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Interview & Giveaway – Anna Campbell ~ My Reckless Surrender

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

A Season perennial favourite is back! Please welcome Anna Campbell to the blog. I so can hear her lovely Aussie accent floating across the internet. :) Ask Anna anything you like, she’s game and so responsive. Oh, and Anna comes bearing gifts. Yep, Avon Books is giving away 5 copies of MY RECKLESS SURRENDER to 5 (five) lucky commenters.

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Hi Anna, welcome back. Can you tell us a little about MY RECKLESS SURRENDER, which I will add has a drop dead gorgeous cover?


Hi Beverley! I’m delighted to be back here at the Season! Thank you for inviting me. MY RECKLESS SURRENDER is the story of a dangerous seduction in late Regency London. Diana Carrick has the opportunity to turn all her dreams into reality but in return, she has to seduce notorious rake Tarquin Vale, Earl of Ashcroft. Needless to say, trouble follows! Oh, and yes, that is one bodacious cover! That yellow is just gorgeous and I love that sexy glint in Diana’s eye. You know this is a woman who will cause mayhem in the hero’s heart!


MY RECKLESS SURRENDER, which is also one of The Season’s June Top Picks with 10 Star perfect rating, isn’t as dark as your previous novels. Does this mean you’re headed in a new direction with books in a slightly lighter tone? Or are you just going to keep us on our toes by mixing it up?


Wow, that’s great news, Beverley. Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed this story which as you said is a bit of a departure for me. For a start, the hero isn’t tortured – or at least he’s not when the story opens. Once Diana’s had her way with him (ahem!), that might change! I think there’s still a lot of emotional depth in this story – both characters have a long journey to make before their happily ever after. But yes, I agree, the tone is lighter than something like CAPTIVE OF SIN. The next story (no title confirmed yet but it will be out mid-2011) is similar in tone to MY RECKLESS SURRENDER. The one after that is probably going to be closer to CAPTIVE OF SIN. Tone seems to come with each individual story so what happens next can be as much of a surprise to me as to the reader!


What do you find so appealing about writing about the early 19th century England? Do you think you’ll ever base any of your historicals in a different era, perhaps even century?


Would I sound shallow if I said men in boots? Yeah, I probably would! Actually, all jokes aside I love the elegance and the wit of the Regency era. I love that it was a heyday of decadence (particularly the late Regency, the reigns of George IV and William IV) before the straitlaced Victorians took over. I love the fact that readers love this period! At the moment, I have no plans to move outside the Regency, but I have a Viking story lurking at the back of my mind and one day, it might be fun to visit the children of some of my heroes and heroines and see what they make of life. So that means tackling the Victorian era!


Some of my favourite tropes include the brother’s best friend, or the reunited lovers. Do you have a favourite theme you either love to read or write about?


Well, I think most of my books fall into the Beauty and the Beast trope, perhaps not MY RECKLESS SURRENDER so much. Hmm, I’ll have to think about that more. Although Diana definitely beards the beast in his lair to get what she wants and the beast isn’t nearly so beastly as she was expecting. So maybe MRS is a BATB story too. I love the fairytale/mythological underpinning to a romance. I’m such a big romance reader, I’m a sucker for most of the tropes, frankly! Love fish out of water, Cinderella, friends into lovers, hatred into love, forbidden love, love versus honor, opposites attract, you name it! I wrote my first reunion story for THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF REGENCY ROMANCE which is out at the end of June. That was such fun to put together! I loved giving those two characters a second chance at love.


If you had to choose, which to you is more important, the sexual tension or the love scenes?


Ooh, that’s tough! Actually I think sexual tension can continue into a love scene – or at least dramatic tension does. I love writing sexual tension, that complicated dance! But then I love writing love scenes when the characters aren’t just naked physically, they’re naked emotionally too. Sorry, I know it’s a cop-out, but can’t choose!


Who and what kinds of books did you read growing up?

10 Star ~ June Top Pick!


I’ve always been a voracious reader. I’ll read the back of the milk carton if all else fails. As a kid, I read most of the classics, Heidi, Enid Blyton, horse books by the gazillion. I moved onto adult books fairly early – I must have been about eight when I read my first Georgette Heyer and I was that age when my mother gave me my first Harlequin to shut me up (she was desperate, poor thing, LOL!). In my early teens, I was mad on historical fiction like Jean Plaidy. About that stage, I devoured Barbara Cartland and Victoria Holt and Anya Seton. Clearly I was headed towards historical romance as a lifelong obsession!


If you had to pick one, which author or books most influenced your decision to become a writer?


What a great question. You know, I think it might be Enid Blyton. I can remember reading her under the covers with a torch and she introduced me to that burning need to finish a story, even if the world collapsed around me. She had a great gift for compelling plots and characters you cheered for.


What’s coming up for you next? Can you share any part of the story’s plotline with us?


Well, this is the book currently untitled – in fact, currently in a rather messy draft on my computer! It’s a twist on a few themes that I’ve always loved – secret identity, the Ugly Duckling, the Regency rake undone by love (although it takes him a long time to accept that’s the case), revenge, redemption. There are more of the traditional Regency trappings in this story and they were huge fun to write. I got to step into the glamorous Georgette Heyer world for once!


Is there anything else you’d like to tell the readers about you or your book?


I’m really excited about MY RECKLESS SURRENDER hitting the stands on 25th May. Both Diana and Tarquin were such headstrong, passionate characters, I was sorry to say goodbye to them when I finished the book. If you’d like to see a blurb or read an excerpt, please check out my website at: http://www.annacampbell.info/recklesssurrender.html

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Posted in Authors, Avon Books, Giveaways, Interviews | 230 Comments »

Interview & Giveaway: Jaime Rush ~ Touching Darkness

Monday, May 17th, 2010

I’m interviewing the fab Jaime Rush and she’s chatting about the latest book in her Offspring series, TOUCHING DARKNESS. Please extend Jaime a warm welcome and don’t be afraid to ask questions or comment because Avon Books is generously giving 3 (three) copies of her book.

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Hi Jaime, TOUCHING DARKNESS (which has an awesome cover by the way) is the third book in your Offspring series. Can you tell us a bit about the series and then specifically, TOUCHING DARKNESS?


I know, I love the covers Avon has given me. :)

The series is about a group of twenty-somethings who live ordinary lives but possess extraordinary psychic abilities. They are the Offspring of parents involved in a mysterious experiment gone awry. Sexy…dangerous…outcasts… They are being hunted by the government and others like them. Together they must find the truth and fight an enemy out to destroy them.

