Pamela Belle

[Misfit]

Anyone ever read her books? I just came across her via a recommendation at Goodreads. I've found four books set during England's Civil War, plus one during the time of R3.

[EC2]

The opinions I've come across are enjoyable, well grounded historical fiction. She hangs out on a couple of Yahoo lists where I do too, and I went for a coffee with her when I was on holiday in Wiltshire the other year! (she works in a library there).

[annis]

I enjoyed her Civil War novels- I think she is an excellent writer, and you really get a feeling for the period and her characters. There are two series, one based on the experiences of a Puritan family, and one on those of a Royalist family. She later wrote a fantasy series which was also good, but she hasn't written anything for some time, which is a shame. She has expressed a desire to write a novel about Alfred the Great, but it doesn't appear to have happened, at this point anyway.
There's a fan tribute site here, which gives some info about the books and an author biography at the bottom of the page:
http://www.pamelabelle.com

[EC2]

I think it's the getting published bit which is a problem Annis. There was a lot of blood on the tracks re historical fiction in the mid to late 90's and many authors didn't have their contracts renewed and that's where the problem stems from. I haven't heard from Pam in a while, but I think she's still around. Last I heard I think was either on the histfict Yahoo group or the UK Novelists forum, but I can't recall. Misfit, I think you would like the books.

[Misfit]

Woohoo! I ordered Wintercombe and the second book in the CW series (library has book #1 and #2). They're kind of spendy on the Amazon used listings but I had better luck at Thriftbooks.

[boswellbaxter]

You might want to check out her Richard III novel too, The Lodestar.

[EC2]

Meant to add that Pam will tell anyone, it's no secret, that her biggest influence and inspiration as a writer is Dorothy Dunnett.

[Misfit]

You might want to check out her Richard III novel too, The Lodestar.

Just ordered it. I really hate it when it's a slow work day. This is costing me a few pennies. I have this policy of not requesting ILL's when the book is under $5 or so.

[Ariadne]

I've read nearly all of her books and thoroughly enjoyed them, especially The Moon in the Water and its sequels. The first two are on Paperbackswap. I have a spare copy of Alethea, book three, if you'd like it -- just PM me. It has a frothy, historically inappropriate wedding scene on the cover (it's set during the Restoration).

[Misfit]

I've read nearly all of her books and thoroughly enjoyed them, especially The Moon in the Water and its sequels. The first two are on Paperbackswap. I have a spare copy of Alethea, book three, if you'd like it -- just PM me. It's has a frothy, historically inappropriate wedding scene on the cover (it's set during the Restoration).

Thank you for the kind offer, but that is one of two that my library does have. You'll have to scan the cover though and share with us. I am really starting to feel like a kid in a candy store, I love these new discoveries.

[Miss Moppet]

I read the Civil War ones as a teenager, don't remember much except I enjoyed them. I borrowed them from an aunt who was a fan of HF, have now inherited the copies from her so they're up in the loft but I haven't re-read them.

[Ariadne]

Here's the US cover of Alethea. Don't judge the book, etc.

http://www.libraryjobpostings.org/blog/alethea.jpg

This'll undoubtedly be the edition you'll get from the library, Misfit. It does need to be read last since there's a family tree in the beginning that gives away some of the plotline from the first two books. The offer's still open, to anyone (in the US, sorry, it's quite large/heavy) who wants my 2nd copy. It's cheap enough on Amazon, but I don't need two copies of it hanging around.

[Misfit]

Oh my, that cover is something. Those late 70's early 80's covers can really scare a reader away these days, can't they? I really cannot wait to get cracking at these books.

[Misfit]

I'm less than 100 pages from finishing The Moon in the Water and I am just loving it, although (argh!!) the earliest possible day I will have my hands on the next in the trilogy is Tuesday. I'm guessing it's going to end on a heck of a cliff hanger leaving me biting my nails until then.

[EC2]

Perhaps Pam ought to submit to Sourcebooks. They seem ready to take a chance and they're publishing Susan Kay's Legacy. I don't know if they have any authors in strength for this period.

[Ariadne]

I agree, EC, they've done really well with reprints of historical romantic sagas and this would be an excellent series to reissue. Judith James's upcoming Highland Rebel is also 17th c, though a genre romance rather than an epic saga. Plus there's Heyer's Royal Escape.

[Misfit]

Perhaps Pam ought to submit to Sourcebooks. They seem ready to take a chance and they're publishing Susan Kay's Legacy. I don't know if they have any authors in strength for this period.

I stirred up a bit of interest over at Goodreads with some of my friends (who are waiting for me to be the lab rat as it were), and they are interested in reading them as well.

I'll do my darndest to promote them here and at Goodreads (and there is some interest already there). These really do need another shot in life - and Sourcebooks might be the answer.

[Misfit]

I have to share this. Brief set up, our heroine Alethea is living in London and working as a painter. She catches the eye of John Wilmont Earl of Rochester (one of those notorious bad boys who do nothing but drink and play). She's entertaining them for dinner and her overbearing pompous uncle arrives unexpectedly from the country. As they're trying to be serious, Wilmont's pet monkey runs lose and we get this in front of the uncle,

"The monkey shrieked rudely back and began, with intense concentration, an obscene ritual of intimate hygiene."

The uncle's reaction? Priceless.

[diamondlil]

I am not sure what my own reaction would be to that kind of thing! :eek:

[Misfit]

I was howling. I wonder who's Teaser Tuesday blog I should share this with. Hmmmm.

[Misfit]

Found a painting of John Wilmot Earl of Rochester and his pet monkey who play a big part in Alethea's life,

http://niamiesta.se/archiu/Wilmot/john_wilmot.jpg

[annis]

Wilmot was a fascinating figure- he was typical of the courtiers of the Restoration who combined a debauched lifestyle with intellectual pursuits and patronage of the arts. Their delight was to cock a snook at conventional society, a reaction to years of Puritan repression.

There a biography of Wilmot which is worth a read:
"A profane wit: the life of John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester" by James William Johnson

Johnny Depp played him in the movie "The Libertine"

[Misfit]

I had to do a bit of reading up on him once I got into Alethea. He and his merry "wits" were a lot of fun in the book. The author's notes say that the poetry and a letter she used in the book were actually written by Wilmot.

[Misfit]

I just finished the last of the Wintercombe quartet. While the last two weren't quite five star reads, they were all very good and educational as well. I didn't know much about James II's rule and overthrow by William of Orange. A really nice touch was bringing in the Heron family from Moon in the Water trilogy. A big thumbs up and I'm sorry I'm now out of Belle books to read.