Please help me welcoming the lovely, award-winning, Regency author, Vicky Dreiling. Vicky is here to discuss her writing and giving away a copy of her award-winning book How to Marry a Duke. (applause)
Ella: Vicky, thanks so much for being here today. Tell us a bit about what made you decide to start writing and your writing journey?
Vicky: Thanks for inviting me to your blog! I started writing in diaries when I was only ten years old. I kept it up until I was twenty and had too much reading to do at university. Also, I’ve been a voracious reader since I was a child. My best friend & I used to read at the beach while our boyfriends were surfing. I was late to romance books, however, and bought my first one by accident. My daughter Amber was with me while I was at the supermarket. I picked up a book with a pretty dress on the cover. My darling daughter took off running. I threw the book in the basket and forgot about it until I got home. I put Amber down for a nap and opened the book. Two hours later, my daughter woke up, and I was stunned that I hadn’t been able to put the book down. That book was Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught.
Anyway, I went crazy reading every historical romance I could find for several years. Then one day I realized I had nothing to read, and it was my day off from teaching aerobics (yes, one of my former professions – it was fun). For grins, I started writing a historical romance. Then a friend called. When I confessed my hobby, she told me something that still gives me chill bumps. She’d seen a notice for a class in how to write a romance at the suburban branch of the local university. I signed up for the class on a whim. That’s where I learned about RWA and a great deal about the craft of writing. My first teacher Patricia Kay was wonderful. I learned so much, and unbelievably, my first book made the finals in the Golden Heart contest. It was not the only “this must be fate” moment for me. I also met my agent by accident – twice. Here’s a link to that story: http://www.vickydreiling.com/blog/?p=42
I guess I was meant to be a writer.
Ella: What drew you to Regencies?
Vicky: Honestly, I was drawn to British set historical romances in the beginning. When I first started researching the Regency time period, I was fascinated. Despite years of researching the era, I still have to do a certain amount of research with almost every book. The research was fun when I took tours in London while on business trips. I toured Sir John Soane’s Museum (what a collection!), Apsley House, Windsor Castle, and the museums. I also did a walking tour of the West End and saw Beau Brummel’s town house. I got a lot of ideas for my books from those tours. There are photos on my website of some of the places where I traveled.
Ella: What are you working on now?
Vicky: The second book in my new series, The Sinful Scoundrels.
Coming May 2013
WILL A RAKE’S WICKED WAYS
Andrew Carrington, Earl of Bellingham, believes in being a gentleman, whether it’s fishing a soggy stranger out of the Thames or assisting a fetching lady into his bed. If the stranger becomes a friend and the lady a mistress, all the better. He certainly welcomes the opportunity to help Laura Davenport, a dazzling young widow with a rebellious stepson. Her gratitude, he hopes, will take an amorous form. But from the moment he sets foot in her drawing room, he gets far more than he bargained for …
LEAD THE LADY ASTRAY?
It was a moment of desperation. On the brink of losing her stepson, Laura turned to the notorious Lord Bellingham for help. Suddenly she, a vicar’s daughter, is in the precarious position of resisting his tantalizing advances. How Bell earned his wicked reputation is clear; the surprise is how much more there is to him than the gossip sheets could possibly reveal. Now every moment with this dangerously desirable man puts Laura’s good name at risk-and promises pleasure unlike any she has ever known …
Ella, here is a short excerpt from What a Wicked Earl Wants:
She gasped and stepped back. “My lord, I am a respectable widow.”
“You promised to do anything I asked.”
“I was desperate.”
Bellingham noticed her clenching and unclenching her skirts and sighed. He’d never coerced a woman before, and he wasn’t about to start now. He drew in breath to tell her that he’d only been teasing, but she spoke beforehand.
“I suppose I ought to honor my promise,” she said. “What do you want, my lord?”
He blinked. “What are you willing to give?”
