Emily E K Murdoch

April 26, 2025 + publishing

Follow me on the socials!

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!

April 19, 2025 + publishing

The importance of writing friends

by Emily

I have officially been published for coming up to twelve years this summer, and time and time again I am asked why I think my career has been sustained over such a long time. And I say: author friends.

Author friends are absolutely invaluable to me. Writing can be a very lonely business, just based on the practicalities: I spend all day at home, writing away, with my headphones in and my focus directed at a screen.

That can get lonely.

Many authors are introverts, so this naturally sits with their preferences…but I’m an extrovert! I love people, and noise, and connection – and so my author friends are absolutely crucial to not only keeping me accountable with my writing goals, but also connected to others.

Their friendship – and it is real friendship, although I have never met most of them in person – sustains me during the difficult times, challenges me when I’m getting complacent, and celebrates alongside me during the good times.

Without them, I honestly do not think that my writing career would have risen to these heights – and I am so grateful for them.

Do you have work friends that encourage you to go further? Let me know in the comments!

April 5, 2025 + publishing

I have moved!

by Emily

Well, I can finally share the news: I have moved to London!

Being an author in 2025 is incredible because you can do it absolutely anywhere, thanks to the power of technology…and at the same time, there are some things you just cannot do over a screen.

Over the last 18 months, I’ve needed to travel to London more and more often – to meet publishers, my agent, editors, attend conferences, conduct research…

And eventually it just made sense. We needed to move.

Now, I am not a huge fan of change, and moving two hundred odd miles has certainly been a huge change – but I am already reaping the benefits.

Instead of it taking upward of two and a half hours (and hundreds of pounds!) to visit my lovely publishers, it takes me 30 minutes and less than a tenner.

Instead of conducting all my calls over Zoom or Skype or Google Meet, I can meet my agent or editors for coffee and get a greater sense of who they are.

And most importantly…I am hoping that it will give me more opportunities to meet readers, and write more books.

So there you have it – a very personal update from me!

March 29, 2025 + new book, regency

PRE-ORDER NOW: Not a Chance in Hell

by Emily

Oh my goodness, I had such fun writing this book! Seriously, I think Lilianna is one of my favourite heroines that I have ever created. Make sure you pre-order her story at a discount now!

Lady Lilianna Chance, daughter of the Marquess of Aylesbury, has a high opinion of herself, her looks, her reputation, and her family, and plans to make a stupendous match. Falling into the arms of reprobates was not the plan.

Raised by her parents to be perfect, and to be the perfect wife, Lilianna is horrified to discover that the rogue who caught her immediately proposes.

Proposes! To her! Him!

Not a chance in hell.

But Arthur Nelson, Earl of Taernsby, is not a man to take no for an answer. He’s recently inherited the earldom from his brother and desperately needs an heir—or the title will disappear forever, and his goal of redeeming the family name will be ended.

So, it’s simple. Choose the best, brightest, and most beautiful woman in the ton. Marry her. Have six sons.

What he’s not prepared for is Lilianna’s passion, her spirit—her determination never to see him again.

A battle comments: a battle of wits, sharp remarks, and…thousands of flowers?

This novel continues the highly anticipated Chance family drama, with sixteen cousins and triple the problems. Tropes include: he falls first/she falls faster, instalove, ice queen, arrogant rogue, found family, 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.

March 22, 2025 + publishing

Have you checked out my Patreon?

by Emily

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!

March 15, 2025 + Uncategorized

Guest author: Shana Galen

by Emily

Please give a lovely welcome to this week’s guest author, Shana Galen! I grabbed this fantastic author to ask a few questions…

Tell us about a book that you’ve written that you’re most proud of.

The book I’m most proud of is The Rogue Pirate’s Bride, which was published in 2012. That book features a hero who’s a pirate (well—he says he’s a privateer) and the daughter of a Navy admiral.

They’re sworn enemies. I’m really proud of how I wrote the hero and heroine’s point-of-views. Much of the book takes place on a ship, and both characters grew up on ships, so for them, everything relates back to the sea and ships. I had to do so much research to learn all the sailing terms and the types of ships sailing in the early 1800s. I even had to write sea battles, and let me tell you, that was difficult! My dad has read a lot of Patrick O’Brian, and he gave me some of his books and helped me with the battle scenes. It’s the first and only time my dad ever helped me with a book.

Aww, I love that! So what do you think is the most swoonworthy characteristic of a hero?

Respect. I don’t like men (in fiction or real life) who don’t see women as their equals. In historical romance, the ultimate hero is one who, despite the societal conventions of the time, completely respects the women in his life. Hopefully, he has nice hair and eyes too!

Nice hair is so important – but how do you decide what your heroines look like?

That’s a mystery. I don’t usually decide before I start writing. I start the book and at some point the heroine mentions what she looks like or the hero sees her and describes her, and that’s how I know how she looks.

I love it when characters help out! Where do you love to write your stories?

I am the kind of person who has to write at my desk in complete silence. I don’t like distractions and interruptions. I know that’s pretty boring, but I just sit at my desk (the same one I’ve had since like 2006) and work.

You are not alone, I love writing at my desk. I keep it simple! Lastly, tell us something that your readers might not know!

I worked for an animal rescue during the pandemic. I got to help hundreds of animals find their forever homes (“furever,” as we say in rescue). I also have 4 rescued cats and 1 rescue dog.

That is a purrfect (sorry)! note to end on – thank you so much, Shana, for spending time with us! You can find Shana by clicking here, and make sure to grab her latest release!

Twenty-one days. A measly three weeks. That’s all the time Bianca Featherswallow is allowed to convince Theo Filliol to marry her. If she doesn’t marry in three weeks, Bianca will be prey to fortune hunters eager to abduct her for her dowry. Theo was hired as her protector. If only he wasn’t so attractive. How is she supposed to woo him when she’s tongue-tied and her heart thunders every time he’s near? Theophile Filliol, younger son of an earl, can’t protect anyone—least of all an heiress. He’s literally been gambling and drinking for weeks to forget the failures of his past. Considering his debt, he can’t ignore Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s orders to play bodyguard to Bianca Featherswallow. The lovely Bianca would make any man a happy groom, but Theo isn’t the kind of man she needs...

read now!

March 8, 2025 + new book, regency

OUT NOW: The Duchess Charade

by Emily

It’s here! This book was a real challenge to write and I am incredibly proud of it. I’d really appreciate your support by reading this hilarious and joyful romance…

A wallflower breaks free…

Only to fall hard—for the duke!

Adventurous, free-spirited Sylvia Bryant has no intention of entering the London marriage mart—she plans to return to Antigua and her mother, whom she was forced to leave. But first that means breaking free from her prison of a finishing school! Only when she makes her daring escape, the last thing she expects is to literally land in a duke’s lap! Now Sylvia and Theodore are forced into an engagement, which Sylvia certainly doesn’t want to make permanent. Yet if their union is just for show, why does her attraction to Teddy feel dizzyingly real?

Make sure you read this gorgeous story now!

March 3, 2025 + new book, regency

READ NOW: A Chance in a Million

by Emily

So many of you wanted me to keep writing the Chance family series that I just couldn’t say no! So if you’re looking for more time spent with the Chance family (and I certainly did) then look no further than this fantastic book that is available to read now!.

Thomas Chance, newly minted Duke of Cothrom, isn’t exactly brilliant at spotting chances in a million. For example, he’s gambled away the family fortune.

It’s hardly endeared him to his rule-following father, William, and now Thomas has to gain back the family wealth, earn back his father’s trust, and absolutely not fall in love with the woman whose fortune he’s trying to marry.

Easier said than done.

Fortunately perhaps, Miss Victorian Ainsworth has her wits about her and sees straight through the nobleman with rakish good looks and a devilish reputation. Victoria swiftly sees through Thomas’ ridiculous charade of affection—the man just wants her dowry!

Well. Let him have it. And her.

A marriage of convenience is supposed to be convenient, but there’s nothing more inconvenient for Thomas than the burgeoning emotions he can’t control, or the gossip starting to flicker through Society.

Worse still, Victoria’s con may be fooling more than just Thomas. Is it possible that instead of fooling him…she’s fooling herself?

This novel continues the highly anticipated Chance family drama, with sixteen cousins and triple the problems. Tropes include: rake, I can fix him, marriage of convenience, fake marriage, 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.

