She Met Him Again by Shooting Him

Worst. Meet-cute. Ever.

When Miss Phoebe Sauber misfires an arrow at an archery tournament, it pierces a sheet of paper held by a former spy—revealing a symbol tied to murder, betrayal, and a secret society plotting against England.

That moment begins Lady Wynwood’s Spies, a Christian Regency romantic suspense series set in 1811 London where aristocrats hide secrets and faith is tested against powerful adversaries.

Because this first volume launches a 12-book saga of espionage and redemption, I created a Special Edition hardcover worthy of the story’s beginning.

---

A Collector Edition Designed Around the Story

If you’ve seen the regular paperback of Volume 1: Archer, you’ve already met Phoebe, who is steady, unflinching, and capable of beating up two-bit thugs before breakfast.

If you’re curious about how I created Phoebe—and the inspiration behind her strength—you can read the story behind her character here.

For the Special Edition hardcover, rather than repeating the original cover exactly, we created something more timeless.

---

The Dust Jacket: Symbolism in Every Detail

The hardcover dust jacket features:

• A refined new title treatment
• A silhouette of Phoebe, based on a different stock image of the same model
• Two symbolic objects behind her

The pocket watch represents the one Phoebe discovers, which connects her uncle to a treasonous secret society.

The longbow reflects her skill as an archer, which becomes pivotal throughout the series.

The design reflects the moments that change her life and set the conspiracy in motion.

A Reversible Jacket (Two Ways to Display the Book)

This Special Edition hardcover features a double-sided dust jacket.

On the inside of the jacket, you’ll find:

• A variation of the Special Edition paperback artwork
• A different title treatment
• And instead of a traditional back-cover description, an additional portrait image of Phoebe

This allows readers to choose how they display the book: the elegant silhouette or the more detailed photo design.

It transforms the book from a static object into something interactive.

Beneath the Jacket: Cloth and Gold

Under the dust jacket, the book itself is cloth-bound with the title stamped in gold foil.

The goal was to create something that feels like it belongs among classic Regency volumes, a book that looks at home beside leather-bound favorites.

---

Sprayed Edges: Beauty Even When Closed

When the book is closed, you’ll see digitally sprayed edges featuring a scroll motif.

This design coordinates with the Special Edition paperback of Volume 1, visually tying the editions together.

Even before you open it, the story feels elegant and graceful.

---

Inside the Pages: Where Craft Meets Story

The interior of this hardcover is where the design truly reflects the narrative.

Full-Color Title Pages

The book opens with color title and half-title pages—a visual signal that this is a collector edition.

Two Distinct Margin Designs

Inside the...

Read the whole entry »

If you love beautifully designed books—especially collector hardcovers with elegant artwork and a dash of Regency intrigue—welcome!

I’m Camille Elliot, and I write Christian Regency romantic suspense: think Pride and Prejudice meets Mission: Impossible, with spies, slow-burn romance, and a thread of faith.

My ongoing series, Lady Wynwood’s Spies, follows a group of aristocratic spies uncovering a dangerous conspiracy in Regency-era England.

You don’t have to know the books yet to enjoy this post—today I’m taking you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Special Edition hardcovers and paperbacks I’m creating for the series.

We’ll look at:

• why these collector editions exist in the first place,
• how Kickstarter makes them possible, and
• what makes each Special Edition feel extra special on your shelf.

Whether you’re completely new or you’ve been reading the series for years, I hope you’ll enjoy this peek into the visual world behind the books.

Why Hardcovers? Why Kickstarter?

Readers frequently ask why the Special Editions are released through Kickstarter, and the honest answer is simple:

Hardcovers are expensive to produce—but they are absolutely worth it.

Kickstarter allows me to:

• create lavish collector hardcovers
• offer full-color interior designs
• include unique art and symbolism for each volume
• release them in small batches that won’t overwhelm readers’ budgets
• offer matching sets over time

My hope is that each campaign feels like a joyful collecting experience for fans of the series—and a fun way for new readers to jump in with a beautiful edition of Book 1.

A Peek at the Collector Hardcovers (Books 1–2)

The last Kickstarter funded the creation of these hardcovers in the series:

• Volume 1: Archer
• Volume 2: Berserker

These hardcovers were the star of the campaign. Many readers chose just Book 1 to try the series, while others opted for a matched pair of Volumes 1 & 2.