In A PERFECT DARKNESS, and OUT OF THE DARKNESS, we get to know two couples and watch their personal and romantic journeys. The Offspring are putting together the clues, but they need to take a chance and contact Nicholas Braden, an Offspring who is working for the enemy. TOUCHING DARKNESS is Nicholas’s story.

Nicholas has been contracted by the government to use his psychic skill for finding things to rescue hostages. But first he’s been tasked with finding these terrible Rogues (who are actually the good guys). As he begins to doubt his boss, he’s also falling for his boss’s assistant, Olivia, who is loyal to the program. Maybe a bit too loyal. She’s in the way of finding the truth, but can he convince her to see beyond her blind faith? And what will it cost her when she does?


Your hero, Nicholas Braden in TOUCHING DARKNESS is a psychic spy? Would you consider him an alpha or a beta hero, or perhaps something in between?


He’s probably more beta than the other guys in the series, at least in the beginning. He’s all anti-violence because of his work finding the remains of murder victims. But the truth about his father’s death is at stake, and then his life and the lives of the Rogues, and then Olivia’s, and he discovers he’s willing to go to whatever lengths necessary to protect his own. He was interesting, because he was a very black and white guy in the beginning. You’re either good or bad, right?

The Rogues, though, aren’t totally either, and neither is his boss. At Nicholas’s heart, he realizes that he, and all mankind, are shades of gray, and that’s all right.


The heroine, Olivia, you describe as naïve and obedient in the beginning into a woman of her own. What’s the appeal about writing that kind of character growth?


I love to watch someone grow into their own. She’s been manipulated into believing that family loyalty is the most important thing in the world. Facing the truth about her father means losing everything, especially when that father raised her single-handedly. That she grew into her strength and independence, despite the stakes, was a lot of fun for me to witness as I wrote her story.


You wrote 18 novels as Tina Wainscott. Why did you decide to write under a new name?


My last Tina Wainscott novels had moved away from both romance and paranormal. I was in need of change in my career and I thought that was it. Ultimately, though, I love writing paranormal and romance into my suspense plots, and I parted ways with my former publisher and let my muse run wild with new ideas. She came back with a very sexy, paranormal series, and when I sold it to a new publisher, they felt it would be best to bring me out under a fresh new name.


Will you ever write under the name Tina Wainscott or is that name retired for good?


I had run out of romantic suspense and suspense ideas, but I’m open for writing more when my muse is ready. For now, though, I’m happy to grow the Jaime Rush name.


Who and what kinds of books did you read growing up?


I loved the short story compilations of Alfred Hitchcock. I also loved V.C. Andrews’s gothic tales. I always tended toward the dark and paranormal types of stories.


If you had to pick one, which author or books most influenced your decision to become a writer?


Reading fed me, but I’ve always been a storyteller, even as a child, so I’m not sure there was an actual book or author who inspired me from the beginning.


What’s coming up for you next? Will there be more books in the Offspring series? Can you share any part of the story’s plotline with us?


Book Four in the series, BURNING DARKNESS (January 2011), features Eric Aruda. Readers have been clamoring for his story, and I had so much fun writing it. He’s sort of been the bonehead alpha in the group, angry and reckless, with no problem killing those who deserve it. He can start fires with his mind, which is both his light and dark side. But he grows a lot, as all my characters do. This book wraps up the government arc. I think that’s long enough for readers to follow, and thus, they get satisfaction at seeing an ending to the arc but not the series. The mystery of what they are is solved, and they face their most lethal nemesis yet. As for the romance … let’s just say he gets a heroine who is more than his match. There will be at least two more books in the series, both of those more stand alone.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell the readers about you or your book?


For every book release, I host my Kick Butt First Line contest with cash prizes. Shocking, suspenseful…make us want more! For aspiring authors, it’s a chance to get your name out there and add a “win” to your bio. For readers, it’s a chance to play at being a writer, and everyone has at least one good line in them, right? The entries are a lot of fun to read! For details, go to www.JaimeRush.com and click on the Contest link. This contest runs from through June 1, 2010.

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Thanks for dropping by today Jaime and I hope you’ll come back when BURNING DARKNESS releases!

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Posted in Authors, Avon Books, Giveaways, Interviews | 44 Comments »

Interview & Giveaway: Sophie Jordan ~ In Scandal They Wed

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

I met Sophie Jordan aka Sharie Kohler at the RWA Conference in 2007 in Dallas. I remember she was pregnant but cheerfully signing her books. I purposely sought her out because I had read her historical, TOO WICKED TO TAME. This book put her on my auto buy list and secured her place as one of my favourite historical romance authors.

Since then, I’ve read every single one of her releases and to date, she hasn’t let me down. I adored IN SCANDAL THEY WED.  If I was doing Top Picks back in April, this book would have made my list. Sophie just writes the kind of hero  and love scenes that keeps me turning the pages and wanting more. And the historical romance buying population must agree because IN SCANDAL THEY WED made the New York Times bestseller list!!! Congratulations, Sophie!!! Although Sophie has previously been on the USA Today bestseller list, this is the first time she’s made the New York Times.

So today, we’re not only celebrating the release of IN SCANDAL THEY WED but its HUGE accomplishment.  How are we doing this? Well, I have this fantastic interview I did with Sophie and she’s giving away autographed copies, not only of IN SCANDAL THEY WED, but her ENTIRE BACKLIST, which includes:

One Night With You
Too Wicked to Tame
Surrender To Me
Once Upon a Wedding Night
Sins of a Wicked Duke


Yep, one lucky commenter person will get them all. :) Don’t you just love Thursdays?!!

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New York Times Bestselling Author!

Hi Sophie, you’ve been an instant buy for me since Too Wicked to Tame and In Scandal in Wed doesn’t disappoint. Can you tell us a little about Evie and Spencer’s love story.


Thanks, Beverley! IN SCANDAL THEY WED is my twist on the marriage of convenience.

When Evie’s younger half-sister finds herself compromised and with child, Evie pretends the child is her own. She does this to a) save her sister from possible ruin, and b) stop her stepmother from dumping the child in a foundling home. And thus begins the tangled weave …

My hero, Spencer, shows up, fresh from the war, a few years later. His cousin (the child’s true father) died in battle, but not after securing Spencer’s promise to see to his child and the girl he left behind. Spencer is determined to honor his cousin’s deathbed request … only he’s half in love with the girl his cousin praised throughout the war … and believes her to be Evie. An assumption Evie doesn’t correct.

The marriage of these two characters is a sticky situation. Spencer believes Evie to be the girl his cousin loved and abandoned. Evie fears telling him the truth and losing her child when her subterfuge is revealed. And of course there’s the matter that she’s supposed to be a sexually experienced woman with knowledge of child labor. As the overlooked plain older sister, she’s far from that. This created for lots of great tension.

