Nicola here and today I’m talking about reprints of my old books that come out all around the world. Although I now write timeslip books – and some of those are being published in different countries – my Regency historical romances are still regularly reprinted and reissued. It makes me very happy that books, some of which were originally written 20 years ago, are still in print somewhere in the world and hopefully reaching new Regency readers!
When I first started writing, back in 1998, I was published only in the UK. The books were shorter, sweet romances, sometimes with no sex and if there was a hint of it, the bedroom door closed quite quickly! After a few years, by great good luck, my books were selected (along with a certain brilliant author called Anne Gracie!) to be published in the US. I vividly remember the day the first one came out; not only did it feature a cover model called Mike Dale, which seemed to cause some interest, it was published in the week that I gave up my office job to become a full-time author. It also gained some pretty scathing reviews that almost sent me scuttling back to the day job, convinced my writing was no good, so the timing wasn’t great but I stuck with it.
Twenty years later that same book, The Virtuous Cyprian, is being reissued in Holland under the title Veroverd Door De Graaf which I 
think means Conquered by the Count. I still itch to edit and rewrite it, especially to get rid of some of the exclamation marks. But it is what it is; a book that represents a certain stage in my writing career and I’m happy about that. It’s also a book I am particularly fond of because the story of a woman who inherits a house in a Suffolk village is based directly on my parents’ home and also on the research I did into their beautiful Georgian home. Right from my very first book I loved taking some lesser known aspect of history and incorporating it into my stories, and I still do this to this day, whether it’s the London Beer Flood or Somerset cider wassails. (I’ve only just realised that both of those involve alcohol – Perhaps that’s a theme!) In the case of The Virtuous Cyprian, I researched details of copyholder law, by which tenants could leave their properties to someone in their will. It sounds incredibly dry and boring but when it involves the twin sister of a courtesan inheriting property on the estate of a rakish lord it had plenty of potential!
So I wish The Virtuous Cyprian a very happy re-release this month. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Europe, the Blanchland Secret is being published in Portugal and Deceived is coming out in Germany with the title Rächer Des Herzens, Avenger of the Heart. This is really cool and I wish my language skills were sufficient to enable me to read these editions. Over the years I have been in touch with a number of the translators of my books and this has been a fascinating experience, chatting to them about their work and the way that they interpret the stories, especially if they have to meet a word count that is shorter than the original. The only books I have a halfway chance of being able to understand in translation are my Scottish Brides, the first of which (The RITA-nominated Lady and the Laird) is coming out this month as “La Belle Et Le Highlander.” And as a final excitement, Finland is publishing an audio version of The Last Rake in London!
It’s lots of fun tracing the journeys of my books around the globe and I’d like to thank all the readers who pick them up in all sorts of different places!
Nicola, I’m so glad the bad reviews didn’t send you scuttling back to the day job! The solution is not to read reviews. *G* Maybe you used more exclamations points, but your story telling skills–and interest in accurate history–were already in full cry, and it’s lovely that the stories are still finding readers all over the world. (Audio in Finnish–that is truly cool!)
Nicola, I’m so glad the bad reviews didn’t send you scuttling back to the day job! The solution is not to read reviews. *G* Maybe you used more exclamations points, but your story telling skills–and interest in accurate history–were already in full cry, and it’s lovely that the stories are still finding readers all over the world. (Audio in Finnish–that is truly cool!)
Nicola, I’m so glad the bad reviews didn’t send you scuttling back to the day job! The solution is not to read reviews. *G* Maybe you used more exclamations points, but your story telling skills–and interest in accurate history–were already in full cry, and it’s lovely that the stories are still finding readers all over the world. (Audio in Finnish–that is truly cool!)
Nicola, I’m so glad the bad reviews didn’t send you scuttling back to the day job! The solution is not to read reviews. *G* Maybe you used more exclamations points, but your story telling skills–and interest in accurate history–were already in full cry, and it’s lovely that the stories are still finding readers all over the world. (Audio in Finnish–that is truly cool!)