Each hardcover features:

• Gorgeous full-color reversible book jacket with new cover on one side and a version of the Special Edition paperback cover on the other side
• Cloth-covered hardcover binding
• Color title page and color half-title page
• New interior formatting with pretty decorative interior borders and scene dividers
• New 2-page color chapter header graphics
• Colored endpapers
• Stunning digitally-sprayed color exterior page edge design
• My signature in each book
• Backers’ names in the acknowledgments sections of the hardcovers

These are very much collector editions—the kind of books you want to display on a shelf or keep within arm’s reach for rereads.

Future Hardcovers (Books 3–4 Coming Soon)

The next Kickstarter will feature:

• Volume 3: Aggressor
• Volume 4: Betrayer

And yes—backers will also be able to add on Books 1 & 2 in hardcover if they missed them last time.

This ensures you can build a matching hardcover collection over time without having to buy everything all at once.

What About the Special Edition Paperbacks?

Not...

Read the whole entry »

Here are the behind-the-scenes posts I’ve shared on Instagram. Click any image to read the full post.

🗝️ Two Spies. One Narrow Escape.

Read the full story in Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 1: Archer.

My Heroine Showed Up in a Neck Brace … (Available exclusively for Patreon members)

When a Regency Spy Falls in Love with a Lady Archer

Read about Phoebe’s first meeting with Michael in the series

Read the full chapter of the archery tournament

The inspiration behind a tall heroine

Read the full prologue chapter of Regency intrigue over tea.

Contemporary Romantic Suspense - Two Characters, One Publication Crisis (Available exclusively for Patreon members)

A Collector’s Guide to the Lady Wynwood’s Spies Special Editions

Regency romance—with more daggers, disasters, and dancing

My Character Thinks He Deserves a Fight Scene (Available exclusively for Patreon members)

Forbidden Music and Love in Regency England

An Entirely (Un)Reasonable Number of Images (Available exclusively for Patreon members)

Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 7 annotated edition

A Quiet Village, a Hidden Spy: Inside Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 7

Apparently I Have Ruined My Heroine’s New Year (Available exclusively for Patreon members)

Keriah brought cookies. Phoebe brought demands. (Available exclusively for Patreon members)

Sol Discovers a Terrifying New “Malady” … (Available exclusively for Patreon members)

💌 Prefer to ease into the series?

You can join my newsletter and get a free ebook copy of Lissa and the Spy, a romantic Regency mystery introducing another pair of spies in my world.

Reference Footer

This post relates to Camille Elliot’s Lady Wynwood’s Spies, a Christian Regency romantic suspense series set in 1811 London and featuring intrigue, espionage, botanical alchemy, slow-burn romance, and themes of faith and redemption.

• Lady Wynwood’s Spies Series Reference Page

• Reading Order: Lady Wynwood’s Spies Reader Journey Roadmap

Every story has a beginning.

This one did not go according to plan.

🫖 Worst. Meet-cute. Ever.

The Lady Wynwood’s Spies series starts with Volume 1: Archer, the first installment in—

“Yes, Miss Sauber?” I ask.

Miss Phoebe Sauber, a character in the series, glares at me. It wouldn’t be quite so bad if she weren’t holding a bow and a wickedly sharp arrow. “Don’t ‘Miss Sauber’ me! You made me misfire an arrow!”

“Um … well, it’s called a meet-cute …”

“I don’t care what it’s called! I have never fired an arrow at a person in my entire life! And you made me shoot an arrow at Mr. Coulton-Jones, of all people! The one man in all of London who is even remotely tolerable as a dance partner!”

“Now you’re exaggerating. Mr. Collingworth wasn’t that bad …”

“All he talked about was his hunting dogs. And he has terrible taste in names for those poor creatures!”

I can’t really argue with her. I tried to convince him that Lickspittle Furrybottom was not dignified enough of a name for his prize hound, but he was rather set on it because the names were taken from the dog’s parents. Which makes me think the real villain here is his father, who named said dog parents. So, not my fault!

(It’s totally my fault.)

“You couldn’t have had me fire an arrow at Mr. Vernon? It would take him down a peg if I happened to blast a hole through his hat at fifty paces.”

