Interview with Author, COLLETTE CAMERON

Today I’m interviewing Collette Cameron. Her book, Highlander’s Hope is a Regency Historical and was released on May 15, 2013.



Please tell us something about you that we wouldn’t find out on the internet.
Thank you so much for hosting me today, Sarah.

I almost didn’t submit Highlander’s Hope for publishing, thinking it wasn’t good enough. My beta readers and family convinced me to give it a try. So glad I did! 

I love peppermint candy ice-cream, dill pickles, and smoked salmon. Too boring? Let’s see. . .

I had a pet pig as a child. I’ve been to Europe twice and would love to go back. How about, I have horrible handwriting, which is a huge challenge as teacher!



Now, please tell my readers a little bit about your book.
Highlander’s Hope is a Regency historical, though it dares to go beyond the typical trappings of the era. English propriety and Scot’s boldness class in this romantic suspense flavored with liberal doses of humor and a dash of inspiration.

Yvette Stapleton is an independent heiress, disdainful of marriage, fleeing for her life. Ewan McTavish is a titled Scotsman tangled in international intrigue and determined to make her his own. Tempers flare and sparks fly when he exploits Scot’s law to claim her as his lawful wife—without the benefit of a ceremony. 

Describe the genre of this particular title, and is the only genre you write in?
Regency is a specific time period in England (1811-1820) when the Prince Regent ruled by proxy because he father, King George III, was deemed unfit to rule. It was a time of tremendous transition and extravagance. Social propriety was everything, yet immorality ran amok behind closed doors. The Highlander genre is focused on Scotland and highlights a dashing and daring highlander. I decided to combine the two.

My first three books are mixed Regency/Highlander genres. I have ideas for several more books and some are pure Highlander or Regency, and there’s even a colonial in there. I also have ideas for a historical paranormal and a contemporary. We’ll see if those pan out.



How did this story come to be?
A single scene, The Banbury Inn scene, popped into my mind one day. It played out much like a video. I built the entire story around Ewan finding Yvette in his chamber at the inn.



What is your writing routine like?
Weekdays, I’m out of bed by 5:00. After doing a few chores and working out, I either head out the door to teach, or start writing for the day. Right now, I’m doing a job share with another teacher, so I write Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings and Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. I check my emails before I start writing and also pop into a few social media sites. I almost always spend some time in the evenings writing too.

On the weekend, I try to get in a few long runs of writing because my writing actually flows better after I’m been writing for a couple of hours.



Are you a member of any writing organizations and, if so, have they helped?
I belong to RWA, The Beau Monde, Rose City Romance Writers, Faith, Hope & Love, Inc. and several writing groups through Facebook and LinkedIn.

I’ve received tremendous support and advice from RCRW and TBM. I can ask them anything and there are always several people ready to give advice and help. The authors at Soul Mate Publishing have been amazing. I never expected to have so many published authors be so supportive and encouraging.



What character is most like you or least like you?
It’s funny you ask that. A lot of my family and friends thought I modeled Yvette after myself. I didn’t. In fact, she’s much different than me, except she loves dogs. All my heroines do though I do know how to use a gun, like Yvette, and I too hate spiders. I think that’s where our similarities end.

In my current work in progress, my heroine is totally different than me. So far she’s my favorite heroine. She’s unconventional, feisty, swears, wears breeches, and is obsessed with horses. She’s also pretty darn sharp with a blade. . . . No pun intended.



What most inspires you in life?
I have much to be thankful for, and I have been so blessed. Every time I’m tempted to complain or feel sorry for myself, I remind myself, that comparatively, I have it pretty darn good! Everyday when I wake up, I ask God to help me be a light to others by being kind and encouraging. Some days I do better than others.

And because I’m a teacher, I have the privilege of molding amazing little minds. I learn far more everyday from my students than they ever learn from me.



What’s next for you?
I just contracted my second novel, The Viscount’s Vow, and am plugging away at the third book in the trilogy, The Earl’s Enticement. I do think this is my favorite book so far.

When I finish it, I have a stand-alone that’s nagging me to be written. After that, I have a six-book Highland saga I want to write.



BOOK BLURB
She was the heiress determined to never marry.

