Say HOWDY!! to #Author: Cecilia Dominic #steampunk #urbanfantasy #wineblogger

...Cecilia Dominic became a clinical psychologist because she's fascinated by people and their stories, but she couldn't stop writing fiction. By day, she helps people cure their insomnia without using medication. By night, she blogs about wine and writes fiction that keeps her readers turning pages past bedtime. Yes, she recognizes the conflict of interest between her two careers, so she writes and blogs under a pen name.  She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with one husband and two cats, which, she's been told, is a good number of each. She has been published in short story and novel-length fiction and currently writes urban fantasy, new adult contemporary, and steampunk for Samhain Publishing.

If love is the ivy, secrets are the poison.

Aether Psychics, Book 1

After enduring heartbreak at the hands of a dishonest woman, Edward Bailey lives according to scientific principles of structure and predictability. Just the thought of stepping outside his strict routine raises his anxiety.

Adding to his discomfort is Iris McTavish, who appears at his school’s faculty meeting in place of her world-famous archeologist father. Worse, the two of them are to pose as Grand Tourists while they search for an element that will help harness the power of aether.

Iris jumps at the opportunity to prove her worth as a scholar—and avoid an unwanted marriage proposal—while hiding the truth of her father’s whereabouts. If her secret gets out, the house of McTavish will fall into ruin.

Quite unexpectedly, Edward and Iris discover a growing attraction as their journey takes them to Paris and Rome, where betrayal, blackmail and outright theft threaten to destroy what could be a revolutionary discovery—and break their hearts.

Warning: Allergen alert! This book was produced in a facility that handles copious amounts of wine, tea and baked goods. May contain one or more of the following: a spirited heroine, a quirky hero, clever banter, interesting facts both made-up and historical, and lots of secrets. It is, however, gluten free.

READ A LITTLE, BUY THE BOOK: Cecilia Dominic

A QnA to really get to know Cecilia's deepest secrets such as:  Vicki:  I’m a huge handbag girl. What is your favorite accessory? Cecilia: I’m a huge fan of pendants. My favorite is a silver dragon over a jade disc I got at the Chinese Gardens in Vancouver, B.C. a few years ago. Most recently I got a lovely pewter dragon pendant at – where else? – DragonCon. It looks like there’s a theme, but those are the only two dragons, sadly. I only buy jewelry that draws me right to it. Both times with the dragons I had to circle around and get another look. Luckily I have a rule that I only buy jewelry when traveling. Okay, DragonCon might be an exception since it’s a local event for me, but we did stay in a hotel downtown for the convention, and there were suitcases involved, so that’s traveling, right?

Vicki: Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading your latest release? Cecilia: I would recommend Dvořák’s New World Symphony and other classical music from the Romantic era while reading Eros Element. That’s pretty much what I listened to while writing it, and I’m a sucker for Liszt and Chopin. The New World Symphony captures the sense of wonder and adventure I think my characters felt, especially Edward and Iris on their first airship ride.

Vicki: What sound or noise do you love? Cecilia: I’m a water girl. I’ve always been drawn to it, and I love the sound of moving water whether it’s rain on the aluminum overhang on my back porch, a burbling stream, a waterfall, or the ocean. I read something once suggesting that white noise like the sound of rushing water blocks out distractions. I can’t help but feel inspired, and like a lot of authors, I often have ideas while in the shower. I can also sit and stare at moving water for hours. No, I’ve never seen visions in it, in case anyone was wondering. It would probably freak me out if I did.

Vicki: What is your favorite tradition from your childhood that you would love to pass on or did pass on to your children? Cecilia: I don’t have children, sadly, but if I did, I would pass along my Italian recipes and love of cooking. My husband and I enjoy making tomato sauce from fresh summer tomatoes using a hand-cranked tomato press, and I sometimes make my own pasta. I have fond memories of making ravioli and pizza with my parents. They were like crafts we got to eat! I also got my grandmother’s Italian brownies recipe. They’re more like spice cookies with chocolate chips in them. So yummy! 
Vicki: I want the recipe!!!

Vicki: What could we find in your heroine's purse?Cecilia: I’m going to answer as though this is about halfway through Eros Element. In her reticule, Iris is carrying her father’s pocket watch because they were very close, and it’s a way for her to keep his memory with her. She also has a pencil, tape measure, and small notebook to record measurements of archaeological finds. Oh, and probably some hairpins and an extra pair of gloves if they’ll fit.

