Tomorrow: THE SINS OF LORD LOCKWOOD
Hi, all!
It’s the end of February, and if you’re in my part of the world, the view out the window is bare-branched and snowy. I hope you’re keeping warm!
Ten years ago, at this same time of year, I received one of the first printed copies of my debut novel, THE DUKE OF SHADOWS. I still remember my wonder and excitement as I paged through the book — and how boggled I was that others (people who weren’t related to me, even!) might read a story that I had once imagined would travel no farther than my keyboard.
That novel featured a secondary character — Liam, the Earl of Lockwood — with a mysterious and tortured past. Abducted on his wedding day and wrongly imprisoned for many years, Liam had returned to London with vengeance in his heart . . . and a tightly disciplined refusal to speak of Anna, his long-lost wife.
Liam and Anna’s tempestuous reunion, which took place “off screen” during THE DUKE OF SHADOWS, has inspired more reader emails than any other story I’ve written. Again and again, I’ve been asked: Where is Lockwood’s book?
In truth, it took a full decade to figure out how to tell his story. But when it hits the shelves tomorrow, I hope you’ll decide it was worth the wait.
Publishers Weekly gave THE SINS OF LORD LOCKWOOD a starred review, calling it "rich with powerful prose... an exemplar of second-chance love stories." You can read an excerpt of the book at my website here: meredithduran.com/tsoll.html. You can also pre-order THE SINS OF LORD LOCKWOOD at your local bookstore or any of the internet retailers listed at the bottom of this email.
For all of you who asked about Lockwood — you’ll notice that the book is dedicated to you. My grateful thanks for your encouragement to tell his story. I believe it might be my favorite of all the books I’ve written, precisely because my muse, in this case, was you.
To order the book online, use the links below!
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Sins-Lord-Lockw...
NOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sins-...
APPLE: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sins-...
KOBO: http://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sins-...
BOOKS-A-MILLION: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/978150...
GOOGLE: https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
It’s the end of February, and if you’re in my part of the world, the view out the window is bare-branched and snowy. I hope you’re keeping warm!
Ten years ago, at this same time of year, I received one of the first printed copies of my debut novel, THE DUKE OF SHADOWS. I still remember my wonder and excitement as I paged through the book — and how boggled I was that others (people who weren’t related to me, even!) might read a story that I had once imagined would travel no farther than my keyboard.
That novel featured a secondary character — Liam, the Earl of Lockwood — with a mysterious and tortured past. Abducted on his wedding day and wrongly imprisoned for many years, Liam had returned to London with vengeance in his heart . . . and a tightly disciplined refusal to speak of Anna, his long-lost wife.
Liam and Anna’s tempestuous reunion, which took place “off screen” during THE DUKE OF SHADOWS, has inspired more reader emails than any other story I’ve written. Again and again, I’ve been asked: Where is Lockwood’s book?
In truth, it took a full decade to figure out how to tell his story. But when it hits the shelves tomorrow, I hope you’ll decide it was worth the wait.
Publishers Weekly gave THE SINS OF LORD LOCKWOOD a starred review, calling it "rich with powerful prose... an exemplar of second-chance love stories." You can read an excerpt of the book at my website here: meredithduran.com/tsoll.html. You can also pre-order THE SINS OF LORD LOCKWOOD at your local bookstore or any of the internet retailers listed at the bottom of this email.
For all of you who asked about Lockwood — you’ll notice that the book is dedicated to you. My grateful thanks for your encouragement to tell his story. I believe it might be my favorite of all the books I’ve written, precisely because my muse, in this case, was you.
To order the book online, use the links below!
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Sins-Lord-Lockw...
NOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sins-...
APPLE: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sins-...
KOBO: http://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sins-...
BOOKS-A-MILLION: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/978150...
GOOGLE: https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
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message 1:
by
Erin
(new)
Feb 26, 2018 11:19AM
I'm so excited!!!
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Erin wrote: "I'm so excited!!!"I am thrilled to hear it!
Danker wrote: "Thanks. It was worth the wait."And I am vastly relieved to hear this. It really did take ten years to figure out how to write the book, so it's nice to know that those years weren't misspent, in your view!
Hello Meredith, As I opened to your author page just now, I was going to ask some of the questions you just answered about the "Sins of Lockwood". I wondered why it took 10 years to come from your pen. I just finished my second reading of Duke of Shadow, the first of which was right after it's publication. I was able to appreciate anew the beauty of Duke of Shadows and revisit Lockwood in those pages. As I start Lockwood, I am in awe of the fact that although 10 years have gone by, we can pick up his story seamlessly today. Quite a wonder and most likely a true feeling of accomplishment for an author. Thank you for not dumbing down your works, keeping them at the high caliber of writing that i expect from the author of "duke of Shadows". It must be quite a juggling act - publication vs the writing process. I'll let you know what I think of Lockwood's story but I am going to be sure to savor it. I hear it's dark.
Thank you, Maura Fox
PS I looked for Duke of Shadows in Audible/audio version. ?? not available??
Yayyyyyy!!! So excited about this! Thanks a Lot for giving us Lockwood's book
Maura wrote: "Hello Meredith, As I opened to your author page just now, I was going to ask some of the questions you just answered about the "Sins of Lockwood". I wondered why it took 10 years to come from your..."
