Nov
Once Upon a Winter’s Eve – A Ballroom Blog Production
I am so excited to introduce my guest to Lady B today. So! Excited!
What’s all this, Miss Dare?
Lady B, I want to introduce you to my friend, Miss Violet Winterbottom. Doesn’t she look lovely, all dressed in green silk?
Quite lovely, I’m sure.
<<Squawk!>>Fa-la-la-la<Squawk!>>
She’s dressed for a Christmas ball, you see. And you’ll never believe this, Lady B. I wanted to bring her to meet you for a very special reason. Violet was born in this very ballroom!
What? Born in this ballroom? I don’t think so, Miss Dare. Why, your guest looks no older than twenty. I’ve been married to Lord B for *mumble* years now, and if ever a live birth should have taken place in this ballroom, I feel certain I would have recalled it.
You see, several months ago, I did another post on wallflowers, and happened to mention that “Some wallflowers bloom at night.” My dear friend Sara Lindsey thought that would make an excellent story tagline. I agreed, and suddenly–Violet’s story just blossomed in my imagination. But it gets better, Lady B! Not only was she born in this virtual ballroom last summer, but I actually set her happily-ever-after scene in the Beaufetheringstone ballroom of 1814!
What? The happy couple have a scene in this ballroom? (Lady B looks around) I know I would have remembered that. Were they hidden behind a potted plant?
No, no. It’s hard to explain unless you read the whole thing. Suffice to say, from start to finish, lobster patties to ratafia, this novella was very much a Ballroom Blog creation. To celebrate the spirit of collaborative inspiration, I thought we would have some fun with polls.
<<Squawk!>>Margin of error!<<Squawk!>>
Albert is right. They’re rather meaningless polls. But who doesn’t love a quiz?
Let me get my quizzing glass.
You see, Miss Violet is a wallflower.
We’ve said time and again, there are no wallflowers in this ballroom, Miss Dare.
I know, I know. And Violet’s about to quickly bloom in the space of one night. But she has very good reasons for being a wallflower, you see.
Just as we’re debating Violet’s wallflower tendencies, there’s a horrific crash. The garden door fly open, and in stumbles a man. He’s large. He’s dripping wet. He’s stumbling straight for us…until he collapses at Violet’s feet, bleeding and shivering and speaking in a strange language.
As Violet kneels at the intruder’s side, Lady B eyes me with suspicion.
Miss Dare. Have you been tampering with the ratafia again?
Whoever he is, he’s making a true mess of my parquet floor. Can she understand him, Miss Dare?
A little. Violet happens to be very good with languages. But she’s also stunned, because this intruder looks oddly familiar. In fact, he very closely resembles a man she’s come to think of as The Disappointment.
The Disappointment?
You see…. (In the interests of delicacy, I lean over and whisper in Lady B’s ear.)
No.
Yes.
The bounder! If it is him, she should kick him in the shins.
He’s already bleeding, Lady B.
Just the same.
But it might not be him at all.
What a situation. Whatever is she going to do?
I think we will have to leave the rest of this particular Winter’s Eve to Violet and her mystery man. If you like, you can read the first chapter and go from there.
In all sincerity, I am endebted to The Ballroom Blog for this book, and I want to thank all my fellow authoresses and our guests for being part of its creation! I have it on good authority that this is not the last time the Beaufetheringstone ballroom will make an appearance in one of our books.
As another way of saying thanks, I’m giving away 10 (ten) copies of this e-book (Kindle or AllRomance gift certificate, redeemable for various formats). Since it’s on sale for just $0.99, that’s easy enough to swing! And if you’re a winner but you’ve already purchased the book, I’ll gladly send a copy to a friend of your choosing, as an early holiday gift from you. 
To enter, just comment by midnight PST. Winners posted tomorrow!
As for what to comment…? You could suggest an interrogation technique. Or maybe tell me about the worst thing that ever happened at your holiday party. Any party crashers?
