Interview and Contest: Mia Marlowe - Sins of the Highlander

Today I have Mia Marlowe over for an interview and at the end you can win her new book, Sins of the Highlander.

Welcome!

1. Could you tell me a little about yourself?

MM: I’m a travel nut. My bags are always half-packed. If my DH has to take a business trip to an interesting place, I’m tagging along to play tourist. When I’m not writing, I’m playing with my neurotic terrier, Mack the Wonderdog, and Prince Harry, my rescue wire-haired dachshund. 

2. Your newest book is called Sins for the Highlander? What it is about?

MM: Sins of the Highlander is about a man’s plan to take revenge for the death of his beloved wife by kidnapping his enemy’s bride right from the altar. However, things don’t go as “Mad Rob” MacLaren planned. Elspeth Stewart is not one to go quietly. We had a wonderful time writing the twists and turns of their turbulent relationship.   

3.  You have written this book together with Connie Mason. Is it hard to write with someone else?

MM: I think it might be hard if I wasn’t working with such a gracious lady. Connie Mason is a romance legend. I grew up reading her books. Imagine what a thrill it is for me to actually work with her now! I’m pleased to share that in addition to Sins of the Highlander, we have another release coming this summer called Lord of Fire and ICe. We’re currently working on our new Regency series called The Royal Rakes.

4.  Why do you think Highlander romance novels are so popular?

MM: I think it’s the accent. I’m such a sucker for a fabulous male voice. Forget Sean Connery’s age. Is there anything better than his deep whisky timbre? If a guy calls me “lass,” that’ll do! 

When I read a Highlander story, I hear the hero’s voice in my mind. Of course, an accent is tough to convey in written form. I avoid odd spellings and try to convey the sense of Rob MacLaren’s voice with syntax and word choices. 

5.  Could you give me 3 reasons why “Mad Rob” is the man to fall in love with? ;)

MM: First, he already knows how to love deeply. He adored Fiona, his first wife. Two years after her death, he’s still crazed with grief. Second, he’s blessed with an abundance of physical courage. Check out this excerpt on my blog where he faces down a wolf pack: http://miamarlowe.com/blog/2011/12/exclusive-excerpt-from-sins-of-the-highlander/ Third, Rob MacLaren really does justice to a kilt. ‘Nuff said.

6. What’s next up for you?

MM: Touch of a Rogue, the 2nd book in my Touch of Seduction series, will come out on February 28th. My hero in this story, Jacob Preston, has the “gift of touch.” When he touches anything metal, he receives psychic information about the item’s owner. It comes in handy when he’s conducting one of his private investigations, but is a bit of a hazard at a dinner party. Silverware is so very chatty.   Here’s a taste of this story: http://miamarlowe.com/books/rogue.php 

7. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers out there?

MM: Join your local RWA (Romance Writers of America) Chapter. If you’re serious about writing, this organization can help you learn the nuts and bolts of the craft, as well as offer insight into the change sea of publishing today. 

I’d like to invite aspiring writers to volunteer for my Red Pencil Thursday. When I have a volunteer, I host an online critique group on my blog for the first 500 words of a story. My queue of victims . . . er, I mean volunteers . . . dried up over the holidays, but I’d like to start up the feature again. The point of this gentle critique is to offer construction suggestions. No snark is allowed. I’ve had writers from every end of the career spectrum in my hotseat, from total newbies to New York Times Bestsellers. More than one of my Red Pencil Thursday volunteers have gone on to be published. If anyone would like to take part in the program, please check out the details here: http://miamarlowe.com/blog/red-pencil-thursday/  

And while you’re at my website, please be sure to enter my contest! The Grand Prize is a new KINDLE! http://miamarlowe.com/contest.php 

Thanks so much for having me here Book Girl!

Giveaway:

Sourcebooks is offering 2 chances to win a copy of SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER. (USA/Canada only.) To be entered, simply leave Mia a comment or question. To get the conversation started, how about sharing your favorite Scottish surname? Mia calls dibs on MacLaren!  

Thanks for visiting with us today!

Ends: Jan 19th

SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER BY CONNIE MASON & MIA MARLOWE – IN STORES JANUARY 2012

Abduction...

Never had Elspeth Stewart imagined her wedding would be interrupted by a dark-haired stranger  charging in on a black stallion, scooping her into his arms, and carrying her off across the wild Scottish highlands. Pressed against his hard chest and nestled between his trong thighs, she ought to have feared for her life. But her captor silenced all protests with a soul-searing kiss, giving Elspeth a glimpse of the pain behind his passion—a pain only she could ease. 

Obsession... 

“Mad Rob” MacLaren thought stealing his rival’s bride-to-be was the prefect revenge. But Rob never reckoned that this beautiful, innocent lass would awaken the part of him he thought dead and buried with his wife. Against all reason, he longed to introduce the luscious Elspeth to the pleasures of the flesh, to make her his, and only his, forever. 

With two clans against them burning for battle, they must find a way to join together—body, breath and soul. Or both will be made to pay for the Sins of the Highlander. 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Connie Mason is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 novels. She was named Storyteller of the Year in 1990 and received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews in 1994. She currently lives in Florida. Mia Marlowe is a highly acclaimed new voice in romance whose debut novel, Touch of a Thief, released in Spring 2011 from Kensington. She lives in Boston, MA. Together, they are working on a new Regency romance series for Sourcebooks Casablanca, the first of which will be in stores in Fall 2012. For more information, please visit http://www.conniemason.com/, http://miamarlowe.com/ and follow Mia on Twitter @Mia_Marlowe.