Guest Post by the Author

Welcome Friends,

Thank you for sharing your time with me today. By way of introduction, my pen name is Wareeze Woodson. I write historical romance with a twist of suspense. Although I personally love the medieval period, I write period romance, Regency at present. Perhaps you would enjoy sharing a look at the writer’s world.

When I write my historical novels, I must create my own worlds. The Regency/Victorian era is a historical fact, but make-believe for all that, because it no longer exists. With each story, the scene must be created—when in time, day or night, where-location and what is happening. What the character sees, feels, and wants—all must be imagined and displayed for the reader.

The elaborate ball gowns of silks and satins, trimmed with lace, over gowns sprigged with spangles all over jeweled or embroidery along with more demure morning dresses, worn with gloves and fashionable head gear, bring the past to life. Think of the music, the theater, the house parties and all the other activities of the Ton to stave off boredom. Even the on-dits were amusing and if the rumor mill seized a fancy tidbit, society waited with bated breath for the next crumb to fall.

Social norms dictated strict codes of behavior many would scoff at today. If her misdeed became common knowledge, the slightest slip and a young lady may face ruin for life. I love to escape into another era to witness the mannerisms, the apparel, the modes of transportation, and even the rather stuffy rules a young lady must adopt. Not so the gentleman—hardly fair, but oh well. That alone is all the more reason to merely visit the past without fully embracing a life without electricity.

Creating Worlds

Although the author has many historical facts to draw from, the story must exist in the world created by the writer. The colors, the sounds, the tastes and the smells add flavor to the story. The reader wants to visit these places through the character’s point of view and safely absorb the emotions as well.

ENTER THIS SCENE WITH CAUTION;

The flame of the candle flickered and glinted off the in-laid sliver on the barrel of the gun pointed directly at Isabel. Fear griped her by the throat and she caught her breath, unable to move or even swallow.

The smell of the downpour outside drifted into the open window and the curtains billowed in a sharp breeze. Her cloak, drenched with raindrops, swung against the layers of her petticoats with a chilling heaviness. The damp cloth clung to her ankles while moisture trickled down her features.

The longcase clock in the hall chimed once echoing down the empty passageway. Even at this hour, the sound of a carriage rumbling over the cobbled-stones in front of the manor reached the upper level.

I hope I’ve raised several questions in your mind with these few sentences. Is the man with the gun the hero or the villain? Is this Isabel’s house, or did she enter the manor for some nefarious purpose? What happens next?

I created a small glimpse of this world of danger, building tension yet the reader is safe. I like this world where velvet and fine jaconet muslins were worn to the Assemblies at Almack’s, where danger lurks before and after the ball, as well. The lives of the characters also dwell in this created world. What will happen to her, to him in this tale? Only the author of this created world knows and I’m not telling. After all, this is only make-believe, created in the imagination. Perhaps one day, I’ll take up the tale.

Respectfully,

Wareeze Woodson