Harlequin Historical Author, Elisabeth Hobbes!

A passion forged from fire 

Rejected by her favored knight, Joanna Sollers knows she will never love again. Especially when the man she's now forced to marry is none other than her beloved's half-brother! 

For blacksmith Hal Danby, marrying Joanna makes his lifelong dream of entering the Smiths' Guild possible, even if the secrets in his past mean he'll forever keep his distance. But everything changes with one stolen night, and in the arms of his new bride, Hal wonders if this loveless arrangement could transform into something real…

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Elisabeth Hobbes grew up in York where she spent most of her teenage years looking for a handsome Roman or Viking to sweep her off her feet. Sadly this never happened so instead she took a degree in History and Art History before training as a teacher. Her writing career began when she entered her first novel, Falling for Her Captor, into Harlequin's So You Think You Can Write contest in 2013 and finished third. Elisabeth is also a part time teacher and full time mum. 

She spends whatever spare time she has reading and is a pro at cooking one-handed while holding a book. Elisabeth's other hobbies include horse riding, skiing, Arabic dance, fencing and exploring dreadful tourist attractions, none of which has made it into a story yet. She loves ginger mojitos and has a fondness for dark haired, bearded heroes.

Jan Schliesman: How often do you Get Lost In A Story?

Elisabeth Hobbes: Every day. Whether it’s one I’m reading or something of my own I’m writing I spend longer than I should with my nose in a book/laptop.  My children are the same.  While it drives me up the wall to see my children reading half dressed in the morning when they should be getting ready for school, I’m also pleased they love books as much as I do. 

Jan: If you could go back and pick a different career, what would it be?

Elisabeth: I’d love to do something involving food. My dream is to own a ski chalet either in the French Alps or the Italian Dolomites and cook for visitors over winter and ski half the day then spend the summer months writing.

Jan: What do you love most about your latest release?

Elisabeth: I’m tempted to say the cover, because it’s the first of my books with a gorgeous hero on and he’s rather lovely.  I also like the fact that my heroine is in a green dress, continuing the theme from my previous two.  Being less shallow, I enjoyed setting it in York where I grew up and the North York Moors which I love to visit.  They’re beautiful and fascinating areas and I hope my love of them comes across to readers. 

  

Jan: Any writing rituals you follow? Celebrate a certain way when it’s completed?

Elisabeth: I’m a creature of habit. Tuesday is my big writing day as I’m still working part time so I go to the library and work there. I often see the same people and have my favourite desk. Last week it was occupied so I had to sit in a different one and halfway through the morning someone joined me, started reading a newspaper and eating an orange! I was not impressed but being English I seethed quietly and said nothing.

I’ve celebrated each release day with a bottle of prosecco (which I share with my husband rather than drinking alone) so I’ll be doing that again, although one night later this time because it coincides with an appearance at a local literary society where I’m guest author and I will be staying sober to do readings.

Jan: Are you a plotter or pantser? Do you have to have a detailed outline before you start writing or do you write until you get stuck?

Elisabeth: I have a general outline and key scenes I want, including the ending, but things change as I write. I’d say my books are about 75% accurate to the synopsis by the end. I didn’t expect Joanna, my heroine in The Blacksmith’s Wife to get a dog until she unloaded it from the cart.

Jan: Best vacation you’ve ever taken?

Elisabeth: We travel a lot so it’s hard to choose just one.  It’s where pretty much all our money goes. We have a camper van so every Summer we spend around three weeks travelling with the children. In 2015 we went down through France via Europe’s longest sand dune, into Spain to Bilbao and the Picos de Europa national park, further into the centre of the country then across to Barcelona and that coast before heading back up through France a different route. It’s always wonderful to see such varied sights and eat wonderful food, and of course the travelling gives me chance to work. I did a lot of editing for The Blacksmith’s Wife on that trip. 

Jan: It was love at first sight when I met my hubby. How about you?

Elisabeth: I was only seventeen when I met mine so of course I’m going to say yes. I didn’t dare speak to him for about a year though. I’m not good at making the first move.

Jan: What are you currently reading?

Elisabeth: Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere to see if it is suitable for my nine year old as she’s steamed through his children’s books and wants to know what else he’s done (and she’s way too young for Sandman).

Jan’s GOTTA ASK: What is your unhealthiest habit?

Elisabeth’s GOTTA ANSWER: Too many crisps. I’m a sucker for savoury snacks when I’m reading or writing.

UP NEXT: THE SAXON'S OUTLAW REVENGE will be coming soon from Harlequin Historical. It’s a Saxon/Norman reunion romance and is set in Cheshire where I now live. I’m also excited to announce my second book, A Wager for the Widow, is being translated into Italian and released in August with the title ‘Un Bacio Per Scommessa’.

HUGE THANKS to Elisabeth for sharing a bit of her writing life with us. She's giving away an autographed copy of  THE BLACKSMITH'S WIFE to one lucky reader in the United States or United Kingdom so be sure to click on the Rafflecopter below for your chance to enter! And leave a comment answering this question: Hal is a skilled blacksmith and Joanna has a talent for design. If you could have one talent, what would it be?

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