Vicki: What is your hero’s “kryptonite” – in other words, what will bring him instantly to his knees? Cecilia: Edward lives according to scientific principles, which is basically his way of controlling his environment so he can avoid anxiety. At the beginning of the story, he’s very sensitive to disruptions to his routine, and he hates it when people don’t respect how important his rules are to him. It was fun as an author to push him out of his comfort zone and challenge him.

Vicki: What would you say is your most interesting quirk? Cecilia: I love that you use the word “quirk” because Edward is described as “quirky” in the novel. Sometimes (often?) authors will draw from their own personalities for their characters, and I have to admit that, like Edward, I can be very particular about some things. I, too, get irritated when someone messes with my plans. A small example of my personal quirkiness is that when I used to eat Frosted Mini Wheats, I would always turn them sugar-side-up before adding the milk. My husband thought that was really strange and amusing.

FIND Cecilia at:Website  Facebook Twitter  Goodreads Pinterest  Wine Blog

UP NEXT: Light Fantastique, the sequel to Eros Element, will be released on December 15: 

At the Théâtre Bohème, danger decides who takes the final curtain call.

Aether Psychics, Book 2

Hailed as the most talented actress of her generation, Marie St. Jean has something more to her ability than mere talent. She loses a bit of her soul to each role. When the ghostly spirit of the theatre promises her an easy fix, she’s tempted by the chance to finally live a normal life.

Unfortunately, the man she’s drawn to is the last one to settle for normal. But with the Prussians surrounding Paris, there’s no escaping that temptation, either.

Violinist Johann Bledsoe thought he’d left his disgrace in England, but a murder outside the Théâtre Bohème makes him wonder if he’s been exposed. Another reason not to stick around once the siege ends, even if Marie fascinates him.

More murders, steam-powered ravens, and past and present secrets bring them closer to discovering just what lurks within the theatre, and who threatens from without. The only way to save themselves is to reveal their darkest shames—and use the Eros Element in a way that has already driven one man to the brink of madness.

Warning:  Processed in a facility where wine is used as currency and dessert is a reward. If you dislike French cooking and attitudes, move along. Things are cooking in this book, and it ain’t Julia Child.

PREVIOUS RELEASES: The Lycanthropy Files – urban fantasy with a scientific twist. What if lycanthropy was a genetic disorder, but the cure was more than science could handle? The third book Blood’s Shadow will be out in paper in November.

A Perfect Man – obviously fiction, right? How far will she go to find her perfect man? How far will he go to be one?

When Karen Hardeman sets foot on the Foothills University campus, it’s her first step toward proving her abusive ex wrong. Just her luck, her first writing assignment in Intro to Romance sends her in search of the perfect hero—a quest she’s never managed to conquer.

Worse, her professor forces her to collaborate with the most overconfident, annoying guy in the class.

Seth Sayers is also at Foothills to find new direction—preferably one that takes him far away from the family drama that’s followed him since his father’s death. He didn’t mean to humiliate Karen by rewriting her manuscript from the hero’s point of view. He blames the painkillers the ER doctor gave him after stitching up a wine-induced cut on his hand.

As their collaboration progresses, Karen begins to trust Seth with her manuscript, then maybe a little piece of her heart. But Seth’s half-brother resurrects Seth’s suspicions about his father’s death. Until he finds the truth, he can’t be the hero in anyone’s life. Even his own.

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS? 

I will send a $10 Amazon gift certificate to one random commenter who leaves their email address in the comments. Now that I’ve confessed about my quirks, I’m curious about yours. Don’t worry, I’m leaving my psychologist hat off. What is one strange thing you do or preference you have that you or others find odd? Let’s keep it PG, please.

Note: Please leave an email address for notification. Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address. 

Get Lost on a Mystery Tour Extraordinaire

All For Spilled Blood

by R. Ann Siracusa


Harriet Ruby, Tour Director Extraordinaire, and her fiancé and favorite spy, Will Talbot, travel to Russia undercover as tour directors for the US delegation to an international youth conference. Harriet tackles her first covert assignment to investigate smuggled artwork while Will’s mission is to locate and destroy a group of terrorists recruiting young computer experts.
Their marriage plans hit a snag when Will locates a long-lost cousin with startling news about his heritage. When the artwork being smuggled has particular significance to one of the terrorist sympathizers, their missions entangle and begin to unravel, leaving Will at the mercy of terrorist kidnappers and Harriet holding the bag.