February 22, 2025 + Medieval, Writing

My favourite medieval romance novels

by Emily

As well as being an author, I am of course a reader! There are so many incredible medieval romance novels out there and there is no better time than to start exploring this fascinating and romantic period of history than right now.

Whether you’ve read these before and want to relive them, or you’re about to dive into medieval romance novels for the first time, let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick

This was one of the very first medieval romance novels that I ever read, and it’s not too much of a stretch of the imagination to say that this book is one of the reasons that I became an author in the first place! I loved delving into one person’s life, covering not just years but decades, and it was made all the more incredible by the fact that this was a real person that actually lived. It is why I have always included real historical personalities in my medieval romance saga.

The Thief’s Countess by Cecelia Mecca

There has to be a book from Cecelia Mecca on any list of best medieval romances – not just because she writes of a fascinating part of history, and her stories are well blended with historical accuracy and searing passion, but also because she’s one of my author friends! The border between England and Scotland was contested and fought over for centuries, and this series follows some of the families and characters who made it their battleground – and their bedroom!

Queen Hereafter by Susan Fraser King

One of my favourite historical characters is actually one that you rarely hear about, let alone read about: Margaret of Scotland. Born into the last Anglo-Saxon royal family, her brother Edgar was never able to successfully claim the throne from William the Conqueror, and that’s all most people know. But Margaret was determined to be someone, and you know what? As with all determined women, she made it. This glorious book follows her life in a thrilling way, and I highly recommend it.

So Speaks the Heart by Johanna Lindsey

If you discovered medieval romance novels in the 1980s and 1990s, then it’s likely that you’ve already read a fair bit of Johanna Lindsey! Her wide sweeping sagas were written in a very similar style, packed full of castles, forests, betrayal, and of course, rather sexy noblemen just waiting to carry off the heroines. In our post-#MeToo world some of these scenes may be a little triggering for some people, but if you like a little roughness with your hero, then this is the book for you.

The Merlin Trilogy by Mary Stewart

Another favourite from my teenage years, the original trilogy follows the Arthurian legend from Merlin’s perspective, a completely unique approach that has made Mary Stewart an absolute legend. She eventually added two books to the series, making this boxset on that you can lose yourself in for weeks on end, as you will be forced to read and re-read it to spot the clues that she leaves in earlier books…

Falling for the Highlander by Emma Prince

Another one of my author friends! If you like a little time travel mixed with your medieval romance novels then this is the one for you. Emma joined up with two other medieval romance authors to create a trilogy based on a trio of modern day sisters who fall through time – and the highlanders that they meet, fight against, and of course, fall in love with in the fourteenth century. Each book can be read on its own, or you can read all three to get a wonderful insight into the Sutton sisters.

The Conquered Hearts Series by…me!

No list of great medieval romance novels could possibly be complete without my own! I know that sounds a little selfish, but I am genuinely proud of the first series that I wrote, and even though I’m now publishing my fourth series, this one has a very special place in my heart. It follows two women, a mother and a daughter, just after the Norman Conquest and includes kidnapping, marriage of convenience, and betrayal across two countries…

February 15, 2025 + publishing

Take one of my courses!

by Emily

I adore teaching. I love breaking down something complicated, teaching it to someone else, and seeing them get it – and then apply it themselves!

I used to teach a lot of workshops, speak at events, and mentor, and I’ve spent some time working out how I can bring those elements into my writing career.

One of the things I really miss about my old day jobs was the amount of teaching that they included.

So I decided to do something about that! After all, I’m an entrepreneur – an authorpreneur if you will. First off, I’ve created two writing courses specifically for authors, based on my skills. You can find them here.

Secondly, I teach courses through the RWF throughout the year, based on my historical and craft specialties. You can always seen what courses are coming up here.

And thirdly, I offer developmental and line editing (separately and together!) for authors who want to up their game. Get in touch to talk with me about this, if this sounds interesting.

Thank you for reading!

February 8, 2025 + Writing

Happy Valentine’s Day!

by Emily

A short and sweet one from me, because I am also celebrating my wedding anniversary this week! Happy Valentine’s Day to all of my incredible readers who make writing my books completely worthwhile. Whether you are in a romantic relationship or not, take some time to read a good book and tell someone you love how much they mean to you!