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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Interview with Author Tracey Devlyn and Giveaway


Today I am super excited to welcome back to RFTC one of my most favorite authors', Tracey Devlyn. Tracey is celebrating the upcoming release of Checkmate, My Lord, book 2 in her Nexus series and has stopped by to answer a few questions. Please give Tracey a warm welcome.

Tracey Devlyn writes historical romantic thrillers (translation: a slightly more grievous journey toward the heroine’s happy ending). She’s a co-founder of Romance University, a group blog dedicated to readers and writers of romance, and Lady Jane’s Salon-Naperville, Chicagoland’s exciting new reading salon devoted to romantic fiction.

An Illinois native, Tracey spends her evenings harassing her once-in-a-lifetime husband and her weekends torturing her characters. For more information on Tracey, including her Internet haunts, contest updates, and details on her upcoming novels, please visit her website at www.TraceyDevlyn.com.

Places to find Tracey:


Huge thanks to Danielle for inviting me to hang out on Ramblings! I’m so excited to chat with everyone.

First off, can you tell us a bit about you?
Would love to! I grew up in a small town in Southern Illinois. Not long after high school, I dashed up north to where the jobs were located. I’ve been living in the Chicagoland area ever since. After watching Gorillas in the Mist, I started attending night school in search of a Zoology/Biology degree. Unfortunately, chemistry defeated me! Wound up with a Bachelor’s degree in business and am now a Human Resources Manager for an environmental organization. I never lost my passion for animals and the environment and readers will find many “natural things” in my books. Last but not least, my husband and I adopted the sweetest red Doberman from a local rescue. He eats me out of house and home!

Did you always want to be a writer?
Being a writer never crossed my mind until my early thirties. I’d discovered reading—yep, you read that right—about a decade earlier. Somewhere along the way I started envisioning different scenes and endings for the books I’d read. At one point, I decided to jot a few things down. The rest, as they say, is history.

What kind of writer are you? Panster or Plotter?
I’m a plotster. Although I’m still honing my process, what seems to work best for me is to start out with a backbone for the story. A sort of roadmap. I tend to take a lot of side trips during the adventure.

Where do your ideas come from?
Everywhere. Words, conversations, buildings, news article, random research, movies—everywhere.

A la Twitter style, can you describe your book (or series) in 140 characters or less.
A desperate mother falls in love with the spymaster she’s forced to betray.

What are some of your favorite kinds of stories to read?
I love stories with a suspense element, which is probably why I write them. Love it when an author goes “there.” When she surprises me, frightens me, or makes me cry. Historical will always be my first love, though I read widely.

Do you have a favorite book and if so what is it?
This is always a tough question! The one book that sticks out in my mind is Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas. Derek Craven is a hard man, who has led a hard life, even though he now has tons of money. So, picture this hardened man calling the heroine (a novelist) “mouse.” I don’t know—there’s just something so compelling about his endearment.

What are the scenes that are the hardest for you to write?
The scenes I find the hardest to write are the ones where the hero and heroine delve deeply into the “thing” that’s stopping them from accepting the other. I’ve never been good at analyzing my feelings or understanding the psychology behind it. Given the role of my day job, I’ve become better about figuring out why people do what they do, but it still takes a while to plow through the process.

If you could have dinner with any three authors, who would you choose and why?
Teresa Medeiros, Christina Dodd and Connie Brockway—those ladies are a hoot!! Did you ever follow the Squawk Radio blog? It was one of the first blogs (I’d found) and I loved the interplay between the authors. (I’d also invite Lisa Kleypas, Eloisa James and Elizabeth Bevarly!)

Last question, are you working on anything right now?
No! Can you believe it? LOL I’m working through developmental edits on A Lady’s Secret Weapon (Book 3, Nexus, October 2013) and discussing my next project options with my agent and editor. Hopefully, I’ll have good news soon!!

How do you like your historical romances? Sweet? Humorous? Serious? Suspenseful? Or a combination?


A desperate mother falls in love with the spymaster she’s forced to betray.

THE STAKES ARE HIGH, THE PLAYERS IN POSITION...

Catherine Ashcroft leads a quiet life caring for her precocious seven-year-old daughter, until a visitor delivers a startling ultimatum. She will match wits with the enigmatic Earl of Somerton, and it's not just her heart that's in danger.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN...

Spymaster Sebastian Danvers, Earl of Somerton, is famous for his cunning. Few can outwit him and even few dare challenge him--until now. After returning to his country estate, his no-nonsense neighbor turns her seductive wiles on him--but why would a respectable widow like Catherine risk scandal for a few passionate nights in his bed?

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |

Check out the Nexus series: 
Click for more info.

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Follow Tracey along on her Checkmate, My Lord Blog Tour.


Check out whats up for grabs.

Up For Grabs:

To Enter:
  • Please answer Tracey's question: How do you like your historical romances? Sweet? Humorous? Serious? Suspenseful? Or a combination?
  • Please fill out the Rafflecopter form. 
  • US/Canada Shipping ONLY

Good Luck =)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

54 comments :

  1. I love my historical romances sweet and fun. Sometimes serious is good, just depends on my mood.

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  2. I like a combination at least that way you have a variety and you won't know which way the story will go xxx

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  3. Annwitch and Tracey, thanks for stopping by. Good luck on the draw!

