Why do women who break the rules always seem to suffer in Victorian novels?
Don’t get me wrong. I love the classics. The Awakening, Madame Bovary, Vanity Fair, The House of Mirth, and Washington Square are just some of my all-time favorites. I love the richness of the era, the lush writing, and the unique challenges created by that stratified society.
What I don’t love is that heroines who go against the grain don’t seem to get a happy ending.
It isn’t fair, and I don’t even think it’s true. Women — and men, too — who have the courage to follow their heart and their dreams can be happy. In fact, those are probably the only people who will ever find true happiness.
When I began writing the story that has become THE GIRL ON THE MIDWAY STAGE, I didn’t know exactly how it was going to end, but I knew this: The woman who broke the rules and followed her heart was going to get a happy ending.
I’ll share more inspiration tomorrow. In the meantime, check out my Inspiration board on Pinterest.
ENTER TO WIN A FREE SIGNED PAPERBACK!
THE GIRL ON THE MIDWAY STAGE is a lush historical novel rich with authentic period detail, discovery, and romance that will sweep you up in Dora’s struggle to understand herself, her quickly changing world, and her own unique journey to happiness.
Book photos by DeAnna Cameron.
