Author Interview with Madeline Hunter
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Today on the blog we have one of my favorite authors spilling the beans on her latest release. I fell in love with her The Rarest Blooms series and often find myself eradicated from a reading slump between the pages of one of her stories. Check out our interview below:
About the Author:
Madeline Hunter’s first romance was published in
June, 2000.
Since then she has seen twenty-four historical romances and one novella published, and her books have been translated into twelve languages. Over six million of her books are in print. She is a seven-time RITA finalist, and two-time RITA winner. Twenty-three of her books have been on the USA Today bestseller list, and she has also had titles on the New York Times printed list, Publishers Weekly list, and the Waldenbooks paperback fiction list. She has received two starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, and Romantic Times has awarded twenty-two of her books 4 1/2 stars. Madeline is a Ph.D. in Art History, and she teaches at the college level. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons.Find Madeline Online: Website | Facebook | Twitter
About the Book:
Most women will give him anything he wants. She is not most women…As a well-known barrister and the son of a duke, Ives confines his passionate impulses to discreet affairs with worldly mistresses. A twist of fate, however, has him looking for a new lover right when a fascinating woman shows up in his chambers, asking him to help save her father from the gallows. Unfortunately, he has already been asked to serve as the prosecutor in the case, but that only ensures close encounters with the rarity named Padua Belvoir. And every encounter increases his desire to tutor her in pleasure’s wicked ways...Having always been too tall, too willful, and too smart to appeal to men, Padua Belvoir is shocked when Ives shows interest in her. Knowing his penchant for helping the wrongly accused, she had initially thought he might be her father’s best hope for salvation. Instead, he is her worst adversary—not least because every time he looks at her, she is tempted to give him anything he wants…
Read an excerpt: here | Read a review at RT Book Reviews
Get Your Copy Today!
The Interview
RJ: Welcome and thanks for stopping by Not Another Romance Blog, Madeline! Congrats on your latest book, TALL, DARK AND WICKED (October 6, 2015 | Berkley/NAL). Could you give us the author’s cut of the book’s blurb?
MH: As a well-known barrister and the son of a duke, Ives confines his edgy sensuality to discreet affairs with worldly mistresses. A twist of fate, however, has him looking for a new lover right when a fascinating and unusual woman shows up in his chambers, asking him to help save her father from the gallows
RJ: Let’s get to know more about your Hero and Heroine (Ives and Padua). What are some of their flaws and positive qualities? What attracts them to each other?
MH: The sensible Hemingford brother, the lawyer with sage advice, Ives also has a volatile streak in him. When it surfaces, he is apt to throw the first punch. He has refined sensual tastes, and by that I mean erotic refinement. Think a few shades of light gray. He avoids real romance in his life, for reasons he never contemplates. Being a lawyer, he can be a bit preachy about the logic, or lack of it, behind others’ choices and activities, especially when it comes to his older brother the duke..
No one is more astonished than he is when he falls hard for Padua Belvoir, the daughter of a man he is expected to prosecute for a major crime. What he calls desire is actually more, and as the story progresses he makes choices that could ruin his reputation, and he risks all that he has built.
His most endearing qualities are his bond with his brothers and his willingness to defend criminals if he thinks they are innocent. On the other hand, his decision to become a lawyer---not totally unheard of for a man of his birth, but hardly appropriate and extremely unusual--- was mostly a way to thumb his nose at the eldest of the brothers, who died prior to the series beginning. At least he does not pretend it was anything other than an immature way to irritate someone he disliked!
Ives has a little list of the six essential qualities in a mistress, and Padua fits them all. Most significant is that she has what he considers the most important one--- loyalty. She stands by her father even as her father repudiates her. Among her virtues are things that her world and the men in it normally do not admire---She has always been too willful, too independent and too smart to appeal to men. She is perhaps too careless with her reputation, too, and even with her sole means of employment, and her habit of stating her mind’s thinking creates problems that she doesn’t need. She harbors a romantic streak in her, that prior to the book’s time got her into trouble at least once.
They are initially attracted by physical qualities. Even though Padua is not a typical beauty, Ives finds her quirks, like her unusual height, elegant and provocative. From their first meeting each intrigues the other as distinctive and interesting. There is the magnetism of equals meeting from the get-go.
RJ: Is there anything special you can share behind the inspiration for the book’s plot, characters, or setting? Also, did you incorporate any quirky research findings into the story?
MH: Ives’s character developed in the first book in the series. In the course of that book there is a little exchange/misunderstanding regarding which brother another man’s wife meant when, in a letter her husband found, she referred to her lover as Hemingford. Ives explains he never allows his mistresses to call him that. He much prefers they call him Lord and Master. With that line I saw an inner life for this secondary character, who, with his written contracts with mistresses, orders that part of his life as neatly as the rest. What, I asked myself, if he met a woman who makes his life very messy?
Padua is named after the city in Italy where her mother studied at the university and received a degree. There were several such cities in Italy where woman could obtain a higher education, and even teach. The history of those women and those institutions was very interesting to me, so I gave her this background and the dream, fading fast, of literally following in her mother’s footsteps. I chose the university in Padua because that worked as a woman’s name, where, for example, Bologna does not.
