Sarah, Duchess of York is to launch a Historical Romance Book Club with publisher Mills & Boon.
The ex-wife of the Duke of York, 62, released her first fictional historical romance novel, titled Her Heart For A Compass, with the publisher in August.
The book, which draws on Sarah’s own life journey and incorporates research into her ancestry, is a fictional account of the life of the duchess’s great-great-aunt Lady Margaret Montagu Douglas-Scott.
It was co-written with Marguerite Kaye, who has written more than 50 historical romances set in a variety of eras.
The duchess said: “I am so excited to launch a historical romance book club with my publisher Mills & Boon.
“Like them, I’m passionate about telling women’s stories, giving those who have been silenced a voice and promoting women’s literacy.
“Too often, women’s lives can be overlooked by history. In my debut novel Her Heart For A Compass, I brought one such woman – my great-great aunt Lady Margaret Montagu Douglas-Scott – to life.
“Now I want to celebrate other authors who are telling women’s stories. I hope that the book club readers will be entertained, enlightened and empowered by the novels that we are going to read together.”
She is due to publish her second historical romance novel, which will again be co-written with Kaye, in 2022.
It will “build on the world of Her Heart for a Compass”, Mills & Boon said.
Autumn walks with Her Heart for a Compass 🍃🍂
We are LOVING the colder weather and cosying up with this stunning book by @SarahTheDuchess and @MargueriteKaye!
Grab your copy here: https://t.co/bEEk847B8i pic.twitter.com/1t7XVmMmAi
— Mills & Boon (@MillsandBoon) October 24, 2021
The book club, due to launch on November 5, will see the duchess select one Mills & Boon historical romance title each month.
She will announce the selection on her social media platforms and provide details of the book throughout the month to encourage her followers to read along individually or with their own book club.
It was an honour to be @HenleyLitFest earlier today, talking to @NotRollergirl about my sweeping historical romance novel, HER HEART FOR A COMPASS, alongside my brilliant co-author @MargueriteKaye pic.twitter.com/jytT7ldPfD
— Sarah Ferguson (@SarahTheDuchess) October 7, 2021
The duchess, who has a life-long passion for historical research and telling the stories of strong women in history, will then share her thoughts on the book choice at the end of the month.
Publisher Mills & Boon said: “Sarah, Duchess of York is an authority in historical research and in telling the stories of women’s lives.
“The success of Her Heart For A Compass, co-written with Marguerite Kaye, proves her passion and expertise in historical romance.
“We’re delighted to partner with her on this book club and know it will bring new readers to the novels and writers that the duchess has selected”.
Her Heart For A Compass reached the top 10 on the Sunday Times bestseller list, but failed to hit the spot with some reviewers.