Behind the Story:VEXING THE VISCOUNT by Emily Bryan
Vexing the Viscount is a tale of misadventures and mistaken identities. Our heroine Daisy Drake has been smitten with Lucian Beaumont, Viscount Rutland since they were children. Unfortunately, Lucian’s father bears a grudge against Daisy’s uncle that is unrelenting. Lucian has discovered some Roman ruins on his father’s estate and hopes the clues will lead him to a cache of Roman treasure. Daisy has to masquerade as a French courtesan in order to trick him into letting her help him.
Vexing the Viscount was a treat to write because Daisey wasn’t constrained by the usual restrictions on historical heroines. In the guise of Blanche La Tour, woman of pleasure, Daisy can be as outrageous as she wishes. Unfortunately, though she’s read up on the subject, she’s not very experienced in the arena of sensual pleasures. When she agrees to give Lucian love lessons, it’s like the blind leading the blind.
Good thing Daisy and Lucian are both quick studies!
The idea of a quasi-courtesan heroine came to me after studying these unusual women. During a time when a woman was measured by the rank of her husband, these independent ladies of the night shunned conventional marriage. Can’t say I blame them. A married woman’s status during the Georgian era was on par with a child or a mental incompetent. A woman couldn’t hold property, vote, manage her finances, or even have the definitive say in the rearing of her own children. In the eyes of the law, she belonged to her husband as surely as his horse or his hound. However, a courtesan retained ownership of herself along with the possessions she accumulated in the course of her career.
A top-tier courtesan was much more than a prostitute. She was a consort, a hostess, an ornament to her patron’s arm. She spoke several languages and could entertain in any of them. She might hold salons for important artists and philosophers. She’d count the poets and playwrights of the day as her intimate friends. She might bed down with royalty and bear state secrets. A few courtesans were suspected of espionage. Her wit and exquisite taste were as eagerly sought after as entry to her boudoir. She was a rock star and the tabloid press and cartoonists (Georgian paparazzi!) loved her.
If you’d like to know more about the backstory of Vexing the Viscount, please visit my Courtesan Club. You’ll take a peek into a courtesan’s closet (wait till you see the shoes!), read a little from a “bird of paradise’s” memoires (she had plenty to remember!) and time-travel to Roman Britain (part of Vexing the Viscount takes place in 405AD!). Enjoy!
Thank you for having me today, Mandy. In closing, I’d like to offer a signed copy of Vexing the Viscount to one lucky commenter. I’ll be popping in to answer questions, so please have at me! The drawing for the book will take place tomorrow and I will post the winner’s name here. Please check back to see if you’re the winner and then drop me an email through my website to let me know where to send your prize.
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I’m eagerly awaiting the release of Vexing the Viscount
. Just finished Emily’s Distracting the Duchess. A great read.Wow, I can’t imagine I’d ever survive in the Georgian era when women were nothing but a man’s posession. That would be the day !
Hey there Emily,
Had a hard time finding you the past couple of days. Anyway, glad to see you again and to read more about this book. I’m loving every word! :dnc:
Hi Emily!! looks like a great read, can’t wait!
Hey Emily, It seems so funny in Georgian Era, courtesans were as independant as normal woman are in todays times. They also seem to have been more “accepted”. Where in todays times the “ladies of the night ” are less accepted and more restricted, not looked upon as favorably. I think this would have been an interesting book to research for!
loved the excerpt what got you started in writing historical novels?
Karen–Yes, we had some technical difficulties yesterday. I’m glad you found me today!
Michelle–Thanks for your kind words! I’m looking forward to hosting you and Mandy’s next release on my blog Jan 23rd! Still waiting for the jpg of the cover (hint, hint
Jane–Courtesans lived on the fringes of polite society. The men accepted them, of course. The women, NEVER! Even when a courtesan married her well-heeled patron, the marriage might be kept secret for years to protect him from the stigma. Courtesans were objects of curiosity. They were the rock stars of their day. Fascinating, but to the strict members of the London ton, “beyond the pale.”
Angie–I always preferred reading historical novels, so it was natural for me to write them. Now that my reading tastes have expanded to include paranormal and suspense, I”m playing with a couple stories in those sub-genres as well.
This sounds like a great read!
Great post too.
CC
Well, it takes one to know one, Christie! I LOVED your DIVORCED, DESPERATE AND DATING! I had to read it in short increments though. It was right after my surgery in December and I had to be careful not to bust my stitches laughing! :cheer: :cheer:
Hi Emily,
I love historicals but I’ve also read some great paranormals! What kind of paranormals have you thought of?
Where did you start to do your research? What fun!
LuAnn Morgans last blog post..Starting 2009 on the Right Page!
Who are some of your favorite romance authors?
Another great excerpt!
Emily, I think I enter to win your books everytime I see a contest for them and I never win!!! Congratulations to all the people who have won your books, but dang I am jealous!
Eva–I know I should probably follow the trends and write about vampires or werewolves, but there is something in me that just resists doing the expected. My paranormal features Light and Dark Elves (a la Norse mythology), shape-shifting godlings and a dragon with the power to induce nuclear winter. Oh and time travel! Gee, is that enough weirdness for one book?
LuAnn–Librarians cringe when they see me coming. I also use the internet, but I’m particular about which sites I trust.
Jane–I adore the work of Jo Beverly, Madeline Hunter, Shana Abe (her prose positively sings!) and Sherry Thomas. But I have some favs outside romance too–MM Kaye, Mary Stewart and for sheer bizarreness Neil Gaiman.