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  4. Hello, yup this piece of writing is in fact pleasant and I have
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    My homepage : diets that work for women

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  5. I love when the romance has a touch of paranormal or even a bit of comedy.

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    1. Thanks, Sheryl! Lydia Dare has a great historical/paranormal element. I agree about stories have a bit of comedy--even the most suspenseful reads need a breather.

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  6. Thanks for joining us. I like my Historicals sweet and humorous, but suspense is good to for a great mystery read, so a combination is always wonderful.

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    1. Thanks, Kipha! It's nice to mix things up a bit, isn't it? I used to glut myself on fun Regencies and then turn to dark Medievals.

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  7. Sounds like a great series and yet another wonderful author I want to read! I'm still new to romance (last year and a half) so I haven't yet decided what I prefer best or even if I have a preference. I have read many historical romance authors that cover all of these aspects (Shana Galen, Tessa Dare, Sherry Thomas, Laura Lee Guhrke, Isabella Bradford, Loretta Chase, Lorraine Heath, Bronwen Evans, Evangeline Collins, Nicola Cornick...I could go on and on). I will say that, as a Jane Austen student, I prefer my romances set in 18th & 19th century England.

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    1. Maria, so glad you found romances! Every author you mentioned is on my automatic buy list.

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  8. Sounds like a great book! I love books with some humour in it...

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    1. Thanks, May! If you read CHECKMATE, you'll get a ton of humor every time Sophie comes on screen. She was so much fun!

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  9. I like Historicals that are humorous. I have read books where I have laughed out loud, I love that.

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    1. Ingeborg, the laugh out loud stories are great, aren't they?

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  10. Just wanted to say I got this book from goodreads first reads and looking forward to reading it this month! It looks fantastic.

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    1. Lily B, I hope you enjoy Sebastian and Catherine's journey!

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  11. I like a combination! But it definitely has to have some humorous elements. I love a book that can make me laugh! :)

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    1. Great - thanks, Shadow. Do you also like the ones that make you cry? I do love it when an author can tap into a strong emotion--any emotion.

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  12. Congrats to Tracey on the new release !Thanks for sharing! I loved, loved, loved A Lady's Revenge :) I like a combo of all... any mix :)

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    1. Hey Erin, so glad you liked A Lady's Revenge! As my debut, Cora and Guy will always be near and dear to my heart.

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  13. Loved A Lady's Revenge!! Looking for to Checkmate, My Lord!! I've liked historical romance since I read Outlander.

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by, Mary Jo! Believe it or not, I have yet to read Outlander, but I've heard so many good things about it.

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  14. I like a little bit of everything. If there's too much of just one it's not nearly as interesting.

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  15. I like a combination at least that way you have a variety and you won't know which way the story will go xxx

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  16. I like my historical romances to be emotional, sexy and suspenseful. Thanks for the chance to win your book. It sounds really great!

    jenalang(at)live(dot)com

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  17. I like a combination of things in my historicals. Humor definitely helps if the tone is a rather heavy one.

    kscathyATyahooDOTcom

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  18. The Nexus series sounds very good....Can't wait to read them. :) I like my books to have a variety sweet...humorous...suspenseful. I love books that make me laugh, cry, and can't put down till I'm done with it!

    joylynne66(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  19. A combination. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  20. I like my historical romances humorous, with a serious story and maybe some mystery to be solved as well. Okay, I guess I'd choose a combination. :D

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  21. I like a combination of all and if you add in a man in a kilt. It's mine.

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  22. I love them all .I've never met a book i didn't like lol

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  23. You're a new author for me and this book sounds awesome!
    I love historicals and I like a healthy mix of everything. I could possibly do without mystery, maybe suspense but it definitely needs humor. However the mix of all of them make it more enjoyable.
    lorih824 at yahoo dot com

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    1. Thanks, Beautiful Disaster! CHECKMATE has a healthy dose of everything.

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  24. I love a humor and suspense combo with fun. Thanks for the contest. lisagk(at)yahoo

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  25. I like all of the above.

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  26. Hi Tracey! I didn't read a lot of historicals before you and Michelle Diener came along. :-) I prefer mine with suspense, that is for sure. I like the humor aspect (Ethan!) but also like some suspense. I do like a little humor to go with it. When the suspense gets too much you need someone like your Ethan to say something that makes the reader laugh. :)

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    1. Awww, thank you, Amy! It's great fun to write a character who can say the most awful things and get away with it. Probably that rogue's grin of his. :)

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  27. Hmm...should I be offended that you didn't say you wanted to have dinner with ME? Oh, that's right, you get to have dinner with me several times a year.

    I have a spidey sense that you're going to get some amazing news soon. I'm always in awe of your talent. So glad I'm along for your ride!

    Hugs,
    Kels

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    1. Kels, you know you're one of my favorite fav authors!

      Readers, if you love sassy contemporary romances, mark August 26, 2013 your calendars for Kelsey's debut novel!!

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  28. I like a combination best, but some humor is the most important thing.

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  29. I love them with a little bit of everything. Sometimes I'm in a mood for one more than the other. However, historical romances are my first romance and first love of romance.

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  30. I like the variety, so either all or many of those attributes in one or I'll mix up my selections depending on my mood.

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  31. I like a humor and a combination.

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