Out next week on shelves near you:
A Secret Identity
When pirates storm Lord Steven Ashford’s ship upon the high seas, it brings him closer than ever to the nefarious criminal he seeks to ruin. Only one seductive detail threatens his victory: the scandalous beauty imprisoned with him, Lady Valerie Monroe. Temptation has never been so intoxicating or so forbidden, for Steven is disguised as a French priest. If they make it off the ship alive, to protect her from his enemies, he must never see her again…
An Undeniable Love
Back in England, and under the ton’s scrutiny for a reckless past she hasn’t escaped, Valerie dreams of the breathtaking “man of the cloth” with whom she shared her greatest adventure. Then he reappears in society under his true identity, Viscount Ashford, but despite the danger their consuming passion cannot be denied. Now standing in the way of their desire are Valerie’s wounded heart, Steven’s lone destiny, and a villain that will stop at nothing to crush them both.
* * * * *
All the World’s a Stage
Have you ever worn a costume? I don’t mean for Halloween. I mean a serious business suit, team uniform, or ball gown and sparkly jewels. Something that takes you out of your comfort norm and makes you… different.
Or something even more concealing. A disguise?
In William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, to flee a plot against her family a duke’s daughter disguises herself as a young man. But Rosalind’s masquerade has an up side. As a man she is able to befriend Orlando, the object of her hidden love.
As You Like It is a comedy. So in true Shakepearian fashion hijinks ensue until secret passions are revealed and all the characters end up happily paired. But not before Rosalind’s disguise allows her to discover the truth in everybody’s hearts. Including her own.
Characters in disguise have always intrigued me. Take the 1934 film The Scarlet Pimpernel. In London high society, the hero is the foppish Sir Percy Blakeney. But upon the dark shores of the English Channel he is the daring Pimpernel, risking his life to save French aristocrats from the guillotine. Sir Percy’s reason for this dangerous pretense? He does it all for his wife, a Frenchwoman who despairs of the foolish husband she once loved and instead dreams of the dashing Pimpernel. When I first saw this film, I couldn’t imagine anything better than the moment she realizes he is one in the same.
I still can’t.
A hero who keeps secret the fact that he rescues people on a daily basis—even makes himself look like a fool to throw off suspicion—is positively, deliciously breathtaking. Superman is content to seem like a total dork to the world because he must in order to save it. Brainy, skinny Peter Parker pines after Mary Jane, delaying and delaying again telling her the truth because knowing it would put her in jeopardy. And always the longing, the wishing and yearning to reveal all to the woman he loves. And the steely honor that holds him back…
Sigh!
Superheroes aren’t the only ones with secrets. We all have them. But when we wear a costume something changes. Costumes can make us do things we would never otherwise do. Sometimes, like for Rosalind, a costume can free us to live what’s deep inside.
A while back, I lived for a year in Rome, Italy, with some other Americans. For Halloween we planned a big dance party. Given the city, we chose an appropriate theme: the Seven Deadly Sins. I’d been walking to work through the city’s ancient cloth district and instantly knew what I’d wear. I scoured fabric stores for gray felt, gray cotton, gray fur, needle, thread, and then art shops for black and white face paint. Frantically I measured, cut, and sewed until my costume was complete. I would be a Giant Tree Sloth.
The night of the party arrived. I covered myself from brow to toe in faux sloth skin and fur and headed out.
Every other woman was dressed as Lust or Avarice. Tiny itty-bitty dresses covered with dollar bills or sparkling coins. Slinky skirts and dipping décolletages. They looked great. Gorgeous. Sexy as hell. While I looked like a large jungle creature.
I had the best time I’ve ever had at a party. I danced until sweat dripped from my chin in zebra striped rivulets. I lost every pointy gray claw swinging across the floor. Explaining my costume (“I’m a sloth. You know, laziness.”), I met dozens of people. I laughed until my furry stomach ached. And I fell onto my bed hours later completely happy. Why? Because despite the throbbing music, low lights, and any number of hunky Italian cutie-pies hanging around looking for American girls to date, I wasn’t trying to be sexy or appealing. There was absolutely no way I could have even if I’d wanted to. I was just having fun. The costume let me. No. The costume forced me.
In my debut historical romance, SWEPT AWAY BY A KISS, the hero wears two disguises. The first disguise brings to the fore his strength, courage, and commitment to helping others in peril. The second allows him to tease, to laugh and flirt and seduce everyone with his wit, charm, and strikingly good ton. But the heroine knows him, even though he wears costumes and pretends to be what he is not. Because no matter how successful his masquerade, he cannot hide his heart from her. And in discovering him beneath the disguises, she also discovers secrets of her own.
What is the most outrageous or concealing costume you have ever donned? What happened when you wore it?
* * * * *
Thank you for visiting with us today, Ms Ashe!