Nov 17, 2011
1:47 am
Hi Tess, Lady B and Violet … not to mention the ‘stranger’ – fun post and did all of the polls. Nothing really more to add, I just wanted to say that I enjoyed the visit. As for entering me for a prize, don’t bother. I haven’t an e-reader of any kind and already have a copy. It’s next on my TBR list and I’m so looking forward to it.
Have fun! : )
Nov 17, 2011
10:46 am
Thanks for coming by, Amy! And I hope you enjoy the story when you get a chance.
Nov 17, 2011
2:17 am
Still giggling…
Back in the day, whenever I would go home for Christmas, I’d always bring an extra present, just in case (because cousins and such were known to crash at my parents’ house with no advanced notice).
Nov 17, 2011
10:47 am
What a Smart Idea! honestly, in my smarter Decembers, I start carrying a few in the car the whole month.
*better get on that*
Nov 17, 2011
4:14 am
LOL! Hi Ladies
Great post, loved the polls and I cannot wait to read this story.
The worst torture I can think of is tickling (I hate being tickled), tie him to a chair/bed and borrow one of Albert’s feathers.
He’ll be talking in no time. *g*
Nov 17, 2011
9:37 am
Tickling sounds fabulous, Beebs. Truly torturous!
Nov 17, 2011
10:47 am
Hah! I have a scene kind of similar to that (sans bird) in the book I’m writing Right Now. *eyebrow waggle*
Nov 17, 2011
5:19 am
Having polls is a really inventive way to introduce your newest release! I haven’t played those choose-your-own-adventure book games in forever.
No party crashers for me, but being stuck as the clean-up crew is kinda crappy…especially if you were at a party with lots and lots of liquor.
Nov 17, 2011
10:49 am
Julie, I think we should bring back the Choose Your Own Adventure in romance, don’t you? Especially in love scenes, it could be a hoot.
Nov 17, 2011
8:11 pm
Haha, yes in the love scenes that would be very amusing.
And I enjoyed the polls as well.
Nov 17, 2011
7:26 am
Interrogation: How about letting the good-looking stranger spend a bit of time (tied up, of course–whether it’s on a chair or on a bed…) to Miss Winterbottom then immediately take her away and let Albert take her place
Nov 17, 2011
7:30 am
with Miss Winterbottom. WITH! Goodness, I already clicked the reply button when I realized I wrote to. Repeat, not TO, but WITH. LOL!
Nov 17, 2011
10:50 am
No, no, no! Don’t apologize! I like the TO option.
This is how stories get started…
Nov 17, 2011
11:09 am
This is how *gossip* gets started.
Nov 17, 2011
9:38 am
HA!
Nov 17, 2011
8:55 am
This is great! Looking forward to reading the book. As for interrogation techniques and since he is injured and bleeding tie him to the bed/chair with silk cravats, and use one of Lady B’s beautiful feathers. I would suggest plucking one from Albert, but why should he hurt for our pleasure.
Then again Violet could always have him tied up and sit there and read the newspaper to him, or better yet, one of Fordyce’s Sermons’. I think I spelled that wrong.
Nov 17, 2011
10:50 am
Hah! Torture by Fordyce! That is cruel punishment indeed, Lady Susan. Brilliant.
Nov 17, 2011
2:07 pm
I’m sensing a theme here, lots of tying up and feathers. Poor Albert had better make himself scarce. LOL
Nov 17, 2011
8:16 pm
Good point, Beebs!
Nov 17, 2011
9:30 am
I stayed up too late last night reading this (thank goodness it’s only a novella) and enjoyed it sooo much. Watching Violet come into her own was a real treat. So was Christian. I simply adored the Ballroom scene. I’m furiously pondering how I can get Lady B into a book.
Nov 17, 2011
10:52 am
Do it, Miranda! I think it’s manifest destiny (or some more British term) — Lady B must appear in a book from every Ballroom Blogger eventually.
Thank you so much for reading!
Nov 17, 2011
8:18 pm
I rather suspect that ensuring her place in the annals of (Romance) history was Lady B’s secret plan when she invited us to her ballroom.
Nov 17, 2011
9:41 am
Congratulations on the release of your novella, Tessa! It sounds simply scrumptious. I can’t wait to find out why Violet dubbed Christian The Disappointment — fabulous!
