Jennifer’s Random Musings

Today is the final day of my Zebra Blog Party and today’s guest is the talented, Sally MacKenzie!! 
First, here is more about her upcoming release, The Naked Gentleman…available this April! 

John Parker-Roth cannot believe that marriage is necessary for his happiness. He would far rather pursue his interest in horticulture, but if one day he should find a female who shared his passion for flowers–a level-headed, calm sort of female–he might reconsider. Certainly the lovely young woman who has just tumbled into his lap will not do, as she possesses neither of these admirable qualities.  Yet Miss Margaret Peterson does have many things in her favor. To begin with, she is a true English rose, blushing a delectable pink. And she is not entirely clothed. Her full mouth begs to be kissed.  If only she would not wriggle so…oh, dear. He cannot ignore the sudden vision of her in his bed, but he must.

What? Is Meg actually asking him to kiss her?  Well, well, well. John Parker-Roth is a gentleman, first and foremost.  And he cannot turn down a lady’s request…

And now here is my interview with Sally… 

Please tell us about your books.
The Naked books are funny, hot stories (though not erotica hot!) set in Regency England from about 1816 to 1820 (just after the Napoleonic Wars to the year the Prince Regent ascended the throne to become King George IV).   The first three–The Naked Duke, The Naked Marquis, and The Naked Earl–are available now.  The fourth book–The Naked Gentleman–will be released April 1.  (No fooling;))   

Are the books connected in any way–besides the Naked title, of course?
But of course!  The Naked Duke introduces three male friends who become–you guessed it–the duke, the marquis, and the earl of Naked fame.  But there are more connections.  The Naked Earl’s heroine is the duke’s sister (and The Naked Duke’s heroine is the earl’s cousin).  The Naked Gentleman’s heroine is the sister of The Naked Marquis’s heroine and the best friend of The Naked Earl’s heroine.  (Are you all still following me, LOL?)  And many of the secondary characters appear in more than one book.  The English ton (sort of the upper crust) was a pretty small group, so I think it makes sense to have the same people bumping into each other.  Plus I discovered I enjoy thinking about my characters over time and discovering more things about them.  Writing this way also gives me a jumping off place for my next book.  

So the books have to be read in order?
No!  Of course, I hope readers will fall in love with my characters and want to explore the Naked world, but I’ve tried very hard to make each book completely independent.   

What inspired the stories?
A mix of reading and life.  I’ve probably read hundreds of romances set in the Regency, starting when I was still in grade school with Georgette Heyer.  And I’ve raised four sons–I really had fun with the babies in The Naked Gentleman    

What are your favorite parts of being a writer?
Typing “The End”!!  Or maybe I should say sending the book off to my editor, because I usually have many more days of revision between “The End” and hitting “Send.”  I also love holding the published book in my hand–though I don’t usually read it then for fear of finding typos I missed–and hearing from readers who have enjoyed my stories.   

The least favorite? 
Starting a new book for me is a leap into the darkness.  And I’m not terribly fond of the promotion process.   

What would you like to tell aspiring writers?
To steal Nike’s slogan–Just Do It!  (I wrote this before I read Paula Reed’s interview–I always knew Paula was brilliant.)  Sit down in the chair, put your fingers on the keyboard, and write the d*mn book.  Then revise it.  Then start the next book.  It may feel like a real slog at times, but don’t give up.   Also there’s no one way to write a book.  Some people outline; some people don’t.  Some people have critique groups; some people don’t.  Some people write from page 1 to the end; some people don’t.  Just wade on in there and do it!   

Would you like to write in another genre?
When I sold The Naked Duke, I was five or so chapters into a futuristic romance.  I’d like to get back to it some day–I actually had a plot developed!  But for the foreseeable future, it looks like I’ll be writing Naked Regencies  

Describe yourself in three words.
Hmm.   How about “recovering-worrier” (I have four pretty-much grown sons and I’m a writer…need I say more?  Sometimes you just have to rein in that imagination.); “detail-oriented” (Some might say anal–I go over each word of my books multiple times.); and funny (Well, I try.). 