Teresa and Tami–Thanks for your comments. Don’t worry, Tami. I’ve got 50 copies of Vexing the Viscount to give away and there have only been 11 winners so far. The odds are still in your favor if you stick with the tour!
My question for Emily is Do you have very much input into how the cover looks for your books?
I have added this one to my TBR list
Joye–Dorchester sends out a questionaire for me to fill out with info. I describe the hero and heroine’s physical characteristics and the type of costume. I also describe scenes that might lend themselves to cover treatment. However, I really have very little say in what actually goes on the cover. My request that Daisy be masked was nixed. I’m well aware that the costumes that Daisy and Lucian are wearing are much more Regency than Georgian.
But the Dorchester artists gave them the right hair color and Daisy is wearing a “sort of” red dress as she does for the two masquerades. And it looks as if Lucian is about to lift her onto the duke’s desk (as he does in the book). I think Dorchester’s production department did a good job of capturing the aching longing between them.
So I hope readers will decide what’s between the covers is at least as important as what’s on them!
:read:
I cannot wait to read this!!!!
“quasi-courtesan heroine” :cheer: that had to be a ton of fun to write!
Mandy M Roths last blog post..Behind the Story:VEXING THE VISCOUNT by Emily Bryan
Hi Emily,
I had fun commenting on your site last night, then just came from Raine’s site—-you are BUSY today!! I love the premise of the ‘blind leading the blind’ but they are both quick studies. Too funny. I’m off to visit your Courtesan’s Club and peek into the closet to learn about the backstory.
Thanks, Mandy for having Emily.
Juile
OH, Just wanted to let you know that since I first “met” you on CTR and heard your interview, I’ve had Pleasuring the Pirate in my TBR; it’s next in line. Can’t wait—I’ll probably end up listen to your interview all over again just for fun!
Julie
:read:
Great historical reference for the Courtesan’s Club, Emily.
I’v bookmarked it.
Juile
Mandy–It was fun. Since Daisy and Lucian were both virgins, the sense of discovery and wonderment was very refreshing. Then too, there was a comedic element that I was able to play up. There are few things in life as inherently funny as sex, especially when neither party is entirely sure of what they’re doing.
Julie–How nice to “see” you again! I hope you love my PIRATE!
I’d love to read this book!
This looks like a fun read. I love the idea. Since I hate having to live in the constraints of today’ s society as they are I would have had to be a rebel then too. LOL
Rhonda :read:
Hey Emily!
I just hopped on the blog tour yesterday and you excerpt has sucked me in :madeday: The book sounds great!
So I will now be following your around for the next month..lol
~Afshan
:read: I would really so much like to get a copy of Vexing the Viscount please Emily
Hi Emily! Fascinating info on courtesans! I’ll be visiting your Courtesan’s Club to find out more about the backstory of Vexing the Viscount. Thanks for the terrific blog!
I love historicals and will definitely be looking for this one. :jig: :lorddan: :lorddan:
Lisa, Connie, Rhonda, Afshan, Rhonda and Deborah–Thanks so much for your enthusiasm! I’m so glad to see you’ve all joined my merry band of blog “touristas!” Just remember there are plenty of chances to win. One a day between now and Vexing the Viscount’s release day, February 24th!
My DH chooses the winner in a random manner each day. Good luck all!
Looks like another one….. that is more and more authors to add to my list…. my hubby is getting very …um… vexed at my list of must reads!!!! LOL
Trust me, Ms. Vampiress! A little vexation is good for a man.
:sexy:
:DD
I enjoyed the link on the historical costume and occupation explanation. I had not had a chance to explore the site much but enjoyed the page. Informative without being like a textbook. I have won this book so do not enter me in the contest.
Vexing the Viscount is on my wishlist!
Hi Emily! Historicals are one of my favorite genres. Such interesting information on courtesans! I can’t wait to read Vexing the Viscount!
Very interesting post.
what time in history would you most like to go back to visit and what is the one thing you would bring back?
Oh, wow! What a good question, Angie! I think I’d have liked to go back and see an original production of one of Shakespeare’s plays at the old Rose Theatre–no penny ticket that would have me standing the whole time. I’d want to be up in the seats. As far as what I’d bring back, I’m not big on acquiring things. Being a condo dweller, my space is limited, but a signature edition of the play would be nice. Of course, I’d want my visit to be brief. The Elizabethan era was fascinating, but the plague was no joke.
Maura, Sue A, Margie, Linsey and Donna S.–Thanks for stopping by. Hope you’ll continue join my tour.
being english and being born to near where the plague started in eyam i learned a lot about the plague
i now live on the east coast of england where i live we have only one family that died of the plague the mum and dad and 5 children the graves are together with no other ones near them it is sad to see, i have always loved history and in 2000 wrote a journal of the history of the primary school in my village, how long does it take you to do reseach on your choosen time for your books?
Thank you for letting me guest here, Mandy. What a fun site! Love all the little whosie-what’sits we can add! :rockon:
My DH has spoken and the daily winner is: DEBORAH! Please contact me through my website with your mailing info.
For everyone else, please join me on the next stop on my tour for more fun and another chance to win. I’m at Kelli Estes’ Blog. I’m talking about villains today and yes! there is another excerpt. Hope to see YOU soon!
Just one more quick answer for Angie. Research is an ongoing thing for me. I usually spend about a month really focusing on the year in question and then as I write I keep researching as new questions pop up. Thanks for your imput!
Congrats Deb and thanks for stopping by to share your behind the story, Emily!!!!!!!!!
What a fun (and informative) post, Emily! The book looks positively delicious!
Thanks, Leanna! Glad you found my blogtour. Hope to see you on another stop! :dnc: