Monday 6 December 2010

Interview and giveaway: Grace Burrowes - The Heir

Today I have Grace Burrowes over, the author of The Heir. At the bottom of this interview you have the chance you win your own copy of the book.

Welcome to Book Girl of Mur-Y-Castell!


Tell me something about yourself, so we get a better understanding about the woman behind the author.

GB: I’m an attorney practicing family law in rural Maryland, and I have been a single mom since Beloved Offspring came home from the hospital. The impact of that on my writing has been to make me especially appreciative of honorable men and appreciative of a really good book, too.

Your newest book is called The Heir; can you tell me what it is about?

GB: A lonely, overworked earl is so busy avoiding his ducal father’s marital schemes that he almost doesn’t realize he’s falling in love with his pretty, secretive housekeeper—it was big fun to write.

Tell us three reasons why we should fall madly in love with your hero Gayle Windham…

GB: His drop dead gorgeous good looks are not a reason to fall madly in love with him, but they certainly make looking at him more pleasant. More significantly, Gayle Windham, the Earl of Westhaven, is honest, hardworking, and beneath some gruff shyness, very kind. He’s also a devoted son even to his scheming ducal papa, his spendthrifty sisters, and his emotionally ailing brothers. He dotes on his aging horse and is particularly fond of marzipan.  

Which person in this book was the most fun to write?
GB: I met the hero first, in an earlier manuscript. Gayle agreed to marry a woman without realizing his father was coloring outside the lines to bring the wedding about. In exchange for his promise to marry, Gayle got control of the family finances. Fortunately for Gayle, his temporary fiancée’s swain got matters sorted out in time to prevent disaster. Gayle held on to the financial reins, and also to my imagination. 

Are you working on something new and exciting right now?

GB: I have never had so much fun in all my born days. I just finished the copy edit review of Devlin St. Just’s story, The Soldier due out next summer by Sourcebooks Casablanca, and the final manuscript for Valentine’s story is due to my editor at the end of the month, for release as The Virtuoso (working title) in October 2011. For next Christmas, we’re starting on the sisters’ stories with Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish. It is very good to be me.

How did you feel when you heard you would get published?

GB: Overwhelmingly grateful, also nervous.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

GB: I will be blogging about this for the next few Mondays on my website (www.graceburrowes.com) because I am being asked about it, not because I think I have any great wisdom to share. Mostly, aspiring writers should write. They should write a lot more than they talk about writing, socialize about writing, or—ahem—blog about writing. And yes, I am an aspiring writer and I always will be. 

What kinds of books do you read? Any favorite authors?

GB: I have been a voracious romance reader since adolescence. My all time favorite author is Judith Ivory, but my keeper shelf includes Sophia Nash, Mary Balogh, Loretta Chase, Meredith Duran, J.R. Ward, Joanna Bourne, Julie Ann Long, Carolyn Jewel, Eloisa James, and several others. There is a wonderful abundance of talent out there. In terms of craft or research, I’m reading Harriette Wilson’s Memoirs, which was a terrific read.

I am going to use a previous question and ask you to give this time four reasons why this is the book to read…

GB: Read this book because it will leave you smiling from ear to ear when the swain and the damsel finally get their happily ever after. Read this book because it’s full of love, not just the love of a man and a woman for each other, but the love between siblings, between parent and child, between grandparent and grandchild. It’s all about the love. Read this book because these people are facing tough odds, a really scurrilous pair of bad guys, and all manner of difficulties and they prevail, which will encourage YOU to prevail when the deck is stacked against you. Read this book because for a few hours, it will help you forget your woes and worries, and take you to a place where love does conquer all, and you are guaranteed a happily ever after. 

Thanks for a great interview Grace.

