The Myrtle Wand: Publication Day!

 

I'm delighted to announce the publication of The Myrtle Wand, my 15th historical novel. It was inspired by Giselle, the classic ballet-- reimagined, continued, and set in 17th century France at the court of Louis XIV.

“Audiences familiar with the general outline of Giselle will find Porter’s narrative naturally engaging, but she’s taken care to keep other readers involved as well . . . An absorbing and touching tale . . . a fully realized, moving portrait of the storied court of Louis XIV.” Kirkus Reviews

“Readers absorb the backdrop of the times against the friendship between three very different young women who each reflect diverse choices, directions, and their rapidly changing times. A powerful story, highly recommended for its realistic quandaries and strong female characters.” Midwest Book Review

“Lushly atmospheric . . . rich with historical detail. Porter imagines the story behind the iconic Giselle, transporting us to France during the early reign of the Sun King. Betrayal and redemption, magic and religion all cross paths in dangerous pas de deux—and Princess Bathilde finally gets her opportunity to take center stage.” Leslie Carroll, author of Royal Romances: Titillating Tales of Passion and Power in the Palaces of Europe

“As a retelling of Giselle this story gets top marks. Not only does the storyline move effortlessly between the chapters, but the characters come alive. There’s plenty of history built in to accurately depict the time period and royal politics.” Novels Alive

“A book to be savored with its gorgeous descriptions, compelling characters, and gripping narrative. An intriguing histfic reimagining of the beloved ballet, Giselle, it gracefully draws the reader into the early reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King." Literary Redhead

Here's my interview at the Historical Novel Society website about the writing of the novel: Margaret Porter's The Myrtle Wand

There's a The Myrtle Wand Blog Tour.

And purchase information: 

Order the paperback from: Bookshop.org, Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble.

Order the ebook from: Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, B&N Nook, Kobo.

Purchase the paperback from a local independent bookstore via Indiebound.org.

Advance Reader Copy Giveaway on Goodreads!

 

Five Advance Reader Copies are available in The Myrtle Wand Goodreads Giveaway. 

(By GR rules, only open to US members--sorry.)

Best of luck to all who enter!

The Myrtle Wand--Coming Soon!

I'm not sure how summer suddenly turned into September, but here we are. And equally suddenly, the release date for The Myrtle Wand, my fifteenth novel, is very slightly less than six weeks away. I'm counting the days until 11 October!

      The Myrtle Wand, a retelling and a continuation of the classic ballet Giselle, restores original story elements to transform a tale of blighted romances and betrayals into a quest for redemption and restorative love.

     Princess Bathilde de Sevreau, unlike her school friend Myrte and the peasant Giselle, doubts the existence of legendary vilis, ghostly maidens who rise from their graves by night to roam the forest to take revenge on faithless lovers. Until she, too, has cause to fear being ensnared by that spectral sisterhood . . .
     Destined for a marriage of convenience with Albin, Duc de Rozel, Bathilde leaves her ancestral château for the Sun King’s sophisticated and scandalous court. As participants in royal ceremonies and entertainments, the princess and the soldier gradually recognize deep feelings for each other and mutual hopes for marital contentment.
        But the tragic consequences of Albin’s brief masquerade as a commoner and the amorous Louis XIV’s hunt for a mistress divide the lovers. Together and separately, they must overcome conflicting duties and unexpected dangers to determine their fate.

“Audiences familiar with the general outline of Giselle will find Porter’s narrative naturally engaging, but she’s taken care to keep other readers involved as well . . . An absorbing and touching tale . . . a fully realized, moving portrait of the storied court of Louis XIV.” Kirkus Reviews

“Readers absorb the backdrop of the times against the friendship between three very different young women who each reflect diverse choices, directions, and their rapidly changing times. A powerful story, highly recommended for its realistic quandaries and strong female characters.” Midwest Book Review

“Lushly atmospheric . . . rich with historical detail. Porter imagines the story behind the iconic Giselle, transporting us to France during the early reign of the Sun King. Betrayal and redemption, magic and religion all cross paths in dangerous pas de deux—and Princess Bathilde finally gets her opportunity to take center stage.” Leslie Carroll, author of Royal Romances: Titillating Tales of Passion and Power in the Palaces of Europe

        

The book is available for pre-order now, as paperback and ebook.

