Plotting Suzanne and Malcolm's next adventure with Audrey and Nancy
Speaking of which, Mélanie and I just got back from a trip to New York. I had a wonderful time taking Mélanie around the Kensington offices, where everyone was so nice to her. Mélanie was awake and smiling and then obligingly slept through a long lunch with my editor Audrey LaFehr and my agent Nancy Yost. Audrey, Nancy, and I had a great time as we always do. We did some great talking about the next books in the series and we discussed the possibility of an enovella, between Imperial Scandal and the next book, that would fill in some of the backstory. I’m thinking of doing it around Suzanne/Mel and Malcolm/Charles’s meeting and marriage. What do you think? Is that something you’d like to read about? What would you like me to touch on in the story in terms of events and POV? Are there other episodes from their past you’d like to see dramatized?
I’m finally back to updating the Fraser Correspondence. I’ve just posted a letter from Mel/Suzette to Simon about their arrival in Brussels.
If you read Imperial Scandal, do let me know what you think!
Tracy Grant - Novelist 
March 28, 2012 at 2:56 pm
What a thrilling concept! I am sure I speak for all of your readers when I say the very idea of being able to read about our beloved characters’ meeting and marriage has set all our hearts on it coming to fruition! What glimmers we have read previously about these events, while gems in and of themselves, would certainly lead to a treasure of a novel!
March 28, 2012 at 4:06 pm
I’m in the middle of a re-read of Vienna Waltz and many little phrases in that book have been re-piquing my interest in the days and events surrounding the Frazer/Rannoch marriage. I’d love to read such an e-novella. Please, do write it.
I’d also love to read about Mel/Suzanne meeting Raoul O’Roarke and her early days of working with him.
(I’m looking forward to going straight on to Imperial Scandal when I’m done Vienna Waltz. Your books stand up wonderfully to multiple readings; this is, I think, my fourth time through VW.)
March 28, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Downloaded “Imperial Scandal” and finished it at 2 this morning. Thoroughly enjoyed it! Harry and Cordelia have joined my list of favorite characters. I hope they appear in later novels. I like the idea of a novella, even though we know quite a bit about Melanie and Charles’ marriage from “Beneath a Silent Moon” and “Daughter of the Game.” I also really enjoyed “The Mask of Night.” Any plans for additional sequels to that? I would really like to know what happens to Belle and Oliver as well as David and all his responsibilities. Don’t just leave these people hanging, please!
March 28, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Yes please!!! I love all of your books, so anything that you do, I will support and enjoy!
March 28, 2012 at 6:40 pm
Thanks, Amanda! I’m really excited about the possibility of writing the novella. I have some images of these events in my mind, but it will be fun to explore it in detail.
March 28, 2012 at 6:44 pm
That’s so cool that you’re reading VIenna Waltz for the fourth time, Cate! Are new things standing out? It’ll be great to here what you think of Imperial Scandal going straight on to it afterwards. And yes, I think Mel/Suzanne’s meeting with Raoul and the start of her working for him would also be fascinating to dramatize.
March 28, 2012 at 6:48 pm
So great to know you’ve already read Imperial Scandal, Pam! I love Harry and Cordelia as well. They both play prominent roles in the next book in the series, which I’m finishing up now, and we get to see how their marriage is working out post-Waterloo.
I definitely want to go forward post-Mask of Night – I have definite ideas of about what happens with Oliver and Bel, David and Simon, Raoul, etc… My plan now is to catch the Suzanne/Malcolm chronology up to an equivalent time – it’ll be a bit tricky but I think I can do it without repeating myself too much and then move forward.
March 28, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Thanks, Tiffany! It’s great to know there are readers excited to read more!
March 28, 2012 at 8:38 pm
Oh, yes, I’m dying to read about how their marriage came about, we’ve had hints of it in the other books that are so tantalizing! I can also think of other events early in the relationship that I’d love to read about, the birth of their son, and isn’t there a time when Charles/Malcolm was gravely wounded?
March 28, 2012 at 8:40 pm
Sorry, that previous comment got posted with the wrong name!
March 28, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Great memory, Karin – yes, Charles/Malcolm was seriously wounded a few months into their marriage – its referred to in one of the “extra” letters in Secrets of a Lady and also mentioned in Vienna Waltz and Imperial Scandal. That would be interested to dramatize, and I’ve also thought of writing about Colin’s birth, particularly now I’ve had a baby myself. The fourth book (after Princess’s Secret, which I’m finishing now) will take place when their daughter Jessica is a baby – I’m excited to write about a baby while I have one of my own.