RJ: I understand that this book will be the second in The Wicked trilogy. What is the premise for this series and how did the idea for it come about?
MH: In my last couple of series, the males characters have had a bond, and their give and take while together, away from the ladies, was a lot of fun to write (and, I hope, to read.) They joke with each other, and there is a lot of good-natured male goading too. My editor suggested I consider a series that is male-centric. The men would need a connection, and I chose having them be brothers because an overarching plot point came to me, the event that serves as the catalyst for the first book’s beginning, and the final book’s plot. That plot required they be brothers, all sons of a duke.
RJ: What makes a good romances novel to you and who are your favorite authors?
MH: I like stories with stakes that require the characters to grow in their understanding of themselves, and each other. Also stories where the characters seem very real to me, and are experiencing the kinds of things real people experience, and processing it all that way too. I like there to be a meaningful secondary plot that brings them together and that weaves into the romance. I have enjoyed books by many authors, and have a long list of auto-buys, but some of my earliest favorites that I continue to read are Mary Balogh, Mary Jo Putney, and Amanda Quick.
RJ: What projects are you currently working on and what can we expect from you next?
MH: I am writing the third and last book in the trilogy, The Wicked Duke. When book #1 opened, the eldest of the brothers and the then current duke has died unexpectedly. There is a chance he was poisoned, and suspicion falls on brother number 2., Lance, who inherits the title. The Wicked Duke is his story, and revolves around that mystery and its solution, and the woman he pursues because of his need to clear his name.
RJ: Final Question: Let’s say your book gets its own PBS Masterpiece Classic adaptation; which actors and actress would you ideally cast to portray your characters?
MH: Wow, don’t I wish! For Ives, I would seriously consider James Caviezel and for Padua, Anne Hathaway.
RJ: Thanks again for visiting my blog and I can’t wait to get to know Ives and Padua better! Best wishes on TALL, DARK AND WICKED available 10/6/2015!
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I hope you all have enjoyed this interview and will get to know Ives and Padua through Hunter's latest release! What's your favorite book by one of Madeline's go-to authors: Mary Balogh, Mary Jo Putney, and Amanda Quick?
Author Interview with Emma Mars
Hey everyone! Today is a fun day on the blog. Debut-to-states author Emma Mars and I did an interview you have to check out! Her novel, HOTELLES, just released today with Harper Perennial and I've got all the juicy details on this one.
This steamy and romantic tale has it all! Without further adieu….
About the Book:
Paris, a hotel room, the middle of the afternoon . . .
So begins the story of Annabelle, a young escort in Paris who has accepted her final proposition before marrying the powerful and generous man of her dreams, media mogul David Barlet. But the mysterious handwritten notes she has been receiving—notes that detail personal fantasies no one could possibly know—don't prepare her for the fact that her new client is her fiancé's brother, Louie. Through visits to the Hotel des Charmes, where each chamber is dedicated to one of French history's great seductresses, Louie awakens Annabelle's body and her psyche, delivering her to heights of ecstasy and fits of passion.He pushes her beyond her limitations to tap into her deep seductive power—and she discovers that true freedom comes only when you fully surrender to desire.Funny, sensual, candid, and revealing, Hotelles is a titillating novel of mysteries and surprises by a radiant new voice.
Get Your Copy Today:
Amazon (ppb-trade) | Barnes and Noble (ppb)
Amazon (Kindle) | Barnes and Noble (ppb)
Interview:
RJ: Hey Emma! Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today. Firstly, congratulations on the release of HOTELLES (Harper Perennial; Original Trade Paperback; on-sale TODAY: April 8, 2014). You’re a new author for me and this appears to be a debut novel – Mind telling me and my readers a bit more about you as an author and your journey to publication?
EM:You’re right, this is my debut novel in the States, which thrills me a lot. But I already wrote a few books here in France (where I come from), in several genres, and under various pen names.
In a previous professional life, I was a journalist, and a photographer. But It appeared to me that I was more skilled to write my own (fiction) stories than other people's real lives.
RJ: What drew me to HOTELLES was the scandalous and intricate plot line the blurb hints at. It’s also part one of a trilogy. What is the book and trilogy about and where did the inspiration for the stories/characters/settings come from?
EM: HOTELLES is a romance, an erotica and a family saga at the same time. My goal was to mix all that up in a sole story, one thrilling and sensual cocktail. I hope the mix is convincing enough!
Annabelle, my central character, is an aspiring journalist whose mother needs expensive medical care—so Annabelle becomes Elle, a paid escort for one of Paris’s most exclusive agencies. When she meets high-flying businessman David Barlet and he proposes marriage, Elle thinks her problems are over, but they’re just beginning. David’s brother, Louie, is one of Elle’s past clients, and he’s not above blackmailing her. Meanwhile, someone is sending Elle anonymous erotic notes.
RJ: Escorts and fiancés brothers- Sounds pretty risqué! How/what was the research process like and did you learn about anything particularly outrageous you can share?