Giveaway:
*2 copies of The Heir
*Open to US and Canada
*Ends December 12th

 * Ask a question, comment on the book, the interview. Just something more so I can see that you want it :)

*Leave your email if it is not in your profile


THE HEIR BY GRACE BURROWES – IN STORES DECEMBER 2010

An Earl Who Can’t Be Bribed…
Gayle Windham, Earl of Westhaven, is the first legitimate son and heir to the Duke of Moreland. To escape his father’s inexorable pressure to marry, he decides to spend the summer at his townhouse in London, where he finds himself intrigued by the secretive ways of his beautiful housekeeper.

A Lady Who Can’t Be Protected…
Anna Seaton is a beautiful, talented, educated woman, which is why it is so puzzling to Gayle that she works as his housekeeper.

As the two draw closer and begin to lose their hearts to each other, Anna’s secrets threaten to bring the earl’s orderly life crashing down—and he doesn’t know how he’s going to protect her from the fallout…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Grace Burrowes is the pen name for a prolific author of historical romances whose manuscripts have so far won, finaled, or garnered honorable mention in Romance Writers of America-run contests in Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, and Florida. Burrowes is a practicing attorney specializing in family law. She lives in rural Maryland and is working on her next book, The Soldier, set to release in July 2011.

33 comments:

  1. Not entering, but I'll include it in linkity. :)

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  2. After reading your review I definitely became interested in the novel. I like the sound of the heroine, and the the author's reasons for falling in love with Gayle were pretty convincing =)

    Thanks for the wonderful interview!

    mishtakes AT gmail DOT com

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  3. I'm SO excited that the author is going to be posting advice for aspiring authors! I can always use more help from those who've been through the process. Love the sound of The Heir, too, so please enter me!

    iswimforoceans at gmail dot com

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  4. This sounds like a fun book. When you first started writing it, did you imagine that it would be a part of a series or did you think it was a standalone? If a series, how did you pitch it to your agent/publisher - as a single or a series?

    Margay1122(at)aol(dot)com

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  5. The Heir sounds like a great read.
    Nice interview!
    Gayle Windham sounds like quite the hero.
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

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  6. Sounds good...Gayle is an interesting name for a man!

    littleone AT shaw DOT ca

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  7. This looks like just the kind of book I love! It is now on my TBR list.

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  8. Awesome interview! I think i'm in love with Gayle already! Gruff shyness and very kind, sounds like a sweetie to me! Thank you for the chance to win, I can't wait to read this one!

    inthehammockblog at gmail dot com

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  9. Sounds like a sweet book. I love HEAs. :) Sure, enter me.

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  10. Thanks Chris!

    Mishel
    Aye they were good ones

    Melissa
    It will sure be helpful, I am gonna check it out oo

    Margay
    Thanks for stopping by

    Thanks Naida

    PoCat
    I though so too

    TJ
    Glad to be of help

    Carrie
    He was just so nice and good, and never gave up, yay

    Melissa
    You and me both :)

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  11. Margay--This book was the fifth in a "series" that's now up to about twenty manuscripts. In another book, the wily old duke convinced Gayle to marry the lady of the duke's choice in exchange for the duke handing over the financial reins to Gayle. The lady in that book, however, already had her own hero lined up. When we got that all sorted out, Gayle was left tapping the toe of his riding boot and sending me fulminating looks. I got busy accordingly.
    I pitched my editor at a conference, in a bar, and she had drag it out of me. When she asked if I had any completed manuscripts and the answer was "I think I'm up to about twenty..." she set her knitting bag on the bar and we began to talk. Best of luck with your own writing--the most important thing is to Keep Writing.

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  12. TJ--There's an excerpt on the website that will give you a little flavor of the piece.

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  13. Thanks for the interview Grace. It was nice to have you over :)

    And big yay on Valentine's story, I do want his ones.

    I did wonder while reading, there was a rumour about perhaps a baby left by a brother..or was it just a rumour?

