Wednesday, April 10, 2019

What We're Writing: Rhys and Royals

RHYS BOWEN:  Once again I'm writing about the royal family, only this time it's Queen Victoria and the year is 1897. She is an old woman who now spends her winters on the Riviera in Nice, in a splendid new hotel built for her. She travels on a private train with a retinue of her own staff including her own cooks, some highland pipers, her Indian secretary and all her own bedroom furniture.

My story features a young woman who becomes her cook and then encounters various problems, one of which appears in the excerpt below, proving that it wasn't ever easy to be a female in a man's world. But my heroine's problems go beyond sexual harassment to being blackmailed and becoming mixed up in a couple of plots.

And I can't give you a title yet, because we don't have one. So let's just call it QUEEN VICTORIA'S COOK... probably not VICTORIA'S SECRETS!

I was halfway down the grand staircase when I heard footsteps behind me. I paused and glanced around to see the Prince of Wales following me. I flattened myself against the wall, allowing him to pass, but instead he drew level with me.
“What’s your hurry, bright eyes?” he asked. He was looking at me with a sort of half-smile.
“I have to get back to my duties, Your Royal Highness,” I replied, my voice scarcely more than a whisper. “I have to make the puddings for dinner.”
“Nonsense.” He chuckled, a deep, throaty chuckle. “Nobody can complain if the queen kept you, can they?  Or even if the Prince of Wales kept you.” He took a step closer to me. Rather too close to be comfortable. “What a delightful little creature you are.” He raised a hand and stroked my cheek. “Do I detect a wisp of auburn hair under that severe white cap?” And before I could do anything he had whipped the cap from my head. To my mortification my hair tumbled over my shoulders. The prince’s eyes let up. “I was right.” He picked up a curl and toyed with it. “I have a distinct softness for red hair. Red heads are supposed to be fiery and passionate, aren’t they? Are you fiery and passionate?”
“No sir,” I mumbled. “I’m sure I’m a most quiet and well behaved young woman.”
He laughed, tugging on my hair. “That’s because you haven’t met the right man to wake you up yet. I bet you’ll be a little tiger one day.”
I could feel my cheeks burning, trying to think how I could possibly get away. But he had me pinned against the wall and one can hardly give the heir to the throne a good shove.  “Please sir, let me go,” I whispered. “I really should get back to the kitchen.”
“I’ll wager you have more talents than making scones,” he said.  His eyes were challenging me.
I could sense what he was hinting at, but I replied, “Perhaps I do, your highness. I am told I have a light hand with pastry”
This made him throw back his head and laugh heartily. “What a sweet innocent you are. I can’t wait to--I can’t wait to taste your pastry, young woman. Or experience your light hands. Why don’t you come and cook for me?

Oh dear--how do you say NO to the Prince of Wales. Unfortunately this is just one of the difficulties my heroine faces, including being accused of murder! It's all fun on the Riviera.
The book comes out next February and hopefully we will have a title by then. Suggestions gratefully received! 

36 comments:

  1. Well, I certainly hope the young cook manages to make her escape! I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this story.

    Rhys, I chuckled over the idea of the Queen traveling with all of her bedroom furniture --- that hardly seems to be an easily-accomplished task . . . .

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  2. Sounds good! Looking forward to reading this untitled book. Maybe that's what you should call it. The Untitled Book. (Okay, so it's late, and I'm tired and I'm not nearly as funny as I think I am. Sorry.) :)

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  3. I can’t wait to read the rest of it! Cooking at Hotel Regina? A Dab Hand with Pastry? Victoria’s Scones? Or as you just said....It’s All Fun on the Riviera?... Good luck naming it; whatever the name I can’t wait to read it.

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  4. Rhys, this is going to be a fun read! But the title has me stymied--The Queen's Cook or even Queen Victoria's Cook sounds like an historical biography, not a mystery. But I suppose the cover itself and the blurbs, etc., can indicate more about the story. I'm with Mark, my brain's on slow this morning.

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  5. Trial by Scone? It sounds like a wonderful book.

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  6. Good morning, Rhys! Thank you for that tasty little tidbit. Poor little cook, to get harassed by a prince. Abuse of power is nothing new.

    Am I dreaming, or did we not already all try to help name this book before?

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    1. It's deja vu all over again.

