Dear Reader,

For some time now, you've been accustomed to hearing about my Regency romance series, Double-Dilemma Romance. In fact, book 4 in the series—The Falconer's Lost Baron—will be out on December 1!

But—call me crazy—something about the season, about the coming winter and the glorious changing leaves of autumn, made me look back to my Medieval trilogy, The Orphans of Tolosa.

I decided to give it new life, for a number of reasons.

Reason #1: These were the books of my heart, beginning twenty years ago.

I not only wrote and rewrote these stories. I traveled to Languedoc in France and climbed up to the ruined Cathar castles in the dead of winter (which in that part of France wasn't actually too bad).

I even learned some Old Occitan—the language they spoke rather than French at the time. In fact, modern-day Languedoc has been rechristened Occitania.

Reason #2: Women and music are at the very core of these stories.

If you've read The Soprano's Daring Duke and taken a peek at my author's note at the end, you'll know that I have a PhD in music history. I came to writing historical fiction through that lens. The fascinating story of the women troubadours—the trobairitz—caught my imagination as a grad student, and ultimately found expression in these three books.

But it wasn't just the music. It was the fact that the entire culture and politics of the region allowed women much more power and agency than they had anywhere else at that time.

Reason #3: To honor the memory of two people I've lost since then.

The dedication in the first two volumes is to Arlie Parrish Sears, my oldest friend (we were playpen mates), who died of bulbar-onset ALS in 2019. She was the most imaginative person I knew. We used to play involved games of make-believe, with stories that evolved and grew over time. As adults, we drifted apart—as so often happens with early friends—but never lost touch. I was fortunate to spend time with her during her illness. Her mother is my "fairy godmother," and still living today, about to turn 97.

The other person was my partner of 33 years, Charles, whose name crops up in the acknowledgments of all three books. We went on that trip to Languedoc together. He didn't do much climbing, LOL! But he encouraged and supported me through the writing of these books in their first incarnation, and then when I substantially revised them for their publication in 2019-2020.

This November will be the fourth anniversary of his death, and I miss him.

My reasons for writing these books—however valid and interesting—are wholly different from your reasons for (I hope!) reading them, however.

I invite you to travel with me to a time of faith, fire, and forbidden love.

Meet the Orphans of Tolosa:

For two days only—October 24 + 25—Listen to the Wind is FREE on Kindle!

To kick off this relaunch of the trilogy, I'm making the first book, Listen to the Wind, free on kindle on Friday and Saturday of this week!

Over the next two weeks I'll be sharing facts about 13th-century Languedoc in my social media. It was, truly, a remarkable time and place. I hope you'll join me for the ride!

And then, as December 1 approaches, I'll be back in Regency England—and all done with my impending cataract surgery.

Which reminds me, I may not have a newsletter next week, as that is the week during which I'll be cockeyed—one eye fixed, the other in waiting. We'll see!

In the meantime, happy reading and writing. 😀

Susanne