Nicola, I’m so glad the bad reviews didn’t send you scuttling back to the day job! The solution is not to read reviews. *G* Maybe you used more exclamations points, but your story telling skills–and interest in accurate history–were already in full cry, and it’s lovely that the stories are still finding readers all over the world. (Audio in Finnish–that is truly cool!)
Thank you, Mary Jo! Yes, I learned the hard way not to read reviews! I do love it when old books get a new life.
Thank you, Mary Jo! Yes, I learned the hard way not to read reviews! I do love it when old books get a new life.
Thank you, Mary Jo! Yes, I learned the hard way not to read reviews! I do love it when old books get a new life.
Thank you, Mary Jo! Yes, I learned the hard way not to read reviews! I do love it when old books get a new life.
Thank you, Mary Jo! Yes, I learned the hard way not to read reviews! I do love it when old books get a new life.
I see that this book is available on Amazon, so I will be reading it soon. I’ll be keeping an eye out of all of those exclamation marks (smile). I understand the urge to want to go back and make a book better. But you should not. Anyone who does anything for 20 years is bound to have gotten better at it. Those of us who know and love the author are very forgiving.
I see that this book is available on Amazon, so I will be reading it soon. I’ll be keeping an eye out of all of those exclamation marks (smile). I understand the urge to want to go back and make a book better. But you should not. Anyone who does anything for 20 years is bound to have gotten better at it. Those of us who know and love the author are very forgiving.
I see that this book is available on Amazon, so I will be reading it soon. I’ll be keeping an eye out of all of those exclamation marks (smile). I understand the urge to want to go back and make a book better. But you should not. Anyone who does anything for 20 years is bound to have gotten better at it. Those of us who know and love the author are very forgiving.
I see that this book is available on Amazon, so I will be reading it soon. I’ll be keeping an eye out of all of those exclamation marks (smile). I understand the urge to want to go back and make a book better. But you should not. Anyone who does anything for 20 years is bound to have gotten better at it. Those of us who know and love the author are very forgiving.
I see that this book is available on Amazon, so I will be reading it soon. I’ll be keeping an eye out of all of those exclamation marks (smile). I understand the urge to want to go back and make a book better. But you should not. Anyone who does anything for 20 years is bound to have gotten better at it. Those of us who know and love the author are very forgiving.
That’s a very lovely thing to say, Mary. Thank you! You are right, of course. We all want to hone our craft and improve over time, no matter what we do.
That’s a very lovely thing to say, Mary. Thank you! You are right, of course. We all want to hone our craft and improve over time, no matter what we do.
That’s a very lovely thing to say, Mary. Thank you! You are right, of course. We all want to hone our craft and improve over time, no matter what we do.
That’s a very lovely thing to say, Mary. Thank you! You are right, of course. We all want to hone our craft and improve over time, no matter what we do.
That’s a very lovely thing to say, Mary. Thank you! You are right, of course. We all want to hone our craft and improve over time, no matter what we do.
How wonderful that readers/listeners in other parts of the world will be able to enjoy your books, Nicola.
The topic of translation reminds me of Mark Twain’s
The jumping frog: in English, then in French, then clawed back into a civilized language once more by patient, unremunerated toil. Have you read it? It makes one think that perhaps it’s best NOT to read a translation of one’s work!
How wonderful that readers/listeners in other parts of the world will be able to enjoy your books, Nicola.
The topic of translation reminds me of Mark Twain’s
The jumping frog: in English, then in French, then clawed back into a civilized language once more by patient, unremunerated toil. Have you read it? It makes one think that perhaps it’s best NOT to read a translation of one’s work!
How wonderful that readers/listeners in other parts of the world will be able to enjoy your books, Nicola.
The topic of translation reminds me of Mark Twain’s
The jumping frog: in English, then in French, then clawed back into a civilized language once more by patient, unremunerated toil. Have you read it? It makes one think that perhaps it’s best NOT to read a translation of one’s work!
How wonderful that readers/listeners in other parts of the world will be able to enjoy your books, Nicola.
The topic of translation reminds me of Mark Twain’s
The jumping frog: in English, then in French, then clawed back into a civilized language once more by patient, unremunerated toil. Have you read it? It makes one think that perhaps it’s best NOT to read a translation of one’s work!
