I’ve been away for a long weekend. It’s mid winter in New Zealand and while we don’t get snow (except on the mountains) in the North Island, it’s been grey, wet and cold. I desperately needed a break.
I drove up to the sunny Hawke’s Bay, to a little village called Havelock North, with my twin sister, Leigh – left the kids at home. It’s situated in a wine growing region and we did the normal things of shopping and eating and drinking. I even managed to read a fabulous Kresley Cole book.
Now I’m so relaxed I’m struggling to get moving again.
On the Saturday morning of my weekend away, I got an email from Megan Records with book two, INVITATION TO SCANDAL (due out May 2012), revisions. Luckily they are not extensive, and I’ve plenty of time to get them back. However, I have some work to do on the ending …
Because, I now have a new tool in my writing arsenal – BETA readers.
When I submitted my first book, INVITATION TO RUIN, to Megan, I didn’t even know what a Beta reader was. It wasn’t until my first sale, when I was let into the secret world of the published author loops, that the word Beta reader came up. I was pretty quick to realize the value of READERS feeding back on my work BEFORE it’s published.
My lovely Beta readers Diane and Danielle (I’m looking for two more if anyone out there wants to Beta read for me – must love Regency historical) have given me fabulous feedback and have indicated that they’d like more details of Anthony and Melissa, my heroine and hero from INVITATION TO RUIN in the epilogue of Invitation to Scandal.
Here’s some of the fabulous detail I got from my Beta Readers on INVITATION TO SCANDAL:
Did you find the ending satisfying? Again, I would have LOVED!! LOVED!! LOVED to have read that Anthony and Melissa were at the wedding and are living happily ever after that she is expecting or has had a baby or two and that Melissa and Rhea are just as good friends as Rufus and Anthony. I’m a hopeless romantic. Made me wonder if Samuel and Maggie will have a story? Will they????? Something like Anthony and Melissa? What about Stephen? Will he have a story? What about Alex? Will his story be coming? What about Stephen? Daniel too? OMG!!!! I CANT wait for this book to come out. I am crossing all my fingers that Alex and Stephen will have books coming out. Do you have any ideas when this Rufus’ book will be released? Is there any chance the other characters will have books. I’m very sorry to pester you.
If that isn’t the best pep talk I’ve ever received I don’t know what is!
Did you find anything confusing about the story? No, I understood the plot and the storyline. Two people trying to prove themselves in this world. One to become independent and the other to redeem his family name. And the both of them would do whatever it took to do to make it happened. My only problem with this book was the number of times that Rhea moaned about her parents’ marriage and that she wasn’t going to be dependent on any man and Rufus being betrayed and how he will never love again and that he would never trust a woman.
The last comment was a flashing red ALERT – things need to be tightened. So I have tightened them and it’s made the book much better.
For anyone who’d like a taste of Rufus Kight, Viscount Strathmore’s story here’s a snipet of when he finds out the identity of the heroine, Miss Rheda Kerrick.
…His forceful gaze swept over her trying to ascertain their identities. A shiver of fear sliced her insides. Damn the moon. She prayed it was dark enough, and her disguise good enough, that he would not know who she was. Perhaps he would think her one of Lord Hale’s stable boys.
She ground her teeth in resignation. What was the worst that could happen? He was too late; the deed had been done, with one horse anyway.
Eyes sharp as flint slashed in her direction, and she took a step back.
Ignoring her, Lord Strathmore bent to study his horse. “Have you been having an enjoyable evening, Caesar? I hope you have not let the Strathmore name down, and you have performed appropriately.”
In a voice she hoped mirrored a young boy’s she said, “Actually we were debating if he had enough stamina to service the second filly.” Since Lord Strathmore appeared to be buying her story, she might as well push her luck.
“I think you will find Strathmore males are perfectly capable of pleasuring more than one female in one night.”
A chuckle escaped from his companion while Jamieson gave a discreet cough.
Rheda, thankful for what little darkness the moon provided simply blushed, his insinuation not lost on her.
Lord Strathmore approached until he towered over her, menace pouring from every pore. Rheda thought the effect was somewhat spoilt because he looked thoroughly enticing in his formal dinner wear. “We shall have to discuss how you are going to repay me for Caesar’s services – Miss Kerrich, Miss Rheda Kerrich – Rhe.”
Needless to say, I’ve found the experience of Beta readers invaluable, and I really thank them for offering their services. My two Beta readers take their job very seriously, and really, really think about the book and the series. I can’t thank them enough!
If you want to be added to my Beta reader list, please email me on
romance at bronwenevans.com
I’ve got thick skin (as most writers do in this business) and I’m open to any constructive feedback that helps me make my books better.
So, thank you to the readers. For not only spending their money to buy and read our books, but also for selfishly helping us make them even better. Way better…
MARRY ME
But I thought I kept my cool. Until Megan said, “Ah, do you need to sit down? I had a lady faint once…” (I still have this crazy thought that she pictures me in the middle of nowhere surrounded by loud noises and barking, crazy dogs. She needs to visit the Pacific Northwest sometime to see how beautiful and peaceful it actually is here.) 
