Guest Author: Michelle Styles

This week on Unusual Historicals, we're welcoming the return of long-time contributor Michelle Styles as she celebrates the release of her latest Mills & Boon romance, BREAKING THE GOVERNESS'S RULES, an early Victorian set in the North East of England. Here's the blurb:

'How delightful to meet you again, Miss Louisa Sibson.'

Jonathon, Lord Chesterholm's eyes bored holes into Louisa Sibsons back. The former fiancée he's thought dead is very much alive. Louisa has rebuilt her life, after being dishonourably dismissed from her post as governess for allowing Jonathon to seduce her. Now Louisa lives by a rulebook of morals and virtue. The devastating Lord Chesterholm will not ruin her again! But Jonathon will get to the bottom of Louisa's disappearance--and he'll enjoy breaking a few of her rules along the way!

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So what is this one about, Michelle?

This is the story of Louisa Sibson and Jonathon Fanshaw, Lord Chesterholm and their second chance. Louisa is a former governess who was dishonourably dismissed from her post after Jonathon seduced. She thought they would marry but he disappeared. Louisa has completely rebuilt her life and is determined that this time history will not repeat itself.

Four years before, Jonathon suffered a terrible carriage accident and thought he killed Louisa. However she is very much alive and he is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery.

This book is linked to COMPROMISING MISS MILTON. How so? Is this a sequel or a stand alone?

It is a standalone story and takes place a few weeks after the end of COMPROMISING MISS MILTON. When I was writing COMPROMISING MISS MILTON, Daisy had a friend who had to leave England because of her past. The more I thought about it, the more I wondered about that past. So in the end I had to write it. It is a stand alone book, but several characters notably the Blandishes from COMPROMISING MISS MILTON make a reappearance. Nella Blandish was such a great character that I was really delighted to explore her personality some more. Daisy and Adam come back during the epilogue.

You are on record for using myths and fairy tales as part of your inspiration. Did you use any here?

This is the one where I used the Psyche and Eros/Cupid myth. Not the more common first half of the myth that many people recognise as Beauty and the Beast, but the second half when Psyche has to battle Venus, the mother-in-law from Hades and prove that she is indeed worthy to become a goddess. In doing so, she manages reawaken Eros's interest and both Psyche and Eros have a growth arc. The second half is sometimes referred to as East of the Sun, West of the Moon as that is the fairy tale which grew out of the myth as it were.

It is one of the few myths where Eros appears as a grown man, rather than a cheeky cherub.

I had wanted to use the myth for a long time as it is one of my favourites. Then when I had to do revisions on the story, it suddenly all fell into place that I had used that myth subconsciously.

Do you know when this will be out in the US?

No I don't. It will be coming there--probably a month after they release COMPROMISING MISS MILTON. It will be out in April in Australia and New Zealand as part of a Three-in-One offering along with Diane Gaston and Ann Lethbridge's recent UK releases. Anyone who would like to get a copy can order from the Book Depository. The Book Depository does not charge shipping.

What's coming up for you?

Well I have had a busy few months with releases (last month saw the release of my short novella "THE PERFECT CONCUBINE" in the US and the release of the book I co-wrote with Kate Allen, THE LADY SOLDIER, as an ebook with new UK imprint Embrace Books. This is set continue in July with the UK release of TO MARRY A MATCHMAKER. I am busy writing my next one and really looking forward to attending the RWA National Conference at the end of June in New York City.

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Thank you Michelle for visiting today! Remember to leave a comment to be put in the draw for a signed copy of BREAKING THE GOVERNESS'S RULES. Michelle suggests telling her: What do you think of second chance romances? The winner will be drawn next Sunday at random. Void where prohibited. Best of luck!

You can learn more about Michelle's books by visiting her website

Disasters: Pompeii and Herculaneum

By Michelle Styles

August 24, 79 AD, and despite a few earth tremors, all was quiet and peaceful in one of the most popular and fertile regions of the Roman Empire. Due to the light soil rich in phosphorous and alkalis and the wonderful climate, the entire area of Vesuvius was considered to be a gigantic vineyard. Back in 19 AD, Strabo had written about the volcano, he also assumed that it had died having consumed all the inflammable material that fed it.

