Laurie Sanders
I look forward to all of the authors who visit here, but I have to admit that I’ve been especially looking forward to Rachel’s visit. Her book sounds like it has such a cute premise that I’ve been hooked since I read the blurb. I’ve asked Rachel a few questions about romantic comedy in general, but I hope that all of our readers here will step forward and lend their voices to the conversation by offering their own questions, comments, and sharing their own favorite romantic comedy movies and TV shows.
Rachel will be giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during her tour. Be sure to leave your comments here to enter, then check out her other stops and leave your comments there as well.
16 Marsden Place
by Rachel Brimble
Cover Blurb From 16 Marsden Place
There isn’t a situation that can’t be fixed by a coat of chocolate body paint or a liberal smear of Champagne Lick, right? Wrong!
Ever since her father was murdered by a gang of youths, Sienna Lloyd has named herself Potterford’s protector—her sexy lingerie shop is a place where the town’s women can visit and feel safe. But when that shop is in danger of closing, Sienna needs a solution that will keep her in Potterford, where she can always look out for her mother, friends, and clients.
The answer? Move the shop to her home at 16 Marsden Place. The problem? Her new neighbor, the delicious but seriously uptight Jack Beaton. Oh, and his four-year-old twin girls.
Jack has just moved to the tiny town of Potterford in a bid to start over. To build a new life that keeps his children safe from their violent and sex-crazed mother. So when he discovers his neighbor intends to open a sex shop right next door, Jack will do anything to ensure it doesn’t happen…including fighting every ounce of his attraction to the shop’s owner and his innate need to trust again.
An Excerpt From 16 Marsden Place
BANG, BANG, BANG!
The sound of a fist against glass hurled her back onto her ass. “Holy crap!”
The trowel flew from Sienna’s hand up into the air, narrowly missing her left ear on its descent. Her blood pumped wildly as her heart beat an out-of-control tattoo. She looked to the patio doors. Two of the most angelic—yet mischievous—faces she’d ever seen stared back at her.
Surely those two hadn’t the strength to bang on the doors that hard? She frantically scanned the back of the house. Bedroom windows: empty. Kitchen window: empty. Then the back door opened. Scrambling to her feet, Sienna brushed the mud from her knees.
“Oh, Lord. Here goes.” She plastered on a smile as embarrassment burned her cheeks.
When the man, presumably the kids’ father, emerged into the sunlight, her smile disintegrated, and her mouth dropped wide open. Come to Mama.
He strode out onto the decking. His shoulders were broad, his face handsome in a rugged, careless kind of way. His hair was thick and dark, with bits flopping onto his forehead. She clamped her mouth shut to lock in a tongue that wanted to loll onto the grass.
“Can I help you?” He walked down the steps toward her.
His voice was deep, husky, and very, very male. Sienna shivered and drew in a shaky breath. Talk, woman, talk. “Um, hi.” She smiled. “Funny story. I was just…”
“Pinching some of my flowers?”
She laughed, the sound far too high-pitched. “I wasn’t pinching your flowers. I was checking the soil. I’ve been…um…you know, watering them while the place has been empty.”
She bent over to retrieve the trowel. Anything to escape the unrelenting intensity of his gorgeous blue eyes. Lingering for a moment, she cranked her brain into overdrive thinking of something remotely feasible and effective to get her out of there in the minimum amount of time. But her brain remained so unresponsive, she considered the fact she might be dead.
Why I Love Romantic Comedy
Why I love romantic comedy…
My latest release, 16 Marsden Place is my first venture into romantic comedy since 2010 and I am so excited about its release! I LOVED writing this book. The heroine, Sienna Lloyd, came into my imagination fully formed and because of that, the book was a joy to write.
It’s great to be here at Black Velvet Seductions – Fire away with your questions!
You write romantic comedy, do you like that genre in TV and movies? What’s your favorite TV comedy? How about your favorite romantic comedy movie? Do the comedies you watch in TV and movies impact your writing at all? If so how?
I adore comedy – I think we are inundated with evil and sad news on the TV and in the newspapers so escaping into a comedic movie or book is a great way to relax.
My favorite TV comedy of all time is Friends – I only have to put on an old episode and I am laughing. I have all ten seasons on DVD and watch them whenever I need cheering up. I can’t choose a favorite character on the show and give all credit to the team of writers who created such great comedy moments over the ten years Friends was on our screens. Just brilliant!
Favorite romantic comedy movie has to be Notting Hill – I ADORE this movie! I’ve watched it countless times and laugh all the time. It has the perfect blend of everyday comedy, intense emotion, heartbreak, joy, friendship…I could go on. As a writer, Richard Curtis is someone with whom I am in complete awe. As well as Notting Hill, he wrote Four Weddings and A Funeral, Love Actually and Bridget Jones’ Diary. Need I say more? Pure genius!
As for how the comedies I watch impact my writing, they do as a way of inspiring me to think of the everyday situations that can be used to connect a character to an audience. Comedy is everywhere and the more a person can laugh at their own misfortune, the more attractive they are…well, at least for me!
About Rachel Brimble
Rachel lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. In 2012, she sold two books to Harlequin Superromance. She also writes Victorian romance for Kensington–her debut was released in April 2013.
16 Marsden Place with Omnific Publishing is her first romantic comedy since 2010.
She has just signed a further three-book contract with Harlequin Superromance.
Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family and beloved black Lab, Max. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England…although she hopes a dream visit to Canada might just change her mind!
She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!
Links
Website: http://rachelbrimble.com/
Blog: http://rachelbrimble.blogspot.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelBrimble
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Brimble/181873201887441?fref=ts
Please welcome today’s guest Regan Walker. Reagan is the author of Against the Wind, a historical romance novel. Regan will be giving away a copy of her first book Racing with the Wind or Lunchbox Romances that tie into the trilogy, The Holly and the Thistle and The Shamrock and the Rose (winner’s choice) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
Be sure to leave your questions and comments here then follow the rest of the tour and comment on those posts; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/04/virtual-book-tour-against-wind-by-regan.html
Against The Wind
By Regan Walker
Cover Blurb From Against The Wind
A night in London’s most exclusive bordello. Agent of the Crown Sir Martin Powell would not normally indulge, but the end of his time spying against Napoleon deserves a victory celebration. Yet, such pleasure will not come cheap. The auburn-haired courtesan he calls “Kitten” is in truth Katherine, Lady Egerton, a dowager baroness and the daughter of an earl as elusive as she is alluring. She flees a fate worse than death. But Martin has known darkness, too, and he alone can touch her heart—as she has touched his. To the English Midlands they will steal, into the rising winds of revolution.
An Excerpt From Against The Wind
The alcove was clothed in darkness, the only light from one small candle, seeping in below a heavy velvet curtain. Martin held Kit close. Her breath came in pants, her breasts pressed into his chest. Relieved to have her finally back in his arms, it was all Martin could do to not to give his passion free rein. Her familiar scent of roses swirled about his head. God, he’d missed this woman. But when he felt her shiver, the need to protect was the only emotion he allowed himself and he tightened his arms around her in comfort.
“Not dead,” she murmured, her forehead nearly touching his lips.
“No, Kit. You did not kill him. And though I certainly want to see the man dead for what he did to you, I thought it best for your reputation he not be confronted here.”
“You know?” She tilted her head upward, her lips within an inch of his. It was all he could do not to claim them.
My Interview With Regan Walker
Serious Questions First:
Q: Please tell us a bit about yourself – when did you first know you wanted to write – what was your journey to publication like – do you have a spouse or significant other – kids? Pets? Where in the world do you live? Where did you grow up? What real life events and experiences fuel your writing?