Evie, the heroine of In Scandal They Wed, is holding a pretty big secret from the hero? Is there a secret you’d deem too big for any of your characters to hide? What kind of secret would that be?

Well, Evie’s secret is a whopper, but well-motivated. She acted out of love and with the goal to protect others. I think a secret too big to hide is one that cannot be excused. A character with an unpardonable secret would be tough to redeem.

On the other hand, I actually think the bigger the secret the better. It heightens the drama and suspense in a book. Even a heroine-murderess running from the law could be sympathetic. As long as she’s blameless for her actions.

You also write paranormal romances under the name Sharie Kohler. How do you like that diversity?

It definitely keeps me on my toes! Seriously, I love all kinds of books. I would get bored writing in just one genre. By the time I finish one book, I’m chomping at the bit to dive into something totally new.

Okay, not only do you write historical and paranormal romances, now you’ll be writing YA paranormals for HarperTeen. Can you tell us how that came about?

Well, reading YA, I discovered YAs have romance in them more often than not. And I thought, hmmm. I know a thing or two about writing romance. ;) So why not give it a shot? My first YA is called FIRELIGHT and will release this September. It’s definitely romance centered. Here’s the gist:

With her rare ability to breathe fire, Jacinda is special even among the draki—the descendants of dragons who can shift between human and dragon forms. But when Jacinda’s rebelliousness leads her family to flee into the human world, she struggles to adapt, even as her draki spirit fades. The one thing that revives it is Will, whose family hunts her kind. Jacinda can’t resist getting closer to him, even though she knows she’s risking not only her life but the draki’s most closely guarded secret.

See … romance, adventure and high-life stakes! Not that different than what I do in my adult romances. It seemed a natural fit.

New York Times Bestseller

Will you continue to write historical and paranormals? Will you have a new name for your YA paranormals?

Well, good news! I just signed on for three more historicals with Avon, and two more paranormals for Pocket. My YAs will release under Sophie Jordan. It can get confusing enough with two names! I didn’t want to add a third. I love writing in all three genres and don’t plan to stop any time soon.

Who and what kinds of books did you read growing up?

I read a lot and everything! From Sweet Valley High to Victoria Holt! I read everything by John Jakes. I think that’s where my love for the historical settings really started.

If you had to pick one, which author or books most influenced your decision to become a writer?

Yikes! I think the first time I started writing was in seventh grade. I’d just finished a particulary poignant Sweet Valley High where one of the characters actually died! It moved me so much and I started writing my own little teen drama. Soon, however, I was reading my mother’s romances and my stories got racier.

What’s coming up for you next? Can you share any part of the story’s plotline with us?

FIRELIGHT, my YA debut, hits shelves this September, as does MY SOUL TO KEEP, book four in my paranormal series from Pocket.

My next historical, however, is Marguerite’s book. Readers met Marguerite in both – SINS OF A WICKED DUKE and IN SCANDAL THEY WED. For quite some time I’ve wanted to write the story of a woman who only has a short time to live. I thought it would be particularly exciting in a historical setting. What would the very staid and predictable Marguerite do if she learned she has less than a year to live? You’ll have to read WICKED NIGHTS WITH A LOVER to find out. It releases this December.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell the readers about you or your book?

Well, I’ve been pretty long-winded, haven’t I? I think I’ve covered it all. I just want to thank all of you for your interest. If you haven’t read any of my work, I hope you’ll take a peek now.

Happy reading!
Sophie

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Posted in Authors, Avon Books, Contests, Giveaways, Interviews | 81 Comments »

Rachel Gibson’s Nothing But Trouble

Monday, April 26th, 2010

It’s not everyday I discover a new author to add to my very limited list of favourite authors. However, that’s precisely what happened when I sat down and read an advance copy of Rachel Gibson’s NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. This book garnered my first 10 star review (and I’m very stingy with these) and is a The Season Top Pick for May. If you’d like to read how I wax poetic about NOTHING BUT TROUBLE, please click here for my review.

After reading this truly fabulous book, I had to contact Avon to find out if Rachel would join me on the blog for a short interview and Rachel graciously agreed (See, when I love a book, I want to share it with everyone). So please extend a warm, enthusiastic welcome to Rachel.

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Nothing But Trouble is already one of my favourite books of all time. Can you tell the readers a little about Mark and Chelsea and how their story came to be?


While I wrote my last book, True Love And Other Disasters, Mark Bressler just kind of kept popping up in my head. His story is so tragic. At least for him. He’d lived his whole life for one moment, and it was taken from him in a freak car accident. I always felt so bad for Mark, and so I gave him Chelsea. She’s fun and funny and not intimidated by a cranky hockey player.


Are you a huge hockey fan? I grew up in Canada so that’s mandatory but I didn’t think anyone in the U.S. cared about hockey.


I wasn’t a huge hockey fan until I saw Mark Messier play. I was on a treadmill at a gym when I looked up and saw him on one of the television screens. I was transfixed by his Cro-Magnon man features. I fell in love with him and hockey. That was in 1994 and I wrote my first published hockey book, Simply Irresistible with his bobble head on my desk. It’s still there. So yes, I am a huge fan.


In romance, I’ve heard editors say that books about sports figures or actors don’t do well. You have both and they’re wonderful. Is that just a matter of having the right story or that Rachel Gibson fans would buy anything with your name on it. (I’m pretty sure I would).


I think it’s the right story. Yes my heroes are sports figures, but the romance is always front and center in every chapter of my books.

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Nothing But Trouble
Author: Rachel Gibson
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Pub. Date: April 27, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061579097
Retail: $7.99
384 pages

Chelsea Ross’s acting career has been a total bust. The closest she ever came to stardom was her brilliant performance as “Pretty Dead Girl #1.” But leaving Hollywood to become the personal assistant to a famous hockey player could be her stupidest career move ever.

Injured superstar Mark Bressler’s glory days are over. The bad-boy ex-jock could at least be civil to the pint-sized, pink-haired bombshell who the Seattle Chinooks hired to be his P.A. If Chelsea didn’t need the money, she’d be running from the world’s biggest jerk as fast as her feet could carry her.

Chelsea can deal with Mark’s rotten attitude and dark moods. The problem is those biceps and that red-hot bod! And when the bad boy starts to put the moves on her, Chelsea knows it’s time she banished him to the penalty box . . . if only she could resist the kind of trouble he has in mind!

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The teaser at the end of the book left me champing at the bit for Sam Leclaire’s book. Can you tell us a little about his three day marriage? Is it possible I can get that book earlier than Spring of 2011? Pretty please?