The population of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae was totally unprepared for the events that were about to unfold. Yes, they knew about the terrible earthquake in 62 AD, and perhaps some people had left the region. The Roman government had provided generous subsidises and they were rebuilding. The area continued to be popular with the elite.

The first they knew was a terrific thunderclap and a cloud of smoke and flames burst from the mountain. The entire area was covered in an eerie darkness. As Diones Cassio said, "People believed...the world was plunged once again into chaos, to be consumed by fire."

Pliny the Younger who was staying on the Bay of Naples watched the eruption and described it so accurately that such eruptions are now known as Plinian. These are violent eruptions with tons of lava pouring out along with vast quanitites of pumice and ash. All of this is accompanied by pyroclatstic material and mud flows.

The raining down of pumice and ash is what did for Pompeii which is 15 km from Vesuvius. Some people escaped but most were trapped. When the smoke cleared, the town had been covered in six metres of ash and pumice. It also meant the various bodies of people and animals who were trapped were preserved in a special way as the ash formed around the body. When excavating, the archaeologists were able to make highly evocative plaster casts.

Herculaneum on the other hand was only 7km from the volcano and became engulfed in pyroclastic flow which swept through the town, basically hot mud rained down and eventually solidified into tufa rock. The town was buried under 20 metres of rock which ensured various bits of wood survived. The inhabitants were first asphyxiated and then hermetically sealed together with all their possessions within this tufa rock.

Only three bodies were discovered in the town (compared to over 500 in Pompeii), and until 1981, it was thought most of the inhabitants had managed to leave. However they began to excavate the old harbour in 1981 and the true scale of the disaster became apparent as more and more skeletons emerged. In all about 149 skeletons had been found to date, including the remains of a sailor and soldier who appeared to have been trying to organise the doomed rescue attempt when the pyroclastic wave hit the town.

After the explosion, various relief was organised by the Emperor but the towns themselves remained cloaked in their robes of rock, deemed too difficult to rebuild. Other smaller towns were built on top and Vesuvius continued to erupt.

Eventually the names of Pompeii and Herculaneum were a distant memory. Then in 1709, Prince D'Elboeuf had a well dug and some Roman artefacts were discovered. Herculaneum was rediscovered and exploited. It was not until 1763 that Pompeii was discovered again. Because of the ease of excavation, after 1763, Pompeii received most of the attention.

Excavation work continues. In Herculaneum, much remains under tufa, impossible to excavate because of the modern town 20 metres higher. The Villa of the Papyri for example was excavated in the 18th century by the use of tunnels, and then it was sealed again in 1765. Work just recommenced in 1985 and continues today. New computer techniques are making it possible to read the badly damaged papyri and giving access to ancient knowledge. To visit the area is to walk back in time and to give a window into a vanished way of life. Unfortunately though the sites are not well protected and remain open to exploitation by unscrupulous people.

Michelle Styles has written four Roman-set historical romances including THE GLADIATOR'S HONOUR and SOLD & SEDUCED. Her latest UK release is COMPROMISING MISS MILTON, an early Victorian historical romance and is out now.

Guest Author: Michelle Styles

This week on Unusual Historicals, long-time contributor Michelle Styles is joining us today to discuss her latest releases. We're calling it...a feast of books!

Okay, Michelle, why a feast of books?

Because of the dark arts of scheduling, I have ended up with several books out. A NOBLE CAPTIVE, the second book I wrote for Harlequin, was an April Direct and ebook release in the US. COMPROMISING MISS MILTON is a May 2010 UK paperback release. And AN IMPULSIVE DEBUTANTE is a June 2010 Direct and e-book release for Harlequin Historical, which means it will be out at e-harlequin in May. In addition, Mills & Boon Australia is releasing a 3-in-1 book of THE VIKING'S CAPTIVE PRINCESS, COMPROMISING MISS MILTON, and A QUESTION OF IMPROPRIETY in May.

That's a lot of books!

