Interview with Author, COLLETTE CAMERON.

Character Interview for The Earl’s Enticement

Roark and Adaira, Lord and Lady Clarendon

BRR: Thank you so much for joining me in my Blue Rose Writing Room, Lord and Lady Clarendon. Would you care for tea or perhaps a shortbread biscuit? A Shrewsbury cake or Maid of honor tart?

Adaira settles onto the settee

Adaira: Please, call me Adaira or Addy. I’ll never get used to being a countess. I’d adore a cup of tea and a shortbread biscuit. And I’m sure Rory won’t mind you addressing him as such.

Roark takes a seat beside his wife forcing Ayva, my miniature dachshund to move. She promptly climbs into his lap and licks his chin.
Roark: By all means, feel free to use my given name, and I’d quite enjoy some tea. Two lumps please, with milk.

He pats Ayva’s head, and she promptly rolls onto her back for a belly rub.

Roark whispers to Adaira: She reminds me of Kiki.

BRR: Kiki, isn’t she the dachshund you rescued from drowning?

Adaira nods: Yes, the poor darling. It was rather scandalous of me to jump into the lake.

Roark: You were terribly brave.

Adaira: Your picnic guests didn’t think so. They were appalled by my sodden gown clinging to my every curve.

Roark winks: I quite liked the gown. .

Adaira blushes prettily and swats his arm.

BRR: I know it’s a bit of a touchy subject, but can you tell our readers how you met?

Roark raises an eyebrow.

Roark: My countess had her friend knock me over the head, and then she locked me her brother’s dungeon for several days.

Adaira takes a dainty sip of tea: That’s not entirely true. I didn’t know Brayan was going to clobber you. But, yes, I did lock him in the dungeon. I thought he was his brother, you see.

BRR: When did you first suspect you had feelings for Roark, Adaira?

Adaira grins: Oh, I had feelings for him from the moment I met him. I couldn’t stand him! Or so I kept telling myself. She gives Roark an appraising look. I think it was when I met his staff and pets. So many of them were disfigured or handicapped in some way that I knew despite his crusty exterior, he was soft as warm pudding inside.

Roark: Pudding? My dear, no man likes being compared to pudding.

Adaira giggles: For pity’s sake, Rory. You have a one-eyed dog, a three-legged cat, a blind mule, a deaf sheep, and you keep an owl in the library.

BRR: An owl? Truly?

Roark shrugs: Yes. Sophie’s feet are deformed.

BRR: Roark, when did you know you had feelings for Adaira?

Roark: When I stood in the stables at Craiglocky and watched her with the newborn colt.

Adaira: You spanked me that night!

Roark: I was rather annoyed at having been locked in the dungeon. And I’d dipped a bit too deeply in the whisky. He glances at me. I’d just learned my brother was likely responsible for our mother’s death.

Ayva sneaks near Adaira’s plate and snatches a cookie.

BRR: I’m so sorry, Adaira. She’s a rude little minx.

Adaira chuckles and rubs Ayva’s ears. She’s just like KiKi.

BRR: Adaira, you risked your life to save Roark from the burning carriage house. Was there ever a moment you thought you wouldn’t be able save him?

Adaira: I didn’t know if I could get him to the door. I only knew I loved him, and I’d die trying.

Roark takes her hand and gives it a squeeze.

BRR: Roark, can you tell me something about Adaira no one knows? Something fun or quirky?

Roark: My dear wife is terrified of bats. She also abhors fish. And she snores.

Adaira: I most certainly do not!

Roark: Yes you do, but only when you’re very tired. It’s adorable.

BRR: Adaira, something about Roark?

Adaira eyes Roark: Well, he’s completely tone deaf and the man has sweets stashed everywhere. Why just yesterday I came across a dish of bon bons atop the towels in our bathing chamber.

BRR: What does the future hold for you?

Adaira smooths a hand over her stomach: Well, we’ve a little one on the way. I’ll continue with my horse breeding of course, and I’ve much to learn about being a countess.

Roark: I intend to establish a home for men injured in the war who have nowhere else to go. He grins. And I imagine I’ll continue to drag needy animals home. By-the-by Adaira, I forgot to mention the fawn one of our gardeners found yesterday. Poor thing has a broken front leg.

BRR: Lord and Lady Clarendon, it has been my absolute honor to have had you as my guest today. Please say you’ll come back again. I know your readers would love to hear more from you.

Adaira: Thank you, Collette.

Roark: We’d be delighted to visit with you again. Do drop by Cadbury Park if you are ever in England.



Information for book-

The Earl’s Enticement Cover Blurb:

She won’t be tamed.
A fiery, unconventional Scot, Adaira Ferguson wears breeches, swears, and has no more desire to marry than she does to follow society’s dictates of appropriate behavior. She trusts no man with the secret she desperately protects.

