Guest Post: Hooked on History by JL Merrow

Today I have a visit from the lovely JL Merrow, who is here to talk about her love of writing historical m/m romance. There's a giveaway at the end, so leave a comment for a chance to win. Over to you, JL!

Hooked On History

A lot of authors tend to stick to one thing, fictionally speaking. Many wouldn’t touch historical fiction with the proverbial bargepole. Me, I’m a bit of a dabbler. I often say the reason I don’t write more historical fiction is that I’m too lazy to do the research and, heh, there’s a kernel of truth in there. But part of it is undoubtedly that research can be even more addictive than writing.

The best way to research a historical period, I’ve found, is to read contemporary sources. It can be absolutely fascinating, and nothing can give you more of the flavour of a period than reading what people wrote at the time. It’s invaluable for getting a feel for dialogue: the rhythms of speech, how people were addressed, and vocabulary used. (You may know, for example, that condoms were around in the 1880s. But what on earth did people commonly call them?* Thank goodness for My Secret Life, the eye-boggling memoirs of a Victorian “gentleman”).

But it can also be frustrating, because writers tend to leave out stuff that everybody knows. References that were crystal clear to readers a century ago may sail right over the head of a modern audience.

Presumably in 1887 when A Study in Scarlet was first published, everyone knew what John Watson meant when he warned Sherlock Holmes, “I keep a bull pup”. Despite the appearance of Gladstone in the movies, it seems unlikely he was referring to an actual dog. If he was, then Watson must have been a very neglectful owner, as the poor thing is never mentioned again in any of the stories. Also, Watson was at the time living in a hotel, which would not have welcomed his acquisition of a pet. It’s been suggested that “bull pup” was army slang for a bad temper—or perhaps more likely, given Watson’s character, a firearm. But nobody knows for sure.

The trouble is, all this reading around the subject can be addictive... one source leads you to another, and before you know it, you’ve acquired an encyclopedic knowledge of Victorian street markets, and prostitutes’ slang—and you haven’t written a single word of fiction!

*The answer, by the way, is “French letters”: Then soon afterwards I had the clap. Mary cried, and declared she had not given it me, and I am sure she had not. Then almost for the first time I began to use cundums, or French letters, as they are called – My Secret Life, chapter xvi 

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Giveaway question: Have you ever started something, only to find you got far more interested and involved in it than you thought you would? Conversely, have you ever been thrilled to start something (a hobby, a course of study, etc) only to find you hated it? I’m offering a free ebook of winner’s choice from my backlist to one lucky commenter on this post. I’ll make the draw around lunchtime on Monday 4th Feb, GMT. Good luck! :D

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One snowy night just before Christmas, 1922, poacher Danny Costessey rounds off a night trapping rabbits by climbing a tree to fetch some mistletoe for his mother—only to fall and break his leg. Taken to the manor house to recover from his injuries, Danny meets the reclusive owner, Philip Luccombe. Village gossip has it Luccombe went mad during the war, but Danny soon realizes he’s simply still mourning his late lover. As friendship grows between them, Danny starts to fall for handsome, shy Philip.

Danny’s lively nature, roguish good looks, and ready laughter enchant Philip, and he finds himself being drawn out of his shell whether he will it or not. But when Danny tries to move beyond friendship, Philip panics—and his rejection threatens not only their happiness, but Danny’s health.

This is a revised and expanded version of the story previously published under the title of Pleasures with Rough Strife. Everyone who has purchased a stand-alone copy of Pleasures with Rough Strife from the Dreamspinner website (ie not as part of the Mistletoe Madness set) will be able to download Poacher's Fall free! :)

Available in mulit-format ebook from Dreamspinner Press 

A sequel to Poacher's Fall, set four years later, in 1926. Landowner Philip Luccombe has been enjoying a passionate relationship with young poacher turned gamekeeper Danny Costessey for four years now. Danny’s love has brought him out of the shell he retreated into when his first lover died after the Great War. But this Christmas, visitors to the manor threaten their happiness.

Philip’s young cousin Matthew is artistic, vivacious, and flirtatious: just the sort to remind him of his long-dead first love—and to emphasise the social gulf between Philip and Danny. But the worst danger comes from much nearer home. An old flame of Danny’s is discovered in incriminating circumstances, forcing the lovers to keep their distance for fear of being tarred with the same brush. Meanwhile, Danny’s younger brother, Toby, has grown to resent the connection between his brother and the lord of the manor. Danny wants to do the right thing—but that could divide the lovers forever.

Available in mulit-format ebook from Dreamspinner Press 

A lover from another time 

When Ted Ennis steps out the doors of the Criterion Theatre for a cigarette and finds himself in Victorian London, he begins to doubt his sanity. At first he thinks it's all a film set, and is sure that the strikingly handsome young man leaning against a lamppost must be the leading man…

What starts as a sordid transaction with a beautiful rent boy quickly turns into something much deeper, drawing him back again and again as he gets to know Jem and craves meaningful encounters with him. But Ted doesn't understand the exact conditions necessary for his trips through time—and for Jem, time may actually be running out. Now Ted has one last shot to get back to Jem and save their relationship, before it's too late…

Carina Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK 

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 JL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea. She read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where she learned many things, chief amongst which was that she never wanted to see the inside of a lab ever again. Her one regret is that she never mastered the ability of punting one-handed whilst holding a glass of champagne.

She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and the paranormal, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novella Muscling Through is a 2013 EPIC ebook Award finalist.

JL Merrow is a member of the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.

Find JL Merrow online at: www.jlmerrow.com, on Twitter as @jlmerrow, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jl.merrow