Last week, I shared my vision of my next hero, Philip SInclair. Today it’s his leading lady’s turn. My fictional character  India Hartley is based on Frances Ann “Fanny” Kemble– a real life  19th century stage actress who married a Georgia plantation owner in the 1830’s. Fanny was described as beautiful, talented and so popular that students at Harvard cut classes to attend her performances at theaters in Boston.

Theater life back then was a hard life marked by uncomfortable travel, bad food, unscrupulous managers and other hardships. I needed a heroine who was not only beautiful and talented but smart and tenacious, too. When I saw this photo of Willa Holland, formerly the most popular child model in the US, she looked very much as I imagined India as I was writing her story.

I hope you will look for India and Philip next year. For now, I’m gearing up for the release of A PROPER MARRIAGE next Tuesday, and for THE BRACELET in November. Exciting times ahead. I feel  lucky to be able to work at what I love–bringing the past to life through stories filled with history, mystery, and romance.