Blog interview for Writer's Checklist

Friday, 22 June 2012

Interview with Beth Elliott

 

Writers’ Checklist welcomes Regency romance author Beth Elliott whose pleasure of stories set in that era has stayed with her throughout a career teaching foreign languages in several countries. No wonder she now writes her own Regency tales about adventure and intrigue but mostly with a light touch and a happy ending. 

Beth's website

Beth's blog

Beth's Amazon page UK

Amazon.com

What was the first thing you had published?

Apart from non-fiction reports my first published piece was 'Hidden' - a travel article about Prague. It grew out of a writing exercise on being outside, looking in. I wrote that I was standing by a dingy shop window but was enticed by the spicy smell to go inside. I discovered it was a delicatessen; a treasure trove of mouth-watering hams, cheeses, crusty rolls and bright coloured salads. A magazine took it and I had taken a big step forward with my writing.

What are your writing strengths and weaknesses?

The usual comment is that my writing is very visual and that my chapter endings make the reader want to find out what happens next. I can write a villain well, especially the sort you love to hate. Two of my heroes have become popular with readers, which is most encouraging. I'm now trying to outdo myself in that respect with my current novel. I've been fortunate enough to travel a lot and like to take my characters to places I've seen. So far I don't seem to have overdone the exotic locations.

As for weaknesses, I worry about varying the pace enough and I know I need to pile on the agony more. My writing buddy constantly urges me to add in more emotion. I'm all for the stiff upper lip, so it's hard to have my hero and heroine embarrassing me like that - but we get there in the end.

Is there a special place you like to write?

'Measure the piano' we told the builder, years ago when our son wanted to learn to play. The instrument was too large for the living room and so we had an extension built. The piano is long gone but the cosy study is my ideal writing room. I can shut the door on the knee-high welter of papers if visitors come. The bookshelves are above the computer so I can glance up to refresh my ideas by looking at a well loved story, or maybe a photo or ornament. A rambling rose [pink] nods outside the window and behind me is an exercise bike that I use while reading what I've just printed off or checking facts in a book. 

How important is it to you to plot your novels?

I would find it impossible to plot a full story and then follow that plan to the letter. My characters simply would not agree. They often surprise me by what they insist on doing. To start a novel I spread out a bunch of faces [collected from magazines] on the table. One of them will immediately assume a character and be involved in a set of events that develops into a story. Next, I pick out their family and friends. Immediately they become real people to me, my "other family".

At this stage I only have an outline plot. Yet already, some scenes are vivid in my mind although I have no idea where or why they must be part of the story - but they always fit in. It's as if the story reveals itself to me once the main outline takes shape. When the structure is set down, my chief concern is to have an accurate timeline.

Why do you think we’re attracted to villains in romantic stories?

The answer has to be in the word 'romantic'. We need a counter-balance to the hero, preferably someone who, with a few tweaks, could himself be a hero. Some writers keep us guessing for a while, which means the villain often has attractive traits. Most girls like to think they could reform the bad boy, so the villain can often appear to be a fascinating character - at least to start with. Whether we regret his refusal to reform or we eventually turn from him in disgust, he's a vital part of a romantic story. 

Who is your favourite heroine?

Elizabeth Bennet. I've known her since I was twelve and for a long time she seemed like the kind and admirable elder sister I wanted. All these years later, I still find her romantic journey credible and satisfying. I never tire of reading her story.

What are you working on at the moment?

I'm doing a final edit on Scandalous Lady. This is set in Constantinople in 1811, when Lady Hester Stanhope is living there. I enjoy blending real people into my stories, although they are never the main character. Like Lady Hester, Olivia is in search of a new, independent life. However, when she encounters a half-French, half-Turkish diplomat with the most beautiful eyes she has ever seen, her resolution is severely tested. The hero is trying to negotiate an end to the war between the Sultan and the Russian Czar but he is beset by villains determined to prevent a peace treaty being signed.

Olivia finds herself struggling to cope with a very different way of life, and this is further complicated when a shadow from her scandalous London past arrives in pursuit of her. This story features oriental palaces and some old Ottoman traditions. Perhaps I should add that my Turkish husband and I lived in Turkey for some years. He had worked as a tourist guide when he was a student and he used to take me round historical sites telling me anecdotes to make the visit more colourful.