I grew up in California. As a child I loved to write stories, particularly about adventure-loving girls, but by the time I got to college more serious pursuits took priority. One of my professors thought I was suited to the profession of law (not sure that was a compliment), and I recall thinking that I’d rather be a hammer than a nail so I became a lawyer. Years of serving clients in private practice and several stints in high levels of government gave me a feel for the demands of the “Crown” on its subjects. So, it was natural that my first romance novels would involve a demanding Prince Regent who thinks of his subjects as his private talent pool. That led to Racing With The Wind, my first novel. The road to publication was not long thanks to Boroughs Publishing Group that picked it up in early 2012.
As for the personal side, I have one grown son but he’s off on his own so I live in San Diego with my Golden Retriever “Link”—a real sweetie.
Q: To tell or not to tell – do you tell people what you write? Do your close friends and family members read your books? What have some of their reactions been?
Yes, I tell people I write historical romance, at least if I think they might be interested or they ask. Some of my friends do read my novels but I never ask them to. Most are astounded the serious lawyer can write fiction.
Q: What really makes you tick as a writer? What drives you? What inspires you?
It would probably be the idea for the story and then the research that drives it. The characters come early, too. Research is fun though it is hard work; writing is much more difficult. I am inspired by people’s lives, historical events that decided people’s fate and people of great courage.
Q: Please tell us a bit about Against the Wind.
Against the Wind is the story of Sir Martin Powell, a spy for the Crown who returns from ten years in France during Napoleon’s reign for one last assignment from the Prince Regent. Readers met him in Racing with the Wind. In his one night of leisure, Sir Martin meets his love Katherine, Lady Egerton—in a bordello—never knowing she is the daughter of an earl and a dowager baroness. When she flees, he searches all of London looking for the beautiful redhead he calls Kitten. While still knowing little about each other, he will sweep her away to the Midlands—and into the storms of a fomenting revolution.
Q: Please tell us a bit about the idea behind Against the Wind. What inspired the story? What part of the story did you get first? How did it build on itself till you had the complete story? What was it about this story versus other ideas that compelled you to write it?
I knew Sir Martin was a sexy spy from Racing with the Wind, but the first scene that came to me was the one in the bordello. I was listening to a Ricky Martin song, “Nobody Wants to Be Lonely,” and the scene of Kit in the bordello came to me, a young woman whose life has been shattered standing before a window, bathed in moonlight, staring out into the night, a “broken arrow.” She hears a voice behind her, a man in the shadows, saying “Come to me.” And from that one scene, I wrote the novel.
Q: Which comes first for you? Characters? Plot? Setting? Conflict?
Generally it’s characters, then setting and then my research leads me to plot and conflict. I am not a plotter like some authors where I have it all figured out. I know the beginning and likely the end but the middle is all by the seat of my pants as the story leads me.
Q: Was there one particular scene that was your favorite in Against the Wind? Please tell us about that scene. What happens in the scene? Why is it an important scene in the book?
I particularly like the scene in the bordello because it determined what was between them and set the stage for what would come next. It’s a backward sort of romance so first they make love, then they meet, then they marry and then they fall in love. The ending is quite tender, too.
Q: What are your boundaries as an author? Are there certain things you won’t write about? Are there certain situations that you will never put your characters in? Are there certain sexual practices that your characters will never indulge in? Why have you adopted these particular boundaries?
I have no desire to write erotic romance. I like an interesting plot and real history in what I read as well as what I write. Since I’m writing stories of first love (for the heroine at least), my love scenes are consistent with that. Even if I was writing about an experienced heroine, I have no desire to get into unusual sexual adventures. The sex comes out of the romance, out of their developing love.
Q: Are there any subgenres you absolutely cannot envision writing? Why?
Don’t think I’ll write a paranormal romance or a sci fi. But anything that qualifies as historical is fair game.
Q: Please tell us about the characters in Against the Wind. What strengths do the characters have? What weaknesses?
Kit, the beautiful redhead Sir Martin calls “Kitten,” is a wounded soul. When the story opens she and her sister have already lost their parents, and in the middle of her first Season, Kit was forced to wed an old baron who, though he treated her kindly, was more like a grandfather than a husband. The baron died two weeks into their marriage and Kit went to live with her sister and her husband the Earl of Rutledge. When Kit’s beloved sister dies, her brother-in-law, the earl, tries to take her by force. She flees to the only place she can think of…a bordello run by her former nanny. And she runs right into the arms of Sir Martin. In Martin, Kit finds a gentle man whose lovemaking stirs her passions and whose words of comfort soothe her wounded soul. But Martin is wounded too. He saw his wife murdered on the streets of Paris five years earlier. Together he and Kit will help each other heal as they become embroiled in the Pentrich Rebellion of 1817.
Q: Most writers know a lot of things about their characters that never make it into the book. What can you tell us about your characters that didn’t make it into the book?
Let’s see…Sir Martin didn’t sleep around though the French women threw themselves at him (it was those dark blue eyes and black hair in a very handsome package). Kit was a tomboy as a child, digging in the dirt with the boys.
Q: What internal conflicts or character weaknesses did your characters have to overcome in order to reach their happily ever after ending?
Kit didn’t want to marry and has a hard time trusting. Martin is afraid of losing a woman he loves. Faced with what she believes is treachery on Martin’s part, plus Kit is threatened with kidnapping and rape, they have a lot to deal with.
Q: What do you envy about the characters in your book(s)?
The happy ever after, of course.
Q: Angst or humor? Which is your favorite in the books you write? The books you read?
I strive for angst. I think it’s very hard to do humor and the best comes naturally from the author’s wit. Few do it well.
Q: Please describe your book in five words that are not in your blurb.
Not studying the blurb, I would say: Spy with issues chases woman.
Q: What aspect of writing do you find the most difficult?
Generally it’s the middle of the book and keeping the conflict alive without making it seem like bickering.
Q: What kind of writing do you find the most fun?
The kind I do…historical romance, the long novels. It takes 80,000 words to tell that kind of story but writing the short story can be fun. I had a lot of fun with The Holly & The Thistle, my holiday Lunchbox Romance released last year.
Q: What do you know now after writing and publishing a book that you wish you’d known at the outset?
For my first novel, I kept all the characters in my head. Since then I write it all down else I forget the character’s name or his hair color.
Q: What advice, resources, or useful information can you offer aspiring authors who might be reading this interview?
First, get some critique partners you respect that are committed to getting (or are) published. Then, when you have finished a novel, get a few “beta reads” (a holistic read of the story for plot, characters and whether the reader liked the story—by different folks other than your critique partners). Then, having made the changes that those led you to make, get it published. These days you have many options. If you like being in the driver’s seat, and you don’t want to spend years chasing a publisher, you can self publish. Of course, you’ll need a good editor and copyediter/formatter. But those can be found. If you want to go with the big 4 publishers (I think they are down to 4 now), you might want an agent. Otherwise, I don’t think you need one. I got lucky with Boroughs Publishing Group, an ePublisher, and never felt the need for more. I like having a good editor, flexibility in helping design my covers and the fact my publisher has kept the names of my novels. Boroughs provides exposure through marketing and books tours, but in this day and age, everyone has to do their own social media and publicity, so that is going to be required no matter which avenue you choose. Best to have an author website and Facebook account ready for when your book is published.
Q: Which drives your novels more – the plot or the characters?
The characters. They sometimes insist on scenes that weren’t in my first concept.
Q: What are your favorite television shows and do any of them impact what you write?
I like period pieces like Garrow’s Law and Downton Abbey on PBS. And this year I really liked the History Channel’s Vikings. I don’t like most of regular TV, sitcoms, etc.
Q: How far is too far in erotic romance? What are your limits for your books? Do you like to color inside the lines or push the boundaries when it comes to the love scenes in your books?
