Category: Butterfly Games

Portrait of a woman believed to be Aurora De Geer and signed Viertel 1806

Axel von Fersen’s Last Days: Marie Antoinette, Jacquette’s Aunt Emilie, and the Real History Behind the Butterfly Games Prequel, The Marshal’s Warning

Posted on June 4, 2026 in Butterfly Games, Jacquette, Monthly Blog

If you have watched the BBC/Canal+ series Marie Antoinette—or seen it on PBS Masterpiece—you may have wondered about the handsome Swedish aristocrat who captured the queen’s heart. I’m Kelly Scarborough, author of Butterfly Games, a historical novel…

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Photo of Butterfly Games at Journey East Hampton

Butterfly Games in the Hamptons: Featured in James Lane Post

Posted on May 27, 2026 in Butterfly Games

This Memorial Day weekend in the Hamptons, the weather was perfect—for reading. And ducks. Fortunately, in collaboration with Bedside Reading, the East End’s finest luxury hotels treated their guests to copies of Butterfly Games in paperback, ebook,…

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Color Map Sweden 1815-44 showing sites in historical novel Butterfly Games by Kelly Scarborough

A Summer in Sweden (No Passport Required)

Posted on April 30, 2026 in Butterfly Games, Travel

You don’t actually have to travel to Sweden to wander its royal parks, step inside its palaces, or follow in Jacquette’s footsteps. Every summer, I start to feel it—that familiar pull toward travel. Longer days. Lighter evenings. The sense that somew…

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Portrait of Countess Jacquette Gyldenstolpe as a teenager

What if the scandal wasn’t the whole story?

Posted on April 30, 2026 in Butterfly Games, Characters, Jacquette, Newsletter

When I first came across Jacquette Gyldenstolpe, I wasn’t struck by what history said about her. I was struck by what it didn’t. Here was a woman who lived at the center of power in early 19th-century Sweden—a countess moving in royal circles,…

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Interview with Kim Monaghan of Books Uplift (1/2/26)

Posted on January 2, 2026 in Butterfly Games, Interviews

I joined Kim Monaghan of Books Uplift for an author Q&A about my debut historical novel, Butterfly Games, the research behind its Swedish royal setting, and my journey from law to fiction. We talked about the real historical figures who inspired…

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Graphic depicting a podcast

A Conversation About Following the Story and Butterfly Games

Posted on December 26, 2025 in Butterfly Games, Interviews

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Bryan Nowak for his video podcast All Things Writing, and it turned into one of those conversations that stays with you long after the recording ends. We talked about Butterfly Games, of course—but als…

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Larry and I are out to see #goldentempo run at Saratoga. I looked at a horse named Oscar, but kind of like in my historical novel, Oscar didn’t exactly cover himself in glory. #traversstakes

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Larry and I are out to see #goldentempo run at Saratoga. I looked at a horse named Oscar, but kind of like in my historical novel, Oscar didn’t exactly cover himself in glory. #traversstakes

She goes to the ball, and her worst suspicions are confirmed. Read Butterfly Games. It`s Jacquette`s story, based on a real countess who lived in early 1800s Sweden.

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She goes to the ball, and her worst suspicions are confirmed. Read Butterfly Games. It's Jacquette's story, based on a real countess who lived in early 1800s Sweden.

Did you know that Butterfly Games is out in audiobook? And it`s for sale right now on Audible. Get it now and enjoy hearing Jacquette and Oscar`s story narrated by audiobook queen @estherwane. Esther has performed many great historicals, both fiction and nonfiction, including by two of my favorite authors, @TracyBorman and @AlisonWeirBooks. Check it out here. Only $6.10 today if you buy from the Audible phone app.
https://www.audible.com/pd/B0GHSM4QBV?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=pdp

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Did you know that Butterfly Games is out in audiobook? And it's for sale right now on Audible. Get it now and enjoy hearing Jacquette and Oscar's story narrated by audiobook queen @estherwane. Esther has performed many great historicals, both fiction and nonfiction, including by two of my favorite authors, @TracyBorman and @AlisonWeirBooks. Check it out here. Only $6.10 today if you buy from the Audible phone app.
https://www.audible.com/pd/B0GHSM4QBV?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=pdp

Was the Butterfly Game real?

Yes—and no. 🦋

While researching the Swedish royal court for Butterfly Games, I came across the word fjärilsleken—literally, “the butterfly game.”

It was used in connection with fleeting affairs and lovers who moved frivolously from one object of affection to another.

I knew almost immediately that I had my title.

But the Butterfly Game in the novel became something larger: a game of love, marriage, gossip, information, family connections, ambition, and power.

And Jacquette discovers that useful information can be turned against anyone.

Even her.

I tell the story behind the title in my new Literary Titan interview.

🦋 Read the full Q&A at the link in my bio.

#ButterflyGames #HistoricalFiction #JacquetteGyldenstolpe #SwedishHistory #HistoricalFictionBooks #Bookstagram #RoyalHistory

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Was the Butterfly Game real?

Yes—and no. 🦋

While researching the Swedish royal court for Butterfly Games, I came across the word fjärilsleken—literally, “the butterfly game.”

It was used in connection with fleeting affairs and lovers who moved frivolously from one object of affection to another.

I knew almost immediately that I had my title.

But the Butterfly Game in the novel became something larger: a game of love, marriage, gossip, information, family connections, ambition, and power.

And Jacquette discovers that useful information can be turned against anyone.

