Bronwen Evans

INVITATION TO RUIN
Kensington Brava
ISBN-10: 0758259190

One Good Lady is About to Go Bad...

The only thing Miss Melissa Goodly has ever wanted out of a marriage is love. But any hope of that dissolves one wild night, when she loses herself in the arms of the most irresistible--and unobtainable--man in all of England. For when they are discovered in a position as compromising as it is pleasurable, she has no choice but to accept his proposal.

Avowed bachelor Anthony Craven, Earl of Wickham, never meant to seduce an innocent like Melissa. Yet now that the damage is done, it does seem like she'd make a very convenient wife. After all, she is so naive he won't have to worry about ever being tempted. Or so he thinks, until the vows are spoken and they are left alone-and his new bride reveals a streak just as brazen and unrestrained as his own...

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I haven’t met Bronwen Evans face-to-face, but first got acquainted with her through the NTRWA Great Expectations Contest...I was the coordinator and she a contestant. I’m not certain how long that’s been, but I’ve remembered her name since I pulled her entries in January 2010 as a result of her first sale.

Just 11 short months ago, Bronwen started down the adventurous path of publication. Her debut release published by Kensington Brava will hit shelves February 22nd.

Bronwen lives in Wellington, New Zealand (important to remember when commenting because of the time difference --grin). She writes dark, gritty regency historicals --her favorite time period. She’s a proud writer and reader of romance! Any romance, but historicals in particular, and the Regency period is her favorite. One of five girls (no brothers) and a twin, it’s no surprise that in her first book features a hero who is a twin!

~~ SO LET’S GET TO KNOW THIS KIWI A BIT BETTER ~~

ANGI: How often to you get lost in a story?
BRONWYN: If a book is good I get lost in each story I read, and I read a lot. I love being taken out of my world into someone else’s. I don’t only read romance. I love people books and biographies are a pet fav. My latest favorite was Stephen Fry’s – The Fry Chronicles. I wish I had that man’s grasp of language and even a miniscule of his wit.

I read several books a week, except if I am under deadline, then I’m too busy. My second book was due to my editor on 1 December 2010 so I saved up all the new releases I’d bought and had a wonderful time reading them all on my holiday over Christmas – almost 50 of them!

ANGI: What’s the first book you remember reading?
BRONWYN: It was a Mills and Boon. I can’t remember the title or the author (although I have a suspicion it was Penny Jordan), but I can remember that I cried and cried over the heartache, and then got the most tearfully happy ever after. I always remember the story; it is stuck permanently in my head. It was one of the books that made me want to write.

I remember the hero thought he was not good enough for the heroine, so pretends to sleep with another woman to push her away. But unbeknown to him, she is pregnant, and she is left to struggle on her own until he can’t stay away and he finds her. It was so moving. I never forgot how it made me feel. That is the sign of a fabulous romance novel.

ANGI: What’s your favorite “love” word?
BRONWEN: Ardent Emotion – it conjures up the old fashion courtship rituals. The down on bended knee proposal, the sacrifice yourself to save the one you love, sort of thing. I have an image from Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, when he saves Maid Marion and she says, ‘You came for me’ and he whispers back, ‘I’d die for you’. I love those two lines and always remember them.

ANGI: What’s your favorite fairy tale?
BRONWEN: Great question, I can sort of relate to The Princess and the Pea. I like a good firm bed.

ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?
BRONWEN: It would have to be Batman, because he is dark, tortured (how I like my heroes) and he really, really needs the love of a good woman. And no, it’s not because I love a man in tights.

ANGI: What turns you off like nothing else?
BRONWEN: Clichéd I know, but having no sense of humor. He can be a Hugh Jackman (I am totally besotted with Hugh – ask my RWNZ Wellington chapter) look alike but if he can’t laugh then it’s all over, rover.

ANGI: Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading your latest release?
BRONWEN: It sounds funny as I write historicals, but probably the Twilight soundtrack. It suits the darkness and guilt that pervades Anthony James Craven. I also listened, all the time, to the Gladiator soundtrack when I wrote it. The songs are so very moving.

ANGI: Where do you read and how often?
BRONWEN: I usually treat myself to one afternoon a weekend to read and I read at night before I go to sleep. However, there is always a book in my handbag and I read if I am waiting anywhere, on a bus, train or while having lunch. It is amazing how much reading you can get done when waiting for meetings etc

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?
BRONWEN: You can’t beat the sound of waves lapping on the shore or a Tui (NZ native bird) singing at dawn. I am a very light sleeper and I’m very sensitive to noise. I do really love the country side rather than the hustle and bustle of the big city.

ANGI: Die Hard or Die Harder?
BRONWEN: Both – loved all of Bruce’s movies (still do). I am a big action movie fan – the first Daniel Craig, James Bond movie, Casino Royale, is probably my favorite at the moment. Followed by Vin Diesel’s Riddick.

ANGI: What was the first story you remember writing?
BRONWEN: It was a short story about a guy who tried to pick up a woman as they cruised in their convertibles while stuck in slow moving traffic (tragic really). I’m a bit of a car nut. I love European cars – fast cars and I drive a BMW. He was in a black Porsche and she was in a vintage classic Alpha Romeo Spider. He was hot and fast. She was old school and classy. Don’t they say opposites attract?

ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?
BRONWEN: Funny, on my family holiday we were discussing this. I love big sweeping sagas, or alternatively what I term people movies. I loved Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont (an English movie). I loved it because it was a story predominately about the relationship between a lady in her 80’s and a young man (played by the yummy Rupert Friend) in his twenties and their unusual friendship. It was very moving.

But I loved The English Patient, which would be one of my favorites. Another is Tristan and Isolde. There seems to be a trend here. I really feel for lovers who are hindered or stopped from being together. I find that heart breaking.

ANGI: Who’s your favorite villain?
BRONWEN: It would have to be Eric Northman in True blood. He is a villain you try not to like (or lust after) but can’t help it. A part of you wants Sookie to tame him, while another part wants him to stay evil.

ANGI: Is writing or story-telling easier for you?
BRONWEN: Definitely story-telling. The writing skills are still developing. My mind is full of stories, it’s the getting them down on paper that is the hard work for me.

ANGI: What’s something you’d like to tell your fans?
BRONWEN: Other than buy my book? Sorry that is the marketer in me. As my book isn’t out yet – do I have any fans? You may be surprised to know that in fact I do! Being a mentor in Brava Writing with the Stars helped raise my profile.

Mainly I just want them to know that I’m excited and looking forward to my first book being released and hope they enjoy it. I am more than happy to receive feedback (constructive would be best) so that I can learn, grow and hone my craft.

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: So, Bronwen. What’s the major difference between a guy from the States and a guy from New Zealand? And if you really haven’t met someone from the States (grin) what do you THINK the differences are?
BRONWEN’S GOTTA ANSWER: I’ve spent a lot of time over the years in the USA. A boy I dated at University, his parents lived in Hawaii, and I used to spend University holidays there. But it is still hard to tell the difference between NZ and USA men, because when I was in the USA back then, as a kiwi, I was a bit of a novelty. So the men gave me quite a bit of attention (which my boyfriend hated), but which made me think the USA men were quite charming! Everyone likes to be fussed over.

Since then I have travelled all over the world and lived in London for seven years. I have found that predominately men are similar the world over – except Italian men, who are as smooth as runny poo. They put the roooo in romance. In my twenties I remember a holiday to Italy, where a man got down on his knees in the town square to pledge his heart to me – so very theatrical. I can’t imagine any kiwi bloke, or for that matter, any American guy doing that! But Italian men love the dramatic.

I’ve found most men love sport, enjoy a few drinks with their mates, and can’t stand shopping of any kind. Does that sound familiar? Kiwi men would rather have a tooth pulled than show public affection (we in NZ call it PDA – public displays of affection and it is a big no no). Do American guys hold hands in public?

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?
Most of us enjoy reading a good romance of any genre. But we do also (usually) have a genre that is a particular favorite. For instance, I like historicals because they are so politically in-correct. There is no such thing as equality and therefore women have to be very clever to survive. I’d like to know from readers, what’s your favorite genre in romance and why?

BRONWEN HAS GRACIOUSLY MAILED an ARC copy of her first book, Invitation to Ruin for someone leaving a comment today.

Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only. If an electronic Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

STAY IN TOUCH. I love hearing from readers and other writers. My website has my facebook and twitter details on it: www.bronwenevans.com
www.regencyseductions.blogspot.com
romance@bronwenevans.com

Thank you so much for joining us today, Bronwen. It’s been awesome and inspiring this past year AND totally cool that we both have books out this month. Check back Thursday when Jillian hosts Phyllis Humphrey.

DON’T FORGET to ‘Like’ the Get Lost Crew on Facebook or ‘Follow’ us on Twitter. See you next week when I host fellow Intrigue author, Patricia Rosemoor. ~~Angi