He can’t forget.

Haunted by his past, Roark, the Earl of Clarendon, rigidly adheres to propriety, holding himself and those around him to the highest standards, no matter the cost. Betrayed once, he’s guarded and leery of all women.

Mistaking Roark for a known spy, Adaira imprisons him. Infuriated, he vows vengeance. Realizing her error, she’s appalled and releases him, but he’s not satisfied with his freedom. Roark is determined to transform Adaira from an ill-mannered hoyden to a lady of refinement.

He succeeds only to discover, he preferred the free-spirited Scottish lass who first captured his heart.



Collette Cameron Bio: 

Award winning, Amazon best-selling, and multi-published historical romance author, Collette Cameron, has a BS in Liberal Studies and a Master's in Teaching. A Pacific Northwest Native, Collette’s been married for thirty years, has three amazing adult children, and five dachshunds. Collette loves a good joke, inspirational quotes, flowers, 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. Her motto for life? You can’t have too much chocolate, too many hugs, or too many flowers. She’s thinking about adding shoes to that list.


Connect with Collette:

Website Blue Rose Romance Blog Twitter Facebook

You can connect with Collette on Goodreads, LinkedIn, and Google+ too. Go to her website for the links, her email address, and mailing address.



BUY LINK

http://amzn.com/B00KLO64S2/



Excerpt 1:

Adaira stepped around the mare and ever-so-gently touched the foal. Was the new addition a laddie or lassie? Skimming her hands over the newborn, she bent to take a peek. A colt. The sheen of his coat glistened in the muted light. Other than a white face and leg markings, he was the color of rich Turkish coffee.

“Ooh, you’re magnificent!” she breathed in awe.

“He is, indeed,” rumbled a harmonious baritone.

She whirled around. The Earl of Clarendon leaned across the stall door. His forearms rested on the top edge. He clasped a silver flask loosely in one hand. His shirtsleeves were rolled to his elbows, and he wore no waistcoat or jacket. The top of his shirt was unfastened too.

Just perfect. She wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near the earl, and here he was, in her sanctuary. She ought to be afraid, after his parting words, but she sensed something altogether different.

No, she wouldn’t stare at the crisp dark hair on his forearms or peeking from the collar of his open shirt. Bugger it. She curled her hands into fists against the oddest urge to run her fingers through the curly hair on his chest.

A bolt of unease speared her, though whether from his disquieting presence or her awareness of him as an attractive man, she couldn’t be certain.

Clearing her throat, she asked, “What are you doing here, my lord?”

Day 12 of Two Weeks of Romance

Good morning everyone! I am sorry that I missed days 10 and 11 and I will be posting them on the 15th,and 16th. My computer wouldn't work and I had to have it fixed. I promised you two weeks of romance and that is what you will get. Can't miss a day! Too many fabulous authors and books to skip any!

So, with out further adieu, I would like to introduce you to author, TARA KINGSTON and her Civil War Series.

Hello, Sarah,

It’s a pleasure to appear as your blog guest today. With Valentine’s Day on Friday, what a wonderful time to think about romance.

I’m excited about the recent release of the second book in my Civil War Secrets & Spies series, Pistols, Parasols & Passionate Little Lies. To celebrate, I’m giving an early Valentine’s Day present—one lucky commenter will have their choice of Pistols, Parasols & Passionate Little Lies and Secrets, Spies & Sweet Little Lies, the first book in the series.

Set during the months just before the conclusion of the Civil War, Pistols, Parasols & Passionate Little Lies revolves around a pair of Union petticoat spies operating out of Richmond and the men who love them. Led by a cagey matron who passes herself off as crazy as a bedbug, Amanda and Kate use their talents and their beauty to gather intelligence and outsmart the enemy. In Pistols, Parasols & Passionate Little Lies, no-nonsense agent Amanda recruits a dashing Union agent for a desperate mission—break a double agent out of a Confederate prison before he’s executed as a spy.

Pistols, Parasols & Passionate Little Lies was inspired by the stories of petticoat spies operating in both the North and the South during the Civil War. Spymaster Betsy Kincaid was modeled after Elizabeth Van Lew, a Richmond spinster commonly known as Crazy Bet. Daughter of a prominent businessman, she was an ardent abolitionist whose methods were ingenious and varied. She pried men with food, even charming her way past a Confederate prison commander. She funneled information into the prison in baskets equipped with false bottoms and even hollowed out eggs to ferry intelligence to Union generals. Crazy as a fox, she was a loyal and valued part of the Union war effort. Her use of food as an entry ticket to the prison inspired Crazy Betsy Kincaid’s strategy of baking her way into the prison.