Yes, and I didn't want to clog UH Sundays up. As you can see, Mills & Boon helpfully now provide the first chapter of their offerings, so you can read the first chapter of both COMPROMISING MISS MILTON, and AN IMPULSIVE DEBUTANTE, which out in the UK back in September 2008.

Can you tell us a bit more about the books?

A NOBLE CAPTIVE was written after I turned GLADIATOR'S HONOUR in and thought--okay, what did happen to Valens? And what if he had been a more mature person when he was first captured and what if he had fall for a woman who had captured him? I had a lot of fun writing the book as I had visited various islands in the Mediterranean. The blurb reads:

Roman soldier
Strong, proud, honourable--Marcus Livius Tullio embodied the values of Rome. Captured on the high seas and brought to the Temple of Kybele, he was drawn towards the woman who gave him refuge.

Pagan priestess
Fierce, beautiful, determined--Helena despised all that Rome stood for. In sheltering Tullio, she had to subdue her awareness of him – or she might confess all! The soldier's strength and nobility tempted her to lean on him, but she knew that to succumb would be to betray her people...

COMPROMISING MISS MILTON is my latest book and is set in 1837 Gilsland Cumberland. It is the book in my governess duo. The blurb reads:

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?

AN IMPULSIVE DEBUTANTE is the linked book to A CHRISTMAS WEDDING WAGER. I adored writing it as I was able to take a minor character, Lottie Charlton, and give her a happy ending after she went through a few trials and tribulations. The blurb reads:

A kiss, a carriage ride, a hasty wedding!

Carlotta Charlton can't wait for her first season--until her impulsive behaviour lands her right in the lap of notorious rake Tristan, Lord Thorngrafton!

Tristan is cynically convinced that she's a fortune-hunter. But he can't keep away from her. Several heated kisses lead to scandal and, one outraged mama later, they're on their way to Gretna Green.

Catching his breath on the carriage ride to the border, Tristan decides it's time that Lottie learns her lesson. If she wants to play with fire, he'll notch up his seduction and set her ablaze

What is next for you?

Good question. Because I enjoy it, I am writing more in the Victorian and Regency eras but with slightly unusual settings than I am writing in earlier eras. I am going to see my editor on 10 May to discuss which book she wants me to write. I am hoping to get the go ahead to write Dagmar and Thrand's story but it all depends on what my editors want. I also just came back from a research trip to the Sinai and so I am quite keen to write those stories. The Sinai was wonderful--I visited St Catherine's which has some of the oldest icons in the world and is built over the place where Moses reputably encountered the burning bush, and rode camels in the desert with the Bedouin. I was also very aware of the recent history of that troubled land.

How much input do your editors have about what you write?

We always discuss the time periods. There are scheduling considerations and they do help me to sort what best meets their needs. But I have the freedom to write the stories I want to write.

Are you still writing Roman set books?

I have written a Roman Undone but it remains to be seen if it meets their needs. I have never tried writing short before. I may go back to Rome but I do like writing in a variety of time periods.

What is great about the time period is that there are new authors who are starting to be published. Carla Capshaw's debut is up for a Rita, and Christina Philips's first with Berkeley is out in September. Stephanie Draven also has a book on Cleopatra's Daughter coming out soon. So the market for Roman set books is growing. Hooray!

Thank you, Michelle, for being here today!

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Michelle is giving away to one lucky poster signed copies of all three books: A NOBLE CAPTIVE, COMPROMISING MISS MILTON, and AN IMPULSIVE DEBUTANTE. She suggests answering the question: why do you like Unusual Historicals? We'll draw one lucky winner at random next Sunday. Void where prohibited. Best of luck!

Excerpt Thursday: Michelle Styles

This week on Excerpt Thursday we're featuring Michelle Styles' latest U.S. release, A NOBLE CAPTIVE, set in the Mediterranean in 75BC. It's Roman Empire time! Join us Sunday when Michelle will be here to discuss A NOBLE CAPTIVE and her next two releases: COMPROMISING MISS MILTON and AN IMPULSIVE DEBUTANTE. So much to discuss! You'll also have a chance to win all three of these great books.