EM: I read and watched a lot about casual escorting and prostitution, which is a growing phenomenon in Europe, especially amongst young female students. Rental fares are so high nowadays that some of them do not find other solution to make ends meet each month. But I also found it interesting that Annabelle might have some romantic reason (she wants to offer a luxurious engagement watch to David) to do such thing for the very last time.
RJ: What do you value in a good novel and what sort of characteristics do you like to find in the protagonists?
EM: I value pace and cliffhangers, but most of all I need to feel that characters are not only puppets made up in a convenient way to fit in my script, but real personalities who live and feel the situations they are stuck in, just like we could live them you and me.
RJ: What is the best and worst part about living in France?
EM: France is a wonderful place to live… If you manage to forget that it is full of French people! I'm kidding, but some people here are very pessimistic, and grumpy, so sometimes it is hard to stay as open and as positive you'd like to be. Sometimes I think that I was born at the right time period, but not under the good latitude. If I live again, I think I would rather pick some place in North America !
RJ: What projects are you currently working on and what do the readers (and me!) have to look forward to next from you?
EM: I’m working on an historical drama, set during WWII, mostly taking place in Poland. Less fun than Hotelles, but also very thrilling, I hope. My other releases in the US this year are the two following volumes of the Hotelles trilogy.
RJ: Final Question: What is something shocking or interesting about you that the readers may not know?
EM: I smell everything. I’m mad about smells I like, whether this is a perfume or a natural flavor. I could kill to smell again something that I smelled only once, even years before.
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RJ: I would like to thank Emma for taking the time to sate my curiosity and whet the appetite for her delicious read! Check back tomorrow for my review!
Interview & Giveaway with Debut Author: Valerie Bowman
I've had the grandest pleasure of corresponding with and getting to know over the summer the fab author I am welcoming on the blog today. Her passion is evident and once you read her books, I am sure you won't be hearing "Who's Valerie Bowman?" very often! Get to know more about Valerie and her debut novel below in this entertaining author interview! So without further adieu:
About the Author:
Valerie has a B.A. in English Language and Literature with a minor in History from Smith College and has been writing and editing professionally for over 15 years. She is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), and a member of The Beau Monde, Regency special interest chapter.
Originally from Rantoul, Illinois, Valerie lives in Fleming Island, Florida with her rascally dog. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or watching Hoarders.
About the Book:
HOW TO STOP A WEDDING
Young, widowed, and penniless, Lily Andrews, the Countess of Merrill, has strong opinions on marriage. When she spots a certain engagement announcement in The Times, she decides to take action. She will not allow another hapless girl to fall prey to a man—particularly the scoundrel who broke her heart five years ago. Anonymously she writes and distributes a pamphlet entitled “Secrets of a Wedding Night,” knowing it will find its way into his intended’s innocent hands…
HOW TO SEDUCE A WIDOW
Devon Morgan, the Marquis of Colton, desires a good wife and mother to his son—someone completely unlike Lily Andrews, the heartless beauty who led him on a merry chase five years ago only to reject him. When Devon’s new fiancée cries off after reading a certain scandalous pamphlet, he vows to track down the author and make her pay. But when he learns it’s his former fiancée Lily, he issues a challenge: write a retraction—or prepare to be seduced—to find out how wonderful a wedding night can be…
Interview
VB: You know, at the risk of sounded a bit clichéd, it’s truly a dream come true. I began writing my first story on June 3, 2007 (yes, I remember the exact day!). It has been a long road filled with ups and downs. It still doesn’t feel quite real that my book will actually be in stores. I could not be more excited!
RJ: Why don’t you tell me and the readers a little bit about your debut book, SECRETS OF A WEDDING NIGHT? What’s it about and where’d the inspiration for your plot, characters, and setting come from?
VB: I’d love to! It is the story of Lily Andrews, a young, widowed countess who is rumored to have authored a scandalous pamphlet entitled Secrets of a Wedding Night. The pamphlet has frightened the ton’s young ladies away from the marriage mart. Lily soon meets her match when recently jilted Devon Morgan, Marquis of Colton, issues her a challenge: write a retraction or prepare to be seduced!
RJ: Let’s get to know more about your Hero and Heroine (Devon and Lily). What are some of their flaws and positive attributes? What attracts them to each other and what keeps them together?
VB: Lily is a bit stubborn. She’s super focused on her goal of keeping her little ragtag household together. She’s sensible, dependable, practical, but don’t call her ‘predictable!’ Devon is somewhat tortured by a promise he made to his father on his deathbed. He spends a great portion of the story trying to fulfill that promise. I think they’re attracted to those qualities in each other. Lily sees Devon as a bit of a good-time guy and Devon’s thinks Lily’s too rigid. They bring out the best in each other in the end.
RJ: This debut novel will also be the first book The Secret Brides Trilogy series. What is the premise for this series and how did the idea for it come about?VB: The Secret Brides have been so fun to write! The second story, SECRETS OF A RUNAWAY BRIDE (April 2013), is the story of Lily’s sister, Annie, who appears in the first book. Annie is convinced she’s in love with a certain man, but when she attempts to run away to Gretna Green with him, she doesn’t count on her new brother-in-law’s best friend, the Earl of Ashbourne, thwarting her plans.
