Rita Bay's Blog

   On my final non-patriotic post last year, I said farewell to one of my four publishers. Secret Cravings and Sweet Cravings closed last year – a real shame. Sandy treated her authors well, the contract was fair, and many new authors received a first chance to publish. The closing was a class act. Sandy, unlike some publishers I could name, kept the authors in the loop and made every effort to keep the finances fair. While the SCP site has closed, the authors stay close through Facebook, but it’s still time to move on.

   Every author remembers receiving that first offer to publish. Fourteen contracts later, I will always be grateful to Judy Gill, at the time the acquisitions editor for Champagne Book Group, for that first vote of confidence in what became Into the Lyons’ Den, the first book in the shapeshifter Lyons’ Tales trilogy. Again, though, it’s time to move on.

   Last Christmas (2015) Champagne Book re-published my sweet Christmas Regency story, Twelfth Night Queen’s Deception. (Read Excerpt or Buy Here)  Recently, Long and Short Reviews awarded the story FIVE STARS (Read the review Here). Loads of research on apple production and processing in Somerset and the traditions of the Twelfth Night Queen celebrated there went into the story. Here’s the blurb for Twelfth Night Queen’s Deception:

    Fontaines always married Westburys, until the Twelfth Night Queen rebelled. Amelia Fontaine had been betrothed to her cousin, Percy Westbury, while she was still in leading strings. When Percy and his family arrive for a long holiday visit, Amelia is dismayed by the prospect of the impending arranged marriage. With his estate in shambles, Percy flaunts his plans to use Fontaine Hall’s wealth to benefit his family’s fortunes. When Percy demands that Amelia end her friendship with her neighbor, Edward Thornton, will she choose to follow tradition or pursue happiness?

   Edward Thornton, the Earl of Bridgewater, couldn’t remember a time he didn’t love Amelia. He didn’t believe her grandmother would insist on an arranged marriage, until the entire Westbury clan invites themselves to Fontaine Hall. When Edward discovers Percy’s secret life and his sinister plans for Amelia, he embarks on a campaign to rescue her. Will the Twelfth Night Queen help him save Amelia from her cruel fate?

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