About Me
Saralee Etter always knew that writing was the only career for her. Writing down the stories she imagined in her day-dreaming moments seemed like the perfect job.
Instead, she wrote other things: Newspaper articles, public relations releases, legal briefs. After working as a legislative analyst for a state-wide trade association, she worked as a local weekly newspaper reporter and a public school district communications coordinator.
Now Saralee is writing the stories that she dreamed up so long ago. She enjoys history, romance, adventure, and mystery. She has published two full-length traditional English Regency romance novels and two Regency-set Christmas romance novellas.
Her latest work is Her Wild Irish Rogue, an exciting tale of love and adventure in Paris just after the fall of Napoleon in 1815. The hero, swashbuckling Captain Stephen Killian, is modeled on the legendary Irish warrior CuChulainn. In the Ulster Cycle, CuChulainn falls in love with and marries the beautiful and talented Emer, daughter of Forgall the Wily. In Saralee’s book, Emer has become Miss Emma Forgall. Sparks fly between the two, just as with their legendary counterparts.
After completing her current work-in-progress, a Weird Western tentatively titled GrannyQuest, she will go back to working on a Victorian-set cozy mystery featuring Gilbert and Sullivan.
On January 2 & 3, 2018, Saralee appeared on the well-known TV quiz show, Jeopardy! She had a blast, and wrote about it here.
6 Comments
Sherry
Just saw you on “Jeopardy” and was impressed with your knowledge. Also liked your personality.
Administrator
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed.
Tom Lund
Thank you for providing an answer to my thought on which came first with G&S, lyrics or music. I am always amazed how the rollicking, topsy turvy world of G&S can have such tender moments, like the Sun whose rays or Ah, leave me not to pine. They had such range, from songs about hammers and magnets to the heart ache of separation.
Richard Duployen
Thanks very much for reminding us about Gilbert’s indebtedness to his Bab Ballads for ideas in the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.
He was also widely influenced including “Ruy Blas” (drama) which he made a funny burlesque out of, and its sequel “Don César de Bazan”. Recently I wrote an article of how the latter obviously has pre-echoes of “the Yeomen of the Guard” plot.
Of course operettas contain contrasting ideas including pathos. If there is more realism/pathos and less satire it’s opéra-comique.
Thanks as well for “Cox and Box” and Sullivan’s dealings with the Scott-Russells.
I’ve seen the school next to Holland Park, the site of Moray Lodge.
I’ve ordered published letters of the young George du Maurier (caricaturist and author). He played Box (tenor) which I’ve played, unfortunately in the D’Oyly Carte travesty version. It’s over-cut and the vocal-lines and ranges are changed.
I’m very interested that Wikipedia describes Bouncer as a counter-tenor. This isn’t explained. John Foster was also the musical director.
As Andrew Lamb found out, the Triumviretta is based on a farce based in turn on two French farces.
tlovertonet
I like this blog very much, Its a rattling nice place to read and obtain info . “There’s nothing I’m afraid of like scared people.” by Robert Frost.
Amelia Mill
Hi Saralee,
I just finished Her Wild Irish Rogue, and I absolutely loved how you blended intrigue, romance, and wit against the glittering backdrop of post-war Europe. The chemistry between Captain Killian and Emma was electric—their partnership full of both tension and trust, which made the story impossible to put down.
What stood out most was how you captured the emotional cost of loyalty and deception during such a turbulent time. It added such richness to the romance and made the danger feel real. It’s the kind of story our readers’ club loves—historical romance with heart, courage, and just the right touch of adventure.
I would love to share a bit about how we highlight books like Her Wild Irish Rogue in our community of readers and romance enthusiasts. Would you be open to hearing more?
Warm regards,
Amelia Mill