What is next for you?
I’ve already written The Naked Baron–it will be out sometime in 2009.  I’ve started a novella, The Naked Laird (my working title) which will also be released in 2009.  Then I’m contracted for two more books, The Naked Viscount and The Naked…somebody else (both titles subject to change.) 

Is there anything you’d like to ask readers?
Sure!   What is your dream hero like?  Tall, dark, and handsome?  Tortured or not?  A knight in shining armor or a bad boy?  Brownie points if you’ve read the Naked guys and can say which of them is your favorite and why. 

Thank you so much Sally for that great interview! 

Readers, you can learn more about Sally and her “Naked” books by visiting her website:  http://www.sallymackenzie.net 

Readers, go ahead and answer Sally’s questions… 

Remember, today is the last day to enter the giveaway…details here!  Winners will be announced this weekend!

Today I welcome back Laura Drewry as she “Completes the Sentences…” 

I asked Laura to complete the following however she wished.
Here are her responses… 

I am: wondering how I can answer these questions without sounding like a complete lunatic 

I like: things to be in order, to be alphabetized, or to be folded in a particular way (yes, I have control issues! LOL) 

I love: a book that can make me laugh and cry 

I dream: of the perfect title & cover 

I wish: there were 48 hours in each day and that I only needed to sleep for 4 of those 

I pretend: to know all the answers to all the questions my kids have 

I know: how to “hospital” the corners of a bed 

I fear: my kids will grow up as neurotic and loopy as their mother 

I appreciate: a good cup of coffee and a ‘good morning, mom’ hug 

I hope: the war ends soon, all our troops can come home, and that the Yankees win the World Series this year 

I look: like hell in the morning and, often times, for most of the day, too 

I read: the obituaries first 

I want: my dog to stop shedding 

I need: to start my days with good morning hugs and end my days with good night kisses 

I will: try to lighten up this year by accepting the fact that not everyone needs their soup cans to be alphabetized and set in straight lines  

I can: drive anywhere in the world because Santa brought me a handheld GPS I named Lola 

I cannot live without: my boys 

I am happy when: the planets align, the gods smile down on us, and the boys stop fighting 

I would like to meet: the Dalai Lama 

I am annoyed by: TV shows that kill off babies & kids and by networks that think celebrities’ misfortunes and stupidity should be headline news  

Thank you Laura!  I loved those answers!!! 

Readers, remember to look for Laura’s upcoming book from Dorchester, The Devil’s Daughter, this April! 

And to learn more about Laura and her books visit http://www.lauradrewry.com/ 

Only a couple of days left to enter the great giveaway…details here!

Today’s guest is the fabulous Laura Drewry!
Laura wrote western historicals for Zebra.
Her upcoming release, The Devil’s Daughter is out this April from Dorchester and I can’t wait to read this western with a twist! 

I invited Laura here to tell us about the book and more… 

Please tell us about your upcoming release, The Devil’s Daughter.
The Devil’s Daughter is the story of Lucy Firr, sent from Hell to claim an unborn child’s soul, and Jed Caine, a man determined to help his dead brother’s widow through her confinement so she will deliver a healthy baby.   To get to the baby, Lucy needs to go through Jed, but he’s not about to let anyone – not even his new wife - do anything to risk the baby’s health.  

Here’s the back cover blurb: 
GIVING THE DEVIL HIS DUDE

Shoveling sulfur and brimstone could really get a girl down.  When her dad offered freedom for the fiery depths in exchange for one simple soul-snatching, Lucy Firr jumped at the chance.   With her considerable powers of seduction, she threw herself at rancher Jed Caine.  Yet instead of taking her to bed, he made her muck out the pigsty.  

It would take the patience of a saint to resist the likes of Lucy Firr and Lord knew Jed was no saint.   The temptress fired his blood like no woman he’d ever met.  Why she’d suddenly latched on to him, he had no idea.  But the safest place for her and her virtue was out in the barn.  