75 BC on an island in the Mediterranean, a few miles north of Crete. Helena, the sybil's assistant has problem. Not only has her aunt the sybil collapsed, but also pirates are seeking to further their influence on the island and Helena, masquerading as the sybil was manipulating into allowing captured Roman soldiers to have shelter in the temple while they wait for their ransoms to arrive. And despite her hatred for Rome and all it stands for, Helena finds herself attracted to the tribune Marcus Livius Tullio. Will their passion destroy everything she holds dear?

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You can read the start of the book here.

In this excerpt, Tullio has arrived at the temple, and Helena discovers her problems are getting worse instead of better...

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"The sibyl made no mention of this when she returned." Helena tapped the tablet against her mouth. She must say nothing to indicate who was at the quayside. After all that, she could not give into her temper. She had to stay calm. "No mention at all."

The sailor with his gold ring in one ear leaned forward. His finger twisted a strand of his greasy beard. Helena struggled not to recoil in disgust.

"These men are dangerous, my lady. You will need extra help," he said. "See how they seek to defy you. If they could, they would be beating their swords against their shields to signal the start of battle."

"The sibyl would have informed me if she felt in danger," she repeated, disliking the man more with each word he uttered. The good Captain Androceles had set a crude trap, one which she had no intention of blundering into. These Roman soldiers were not going to be a pretext for stationing his armed men within the temple. "We are not without protection."

"I tell the truth, Lady," the seafarer whined. "And as you were not there, will you trust the word of a Roman or the word of your ally?"

"I trust the sibyl's judgment. Kybele guides her." Helena's fingers tightened around the tablet, snapped it in two. The faint crack brought her back to her senses. Any more provocation, she'd start blurting out the whole story.

"But the captain is only thinking of your welfare." Gold Earring continued his protest and the rest of the seafarers echoed his sentiments.

"The lions roam the grounds at night," Helena said as if he had not spoken. "We have our guards during the day. Above all Kybele protects and defends this temple. I doubt the Romans will be foolish enough to abuse our hospitality and risk the wrath of Kybele. Where would they go? All the triremes and boats are guarded. The harbor provides the only way on or off the island."

Her gaze met Tullio's steady one.

How dangerous was he? She remembered his fingers on her hand, the way the tingles dashed up her arm. Her whole body seemed to be aware of him in a way she had not felt before. She offered a prayer up to Kybele that her face showed none of her disquiet.

"The captain's concern is solely for the temple," Gold Earring said, his hand going to where his sword belt normally hung.

"The temple thanks you for your concern." She crossed her arms and squared her jaw. Perhaps she should be grateful to the Romans for showing her Androceles's naked ambition. "But I shall trust the Sibyl's judgment. You have delivered the guests. You may return to your captain."

"Captain Androceles has ordered that we remain as guards, in case the Romans try anything." The seafarer planted his feet firmly and rocked back and forth. The other seafarers bristled. "I must respectfully request for our swords to be returned. We desire to provide the proper protection for the Sibyl."

Helena's arms started to tremble. Androceles's stratagem was obvious to any who had spent time a latrunculi board. If his men became guards at the temple, he would try to dictate the Sibyl's pronouncements, destroy her aunt's carefully built neutrality between rival factions of sailors. All because she had made an error.

"You may thank the good captain from me but when we need assistance, the Sibyl will ask for it." Helena increased the volume of her voice so that it echoed through out the antechamber. She knew the guards in vestibule would here and start their final preparations. Captain Zeno had believed six months ago but would Gold Earring be so gullible? Did she dare take the risk of revealing the true extent of the temple's weakness? "The temple is a place of peaceful contemplation. No arms are allowed to sully that. The Sibyl refuses to allow the Temple to be desecrated."

"I am very grateful to the Sibyl for providing us with lodging as we wait for the tribute," Tullio stepped forward, his metalled sandals ringing out on the mosaic floor.

Helena ignored him. Romans were less a danger than Gold Earring. He had to leave.

"Your job has finished. The guests have been delivered safely. Go," Helena used the same intonations her aunt used when she was declaring what the goddess wanted. Forceful but with no hint of desperation she beginning to feel.