How wonderful that readers/listeners in other parts of the world will be able to enjoy your books, Nicola.
The topic of translation reminds me of Mark Twain’s
The jumping frog: in English, then in French, then clawed back into a civilized language once more by patient, unremunerated toil. Have you read it? It makes one think that perhaps it’s best NOT to read a translation of one’s work!
How wonderfully exciting, Nicola, to imagine your books reaching new generations and cultures. I hope they achieve great success. Meanwhile, I’m going to look up The Virtuous Cyprian – the whole inheritance meme sounds like fun.
How wonderfully exciting, Nicola, to imagine your books reaching new generations and cultures. I hope they achieve great success. Meanwhile, I’m going to look up The Virtuous Cyprian – the whole inheritance meme sounds like fun.
How wonderfully exciting, Nicola, to imagine your books reaching new generations and cultures. I hope they achieve great success. Meanwhile, I’m going to look up The Virtuous Cyprian – the whole inheritance meme sounds like fun.
How wonderfully exciting, Nicola, to imagine your books reaching new generations and cultures. I hope they achieve great success. Meanwhile, I’m going to look up The Virtuous Cyprian – the whole inheritance meme sounds like fun.
How wonderfully exciting, Nicola, to imagine your books reaching new generations and cultures. I hope they achieve great success. Meanwhile, I’m going to look up The Virtuous Cyprian – the whole inheritance meme sounds like fun.
I think it’s great that you stand by your original books and are proud of them. After all they got you on the road and to where you are today. It annoys me when actors try to distance themselves from previous work which they think doesn’t reflect who they are now. They wouldn’t be where they are without that start.
I enjoy your books. The Chaperon Bride is one of my favorite books and a comfort read I often turn to.
I think it’s great that you stand by your original books and are proud of them. After all they got you on the road and to where you are today. It annoys me when actors try to distance themselves from previous work which they think doesn’t reflect who they are now. They wouldn’t be where they are without that start.
I enjoy your books. The Chaperon Bride is one of my favorite books and a comfort read I often turn to.
I think it’s great that you stand by your original books and are proud of them. After all they got you on the road and to where you are today. It annoys me when actors try to distance themselves from previous work which they think doesn’t reflect who they are now. They wouldn’t be where they are without that start.
I enjoy your books. The Chaperon Bride is one of my favorite books and a comfort read I often turn to.
I think it’s great that you stand by your original books and are proud of them. After all they got you on the road and to where you are today. It annoys me when actors try to distance themselves from previous work which they think doesn’t reflect who they are now. They wouldn’t be where they are without that start.
I enjoy your books. The Chaperon Bride is one of my favorite books and a comfort read I often turn to.
I think it’s great that you stand by your original books and are proud of them. After all they got you on the road and to where you are today. It annoys me when actors try to distance themselves from previous work which they think doesn’t reflect who they are now. They wouldn’t be where they are without that start.
I enjoy your books. The Chaperon Bride is one of my favorite books and a comfort read I often turn to.
I think I have a copy of The Virtuous Cyprian with that original cover!
I think I have a copy of The Virtuous Cyprian with that original cover!
I think I have a copy of The Virtuous Cyprian with that original cover!
I think I have a copy of The Virtuous Cyprian with that original cover!
I think I have a copy of The Virtuous Cyprian with that original cover!
Your old Harlequins were keepers for me. I think they were much better written than you give yourself credit for, or I wouldn’t have hung onto them. I have enjoyed your timeslips too, but I can’t help but wish you’d do one more straight regency someday 🙂
Your old Harlequins were keepers for me. I think they were much better written than you give yourself credit for, or I wouldn’t have hung onto them. I have enjoyed your timeslips too, but I can’t help but wish you’d do one more straight regency someday 🙂
Your old Harlequins were keepers for me. I think they were much better written than you give yourself credit for, or I wouldn’t have hung onto them. I have enjoyed your timeslips too, but I can’t help but wish you’d do one more straight regency someday 🙂
Your old Harlequins were keepers for me. I think they were much better written than you give yourself credit for, or I wouldn’t have hung onto them. I have enjoyed your timeslips too, but I can’t help but wish you’d do one more straight regency someday 🙂
Your old Harlequins were keepers for me. I think they were much better written than you give yourself credit for, or I wouldn’t have hung onto them. I have enjoyed your timeslips too, but I can’t help but wish you’d do one more straight regency someday 🙂
Thanks, Kareni! That’s very interesting about the Mark Twain book! Yes, I am sure there are times when it really isn’t a good idea to read the translation. I do remember my mother reading a German translation of one of my early regencies and telling me it wasn’t anything like the original. Ignorance can be bliss!