To learn more about her work, visit Ms Ashe’s website–and remember to leave a comment here to enter a drawing for a copy of Swept Away by a Kiss!
I’m such a dud with costumes. I had no talent for making one and no imagination for thinking one up. I’m just not into the whole idea. My daughter loves Halloween and costumes. She has enough enthusiasm for the two of us. I remember going as a football player to a grade school party. Not too thrilling.
I like your idea in Swept Away By a Kiss of a priest rescuing a young woman and then the chemistry ignites! The revenge aspect, the disquises, the revelation that he’s an aristocrat. Good stuff!!
johnslake at usa dot com
I wore a Victorian dress, fangs, pointy toed boots, and a funeral veil. I was a vampiressssssssss…….
My friends thought I looked so good they took pictures of me in their coffin!
I’m really looking forward to reading KISS. I have a pirate in my ancestry.
Meljprincess AT aol DOT com
Sadly I have never gone that crazy..I did dress up like a hippie once, and the stars I had on my forehead kept falling off
I’ve never really dressed up,so I don’t have any fun stories. I think blodeudd is funny though with the stars falling off
I can’t say I have worn a costume sense I was a kid a holloween! Never had the need too! I would love to read your book is sounds fabulous and I love the cover! I also really enjoy reading authors debut books so I will be looking for this one!
Hi, ladies. Fatin, thank you for having me on the blog today!
Laurie G, I’m not much for costumes either, but I do love to dress up in fancy duds every so often. With the make up and high heels, I feel like it’s still dress-ups out of the old wooden box in the upstairs hallway, wearing my mom’s and babysitter’s old shoes and prom dresses. But I did go as a prince for Halloween one year. 🙂 My son has gone through about five different ideas for this year’s Halloween. Still hasn’t decided on one yet!
Mel K, fabulous costume! But… um… your friends had a *coffin*? Do they still? Should we know about the details of this or is it better left in the box (as it were)?
blodeuedd, LOL. Hippie life too flaky for you, literally? (But seriously, some of my best friends are hippies. Or, er, they were like thirty-five years ago.)
Amanda, you’re probably better off. The last time I dressed up for a costume party (and convinced my boyfriend to do so too), no one else went to the party in costume. I’m thinking twice the next time a friend insists it’s a costume party and we’re all going to have such a crazy time. 😉
I haven’t ever really worn an outrageous costume, always dressed as an angel, fairy…those types of costumes.
I have never really gotten too crazy with my costumes but I guess the craziest one was my pregnant nun costume.
Quilt Lady, I always feel like I’m in a costume when I’m wearing a business suit. Thank heavens for casual work wear. And thank you for your kind words about my debut. 🙂
Jeanette, I always wanted to dress up like an angel or fairy. Never thought I could pull it off, though. :}
Raelena, yep, I’d say a pregnant nun counts as crazy. (If you read it, let me know what you think of my heroine’s comment on the final page of my novel, okay?) 😉
Congrats on your debut Historical Romance… really love the sound of this book…
As for costumes, I have not worn any since I was a kid… love to paint my face though…
I love your sloth story! So creative of you. I’ve worn costumes for different parties, Mardi Gras and Halloween, but I guess I’m sticking too close to home with my choices…I don’t have any great stories to report. Thanks for visiting today. I enjoyed the column and look forward to reading your book.
Colleen, now I’m dying to know what you paint your face as! My son recently had his painted as a skeleton. With hair and eyes… very scary, actually.
LSUReader, thank you! I guess in that case creative wasn’t particularly sexy, but it sure was fun. :)))
I love painting different things… once a tiger, other times it has been items across my face… like a cat leaping across, pumpkins, a bat, had a dolphin take up half of my face… it is fun to see what I can manage with a mirror!
Congrats on your debut release, Katharine. The last time I dressed up for party was on Halloween a few years ago. It was outrageous or sexy at all. I was dressed as a fallen angel with a crooked halo and then someone gave me a fake cigarette to puff on.
I always wanted to wear a historical costume, but never got the chance. I think the most concealing costume I ever wore was a sheet over my head as a ghost. No one knew who I was until I opened my mouth, LOL.
enjoyed this posting…thanks for the chance to read this fabulous novel 🙂
The only times I ever wore a costume was trick or treating when I was a child.
Congrats on the book release! It sounds very good.
Several years ago, we attended a business charity function with a fifties theme. The invitation insisted all attendees must be costumed in period attire. My husband got off easy with jeans and a white t-shirt. Men have it sooo easy. I wore a poodle skirt and cardigan and felt like a total idiot when ninety percent of the guests were dressed business casual.
