Contemporary Authors

• A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder (A Countess of Harleigh Mystery) - 2018 Kensington, https://smile.amazon.com/Etiquette-Murder-Countess-Harleigh-Mystery/dp/1496716876/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1530932537&sr=8-1&keywords=Freeman%2C+Dianne

• Dianne Freeman - https://difreeman.com/about/

  I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. My mom introduced me to the works of Edith Wharton and Agatha Christie when I was quite young and I read them over and over. Thus, my love of mysteries and the late Victorian era.

  There was no “aha” moment when I transitioned from reader to writer. I tinkered with writing most of my adult life. My real job was in corporate finance and I needed a creative outlet. It was a hobby, but one I really loved. I kept journals, wrote and sold magazine articles, and wrote two terrible romance novels that prompted me to improve my craft by attending writers’ conferences. I partnered with a friend from a conference to write a non-fiction book–Haunted Highway.

  Work got busy, I got married, and I didn’t write for the next 14 years. When I retired, my first thought was to write again. But it had been so long, I didn’t know if I could still do it. After a few false starts, it all came back, and I was in the middle of my first mystery novel. Even though I’d ignored it for years, the desire to tell a story didn’t go away! And I couldn’t be happier!
  Contact Info

  Contact Dianne Freeman at diannefreemanwrites@gmail.com, or tweet her @difreeman001.

• Randee Green - https://www.randeegreen.com/blog/2018/6/25/an-interview-with-dianne-freeman-author-of-a-ladys-guide-to-etiquette-and-murder

  An Interview with Dianne Freeman, author of A LADY'S GUIDE TO ETIQUETTE AND MURDER
  Interviews
  A Lady_s Guide to Etiquette and Murder 600dpi_opt 200 pixels wide.jpg

  “A fantastic blend of history, mystery and humor. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Georgette Heyer.”

  -Darcie Wilde, National Bestselling Author of “A Useful Woman,” and “A Purely Private Matter.”

  "A delightful tale of shenanigans among the British aristocracy. Lady Frances feels very real-- not too smart and spunky but no shrinking violet either.”

  Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of the Royal Spyness and Molly Murphy mysteries.
  DianneFreeman.jpg
  An Interview with Dianne Freeman

  Dianne Freeman’s debut historical mystery novel, A LADY’S GUIDE TO ETIQUETTE AND MURDER, will be published on June 26, 2018 by Kensington.

  Question - Please describe what the book is about.

  Dianne Freeman - Victorian widow, Frances Wynn, Countess of Harleigh, is dealing with a high society burglar, a marriage-mad sister, and a murder. When the London season turns deadly, she fears one of her sister’s suitors may be the killer. Frances must rally her wits and a circle of gossiping friends and enemies to unmask the culprit before she becomes his next victim.

  Q - Where did you get the idea?

  DF - The Victorian era is a favorite of mine. I’ve been reading books from and about that period for as long as I can remember. The American heiress concept came from Edith Wharton’s The Buccaneers. Further research showed me they didn’t all meet with such wretched ends. I liked the idea of a more upbeat version where my heiress pushes some boundaries, and because I love a good mystery, I thought I’d give her a knack for solving crimes.

  Q - What’s the story behind the title?

  DF - I had half a dozen terrible titles. None of them expressed the spirit or even the content of the book. Finally, I gave a few options to a Facebook group I belonged to. Over the course of an evening, about thirty friends threw out suggestions and variants of suggestions. After a little wine and a lot of laughs, we came up with A LADY’S GUIDE TO ETIQUETTE AND MURDER.

  Q - Tell us about your favorite character.

  DF - They’re all my favorites! Okay, my favorite would have to be Frances. As a woman of her time, duty to one’s family comes first—but she’s done that and it wasn’t a particularly satisfying experience. Now she’s trying to make a life for herself and everything that could go wrong, goes wrong, but she faces her problems with aplomb even when she has no idea what she’s doing. She just keeps moving forward. I can’t help but admire that.

  Q - If you could spend a day with one of your characters, who would it be and what would you do?

  DF - Just for fun I’d spend the day with Lady Fiona Nash. We’d go shopping for fabulous gowns and hats, have tea while she filled me in on all the latest gossip, then end the day at Alicia Stoke-Whitney’s ball.

  Q - Are your character based on real people, or do they come from your imaginations?

  DF - My characters are all creatures of my imagination though they may share some traits with people I know—including me.

  Q - How long did you take to write this book?

  DF - It took about two years from the time I began the first draft to the time I found my agent, but I did remodel a kitchen between drafts three and four. I did one more revision with my agent which took about a month. Then she worked her magic and sold the book in three days.

  Q - What kind of research did you do for this book?

  DF - I spent a lot of time in the newspaper archives, much of it researching things that were totally unnecessary but I find this era fascinating and I distract easily. Since I mention specific dates in the novel, I did think it necessary to find out if any major events took place during that week that my characters would have taken note of. It was also important to understand the technology of the day. How did one send information quickly from London to New York? What was photography like at the time? I needed to know not just when something was invented, but when was it available and if my characters were likely to use it.

  Q - What did you remove from this book during the editing process?

  DF - A lot of backstory. It was a good exercise to write it, since it really helped me to get into my main character’s head, but it was nothing anyone would want to read.

  Q - Are you a plotter or a pantser?

  DF - I was definitely a pantser when writing this book and had to write myself out of many plot holes. My editor wanted an outline for my second book and I’ve come to appreciate knowing where the story is going. I’m a plotting convert.

  Q - What is your favorite part of your writing process, and why?

  DF - I write mystery and really enjoy plotting the crime—the who, what, where, when, why, and how. I love being devious—on paper.

  Q - What is the most challenging part of your writing process, and why?

  DF - The first draft. Even with an outline first drafts are hard.

  Q - Have you ever gotten writer’s block? If yes, how do you overcome it?

  DF - I don’t think it’s really writer’s block, but when I get stuck on a plot point or a piece of dialog that isn’t working I’ll take a walk. Something about getting away from my desk and moving helps me think. Usually by the time I get home, I’ve worked out my problem.

  Q - How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

  DF - Twenty or so years ago, I wrote two romance novels that were so awful I buried them in the back yard. And then I moved!

  Q - Do you have any writing quirks?

  DF - I bury bad manuscripts in the back yard?

  Q - How did you get into writing?

  DF - Writing just seemed like a natural spin-off from reading. It’s always been a hobby for me. When I retired I was thrilled to have the time to write an actual novel. Because my husband is also retired, I don’t have as much time as I thought I would.

  Q - Apart from novel writing, do you do any other kind(s) of writing?

  DF - I co-authored the non-fiction book, HAUNTED HIGHWAY—THE SPIRITS OF ROUTE 66. It’s a travel guide to haunted sites along Route 66.

  Q - Share something about you most people probably don’t know.

  DF - I’m not a fan of horror. Someone gave me a copy of Stephen King’s NIGHT SHIFT and it scared me so badly I donated it to the library just to get it out of my house.

  Q - What are you working on right now?

  DF - I just finished book 2 in the series, A LADY’S GUIDE TO GOSSIP AND MURDER

  Q - What’s your favorite writing advice?

  DF - Every word matters. I always try to remember this when I edit.

  Q - The book you’re currently reading

  DF - LIES THAT COMFORT AND BETRAY by Rosemary Simpson
  Dianne Freeman’s Biography

  Dianne Freeman is a life-long book lover who left the world of corporate finance to pursue her passion for writing. After co-authoring the non-fiction book, HAUNTED HIGHWAY, THE SPIRITS OF ROUTE 66, she realized her true love was fiction, historical mystery in particular. She also realized she didn’t like winter very much so now she and her husband pursue the endless summer by splitting their time between Michigan and Arizona.
  Links to Dianne Freeman

  Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Etiquette-Murder-Countess-Harleigh-Mystery/dp/1496716876/

  Website: https://difreeman.com/

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DianneFreemanAuthor/

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Difreeman001

  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diannefreemanwrites/

  Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17347322.Dianne_Freeman

• Women Writers, Women's Books - http://booksbywomen.org/caution-may-cause-side-effects/

  Caution: May Cause Side Effects
  February 9, 2018 | By Dianne Freeman | 5 Replies

  I started down my writing path a few years ago with a story to tell and a love for the written word. The more I wrote, the better my writing became. The better my writing became, the more I wanted to write. The more I wrote. . . You get the idea. Writing had progressed from my hobby, to my therapy, to maybe—my drug? If writing is a drug, at least it’s harmless, right? Though I have to admit I’ve picked up some very specific traits since I’d begun writing. Traits I’ve observed in other writers as well, which leads me to wonder if they’re a side effect of writing.

