The Unexpected Journey of Inspiration
People often want to know where I get my ideas for my books. The truth is, I don’t really know. Ideas start as little seeds of something I’ve read or seen and then sprout into something bigger. The final book often surprises me. I thought I sowed a certain seed but the tree is often very different. It makes writing fun.
I began the Wards of Lamercier series with a general idea of five sisters, and anyone familiar with Pride and Prejudice will notice the connection to one of my all-time favorite books. But that’s where the similarity ends.
Eleanor: The Writer Among Sisters
The Goodwin sisters are rather unconventional for their time, and each is very different from the others, which has resulted in her own story. And now it’s time for Eleanor, Alicia’s twin. I’ve enjoyed following the adventures of all the sisters, but Eleanor, better known as Nell, has a special place in my heart – I know it’s not good to have a favorite child but I identify with her because she is a writer. She carries a notebook with her, is always scribbling down ideas and thinking of ways to turn scraps of information she hears into full-blown stories. Her paper people are very real to her, sometimes more real than the people around her, and no one can live up to the romanticized characters she creates, even the arrogant and rakish Lord Alexander Summerson who has fascinated her for years.
A Mysterious Encounter and Unlikely Romance
Of course, as with the other stories in the series, there is a mystery to solve. Alexander Summerson is the Earl of Abbotsford, but is surprised when a woman claiming to be his late brother’s wife arrives at his estate and insists her eight-year-old son is the rightful heir. Alexander is suspicious and asks Robert, Earl of Lamercie, to investigate. This brings him and Nell together because she is the ward of Lord Robbie and her eldest sister is married to him.
Summerson is puzzled by Nell, who often wears men’s clothes because she finds them more comfortable, and she is not afraid to speak out about her opinions. But he finds her intriguing and attractive and begins a liaison with her, promising to teach her to enhance the romantic elements of her books.
Historical Context and Global Challenges
Only when I began writing did I realize that the storyline of the five sisters had brought them to 1816, a year often called The Year without a Summer. A volcanic explosion affected weather worldwide and disrupted agriculture, leaving many people hungry and homeless. Summerson helps the Goodwins as they support devastated families and discovers this to be more satisfying than his previous selfish existence.
Of course, this is all a background to the investigation into his position as the Earl of Abbotsford. This takes Nell and Xander to Spain. Although I live in France, I have never visited Spain, so I did a lot of reading and spent hours looking at pictures and maps of the landscape they travel through. Serendipitously, I came across an old TV series (starring a young and very dishy Sean Bean) called Sharpe which is set in Spain during the Napoleonic wars. I watched quite a few episodes to get the feel of the time and place. Watching Sean Bean was an extra bonus.
From Dreamer to Published Author
Ever since I could hold a pencil, I have dreamed of writing stories and have told stories to myself for as long as I can remember. Writing for others became a reality about seven years ago when I published my first book, Arabella’s Journey. I am a voracious reader of romances, particularly historical ones with a touch of naughtiness, and decided my stories would entertain readers with a similar taste in books. Since then I have written twelve books, including Eleanor’s Triumph. Each of my books so far is a stand-alone story that forms part of a series. The Wards of Lamercie is my third series.
Find out more about Eleanor’s Triumph and my other books at https://www.amazon.com/author/kathyleigh or on my website. I hope you enjoy reading Eleanor’s Triumph as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you do like it, don’t forget to leave a review to encourage others to read it too. And keep your eyes open for the next book, the final one in the series. It’s Messy’s story – the youngest of the five sisters – and is also full of adventure and romance.
