Monday 22 April 2013

Interview and Giveaway: Grace Burrowes and Darius


Today's guest is Grace Burrowes and she is here to talk about her new book Darius.

1. Could you tell me 3 fun things about yourself?
Grace Burrowes: I used to manage horseshows. I published a column in Runner’s World magazine about what I learned coming in last (EVERYBODY cheers for you). I started baking brownies when I was seven years old.

2. What can we expect in your new book, Darius?
Grace Burrowes: A bit of the unexpected. Darius is the most heartsore, lost hero I’ve written, at least at the beginning of the book, but it means his happily ever after is one of the sweetest.

3. What was the inspiration that lead to this series?
Grace Burrowes: Well, the previous series. As I wrote about the eight Windham siblings and their parents, the Duke and Duchess of Moreland, various secondary characters kept trying to steal scenes, and then steal entire books. When a character has that much of a gravitational field, he gets his own book.

4. And what will come next in this series?
Grace Burrowes: Darius is the flagship hero for a long string of loosely connected Regency romances, the next three of which feature Nicholas Haddonfield (who marries Darius’ sister), and Nick’s two brothers, Ethan and Beckman. Other books in the series spin off from those books, then from those books….  Sometimes I think of these not so much as series books as the literary equivalent of spider plants. Always, a new shoot…

5. I need to know, if this was a movie, who would play the leading couple?
Grace Burrowes: That’s a tough one. For Darius we need lots of schmoulder… Maybe Michael Fassbender doing a slightly darker-haired Mr. Rochester, and for Vivian… maybe Anne Hathaway. This may be a question the readers are better equipped to answer than I am, because I’m movie-avoidant.

6. If you for some reason could not write historical romance, is there any other genre you’d love to try?
Grace Burrowes: A travelogue of Scotland would sure be fun!

Giveaway:
1 copy of Darius

1. Open to Everyone! Everywhere in the world
2. Ends May 5th
3. Just enter :)


DARIUS BY GRACE BURROWES – IN STORES APRIL 2013

A story that breaks all the rules...
Darius is a remarkable and romantic tale of desperation, devotion, and redemption from award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes. Her gorgeous writing and lush Regency world will stay with you long after you turn the final page…

With his beloved sister tainted by scandal, his widowed brother shattered by grief, and his funds cut off, Darius Lindsey sees no option but to trade his company for coin, all but selling his favors. Until the day he encounters lovely, beguiling Lady Vivian Longstreet, whose tenderness and understanding wrap his soul in a grace he knows he’ll never deserve…

Praise for Darius:
“Burrowes brings to life a deeply moving romance that’s sure to be remembered and treasured.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ Stars, Top Pick

“This rising author handles powerful romance and complicated family life with skill in romances with great appeal.” —Booklist

“Burrowes creates her usual intelligent characters, exciting chemistry, and flowing dialogue...” —Publishers Weekly

“Very compelling... Likable characters with enough angst to keep the story moving along.” —Night Owl Reviews, 4.5 stars, Reviewer Top Pick


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes’ bestsellers include The Heir, The Soldier, Lady Maggie’s Secret Scandal, Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish and Lady Eve's Indiscretion. The Heir was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2010, The Soldier was a PW Best Spring Romance of 2011, Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish won Best Historical Romance of the Year in 2011 from RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards, Lady Louisa’s Christmas Knight was a Library Journal Best Book of 2012, and The Bridegroom Wore Plaid was a PW Best Book of 2012. Her Regency romances have received extensive praise, including starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Grace is branching out into short stories and Scotland-set Victorian romance with Sourcebooks. She is a practicing family law attorney and lives in rural Maryland. For more information, please visit www.graceburrowes.com.

To purchase Darius:

42 comments:

  1. Darius sounds sad but hopeful.

    "literary equivalent of spider plants" hehe That's a good way to describe these series and spin offs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karen, I first came across the analogy from a mental health practitioner, who referred to some of his clients as coming from "spider plant" families--your aunt divorced your uncle but married a cousin on your mom's side... shoots sprouting off in every direction at once...

