A man of such dubious reputation…
that he was called Devil Blackbourne!
When Lord Deveril Blackbourne meets Selina Wynter, he is intrigued. For she has all the accomplishments of a lady, but the fiery temper and spirit of a tavern maid! Then she is abducted by a dastardly suitor, and Deveril—for all his roguish reputation— can’t stand idly by…
Lord Deveril is Selina’s least likely rescuer, but when they’re stranded together in a snowstorm and her reputation is at risk, he surprises her with a gallant proposal! Deveril’s no honourable suitor, yet his actions say otherwise…
Just who is the real Devil Blackbourne? Selina’s determined to find out!
✿ Interview with Sarah Mallory ✿
What inspired you to write this story, and what drew you to this particular historical period?
It started with a visit to Exmoor. I was born in the West Country and still visit there often. This particular visit was in November, and it snowed. I began to imagine my heroine, living in one of the small towns on the edge of Exmoor, setting off on a journey and becoming stranded in the snow. The late 18th century seemed the obvious choice, accomplished ladies in colourful gowns, gentlemen still wearing swords – I think the Georgian period lends itself to romantic adventures, and this was definitely going to be an adventure!
How would you describe your book in a sentence to readers who haven’t discovered it yet?
It’s a sparkling historical romantic adventure in the tradition of Georgette Heyer.
How much research went into the novel, and did you uncover anything surprising along the way?
I love the Georgian and Regency periods and have been studying that period for decades now, but there is always something new to discover. For this book my research involved finding out more about Exmoor and stag hunting. Exmoor was one of the Normans’ original Royal Forests. Deer hunting there was restricted to the monarch or their wardens or foresters. Inhabitants had “common rights” to gather firewood and peat, and to graze livestock. At the time my book was set, the 1780s, the warden for what remained of Exmoor Forest was the hunting-mad Sir Thomas Dyke Acland. He succeeded his seven-year-old nephew, following the boy’s death in 1785. According to tradition (as told by Anne Acland in “A Devon Family: The Story of the Aclands” pub. 1981) Sir Thomas Dyke Acland had moved away from the family estates after becoming estranged from his father and quarrelling with his elder brother. It was during a chance visit to his old home that he learned of his succession to the baronetcy and the vast family estates. Now that’s a story I wish I had written!
How do you balance historical accuracy with creating an engaging story?
Historical accuracy is very important to me. It is the background on which I embroider my story. Although I am writing romantic fiction, I like to write scenarios that could have happened at the time. And as you can see from the life of Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, strange and unlikely things can happen!
Which character was the most interesting or challenging for you to write, and why?
Deveril was definitely a challenge! He has a reputation as a rake although we know he isn’t really, because anyone who has studied Georgian history will know that real rakes are pretty heartless, and Deveril does have a heart, although it has been broken in the past and he doesn’t want that to happen again. Also, unlike his friends, he doesn’t like killing animals for sport, and Exmoor at that time was renowned for its stag hunts.
Did the story or any characters evolve in unexpected ways while you were writing?
Selina definitely became more mischievous as the book progressed. She began as quite a serious young woman, weighed down by the responsibilities of looking after an ailing father and running his estates. Perhaps it is meeting Deveril that makes her feel more light-hearted and shows her that life can still be fun.
What does your writing process look like—are you a planner or do you prefer to write freely?
At the beginning of each book I know my main characters are going to get together in the end, but beyond that I rarely have more than a vague idea how the story will turn out. Sometimes historical events mean that a certain amount of planning is required, but if I try to plan and plot the book too minutely, then for me, the magic disappears.
What do you hope readers will feel or take away after finishing your book?
When a reader reaches the last page of my book I want them to feel satisfied. I hope the book has entertained them and that they have escaped the problems of the real world, just for a while.
If you could step into the world of your novel for a day, what would you most want to experience?
Oh, now that’s an interesting question! There is such a lot I should not like to experience – there is a pregnant landlady in my book and I would certainly not want to go through 18th century childbirth! – However, I would love to spend the day with Selina doing very ordinary every-day things - shopping in the town, maybe visiting the milliner and buying a new bonnet, taking tea with her friend Lady Kenton, the squire’s wife. We would then sit down to dinner together, nothing fancy, just a plain dinner with soup and a cod’s cheek, perhaps a rabbit fricassee and a leg of mutton followed by a Dutch flummery. After that, we would change into our evening gowns and attend a soirée.
Just for fun—if your book were adapted into a film, who would you love to see in the cast? 🎬
Another fab question – and I am sure most writers fantasise about this (I certainly do!). When I first began to imagine this story I pictured a brave and spirited heroine (think Kate Beckinsale in Van Helsing). Today I think Holly Grainger would be great as Selina. As for Deveril, well he needs to be handsome (naturally) and charming but with a mischievous glint in his eye – Kit Harington, maybe?
Sarah Mallory
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