Lucy could see the heat in Jed’s gaze.  But it was the tenderness of his touch and his hard-won smile that undid her.   She was supposed to steal his soul, yet here he was capturing her heart. 

What inspired the story?
This isn’t exactly how most books come to be, but. . . .I was having a meeting with my then-agent at a conference and she suggested I come up with a proposal for a western paranormal.   I’d never written a paranormal before and wasn’t convinced I could create a completely believable world of vampires or shapeshifters.  As I walked around the hotel after our meeting, the title popped into my head for no apparent reason (as ideas often do) and The Devil’s Daughter was born.   I loved the title so much that the story simply grew from it, instead of an actual character or plot line as is often the usual way.  I was absolutely thrilled when my editor told me I could keep the title!  

Which of your characters is most like you?
I hope none of them.  I certainly don’t set out to make any of them like me because I think I’m a fairly boring person.   I don’t do well with conflict and tend to be a little. . .wishywashy.  LOL Who wants to read about a character like that?   Not me.  I want characters to be exciting (even if it doesn’t seem exciting to them), and I want them to stand up for themselves, or at least get to that point in their character arc where they can.    

What is your favorite part of being a writer?  Least favorite?
The best part of being a writer is the writing, of course.  I love creating a new character, giving her a history, making her imperfect, and then finding her a man who will love her – warts and all.   Oh, and I absolutely love envisioning the final scene; the one where you can’t help but sigh and smile, maybe even shed a tear or two. 

The worst part is, hands down, the rejection.  But it’s a big part of the process so you put up with it.   And one acceptance outweighs ten bazillion rejection letters, so it all works out in the end.    

Is there anything you would like to write, but haven’t? For example, any other genre you’d like to try?
I’d love to write children’s books.  Some of my favourite times are reading to the kids at bedtime and if I could write one of those books – one that kids and parents both love – that would be perfect!  

Who has inspired you as a writer?
Dr. Seuss because he makes up words that we, as readers, have incorporated into our lives as though it was perfectly natural.   LOL 

Stephen King because his books have scared me so much, I no longer walk over storm drains and avoid clowns at all costs. 

And every author who has ever made me sigh, laugh, cry, cringe, or yell at a character.   

What would you like to tell aspiring writers?
Put butt in chair.
Write what you WANT to write, not what you think you SHOULD write.
Repeat. 

Describe yourself in 3 words.
I had several different lists ready to put here, but my son told me they were all too self-depreciating, so maybe I’ll skip this one.  

If you had a time capsule to be opened 50 years in the future, what would you put in it?
baby pictures of my boys and recordings of their voices
Stephen King’s book “It” (I read it years ago, and figure I might get over my terrorized mind in another 50 years or so)
All my Mary Balogh books  

What is next for you?
I’m working on the sequel to The Devil’s Daughter, called Dancing with the Devil.  It’s the story of Deacon (Lucy’s brother), his bumpy ride through the world of humans and one woman’s hard-headed love.   I also have a few more proposal out with editors, some historical, one contemporary and I’m working on a non-fiction proposal, too. 

Is there anything you’d like to ask readers?
What makes you pick up a book off the shelf?  Is it the cover?   The title?  The back cover blurb?  First page? 

What do you love most in a hero?  A heroine? 

Are there some plot lines or character traits you love/hate? 

Do reviews (good or bad) affect your decision to purchase a new book? 

Do you read the dedication? (it’s the first thing I read in a new book) 

Would you like a free bookmark?  LOL 

Thank you so much Laura for that great interview!  I can’t wait to read the upcoming book…I have never read a western paranormal before. 

You can learn more about Laura and her books at her website:  http://www.lauradrewry.com/ 

So, readers…go ahead and answer Laura’s great questions… 

And check back tomorrow as Laura “Complete the Sentences!” 

Remember, every comment is an entry into the giveaway…only a couple of days left to enter…details here!

