Today we welcome Maya Rodale to the blog. Yes, Maya has agreed to virtual chit chat so I can literally pick her brain. And she’s pretty brainy so she can spare the loss of a couple of gray cells. 
And not only is Maya here to chat about her upcoming release, A Groom of One’s Own, but she (aka Avon Books) is going to give away 5 (five) advanced copies to 5 lucky commenters. Also, A Groom of One’s Own is another book in the July 4th Red, White and Blue Fireworks Giveaway!
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I’ve heard A Groom of One’s Own, the first book in The Writing Girls Romances, compared to Sex in the City in Regency London. What do you think of that analogy?
Instead of four girls in New York City, it’s four girls during London’s Regency. These are stories about female friendship, as well as being straight up romances. Oh, and then there is the scandal, the gossip and the heart-to-heart talks and the fabulous fashion.
Can you tell us a little about A Groom of One’s Own?
Newspaper columnist Sophie Harlow is reporting on the duke of Hamilton and Brandon’s wedding to Lady Clarissa, who is falling for a visiting Prince, while Sophie is in love with the duke, who refuses to jilt his betrothed, even though he’s falling for the scandalous Writing Girl. It’s a love quadrangle and a comedy.
You said that your mother made you start reading romance novels (chuckle, chuckle) because you were working on a degree of Women in Fiction. How do you feel about romance novels prior to reading your first book?
I confess, I was a snob (see my next answer). I also didn’t know the first thing about romances either—other than that my professors at my Serious Academic Institution might laugh at me. They didn’t, in part because I think I was able to argue how romance novels are significant, powerful and valid literary works. In the end, I wrote my graduate thesis on how revolutionary romance novels are.
But I still read them for fun. A lot.
What kinds of books were you reading before you starting reading romances?
Honest to gosh, in high school I was reading Hemingway. For fun.
What does your mother think of your writing career? Was she surprised her nudge got you addicted and now a writer of the romance genre?
My mother is always right, so she wasn’t really surprised that I became a convert and began to write them. She thinks it’s really cool that I write the romance novels and often brags about it or mentions it in her blog.
A Groom of One’s Own
Author: Maya Rodale
Publisher: Avon
Pub. Date: June 29, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0345518859
Retail: $7.99
384 pagesMiss Harlow’s Marriage In High Life London, 1823
A handsome duke. His beautiful soon-to-be duchess. A whirlwind courtship. It is this author’s privilege to report on the event all of London is talking about: the upcoming wedding of the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon to the only daughter of the Duke of Richmond. Every details of the “Wedding of the Year” will be reported in these pages as a London Weekly exclusive.
But I, Miss Sophie Harlow, must confess to a secret infatuation with this “double duke” that can only lead to trouble. It is impossible that this notoriously upstanding gentleman would ever jilt his bride for a scandalous female newspaper writer. And yet…the arrival of a foreign prince, the discovery of a shocking secret, and one passionate kiss could change everything. Will this perfect duke risk the scandal of the year to marry the woman his heart desires?
There are only just three more weeks until the wedding…
For a woman to be a writer in Regency London is rare so a woman has to be very independent. Do you prefer to write about independent and self-sufficient heroines?
It was rare for women to be writers—but they did it, and a lot more than we think. Usually they did it because they had to support themselves and kids because their husbands were dead or deadbeats. These women were amazing.
I definitely love reading about independent and self-sufficient heroines because I can either relate to them, or I’m really inspired by them. The challenge of balancing self-interest with a relationship appeals to me, too. And my rule is to write what I like to read. 
To you, what makes for a great hero?
Six pack abs, a rakish grin and a title. Just kidding (sort of). I like heroes that are proud, kind men, with a sense of humor. And a rakish grin.
Tell us about the ‘call’, when you sold your first book, An Heir and a Spare.
That morning I had gone on a Real Job interview—I had given up on the book deal, you see. And then I was taking a nap because that is what you do when you’re unemployed and have given up. Usually I am very irked when someone calls while I’m napping, but not when it’s my agent saying I have an offer on my books!
How many books do you have planned for this series and who is next on the agenda. Can you tell us anything about that story?
Oooh…secrets! The next Writing Girl book will feature Lady Julianna, the secret author of the gossip column Fashionable Intelligence. Our hero is the rakish Lord Roxbury (complete with six pack abs, a rakish grin, a sense of humor, and a title). Scandal GALORE.
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I want to thank Maya for dropping by and I encourage you to check out Maya’s other books on her website.
Ladies…have any of you had a crush, fallen in love, been smitten by a married, engaged, seriously dating or likewise man?
Tags: Avon, historicals
This is a new to me author. (I love when I find new authors!) I haven’t had a crush since high school.
