Her novel was scheduled for publication this April. But guess what! It's been available since March 25 as The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran.
Meredith McGuire, author of The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran.
(Pocket Books, a division of Simon and Schuster, awarded a runner up prize to Starr Toth, whose novel will be published in November. An interview and a review will be conducted at time of publication with Starr.)
Here are the first two chapters Meredith submitted for the Gather contest. (here under the original manuscript title on Gather.) The Shadow's Kiss - Chapter 1
The Shadow's Kiss - Chapter Two
The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran link on Amazon
$6.99, used or new available from $2.99.
- Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: Pocket Star (March 25, 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1416567038
- ISBN-13: 978-1416567035
The Duke of Shadows is about an aristocrat torn between two worlds, an heiress who must dare to risk everything, and about their love born in fire but nearly destroyed by darkness. Emmaline Martin wants to settle into British Indian society but when her fiance betrays her, she must turn to one man: Julian Sinclair, a man she doesn't trust but also the man she can't resist...
Here is an excerpt from Meredith's manuscript, as it was published on Gather: Chapter 1:
Some there be that shadows kiss;
Such have but a shadow's bliss.
--The Merchant of Venice
CHAPTER ONE
"Delhi, 1857
The garden was not cool, but it was quiet. Emmaline turned her face into the sultry breeze and let her eyes drift shut, wondering if Mrs. Greeley had been speaking the truth. Either way, the woman must have been surprised at Emmaline's impassive reception of the news. It was unpleasant, of course; one didn't often learn that one's betrothed was conducting a torrid affair with a respectably married woman. But the act seemed entirely in keeping with the person Marcus had become since their engagement.
Perhaps it was this land that had changed him so. Emmaline had only been here a few weeks, but she already sensed that India had taken hold of her: loosening her tongue, widening her eyes. From over the bungalow walls floated the creaks of rickshaws, and in the distance the raucous cries of street vendors seemed to summon images of leaping torchlight, fragrant sandalwood and Oriental mysticism. Even now, when her mind should have been racing with the implications of Mrs. Greeley's revelation, the gentle swaying of the trees and the parrots twittering in the branches above distracted her from all thought, lulling her with the magic of thick, jasmine-scented darkness.
A cow lowed in the distance, and she felt a brief stirring of pity, imagining he was confused at the excess of liberty granted him by the native culture. As to why the cows were encouraged to wander freely through the streets, Marcus had told her that the Hindus believed them to be some sort of deity, but he hadn't been able to elaborate. Marcus was often impatient with details.
This party, for instance. He should have told her, given her some warning regarding the people she would meet. Within five minutes it had become clear that Delhi society was no friend to her, that news of the shipwreck and her "dishonorable" rescue had tainted local opinion. But instead he'd let her march inside like a lamb to the slaughter, encouraging her to mingle with the sharp-tongued harpies whilst he conferred with the Commissioner. All this, and then to discover he was having an affair with the hostess! Well, it was clear that whatever they did when alone together, Marcus had not reviewed Lady Eversham's wine list for her, since he was possessed of the most impeccable taste in vintages. With a faint, disgusted scoff she tossed the remnants of her bordeaux into the shrubbery. "Pig swill," she muttered.
The quiet laugh startled her, and she gasped, squinting into the shadows. "Who's there?"
A form emerged from the trees, offering her a toast from a silver flask. "Pig swill indeed," he said, lifting the pocket pistol to his lips for a long swallow.
She relaxed slightly at the Oxford accent, which complemented a deliciously low, rough voice. "Pray do not relay my sentiments to our hostess, sir." Or perhaps do, she added silently.
Another step brought him full out of darkness, and she suppressed another gasp, this time at the man's extraordinary beauty. She had certainly never seen him before-- or any man like him. He was taller even than Marcus, a full head over her own considerable height. His eyes were a luminescent green-gold, cat-like as they reflected the faint light spilling from the bungalow. They watched her as though he waited for something.
"Are we acquainted?" she blurted out, knowing very well they were not.
He gave her a faint smile. "No."