Excerpt:

     We waited without speaking.
     I crossed and uncrossed my legs a dozen times and pulled nervously at the hem of my skirt, still unsure whether I wanted to be a spy. 
     I could get killed doing that.
     While I stared out the large window overlooking the pink carpet of cherry blossoms arching over the streets of Washington, DC, the woman we waited for breezed into the office and took her place behind the desk in front of us.
     "Good morning, Ms. Ruby." Eleanor Morrison nodded formally, speaking as if the Department of Homeland Security required the use of surnames, then added, "Harriet." She turned her smile to my fiancé. "Agent Talbot. Will."
     The formalities dispensed with, Eleanor settled into her leather chair, rested her elbows on the surface of the teakwood desk, and leaned forward. Her intense gray eyes studied me and then flicked to Will.
     "Thank you for coming." She spoke as though we happened to be in the neighborhood and dropped in for a visit on the spur of the moment.
     I returned her smile with a broad grin. "Our pleasure."
     Will and I liked Eleanor. Otherwise, I wouldn't have traveled all the way from Rome, and Will from Spain, to be there. Of course, Eleanor Morrison was not her real name, only the cover name we knew and used. One of the rules of spydom.
     "I wasn't sure if you would still be interested in doing work for me." She peaked and unpeaked her fingers. "I thought you two would be married by now and have other things on your minds."
     Will and I exchanged a glance. Eleanor quirked an eyebrow. She didn't miss much. Being the definitive perfectionist, her nature didn't permit her to overlook even the slightest innuendo or gesture. Her attention to detail defied reproach, particularly when it came to her official responsibilities.
     Fortunately for the US, she worked for our side.
    "We're still engaged," Will replied, his tone curious. "Does it make any difference whether we're married or not?"
     She pursed her lips. "Married might be better for this mission, but we can make it work." Her sentence ended in a shrug. She picked up a sheaf of papers and tapped them on the surface of the desk until the edges aligned perfectly, then set them in front of her.
     I shifted in my seat and clasped my hands together in my lap to keep from waving them around or picking at the arm of the chair. At best, patience and I maintained an uneasy alliance, although I'd learned a lot during the past two and a half years with Will, some of it too personal to even think about without getting hot.
     He and I shared such a profound emotional connection, almost at the molecular level, that at times it seemed we read each other's minds. But sitting there in Eleanor's office, as I searched his face and body language for his reaction to her offer, I read nothing. He was playing it close to the vest and screening me out.
     My decision. He would not intervene. 

Welcome R. Ann Siracusa! 
     Ann is a California girl who earned her Bachelor of Architecture degree from UC Berkeley, then went immediately to Rome, Italy. On her first day there, she met an Italian policeman at the Fountain of Love, and the rest is history. Instead of a degree from the University of Rome, she got a husband, and they've been married going on fifty years. In Rome, she worked for as an architect and planner for a land development company for several years until she and her husband moved to the US.
     Now retired, she combines her passions—world travel and writing—into novels which transport readers to exotic settings, immerse them in romance, intrigue, and foreign cultures, and make them laugh. Her most recent release, All For Spilled Blood, is the fourth book in a five book romantic suspense series, Tour Director Extraordinaire.

Jillian: What’s the first book you remember reading?
Ann: Horton the Elephant by Dr. Suess

Jillian: What’s your favorite cartoon character?
Ann: For those of you who may remember, it's Pogo.

Jillian: Be honest, when reading 1st person...do you miss the hero’s POV?
Ann: Not if the book is well written. I find that a good writer can convey what the hero is most likely thinking and feeling through action/dialogue/showing (even the subtext). First person is challenging to write, but for certain types of books and characters, it's the best way to tell the story.

Jillian: What's your favorite kind of story to get lost in?

Ann: I'm pretty eclectic in my tastes, but I'd say mysteries/intrigue/thrillers and science fiction are my favorites.