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    2. We might have done. I've tossed titles around since I started writing it and still no closer to a brilliant one

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  7. This sounds amazing, Rhys! And I’m wondering… Is it more like Georgie? Or more like Victory Garden? And… I have to say, yet again, you never cease to amaze me!

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    1. It's certainly not funny, like Georgie. But not as harrowing as the Victory Garden. It's historical coming of age with a mystery attached.

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  8. What fun! I'm sure your deft hand will produce another wonderful read! It makes me happy when someone with your talents has such a wide range on interests. Your skills open up so much for the rest of us. Keep Calm and Write!

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  9. This looks terrific! I will be waiting anxiously for pub date.

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  10. Love the sinister edge to this. And I'm dithering on page 1 of... something. You're inspiring, Rhys!

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  11. Great tidbit! Unfortunately, I'm zero help with titles, but I'm sure you'll come up with something fabulous!

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  12. I can hardly wait to read this, Rhys! I haven't had enough caffeine yet to think of clever title ideas. I just hope that poor girl escapes Edward the Caresser!

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    1. It can't get much better than Edward the Caresser!

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    2. Don't be too impressed! I got it from this book: Edward the Caresser: The Playboy Prince Who Became Edward VII by Stanley Weintraub.

      https://www.amazon.com/Edward-Caresser-Playboy-Prince-Became/dp/0684853183/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Edward+the+Caresser&qid=1554909240&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell

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  13. Rhys, I hope the young cook makes her escape and steers clear of Bertie from now on!

    Looks like it is going to be a fun read! I have been watching the pbs series Victoria with Jenna Coleman as Queen Victoria. What a wonderful cast of actors and actresses!

    Look forward to reading the novel.

    Diana

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  14. Rhys, love the excerpt. Made my skin crawl, imagining your young woman in that position. I can't wait to read this. Contemplating the title. This is a tough one!! You want the same feel as the other standalones? I don't think The Queen's Cook quite gets it. Too bad Victoria's Secret is sort of taken, lol. Sounds like it would fit the plot perfectly!

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  15. This sounds so good! You just keep writing and I'll just keep buying!

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  16. Maybe one of those "Girl" titles that are all the rage now? "The Girl who Cooked for the Queen." "The Girl, The Cook, and The Queen." (That's a bit CS Lewis-ish.) "The Girl in the Royal Hotel." "The Girl Who Went Into the Kitchen and Came Out a Duchess." (That's if she gets Bertie under her thumb.)

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    1. I was toying with The Girl Who Cooked for a Queen, Julia. Except I'd feel bad about jumping onto the Girl Who craze.

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  17. Titles are the worst or the best - it really can go either way. Delightful snippet, Rhys! How will our heroine get out of this pickle? Can't wait to find out what happens next!

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  18. I'm so looking forward to this book, Rhys. I'm pretty sure it was from other postings about the book that I learned about Queen Victoria taking her bedroom furniture to the hotel. And, imagine having a hotel built for you. The excerpt was great. The poor girl trying to get away from the Prince of Wales' outrageous flirtations, otherwise known as abuse of power, had me grimacing and wanting to push the prince down the stairway.

    I do remember answering a post on FB, Rhys, when you were asking for names for the book. I'm not sure what I answered now, but I do think the title should include Victoria's name, if not her title and name. Queen Victoria's Cook is appropriate, but it would be nice to give it a little zing if possible. That's challenging. If the girl cook is inquisitive, Victoria and the Curious Cook might work.

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  19. Perhaps some of that remarkable bedroom furniture will offer her a defensive weapon.

    Oh, dear. I said bedroom, didn't I? And that's just what he was thinking about. (Although I wouldn't be surprised if he'd be content with any convenient location!)

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  20. Since watching Victoria's series, I'm very interested in her. After reading your excerpt, I'm looking forward to read your book.
    Alas, I can't help with the title but I'm sure you'll come with the best one.

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  21. Chiming in late here. I'm having trouble picturing Victoria's furniture, servants, etc. all descending on her winter home! Good grief. Bertie coming on to that poor girl made me cringe. When will that kind of workplace abuse go away? Can't wait to read the Cook Book!

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  22. The Cook and the Queen. Her name and Victoria. Death in the Queen's Kitchen (Is there a murder?) or Trouble in the Queen's Kitchen. Whatever, I'll read it.

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  23. Will this be new series or a single novel?

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  24. If pepper spray existed at that time...

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  25. Oooo sounds good already. I can't wait until it comes out. Thanks for the tease! :)

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