Today’s guest is the fantastic, Carrie Lofty!  Her Zebra Debut release, What a Scoundrel Wants, is available later this year…
Her current release “Sundial” was released in December 2007 and became a #1 bestseller from The Wild Rose Press…

Please tell us about your book.
What a Scoundrel Wants is a hot, swashbuckling romance that picks up Will Scarlet’s story where the Robin Hood legend leaves off. Will is renowned for his talents with a sword and has finally stepped out from his legendary uncle’s shadow. When he’s set up by the Sheriff of Nottingham, he rescues the alchemist who can clear him of murder–but she’s blind, obsessed with fire, and sister to the woman Will arrested.

What a Scoundrel Wants will be a December 2008 Zebra Debut release (ISBN 0420104752). You can read an excerpt here.

What inspired the story?
I was set to begin a book set in the silent movie era when my girls rented Disney’s animated Robin Hood. I realized I hadn’t seen Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves in years. It’s shlocky as all get out, but I love it–not for Kevin Costner or men in tights or even the delicious Alan Rickman–but because of my obsessive fascination with Christian Slater. Girly hormones at their worst! That got me thinking: Whatever happened to Will Scarlet anyway?

Is there anything you would like to write, but haven’t? For example, any other genre you’d like to try?
I’m plotting a sci-fi romance at present, something where I have permission to base the setting on my own imagination rather than the dictates of history. I’ve always loved sci-fi movies like Terminator, Aliens, and the original Star Wars trilogy–especially when they blend action, new worlds, and romance.

What would you like to tell aspiring writers?
Be gentle with yourself when it comes to rejections, but be disciplined with regard to meeting a daily word or page count, reasonable deadlines, and treating your writing career with the respect it deserves. My family took me seriously only when I took myself seriously. And any healthy work habits you can develop now will help in the future when you sell!

Describe yourself in 3 words.
Diplomatic, intelligent, sappy.

If you had a time capsule to be opened 50 years in the future, what would you put in it?
A nice bottle of wine from this year. Someone would have a nice evening!

Complete the following…
I dream: crazy, crazy things.
I wish: everyone could have their happy ending.
I pretend: I can talk to my characters.
I fear: harm coming to my girls.
I appreciate: patience.
I am annoyed by: rudeness.
I read: far less than I’d like.
I cannot live without: touching.
I am happy when: I get a good night’s sleep.
I would like to meet: Bono.

Where can readers find you online?
My website
Unusual Historicals

Is there anything you’d like to ask readers?
I’m always, always interested in historical romances set in unusual places and times. My award-winning time travel short story, “Sundial,” for example, is set in 1958 Italy. Do readers share my interest? Why don’t we see more variety in the historical romance genre? I’m curious! And if you have any to recommend, I’d love to know which ones have tickled your fancy…

Thank you so much for that great interview, Carrie! 

So readers, how about answering Carrie’s questions…and don’t forget to check out her website! 

Remember, every comment left is an entry into the giveaway…this is the last week to enter…details here!

Today’s guest is the lovely Christie Kelley! 
I reviewed Christie’s debut book, Every Night I’m Yours last month on my blog.  You can read that review by clicking here. 

Today I have an interview with the talented author! 

Please tell us about your book, Every Night I’m Yours.
I’m really awful at summarizing my own books so I thought I’d better give you the back cover blurb instead:

At twenty-six, aspiring novelist Avis Copley intends to wear spinsterhood as a badge of honor. But when she discovers a volume of erotica that ignites a searing fire within her, Avis realizes just how much she doesn’t know about the actual pleasures of the flesh. Determined to learn more, she devises a daring plan… 

Avis chooses Emory Billingsworth, a fellow novelist-not to mention a beautiful specimen of manhood-to instruct her in carnal pleasure. But when the brash earl of Selby, Banning Talbot, a man she has known for years, unearths Avis’ true intentions, he claims she’s made a dangerously bad choice. Volunteering his services for one wicked night of reckless, abandoned passion, Banning promises he will satisfy all of her deepest longings. Yet Banning cannot begin to imagine the effect his willful, voluptuous, and very eager student will have on him-or how far an innocent lesson in desire can go…  

What inspired the story?
I seem to get my inspiration from dreams.  I was writing a book with both Banning and Avis as secondary characters.  This book was supposed to be a stand alone book, not sequels.  Never had I thought when I started the manuscript that Banning and Avis would become hero and heroine for a different book.  But the minute I put these two on paper, there was so much sexual tension between them I could help but think about them as a hero and heroine. 

