This Crumbling Pageant by Patricia Burroughs

I understand being turned off by the idea of a relationship that began, innocently, when Persephone was too young, even though it didn’t progress as a love relationship until she’s old enough to be presented to the queen. Historically, matches were frequently made between young women and more mature men. And yet, I also didn’t shrink back in dismay. The plot required that moment, and that age difference.

I certainly wasn’t remembering Gigi when I was plotting the early part of my trilogy, when Persephone is smitten with Sir Robin Fitzwilliam and he sees her as a precocious young lady deserving of his protection and affection but certainly not a love interest. They first met when she was a young girl, and part of the fun for me was watching scenes like this one, and anticipating the moment when he would see her-really see her-for the first time as a woman. I just knew that I fell in love with the tale and several times since have watched it again, a bewitching romance in the old school way-a young girl raised to be a courtesan, who brings the hero to his knees both figuratively and literally. I had no idea what a courtesan was, or what Gigi was being raised to be.

I was a very small girl the first time I saw that lush, gorgeous movie musical describing a different world and a different culture from my own. I never consciously thought about Gigi when I was plotting and writing This Crumbling Pageant. Pooks, as she’s called, is here to talk about her latest book, This Crumbling Pageant–which has an interesting movie-related twist. I’m so pleased to welcome bestselling romance and epic fantasy author Patricia Borroughsto the blog today.

This Crumbling Pageant by Patricia Burroughs