When he said nothing more, she arched a brow, returning rude stare for rude stare. At least, she hoped it was rude, for she suspected she might be ogling him. She had never seen such thick, coal-black hair on an Englishman, at least not paired with such flawless, faintly golden skin. Doubt flickered through her mind, but it was immediately quashed. Of course he was English. The long, straight nose, the high cheekbones, the flawlessly sculpted lips and the squared, firm jaw—all spoke of the highest aristocratic background. The lazy grace with which he held himself made her acutely aware of her own less-than-ladylike slouch. She straightened, lifting her face towards the stars...
***
... "His cat's eyes moved over her shoulder, and he smiled again, this time rather unpleasantly. "Here comes your betrothed," he said, and took a deep swig from the flask.
"Emmaline! There you are!"
She turned back towards the doors, shielding her eyes from the light. "Marcus!" He was yanking his cravat in place, and she wondered acidly if he hadn't been waylaid by their hostess somewhere between the Commissioner and the garden. "I was taking some air. These petticoats are horribly ill-suited to the climate."
Marcus stepped out into the yard. "I hardly think that's appropriate for public discussion," he said severely. "And I did warn you about the weather, but you insisted--" His voice died away as he stared at her companion. "What in blazes are you doing here?"
"I told you, I just--" She halted as she realized he was not addressing her. "Oh, this gentleman? He--"
"Lindley," the man said curtly. "A pleasure, as always."
Marcus made a rude noise. "I'm sure I can't say the same. I had no idea Lady Eversham was so indiscriminate with her guest list."
Emmaline gasped, shocked. Having a bit of fun at the expense of propriety, as she had been doing, was one thing-- but Marcus was being a boor! "Marcus, really. This gentleman--"
"Knows he is not welcome," Marcus finished coldly. "Not anywhere I am, and certainly nowhere near my future wife. I would suggest you leave now, Holdensmoor."
The man bowed, slipping the flask inside his jacket. "Of course. Accept my congratulations on your betrothal, Lindley. Miss Martin is utterly charming."
"You soil her by speaking of her," Marcus snapped. "Beware lest I call you out for your impudence."
Now she was truly alarmed. Something about this dark, mysterious man made her think that he would be more than Marcus's match. "This is insane, Marcus!"
"Come with me." His hand tightening cruelly into her forearm, Marcus all but dragged her back into the bungalow.
"I cannot believe your behavior!" Emmaline whispered furiously, wincing at the sudden brightness of numerous gas lamps and candelabras. "How could you behave so boorishly!"
"How could I?" Marcus growled, pulling her around to face him. "Do you know who that man is? Do you know?"
"Stop shaking me!" she snapped, yanking away. "What has come over you?"
"That is my cousin," he managed, his face purple. "That is the half-breed who would have the dukedom instead of me."
"That--" She stopped, understanding. "That man is Julian Sinclair?"
"One and the same," he said with bitter satisfaction...
"...But he didn't seem Indian," she whispered to herself.
"Of course he didn't!" Marcus exploded. "The Duke has done everything in his power to make Sinclair seem British. Eton, Oxford, even a seat in the House of Lords, for heaven's sake. But while a man can ape his betters, he can't change his blood. Oh, no! And the proudest title in England is soon to go to a half-breed mongrel, if I don't do something to stop it!"
She looked back to him, stunned. "Marcus, you sound so… so hateful."
He stared at her, his mouth thinning into a grim line. "Is that so?" he finally sneered. "Think, you've only been here for five days, and already you're starting to pant after the natives. What would your parents say?"
She winced, snaring a glass of champagne from a passing footman. "That is cruel."
"But true," he said coldly. "Even in death, they knew the honor of being Martins..."
***
Without further ado, I introduce you to Meredith Duran, whom I had the privilege of interviewing recently.
Meredith, I assume that a love of writing is in your blood from way back. What inspired you to write the story you did? The period, the era, the genre? I'm asking if in some way your choice of Romance topic coalesces in some way with your PhD studies?
Well, it's true that I have always loved to write, even before I could grasp a pen. I remember making up poems while in preschool to dictate to my mother, for the thrill of how they looked when she wrote them on a page. I'm working toward a doctorate in sociocultural anthropology, which ultimately combines writing with two other of my favorite things: travel and research!
Is this your first manuscript in Romance or in any other genre?
Nope, that honor would go to a ridiculously long-winded fantasy novel that I produced when I was a melodramatic fourteen year old. Rest assured, I have no plans to do anything with it!
Have you had other writings published? Non-fiction or poetry?
