Rachel lives in a small town near Bath, England and is the author of 29 novels including the Ladies of Carson Street trilogy, the Shop Girl series (Aria Fiction) and the Templeton Cove Stories (Harlequin). Her latest novel, Victoria & Violet, is the first book in her new Royal Maids series with the Wild Rose Press and it was released October 17th.
Rachel tells us she is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association as well as the Historical Novel Society and has thousands of social media followers all over the world.
Tell us about your road to publication, Rachel.
I had always dreamed of writing novels since I was about eight or nine years old and discovered Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven Series. Then, in 2005, my youngest daughter started school full-time and I had a ‘now or never’ moment and began writing my first novel.
I was thrilled in 2007 when I was offered a contract for that book by The Wild Rose Press, and I haven’t looked back since. As well as The Wild Rose Press, I have been published with Harlequin, Kensington and Aria Fiction with at least one book a year being released.
I can’t quite believe I am currently working on my thirtieth novel!
What do you enjoy about being an author?
I love the freedom of writing the first draft of a novel and I love when the book is entirely finished and ready for production. Those two stages are definitely my favorites of the process! I am quite a plotter, so I plan the book pretty much chapter to chapter and then I write the entire first draft from beginning to end without looking back, which gives me a real sense of freedom and productivity. Of course, the hard part comes in the following drafts…
What is your latest book and how did you come up with the idea to write it?
Victoria & Violet is the literally an ambition realized for me – I have always aspired to one day write a novel that included real people and events. It has taken me 15 years, but I’ve finally done it!
The story is set in the court of a young Queen Victoria and revolves around her relationship with her personal housemaid, Violet and also Violet’s romance with courtier, James Greene. I came up with idea because of my love of romance and royal history – I plan for the series to feature different royal courts in the past so it means I get to indulge in lots of lovely research 😊
Let's get a blurb:
It should be a dream come true to serve the Queen of England…
When Violet Parker is told she will be Queen Victoria’s personal housemaid, she cannot believe her good fortune. She finally has the chance to escape her overbearing mother, a servant to the Duchess of Kent.
Violet hopes to explore who she is and what the world has to offer without her mother’s schemes overshadowing her every thought and action.
Only Victoria’s court is not always the place for romance, but rather secrets, scandals, and conspiracies…
How about an excerpt:
“She…” Violet hesitated, feeling foolish carrying out the queen’s instructions when James was quite clearly busy and not at all happy. “She suggested we take a picnic.”
“A pic…” His eyes widened before his cheeks mottled. “It’s December!”
“I can pack some hot soup and bread. It will be…fun.”
“Fun? I can’t take myself off for a picnic when there is so much to do. What on earth will the workers think of me?”
His mood made her decidedly uneasy, but she could not defer on the queen’s request. She lifted her chin. “I’m sorry, James, but if the queen commands it, we cannot refuse. Besides, it will be last time you will see me for a while.”
He dropped his hand from his hair, his dark eyes boring into hers. “What are you talking about?”
“I have to go home. My mother claims my father is ill. Not that I believe a word of it, of course. But still, I must go.”
“Your mother is exerting her power again?”
“I have little doubt.”
He exhaled heavily, his gaze softening. “Give me an hour and I will come. Where shall we meet?”
“In the folly.”
“Very well.” His gaze dropped to her lips before he reached around her toward the door and opened it. “You should go.”
He stood so close, Violet could see flecks of blue in his eyes, smell the subtle maleness of him. Her treacherous heart swelled with silly, dangerous love. She forced a smile and ducked under his arm and through the open doorway.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on book 2 of the Royal Maids series (the next after Victoria & Violet) and this one is set in the court of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. The burgeoning romance will be between Alexandra’s royal seamstress, Anna Watson and royal saddler, Henry Ward…
What advice do you have for beginning writers?
I love working with beginning writers which is why I set up my First Chapter Critique service for romance and women’s fiction writers. The best advice I can give is always to finish the book and don’t spend all your time tweaking and perfecting the early chapters – if you spend too long doing this, you will never know if you can actually finish a novel…which is rather important!
With my critique service, I will work through the first 3,500 words of a writer’s manuscript and pull out aspects of dialogue, setting, point of view etc and give all the advice I can to enable the writer to go back to their manuscript with the skills to polish the whole book.
Nothing gives me more pleasure than when a writer I’ve worked with comes back to tell me of their publishing success.
Rachel’s First Chapter Critique service link: https://rachelbrimble.com/first-chapter-critique-service/
Buy Link for Victoria & Violet:
Social Contacts:
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Website: https://bit.ly/3wH7HQs
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3AQvK0A
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Thank you, Rachel, for being my guest today. Any comments or questions for Rachel?
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Hi Rebecca! Thank you so much for hosting me today - I am looking forward to chatting with your visitors :)
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