History in Living Color

Thanks so much to the History Hoydens for hosting me today as I celebrate the recent release of my new Victorian historical, ROMANCING THE COUNTESS!

I’m the type of writer who enjoys a good challenge. Actually, the measure of the challenge’s difficulty depends on how 1) how much sleep I’ve had recently and 2) how much screaming my daughters have subjected me to that day. =)

For the story of ROMANCING THE COUNTESS, I wanted to focus on the developing relationship between the hero and heroine more than any exotic or unusual setting. With this in mind, I chose to write a large portion of the story with a country house party as the background. Although a country house party isn’t extraordinary for historical romances, I’d never written one before so it was exciting for me. Yet I also wanted to write of activities that could have occurred at a country house party that weren’t typical from my experience as a romance reader.

Therefore, I conducted a little research and found something which intrigued me: tableaux vivants. Or, in translation: living pictures.

We’ve probably all read romances featuring plays or dramatic readings. Well, tableaux vivants are still performances. Participants chose scenes from paintings or even scenes in history, costumed themselves appropriately, then stood before the audience as a scene or painting come to life. They did not speak and they did not move; they simply kept still.

In ROMANCING THE COUNTESS, our heroine—who is the hostess of the house party—sets up such a tableaux vivants activity for her guests. I’m sure the audience’s interpretation of various tableaux vivants would be thrilling indeed when the still portrayals were performed. However, instead of writing the scene of the actual tableaux vivants, I chose instead to write a scene which shows what I imagined to truly be the most exciting aspect—the choosing of which painting or historical scene to imitate and the decisions on how to costume the participants.

It’s one of my favorite scenes where the hero interacts with the other guests (let’s just say he was chosen to be the murdered Julius Caesar in someone else’s tableau vivant), and I hope you enjoy it, too. =)

Have you ever heard of or seen a tableau vivant before? What are some of your favorite activities at a house party to read about in historical romances?

One random commenter will be chosen to win a copy of my newest book, ROMANCING THE COUNTESS (open internationally)! Also, find out how to win the ROMANCING THE COUNTESS Book Tour Grand Prize of 50+ romance novels by visiting www.AshleyMarch.com! 

March Madness

March Madness, or Spotlight on History Hoydens

Hey, look at this: another historical author has highlighted our blog!

March Madness Spotlight: History Hoydens

Ashley March even listed some of her favorite posts. What do you think of her choices?

Historical Romance March Madness

Coming Soon: Historical Romance March Madness

Some people might think of March as the month for basketball tournaments and St. Patrick’s Day, but starting this year March will be known for a celebration of historical romance readers and writers. From Tuesday, March 1st through Thursday, March 31st, come interact with some of your favorite authors, meet new ones, and enter to win 40+ prizes as Ashley March hosts the 1st Annual March Madness Blog Party at www.ashleymarch.com/blog.

A fantastic line-up of historical romance authors will be guest blogging with giveaways every single day, and a special daily feature will highlight romance community sites, reviewers, and bloggers who support historical romance.
In addition to the recent releases, upcoming books, and ARCs given away by historical romance authors each day, historical romance readers will also have a chance at winning:

1. A bundle of 5 historical romances every Sunday.
2. 8 Victorian lady postcards
3. 8  “Do you know the way to Pemberley?” postcards
4. 8 “Well behaved women rarely make history” medieval postcards
5. A “Romance Reader & Proud of It” tote bag
6. Two secret prizes (to be announced during the month)
7. A Grand Prize package of historical romance books and a Victorian-styled lovebirds necklace

Aspiring historical romance writers also have a couple of things to be excited about:

1. Kris Kennedy’s agent, Barbara Poelle of the Irene Goodman Literary Agency, has generously agreed to give away a partial critique to the writer she believes has the best 3-sentence written pitch. One of Kris Kennedy’s books will also be given away, as an example of the type of work Barbara loves.

2. Ashley March will provide a full critique of another aspiring historical writer’s completed novel.

Rules of Eligibility

Daily Author Giveaways

To enter to win one of the books given away daily by our guest authors, simply reply with a relevant comment. A winner will be chosen randomly from all participants. Authors will decide whether the giveaway will be open to US and international residents; this information will be posted at the bottom of each blog.