Thanks, Kareni! That’s very interesting about the Mark Twain book! Yes, I am sure there are times when it really isn’t a good idea to read the translation. I do remember my mother reading a German translation of one of my early regencies and telling me it wasn’t anything like the original. Ignorance can be bliss!
Thanks, Kareni! That’s very interesting about the Mark Twain book! Yes, I am sure there are times when it really isn’t a good idea to read the translation. I do remember my mother reading a German translation of one of my early regencies and telling me it wasn’t anything like the original. Ignorance can be bliss!
Thanks, Kareni! That’s very interesting about the Mark Twain book! Yes, I am sure there are times when it really isn’t a good idea to read the translation. I do remember my mother reading a German translation of one of my early regencies and telling me it wasn’t anything like the original. Ignorance can be bliss!
Thanks, Kareni! That’s very interesting about the Mark Twain book! Yes, I am sure there are times when it really isn’t a good idea to read the translation. I do remember my mother reading a German translation of one of my early regencies and telling me it wasn’t anything like the original. Ignorance can be bliss!
Thank you very much, Margaret. I hope you enjoy it!
Thank you very much, Margaret. I hope you enjoy it!
Thank you very much, Margaret. I hope you enjoy it!
Thank you very much, Margaret. I hope you enjoy it!
Thank you very much, Margaret. I hope you enjoy it!
That is lovely to know, thank you, Teresa. It’s true it can be tempting to shudder a bit over “early work” but you’re so right, we’re all trying to improve as we go along and what happens before makes us the people we are. That is definitely worth remembering!
That is lovely to know, thank you, Teresa. It’s true it can be tempting to shudder a bit over “early work” but you’re so right, we’re all trying to improve as we go along and what happens before makes us the people we are. That is definitely worth remembering!
That is lovely to know, thank you, Teresa. It’s true it can be tempting to shudder a bit over “early work” but you’re so right, we’re all trying to improve as we go along and what happens before makes us the people we are. That is definitely worth remembering!
That is lovely to know, thank you, Teresa. It’s true it can be tempting to shudder a bit over “early work” but you’re so right, we’re all trying to improve as we go along and what happens before makes us the people we are. That is definitely worth remembering!
That is lovely to know, thank you, Teresa. It’s true it can be tempting to shudder a bit over “early work” but you’re so right, we’re all trying to improve as we go along and what happens before makes us the people we are. That is definitely worth remembering!
What fun! They are quite hard to get hold of now!
What fun! They are quite hard to get hold of now!
What fun! They are quite hard to get hold of now!
What fun! They are quite hard to get hold of now!
What fun! They are quite hard to get hold of now!
Ah, thank you, Janice. I particularly appreciate that as I think you are a sound judge of these things. As for doing another straight Regency,m never say never… I have missed writing them and do have an idea I’d like to explore…
Ah, thank you, Janice. I particularly appreciate that as I think you are a sound judge of these things. As for doing another straight Regency,m never say never… I have missed writing them and do have an idea I’d like to explore…
Ah, thank you, Janice. I particularly appreciate that as I think you are a sound judge of these things. As for doing another straight Regency,m never say never… I have missed writing them and do have an idea I’d like to explore…
Ah, thank you, Janice. I particularly appreciate that as I think you are a sound judge of these things. As for doing another straight Regency,m never say never… I have missed writing them and do have an idea I’d like to explore…
Ah, thank you, Janice. I particularly appreciate that as I think you are a sound judge of these things. As for doing another straight Regency,m never say never… I have missed writing them and do have an idea I’d like to explore…