Tuesday 27 May 2014

Author Interview and giveaway: Theresa Romain

Today I interview Theresa Romain.
Welcome!

1. Welcome to my blog. Could you tell us about yourself?
Theresa: Hi, Blodeuedd—thank you for hosting me today! 

A little about me: I’m a coffee and book addict, and I never met a dessert I thought was too sweet. I met my husband when we were both history students in grad school, and I knew he was the one for me when I saw how many bookshelves he had. (Also, he’s a very nice guy.) We now have a young daughter who loves to be silly and who thinks my books have beautiful covers. She has zero interest in the stories because she thinks ”falling in love is disgusting.” Fine by me, since I wouldn’t want her to read my books until she was at least 18. 

2. Also tell us about your new book, To charm a naughty countess.
Theresa: It’s a Pygmalion story that takes place during the ”Year Without a Summer,” a real-life natural disaster in 1816. When the endless cold causes the reclusive Duke of Wyverne hero to lose his crops and his fortune, he has to venture to London for the first time in eleven years to win a wealthy bride. Unfortunately, London society thinks he’s mad—all except for the widowed Lady Stratton, his partner in a long-ago scandal. She sits at the head of society and has no desire to give up her power and independence, but she’s never been able to shake her fascination with the blunt and brilliant duke. She offers to guide him through society, but she can’t let herself fall for him unless he’ll marry for love—the one thing that’s impossible.

3. A virgin hero? How did you decide to go for this?
Theresa: I had never written a virgin hero before, and I thought he would be a good match for the heroine, who has had some lovers. Michael and Caroline are a gender-flipped version of a classic pair: the rakish hero and the virgin bluestocking heroine.

4. Tell us 3 things about Caroline?
Theresa: In her younger years, she was almost destroyed by scandal and had to make a hasty marriage of convenience. She knows the power of rumor and the fleeting nature of friendship. Now that she’s a widow of independent means, she has shoved her way back into society with charm and good manners. 

She has a ballroom full of friendly acquaintances, but few true friends. To keep her place at the head of society, she can’t be her true self; she has to be better. Always cheerful, entertaining, and clever. There’s no vacation for a naughty countess.

If you want to win Caroline over, don’t bother with flowers. Every caller brings flowers, so they don’t stand out anymore. Instead, catch her eye as Michael does: by offering to repair one of her chairs. She can’t resist someone who wants to help her instead of using her for her popularity or fortune.

5. And 3 things about Michael?
Theresa: He’s fascinated by everything new, especially mechanical gadgets. Just a few things I researched in relation to his interests: early trains, magic lanterns, types of lamps, and the history of gaslight.

He suffers from social anxiety, so he avoids London and its crowds—until he has no choice but to find a wealthy bride. As a way to cope with his anxiety, he becomes what we’d today call a workaholic, devoting himself wholeheartedly to running his dukedom well.

If you want to win Michael over, tell him, ”I’ll take care of it.” And then follow through. He’s not used to trusting anyone, but it’s pretty exhausting feeling he has to carry the world alone. 

6. Last, what are you working on now?
Theresa: Right now I’m working on the page proofs for my next holiday romance, Season for Desire (out in October). I’ll soon be revising the third Matchmaker book, Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress, which follows Caroline and Michael’s story and will be out in January 2015. And on top of that, I’m working on a new project and hope to share details soon. It’s good to be busy!

Giveaway
 1 copy To charm a naughty countess

1. US and Canada only
2. Ends June 1st
3. To enter, ask Theresa a question or tell me what you think about the hero.

PS. Please, if you enter either leave an email or be SURE to check that if I click your profile then I can find your email. Use a twitter handle, anything really so I can get in touch


TO CHARM A NAUGHTY COUNTESS BY THERESA ROMAIN – IN STORES MAY 2014

Can a reclusive duke…
Brilliant but rumored mad, Michael Layward, the impoverished Duke of Wyverne, has no success courting heiresses until widowed Lady Stratton takes up his cause—after first refusing his suit.

Win London’s most powerful countess?
Caroline Graves, the popular Countess of Stratton, sits alone at the pinnacle of London society and has vowed never to remarry. When Michael—her counterpart in an old scandal—returns to town after a long absence, she finds herself as enthralled with him as ever. As she guides the anxiety-ridden duke through the trials of London society, Caroline realizes that she’s lost her heart. But if she gives herself to the only man she’s ever loved, she’ll lose the hard won independence she prizes above all.

Praise for To Charm a Naughty Countess:
“Utterly charming plot and sprightly dialogue... The intelligence of the writing, coupled with well-drawn and appealing characters, pulls readers into a love story that is not just enchanting, but joyous.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ Stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 
Historical romance author Theresa Romain pursued an impractical education that allowed her to read everything she could get her hands on. She then worked for universities and libraries, where she got to read even more. Eventually she started writing, too. She lives with her family in the Midwest. 

For more information, please visit http://theresaromain.com/, like her on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTheresaRomain, and follow her on Twitter, @TheresaRomain.