  I edit everything

  E-mails, text messages, grocery lists, you name it, I’ll edit it to perfection. This is an obvious side effect of revision, but I ask you, what’s wrong with a well-executed post-it note? It was worth the twenty minutes it took to write it. Verbal communications can be more complicated to edit. I get some strange looks when I cut myself off mid-sentence to say, “Wait, delete that!” I’ve learned people can’t unhear things.

  I like to control things

  Yes, I may have become just a teensy bit controlling. Enough to invent entire worlds and populate them with characters of my own creation in order to have someone who will bend to my will and do my bidding. Is that bad? Though they fight me now and then, I didn’t invest them with free will, so I get to call the shots. Here’s the problem—people resent this in real life. No matter how much I assure everyone these characters are much better off for my interference, my friends and family prefer to control their own lives. It’s that free will thing.

  I’ve become a trouble maker

  I love the characters I create, which is why I used to protect them, kept them out of trouble, or let them off the hook way too easily. Eventually I learned if I start off with “Happily ever after,” there’s nowhere to go. I had to dig deep and find my inner mean streak. Now my characters have to deal with heartache, financial ruin, and even death. If they don’t experience the dark night of the soul, how will they ever grow? So, I started causing trouble. (I suspect that’s the real reason my friends don’t want me to control their lives.)

  I spend way too much time devising ways to kill people

  Only fictional people! Not all of you share this trait, but those of you who write mystery and crime fiction will understand. Since I started writing mystery, I’ve become increasingly aware of how dangerous our daily activities can be. I had to wash my hair in the kitchen sink one day, (long story) and I wondered what would happen if my hair got caught in the disposal. Would the sink fill up with water? Would I drown? Since I like both my hair and my life, I didn’t attempt the experiment, but I did Google it, and found out I’m not the first one to consider this. Actually, between researching murders, weapons, and poisons, my search history could bring the NSA to my door.

  I’ve learned a second language

  I don’t know about you, but some of my best ideas come to me when I’m sleeping. I’ve learned to keep a pen and notepad on my nightstand in case I wake up in the middle of the night with a great idea. Usually these notes made little sense in the morning. That is until I learned Gibberish—the language of notes scribbled in the dark and sometime first drafts. Without a fluency in Gibberish, how would I ever know that Pfhwmam vodorte ulfabe a grohosh means the culprit decapitated his victims with a paper cutter?

  I’ve become patient

  Just kidding! I’m totally not patient. Banging my head on the desk to make my thoughts flow faster is just part of the job. Once I started submitting my work, impatience became anxiety, and why wouldn’t it? When I sent off a query to an agent, I was waiting for a life-changing reply to show up in my in-box. It’s completely understandable to keep hitting refresh. Again, and again, and again.

  I’m courageous and confident

  As writers, so are you. Other than Danny Sarducci from the seventh grade, I’ve never met anyone else who could face 100 rejections and still have the will to persist. Writing demands confidence and courage. Let’s face it, sending your novel off to an editor, or agent, is the writing equivalent of asking if these pants make my butt look big. It’s daunting.

  And that’s not the only time your courage will be tested. I have an author idol. Most of us do. I’ve read everything she’s ever written multiple times in an attempt to absorb her talent. One day I came face to face with my idol and mentioned my book. Her eyes lit up. She asked me about it.

  And I choked.

  I said something like, “smiget erd fwememo,” while my knees knocked together.

  Fortunately, my idol, fluent in Gibberish, smiled and said, “I’d love to read it.” She’d been in the trenches once herself, and was willing to give another writer a hand up. That generosity is the best side effect of writing.

  —

  Dianne Freeman is a life-long book lover who left the world of corporate finance to pursue her passion for writing. After co-authoring the non-fiction book, Haunted Highway, The Spirits of Route 66, she realized her true love was fiction, historical mystery in particular. She also realized she didn’t like winter very much so now she and her husband pursue the endless summer by splitting their time between Michigan and Arizona.

  Her debut novel, A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder is scheduled for release with Kensington in June 2018.

  Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Etiquette-Murder-Countess-Harleigh-Mystery/dp/1496716876/

  Website: https://difreeman.com/

  FB: https://www.facebook.com/DianneFreemanAuthor/

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Difreeman001

  About A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder

  In this exciting historical mystery debut set in Victorian England, a wealthy young widow encounters the pleasures—and scandalous pitfalls—of a London social season . . .

  Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, enjoys more freedom as a widow than she did as a wife. After an obligatory year spent mourning her philandering husband, Reggie, she puts aside her drab black gowns, leaving the countryside and her money-grubbing in-laws behind. With her young daughter in tow, Frances rents a home in Belgravia and prepares to welcome her sister, Lily, arriving from New York—for her first London season.

  No sooner has Frances begun her new life than the ghosts of her old one make an unwelcome appearance. The Metropolitan police receive an anonymous letter implicating Frances in her husband’s death. Frances assures Inspector Delaney of her innocence, but she’s also keen to keep him from learning the scandalous circumstances of Reggie’s demise. As fate would have it, her dashing new neighbor, George Hazelton, is one of only two other people aware of the full story.

  While busy with social engagements on Lily’s behalf, and worrying if Reggie really was murdered, Frances learns of mysterious burglaries plaguing London’s elite. The investigation brings death to her doorstep, and Frances rallies her wits, a circle of gossips, and the ever-chivalrous Mr. Hazelton to uncover the truth. A killer is in their midst, perhaps even among her sister’s suitors. And Frances must unmask the villain before Lily’s season—and their lives—come to a most unseemly end .

  Tags: featured, women writers

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• Authors '18 - https://www.authors18.com/meet-dianne-freeman-author-of-a-ladys-guide-to-etiquette-and-murder/

  Meet Dianne Freeman, author of A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder
  Published on June 6, 2018

  Meet Dianne Freeman, author of A LADY’S GUIDE TO ETIQUETTE AND MURDER, releasing June 26, 2018.

  Tell us about your book.

  Victorian widow, Frances Wynn, Countess of Harleigh, is dealing with a high society burglar, a marriage-mad sister, and a murder. When the London season turns deadly, she fears one of her sister’s suitors may be the killer. Frances must rally her wits and a circle of gossiping friends and enemies to unmask the culprit before she becomes his next victim.

  Where did you get the idea for the book?

  The Victorian era is a favorite of mine. I’ve been reading books from and about that period for as long as I can remember. The American heiress concept came from Edith Wharton’s The Buccaneers. Further research showed me they didn’t all meet with such wretched ends. I liked the idea of a more upbeat version where my heiress pushes some boundaries, and because I love a good mystery, I thought I’d give her a knack for solving crimes.

  It’s such a great title. How did you come up with it?

  I had half a dozen terrible titles. None of them expressed the spirit or even the content of the book. Finally, I gave a few options to a Facebook group I belonged to. Over the course of an evening, about thirty friends threw out suggestions and variants of suggestions. After a little wine and a lot of laughs, we came up with A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder.

  What kind of research did you do for this book?

  I spent a lot of time in the newspaper archives, much of it researching things that were totally unnecessary but I find this era fascinating and I distract easily. Since I mention specific dates in the novel, I did think it necessary to find out if any major events took place during that week that my characters would have taken note of. It was also important to understand the technology of the day. How did one send information quickly from London to New York? What was photography like at the time? I needed to know not just when something was invented, but when was it available and if my characters were likely to use it.

  What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

  I write mystery and really enjoy plotting the crime—the who, what, where, when, why, and how. I love being devious—on paper.

  What is the most challenging part of your writing process?

  The first draft. Even with an outline first drafts are hard.

  How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

  Twenty or so years ago, I wrote two romance novels that were so awful I buried them in the back yard. And then I moved!

  Do you have any writing quirks?

  I bury bad manuscripts in the back yard?

  Apart from novel writing, do you do any other kind(s) of writing?

  I co-authored the non-fiction book, Haunted Highway—The Spirits of Route 66. It’s a travel guide to haunted sites along Route 66.

  Share something about you most people probably don’t know.

  I’m not a fan of horror. Someone gave me a copy of Stephen King’s Night Shift and it scared me so badly I donated it to the library just to get it out of my house.

  Dianne Freeman

  BUY:

  AMAZON
  A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder

  “A fantastic blend of history, mystery and humor. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Georgette Heyer.” -Darcie Wilde, National Bestselling Author of A Useful Woman, and A Purely Private Matter.

  “A delightful tale of shenanigans among the British aristocracy. Lady Frances feels very real– not too smart and spunky but no shrinking violet either.” -Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of the Royal Spyness and Molly Murphy mysteries.