Even her.

I tell the story behind the title in my new Literary Titan interview.

🦋 Read the full Q&A at the link in my bio.

#ButterflyGames #HistoricalFiction #JacquetteGyldenstolpe #SwedishHistory #HistoricalFictionBooks #Bookstagram #RoyalHistory

I did. I wrote Butterfly Games, Book 1.

Historical fiction set in late-Napoleonic Sweden, with royal scandal, forbidden love, dangerous gossip, and real people making seriously bad decisions.

A Swedish countess. A French-born prince. A palace full of enemies.

Read Butterfly Games. Link in bio.

#ButterflyGames #KellyScarborough #historicalfiction #bookreels #booktok bookstagram royalhistoricalfiction swedishhistory historicalfictionbooks napoleonicera

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I did. I wrote Butterfly Games, Book 1.

Historical fiction set in late-Napoleonic Sweden, with royal scandal, forbidden love, dangerous gossip, and real people making seriously bad decisions.

A Swedish countess. A French-born prince. A palace full of enemies.

Read Butterfly Games. Link in bio.

#ButterflyGames #KellyScarborough #historicalfiction #bookreels #booktok bookstagram royalhistoricalfiction swedishhistory historicalfictionbooks napoleonicera

Butterfly Games, Book 1.

A Swedish countess. A French-born prince. A royal court where no one escapes without a little damage.

For readers who like their historical fiction with scandal, politics, forbidden love, and real people behaving badly in beautiful ballrooms.

Read it now. Link in bio.

#ButterflyGames #historicalfiction #bookstagram #KindleScreenshots kindlereads royalhistoricalfiction swedishhistory

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Open post by kellyscarboroughwrites with ID 18011209019928525

Butterfly Games, Book 1.

A Swedish countess. A French-born prince. A royal court where no one escapes without a little damage.

For readers who like their historical fiction with scandal, politics, forbidden love, and real people behaving badly in beautiful ballrooms.

Read it now. Link in bio.

#ButterflyGames #historicalfiction #bookstagram #KindleScreenshots kindlereads royalhistoricalfiction swedishhistory

I love reading novels about real women in history who did amazing things. This Wednesday, join four of my favorite authors discussing their recent works. These are all great books for your historical fiction TBR. Register and get a chance to win a book bundle with all four signed books! Scan the QR code to register for the Zoom and giveaway.

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I love reading novels about real women in history who did amazing things. This Wednesday, join four of my favorite authors discussing their recent works. These are all great books for your historical fiction TBR. Register and get a chance to win a book bundle with all four signed books! Scan the QR code to register for the Zoom and giveaway.

Happy 250th birthday, America. 🇺🇸

And in the world of Butterfly Games, July 4 belongs to Jacquette and Oscar, too. It`s their shared birthday.

They met when they were quite young, and in the summer of 1811, both stayed at Drottningholm Palace, that glittering royal world of impossible futures.

For Jacquette, one look was enough.

She never looked back.

What began as a summer encounter became the kind of love people talk about for centuries.

Read Butterfly Games and discover how Jacquette and Oscar’s story began. Link in bio.

#ButterflyGames #historicalfiction #books #bookish #royalty #DrottningholmPalace #NapoleonicEra #romantichistoricalfiction

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Happy 250th birthday, America. 🇺🇸

And in the world of Butterfly Games, July 4 belongs to Jacquette and Oscar, too. It's their shared birthday.

They met when they were quite young, and in the summer of 1811, both stayed at Drottningholm Palace, that glittering royal world of impossible futures.

For Jacquette, one look was enough.

She never looked back.

What began as a summer encounter became the kind of love people talk about for centuries.

Read Butterfly Games and discover how Jacquette and Oscar’s story began. Link in bio.

#ButterflyGames #historicalfiction #books #bookish #royalty #DrottningholmPalace #NapoleonicEra #romantichistoricalfiction

I have happy book news: Butterfly Games*has won the Bronze Medal in Historical Fiction (Romance) in the 2026 Independent Publisher Book Awards!

The IPPY Awards honor independent publishing, and I’m so happy that Jacquette’s glittering, dangerous, late-Napoleonic Swedish world has received this recognition.

Thank you to every reader, reviewer, bookseller, librarian, blogger, and historical fiction friend who has helped her story find its way. I’m so grateful to all of you.

If you’ve been waiting for a reason to step into the salons, secrets, and dangerous games of Butterfly Games…visit my website to learn more. 🦋

#ButterflyGames #KellyScarborough #IPPYAwards #IndependentPublisherBookAwards #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalRomance #AwardWinningBook #Bookstagram #BookTok #IndieAuthor #WomenWriters

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I have happy book news: Butterfly Games*has won the Bronze Medal in Historical Fiction (Romance) in the 2026 Independent Publisher Book Awards!

The IPPY Awards honor independent publishing, and I’m so happy that Jacquette’s glittering, dangerous, late-Napoleonic Swedish world has received this recognition.

Thank you to every reader, reviewer, bookseller, librarian, blogger, and historical fiction friend who has helped her story find its way. I’m so grateful to all of you.

If you’ve been waiting for a reason to step into the salons, secrets, and dangerous games of Butterfly Games…visit my website to learn more. 🦋

#ButterflyGames #KellyScarborough #IPPYAwards #IndependentPublisherBookAwards #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalRomance #AwardWinningBook #Bookstagram #BookTok #IndieAuthor #WomenWriters

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