Another petticoat spy who worked for the Union in the Confederate South was Pauline Cushman. Born in New Orleans, she moved to Michigan as a child, then took off for New York at eighteen to pursue a career on the stage. She traveled the country in road shows and seized an opportunity to spy on the Confederate troops while she was performing in Kentucky near the start of the war. Through a series of deceptions, she spent time following the Confederate Army, gleaning information from soldiers and serving as a Union Messenger. At one point, she escaped a death sentence for spying when Union Forces invaded the Tennessee town where she was being held. After the war, she wrote a book about her adventures and toured the country with tales of her exploits. When Miss Cushman died in 1893, her gravestone bears an unusual designation: Union Spy.

Of course, the Confederacy employed petticoat spies as well. One of the best known was Rose Greenhow. A popular Washington, D.C. hostess, she flattered secrets out of the nation’s political and military elite. “Rebel Rose” quickly proved her mettle as a spy, utilizing her charm and ingenious methods to ferry information to Confederate generals. Arrest and imprisonment did not curtail her activities, and she became a propaganda tool for the South until her tragic death off the North Carolina coast on her return from a trip to Europe to garner support for the Confederate cause from dignitaries including Queen Victoria. Mrs. Greenhow was buried with full military honors in Wilmington, North Carolina.

These brave women used their talents and their cunning to become some of the most effective spies this nation has ever known. I find their stories and those of other petticoat spies to be fascinating and tremendous inspiration for historical romance.

I’d love to know your thoughts…leave a comment for a chance to win a Kindle copy of either Pistols, Parasols & Passionate Little Lies or Secrets, Spies & Sweet Little Lies. Please check back to see if you’re the winner.



Now, here’s a peek at Pistols, Parasols & Passionate Little Lies…

Passion flares when an alluring but no-nonsense petticoat spy recruits a daring Union agent for a desperate mission.

Like any good secret agent, Amanda Emerson knows how to get what she wants—in this case, a man with guts and a gun—a man heroic enough to break a notorious double agent out of a Confederate prison. But first, she’ll have to save her hero’s own neck.

Caught with Rebel plans and set for a hanging, Union spy Steve Dunham’s luck has run out—until a cunning beauty shows up at the jail and engineers his escape. Of course, she’s there for a reason besides preventing him from dangling at the end of a noose—he’s the key to her daring scheme.

Steve may be trading one execution for another, but the tempting—and off limits—operative draws him into the perilous mission. Falling for Amanda is a complication he can’t afford, but Steve’s never been one to play it safe. The spoils of victory will be Amanda’s surrender. And the terms of surrender promise to be sultry and sweet.




Here’s how to connect with Tara:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorTaraKingston

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TaraKingston115

Secrets, Spies & Sweet Little Lies and Pistols, Parasols & Passionate Little Lies are available exclusively on Amazon:


Secrets, Spies & Sweet Little Lies: http://tinyurl.com/q2d9zgo

Pistols, Parasols & Passionate Little Lies: http://tinyurl.com/q6tkwn4

*******

Now, let me introduce you to author, BRENDA B. TAYLOR and her book, Through The Storm.

Through The Storm

The Wade family saga continues in this work of historical fiction set in post-Civil War Missouri. Love reigns in the home of Leann and Ralph Wade, although tested many times during the course of their marriage. Sonny Wade, Ralph's brother, harbors a secret passion for Leann, and Joan Smith, a family friend, desires Ralph. Leann and Ralph struggle to overcome the storms of life through faith, courage, and commitment to each other.



About The Author

The desire to write historical fiction has long been a passion with Brenda B. Taylor. Since elementary school, she has written stories in her spare time. Brenda earned three degrees: a BSE from Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas; a MEd from Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas; and an EdD from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; then worked as a teacher and administrator in the Texas Public School system. Only after retirement could she fulfill the dream of publication.

Brenda and her husband make their home in beautiful East Texas where they enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, and working in Bethabara Faith Ministry, Inc. She crafts stories about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people in her favorite place overlooking bird feeders, bird houses, and a variety of blooming trees and flowers. She sincerely thanks all who purchase and read her books. Her desire is that the message in each book will touch the heart of the reader as it did hers in the writing.


Purchase Books

Contact Me

Facebook

Twitter

Amazon Author's Page

Goodreads

Pinterest

WHAT will you win and HOW do you win? Let me tell you. All you have to do is leave a comment and I will randomly choose a winner for each author. 

Brenda is giving away an e-book of Through The Storm and Tara is giving a away an e-book also and the winner gets to choose which book they want. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Sarah

Interview with Author, B.J. SCOTT

Highland Homecoming by B.J. Scott



Author bio: With a passion for historical romance, history in general, and anything Celtic, B.J. always has an exciting work in progress. Each story offers a blend of romance, adventure, suspense, and, where appropriate, a dab of comic relief. Carefully researched historical facts are woven into each manuscript, providing a backdrop from which steamy romance, gripping plots, and vivid characters—dashing alpha heroes and resourceful, beguiling heroines you can’t help but admire—spring to life. A member of RWA, World Romance Writers, Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, and Savvy Authors, B.J. also writes contemporary, paranormal, time travel, and romantic suspense.

