A Generation's Secrets is published!

 It's finally here! I went back to have a look at when I first started writing A Generation's Secrets, and it was March of 2019. So it was a little unbelievable to see it finally live on Amazon.

Many of you have participated in the online beta or typo squad, so I won't go into too much detail here, although you're welcome to read my review on Goodreads if you'd like more of my thoughts, and the description is below.

To celebrate, I'm going to be giving away five (5) copies of whichever book from the series you'd like, in whatever format it's available in. So for A Generation's Secrets, that is paperback and Kindle, while for A Constant Love, A Change of Legacies, and A Season Lost, you can have your choice of paperback, Kindle, or audiobook.

Enter using the Rafflecopter below and do let me know if you run into any issues.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and perhaps find some time to relax and read a book that's very dear to my heart! 😉

In the wake of a life-changing event, Georgiana and Elizabeth learn the secrets of the previous generation. A trip to America will reunite the former Bennet sisters, but when they gather at Pemberley, events there will leave their generation with its own secrets to hide. Fourth story in the Constant Love series.

Content warning: Readers should be aware that this story includes themes and scenes of miscarriage and stillbirth; death and mourning; spousal and child abuse; PTSD; slavery; sexual assault; and 19th century surgery.

Amazon link if you don't want to wait for the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was languishing (a writing update)

If you are like a significant number of people I know, you have read this article, "There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing" and it resonated strongly with you.

It definitely did for me. Since around the beginning of the year, I've felt a sort of general malaise, a sort of "what's the purpose of anything, anyway" feeling, characterized by a lot of glazed-eyed doom-scrolling on my phone.

It took me a while to recognize it, and it took until I read that article to learn that there was a name for it, and I was not alone. But as someone who struggled with mental health when I was younger, it was a concerning feeling.

The pandemic hasn't always been like this, for me. When things began to shut down and I was home for longer periods of time, I was still in the thick of writing A Generation's Secrets, so while things were locking down, I was escaping away into Regency England to write. 

The trouble with AGS is it is LONG, now decidedly more than 300,000 words. While I have been getting closer to a publication-ready manuscript, it can take up to 2-3 weeks just to do a pass of the novel, reading through and making edits.

I have to confess, this is my very least favorite part of writing. I love the early part, the outlining, the initial draft, smoothing that draft into something better, something I'm excited about. Eventually, though, every book reaches a point where I am so. very. sick. and. tired. of. it. I. never. want. to. see. it. again.

I had told myself I was going to see it through and published before I started on my next project, one I've been excited about doing for what feels like years, now. But when I started to realise my mental health was slipping, I decided I needed to make a change.

What got me stabilised after my mental health issues in my 20s was learning about Flow, and understanding that the creative process of writing is the absolute very best Flow for me. And so I decided to make a compromise with myself, even though it meant A Generation's Secrets will be slower to get out as a published novel: I'm editing on weeknights, and writing on the weekends.

So far, that seems to be doing the trick. Knowing I get to spend my weekends in Flow gives me something to look forward to, and after going so long without writing I can almost feel the neurons buzzing while I work! As had been the plan, I'm taking a break from the series with this one, The Crimes of Elizabeth Darcy, and astonishingly I'm already at 20,000 words (alas, though, only page 14 of a 90-page outline, so this might be another long one).

I wanted to share because I think many people are at that point in the pandemic where they are languishing, too. And I wanted you all to know why AGS will be slow in publishing (and yes, we ARE still working on the audiobook for A Season Lost, as I know some folks have been wondering about that, too).

I always knew The Crimes of Elizabeth Darcy was going to be a fun one to write (I like to think of it as a guilty pleasure, both for readers and for the author), and I am having loads of fun with this one. I'm looking forward to sharing it in beta format, possibly sooner rather than later if I keep writing at this pace.

I hope you are all well, dear readers.

Hawkshead (Lake District Part 6)

 In my last (admittedly some time ago!) post, we were walking back from Wray Castle and I was describing some of my gear and means of navigation. So I think it's time for Hawkshead, and I am excited about this one as it's a delightful little village.

Because of its location (if I recall correctly originally it was more of a transit center than it is today), Hawkshead has several old coaching inns and loads of historic buildings, but it is very intact historically. There are no incongruous buildings in the village center to throw off the sense that you're in a historic place. I don't typically get a chance to stay in places like this for multiple nights, but its proximity to loads of walks meant I had the opportunity to do so here, and I loved it.

I'm just going to share loads of photos with a wee bit of commentary, because that's really how you can see how delightful it is. And keep your eye peeled for the video walking tour!