         

What advice would you give to an aspiring historical novelist?

The first essential is to know the period you're writing about. It really jars if you slip up on details that are not correct for that time. I still gulp when I remember reading a story in which Good Queen Bess and her ladies sat down for buttered scones and tea at 5pm every day!  So research and more research is fundamental. Then, the second important thing is not to swamp the reader with pages of research details - but to write a novel about your characters who live within the framework of the period that you are confident you know and can enhance by a detail as appropriate.

Beth Elliott has been in love with the long Regency period since she first opened Pride and Prejudice, aged 12. Beth's first novel,The Wild Card, was shortlisted for the RNA Romance Prize in 2009. Since then she continues to write more Regency tales, set in London, Bath, Brighton or perhaps a more exotic location such as Lisbon or Constantinople. 

When not writing, Beth reads, does flamboyant bead embroidery and travels. All the places she visits get into her stories, which is a good enough excuse for going.

Beth Elliott was talking to Maureen Vincent-Northam, co-author of The Writer's ABC Checklist (Secrets to Success - Writing)

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Tall, muscled, elegant, athletic and suave...

 ....or, for the heroine, accomplished, athletic, gracious, spirited and pretty....

Fictional heroes and heroines are usually an amalgamation of physical and character traits observed in several people.In addition, they are set up to endure as much agony as the author can pile on right through the novel. The reader must feel satisfied at the end of the story that both hero and heroine have learned something and are better people because of it.
All well and good. However, many writers need a real life person to focus on as they create and develop their hero and heroine. Regency set stories require a dashing gentleman, tall, muscled, elegant, sporty and suave. Other qualities as per story requirement - possibly a tortured soul...certainly a crack shot or a skilled swordsman...
It helps to have a visual stimulus - very often several models are used to achieve a complete hero. Hence, writers work extra hard; spending many hours poring over pictures to fuel their imagination. They seem to prefer black hair, so the following possible beaux are all dark [personally I think David Wenham and Sean Bean could also feature as Regency characters.]

This is a small selection ... but tempting.

All these heroes need their heroines.

We have a list of the necessary requirements for a well brought-up Regency damsel, thanks to Caroline Bingley and Mr Darcy. In a novel, this damsel also needs sufficient character to stand out from the crowd and to cope with the adventures - and agonies - her author is going to pile on her. Red hair is a definite sign of strong character.

 

These are just a sample of faces that may inspire writers.

 

Welcome to Elizabeth Caulfield Felt

It is a great pleasure to welcome Elizabeth Caulfield Felt to my Blog today. Elizabeth is the author of
Syncopation: a Memoir of Adèle Hugo.


We are all familiar with the name of Victor Hugo, mainly due to the adaptation of his story Les Misérables into a hugely successful musical stage play and film.
But beyond that, what do we know of Hugo's life and work? Or about his attitude towards his daughters, which led to resentment and rebellion.

Lies, lovers, a diary in code, and a turbulent life. In her novel, Elizabeth draws us into the complex world of Adèle, Hugo's beautiful and clever second daughter. It makes a fascinating story - as Elizabeth explains....

 I thank Beth Elliot for making an exception for me on her blog. For you see, Adèle Hugo was born on July 28, 1830, and, as such, is no Regency heroine. In fact, it might be hard to call her a heroine at all.  In Syncopation: a Memoir of Adèle Hugo, she is a narrator both antagonistic and aloof. 

The youngest child of Victor Hugo, Adèle was surrounded by intellectual conversation and political idealism from a young age.  Although pliant and docile as a little girl, she grew up to be an angry young woman. A writer and pianist, Adèle learned that as a female, her achievements held no value.  Her father felt that her purpose in life was to be a wife and mother—things she vowed she would never become.  Beautiful and clever, she had lovers and marriage proposals, but held herself apart. 

Adèle was an engaging object of research.  As the daughter of one of France's most revered men, she appears in bits and pieces in her father's history.  She is known but unknown, nearly always reduced to the footnotes.  I devoured La Misérable, Leslie Smith Dow's wonderful biography of Adèle.  Even more fun, I was able to get my hands on a copy of one of Adèle's diaries, published in 1968 and edited by Frances Vernor Guille.  This was a fascinating find, as Adèle had kept a journal most of her life.  Her diaries were written in a code of her own invention, and Guille explains how he was able to decode much, although not all, of what she had written.  These diary entries gave me access to Adèle's voice and personality, and I was fascinated by her.