Nov 17, 2011
10:53 am
Secretly? The Disappointment nickname kind of came out of a crazy Twitter conversation (crazy Twitter conversation? me??) in which I threatened to write a Regency Jersey Shore series and name a character The Predicament.
Nov 17, 2011
10:59 am
I would LOVE to read that! I think it would be hilarious. Have you seen those Jersey Shore Gone Wilde videos? JS transcripts done in the style of Oscar Wilde. Side-splitting funny!
Nov 17, 2011
8:19 pm
Ooh, I haven’t seen those. Link??
Nov 17, 2011
9:47 pm
I Tweeted it to The Ballroom Blog, but here it is again. Be aware, there is quite a bit of salty language. ;D
Nov 17, 2011
10:04 am
As you know Tessa, I devoured Once Upon a Winter’s Eve on release day and absolutely loved it!
I absolutely adored Violet and Christian’s story, and agree wholeheartedly with Miranda that watching Violet come into her own was wonderful. Will save the rest for that gushing e-mail I owe you. 
As for worst holiday party moments, I was once at a gathering where a fight broke out amongst family members. Words were exchanged, and it didn’t get physical, but yet Very Awkward.
Nov 17, 2011
10:54 am
Ooh, a holiday fight. Nothing’s nastier. Sorry you had to go through that, Lisa.
Thanks so much for reading Once Upon, and I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I loved writing Violet and Christian together.
Nov 17, 2011
10:30 am
Forgot to answer the question. The last holiday party I gave, the person I least wanted to be there was the last to leave. By a very. long. time. I was dying to load the dishwasher and put my feet up, sending mad “leave” vibes. I’d much rather have to break up a fight or tend to a hot wounded man.
Nov 17, 2011
10:55 am
Oh, no. No offense is worse than staying past one’s welcome. Ugh.
Nov 17, 2011
11:03 am
I think the Fordyce Sermons are a great idea for torture, but only if she can track down Mr. Collins to read them.
I don’t have nay holiday party horror stories, thank goodness, but three Thanksgivings ago I did spend quite a bit of time making pumpkin pies from scratch, only to have my dad drop it all over my kitchen floor when pulling it out of the oven. Sigh. Men.
Nov 17, 2011
11:08 am
Mr. Collins reading Fordyce might fall outside the Geneva Convention.
The pies!!!! I am gutted about those pies, and I didn’t even know they existed.
Nov 17, 2011
11:08 am
Love. This. Post! And Love Lady B’s reaction to the intruder!
I’m embarrassed to say that the worst thing to ever happen at my holiday party was Baxter lifting his leg (totally unexpectedly and shockingly) on someone! But…the good thing is, she was the horrid wife of a friend…and soon after, she was made the horrid ex-wife of him. Perhaps Baxter is just a good judge of character?
Nov 17, 2011
11:28 am
Ooh! My dog did that. I had him out for a walk, stopped to talk to someone and he just lifted his leg.
I think that was his way of showing his displeasure at having his walk interrupted but I was horrified.
Nov 17, 2011
4:44 pm
Hahaha! Clever Baxter. I am writing a book with a dog right now, and I’m so tempted to put that in.
Nov 17, 2011
12:10 pm
Love, love, love everything about this blog! You don’t need to enter me. I have an ipad loaded with all the books of the ballroom blog’s authors and had to add this to the collection.
It’s on sale on Amazon for 0.89 by the way. I just saved myself 10%. Gotta love a deal.
I don’t throw holiday parties anymore. I have little children, the possible disaster stories make me shudder.
The interrogation idea sounds like so much more fun! Let’s say that Violet’s party crasher doesn’t really recognize her either (I have no clue, since I haven’t read the novella yet. It’s downloading as I write). So, I’ll just guess (or play make believe)…
I’m assuming that she’s not looking much the part of her former wallflower self (new/borrowed green silk gown, amazing coiffure, etc). Maybe he doesn’t recognize her immediately either? There might be fun in turning the tables on him, maybe blindfolding him, so that he has to guess who his would-be rescuer is! She can interrogate to her heart’s content. Ah, sweet, slightly naughty, revenge.
