Michael’s Comments (group member since Nov 30, 2012)

Michael’s comments from the Q&A with Michael Brown group.

Reviewed by “Simply Stacie Reviewer site”


Title: William & Lucy: A Tale of Suspicion and Love
Author: Michael Brown
Published by: Tarn Publishing
My Review:
I was not prepared for the emotional impact William & Lucy would have on me. Maybe it’s the poet in me, but I was deeply touched by the relationship between these two characters. There’s something special about reading about the inspiration behind a poem that gives it more depth, even if that inspiration is fictional. It was entirely believable and a sweet breathe of fresh air during a difficult time in history. Their chance encounter was amusing and not typically one that would spark a love story, but that’s what I loved about it.
I’ve always enjoyed William Wordsworth’s poetry and it was nice to get to see a man behind the poetry. The author was sure to include information at the end of the book to inform the reader what was real about Mr. Wordsworth and what was fiction. I love when author’s take the time to do that when working with historical characters. Most of what we read about actually happened to him. I would not have wanted to live during this time in history when it was so easy to fabricate evidence to fuel lies and rumors. It certainly made me grateful for the life I live now.
Lucy is a very lovable character. Sweet, but not naive. She is almost like a child herself which is why her charges from her governess position love her so much. The author did a wonderful job of describing her art with words so I could see her paintings and how they develop throughout the course of the book. If you’re familiar at all with the poem She Dwelt Among the Untrodden Ways then the ending isn’t a surprise, but it still pulls at the heart strings.
My favorite thing about this book is the dialogue. It’s obvious that Michael Brown writes scripts, as he has a remarkable way with giving each character a distinct voice. It’s not always easy, especially when certain characters, like His Lordship, speak so poorly. It would have been very difficult to write while un-conjugating verbs, but he does it masterfully. He really captures the feel of the era which makes this book come alive. It’s a highly enjoyable read.
*I received a copy of this book for review, but was not compensated financially in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based solely on my experiences while reading this book.*
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About Kimmel
Kimmel is a stay at home mom of two little girls. She moves all over the place as the wife of a United States Airman. She is an aspiring author who loves to write, read, watch movies, and bake delicious things!

REVIEWED BY: Amber Lea Easton, ROMANTIC SUSPENSE FICTION

My review of William and Lucy: A Tale of Suspense and Love...

Some novels are able to transcend the boundaries of imagination where they touch our hearts in gentle ways that leave us nostalgic when we turn the last page: such is the impact of William & Lucy. The characters are brought to life with grace and intelligence. More often than not, I found myself smiling in writer kinship with Wordsworth's pain of finding the right word and his panic when a journal of precious work falls into water. He became more than a name of a famous poet, more than a character in a novel...he became a man I wish I'd known.

Bringing forth a tale based on history is no easy task and I applaud Michael Brown for mastering the feat. The story of William Wordsworth and Lucy Sims flows seamlessly and eloquently. Never once did I feel that history intruded on the story; rather, it served as a solid foundation from which the author's imagination soared. I found myself transported back in time, imagining poets lamenting about their freedom to speak out against the aristocracy, feeling Lucy's helplessness at being a girl during a time when that didn't present many options and experiencing the excitement of love when it's all about discovery and hope.

The author credits the poem She Dwells Upon the Untrodden Ways for his inspiration. After reading the novel, I went back and read all of the Lucy poems by Wordsworth hoping to share one with you all in this review. That's not happening. Even if you've read them and are familiar with Wordsworth, do yourself a favor and read this novel before re-reading the poems because they will have much more impact. Trust me.

If you love history, read this book. If you love brilliant writing, read this book. If you love romance, read this book. If you love a page turning ending, read this book. Yes, even though it's based on historical facts, William & Lucy delivers an ending that will have your heart pumping.

Excellent job, Michael Brown. Not only did I enjoy your novel, I believe I learned a thing or two along the way. I can't rate this book high enough--I'll say five stars because that's the norm, it seems, but it's worthy of a ten.

William & Lucy originates an identity for Lucy, and who she was to William Wordsworth. Is there any other historical or fiction figure you wonder about? I think back to that old movie "Young Sherlock Holmes" or the short-lived TV series "Young Indiana Jones." I love thinking about how an adult character came to be. What are the events that shaped them? I just saw "Lincoln" which gives us the back story into what went into ending slavery. Any thoughts out there on that?

Like many, I thought William Wordsworth was the dour man portrayed in history. Far from it! As a young man he was a passionate lover, fathered an out-of-wedlock child at 21 years of age, a poet who traveled widely, and a man who was suspected of being a French spy during England's war with France. I also discovered that an agent from the Home Office, a Mr. G. Walsh, was sent to Somerset to gather evidence to have William hung.

Are there any historical figures who have come alive for you recently? On screen or the written page? History does come alive when you peek behind the curtain...

Dear Readers,

Happy new year! And welcome to my first author Q&A for my first novel, William & Lucy. I'm excited, and well, new at this, so bear with me...

"William & Lucy" centers on one of literary history's most enduring mysteries: the identity of Lucy Sims, the young muse who inspired William Wordsworth to write the famous Lucy poems that began the Age of Romanticism in English literature.

One of my favorite Wordsworth poems is "She Dwelt Among the Untrodden Ways." I was intrigued with Lucy, the young woman in the poem that ended with the words: "...and, oh the difference to me!" I read everything about this relationship but I still could not "find" Lucy. That initial research, however, gave me the "bones" of my novel.

Are any of you Wordsworth fans? Or have you ever been curious about a literary love affair? Do you ever imagine what life the characters lead off the written page? These are all ideas that intrigue me.

I hope you'll check back here during the week as I talk more about Wordsworth, my novel, and anything else you want to talk about!

Thanks for coming by.

Best, Michael

Thank you for your interest in William & Lucy. I'm eager to share my love for
William Wordsworth's poetry and how the enigmatic Lucy of his classic work "She Dwelt Among the Untrodden Ways" became the inspiration for my historical novel. Please come back January 7, 2013 for a weeklong discussion. I welcome your questions! Have a great holiday. Thanks.