Why Adèle chose to keep a diary in code is a mystery we modern researchers will never unravel, but with the flexibility of fiction, I can explain it.  Why did she write in code?  Why did she take some lovers and reject others?  Why did she run away?  Why did her life end the way it did?

Syncopation: a Memoir of Adèle Hugo reveals the secrets of Victor Hugo's least understood and most intriguing child.

                                   

Adèle sounds like a most absorbing subject. Now, please tell us a bit about yourself and your reasons for writing this story.


I first fell in love with the work of Victor Hugo when I read his poem, “Demain dès l'Aube,” a poem that still stirs my heart. Hugo became one of my favorite writers, and I even attempted to read 'Les Misérables' in French (very long, I didn't finish it in French but did read it in English). As a university student, I studied French and English and lived for a year in Strasbourg, France. This was many, many years ago.

More recently, I was talking with some friends about poems we had memorized, and I was able to amaze myself by knowing most of “Demain dès l'Aube” though I hadn't thought of it in about twenty years. Remembering the poem reminded me of Victor Hugo and his family. I had just finished my first novel, Charlotte's Inheritance, and was wondering what to write next. Once I began researching Adèle, I knew I'd found the perfect topic for my second novel.

When I'm not writing, I'm teaching, English, part-time at my local university--or I'm taking care of my two sons and husband. When not doing these things, I picture myself swimming laps, although to be honest, it's more likely that I'll be sitting quietly at home with a good book.

Thank you so much for an interesting and intriguing post, Elizabeth. I wish you much success with all your novels.


For more about Elizabeth, visit her blog at http://elizabethcaulfieldfelt.wordpress.com/

Her novel Syncopation is available from Cornerstone Press (http;//www.uwsp.edu/cornerstone)

Wiltshire Wanderings - photo roundup

Our hotel in Salisbury was originally a 13th Century nunnery.
 The Legacy Rose and Crown, inside and out.

                                                                Lacock

Corsham

Corsham village green and cricket pitch. Against the cold, grey sky, the cherry blossom provides a cheerful note of colour.

The almshouses, built in 1668 for six "deserving poor" and a schoolroom for ten poor scholars. The houses are still lived in today.

This mighty tree in the gardens of Corsham Court is one of the largest trees in Europe.
 [Photographed especially for Seyda. x]

and finally, a peacock in his full glory ....

Wiltshire Wanderings continued

Part 2      Devizes, Lacock and Corsham

From Salisbury to Devizes the road  leads through a green and gold patchwork of cultivated fields, punctuated with copses of trees, all this stretching to the horizon with its gentle hills. This is the landscape of the rural England of yesteryear. At intervals there are quaint little villages with open commons and ancient timber framed pubs leaning every which way under their decorative thatched roofs... all that is lacking is a shepherd with a crook or a goosegirl.


In Devizes, the market is in full swing in the main square. On the edge of town, Wadworth Brewery has revived the tradition of delivering the beer by horse-drawn drays. At certain times, it's possible to visit the horses at the brewery - and in the Visitors' Suite you can sample the various beers produced.
                                                                                  http://www.wadworth.co.uk/shire_horses.html


Until the coming of the railways, canals were the preferred method of transporting goods. The canal network still exists, although it is more for leisure now. Between Devizes and Rowde are the famous Caen Hill Locks, twenty-seven of them in total!
                                                           


For more photos try this link -   http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/kacanal/html/kac0043.htm

 Lacock.

Lacock is mentioned in The Domesday Book. It had a population of 160 -190, two mills and a vineyard. the Church of St Cyriac was established in the 11th Century.

Lacock Abbey

Lacock Abbey was founded in 1232. It still stands but since the Dissolution, it has been in private hands. Recently, both the village and the Abbey have featured in films, such as Harry Potter and Pride and Prejudice.

                                                                                                                                              

The oldest house in the village is King John's Hunting Lodge, situated opposite the church. It is a guest house and tearoom, with a delightful, flower-filled garden. Visitors can select from the tempting array of cakes set out on the dresser.