I don’t know if you can get it early. I’m only on page 180. I write by the seat of my pants. Which means that I don’t plot. When I sit down to write, I have a vague idea of where the story is headed that day. So, what little I can tell you about Sam’s story is that what happened in Vegas, didn’t stay in Vegas.


What can we expect from you after Sam’s book? I’m hoping to see two titles out from you in 2011.


Two? You’re killing me. I am not a fast writer and, honestly, I don’t know what’s after Sam’s book.


Here’s a question I ask all New York Times bestselling authors. What was it like hitting that list for the first time? Are you treated differently after you do (readers, publishing house, other authors)?


The first time I hit was awesome. Avon sent me flowers and my agent sent me champagne. I toasted with my friends and then . . . I got back to work. I’m not sure readers treat me different. Either readers like my books or they don’t depending on the story. There are a few more perks with the publisher, but probably not as many as you’d expect. And you do learn who your friends are. I know that sounds cliché, but it’s very true.

~~~

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Who are some of your favourite authors? Who influenced you in your decision to become a writer?


Love Lisa Kleypas, Simon R Green and Jim Butcher. The biggest influence on my decision to become a writer was Margaret Mitchell. I read Gone With The Wind in 1990 and hated the ending. So I sat down with a typerwriter one night and rewrote Gone With The Wind. I was 29 and the notion of writing a book never entered my head until that night.


Is there anything you would like to tell us about you, your writing or books?


Every book that I write, I truly love. If I didn’t, I’d write something else that I did love. That’s why when people ask me what my favorite book is, I really don’t know because I really don’t have one. Something about me? Hmmm well, I consider myself just a normal down to earth person who just happens to have a really cool job.

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Rachel, I know how busy you are, so I’m ultra-pleased you could take some time out of your schedule to sit down for this virtual chit chat. Thanks so much for stopping by.

To celebrate the release of Nothing But Trouble, which is today, Avon Books is giving a copy away to one lucky commenter. (Psst, you seriously want to get this book!)

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Posted in Authors, Avon Books, Giveaways, Interviews | 45 Comments »

Victoria Alexander ~ Desires of a Perfect Lady

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

Today I want to welcome Victoria Alexander to the blog. Victoria has been kind enough to stop by for a virtual sit down on the heels of her latest release, Desires of a Perfect Lady. I must say this is one of my favourite storylines, the reunited, star-crossed lovers. In Desires, the grievances are real and heartfelt.

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Hi Victoria, can you tell us a little about Desires of a Perfect Lady and what inspired this story?


Desires is about a woman, Olivia, who has had an awful marriage she was essentially forced into who now thinks she is at last free only to discover her late husband is still trying to own her from the grave. In order to claim her inheritance she has to complete three of his collections. To do that, she is forced to turn to the man who broke her heart. I think it’s also about betrayal and forgiveness and growing up.

I’m fascinated by the mindset of obsessive collectors who collect for the sake of ownership. I don’t think that’s a trait that’s suitable for a for a main character but it works well for a villain. I also wanted to have a hero who had made a serious mistake that he needed to atone for. Sterling was wrong, he screwed up royally and now he has to work to make up for it.


I absolutely adore a lovers reunited story. What aspects of the star crossed lovers storyline appeals to you the most?


I love star crossed lovers, the whole idea that two people who were meant to be together are torn apart both by forces beyond their control and by their own flaws. I also love the prospect of second chances. Of making amends for what’s gone wrong.


Desires of a Perfect Lady is the second installment of your latest series. How fond are you of writing series? What is the easiest part of it and what is the hardest?


I like writing series and I like reading them. As a writer, I invent minor characters that often capture my imagination and then I want to explore them by giving them their own stories. Writing a series is like meeting up again with old friends.

The hardest part is keeping in mind whatever you say about a character in book one has to hold true for book two or three or whatever. However, that makes it easier in the next book because you’ve already set up the character.


Many readers complain about them and some authors go through agonies trying to avoid them—how do you avoid the saggy middles?


I really don’t think about a middle as such.  I write my books in four parts. The first and second parts set up the story and starts to push it along,. The third part has to continue that momentum until the last part where all the threads I’ve woven have to come together and be resolved.


How could Sterling not have read her letter? I have to admit I was quite angry with him for that—although, understandably not as angry as Olivia.


I was angry with him too. He didn’t read the first letter because he was devastated and heartbroken by what he thought was Olivia’s betrayal and his pride was hurt as much as anything else. He assumed the first letter was telling him what he already knew and he had no desire to read it. The second and third letters came when his father was dying and the last thing he wanted to do was think about Olivia, so he simply set them aside and forgot about them. He had moved on with his life or at least that’s what he thought.

Desires of a Perfect Lady
Author: Victoria Alexander
Publisher: Avon Books
Pub. Date: March 30, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061449482
384 pages

Olivia Newbury and Sterling Harrington were certain that their love would last. But neither counted on the interference of her father or the scheming of neighbors. Filled with doubt and broken promises, the two part ways, certain of the others’ betrayal. Now, ten years later, Olivia finally has the chance to live life on her own terms. She will never forgive Sterling for not coming to her rescue, but that won’t stop her from making sure he knows what he missed.

Sterling Harrington, Earl of Wyldewood, rarely questions his decisions. Finding out how wrong he was about Olivia has shaken his very foundation. Determined to make it up to her, Sterling comes to her aid–whether she likes it or not. The pair form a reluctant team as the search for answers that put their very lives in danger. But once they unravel the mystery, will they go their separate ways? Or will they take this second chance at a love that was meant to be forever.



Can you tell us anything about the next book in this series and when we can expect to get our hands on it?


It’s Sterling’s brother Quint’s story and continues the search for the lost city of Ambropia. But, honestly, at this point I have no idea when it will get written. I’m currently working on a book called The Perfect Mistress about a widow who inherits the scandalous memoirs of her great-grandmother and decides to sell them because she’s almost broke.


Do you think you will ever write anything other than historical romances? Perhaps, contemporaries or romantic suspense?


Probably not suspense because I’m not very good at it. But I have several contemporary ideas I’m playing with and I fully intend to write those at some point.


