Seven Minutes in Heaven debuted at #6 on the New York Times bestseller list!
Bookcode: seven
Mea Culpa, Seven Minutes in Heaven
- An early reviewer of Seven Minutes was the first—but by no means the last—to point out that Lisette’s mother is clearly mentioned in A Duke of Her Own as having died of a broken heart. I was trying to figure out what circumstances would produce someone like Lisette, and I came up with her mother, as portrayed in this book. All I can do is ask for forgiveness for disrupting my own universe.
- Abigail discovered that Chapter Forty should be labeled Fawkes House, not Fonthill. Fonthill, of course, is the house where Eugenia grew up, home to her father’s infamous house parties.
- Varsha pointed out a mistake on page 258, in Chapter 30. In the sixth line, Ward warns about Eugenia cursing in a ballroom, when, in fact, he’s worried that his sister Lizzie will blurt out naughty words in public.
- Numerous people wrote me about the fact that in Chapter Forty-one Ward seems to think that he’s distantly related to Viscount Herries when, in fact, as Villiers points out, the viscount is his first cousin. In the revised edition, he’ll simply answer “Yes,” when Villiers asks about their relationship.
- Candy asked why Eugenia is blaming French letters for her pregnancy, given that she had unprotected sex on the dining room table? The answer to that is clear! If one intends to be comfortable eating on that table in the future, the best practice is to instantly forget the whole event.
- Annie noted that on page 108 Eugenia doesn’t admit to Ward that she’s one of the richest “woman” in England, but of course, she should be thinking about “women.” And then (obviously having a numerical bent of mind), Annie added that given Villiers and Eleanor raised six illegitimate children as well as three of their own, on page 377 Ward incorrectly thinks the duke and duchess have only eight offspring. Tsk, tsk, Ward, you forgot a baby!
Inside Seven Minutes in Heaven
While it’s not at all essential for reading Seven Minutes in Heaven, it can be a lot of fun to go read about Eugenia and Ward when they were little. Teddy (or Ward) is a funny, adorable boy in Desperate Duchesses, the story of his father and stepmother. And Eugenia is a wise, eccentric little girl in Duchess by Night, the story of her father and stepmother.
As I said in my author’s note, Jarvis is based on my daughter’s rat, Teddy. He’s a golden “Dumbo” rat, which means he has larger-than-normal ears. He’s also a complete sweetheart, who gets along with everyone and everything. Here he is with a friend.
On a far racier note, the pornographic cigar box is real! I think the painting is very beautiful. The gentleman is very well-appointment (ahem), and I love the fact that the lady is taking care of her own pleasure.
I did a lot of research into trifles and other Regency delicacies while writing this book. Here’s a recipe for trifle, from Hannah Glasse, from 1751. This is one of the gorgeous recipe cards I had made up in celebration of Seven Minutes in Heaven. If you’d like the set of seven cards, please come to see me at any event! I made enough so I can give them out for years to come.
