Yep, my editor actually was working on the manuscript when she went into labor! How's that for dedication?
And so..ta-da! Here's the scoop...
In Death of a Dowager, Charlotte Bronte’s classic continues
when a married Jane Eyre finds herself in possession of a love letter written
by King George IV—and a mysterious murder with connections to that note
threatens not only the lives of Jane’s loved ones but also the peace and
stability of the realm!
CONTEST
Be a lucky commenter (you can use the questions below as a jump-start) and you might win one of three wonderful prizes! (Winners chosen by random number generator.)
* Signed copies of both Death of a Schoolgirl and Death of a Dowager
* Signed copy of Death of a Dowager
* A "Lowood Institution Lacrosse" tee-shirt
QUESTIONS
Have you ever written a letter that you would have paid money to get back?
What do you think about love letters? Are they dangerous? Delightful? A thing of the past?
Has anyone ever written you a love letter? Did you keep it?
153 comments:
So fabulous!
As for the love letters..I'll never tell...but I cannot wait to read about the ones you write about!
not really love letters, but plenty of little love notes tucked here and there over the years.
I have written love letters, but none that I would pay to keep. I did, however, steal the love letters I wrote my first husband when he asked for a divorce and I have them stashed somewhere still, along with the letters that he wrote me. I am lucky enough to not have a curious current husband that goes through any old papers. I also know that he has old letters from his high school sweetheart that I've been tempted to read, but never have.
congrats on getting the newest book published. I wrote love letters to my hubby when he was in the Army and his to me were lost. I have one cute mushy card though from that time.
I have kept all of my husband's early letters to me. It was romantic to get handwritten notes. He's kept all of mine, too. Nowadays I suppose people email each other. I can't wait to read your new book. I loved the first one in this delightful series.
Letters; sadly I think that letters and letter writing is going to be extinct in a few years. I really wish that they wouldn't be, it is so fun to go back and reread a letter written by my husband back when we were still dating.
I also really wish that I would have saved the letters my grandmothers wrote me when I went to college. Oh to see their handwriting and their words of wisdom again.
In some ways I believe that letters can connect us with the past.
I did write love letters back in the day and they were meaningful and special. I sent them to my husband who I cherish and he appreciated them greatly.
Sending love letters was the only way to communicate how I felt since there was no e-mail.I think that they are important and a lost art.
Hello!! I WISH I'd kept the love letters that my husband wrote me when I was dating him. I was away at college, and discovered that a room mate was reading them, regardless of where I hid them, so after carefully reading and memorizing each, I destroyed them. Ah, the stupid things one does at 19...so now, 39 years later, I am wishing I had them/ Sigh.
A love letter is a personal letter between 2 people. It should not be shared. If it was exceptionally special it should be kept private. I can understand paying for the return of a letter, if it held secrets that would cause harm to someone.
I have/do write letters, but have never written one I would pay to get back.
Yes, I have gotten love letters before and yes I did keep it.
I didn't hold on to any love letters over the years, and I'm not sorry. I think they would make me cry (or laugh until I cried) if I read them now. Some of them were very silly.
OMG! I went to bed late last night and slept until 9:30 a.m. Then fed the dog, let the dog out, let the dog in, put down water for the dog, carried dogs upstairs, brought their food bowls upstairs, and now all these wonderful comments! HURRAH!
See a theme with the dogs?
Well, George IV when he was Prince wrote love letters to many inappropriate women (ahem) and paid several fortunes to get them back.
BTW, everyone, special kudos to Hank who is Prez of Sisters in Crime and who has an Agatha-award finalist book THE OTHER WOMAN. Hank never sleeps, I'm convinced of it.
GreeMonsta00, I like the idea of tucking small notes away to be found. Kimberly, I think you've given me fodder for a new story! And Diana Joy, even one mushy note is a treasure, right?
Okay, I KNOW that Nancy Cohen NEVER sleeps because I have emails from her to prove it. And Nancy, thank you so much for your kind comments. They mean the world to me.