Of course, at the end, the HEA would comes in when he discovers that the devastatingly beautiful girl in the green gown is the wallflower that he’s nursing a tendre for.
How fun! Now I’ll go and read and see what REALLY happens!
Nov 17, 2011
4:46 pm
Wow, Becky! That is a great scenario. Double mistaken identity!
I think I need you as a brainstorming partner for future books.
Nov 17, 2011
12:28 pm
What fun to do all the polls. I think in the books I love, desperate secret is usually the reason for shyness (thinking of Balogh’s Unforgiven, for instance. No need to enter me, I just bought the book
Nov 17, 2011
4:47 pm
There can be SO many reasons for shyness and wallflower tendencies, can’t there? I particularly love reserved heroes for that reason. So mysterious.
Nov 17, 2011
12:54 pm
I’d love to win the book. At all my Christmas Eve parties everybody gathers in the kitchen, and I have a hard time getting food on the table. They just want to visit, I know, but it puts me in a tizzy!
Nov 17, 2011
4:48 pm
Susan, it sounds like you need one of those gates that they make for small children and dogs. Kitchen is off-limits!
I’m sure the reason is that they are just so glad to see YOU, and your company is the main treat they’re after.
Nov 17, 2011
1:32 pm
I loved this post! It felt like a “choose your own adventure” book from when I was a kid. Perhaps this could be a regular feature on the blog? Interactivity! Yippee!
Nov 17, 2011
4:49 pm
I loved the Choose Your Own Adventure books when I was a kid! In fact, I tweeted about this earlier this morning, and the CYOA publisher tweeted me back – I had no idea they were still publishing them!
Nov 17, 2011
3:02 pm
Tickle the information out of him! Or better yet cook up a delicious smelling meal and leave it out of reach…as they say food is the way to a man’s heart
Happy Release to your novella, Tessa!
Nov 17, 2011
4:49 pm
I could never be a spy, because tickling would get me every time.
Delicious food might be in the story…
thank you so much for the release day wishes!
Nov 17, 2011
5:18 pm
Tessa my dear you must always remember that when it gets to the point of interrogating someone you must be very careful in how you word your question to get to the truth of the matter.
Now remember when it comes to a rake that asking him what he is thinking or doing could lead him to answer a question truthfully but not really give you an answer at all. One instance would be if Lady B’s spouse and son came tumbling into the ballroom together than she wouldn’t ask them if they had “TOO MUCH to drink”. Afterall they could very sincerely and honestly say NO and be truthful for they merely are trying to stumblee as fast as they can to the punch bowl to have SOME MORE! Therefore they aren’t lying but rather thinking if they have to attend one more of Lady B’s events they better drink enough so they can pass out more quickly!
The truth of the answer is in the yes of the beholder.
Nov 18, 2011
11:21 am
What a good point, Jeanne – there must be strategy involved in interrogation. Violet has a very difficult time getting a straight answer out of her name. Very Difficult!
Nov 17, 2011
8:23 pm
We’ve had a few Thanksgiving mishaps. Two that involved trips to the ER for my grandmother. And one that involved a friend bringing her 3 year old son to our not particularly kid friendly 6th floor apartment. The little boy managed to throw an empty glass bottle out the window…
Nov 17, 2011
9:06 pm
Uh oh. You never want any part of holidays to be spent in the ER. Those upper stories can be so perilous, too! Hope the kid didn’t hit anyone
Nov 18, 2011
11:22 am
That sounds scary! And totally like something my own kid would do… sigh.
Nov 17, 2011
8:44 pm
Congratulations on the new release. Do you have several stories at any one time rolling around in your mind or only the one you’re currently working on?
Nov 18, 2011
3:45 am
Thank you, Kim!
Uh…the less said about the stuff rolling around in my mind, the better.
Nov 18, 2011
11:20 am
Thank you all for coming by yesterday! I just posted winners names in a new post. Contact me, and I’ll get you set up. I hope you enjoy the story!