Elizabeth Boyle's Blog, page 20

TBT: His Mistress by Morning

Since last week we looked at Tempted by the Night, it only seemed right to take a look back at the book that started that series, His Mistress by Morning.

Every book has a different inspiration, that moment when the idea bursts to life in my imagination and I know it won’t stop clamoring at me until I write the darn thing. The idea for His Mistress by Morning came along one night after watching the movie You Wish on the Disney Channel with my son, Nicholas. The story is about Alex, a teenaged boy with a pesky little brother. Alex receives a magic coin and unwittingly wishes that he’d never had a little brother. Overnight, Alex is an only child and his life is so very different–but after some time enjoying his newfound popularity, Alex realizes there was much to love about his old life, and even his lost little brother. I won’t tell you more, because the movie is fun to watch.

So, after the movie, Nicholas turned to me and said, “If you had a magic coin, Mommy, what would you wish for?” In that instant, my imagination saw not a coin, but a ring–a small, inconsequential ring, and I saw a family and the havoc such a ring might bring to their lives, and the lessons that could be learned from making hasty, yet heartfelt wishes. Not only that, the old adage, “be careful what you wish for” started ringing through my head. But here I was, just starting the Bachelor Chronicles, with several books plotted out and ready to write, yet Charlotte and Sebastian’s story became like an annoying neighbor–jumping into my thoughts at all hours, plaguing me with questions and scene ideas, until I said, “Enough, already!” and I begged my editor to let me write their book. Besides, I had been hankering to do a story with some fun paranormal elements ever since I’d put that meddling and magical matchmaker into It Takes a Hero and “The Matchmaker’s Bargain” from Hero, Come Back.

But what I loved most about this book was the actually story telling challenge it presented. It had one very difficult technical aspect to master–first of all, the first two thirds of the story is told entirely in Charlotte’s point of view, with only a couple of short lapses into Quince’s point of view. Since this is Charlotte’s wish, and her wish “world,” the story could only be told from her point of view. Now I love getting into the hero’s head–letting him tell his side of the story and let the reader see the conflict he feels over the heroine, but I knew that if I went into Sebastian’s head it would take away from Charlotte’s misgivings about her new life. So at times I found myself pacing the floor as to how to tell Sebastian’s story without cheating by getting into his head. How did I do it? I tried to make sure the reader sees through his actions how much he loves his “Lottie” and his struggles to hold onto her mercurial heart.

So if you haven’t ventured into the world of the Marlowes and you love a good old fashioned spinster meets rake, spinster makes a wish, spinster’s wish is a disaster, you’ll love His Mistress by Morning.

5 Things About Mia Marlowe

Let’s give a big welcome to the lovely and talented, Mia Marlowe–who was willing to spill 5 Things your might not know about her.

1) Did you have a nickname growing up? When I was in middle school, my friends called me “Granny.” I hope it because of my glasses! But I think it may have been because I’m the sort who likes to take care of people and make sure they’re okay. I love my family, but also like the idea that friends are the family you choose for yourself.

2) How do you pick the names of your Heroes/Heroines? Since I write historicals, I’m always looking for interesting period names. This may seem a little morbid, but old cemeteries are great sources for names. When I lived in Boston, I always took a notepad with me when we walked the Freedom Trail. I found Waitstill Trott, a terrific name for a housekeeper, in the same cemetery where Paul Revere rests.

Sometimes I ask for suggestions from my Facebook friends. One of them offered up Greydon Quinn, the name I used for my hero in Touch of a Thief!

3) Since romance authors always write about falling in love, when and how did you discover you were in love? I met my DH in college when we were both in the choir. Sometimes the director would have us stand in a circle around the room instead of sitting in rows, and my future husband and I found ourselves singing to each other across the room.

But there was a problem. I already had a steady guy. My DH however, was not deterred. He called to ask if I’d like a ride to some of our extra choir practices. Then he started asking me to other things. Of course, I declined because I was not that kind of girl! He didn’t give up.