Shipping heiress Yvette Stapleton is wary of fortune hunting men and their false declarations of love. She’d rather become a spinster than imprisoned in the bonds of marriage. At first, she doesn’t recognize the dangerously handsome man who rescues her from assailants on London’s docks, but her reaction to Lord Sethwick’s kisses soon have her reconsidering her cynical views on matrimony.


He was the nobleman who vowed to make her his own.

Not a day has gone by that Ewan McTavish, Lord Sethwick and Laird of Craiglocky, hasn’t dreamed of the sensual beauty he danced with two years ago; he’s determined to win her heart. On a mission to stop a War Office traitor, he unwittingly draws Yvette into deadly international intrigue. To protect her, he exploits Scot’s Canon law to declare her his lawful wife—without benefit of a ceremony. Yvette is furious upon discovering the irregular marriage is legally binding, though she never said, “I do.”

Amidst murder and betrayal, Ewan attempts to win Yvette’s forgiveness. But is it too late? Has his manipulation cost him her love? 

A little bit about the author:
In February 2011, on a whim, Collette decided to sit down and write a Regency suspense romance. She wrote Highlander’s Hope, the first book in her Blue Rose Trilogy. She has a BS in Liberal Studies and a Master's in Teaching. She's been married for 30 years, has 3 amazing adult children, and 5 dachshunds. She teaches third grade and loves it. Her puppy, Ayva, sits on her lap while she writes. Ayva also nibbles at and lies on the keyboard. Collette loves a good joke, the beach, trivia, birds, shabby chic, and Cadbury Chocolate. You'll always find dogs, birds, quirky—sometimes naughty—humor, and a dash of inspiration in her novels.



Excerpt
A sharp rap echoed at the door. Yvette breathed a sigh. Thank Goodness. Lord Sethwick wouldn’t have to answer the question after all. She raised her head and forced her gaze from the document in his hand.

He stared at her intently, then called, “Enter.”

“Lord Sethwick, please excuse the interruption,” a deep voice greeted. “‘Tis urgent I speak with you.”

Half-turning to look at the newcomer, Yvette could not contain her frightened gasp. She shot halfway out of her chair before Lord Sethwick’s hand snaked across the table and grasped hers, restraining her.

“Ewan!” In her panic, she addressed him by his given name.

“Miss Stapleton, Mrs. Pettigrove, may I introduce my associate, Trenton Carmichael?” said Ewan. “You know him as Nigel Collingsworth.”

Yvette sat down so hard her bottom smacked the chair with a stinging thud. Despite the day’s promise to be quite warm, she shivered, chilled to the bone. Searching the viscount’s face she repeated, stunned, “Your associate? I don’t understand. He was chasing me yesterday.”

Mrs. Pettigrove’s gooseberry eyes were round as the moon watching the exchange. “Mr. Collings, er, Carmichael was chasing you, Miss Stapleton?”

No one responded to her probing.

Holding Yvette’s hand, Lord Sethwick explained, “He wasn’t chasing you. Trent was trying to protect you by catching the man who was chasing you.”

“A different man was also chasing you? Whatever for?” Mrs. Pettigrove sounded envious.

Everyone ignored her.

Mr. Carmichael addressed Yvette. “I regret frightening you yesterday. It wasn’t my intent.”

Another knock sounded.

“Come in.” Lord Sethwick was less gracious this time.

Yvette managed not to gawk at the two men who entered the chamber. At least she thought she did. Faith, what handsome men. They must be friends of Lord Sethwick’s. Nobility no doubt.

“Sethwick, you rogue, keeping the arrival of your lovely bride-to-be a secret,” teased a tall gentleman dressed in black from toe to top.



How can my readers buy your book?
Readers can go to the publisher’s home page at http://soulmatepublishing.com

You can find more information about Collette Cameron and her book, Highlander’s Hope by

visiting her website, http:collettecameron.com or

her blog at http://blueroseromance.com.



Just a few fun questions to answer if you don’t mind.

1) Tent or hotel room? Hotel

2) What is your favorite season? Summer

3) What is your favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon? Write or walk on the beach

4) Who is your favorite author to read? I don’t have one, sorry.

5) What’s your favorite snack food? Smoked salmon and crackers with ketchup. Yum!

6) Movies- At home or in a theatre? At home

7) If you were going to be stranded on a deserted island but could take two things with you, what would they be? My Bible and my glasses.





Thank you for allowing me to interview you here at Heart of Romance. Good luck to you in your future!!!