You know, I think it’s time I shared the details of this wild year – the ups and downs, the laughs and the face-palm moments. Check back soon for more!

GIving GIRL ON THE GOLDEN COIN away free!

Girl on the Golden Coin Pear-Themed Gift Giveaway

Girl on the Golden Coin has been on shelves for two months now. Two whole months- yet they’ve flown, full of incredible experiences. I’ve visited fabulous bookstores in Indiana, Ohio, and Virginia. Family and friends have thrown parties (yes-plural!). Friends have shown up at events everywhere. I’ve received touching congratulatory gifts. I’ve met the most amazing readers. Readers have written me sweet notes. I’ve spoken to generous hosts on both television and radio. I’ve been welcomed on the coolest book blogs on the web. I cannot thank the world enough for treating Girl on the Golden Coin so well.

It’s been amazing, and I’m feeling deeply grateful.

My publisher has sponsored several giveaways already-I can’t even count how many books they’ve given away! Plus, I’ve passed out five hundred bookmarks, hundreds of chocolate-gold-coins, and given away dozens of little prizes here and there. Why? As a way to give back…and because it’s just fun!

Today I’m doing something different. To celebrate the two-month milestone, I’m giving away this Girl on the Golden Coin pearl-themed gift box!

To enter the giveaway, sign up for my newsletter! One winner in the US will be selected May 11th.

What’s in a Girl on the Golden Coin Pearl-Themed Gift box?

An autographed copy of Girl on the Golden Coin
Seventeenth century-style pearl drop and sterling silver earrings
Peace Pearl Candle from Aroma Naturals
Jasmine Pearl Tea from the Republic of Tea
Midnight Pearl solid perfume from Oriflame
Godiva Chocolate Pearls
Chocolate Gold Coins
Custom tasseled bookmark
Custom silver charm bookmark
A Frances Stuart-style gold scarf

Oh, if you’re already on my newsletter list, no need to sign up again! The winner will be selected at random from the entire list! Good luck!

I’ve always wanted to go at Christmas, and having the added excuse of wanting to visit my publishing house made this the perfect year to go. We toured all over up and downtown, hit the Top of the Rock, and paid respects at the 9/11 Memorial. I dragged my poor children through the Metropolitan Museum (“Mom this place is so inappropriate, there are naked people everywhere!”), braved the crowds around the tree at Rockefeller Center, and gobbled down cannolis with them in Little Italy. We had a ball.

Of course, a personal highlight was meeting my editor, her assistant, and my publicist for lunch at Almond (delicious) in the Flat Iron district, then getting an inside peek at the St Martin’s Press offices in the historic Flat Iron Building, where I also met my marketing manager and digital marketing manager.

Wow, was I impressed! Everyone was so friendly and happy, and yet able to turn sharply professional during moments when “business” popped into our conversation. I have this terrible habit of forgetting to take pictures when I’m having an especially good time. We hit it off so well, talking about random things like the merits of baking, human sonar, and Candy Crush addictions, that I just never thought to stop for photographic documentation. Gah!

While I don’t have pictures of my fabulous team and new favorites at St Martin’s Press, I did walk away with a sense of utter confidence in and an appreciation for the people backing my novel. Oh, and I did take this quick pre-meeting shot of the little bags of chocolate gold coins with GIRL ON THE GOLDEN COIN tags that I handed out. I have a feeling my readers may see more chocolate gold coins in the coming months!

Chocolate Gold Coins

Advance Reader Copies of GIRL ON THE GOLDEN COIN

This means my publisher is now sending review copies out to bloggers and trade reviewers…so on second thought…maybe I’m nervous about it!!! Actually, I’ve been so focused on my new novel, that I just realized my publisher has ALSO set up a giveaway on Goodreads! If you’re interested, hop over and enter to win one of fifty free copies! Good luck!

Girl on the Golden Coin, a Novel of Frances Stuart

My very first novel is about the seventeenth century beauty who rejected three kings and graced England’s coins for generations as the model for Britannia. It will release February 11, 2014 from Thomas Dunne Books / St. Martin’s Press. But I’m in the mood to celebrate this triumphant cover right now! Pre-order before the end of the week and comment on this blog post for a chance to win a pair of sterling-silver pearl-drop earrings like the ones Frances wears on the cover (be prepared to present your receipt).

FIND IT HERE:

Barnes & Noble

IndieBound

Amazon

Goodreads

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK

Impoverished and exiled to the French countryside after the overthrow of the English Crown, Frances Stuart survives merely by her blood-relation to the Stuart Royals. But in 1660, the Restoration of Stuart Monarchy in England returns her family to favor. Frances discards threadbare gowns and springs to gilded Fontainebleau Palace, where she soon catches King Louis XIV’s eye. But Frances is no ordinary court beauty, she has Stuart secrets to keep and people to protect. The king turns vengeful when she rejects his offer to become his Official Mistress. He banishes her to England with orders to seduce King Charles II and stop a war.