First, my abject apologies -- I don't receive notifications for new comments for some reason (must fuss around in Settings to figure that out), so I'm seeing this comment much later than you made it!
I'm so moved by your praise for my books. I do hope this one, if you've read it, pleased you as well. Regardless, thank you for your kind words.
As to why it took ten years to write... oof. Had you asked me even at this time last year, I would have told you, without exaggeration and *with* a mounting degree of panic, that I had no idea how to write this book. It seemed that the weight of the backstory (1857-1860) might overwhelm the "present day" portion (1861). It took me forrrrrever to figure out how to ensure that did not happen, and I think I ended up discarding roughly 300 pages of false starts before I finally hit on the right strategy (which, if you've read the book, you'll know involved flashbacks -- not a technique I've used before, or probably will use again... though one should never say never!).
Marina wrote: "Yayyyyyy!!! So excited about this! Thanks a Lot for giving us Lockwood's book"Marina, I'm so sorry that I'm seeing this so belatedly! Many thanks for your excitement! :)
Discarding 300 pages. Now that’s a great story for aspiring writers and explains why I find your writing so satisfying.I often grapple with the underlying reasons why I read crime fiction and HRs. Crime because I like to see the baddies lose, even when I know they often don’t. HRs because they meet a need to believe that crappy situations can be resolved and that HEAs are around the corner - even though I’m surrounded by the realities of life and love and romance. And that an historical setting allows me to find the HEAs more credible.
Anyway, thanks very much for your work. It is always intensely emotional without being cloying, beautifully crafted, and, to my mind, historically authentic without being didactic.
Very importantly, you have given me some admirable heroines while still allowing me to fall for a bunch of swoon-worthy heroes.
Power to your pen.
Wow, Danker. I'll be glowing for quite a while after reading your comment. And I no longer feel quite so despondent about those three hundred trashed pages! Thank you.
Meredith wrote: "Marina wrote: "Yayyyyyy!!! So excited about this! Thanks a Lot for giving us Lockwood's book"Marina, I'm so sorry that I'm seeing this so belatedly! Many thanks for your excitement! :)"
OMG! This great autor that I love so much replied to my comment! Wow, to say that I feel honored is little. Thank you so much for all your hard work and for your reply, you made my day! PS: Also, sorry for my really delayed reply, I hadn't been on Goodreads for a long time. Send you all my support and best wishes from Mendoza, Argentina! :)
Loved Lord Lockwood's story ( did a GR review on it). Do you plan to write Julian's love story? Thanks!
HR-ML wrote: "Loved Lord Lockwood's story ( did a GR review on it). Do you plan to write Julian's love story? Thanks!"Good news for you HR-ML — Julian’s story is already written. It’s The Duke of Shadows.
Hi Joanna Loves Reading, Oops---I read The Duke of Shadows nrly 10 yrs ago? Will need to re-read. I recall the Sepoy Rebellion scenes were v sad. Ms Duran indicated in the Lockwood book that Liam & Anna were secondary characters in Duke of Shadows.
Thanks for your help!
I endorse your intention to reread Duke of Shadows. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it is my favourite Duran story and one of my all-time favourite HRs. Yes - it is very sad, but I find it head and shoulders above almost every other HR I’ve ever read. For one thing, it offers an excellent depiction of the horrors of war, the brutality of British colonisation and the savagery of the dispossessed. Then there is the love affair. Even though the H is gorgeous, it is the h who is, in my view, the absolute star of the story (because she almost loses her sanity, but fights to survive, rescuing herself rather than relying on, or even going near him). And she is so changed by the horrors she endured (what she saw and what torments her with guilt) that she has closed down, lost all sense of joy, is still suffering from PSTD and is almost unrecognisable - but he sees past this and still loves her. Additionally, her struggle to forgive him (and herself) and then to love again is beautifully drawn. So it is a love story that is not for the faint-hearted, but offers the reader so much more than the usual HR angst. I am a huge fan of Duran, and her continuing capacity to deliver stories that aren’t copy-cats, but, in my view, Duke of Shadows is her masterpiece.
Danker----Glad to see your post! I always enjoy your insight and book reviews,
I was impressed w/ Duke of Shadows. The couple was complex
& meshed well. The horrors of war showed lives destroyed, some wounded or aimless or homeless. Duran put the readers in the middle of the war: the looks, the sights, the sounds, the smells, the desperate people. The serious subject matter helped make the book.
You mentioned PTSD. I think of the poor souls who were murdered in a house of worship
in Pittsburgh. All who witnessed this unspeakable act and the survivors of the murdered or wounded people. This perp was pure evil and hatred. Off my soapbox now.
Too horrifying to add up the number of people killed - just this year in your country - by this type of hatred. I was once a news junkie, but no more. I’ve become overwhelmed by evidence of the degradation of humanity in the US. And now Brazil. And my country has nothing to boast about - but at least our haters can’t get killer guns.
All this bad news and the shootings are overwhelming. In my city 2 guys exchanged gunfire outside a funeral home! You do not feel
safe in public spaces. Then there are the "copy-cat" killers. The FBI
says the perp is usually a single, white guy who's a loner.
This guy just blends in.
In the good old days in the US, if 2 men had a conflict, a fistfight
probably ensued. Now days guns are involved. I worked in
mental health & learned it's hard to predict who will become
violent. Unless the person has a history of this.
Sorry I am way off topic. I've read 4-5 Duran books and liked them all.