Colleen, when people say they hate their handwriting, I remind them how precious it will be to loved ones in the future.
Petite, maybe it's time to write him a new love letter?
Traveler, there's something very real about a letter, something tangible and extra special, no?
Anonymous, I think you should ask him to write you a new letter. It's never too late, is it?
I would love to receive love letters from the man in my life. Maybe I'll have to drop a few hints or better yet write him one <3
Not really a love letter, but I treasure a letter my uncle sent me when I was pregnant with my daughter. He wasn't an openly sentimental man, and he wrote so lovingly about the joy of a little girl. I only found out a few years ago that he had an earlier marriage that ended in divorce and that he never saw the daughter from that marriage after she was small. So sad.
Yifat, while the people are living, it should be sacrosanct, but after you're gone, if you are a public figure, a love letter can help us understand people. I'm thinking of the new cache of Willa Cather letters just released. While I understand her desire for privacy, I think they will allow us to better appreciate her works.
Victoria, I'm glad you didn't have to pay to get them back!
Patricia, isn't that what love is all about? Someone you can be silly with? I sure hope so!
Stacie, I like that idea. You should ask for what you need. A loving partner will try to supply it.
My husband & I leave love notes for each other all the time. Never know where I will find one when he is out of town. When he was in the service, we wrote love letters all the time. I cherish them even today!
Yes, I actually did get love letters from a boy who had a crush on me in school. He wrote several of them and I still have them to this day. I am not sure what happened to Jimmy, but he was adorable.
Okay, Ikleback, another story idea is brewing in my head. WOW!!! This is an unexpected bonus!
Stephanie K, I think I need to take a page from your notebook. Since David travels a lot, that would be a good way to remind him that he is loved.
Kelly, have you tried to find him? I've had several old friends from HS look me up. Including one that I had a crush on--and who told me in an email last year that he had a crush on me. If only we'd communicated, my life might be very different. (Altho I'm very happy, it's the writer in me that imagines alternate endings.)
I don't have any love letters but I have a friend that instead of giving his wife a store bought birthday card he makes his own. Which I think is better.
Unfortunately, I'm not fluent with words -- but my husband sent the best love letters when we were apart. Better yet -- I have letters that my father sent to my mother (1930's) banded together. He was a real romantic. I can't wait to read your new book. You are the best!
Aline, I have a "scrapbook" that David did for me. It's adorable and a real treasure.
Diane's Diary, (blush for the compliment), wow! I think love letters banded together is such an evocative image. So...romantic!
Did not save love letters and so sorry I did not cause it would be greta to have them now.
I think Love Letters are so romantic. I wish they would make a come back. I have all my parents love letters they wrote when they were apart going to college (and they wrote every week) & I would not take anything for them because they show real love. My husband writes love "paragraphs" in all my cards & I cherish them all!
Love all your works. Thanks you for all you do.
Actually Joanna, I haven't tried to locate him. I am an introvert, so I tend to shy away from things like that. It would be interesting to see what he has been up to. I have a class reunion coming up, maybe I will see him there.
When we were first married (43 years ago as of April 4), my husband left me notes all over the house. I still have them. I also have kept all of the greeting cards he has given me. The stack of those is huge, and I guess I should get rid of them. But that is a part of the past I want to hold on to. Some of the early stuff is kinda sexy, but if someone found them today, I would not mind at all.
Sally, tell John to get writing! xoxo Been missing you!
I know that the newest "card" goes up on the fridge but I don't know if she keeps them. I'll have to ask her. If it were me I would keep them too.
Jackie, can you imagine anyone writing someone a letter a week today? Yet, we probably write more than that with our emails...it's just different.
I miss all the personal letters, with email being so popular.
It took 27 years, but the boy I had a crush on in high school an unknown to me he had a crush on me too, is now the love of my life. We both wonder how different things could have been if either of us had found the courage to say something back then. Thankfully the timing is right now and we found each other. Gotta love and appreciate the power for the internet and Facebook. Wonder what kind of trouble George IV could have gotten himself into with those tools at his disposal?