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Charlotte, it's a different book for me. My characters previously were embedded in, even smothered by, loving family, but Darius has been dealt different and much lower cards. Readers seem to be rooting for him all the more because of it.

      Delete
  3. I love that she wrote an article about coming in last! I walk my 5ks and while not last--all I think is I finished when many just didn't show up :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Felicia, it was QUITE the hilly course, and wouldn't you know it, I knew the deputy in the sweeper car from my work at the courthouse. Dude got on his bullhorn: "Grace, you sure you don't need a ride? Grace? Maybe you want some water? Grace, you know my kids are waiting for me to take them to the park...?" Very long race, that one.

      Delete
  4. Thank you for the interview Grace :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. That is awesome that she wrote about her experience coming in last! Hey it is never to early to learn to bake brownies, right? MMM brownies!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I got MORE applause and louder cheers than the gazelles who'd come in first Waaaaay ahead of me. And I think the applause was genuine, and not just because now all the volunteers could go home.

      Delete
  6. Darius sounds like a perfect HEA kind of book! So love those. What a great interview. Oh do enter me in the giveaway. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melissa, Darius was my most lost hero, and you're right: When he finally got his HEA, it really, truly resonated.

      Delete
  7. Oooo Michael Fassbender! He's always a good bet. I'd pretty much watch anything he was in, but I think he'd make a particularly good regency romance hero:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael Fassbender strikes me as more Victorian, but mostly historical. I wouldn't quibble if he were cast in one of my Regencies!

      Delete
  8. Hi Grace and Blod, nice interview. Darius sounds like a really good read!
    Please enter me too, thank you. naida1276@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Replies
    1. Thanks, Yvonne. Those were some good and unexpected questions.

      Delete
  10. Thanks to you both for the interview. Really loved The Windham family stories and am looking forward to read about those secondary characters. Bravo!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought I'd be relieved to finish the Windham series, but I'm MORE relieved that various Windhams pop up on the Lonely Lords, too.

      Delete
  11. Thanks for the interview! Oooh, you had me with Michael Fassbender. I think he will portray Darius well :)

    Ren
    sawamura_foxman AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ren, some people have said the cover model looks like a young Lee Horsley (Matt Houston), but Fassbender has more of that lean and hungry to his handsome.

      Delete
  12. Thanks for the giveaway and great interview! I actually have two of Grace Burrows books and I have yet to read them! I just have so many books to read! I'll get to them, though! Promise.
    mestith at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Meghan, I'm curious: Which two? Darius is at least the start of a series, but if you have "The Heir" and "The Bridegroom Wore Plaid," then you have the start of two OTHER series.

      Delete
  13. I enjoyed the lovely interview and I'm looking forward to reading Darius. I know I'm going to love learning all about his story and seeing how it all turns out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barbara, it turns out happily ever after, of course, but our swain must make BIG changes, and be very brave first (and so must our damsel)!

      Delete
  14. I love Regency novels!!

    lag110 at mchsi dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. What I am supposed to say...yeah...B's interviews are always so nice so thanks for posting another one B and thanks, Grace for coming! Baking at 7 is pretty awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I have not heard of Grace Burrowes until I pick up The Heir. I'm glad to discover new books especially from romance genre.

    evangelineace2020(a)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. This sure sounds good, thanks for the nice interview. I do love all those connected books in a long series, so this one goes on the wishlist!

    auriansbooks at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Sorry to say I haven't read any of these books.
    Nice give away.
    CABWNANA1@bellsouth.net

    ReplyDelete
  19. I think you should write the travelogue of Scotland in addition to the historical romance.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'd love to be entered in this giveaway!!

    londonbridget47@aim.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks everyone for stopping by :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Yep...you had me at Michael Fassbender! Got to check this series out now!

    Thanks so much!
    mmafsmith AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  23. oh gosh, i love her books! i didn't realize at first that this was a part of the windhams series. i love those windhams :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. I always rather enjoy unexpected. A must read for me.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I haven't read one of her books before, but this one sounds really good. I would love a chance to try one of her books. Please enter me. Thanks!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  26. Sounds like an intriguing story. Thank you for the giveaway and good luck with the release.

    elewkf1 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete