Interview and giveaway: Jayne Fresina - The Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine

Author Interview and Giveaway

Jayne Fresina - The Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine

Today I welcome Jayne Fresina to my blog. There is also a giveaway at the end of the interview. Open to all.

1. Could you tell me a bit about yourself?

JF: I am a crazy writer, a daydreamer and a terrible procrastinator.

2. Your new book is called The Most improper Miss Sophie Valentine; could you tell me about it?

JF: This is romance set in Regency England - but rather than take place in the drawing rooms and ballrooms of London, the action plays out in a small country village, where everyone knows their neighbors' business and if they don't they'll make it up! Sophie has spent ten years trying to live down a scandal that happened in her youth. She is daily reminded of her status as an "old maid" (at nearly thirty - shock horror!) and a burden on her brother, with whom she lives. One day, out of desperation and mischief, she posts an advertisement for a husband, but she doesn't really expect anyone to come in answer to it. Then Lazarus Kane arrives on her doorstep and she's faced with a choice—stay trapped in her cage for the rest of her life, where everything is dull, safe and predictable, or marry a complete stranger with a mysterious past and risk another scandal. 

3. I do love the title because it’s fun. Was it your idea or did you have another title in mind at first?  

JF: My working title was "The Stranger". But the publishers wanted something a bit more fun and light-hearted to go with the humor in the book. I really liked "Tumbled" and we kicked around a few ideas, but in the end we went with THE MOST IMPROPER MISS SOPHIE VALENTINE.

4. Sophie advertises for a husband in a magazine. Where did you come up with this idea?

JF: I had a dream one morning about a woman answering her door to a stranger. That was all I knew about the story when I started writing it, but it stuck there in my mind and I couldn't set it down.  I had no idea who the man was or why he was there, but I knew he'd traveled a great distance on foot. And Sophie seemed very shocked by his arrival, yet there was also something about the way she opened her door that suggested she'd been expecting someone. Just probably not him. Later I happened to catch a commercial for an online dating service and I thought—hey, that's it, Sophie posted an ad for a husband and the man on her doorstep came in answer to it.

5.  Which character in this book was the most fun to write?

JF: I love Finnola Valentine, Sophie's eccentric and scandalous aunt who hides a gin flask under her turban and talks lovingly of her long-ago affair with a dashing sea captain. Much to her straight-laced nephew's horror.

6.  How did you start writing historical romances?

JF: It started with reading them - by the bucket load. I suppose I can trace my love for the genre back to reading Pride & Prejudice for the first time when I was fifteen. After I met Mr. Darcy there was no looking back! Of course I scribbled a lot of stories that I didn't actually finish, before I finally found the plot and the characters that all came together. I'm sure I was an awful writer in the beginning, but I persevered.

7. What’s coming next from you?

JF: The Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne - which follows the adventures of Sophie's young and daring friend Mariella Vyne (who readers met in the first book). Mariella was a lot of fun to write and I particularly enjoyed giving a certain gentleman a chance to redeem himself in the second book!

Giveaway.

1 copy of The most Improper Sophie Valentine

1. Open to all, in the entire universe.

2. Ends July 15th

3. Just enter :)

Or you know, ask a question, or tell me what you think about adds in newspapers ;)

THE MOST IMPROPER MISS SOPHIE VALENTINE BY JAYNE FRESINA – IN STORES JUNE 2012

"Wanted: one husband, not too particular. Small dowry, several books, sundry furnishings, and elderly aunt included. Idlers, time-wasters, and gentleman without other attachments need not apply."

—Miss Sophie Valentine

A SCANDALOUS LADY… 

Sophie Valentine knew placing an ad for a husband in the Farmers Gazette would bring her trouble-and she was right. When the darkly handsome, arrogantly charming Lazarus Kane shows up on her doorstep, the nosy residents of Sydney Dovedale are thrown into a gossiping tizzy. After all, it's common knowledge that Sophie is a young lady In Need of Firmer Direction. But even Sophie isn't so scandalous as to marry a complete stranger. .. is she? 

SEEKS HANDSOME STRANGER…

Lazarus Kane has been searching for Sophie half of his life. She may not remember him, but he could never forget her. But the past is a dangerous thing, and it's best if his remains secret if he wants to tempt Sophie with ...

A MOST IMPROPER PROPOSAL…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Jayne Fresina sprouted up in England, the youngest in a family of four girls.  Entertained by her father’s colorful tales of growing up in the countryside, and surrounded by opinionated sisters— all with far more exciting lives than hers— she’s always had inspiration for her beleaguered heroes and unstoppable heroines. Visit www.jaynefresina.com for more information.