Kelly, I had the weirdest thing happen. My old HS boyfriend told me when we got to college to pretend we didn't know each other because he wanted to date other girls. Then he looks me up on Facebook 32 years later and wants to be my friend. Can you believe it? I think he just wanted to know how I looked after all those years.
Aline, she should make a special scrapbook for them to preserve them. The 'frig probably isn't doing them any good over the course of time.
Ellen, maybe you should re-read some of the sexy stuff to him (wink, wink).
Love Jane Eyre and how you have been able to keep her alive for all of us.
Stacie, George IV would have been beheaded if there'd been social media. When you read my book, you'll know why. At the very least, he would have been thrown in the Tower of London.
Sally, my books are fan fiction, pure and simple. I didn't want Jane Eyre to end...so I continued their saga. And I love writing. I've now started to wear the letters off yet another keyboard. That makes the fourth one I'll have ruined!
Yes, I saved them for many years but finally decided after about 40+ years I had better get rid of them. Still remember some of them though!
Joanna, your old HS boyfriend was a fool but you got the last laugh. You look great, have a handsome husband and a fabulous life.
Ah, Nancy, are you sorry you got rid of them?
My hubby has always been the romantic writer and am so sorry I didn't save his great letters. I guess that's why opposites attract. You have the savers (my guy) and the ones who save nothing and regret it later in life (that would be me).
And Aline, I must admit I thought to myself "BOO-ya!" He was such a jerk to me, and I'm so very, very lucky that my life has turned out this way.
But Sally, he's such a sweetheart. And you did get him to clean the garage, right?
I have several love letters that boyfriend now husband wrote to me that I have kept.
Beth, good for you!
My husband was really romantic in other ways but not love notes. When he proposed, he gave me my engagement ring in a piece of bubble gum. Love your books and can't wait to read Death of a Dowager.
I need to find you a keyboard that you can't destroy by all your fabulous writing:)))) My Mac Air has a protective cover for the keyboard but probably wouldn't hold up under your rapid typing skills. We certainly don't wan to slow down your writing as I know we are all waiting for the next Jane Eyre Chronicle ;).
Congratulations on the new baby! I am looking forward to reading your new series when I come across a copy of book one. I am a compulsive read-in-order person.
Betty, so glad you didn't swallow the ring!
Joanna, you old hs boyfriend is probably kicking himself now! His loss!
Ah, Sally, and I've been pounding away at "Tear Down and Die," the first book in the Trash to Treasures series. So the keyboard has been humming.
Yes he did clean garage and entire house this weekend. He is a great guy who prepared my mother her favorite meal for Easter. She has not adjusted to us becoming vegans this year.
Yes he did clean garage and entire house this weekend. He is a great guy who prepared my mother her favorite meal for Easter. She has not adjusted to us becoming vegans this year.
I have every letter that my spouse ever wrote to me. We were best friends living in different states and after five years of communicating that way we got married. It is fun to read them and share with our children. I think that we were able to get to know each other better through letters than we would have otherwise. These letters are my treasure.
KarenM, thanks for reminding me. I think Amazon suggests that you buy DEATH OF A SCHOOLGIRL and DEATH OF A DOWAGER together. That would save on shipping, I bet.
Victoria, I don't know if he's kicking himself, but when I went back for my HS reunion a couple of guys told me that I must have been a late bloomer. ("Yes, I was. Too bad you couldn't see that in me, you turkey. Now go away.")
Congrats on the release. My husband sent me letters early on, but we got married fairly soon after we met, so they weren't really love letters. I used to leave him silly notes all over the place. Now it's almost all e-cards.
Terry
Terry's Place
Sorry for the double post. I am glad to hear that your new series is rapidly coming along even if it means buying new keyboards. Figured with your hubby home that would slow things down a bit but I guess he has learned he can't keep a great writer from her work:)))).
orhedricks, I do think that people who meet online today might have the advantage of being able to "know" each other's minds...if they are honest when they communicate. Sounds like it worked for you!
