The Blackwoods & I are not getting along

—Dorothy Parker.

With thanks to LettersOfNote, where I first encountered this perfect account of my own situation.

Let’s just get the painful part over with.

The third Difficult Dukes book is not going to be released in 2022.

I’m deeply sorry to disappoint the many readers who’ve asked about the Blackwoods’ story. It’s turned into an even greater struggle than the last book, and I honestly can’t say why. It’s not for want of trying. Hundreds of false starts and abrupt, screeching stops.

And so I’ve told Alice and Blackwood to go off and think about their many crimes against me, and to come back when they are ready to cooperate. I’m giving them two weeks. After things settle down post-holiday season, it’s back to work—and they’d better be ready.

This book will get written. At some point, the mental obstacles, whatever they are, will give way. Meanwhile, I can only ask, once again, for your patience. I promise to continue to work hard, and aim for 2023 release, as early as possible.

The Blackwoods & the Difficult Dukes series

A great many readers have asked about the Duke and Duchess of Blackwood’s story.

Alexander Brullov, Young Woman with a Book, 1839 (I’d date this before 1837, going by the dress)

Alexander Brullov, Young Woman with a Book, 1839 (I’d date this before 1837, going by the dress)

Let me preface this explanation with apologies for the confusion. My imagination rarely proceeds logically. If it did, I’d have written twice as many books by now. At least.

My plan for the Difficult Dukes has always been a trilogy: Three books about the three Difficult Dukes known as Their Dis-Graces: The Dukes of Ashmont, Blackwood, and Ripley, in alphabetical order.

When I began the first book, A Duke in Shining Armor, here’s what was in my head: Ashmont was a hot mess and Blackwood was in a troubled marriage to Ripley’s sister, Alice. But it was Ashmont’s runaway bride who took hold of my imagination first—thus Ripley’s story.

When that was done, I tried to tell the Blackwoods’ story (well, yes, I wanted to know what was going on, too), but my imagination refused to cooperate. Ashmont had to come next, like it or not.

Illustration by Robert Cruikshank

Illustration by Robert Cruikshank

The result:

Book One: A Duke in Shining Armor, Ripley and Olympia’s story, published 2017.

Book Two: Ten Things I Hate About the Duke, Ashmont and Cassandra’s story, published 2020.

Book Three (in process): Title Unknown,* Blackwood and Alice’s story. Planned publishing date is 2022.

Regarding Lord Frederick Beckingham (Uncle Fred) and Lady Charles Ancaster (Aunt Julia): Until Book Three is finished, I won’t know whether I’ve completed their story arc or will need to write a novella, but I do plan to reveal their story.

Regarding other characters: I haven’t decided and probably won’t until Book Three is finished. Not all secondary characters inspire a complete story, but I hope to have most of the loose ends tied up with Book Three.

Robert Cruikshank, “The Arrival, or Western Entrance to Cockney Land” (i.e., Hyde Park Corner, from the English Spy

Robert Cruikshank, “The Arrival, or Western Entrance to Cockney Land” (i.e., Hyde Park Corner, from the English Spy

*Please do feel free to offer title suggestions.

The Third Duke book & other items, including a deal

Curious about the Cossack trousers Cassandra wore? Here’s the inspiration. Cossack trousers United Kingdom Textiles and Fashion Collection. 1820-1830 (made) Artist/Maker: Unknown Materials and Techniques: ilk, lined with cotton, hand-sewn. Credit Line: Given by Mr Frederick Gill Museum number: T.197-1914. Copyright: © Victoria and Albert Museum

So many readers have asked about the third Difficult Dukes book that, with apologies, I’m going to have to respond here rather than in individual replies.

Alice & Blackwood’s story is in process. The goal is publication in 2022. If I could write faster, I would, but this is the way it goes nowadays, to my everlasting frustration.

Meanwhile, I’ll be continuing to stay in touch via this blog, Facebook, and Instagram. There will be pictures, lots of pictures, and information of varying degrees of historical nerdiness. Also, now and again on Instagram, there will be a giveaway.

For a set of images specifically related to individual books, please check out my Pinterest Page. If you would like to know more about any of the images, please email me, and I’ll be happy to write a blog post about it. The same applies to any puzzling elements in my books that you would like explained. I think it’s really fun to talk about social history: clothing, vehicles, manners, and so on. That’s part of the reason I write historical romance. For me, research is just delightful. It’s like playing Sherlock Holmes with history.

In other news:

A DEAL—The eBook edition of Royal Bridesmaids, an anthology that includes my novella, Lord Lovedon’s Duel, is for a limited time available for $0.99. Please be aware that these are short pieces, definitely not full-length novels. I’d need another three hundred-plus pages for that.