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• Author's Guild - https://www.authorsguild.net/services/members/2376

  Diannefreeman
  Lindsay Halicki
  Location

  Allen Park, MI
  Author Contact

  Facebook
  @difreeman001

  Category

  Fiction & Literature, Mystery & Crime
  Dianne Freeman

  Dianne Freeman is a historical mystery author and former accountant who always wanted to be a mystery author. After all, accounting is just solving a mystery using numbers. Characters are a lot more fun though. Her debut novel, A Lady's Guide To Etiquette And Murder, the first in the Countess of Harleigh Mysteries, will be released by Kensington Books in July 2018.

  Dianne's a native of Michigan, where you use your hand as a map, but now she and her husband pursue the endless summer and divide their time between Michigan and Arizona. Wherever she is, she'll be reading, writing, gardening, or golfing.

A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder
Publishers Weekly.
265.21 (May 21, 2018): p51. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
* A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder
Dianne Freeman. Kensington, $26 (272p) ISBN 978-1-4967-1687-3
In April 1899, American-born Frances Wynn, Countess of Harleigh, the narrator of Freeman's dazzling debut and series launch, completes her yearlong mourning for her late husband, Reggie, a man she freely admits she didn't marry for love. Frances leaves the family estate in the English countryside, now controlled by her in-laws, Graham and Delia Wynn (who aren't happy at her departure, since they depend on her money to support the crumbling manor), for London, where she has bought a house. There her younger sister, Lily Price, and their Aunt Hetty join her for Lily's first social season. When Inspector Delaney approaches Frances with questions regarding Reggie's demise, it opens a Pandora's Box leading to more questions, suspicions, and dead bodies--not to mention a potential suitor for Lily and a string of thefts. Fortunately, Frances has her best friend, Lady Fiona Nash, and neighbor George Hazelton to help her discover the truth. Fans of witty, lighthearted Victorian mysteries will be enthralled. Agent: Melissa Edwards, Stonesong Literary Agency. (July)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder." Publishers Weekly, 21 May 2018, p. 51. Book Review
Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A541012601/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=005039ed. Accessed 6 July 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A541012601
1 of 3 7/6/18, 9:59 PM
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Freeman, Dianne: A LADY'S GUIDE TO ETIQUETTE AND MURDER
Kirkus Reviews.
(Apr. 15, 2018): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Freeman, Dianne A LADY'S GUIDE TO ETIQUETTE AND MURDER Kensington (Adult Fiction) $26.00 6, 26 ISBN: 978-1-4967-1687-3
A Victorian lady's sense of self-worth is much improved when she takes control of her life.
Frances Price, Countess of Harleigh, is making a bold attempt to gain some independence. Frances, the daughter of a wealthy American family, did not marry for love, but her husband, Reggie, loved and freely spent her money while she cared for their daughter, Rose. A year ago, Alicia Stoke-Whitney came to Frances' room to announce that Reggie had died in her bed. To avoid scandal, Frances asked George Hazelton, her best friend Fiona's brother, to help move his body. Since then, despite opposition from Reggie's brother, Graham, and his wife, Delia, who badly need Frances' money, she's rented a house in London. Frances is startled to discover that her neighbor is George Hazelton and further shaken by a visit from Inspector Delaney of the Metropolitan Police, who's investigating a rumor that her husband did not die of a heart attack. Her next surprise is the arrival of her sister Lily with her Aunt Hetty, who's taking the place of her mother--a welcome relief--while Frances launches Lily in society. She also gets a check for a hefty sum she badly needs because Graham has gone to court to get her money and her account has been frozen until the case is decided. Frances' social circle is already buzzing over a series of robberies at fashionable parties and balls. When someone dumps a valuable bracelet in her reticule at the Stoke-Whitney ball, she enlists the help of Hazelton, who has reasons of his own to find the thief. As she worries about the investigation of Reggie's death and vets her sister's suitors, all of whom had opportunities to steal the valuables, she learns more and more about Hazelton while fighting her strong feelings of attraction toward him. A murder in her garden just adds to her problems, and now she must find the strength to overcome them.
Despite its heroine's many problems, this lighthearted debut tale of mystery, love, and a delightful sleuth will leave you wanting more--which is presumably just what Freeman has in mind.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Freeman, Dianne: A LADY'S GUIDE TO ETIQUETTE AND MURDER." Kirkus Reviews, 15
Apr. 2018. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A534375229 /GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=a6c6ea3d. Accessed 6 July 2018.
2 of 3 7/6/18, 9:59 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Gale Document Number: GALE|A534375229
3 of 3 7/6/18, 9:59 PM

• The Big Thrill
  http://www.thebigthrill.org/2018/06/a-ladys-guide-to-etiquette-and-murder-by-dianne-freeman/
  Word count: 1296

  A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman
  6 days ago by Jaden Terrell

  By Jaden Terrell

  A LADY’S GUIDE TO ETIQUETTE AND MURDER isn’t the debut one might expect from a woman who spent most of her adult life in the world of corporate finance. It’s a cozy historical novel set in the late Victorian era, and the heroine is an American heiress forced by circumstance to become an amateur sleuth. The few references to finance are plot-related, authentic to the period, and easily understood by even a layman like myself.

