Dear Friends,

Well, it has been announced officially so now I may share with you that I have been (and am right this moment) writing a historical novel with Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York.  

I did indeed finish RIVERSIDE PARK but my publisher is holding its publication until after this other novel is published in 2008.  (I know, but you can complain directly to MIRA about it!)

The historical novel is not as big a jump for me as it would at first seem.  As many of you know I’ve been working on a biography of Elizabeth Farren (1762-1829) for almost 15 years.  (She was the late 18th Century Drury Lane star who became the second wife of the 12th Earl of Derby–-the man who invented the horse race, yes, The Derby.)

The Duchess and I had originally explored the idea of writing a contemporary novel together but quickly realized what we both really wanted to do was write an historical one.  HARTMOOR is about Lady Margaret Montagu’s search for her father, the 9th Earl of Hartmoor, after he is kidnaped in Lancashire by the French.

It primarily takes place in 1812 and 1813, in Liverpool and London in England, Paris in France, and Manhattan, Long Island and Connecticut in America.

In anticipation of your immediate questions, I will say: Yes, we are really writing the novel together; yes, The Duchess has a vast creative gift; and Yes, she really is a very wonderful person.

Sally Harrington is not gone forever, nor is the gang on Riverside Drive.  Just for this little while let me have a blast in 1812.

I hope all of you and yours are well!

xx