C.S. Lewis first captivated B. J.’s imagination in the fourth grade, and her desire to write sprang from there. Following a career in nursing and child and youth work, B.J. married her knight-in-shining-armor, and he whisked her away to his castle by the sea. In reality, they share their century-old home in a small Canadian town on the shore of Lake Erie with three dogs and a cat. When she is not working at her childcare job, on her small business, or writing, you will find her reading, camping, or antique hunting.

Book Blurb: The last thing Alasdair Fraser expects to find on an isolated beach in Northern Scotland is a beautiful, unconscious lass. Unable to turn his back on someone in need, he delays his journey and tends to her injuries–an act that has him questioning his destiny and his plans to rejoin the fight for Scotland’s independence.

Will he drop the shield that guards his heart or will the secrets she fails to reveal and his own stubbornness keep them apart forever?



Excerpt:

Northern Coast of Scotland. Summer 1308

Hooves pounded against rocks, surf, and sand as Alasdair Fraser pushed his mount beyond reasonable limits. Few things rivaled the thrill and exhilarating rush of mastering the powerful destrier between his thighs, controlling the magnificent beast with reins and will. The wind whipped through unbound hair and the tangy scent of the salty sea air filled Alasdair’s nostrils.

He’d ridden hard all afternoon, hoping to reach the stronghold of his longtime friend, Jayden Sinclair. But the sun had slipped below the horizon, the twilight sky ablaze with orange, red, and purple hues. Darkness would soon be upon him and he’d be forced to make camp for the night. He licked his parched lips and his stomach rumbled. Many hours had passed since he’d last eaten, but a hot meal and a tankard of ale would have to wait. Water, oatcakes, and a bit of dried venison would suffice until he reached his destination.

He dug in his heels, and the steed surged forward. The more distance they covered before nightfall, the shorter the journey would be on the morrow. But as they rounded a bend in the shoreline, Odin faltered, reared up on his hind legs, then began to dance nervously from side-to-side. The battle-hardened warhorse didn’t spook easily so Alasdair took heed of the animal’s uneasiness.

With one hand resting on the hilt of his sword, the other fisting the reins, he carefully surveyed the immediate area. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary, yet the niggling of trepidation gnawing at his gut led him to believe there was something amiss. He nudged the horse’s flank and the pair advanced with caution.

They’d only traveled a short distance up the beach when the sight of something a few yards ahead at the water’s edge brought them to an abrupt halt. With his heart hammering in his chest, Alasdair cupped his hand over his brow and narrowed his eyes, trying to get a better look. The image came into focus and he could make out the unmistakable outline of a person sprawled out on the shore.

“What is it, Odin? Or, should I say, who is it?”

While this could be someone in need, it might also be a trap, an enemy or bandit lying in wait. Without hesitation, Alasdair slid from the saddle, pulled a claymore from the baldric slung on his back, and raced down the beach on foot. Stopping a few feet away, he sucked in a sharp breath.

“Mo chreach!”

He sheathed his weapon and took a step closer. A young woman, wearing nothing more than a thin nightrail, lay motionless in the sand, the waves of the incoming tide lapping at her bare feet.



Buy links

Highland Homecoming( book 3 of Fraser Brother Trilogy)

http://www.amazon.com/Highland-Homecoming-Brothers-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00F9U3SBO



Highland Quest (book 2 of Fraser Brother Trilogy)

http://www.amazon.com/Highland-Fraser-Brothers-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00AQKYPU0



Highland Legacy: (book 1 of Fraser Brother Trilogy)

http://www.amazon.com/Highland-Legacy-Brothers-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0065KX8P8



Where to find B.J. Scott. 

email: bjscott@authorbjscott.com

web www.authorbjscott.com

blog: http://authorbjscott.wordpress.com

Interview with Author MORGAN K. WYATT

Today I’m interviewing Morgan K Wyatt .Her book, Escaping West is a historical romance a March 2013 release.

***Morgan is giving away a $5 gift card to Amazon to one lucky person****



Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.
The book starts during Reconstruction. Kitty Hamilton is afraid she’ll end up an old maid, because there are precious few available men in the area. She’s accused of a crime she didn’t commit, which sends her fleeing the state dressed as a boy. Escaping is her principle concern until she encounters handsome gambler, Nick Kennedy.



Describe the genre of this particular title, and is the only genre you write in?
Escaping West is a historical romance that embraces adventure, new frontiers, pushing boundaries, and courageous individuals.

I also have five contemporary romances with Secret Cravings. I have two romantic suspense tales coming out with Secret Cravings this year.