Hey, everyone! Terry Odell, the author, is here! Woohooo! I tore her away from her work! (I feel guilty.)
Sally, you know David. He's kept me busy with "chores." Honestly, he needs a staff! (Glad he has one; but I'm not it. Need to remind him of that.)
My husband never sent me love notes but I save notes that my son & daughter have left me over the years. Now I'm starting with my granddaughter. I like to see the change in their handwriting as they got older.
Aline, isn't that cute? My nephew Skyler has just learned to write his name and it's the most adorable thing EVER. (I'm smitten with him.)
I am glad I have some things that my dad and mom wrote, now that they are gone, its comforting to see their handwriting.
I absolutely love your Kiki books...I am constantly looking for a new one...can't wait to read this and it would be truly awesome to win one!!!
Joanna, I have to tell you my son loved books so much that the librarian told him if he learned to sign his name he could have a library card. He learned and I still have that card.
I absolutely love your books and can't wait to read the new one!
Love your Kiki books...can't wait to read it!
Victoria, I have my name written on a scrap of paper by my grandmother and I treasure that!
Vicki Hamilton, glad to have you here and thanks for the compliment.
Love your Kiki books!
Aline, it's all about proper motivation, eh? He'd have learned the skill any hoot, but why not reward him?
Did anyone see that story about LBJ's letters to Lady Bird Johnson when they were courting? Their grandchildren read some excerpts and it was hard to imagine he was so tender hearted but the letters were so loving and beautiful.
I love scrapbooking and i love murder mysteries. Your books bring these two passions together. Therefore, I absolutely love your books. I always look forward to the next one to read. Thank you for these. Keep them coming!! You are an awesome writer!
Ah, Lady Deputy, you made my day!
He was about 3 or 4 at the time. My daughter was about 3 when she started to read. They both as adults still love to read.
I am not a letter writer and really other than as a child have not received many letters. Have never received a love letter.
If only kids learned in school that a book is an escape plan. Sigh.
I agree with Lady Deputy!!
Nancy, let me fix that:
Dear Nancy,
Know that you are special and wonderful. You have powers you've not yet discovered. The world is yours for the taking--and I thank you for playing a part in my journey.
Love,
Joanna
HI Joanna,
Congratulations on your new release!
And yes I have written letters I wish I could recall. Sometimes my fiery temperament gets the better of me.
And Yes, I did keep love letters but now after so many moves, I have no idea where those letters are. I've got the best love letter - a loving husband.
Maggie, actions do speak louder than words. Thanks for taking time away from writing to join us!
I did save some of our daughter's early handwriting to see how she changed over the years. I think it's sad that so many schools quit teaching cursive writing.
I think love letters are delightful! In fact, I think you should tell people (friends, family, etc..)that you love them as often as possible. I even send my gal pals "happy hearts day" cards! Better to tell people that they made a difference in your lives before its too late!
Thanks!
Kim
I've never received a full length love letter but have a note saved from almost 40 yrs ago. My hubby was going on a hunting trip and I left the house right after he did. He forgot something and returned to get it. Not finding me home, he left a note saying "I just came back to say I love you". I will always treasure those few words!
I've got a couple tucked away from years and years ago. They're probably the only thing my husband has ever written me.
Congratulations on the new book release -- can't wait for my pre-ordered copy to get here in the mail! (And no need to enter me in the contest, since I've already read one and will have the other in my hands as soon as Amazon delivers it.)
Several years ago, I was cleaning out boxes and found the card (with love letter) that I had given to my husband on our wedding day some 27 years before. Since our anniversary was approaching and the words in the letter were still true, I gave him the card and letter for our anniversary. He loved it.
A love note was left on my car windshield. I was told by the mother of my boss to throw it away as I was married. Good advice! Innocent on my part, as it was a surprise to me. My favorite note was left on a fellow worker's car that was similar to mine. He could tell the note was meant for me, not him. Miss working in multi-story buildings. LOL! Never know who is watching.
