Spring & Summer

 Much time has passed and many occurrences and activities since my last post here.

In May, I spent about a fortnight in England, mostly in London, attending plays and the ballet and galleries and exhibitions.

At the King's Gallery, "Queen Elizabeth: Her Life in Style"

Coronation gown

Wedding gown

One of the plays I attended

At the Royal Ballet

Mayerling, the first cast I saw

Mayerling, the second cast performance

Ready to strut, in vintage attire, for the Grand Flaneur Walk from Covent Garden 

Research for the work-in-progress: my heroine lived here

Another residence connected to the novel

Researching theatre history at the Garrick Club

Dinner with friends in Mayfair

Lunch with friends in North London

Evensong at Westminster Abbey

I also had a side trip to the West Country to spend time with relatives. I'm always happy in Somerset.

In Axbridge

And this time, I had a close encounter with hedgehogs at a Rescue Centre in Cheddar. 

Cuddling a rehabilitated hedgehog

The rest of the summer can be summed up like this: abundant roses, lots of time at the lake cottage with special people and Gracie the dog, many nests of baby birds, and book events.

The roses were perfect for our annual Rose Party/Open Garden

A spectacular sunset

Gracie at the cottage

I've lost count of all the bird hatchlings this summer--bluebirds and wrens

A book event at the library my husband and I helped to build

I hope it won't be such a long gap before I return to the blog. I'm hoping my volunteer and activity schedule will lighten up soon. I've got lots of work to do on the novel!

 

England

In May I made my annual return to England, a trip that--as usual--combined time with family and friends, touring places familiar and new, visiting museums and galleries, other cultural activities, and researching the next novel. 

Dividing my countryside time between Somerset and Gloucestershire, I revisited some of the locations for A Change of Location and Sequins and Starlight. Mostly I was seeing special people and spending time in various villages and parish churches connected to my family history. Each one deserves a blog post of its own. 

One of my family's Somerset churches 

The Avebury standing stones, unchanged from my last visit

The roses everywhere were magnificent, at peak bloom. I spent a great deal of time in National Trust gardens and those at other historic locations.

The Queens' Garden, Sudeley Castle, Gloucestershire

I found plenty of roses in London as well...

Hyde Park Rose Garden

One of the most delightful experiences was taking another Behind the Scenes Tour at the Royal Ballet. Every one is slightly different, which is why I repeat them, and so enlightening, and even affirming of the dance profession as depicted in Sequins and Starlight. That evening, I attended a performance of Onegin, one of my favourite narrative ballets--which of course explains why it's so important to Ellie in Sequins and Starlight!

Home of the Royal Ballet and Royal Opera

The auditorium before the performance

Fumi Kaneko danced Tatiana, Vadim Muntagirov was Onegin

Afterwards, I waited at the Stage Door to congratulate Gary Avis, who performed Prince Gremin

With Gary, at the Stage Door in Floral Street

There were many trip highlights, especially in London. We made a point of celebrating the release of Sequins and Starlight at the Ritz Hotel. The Rivoli Bar features in the story, it's where Ellie and Dan meet the first time, and return later. The bar also appears in A Change of Location.

In the Rivoli Bar

Rivoli Bar entrance

There's so much more I'd like to share, time permitted. The rest of this month will be extremely busy, I'm presenting at two writers' conferences, one regional (the 603 Conference an easy drive away) and one international (Historical Novel Society, Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas.) My travel schedule has been extremely hectic since March: Chicago, Atlanta, England...) So after HNS, I'm storing my luggage for as long as I can! 

And writing. A lot.

Publication Day: Sequins and Starlight

This is my seventeenth publication day, and the excitement never ebbs. I'm delighted to announce the release of Sequins and Starlight, my second contemporary novel and the follow up to A Change of Location.

This story isn't autobiographical, but there are many elements that reflect my own past and present, places that are special to me, and my non-writing careers and interests and activities. 

From the back cover:

In London’s West End, where theatre lights blaze with promise, desire and ambition put two wary hearts to the ultimate test.

Ellie Lowery, former ballet prodigy turned international burlesque sensation, craves change and a professional challenge. By reinventing herself as a stage actress, she’ll not only escape the grind of constant touring—she can fulfill her late husband’s final wish. Her breakthrough role in a debut play provides the perfect fresh start, yet she’s reluctant to permanently retire her pointe shoes.