But back to the dreams.  I woke up one night while writing the “other” book to hear Avis saying to her friends, “I’ve decided to take a lover.”  I sat up and thought to myself, “No, that’s not right. Regency spinsters don’t take lovers.”  And darn that Avis refused to accept the idea that she couldn’t, at the age of 26, take a lover to discover what she was missing.

Who would you cast as the hero and heroine in a film adaptation of your book?
This is probably the hardest question to answer because both characters appeared so clearly to me but didn’t remind me of any specific actors.  If I had to guess, I’d say that Pierce Brosnan in his Remington Steele days is about as close as I get to Banning. 

Avis is a bit harder to cast.  I never pictured her as drop-dead gorgeous.  She is more the girl next door.  I think the closest I could get to her would be Jennifer Garner, only Avis has curly hair.

What is your favorite part of being a writer?  Least favorite?
What’s not to love about being a writer?  I create worlds and stories that can make people happy or make them cry.  I can do my job any time day or night, in my pajamas with no makeup on.  How great is that!

Least favorite?  Revisions.  The editor sees something that perhaps you didn’t and then only gives suggestions so you’re left guessing if what you’re changing is what he/she wants.  It’s a little intimidating.

Who has inspired you as a writer?
So many writers have inspired me that I would never be able to list them all.  Johanna Lindsay, Christina Dodd, Victoria Alexandra, and Julie Garwood to name a few.  Also, my husband has inspired me greatly.  He encouraged me to chase my dream and never give up.

What would you like to tell aspiring writers?
Oh, I love easy questions!  For all aspiring writers, keep learning your craft, keep writing, keep submitting and NEVER GIVE UP!  I came close to giving up writing about two years before I received the call.  That year I decided, at the last minute, to enter the RWA’s Golden Heart Contest in 2006 and became a finalist.  Finaling in the GH was such a boost to my writing self-esteem that it never again entered my mind to quit writing.  I sold the book about a year after the final. 

Describe yourself in 3 words.
Introverted, Determined, Thoughtful  

If you could save one book from destruction, what would it be?
Only one book?

That’s not right! If I was smart, I’d say my book, Every Night I’m Yours.  But honestly, I’d have to save Pride and Prejudice.  It’s one of my all-time favorite books and everyone should have the chance to read it.    

If you had a time capsule to be opened 50 years in the future, what would you put in it?
Hmm, this is a tough question for me.  Of course, I want all my books in there, plus my husband’s CDs. (he’s a musician)  Pictures of my children and my family.  Being a history lover, a couple of current newspapers, more books, and then some of the current technology of the day so people can see our iPods, PCs, cell phones.   

What is next for you?
I’m finishing my second book in the series.  I haven’t heard a definite release date on that book but rumor has it sometime around February 2009.  The book doesn’t have a name yet because the first title was immediately rejected by my editor, which was fine by me.  I think putting a title on the book is harder than writing the entire thing.

The story is about Banning’s sister, Jennette.  She has a deep secret that one only other person knows, and he’s ready to blackmail her to keep it secret.  Only blackmail turns to passion and then to love.  It’s been a tougher story for me to write because it is such an emotional book.

Is there anything you’d like to ask readers?
I want to know what plot readers love in a romance and what they hate.  If you read regency set historicals, what plot device are you completely sick of?   Then I’ll answer with my love/hates.

Great interview Christie!  Thank you so much! 