  But maybe it’s not so surprising after all.

  Author Dianne Freeman is a life-long book lover who pursued writing as a hobby throughout her corporate career and then co-authored a non-fiction book, Haunted Highway, The Spirits of Route 66, before quickly realizing her true love was fiction, historical mystery in particular. In short, she has spent years laying a solid foundation for this well-crafted debut.

  Her research led to some unexpected insights. “Victorians weren’t so staid and uptight as I once thought,” she says, “nor were Victorian women meek. In fact, they were very much like we are today, only the technology has changed.”

  Asked what authors inspired or influenced her career, she reveals two very different writers: “Edith Wharton, who made me fall in love with the late Victorian era, and Janet Evanovich, who showed me that humor and mystery could coexist.”

  Thank you for taking the time to talk to us about your new book. Why don’t we start with a little bit about your writing journey and how you came to be a mystery writer?

  I’ve been writing most of my adult life. Though I sold a few things over the years—articles and a work of non-fiction—I always considered it a hobby. I wrote fiction, both short and long, non-fiction, took creative writing classes, and attended writing conferences. Writing and reading were my favorite past-times and I indulged myself with them whenever I could. All that indulgence kept me learning and honing my craft.

  A few years ago, I retired. Since I had more time for writing I decided to try my hand at what I loved to read most—historical mystery. A year and a half later, I’d finished my novel and needed some feedback. About that time, I learned of a contest called PitchWars, which is an opportunity to work with a writing mentor for two months then submit your novel to the “Agent Showcase.” I had nothing to lose, so I submitted my entry. And I got in!

  My mentor pushed me to write better than I ever thought I could. When the Agent Showcase came, I received several requests, and 30 days later, an offer of representation from Melissa Edwards. I did another round of edits with Melissa and 60 days from signing with her, we sold the book as the first in a series to Kensington. While it took 35 years to get there, the last leg of the journey was head-spinning fast.

  Can you tell us a little about A LADY’S GUIDE TO ETIQUETTE AND MURDER?

  It’s the story of an American heiress whose family married her to a British aristocrat to increase their social status. In reality this was done with amazing frequency during the late Victorian era, which is when the story is set. It seemed like a poor basis for a happy marriage and I often wondered how things turned out for the couple ten years down the line. In this case, my heiress, Frances, is a widow. She’s done her duty to her family, she now has some freedom, and she’s eager to experience independence for the first time in her life. But when danger threatens, she steps in to protect her family.

  I knew I was in good hands when I read about Frances turning up the wick on the paraffin lamp. What kind of research do you do to achieve that effect?

  History fascinates me, and I spend quite a bit of time steeping myself in it; history books, books written in that era, museums, and newspaper archives, but I think some of the details I simply picked up from casual reading. While I’m drafting, I’ll write about a specific item, like the lamp, and wonder how I know this. I’ll flag it for further research and I’m often surprised to find out I was right. It’s amazing what you retain without realizing it.

  Other details sent me digging through books and websites for hours. Technology was changing rapidly during this era and I needed to know not just whether something existed or was available, but how widely it was used and how well it worked. I love finding stories in old newspapers about how a new product, like automobiles, didn’t work and the aggravation they caused.

  I loved how you developed the relationship between Frances and George. (I may be a little bit in love with George myself.) How do you balance the romance and the suspense in your books?

  I think a cozy lends itself to more exploration of the characters’ personal lives. Because Frances is an amateur sleuth, the crime imposes itself into her life, so that life, and how it changes, is a large part of the story. She and George work together to solve the case so I thought just a touch of romance would add to the mystery. A burgeoning romance can be suspenseful in itself, especially between aristocrats who hide their thoughts and feelings behind a social veneer.

  I was also guided by Frances, who is definitely not ready for a relationship yet.

  Let’s talk about Aunt Hetty and the many other colorful characters in this book. How do you go about developing them?

