US cover for Compromising Miss Milton

The US cover for Compromising Miss Milton (to be released as an ebook in the US --finally in October 2014). One of my least favourite covers. The clinch is fine , but the clothes and the hair!  The year is 1837, not 1893. Women did not wear Gibson Girl style hair then. Neither did they wear bustles. I spent ages  scouring through various books etc to find appropriate clothing and hairstyles but these were ignored. When it was out originally it got listed by Amazon on their Western list. It is set in Cumberland at Gilsland Spa.
The blurb for it is:

Marrying the Governess!
Buttoned-up governess Daisy Milton buries dreams of marriage and family life in order to support her sister and orphaned niece. But maddeningly attractive Adam, Viscount Ravensworth, is one distraction that shakes Daisy’s safe, stable existence.
Now ghosts from Adam’s past in India threaten Daisy’s future. Just what will it take to convince a tightly-laced miss to forgo society’s strict code of conduct…and come undone in the arms of a reformed rake?

Some news

Awhile ago (June 2011 to be precise) I found out that three of my books To Marry A Matchmaker (An Ideal Husband? is the sequel to this and has been out for over a year -- so much for me trying to force the issue), Compromising Miss Milton and Breaking the Governess's Rules were caught up in the transition to simultaneous publication for the Harlequin/Mills and Boon Historical series. They had already appeared in the UK but not in the North American market. They were supposed to go out digitally.
I found out that all three (!) are listed to be published electronically in October 2014.  I don't have anymore info than this but I am trying to find out.
It is a bit like waiting forever  for a number 7 bus and having three come along at once. I am just thrilled that my US and Canadian readers who read electronically will be able to get these books.
I knew this was happening and so have saved a few print copies which will be used for giveaways.
But it feels good to be moving forward.

Going International

One of the great joys of being published with Harlequin is that my books do get published all over the world.

I forgot to check last month but Compromising Miss Milton was published in Italy as Il Visconte Libertino.  The books arrived via the post this morning. I love the colours on the cover. Breaking the Governess's Rules is out in March as La Sposa Perduta (the lost wife) which fits. I am very excited about it being out in Italy as the heroine spent time in Sorrento.
Breaking the Governess's Rules is also out in February as Fiancee a un lord.
I was very pleased as one of my resolutions this year is to relearn French. I have been doing my Rosetta stone lessons every morning for the past few weeks. Once upon a time I was nearly fluent but allowed it slip. When I met the French senior editor last summer, I so badly wanted to speak to her in her own language. I look forward to rereading various books of mine in French.
It has given me quite the spur to get on with the short story I promised my editor that is a prequel to both Compromising Miss Milton and Breaking the Governess's Rules. It is another governess story. But more importantly to get my current manuscript done. I finally figured out what was wrong and that I needed an Aunt. I don't think I have really done an Aunt before. I have several Aunts (and there is a reason for the capital -- think PG Wodehouse). I love them dearly.
I have no idea what my nieces think of me but I would be honoured to an Aunt.

Reviews worth waiting for and an interview

Julie Bonello of cataromance has posted her review of Compromising Miss Milton. And it made my morning. Julie is a very experienced reviewer and enthusiastic supporter of the genre, so I was delighted when she gave Compromising Miss Milton 4.5 stars and said:
Compromising Miss Milton is Michelle Styles’ most exciting book yet! In her stunning new novel for Mills and Boon, award-winning author Michelle Styles deftly combines superb characterization, passionate romance, nail-biting suspense, exciting adventure and heartwarming pathos in an irresistible new story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.


Cataromance has an interview with me up to celebrate both Compromising Miss Milton's release in the UK and An Impulsive Debutante in the US.

In other news:
My eldest arrived home from his first year of university yesterday. It is good to have the house back up to its full complement.

Back from the Sinai and other things

I have arrived home -- sunburnt, with a streaming cold but throughly relaxed. Egypt, in particular the Sinai Penisula was a wonderful experience from snorkelling with sea turtles and Moray eels to riding a camel into the desert sunset to dine with Bedouin and visiting St Catherine's. More on this later when I have downloaded my photos and sorted my thoughts. We all survived...no one was sold for camel and no one had difficulties in the water. The Egyptian men (they are almost exclusively men) who work in the tourist industry that I encountered were for the vast majority kind and helpful. I can thoroughly recommend Classic Collection as their service was excellent ( second to none actually, particularly at the airport arrivals) and the Hilton Sharm Waterfalls.

Yesterday, Compromising Miss Milton became available on the M&B site. You can read the first chapter. I like the cover...which is still not up on Amazon.

I also like the Australian cover for my new 3 in one. It is interesting that the Vikings are emphasised!