She smoothed her skirts. “Since we are affianced, at least temporarily, and you’ve no need for money, I suppose I could grant you a…a kiss.”
He struggled to keep his amusement from showing. “I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
She wrinkled her little nose. “I am the one who took advantage, my lord. You were kind enough not to expose me, but if you do not wish to kiss me, I will understand.”
“Did you have something else in mind?” He could provide ample suggestions, none of which any respectable lady would agree to do.
Shortened URL for A SEASON FOR SIN: http://tinyurl.com/bnlyzpw
Shortened URL for WHAT A WICKED EARL WANTS: http://tinyurl.com/dyeqhfd
Vicky Dreiling is a confirmed historical romance junkie and Anglophile. Frequent business trips to the UK allowed her to indulge her passion for all things Regency England. Bath, Stonehenge, and Spencer House are among her favorite places. She is, however, truly sorry for accidentally setting off a security alarm in Windsor Castle. That unfortunate incident led her British colleagues to nickname her “Trouble.” She entered the RWA RITA contest for the first time in 2012 because it seemed like a rite of passage. When the phone call came, she was astounded to learn she’d triple finaled.
Great interview, ladies. Love, LOVE the excerpt, Vicky! Looking forward to this one.
Love the interview ladies! Vicky can we expect to see any familiar characters from your previous books in “What a Wicked Earl Wants?’ This is on the top of my “can’ wait until it comes out” pile!
I find it fascinating that you still have to do quite a bit of research for each book but love period writers that include details and accuracies! So glad for us that you fell into writing!
Love the title “How to merry a duke” – i think that’s so cute! Can’t wait for your new book too. Happily adding to wishlist.
Linda, I hate to tell you this, but that was my typo. Sorry.
I love books that are a series and look forward to the next in the series.
Annwitch707(at)aol(dot)com
Terrific interview. Your research in London sounds fascinating…and so much fun. Loved the excerpt, Vicky! Can’t wait to read the story.
Hi, Vicky~
I started writing the *exact* same way, but my teacher was Margot Early! Super interview!
Hi Vicky! Great interview by two of my favorite authors! Had to laugh at you setting of the alarm at Windsor. When we were children we lived in England for three years. On a tour of the houses of Parliament my youngest brother (5 at the time) got tired and decided to sit down. Unfortunately he chose to sit in the chair reserved for the Queen in the House of Lords! He was hustled out of the chair posthaste by a couple of officials.
Looking forward to reading your latest, Vicky!
Nancy, the hero in What a Wicked Earl Wants is Andrew Carrington, the Earl of Bellingham. He first appeared in my 3rd book HOW TO RAVISH A RAKE. My editor and I both were astounded by his stage presence. I never planned Bellingham but I couldn’t ignore him. He stars in my e-novella A SEASON FOR SIN (a prequel to my new series). If you read the e-novella, you’ll recognize Colin & Harry who will also have their own books.
Louisa, that’s hysterical about your brother! I was so embarrassed when I set off that alarm. The culprit turned out to be camera batteries.
Oh yes I loved Bell in How to Ravish a Rake and was hoping he would get his own story. That’s why I was happy to see this. I plan to re-read the novella-I read it when it first came out and must have forgotten. Maybe I will just go back and re-read them all…
Tours of London is an awesome way to do research!
love the blog post today. unfortunatley it will be a while before i can get the book with me looking for work 😦
Valerie, with every book, I think I won’t have to do any research – hah! In my 3rd book How to Ravish a Rake, I had to do extensive research on gowns, particularly regarding lace and fabrics. I also had to research a card game called vingt-et-un, which is similar to blackjack. In that same book, I had to research wine cellars. In my 2nd book How to Ravish a Rake, I had to research publication in the Regency era. Other things I’ve researched include how to light a fire (no matches back then!), alcoholic beverages, bottles, men’s clothing, food (yes they had cheesecake), flowers, soap, perfumes, Vauxhall Gardens, furniture, travel, etc. etc. It can be daunting sometimes when you’re on deadline.
