10/16/2015

2016 RITA Finalist, Theresa Romain!

Theresa Romain is a finalist in the Romance Writers of America RITA contest with her book Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress! I'm re-posting her interview from last fall along with a giveaway. CONGRATULATIONS THERESA!!
She is the bestselling author of historical romances, including the Matchmaker trilogy, the Holiday Pleasures series, the Royal Reward series, and the Romance of the Turf trilogy. Praised as “one of the rising stars of Regency historical romance” (Booklist), her highly acclaimed novels have been chosen for the Smart Bitches Trashy Books Sizzling Book Club, featured in the DABWAHA tournament, and deemed “Desert Isle Keepers” by All About Romance. A member of Romance Writers of America and its Regency specialty chapter The Beau Monde, Theresa is hard at work on her next novel from her home in the Midwest.

Her latest release is Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress. Check out the story blurb or click on the link below to buy the book.

ONE GOOD PROPOSITION DESERVES ANOTHER…

Heiress Augusta Meredith can’t help herself—she stirs up gossip wherever she goes. A stranger to Bath society, she pretends to be a charming young widow, until sardonic, darkly handsome Joss Everett arrives from London and uncovers her charade.  Now they’ll weave their way through the pitfalls of the polite world only if they’re willing to be true to themselves…and to each other...

READ A LITTLE, BUY THE BOOK
 http://theresaromain.com/books/scandalous-heiress/

Theresa Romain and I at the B&N Book signing on September 12th, 2015.


Jan Schliesman: How often do you Get Lost In A Story?
Theresa Romain: Every day! If I’m not writing one, I’m reading one. I work on my latest manuscript 6 or 7 days a week, and I always end the day by reading.

Jan:  How long have you been writing? What was your first Big Break?
Theresa: I’ve been writing fiction since the beginning of 2008. My break into publishing came when I entered an RWA chapter contest and won—and the editor who judged the finals wanted to buy my manuscript! Two years later, it appeared in print as my romance debut, Season for Temptation. And I’m still working with that editor, along with lots of other lovely folks.

Jan:  What is your definition of romance?
Image result for pictures of romanceTheresa: In a book? There has to be an HEA. In real life? Something that shows caring for the other person’s likes and dislikes. An everyday example: my husband could not care less about making the bed, but he knows I like it. So if he gets up after me, he makes the bed. Most romance is made up of little everyday gestures.

Jan: It was love at first sight when I met my Mr. Wonderful. How did you meet your husband?
Theresa: That sounds like a great story, Jan! I’d love to hear more about that:)
I met my husband when we were both grad students in history. We met not in class, but in the TA office. I went in there to talk to a friend, and he was in there studying and glaring at me…or so I thought. Turns out he was trying to eavesdrop so he could figure out who I was. The rest is…well, history.

Jan: What’s the most difficult part of the writing process for you?
Theresa: Getting started! That’s getting started each day, and also getting a new manuscript going. I try to be very organized, but the dark side of that is that I get distracted by all the to-dos that pop up each day. Time management is a work in progress for me.

Jan: I drink Dasani or hot tea and nibble on gummy bears when I’m writing. What about you?
Theresa: Coffee coffee coffee. And water, too. I guess I am all about the beverages. Sometimes on winter afternoons I make tea. I like Constant Comment or herbal tea with those sweet wintry spices.

London from the London EyeJan:  Have you visited any of the locations you’ve written about? Where would you love to visit?
Theresa: I’ve been to several countries in Europe, but never to most of the places in England I write about. As a historical romance author, I try to travel in time as well as space, so I research how locations would have looked, smelled, sounded 200 years ago.
As for where I’d like to visit—that’s hard to say. I’d love to go to England, but I’d like to just BE there and not have to go through the overseas travel. I’ve had horrible air travel experiences and have gotten to a point where I have a hard time putting myself through that.

