Born and educated in England, Michèle Ann Young loved history growing up, and as a voracious reader of historical novels, she became fascinated with the Regency era. With all the glamour and glitz of high society, the age is modern enough to be familiar some two hundred years later. She loves bringing the time period to life with her stories of women facing the same issues that women face today.
From England she moved to Canada, where she now lives and writes in Richmond Hill, Ontario, with her husband and two beautiful daughters and their adopted Maltese terrier, Teaser. Each summer, Michèle returns to England to visit family and to research her next novel.
What is your book about? Please provide a description.
This regency-set historical novel is set in England, London and France, Paris and Reims, in 1816.
A marriage of convenience between two old friends solves their financial problems, until love gets in the way. The lush Caro Torrington is Viscount Foxhaven’s idea of the perfect wife; compliant, good natured and willing to leave him free to continue his life as he always has. The only trouble is, he can’t seem to keep his hands off the tempting armful inhabiting his house. Breaking his word will mean losing his honor and he rails against his rash promise to keep his distance. Her self-esteem shattered by childhood teasing about her weight, Caro daren’t admit she’s fallen for her rake of her husband and risk the pain of his rejection.
What neither realizes is that their rush to marry has started a train of events that will result in their destruction, unless they can conquer their enemy together. In defeating the forces that work against them, will they lose all chance of happiness together?
How long have you been at work on this book?
I wrote this book in 2004, I would think it took about nine months in total.
How did the idea originate?
I wanted to write about women in the Regency and how they coped with the same problems that women face today. A huge thing for young women is body image. I thought it might resonate with today’s women as well as bring them a historical context to write about a heroine facing a similar problem during the Regency.
Did the book entail any unusual writing habits or places?
The book is set in 1816 just after the Battle of Waterloo and the return of the Bourbons to France. It takes place in Norwich in the North of England, London, Paris and the Champagne district.