Part
of the fun of starting a new book is doing the research for it. In my popular
five star Regency time-travel, THE QUESTING BOX, I needed a “device” that would
send twenty-first century Rae Santini back to Regency England. I decided on a
mysterious box that was an heirloom for her family. This box would be called,
naturally, a questing box.
The
act of going on a quest is a journey of self-discovery. Questing involves
leaving the known world to explore one’s spiritual roots, obtain healing and
knowledge, and then hopefully, return home with these new understandings. The
Gypsy culture plays an important role in this novel, and to help me with this,
I obtained a really cool resource book, GYPSIES OF BRITAIN, by Brain Vesley-Fitzgerald.
That book and the internet gave me insights into the Romani people and their
language that in turned, helped to give life to my characters.
TAKING A CHANCE--TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY STYLE--
As the adult child of an alcoholic, Rae Santini
struggles with unnecessary guilt. If only she was a better person. If only she
could have helped her father. If only he hadn’t died. So when a Questing Box
comes her way, she longs to turn back the clock to save him. But she had been
just eight at the time of his death; she hadn’t been ready to embark upon a
healing journey. Eighteen years later, the mysterious box is gifted to her. She
figures she has nothing to lose so she opens the box...
TAKING A CHANCE--NINETEENTH CENTURY STYLE--
James Bonnell, the Earl of Blackburne, dreads
returning to his family’s estate for Christmas. His parents, the Marquess and
Marchioness of Litchfield, not only belittle his political career, but most
urgently insist that he marry to beget an heir. As it turns out, he had
intended to bring home a bride, however the “lady” in question is too free with
her favors. Disheartened, James is on his way to Litchfield when he encounters
an unconscious Rae. He quickly bundles her up and takes her to a nearby Gypsy
encampment. A risky idea then comes to mind. Perhaps this attractive wood nymph
will consent to a masquerade and act as his countess... just for the holidays?
Artist’s rendering of a possible cover
Rae Santini plans to go
on a quest to heal herself. What she doesn’t know is that she must travel back
to the past to do it.
THE
QUESTING BOX is available at Amazon.com
and Smashwords.com,
in addition to other internet locations. It’s has earned multiple 5 star
reviews at Amazon.com and Goodreads and has quickly become a reader favorite!
This
book is part of the prestigious Elegant Regencies line.
Here’s
a tidbit from real life. In THE QUESTING BOX, Rae reconnects with her childhood
by joining a Regency skating party. She’d first lived in the Northeast where
snow is plentiful, and then later moved to Miami. No snow there! So when she
finds herself on the James’ father’s estate with its own private lake, she’s
delighted to try skating again. I also grew up in the Northeast where I learned
to skate, too. Then later, I moved to Miami--no ice skating there! However, now
that I live in the Pacific Northwest, I’m not as brave as Rae. There will be no
more ice skating parties for me!
Below
is a picture of a typical Regency outing. The men have on skates--sharp
double-edged blades with metal soles that were secured by leather straps--while
the woman seated in a chair on the ice is pushed around by her escort.
Drawn by Diana Sperling, 1/2/1817
The
following passage describes Rae’s first try on the ice.
Concentrating her gaze on the solid
ice below, Rae first took mincing steps. With James’ encouragement, she slowly
lengthened her stride. The path of her skating blades cut incredibly fine
particles of ice, sending splashes of ice outward, almost like a mist. The
noise of her skates, along with James’ skates and the others’, combined into
cutting, scraping sounds that then echoed out from the lake and up to the icy
trees of the woods.
“Oh, James! Skating is just as I
remembered. It’s so exhilarating!”
His emerald green eyes sparkled as
brightly as the morning dew. “I am happy if you are happy.”
Happy didn’t even begin to describe
what she was feeling. It was as if she’d been transported to her childhood in
Boston, to when she and her father had skated together. Back then, her father
had taught her but, sooner than she’d wanted, he had insisted she go solo.
Now was her time to go solo
again.
“I’m going to spread my wings now.”
Pulling away from James’ arm, she took even longer strides. She quickly reached
the next grouping of pine trees, circled around to face him, and then, with a
swoosh, came to a stop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hope you enjoy Rae and James’ love story.
Happy reading,
Susanne Marie Knight
Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing
With A Twist!