My current WIP is a young adult paranormal time traveler tale with romantic elements.



How did this story come to be?
Escaping West is my original story that included everything I found fascinating about the west from gold rushes, U.S. Marshals, flashy gamblers, mail order brides and even bathhouses. The Rebel Heart series, which came first time-wise, was written later after Escaping West.



Did you have several manuscripts finished before you sold?
I sold contemporaries before the historical romances. Escaping West came after publish eight other novels.



What is your writing routine like?
I usually write in the morning, edit in the afternoon, and do promos, email, and website in the evening.



What character is most like you or least like you?
In Escaping West, I find I am a bit like Kitty who often acts impulsively and pays the consequences later.



What most inspires you in life?
My husband inspires my writing. Most of my heroes have similar traits to him. He wrote almost all the male dialogue in Unexpected Cougar.

He maintains my author website. This amazing man is actually spending his vacation at the RWA Conference in Atlanta.



BOOK BLURB (Setup: Kitty fled the saloon with Nick’s saddlebags thinking she’s throwing off the bad guy.)
Why did she do such an impulsive, stupid thing? She knew why even if she didn't want to admit it was something in his kisses. Then there was his voice, low, intimate calling her name.

“Kit, where are you?”

She could even hear it as if he was nearby. Amazing, Kitty shook her head bemused until she heard the voice again.

"Kit."

Her imagination must be working overtime. Duke whickered loud and hard. She started to tell him to hush when she heard boot steps on the gravel. Freezing in place, Kitty strained to hear the approaching footsteps.

"Kitty, it's me, Nick. Where are you?"

Letting go of the breath she'd been holding, Kitty took another breath before calling out. "I'm over here in the hole. Be careful."

"I'm coming, sweetheart." He called back, his boot heels scrambling for purchase over the rocks.

He'd called her sweetheart. She sighed then she accidentally put her weight on the wrong foot. "Ouch!"

"What, honey?” Nick called out in a voice that sounded a little closer.

"Hurry," Kitty managed through clenched teeth. He was there before she knew it. Deftly jumping into the hole and wrapping her in his arms, accidentally battering her already savaged ankle.

"Ouch, watch it," she complained.

"I didn't expect undying gratitude, but something like my hero might not be out of line," Nick commented laughingly.

"Thank you, Nick. I am grateful. I hurt my ankle when I fell into the hole." Kitty snuggled into Nick's shoulder appreciative of his warmth and inhaled deeply, enjoying the smell of worn leather and clean male.

Nick paced around the small hole with Kitty in his arms. He dragged his boot toe around the edge trying to find a way up or out.

"Well, darling, looks like I am going to have to toss you up," Nick acknowledged.

"What," Kitty squeaked. "Toss me where?"

"I looked, and there seems to be no easy way out of here. It’s up to you. Once you're up, I need you to tie the rope to the saddle horn on Duke's saddle and back him up. Once I get a hold of the rope, pull me up. Can you manage?"

Kitty had her doubts as she felt Nick's voice vibrate through the clothing separating the two of them. In the end, tossing seemed to be her only hope of getting out, and she imagined Nick was a good tosser. Naturally, he would be good at everything.






A little bit about the author.

Morgan K Wyatt, raised on a steady diet of superheroes, believed she could fly at a very young age. After using trees, barn lofts, sliding boards, and even a second story window as launch pads, she found her flying skills were limited to fast and downward. By the age of nine, her dreams to be a superhero needed some modifications, which caused her to turn to writing and horseback riding as alternatives to flying.

At the age of twenty, she had another chance at superhero greatness as being one of the few female soldiers trained for combat. The fact that women will be able to serve in combat soon indicates that all the witnesses to the grenade incident have retired. The grenade incident didn’t prevent her two sons or daughter-in-law from enlisting in the service. Having different last names probably helped.

Morgan recently retired from teaching special needs students to write fulltime, instead of in the wee hours of the night. With the help of her helpful husband and loyal hound, she creates characters who often grab plot lines and run with them. As for flying, she prefers the airlines now.





How can my readers buy your book?
Readers can purchase my book directly from my author page with links to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Secret Cravings

www.morgankwyatt.com

Readers can follow me on twitter @MorganKWyatt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Morgan-K-Wyatt/160636730670958?ref=tn_tnmn

I also do free books promos for other writers on www.writerwonderland.weebly.com

(Details are on the About page)



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

1) Who’s the last person you talked to on the phone?

My husband

2) What is your favorite board game?

21B Baker Street (similar to Clue)

3) What is the book you are reading?

I am reading Goddess of Love by P.C. Cast


4) When is the last time you laughed?

Screamed, hooted and shrieked the other night watching The Middle.


5) What’s your favorite vacation spot?