Historical Romance Reader Prizes

1. Each Sunday, all the daily participants’ names from the last week will be gathered and one random winner will be drawn to receive a bundle of 5 historical romance books. To increase your chances of winning, make you sure you post a relevant comment on each blog. This includes guest author blogs and Featured Romance Site of the Day blogs. (Note: More than one comment on a post will not increase your chances of winning.) These prizes will be open to US and international residents.

2. The 3 packages of historical-themed postcards will be given away randomly throughout the month. To enter to win, you must post a relevant comment on the blog announcing each random giveaway. These prizes will be open to US and international residents.

3. The 2 secret prizes will be announced randomly during the month, with the rules contained in the individual blog posts. These prizes will be open to US and international residents.

4. The winner of the “Romance Reader & Proud of It” tote bag will be the first person to correctly answer a set of trivia questions about historical romance books and authors. Hints will be provided in the form of an online scavenger hunt. The trivia contest will be presented on a random day during the month. This prize will be open to US and international residents.

5. On April 1st, all the daily participants’ names from the entire month of March will be gathered and one random winner will be drawn to receive the Grand Prize. To increase your chances of winning, make sure you post a relevant comment on guest author blogs and Featured Romance Site of the Day blogs. (Note: Posts for other giveaways such as the postcards, tote bag, and aspiring writer prizes will not be counted.) This prize will be open to US and international residents.

Aspiring Historical Romance Writer Prizes

The rules for the partial critique & giveaway and full critique will be posted with the individual blogs announcing the contests. Make sure you visit daily to find out when each contest opens!

Our thanks to all of you who read, write, and support historical romance. We look forward to seeing you soon at the 1st Annual March Madness Blog Party!

Date
Guest Author
Featured Site
Other Prizes

Tuesday 3/1
Elizabeth Hoyt
The Season for Romance

Wednesday 3/2
Courtney Milan
Beck’s Book Picks

Thursday 3/3
Lori Brighton
Coffee Time Romance

Friday 3/4
Vicky Dreiling
The Romance Reviews

Saturday 3/5
Delilah Marvelle
Romance Bandits

Sunday 3/6
Mary Wine
Book Fare Delights
Book Bundle

Monday 3/7
Robyn DeHart
Romance Novel News

Tuesday 3/8
Katy Madison
Smexy Books

Wednesday 3/9
Laura Lee Guhrke
Not Another Romance Blog

Thursday 3/10
Margaret Rowe
Seductive Musings

Friday 3/11
Anne Mallory
Fiction Vixen

Saturday 3/12
Julie Anne Long
Cheeky Reads

Sunday 3/13
Sara Lindsey
Romance Writer’s Revenge
Book Bundle

Monday 3/14
Melissa Mayhue
Unusual Historicals

Tuesday 3/15
Julianne MacLean
The Book Pushers

Wednesday 3/16
Leigh Michaels
Edwardian Promenade

Thursday 3/17
Kris Kennedy
Novel Thoughts & Booktalk

Friday 3/18
Emma Wildes
Love Romance Passion

Saturday 3/19
Katharine Ashe
Book Binge

Sunday 3/20
Kate Noble
Deserted Island Keepers
Book Bundle

Monday 3/21
Eileen Dreyer
Romantic Crush Junkies

Tuesday 3/22
Elizabeth Essex
Dear Author

Wednesday 3/23
Lecia Cornwall
Night Owl Romance

Thursday 3/24
Maya Rodale
The Book Lovers

Friday 3/25
Madeline Hunter
The Romance Dish

Saturday 3/26
Kieran Kramer
Book Lurve

Sunday 3/27
Erica Ridley
History Hoydens
Book Bundle

Monday 3/28
Shana Galen
Jaunty Quills

Tuesday 3/29
Monica Burns
Book Thingo

Wednesday 3/30
Stefanie Sloane
Get Lost in a Story

Thursday 3/31
Sarah MacLean
Buried by Books

Friday 4/1
Grand Prize