Can you tell us about the first time you found out you hit the New York Times bestseller’s list. Is it as unforgettable and exciting as one would imagine?


It’s a huge thrill and very, very cool. Aside from the ego boost and a certain sense of validation, it makes your non-writing friends realize that you’re not just playing around.

Unfortunately, the first time came when I was deep in the angst of trying to finish a book. So it was “oh wow, this is fabulous!” and then back to work.


I believe I heard this is your last Avon title. After so many books and years with Avon, what does it feel like to move on? What will you miss the most about Avon/HarperCollins?


I’ve written for Avon for about twelve years and a total of 19 books (including 2 reissues of older books originally written for Leisure) and 3 novellas. And Avon recently acquired the rights to two of my older books from Leisure—The Princess and the Pea and The Emperor’s New Clothes. Avon has an extensive backlist of my titles so I really feel I always be a part of Avon/Harper Collins.

The book I’m working on now—The Perfect Mistress—will be my first title for Kensington. I’m very excited about the book and about, what is for me, a new adventure.  Everyone I’ve met at Kensington has been wonderful and we are all very eager to work together. This is a new chapter in my own story and  I’m looking forward to it with a great deal of enthusiasm and excitement.

As for moving on, change is always hard. Moving on is at once very scary and really exciting. As for what I’ll miss most—it’s the people I’ve worked with. They are professionals. I have made some wonderful friends at Avon as well and I have no doubt we will continue to be friends.

Victoria, thank you so much for stopping by and sharing with us. And to your future success at your new home at Kensington.

To celebrate Victoria’s release, I’ll be giving away a copy of Desires of a Perfect ladies to 2 (two) lucky commenters.

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Posted in Authors, Avon Books, Giveaways, Interviews | 38 Comments »

Nine Ways Sarah MacLean is making a splash!

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

It is with great pleasure that I welcome Sarah MacLean to the blog today. As I noted below in Carrie’s review of Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, I just adored this book. I’m so glad Sarah has decided to write also for the adult market and that I don’t have to wait terribly long for Sarah’s next book (psst, Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord releases Oct 26, 2010).

~*~*~


Hi Sarah, I read Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake and really loved it. Tell us about Callie and Gabriel’s love story.


It means so much to me to hear you say that, Bev, as you’re a romance connoisseur! Thanks for the kind words . . . and for having me at The Season!

Ten years prior to the start of this book, in the middle of her disaster of a first season, Lady Calpurnia Hartwell ran into Gabriel, the Marquess of Ralston in a darkened garden. He didn’t think twice about it, but Callie never forgot the meeting. A decade later, Callie is on the shelf and staring down a long life of lace caps and Spinster Seating . . . and in a fit of frustration and refusal to accept this dismal future, she decides to take matters into her own hands. She makes a scandalous list . . . which just so happens to land her in the arms of Ralston—and that’s just the beginning.

I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Wallflower/Rake romances . . . I think they’re just about perfect . . . there’s just something about the world-weary aristocrat who is knocked for a loop when he meets the unpretentious wallflower. This is Callie & Ralston’s romance. And I confess, I loved watching it unfold.


What do you think makes Gabriel such an appealing hero…because he is.


At first glance, Gabriel is hard and unfeeling . . . but in actual fact, he’s deeply loyal to his family, unflaggingly committed to his recently-discovered sister, and a gentlemen at heart. When he discovers Callie’s crazy list, he can’t help but stay near to her, a decision borne in equal parts of gentlemanly politesse and his growing passion for this unparalleled woman. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s dreamy. And plays the piano like the maestro himself.


When I was reading Nine Rules, I laughed pretty much throughout the book. How easy does humor come to you when writing? Is humor an important part of your writing style?


First, thank you! That’s a wonderful compliment! The short answer to your question is, I don’t set out to make my books funny. They really do just turn out that way. I think this is partly because I tend to see humor in everything (which is a gift and a curse, depending upon the situation I’m in), and partly because the characters to whom I am drawn can’t help but laugh at themselves, which makes it ok for me to laugh with them.


Callie is not your typical beautiful heroine. She has some weight on her and has a more beautiful younger sister. Why is she such a joy to write about?


I think you’ve hit on it right there. Callie is atypical. She’s filled with doubt and insecurity and a complete certainty that she’ll never have all the things that come so easily to the women around her. The book begins in earnest with her decision to try to live despite all of her hangups. And I enjoyed her ride so much because I envied her that willingness to take action. I wish I was as brave as her. And so, I root for her . . . and I hope readers will, too.


Nine Rules has received a starred review from Booklist and a 4 ½ Top Pick review from Romantic Times. I’m sure it’s a wonderful feeling knowing Nine Rules is being critically well received. Does that add at all to your excitement about the coming release or does it make you nervous. Perhaps a bit of both?


It’s amazing . . . and terrifying . . . all at the same time.

I’m astounded by the incredible support Callie and Ralston have received . . . both from the review journals and from the Romance community—yourself included! At the same time, as you know, it’s scary! The book is out in the world, and all I can do is hope that it speaks to as many readers as possible. I have cancelled my Google alerts, for sanity’s sake.


Your first historical, The Season (great title BTW ;) ), was a YA. The love scenes in Nine Rules were pretty hot , how easy was it to pour on the heat?


This was one of the things I thought would be most difficult for me . . . and I think that when I first started working on Nine Rules I thought it would be as simple as writing another book like The Season and just adding sex this time. Oh, silly silly Sarah.

The Season was a coming-of-age story, as much about Alexandra (the heroine) finding herself as it was about her finding love. Nine Rules is, in its own way, also about a heroine coming into her own, but Callie is much more mature, with much richer experiences upon which her life and story is built—so the naughty bits made sense for her in a way that they didn’t for Alex. I think that, because Callie is who she is, writing those more sensual scenes was much easier than one might expect.


Would you say writing The Season prepared you for writing an adult historical romance?


Every book prepares us for the next one and, while I approach my YA and adult romances very differently, there is no question that without Alex there would never have been Callie. And I feel the same about my next heroine, Isabel; she is the next because Alex and Callie have paved the way for her.


Will you be writing anymore YAs?


Absolutely. I adore writing YA . . . I love the brilliant and committed YA author community that I’m a part of . . . and, most importantly, I love writing for teens.


You received degrees from Smith College and Harvard. Was becoming a writer your intent when you were in college? Are your college friends surprised that you’re now writing romance novels?


