Please welcome our guest, Diana Rubino! And read all the way to possibly be a winner.
On New Year’s Day 2008, I sat on the couch trying to figure
out who to write about next, and decided on Hamilton (this was WAY
pre-Hamilton, the musical). The story centers on Hamilton, his wife and
mistress—the love triangle that became the nation's first sex scandal, The
Reynolds Affair, in 1791.
My agent said the story needed a bit more ‘oomph’ and I thought:
how about a Jack the Ripper-type serial killer stalking the dark streets? That
genre isn’t my forte, so I asked my friend, best selling thriller writer Brian
Porter, to help out. I’ve known Brian for many years; he was my editor on A
NECESSARY END, my Civil War romance centering on John Wilkes Booth’s insane
plot to assassinate President Lincoln, and I knew about his success with his
Jack the Ripper novels and Mersey Mystery series. So he was my very first
choice as a collaborator. He graciously obliged and wrote a chilling subplot
about a serial killer on the dark Philadelphia streets, Severus Black. Severus
seems to have gathered a following already!
While researching
this book, I became fascinated with Aaron Burr, who makes a cameo appearance in
the story as Maria Reynolds's divorce lawyer. I found the Aaron Burr
Association on the internet, and have been a member ever since.
Visit their
website at http://www.aaronburrassociation.org/
And on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/AaronBurrAssociation/
My fascination with Aaron led to my next bio novel, about his last wife Eliza Jumel, which was released on November 24.
An excerpt from SHARING HAMILTON
“You love me, Alex? You truly love
me? Are you sure?” My breath caught in my throat. My heart danced. His
admission rendered me breathless. I melted into a puddle in his lap.
“Maria, I’ve been awaiting you all
my life.” He stroked my cheek. “You’re everything I’ve wanted in a
woman—allure, intelligence, talent, fun—I’ve never met a woman who was all
those things wrapped in one beautiful package.”
I gazed into his eyes, knowing our
souls had entwined before this, ages before.
“I wanted you so badly from the
moment we first met, at Aaron’s soirée,” I divulged the risky admission.
“Though I knew you were already taken, and your course already laid out for
you, I craved your attention, not to simply revere you from afar. I wanted to
know you personally, even if only to spend one visit together. Just to be close
to you. But I knew it was a fantasy. I was distraught when you left New York to
live here. Then, when James made us move here, I knew our paths were destined
to meet. It could not have happened any other way.”
“Then your initial letter to me had
subtext I missed?” His lips curved with mirth.
“Oh, no, not at all,” I murmured
between kisses on his face, his ears, his lips. “We—I was destitute. James
had—” About to blurt it out, I stopped myself. I couldn’t bring myself to admit
I’d lied to him; I’d been a pawn in James’s plot. “All I wanted was to meet
you, to be alone with you, for a few stolen moments. That was all I deserved.
After all, you are—who you are! I’m—no one.”
“Ah, you’re far from no one. A pity
James doesn’t realize that. But I do. I will come clean with you, Maria. I love
my wife, but I am not in love with her. As I am with you.”
I wanted to climb to the roof and
sing to the entire world, “The great Alexander Hamilton, my new love, is in love
with me!” How could I ever keep this a secret? The best part of being in love
was sharing it with others. Oh, how I wanted to tell someone! But who could I
trust?
SHARING
HAMILTON Contest
The first three readers to answer
this question will receive the Kindle version of SHARING HAMILTON.
Which historical figure have you
always wanted to meet, and why?
Let’s Connect
https://www.facebook.com/harry.porter.12139862
Blog is at https://sashaandharry.blogspot.co.uk/
Website is www.brianlporter.co.uk
16 comments:
Sex and a serial killer - what more could anyone want in a book?
Welcome, Diana! Ditto what RE said! :-) Sounds like a fascinating story.
Yes, throw in a serial killer and ANY book is better. :) I love the premise and how you're using actual historical figures. Sounds like a great read!
I'm always amazed at the interest in this period...and the old west. And Aaron Burr has a website and FB slot? Astonishing. Good for you for digging deeper into a fascinating era!
As a history lover, this book is right up my alley! Happy to have you on our blog!
Thanks, ladies! I never knew about Hamilton's famous affair when I first started researching him. It was the tabloid fodder for the time--and they sure had their scandal sheets then, as now! I became fascinated with Aaron Burr while researching Hamilton, and he replaced Lincoln as my favorite American. Anyone interested in Aaron can join the Aaron Burr Assoc., we get together every Sept. and visit historical sites connected with Aaron--this year it's in New Jersey, next year, my territory, Boston.
So glad you liked the idea of putting the serial killer subplot in--my agent said the book needed more 'oomph', so I asked my friend Brian Porter, who writes murder mysteries set in England (he's British) and he wrote the subplot--readers have really fallen for this creepy killer! :)
I say add a serial killer or a cat and you have everything you need for a great story.
When my agent said it needed more oomph, I thought, what better than a murderer on the loose? Ah, yes, the cat will always help a story along, too, especially if it helps solve those murders!
A great premise. I'm a history lover, too. Sounds great.
Thanks, Vonnie; I had a blast writing it.
True history is always fascinating. Then add a serial killer and voila - an enthralling book. Best of luck.
What fascinating research! I'm jealous. And your plot twists sound intriguing. Good luck with the book.
Thanks, Margo & Andrea...the serial killer my co-author Brian came up with couldn't be more creepy--he'd had him in mind to write about for a while, and this came along. He never gets caught in this book, to leave him free to star in his own sequel!
I'm a huge history buff so the research is the best part. I really enjoy writing about people who actually lived and getting into their heads. If only I could 'channel' them but I don't have that talent. :)
My co-author Brian Porter has written several best-selling books, some of which are about his rescue dogs, and he has a murder mystery series set in England. Connect with Brian:
https://www.facebook.com/harry.porter.12139862
Blog is at https://sashaandharry.blogspot.co.uk/
Website is www.brianlporter.co.uk
Wow. Isn't it amazing that the political scandals of recent times are nothing new? I've always enjoyed reading historical fiction. Your book sounds great. Best wishes.
Thanks, Diane.....no, sex scandals among politicians are nothing new; this was the first, and it sure got tongues wagging...and ruined Hamilton's chances of ever aspiring to the presidency.
Why can't these guys stay out of trouble?????
Diana
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