Support for Indie Authors discussion

In Victorian England, Private clubs were all gentlemen clubs. I have created a private Club called The Kensington. It is a private club that allows unescorted women. My heroine is a member of the Ministry of Domestic and Foreign Affairs, a non-existent spy agency. Should I publish or change it? Changing it would send me back to square one. Thoughts?

My book description is in the Blurb workshop. The book is "M'Lady's Gentlemen" The series is "In Her Majesty's Service".

Thanks
Gene Poschman

Help me out, here. WHY are you considering changing it? WHAT are you wanting to change?

Like Dwayne asked, why are you thinking you need to change it? to me, it sounds interesting and if you're happy with it, why change anything?

Margaret wrote: "Like Dwayne asked, why are you thinking you need to change it? to me, it sounds interesting and if you're happy with it, why change anything?"

Exactly. Gene, as others are pointing out, this is your world. Play with it as you wish. If you're satisfied with the results, keep it. If you're not happy, change it.

Lautréamont (1846-1870)


"The history is a novel that was; the novel is history that could have been."

Dwayne et al,

I have a friend who says having a woman enter a private club does not work for her. I was aware that women were not allowed in "Men's clubs" of the period. So I created "The Kensington" a Private club that was exquisite and notorious because it allowed women in the club unattended.

Thank you all for your responses. I had a temporary lapse, forgetting that is is my world after all. There will be people who won't like my departure from history. Well, you can't please everyone.

Gene Poschman

Gene wrote: "Dwayne et al,

I have a friend who says having a woman enter a private club does not work for her..."

And... that will continue to happen, no matter what. If you have your female spy dress as a man and enter a gentleman's club, someone will say they aren't buying it. If you move the crime she's investigating to some other place, someone will say they don't care for it. No matter what we do, we will not appease all readers. So, it's best to remember, this is your playground and your rules.

Dwayne,

Thank you, for reminding me, I am the storyteller.

Gene

Gene, this actually only made me want to read the book more. :)

Well, I am back, and I may have a solution that works for me and some of my Anglophile friends.

I have not done this yet because my editor has the book. He does two passes and I do three. Our agreement is to wait on the other before picking up the gauntlet so to speak. He is on his second pass. It won't take much, but I can change the Kensington into a Hotel with restaurant and Gaming salon.

Thought I would take a poll first.

Thank you for your responses.

Gene Poschman

Don't change a thing... History is made by the people who write it, not by those who lived it. The Kensington lives because you say so, it's a primary plot mover as I understand it. Go with your hunches, and who knows, someday, some erudite historian may discover a real Kensington buried in the secret histories of London. JM(no so)HO

If I can stick my nose in for a sec, I'd like to echo what other people have written, Gene.
Actually, your post would form a good starting point for the 'blurb' on the back cover/ Amazon description of your novel. I was only 'skim-reading' my dozens of notifications, but when I started reading your post I was intrigued.

CB Matson and Alex, thank you for your input.

I have made some changes that satisfy the historical angle and I have been able to work it into the plot a bit better. My editor approves. This is a new genre for me and a different narration style. The Jonas Watcher Series is written in the first person while this series is written in the third person. I'm waiting on feedback from alpha readers.

Gene