I used to take dance, and of course in the classes I had fun, learned the routine, etc. But when I actually got on stage, in my costume, and the music started? It was nothing like being in that dance room. I was free, completely over taken by whichever dance I was doing. And it was all the costume. It really was. Its amazing what something as simple as rhinestones and glitter can make you feel 🙂
I wish I was good at costumes. Unfortunately I suck at thinking them up completely. My poor kids. 😀
Heck I barely get dressed up these days. I’m sure anytime I do that it would be like wearing a costume.
Sad to say, I don’t think I’ve ever worn outrageous costumes. The weirdest (if you can call it that) is a Halloween costume where I was Shirley Temple.
Congratulations on your debut Book release.
cyclops8, love the cigarette! It’s all in the details.
Barbara, the ol’ ghost costume is a sure bet. Did you ever see Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 2? Recommended for all ghost costumers. 🙂 I’ve never really dressed up as anything historical either. The bridesmaid dress for my sister’s wedding was vaguely Regency. I carried a little purse with her lipstick and her other essentials. We all called it my reticule.
Thanks, karenk! It’s fun being here with you ladies today.
Estella, seems the case with many of us (except, of course, my tree sloth)! I was amazed one year when I went to the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention to see all the women dressed up in truly amazing costumes–Hollywood quality, some of them. Wow.
melinda, you know, I always say do it in style. The invitation said dress up, so I’d say the others did not practice good guest manners. 🙂
Chelsea, that is fabulous! We had the same sort of experience. But, boy, I’d love to wear glitter. You have inspired me! At next week’s Romance Writers Association conference, I’m going glitter with my rhinestones. Thank you!
Brandy, I’m with you there. Last year my son wanted to be Darth Vader. I bought black biker pants, a black shirt, a black cape (all from Target for a total of $10) and went online for a Vader helmet. That’s the sum total of my costume creativity. I think I used a lifetime’s worth up on that sloth. My poor child!
marelou, I’ll bet you were cute as a button. Did you tap dance and sing “On the Good Ship Lollipop” with your fingertip pointing to your dimple? That little Shirley used to make me giggle something fierce. 🙂
Sorry I’m not a costume wearer. So nothing revealing for me.
I’d love to be the costume wearing type, but we rarely go anywhere where wearing a costume would be great…..
I’ve seen some I’d love to try.
Sounds like a great book.
hugs,
WendyK
I don’t ever get a chance to wear “costumes” but I do have certain outfits that tend to help with bringing out specific personality traits…adventurous, lucky, confident, flirty etc.
I LOVE the Scarlet Pimpernel with Jane Seymour…I’m going to have to dig it out now and watch again!
I was just at her site having read on another Avon Author’s newsletter about Katherine Ashe’s debut coming out. I so love these Avon historical romances and its great starting right at the beginning with the debuts and with each the releases! This one sounds like a winner too!
Oh what a fun question! I haven’t worn a costume since the early years of our marriage and then it was nothing sexy either. Only once when we were at a fair, we both got to dress up in western clothes and stand at the saloon doors in a pose for our pic. I have to say tho, my hubby looked so much better than me. He looks great in the hat and books and did a fab pose!
Cathiecaffey @ gmail.com
Katie rocks! I am so getting a copy of this signed at RWA!
I like making costumes. Once I dressed up like a ladybug. The head of the local theatre department liked it so much, she copied the costume for one of the plays. She invited me to see it, so she could watch my reaction. I thought it was really funny.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
WendyK, I wonder what kind of event would inspire you to dress up in costume? 🙂 (and btw, love your tag!)
Amy, I don’t know that version of SP. I’ll must see it! Oh, I just love good excuses to watch movies about romance and adventure. I did just recently re-watch (for the gazillionth time) Somewhere In Time, and wept copiously as always when Jane screamed “Richard!” as he disappears into the dark. Also, any movie with Christopher Reeve or Christopher Plumber in it is on my must-play list.
Caffey, how fun! There’s nothing like a cowboy, especially when he’s your own honey!
Thank you, Beth. You’re a peach. 🙂
debp, fabulous! What a great compliment on your creative genius. How many spots did you have? You know, they say the number of a ladybug’s spots says a lot about her character. 😉
When I was a teenager I used to dress up like a gothic. All black and if I felt like color some purple. Black nail varnish and black lipstick. Black boots the lot. I’m not sure what made me pick this ‘costume’. Perhaps I felt vulnerable and wanted to ‘show’ the world that I was one tough cookie. Anyway, my mom graciously let me wear that stuff and luckily I grew out of that faze.
I’ve got no knack for costumes–I did make my own “Gibson girl” outfit when I was in 6th grade, but that was time-consuming and a bit of a bust! Thankfully it didn’t rain that day, since the trim on my parasol was paper!
Love your book cover. and your book sounds lovely. I work at assisted living & I wanted a funny costume so I found one that you wear this huge pink dress with big white pokedots on it. And a gray wig. It has a dog that you stick to your behind and you have a sign that says “Lost dog~Have you seen it?” All the residents loved it. It was fun.