There is always more to the story than just what
ends up between the pages. This page takes a behind the scenes look
at Something About Emmaline including
research I did while writing the book, character tidbits, and more. Happy
reading! ~Elizabeth
avon books
ISBN: 0-060-54931-9
January 25, 2005
The
idea for this book came around about two years ago when I was watching the
movie, The Importance of Being Earnest. Of course, I could blame Colin Firth’s
presence on the screen, because he is such an inspiring sight, however the
entire plot line of the story intrigued me—the idea of
a man with two identities—the solid, country gentleman and his alter
ego, his made-up "brother" Ernest, the rakish, man about town.
The secret identity and grand lie stuck in my brain and began to rattle
around. I kept seeing my hero, Alexander Denford, Baron Sedgwick, the
solid, dependable, rather boring sort of fellow who wanted to keep the
status quo, but I could just never see him being the rakish devil-may-care
kind of Corinthian that an "Ernest" character would require.
Then I realized what I really loved about the plot was the weight of that huge lie, and the great lengths to which Alexander would have to go to when it started to unravel. Suddenly, I saw it—Alex didn’t make up a brother, he made up a wife—because he was tired of everyone pestering him to get married. And in a flash, Emmaline was born. His perfect English wife—reliable, respectable, sickly and therefore, never seen. Alex had his perfect life without anyone trying to match him up since he was already "married" to Emmaline.
Now of course, I couldn’t leave him a happy man, so I therefore had the great joy of creating his Emmaline—I knew that from the moment she stepped into his life, a living breathing, hot blooded wife, she would have to turn everything in his orderly existence upside down, whether it was intentional or just part of her quirky and slightly mad character. Much of the inspiration for her character came from another of my favorite movies, Auntie Mame, with Rosalind Russell. At times, I almost felt sorry for Alex as he scrambles to stay one step ahead of his unraveling deception. Okay, maybe I didn’t feel all that sorry him—because it was tremendous fun to tell his and Emmaline’s story.
On a side note, my working title for this book was The Importance of Being Emmaline. The powers that be changed it to Something About Emmaline. Whatever the title, the book is a rollicking good time.
- Alexander
Denford, Baron Sedgwick -- Our
unassuming hero thinks himself a dashing sort, but in truth, he’s
a little bit dull. That is until Emmaline arrives in his
life and suddenly he finds himself getting into street brawls, having
to go along with her outlandish lies, and even considering keeping this
faux Emmaline as his wife. Whatever is a baron to do?
- Emmaline Denford, Baroness Sedgwick -- Having arrived in town, the first thing Emmaline does is set to work remodeling Alex’s stodgy house. If she were alive now, her favorite television show would be Trading Spaces—but without the $1000 limit on spending. And besides her penchant for redecorating, shopping and telling outrageous lies, oh, and gambling, she also has a heart of solid gold and before she’s done with her masquerade, she’s out to set the ton to rights.
- Lord John Tremont -- "Jack" as he is known to his friends, is the third son of a duke, and a general sponger. But he’s Alex’s best friend, and Alex is loyal to his friends. Besides, Jack’s rakish and outlandish ways amuse Alex. But it is when Alex needs a friend, it is Jack that offers him the best advice of all. You can read what happens to Jack in This Rake of Mine.
- Hubert Denford and Lady Lilith Denford -- Alex’s erstwhile heir apparent isn’t all that happy to see his cousin Alex so “besotted “ by his bride. With such passionate sparks flying between Alex and Emmaline, Hubert fears he could lose his inheritance and the Sedgwick title with the arrival of a little Alex. It’s up to Hubert and his wife Lilith to discover the truth about Emmaline and set the Denford clan back into its stodgy and predictable order.
Malvina Witherspoon, Viscountess Rawlins -- You
might recall Malvina from It Takes A Hero.
She was the overbearing matron and distraught mother who hired Rafe—not
the most likeable of ladies. But since Something About
Emmaline takes
place years earlier, here is a young and vibrant Malvina, about to deliver
her first child. I enjoyed "meeting" Malvina anew, and discovered
a lady you might find surprising. Oh, don’t worry, she still gossips
and orders everyone around, but you’ll see Malvina bring out the very
best in Emmaline in these pages.
The Marquess of Templeton -- My beloved
Temple is back. I just couldn’t keep him out of the book.
I mean really, what is Regency London without Temple lolling
about? Here he is after One
Night of Passion and
before Stealing the Bride.
He and Elton are going to help Alex and Emmaline in the most
unlikely of fashions. Be ready to be shocked.
- Would Alex have been able to maintain his Emmaline fiction for much longer? What was really at the heart of his reluctance to wed, and hence, his creation of Emmaline?
- Do you believe that two such different people, like Alex and Jack would be best friends?
- Does Emmaline’s past make her less of a heroine?
- Is Emmaline’s advice to Miss Mabberly good advice? Instead, should she have encouraged the girl to cry off her wedding as she wanted to?
- Does it bother you when an author makes up something, such as the card game, parmiel, that Emmaline plays?
- At what moment do you think Alex fell in love with Emmaline? What was Emmaline finest moment of heroism? Is Alex the right man for Emmaline, and why?
- When do you think Emmaline fell in love with Alex?
- Did she change him or did he change her? How?
This isn’t a complete list of the books I used to research Something
About Emmaline,
as I have an always growing library about the Regency. These are the books
that tended to live on my desk while I was writing, the ones I reached for
every time I had a question.
- The Country House Guide, Family Homes in the Historic Houses Association by Anna Sproule and Michael Pollard, ISBN 0-88162-322-9. This book is a wonderful peek inside some of the most beautiful houses in England. It was the inspiration for many of Emmaline’s decorating ideas.
- The A to Z of Regency London, ISBN 0-903541-36-X. This book is a period reproduction of the maps of London during the Regency. A must have for anyone trying to find their way from Mayfair to Almack’s and then one more turn around the Park.
- The Period House: Style, Detail & Decoration 1774-1914, by Richard Russell Lawrence and Teresa Chris, ISBN 0-75380-119-1. Christina Dodd recommended this book and it was a great find. It details the changing floor plans and housing in London and examines how a house was built and the changes that were made or added along the way according to the means of the owner.
- The Royal River: The Thames from Source to Sea, ISBN 0-906223-77-6. Traveling along the Thames, it offers insight into life along England’s great river.
- British Campaign Furniture, Elegance under Canvas 1740-1914, by Nicholas A. Brawer, ISBN 0-8109-5711-6. Another excellent book with tons of pictures and information about the type of furniture an officer or solider would have possessed and used, and most likely, as in the case of Alex’s grandfather kept around the house. I also used this book in writing It Takes A Hero.
I get asked a lot where I find my books, and the two places I always look
first are:
www.abebooks.com
www.powells.com
order
Something About emmaline
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