Since I don’t read or write erotic romance, I really couldn’t say. I color inside the lines. It’s what fits with the eras I am writing in.
Q: What makes Sir Martin in Against the Wind the ideal hero?
He’s intelligent, protective, handsome and will not let his love go.
Q: What has been the hardest scene you’ve ever written and why?
They are all hard. It takes insight, determination and lots of editing to get the emotions just right.
Q: Authors have to develop thick skins to deal with reviews. Most books receive some mixture of good reviews and bad ones, simply because tastes are different and people like and dislike different things. Please tell us about one of your most memorable reviews and how it impacted your writing.
When the first reviews for Racing with the Wind came in and they said they loved my characters and could not put the book down I was so happy I was nearly in tears. To think a reader loved my story enough to hang on every chapter meant so much. It encouraged me to keep writing.
Please Answer These Questions As A Reader:
As a reader I am always curious about the reading habits of the authors I enjoy, so I have a few questions about your reading habits.
Q: As an author, where do you learn about books you might want to read? Do you research the books in depth before you buy them, read an excerpt or do you buy without a great deal of research?
When I fell in love with the historical romance genre I had trouble finding the good ones, the keepers. So after reading and reviewing hundreds of books on Amazon (500+ with a 91% “helpful” rating) I began developing “best lists” (I now have 12). And that led to my blog, Regan’s Romance Reviews, http://reganromancereview.blogspot.com. Generally, I don’t read a book unless it has a good number of 4 and 5 star reviews. And I have several groups on Goodreads I participate in and they recommend books to me. But authors now send me books to review and those I will read for a review, but only the ones I rate 4 and 5 stars make my best lists. I now have 5000 page views a month and my blog is only a year and a half old so I guess there are a lot of readers looking for the good ones.
Q: When you are learning about a book what five words are most likely to get you to buy the book?
Keeper, well researched, well written and passion.
Q: When you are learning about a book what five words will make you decide against the book?
Prison, alcoholic, disreputable heroine, filth.
Q: What can you tell us about your book that isn’t in the blurb?
It features the actual Pentrich Rebellion of 1817 that shook the Midlands of England.
Q: As a reader are you finding the advent of self-publishing to be a positive or a negative within the industry? Are you finding more good books or are you having to search harder for good books? Please explain your answer.
I think it’s positive, providing authors with more flexibility. However, many need better editing. I hate to see a good story spoiled by a lot of errors and the other readers object, too.
Q: Has the way that you shop for books changed since the rise in the popularity of ebooks? Has how you shop for books been influenced by the rise in self-publishing?
I read both paperbacks and eBooks. I read so many that typically price decides which one. I shop based on story and recommendations from other readers, so no, the rise in eBooks does not influence my choices. Some of the books on my “to read” list are decades old and can only be purchased as used paperbacks.
Q: What are your favorite sub-genres to read? To write?
Subgenres I love included bodice rippers, Viking romance, Medieval romance, Scottish and Highlander romance, but I’ll read any historical period and any setting.
Q: What are your least favorite sub-genres to read? To write?
I don’t like farce…they modern takeoffs on historical novels where they use modern speech and expressions. And I’m generally not fond of time travel and fantasy though there are exceptions on my best lists.
Now for some just for fun:
Q: On Pinterest are you a A.) Hoarder in disguise (you collect images of everything you like) B.) Minimalist (you only collect images that fit in with some project – my next book – a home remodeling project – etc) C.) you’re not on Pinterest.
C. Takes too much time but I’m happy to look at your pictures.
Q: On Twitter are you A.) The life of the party engaging with my friends and followers B.) Mostly a promoter – I use Twitter primarily to promote my books C.) Mostly a lurker. I follow a lot of people looking for useful information – some of which finds its way into my books.
B. Mostly a promoter of the books I love to read, other authors, my blog posts and yes, even my own books.
Q: What’s your favorite social network? Why is it your favorite?
Facebook. Because you can use several pictures, say more and connect directly with friends by “flagging” them so they get a direct message. It’s more friendly than Twitter.
Q: What’s your favorite holiday and why?
Thanksgiving, because it’s all about thanking God for his blessings and it’s a good dinner with friends, a nice weekend.
Q: Did you read 50 Shades of Grey? Love it? Hate it? Somewhere in between?
No.
Q: What was the last book you read that you really loved – enough that you’d recommend it to someone else?
There are many, but recently I discovered the novels of Jan Cox Speas. Bride of the MacHugh may be my all time favorite. Written in 1954, it is simply beautifully done. A Scottish historical with a very worthy hero and a smart, courageous heroine, it’s on my Top 20 list.
Q: What’s your favorite place to read? Do you have a favorite food or beverage you like to eat or drink while reading?
I like to read on a comfy sofa with my feet up and a cup of hot tea at ready. I also read each night in bed propped up on pillows.
Q: If you could go backwards or forwards in time and have dinner with anyone in history who would it be and why?
Winston Churchill, probably. I admire him greatly, his intelligence, his wisdom and his courage.
Q: Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
In the middle, I think. I was born an introvert but circumstances required me to become extrovert in many ways.
Q: Describe your ideal romantic getaway?
A small hotel with a great restaurant in a town near the sea with a wonderful man who loves me, maybe in France, Ireland or Scotland.
Q: You have three magic wishes – what would they be?
To be wealthy enough to help others in need (in a meaningful way), to have a great talent that brings joy to others (and myself), and for good health until it’s time for me to go.
Q: If you were to be stranded on a desert island with one of your characters which character and why?
Lady Mary Campbell from Racing with the Wind. I would never be bored and she is very resourceful.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers about yourself, your books, your characters?
My next book is the third in the trilogy, Wind Raven. Set in 1817, it tells the story of Sir Martin’s older brother, Jean Nicholas Powell, named after his grandfather, a French pirate. He’s a handsome, arrogant sea captain who objects to taking as a passenger the patriotic American, Tara McConnell, who thinks she can climb his rigging and crew with his men. Tara, raised with her brothers on their father’s ships, will struggle with her attraction to the arrogant Englishman and with all it will mean to become a woman, as she’s a tomboy. And for adventure, I’m adding a dash of pirates. A sexy tall, blond pirate, as a matter of fact, Roberto Cofresi, who wears dangling diamond and silver earrings (yes, he really did!), and decides he must have Tara for his own.
Q: Please share with us your five favorite hangouts on the web – these do not have to be book related. Please share sites other than your own website, blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc.
Goodreads, Amazon, Boroughs Publishing Group, Savvy Authors and The Beau Monde (Regency authors).
Q: When you’re not writing what other hobbies or interests do you engage in?
I walk my dog; I love period movies; and I like cooking for friends.
Q: Have you ever done anything in real life that you read about in a romance novel? Please tell us about that.
As a child, I once led a surreptitious tour through the Headmistress’s quarters of my boarding school. Lady Mary comes close to this in Racing with the Wind when she leads her friend on a tour though a bedchamber of a lady of the ton.
Q: Is there anything you’ve read about in a romance novel that you’re dying to try?
Riding a horse over the Highlands of Scotland for days without getting tired.
About Regan Walker
As a child Regan Walker loved to write stories, particularly about adventure-loving girls, but by the time she got to college more serious pursuits took priority. One of her professors thought her suited to the profession of law, and Regan realized it would be better to be a hammer than a nail. Years of serving clients in private practice and several stints in high levels of government gave her a love of international travel and a feel for the demands of the “Crown” on its subjects. Hence her romance novels often involve a demanding Prince Regent who thinks of his subjects as his private talent pool.
Regan lives in San Diego with her golden retriever, Link, whom she says inspires her every day to relax and smell the roses.