The third book, SECRETS OF A SCANDALOUS MARRIAGE, is the story of Lord Medford, who also appears in book one. His heroine, Kate, is locked in the Tower of London accused of murdering her husband when the story begins. The trilogy just came about from that first title which I came up with long before I ever had a plot to go with it. : )
RJ: What were some interesting tid-bits you picked up while researching or something quirky that you incorporated into your story?
VB: One fun fact is that I discovered there are no raccoons in England. Ha! I found this out because there is a dog who looks like a raccoon in my story (based on my own dog, btw) and while I wanted to use the word raccoon, I had to insert a sentence about how the dog looks like the animal “the Americans” call a raccoon. Apparently there were raccoons on displays (like a zoo) at the time but no actual raccoons.
RJ: What makes a good romances novel to you and who are your favorite authors? Also, what drew you to the historical romance genre?
VB: Personally, I love a romance novel that’s all about the romance. There are no mysteries or complex subplots in my stories and to me that’s the essence of a great love story, just the hero and the heroine on the page together as much as possible, falling in love. Plus, I’m a sucker for great dialogue. Some of my favorite authors include Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn, and Suzanne Enoch.
As for what drew me to historical romance, I never really thought I was ‘qualified’ to write it. While I’ve always adored history and it was my minor in college, I felt like writing a historical romance would be too daunting keeping all those facts straight. But I found the stories in my head were all historical stories. Sometimes you just have to do what calls to you.
RJ: What projects are you currently working on and what can we expect from you next?
VB: Currently, I’m working on a set of novellas based on some of the characters from the Secret Brides trilogy. The first one will be out around February 2013.
RJ: Final Question: Let’s say your book gets optioned for a masterpiece classic film and they bring you in as a consultant. They need help casting your characters- Which actors and actress would you ideally cast to portray your characters in a movie/mini-series?
VB: In my head, Lily looks like Megan Fox. Devon looks like my own fiancé, Marcus (wink) and Annie looks like Ellen Page. I don’t have an actor for Jordan (the hero of book two, but trust me, he’s a hottie) and Medford and Kate are based on Jack and Kate from Lost so Matthew Fox for Medford and Amy Adams for Kate because she has red hair (yes, different from Kate on the show.) I’m still trying to track down Matthew Fox to ask him to be the model for the book 3 cover (grin).
RJ: Thanks again for visiting my blog and best wishes on this and future novels! I can’t wait to become better acquainted with Devon, Lily, and their story!
VB: Thank you so much for having me!
GIVEAWAY
Author Interview with Susan Mallery (Enter the Only Mine...All Mine Contest)
I am so excited to share with you guys this cool interview I did with an author loved by so many! I am new to her works, but I can't wait to dig in and find out more. Her Fool's Gold series chronicles the love lives of the those woman who brave the sparse population of men in the Fool's Gold area.
ALSO, congratulations are in order since ONLY MINE has reached #12 on the New York Times Bestsellers List in only its SECOND week of release!
ALSO, congratulations are in order since ONLY MINE has reached #12 on the New York Times Bestsellers List in only its SECOND week of release!
Please enjoy my chat with the stellar, Susan Mallery:
About the Book:
Her town’s lack of men may make headlines, but it isn’t news to Dakota Hendrix. The beautiful blonde has bigger problems to deal with, such as overseeing the romance reality competition filming in Fool’s Gold. Screening eligible bachelors is a difficult enough task, but Dakota hits an unexpected snag when a sexy stranger comes to town. Finn Anderssen will do anything to keep his twin brothers—the perfect contestants—off the show. Despite Dakota’s better judgment, she finds herself drawn to the mysterious outsider. Like her, Finn knows about heartbreak and how a family can fall apart, so she doesn’t dare to hope for anything more than a fling. After all, even in the Land of Happy Endings, finding true love is never as easy as it looks on TV.
The Interview
SM: I can’t wait for readers to return to Fool’s Gold! I love this town where the men are in short supply and the women are crabby… two facts that are not completely unrelated.
As for the characters, I adore Dakota and Finn. Dakota is smart, funny, and ambitious but still very family-oriented. She worked her tail off to get her doctorate as a child psychologist by a very young age, then returned to her hometown of Fool’s Gold to be near her family. She can’t imagine ever wanting to live somewhere else.
Meanwhile, Finn is a pilot from Alaska. When his parents died, he raised his younger brothers. Now they are just months from completing college – meaning Finn is just months from fulfilling his duty to his late parents – when his brothers both drop out and rush to Fool’s Gold, California to try out for a reality show. If Finn could physically force them to get back to school, he would. I love it when a take-charge man can’t take charge. What does he do, how does he react?
RJ: Why don't you tell me and the readers a little bit about Only Mine from the author's point of view?
SM: My job as a writer is to tighten the screws on my characters, to find ways to make their lives worse because, frankly, perfect lives are boring to read about. Because the Fool’s Gold books are lighthearted but emotional, I get to tighten those screws in both comical and serious ways, which is really fun for me as a writer. (And, I hope, fun for the reader because it provides a richer reading experience with both humor and emotion.)