I have been a voracious romance reader for most of my life, and that didn’t stop in college. At Smith, I was the keeper of the “romance library” in my dorm—I had a few hundred romances, from Johanna Lindsey and Judith McNaught to Amanda Quick and Nora Roberts and scores of Loveswepts and Silhouettes—always there if someone was looking for something to read. My college dormmates are not at all surprised. (An aside . . . I went back to the Smith campus a few years ago and visited the dorm, sure that the collection would be gone—only to discover that it’s tripled in size and is now housed in a common room of the house! What a treat! I can’t wait to add a copy of Nine Rules . . . to that library!)


Is there anything else you’d like to tell the readers about you or your book?


Only to thank everyone for taking the time to learn more about me and Nine Rules . . . I would love to hear what you think of the book if you do decide to read it!

Thanks so much for having me, Bev!

Thank you, Sarah, for joining me today on the blog. And Sarah is generously giving away a copy of Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake to one lucky commenter.  If you have a question or comment for Sarah, ask away! If you’d like to double your chances of winning, you can comment below on the review post where I’m giving away a copy of my own. ;)

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Posted in Authors, Avon Books, Giveaways, Interviews | 64 Comments »

Blog Talk Radio!

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

At 1:00 pm EST today, Karenne McConkie and I will be interviewed by the fabulous Cathy Maxwell on Blog Talk Radio. Anyone who joins us in the chat room will be entered to win a $50 DunkinDonuts gift card!

Call-in Number: (347) 826-9686

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Posted in Blog events, Interviews | 5 Comments »

Cathy Maxwell ~ The Marriage Ring

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

It’s my pleasure to have Cathy Maxwell join me today on the blog. She has graciously agreed to a virtual interview as she celebrates the release of THE MARRIAGE RING, the third book in her Scandals and Seductions series. Please extend a warm welcome to Cathy. :)

~*~*~

Hi Cathy, welcome! I absolutely adore opposite attract stories. Please tell us about Grace and Richard in THE MARRIAGE RING.

Opposites do attract, don’t they?  But do they stay together?  That’s the question I was wondering as I developed Grace and Richard’s story.  Many of my readers will remember Grace from IN A HIGHLANDER’S BED.  She was the camp slut, poor child.  A willing one–until Fiona put a good dose of common sense in her head.  Grace also makes an appearance in SEDUCTION AT CHRISTMAS and THE EARL CLAIMS HIS WIFE.  She’s been developing confidence along the way but she does consider herself damaged goods.

Richard has always done the right thing, and it has made him boring.  He’s a square peg in a square hole–and a part of him resents it.  In many ways, Grace represents freedom . . . and isn’t that what often happens with us even today?  We are going along thinking we have a handle on the world until we meet someone who challenges everything we thought about ourselves?  Who is it that said, often the person who frustrates you the most is your soul mate?

But Grace does more than question and infuriate Richard.  She is forbidden fruit.  The Scarlet Woman.

Poor boy.

By the way, THE MARRIAGE RING takes up minutes after THE EARL CLAIMS HIS WIFE ends.  So if a reader cares about the order of stories, I’d advise reading THE EARL CLAIMS HIS WIFE first.  It’s not necessary.  My books do stand alone–but for the whole backstory . . .

THE MARRIAGE RING is the third book in your current series. Is this the end or can we expect more?

I have two more in this series after THE MARRIAGE RING. HIS CHRISTMAS PLEASURE (Dec ’10 Avon Books) will be Andres’s story. I have a host of fans waiting for him to have redemption. And then, I close the series with the book following Andres. My readers will meet the final book’s main character in HIS CHRISTMAS PLEASURE.


I see you have a book trailer for THE MARRIAGE RING. Did you enjoy doing it?

I had fun doing the book trailer but my on camera days are long behind me. When I started writing, all I wanted to do was write. I didn’t imagine the business exploding the directions it has. What an incredible world we live in today! I am constantly amazed. One thing I’m learning is that stories will always be with us.

Now here is a question running through my mind, are book trailers all that important? I don’t think so. Content is important. We are bombarded with information so we start wondering if all of this has personal importance–and book trailers seem impersonal. I’m loving social media. I have my clan of readers and friends on Facebook plus a cadre of the really loyal I-get-what-you-are-doing readers. I admit I write to please them.

But the secret, or what I long for, is meaningful dialogue with anyone. Even the guy that pours my coffee. I am a people person. In that trailer, I skimmed a vein. I didn’t open it, not quite . . . was surprised I went there . . . . and have some mixed thoughts about it. The camera catches everything, not just that five extra pounds.

What was it like the first time you found out you made the New York Times bestseller list?

Making the list was good, all good–but surprising. When I started selling, the NYT wasn’t even including romance novels in the list so it wasn’t something I aspired to. My goal was and continues to be to focus on the reader and giving the best story experience I have to offer.

Around the time I made the list, a friend and I were arguing about goals. Her goal was the make the NYT list. I contend (and still do) a “good” goal is one you have control over. I have no control over making a list. I prefer to focus on what I do control. Then I made the list. I felt vindicated in my viewpoint. And humbled. It is an honor. It carries cache.

But to the romance reader? I’m not certain NYT matters. Romance readers (RRs) are avid readers. I have discussions with booksellers who assume RRs only read in their genre in the same way mystery and sci-fi and literary readers do. Not true! RRs read everything. They are after story wherever they can find it. They come to Romance because we have loads of good stories hitting the shelves every month. And we embrace all genres. We’ll do action-adventure, fantasy, futuristic, westerns, mystery . . . we’ll even go literary. So will the RR. Give them Story.

Digressing here . . . I think alot of the success of the Paranormal romances is that the writers were writing with a fresh eye, building strong worlds, and being imaginative with story. I come across Historical writers all the time who don’t realize how important the “world” they are creating is. I recently did a Romance Radio interview with Vampire writer Jeaniene Frost on her latest book (www.authorsonair.com). Hearing her conviction in discussing the parameters of her characters’ “world”, reminded me of how important that level of authenticity is. I’d just finished vetting a manuscript by a first time author where she was loosey goosey about the history in her time period. There are things the RR will let you do and things that will get you blasted, and every writer should know what the margins are for her genre.

By the way, Jeaniene felt the Historical writers had it tough for research. I think the Contemporary writers must be more wary. It’s hard for a reader to go back in time . . . but very easy to know that people don’t sit side-by-side in Space Mountain or folks don’t pump their own gas in Oregon–and woe to the writer who gets those every day facts wrong.

Oh, what were we talking about?
Yes, thank you very much, I like being on the NYT list. And I don’t think the fam and I did anything special. It was a good moment, and then we moved on.

