Hands and other body parts

Writing a sensual scene is not just about broad shoulders or faces. It is about using the entire body. This is why it was lovely to find courtesy of Donna Alward, a website devoted to Hands. In particular it is devoted to hands of male celebrities. So there are several lovely pictures of Hugh Jackman, James Purefoy and Mads Mikkelson for example. None, however of Richard Armitage or Philip Glenister -- and this is an oversight. It has to be.
But seeing the hands made me realize that I ha gone wrong with my current hero. I needed to recast him. He was in the process of being recast anyway as he went from being a plain Mr grandson of a baronet to a Viscount. But I knew I would need that Regency arrogance (my editors keep going on about this), that I own the world look. Someone who smoulders. Jason Isaacs worked -- even if his eye colour is wrong. But now at least I know the type I want to play my hero.
So when you are riting ssual scen, think of the less obvious. It may give you whole new insights.

Unusual Historicals on casting heroes

Today I am blogging at Unusual Historicals about the inspiration behind some of my heroes and how sometimes I have had to recast them. Please go and have a look, and tell me what you think.

Recently I have had to recast my current hero to a James Purefoy type as the image of Henry Brett was not quite working for me. Would he be strong enough to take on the second hero who is definitely modelled on a Richard Armitage type?

As an aside, I think that this is the part of the problem with Robin Hood, Richard Armitage as Sir Guy steals the show. He is far too strong and Robin comes across as the weaker character.

Anyway, I am about ready to go dow to the Midlands and to go visitng historic houses, in particular historic houses with priest holes. Normal service on this blog will resume on Tuesday.

Rome tonight

The BBC in its wisdom has decided to show Rome on two nights per week. In some ways, this is very good as then I get to see more episodes and in others, I have to remember the day!
James Purefoy is definitely worth watching as Mark Antony. And as the whole Antony/Octavian relationship did shape the future of Rome, it is good to have two such strong actors in the pivotal parts.
When I was speaking to the journalist from the Evening Chronicle, we spoke about tv series helping to make a time period more accessible. In other words, more people are interested in the time period because of the series and because they can see that Romans were in most respects people like us.
My prepartions for the e-harlequin workshop do continue at pace and I will put up worksheets on my website. I will also be offering a critque to one lucky (or unlucky) winner from my newsletter.
I have also started my Regency duo -- or at least made a folder for the first one and started to think about the characters. One of the problems when you have written several books is that you have to think up new situations and reasons. It can be so easy to fall into the trap of repeating themes and situations. Sometimes, a theme can take more than one book to explore, but it soon becomes like Twyla Tharp about scratching for ideas in the same place and your work starts to be stale.
I want my work to be improving and that means constantly looking for ways to polish and add more.

Lady Day

Today is Lady Day. Or the day Mary supposidly became pregnant. (ie nine months before Christmas). Until the calender changed and eleven days were lost, it was the start of the New Year in Britain. It was the day that all the rents and contracts came due. However, a variety of people objected to being elven days short one year, and so when the change over was made, they simply moved the day along until 6 April. This is why the British tax year begins on 6 April. The Roman New Year was also around this time. This is probably why Lady Day was adopted as the change over for rents and such.

Today is also my dh's birthday. I have made him a carrot cake or as Anna Lucia calls it -- The God of Carrot Cakes. it is a recipe from The Village Baker's Wife with one or two adaptations by me. We are going out to lunch later. Nothing major but then we have recently had a lot of work done on the house...

I have discovered where the duck is nesting. Quite close to the house and more than likely on the cat route through the garden. As Penny and Tuppence tend stay in the house these days unless the weather is exceptionally warm, our garden is used by several cats -- generally at night after the hens and ducks are away. Our cats have not liked going out very often ever since a series of unfortunate incidents involving the hens and ducks. Large bird can defend themselves. None of the participents were worse for wear but both Penny and Tuppence decided -- indoors was better.

Having delivered, my Viking, I have started thinking about my next one. I was going to take time off, but my muse started whispering. And I saw a hugely inspiring photo of James Purefoy in the Times yesterday. He just does work for this book...despite being the model for Fabius Aro in Sold and Seduced. A doppleganger effect I suspect. Because the deep characters will have certain differences. James Purefoy is promoting the Macmillan Cancer Support's Pin Up campaign. He made an interesting comment about Marc Antony -- he had to make sure that he had the body they had back then. He also hates his toes and loves his son.

And my good friend Nell Dixon has put up an interview with me on her myspace page. Nell is a wonderful writer and my fingers are firmly crossed for medical full that is current with HM&B. Her book Marrying Max is a finalist along with Gladiator's Honour for the RNA's Romance Prize.