    I was also very optimistic and hoped at least one was still alive :( Perhaps in a coma, yes I am just too optimistic, lol

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  14. I'm on board with Gayle why is she working as his housekeeper? I've very curious about this.
    Theresa N
    weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  15. Sounds interesting! Loved that author interview! I really don't know any of the authors she reads. Oh, and um, not an entry because of location.

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  16. I'd love to enter this giveaway! I've not heard of this author before and I loved the interview. I've looked the website see that this book is one of two in a series (I think). My question is how difficult is it to write a series of books as opposed to single titles? I can be found at sugarbeatbc at shaw dot ca

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  17. Excellent interview! The books sounds and looks wonderful. I'd love to be entered.

    yvone473[at]optonline[dot]net

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  18. Blodeuedd, As far as I know, the one brother died of consumption, and is thus very unlikely to end up the hero in a subsequent book. The other brother was killed in a bar fight in Portugal, so alas, he's out of contention as well, but there ARE five sisters, and my current Work In Progress is the first of their stories, due to be released for Christmas next year as Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish. (And yes, there are rumors both deceased brothers left daughters behind... what is a writer to do about that, I wonder?

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  19. Barb, I started writing and before I was at the end of the first manuscript, my secondary characters were clamoring for their own stories. I liken it to the way a spider plant propagates. With adequate food and water, the thing just keeps sending out shoots. I have written the occasional one-off story, and some of them seem to me to be quite good, but even as I admire them, a part of me is wondering, "OK, now who among you supporting characters is going to step up and take the next leading role?" Maybe this is because I'm one of seven children, or maybe it's because my characters are that real to me.

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  20. The description of the hero sounds just lovely (swoon), gruff, shy, kind - totally my type. I'm looking forward to reading this book. I'm confused though, has the previous book where Gayle first makes an appearance been published, or is that one of the 20 unpublished ones?

    No need to enter me. The ebook version is on sale at Amazon and I enjoyed the sample so I just bought it.

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  21. I like interviews with authors but to tell you the truth the cover of this book made me squirm...the torso with a six-pack stomach and a belle...I've seen it so many times. Usually it doesn't speak well of the content. Of course here the author was very persuasive presenting her book but still...

    I am entering but I doubt my luck will hold ;)
    portiabridget@yahoo.co.uk

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  22. Theresa
    That is the mystery and what I enjoyed the most :)

    Brizmus
    Something for us international peeps will coming up soon too

    Thanks Staci

    Barb
    Yup, book 2 about his brother will be out next year

    Yvonne
    Good luck

    JenM
    Enjoy :)

    Sassy
    Thanks for coming by

    Ana
    Lol, it is HR, they are all like that ;)

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  23. Grace
    Yes I am just too optimistic, lol. But they are a lot of siblings left, a lot of books there, and maybe babies, ohhhh

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  24. Great interview! This sounds like a great read but what intrigues me more is Burrowes upcoming posts for aspiring authors.

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  25. Re-posted your contest at: http://contests-freebies.blogspot.com/2010/12/win-heir-at-book-girl-of-mur-y-castell.html

    Goodluck everybody!!

    Cherry Mischievous
    (not an entry)

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  26. Thanks for the great giveaway! I am always looking for new authors, especially in the romance genre, and looks like I've found one! The author's response to your question of four reasons to read the book are the EXACT reasons why I read romance. Count me in!

    BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

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  27. This book sounds like great fun! I want to know what the housekeeper's secret is.... Enter me please!

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  28. Looks like a wonderful book. With all the different genres out there, what was it that made you want to write historicals? My mom got me hooked on regency era books by handing me a copy of Stephanie Laurens' "Devil's Bride".

    I love how Gayle "escapes" to the countryside only to be "captured" by Anna. I can't wait to read this book!

    Brandi
    Scssugar(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  29. I loved Grace's responses to why we should read this book - put a smile on my face :-)

    smaccall @ comcast.net

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  30. CLOSED!

    winners

    Melissa (Iswim) and Carrie(Hammock)

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