Books
Dance of Seduction Scoop
- Morgan's story came about when I was brainstorming about possibilities with my editor and agent. One suggested a reformer heroine and the other mentioned pickpockets. It so happens I loved the musical Oliver! as a child. I had crushes on Jack Wild and Mark Lester for years. Next thing I knew I was seeing the entire tale in my head (and screaming with excitement to my agent, who thought I'd lost my mind). When a story hits you like that, you just have to write it.
- All the stuff about bank notes in the story? Absolutely true. Plenty of criminals did a thriving business in stolen bank notes that they shipped out of the country.
- The Specter was loosely based on a master fence named Ikey Solomons and a famous thieftaker called Jonathon Wild (from a century earlier; not to be confused with Jack Wild, my crush).
- I know nothing about dog breeds. We don't have pets because of my son's sensitivities, and the ones I had as a child were all mutts. So I had to turn to the web for dog breed info and pictures.
Inside Scoop from Characters
Dear Mrs. Jeffries,
We, some boys from the Stanbourne Home for the Reformation of Pickpockets,
are writing to you about all that stuff you been saying about Captain
Pryce. We want to know what you got against him. All right, so p’raps
he buys a stolen watch once in a while, but that ain’t no reason
to make him sound like no devil. He’s just trying to make a living
like the rest of us.
As for him and Lady Clara, just because he’s got his eye on her don’t make him a scoundrel. Lady Clara is right fine—even when she’s plaguing a fellow just for picking a pocket—and lots of us think that the Captain’s got what she needs to make her happy. Just because he’s a criminal don’t mean he can’t make her smile.
That’s what we say, anyway.
Sincerely,
Johnny Perkins, Tim Perkins, and David Walsh
P.S. We put a fine lace handkerchief in with this letter. There’s more where that came from if you can just stop writing all those nasty things about the captain and Lady Clara.
P.P.S. Don’t tell Lady Clara about the handkerchiefs, all right?
How to Avoid Being Corrupted by a Rogue
by Lady Clara Stanbourne
- Never let a rogue get you alone. That is the situation on which he thrives.
- If you must travel with a rogue, be sure to keep the conversation formal, or you may find yourself discussing such matters of great embarrassment as the activities of ladies of the evening.
- Do not over-imbibe under any circumstances. A lady can hardly remain a lady when her wits are fogged with drink and a gentleman is speaking sweet words in her ear.
-
If
you simply must pretend to be married, insist on separate lodgings.
- Familiarity does not always breed contempt.
- Be prepared for every circumstance. You never know when you might become the victim of treachery, and be forced to rely on the criminal knowledge of your companion.
- Carry a cane for thumping villains over the head, even if you do not require one.