Jillian: If you couldn’t be a writer anymore, what profession would you take up?
Ann: I did it the other way around. My first profession was architecture and urban planning. When I retired, I became an author.
     I'd select the same career path if I had a chance to do it over. My only regret is that I didn't realize at a younger age that I wanted to be a writer. I would have learned the craft of novel writing and associated myself with other writers at a much earlier age, so that when I could write full time, I would be closer to publication.

Jillian: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?
Ann: I find finishing a book is rather anti-climactic. I've been over and over it already. I'm tired of it and anxious to get on to the next project (your next book is always the best). Usually, I don't have the luxury of putting the manuscript away for a few weeks before I begin fine tuning and editing.
     My advice would be to not wait to begin the next book, even though you're still polishing the one you just finished. It's very easy to get out of the habit of writing, and very hard to reestablish it.

Jillian: What do you do to unwind and relax?
Ann: You mean I'm supposed to get time to unwind and relax? Why didn't someone tell me that?  If I ever had such a miraculous moment, I'd read or quilt. I used to ride quads in the desert, but I don't do that much anymore.

Jillian: Which of your characters would you most/least like to invite to dinner, and why?
Ann: I'd most like to invite the hero and heroine from my Tour Director series, Will Talbot and Harriet Ruby. Why? I find them both intriguing and fun, and I'd love to hear more about their adventures—and I'm definitely in love with Will. (Sorry, Harriet.)

Jillian: Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?
Ann: I do read reviews of my books (when I find them) and look for things that will help me improve my writing. If the review is negative, I put it away for a week or two, then read it again. There is always something I can learn from it.
I never respond to reviews, positive or negative, and I wouldn't change my style or voice because of a review. It's only one person's reaction.

Ann has a question for commenters: Do you like a lot of physical description of the hero and heroine in a novel or do you prefer a few key points and then imagine what the character looks like? I'm giving away the first four e-books of the Tour Director Extraordinaire series to one lucky commenter! 

Where to find Ann online: 

Website    Facebook    Twitter    GooglePlus    Goodreads    


***Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America  addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.                              

Get Lost in a Story by Land, Sea and...Velocipede?

Love on the Run with Detective Lewis 

A road trip romance. 

As most of you know by now, I write historical romantic suspense set in the late Victorian period (1887-1891). At this time, steam travel was in full bloom and electricity was just beginning to light up the streets and stages of London's theater district. Giant steam engines powered trains and ships, people powered bicycles––experimental submarines, and great landships were being designed, built and displayed in at Industrial Expositions. These futuristic machine demonstrations were wildly popular in London, making inventors the rock stars of the day!

In the second book of The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series, (released just yesterday) a number of odd and eccentric inventions have a role to play in this road trip adventure, along with a plot that keeps the hero and heroine on the run...

And just in case you haven't read the blurb for A Dangerous Liaison with Detective Lewis:

When Fanny Greyville-Nugent's father suffers a gruesome death in the clutches of his own machine, mourning his loss is not the beautiful heiress's only heartbreak. Scotland Yard is convinced he was targeted in a plot to halt the rise of industry, and Fanny's former fiancé, dashing and dubious detective Raphael "Rafe" Lewis, has been assigned to the case.

For the estranged ex-lovers, bringing the notorious assassins to justice proves as tumultuous as quelling pent-up desires. Fighting peril and passion at every turn of a dangerous journey from Edinburgh to London, they are pursued by an anarchist group hell-bent on destroying her father's mysterious entry into the London Industrial Exposition.

When an astonishing discovery about the couple's failed engagement surfaces, the sleuthing duo realize they can trust no one. Rafe confesses new details about his infidelity and Fanny risks all to avenge her father's murder. But will Rafe and Fanny triumph over the pain of their past?

Here's a link for: FREE CHAPTER READ

Part of the fun of this story is that Fanny and Rafe travel in an assortment of steampunk machines as they are pursued by her would-be abductors from Edinburgh to London, these conveyances include trains, velocipedes, a landship and a submersible. Without being a spoiler, I’d love to share a few factoids about these turn of these late Victorian vehicles:

Train.

