Presenting the Cover for THE NATURALIST

Dear readers, I am pleased to unveil the cover for my upcoming Regency romance The Naturalist!

I think my designer, Kathy Campbell of Gorham Printing, has outdone herself this time. This cover exactly sets the mood and the reader's expectations: the story will be romantic, the heroine curious, and all bodices will remain intact.

Here's the entire thing, front and back, for those of you who will read The Naturalist on your e-readers and never see the artwork in all its completeness and glory:

(And just in case you can't read the tiny print over the bar code, this one is only $9.99!)

I hope you've marked your calendars for the November 15th launch party! We'll be learning a period dance and sipping orgeat and negus, and YOU are invited, so let me know if you didn't yet receive your (electronic) invitation.

Speaking of dancing, I've enlisted my ten-year-old daughter in learning Mr. Beveridge's Maggot from the Stately Steps DVD. Those folks have done a fabulous job with their instructional video, and I hope to be able to pass on what I've learned at the party. As with all square and line dances, it's hard to get a feel for how the overall thing will look and feel when there are only two of you, but I haven't yet managed to coax my other kids (nor my husband) into joining us.

 Let me just say--we are going to have the Most Fun Ever.

It has come to my attention, from my research on eBay and Etsy, that, if you search on "Regency" gowns and costumes, the prices immediately go through the roof. Pooh on that! You feel free, if you're coming in any sort of costume, to play fast-and-loose with period accuracy! The 1960s era "maxi dresses" have the wrong necklines but often the right empire waist. In fact, I now have my own '60s maxi dress hanging in the closet that I plan to wear:

I'm going to have to tape up the too-long hem, but I love it. More on costumes later!