THE SECOND DUCHESS excerpt now available

Elizabeth · Post by **Elizabeth** » Tue January 11th, 2011, 6:48 pm

Now that I'm counting down the last six weeks or so to release day, I've placed the first chapter of THE SEC0ND DUCHESS up on my website for anyone who would like a little taste. Here's the link:

THE SEC0ND DUCHESS by Elizabeth Loupas

There is also a giveaway opening this coming Saturday on Goodreads, with 25 copies up for grabs.

Hope you enjoy!

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Tue January 11th, 2011, 10:32 pm

It's very good!

You may have shared this before, but I don't remember......what was your inspiration for writing about this particular woman?

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Tue January 11th, 2011, 10:33 pm

Thanks for that, and I'll spread the word at Goodreads. I put in a purchase request at the lib and they've ordered copies.

Elizabeth · Post by **Elizabeth** » Tue January 11th, 2011, 10:45 pm

[quote=""Michy""]It's very good!

You may have shared this before, but I don't remember......what was your inspiration for writing about this particular woman?[/quote]

Thank you so much! I was initially inspired by Robert Browning's poem "My Last Duchess"... I was tutoring a high-school student through an essay about the poem for about the hundredth time and I suddenly thought, "I wonder what the second wife thought about all this."

So I started researching Browning and the duke and duchess he'd used as his inspiration (Alfonso II d'Este and his first wife Lucrezia de' Medici) and lo, there was the second wife, Barbara of Austria. And although there isn't a lot of dependable material available about her personally, what I read fired my imagination. And thus the book was born.

(I never intended to give Lucrezia her say in the story, but she kind of forced her way in.)

Elizabeth · Post by **Elizabeth** » Tue January 11th, 2011, 10:47 pm

[quote=""Misfit""]Thanks for that, and I'll spread the word at Goodreads. I put in a purchase request at the lib and they've ordered copies.[/quote]

Oh wow, thank you!!

MLE (Emily Cotton) · Post by **MLE (Emily Cotton)** » Tue January 11th, 2011, 11:51 pm

Great first chapter, Elizabeth! I'll buy.

Elizabeth · Post by **Elizabeth** » Wed January 12th, 2011, 12:02 am

[quote=""MLE""]Great first chapter, Elizabeth! I'll buy.[/quote]

Thank you! You guys are a tough house and it's a huge rush to get some thumbs-up here.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Wed January 12th, 2011, 1:01 am

[quote=""Elizabeth""]Thank you! You guys are a tough house and it's a huge rush to get some thumbs-up here.

[/quote]

I read a bit and it looks good. I can only handle so much reading on screen, especially after the work day.

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Wed January 12th, 2011, 1:31 am

[quote=""Elizabeth""]Thank you! You guys are a tough house and it's a huge rush to get some thumbs-up here.

[/quote] Yes, I will admit I am a very picky and critical reader. Not quite Mikey from the old Life cereal commercials -- "he hates everything!" -- but almost. ha ha ha

So when I say something is good, I don't say it lightly.

Best, best wishes for great success with your book. Is it going to be available on -- dare I ask -- Amazon?

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Wed January 12th, 2011, 1:33 am

[quote=""Misfit""]I read a bit and it looks good. I can only handle so much reading on screen, especially after the work day.[/quote]Same here -- I printed it out.

Historical Fiction Online

THE SECOND DUCHESS excerpt now available

THE SEC0ND DUCHESS excerpt now available