Gold Earring took a step towards the gateway, then hesitated. "Captain Androceles ordered--"

"This is not the captain's ship." She moved towards the main altar. In her mind, she recalled the number of times, Aunt Flavia impressed on her to the need to glide and not run. Gold Earring must have no hint of what was to come. If it taught the Roman with his knowing smile a lesson as well, so much the better. "Perhaps you will believe after a small demonstration but I warn you, Kybele protects her own."

She gave a small clap of her hands and then pulled the curtain cord and allowed the mirrors to show. Instantly temple guards swarmed into the vestibule and stood in line behind Helena, each brandishing a long curved sword. She bit her lip. Hopefully the concealed mirrors and dim light would make Gold Earring think there was twice the number of guards.

"You called, My Lady," the lead guard boomed.

"The seafarer expressed a concern about our ability to look after the Temple properly."

"We have never had any trouble before, Helena."

Tullio took pleasure in watching the pirates shift uncomfortably as Helena stood, head held high in front of her troop of guards. Helena was unexpected. She managed to confront the pirate without flinching. He doubted many women of his acquaintance in Rome would have the courage to do such thing. Most women like his elder sister and his ex-wife would have run screaming before they dared speak back to a man like that.

From where he was standing, he could see the trick she had played with the bronze mirrors. It had been the vogue when he had been a boy and his mother had gone from temple to temple searching in vain for a cure for his younger sister's illness.

The question was whether or not the pirate would know about the trick or would he simply see the images without questioning and leave?

"I had no idea the Temple had that many guards." The pirate uttered before he brought his sandals together and gave an elaborate bow. "Captain Androceles thinks only of your welfare."

"Should the temple be in mortal danger, someone who is of pure heart would blow Neptune's trumpet, and aid would appear." She indicated a large bronze trumpet etched with shells and inlaid with precious stones. "No doubt the good captain has forgotten the legend."

"No doubt." Droplets of sweat shone on the pirate's face.

Arts and Media: British Newspapers

By Michelle Styles

The history of the newspaper is really tied into the development of the printing press. Although various proclamations and tablets announcing the news were in use during Roman times, the news sheet did not get its start until cheap printing became available. The first newspapers as such were developed in the 16th century--Requests of the Devonshyre and Cornyshe Rebelles is recognised at the first newspaper. The first titled newspaper--The Courant was published in 1621. However, freedom of the press was something that had to be fought for, rather than a right easily granted.

Knowing the power of the emerging press, Cromwell suppressed all the newspapers in 1649 on the eve of Charles I's execution. And it was not until after the reign of Charles II that newspapers began to be a force again.

Under King William, Berrow's Worchester Journal started in 1690. It is still published today.

It took until the start of Queen Anne's reign in 1702 for a regular daily journal to be published in London--The Daily Courant--but the paper did not have many of the features that we would take for granted today. For example sport only started being reported around 1820.

A number of surviving newspapers started in the early 18th century such as the Belfast News Letter which is the oldest surviving daily newspaper. However, freedom of the press was something that took longer to establish. In 1738 the right to report on parliament was suppressed and in 1763 John Wilkes was prosecuted for seditious libel for openly reporting about parliamentary proceedings. The right to report on parliament was regained in 1771. But the right to a free press was not fully there and when you look at the British newspaper history, you can see why Freedom of the Press was such an important addition to the Constitution of the United States.

The first publisher of The Times, John Walter went to jail in 1083 for publishing things that the king did not like about the Duke of Cumberland as well as foreign news. (The Times is known as The Times, not the London Times or The Times of London because it was the first paper to use the name and it has lent its name to other papers. The font Times New Roman is also named after the paper.) The editor of the Examiner Leigh Hunt went to jail in 1813 for daring to criticise the Prince Regent.

With the Libel Act in 1835, truth is allowed for the first time to be used as a defence in such cases and press freedom in Britain was fairly secure. With such freedom came 'new journalism' in the 1880s which allowed for interviews and gossip columns.

However, even today, journalists do have to fight battles--to protect sources and to have the right investigate stories.

Michelle Styles is an avid reader of newspapers and is particularly grateful that newspapers such as The Times have kept their archives. Her latest UK release is COMPROMISING MISS MILTON. Her latest US release is A NOBLE CAPTIVE.