Ten Things You Didn't Know About "The Duke's Obsession" by Frances Fowlkes
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Ten Things You Didn’t Know About “The Duke’s Obsession”
1. My hero, Edward, is named after Edward Cullen in the “Twilight” series. It is my little homage to “Twilight” and the obsession I had with the story when I first started writing my character. Actually, obsession is an understatement. I have Robert Pattinson’s autograph. Framed.
2. Edward is a secondary character in my very first book that will remain under my bed indefinitely. I enjoyed writing Edward’s character so much, I thought he deserved a book of his own.
3. Daphne’s original name was not Farrington, but Gale. I changed it after my critique partner said “Daphne Gale” sounded too much like “Dorothy Gale” from “The Wizard of Oz”. After searching through early American surnames, I came across Farrington and the rest is history. (Oh, see what I did there---get it, history, I write historicals…yeah.)
4. Although it is not released as a series, characters from “The Duke’s Obsession” are set to be in my next and future novels. Lord Colwyn, a gentleman in attendance at the country party at Thornhaven, is the hero of my next book, “Miss Winters Proposes”.
5. Daphne’s obsession with numbers stemmed from my hatred of them. Mathematics and I do not mix, so I thought it would be fun, and a little bit of a challenge, to write a character who is my scholastic opposite.
6. The scene in Fanny’s Confectionary/Treat Shop was added in the second to last round of edits. It was suggested by my editors to beef up the romantic tension between Edward and Daphne. I think it is quite possibly my favorite scene between the two. I giggle (and thank my editors) every time I read it.
7. Thornhaven is actually the name of a housing development by my house. I liked the name so much, I stole it. (And I did it again in “Miss Winters Proposes”).
8. I didn’t intend on leaving the title “The Duke’s Obsession”. I originally came up with the title on a whim for a contest, thinking it would change when it got published. After all, every other author told me it would be changed by the publisher. Why would mine be any different? Guess what? I kept the original title. And I’m happy I did. It fits.
9. I have never read Thomas Paine’s “The Rights of Man”. I didn’t even know what the book was about until I did a search on American political treatises. I have, however, read “Kubla Khan”. It was required reading for my college English class. Well, so was “The Rights of Man” but a college student only has so many hours and “Kubla Khan” just sounded more interesting. Priorities, my friends. Priorities.
10. It took over three years to write “The Duke’s Obsession”. It has undergone extensive edits and some serious growing pains, but in the end, it was worth every last minute. I hope you enjoy the book!
Frances Fowlkes lives in South Carolina with her high school sweetheart, three red-headed sons, and a spoiled standard poodle. When not writing about ardent heroes or strong-willed heroines, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing with makeup, and planning her next vacation.
London 1818
An American Heiress Who Must Swallow Her Pride
Miss Daphne Farrington despises three things: England’s dreary weather, the grimy streets of London, and most especially the English aristocracy. Despite her misgivings, she must persuade the very English Duke of Waverly to save her family shipping business. If only she could ignore the way he makes her pulse race whenever she’s near him.
A Duke Who Must Overcome Her Prejudice
Edward Lacey, the Duke of Waverly, is convinced that the lovely Miss Farrington, with her penchant for numbers, is the woman he’d like to make his Duchess. But unless he can convince her that not all English lords are callous, calculating rakes, a dark secret will ruin his chance at happiness.