Corporate executive Dan Wheeler is instantly captivated by the alluring American who gained worldwide fame sashaying in cabarets. And, he soon discovers, there’s much more to appreciate than her beauty and charm and talent. But a visit to his ancestral home in the countryside reveals a significant obstacle to their future happiness. Dan assures Ellie that his father’s disapproval will eventually fade. But because she was married to someone whose parents never accepted her, she’s fully aware of the difficulties they will face.

An unexpected threat emerges from her past, with the potential to lower the curtain on her already troubled romance. Desperate to restore balance after a staggering betrayal, Ellie must decide whether ballet will once again serve as her sanctuary and solace.

An absorbing tale of artistic resilience, family loyalty, and the courage to defy expectations.

PRAISE FOR SEQUINS AND STARLIGHT

“Porter writes in a clear and appealing manner that makes the complicated world of dance accessible and attractive .… The complex relationships are engaging throughout, always keeping the reader hooked. A page-turning romance for those who adore the worlds of theater and dance.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Porter’s juxtapositions of personalities and worlds are nothing short of exquisite . . . A compelling story . . . Immersive descriptions, strong characterization, and challenges.” —Midwest Book Review

“Another standing ovation for Margaret Porter! Anglophiles, theatre kids, and balletomanes everywhere will devour her delicious and delightful Sequins and Starlight.”  —Leslie Carroll, author of Temporary Insanity

“Made me fall headlong into the luscious story set in England, with ballet, burlesque, and theater, as well as love bruised by family expectations. Romance readers will adore Sequins and Starlight.” —Literary Redhead 

Here are some of the novel's locations:

London

Gloucestershire

A New England lakeside cottage (maybe just like my own!)

The Rivoli Bar in London's Ritz Hotel

To order the paperback: Bookshop.org (Indiebound), Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, Walmart, Waterstone's (UK), Blackwell's (UK), Saxo

To order the ebook: Kindle, Apple, Nook, Kobo 

Among the scheduled promotions: bookstore events, conference appearances and book signings, photo shoots, television and podcast interviews--in the US and UK. It's going to be a very busy time--but always lots of fun!

Travelogue: May in England

 My annual return to Great Britain took place in May. It was, as usual, a multi-purpose trip, a combination of personal (family, friends) and professional (book promotion, research) activities.

At London's Ritz Hotel, setting for scenes in A Change of Location

My base for the first week was a farm in a West Sussex village where an ancestor of mine had lived. It was perfectly situated for revisiting favourite gardens and country houses and castles. 

Sussex farmhouse

View from the terrace

A church where many of my ancestors were baptised, married & buried

Petworth House, a baroque masterpiece

Arundel Castle gardens

A Sussex pheasant, posing for me

Mural at Wakehurst Place

The fine weather followed me to London, where my schedule was considerably more packed, and the flowers were just as beautiful.

Lobby arrangement at the Langham Hotel

The Hyde Park Rose Garden

Queen Mary's Rose Garden, Regent's Park

I spent a lot of time in art galleries. 

The new portrait of King Charles by Jonathan Yeo

Angelica Kauffman exhibit at the Royal Academy

I spent a morning at Westminster Abbey, touring the Jubilee Galleries and paying respects at the grave of characters in my next historical biographical novel.

In Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey

Spending time with friends was a highlight of my time in London. I met an author friend for lunch at the Royal Academy. Dined at the historic, beautifully renovated home of another author friend. And enjoyed an evening of delicious French food and conversation at Brasserie Zédel.

Brasserie Zédel

Chanteuse and musicians

The Ritz Hotel and its Rivoli Bar will appear in the next contemporary novel, as in A Change of Location.

The Long Gallery, Ritz Hotel

The Palm Court, Ritz Hotel

Entrance to the Rivoli Bar, Ritz Hotel

As it was last year, the wisteria was blooming everywhere ... making possible this juxtaposition of my book's cover and the lovely purple fronds.

Now it's June, and the roses and perennials in my own garden are bursting forth. I'll be revising the completed follow-up novel to A Change of Location and incorporating recent research into the next historical manuscript.

I hope everyone has a wonderful summer!