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+ new book, regency

OUT NOW: A Sporting Chance

by Unknown's avatar

I cannot believe this gorgeous book is out! Packed full of puns, joy, family drama and steamy romance, this early Victorian romance is definitely one for your TBR list…

Kathleen Andelit is living in London with her disgraced sister, and shouldn’t be drawing attention to herself.

That is why she probably shouldn’t have been caught gawking at the handsome young man practicing his archery—a mistake compounded by the fact that she soon discovers he is not just a gentleman, but a lord.

A swift tongue, a reckless character, and before she knows it, Kathleen has entered into a bet with the young man. He has to teach her archery.

For Lord Leopold Chance, this bet is the last thing he needs. His reputation sullied by a rumor about cheating at cards, his rigid and respectable family does not need any connection to anyone whose lost their reputation.

And so begins secret archery lessons, conversations of a far too friendly nature, and kissing.

Wait, that wasn’t part of the plan.

As Kathleen starts to realize she cares for this man far too much, and Leopold realizes that his family will never accept a woman from a disgraced family, a second bet threatens to destroy all the truth they have built.

Will the arrow of true love shoot true? 

This novel continues the highly anticipated Chance family drama, with sixteen cousins and triple the problems. Tropes include: teach me, scandal, cinnamon roll, interfering family, a bet/wager, and of course, Emily E K Murdoch’s tried and true method of sizzling, joyful romance.

This full length novel is a steamy Regency romance with a happily ever after, no cliffhangers, and is part of a series that can be read in any order.

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+ Writing

Writing the perfect breakup scene

by Unknown's avatar

If there is one type of scene that I dislike writing compared to the others…it’s a breakup scene.

Almost every romance has one. After all, love is often put under pressure and it can be tempting for two lovers to feel conflicted about staying together.

But a breakup scene has to feel as though the hero and heroine are never going to get back together. The reader has to believe that there is a very real chance that they will never see each other again – and will certainly never kiss again.

And that is tough! Especially when I’ve usually spent the last…oh, say 40,000 words trying to convince the reader that they should absolutely be together!

As an author, I also don’t want to make the breakup scene so believable that the eventual renewal of affection doesn’t feel right. For example, I don’t want me hero to be genuinely cruel to my heroine, otherwise why on earth would she go back to him?!

This means that the breakup scene is often the hardest to write in the whole book.

And yet I do enjoy them! I have said this before and I’ll say it again: my worst day with my writing is always far better than my best day at my previous day jobs – no shade to my day jobs, I just adore writing!

So that’s one of the reasons that I keep writing romance; because sometimes, even I don’t know how my characters are going to get together…and then they do.

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Follow me on the socials!

by Unknown's avatar

Hello, lovely readers!

I know that many of you love interacting with authors on social media, and I suddenly realised that I haven’t shared all my social links in a little while – so here you go!

Twitter: @emilyekmurdoch

Facebook: @emilyekmurdoch

Instagram: @emilyekmurdoch

My newsletter (with free book!): click here

If you love seeing photos of my real life, hearing how the writing process is going, and the random thoughts from the mind of a historical author, social media is the place to find me.

See you there!

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+ Writing

The best historical romances

by Unknown's avatar

What makes a truly great historical romance? It’s something that (as you can imagine) I think about almost continuously. What’s missing from this? What’s going to make it the best book my readers have ever read? What’s going to make it stick in their minds, stay on their bookshelf, be recommended to friends?

Some say it’s characters

A truly great character, a hero or heroine that stays with you after you’ve put the book down. Foibles and failures, dreams and dangers, surely taking your time over creating memorable characters has got to be the secret, right?

Others say it’s setting

Many readers prefer to stay within a particular time period, so you’ve got to be careful and see what the market is doing. Are readers loving Regency or medieval, is it cowboys or dukes, or has the alpha hero beat them all out?

It could even be a massive twist

Some readers like their romances to follow the same sort of pattern: a meet cute, a disagreement, growing to know each other, starting to fight feelings, a sudden shock which reveals emotions, and the happily ever after. Others want to see a twist, reveal, or shock right at the end.

If you ask me though, it’s all three and so much more. I personally love it when authors naturally bring historical details into the narrative without it feeling like I’m sitting in a lecture. Others like strong female secondary characters, or pets, or an element of mystery.

Whatever it is you love, I’m probably writing it. Why not check out my latest steamy Regency series, my first ever medieval series, or my bestselling sweet Western series?

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+ Writing

Writing love scenes…

by Unknown's avatar

Oooh, we’re going to get into it today!

I wanted to spend today’s blog talking about writing love scenes, something that many people I spend hours and hours on. And in a way, I do…collectively. Not per book!

It’s a challenging thing, writing steamy historical romance. Some people automatically look down on the genre because they disapprove of ‘smut’.

Now, I’m the first person to say that there is a place for every type of book because there is an infinite number of types of readers…and there is absolutely nothing wrong with smut!

But romance as a whole, and steamy romance in particular, is often looked down on in the publishing industry. I cannot tell you how many publishing events I’ve been to where I’ve been asked what I write, I tell them…and there’s the smirk. It almost always comes!

That is, unless I’m at a romance event. Then the person grins and asks me exciting, relevant questions. We love to see it! But that’s sadly not the norm.

From my perspective, crafting a good love scene is like crafting a good battle scene. Yes, there is some action, and for some people it might be too graphic for their liking – but the scene exists in some way to either a) propel the plot forward or b) reveal something about the characters or c) spark a conflict. Sometimes that conflict is, of course, far more literal…

For this reason a love scene is just like any other scene. I work really hard at making sure the writing is beautiful and sparkling, and then I move on.

What do you think? Have you ever considered a love scene to be similar to a battle scene?

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+ new book, regency

PRE-ORDER NOW: A Sporting Chance

by Unknown's avatar

Look at this gorgeous cover! I absolutely adore this design, and I cannot wait for you to read this book filled with scandal, love, archery, and butt-related puns! Make sure to pre-order for 0.99…

Kathleen Andelit is living in London with her disgraced sister, and shouldn’t be drawing attention to herself.

That is why she probably shouldn’t have been caught gawking at the handsome young man practicing his archery—a mistake compounded by the fact that she soon discovers he is not just a gentleman, but a lord.

A swift tongue, a reckless character, and before she knows it, Kathleen has entered into a bet with the young man. He has to teach her archery.

For Lord Leopold Chance, this bet is the last thing he needs. His reputation sullied by a rumor about cheating at cards, his rigid and respectable family does not need any connection to anyone whose lost their reputation.

And so begins secret archery lessons, conversations of a far too friendly nature, and kissing.

Wait, that wasn’t part of the plan.

As Kathleen starts to realize she cares for this man far too much, and Leopold realizes that his family will never accept a woman from a disgraced family, a second bet threatens to destroy all the truth they have built.

Will the arrow of true love shoot true? 

This novel continues the highly anticipated Chance family drama, with sixteen cousins and triple the problems. Tropes include: teach me, scandal, cinnamon roll, interfering family, a bet/wager, and of course, Emily E K Murdoch’s tried and true method of sizzling, joyful romance.

This full length novel is a steamy Regency romance with a happily ever after, no cliffhangers, and is part of a series that can be read in any order.

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+ Writing

Writing unlikeable heroines

by Unknown's avatar

If you haven’t already read my blog about writing unlikeable heroes, make sure you scroll back to find it!

You might be thinking that this blog topic is far too similar – and in a way, you’d be right. Writing unlikeable heroes and writing unlikeable heroines should be pretty much the same.

But it’s not.

For some reason, we as a society are far harsher on female characters than male characters. If a male character does something cruel, he’s unlikeable. If a female character does something cruel, she’s automatically the villain.

It’s a hugely challenging thing to face as a creative, because I want to both read and write complicated women! People are complicated, there is no truly good in every circumstance person. It matters to me that we have a variety of types of people in my books, and that includes heroines who don’t always make the best decisions.

So…I have tried to push myself. Not all of my heroines are perfect – in fact, I would argue that none of them are.

But a few of them are truly unlikeable: possessed of characteristics which are unpleasant, and yet you still want to root for them.

If you’re looking for those sorts of books, I would recommend Jemima in Twelve Drummers Drumming, Lilianna in Not a Chance in Hell, and Giselle in Peril with a Prince.

Let me know what you think in the comments – do you like reading unlikeable heroines?

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Have you checked out my Patreon?

by Unknown's avatar

If you have never heard of Patreon, you are not alone. Not everyone has! I hope this short blog will give you an idea of how you can support me in a new and exciting way.

So first off, what is Patreon?

Patreon is a website where anyone can sign up to support a creative person for just a few dollars a month, in exchange for rewards. It is a modern re-imagining of the medieval and renaissance idea of a ‘patron’, a wealthy person who pays the salary of an artist, creative, or engineer, so that they can get the prestige of being their supporter.

But thanks to Patreon, you don’t need to be rich to be a Patreon supporter, and you’ll still get a whole ton of rewards!

On my Patreon page, which you can find here, there are three different levels of support. Each level costs a different amount a month, and as you would expect, the higher the financial support, the more rewards.

I’d really encourage you, if you want exclusive insights, behind the scenes, early access to chapters, and free books, my Patreon is the place to be.

Please check out my Patreon and consider whether you’d like to take your support of me to the next level!

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+ new book, regency

Christmas in July boxset!

by Unknown's avatar

Happy Christmas in July!

If you’ve never celebrated this, it’s a wonderful chance to escape the heat (or snuggle up, if you’re Down Under!), and lose yourself in a wonderful Christmas historical romance.

I’m celebrating by launching not one, not two, but three Christmas Regency novellas in one steamy boxset. Make sure you grab it now – or read for free in Kindle Unlimited!

Plunge into the fourth boxset of Regency romances in Emily Murdoch’s bestselling Ravishing Regencies series – Christmas edition! Each of these books has spice at its heart and a heart ready to lose, heroes in pain and heroines acting out of the ordinary. There are no ballrooms here… This collected stories promises hours and hours of steamy hot reading…

Kidnapped with a Knight
A man disowned by his family and a woman with absolutely no interest in him – and their kidnappers have left them all alone…

Christmas with a Czar
A man who claims to be a prince and a woman forced to play along – but the real secret must be revealed before Christmas Day…

Advent with an Archduke
A man who disappeared a year ago – and the woman forced to welcome a stranger at Christmas…

These books are steamy forced proximity Regency romances with happily ever afters, no cliffhangers, and are a series that can be read in any order. It’s time to get ravished…

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+ new book, regency

OUT NOW: An Eye for the Chance

by Unknown's avatar

She’s here! I adored writing this book, and I really hope that you enjoy reading it! Make sure to let me know what you think…

Lady Evelyn Chance, daughter of the Earl of Lindow, is too busy scandalizing the ton one portrait at a time to care about her marital prospects.

She is an artist: and like any true artist, she is determined to paint from a model…except she can hardly turn up at the Royal Academy of Art. So she does what any self-respecting aristocrat does when she needs a servant.

She advertises.

The man who answers that advertisement is tall, handsome, rough round the edges, far too perceptive, and refuses to take his clothes off. It’s not precisely what Evelyn had in mind, but she couldn’t deny he made a fascinating subject.

He is also Richard, Viscount Sempill. But Evelyn doesn’t know that.

Desperate to keep the man a blank canvas for her paintings, Richard agrees to keep everything about him a secret: his name, his title (not that she knows he has one), his wealth, everything.

Before long, late night painting leads to late night kissing, and just when Richard is ready to abandon his romantic reticence and make declarations…

Disaster happens.

This novel continues the highly anticipated Chance family drama, with sixteen cousins and triple the problems. Tropes include: secret identity, mistaken identity, bluestocking, heroine artist, only one bed, and of course, Emily E K Murdoch’s tried and true method of sizzling, joyful romance.

This full length novel is a steamy Regency romance with a happily ever after, no cliffhangers, and is part of a series that can be read in any order.

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+ publishing

Join my mailing list – get a free book!

by Unknown's avatar

You know what’s great about joining my mailing list?

Nope, not that you’ll hear from me and discover what I’m working on.

Nope, not that you’ll get heads up on discounts from me and my author friends.

Yup – it’s that you’ll get a free book!

All you have to do is sign up here 🥰

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+ Writing

The summer is (finally!) here!

by Unknown's avatar

I don’t know about you, but after the last eighteen months, I have really needed summer. I wanted warm mornings with bright sunshine, lazy humid afternoons sipping a gin and tonic in the shade, and balmy evenings around a BBQ with friends and family.

And readers: we are finally there!

I don’t want to jinx it, because I know how quickly English summers can suddenly become downpours, but I think we can finally enjoy some warm weather.

Which means we have some big decisions to make: what book to read next?

No matter how long your To Be Read (TBR) list is, I hope you’ll give one of my books a try. Whether you like steamy (look for Emily E K Murdoch) or sweet (read Emily Murdoch), there’s always a Murdoch romance for you.

Check out my full backlist here!

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