I love the beach, especially at sunrise when no one else is there.


6) Movies- horror or comedy?

Comedy


7) Ride a bike or take a walk?

Walk—too many bike accidents



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



Thanks Sarah

Interview with Author, LOREEN AUGERI

Today I’m interviewing Loreen Augeri. Her book, Lost Honor, is a historical romance and was released on March 8, 2013.




Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.

First, I want to thank you for having me on your blog today. Lost Honor is set in 1818 and in the beginning takes place on a brig in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. As the hero, a sea captain, attempts to find his brother kidnapped by pirates, he discovers a female stowaway on his ship. She wants to become a member of his crew. He refuses. Even though he is betrothed, feelings for her blossom and grow.




Describe the genre of this particular title, and is it the only genre you write in?

Lost Honor is a historical romance. Yes, it is the only genre I write in. I love reading and writing about various time periods in history. Life was simpler and slower. Since historical romances take place before World War II, the plot can be set in the fifteenth century for one book and the eighteenth century for the next. While researching, I enjoy learning about the customs, food, dress, and way of life of the people that came before us.



How did this story come to be?

I have always enjoyed reading about pirates, so I decided to write a book with the pirate as the hero. When I took a workshop, I discovered certain aspects of pirate life I thought were true were myths. The truth didn’t fit into the plot I envisioned, so I made the hero the captain of the ship and the pirate a villain.



What is your writing routine like?

I set a goal of how many pages I want to write or edit each week. My life is different every day so I accomplish more on certain days than I do on others, which is why I set a weekly goal. Sometimes I work on the manuscript in the morning and at other times in the afternoon. Some people like to listen to music while they write. I like complete quiet. I see the action taking place in my head like a movie.



Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?

I can think of three rewarding things, to see my name in print, creating lives for the characters in my books, and hopefully giving readers a few hours of pleasure.



What most inspires you in life?

Reading historical romance novels inspires me to write and attempt to become better at my craft.



What’s next for you?

I have a finished novel I would like to see published, and I just started writing another manuscript.



BOOK BLURB

Captain Morgan Danvers sets sail to rescue his brother, kidnapped by pirates. Fearing he will become like his father who abandoned him, he has cut himself off from his emotions. Then a willful stowaway crashes into his life, awakening dormant feelings and firing his lust. Soon he finds his all-important honor threatened, for even though he is betrothed to another, he is drawn to her against his will.

Arianna Pemberton hides in a barrel she thinks will be loaded on her brother's ship but lands on Morgan's brig. Her father has forbidden her to sail, and this is her only course of action. Unwilling to allow a man to control her, she is determined to make her way as a seaman, a profession she knows and loves. But when Captain Danvers discovers her deception, he refuses to permit her to prove herself. As she struggles to convince him, unwanted passion emerges, jeopardizing her plans for independence.





A little bit about the author. 

I started reading historical romances when my children were babies. When my youngest daughter started school, I decided I wanted to write a novel. At first, to see if I could, later as a hobby, and then seeking publication. Becoming a member of the Romance Writers of America, Hearts Through History, and my local chapter, New England Chapter helped in the process. I live in Massachusetts with my husband of 31 years and my two daughters. When I am not reading or writing, I enjoy walking, dancing, and spending time at the beach.



Excerpt

Shoved by powerful hands, she fell to her knees before booted feet. “Found her in the hold, Cap’n. Thought she was a boy at first, her wearin’ pants and a cap, but she has tits.”

“I can see that, Jurgens.”

Arianna followed the shiny boots up to tight-fitting, brown breeches hugging muscular thighs, and slim hips. A loose, white shirt covering broad shoulders next met her gaze, then a corded neck, square jaw, stern lips, crooked nose, and cold, dark eyes that stared down at her. “Where’s my brother? Who are you?”

“I will be asking the questions. Who are you, and why are you on my ship?” The deep voice thundered through the cabin.

Her stomach flip-flopped. Dizziness swamped her. Swallowing convulsively, she battled to contain the contents of her queasy stomach. Hiding in that empty molasses barrel hadn’t been the brightest idea of her twenty-one years. “I’m not talking to anyone but my brother.”

Jurgens’s forceful hands yanked her to a standing position. “You answer the cap’n.”

The abrupt movement snapped the fragile control she clung to. Spasms seized her throat. Arianna struggled to turn away, but the fingers digging into her arms held her in place. The contents of her stomach erupted.

All over Captain Danvers’s boots.

Her captor released her and jumped back in horror.




How can my readers buy your book?