Links
website: www.reganwalkerauthor.com/
blog: reganromancereview.blogspot.com/
twitter: @RegansReview
We have two guests today. We have both Carley Bauer and Lynette Willows visiting us today. The pair co-wrote No Gentleman Is He and they are here to share a bit about their book, their writing process, and bits and pieces of their lives with us. Please make them feel welcome by leaving questions and comments for them.
Carley and Lynette are giving away some FABULOUS prizes at the end of their tour. There will be 2 winners. Winner 1 will receive a lovely pair of colonial era earrings (U.S. only please due to shipping constraints); Winner 2 will receive a $100 Amazon GC. To enter leave your comments here, then check out the rest of their blog tour and follow along…leave a comment at each stop to increase your chances of winning one of the great prizes up for grabs!
No Gentleman Is He
By Carley Bauer and Lynette Willows
Cover Blurb From No Gentleman Is He
Young, adventurous and widowed in a new land, Cassandra Courtney Brooks finds her dream of raising a superior breed of saddle horse slipping away with the death of her husband. Left with four horses, living in a tavern attic, and her scant savings depleting, she resolves to see her vision through to fruition by accepting the scandalous position of steward at Varina Farms.
Born in the image of his native ancestry, Colton Rolfe’s savage blood runs through his veins. Scorned by his father, Colt grew into a man of ill temperament whose only interest is the wild equine beasts on his plantation. His desire to breed his horses with the superior Thoroughbreds of the newly widowed Cassandra Brooks leads him to abandon societal rules. Colt’s growing resentment toward the Crown and his assistance to Sons of Liberty missions is complicated by the discovery that Cassandra’s father is a titled English nobleman.
Cassandra is soon forced to question the wisdom of her decision when she finds herself enamored with her employer. As fiery passion grows between them, Cassandra realizes her own spirit of independence, love of the land, and the savage man who is so much a part of it.
As the threat of war comes ever closer, wills are tested through gunfire, treachery, danger, and kidnapping. Does Colt dare trust Cassandra with Sons of Liberty secrets? More importantly, can he trust her with his heart? And will Colt ever trust Cassandra enough to love her as she longs to be loved?
An Excerpt From No Gentleman Is He
Colton saw Cassandra approaching on foot, holding up her skirts to her ankles as she strode purposefully across the field. The long, wet brown grass still hid the rich, new grass greening in the spring air. He turned away, studiously ignoring her as he watched the mares, spotting the ones he intended to cut out of the herd. Her appearance made his heart skip a beat. It disturbed him that she was attractive even with soiled, wet skirts and her hair tousled about her rosy face, her full lips pursed in determination.
“We need to talk,” she shouted breathlessly as she neared him. By then he was ready to leave. She increased her pace when she saw Colton mounting his horse.
“What are you doing out here? I thought I told you not to bother me when I am busy.”
“You told me no such thing. You told me not to bother your men when they are working, not you.” She paused to catch her breath. “Fine. Sell your mares, you arrogant sot! When you have the same problem next season, do not ask me why!”
Her deep blue eyes fearlessly looked up at him. “Before you round up more perfectly good mares to sell, ride back to the stable.”
An Interview With Carley Bauer & Lynette Willows
Serious Questions First:
Laurie’s Interview Questions
Serious Questions First:
Q: Please tell us a bit about yourself – when did you first know you wanted to write – what was your journey to publication like – do you have a spouse or significant other – kids? Pets? Where in the world do you live? Where did you grow up? What real life events and experiences fuel your writing?
A: Carley Bauer: 6th grade. I won a writing contest. I began writing poems, songs, short stories and choosing pen names. Life, as it has a way of doing, stepped in the way. Sidetracked by marriage, a secure career and children, writing was put on the proverbial back burner.
A decade or so ago, I began writing interactively with my co-author, Lynette Willows, in an MSN Community Group she managed. We clicked, and through the years when time permitted, we continued to write together. A couple of years ago I emailed Lynette, eager to resume writing. As it turned out, we were both empty-nesters with that extra time required to devote to our writing. And write we did! In a matter of a few months, we had enough material for a good three to four books. We focused on our first book in the series, ‘No Gentleman Is He’. The road to being e-published is embarrassingly painless. We submitted our manuscript to an e-publisher, and it was accepted. Talk about celebrating! No Gentleman Is He was released in March of this year.
I am married with three grown on-their-own children who have bestowed numerous off-springs to fill our home on holidays and various occasions. We have one pet. A pure white, blue-eyed feline we call Noelle.
I reside on the eastern seaboard of the United States, a native Delawarean, born and bred. From my front door, I am exactly two hours from New York City in one direction, and two hours from Washington DC in the other. I’m 35 minutes from Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love. I can be in Baltimore in an hour. Both Rehoboth Beach and Ocean City are an hour and a half from me. The Poconos Mountains are a couple of hours and Shenandoah only three. I certainly love this area! Sans the summer humidity, it’s the perfect place to live. The only battle of the Revolutionary War fought in Delaware is a little place called Cooches Bridge and is within walking distance of my home. It is rumored that is the first place we raised the flag!
Events and experiences that fuel my passion for writing come from observing people and situations. Some are personal, such as the dynamics of relationships while others are derived from circumstances, such as the courage of those who fought or contributed in the Revolutionary War. Strength, passion, bravery, those traits in the face of adversity inspire me.
A: Lynette Willows: Once upon a time, there was a little redneck girl in school who sucked at math, and science would forever be a mystery to her, but in whom a history teacher took interest. This was because the class was assigned a paper, where the students could research and write a two page report on any period in history. She was a very progressive teacher in those days of strict teaching agendas. So, this little redneck girl decided on the 1920’s, researched it and found it fascinating and writing a six page report complete with drawings and news stories of the period, some of which were so hilarious she had to include them in the report (thereby developing an active interest in the research process). It garnered high praise from the teacher towards this little girl who normally took refuge in silence and hidden in the back of the class, desperately trying not to be noticed. The teacher was extremely surprised that this invisible child had a rich sense of humour. She gave this girl 99% on the paper and invited her to present it in front of the class as an example of “how an in-depth, well written report should be done”. The poor girl was horror stricken at the thought of presenting her work in front of a bunch of people who formerly had ignored her. However, she decided to give it a try, mostly to please this wonderful teacher. To the girl’s surprise, the class was fascinated at the mixture of facts, historical news reports of the day, and the sparks of satire that came out within the presentation. That little girl discovered that she could at least do two things right; research and writing, and developed a strong love for both, all because one teacher took a special interest in a very un-interesting child. From that day on, that little girl used writing to develop her sense of self and accomplishment, and would forever be grateful to that teacher.
That little girl, Lynette Willows, grew up to have a very happy, fulfilling marriage, three wonderful boys and a constant succession of foster kids and dogs. Some of the dogs ended up staying permanently in her home. The foster kids, she hoped, left with a better understanding and appreciation of who they were and where they wanted to be, with their demons tamed enough to control. Only regret is, she thinks she taught her boys about birth control too well, for there are still no grandkids on the way. She lives in hope…
Q: To tell or not to tell – do you tell people what you write? Do your close friends and family members read your books? What have some of their reactions been?
A: Carley Bauer: Yes, I do openly discuss what I write. I have never been overly concerned with what people think. My husband has been a tremendous help in this area, always encouraging me to take pride in what I write.
Yes, many of my close friends and family have read ‘No Gentleman Is He’. So far, they’ve all loved it. My mother-in-law, who has not read the book, but heard from others that there was some erotica involved, seemed taken aback. I love my mother-in-law, but her issues are her own and not mine. Otherwise, I’ve received positive feedback.
A: Lynette Willows: Oddly enough, I didn’t tell many people in my family circle that I was writing a book. I wanted to mitigate the humiliation if it never got published, so only a very few knew about it. Even my own eternally patient husband thought I was just “playing around” but didn’t begrudge me the time.