March 28, 2012 at 9:20 pm
Oh my goodness, yes, I so much want to read about Charles’ proposal and their marriage. And about Melanie and Raoul’s meeting. If you wrote it as an e-book, would you make it Charles/Melanie or Malcolm/Suzanne? Since it would be an e-novella, could you offer readers both options and let them choose via which one they buy? Wouldn’t that be an interesting way to “vote” on which set of names your readers’ prefer?
Not, of course, that names matter to your dedicated readers – I’ll buy anything you write. In fact, I’ve bought the e-versions of your out-of-print books of which I already own used copies.
And I also would love to see that fourth book that takes place after Mask of Night. And then, I keep thinking of Colin, grown up, and the Crimean War (do I have the timing on that right?)
Oh, just keep writing and I’ll keep reading. And re-reading. Thanks.
Jeanne
March 28, 2012 at 9:29 pm
Thanks so much, Jeanne! Didn’t you suggest the possibility of a novella about their engagement and wedding a while ago? I think that’s what gave me the idea. Not sure about the names – since Kensington is doing it, it will probably be Malcolm and Suzanne, but it would be fun to have both options. Thanks so much for buying the eversions of my historical romances – Shadows of the Heart (the fourth in the Lescaut Quartet) was just released today.
I definitely want to do the book that’s up on the site as Book #4. As I said, I need to bring Malcolm & Suzanne forward on a parallel track (things won’t be exactly the same, but I think it will be interesting to get an alternative-universe take on Malcolm’s reactions to the truth about Suzanne; the characters have grown and neither will react precisely as they did in Daughter/Secrets; and Colin won’t be kidnapped).
Someday I’d like to write about Colin at the University of Paris during the 1832 uprising. And then he and Jessica would be in their 30s in 1848…
March 29, 2012 at 12:48 pm
[Takes a bow] Yes, I was the first to mention it and I’m so happy that you’re considering it seriously.
Wow, a parallel track, a different reaction from Malcolm. That really gets my imagination spinning. What fun to imagine the differences I’d like to see. And I’d love to know what other readers would like to see as well.
Jeanne
March 29, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Applauding the bow, Jeanne! I love the novella idea and my editor and agent are really excited about it.
I’m looking forward to exploring the parallel track. I’d love to hear what differences you’d expect and other readers would as well!
April 3, 2012 at 2:44 am
I would love to read a novella about Charles & Mel. Anything you’re willing to write about their lives, I’d love to read!
I have my copy of Imperial Scandal, but haven’t started it yet. I finally got around to reading The Hunger Games, and then had to see the movie a couple times and read the entire trilogy. I think my brain has processed it now, so I can move on to somethine else.
April 3, 2012 at 8:04 am
Glad you like the novella idea, Susan! I’ll be excited to hear what you think of Imperial Scandal. I confess I haven’t read the Hunger Games trilogy yet – largely because I’m pretty sure once I dive in I’ll read the whole thing nonstop, and I don’t have that kind of reading time right now!
April 4, 2012 at 11:12 am
Tracy, I just got through reading the e-version of Imperial Scandal here in Afghanistan — just wanted you to know you have readers all around the world! Loved Harry and Cordelia, and how you humanized Raoul as well. One of the things I enjoy about your stories is how the love story is interwoven in the marriage, children and daily life, rather than concluding with the proposal. It seems much more true to real life and adds a great deal to the story.
April 4, 2012 at 6:11 pm
Wonderful to have a reading report from Afghanistan, Jeanine – so glad to hear you enjoyed the book. I loved writing about Harry and Cordelia (they play a prominent role in the next book as well) and it was fascinating to write from Raoul’s POV. I’ve always been intrigued by the way “daily life” details intersect with a relationship. Imperial Scandal in particular ended being a look at a variety of marriages – the Rannochs/Frasers, the Davenports, the Ashtons, Simon & David. It’s a theme I love exploring.
April 10, 2012 at 3:37 am
Tracy, — did you enable comments for last week’s post? I’ve tried twice to leave a comment and wordpress won’t allow me to save it. best, Jeanine
April 10, 2012 at 8:28 am
Oh, how frustrating! I just checked and comments seemed to be enabled. It let me leave a comment. Please try again, and if it doesn’t work post your comment here instead. So sorry about that!