Today
I am pleased to interview Collette Cameron,
bestselling author of Regency romances, some set in Scotland: the Castle
Brides Series, Highland Heather
Romancing a Scot Series, and Conundrums
of the Misses Culpepper Series. Collette makes her home in the Pacific
Northwest with her husband and five mini-dachshunds. Mother to three and a
self-proclaimed Cadbury Chocolate chocoholic, Collette loves a good joke,
inspirational quotes, flowers, trivia, and all things shabby chic or cobalt
blue. You'll always find dogs, birds, quirky—sometimes naughty—humor, and a
dash of inspiration in her novels.
Her motto
for life? You can’t have too much chocolate, too many hugs, too many flowers,
or too many books. She’s thinking about adding shoes to that list.
Collette is giving away a copy of her eBook, Virtue and Valor,
book 1 in the
Highlander Heather Romancing a Scot Series
so leave a comment!
The book:
Bartholomew Yancy never expected to inherit an English
earldom and had no intention of marrying. Now, the Earl of Ramsbury and last in
his line, he’s obligated to resign his position as England’s War Secretary,
find a wife, and produce an heir. Only one woman holds the least appeal: Isobel
Ferguson, an exquisite Scotswoman. Brought to Scotland to mediate between
feuding clans, he doggedly woos her.
Disillusioned with men pursuing her for her attractiveness,
rather than her unusual intellect, Isobel has all but abandoned any hope of
finding a husband in the Highlands. Not only does she believe Yancy no
different than her other suitors, he’s a notorious rake. She’s been told he’s
practically betrothed. Therefore, his interest in her cannot possibly be honorable,
and so she shuns his attentions.
When Isobel is mistakenly abducted by a band of rogue Scots,
Yancy risks his life to rescues her. To salvage her compromised reputation, her
brother and father insist she marry him. Yancy readily agrees, but Isobel—knowing
full well she’s fated for spinsterhood by refusing his offer— won’t be coerced
into marriage.
Can love unite a
reluctant earl and a disenchanted beauty?
The interview:
1. What sound or noise do you love?
There are two
actually.
I grew up along the
northern Oregon coast, and to this day, I love the sound of the ocean’s waves
as they come ashore and the cry of seagulls overhead.
Oh, and a winter storm
at the beach, as long as I’m all toasty inside is fabulous too.
2. What was the first story you remember
writing?
That’s easy!
Highlander’s Hope is the first story I ever wrote, though the published version
is about half the size of the original manuscript.
I wasn’t one of those
writers who started writing stories at a young age, always thinking someday I’d
give getting a published a shot.
For years I’d toyed
with the idea of maybe writing a book; if I ever got around to it, but I didn’t
have a box under my bed or stuffed in a closet full of half-finished stories or
poorly penned prose from my tormented teens!
3. What is your biggest vice?
You’re assuming I only
have one?
Well, most people are
going think it’s my love for Cadbury Milk Chocolate or my obsession with
dachsies (both are barely under control) but they aren’t my biggest vice.
No, my biggest vice is
I’m a workaholic. I rarely take even part of a day to do something that’s not
in some way related to my writing, and when I do, then I’m scampering around
like a caffeine-high hamster doing yard or house work.
Or starting another
project, which will stress me out because I cannot stand unfinished things!
A bit too much
info?
4. What’s the first thing you do when you
finish writing a book?
Catch up!
I have a list that I
keep adding too as I write so that I don’t constantly interrupt my flow. By the end of a book, I have a week’s worth
of to-do items on my list.
I also celebrate by
going out to dinner with my family, or actually sitting down and watching TV.
5. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?
Both!
I love my coffee first
thing in the morning, strong and hot! My favorite creamer is pumpkin spice, but
*sigh* it’s only available
seasonally.
Last year, hubby
bought me 15 bottles to put in the freezer!
When there’s no
pumpkin spice creamer available, I settle for crème brulee.
I’m also a fan of tea
though, especially in the winter when I’m garbed in an over-sized sweater and
it’s freezing outside.
Moroccan mint green tea
is a favorite.
6. What would you say is your most interesting
quirk?
That would be my sense
of humor.
When people first meet
me, they think I’m very serious. I’ve even been accused of being unapproachable
or stuck-up. We introverts, get that sometimes.
I don’t know why
people assume introverts don’t have wicked senses of humor, but this one does.
I’m not talking about
a foul or dirty sense of humor, but I’m a funny person with a sharp wit, and a
gift for quick come-backs.
I can’t even keep my
humor out of my historical, though if I’m totally honest, a few people haven’t
“gotten” it.
I’ve always suspected
those few either had undies on that were several sizes to small, or they hadn’t
consumed sufficient quantities of chocolate in the last week.
7. What has been your most rewarding
publishing moment?
Ah, that would be when
I held my first print book in my hand. I know many, many
people prefer digital books, and I understand the convenience of eReaders, the
storage issue of print books, and the difference in cost between the two. But .
. . I love books.Actual books, I can
hold and smell, and bury my nose in.
8. What has surprised you the most about being published?
My unequivocal answer
has to be the amazing support and encouragement of other authors.
I expected the
industry to be a foray into hostility and cattiness, and I’ve found the
opposite to be true. Romance authors are
amongst the most giving and generous people I’ve ever encountered, and I’ve
made dozens and dozens of wonderful friends.
Collette asks those commenting:
Do you like feisty, unconditional heroines, or do they come
across as bratty and spoiled sometimes?
And now an excerpt from her story, Virtue and Valor:
“My
lord?” Her tone indicated anything but respect and deference.
“I
would be honored if you joined me in a game of chess, Miss Ferguson.”
Her
pretty lips curled into a wide smile. “I had rather hoped you’d pick fencing. I
would have enjoyed having a go at you with my sabre.”
“You
fence?” A vision of her derriere in snug, white breeches sprang to mind. He
really had become a lecher.
“After
my parents allowed Adaira to learn, Seonaid and I insisted we have the same
opportunity.” She turned and climbed the risers. The sway of her hips, even
underneath the thick cloak, tantalized.
Isobel
peered over her shoulder, a siren’s smile on her lips. “I suppose it’s only
fair to tell you. I’ve never lost at chess.”
Confident
little thing, wasn’t she?
Yancy
released a hearty chuckle. He quite liked this unconventional morsel of
womanliness. “Surely, when you first learned the game?”
“At
seven.” Isobel shook her head and more silky strands spilled from the loose
knot. She gave him a falsely honeyed smile.
“No.
Not ever, my lord.”
She
proceeded up the stairs, her voice floating back to him. “By the way, your
lordship, if I win, I’m permitted to leave the keep without two escorts.”
