Friday, December 19, 2014

Historical Romance Guest Author: Gina Danna

I'm so thrilled to have Gina Danna at Romancing the Victorians today! Thank you for visiting, Gina! 

A USAToday Bestselling author, Gina Danna was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and has spent the better part of her life reading. History has always been her love and she spent numerous hours devouring historical romance stories, always dreaming of writing one of her own. After years of writing historical academic papers to achieve her undergraduate and graduate degrees in History, and then for museum programs and exhibits, she has found the time to write her own historical romantic fiction novels.

Now, under the supervision of her three dogs and two cats, she writes amid a library of research books, with her only true break away is to spend time with her other life long dream —her Arabian horse—With him, her muse can play

Web: www.ginadanna.com
FB: www.facebook.com/GinaDannaAuthor
Twitter: @GinaDanna1
Gina's new book, Great and Unfortunate Desires, is set during the Victorian era. I'll move over and let her explain what drew her to the period.

Writing a Victorian-era story....

A couple of years ago, I had finished my novel on the American Civil War – Victorian America. It is an era I’m very familiar with, being a historian and a Civil War reenactor. I’ve done a ton of research in the lifestyles of the era, social mores, societal events and of course, the War itself, especially on the impact it had on the American people. I was pleased with my manuscript and sent it to the agent I had at that time, who promptly told me I should return to writing about lords and ladies.... My first manuscript, which got her attention to represent me, was on Regency England, and with the Civil War not a topic she was thrilled about, she hoped I’d return to the popular era of Jane Austen.

Problem was, I didn’t want to go back there. So I mulled it over and since I was comfortable with America’s Victorian era, I went to England at the same timeframe. The recent movies on Sherlock Holmes had my attention and with a comment made about Dr. Watson and his military service during the Afghanistan. So with doing research, discovered about the Great War with Russia and the beginning of my story took hold.

Writing about the Victorian era is fascinating. A time when the bustle was in, corsets still worn, manners improving, and technology picking up speed. It was the industrial revolution with factories and machines, gas lighting, the beginning of electricity, trains the fastest means of transportation plus many more inventions, modernizations that open the doors to new plots, twists in people’s lives and events, and so much more!
Welcome to the Victorians and Great & Unfortunate Desires!
~ Here's a little more about Gina's delicious novel ~

Great & Unfortunate Desires

Victorian England c. 18701

Operating as a British spy, Tristan St.James, the new Marquis of Wrenworth, barely escapes Afghanistan with his life in the spring of 1869. He plans to seek vengeance against the traitor who exposed him and for the agent he’s forced to kill. Returning to England, as a lord, he must marry. Haunted by guilt from the horrors of war, he avoids love at all costs, but finds himself drawn to the only woman who is disinterested in him.

Lady Evelyn Hurstine has waited over two years for the return of her love, a man who left for war in the East. But during that time, she suffered a brutal assault, resulting in a child and fear of any man touching her except for the man she once knew. The pursuit by the marquis scares her but her excuses against his proposal dwindle.

Their marriage strengthens into love until she discovers her husband isn’t the safety she believed but the one who killed the man she once loved. Caught in a world of intrigue and mayhem, Tristan must prove his love to her before the traitor destroys them both.

Grab your copy at any online ebook retailer!


Comment on this post and let Gina know what you like best about Victorian romance. If you haven't read historical romance set during the era, tell us why. 

Include your email address for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card.

19 comments:

  1. Thank you for having me Christy! :)

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    1. Thanks so much for being here, Gina! It's always great to support a fellow Victorian romance author. :)

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  2. I'm glad to see Victorians are coming back into popularity, Gina. I love that era - it spanned such a long period of time, with so many changes, and has so much to offer authors and readers alike. I love the title, too - that alone would have me grabbing the book 'off the shelf', lol. Good luck with sales (I'm going after my copy!)

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    1. Oh thank you! Words that are so sweet to hear! :)

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  3. I love all historical romances, whether they're set in England or the US. I'd love to read your Civil War story. Maybe it's time to drag it out of the closet, since American historicals are mounting a comeback, too.

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    1. Becky, I'm working on getting the Civil War one out :) Thank you!

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  4. There is such an romantic aura about that time period. Maybe you can bounce between your novels the the 2 eras. Which is a win/win - more books in each genre for the world to enjoy.
    Tweeted.

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    1. Yes, I think I'll work something out about that :) Thanks!

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  5. The Victorian period was such a long one that you can pick and choose almost any world you want to--it made the great leap from the Regency (which we all love because it's so remote from our time) to the modern world--she went on until 1901, which still boggles my mind. And the world changed utterly during her reign. No wonder you're fascinated! So am I--and your book sounds great. It's languishing on my TBR file. Once this Christmas hoopla is over with ...

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    1. LOL I so understand that TBR but I hope it does battle its way to the top! Thanks! :)

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  6. A good choice, Gina. The Victorian is really coming into its own now. As Beppie says, the time span is so broad, the options are tremendous. I hope this title does fantastically for you!

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  7. What I like best about LATE Victorian is despite everyone was high on morphine, cocaine and even heroine in the late late Victorian era, they still managed to establish a railway system, electricity grid, a telephone system, and finally fix their sewer issue before every one died of cholera. And have manners too. And the reason the Queen held her throne so long is because she hated her son and did no wish him to be king. She was determined to out live him. I love writing in the late Victorian because there are so many inventions to put in my stories.

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    1. If only I would proofread before hitting publish on a blog.

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    2. And my email address is Liza2write@yahoo.com

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    3. Liza Thanks & yes, interesting time :)

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  8. I love the cover and it sounds like a wonderful book! :)

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  9. I liked the mannerly and orderly ways of this era. When ladies really were ladies and acted the part and gentlemen were....well some were rogues and always the gentleman.
    jwisley8@me.com

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