Tudor Rose
Author: W.H. Doyle
Publication Date: April 9, 2019
Publisher: Month9Books
Description:
In
16th-century England, two teenage best friends find themselves on an
exciting journey from the country to the Queen’s court in the hope of
being named ladies-in-waiting. But Sybille and Rose soon discover they
aren’t the only girls who have their sights set on attending Her
Majesty. The girls must compete against worldly and cunning opponents,
among them mean-girl Avis and her entourage of back-stabbing cohorts, tipping the balance in their already-tenuous friendship.
Soon,
the grand hall is more like the hallway of a prestigious finishing
school, with girls fighting for the attention of a dashing, young earl,
amid parties fueled by drinking and indiscriminate dalliances. As the
tension between Sybille and Avis heats up, the focus on Rose wanes,
allowing her to turn her attention to more important matters – like
getting close enough to the Queen to learn her secrets.
But
being close to the Queen is not without its challenges. And when rumors
of Rose’s influence make their way around the castle, no one, not even
the Queen, will be safe.
Please provide a deleted scene
This scene wasn’t completely deleted but it was reworked to the point that it might as well as have been. This was the way the book originally started…from Aunt Clemence’s POV. My amazing editors at Month9Books quickly pointed out that we need to get into Rose’s head as soon as possible and that it should all be recast from her point of view. They were so right, and the book is so much better for it. Here’s the opening as it was originally:
“If ever there’s a perfect day for a purity examination,” Aunt Clemence thought cheerily, “it would have to be today.”
The sun was making its first appearance in weeks, the orchards were dotted with the bright colors of autumn, and the violent storms of the past month appeared banished from their little corner of England. Aunt Clemence knew she’d been right to turn her niece’s examination into a banquet of sorts. What a spectacular day to show off her London connections—and her position as the town’s most powerful widow!
Then again, she realized, the weather didn’t much matter. The citizens of Gordonsrod would brave a typhoon for free wine—even if it was the cheapest she could buy. And the thirsty townsfolk didn’t disappoint. Forty strong, they flocked to her one-story house in their Church-going best, squeezing around her parlor table where servants had strewn week-old sweetmeats and pigeon pies.
As the guests mingled and laughed and drank, Aunt Clemence decided she was probably the wittiest creature alive, flitting about the room like the most clever of girls. True, she was fifty and required a cane to walk and support her immense weight. But she was sure no one noticed that—or the canker that had sprouted on her lip. Her neighbors were certainly too busy jealously admiring her as she hobnobbed with London aristocracy.
Yes, if you asked Aunt Clemence the day really was going perfectly.
Of course, if you asked her niece Sybille Maydestone, the girl who’d soon be prodded to determine the status of her virginity, you’d get a very different answer.
Author Bill Doyle
was born in Michigan, and wrote his first mystery at the age of eight.
He has gone on to write critically acclaimed and bestselling children's
books, including stories of real-life war heroes in "Behind Enemy Lines:
True Stories of Amazing Courage"; the pick-your-own-adventure "Worst
Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure: Everest"; the historical fiction
mystery series Crime Through Time; the Henry & Keats series
including "Attack of the Shark-Headed Zombie"; the Scream Team series
about Bad News Bears-type monsters playing sports; and soon-to-be
released series "The Prizewinners of Piedmont Place."
Additionally, Bill has served as editor at Sesame Workshop, TIME for Kids and SI Kids. He's written for LeapFrog,
Weekly Reader, Rolling Stone, Comedy Central, National Geographic Kids,
and the American Museum of Natural History. He is a graduate of
Georgetown University and holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from the film
school at New York University where he was taught by the likes of
Arthur Miller and David Mamet.
Bill lives with two dachshund-headed canines in New York City, and you can visit him online at www.BillDoyleBooks.com.
One (1) winner will win a Starbucks Gift Card
Hi there! Thanks for letting me guest post about my new book. I had a blast!
ReplyDelete—WH Doyle
I love the cover!
ReplyDeleteI love anything Tudor, so I may be biased LOL
ReplyDelete