The Duke of Shadows is my first publication.
Do you plan to continue writing Romance when your PhD is completed?
Absolutely. I think authors like Eloisa James and Madeline Hunter, both of whom are professors, prove that it's possible to balance the two careers. In fact, I'd bet their academic writing only profits from the fact that they spend their evening hours writing genre fiction. Academic prose so often tends to be convoluted and opaque. I think this is a real shame, and works to make our scholarship less relevant and accessible than it should be, or than we want it to be. My hope is that by dividing my energy between academic writing and genre fiction, the clarify I strive for in the latter will rub off on the former!
I would be interested in learning more about your graduate studies.
I grew up reading omnivorously, everything from teen fiction - Christopher Pike and Lois Duncan - maybe this is why I love paranormals - to nineteenth century classics like Dickens, the Brontes, Austen, and Twain.
My next two novels are set in the late nineteenth century, so I've been revisiting Henry James, and also discovering some novelists who are new to me, but were hugely popular in England at the time they were writing. On my bedside table I've currently got The Odd Women and In the Year of the Jubilee by George Gissing, and Marie Corelli's A Romance of Two Worlds.
I can recommend The Odd Women wholeheartedly. It's a fascinating and very well-written novel about ideas of "the new woman" in 1890s London.
Did you write as a young child?
All the time. It was a family tradition to go on cross-country road trips every summer (with two other siblings, I grew up thinking that National Lampoons Summer Vacation was, in fact, a documentary), and the only entertainment I needed was a pen and notebook.
Later, my dad got a word processor. It was a WANG. So old-school! I can still remember how the print looked on the monitor, green lettering against a black background. I would sit there and watch him type on it, and think to myself that *this* was what real writing looked like. One day, perhaps tired of me mooning about, he offered to let me use the WANG. I wasn't quite sure how to type, but I figured it out as I went (thus accounting, to this day, for my effective but wholly bizarre our-fingered approach
Soon I had a rocking story about Cinderella. Unfortunately, I failed to back it up, and the WANG had a meltdown. I will never forget my feeling of utter devastation as my father explained to me that my magnum opus was forever lost.
Shortly thereafter, my parents got me a typewriter. Best gift they ever gave me!
Are others in your family of a literary or academic bent?
My dad published a western when I was very little, and funnily enough, a contest was also involved. But his story is even crazier, insofar as my book, The Duke of Shadows, was completed by the time I learned of the First Chapters competition. My father, on the other hand, had no manuscript when he heard of the upcoming contest for westerns. He'd never written a novel in his life. But he was a huge fan of the genre, so he decided to sit down and give it a go. Five weeks later, he had a manuscript. It didn't win the contest, but it was snapped up by a publisher shortly thereafter. I'm not sure why he never wrote another novel! He's an amazing writer and a very creative thinker, and I would love to read more from him.
If you had your life to live all over again, what would you change?
I know this is a horrendous cliche, but I try not to regret the decisions I've made or the actions I've taken -- largely because I think that this sort of negativity is antithetical to the sense of wonder and hope that we need in order to feel inspired to write.
That said, if I could go back in time, I'd probably try to be nicer to my parents as a teenager. I was hell on wheels!
Is there anything else you would like to add, Meredith?
Just a BIG thanks to the community that started it all, and an invitation to all of you to visit my website meredithduran.com and say hello! Oh, and if you like The Duke of Shadows, be sure to look out for my next two historicals, which will be published in summer 2009!
Thank you, Meredith! I will definitely check out those recommendations. I've just Googled them and they seem fantastic!
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Comments: 63
Good luck with sales, Meredith.
Well done, Kathryn.
Meredith
It is great to see so many people enjoying this article... I have about 20 romances I'm behind on reading, plus about 30 other books - none of which are affiliated with Gather - and then a few Gather related books I'm behind on.
Meredith did a fantastic job!
I readtwo chapters of this book but eager to know rest of the facts and things...I was more interested to find out an Indian background...This will hit the store...
Judi, yep, I'll be at the RWAs this summer. It would be great to finally meet!
dukeofshadows
Maryanne
maryanne - thanks for enjoying.. I will be buying it soon.
Thanks Wendy.
Thanks Ramzy....and Jesscia.
Meredith, best of luck with the sales of this new book.
I will be reviewing this book this weekend or next weekend.