Q: What really makes you tick as a writer? What drives you? What inspires you?
A: Carley Bauer: My honesty may bite me in the butt, but I am often driven by my co-author, Lynette. Not driven as in horse-whipped, but rather inspired to greater heights. She will send her newest addition to the manuscript, and I will think, “Ah-ha! Now this character can go here.” It’s almost like a chess game! We write until we have created a compelling story with engaging characters. It’s a bit mind-boggling since Lynette, and I have absolutely nothing in common save for our ages, we each have three grown children and love writing.
Q: Please tell us a bit about No Gentleman Is He
A: Carley Bauer: Set in 1775 Virginia, it is the story of a young widow, new to the colonies. Living in a tavern attic with her scant savings near depletion, Cassandra Courtney Brooks was left with four horses, one ready to foal, when she met Colton Rolfe, proprietor of Varina Farms and opportunist extraordinaire. Able to discern the quality of Cassandra’s horses, Colton wanted them for the base of his new breeding stock. Blinded by a driving desire to own Cassandra’s horses, he saw the fortuity of offering her the position of steward at his plantation. With the war, and their growing passion for one another both heating up, Colton’s growing involvement with the Sons of Liberty leads the two to Boston when he suspects his new steward of being a spy.
It’s a captivating story set during a time of hardship with two strong lead characters. We also included a few secondary characters that help amp up the story line.
A: Lynette Willows: When Carley first pestered me to write with her on a story set in 1775 America, I gave in to humour her, though as a Canadian I was not overly enthused. However, as we progressed in this story and did the research, this Canuck became increasingly more fascinated with the era. There were so many undercurrents of chaos and hopelessness in the whole mad scheme of gaining independence from the Commonwealth that most Americans are probably unaware. As the weeks went by and we worked on the story, I became almost obsessed with it. By the way, there are many Canadian and foreign connections (other than England) to this era and the Revolutionary War which may come out in a later book. Teaser!
Q: Please tell us a bit about the idea behind No Gentleman Is He. What inspired the story? What part of the story did you get first? How did it build on itself till you had the complete story? What was it about this story versus other ideas that compelled you to write it?
A: Carley Bauer: I was the one with a penchant for the time period. My Canadian counter-part dove in to the story line with equal passion. Their shared love of the equine was certainly what we worked on first. We knew we wanted a 1775 timeline, and we knew it would involve horses and the Sons of Liberty. Being the first book in the Sons of Liberty series, Colton is the one most uncertain and yet knowing he must fight for the right of the land his family had known as home for generations.
Q: Which comes first for you? Characters? Plot? Setting? Conflict?
A: Carley Bauer: Characters every time.
A: Lynette Willows: Plot and conflict, the more unusual the better, then characters and setting, in that order.
Q: Was there one particular scene that was your favorite in No Gentleman Is He? Please tell us about that scene. What happens in the scene? Why is it an important scene in the book?
A: Carley Bauer: That is a challenging question. So many brilliant scenes in the book, I’m hard-pressed to choose just one! This will probably surprise my Lynette since it is a short scene that she wrote. The house is filled with people and Colton enters the kitchen. Cassandra is busy preparing food with neighbors, when he sets his empty plate in the sink, searching for an excuse to see her. You can feel the connection change in that moment. It’s small, not nearly as exciting as the other various scenes that bring them closer to danger and each other. In that single moment, you can literally feel the well-guarded wall around Colton’s heart crumbling.
A: Lynette: There are several, and it’s hard to pick just one. I’ll mention the beginning in the horse stables, I really enjoyed that one, and the chaos surrounding the battle at Concord and the interaction between Colton and Cassandra during that.
Q: What are your boundaries as an author? Are there certain things you won’t write about? Are there certain situations that you will never put your characters in? Are there certain sexual practices that your characters will never indulge in? Why have you adopted these particular boundaries?
A: Carley Bauer: I am not a sexual boundary writer. Thankfully for both of us, along with our readers, Lynette is.
Q: Are there any subgenres you absolutely cannot envision writing? Why?
A: Carley Bauer: Twilight stuff. I feel absolutely no interest in it whatsoever.
A: Lynette Willows: Not really, if I really connect with the story I imagine. I write first, consider genre later.
Q: Please tell us about the characters in No Gentleman Is He. What strengths do the characters have? What weaknesses?
A: Carley Bauer: As I created Cassandra, and Lynette created Colton, I will respond for our heroine and defer to Lynette’s account of our hero.
Cassandra inherited her father’s adventurous spirit and her mother’s perception. I should clarify that her parents were created years ago in a story line Lynette, and I played around with. It was fun to take certain characteristics of each parent and incorporate them into my heroine. Born into English aristocracy, she is a tad spoiled. It was coming to the colonies, facing adversity that helped her overcome that particular weakness. She also has a penchant for listening to her inner voice as opposed to what her employer would prefer. It is a weakness that wreaks havoc more than a few times during the book.
Q: Most writers know a lot of things about their characters that never make it into the book. What can you tell us about your characters that didn’t make it into the book?
A: Carley Bauer: Cassandra traveled on her father’s ship with him and her mother during her early years, piquing her interest in foreign lands, nudging her toward the risk of coming to the colonies.
A: Lynette Willows: As a young boy, Colton had a crush on Margaret McLean until he realized he would never be able to trust her. Any remaining attraction he had as a man waned when he met Cassandra and realized what true love and passion should be.
Q: What internal conflicts or character weaknesses did your characters have to overcome in order to reach their happily ever after ending?
A: Carley Bauer: Cassandra could give herself to Colton in a biblical sense, but not marry him unless he was able to love her as she wanted. He was a dark and moody man filled with pain from the past and unable to admit his feelings, even to himself. His trust in her was wavering, and even when overcoming that, he never felt deserving of love.
A: Lynette Willows: Colton had horrible self-esteem when it came to people. He was often socially awkward, and it was his best friend Jackson who reminded him he had a strong conscious. He took a perverse pride in his reputation as a dangerous man, though often he would embarrass himself by showing his tender side. Cassandra was able to bring out those emotions and his intense passion he kept bottled up all his life, and to his surprise, she accepted and even encouraged them, and raised his self-esteem in the process. She made him realize he was worthy and lovable.
Q: What do you envy about the characters in your book(s)?
A: Carley Bauer: That Colt was willing to work tirelessly to ensure his plantation succeed. With Cassandra, it is her blatant tenacity.
A: Lynette Willows: Cassandra’s strength under difficult situations, and Colton’s complete loyalty if he feels one is deserving of it.
Q: Angst or humor? Which is your favorite in the books you write? The books you read?
A: Carley Bauer: Oh my. Both are ingredients necessary for a good read. I love reading the humor but am better at writing the angst. Lynette has taught me to write and embrace the humor.
A: Lynette Willows: I would agree.
Q: Please describe your book in five words that are not in your blurb.
A: Carley Bauer: Perilous jeopardy leading to obsession.
A: Lynette Willows: Enduring love blooming from war.
Q: What aspect of writing do you find the most difficult?
A: Carley Bauer: Forgetting the editing that lies ahead and focusing on the vision that spikes the storyline.
A: Lynette Willows: Ending the story. I never want to let go.
Q: What kind of writing do you find the most fun?
A: Carley Bauer: Dialogue mixed with historical facts. I can get so much out in a good dialogue, and in my opinion, it made for better reading.
A: Lynette Willows: Straying away slightly from the story to show a deeper aspect of the characters, usually through humour. I have to agree that dialogue is the best way to show it, and immense fun.
Q: What do you know now after writing and publishing a book that you wish you’d known at the outset?