One of the attractions in the village is the Beatrix Potter Museum. Given how small Hill Top is, I liked that this was a separate attraction, and nicely enough it's in an old building, so I enjoyed it doubly.

The village also has a lovely old church.

There is also an old grammar school, which you can (and I did) tour. Its most famous attendee was Wordsworth. The tour was very interesting, and I hadn't realized that there were so many more schools for boys of the upper middle / upper class during the Georgian era, like this one. Eton is the one you hear about but I think I might be making use of this one in book 5. I wasn't able to tour Eton the last time I was in that area and I always like to write from places I've been if possible.

Apparently carving of things was not only allowed but encouraged. I guess it kept the boys out of worse trouble!

A little bit outside of the village is the old manor:

Whoops, one more batch from Hawkshead in the Lake District, for an upcoming post. 🙂

Posted by Sophie Turner on Monday, February 8, 2021

That's all for this month, but I'll be back with more Lake District in future posts!

Wray Castle (Lake District Part 4)

By this point in my Lake District trip, I was in pretty good shape. So good that what I'm about to show you I actually walked to after Latterbarrow, which I shared in part 3. But I thought it would be better to focus on the house for this one post, so one day's worth of walking is actually going to be three posts! This month I'll share Wray Castle, and then next month the walk back to Hawkshead (aka more lovely Lake District scenery!).

Wray Castle is a Victorian neo-gothic "castle" (which is to say house built with crenellation and other features to make it look like a castle but not really a castle), so it's from an era I don't usually share houses from. I think it's useful to see where styles were going to evolve to after the Regency, though!

The house was built by a retired surgeon, who must have married well for it was funded with his wife's fortune! Beatrix Potter spent a summer here when she was 16, so it's a key part of her story within the Lake District, too. But without further ado, let's look at some photos...

The gatehouse provides a good sneak preview of the castle

The walk along to the castle features more lovely landscape.

As you can see, though, the weather was turning rainier!

The exterior is this sort of Victorian castle fantasy.

And the interior keeps the fantasy going!

There are loads of gothic details like this window.

This ceiling is just a little bit bold!

It's not all over the top, though. I love the painting on this fireplace.

The main hall from another angle.

When I was a kid, I really wanted to live in a turret. And I don't think I'd turn it down now if the opportunity appeared!

More gothic detailing.

Upstairs in the main hall.

The impressive ceiling in the main hall.

A less over-the-top ceiling compared to the others, but still interesting!

And here are some 360s:

Some 360s of Wray Castle in the Lake District for an upcoming blog post.

Posted by Sophie Turner on Monday, August 24, 2020

That's it for this month. I'll see you all next month for another installment!

A Generation's Secrets-related posts

I'm posting this and will keep adjusting the date if necessary to keep it "pinned" so to speak as a resource for readers who want to learn more about some of the references in AGS.

If you're trying to envision the Baltimore clipper that plays a key part in the book, check these out:

• Baltimore clipper Lynx (including some video of her sailing) from my Baltimore trip
• Video from onboard Lynx from my Chestertown trip

And there's also a bonus post of video from a storm in this area rather like the one described in the book.

The Lake District posts are restored, with a new addition on 7/24:

• Lake District Part 1
• Hill Top (Lake District Part 2)
• Latterbarrow (Lake District Part 3)

Latterbarrow (Lake District Part 3)

So first things first. Many of you will already know about this because I mentioned it in the beta posting for AGS, but if not, I'm one of a number of authors who has left Austen Authors. This is summarized wonderfully by Katherine Grant, so if you haven't read up on what happened head over to her blog. As I said in my post a while back, I've tended to let my work speak for itself. If you've read my series and particularly if you're in on the AGS beta, you know I value diversity in my stories and I'm looking to bring in even more of it.

The admins have deleted the posts of all of the departed authors. I saved all of my posts before submitting my resignation, however, and will be working to restore them over time to this blog, starting with the first two posts in the Lake District series:

• Lake District Part 1
• Hill Top (Lake District Part 2)

Near Hawkshead

In the first two parts, I had been basing in Far Sawrey, but I then moved on to the charming village of Hawkshead (seriously, I can't wait to share it in a future post). I dropped my bags off and as the weather was still clear but threatening to get worse later in the day, I was eager to get to walking. I stopped off in a National Trust shop first, though, because I wanted to get a trekking pole.