In ONLY MINE, one way I made things worse for the beleaguered women of Fool’s Gold was to bring sleazy reality TV to town. They’re sick of being the butt of jokes as “the town with the man shortage,” and now their notoriety is going to be extended through a TV dating show. To mitigate the bad things that are sure to follow, the mayor asks psychologist Dakota Hendrix to serve as the town’s liaison with the show, interviewing potential contestants so she can reject the craziest of them and keep Fool’s Gold from looking foolish.
On a more serious note, Dakota is struggling with a secret that will change the course of her life, a secret so big that she hasn’t even shared it yet with her mother or her triplet sisters. Finn’s arrival in town just makes things more confusing for poor Dakota.
RJ: This release is the latest book in the Fool’s Gold series. What is this series' premise and how did the idea for it come about? Tell us all about the Fool’s Gold backdrop!
SM: Fool’s Gold, California is a quirky small town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The town is known for its festivals and parades, its warm, friendly people, its incredible scenery… and unfortunately, for its man shortage. The 2010 census revealed to the world that Fool’s Gold is a statistical anomaly, and no one is sure quite why.
Readers can learn more about Fool’s Gold by visiting www.foolsgoldca.com. Lots of great bonus content there, including some funny between-the-books stories, a free Fool’s Gold Family Recipes cookbook, a free knitting pattern, a free quilt pattern, and of course, excerpts of the Fool’s Gold books.
RJ: Did you pick up any interesting tid-bits while researching for the book and/or did you incorporate any unique elements in your story?
SM: Writing the Fool’s Gold books is a lot of fun for me because, since Fool’s Gold is fictional, I do “research” by creating new and interesting layers to the town. One of the things I did while writing this year’s books was to come up with a monthly calendar of the festivals in Fool’s Gold. (The town is known for its festivals and parades.) Pretty fun stuff. In Fool’s Gold, every festival has some sort of special twist. You can see the festival schedule here: http://foolsgoldca.susanmallery.com/festival.html
RJ: I love strong main characters, but having amazing secondary characters gives a book that extra “umph”. Give us the scoop on a notable secondary character in Only Mine. What’s their name, occupation, and a random fact about them?
SM: I’ll have to go with two characters because these two go together… kind of like bookends, actually. Sasha and Stephen Anderssen are the 20-year-old younger brothers of hero Finn Anderssen. They’re twins, of course, and just as gorgeous as their older brother, with dark hair and brilliant blue eyes. They’re young, handsome, and charming – so you know they’re going to be chosen as contestants on the reality show. Finn wants them to go back to college, but each young man has his own reason for wanting to get on the show. From early reviews, I can tell that readers are going to love Sasha and Stephen.
RJ: In a small paragraph, write the blurb to your life as it is-but exaggerated to how you ideally wish it were.
SM: Susan Mallery is the #1 New York Times bestselling author who has sold more books than JK Rowling and Nora Roberts combined!
RJ: What projects are you currently working on and what do the readers (and me!) have to look forward to next from you?
SM: ONLY MINE is the first of the Hendrix triplets’ romances. The other two triplets will fall in love in ONLY YOURS and ONLY HIS, which are due out in September and October. I think they’re two of the funniest stories I’ve ever written. There’s one particular two-word phrase that makes me chuckle every time I think of it. Can’t wait to hear how readers react.
As for what I’m currently working on… next year, three cowboy brothers will move to Fool’s Gold! Or should I say “move back?” They grew up there as the poorest kids in town. Now they’ve each made a fortune, and they’re back to take over the ranch where they grew up.
RJ: Picture this: Some major motion picture studio buys the film rights to Only Mine and want to make it into a movie. They bring you in as a consultant (since you wrote the book and everything-LOL). They ask you to come up with an ‘ideal’ cast list. Which actors would make that list?
SM: What a fun question! I decided to ask my fans at www.facebook.com/susanmallery for help with this one. (We like to play games like this all the time.) Someone suggested Sarah Michelle Gellar as Dakota (and therefore as Montana and Nevada, as well). Physically, she’s just about perfect, with her blonde hair and deep brown eyes, and she has a vulnerability to her that would work well, too. If we’re going to use her, though, we need to start filming immediately. She’s about 34 now, and the Hendrix triplets are 28.
Carrie Underwood was another fun suggestion to play Dakota. I think she’s adorable, and hey, then we could have Fool’s Gold, the Musical!
Several readers suggested Josh Duhamel as Finn. We’d need to dye his hair black, but I think he’d look pretty delicious as a brunette. Colin Egglesfield was a fun suggestion, too. Super sexy. Finn is 6’4” and a rugged pilot from Alaska, and Colin seems perfect for the role.
Only Mine...All Mine Contest Details!
The contest will be open to all Members of Susan’s website who sign-up for a chance to win. It will begin August 1st and will end September 1st, 2011. Once the contest has ended we will randomly drawone lucky winner. The one lucky winner will receive a signed “exclusive first look” at Susan’s new Fool’s Gold Christmas e-novella (so fresh it doesn’t even have a title yet) and a manshortage t-shirt.
