Darling,
Today, Ash and the Butterfly leaves the vivarium, to flit all over the world into the hands of readers. I do hope that includes yours.
To set the table: Ash and the Butterfly is a steamy, witty, thoughtful Regency romance—that is, the era of Jane Austen and Bridgerton. It was first-runner-up in the 2024 RWA Hearts Through History Romance Through the Ages contest.
The tale is set in a science museum . . . that’s on fire on page one. It’s an enemies-to-lovers story about two fiercely intelligent people who dearly long to toss one another into a volcano, forced together to salvage the inaugural exhibition. Including deciphering crucial field journals that were kept in code.
Grace Chetwood, a lady with a reputation for frivolousness who also happens to be a brilliant mathematician, allowed me to explore how quick the world can be to reject seeming contradictions in a woman. To decide she can’t possibly be all that she is. (What modern scholars might call “demanding she pick a lane.”)
The truth, of course, is that it’s not contradictory or even unusual for a woman to be both attractive and intelligent. Gossipy and serious. Emotional and logical.
But even still, in 2024, our culture struggles with limited thinking about women’s multi-dimensionality. It’s something I think about a lot. So I wrote about it. About the people who don’t understand Grace, and one man who comes to—because he makes a concerted effort.
On a personal level, I wrote this book to cure myself.
I enjoy a busy career. And so, I recently had the privilege of experiencing profound, life-altering burnout.
After much soul searching, I came to the truth that for artists, it is vital to know what we love, and to invite it in exactly as it is, making generous space for it. To explore it on its own terms, without molding it to a market, judging it, or indenturing it to our other needs. To make time, by any means necessary, to make that art.
Ash and the Butterfly is the result of setting aside “work” (read: my craft for which I am paid) for play (art I simply wanted to make, for which I will be paid only if you buy the book, which is a terribly unsubtle hint).
Cheeky of me to mention, but it’s also an excellent book, per early reviews:
"The most refreshing historical romance I've read in ages. The writing manages to evoke all the feelings throughout: there's a scene near the end which made me snort-laugh and then almost tear up within a page."
"What an unexpected gem of a story! The tension between the MCs was perfect as they bickered their way into each other's arms... Our MMC here is a third son, an author and a scientist adventurer - and such a refreshing main man after all the gazillion dukes of historical romance.”
“‘Ash and the Butterfly’ by Lark Maitland is a delightful romance that strikes a perfect balance between heartwarming moments and tantalizing spice.”
Here’s an exclusive peek at a scene that does get rather spicy on the very next page (you’ll need to nab the book for that, of course).
Luke has just volunteered to call a truce for long enough to assist Grace with the tension of staying up all night in the library, trying to crack the cipher.
Do pick up a copy, won’t you? And let me know what you think.
LMxx
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