September 6th: Launch - Web of Deceit Tour Welcome
Welcome to my world of historical fiction on ebook. WEB OF DECEIT is a step into the refined world of 1890 London and New York Society where deceit, treachery, murder and above all incalculable ambition reside.
Lady Kent would be furious; recently, a perpetual state of being for her employer, Amanda thought.
Amanda had no time for remorse or guilt for her tardiness.
“Amanda, I don’t think it wise to make decisions without your employer’s permission.”
“Tonight is the Queen’s birthday ball. There will be two hundred and fifty debutantes coming out this year. Eloise must look her best. This blue will make her eyes more lively.”
Sommerset Maugham “OP Human Bondage”
In some ways, Web of Deceit, is my ode to Maugham. For the plot of getting Amanda out of London and to New York, I needed Harriet to provide her daughter with money. Harriet is a beautiful woman. Though by the time she is nearing 40 in 1889, she feels her life is over.
Casablanca. This is one of my favorite movies bar none. It’s always number one for me. It was my inspiration for my book SINS OF OMISSION, which I set prior to WWII and through WWII in Paris.
Georgia whirled around, hands on hips, lips pursed tightly. One look at Amanda’s smiling face and her anger melted.
“Go on with you. Miss Eloise didn’t sleep at all last night. She’s been ringing since dawn.”
When I set the dates for this tour, I wanted it to be in September as a remembrance of my husband, Jed Nolan, a film producer and director. His birthday was in September and I can’t begin the month without thinking of him.
“I’ve had a dreadful night. Now I’m to have a dreadful day.”
“What are you talking about?” Amanda asked as she opened the thick lace draperies and let the morning sun wash the room in a pink-gold glow. “You should be happy. It’s your debut, all your friends will be there, you’ll get to wear your beautiful new gown. What could be better?”
If you were to sum up the story in a sentence, what would it be?
Desperate, never-ending hope-filled love triumphs over deceit and evil.
Where did the inspiration for this book come from?
This is one of those stories that came from the character. Amanda showed up in dreams as a young girl of about 10. Then later as a woman, the toast of New York society and then later, as the first voice of women’s rights.
“This is a debutante ball, Amanda. I know you have no knowledge of these things, being from the . . . with your background. But all the girls must wear white. Only pale pink bordering on white is acceptable. And these gloves. They are vulgar and crass.”
On this book tour, most of my posts and information have been about the fact that Amanda Granger came from the London slums and rose in New York society by telling a lie. In 1890 New York, though there were no “classes” as there were in England, there were still levels of society. Money bought a person a measure of a position. Political power was another. Fame still another.
Five years later, Amanda was making over ten shillings a week, two shillings more than the neighborhood girls, who worked at the garment factories or as telephone operators. Hers was not a difficult job. She was responsible for both the care and the acquisition of wardrobes for both girls, their personal care, their social schedules, and their studies. Eloise was just as disciplined as Amanda. Emily, however, was lazy and always looked for the easiest courses. But Emily was fun and full of pranks, and when her mischief wasn’t getting her into trouble, it was difficult for Amanda not to like Emily.
Disgusted with Amanda’s lack of awe, Eloise checked herself in the mirror. As she had earlier that day, she raised her hand and played with the tendril of hair that hung from her temple. The pink gloves did not have the impact of the blue ones. Eloise could almost hate the rules. Almost.
Matthew Wade is the kind of historical hero whose only real flaw is situational. He’s tall, dark and handsome. Matthew MacFadyen comes to mind when I think of my Matthew. But then Matthew MacFadyen often comes to mind.
In a rush of fondness for a lifetime of shared moments, Eloise embraced Amanda in the way she had last year—before things, and she, began to change.
Eloise ceremoniously walked down the stairs with Amanda trailing her. At the foot of the stairs waited, a bit nervously, breathlessly, the entire Kent family.
![Courting the Countess by [Hatch, Donna]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51FDS6XFKcL.jpg)