The Wild Rose Press e-book

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=176_135&products_id=5133


The Wild Rose Press paperback

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=5144


Amazon e-book

http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Honor-ebook/dp/B00AD99TSM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1362433938&sr=1-1&keywords=lost+honor


Amazon paperback

http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Honor-Loreen Augeri/dp/1612177298/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362434027&sr=1-1&keywords=lost+honor





You can find more information about Loreen Augeri and her book, Lost Honor, by
visiting her website www.loreenaugeri.com


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

1) What is your favorite color? pink

2) What is your favorite holiday? Easter

3) What is your favorite thing to eat? spaghetti

4) Who is your favorite author to read? At the moment, Monica McCarty

5) What’s your favorite vacation spot? the beach or the mountains

6) Movies- Drama or Comedy? drama

7) Coke or Pepsi? Coke

8) Ice Cream- Strawberry, Chocolate, or Vanilla? strawberry

9) Roses or Daisies? roses

10) Hotel room or tent in the woods? hotel room 

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

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR GLYNNIS CAMPBELL

Today I’m interviewing Glynnis Campbell. Her book, THE SHIPWRECK, is a historical romance and was released on January 7.

***GLYNNIS IS GIVING AWAY 2 COPIES OF HER BOOKS TODAY! FOR A CHANCE TO WIN, LEAVE A COMMENT!*****



Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.

THE SHIPWRECK is about a Viking marauder who becomes a castaway on the enemy shore he meant to invade, unfortunately falling into the hands of a Pictish princess with a grudge against Vikings.
 

Describe the genre of this particular title, and is the only genre you write in?

Though I write in many different time periods, all my books are historical romances. THE SHIPWRECK is set in the Dark Ages.


How did this story come to be?

I’ve always wanted to write an origin legend for my Scots medieval Warrior Maids of Rivenloch trilogy. Somewhere in the Warrior Maids’ past, I knew there was a marriage between a fierce Viking invader and a courageous Pictish noblewoman. But I loved the surprising twist in the story of putting the big, tough Viking at the mercy of the wee Pictish lass.


Did you have several manuscripts finished before you sold?

When I first sold, I had one ridiculously long three-part manuscript finished, which the publisher split into three books to become the Knights of de Ware trilogy.


What is your writing routine like?

Because odd jobs like research and promotion interfere with keeping a strict schedule, my writing routine is flexible. Generally, I write five or more days a week, from around 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but I’ve also done several marathon writing sessions and occasionally go for a few weeks without writing anything.



Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?

The best reward of being a published author is the knowledge that people are enjoying my books. I love to share these characters and these stories, and it makes me happy to know that I’m touching readers, making them sigh or smile or laugh.



I read that you were a professional singer before you became an author. Do you miss singing or do you juggle both?

I still sing—I’m just not getting paid for it (unless you count my husband tossing quarters into the shower!). I currently juggle writing with doing voiceover acting, however, and this year I plan to start doing audio versions of my books!



What character is most like you or least like you?

I’m probably most like the heroine’s four-year-old daughter in THE SHIPWRECK. She’s very curious and direct, likes to play let’s pretend, and she’s a good judge of character.



What most inspires you in life?

I’m most inspired by the good things people do for one another. Humans are actually pretty decent. I like reading about heroism, hearing about acts of selflessness, witnessing everyday kindnesses. It’s reassuring, it keeps me believing that people are good at heart, and it adds realism to my heroes and heroines.



What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on a Native California Gold Rush trilogy set in my hometown of Paradise. After that, I plan to revisit Scotland for the Warrior Daughters of Rivenloch!

 

BOOK BLURB

The legend of Rivenloch is born... When Avril, a Pictish warrior maid and the exiled victim of a berserker, discovers a broad-shouldered Viking shipwrecked on her shore, she immediately takes him captive, never imagining that soon her fiercest enemy will earn her trust, invade her heart, and enthrall her senses.



A little bit about the author

When she’s not writing swashbuckling historical romances and playing medieval matchmaker, she’s a cartoon voice, the wife of a rock star, and the mother of two young adults. She’s been a ballerina, a typographer, a film composer, a piano player, a singer in an all-girl rock band, and a voice in those violent video games you won’t let your kids play. She does her best writing on cruise ships, in Scottish castles, on her husband’s tour bus, and at home in her sunny southern California garden. She loves transporting readers to a place where the bold heroes have endearing flaws, the women are stronger than they look, the land is lush and untamed, and chivalry is far from dead!

Visit her at glynnis.net / Friend her on Facebook / Follow her on Twitter / Share with her on Pinterest



How can my readers buy your book?

Readers can go to the publisher’s home page at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AYO3W2K/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=toursupportnet&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00AYO3W2K



You can find more information about Glynnis Campbell and her book, THE SHIPWRECK by

visiting her website, http://www.glynnis.net.





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


1) Mountains or Beach? Mountains

2) Boxers or Briefs? Boxer briefs

3) Bath or Shower? Shower

4) What is your favorite season? Spring

5) What is your favorite thing to eat? Nutella crepe from a Paris street vendor

6) Who is your favorite author to read? Julie Garwood (romance)/Douglas Adams (non-romance)

7) What’s your favorite vacation spot? Scotland—my honeymoon destination!

