APEC is creating havoc in Waikiki. Those residents should have escaped to the ninth island, Las Vegas. Today's guest takes us on an escape to the gambling world of the Georgian era - please join me in welcoming Emery Lee!
Emery Lee is a lifelong equestrienne and history buff who loves nothing more than a romantic story that also provides food for the intellect. She currently resides in NE Georgia with her husband of twenty-eight years, two sons, a little dog with a big attitude, and her two horses.
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| Georgian painter George Stubbs |
Emery: First of all, thank you so very kindly for inviting me to your blog!
Kim: You're welcome! I enjoy sharing paradise with romance authors! What drew you to horses and history?
When I wrote my first novel, THE HIGHEST STAKES, ( a tale of passion, retribution and horseracing), I already had a deep interest and solid understanding of equines, having been involved with horses for the greater part of my life. I also had a strong love of history but knew little about the mid-18th century, the era I had chosen to write about. Because I wanted to vividly and realistically build the world my characters lived in, I set out to learn all that I did not know to the inclusion of anything that might touch their lives - and it was certainly not limited to horseracing!
Thus, I went to work. I studied the wars and politics of the
era and discovered the King of England at this time wasn’t even English, nor
was he very secure on his throne!
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| Georgian artist William Hogarth |
I learned of a political system rife with corruption that
was well known and frequently satirized in the scandal sheets, the art of
William Hogarth, and the plays of John Gaye and Henry Fielding.
I learned that marriages in the upper classes were almost
never made for love- the reason why so many men kept mistresses, and that wives
were legally viewed as little more than their husband’s property.
The aristocracy scorned anything resembling work, and for
this singular lack of virtuous industry, immersed themselves instead in vice.
Gambling was all the rage from horseracing to cockfighting, pugilism and
cudgeling, cards and dice. Even many women became obsessed with gaming.
Parliament tried to control it with legislation but the upper classes, feeling
themselves above the law simply thumbed their noses and paid off the
magistrates!
All of this is encompassed in the Georgian world of THE
HIGHEST STAKES and FORTUNE’S SON.
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| Georgian artist Thomas Gainsborough |
Kim: Can you share a funny or unusual story about a historical horse?
One
of the minor secondary characters I used in both THE HIGHEST STAKES and
FORTUNE’S SON is William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (Billy the Butcher after
the ’45 and Battle of Culloden). He was George II’s youngest son, a high
ranking general and an avid turf follower who upon his retirement from his
infamous military career, largely dedicated himself to breeding racehorses. It
was from his stables in 1764 that a young horse named Eclipse emerged. In his
racing career Eclipse was undefeated and later became a phenomenal success as a
sire. It is estimated that Eclipse is now a tail-male ancestor of ninety five
percent of contemporary thoroughbreds, or nearly every living thoroughbred in
the world!
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| George Stubbs' portrait of Elipse |
Later,
upon growing enough confidence to feel I belonged, I joined the Georgia Romance
Writers, RWA and the Historical Novel Society- all wonderful and supportive
groups for aspiring novelists.
Kim: What inspired FORTUNE'S SON?
Emery: FORTUNE’S
SON is a character driven novel that was completely inspired by two prominent
secondary characters from THE HIGHEST STAKES, Philip Drake, a reckless
adventurer disowned by his family and Lady Susannah Messingham, a beautiful
young widow. When Philip and Sukey first came together on the page in THS they
had this incredibly chemistry. They also had a long history that was much implied
but little told. When I finished THS, I found I just couldn’t let these
characters go. They kept invading my dreams and demanding I write their story!
So I did.
Although
my first two books are connected by characters, there are some elemental
differences. FORTUNE’S SON is set in the gambling, rather than the turf world,
and has a stronger emphasis on the central characters’ romantic journey. It
also has a higher level of sensuality than my first book.
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| Georgian artist Thomas Rowlandson |
Kim: What's next for Emery Lee?
Emery: I actually have a number of writing projects in various
stages of development. I hope you will
soon see THS and FS come full circle with THE BASTARD’S LEGACY, another
Georgian era romantic novel that features Philip’s bastard son and Robert and
Charlotte’s daughter as the main protagonists.
Kim: Oh, I love it when an author brings us full circle! Mahalo, Emery for joining us today! In honor of your visit, I am giving away a print copy of FORTUNE'S SON to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about something for which you are fortunate - I am fortunate to live in Hawaii!
2. This giveaway is open to all readers.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, November 12, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 13.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
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| George Stubbs |
Check out my review of FORTUNE'S SON on Goodreads at this link.
To learn more about Emery Lee and her books, log onto her website at www.authoremerylee.com.
To learn more about the Georgian period, check out Emery's blog at www.georgianjunkie.wordpress.com.
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| Thomas Gainsborough |
I think many will laugh but I feel fortunate because I live no longer in a city but in a more rural area. I feel so much better here. And I am fortunate to have a wonderful family and online friends
ReplyDeleteI fortunate to have the love of family and friends. I just wish a lot of my family lived closer.
ReplyDeleteHi Kim and Emery,
ReplyDeleteThank you for a fascinating interview. I'm also a lover of horses. I was fortunate to be able to be around them when I was growing up in London. I loved being able to ride them in Hyde Park, and attend horse shows and gymkhanas with them. My friends Uncle owned a lot of carriages, open landeaus and beautiful horses. I have such wonderful memories of my childhood.
I haven't read any of Emery's books yet, so would love to be entered into the contest.
dpd333(AT) aol dot com
I'm fortunate to have such a wonderful family!
ReplyDelete@Diane D-
ReplyDeleteI also gew up with horses and taught my two children and husband to ride. It was great fun while it lasted but the boys grew older and lost interst. Now I'm the only rider left in the family but horses will always be part of my life. As a fellow horse lover, I am certain you will appreciate the details and turf history incorporated into THE HIGHEST STAKES. While FORTUNE'S SON does not have this same equine emphasis, it does however begin with a horse race that ended THS and there is also a very unusual racing wager (Lord March's race against time) a true event that I delighted in using in the book's resolution.
Warmest regards- Emery
Loved the interview and the book sounds interesting. Sounds like you had a real eye opening first time writing experience and congratulations on making it. I'm sure just getting that first book published was thrilling.
ReplyDeleteI'm fortunate to live in Las Vegas because although we get the brain boiling summertime heat...we don't have Hurricanes, Tornadoes, too many earthquakes, Volcano's, Tidal Waves, snow or even all that much rain.
We have Hot and then we have not so hot, with the occasional flash flood. Not really much to deal with in regards to weather, unlike other parts of the world.
I'm fortunate for my family. The love me unconditionally, support me in so many ways and keep me smiling, whether they are teasing or serious. I'm thankful to mom who can really cook.
ReplyDeleteI'm also fortunate for my family with a special thankfulness that my mom is 89 and well.
ReplyDeleteAlso for all the wonderful pets that have shared their lives with me.
And books, books, books that help keep me sane lol.
catslady
@Mary -
ReplyDeleteIt has surely been an adventure. I began writing THS in September 2007. I finished in November 2008 and had a contract 3 months later. I was terrified it was a fluke until I got my second contract. I'm now on my third and beginning to breath easier- finally! The writing world is NOT for the faint of heart. LOL! I am most thankful for the wonderful support of my family and friends - particularly those at Goodread's Romantic Historical Fcition Lovers!
Friends and family but I share Danielle's wish that all lived closer.
ReplyDeleteI am fortunate that most of my family lives nearby, and I'm fortunate that I have a wonderful dog, and fortunate that we live in a warm (but not too hot) climate.
ReplyDeleteI am fortunate that I have great parents!
ReplyDeleteFortunes Son sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteI am fortunate to live close to family.
I am fortunate to have my family and friends. I'm fortunate to live in a country where I have the freedom to do so many things, all thanks to the bravery and dedication of our servicemen and women.
ReplyDeleteI am fortunate to be alive.
ReplyDeleteI'm fortunate to have two healthy, loving, bright grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteThanks for telling us about your book. I look forward to reading more.
I am fortunate in that I have a loving family. Not something to take lightly.
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else I'll say my Family and friends. The support and love from both is a wonderful thing. I'm also very greatful that I can spend a great deal of time reading at my leisure now.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to read Emery's books. Thanks for the interview and giveaway ladies.
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
Kim and Emery -
ReplyDeleteTruly a terric interview Kim. Emery it was wonderful learning more about you and your books. When I read The Highest Stakes I didn't know your background and it really gave me a better perspective of the story from "meeting" you today.
Since today is Veteran's Day I am thankful that my husband is sitting out in the other room relaxing! He was active duty during Vietnam and then served in the Navy Reserves on P-3's until he retired spending many week-ends and weeks of active duty serving his country. I'm thankful for those he served with him who gave up time with their own families to help others have the freedom denied them.
I am proud of those who served in the past and are serving now so that that we retain the liberties so many take for granted.
Hi Kim and Emery!
ReplyDeleteI thank God that my husband is alive and we are both in good health and have 3 wonderful and healthy dogs. I am also fortunate that I have friends and family that are always there for me.
I am fortunate that I have two great children.
ReplyDeleteHi again, Kim! I just won a copy of Fortune's Son on another blog site, so please don't enter me in this drawing. It sure helps to read my mail at times. Lol!
ReplyDeleteI have fortunate to have the people that I do around me including family and friends.
ReplyDelete