                                                   

By 1887, the network of trains and train tracks crisscrossing Britain was comprehensive, but disjointed. Because the railroads were built and owned by private investment syndicates, there wasn’t much standardization. The train track gauges were different, requiring locomotives and cars to be custom built for each section of privately owned railway. And since one railroad company couldn’t use another’s tracks, this also might require passengers to change trains along the route to their destination. Railroad investment syndicates often went bankrupt, sometimes before the new route was even finished. On the upside? Rail speed. In A DANGEROUS LIAISON WITH DETECTIVE LEWIS, Rafe boards the early train in London and arrives in Edinburgh in time for a funeral in the afternoon.

Velocipede.

According to Wikipedia, velocipede is an umbrella term for any human-powered land vehicle with one or more wheels. The most common type of velocipede is the bicycle. At one point in their escape, Fanny and Rafe use bicycles to put a bit of distance between themselves and their pursuers.

Landship.

This highly experimental, prototype of a pedrail landship plays an interesting part in the novel, helping to get Fanny and Rafe from Edinburgh to Glasgow. Sorry I can’t be any more specific about this giant war engine’s role in the novel, but I can tell you that these landships were the precursors to the tank and were first put to use in World War I.

Submersible.

            

One of the more colorful supporting characters in A DANGEROUS LIAISON WITH DETECTIVE LEWIS, in an inventor who joins Fanny and Rafe in their increasingly perilous journey to London. One of his inventions is a three man submersible that he plans on entering in the London Industrial Exposition. The sub plays a key role in the story, but alas, that is all I can say. My lips are sealed.

I wrote A DANGEROUS LIAISION WITH DETECTIVE LEWIS to be a suspenseful page turner with a hero who has a lot to prove and make up for––and a heroine who is up for both the romance and the road trip. As a film student, I studied all of Alfred Hitchcock’s work and I particularly admire the suspense films: Rear Window, North by Northwest, and To Catch a Thief. Thrills, chills, adventure––perhaps there’s a mystery to uncover, or a villain to capture, but at the story’s core, there is always a romance.

Question for commenters: What is your favorite Steampunk vehicle––land, sea or air? I have a signed  copy of A DANGEROUS LIAISON WITH DETECTIVE LEWIS for one lucky commenter today, chosen at random.

Website: http://jillianstone.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JillianStoneBooks

Twitter: @gJillianStone

Purchase links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

The Book Depository  

***Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America  addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

Kady Cross

Welcome YA Steampunk author Kady Cross!!!

Get Lost in This Story…

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the "thing" inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on—even if it seems no one believes her.

I am thrilled to host YA Steampunk author, Kady Cross, on the blog today (who just happens to also be my lovely friend, Kathryn Smith). Her debut with Harlequin Teen is getting rave reviews calling it a perfect blend of steampunk, mystery, paranormal and romance all wrapped up in coming-of-age emotions…I can’t wait! I am currently reading The Strange Case of Finley Jayne, Kady’s exclusive e-prequel to her Steampunk Chronicles and can’t WAIT to delve into Finley’s story in The Girl in the Steel Corset!

Kady Cross is a pseudonym for USA Today bestselling author Kathryn Smith. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and a pride of cats. She likes singing with Rock Band on the 360, British guys, Vietnamese food, and makeup (she’s hopelessly addicted to YouTube makeup tutorials!). When she’s not writing Kady likes to catch up on her favorite TV shows, read a good book or make her own cosmetics.

Let’s get right to The Get Lost Interview…

Heather: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Kady: It changes. Right now I love Despicable Me and Penelope.

Heather: How often do you get lost in a story?

Kady: As often as I possibly can. J I get lost in the story I’m reading, and the one I’m writing.

Heather: What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?

Kady: Anything with some fantasy or paranormal elements, with some adventure and romance.

Heather: What’s your favorite cartoon character?

Kady: Pepe Le Peu, of course! The greatest romantic of all time!

Heather: What sound or noise do you love?

Kady: I love the sound of heels clicking on tile or pavement. Horse hooves too.

Heather: Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?

Kady: A lot of the time, yes. I listen to whatever suits the story. Sometimes it’s heavy, other times orchestral, and sometimes power ballads!

Heather: What was the first story you remember writing?

Kady: Oh, dear. I was 9? It was a story about a girl whose father gave away her horse and years later she found it – and love on a ranch.

Heather: If you couldn’t be a writer anymore, what profession would you take up?