No, thank goodness!
Hi Maya! Congrats on the upcoming release and so neat its a series! Secrets on how many there will be out in this serie? I must make sure I don’t miss any! A GROOM OF ONE’S OWN sounds humorous too. I love how your mom got you into reading romances! My mom read both sweet series and hid the big historical romances behind them but I found them, and she figured it out, LOL.
I remember HS years when I had a huge crush on this guy that was also our neigbhor and he figured it out and always reminded me that he would never marry so I shouldn’t become his girlfriend, etc. He was insistant of this and when I went away to college, I slowly let go of him but never found out if he gave that up and did marry!
I hope the duke makes the biggest scandel of the year to marry the woman his heart desires and not the duchess that he should marry. That’s what I love about a great romance – this sounds like a really fun read.
Congrats Maya! It was long ago and awkward and nothing really happened… now I warn my own daughter about its dangers!
Sex in the City in Regency London?! Sounds terrific!
You had me at ‘love quadrangle’!
Also, I must naturally read the work of an author with such a great first name *g*
I’m intrigued by the premise of this story by this new to me author.
Luckily, I never had a crush on anyone who was unavailable. The one guy I had a serious crush on wasn’t interested. I was just a friend. The next guy I liked became my husband and I love him. We just celebrated our 38th anniversary.
This series sounds good. Women who persisted in a writing career when it was not really acceptable had pluck and make for good heroines, I like that humor is an important part of it. It is an important element for a good story and is often forgotten or under rated.
Hi Maya,
It’s so nice to see you here at the Season!
I enjoyed reading your interview with Bev, especially the part where you mentined reading Hemingway for fun!
Your new book A GROOM OF ONE’S OWN looks like a fun and light read. Perfect for the summer! Also, I’m not romantically interested in “taken/married” men. (Except someone like Pierce Brosnan).
I wish you great luck with your new book!
Oooo, ooo, pick me! Would love to get my hands on Maya’s latest book. As for married men, I’ve been with my husband since I was 14 (that was 19 years ago), so he’s pretty much THE married man with whom my heart resides (yes, I know, gag!).
Ladies…have any of you had a crush, fallen in love, been smitten by a married, engaged, seriously dating or likewise man?
No ! And Thanks God!
It’s been a great thing knowing a new author.
Aww, Amanda so sweet and funny! Maya M–what a great name we have!
And everyone else….thanks for the great comments! I totally enjoyed reading them and I hope y’all enjoy A Groom Of One’s Own!
Hi Maya! I love the premise of this book. Can’t wait to read it!
I had a crush on a guy from 5th grade through high school but, though we were great friends, he never viewed me as more than that. A couple years later we ran into each other and this time there was interest on both sides. He was available, asked me out, I was so excited and when we kissed…nothing. It was like kissing a good friend. All those years of crushing down the drain! lol!
I’ve never read a book by Maya but this one sounds amazing!
I fell madly in love with a guy who turned out to be engaged. We were friends for a while but my unrequited love made me decide to end the friendship. It hurt too much. Never saw him again after I ‘dumped’ him. Sometimes I still wonder what might have been. His marriage didn’t work out in the end. But it was thankfully not because I went after something that wasn’t meant to be.
Ladies…have any of you had a crush, fallen in love, been smitten by a married, engaged, seriously dating or likewise man?
No, in 26 years I have been married I have never had a crush on a real person other than my hubby.
I have over the years developed crushes on heroes in the romance books I read.
Hey, Maya! I’m looking forward to this book and series!!
I had a few crushes growing up, but nothing like the one I had on my husband before we started dating. From the moment I first laid eyes on him, I was a goner. And the rest, as they say, is history!
I’ve had a crush on a couple guys who were dating, but my crushes began before their respective relationships. I’ve never taken it farther than a crush either.
Sounds like a great series!!! Congrats….and no secret crushes on married or engaged men here, thank goodness!!!!
I find it really interesting how many people answered “no” to the married man question.
Looking forward to the book, and I like the play on A Room of One’s Own!
A teeny tiny crush one time. That’s it.
Never. If I know they are married or seriously involved, it’s like they are not there for me.
I had a terrible crush on a co-worker who was married. He was a flirt and would sit in the cubicle next to me and tell me about his marital woes. The entire office went out drinking one night (used to do that a lot) and we chatted quite a bit and he offered to drive me home. I declined. I knew he was the type to cheat and it was one thing to listen and talk to him, but another thing to become involved in that madness. If he was unhappy enough, he should have gotten a divorce. He was sure nice to look at when I went to work though.
Good luck with the book, Maya!
Hi Maya, I haven’t read any of your books but I love the analogy to Sex and the City. I’m crossing my fingers I win a copy.