For readers to sign up for the“ONLY MINE…All Mine” contest they must visit the contest page inside the MemberOnly lounge at: http://www.susanmallery.com/members/contest.php
If they are not already members they can become members by entering an email address and zip code.
Author Interview and Giveaway with Miranda Neville
I am ubber excited to share with you guys this great interview I did with an amazing author and a fast favorite of mine. She WOW'd me with her book 'The Dangerous Viscount' , which featured a Virgin hero, and now, it looks like another Virgin will make themselves notable in outstanding fashion with her latest book!
Please enjoy my chat with the lovely, Miranda Neville:
About The Author:
A few years ago I decided to write an historical romance. How hard could it be? Wrong. Several manuscripts under-the-bed (or deep in the hard drive) later, HarperCollins bought NEVER RESIST TEMPTATION, published in 2009 by Avon Books.
I now live in beautiful rural Vermont with my daugher Becca, a college student and confirmed drama queen, and two cats who are never on the right side of any door."Source
About the Book:
Being kidnapped teaches Miss Celia Seaton a few things about life
LESSON ONE
Never disrobe in front of a gentleman ... unless his request comes at gunpoint.LESSON TWO
If, when lost on the moors, you encounter Tarquin Compton, the leader of London society who ruined your marriage prospects, deny any previous acquaintance.LESSON THREE
If offered an opportunity to get back at Mr. Compton, the bigger the lie, the better. A faux engagement should do nicely.LESSON FOUR
Not all knowledge is found between the covers of a book. But an improper book may further your education in ways you never guessed.And while an erotic novel may be entertaining,
the real thing is even better
The Interview
RJ: Hello Miranda! Welcome back to Not Another Romance Blog! Congrats on the release of your latest historical, The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton (Book 3-The Burgundy Club series, July 26th, 2011, Avon)! How excited are you for this book’s publication? Does this book have special meaning to you?
MN: Tarquin, the hero of The Amorous Education, has been with me a long time. He was the hero's best friend in my first book, a work that will never see the light of day. I still wanted to write Tarquin's story so I transferred him, with some tweaking, into the Burgundy Club. I'm very excited that his book is finally appearing after such a long journey.
RJ: Why don't you tell me and the readers a little bit about what they will find when they crack open The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton?
MN: Tarquin is a dandy and a society leader who can be quite rude, especially to debutantes. He needs to be brought down, so I stripped him of his clothing and his memory and left him at the mercy of one of his victims. The story is about how Celia discovers the heroic and lovable man beneath the social polish. Along the way to HEA they overcome hunger, villains, interfering relatives, lost treasures and their own views of themselves and each other.
RJ: This release is the latest book in the Burgundy Club series. During your last visit to this blog, you told us about the premise of the series, but as time goes on I think the series begins to grow and change as well. What changes or notable additions to the series can you remark on?
MN: Each installment of the series has turned out differently. The Wild Marquis has a strong mystery as background; The Dangerous Viscount is purely a relationship book, without external subplot. The Amorous Education is a combination of the two but with a different flavor - a sexy romp. Each is very much its own book but tied together by recurring characters.
RJ: Did you pick up any interesting tid-bits while researching for the book and/or did you incorporate any unique elements in your story?
MN: Celia's "Amorous Education" comes from The Genuine Amours, a naughty novel. This is a real book, dated 1796, and all the quotes are from a rare volume I discovered in the British Library in London. Celia learns a lot from Tarquin, too!
RJ: Tarquin Compton is the most fashionable dandy in all of London, but who is the man behind the smartly cut waistcoat? Tell us more about his character. And tell us about the woman who brings him to his knees. How do they work as a couple?
MN: I had to ask myself, what makes a man a dandy? The story of his childhood and the uncle who influenced him is revealed in the book. A big part of Tarquin's emotional journey is rediscovering the person he was before a youthful tragedy, and balancing his own desires with gratitude to his mentor. Celia, on the face of it, is his opposite: unfashionable and socially awkward. But she has a snarky humor blended with courage that brings out the best in him. I hope by the end readers will be in no doubt of this unlikely couple's happiness.
RJ: I love strong main characters, but having amazing secondary characters gives a book that extra “umph”. Give us the scoop on a notable secondary character in The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton. What’s their name, occupation, and a random fact about them?
MN: Diana and Sebastian, the couple from The Dangerous Viscount, play a part in the book, as does Diana's sister Minerva. There's one new character, the mysterious and charming Countess Czerny, whom I think quite intriguing. She's a potential rival for Tarquin's hand and something of an adventuress. Don't worry, Celia has another admirer too. Equal opportunities for jealousy! Fact: Countess Czerny buys her clothes in Paris.
RJ: In a small paragraph, write the blurb to your life as it is-but exaggerated to how you ideally wish it were.
MN: I grew up in England and moved to New York City to work at Sotheby's auction house. After my marriage I moved to Vermont where I still live. I have one beautiful daughter who has never left her room untidy in her entire life. I now write romance novels which flow from my pen without the slightest effort. (Guess which bits aren't true.)
RJ: What makes a good romance to you and who are your favorite authors?
MN: All I want is a pair of likable and convincing characters whose story I can enjoy as they wend their way to an emotionally satisfying HEA. I love smart people, clever dialogue and humor. On the other hand Patricia Gaffney's To Have and To Hold is one of the best romances I've ever read and there's not much humor there. With so many authors I adore, I will restrict myself to a handful of the very best: Loretta Chase, Eloisa James, Madeline Hunter, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Mary Jo Putney … I could go on for hours!
RJ: What projects are you currently working on and what do the readers (and me!) have to look forward to next from you?
MN: I'm in the middle of revisions for Confessions from an Arranged Marriage. The heroine is Minerva Montrose and the book will appear in April 2012.
RJ: Picture this: Some major motion picture studio buys the film rights to The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton and want to make it into a movie. They bring you in as a consultant (since you wrote the book and everything-LOL). They ask you to come up with an ‘ideal’ cast list. Which actors would make that list?
MN: Richard Armitage! Without him as Tarquin, the deal is off. For Celia I envision Cate Blanchett: not conventionally pretty but stunning and with a strong personality.
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Miranda's Question:
Summer's the traditional time for lazing in a hammock with a good book. What are you planning to read? One commenter will win a copy of The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton to take to the beach.
~*~GIVEAWAY DETAILS~*~
Miranda has generously offered to giveaway a copy of 'The Amorous Education of Celia Seton' to (1) one lucky commenter! All you have to do to be eligible to win is answer Miranda's question above in the comments below! The giveaway will end on August 11th and the winner will be announced and contacted shortly thereafter.
Author Interview and Giveaway with Patricia Rice
Woot! I am super excited to present a great interview I did with one of my favorite authors. Her writing style is like butter and her characters are so funny! I can't gush enough about her!
Look out for her backlist books as they're reissued and brought to ebook
Without further adieu:
Patricia Rice
About the Author:
With several million books in print and New York Times and USA Today's bestseller lists under her belt, former CPA Patricia Rice has won numerous awards for her emotionally-charged contemporary and historical romances, including the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice and Career Achievement Awards and the Bookrak Bestselling Paperback award. Her books have also been honored as Romance Writers of America RITA finalists in the historical, regency and contemporary categories. She was nominated in two categories by Romantic Times Book Club for 2005 Career Achievement and Reviewers Choice Awards.A firm believer in happily-ever-after, Patricia Rice is married to her high school sweetheart and has two children. A native of Kentucky, she resides in St. Louis, Missouri, and now does accounting only for herself. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Authors Guild, and Novelists, Inc., as well as numerous professional accounting organizations and local charities
Latest Release:
All Blake Montague wants is to save Europe from a tyrant. But as the penniless youngest son of a baron, he needs a marriage of convenience to provide the money he requires for a military commission. Then he meets a blonde beauty who can fulfill all his needs-especially those satisfied by a wife...
Get Your Copy Today:
RJ: Welcome back to Not Another Romance Blog, Patricia! Thanks so much for stopping by so we can chat about your latest release, ‘The Devilish Montague’ (July 5th, 2011-Book 2 in The Rebellious Sons series, Signet Books). What was it like to work on this book and now see it through to publication? Do you still get the butterflies in your stomach as you await your releases or is the anticipation easier to handle?
PR: I don't handle stress well so I try to pretend a new release date is just another day. Besides, with my memory, it's easy to forget what day it is! DEVILISH MONTAGUE was a delight to write because I adored the characters. It's wonderful when I can get up each day, wondering what my characters will do next. It's NOT so wonderful worrying about reviews, but so far, knock wood, they've been great. PUBLISHER WEEKLY said: " Intriguing protagonists, quirky secondary characters, and a surprising plot make for an endearing sequel to Rice's 2010 Regency The Wicked Wyckerly" so I guess I accomplished what I set out to do.
RJ: Your latest is the second book in your Rebellious Sons series. Before we dive into Devilish, what is the series about? Does it have a specific premise or does it just follow a certain family or cast of characters?
PR: A cast of characters. I started out with the premise that all these dukes and earls and their heirs have it pretty easy, all things considering. But what about the younger sons, the "spares," who are expected to lounge about, waiting for someone to die, living off the estate because actual work is frowned upon. So I have a group of younger sons supporting each other in their endeavors while trying to avoid marriage, unless it's for love, of course.
RJ: What’s The Devilish Montague all about?
PR: DEVILISH is about learning to get along with others and that no man is an island, especially when surrounded by potty-mouthed parrots, eccentric little brothers, and half-brothers who need to be tarred and feathered. Well, it's probably about a lot more, like finding love in unlikely places and looking beyond the package to the contents and all those other lovely things, but I'm trying to sound intelligent. "G"
RJ: Where did the inspiration for the characters, setting, and plot come from?