My dog Dot is a minor (much to her dismay) character in the book. This promo features her performing as Blisse, Princess Bathilde's canine companion:

Much more information will soon be available, including historical background, a major giveaway, book trailer, blog tour schedule, and Facebook Launch Party invitation.

Book Review: The Curious World of Samuel Pepys & John Evelyn

The Curious World of Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn
by Margaret Willes
Yale University Press, 2017

In this exceptional study of the two most notable 17th century diarists, Margaret Willes admirably presents their fascinating friendship, its origins and depth, their mutual interests, many encounters, and most importantly, their shared curiosity. Chapter by chapter she explores with illustrative detail their many connections, not only with one another but also the greatest minds and talents and powers of their era. These two men regularly encountered King Charles II and his successors, Christopher Wren, Robert Hooke—whose passion for scientific inquiry, we learn, led him to smoke cannabis imported from Mauritius. Through their commentary on political events, filtered through personal experience, Pepys and Evelyn have documented a remarkable era populated with agents as well as the victims of change.

 



John Evelyn

The men’s diaries are illuminated in a way that clearly delineates the authors' contrasting natures, proclivities, and pursuits. The book’s first section delves into their pre-diary histories and the formative years of scholarship. Evelyn, the product of a landed and wealthy family, attended Oxford’s Bailliol and spent the Civil War years in Europe, finding his future wife Mary in an English household in Paris. Pepys, a London tailor’s son, was educated at St. Paul’s School in London and matriculated at Magdalene, Cambridge, and afterwards assumed a clerkship from which he rose to a great height. Unlike Evelyn’s bride, Pepys’s brought no money to the marriage. Samuel and Elizabeth did not enjoy the same match of minds enjoyed by John and Mary.

 

With the Restoration, both Evelyn and Pepys commence their diaries in earnest. Pepys’s record continued for the next nine years, through plague, fire, and wars, and his various roles in the Navy Office and the Admiralty, reviving it in more succinct form later in life. Evelyn’s diary extended to 1706, concluding only shortly before his death.



Samuel Pepys

That the two men respected one another and enjoyed each other’s company is evident. That their tastes and personalities different is equally clear. Pepys had a passion for music, ‘the thing in the world that I love most,' playing several instruments, and chased women, especially actresses. Evelyn was no musician, and his admiration of females was more cerebral or spiritual. He was a gardener, a garden writer and designer. Pepys was not, although he commented upon ones he visited with, as Willes points out, more objectivity than the practitioner Evelyn, a more subjective critic. Both were active members of the Royal Society. Despite never presenting a paper, Pepys served as its president, putting his famed managerial skills to good use. Evelyn declined the offer when presented, but continued his close involvement.

Their habits were the usual ones common to prominent men of their day—coffee drinking, dining, shopping, collecting, and reading. Their love of books was another strong tie binding them, and Pepys in particular names the London booksellers and printers from whom he acquired his many volumes, now residing at his alma mater. Both demonstrated an improving spirit with regard to the women in their lives. Pepys provided musical instruction for his wife Elizabeth, and Evelyn ensured that his daughters Elizabeth, Mary (a clever writer) and Susana (an artist) were well educated, teaching them Greek and Latin himself.

At his death in 1703, Pepys left behind—inadvertently, it seems—an unedited diary, brimming with immediate and lively and highly revealing (i.e. sexually incriminating) incidents. In contrast, the self-aware and cautious Evelyn edited his own diary, which he carefully preserved to inform future generations. We are fortunate to have both, and in her enlightening and informative history, Margaret Willes adds colour and context to this surprising friendship between two men who together experienced crucial decades in England’s history. A must-read for those attracted by any and all aspects of the vibrant 17^th century.

 



The Great Fire of London