Too soon for Christmas?

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Out in November.

There are some people, believe it or not, who keep their Christmas decorations up all year-round.
Like many writers I have to think about Christmas in the spring when I write my two Christmas books. I then forget about it until September. I always think that the start of Strictly Come Dancing as the beginning of the run into the festive season.
I can't get enough of the sparkly wonderfulness!
My beloved husband who has vascular dementia loves it as much as I do. Even though he has no language to speak of, and is very confused, when I showed him the Radio Times with all the pictures of the couples competing he was very excited and spent an hour looking at them. As soon as he hears the music he starts laughing. I watch these programs live, including It Takes Two, and then watch them again with him the following day.
The shops are already brimming with baubles, glitter and Christmas nonsense – I believe you can't have too many Christmas cushions so bought two more – these not only have Father Christmas they also have battery operated lights!
Christmas used to be more meaningful when I was a churchgoer – but even though I'm no longer religious I do believe that there is such a thing as Christmas spirit. It's a time for forgiving, for being with family, for celebrating everything that's good and putting aside our problems for a few days.
My decorations go up on the first day of December. It's going to be fun trying to keep our young British Shorthair, Billy-Blue, away from the tree. No doubt he'll send most of the things flying and I'll end up with none of the usual ornaments and so on on the coffee table.
As far as I'm concerned Christmas can be talked about from September, gifts and cards can be purchased from now, and the whole of December can be given over to the excesses of the season.
I won't wish you all a happy Christmas this month – although I did wish the people who run the garden centre the greetings of the season last Thursday as I won't be seeing them again until the spring.
Best wishes
Fenella J Miller

The Research Books I Couldn't Do Without.

I have literally hundreds of research books in my study as well as a bookcase in the spare bedroom filled with books covering the three eras that I write – Regency, Victorian and World War II.
Like my wardrobe, which is full of clothes I've had for years and haven't worn, my bookshelves are full of books I've had for years and never opened.
However, there are several that I use all the time.
'Walking Jane Austen's London' by Louise Allen is invaluable when I'm writing a Regency set in London. I also have her 'The Georgian Seaside' which I shall use when I write next summer's book for the Regency romantic box set. This box that will be books set at the seaside.
I also use the 'A-Z of Regency London' and the 'A-Z of Victorian London' as well as the facsimile copy of an original A-Z of 1940s London.
 My go to books for World War II are 'Wartime Britain' by Juliet Gardner and 'How We Lived Then' by Norman Longmate. I've also found 'Christmas on the Home Front' by Mike Brown essential with several of my World War II sagas.
Of course I have every autobiography written by female ATA pilots as well as a dozen or more books about the RAF and several biographies by Spitfire pilots.
I also find it useful to read good fiction, especially the three books by Derek Robinson about the RAF.
I'd be interested to know what research books you would never take off on your shelves.

mybook.to/DukeSeries-Six
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best wishes
Fenella J Miller

The Duke's Bride, the final book in The Duke's Alliance series.

Book One

 I've loved every minute I've spent with the Sheldon family. I started writing this series three years ago and have published two books every year. The final one, The Duke's Bride, is now on pre order.
I've also finished The Nightingale Chronicles, a four book Victorian series.
The other series, a WW2 one, originally called Ellen's War,  is now sold to Aria -Head of Zeus. I'll be writing the final book in this one later this year. 

Book Two

This means next year I have to start three new series. Not got any ideas so far but have bought some great Edwardian books and am hoping to find something in there to inspire me for the Victorian and Regency series. Have to do a lot of reading to find a subject that will hold my interest as much as the ATA did.
I do know I'll be writing the Victorian one set in East End and Essex and that it will be during the years 1845-1855.
Aren't my covers lovely? I owe a lot of my success to J D Smith. 
mybook.to/DukeSeries-Six

CLICK HERE FOR PRE ORDER OF THE DUKE'S BRIDE.

Fenella J Miller

Book Four

Book Three

Book Five

Book Six

Which is more important - a cover or the title?

I am in a quandary and I'm hoping that you might be able to help me. When I am about to start writing a new book I need to have the title in my head first, then the names of the characters, and only after that do I work out a rough outline of the story.
I'm absolutely certain that having the word duke in a Regency title definitely improves sales and also  using the word Christmas in a title does the same.
If you look at the four covers which ones do you think were the most successful? Did you choose because of the title or the cover?
It would seem that currently for a contemporary romance if the words, teashop, or any sort of shop, Cornish, little, girl, are included this also seems to improve its popularity. Indeed, the mainstream publisher I am now writing for is changing the series title of my World War II books to include the word girl. I was told that a girl's name plus the word war  no longer attracts readers.
The Reclusive Duke has been my most popular book so far. Then Christmas at Hartford Hall, then Lady Eleanor's Secret and last Victoria's War, Shadows.
I think the girl on Lady Eleanor looks too sad, but it fits the story perfectly. I love all the covers J D Smith does but for some reason some sell so much better than others.
If I changed the title of Victoria's War would it do better? Changed the cover? I doubt it.
I don't buy a book with the word shop in the title or if it has a pastel cover with hand drawn pictures. But then I don't buy books in first person as I can't read this. I just attempted to read a book by Nora Roberts, the characters and plot were excellent but she head hops so much it dragged me out of the story. Ten POV changes on one page!!
Personally it's the cover that I go for - I scarcely notice the title.
What about you? What makes you download a book?
Fenella J Miller