~~~

The Marriage Ring
Author: Cathy Maxwell
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Pub. Date: February 23, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061771927
368 pages

The woman who will one day wear Richard Lynsted’s ring will be genteel, dainty, and well-bred.

This eliminates Grace MacEachin on all three counts. A hellion of the first order, the alluring, infuriating woman would be nothing more than a passing temptation to an upstanding gentleman like Richard—if it weren’t for the fact that she’s trying to blackmail his father!

Or, as Grace sees it, trying to get justice—and maybe just the slightest hint of revenge on the family that tore her life asunder when she was just a girl. And as for Lynsted, well, the stuffy, humorless man wouldn’t suffer for time spent in company more exciting than that of his company ledgers. Only when Richard gets Grace alone, she discovers he may know a thing or two about excitement after all . . .

~~~

How do you like writing novella compared to writing single titles? Does the word count make it an easier go?

I like the intensity of writing a shorter story and I hope the exercise translates to my full length books. My favorites are “Flanna and the Lawman” and “Nightingale.” I actually think it is harder to write shorter. Every word must count.

Do you have a daughter? If so, does she read your books? Do any of your children want to follow in your footsteps and become an author?

I have two daughters, both RRs! They do read my books. I wrote about one of them in the essay “Bedside Reading” that can be found at my website (www.cathymaxwell.com) I don’t know if I have any future authors amongst my children although each (I have three) is a very good writer. They know words convey more than just facts. If anything holds them back from writing, it is the sight of their mother sitting in one spot for hours, days at a time.

You state that you married a man you knew for less than a month. Do you believe in love at first sight?

I do not believe in love at first sight. I do believe in “Lust at First Sight”–but I wasn’t in love or lust with my husband. I couldn’t get rid of him. Every time I turned around, he was there. Kevin was a real Alpha guy, which is interesting because I’m an Alpha gal. And then, I just found myself agreeing to all of his ideas–including marriage. I knew I’d met my match and jumped in before I thought too much about it. I’m glad I did. We had a great synergy.

THE MARRIAGE RING Book trailer


Would you like to write in another genre someday, perhaps contemporary?

I don’t know what the future holds. It’s been six years since Kevin died, a real roller coaster of emotion. Anyone who has lost someone dear to them knows what I’m talking about. I had my career mapped out with all sorts of possibilities before his death and then I spent a good deal of time just hanging on.

And let me interject right here about how wonderful Avon and HarperCollins was during this period. Sometimes you will hear writers complain about how heartless publishers can be. That has not been my experience. Ever. Even before Kev’s death. Decisions have to be made because publishing is a business. At the same time, the majority of people I have met in publishing have great hearts. They are passionate and professional (passionately professional? Professionally passionate? Maybe both!) about what they do.

My goal has been to get right side up on my deadlines, then stretch ahead, and then see what is on the horizon. I’m really tired of paddling as fast as I can.

One thing I do know–I won’t leave Romance. I have many goals for my writing and I haven’t attained what I set out to do. I’m working on it, but I’m not there.


What’s coming up next for you? Can you give us a miniature blurb?

This December (2010) Andres’s story will be on the shelves–HIS CHRISTMAS PLEASURE. Remember, titles can, and do, change but that is where we are now. I love that book. Many of you remember Andres from SEDUCTION AT CHRISTMAS and THE EARL CLAIMS HIS WIFE. I’ve had boatload of mail from readers asking when they can expect his book. I hope they are not disappointed. I really love this character–a silver-eyed Spaniard who has been both villain and lover. Doesn’t get better than that!

And right now in in the beginning stages of the last book in the “Scandals and Seductions” series. It will be out in 2011 and feature a character from HIS CHRISTMAS PLEASURE. After that–I want to head to Scotland again. I’ve got a new series brewing in my mind that will be great fun.

Thank you, Bev, for this interview. It’s been fun. By the way, please remind your fans that I’ll be interviewing you March 25, 2010 1 p.m. EST on Romance Radio. We have a series of shows that live forever at Romance Radio (www.authorsonair.com) featuring the movers and shakers of in this special genre that we all love so well. Hope everyone can join us.

~*~*~

Isn’t she sweet? Cathy, thank you so much for joining me today and sharing a bit of yourself with us.

Cathy will be popping in now and again throughout the day (February 22nd), so please feel free to ask questions. Also, make sure you enter to win 1 of 5 copies of THE MARRIAGE RING and corresponding signed book cover posters, which Avon Books has graciously offered up for raffle. Click here for entry details.

Comment today and 4 entrants for THE MARRIAGE RING will also receive a copy of one of the following books:

       

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Posted in Authors, Avon Books, Contests, Giveaways, Interviews | 58 Comments »

Alice Audrey is Moving In

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Today, please welcome my friend and ex-Avon Fanlit cohort, Alice Audrey, whose first book, MOVING IN was just released. Alice generously agreed to a virtual sit down with me here on the Blog.

~*~*~

Question
Tell us about Moving In. What was your inspiration for this book?

Answer
It started with Suzie’s House – a bit of serial fiction I post on my blog every Friday.  The book had to tie in with it and use some of the same characters, at least peripherally, but be able to stand on it’s own.  When I hit on the idea of neighbors and friends, the character Diane was born.

Diane and Suzie make good foils for one another.  Both of them are the Susie Homemaker type.  They enjoy cooking and crafts, and remodeling.  But Suzie is quite comfortable with her roll of boarding house owner while Diane struggles against the idea of becoming a housewife.

From there I found Trigvey, the man who would seem to be Diane’s perfect match.  As a doctor with no outstanding loans, he can easily afford to let her stay home, and needs the kind of attention he can’t get any other way.  They enjoy one another’s company and value one another, but when push comes to shove, both are afraid to take on the roles a marriage would require of them.

Question
How long have you been writing?

Answer
I’m almost afraid to answer that.  34 years.  Yes, I’ve very stubborn, and started young.

Question
I love call stories. Can you tell us yours?

Answer
Moving In was suggested by my editor.  You know how you tell editors and agents about your web presence while at conventions?  Well, they really do check them out.  Vicky Reed didn’t just read my blog, she got hooked on Suzie’s House.  She asked if I had anything that tied in with the series.  I didn’t, but it was easy for me to come up with something.

~~~

Moving In
Author: Alice Audrey
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Pub. Date: February 2010
Novella

When Diane and Trigvey move into the same building on the same day, more than their suitcases get tangled up.

Trigvey never once doubted his calling to be a doctor, but an accident in the ER has him doubting himself. Diane’s willingness to listen helps him get his head on straight. If only he felt worthy of a woman like her.