A: Carley Bauer: I would like to say the editing process, but then again, that is what Lynette and I are trying to set aside as we write Book Two of the Sons of Liberty series. Maybe having a little more understanding of proof-reading and what exactly they are responsible for.
A: Lynette Willows: The amount of marketing. I knew there was some, but never suspected it was so much. I rather resent the time taken away from my writing, to be honest.
Q: What advice, resources, or useful information can you offer aspiring authors who might be reading this interview?
A: Carley Bauer: Familiarize yourself with today’s market. It’s not your mother’s publishing company. Also, develop relationships with those who will be helping you polish and shine your book. Publishers, editors, proof-readers. These people will help build or break your book.
A: Lynette Willows: Read, write, and read some more. I can’t stress the importance of reading enough, especially from authors you both like and detest. You learn from both. Some worry they were unconsciously “emulate” the author; it won’t happen. Even if you tried, your own voice would come out, so take the opportunity to learn from others. Also, learn grammar, punctuation and most of the basic tools of writing. You can’t be a carpenter if you don’t know how to use a hammer.
Q: Which drives your novels more – the plot or the characters?
A: Carley Bauer: Not to assume the story is of less importance, but definitely my stories are character-driven.
A: Lynette Willows: I enjoy a good plot the most, but the characters have to be so real that you half believe you were in the birthing room when they were born and watched them grow up.
Q: What are your favorite television shows and do any of them impact what you write?
A: Carley Bauer: Documentaries, and yes, they do have an impact as it piques my interest in history. Also love anything political, and again, yes. Politics has always played an enormous part in history. NCIS. Only in that those characters are some of the strongest I’ve enjoyed on television. Not that I would like to immolate the characters on NCIS. It’s more of a deep appreciation of their creators. The Big Bang Theory. Not in the least. I watch for pure entertainment.
A: Lynette Willows: A lot of British crime dramas like Midsomer Murders, Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Miss Marple mysteries, British dramas and historicals. I watch a lot of old movies on TCM, and some reality shows like “Scared Straight” and “48 Hours”.
Q: How far is too far in erotic romance? What are your limits for your books? Do you like to color inside the lines or push the boundaries when it comes to the love scenes in your books?
A: Carley Bauer: I push the envelope and Lynette keeps us within the lines of reasonable decency.
A: Lynette Willows: It has to follow the flow of the story and stick to the moral upbringing and age of the characters. For instance, Cassandra was already a married woman and knew what her power was as a woman when it came to sex and sensuality. If I was writing a young, virginal woman from history, she will be curious and experimenting with her sensuality without being fully conscious of how it worked, like any young woman of any era who was uneducated in this aspect of life. She certainly wouldn’t forget her moral upbringing hammered into her from a young age and hop into bed with the first man she becomes attached to. There would be a natural progression, and “natural” is the optimal word here. It has to be realistic and logical.
Q: What makes Colton Rolfe of No Gentleman Is He the ideal hero?
A: Carley Bauer: I am totally in love with Colton. Lynette created him, and she did a fantastic job with his personality. Colt was born in the image of his Native American ancestry. A legacy his father would have preferred he not be reminded of. That his mother died from childbirth served to magnify his father’s distance from Colt when he was growing up. Unaware of his dark good-looks, Colton rarely socialized, had no desire for marriage and spent his time burying himself in the work at the family plantation he inherited. His moody sensuality was not lost on the local ladies, but Colt is also rumored to be a dangerous man, a person who is given to bouts of rage.
A: Lynette Willows: I guess it’s because I grew up with these types of men; flawed, with fierce loyalty but that loyalty had to be earned. Strong morals, but they slipped every once in a while with the resulting guilt later, and learning from mistakes. He also appreciated a quick wit, even though he was often irritated to be the butt of his best friend’s joke.
Q: What has been the hardest scene you’ve ever written and why?
A: Carley Bauer: Some of the scenes in Massachusetts were trying only because our story had to cross the timeline of historical events with total accuracy.
A: Lynette Willows: The erotica; I pawned them off to Carley often. I like the emotional aspect of a story though.
Q: Authors have to develop thick skins to deal with reviews. Most books receive some mixture of good reviews and bad ones, simply because tastes are different and people like and dislike different things. Please tell us about one of your most memorable reviews and how it impacted your writing.
A: Carley Bauer: Our reviews have been better than I expected for our launch book. I have learned from all of the reviews, to be honest. The general consensus is that readers felt we knew enough to about horses to have been raised on a horse ranch. The research undoubtedly paid off, and of course, that gave me motivation to continue with in-depth research.
A: Lynette Willows: We got a couple of reviews that were less than complimentary, but still got a good rating because of the skill in the research and writing. The comments in these were not scathing, but they were helpful and I personally am taking them to heart and learning to avoid them in our next book in the series. Mediocre reviews, while not pleasant, are a great learning tool, especially for break-out authors if you take them in the spirit they are given. For the most part, though, most seem to really enjoy the book and state they eagerly await the next one in the series, so that is gratifying. Considering it has a 4.6 rating out of 5 consistently in Amazon and Goodreads, we can’t complain.
Please Answer These Questions As A Reader:
As a reader I am always curious about the reading habits of the authors I enjoy, so I have a few questions about your reading habits.
Q: As an author, where do you learn about books you might want to read? Do you research the books in depth before you buy them, read an excerpt or do you buy without a great deal of research?
A: Carley Bauer: Word of mouth. I am an internet browser and a Barnes and Noble in-store browser, so some catch my attention surfing the net. Most often though, it is by word of mouth.
A: Lynette Willows: I’m a bookstore browser and addict, and spend hours reading front cover blurps, back cover descriptions, and sneak-reading a few pages of a book like an alcoholic sneaking drinks behind the shelves.
Q: When you are learning about a book what five words are most likely to get you to buy the book?
A: Carley Bauer: Fiction, Historical, Adventure, Forbidden and Temptation.
A: Lynette Willows: History, in-depth, revealing, action, mystery.
Q: When you are learning about a book what five words will make you decide against the book?
A: Carley Bauer: Paranormal, Science Fiction, Futuristic, Nanny and Contemporary.
A: Lynette Willows: Angst, vampire, memoir, (love historical biographies though), clones, coming-of-age (very few, in my experience, do this well).
Q: What can you tell us about your book that isn’t in the blurb?
A: Carley Bauer: There are so many riveting scenes, and as each one unfolds, there is a push and pull between the hero and heroine that ultimately brings them closer. Colt is not a spineless man. He is a man’s man. Cassandra finds herself enamored by his gruff manner. In truth, a lesser man could not keep her attention for long.
A: Lynette Willows: There was a great deal of debate between us co-authors and our publisher on whether should be a romance or historical lit, the research was so in-depth. Romance won out…barely.
Q: As a reader are you finding the advent of self-publishing to be a positive or a negative within the industry? Are you finding more good books or are you having to search harder for good books? Please explain your answer.
A: Carley Bauer: More and more, I’m finding hidden gems in the self-publishing realm. It is the nature of publishing. Houses like an author who has proven themselves in sales before they’re willing to invest in the author. If I have one complaint in self-publishing, it is the lack of professional editing.
A: Lynette Willows: I have to agree with the editing in self-publishing. I will admit to not reading a lot of self-published books, since like I mentioned, I’m a book store addict and there are not a lot of self-published books there. But the few I’ve read, I’ve seen the best and the worst in self-published books.
Q: Has the way that you shop for books changed since the rise in the popularity of ebooks? Has how you shop for books been influenced by the rise in self-publishing?
A: Carley Bauer: Yes, definitely. I’m just as likely to shop for ebooks, as a physical book to hold in my hand. Once the story begins, that is the essence of reading, not whether you’re holding a book or a kindle.