Finally I want to send congratulations to all the Rita finalists, in particular my dear friends and fellow Harlequin Historical authors -- Michelle Willingham for her fantastic book Taming Her Irish Warrior , Elizabeth Rolls, Deb Marlowe and Amanda McCabe. I think it is the best showing that HH has ever had. I saw that Carla Capshaw is up for the best debut with The Gladiator which I did enjoy very much. I am so pleased that I shall be going to Nashville as it will be wonderful to see these writers get to shine.

The VIking's Captive Princess in Spain -- Una princesa indomable

La batalla que se libraba era para conseguir su corazón El peligroso guerrero Ivar Gunnarson era un hombre de acción, más que de palabras. Sin apenas tiempo para pensar en amores ideales, se apropiaba siempre de cuanto quería, y la princesa Thyre no iba a convertirse en una excepción a su regla. Misteriosa y seductora, Thyre despertó el deseo de Ivar desde el instante en el que puso sus ojos en ella. En medio de un sangriento conflicto entre facciones vikingas, ella se convirtió en cautiva del curtido guerrero, pero su espíritu era indomable…

Read more here

The Viking's Captive Princess is out this month in Spain. I am thrilled.

I have discovered that A Question of Impropriety/Compromising Miss Milton/The Viking's Captive Princess will be the 3 in 1 offering in Australia in May. I wonder which cover they will use!

In writing news, I finally turned in my ms TPE and have started the Roman Undone. Can I write short? We shall see.

Photos shoots, magazines and books

I am blogging today at Tote Bags about the photo shoot I did for Living North Magazine.

The February edition is now on sale and I am the featured article. You can read more on the Living North website. I feel terribly glamourous now.

My hardback copies of Compromising Miss Milton arrived yesterday, so I will be getting a newsletter out soonish... I like the cover...

And my current wip is going along...it should get done this week...

Compromising Miss Milton copy edits

The copy edits/author alterations for Compromising Miss Milton are done. I do try very hard to get it right and to notice things. I have started keeping lists of named characters so that I do not make a mistake and give two characters the same name. Been there, did that and had the alert copy editor spot it.



Copy edits/AAs are hard. You have to concentrate. I use a ruler to make me focus on the individual line rather than on the story and so it goes quicker. But I did have to look up the correct spelling of carcass. It is not carcase.

Now all I have to do is to wait for the revisions of the ms I turned in at the end of July and to write the next one before the end of October.

I need to update my website and get the excerpts on there.



In other news:

The idiotic Land Rover driver who sent my daughter and I diving for a ditch when we were out walking the puppies the other week has had the inevitable crash. He managed to lose control on the bend this morning and took out three parked cars further down the bank.
I am only grateful that no one was hurt and that he avoided smashing into our wall. I suspect the ram raider bollards might have had something to do with that. It is funny how some people are happy to smash into brick walls but not ram raider bollards where they know they will do damage to their car. I do feel sorry for the owners of the now totalled vehicles. The Land Rover was not in very good shape either and was towed. Perhaps he will drive a bit more cautiously now.

Upcoming releases update

Right I have just found out that Compromising Miss Milton will be a May 2010 Mills & Boon Historical release. The hardback comes out in March 2010.

Sold & Seduced will be a February 2010 Harlequin Historical direct release. This means it will be available from eharlequin and as an ebook. The back cover reads

In just seven days, she will beg for his kiss!
Lydia Veratia made one mistake – and now her freedom is forfeit to the man who all Rome knows as the Sea Wolf. Sold into marriage, the one thing over which she still has control is her own desire. So when Fabius Aro offers her a wager – if she doesn’t plead for his kisses in the next seven days, then she will have her independence – Lydia thinks it will be easily won.
But Aro is a dangerously attractive man. And Lydia is finding his lips more and more tempting…

and you can read the excerpt here.

There is still no news as to when The Viking's Captive Princess will be released in the UK.

Compromising Miss Milton

My editor let me know the title for wip formerly known as Engaging the Governess. Compromising Miss Milton. Suffice it to say that had I thought of it first, it would have been my working title. No word on scheduling yet, but I am pleased to have a title. The pictures of Jason Isaacs are because he served as inspiration for my hero Adam. The going from the cold arrogance to a warmer face suited the growth arc. Now all I have to do is to finish the linked book.

Tess & Hardy are going to the VET for shots today. My daughter is going to ride in the back as last time he was in the car, Hardy wriggled through one side of the dog grate. It will be to have their vaccinations complete as then they can start socialising in earnest. Yesterday, they met the window cleaner who was very good with them. They gave a joyful bark and then settled down to being good puppies. Hardy though did investigate the window cleaner's bucket and decide that it was a little wet for his tastes. He had a rather unfortunate incident with tipping over a watering can earlier in the day.