After several months of that, the semester was ending and my future DH was planning on taking a year off school to travel. He’d become important to me even without going out and I just knew I’d never see him again if I didn’t do something. So, I broke it off with Mr. Not-Right and, against all my home training, I called the future love of my life and I asked him out.

4) What’s your strongest/most productive writing habit? I’m very goal-oriented. A deadline motivates me. So with each book, I plan out my writing, so many words per day, so many per week, etc. I write pretty much 8-5 during the week and use weekends to play catch up if I need to. Sticking with a schedule keeps me from panic because I know, barring something totally unforeseen, the story is where it needs to be at every step along the way.

5) Where is the strangest place a story idea came to you from? The kernel of my newest release, Once Upon a Plaid, came from something that happened to my sister. She decided to become a gestational surrogate for a childless couple. I’m ashamed to admit I tried to talk her out of it because I was concerned for her health. She’d already given birth to 4 kids of her own, but the in vitro procedure required so many hormone shots, it gave me pause.

Anyway, it made me wonder what a couple in 16th century Scotland might do when confronted with an empty cradle. There was no such thing as legal adoption then and the technical advances we enjoy would have seemed like witchcraft to them. So the story of William and Katherine grew in my mind—a couple who have to learn whether their circle of two is enough. Many tears fell on the keyboard for this one.

Oh! And after a high risk pregnancy and a very difficult birth, my sister placed healthy twins into a grateful couple’s arms. Is she heroine material or what?

 You can find Mia at her website, or on Facebook and Twitter.

Mia and her publisher, Sourcebooks, have a giveaway going right now. Here is the entry form for you to enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner! #FallBackinTime

And the winner is: Diane Rains, who posted her #FallBackinTime entry on Facebook:

Diane, please DM me on Facebook or use my Contact page to get a hold of me so I can mail your new iPad mini to you. Congratulations and thank you for entering.

And thanks to everyone who posted their pics and shared their love of historical romances–the pics and notes were so much fun to see and share!

News: Elizabeth’s Blog Tour

Hi everyone! This is Dana, Elizabeth’s assistant.

We have some great news!

Elizabeth is going to do a comprehensive blog tour throughout the month of November, and there will be all sorts of contests, fun posts, and giveaways. So take a look below to find her tour schedule, and don’t forget to drop by and say hello… You never know what fun is in store for you!

 

Nov 3rd- Jen’s Reading Obsession
Nov 4th- Manga Maniac Cafe
Nov 5th- 3 Partners In Shopping Contest!
Nov 6th- What I’m Reading
Nov 7th- Buried Under Romance


Nov 9th- Bibliophile Mystery Contest!


Nov 10th- I am, Indeed
Nov 10th- Romancing Rakes for the Love of Romance
Nov 11th- Cat’s Reviews
Nov 12th- MM Jaye Writes
Nov 13th- Christine’s Words
Nov 14th- The Bookish & The Romantic


Nov 15th- A Bluestocking’s Place


Nov 17th- Cris Conquers
Nov 18th- Forever Book Lover- Contest!
Nov 19th- Ramblings From This Chick
Nov 20th- The Lusty Literate


Nov 21st- Books N Kisses


Nov 24th- Written Love
Nov 25th- Literary, etc
Nov 26th- The Many Faces of Romance
Nov 27th- Wallflowers and Rakes
Nov 28th- Books Need TLC
Nov 28th- Queen of All She Reads

Fall Back in Time Giveaway

Have you heard about the #FallBackinTime Event that is happening NOW? To celebrate the clocks being turned back this weekend, historical romance authors and readers are sharing their love of “Falling Back in Time” with their favorite romance novels and showing their pride with selfies. You’ll find them right now on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Since I know I have some wild and fun readers out there who LOVE historical romance, I am giving away an iPad mini to one lucky reader who posts their #FallBackinTime selfie with one of my books.

Quick Rules:

1) Post your selfie or pic holding one of my books. If you don’t have one handy, download a cover from my website.

2) To make sure you’re entered please use the following hashtags: #FallBackinTime #IReadElizbo.

