If I may be allowed to quote from Facebook, a couple of days ago, Inky Debra Marvin posted the following:
I miss Downton. There are few shows that captured me the way it did from the first five minutes. I made faces during a couple episodes, but I sure looked forward to each new episode.
I didn't respond, but the thought stayed with me as I tried to think of a show that I felt measured up to the way I also felt about Downton Abbey. I still can't. The show had a unique quality partly due to the historical setting which allowed a feast of fashion finery, but also because of the mysterious - to me - relationship between the upstairs gentry and the downstairs servants. I learned something new every show.
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| Downton Abbey Season 5 |
Yet it wasn't until today that I realized Downton must have rubbed off on me because my heroine in Sweet Love Grows, maintains a staff befitting an American heiress of an agricultural estate. I especially enjoyed writing the discourses between Amelia and Williams, her butler, while her time spent with young Charlie, the stable boy, never failed to touch my heart. Would it do the same for readers?
One reader emailed this week and said she wanted my novella to be longer so she could read more of those relationships. I like to believe I've handled them well enough to say I was a student of Downton Abbey.
But I'm treading water here, because there are at least four Inkies who are experts on the hierarchy of the nobility, the upper crust society, and those who serve them.
And speaking of...did you catch Inky Susie's post on Monday where she talks about her love of Regency Romances and in particular, her own Love Inspired release, The Reluctant Guardian? I can't wait until it's released in a few weeks.
What about you? Do you long for Downton Abbey like the rest of us? Or have you found something to replace it? Do share.
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Anita Mae Draper's historical romances are woven under the western skies of the Saskatchewan prairie where her love of research and genealogy yield fascinating truths that layer her stories with rich historical details. Her Christian faith is reflected in her stories of forgiveness and redemption as her characters struggle to find their way to that place in our heart we call home. Anita loves to correspond with her readers through any of the social media links found at
Readers can enrich their reading experience by checking out Anita's Pinterest boards for a visual idea of her stories at www.pinterest.com/anitamaedraper.
I'm just catching up with blogs. Sorry for the delay, as I saw this post title and thought, wow! I was just thinking about this... as you saw!
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty of good shows that I watch when I need a break (this is typically while I'm eating dinner). I end up watching a bit of this and that and never really falling in love. Downton spoiled me for other shows!
I really wanted to love Mercy Street, but I think they made a mistake by putting it on after Downton (on the same night). I'm going to give it a try again this year.
I enjoyed Victoria, but it was a lot like The Young Victoria. So far, I'm not obsessed with it, but I think Jenna Coleman is doing a great job.
The American Heiress Brides might be the next best thing to Downton! Thanks for a great post, Anita!
I miss Downton Abbey so much! It will always hold a special place in my heart. I hope readers of The American Heiress Brides who miss Downton will find it helps ease the ache a little bit!
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying Victoria. Deb compared it to The Young Victoria, which I loved, and I thought Rupert Friend was a fabulous Albert. But I digress.
So excited about your Barbour debut, Anita! Here's to many more of your stories in their collections!