…prolific Author, Margaret Kaine will already be well known to many of yeez (I can’t for the life of me fathom why she’d stoop to appearing as a Guest Blogger on this ol’ Jurassic’s web, but hey, I’m grateful she’s here)… enjoy ! 🙂
…here’s the impressive credentials… and a grand shining example for all of we quill-scraper toilers that sum’times, there really is a wunnerful rainbow of success at the end of the trail…
Margaret Kaine’s short stories have been published widely in women’s magazines, in the UK, Australia, Norway, South Africa and Ireland. Ring of Clay, her debut novel, won both the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writer’s Award in 2002 and the Society of Authors’ Sagittarius Prize, sponsored by Terry Pratchett, in 2003. She has now mainstream published seven romantic novels about life in Staffordshire between the 50’s and 70’s; with Ribbon of Moonlight being set also in Paris. Translations include German and French.
…which leads nicely into the intro for her latest triumph…
Dangerous Decisions, published by Choc Lit, is a new venture, a more cosmopolitan novel and is set in the Edwardian era. It has been described as ‘Downton with a twist!’
…now, shut up, Master Gallacher, and let the Lady speak for herself…
MARGARET KAINE
I sometimes think that if I could choose to be born again, I would be tempted to be an English aristocrat during the golden Edwardian age – closing my mind at the future horror of WW1 and the widespread poverty – this is only a dream you understand. I am sure I am not alone in yearning for the elegant clothes of this era, the glamour, the glorious surroundings in which the wealthy spent their lives. And I used to love the enormously popular TV series Upstairs/Downstairs.
And so when I decided that enough was enough – 7 novels set in the same background and a similar era – I decided to write about the Edwardian age, perhaps spend my days drifting about a stately home (in my mind you understand), or among the servants downstairs, where more earthy characters could be described. And so I began Dangerous Decisions and loved the research. For instance, I discovered that at that time, it was considered by many men that ‘too much thinking caused a woman’s womb to wither’, giving them an excuse to deprive our sex of education, or am I being cynical in thinking that it was just to maintain their own sense of superiority!
And then when I was half-way through my novel, what should hit the TV screens, but the wonderful series Downton Abbey. And as any writer would, I’m hoping that its fans will welcome another dramatic story, one of a sheltered debutante who, although haunted by the image of an attractive doctor, makes the decision to marry the wealthy yet flawed Oliver. Already readers are telling me that they are shouting aloud, “Don’t do it, Helena!” Which was exactly how I hoped they would react!
Dangerous Decisions has been described as ‘Downton with a twist’. It is a deeply romantic novel, with an underlying darker side. Based on a broad canvas with ‘upstairs’ snobbery and ambition, and ‘downstairs’ kitchen humour and gossip, the story is laced with vivid characters and beautiful houses. But all capital cities have their poverty, and London in 1905 was no exception.
The story is told of a sheltered debutante, who although attracted to a stranger, Dr Nicholas Carstairs, is courted by the enigmatic Oliver Faraday. Despite her misgivings and to please her father, Helena agrees to marry him. But the marriage brings with it bewilderment, suspense and danger. Helena’s wedding night leaves her feeling used and in tears, and so begins an emotional journey to discover her husband’s flawed character. The birth of their child is the beginning of her worst nightmare.
And to torment Helena, always in the background there is Nicholas, the young doctor who – too late – she knows to be her soul mate.
Edwardian society with all its elegance and constricting social conventions is the bedrock of this novel of love and betrayal. And portrayed also is the fledgling emergence of women’s independence.
Dangerous Decisions (Choc Lit)
ISBN 978-1781890349
Twitter – @margaretkaine
…thanks for sharing with us, Margaret… see yeez later… LUV YEEZ!…
ALL MY BLOG POSTS ARE FREE TO SHARE/RE-BLOG SHOULD YOU SO WISH—BE MY GUEST!
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Reblogged this on New Author -Carole Parkes.
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Thank you Carole for sharing. And you Lizzie, for your lovely comment. It was of course, your own suggestion that led me to Seumas – what a super bloke he is!
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Lovely to see Margaret on Seumas’s blog. I hope that more of my romance writer friends will take up the offer of appearing on here. I’ve read all of Margaret’s books and can attest that she’s not only a great writer but a supporter of newbies, like me.
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..cheeers, m’Lady 🙂
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My reply to you Lizzie is above. I’m still getting to grips with my new Apple – which I love.
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I’d also like to thank you Seumas for offering to host me. It’s a real pleasure to be in contact with you.
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..the pleasure is very much mine, m’Lady 🙂
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Great blog, Margaret and Seumus. Reading your comment about too much education and womb withering, I recall hearing that ‘hysteria’ referred solely to a condition associated with women. It was connected to giving birth.
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Thank you Laura. I think ‘hysterical women’ used to be a derogatory term often used. At least it’s recognised now that we also have a brain!
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…cheeers , Laura… Margaret is a splendid Guest “:)
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I loved Dangerous Decisions, Margaret’s latest book – very Downton-ish! She has some great titles set in the English Potteries, too.
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That’s lovely of you June. And my last Potteries one, Song for a Butterfly is doing really well at the moment. Happy Days!
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I, too, also absolutely loved Dangerous Decisions. It was so lush and evocative of one of my favourite bygone eras – with a great plot! So nice to hear your take on it, Margaret. And so nice to ‘hear’ Seumas’s Scottish accent which is rather a novelty ‘Down Under’ (where it’s now late at night).
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:):):) aw hullo rerr ! 🙂
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Oh no! I’m so embarrassed! Fast forward to next day when this moment I’ve realised I made the most horrible mistake with regard to your accent. I am SO SO sorry, Seamus. I’m really not that ignorant and I hadn’t been drinking.
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Thank you Beverley. I love the Edwardian era, all those elegant clothes and exquisite manners. Not so good if you were poor though.
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…you made no mistake, m’Lady… Scottish it very much is, and it’s sum’thing I use constantly as a ‘marker’ in my blog posts ! cheers :):)
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Great blog post, Margaret – your book is next on my TBR pile, can’t wait! 🙂
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Oh, lovely Christina, I hope you enjoy it as much as I’ve enjoyed yours.
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I loved this book – of course I’m an ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’ and ‘Downton Abbey’ fan too! Interesting interview.
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Thanks Angela. We’ve got sunshine over here too, so you’re not alone!
I shall miss you at the RNA Conference especially as Chrissie is coming this year.
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Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
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Thank you for the share!
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What a lovely blog entry, interesting and entertaining. I too can vouch for the quality of Margaret Kaine’s novels. She creates characters we love to love and some we love to hate too 🙂 Whether she’s writing about the potteries in the 50s or Edwardian England you know you’re in for a treat when you pick up one of her books.
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You are so kind, Liz. Thank you for such lovely comments.
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