3) You’ve got between now and midnight PT, Sunday November 2nd to get your entry posted.

4) If you want to make sure I see your entry, you can email a link to your post to Contest AT ElizabethBoyle DOT com.

5) Winner will be posted here on Monday, November 3rd by noon.

Have You Met, Avon Addict Lisa Lin?

Lisa is everything an Avon Addict needs to be: crazy wild over romance. Plus, she’s willing to get out there and really prove her love, as evidenced by her grand display at the 2013 RWA Literacy signing. She’s a bundle of wonderful energy and one of my favorite people to run into because her smile is infectious. And in a good way, not a scary, run-for-your-life Ebola sort of way.

So without any further ado, may I introduce you to Lisa Lin.

1) Where is the most beautiful/romantic place you’ve ever been? Spain. I took part in a study abroad program the summer before my sophomore year of high school and got to spend 11 days in Spain. We traveled all over the country and got to soak in the history, culture, delicious food, and beautiful scenery and architecture. I am determined to go back someday.

2) What are your top three favorite movies?

The American President-I’m a huge fan of Aaron Sorkin’s writing.
Casablanca-Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman were pure magic together.
The 95 BBC version of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. Watching the mini-series is how I first got introduced to Colin and Jane Austen and will always have a special place in my heart.

3) Favorite Place to read? I love to get comfy on the couch with a good read. I’ve also been known to read in bed and fall asleep that way.

4) If you could time travel, what time period would you most like to visit?

I’d love to visit either the Italian Renaissance or the 1940s

5) Name three books on your keeper shelf and why.

 Tessa Dare’s A Week To Be Wicked-Laugh out loud funny with hilarious escapades but anchored with so much emotional depth and character growth. Absolutely fantastic.
Julia Quinn’s The Viscount Who Loved Me-I love a good battle of the sexes book, and the Pall Mall scene is classic JQ at her best.
The MacGregor Grooms. Ian and Naomi are one of my ultimate favorite romance couples. The scene in the library gets to me. Every. Time.

You can find Lisa voraciously tweeting at: @Laforesta1

TBT: Tempted by the Night

Thought I’d go with my paranormal, haunted, ghoulish, monster/Jane Austen story, Tempted by the Night, for Halloween Eve.

So many people have asked why I decided to write historicals with paranormal elements, and I have to admit that I never set out deliberately to do it, rather the story/series idea would not go away and haunted me until I wrote them.

So after writing the first one, His Mistress by Morning, I knew I would never escape without writing Hermione’s story (well, make that Rockhurst’s). I got so many emails about him, pleading for his story, something that didn’t surprise me in the least.

I sort of suspected that might happen when I was writing Mistress. Sometimes a character steps off the page and takes a place in your heart. Like I said last week, Temple, from my Danver’s series, was another such character. The very moment Rockhurst came striding onto the page I was hooked. I wanted to know all his secrets—just like Hermione—and I had a wonderful time coming up with his history and place in my wild, magical version of Regency London.

Now there was another challenge to writing this story that made it fun and unique: an invisible heroine. One point in my favor, I didn’t have to fuss much over what she was wearing or how her hair was arranged, (though I am sure that Hermione, clothes horse that she is, would have preferred a story around her rather, um, distinctive fashion sense.

Then again, having a heroine the hero couldn’t see made writing the love scenes, well, interesting, to say the least.

And I know you are all going to ask: Will I finish this series? I really, really want to write the rest of them. And I will do my best to find a way to do just that because I have such grand plans for Griffin and the rest of the Marlowes.

Read an Excerpt from His Mistress by Morning or Order a copy.

And take a Peek inside Tempted by the Night, and make sure to get a copy. If only for that gorgeous sexy cover!

5 Things About Melissa McClone

I am so thrilled to have my dear friend, Melissa McClone on the blog today. Melissa and I had our kids like one after another, have traded mom advice through it all, and relied on each other as sounding boards when things got (and still do get) crazy. We walk a very similar path and have so MUCH in common that sometimes it’s almost scary . . .

Like our mutual need for Peanut Buster Parfaits while on deadline . . .