Diane is the kind of woman who would love to be someone’s wife. Not a trophy wife, or simply married, but the kind of wife whose job is to stay home and take care of the family, even if the family is only a husband. She feeds Trigvey and consoles him, and doesn’t even know she has him wrapped around her finger. Jilted for a career-woman and raised by a bitter divorcée, Diane no longer believes in that dream. It’s up to Trigvey to convince her it could still be real, if she chooses him.

~~~

Question
I know you’ve written single titles in the past. What’s the biggest difference between that and writing this novella?

Answer
Actually, I’ve written short stories, novellas, category romance, single titles and epics.  I’ve written science fiction, romantic suspense, historical romance, and romantic comedies.  This was the first “sweet” book I’d ever written, and the first time I worked closely with an editor.  I found both somewhat challenging, but the differences in the process were no greater than the differences between any of my other books.

Question
Can you share an excerpt of Moving In you haven’t posted anywhere else before.

Answer
Trigvey stared at the ceiling. He needed things. A lot of things. He’d lost control of himself and scared Diane off, which made him feel useless.

His thoughts circled endlessly as day faded into twilight. When someone knocked on his door, he knew who it was, but couldn’t imagine why she’d come back.

He didn’t mean to bound to his feet, and certainly had no intention of rushing to the door, but arrived short of breath and threw the door open.

Diane didn’t meet his eyes. “I… um… Would you like something to eat?”

Did she feel sorry for him? Not that it made much difference. He’d eat anything to be with her.

“Yeah. I’d like that a lot. You didn’t cook for me, did you?”

“I was going to cook for myself anyway,” she said.

She led the way down the stairs.

“You really are going to have to let me take you out sometime,” he said quietly.

She didn’t respond and he wondered if she’d heard over the quiet clattering of their footsteps on the steps. “Some place nice,” he continued.

Still, she didn’t say anything, but when she opened the door to her apartment, a rolling wave of hearth and home poured out.

He glanced at the sofa. She’d added a throw pillow done in some kind of silky fabric with an Oriental design to match the rug. A bookcase stood where his belongings had been.

She hadn’t wasted time erasing every trace of his presence.

Question
I’m the type of reader who has to be taken with the hero. Why will readers love your hero?

Answer
Trigvey is quite the mix.  When we first meet him, he looks like a total bad boy; sunglasses, ripped jeans, three days growth of beard.  He’s arrogant and irritated.  Diane thinks he might be a bum.  The next time we see him he’s wearing surgical scrubs and is wrung out body and soul.

He’s an ER doctor under particularly high pressure due to mismanagement at the hospital.  When a simple mistake has disastrous results, he questions the foundations of his life.  He really tortures himself over it.

Diane’s love redeems him.  She helps him forgive himself and get his priorities clear.  He’s smart enough to know what she does for him, but baffled about how to return the favor when she seems so well put together.  That won’t keep him from trying.

Question
What’s coming up next for you?

Answer
I’m working on a follow up book using more characters from Suzie’s House.  This time the mother of a boy who was abandoned to an abusive father turns out the be the heroine.  Yeah, I like challenges.

~*~*~

Alice will be with us today to take your questions and comments, and she’ll be giving away an electronic copy of MOVING IN to one lucky commenter.

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Posted in Authors, Giveaways, Interviews | 32 Comments »

Laura Kinsales gives us Lessons in French

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Her return has been long awaited and her book much anticipated. Yes, I’m referring to the super-talented, New York Times bestselling author Laura Kinsale. And she’s giving us Lessons in French. Parlez-vous français, anyone? ;)

~*~*~

Question
Laura, tell us about Lessons In French.

Answer
Do you love those stories where the shy, plain girl gets the hot dashing guy in the end?  Lady Callie ought to be quite a catch–she’s the wealthy daughter of an earl–but she’s been left standing at the altar by three different men.  She’s washed her hands of gentlemen, and her greatest desire is to win the silver cup at the agricultural fair with her prize bull, Hubert.

That’s until Trev d’Augustin waltzes back into her quiet life.  The son of French émigrés, he was run out of town by Callie’s father years ago for stealing a bit more than a kiss from her.  Callie and Trev share quite a past, in fact, full of secret adventures and harebrained antics that no one else knows about, not even Trev’s very shrewd mother.  On his return, Callie is drawn willy-nilly into scandal and deception–the sort of deception that involves trying to hide a huge bull under the bedsheets.  She goes from having no suitors to having more than she wanted.  And in the midst of these escapades, she finds herself falling in love again with the worst possible man for her.

Question
If you could compare Lessons In French to your other books, how would you say it’s different?

Answer
I’ve always had touches of humor in my books, but I’m better known for writing dark, intense book.  I wanted to write an entire book in a light vein.  Readers can expect that this book will be just as emotionally wrenching as any I’ve written–but in a jollier sort of way!

I think this is the perfect time to publish a feel-good story.  All I want for readers with Lessons in French is to sit back, read it and smile.

Question
After your time off from publication how is the entrance back in?

Answer
I’m been enjoying re-connecting with my readers.  I’ve often chatted with readers on the internet, so the social sites like Twitter are familiar ground to me.  Also, I’ve opened a completely re-designed website www.laurakinsale.com where readers can talk about my books and ask me questions.

Question
Which do you think is more important in romance writing, voice or story?

Answer
For me as a reader, both of them are important.  If it was just a plot, then a synopsis would suffice.  But even the most evocative writing doesn’t go anywhere without a good story.  I find that the two things, the words and the story, build and play off of one another.

Question
Who is your favourite author?

Answer
I have a number of favorites, so many that I have a special page www.laurakinsale.com/love on my website to list them.

Question
Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Answer
Definitely a pantser.

Question
Your covers from Sourcebooks are stunning. Did you have any say so in them?

Answer
I asked Sourcebooks to create elegant and colorful covers.  I think they came up with some of the prettiest colors I’ve seen.

Question
What is next for you, and when will readers expect to see it out on book shelves?

Answer
I’m working on several different ideas, but I don’t want to jinx anything by describing them too soon!

~*~*~

Lessons In French
Author: Laura Kinsale
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Pub. Date: January 26, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1402237010
480 pages

Laura Kinsale’s unique and powerfully written love stories transcend the romance genre. In this, her first new book in five years, she delivers a poignant, funny, sexy, Regency romance sure to delight her many fans and attract a whole new readership.

Trevelyan and Callie are childhood sweethearts with a taste for adventure, until the fateful day her father discovers them embracing in the carriage house and, in a furious frenzy, drives Trevelyan away in disgrace. Nine long, lonely years later, Trevelyan returns. Callie discovers that he can still make her blood race and fill her life with excitement, but he can’t give her the one thing she wants more than anything—himself.

For Trevelyan, Callie is a spark of light in a world of darkness and deceit. Before he can bear to say his last goodbyes, he’s determined to sweep her into one last, fateful adventure, just for the two of them.

About the Author

Laura Kinsale, a former geologist, is the New York Times bestselling author of Flowers from the Storm, The Prince of Midnight, and Seize the Fire. She and her husband divide their time between Santa Fe and Dallas. For more information, please visit www.laurakinsale.com

I want to thank Laura so much for taking the time to talk with us today and Sourcebooks for generously offering 8 copies of Lessons in French today. Details to enter to win are here. Winners will be posted January 31, 2010.

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