A: Lynette Willows: Nope. Still a book store junkie. I just find it too hard on my eyes to read anything on a computer or device. They start to hurt and burn after a short time. I’m also old fashioned and still cannot wrap my head around a book that needs batteries. Call me a book snob.
Q: What are your favorite sub-genres to read? To write?
A: Carley Bauer: Historical Romance to both
A: Lynette Willows: Historical romance, historical lit, mystery, thriller, anything that really grabs my attention and sparks my imagination. This all applies to reading and writing.
Q: What are your least favorite sub-genres to read? To write?
A: Carley Bauer: Space Goth. Again, to both.
A: Lynette Willows: I have read science fiction, but it’s rare. Teen-angst driven novels with vampires (especially ones that sparkle, glow or have special effects resembling sprites or fairies…I mean, seriously?), hard core erotica or porn.
Now for some just for fun:
Q: On Pinterest are you a A.) Hoarder in disguise (you collect images of everything you like) B.) Minimalist (you only collect images that fit in with some project – my next book – a home remodeling project – etc) C.) you’re not on Pinterest.
A: Carley Bauer: A. In the last year, I have had so little time for my virtual hoarding!
A: Lynette Willows: I have a Pinterest account, but rarely on there.
Q: On Twitter are you A.) The life of the party engaging with my friends and followers B.) Mostly a promoter – I use Twitter primarily to promote my books C.) Mostly a lurker. I follow a lot of people looking for useful information – some of which finds its way into my books.
A: Carley Bauer: I fall between A and B.
A: Lynette Willows: A lot of B, a lot of C, certainly not “the life of the party” but will converse briefly. I find Twitter annoying but a necessary evil.
Q: What’s your favorite social network? Why is it your favorite?
A: Carley Bauer: Facebook! So many possibilities with facebook. Promoting, keeping up with friends and family. It’s limitless.
A: Lynette Willows: Facebook, love YouTube, but I still miss MSN groups (remember those?) and hope someday some genius will bring it back, or something almost exactly like it. Best social network set-up there ever was!
Q: What’s your favorite holiday and why?
A: Carley Bauer: Thanksgiving. It was on Thanksgiving that my husband and I first said “I Love You” to each other.
A: Lynette Willows: Christmas and July 1st holiday (Canada Day), the only time the whole family is together all in one place.
Q: Did you read 50 Shades of Grey? Love it? Hate it? Somewhere in between?
A: Carley Bauer: I borrowed the set from my cousin. They’re still sitting in my room, untouched. Anxious to read them, but with writing, blog tours, promoting No Gentleman Is he, writing the next book in the Sons of Liberty series, reviewing a couple of Tirgearr Publishing books, I simply have not had the time.
A: Lynette Willows: Hated it; borrowed it and the first few pages. It was so unrealistic and badly written that I didn’t go past the first chapter and a half.
Q: What was the last book you read that you really loved – enough that you’d recommend it to someone else?
A: Carley Bauer: Awakening by Scarlett Valentine.
A: Lynette Willows: All the novels by Janice MacDonald, “Whale Song” by Cheryl Tardif, “Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood; I read so many that I love I find it hard to pick just one.
Q: What’s your favorite place to read? Do you have a favorite food or beverage you like to eat or drink while reading?
A: Carley Bauer: Cuddled on the couch under my favorite throw. Diet coke is my drink of choice. I don’t snack. I’ve been on a diet since August 29 of 2012, lost 50+ lbs. and want to keep it that way.
A: Lynette Willows: Tub, in bed, on my front porch, back deck, my hammock, or out camping. Iced tea, milk or coffee are my drinks of choice. Sometimes my husband will bring me tea if he’s making it for himself.
Q: If you could go backwards or forwards in time and have dinner with anyone in history who would it be and why?
A: Carley Bauer: Clark Gable. I’ve always had a massive crush on him!
A: Lynette Willows: Mark Twain. The man was sarcastic, funny, and insightful about the human condition. Would love to exchange quips with him, though in a war of wits I’m sure I’d be woefully inadequate. Would love the opportunity to learn from the master, though.
Q: Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
A: Carley Bauer: Extravert with a capital E.
A: Lynette Willows: Introvert with a capital “I”.
Q: Describe your ideal romantic getaway?
A: Carley Bauer: New York City at Christmas.
A: Lynette Willows: Camping and fishing; the husband will cook almost every meal and serve me coffee in the morning, and we take long walks by the river or lake holding hands with the dogs. He’ll even bait my hook, and I never had the heart to tell him I can do it myself. *smile*
Q: You have three magic wishes – what would they be?
A: Carley Bauer: 1) Meet my co-author in person. 2) Spend time in Europe. 3) Have dinner at the Whitehouse.
A: Lynette Willows: 1) A cure for my youngest son. 2) Winning an obscene amount of money in the lottery so I can go down to meet my co-author (see what I did there?) 3) Learning to play the guitar properly.
Q: If you were to be stranded on a desert island with one of your characters which character and why?
A: Carley Bauer: Christiana. She was my first character, and I so love her! My favorite love story was Christiana and Arthur.
A: Lynette Willows: Tom Hardwick, Colton’s lead stable hand. I fashioned him after my husband in many ways, except the illiteracy part…my husband is a voracious reader too.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers about yourself, your books, your characters?
A: Carley Bauer: I’m very happily married, have a husband who is fully supportive of my various projects. Writing No Gentleman Is He was a dream come true. It’s a story I believe in completely with characters second to none.
A: Lynette Willows: Happily married with three grown boys.
Q: Please share with us your five favorite hang outs on the web – these do not have to be book related. Please share sites other than your own website, blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc.
A: Carley Bauer:
1)Tirgearr Publishing: http://tirgearrpublishing.com/index.htm
2) Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/
3) MSN: http://www.msn.com/
4) Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/
5) Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
A: Lynette Willows: Goodreads, Facebook, YouTube, local newsgroups, camping & gardening groups, and various book clubs online.
Q: When you’re not writing what other hobbies or interests do you engage in?
A: Carley Bauer: Traveling, Political Activism, Graphic Art, Fashion and anything related to being totally feminine.
A: Lynette Willows: Camping, fishing, gardening, playing chess, fostering the occasional dog, trying to keep the cats next door from pooping in my vegetable garden, attending garage sales and farmers markets.
Q: Have you ever done anything in real life that you read about in a romance novel? Please tell us about that.
A: Carley Bauer: No. My life has been its own romance novel!
A: Lynette Willows: Nope.
Q: Is there anything you’ve read about in a romance novel that you’re dying to try?
A: Carley Bauer: Ummm Yes! A few nights with Colton Rolfe!
A: Lynette Willows: Not yet.
About Carley Bauer and Lynette Willows
Lynette Willows
I’m Lynette Willows. I live in rural Alberta, Canada. My debut novel, “No Gentleman Is He”, the first in the Sons of Liberty series, is co-written along with my partner in romance, Carley Bauer.
Some have mentioned I have a very interesting past. Not only was it unusual, but some would even say reckless. I’ve lived on an Indian reserve in a teepee with my young son for three months in the winter, I’ve chased storms, and worked as a social services aide on one of the most troubled and dangerous reserves in Canada, where I met great friends as well as made a few enemies.
I enjoy camping, movies, especially historical bio dramas, strange dogs, stranger cats, exclamation points, coffee mugs with stupid sayings, friends, the crazier the better, family, as long as they are crazier than I am, and I have a huge collection of shiny, outrageous earrings. Yes, I’m a magpie. I’ll only play chess with my husband because he’ll let me win.