1) Did you have a nickname growing up?

Yes! I was Missy for the first eighteen years of my life. When I went off to college, I started going by Melissa and have been that ever since. Occasionally family and longtime friends still call me Missy.

2) How do you pick the names of your Heroes/Heroines?

I have no method. Sometimes a name comes to me out of the blue or I’ll try to match a name to a personality type. One time I asked my 16 year-old daughter for suggestions which is why I now have a hero named Ashton/Ash. Want to guess what the name of the drummer in her favorite band is?

3) Do you celebrate when you finish a book and what you do?

Not sure I’d call it a celebration, but I sleep! For hours. And enjoy every minute!

4. If you could have only 3 electrical appliances in your house, what would they be and why?

1)    A computer—I use it to write, keep in touch, listen to music. Pretty much the one inanimate thing I wouldn’t want to live without!

2)    Refrigerator—ice cream! Need I say more?

3)    Lamp—I like light. We’ve been without power enough times I know reading by candlelight gets old fast as does using flashlights so I’d want a lamp so I could see!

 5.    Name three books on your keeper shelf.

1)    The Stand by Stephen King

2)    Daniel’s Gift by Barbara Freethy

3)    Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

 

You can find Melissa McClone at:

Her website: MelissaMcClone.com

On: Melissa’s Facebook Page

And Melissa on Twitter

Sneak Peek: Meet Hannibal

One of my favorite parts of The Viscount Who Lived Down the Lane is Hannibal, Louisa Tempest’s miscreant cat. A beast of a feline who is known far and wide for his bad manners, Louisa is always, well, you’ll see:

   “I do believe I can remedy this,” Louisa told the viscount, catching up the pot and marching determinedly toward the house when a protest arose from underneath the lilac bush.

   Rrrroew.

   All three of them turned and she reversed course, climbing down through the weeds until she spied Hannibal tucked beneath. Moving quickly, she scooped him up.

   “Bad kitty,” she chided her cat, who she swore was grinning at her. “Actually this is why I was here in the first place—Hannibal came over the wall and—”

   She left off the remainder of that sentence since it was rather redundant. And I feared he’d wrought more damage.

   As her father liked to say, “Any sentence that begins with ‘Hannibal’ always ends with an apology.”

Over on my Pinterest board for The Viscount Who Lived Down the Lane, you’ll find some pictures of cats who inspired Hannibal’s tabby appearance, and his tabby attitude. But I also drew Hannibal from my own cat, Pi, a rescue with tons of attitude and like Hannibal, a questionable habit of bringing presents.

That and always being on the wrong side of the door.

 

 

Want to read more of The Viscount Who Lived Down the Lane? Try the Excerpt and there is still time to Preorder your copy so it will be right there waiting for you on October 28th.

Have You Met: Avon Addict Amy Valentini

This week I would like you to meet Avon Addict Alum, Amy Valentini, the woman behind the popular blog, Unwrapping Romance and the editorial service, Romancing Editorially. But most of all, she LOVES romance. So please welcome, Amy Valentini.

1) Do you immediately start another book once you finished one? Yes. I have a mountain of a To Be Read list and I actually have to schedule my reading so I literally finish one book, mark it as read and move on to the next.

2) What is the very first romance novel that you read? The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, and I was hooked.

3) What new to you authors are you crazy about? Most recently – Laura Kaye, Codi Gary, Carey Baldwin, and Ella J. Phoenix.

4) Who are your must-buy authors? Wow, narrowed them down to top five – Candis Terry, Lynsay Sands, Pamela Palmer, Laura Kaye, and Maya Rodale.

5) Name three books on your keeper shelf and why.

Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey. I can read this one over and again and never tire of it.
Dark Future by KC Klein because it’s an exceptional story and feeds my need for good science fiction/time travel.
The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss because it inspired me to fall in love with and write romance.

You can connect with Amy at her blog, Unwrapping Romance and if you find yourself with editorial needs, stop by Romancing Editorially – Unwrapping Author Services. You can also follow her on Twitter.