Corsham

The local limestone - the same as in Bath, gives a golden harmony to all the buildings in Corsham's main street. It is a charming place to visit, with many historic buildings and interesting shops. The eerie cry of peacocks sounds from time to time and occasionally they appear in the streets.

Corsham Court

A Saxon Manor house stood here, reputedly the hunting lodge of King Ethelred the Unready. It has been rebuilt many times, and part is still Elizabethan, with 18th century additions skilfully joined on. The Methuen Collection of paintings is housed here, together with many splendid period items, especially inlaid cabinets.

                 One of the celebrities of Corsham Court. He knows exactly how to pose for photos.

Wiltshire Wanderings

Part 1   Stonehenge to Salisbury

The magic and mystery of the ancient site of Stonehenge is compelling, even now that the inner circle is fenced off and with the ever-present crowds, all seeking a better spot for their photos. The lashing rain one minute, the gleams of sunshine and the stiff wind all add to the sense of wonder at the hardiness and determination of the people who erected this observatory. 

And the barrows on the hilltops encircling Stonehenge show how important this whole area was to those early people.

The next stage of the journey was Salisbury, a medieval city with its own huge temple. Salisbury cathedral is held to be the most beautiful building of its kind. It was completed in about 65 years, so is a harmonious whole, in the Early English Gothic style.

The cloisters were completed in 1266. They were designed as a place where the canons could read or relax, [lucky canons] or for processions. The delicate stonework is amazing.

A view of the cathedral from Harnham, south of the city.

The city gates are still in use - and they are closed at 10pm each night. 

Salisbury is a city with five rivers. Here's a house on St Nicholas' Bridge, which spans the River Avon.

23rd April - St George's Day

                      

Here's a suitably gothic scene where a dragon can lurk and pounce on his prey. He has terrified the inhabitants of the castle and the scattered bones testify to the cruel fate of anyone who attempted to challenge him.
St George rides to the rescue and kills the evil beast.

It's good that someone is willing to be a hero. Happy St George's Day to all.

A Very Merry Chase

A charming video of Regency era beauties, uploaded to you-tube by Ladysilkspinner


     click here - A Very Merry Chase

Villains

I enjoy creating Regency era villains. They can be handsome and fashionable and their vices and bad habits are often so similar to the faults displayed by the hero that it causes confusion and discussion. That was an essential part of my plot in The Wild Card. I like having my first opinion of a character reversed when an event or action shows how a totally different interpretation can be put on their earlier actions. But sometimes this leads to a big disappointment as the charm and seductive manner reveal a heartless villain - or, even worse, one with a weak character. Consider Willoughby in 'Sense and Sensibility' - handsome, well liked, full of charm and so adaptable that he is universally pleasing... He merely lacks wealth and we can pity him for the restrictions that puts on him..... until we see how he overcomes that.

The supposed villain may have an excellent reputation in society and be much admired for their style - or perhaps being rakish or wilful makes the person more attractive. Think of Lady Barbara Childe in Georgette Heyer's 'Infamous Army'. Of course, she only appears to be a villainess. Her wild spirit and wilfulness stand her in good stead as eventually she must cope with a handicapped husband.
I'd rather cope with Willoughby than face a sinister rogue like Carver Doone. He is from a previous age, a swashbuckling, ruthless villain without one redeeming feature. Perhaps Georgette Heyer drew on him a little for one or two of her characters; the unpleasant Duke of Andover in 'The Black Moth', for instance.

The villain who attracts me most is Jane Austen's Henry Crawford. Jane Austen captured so exquisitely the potential of the person to turn either way. Each time I read 'Mansfield Park' I so want him to reform that I hope this time he will..., then am always desolated that he wastes his many good qualities through weakness in his character which mean he always opts for self indulgence. Stricken by this waste, I'm then left to hope that perhaps one day I'll be clever enough to write a villain who comes somewhere close to him.

Ah, well, we still have the heroes.

                                                 Copyright by Beth Elliott 21/ 03/2012

Romantic Novelists' Association Blog: Interview with Beth Elliott

Interview with Beth Elliott

Beth Elliott was already making up stories before she could read. Later, the only girl in a tiny Lancashire village, she read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and so began a lifelong love of Jane Austen. Beth says that writing her own tales set in the Regency era is much more fun than her previous career of teaching modern languages. So tell us, Beth, what is it about the regency period that so excites you, and how do you set about your research? 

