Teaser Tuesday: Back at the Ranch
Meanwhile, back at the ranch….
You may have noticed that posting has been a little erratic here recently. I’d love to claim technological gremlins (those convenient little scapegoats), but the truth is that I’ve been working full speed ahead on the next stand alone novel, which should be, cross fingers, knock on wood, turned in to my publisher at some point in March– but is still very much in the nitty gritty writing phase right now.
This novel is another complete departure. (And entirely unrelated to either Pink or The Ashford Affair
In 2009, our modern heroine learns that she’s inherited a house in a suburb of London. Recently unemployed and without much luck in the job hunt, she takes a few months to go to England to try to clear it out in the hopes of selling it. While there, she learns all sorts of things about both her own and her family’s past, including discovering a lost Preraphaelite painting with a mysterious provenance. How did it come to be there and what happened to the man who painted it?
The plot goes back and forth between 2009 and the same house in 1849, as we get a glimpse of the people who lived there and the early days of the Preraphaelite movement.
Although this book is unconnected to the Pinks, I did take the liberty of slipping in a Dorrington descendant as the modern hero. Not to be outdone, Vaughn insisted that his family get a look-in, so there’s some mention of the Vaughn family in the historical portion. (These old characters can be so demanding.)
I’ll share more as I get closer to done, but, for now, I just wanted to fill you in on what’s going on behind the scenes!
This particular book doesn’t have a cover, a title, or a release date yet, but I imagine it will probably be making its way to stores at some point in spring of 2014.
You do have the bossiest characters.
Any news about “Dare Me” in the upcoming future?? This sounds fantastic!!
Hi, Catie! That will depend on how quickly this one gets done…. (The next Pink book is due 9/1, so there’s potential for a very narrow window of “Dare Me” writing time if all goes well.)
Sounds so interesting.
Thanks for keeping us up to date on your WIP! We are burning from curiosity on this side of the computer!
I can’t wait to learn more about this Dorrington offspring that is storming your heroin’s castle!!! Is he like Miles? Are we going to learn in this book what became of them after the Pink Carnation stopped her activities? 😀
And Vaughn… it didn’t suffice to him that you had an offspring of his in Ashford, he had to make his way into this book too! Typical 😀
As boosy characters are concerned, we are only missing Miss Gwen now! 😀
Is the modern part “chick lit/contemporary romance”-ish or nothing like that at all?
(and I totally second Catie about Dare me… we do miss them so! :D)
Hi, Celine! The modern part of this one, like “Ashford”, is more women’s fiction-y. More like Kate Morton or Karen White.
I meant *bossy*, and not *boosy*, obviously, sorry!!
Ooo very intriguing…
Sounds so exciting !
Lauren, I am beyond thrilled to see you branching out with stand alones, and I cannot wait to hear more details (and better yet, read the book!). Sounds wonderful so far!
Oh, this sounds so good! Can’t wait. And I love the idea of descendants of Pink characters coming into play.
Yay!
And on a side note, I feel slightly lost at the mentions of “Dare Me.” I think I missed something. What would this book be about?
Hi, Chanpreet! “Dare Me” was a contemporary romance I started writing just for fun. You can find the first six chapters posted on the website, starting here: https://laurenwillig.com/news/2012/06/23/dare-me-chapter-one/
That sounds so fabulous! Can’t wait!
This sounds great, Lauren! I can’t wait to learn more. Also, very exciting that you might have a window to work on “Dare Me.” We loved that summer serial, and I could definitely go for more Kristy and Jack.
Love the inherited house trope, especially when it takes place in London. Sounds great.
I somehow managed to miss Dare Me when it came up (no idea how THAT happened!). So I blew the afternoon catching up on that only to find out I have to wait goodness-knows-how-long to get a closure?! Aaaahhhhh! Write faster! (please) Loved it and agree with those who say they will buy….
It sounds like something I’ll love! Can’t wait!!
Add me to the fans of “Dare Me”. Hope you can squeeze out another chapter soon!