8) Movies- Horror or Comedy? Comedy

9) Coke or Pepsi? Hansen’s Natural Soda

Photo provided by author. 

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

Interview with Author, ADRIENNE CLARK

 

Welcome to Adrienne Clark! Her book, TO DANCE IN LIRADON debuts today! Leave a comment below to be eligible to win a FREE copy!





The Lure of Long Ago and Faraway
One of the most important decisions you make as an author is when and where your story will take place. While some of us prefer to write about the here and now, others, like me, dream of stories set long ago and far away. For me, the past evokes a certain kind of longing and magic that I find more difficult to realize in the present.

When I thought of the story To Dance in Liradon I knew it would take place in medieval Ireland. Although I’ve never been to Ireland (a terrible wrong I hope to remedy in the near future) I’ve always been drawn to Irish mythology. Steeped in legend, rich with beautiful heroines, fierce warriors, heroic battles, and of course, Faeries, few cultures can compete with Ireland’s gift for storytelling. What captivated me most about Irish mythology were tales about the Tuatha de Danaan, also known as the ‘Shining Ones,’ or as I refer to them in my book, the ‘Fair Folk.’

Far from the tiny, winged creatures popular in British culture, Irish Faeries are tall, beautiful, extremely proud and amoral. The more I read about the Tuatha de Danaan, the more I wanted to write about them.

A recurring theme in Irish mythology about the Tuatha de Danaan is the idea of paradise; the land of promise as it is spoken of in some sources. In Faerie land there is no suffering, no disease, and no one ever grows old or inform. Those who enter its enchanted borders are young and beautiful forever.

Of course, nothing is ever quite what it seems. What does it mean to live in this kind of eternal paradise? And how does perfect happiness affect our bonds to one another? In To Dance in Liradon, my heroine, Brigid, must ask these very questions when she lifts the veil that separates human from Faerie. I love naming heroines, and I chose Brigid as a nod to the Celtic Goddess of Fire.

To Dance in Liradon takes place in two distinct but intimately intertwined worlds, Faerie and human. The juxtaposition of these worlds intrigued me, different as light and dark, but like light and dark they define one another. Both have the power to lure and enchant, but in very different ways. The Irish poet W.B Yeats imagined interactions between Faeries and humans as a magnetic pushing-pulling attraction, one for the other.

My story unfolds when Brigid finds herself torn between two worlds and two men as she struggles to understand who she is and where she belongs. It takes courage for a young woman to walk among the Fair Folk, who think themselves the noblest race on earth, and even more courage to find out what to dance in Liradon really means.

Fantasy writers spend many hours creating new and exciting worlds for their readers, and many of them draw on mythological sources. I’ll never forget my visits to Narnia, Middle Earth and Prydain. These books, among others, inspired me to create my own fantasy worlds. But the human world is beautiful too, in all its flawed, imperfect mortality. My hope is that To Dance in Liradon gives readers a glimpse into both Faerie and human worlds, and that they are in some way moved by what they find there.


Website: http://adrienneclarkewriter.com/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/#!/adrienne.clarke.9

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/AdrienneLClarke



To Dance in Liradon is available at:

http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/

http://www.amazon.com/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/



Adrienne Clarke

http://www.adrienneclarkewriter.com/

To Dance in Liradon is now available from Soul Mate Publishing!


When Brigid suddenly finds herself torn between two men and two worlds, her struggle leads her into the glittering, ruthless world of Faerie where she must rescue her true love from a terrible sacrifice or lose him forever.

 

 

Cover Blurb for To Dance in Liradon
Seventeen-year old Brigid O'Flynn is an outcast. A chance encounter with the Faerie Queen left her tainted in the eyes of the villagers, who blame the Faerie for the village’s missing women and children. Desperate to win the village’s acceptance Brigid agrees to marry her childhood friend: Serious, hardworking, Connell Mackenna. But when Connell disappears before their wedding Brigid's hopes are shattered. Blamed for her fiancé’s death, Brigid fears she will suffer the same fate as the other village outcasts, the mysterious Willow Women. Lured into Liradon by their inhuman lovers, and cast out weak and broken, the Willow Women spend their lives searching for the way back into Faerie. When Connell suddenly reappears Brigid is overjoyed, but everything is not as it seems. Consumed by his desire for beauty and celebration, Connell abandons his responsibilities, and Brigid soon finds herself drawn into a passionate, dangerous world of two.


When Brigid discovers the truth behind Connell's transformation she’s forced to choose between two men and two worlds. Brigid’s struggle leads her into glittering, ruthless Liradon where she must rescue her true love from a terrible sacrifice or lose him forever.