5/16/2018

The latest from Elisabeth Hobbes


BEGUILED BY THE FORBIDDEN KNIGHT
He’s her enemy…

…and she must not fall for him!

When her mistress is claimed as an enemy knight’s betrothed, handmaiden Aelfhild knows it would be too dangerous for her lady; she must go in her place. But there’s more to the scarred knight than she first thought—she isn’t expecting to fall for him! As the line between friend and enemy blurs, Aelfhild realizes she might be protecting her mistress, but not her heart…

“Readers will be drawn in by the fast pace, constant action and tragic love story” — RT Book Reviews on The Saxon Outlaw’s Revenge 

“Hobbes’ Medieval world sparkles with detail” — RT Book Reviews on The Blacksmith’s Wife


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, however, inspired by this 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 2013 and finished in third place.

These days she holds down jobs as a part time teacher and full time mom. When she isn't writing, she spends most of her spare time reading and is a pro at cooking one-handed while holding a book.

Elisabeth's other hobbies include skiing, Arabic dance, fencing and exploring dreadful tourist attractions, none of which has made it into a story yet. She loves ginger mojitos, historical fiction and has a fondness for dark haired, bearded heroes.
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THE Q&A
ANGI: What’s your favorite thing about your forbidden knight?
ELISABETH: I love his sense of honor. Gui is a man with no place and no hope. He should be all measures be the villain of a story. After all, he’s part of an army that has invaded and conquered England. He’s been left traumatised and scarred, both mentally and physically, by the Battle of Hastings. He’s a man struggling to find a place for himself in a country still hostile to the invading army. He wasn’t from a noble background, just one of the hundreds of archers who fought at Hastings (and he wasn’t responsible for shooting an arrow into Harold’s eye before anyone asks). When he encounters Aelfhild he meets a woman who could be The One (and who is clearly interested in him) but because he believes he is escorting her back to her future husband he refuses to act on his developing feelings, even though he knows she could be the only chance of happiness he will have.

ANGI: Favorite date night…fancy or at home?
ELISABETH: We’re unfortunate enough to live nowhere near relatives so never get out much. Our regular date night is about an hour in the cafe at the local supermarket on a Friday evening while the kids are at their Brass Band rehearsals having a pot of tea. After that we grab some snacks and wine to keep us going in front of the TV. I’d love to get out to an interesting restaurant and go listen to some live music once in a while (though I’m secretly relieved I can get into bed by 11.30pm).

ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?
ELISABETH: Howl the wizard from the Studio Ghibli film Howl’s Moving Castle. Is it wrong to have a crush on a cartoon character? Maybe, but I don’t care. He’s a narcissistic, self-centered emo diva but he’s brave and honorable and sees past the heroine’s curse (she’s been turned into an old woman) to fall in love with her anyway. It probably helps he’s voiced by Christian Bale in the English language version too.

ANGI: High Heels or Hiking Boots?
ELISABETH: Hiking boots. I’d much rather be walking in the countryside and I’m lucky to live about a ten minute drive from the Peak District so I can get out into the hills any time I like. I set my previous book, Redeeming the Rogue Knight there and it was lovely to go walking and imagining the characters.
Actually, my favorite footwear is my son’s cast off trainers that he wore twice then grew out of. At 12 he’s got bigger feet than me.

ANGI: Got a favorite song? What makes it special?
ELISABETH: I don’t have one particular song but each book I write has a ‘theme song’ that resonates in some way, either with the characters or the theme. For Beguiled by the Forbidden Knight it is ‘How Shall I Ever Be Simple Again’ by Richard Thompson, which is sung in the character of a soldier who has seen too much encountering innocence and how it changes him. It’s perfect for Gui.

ANGI: What’s your perfect day?
ELISABETH: A day on the ski slopes, starting on the first lift in glorious sunshine with lots of snow. We blast the runs, stop for lunch in a mountain cafe then head off to the thermal baths when the sun goes down to ease the aches in warm water. Sitting on a lift in the fresh air is the perfect place to unwind. I often find myself getting inspiration there. The only problem is remembering it by the time I get back to the bottom.

ANGI: Salad or soup?
ELISABETH: Soup. I could happily live on the stuff and would make it all the time if my family didn’t protest. I think I could happily have survived on pottage (a vegetable soup thickened with grains and whatever meat they happened to have) in the Middle Ages. At least for a couple of weeks until I started craving a curry.

ANGI: Champagne or Soda?
ELISABETH: I’m not a huge drinker but I like soda water - but with white wine in it. I celebrate each book release with a bottle of cava. I don’t make enough yet to break out the good stuff but maybe one day…

ANGI: Geek or Jock?
ELISABETH: I’m a huge geek definitely. I can quote Doctor Who and Firefly at the drop of a hat, have a huge comic book collection and a TARDIS collection. I was thinking only the other day how lucky my daughter is to be growing up at a time when being ASC or an oddball and having brains is featured in popular culture rather than a stick to beat kids with.

ANGI: The most daring thing you’ve ever done… Care to share?
ELISABETH: Entering my first story into So You Think You Can Write and leaving my writing wide open to public critique. Even though I was anonymous, it was hugely nerve wracking reading what people said. I never expected to get beyond the initial round so to finish in third place was amazing. I’m so glad I did though as I probably wouldn’t be here otherwise!

ANGI’s GOTTA ASK: Where is your favorite place to write & why? (please take a picture and send to me as soon as you can)

ELISABETH’s GOTTA ANSWER:  I have a wonderful antique writing desk with a drop down table and lots of cubbyholes to store notebooks and other clutter. It has a glass-fronted cabinet at the top where I keep a copy of each of my books. It is in the dining room by the patio so I can look out of the window and watch the tame blackbirds. We’re doing a loft conversion and kitchen extension so it is currently hidden behind piles of boxes and furniture and a huge skylight window waiting to be installed. Once we’re done with everything I’m getting a study of my own in what used to be my daughter’s bedroom. I can’t wait. It’s going to be my sanctuary with my desk and a daybed. I’m planning a peacock theme and collecting pictures, feathers and jewelry.

UP NEXT for ELISABETH:
I don’t have a title yet but I’m writing a book set in Scotland as part of a continuity for Harlequin with three wonderful writers (who I’m privileged to call friends).  We’ll be going back in time from the Victorian era to the Middle Ages to uncover a mystery and meet four wonderful couples.  I’m so excited about it.  I’m halfway through writing it now and it will come out in 2019.

PREVIOUS RELEASES by ELISABETH:
REDEEMING THE ROGUE KNIGHT
The spy who sought refuge… 

THE SAXON OUTLAW'S REVENGE
At the mercy of her enemy! 

THE BLACKSMITH'S WIFE
A passion forged from fire 

A WAGER FOR THE WIDOW
"I suppose a kiss of gratitude is out of the question?" 

FALLING FOR HER CAPTOR
“Set me free. Say I escaped, or that you never found me." 



ELISABETH is giving away a signed copy of BEGUILED BY THE FORBIDDEN KNIGHT
Open internationally. 
Get Lost on Facebook   @GetLostInAStory  #GetLostStories
AND OUR NEW Facebook Group: The Readers’ Spot
UP NEXT on GLIAS S.R. MALLORY


ELISABETH WANTS TO KNOW:  Both my hero Gui and heroine Aelfhild spend the book pretending to be someone they’re not. If you could masquerade as anyone for a day who would it be? 
   

8 comments:

  1. Oprah
    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ellen Degeneres - I would love to have money to help people in need!

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  3. Hmmm hard question. Anyone for just one day. Lauren Bush Lauren's social business FEED makes beautiful bags that fund feeding programs in impoverished communities and schools in America and abroad.

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  4. I would want to be Rosie O'Donnell as she has helped so many in the foster system especially when she had her own show. ptclayton2@aol.com

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  5. These are all really great answers. Thank you.

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  6. When I made costumes, I had the most fun playing pirate.

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    Replies
    1. What occasions did you make the costumes for? That sounds fun.

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