Dear Reader,

💗 You are cordially invited 💗

I went back and forth about whether to hold any kind of online event to celebrate the launch of The Dowager's Grand Triumph, and I finally opted for YES!

Selfishly, I wanted an excuse to commemorate the end of my first Regency romance series and to look back on the year and a half I've spent in that world.

But I cannot forget that it's really all about the readers—you and thousands of others who have come along with me as I took a chance on something I love. I want this event to be centered on your experience of the books and to thank you for investing your valuable time in reading the words I wrote.

So here are the details:

DATE: Thursday, June 25

TIME: 1–2 p.m. Eastern

WHERE: On Zoom—REGISTER HERE​

WHAT TO EXPECT: A warm, casual get-together where I'll share a little behind-the-scenes history, read a short excerpt, and talk about the process of bringing this world to life in my imagination and on the page.

We'll also vote on a favorite heroine and hero and talk about what you'd like to see more of in the future.

And of course, I'll have a giveaway or two. 💐

Speaking of the future ...

For me, endings are always a good reason for new beginnings. I'm already working on the next series, which I'm planning to launch in 2027.

If you come to the party, I'll give you a very non-spoilery sneak preview of what's coming, and how you can participate in its creation!

What I've been reading

One benefit to putting this book to bed is that I have been able to reclaim my nightly reading time. In the past couple of weeks I've read two books which I've truly enjoyed—but aside from being classed as having romantic elements, they couldn't be more different from each other.

This is the beginning of a series by a debut author. I chose it initially because I loved the cover and the title. When I started reading, I found myself completely captivated by the prose, the style. Everything about it screams the period (1920s) and evokes the dark, bad-boy/bad-girl vibe. Plus, to my surprise, it does so without sex (at least in this first volume).

Dianne Freeman's book was totally different, as you can easily see by the cover. It's not primarily a romance, although there are hints of romance throughout. It's a historical mystery set in Victorian London, with a lot of period flair and fun hijincks. Freeman is a polished writer, and the mystery is quite well plotted.

What makes these two books alike?

I said I had been reading like a writer (unavoidable I'm afraid). What I found fascinating about both of these series-starting books is that they are quite open-ended. In the case of the Ashton, you need to continue the series in order to get the big emotional payoff (although there is a resolution of sorts). In the case of the Freeman, there's a sense that the inklings of attraction will play out very slowly through the coming adventures.

And this leads me to this week's poll:

Reminder that The Dowager's Grand Triumph is available for preorder.

As I've said before, preordering a book is a great way to support the authors you love. It gives Amazon's algorithm a hint that the book will attract readers when it launches.

Thanks for reading this newsletter! I hope life is treating you well, and that you have plenty of time to read and write.

Susanne