Guest Author Samantha Grace

Please help me welcoming multi-published, Regency author, Samantha Grace who is joining me to discuss historical writing and her journey to publication. She is also offering a fabulous giveaway. One lucy commenter will win her pick of Samantha’s already released books. The offer is open internationally. To win, all you have to do is leave your email address in your comment.

Ella: Samantha, thanks so much for being here today.

Samantha: Thanks for having me here today, Ella. It’s always a pleasure to hang out with other Regency authors.

Ella: Tell us a bit about yourself and what made you decide actually put pen to paper?

Samantha: A little about myself… I’m married to a great guy who makes me laugh every day. We have two kids, ages 15 and 10. I wear my writer’s hat two days a week and the other days I work as a hospice social worker.

There were several things that made me put pen to paper. I dreamed of becoming a writer since I was nine years old, but life led me on a different path for many years. Then one day I woke up with a midlife crisis. I wanted a different life, so I lost weight, got a tattoo, and started writing a bunch of imaginary boyfriends. I’m just kidding about the boyfriends. But I did hit a point where it dawned on me that I either started pursuing my dream or I was going to miss my chance.

Ella: What drew you to Regencies?

Samantha: I think Regency is the closest thing to fairytales, which I loved when I was a girl. I started reading Regencies in grad school to escape the stress. Maybe because they reminded me of being a girl, when I didn’t have as many responsibilities. I love how they transport me to a different time and place. When I’m writing Regency, it is a true escape because there isn’t much in the story that reminds me of every day life. No mention of changing the oil in the car, returning a video, or picking up a prescription at the pharmacy, all things on my to-do list at the moment.

Ella: What are you working on now?

Samantha: I’m very excited to be working on a new series about two gentlemen with a history of trying to outdo each other, dating back to their days at Eton. Their rivalry takes a serious turn, however, when they both set their sights on the same lady. Of course one will win the girl and the other will be left to pick up the pieces in his book. The fun part is this series builds on my Beau Monde Bachelor series, so there will be familiar characters popping in from time to time. The first book in the Rival Rogues series will be released in the early part of 2014 (Sourcebooks).

Ella: You have three books out, with a fourth to be released in May, tell us your inspiration or first thing that came to you about the books.

Samantha: The Beau Monde Bachelor series began as homage to Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory books. These were the first Regencies I read and I loved them. Family is very important to me, so it just made sense to write about brothers and sisters. My series is about two families, though: The Duke of Foxhaven’s clan and the Hillary’s brood. The families become connected in Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel, my debut book, when Foxhaven’s youngest son, an unapologetic rake, romances the only Hillary daughter. The next two books, Lady Amelia’s Mess and a Half and Miss Lavigne’s Little White Lie, are love stories for two of Miss Hillary’s brothers. Then this May, the series picks up with Luke Forest, the newly named Duke of Foxhaven, in Lady Vivian Defies a Duke.

Here’s a summary of my latest release, Miss Lavigne’s Little White Lie.

A SCOUNDREL DRIVES A HARD BARGAIN…
Spirited and determined to protect her young brother at any cost, Lisette Lavigne is desperate to flee New Orleans. There’s only one ship sailing to England, though, and the rakish Captain Daniel Hillary will only allow Lisette’s family aboard for a steep price…

BUT A LADY ALWAYS GETS THE UPPER HAND…
Daniel prides himself on running a tight ship, and he knows a lady will be nothing but trouble on a long voyage. Yet he can’t help but break his own ironclad rules when Lisette persuades him that being gentlemanly just this once is his wisest course of action…

And a little peek at one of my favorite scenes from the book:

Daniel is trying to teach Lisette to dance so she isn’t embarrassed when they attend the Governor’s Ball set in the fictional Caribbean city of Port Albis. What he doesn’t know is she plans to enlist the help of another gentleman at the ball to find a different ship to carry her and her family to England.
“Step back, side, together, shift weight. Now back, to the right—” Daniel tightened his grip on Lisette’s hand and tugged her to the right when she slid to the left.
Again.
“Right! Right! Damnation, woman. How do you not know your right from left?”
“Stop barking at me. I thought you meant your right.”

Daniel threw his hands in the air with a frustrated growl.

Lisette’s green eyes sparked with irritation as they stood toe to toe in the deserted ballroom. “You are the one going the wrong direction.”

The stubborn tip of her chin made him grin in spite of himself. He liked a spirited lady and Lisette showed more courage than most when faced with his displeasure.

Daniel rolled his shoulders and took a deep breath. He’d conquered more difficult challenges than teaching a lady with no sense of direction to waltz. He could master Lisette too.

“I can’t be going the wrong way, my dear. I’m leading.”

“Hence, the problem.” With an exaggerated huff, she pulled herself up tall. “Shall we try again?”

“As you wish, madame. On three. One, two, three.” He and Lisette stepped forward at the same time, the toe of her slipper slamming into his shin.

“For the love of—” Daniel bit back a string of oaths and wrestled for control of his temper. It wouldn’t do to blister the ears of a defenseless young lady.

“Sacre bleu.” Lisette held her head with both hands. “Just stick me in a corner with the wallflowers. I’ll never learn to waltz.”

Her bottom lip trembled and her eyes grew misty. This was the closest he’d even seen her come to shedding a tear. It was just a dance. He saw no need for her to be so critical of herself.

“Of course you will learn, Lis. Come here.”

She hesitated a second before stepping into his outstretched arms. He hugged her, resting his chin atop her silky hair. She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face into his cravat. If they were onboard his ship, he wouldn’t be wearing the blasted thing, and he’d feel her cheek against his bare skin. His lower belly tightened with regret.

What a pair they would make in London, a gentleman who abhorred the privileges afforded him and a lady who couldn’t dance and bubbled forth French curses like a hot spring. He cared nothing for what the ton thought of him, but the fools would massacre his dear Lisette.

Daniel loosened his hold and kissed her cheek. He’d do everything he could to prepare her for her first encounter with the ravenous beasts, leaving no one a reason to find fault with her.

“I have an idea.” His hands spanned her waist and he lifted.

She gasped and clung to him. “What are you doing?”

“Kick off your slippers and place your feet atop mine.”

“I will not! Don’t be ridiculous.”

“We’re alone, luv. Besides, it’s only feet. I won’t even notice them while I’m gazing at your tempting lips.”

Bio:
Don’t let Regency romance author Samantha Grace’s sweet smile fool you. She has a wicked sense of humor, and she’s not above embarrassing her characters for a good laugh. Part-time hospice social worker, moonlighting author, and pilates nut, she enjoys a happy and hectic life with her real life hero and two kids in the Midwest.

Miss Lavigne’s Little White Lie, and all the books in the Beau Monde Bachelor series, can be found at Amazon, B&N, Wal-Mart, and many other stores where books are sold.

To learn more about Samantha’s stories, visit her website at www.samanthagraceauthor.com.. Plus, a free read, A Beau Monde Bachelor Christmas (electronic version only), is available to anyone who signs up for her newsletter through the website.

Samantha loves to hear from readers, so if you would like to connect with her, you can find her at the following places:

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