Kim, Seligman (a psychologist) has found that telling people "thank you" in a letter boosts the author's feelings of happiness. So it's a win-win, isn't it?
My neighbor homeschools all three of her children and has given them the love of reading. I enjoy hearing them tell me what they are currently reading. They are always so surprised to hear me say that is one of my favorite books. I have read everything I could get my hands on as long as I can remember. And yes Joanna, I agree it is a great escape for children of all ages including us.
Sandy, what a lovely thoughtful note. How sweet of him. Especially when his mind was probably on his hunting!
Thanks for the fun! Honestly, I have never written a love letter I wish I could get back. I think letters are sadly becoming things of the past, but I have a good friend that we have decided to keep it going so we write to each other as often as possible and mail it instead of using the internet to keep in touch. I write a love letter to my husband every night. I've written them for over 20 yrs. and put them in his lunch to read at work. It's our way of keeping in touch with what we are feeling, thinking and what's going on when we don't always have a chance to sit down and talk. He keeps every one of them, too, so there's a lot of them.
Bcrouth, what a smart idea. I love going to weddings because they always remind me of the vows my husband and I took. In this world, we need that affirmation that reminder once in a while, don't we?
I saved the love letters my husband wrote to me. But after we had children, I hid them
Okay, Barbara T. I have another Kiki story cooking in my brain thanks to you sharing this. What a fun concept--a masked "love letter" leaver!
And Sally, your mother loves to read, too. So you came by it naturally. When kids see a parent read, they're more likely to read as well, I think.
I'm only 18 and believe or not, I have a friend who writes me love letters. Too bad I only think of him as a friend because I know he's a rare find for my generation. I love your books and can't wait to get my hands on this release.
Peg, every day? WOW!!! I am so impressed. You know, they've said that men who get a kiss before going to work are healthier. I bet a love letter does even more for their well-being.
Hi Joanna,
Congratulations on your new book!
The Island Girls love Kiki and you! We are off to another island adventure in Vermont in 15 days! You should join us for some scrapbooking and tons of fun!
Tracey
Mama Karen, I wonder whether you hid them well-enough. After my grandfather died, my sisters and I found his personal papers. What a shock! We're still blushing.
Lexie, you are right. Too bad he's just a friend. But I married my friend. Maybe your feelings toward him will change. Thanks for joining us!
Tracey T, I think I need to put Vermont on my calendar for next year. Many hugs and kisses to the Island Girls. I'll try to pop some bookmarks in the mail to you! Will you email me to remind me of your addy?
I have read all the books in the Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series and I love them!
I don't think I've ever written a love letter. Nor have I ever received one. Isn't that sad? If I had written one, I'm absolutely positive that no one would pay money for it.
Anyone reading the comic section in the newspaper, there is a comic strip called "Freshly Sueezed" where the grandmother tries to show her grandson the joy of receiving a hand-written letter.
I don't know if you could call it a love letter, but I do have letters that I wrote when I was dating as a teenager. I don't have them anymore. Thanks for the chance to win one of your books.
I think a love letter is the last word (pun intended) in romance!
Sandra, have you read the Kiki short stories yet?
I'm with Hank...I'll never tell and I can't wait either to read this new installment!
Sally, I'd love to see that.
Cecilia, it certainly felt like love back then, didn't it? But as we grow older, that definition seems to change.
Good one, Anonymous.
Joanna it is up to our generation to keep any hand written letter, be it a love or friendship, alive for people today. What a great idea by writing about it in the "Death of a Dowager " and including in your current series of "Kiki Lowenstein" and "Trash to Treasures".
I'll never tell either about love letters! Can't wait to read the new installment!
Vicki Hamilton, I must confess that if you like mysteries based on historical facts, this one is a doozy.
Sally, I haven't seen that comic strip. Writing is a lost art...kind of sad.
Nope no love letters for me, but I would love to receive one! I think they are very romantic! :)
I love your Jane Eyre Chronicles series Joanna! I was wondering if you are currently working on the next one? Do you have a title yet?