Kady: I’d probably be a makeup artist. Or a silversmith. I like to play with makeup, and I’m teaching myself to make jewelry now.

Heather: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?

Kady: Laugh maniacally.

Heather: Which of your characters would you most/least to invite to dinner, and why?

Kady: I’d like to dine with Jack Dandy. I think he’d have good table manners, but he’d also gossip with me.

Heather: What soundtrack or playlist do you recommend for your current release?

Kady: Watered Down, Blood on My Hands by The Used, All I Need by Within Temptation, Black Bullet by Kidney Thieves, Asleep, Misery Loves Company, I Want My Innocence Back by Emilie Autumn

Heather: Have you ever written a character who wasn’t meant to be a hero/heroine but he/she wouldn’t go away?

Kady: Yes. Jack Dandy.

Heather: What is your favorite cheese?

Kady: Jalepeno Jack.

Heather: What would you do if you had a time machine?

Kady: I’d go back to the late 1800’s and hang out with Oscar Wilde. What wit! I’d also warn him that the whole Marquess of Queensbury thing was NOT going to be worth the suffering it would cause him.

Heather: What is your favorite thing about you? J

Kady: That people seem to feel that I’m nice. I try to be a good person. I don’t always succeed. ;-)

Heather’s GOTTA ASK – Kady’s GOTTA ANSWER J

Heather: So, I noticed on your website that you love to sing with Rock Band on your 360. Any particular songs that you totally nail? And if you could rock out with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?

Kady: Okay, I nail Let Me Roll It by Paul McCartney and Wings, Underneath it all by No Doubt, Bad Romance by Lady Gaga, More Than a Feeling by Boston, Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey, We Belong by Pat Benatar, Imagine by John Lennon, Radar Love by Golden Earring… There are a few more, but I don’t want to brag. LOL! I would love to rock out with Freddie Mercury, because he was freaking amazing. And I’d like to hang/rock out with Emilie Autumn, because I love her music and I think she would dye my hair for me, and we’d drink tea.

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

Kady: Who would YOU most like to rock out with? J

WILL YOU HAVE A DRAWING FROM THOSE LEAVING COMMENTS?**

Kady: Sure! How about an eyeshadow palette inspired by the book, The Girl in the Steel Corset.

Thanks so much for being with us today, Kady! Where can your fans learn more about you on the web?

KadyCross.com

FB = Kady Cross – Author

Twitter = @KadyCross

**Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North American addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

Join us Monday when I host historical author, Debra Mullins!!!

Kathryn Smith!!!

Get Lost in This Story…

A lady must always guard her heart… when tempting a rogue.

In the glittering ballroom of London’s most exclusive gentleman’s club no one is more powerful than its mysterious proprietress, Vienne La Rieux. A shrewd businesswoman, Vienne treasures her hard-won independence and has her eye on a prize that could make her England’s richest woman . . . until the only threat to her heart arrives, sending her controlled world into chaos.

Lord Trystan Kane is as familiar with success as he is with the exquisite Vienne. She’s the lover he’s never forgotten, and so, when an opportunity arises that would make them partners once again, he takes it. But Trystan has underestimated the enduring power of the chemistry that originally sparked their passion. And with an enemy watching from the shadows, any attempt to mix business with pleasure could have disastrous consequences.

Today, I am thrilled to welcome my friend and fellow historical romance author, Kathryn Smith, to the blog. We met by chance last year at a conference (I think I did a good job of avoiding a total Fan Girl freak-out. Not sure. She may have seen through me) and I’ve so enjoyed getting to know more about the multi-talented woman behind her award-winning historical and paranormal novels, and now—coming soon—Steampunk!

USA Today bestselling author Kathryn Smith wrote her first novel (372 pages about a rock band that sounded suspiciously like Duran Duran) at the age of 12. Having discovered Kathleen E. Woodiwiss at age 10, she fell in love with the genre and became a romance writer that very same day. Since her debut novel, Elusive Passion (Avon, 2001) she has published more than 20 novels. Currently, she lives in Connecticut with her husband Steve and their 5 furry kids. Kathryn also writes as Kady Cross, and her Steampunk Young Adult book, The Girl in the Steel Corset will be released May 31^st from Harlequin Teen.

So, let’s get to the Get Lost Interview!!!