Gentler portion of the walk to Latterbarrow

I have a pair of poles at home but haven't really used them, but I was beginning to see how it could be a good idea. There are two key things the pole does: the first being to ease wear on your joints, because you can use it to help in downhill descents; the second being to use it for balance, for example when crossing a stream on stones. So I bought a pole at the shop, and since I was going out walking, the lady there recommended I walk to Latterbarrow.

The view was already pretty good!

I'm going to be honest, I didn't really realize it was...I won't call it a mountain, but it's a HUGE hill. But as I've said before, I've learned that you get rewarded for uphill climbs in England, so I kept going even when I saw that it was extremely high.

Getting steeper...

...and steeper.

The thing is, the path just kept getting steeper and steeper. I was definitely glad for the trekking pole to give me some extra stability going up, but there was one other problem.

Did I mention I am afraid of heights?

I am afraid of heights. Pretty significantly. And all of a sudden my fear kicked in, and I realized that I wasn't really going to be comfortable going back DOWN on the trail I'd come UP. Which meant I had to cross my fingers and keep going and hope for the best.

I made it, obviously, and I was pretty proud of myself for managing it, particularly since the view was absolutely wonderful, as I'd thought it would be. You can see it's very cloudy, but I found that just made it moodier!

At the top of Latterbarrow
Posted by Sophie Turner on Monday, July 20, 2020

Fortunately there WAS an easier path down on the other side, so I got to enjoy some more views without scaring myself!

Still a moody sky, even at lower elevation!

Love these farm houses, tucked away here.

Another farm.

I'm going to try to stay on a monthly blogging schedule here and I've got so much more Lake District to share, as well as some period cookery I've been engaging in. So I'll see you next month when I share where I walked next after Latterbarrow!

Hill Top (Lake District Part 2)

In my first post in this Lake District series, I wrote about some of the first walks I took, from my base in Far Sawrey. I was blessed with absolutely beautiful weather for my first few days, but hey, it's England...eventually the rain was going to set in. So on my first somewhat rainy day, I decided to walk over to Near Sawrey, which is the site of Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's house, and see the house.

I was decidedly not the only person who thought the rainy way would be a good idea for this, but fortunately I got there well before they opened to line up for a timed entry ticket. The house is much smaller than the great country houses I usually see at the National Trust, so they have to manage how many people are inside.

Hill Top exterior

I wasn't actually intending to share the house here when I first went in, so I don't have as much multimedia. I'd originally intended my setting within the Lake District to be an old cottage that had been in the Darcy family for some time, but as I started adding up the number of people that might be staying there (plus servants), I started realizing they needed a little "upgrade". So I made it a farmhouse that had become redundant by the combination of two farms, and Hill Top, a 17th century farmhouse, became the perfect model. So now I'm doubly glad I went!

Although I don't have much in the line of multimedia, I do have quite a few photos to share, and I'll be back in next month's post with some more tales of my walks, and walking videos.

You enter into what I would call the kitchen, Potter called the Entrance Hall, and Lakeland farmers would call the firehouse or houseplace. I love that they had a fire going on a rainy day!

Another angle.

Beside the kitchen is this panelled Parlour.

Beside the kitchen is this panelled Parlour.

Spinning wheel and work table in the Parlour.

Up the stairs...

I love the big old four-poster bed in this bedroom.

Bedroom fireplace.

I loved all of the Georgian-era antiques in the house, like this pitcher.

This "Treasure Room" is filled with all sorts of little items.

Including this doll's house; Potter used some of the rooms as models for her illustrations.

I lost my mind a little bit in the Sitting Room because it has an early 19th century Clementi square pianoforte.

Here's some detail of the keyboard.

And the Clementi branding.

One more pianoforte detail, for good measure!

The "New Room" was described by Potter as the library. The room is larger and looks different because it's part of the 1906 portion of the house (Potter actually split the house with her farm manager, who lived in the other portion).

Detail of one of the desks.

The village of Near Sawrey is a charming little place worth some photos as well, and Beatrix Potter fans may recognise some locations:

Cottages and wildflowers.

A longer view leading up to the village inn.

Close-up of the post box.

Close-up of the inn.

Farther-out view of the village.

 I'll leave you with a few more animal photos from my walk back from Near Sawrey to Far Sawrey, but first it's worth noting that part of the reason I was able to make many of these walks on this trip was because of Beatrix Potter. During her lifetime, she worked hand in hand with the National Trust and others to see to preservation of Lake District lands, and after her death she donated more than 4,000 acres to the Trust so that it would be preserved. So not only do her books live on, but the land she helped save does, too.

Calves in the field.

And a horse.