Jan:  What’s on your bucket list?
Theresa: I have tunnel vision right now for my next deadline—so that’s at the top of the list! But making the New York Times or USA Today bestseller list sounds great too. Maybe someday.
                                                                                  
Jan:  Tell me about getting your first fan letter/email/FB post.
Theresa: After my first romance came out, I got a Goodreads message from a reader. She said she was writing because she saw that it was my debut, and “I wanted you to know that someone out there in the world really was touched by it.” I saved that note, of course! It meant the world to me to know that my book had connected with a reader’s heart. That’s always my hope for my stories. Four years and seven books later, hearing from readers still means just as much to me.


Jan’s GOTTA ASK:


Theresa’s GOTTA ANSWER: Coconut! Coconut is my favorite flavor of anything sweet. I can’t resist a dessert with coconut in it.



THANKS THERESA! It's been wonderful getting to know you. Readers, be sure to scroll down to the Rafflecopter for your chance to WIN an autographed copy of Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress!  You can also follow the links to Theresa's Facebook page where she's giving away an autographed copy of my book, Protecting His Brother's Bride!

FIND THERESA ROMAIN:




UP NEXT for Theresa: The Sport of Baronets, a digital novella that will begin an all-new romance series set in the Regency horse-racing world.











a Rafflecopter giveaway

32 comments:

  1. I will absolutely cross genres with an author. Good writing is good writing.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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    1. Great to see you here, Mary! Good luck with the drawing:)

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    2. What's your favorite genre to read, Mary?

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  2. Welcome to the blog, Theresa! Thanks so much for the great interview and for the giveaway of Protecting His Brother's Bride on your Facebook page!

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    1. Thank you so much for hosting me! It's great to be here on Get Lost In a Story.

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  3. Glad to hear I'm not the only one who has trouble getting started on a new project. Going from zero to 60 in nothing flat? Not me...alas.

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    1. "Alas" is right, Amelia. I'm always wishing I could switch gears more quickly.

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  4. Wow, what a great interview - thank you so much for sharing your process with us!

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    1. My process, such as it is? :) Glad you enjoyed the interview, Felicia! Jan asks fun questions.

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  5. love coconut too... have a coconut banana diamond candle burning right now and coconut fruit pops in fridge... lol

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    1. Where did you get that candle, Diana? It sounds like something I'd love.

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  6. as for crossing genres,,, heck yeah

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    1. Me too! I'll read anything that comes highly recommended. Word of mouth is my favorite way to find new books.

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  7. Thank you for the chance, I love coconut, Almond joy bars yummy...

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  8. Congrats! :)

    For me... it doesn't matter if I like the writer... I think she can make it interesting if I like the writer....

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    1. May, that's true. I've learned to never say never about what I like to read, because there are authors that can make plot/setting work that I would never have expected to enjoy.

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  9. Enjoyed reading the Q&A! As for crossing genres... as long as it is in the romance category, I will try it. Usually if I have enjoyed books by an author... it does not matter to me.

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    1. Colleen, romance is the biggest draw for me too. If I know I'll get an HEA, I'll try it.

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  10. Best wishes on your new series. As for the question, if it's a favorite author that switches genres, then I'll try the book.

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    1. Thanks, Kim! I agree with you--several of my favorite historical romance authors have written some contemporaries. I'll follow them to whatever they write.

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  11. depends on the book, not author

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    1. Some tropes just don't click for you? Fair enough!

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  12. I am author driven. I do not like paranormal books, but if my favorite author writes one, I will read it.

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    1. I haven't read many paranormals myself, Tammy. But there's so much variety within the subgenre--like historical paranormals! I've read more of those than contemporary paranormals, and they can be fascinating.

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  13. I only read certain genres, regardless of the author.

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    1. What are your favorite genres to read, Linda?

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  14. Great interview, I love it. I have never use coconut but I will have to check that out

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  15. Yes, I will cross genres with a favorite author up to a point. I don't really like romantic suspense or horror, but if I really ove the author and the story sounds good, I'll usually give it a go.

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