Oops, just read the reply above – my 2nd book was How to Seduce a Scoundrel. LOL.
Laurie G, best of luck with your job search. I know all of us are really tired of this stinking economy. I’ll keep you in my prayers.
I like the interview, very interesting excerpt :).
Vicky, it was fun getting to know you. I loved “Almost Heaven” by Judith McNaught. I love all her books, but that one is one of my favorites!
Your stories look very interesting, and I would love to win! And your excerpt promises a very exciting story!
Great interview ladies! Loved hearing about your new book 😉
I wonder what alternatives he’s thinking of….
Lovely interview. I really liked the excerpt.
Wonderful excerpt and interview. Years ago, historicals were all I read, then I fell in love with paranormal romances, but I’m finding my way back to my first love: historical romances.
Loved the interview, Ella and Vicky. Vicky I love all your books so far and can’t wait for the next one. But….how did I miss the e-book??? I’m off right now to Amazon to rectify that error.
Barb Bettis
Thank you, Barbara.
Great excerpt! And the cover is gorgeous. Very vibrant. I’ll have to check it out. I love historical romance. 🙂
Great Interview Ella, and nice to meet you Vicky. Loved the Excerpt from “What A Wicked Earl Wants”. Love the pull and play between the two characters.
Thank you, everyone. Yes, I really love the covers my publisher does for my books. Super thanks to all for letting me know you enjoyed the excerpt. Also, thank you, Ella for inviting me to your blog & congrats to you again on making that first sale! Cheers!
Vicky, it was so much fun to have you here! Thank you.
Great interview, ladies. I really need to make time for some more reading! Your books sound so wonderful, Vicky. I’m an historical romance junkie, so I need to put you on my TBR list. Thanks for having Vicky on your blog, Ella!
You’re welcome, Jenna.
Great interview, ladies, and Vicky I’m headed off to Amazon now to get one of your books. They all sound great. I commiserate with the ‘research’ part. I’m starting a time travel soon, and right now I’m researching PTSD, modern day bounty hunters, serial killers, guns of the 1870s, and sexual harassment in police departments. I find research fun and fascinating. Best of luck with all your books.
Sorry I’m late! Loved the interview! I have stacks of journals in my cedar chest from childhood 🙂 Never wanted to be anything else! Grew up reading historicals and still love ’em! Can’t wait to read yours! So nice to meet a new author! Thanks for sharing, ladies!
Jenna, thanks so much. For those who are new to my books, the trilogy is in this order: How to Marry a Duke, How to Seduce a Scoundrel, and How to Ravish a Rake.
There is also an e-novella called A Season for Sin. It’s very short (30K words), and just a head’s up, it ends on a cliff hanger because it’s a prequel to my new series The Sinful Scoundrels. It’s only 99 cents. The first full-length book in The Sinful Scoundrels is What a Wicked Earl Wants. I just finished proofing the entire manuscript last night. So it comes out on May 28th. If you’d like more information, check out my website: http://vickydreiling.com/
Jennifer, it’s great to meet you. You’re the first person I’ve met who diligently kept diaries in childhood. I was late to reading romance, but as an adult, I read on my lunch breaks when I was in my early twenties. My colleagues were astounded at how many books I read. I just can’t imagine a world without them. I was really into Stephen King in my early twenties. Then the kids came along and I read all sorts of parenting books and magazines LOL. If there was nothing else to read, I’d read the back of a cereal box. 🙂 You’ve all been so wonderful. I real
My fingers slipped on the keyboard (time to get those nails done!). Anyway, thanks again for having me, Ella. I really enjoyed getting to know everyone here. Cheers!
Great interview. Brenda stole what I was going to say almost word for word. lol
I started off devouring historicals, before I discovered the paranormal explosion. I’ve recently been purchasing historicals again. I can’t wait to start them.
Your books sound great!
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