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!

This New Year

Christmas feels like it happened a year ago--and it was last year, after all. But nearly a full month has passed since then. Quite a busy one! Our holiday festivities followed our usual traditions: Thanksgiving/Friendsgiving dinner at our house with English neighbours.  Followed by several Christmas Caroling Party planning parties.

The event itself took place on Christmas Eve Eve. Fifteen minutes before the guests were due, a massive rainstorm and heavy winds took out electricity all over our city. We have a whole-house generator, so we carried on, and were able to provide neighbours--adults and children--with warmth, light, music (we had two musicians this year), three types of soup and chili, and delicious desserts. Dot was delighted by all the attention.

Dot & me before the caroling party

Dot, waiting for Santa

Christmas Eve and Day were quiet and pleasant. Lots of telephoning to family in friends in around the US and in the UK.

Gardening catalogs!

The deluge of plant catalogs arrived when I was deep into revisions for a novel, so they did pile up before I had a chance to look them over. With nearly 190 rose bushes in the gardens, I hardly need any more. But I confess, I have ordered a few for springtime planting. 

My Somerset village

When not socialising and celebrating, I was in the final stages of the next novel--in a new genre. After 15 historical novels, I've ventured into contemporary fiction. This project was inspired by my experiences in filmmaking, in the years before and after I became a published author, and life in both England and New England. There could be a sequel . . . , But after a very short break for a reading binge, it's back to the 18th century and writing about a fascinating real-life celebrity couple.

The hectic activity immediately following the release of The Myrtle Wand subsided during the festive season. It was so nice, at parties and dinners, receiving compliments from local friends who had read the novel, and tracking the reviews. 

I'm participating in various historical and multi-genre writing conferences in coming weeks and month and mentoring a couple of writer friends who are entering the submission stage. Again I'll be co-producing the second annual Authors Event on the big stage downtown, an opportunity to offer an update on my own books and writing but also to introduce our audience to other local or regional published authors. So there will be more and different books at our booksigning, sponsored by our local independent bookstore. 

At last--enough snow to make Dot happy

Over a month ago, the calendar date told us it was winter, but we certainly couldn't tell from the weather--until this week. We are in the midst of a series of snowstorms, bringing many more inches than we've had in recent years. A certain snow-loving dog is absolutely delighted! And it suits me--snowy days are very conducive to writing.

 All best wishes for this New Year. Let's make the most of it!