I was twelve when I first read Pride and Prejudice. It opened the door into a world I found entrancing, perhaps because there is still so much evidence of that period all around us. For research I read biographies, visit stately homes and museums, study pictures - and enjoy all the Austen films. I’ve paced out my characters’ journeys in Bath, Brighton and London and even in Istanbul! I love travelling and where I go, so do my characters. Tourism is not just a modern phenomenon. After reading about Byron’s travels in the eastern Mediterranean, I set my latest story in Constantinople.

Are you ever inspired to write about real people in your historicals?

I love doing that. It’s an exciting challenge to put real people in my stories and blend them in, while respecting what we know about them. The Prince Regent appears in The Rake’s Challenge; in fact, the heroine nearly poisons him. And Lady Hester Stanhope plays a vital role in the story I’ve just finished.

Much as you may love writing, what do you do when the going gets tough?

It’s essential to keep writing through these sticky patches and not put it off. The characters won’t leave me alone, anyway. Mostly, writing seems like going away on holiday with my characters. But when they dig their heels in I get so frustrated. After a brisk walk and a bit of bad language I write what I hope is the next scene - and sleep on it. In the wee small hours I wake up, knowing that it’s all wrong. So I try a different viewpoint or an alternative place or reason. One hero was left with his elegantly booted foot on the fender for nearly three weeks until the way forward was suddenly obvious.

Tell us about your latest book, and what inspired you to write it.

THE RAKE’S CHALLENGE is set in Brighton in summer 1814. The idea for the story began when I saw a magazine advert for a costly leather jacket. The model’s pose was so arrogant, I knew at once who he was. And at an open day at Chawton House, someone demonstrated the language of the fan, which gave me a plot idea. I also wanted to have a poisoning in the story, so why not make the victim the Prince Regent? My arrogant rake, bored with London, is on his way to Brighton when he is obliged to rescue a damsel in distress. But she’s one hell of a determined damsel and so for once he has to exert himself for another person - and she takes a lot of keeping out of trouble. It’s obvious where it’s going, but it’s the journey that makes it an enjoyable story.

Have you ever won or been short-listed in any competitions or awards, and do you think they help with a writer’s success?

My first story, THE WILD CARD, (which went through the NWS and was bought at once by Robert Hale), was shortlisted that year for the RNA Romance Prize. And the second one, IN ALL HONOUR, got into the final for the RedRosesforAuthors Christmas Award. I think it helps a lot for an author to be nominated and especially to win an award. It’s a big recommendation to the public and to publishers, as well as a huge boost to the writer’s morale.

So who is your favourite hero? 
Am I only allowed one? Apart from Mr Darcy and John Ridd, it’s Rupert Carsington in Mr Impossible. Tall, strong, too handsome for anyone’s good, irresistibly attractive, practical and always fights fair.

What was your favourite book as a child? 

The Hills of Varna by Geoffrey Trease. It was set in about 1510, and had a marvellous there and back quest across Europe, with a bold, brave heroine. No wonder I love travel and languages.

I loved Geoffrey Trease too. He wrote such exciting stories. Apart from writing, of which accomplishment are you most proud? 

My metallic bead embroidery, because I love all the sparkle and the gold thread. Each piece takes months to do and I make it all up as I go along. Here’s one called ‘East-West’.

Which authors do you choose to read for pleasure?
Loretta Chase, she’s so witty; Mary Balogh; Roisin McAuley; Wilkie Collins; Jane Austen, I can always find something new in there.

Lastly, if you could escape somewhere, to write, where would it be?

Ax-les-Thermes in the foothills of the Pyrenees would be a good place. Beautiful scenery, walking through history, local cuisine - plus the spa when needed. And the chateau which features in my new novel- Scandalous Lady - is close by. 

 

Thank you so much for sharing your pleasures in writing with us today, Beth. I’ve so enjoyed talking with you, and wish you every success for the future.

To hear more about Beth’s books, you can find her here:

https://www.regencytales.co.uk/

https://regencytales.blogspot.com/