PR: Oh dear, you do ask difficult questions! The setting, of course, is dictated by the series premise of younger sons in Regency England. The plot developed out of the characters, since Montague loves nothing better than a good puzzle and doing his duty for his country. So the new code engine gave him a puzzle beyond compare, and duty to England requires that he be on the battlefield to solve it, and unless he wishes to be cannon fodder, he needs the money for officer's colors. So one thing leads to another and another…. Which leads to Jocelyn, who has the money for colors and doesn't want a husband hovering over her and dearly wants the house that Blake will give her upon marriage, for a lot of very good reasons. I think I write books just to see what my characters will do next.
RJ: Did you pick up any interesting tid-bits while researching for the book and/or did you incorporate any unique elements in your story?
PR: Jefferson's code wheel was quite entertaining. It took a bit of digging to understand the logic of it and to find an image that clarified it in my mind. To me, it looks like an ingenious means of developing a code, but it would be rather difficult to let the person on the other end know which combination of letters and numbers the reader should use. And it was probably tedious to translate, which may be why it was seldom employed on the battlefield. But if one has talking birds handy…
I'm not entirely certain there are any unique elements anymore, just means of combining all the various elements available. I hope I succeeded in that.
RJ: Tell us more about the Hero and Heroine (Blake & Jocelyn). What are their biggest flaws and most redeeming quality? Why do they work as a couple? What’s different or special about them as individuals?
PR: Blake's biggest flaw is that he cannot accept that people who love him, want to help him. He pushes everyone away and insists on doing everything himself rather than be "mollycoddled." His most redeeming, and probably most irritating, quality is that he helps everybody and everything—even stray dogs, to the detriment of his health upon occasion. He would save the world, if he could.
Jocelyn, on the other hand, is a caretaker by nature. She adopts pets as naturally as breathing air. She hovers over her handicapped little brother and does her utter best to see that everyone around her is happy. Her flaw is that she sees herself as weak and silly and incapable of doing anything on her own, so she tries to be polite and smiling and not argue, which makes her furtive indeed when she wants to get something done!
As a couple, they bring out the best and worst in each other, and force themselves to realize their advantages and disadvantages. Jocelyn learns blunt honesty from Blake, and Blake learns to accept help from Jocelyn—and that he doesn't always have to tell everyone what he thinks. Yin and yang are so lovely!
RJ: I love well-developed main characters, but a strong supporting cast can push a book from just good to great. Tell me about a secondary character from your latest book. What’s their name, occupation, and something interesting about them?
PR: The secondary character who fascinates me most is Jocelyn's teenage brother. There were no medical terms for Asperger's Syndrome at the time, but he suffers most of the symptoms. (I'll do a blog on this at the Wordwenches on Wednesday) He adores birds and studies them as diligently as any scientist, but with a little less social grace. Trying to keep duck eggs warm under bed pillows tends to annoy people.
RJ: Okay, It’s Patricia Time! What’s a day in the life of Patricia Rice like?
PR: Oh, you mean the part where I lay about Cabo all day, dreaming up wonderful stories and asking my secretary to type them up and send them on for me? Or the part where I sit my rear in a chair for five hours every morning, slitting my veins and pouring blood on the page, before spending the rest of the day answering interviews like this along with my email, my editing and revising, my proofreading… Oh, my, I feel faint. Someone have the cabana boy bring me a margarita, please!
RJ: What can readers expect on the book shelves next by you? What projects are you working on?
PR: Actually, I have something new and fun coming up! In January, THE LURE OF SONG AND MAGIC, my first paranormal contemporary romance will be out. I'm also working on a new urban fantasy series, but that won't be out until next June, and it will be under a pseudonym. It's not dark fantasy, but I don't want anyone to expect a resolved romance by the end!
RJ: Picture this: Some major motion picture studio buys the film rights to The Devilish Montague and want to make it into a movie. They bring you in as a consultant (since you wrote the book and everything-LOL) and ask you to come up with an ‘ideal’ cast list. Which actors would make that list?
PR: I think they'd be imaginary actors. Or I might have to pull them out of old movies. "Character" acting seems to be a thing of the past, and that's what I need! So can I just ask them to give me the money for the book and let them do their own casting? "G" I suppose if I absolutely had to come up with a name, a younger Reese Witherspoon as Jocelyn would work, although I'm scratching my head at a brainiac actor. Maybe we could just go with hard and cynical and try for a young Bruce Willis?
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RJ: Thanks again for coming on the blog! I really enjoyed your Christmas guest post last year and now I can't wait to deour more of your books! Best of luck with your releases!
PR:Thank you so much for having me visit again! I'd love to give away a copy of THE DEVILISH MONTAGUE, if you'll handle choosing a winner. And readers can always find me at anytime on twitter and facebook or at http://patriciarice.blogspot.com/. Let me know how you like the book!
Patricia has generously offered to giveaway a copy of 'The Devilish Montague' to (1) one lucky commenter! All you have to do to be eligible to win is comment on this interview post! Leave a comment, gush nonsensically, ask Patricia a question (maybe she'll even answer it!) The giveaway will end on July 19th and the winner will be announced and contacted shortly thereafter.
*Please leave an email address in your comment to be contacted if you win
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