Wendy, my editor was also correct. So as writers, where do we go from here?
Oy, I sympathise. It's hard to cut beloved characters. I love the sound of your book - something a bit different.
Thanks, ladies. Glad I'm not the only one with this problem.
Post a Comment