“Remember, you’re shooting arrows, not dueling pistols.” But she’s right that Mr. Vernon is a touch insufferable.

Phoebe groans and drops the bow and arrow, burying her face in her hands. “It’s so mortifying! Now Mr. Coulton-Jones thinks my aim is terrible!”

“Actually, he doesn’t …”

She’s not listening to me. Pointing a finger at me, she declares, “You have to do something about this!”

I put my hands up. “Okay, okay. How about you meet him again at a ball?”

“What’s the point of that? He never dances with anyone, much less me!”

“How about I fix that, too?”

She eyes me suspiciously. “You can do that?”

“I’m the author! Of course!”

(Now I have to figure out how to fix that …)

To find out if I succeeded, check out Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 1: Archer:

A (dishy) ex-spy and a spinster botanist must find a murderer—with ties to both their families—whose uncanny alchemy could turn the tide against the war with Napoleon.

🕵️‍♀️ Christian historical suspense
❤️ Slow-burn romance
✨ A touch of the supernatural

Start reading Volume 1.

Or read the opening three chapters online.

If you’re new to the Lady Wynwood’s Spies world, you can start at the very beginning with Lissa and the Spy, a short prequel story available as a free read.

Thanks for continuing the journey with me!
Camy
(Author. Matchmaker. Accidental archery coach.)

Welcome! My name is Camille Elliot, and I write Christian Regency Suspense with slow-burn romance and a touch of the supernatural. Thank you for—

“Cut!” Lissa, one of my characters, shouts and stomps onto the stage.
I stare at her. “I’m not filming a commercial.”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re being boring.”
I shift uncomfortably, because she’s probably right. “Well then, what should I say? I’m writing a blog post for someone who doesn’t know anything about my books.”
“If you start with pleasantries, I will hide your tea,” she threatens. “All of it.”
I gasp in horror. “You wouldn’t!”
“Try me!”
“I was just going to ask readers to subscribe to my newsletter.”
“I shall topple into the shrubbery as I fall dead asleep on my feet.”
“Rude,” I mutter.
“Maybe start with an explosion. Or at least a hideous hat that ruins my reputation forever.”
“Your reputation wasn’t ruined,” I protest. “You were simply unfortunately overheard.”
“As I insulted a hat.”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t insult hats!” I tell her. (However, I admit she is likely right, because it was the same hat Lady Wynwood insulted in The Spinster’s Christmas.)
“I hope you warned them there’s kissing. And crime. And my mother.”
“That last one would scare them away.”
“Well, your books aren’t for faint-hearted misses, are they?”
She has a point.

Anyway—
Let’s try this again.

Hello! I’m Camille Elliot.

I invite you to join my reader list so that you can get things like:
✅ exclusive stories
✅ behind-the-scenes secrets
✅ and most importantly…
🎁 A free prequel novella to kick things off!
It’s called Lissa and the Spy, and it’s yours to download right now:

👉 Click here to download Lissa and the Spy
(No spy credentials required. But you might need your email address.)

What’s it about?

In her hunt for a husband of convenience, Lissa accidentally runs afoul of a secretive government agent—Lord Jeremy Stoude—who ropes her into his dangerous mission. Cue mistaken identities, societal sabotage, hidden wounds, and ahem, unfortunate bonnet abuse.

Here’s a peek inside…

⸻
Spring, 1807
London
If only she were allowed to open her mouth.
Lissa reflected that in all fairness, she was not prohibited from opening her mouth. She was allowed to drink champagne and eat the delicacies offered by the host of the ball. She was allowed to discuss the weather, she was sure. And her mother likely wouldn’t be disappointed if she discussed fashion with a young lady or gentleman. She might even be allowed to say something ignorant about Napoleon, as long as she accompanied her words with a smile and a giggle.
But she had been ordered—under threat of being sent back home even in the midst of the Season—to keep her tongue under control while in London. Lissa didn’t think her tongue was particularly out of...

Read the whole entry »

How to Start the Lady Wynwood's Spies Series (with Free Prequels & Bonus Extras) If you love Historical Romance with Unexpected Twists Lena's Diamond Shawl – A Free Knitting Pattern from a Regency Spy Novel A Wallflower's Slip of the Tongue – Free Regency eBook What Is a Brutus Cut? A Regency Hair Trend Inspired by Ancient Rome