All's Well That Ends Well and For Want of a Penny

FREE 2nd - 6th July
myBook.to/NightingaleChroniclesOne

I am sad to being saying goodbye to the characters in The Nightingale Chronicles. I have lived with Sarah and Alfie for years and now the final book is on pre-order.
For Want of a Penny was written in 2008 and then updated and copy edited three years ago. This book will be FREE from 2nd July until 6th July.
The fourth and final book All's Well That Ends Well is now live as a pre-order and will be released on 12th July.

Pre-order now. Out 12th July
£1.99 & $2.99
mybook.to/Victorianfiction

The Nightingale Chronicles - Book 4 - All's Well That Ends Well
This is the final book in a four book series and both Sarah Cooper and Alfie Nightingale will have to endure a deal of heartbreak and danger over the next two years to reach their happy ever after. Sarah becomes betrothed to Robert Billings and moves her family back to Colchester, and Alfie leaves to be a policeman in London. Somehow Sarah must hold the family together and pray that her man will come back to her. Alfie has a life changing decision to make but will he make the right one for himself and the family that he has abandoned?

Thank you to everyone who downloaded The Reclusive Duke either as a KOL or for their reader. This book has done better than any other I've published and if I knew why I'd do it every time.

Until next time - stay cool and enjoy the unprecedented good weather

best wishes

Fenella J Miller

The Reclusive Duke & Other Things

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The Reclusive Duke is my latest offering. It is already in large print with Linford Romance and was included in last summer's Regency Romantics Box Set. 

This is why it is priced so low - it is not a totally new title. 

All my stand alone Regency books, except my Christmas novella, are written for the box set and then when this comes down we can republish as a stand alone title.  My Beta readers loved this one.

Here is the blurb:

The Reclusive Duke

When Lydia Sinclair is left to care for the orphaned children of her sister she discovers they are distant relatives of The Duke of Hemingford. With the last few coins she possesses she buys seats on a common stage for all five of them, determined to persuade the duke to assume responsibility for his cousins. The duke has no wish to have these unwanted relatives foisted on him, since his accident he shuns society.

However, Digby, his man of business, has other ideas and installs Lydia and the children in The Dower House.

Will the duke evict them when he discovers this deception or can Lydia get him to change his mind?

Other Things:

GDPR. No emails are ever shared and any I receive via the website are deleted after reading.

Bookbub/ Facebook author page/Amazon -  if you don't yet follow me on these please could you consider doing so?
Reviews: If you have read one of my books could I ask you to leave a review if you have time?
Thanks. All or any of these things would really be helpful.

Tomorrow  morning is THE WEDDING. Are you going to watch? We will be - love a good wedding.
Tomorrow afternoon is the CUP FINAL. Won't be watching that.
Until next time
best wishes
Fenella J Miller

Should all writers have a pet?

I have always considered myself a dog lover but did not actively dislike cats. We have had four flat coated retrievers and one border collie over the years but are also on our fourth cat.
We had a Bengal-cross that we rehomed for my niece which unfortunately died last November. I loved Louis but he was very unreliable and was as likely to bite and scratch as purr when you touched him.

I was persuaded by my other writer friends that I needed another cat, and this time to get a kitten and one which was guaranteed to be friendly. As I had just had a huge rebate on my council tax (because my husband has vascular dementia I now count as a single person) I decided to spend it on a pedigree cat.
After almost buying a Maine Coon (they are so huge I would not have been able to lift it to take it to the vet) I settled on a British Shorthair. I found the perfect pussy cat and although he was a little older than I would have liked, four months exactly, I collected him immediately after Christmas.
I have not regretted my choice or decision for one second. Billy Blue is an absolute charmer, sweet natured, funny and intelligent. I spent another fortune having the garden fenced so he cannot get out but if you divide the exorbitant sum by fifteen years it doesn't seem so bad.
To get back to my original question – should all writers have a pet? When we had Zoe, our border collie, my husband was safe to leave and I did a lot of planning and thinking on long walks by the river. I don't walk unless I have a reason.

Having a dog was not an option now but having Billy Blue is almost better as he does not require any exercise but does need my attention. This means I have a focus apart from my writing and my caring.

My desk is covered with cat hairs as is my monitor screen and whenever I get stuck I can find the cat and play with him. British Shorthairs are not supposed to be intelligent but I refute that. My cat talks to me, comes when I call him and knows when I am cross because he has tipped his water over again, or climbed on the back of my husband's chair and startled him.
I know a writer who has a parrot, many who have dogs, but I think more of us have a feline for company and inspiration than any other animal.
I talk to my cat, he is a good listener, and my number one fan.

best wishes
Fenella J Miller