You can learn more about Christie by visiting her website:  http://www.christiekelley.com/ 

So, as Christie asked, what plots in romances do you love?  What do you hate? 
If you read regency-set historicals, what plot devices are you sick of? 

Remember, every comment is an entry in the big giveaway…this is the last week to enter!  Details here.

Please give a warm welcome to author Diana Cosby… 

Diana Cosby – Romance Edged With Danger
www.dianacosby.com 

One aspect of writing that caught me off guard was discovering that my stories are filled with suspense.  I never planned to write action-packed novels, but that’s what my muse delivers.  I find myself becoming bored with my book if the story doesn’t keep me on the edge of my seat.  I owe my action-packed, suspenseful novels not only from living and traveling from the Far East to Europe, but also due to being raised as a military ‘brat,’ in addition to my own career in the Navy.  I am currently on my 29^th move, with one last move to Texas once my husband retires from the Navy.

After living and traveling to many countries, with numerous interstate moves, I easily accept the differences in various cultures world wide.   For me, this translated into my initial choice to write in the medieval period.  As I said above, I owe my love of suspense to my military background.  I retired as a Navy chief who worked as a meteorologist/oceanographer.   When a person joins the military, at times, as with any branch of the military, personnel are sent to fulfill the needs of that organization.  This equates to jobs and traveling to places a person never even dreamed of.

While I was stationed on Guam, two memories remain vivid in my mind, each during a military exercise.  On a routine basis, the military holds practice sessions to ensure personnel are prepared for a myriad of real-life issues.  One such mission involved working with Army Rangers who played the role of insurgents determined to infiltrate and overtake our command.  I was assigned to external security, handed an M-14 with dummy rounds and sent to a position within the jungle.  I still remember that exercise vividly, the vibrant wet leaves of the surrounding vegetation, the hot, rich smells of the jungle, the tiny sounds of jungle life scurrying nearby, along with the weight of the M-14 in my hands.  Nerves ran high during the exercise, radio messages of insurgent attacks and victories ran rampant, fueling the tension.  Several times near my position, movement sent me on alert.  Early in the afternoon, several ‘insurgents’ came into view.  Adrenalin spiked, I took aim and fired.  Later results showed that indeed, I scored a direct hit.

Later that day, during the same military exercise, I was taken hostage.  The Army Rangers kept in character as the bad guys with scary effectiveness.  After reports that a commanding officer had been abducted from a nearby base, the Rangers stormed our command.  Integral parts of the compound were secure, but as an external guard, I was rounded up along with others members of external security and taken into a large room and held as hostages.  With the excellent role playing of the Army Rangers, had I not known we were participating in an exercise, I would have truly believed I was a hostage, with the consequences if their demands weren’t met, lethal.

In addition to the various jobs outside the duties of a meteorologist/oceanographer in the Navy, I believe my experiences as I traveled in my life owe to my love of suspense as well as how much I enjoy writing visual details.
-In Alaska, I remember going to high school, experiencing earthquakes frequently, watching the salmon run, working at a riding stable, admiring the eagles as common as seagulls on an ocean beach, and viewing seals in Kuluk Bay, Alaska.
-In Rhode Island I enjoyed clamming on the weekends, traveling to Boston, and the sounds of the surf.
-In Maine I enjoyed snow shoeing, trying to learn how to ski, fishing, hiking and the great variety of seafood.
-In Oahu, Hawaii, I loved hiking in the mountains and over Kilauea volcano before it erupted, and scuba diving in the crystal clear waters.
-In Guam, I participated in a variety of sports, with the most enjoyable being scuba diving at night.  Daytime dives are great, especially with the crystal clear visibility, but in the warm tropical water, diving at night with a full moon illuminating the ocean, with bioluminescent animals glittering all around you is an unmatched experience.
-In Tangier, Morocco, where I re-enlisted my final time in the Navy on the back of a camel.  To see the photograph, go to my space on the ROMVET’s page:  http://www.romvets.com/
-On Midway Island during my spare time, I was a radio DJ.
-In Korea the thrill of traveling from Osan Air Base to Seoul for a week of shopping with my friend was exciting, along with the magnificent architecture, the fascinating people we met and the enjoyment of bartering for everything from cab rides to merchandise.
-In the Philippines, the wonderful food and riding in the jeepneys.
-I was humbled as we traveled through the Ardennes Forest on the German/Belgium border where the Battle of the Bulge occurred.  So many brave men and women lost their lives in pursuit of our freedom, sacrifices I will never forget.

