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Susanne Dunlap Author and Book Coach

Book recommendations: two beautiful new historical novels; Romance webinar news; Workshop info

Published about 1 month ago • 2 min read

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News & Musings from
​Susanne Dunlap

Dear Reader,

These weeks do fly by. We're now officially into Autumn! I love this season, perhaps because I live in New England, where the trees put on a spectacular show as they get ready to shed their leaves and go dormant for the winter.

Sometimes I wish I could do that too. But this winter I certainly won't be hiding away and resting! The fourth book in my Double-Dilemma Romance series, The Falconer's Lost Baron, will be out on December 1, and it's available for preorder now.

If you're already thinking about holiday gifts, the paperback of my holiday novella, Miss Pauline's Perfect Present, is just the right size to peek out of the top of a Christmas stocking! And it's short and sweet. 🌲

Enough about me! Here are two great book recommendations.

Like all authors, I get tired of promoting myself. It's exhausting. So I'm thrilled to be able to help other authors get their books into new readers' hands by sharing them here.

First up, Stephanie Cowell's The Man in the Stone Cottage. Her gorgeous novel is an imaginative and soulful exploration of the Brontë sisters.

In 1846 Yorkshire, the Brontë sisters— Charlotte, Anne, and Emily— navigate precarious lives marked by heartbreak and struggle. Amidst this turmoil, Emily encounters a charming shepherd during her solitary walks on the moors, yet he remains unseen by anyone else. After Emily' s untimely death, Charlotte— now a successful author with Jane Eyre—stumbles upon hidden letters and a mysterious map. The Man in the Stone Cottage is a poignant exploration of sisterly bonds and the complexities of perception, asking whether what feels real to one person can truly be real to another.

If you are—as I am—a Brontë fan, this book is not to be missed.

A completely different but also gorgeous book is Paint the Wind by Linda Cardillo. This sumptuous, romantic story of the art world in turn-of-the-20th-century Vienna is a sensual and absorbing treat.

Maya Sircos, the daughter of a Greek shipping entrepreneur and an Austrian aristocrat, has never quite fit into the upper class world of early twentieth-century Vienna.
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Caught up in the crucible of intellectual, artistic, and scientific transformation that defined the city as the cultural capital of Europe, she defies her upbringing and scandalizes both her family and Viennese society by becoming the muse and model for a brilliant young Expressionist artist—and an artist herself.
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​Paint the Wind is a story of art, passion, and the will to create.

And a bonus: Read an interview with Linda here!​

Want a peek into my Romance Your Writing, Romance Your Reader program?

Come to my free 1-hour webinar on October 16, at 2pm EDT: It's Scary How Fun It Is to Write Romance. Yes, a little nod to the season of spooks there!

I'll share some of the insights and techniques from my comprehensive program that takes writers through drafting, editing, publishing, and marketing a romance novel.

So if you've ever thought, I bet I could do that, come to the webinar and dip your toes in! If you attend live, we'll do some work together. Plus, I'm offering a very special discount on full membership in the program. If you can't attend, register anyway and watch the recording.😀

Last but not least: Join me for Writers In Progress Community Writing.

Come and take some quiet time among wonderful writers on Zoom on Sunday morning, October 5, 9:30am to 12:30pm EDT. You can write to prompts or just work on your own project. It's just $10. Register today!

That's everything for this week. I hope you're finding plenty of time to read and write amid all the busy-ness of autumn. Let me know how it's going!

Susanne

17 Lincoln St, Biddeford, ME 04005
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Susanne Dunlap Author and Book Coach

Susanne Dunlap

I am passionate about historical fiction and historical romance. I have 14 published books, and I work with writers 1:1, teach workshops, and create online courses on a variety of craft issues. I have a historical novel course, a scene-building course, and will soon launch a course on writing historical romance.

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