To Purchase To Charm a Naughty Countess:




52 comments:

  1. Yep, it's hard to resist a man with big bookshelves! ;-)

    I've only read one romance with a virgin hero before, and it was a nice change of pace! Michael sounds like he has the vulnerable streak underneath that I find very sexy.

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    1. "I like big bookshelves and I cannot lie…" :) Thanks for stopping by, Diana!

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  2. I like your description of Michael and really like that that there is a male virgin.

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    1. Thanks, bbbaddict. He was a fun character to write. With his curiosity, he kept surprising me.

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  3. Michael sounds like an emotional character. Great interview!

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    1. Blodeuedd asks great questions! :)

      Michael would probably deny that he's emotional, since he places such a value on duty and control. But we know better. He does feel very deeply.

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  4. Lovely interview and TO CHARM A NAUGHTY COUNTESS sounds delightful!

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  5. I like the sound of both the hero AND the heroine. Oh this does sound like a historical romance I would enjoy!

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    1. Melissa, glad it sounds like your kind of book. Thanks!

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  6. The Hero sounds like a refreshing change from the typical historical romance male. Look forward to reading this!.
    leah.labbe@gmail.com

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    1. He's definitely not what most other people in the book are expecting him to be like. But that's what Caroline loves about him! (Well, one of the things.)

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  7. Thank you for the interview :)

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  8. Michael is definitely unique. Love reading about him!

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  9. Loved the interview, ladies. Sounds like a fun read!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Livia! Blodeuedd's questions really got me thinking.

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  10. Sounds like a great heroine. jmcgarry2011@yahoo.com

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    1. Michael thinks so. But then again, he's biased.

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  11. Wonderful interview, thank you for sharing with us Theresa. This book is definitely worth reading, get your copy, FAST! :-D
    Who ever wins it will be very, very happy!
    Have a nice time with Blodeuedd and followers Theresa! :-)

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    1. Dalila, thank you. :) I'm so glad you liked it. Thanks for saying hi!

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  12. I love the idea as the hero being a virgin. I think all the books I've read have always had the female as the virgin. I look forward to reading this book!
    aprilnu2003 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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    1. Shar, those are most of the romances I've read too. I like those stories, but it's also fun to flip the roles.

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  13. "Michael and Caroline are a gender-flipped version of a classic pair: the rakish hero and the virgin bluestocking heroine." --> This sounds very different and fabulous! Love this flipping of roles!

    ~Mogsy

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    1. Thanks, Mogsy! It was fun for me as a writer. I hope readers enjoy it too.

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  14. Congrats Theresa on the new release and thanks for such a fun interview :) I love the reverse Pygmalion story :) What was the inspiration behind the flip?

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    1. HI, Erin--I'd written a story with a male rake and female bluestocking (Season for Surrender) and thought it would be fun to try a story the other way around.

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  15. Wow, a virgin bluestocking hero and a rakish heroine, I love it! I think Michael sounds like a very unusual but very interesting hero and I look forward to reading all about him and Caroline.
    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

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    1. Barbara, I hope you enjoy their story!

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  16. Oh it's interesting, Michael sounds great to discover and it's so rare to have a virgin hero! I'm curious. thanks for the interview.

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  17. Ooh a virgin hero! Love the gender swapped setup, this sounds awesome!

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  18. The book sounds good and I've never read a virgin hero before. Great interview ladies.

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    1. I really enjoy reading romances with virgin heroes. I was due to write one, I guess!

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  19. Oh! This one sounds like something I would like! :D Adding to my list. Thanks.

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  20. Nice one--Jamie is such a great hero.

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  21. Lovely interview, thank you ladies! Don't enter me, I am from Holland and already have all Theresa's books.

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    1. Hi, Aurian! Very nice to see you. :) I hope you enjoy TCANC.

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  22. Your daughter is right, this cover IS beautiful. Question: What particularly appealed to you about using the natural disaster of 1816 to center your book around?

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    1. It falls right in the middle of the Regency (1811-1820), so instead of trying to write around it, I decided to embrace it. It had a huge economic effect in England and Continental Europe, and I hadn't seen that mentioned in a romance novel before. Michael is a sort of case study of the trouble caused by the natural disaster, though as a duke he's far more fortunate than many.

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  23. It's a confusing thought to think about a virgin hero. Definitely makes it sound intriguing

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    1. If it helps, Connie, he's not one anymore by the end of the book. :)

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  24. Oh my gosh. I love virgin heroes! Insta must have this book! lol

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  25. Coffee and book addict - me too! I love the cover on the book and it sounds great too. Please count me in Linda.

    darreads@gmail.com

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    1. I am drinking my second cup of coffee now. :) Nice to meet a fellow caffeine addict!

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  26. I love the idea of a virgin hero, and I think it makes for a great story. I would love to read the book. Thanks for having the giveaway.

    ayancey1974(at)gmail(dot)com

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