My love of the romance genre started when I was pregnant with my second son. Not long after I picked up my first romance, I picked up my first Presents. As a reader, I was hooked. As a very non-serious writer harboring secret (and silly, considering I didn't do a lot of writing) dreams of publication, I was inspired.
Soon after, Harlequin announced a contest for Presents, which I entered. And didn't win. But I did find the courage to submit through normal channels. And after several revision letter, I sold my first novel, His Virgin Acquisition. Just 29 days before giving birth to my daughter. (that makes three!)
Life a circus of babies and books, and I'm very lucky to have my handsome, diaper-changing, song-writing husband along for the ride, loving me even though I'm a crazy writer type.
My current release for Harlequin Presents An Accidental Birthright, is my second book and I'm very excited to see it on the shelves!
An Accidental Birthright
An IVF clinic mix-up means eternally single Alison Whitman is now carrying the child—no, the royal heir—of Maximo Rossi, Prince of Turan!
Maximo had given up on the hope of fatherhood a long time ago—until this surprise second chance. Now, the dynamic ruler will seize this opportunity with both hands. However, tradition is high on the prince's agenda and he'll never stand for an heir born out of wedlock….
Alison is about to find out that royal marriage is a command, not a choice!
Read an excerpt here.
An IVF clinic mix-up means eternally single Alison Whitman is now carrying the child—no, the royal heir—of Maximo Rossi, Prince of Turan!
Maximo had given up on the hope of fatherhood a long time ago—until this surprise second chance. Now, the dynamic ruler will seize this opportunity with both hands. However, tradition is high on the prince's agenda and he'll never stand for an heir born out of wedlock….
Alison is about to find out that royal marriage is a command, not a choice!
Read an excerpt here.
CAT: What was the first story you remember writing?
MAISEY: I remember it clearly. We had learned to use quotation marks in school. So we could do dialogue. And write REAL stores. I was completely thrilled. It was a bout a black widow that ate a scorpion. (I didn't start out in romance)
CAT: What’s your favorite fairy tale?
MAISEY: I love Beauty and the Beast (yes, the Disney version.) Love. It. Alpha hero, courageous heroine, singing candelabra. It's a classic.
CAT: Who’s your favorite villain?
MAISEY: Gaston, of course. Because he's the real beast, isn't he? More than just being handsome, he seems almost more goonish than evil, until he's pushed and you see just how dark and ugly he is beneath the surface. (good characterization, Disney!)
CAT: How often to you get lost in a story?
MAISEY: Daily! Either reading or writing. Sometimes I don't get as much reading in as I'd like, (I binge between books) but there's always a story in my head. And, ask my husband, who has found stray peanut butter jar lids in the silverware drawer)
CAT: What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?
MAISEY: So many. Just being able to call myself a writer has been a childhood fantasy, really it has. Nothing is more mystical or tantalizing to a child who loves books than thinking about all that goes into writing one. Being involved in that process is a dream come true. (Plus, Orlando! I met Cat there! And this year...NYC!)
CAT: What is something that not a lot of people know about you but you WISH more people COULD know?
MAISEY: My writing background is firmly based in detective noir spoofs (comedic) featuring friends and family, also, comics drawn on napkins. Even though I don't technically write comedies, I do still like to add a little bit of humor to my books. It adds flavor.
CAT: Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?
MAISEY: I do read them. Good reviews can make my day, bad reviews...come with a range of reactions. They can hurt, or I can just as easily laugh them off, all dependent on how I'm feeling. But no, I don't let them really influence my writing. Because as valid as the opinion might be, it's one opinion. My editor pushes me until we're both happy with a book, and after that, there isn't much more I can do. (This does not mean I don't have the occasional cookie binge post bad review read.)
CAT: Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?
MAISEY: Coffee. All the time. (okay, with cream and sugar.) Or, if I'm at Starbucks, my drink of choice is a grande, three pump, vanilla with whip latte. (If you're looking for me at RWA, look for the lost looking yokel holding a coffee cup!)
CAT: What does it mean to love someone?
MAISEY: That's a really good question. I try to bring that answer to life in each of my books. The emphasis is on different things for each couple, depending on their needs, but ultimately, it comes from this: Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
CAT: What turns you off like nothing else?
MAISEY: Overly florid euphemisms. Gah. (can I say manroot on this blog?)
CAT’S GOTTA ASK: If you were a T-shirt, what color would you be?
MAISEY’S GOTTA ANSWER: I would be black. And I would say something random and obscure like 'I love blueberry pancakes'.
Question for fans: Women know, it's not really clothes or money that make the man. (Though those things might enhance!) So what does make a hero sexy?
Maisey is offering a copy of her May release (not yet in stores) The Inherited Bride to one of today's commenters.