If you’re curious about my favorite reading material, it’s very eclectic and varied. I’m extremely picky about what I read, so check out my “to read” list on Goodreads. You can also follow me and Carley, my talented, patient, and illustrious co-author at our fan page on Facebook at “Lynette Willows & Carley Bauer”. I’m also on Twitter under @LynetteWillows, as well as Pinterest, though I’m still figuring that out. You are welcome to also visit me and chat at “Lynette Willows, Author” at http://lynettewillows.blogspot.ca/.
“I have enormous respect for the reader. They are able to take symbols from a page that an author has invented, and turn them into images in their minds that create an enduring story. If that’s not artistry, I don’t know what is.”-Lynette Willows
Carley Bauer
Carley Bauer enjoys life on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. with her husband and their blue eyed feline, Noelle. After 30 years as a state contractor in a self employed capacity, she decided to try her hand at her first love, writing.
She loves being an empty nester, free to travel with her husband. Still involved with her children and grandchildren, Carley loves big family events. Some of her other hobbies are home decor, fashion, graphic arts, and the occasional bite of the Big Apple where the excitement feeds her natural love of city life.
Links
Email: carleybauer210@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carley.bauer.3
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lynette-Willows-Carley-Bauer/278323855613717?ref=hl
Blog: http://fromcarleyslaptop.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarleyBauer210
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/cscrawley/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6981224.Carley_Bauer
Tirgearr Publishing: http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Bauer_Carley/index.htm
No Gentleman Is He available for purchase at:
Tirgearr to Author Carley Bauer
www.tirpub.com/cbauer
Tirgearr Publishing:
http://www.tirpub.com/NGIH
Please welcome today’s guest author Helen Harper. Helen is here to share a bit about herself and her book series, the BLOOD DESTINY SERIES.
Helen will be giving away a $25 Amazon gift card…follow the instructions here:
BLOOD DESTINY SERIES
Bloodfire
Mackenzie Smith has always known that she was different. Growing up as the only human in a pack of rural shapeshifters will do that to you, but then couple it with some mean fighting skills and a fiery temper and you end up with a woman that few will dare to cross. However, when the only father figure in her life is brutally murdered, and the dangerous Brethren with their predatory Lord Alpha come to investigate, Mack has to not only ensure the physical safety of her adopted family by hiding her apparent humanity, she also has to seek the blood-soaked vengeance that she craves.
Bloodmagic
After escaping the claws of Corrigan, the Lord Alpha of the Brethren, Mack is trying to lead a quiet lonely life in Inverness in rural Scotland, away from anyone who might happen to be a shapeshifter. However, when she lands a job at an old bookstore owned by a mysterious elderly woman who not only has a familiar passion for herbal lore but also seems to know more than she should, Mack ends up caught in a maelstrom between the Ministry of Mages, the Fae and the Brethren.
Now she has to decide between staying hidden and facing the music, as well as confronting her real feelings for the green eyed power of Corrigan himself.
Bloodrage
Mack begins her training at the mages’ academy in the hope that, by complying, the stasis spell will be lifted from her old friend, Mrs. Alcoon. However, once there, she finds herself surrounded by unfriendly adults and petulant teenagers, the majority of whom seem determined to see her fail.
Feeling attacked on all fronts, Mack finds it harder and harder to keep a rein on her temper. Forced to attend anger management classes and deal with the predatory attentions of Corrigan, the Lord Alpha of the shapeshifter world, her emotions start to unravel. But when she comes across a familiar text within the walls of the mages’ library, which might just provide the clues she needs to unlock the secrets of her background and her dragon blood, she realises that her problems are only just beginning…
An Excerpt From Bloodfire
My hand finally found what I was looking for when it curved round a cold metal canister. It never to hurt to come fully prepared. I pulled out the hydrogen peroxide, twisting it so the nozzle faced the stone, and sprayed a tiny portion onto the black surface. As soon as the chemical hit the shiny surface it began to foam. It was definitely blood. The curling heat inside me rose higher and my insides felt as if they were starting to burn. The feeling of panic matched the bloodfire but I did my best to push them both back down. Neither would help me right now. I put the stone carefully into a side pouch where it wouldn’t get lost.
The moon continued to shine steadily down, casting shadows amongst the heavy trees. I could hear the distant hooting of a night owl out searching for prey and the skitter of a small animal somewhere nearby. I ignored them all and concentrated on the signs I could see at my feet. There was something else there. Reaching into my pack again, I found my torch, and clicked it on to look closer.
He had been this way. John was light on his feet and left little trace of his presence but I knew him well and knew this area. He’d disturbed the bush to my right, brushing past it as he ran. And judging by the distance between his steps, he’d been running fast, as if something had been after him. I frowned and arced the torch over the area, first close by then further along the path. There was something up ahead. Stepping forward, I tried separately to sense what it might be, but I was no shifter and came up short.
A Few Questions & Answers From Helen Harper
1. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
I suppose probably some version of chocolate although Thorntons in the UK used to do a heavenly chocolate orange version that always had me salivating. And recently a friend told me that a nearby store is selling Heston Blumenthal’s savoury mustard ice-cream. I have absolutely no idea what you would eat it with, but I’m very, very tempted to give it a go!
2. Which mythological creature are you most like?
Hmmm…that’s a tough one. Certainly in the morning I am definitely most like a zombie. I have never been a morning person, and my current lifestyle means that I get up at 5am in order to do fitness bootcamp before going in to work. Most of my friends seem to think that this is an indication that I enjoy being awake pre-dawn, but it’s actually because it takes me so long to feel fully awake that I can have my workout completed and be sat at my desk before I start to feel entirely human!
I think that in the afternoons, I probably resemble Pegasus (or at least I like to think that I do) – flying around from one thing to another as fast as I can to get everything done in done. No doubt there’s a considerable lack of the poise and grace that one would expect Pegasus to have, but I certainly feel that I can carry a lot on my proverbial back. However, by the time that evening rolls around, I’m probably most like a troglodyte, hiding on my sofa either watching trashy television, reading books or trying to write.
3. What are four things you can’t live without?
My laptop: because especially with living abroad it helps me to feel that I’m connected to the world. Goodness how difficult it would be to pay bills and keep up to date with friends and family if the internet didn’t exist!
My Kindle: I love being able to travel and to take a literal library of books with me. Before I used to have choose between yet another book to read on the beach, or a pair of shoes. Now I don’t even have to think about it.
My coffee maker: there’s not much about Mack, the protagonist of my Blood Destiny series, that is similar to me personality wise, but she does love a cup of coffee – and I have to admit that certainly that part at least is all me. I am fully aware that I drink far too much caffeine, and that I really should cut down. However, there are few other simple pleasures in life that provide as much satisfaction as a steaming cup of decent coffee.
About Helen Harper
Helen Harper is an English teacher currently living abroad in Malaysia. As a long time reader of urban fantasy, she finally bit the bullet and began to develop her own series of novels.
Helen has always been a book lover, devouring science fiction and fantasy tales when she was a child growing up in Scotland. “I always loved the escapism provided by those genres,” states Helen. “No matter how bad life gets, you can always find a route out, even if only temporarily, in the pages of a good book.”
The growth of urban fantasy fascinated her – the mix of reality and fantasy along with strong heroic female characters appealed from the very beginning, and inspired her to write her own.
Links
Facebook Author page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Helen-Harper/101590660022586
Twitter: HarperFire
Amazon.com buy links:
Marie Astor visited us back in March and talked about her release TO CATCH A BAD GUY. Several people commented on that post and mentioned that it sounded like a book that they would like to read. If you missed that post and excerpt go check it out…then go grab the book. It’s free today at Amazon. If you get the book and enjoy it, be sure to leave a nice review for the author. Authors make their books free for a few days to encourage readers to get them, talk about them with other readers, and leave reviews. It’s the reviews and word of mouth that make it worthwhile for an author to give the book away for a few days.
