Books in the Ministry of Marriage series have been translated into Dutch, Russian and German! I love seeing the different covers that different countries come up with.

If you would like to buy the Russian books, please click here.

In German, try Amazon Germany or Cora.

For Dutch translations, see: Candlelight.

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Isn’t it gorgeous? This is the Australian Trade Paperback edition of MAD ABOUT THE EARL, due out in February 2012 from Penguin Australia. Just in time for Valentine’s Day. I love that the cover artist, Cathy Larsen, has been so faithful to the Regency period. Rosamund’s gown is the same gorgeous cobalt blue as on the U.S. cover and doesn’t Griffin look splendid? I think my beast of a hero has undergone a transformation by the time this portrait is taken!

This is my dog Monty, who is the inspiration for the ageing Great Dane, Ophelia, in MAD ABOUT THE EARL. Monty is a Great Dane/Ridgeback cross with the Harlequin Dane colouring and a very pronounced ridge. She’s not much to look at and she’s getting on in years now, but when she runs, she’s pure canine poetry in motion.

Here she is waiting patiently as I cook the evening meal. She knows that if she looks pathetic enough I will always give her raw off-cuts of eye fillet or grain-fed chicken breast that I’m trimming before I cook it for the family. Of course, Ophelia is an aristocratic dog so she’s pure-bred Dane but her personality is definitely Monty’s!

Here is my beautiful blue cover for MAD ABOUT THE EARL (released on January 3 2012)!

I was so pleased the artist used blue because of the scene where Rosamund and Griffin first meet:

There has been much excitement in the Brooke household because copies of the gorgeous Australian edition of HEIRESS IN LOVE arrived on my doorstep yesterday. I couldn’t be more thrilled with the way they have turned out — thank you, Penguin Australia! I was surprised to find an excerpt of my next Ministry of Marriage novel, MAD ABOUT THE EARL in the back as a bonus read, so keep your eye out for that, too.

I’m working on copy edits for MAD ABOUT THE EARL (affectionately known as MATE) at the moment. This is the last chance I have to make substantial changes to the book. After that, it’s a final proofread and then the book is out of my hands.

The brilliant and thoughtful writer, Barbara Samuel, believes that once the writer has finished a book it ceases to be hers, but becomes the property of each reader who reads it. I love that idea. It’s true, because while I put the words on the page, it’s each reader’s imagination that brings all of the color and detail of the story to life. I think it’s another reason many of us become disappointed with film adaptations of novels. They interfere with our personal version of a book.

Loath as I am to part with it, I am going to offer a signed Trade Paperback of HEIRESS IN LOVE as a prize to some lucky person on my newsletter list. The winner will be drawn on 30 June so if you’re not on the list already, go ahead and join! You can subscribe on my home page.

I look forward to meeting you.

Ever wanted to have Richard Armitage murmuring into your ear…for hours on end?

The talented, intelligent and gorgeous actor has narrated three of my favourite Georgette Heyer novels.

Sylvester
Venetia
The Convenient Marriage

I’d love to hear him narrate Devil’s Cub!

My only complaint (and it’s a small one) is that these are all abridged. Not so noticeable in Venetia and The Convenient Marriage but the secondary plots in Sylvester were so utterly charming that I felt their loss. I particularly missed hearing more about young Edmund’s battles with Sir Nugent Fotherby!

You can find these on Audible.com

What historical romances are you looking forward to in the next couple of months?

Wendy the Superlibrarian has an excellent wiki that lists all the upcoming historicals to July 2011.

Here are a few on my list:

January/February

Wedding of the Season by Laura Lee Guhrke

Lady Most Likely by Eloisa James, Julia Quinn & Connie Brockway

How to Woo a Reluctant Lady by Sabrina Jeffries

When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James

The Seduction of his Wife by Tiffany Clare

What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long

Scandal of the Year by Laura Lee Guhrke

Unveiled by Courtney Milan

To Tempt a Rake by Cara Elliott

Any recommendations for books I might have missed?