  I always think I know my characters well before I start drafting. I write full biographies for them and plot the crime(s) so I know what motivates them. But their true personalities never come out until I’ve finished the first draft. That’s when I really know them and understand their roles and realize I might be forcing them to act against character. Originally, Frances’ brother, Alonzo, brought her sister to London for the season. But he was too protective of his sisters, which just didn’t work, so Alonzo became Aunt Hetty. I like her much better in the role of chaperone.

  *****

  Dianne Freeman is a life-long book lover who left the world of corporate finance to pursue her passion for writing. After co-authoring the non-fiction book Haunted Highway, The Spirits of Route 66, she realized her true love was fiction, historical mystery in particular. She also realized she didn’t like winter very much so now she and her husband pursue the endless summer by splitting their time between Michigan and Arizona.

  To learn more about Dianne, please visit her website.
  Jaden Terrell
  Jaden Terrell is the author of the Jared McKean private detective series and a contributor to Now Write! Mysteries, a collection of exercises for writers of crime fiction. Her short stories have appeared in KILLER NASHVILLE NOIR, and she writes for the Killer Nashville Magazine. The recipient of the 2009 Magnolia Award for service to the Southeastern Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, Terrell is also a writing coach, workshop leader, and compassionate editor.
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• New York Journal of Books
  https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/lady-guide
  Word count: 643

  A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder (A Countess of Harleigh Mystery)
  Image of A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder (A Countess of Harleigh Mystery)
  Author(s):
  Dianne Freeman
  Release Date:
  June 25, 2018
  Publisher/Imprint:
  Kensington
  Pages:
  272
  Buy on Amazon
  Reviewed by:
  Meera Klein

  Get ready to curl up with a cup of tea, a plate of scones, and A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder.

  This exciting story has it all: an anonymous letter, a mysterious death, a beautiful widow turned amateur sleuth, and even a handsome neighbor, ready to help with the investigation.

  In this historical mystery debut, the reader is taken on a journey back to Victorian England and into the life of Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh. The story begins just as the Countess, who enjoys quite a bit of freedom as a widow, is ready to put aside her mourning black gowns and leave the countryside and her greedy in-laws. She is aghast when she overhears (accidentally, of course) her brother-in-law Graham and wife Delia talking about plans to ask her for more funds to help with repairing the crumbling balconies on the north wall of their country estate.

  “Heavens, they spoke as if I were a bank. Graham went to explain some agricultural innovation he wanted to test on the home farm. Poor Delia. All she ever wanted was to be the grand lady, but fate thwarted her at every turn. First, she wasn’t wealthy enough to marry the oldest son and was pawned off on the second. Then, when she finally became a countess, the old manor was falling apart and the coffers were nearly empty.”

  Freeman has given the Countess a droll and immensely likeable personality.

  In London, the Countess is happy to be finally independent. Along with her young daughter, Rose, she rents a home in the famous Belgravia section. Soon she is busy planning her sister Lily’s first London season and participating in the hectic social life of the London elite. Her neighbor is none other than the dashing George Hazelton. One of her first visitors is Inspector Delaney from the Metropolitan Police.

  “It seems there’s been a development in the matter of your late husband’s death.”

  “Oh, my heavens,” I gaped at the man.

  “Perhaps you should sit, ma’am.”

  And soon the Countess learns her husband’s death may not have been from a heart attack.

  Delaney never took his eyes from my face, “There is a question about the cause of death.”

  “The cause of death? He had a heart attack. The doctor who attended him confirmed it.”

  But the Countess is hiding something, a grave secret about her husband’s death. At the time this murder investigation is taking place, there is also a series of mysterious burglaries tormenting the London elite. The plucky Countess, with the help from the dashing and chivalrous Mr. George Hazelton, is soon involved in mystery, intrigue, and danger.

  The Countess lives in the exclusive world of ballrooms, drawing rooms, maids, and calling cards. Life in Freeman’s Victorian England is filled with deception, secrets, and some fun romance.

  Readers will certainly want more of the beautiful, headstrong Countess Frances Wynn after finishing the first book in this brand-new series.

  Meera Klein is the author of My Mother's Kitchen: A Novel with Recipes, a finalist for multiple awards and winner of the 2015 International Book Award for Multi-Cultural Fiction. Her work has also been published in the poetry anthology As/Us: Writers of the World, Eternal Snow, Blue Moon, and other publications.