I am proud to belong to a fabulous group of women writers who have served or are serving in the military, ROMVETS.  http://www.romvets.com/.  As all of our soldiers who proudly serve, I offer them my sincere thanks for standing in harms way so that we maintain our freedom.

Travel along with my military experiences has definitely inspired the suspenseful edge to my writing.  I’m thankful for the experiences and events that will surely continue to feed my muse.

Diana Cosby currently lives in Virginia, with her oldest son leaving for the Marine Corps in November of 2007, and her daughter planning to go off to college in the summer of 2008.  After her husband, a U.S. Navy meteorologist/oceanographer and Iraq veteran, retires from the Navy in the summer of 2008, they will move to Texas with their youngest son, where they will build their final home.

To learn more about Diana or to sign-up for her newsletter, go to her website at www.dianacosby.com. 

Thank you Diana for that fascinating blog! 
And thank you and your family for serving our country!

Readers, do you have any fascinating travel experiences to share? 

Remember, every comment is a contest entry…details here!

Last month I reviewed Diana Cosby’s wonderful book, His Captive, here on my blog (which you can read by clicking here) and today I have an interview with the talented author! 

Please tell us about your book, His Captive.
It’s a Scottish medieval romantic suspense set in the Braveheart era.   Sir Alexander MacGruder is a guilt-ridden man with nothing left to lose.  He seeks the most dangerous missions and when the need for a Scottish rebel to abduct an English lord arises, he volunteers.  Except when he arrives in England, the wealthy English noble is absent and the noble’s sister, Lady Nichola Westcott is there instead.  Believing the siblings are close, he abducts her.  As the story unwinds, he comes to care for Nichola, which is at odds with everything he stands for.  He must answer the question if he can betray his country or his love of a woman who should be his enemy.

What inspired the story?
After watching the movie Braveheart, I knew I had to write in that era.

What is your favorite part of being a writer?
The characters - they’re amazing! 

Least favorite?
Dragging information out of my characters. *G*

Is there anything you would like to write, but haven’t? For example, any other genre you’d like to try?
I would love to write a romantic suspense fantasy.  I even have a rough trilogy plot worked out.  I’m still trying to figure out all aspects of the world. 

Who has inspired you as a writer?
Nora Roberts, Linda Howard, Loreth Anne White, Karin Story, and many many other writers throughout my life.

What would you like to tell aspiring writers?
Follow your heart, be true to yourself and persevere!

How has your real-life influenced your writing?
As a military brat, a retired Navy Chief, and now a military wife who has moved 29 times in my life, I would say travel and my diverse life experiences.

Describe yourself in 3 words.
Dedicated.  Trustworthy.  Sincere.

If you had a time capsule to be opened 50 years in the future, what would you put in it?
Writings and photos of people who have touched my life or made a significant positive difference in others. 

What is next for you?
My second novel, to be titled, comes out late in 2008.  It’s another Scottish medieval romantic suspense that I love!

Is there anything you’d like to ask readers?
What do feel is the most important aspect of a romance novel, how it makes you feel, the hope it offers you, or a temporary escape? 

Thank you Diana for that great interview! 

Readers, you can learn more about Diana and her books by visiting her website:  http://www.dianacosby.com/ 

Check back tomorrow when Diana guest blogs about her travel experiences…in the meantime, how about answering her question for readers… 

Remember, every comment is an entry into the giveaway…details here!