Heather: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Kathryn: This is a hard one! Hmmm. The first one that comes to mind is Forrest Gump. And also, Persuasion from the 1990s. That’s one of the best Austen adaptations ever. I’m a sucker for a good reunion story. But Forrest Gump is just such a wonderful movie that combines humor and sadness – a wonderful film.

Heather: What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?

Kathryn: As I said above, I’m a sucker for a reunion story – especially in romance. I’m not sure why it appeals to me so very much, but I love the idea of that second chance. Plus, all that history makes for a lot of tension. You can also have the characters do things they can’t do when they haven’t known each other for long. I think I like having all the pain and dashed hopes to build on as a writer. As a reader I love watching characters get to know each other again and recapture those old feelings.

Heather: Who’s your favorite villain?

Kathryn: Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. She is just so bad – trying to kill a baby! She also has this great Joan Crawford look about her. And you have to love a woman who can literally turn into a dragon!

Heather: If you couldn’t be a writer anymore, what profession would you take up?

Kathryn: I would be a makeup artist. I love makeup. I’m obsessed with it.

Heather: What question are you never asked in interviews, but wish you were?

Kathryn: How did you get to be so fabulously good-looking? LOL. Actually, I’d like to be asked how much support I get from my husband and family. A lot of people have asked where my ideas come from, or if I make good money, but I don’t think anyone’s ever asked how big a part my husband and family have played in my career. I mean, I wouldn’t be a writer if not for my mother, and I wouldn’t be published if my husband hadn’t pushed me to go for it.

Heather: What do you do to unwind and relax?

Kathryn: What is this ‘relaxing’ you speak of? LOL. I like to read, of course, watch movies. One of my favorites ways to unwind is to make jewelry or makeup. I have the supplies for both in my workshop in the basement.

Heather: What does it mean to love someone?

Kathryn: It means putting the wants, needs and welfare of that person above your own. It also means accepting that person, and all their flaws. I would do just about anything for someone I truly loved, like family or my husband – even my cats! J I have a couple of friends I would go the distance for, but hubby, my sisters, their children, spouses and my great-niece take priority.

Heather: What would you say is your most interesting quirk?

Kathryn: I can read tea leaves. It’s a family thing – both my mother and grandmother (and so on) could do it. I don’t do it very often because I’ve had a couple of people get ‘weird’ with me afterward. I don’t claim to be a fortune teller, however. I think we all have a certain degree of control over our lives, and a bunch of leaves at the bottom of a cup isn’t something to base your life on!

Heather: Have you ever written a character who wasn’t meant to be a hero/heroine but he/she wouldn’t go away?

Kathryn: Yes. Jack Dandy in The Girl in the Steel Corset. He nearly overshadowed the true hero of the book. I had to deny my love of Jack during the writing of that book so he wouldn’t take over. However, I think he’s going to have his own story one day. He has to.

Heather: Dog person or cat person?

Kathryn: Cats! I love dogs, but they’re too high maintenance for me. Cats will cuddle, but will also leave you alone, and you don’t have to stop writing to take a cat outside to do its business. J

Heather: What would you do if you had a time machine?

Kathryn: I’d go back to the 19^th century and hang out with Oscar Wilde – if he’d let me.

Heather’s GOTTA ASK – Kathryn’s GOTTA ANSWER J

Heather: So, I’ve read in interviews that as a hobby, you make mineral based make-up. Do you practice as an artist as well, and if so, who would be your dream client?

Kathryn: I make non-mineral makeup as well. I have a lipstick mold. Honestly. And I have a recipe for mascara, which I’ve made. I do like to put makeup on other people, and I like to think I’m fairly good at it, though I would like more practice. My dream client would be someone I could really experiment on – maybe Katy Perry.

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

Kathryn: Since When Tempting a Rogue is a reunion story, I’d love to know what readers consider to be their favorite plots and why? Do they like marriage of convenience, mistaken identity, amnesia?

WILL YOU HAVE A DRAWING FROM THOSE LEAVING COMMENTS?**

Kathryn: Yes. One random poster will get a signed copy of When Tempting a Rogue.

Thanks so much for being with us today, Kathryn! Where can your fans learn more about you on the web?

www.kathryn-smith.com (needs to be updated!)

Kathryn Smith on FB

@kathryn_smith on Twitter.

**Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North American addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.