When designing the world of my Christian Regency romantic suspense series Lady Wynwood’s Spies, I wanted a symbol—a mysterious emblem that would hint at danger, espionage, and a secret organization lurking behind the scenes.
What I didn’t expect was how personal that symbol would become.
📜 A Shadowy Mark
From the very first book in the series, a strange symbol shows up in the hands of characters and hidden in dangerous places:
– A torn image carried by the hero on Hampstead Heath– A secret letter connected to Napoleon’s aide
– A pocketwatch hiding more than just the time
By Book 4 (Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 4: Betrayer), the mystery deepens when a red wax seal with that very same symbol turns up—and readers finally get a glimpse of it on the cover.
💠 The Secret Origin of the Symbol
Here’s the twist: the symbol isn’t fictional at all. It’s my actual family crest.
I’m a 4th-generation Japanese American, and when I stumbled across this flowered mon, I knew it was perfect for my Regency-era spy saga. It’s elegant, unique, and full of symbolic weight.
Later, I discovered the crest features gentian flowers—and so I had one of my characters nickname the enemy network “the Gentians.”
You might even recognize the crest from my author logo—it’s on my website, and my designer cleverly incorporated it into the covers of my books.
🕵️ Bringing the Symbol to Life
When I was planning the cover of Volume 4, I asked my designer if she could create a red wax seal version of the symbol for the cover—just like the one the characters find in the story. She absolutely nailed it.
🔑 What Does the Symbol Mean?
So here it is, what I was envisioning when I created the symbol for my series’ nefarious evil organization. But since it’s my family crest, maybe it’s my nefarious evil organization? 😄
Want to see more Regency-era disguises and espionage?
This symbol is one of many hidden threads that tie the volumes in this series together. If you enjoy Regency intrigue, secret societies, and clever heroines navigating danger and romance, this might be a series you’ll love.
👉 Click here to read an extended excerpt from
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