Armed in pearls and silk, Frances maneuvers through the political turbulence of Whitehall Palace, but still can’t afford to stir a scandal. Her tactic to inspire King Charles to greatness captivates him. He believes her love can make him an honest man and even chooses Frances to pose as Britannia for England’s coins. Frances survives the Great Fire, the Great Plague, and the debauchery of the Restoration Court, yet loses her heart to the very king she must control. Until she is forced to choose between love or war.

On the eve of England’s Glorious Revolution, James II forces Frances to decide whether to remain loyal to her Stuart heritage or, like England, make her stand for Liberty. Her portrait as Britannia is minted on every copper coin. There she remains for generations, an enduring symbol of Britain’s independent spirit and her own struggle for freedom.

ADVANCE PRAISE

“In her wonderfully evocative debut, Girl on the Golden Coin, Marci Jefferson recreates the fascinating story of Frances Stuart, whose influence over England’s Charles II became the talk of a nation. As vibrant and delightful as the woman it’s based on, Girl on the Golden Coin is a jewel of a novel!”

—Michelle Moran, national bestselling author of The Second Empress and Madame Tussaud

“Beauty is not always a blessing, as young Frances Stuart finds out when her lovely face pits her between the desires and politics of rival kings Louis XIV and Charles II. Frances makes an appealing heroine, by turns wary and passionate, sophisticated and innocent, as she matures from destitute young pawn to the majestic duchess whose figure would grace Britain’s coins for centuries. Her struggles to support her loved ones, uncover her family secrets, and somehow find a life of her own amid the snake-pit courts of the Sun King and the Merry Monarch make for lively, entertaining reading in this lush Restoration novel by debut author Marci Jefferson.”

—Kate Quinn, national bestselling author of Mistress of Rome

“Girl on the Golden Coin is a fantastic novel. I couldn’t put it down. The plot is fast-paced and compelling, with intriguing characters, lush settings and captivating narrative voice. Jefferson’s debut paints an intriguing portrait of Frances Stuart, a novel worthy of the determined, golden spirit of the woman whose face became the model for Britannia herself.”

—Susan Spann, author of Claws of the Cat

“Girl on the Golden Coin is a sexy, exciting tale featuring vivid characters, rich historical detail, scintillating court intrigue, and a complexly rendered heroine in Frances Stuart, Maid of Honor to the Queen of England, who will capture the reader’s heart — as will the man she loves, that rascal King Charles II.”

– Sherry Jones, author, FOUR SISTERS, ALL QUEENS

Tiramisu Trifle

Spring Break 2013 started with a Big Easter Bang and ended with Big Book News. Not much beats a family gathering with lots of delicious food. And what does a historical fiction author take to Easter potluck? Dessert with a history stretching back to seventeenth century Italy; a Tiramisu Trifle! As part of the This Writer’s Life category on my blog, I’m posting the recipe today. I promise it’s easy, because This Writer has kids and a nursing career and a house and there are just limits to what one woman can accomplish in a day!

And the Big Book News? Well, my debut novel has a new title! It’s still about the beautiful Royalist exile who rejected three of the seventeenth century’s most illustrious kings. But she also graced England’s coins for generations as the model for Britannia, which is why I’m proud to announce the new title here for the first time …

Girl on the Golden Coin,

a Novel of Frances Stuart

Now bear with me while I attempt to scrub out all mentions of the old title in previous posts. And update Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, my website, third cousins, and my mail carrier. Whew! All this excitement calls for celebration with another Tiramisu Trifle!

Marci’s Tiramisu Trifle

Ingredients:

packaged lady fingers (enough for 3 layers in your trifle dish)

two 8 ounce packages mascarpone cheese

two cups heavy cream

one cup sugar

one cup espresso

one or two cups semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips for chocolate curls

Instructions:

Layer the bottom of your trifle dish with lady fingers (I halved mine to get the edges closer to the curve of the dish). Brush espresso over the lady fingers (or use a turkey baster – the spongy cookies absorb liquid well). Stir half of the sugar and mascarpone cheese in a bowl. In a separate, chilled bowl, whisk heavy cream and the other half of the sugar together until stiff peaks form. Fold the cheese mixture into the cream mixture. Proceed to layer this mixture with the lady fingers (adjust according to the size of your dish, mine held three layers of each). Don’t forget to brush each layer of lady fingers with espresso. End with a cream layer and top with chocolate curls. Refrigerate until time to serve. Enjoy!

To make chocolate curls:

Melt chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second intervals. Spread into a thin layer on a cookie sheet and allow to harden. Use a metal spatula to scrape the edges of the chocolate away from you to form curls (this takes some practice, but even if it just flakes it will be pretty on top of the cream).

Historical cosmetics lovers, have no fear. My spring break travels took me to a wonderful museum exhibit in Cincinnati that I’ll share with you soon. Photos of ancient cosmetic containers may even be included!