Can't wait to read the new installment...as to love letters...I'll never tell either!
I kept old invites from a former boyfriend, but they are gone now. My husband wrote me poems, but they disappeared after our divorce.
I wrote notes to my children and put them in lunch boxes, etc to remind them who they were and how much they were lovced.
I'm excited to read Death of a Dowager ASAP.
Charlene, I don't have a contract...yet...but I do have a title--"Death of a Hermit." See, back in England in 1820s, people would hire a "hermit" to live on their estates. (Think Downton Abbey and you'll get the right image of an estate.)
Diana, I hope you'll read it, love it, and review it! Sigh. More and more those reader reviews make such a difference, which is great because all of YOU are driving the market.
Wish we could get back to love letters and not all this electronic stuff.
I have every card my Hubby has ever sent me and a few from others through my youth.
I have a couple I would like to have back but at the time that was how I felt.
Death of a Hermit! How interesting! I didn't know people would hire a hermit! For religious reasons? Would the hermit pray for them?
Sounds like the danger will be a little closer to the Rochester home. Oh I hope you get a contract! I don't want the series to end!
BabyJSMom, I think we need to start a movement...a love letters brigade!
The hermit would pretend to be a "sage." The contract would stipulate that he would not leave the premises for a period of, oh, five years. Nor could he cut his hair or beard. He was to say wise things when approached! (Remember, there wasn't much in the way of entertainment back then!)
"Death of a Dowager" has satisfed my Downton Abbey addiction for the meantime. Would love to see this story line made into a TV series or movie. Anyone else agree? Just not sure who would play leading parts. Any ideas, Joanna?
Joanna
I did not know Kiki had short stories! I will check it out! Thanks.
Yes, I'd love to see Anne Hathaway or Keira Knightly play Jane. For Rochester, I'd choose Jeremy Northham. For Bruce Douglas, I'd choose Luke Wilson, and for Lucy Brayton, I'd want Renee Zellweger. Uh, can you tell I've given this some thought?
Sandra Lewis, yes! Bunches of them. Available on Kindle. No Kindle? No problem. Just load the free Kindle app on your computer! It's actually a great way to view the short stories because you can see the images really clearly.
I had one gushy love letter I wrote to a boy. I never sent it, though, kept it for years and years. I think I finally tossed it. I think not sending it was still the right thing to do because of other things that happened, but, well, I'll never know. Had I actually sent it, I might want it back, but I don't think I would pay for it. It might be embarrassing, but it was heartfelt and true at the time.
Allison, I think it was probably very, very sweet. And we must always take our age into account when we look back. What I'd do at twenty, I wouldn't have done at forty, and probably not at sixty either!
I agree with you.Anything hand written should be treasured. It is so much more of a personal touch to anything. I raised my girls to still hand write thank you notes. Everyone enjoys getting something personal in the mail.
Just checked - I'm first on the list at the library. Yea! Love the library. (Sorry - unemployed - can't buy any books right now.)
Yifat, any mail that's not a bill is welcome, right?
Have to go. Heading over to your sister's for some girl time. Thanks for a great book and blog launch party. Hope to see you soon.
Allison, I am THRILLED that you are asking for my books at your local library. Libraries buy books! And if the author is in demand, they keep the books in circulation. Thanks so much!
We need to visit, Miss Sally! Enjoy Jane's new tile.
Thanks for all the fun!
Here's what I did...I assigned each commenter a number. Then I went to the random number generator and here are my winners:
* GreenMonsta00 and Barbara T both get signed, personalized copies of both DEATH OF A SCHOOLGIRL and DEATH OF A DOWAGER.
* Kimberly and Diane's Diary each get a signed, personalize of DEATH OF A DOWAGER.
* Jackie Largen and Vicki Hamilton get "Lowood Institution Lacrosse" tees.
Please email me at JCSlan@JoannaSlan.com with your postal addresses (and sizes if appropriate)
Looking forward to reading this book!
Post a Comment