Interview with Author Grace Burrowes and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome back to RFTC, the super awesome Grace Burrowes. Grace is gearing up for the release of her newest book, Darius (out April 2nd) and has stopped by to answer a few questions. Please give Grace a warm welcome.

Grace Burrowes is the USA Today and NYT bestselling author of The Windham series of Regency romances, one of which, "Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish," was nominated for a Regency RITA, and another of which, "Lady Louisa's Christmas Knight" was chosen as a Library Journal Best Book of 2012.

Places to find Grace:

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

First off, can you tell us a bit about you?
I’m a child abuse attorney and single mom who has relied for decades on my keeper authors to get me through the tough weeks. When Beloved Offspring fluttered out of the nest, I used the newfound emotional oxygen to start writing.

Did you always want to be a writer?
I never “wanted to be” a writer, but in hindsight, I can see that I’ve always been writing. For most of my life, I’ve kept a journal, I’ve read extensively, I’ve enjoyed the writing tasks associated with lawyering, and with graduate school. The only person surprised when I became published was me.

What kind of writer are you? Pantser or Plotter?
Pantser—so far. I’m told regardless of your preferred approach, there’s a book lurking out there which you will not be able to write unless you change up your method. Maybe it’s more accurate to say I plot in my head, and flexibly. Characters have minds of their own.

Where do your ideas come from?
I wish I knew! If I could figure that out, I’d report to that location with a muck fork and wheel barrow. One thing I do know that is that ideas occur to me in the “mental white spaces” in life. When I’m driving a familiar route (or anywhere in western Kansas), in the shower, walking the dog. When my busy-brain is on screen saver mode, my creative-brain can toss me an idea.

A la Twitter style, can you describe your book (or series) in 140 characters or less.
Professional regency era submissive falls in love and must recapture his virginity while his former clients blackmail him.

What are some of your favorite kinds of stories to read?
I think there’s a poignant quality to stories about a married couple who have either fallen out of love, or married despite a lack of love, and though they struggle to make the marriage work, their courage and integrity earns them an HEA they never thought to enjoy—with each other.

Do you have a favorite book and if so what is it?
I have many, but if I could ONLY choose one, I’d choose Joanna Bourne’s “The Black Hawk,” (closely followed by Loretta Chase’s “Not Quite a Lady,” which would be nearly elbowed aside by “The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie” by Jennifer Ashely). Hawk and Justine have loved for so long, against such impossible odds, for such high stakes, and Joanna Bourne’s writing is sumptuous. I could gush and gush and gush…

What are the scenes that are the hardest for you to write?
I think I’m supposed to say hot scenes, except I refuse to write a hot scene that’s primarily about the heat. Unless a scene advances the dramatic plot, or moves a character along his or her growth curve, it can usually be cut. If the hot scene in a traditional Regency is about biology only, it can badly sag the pacing. So, I’ve made friends with the hot scenes and figured out what they’re really about, though that leaves me… not knowing what to do with scenes involving villains getting their comeuppance. I am no fan of violence in any form, and yet, in Regency times, a hero would have expected to put up his fives in the course of saving the day.

So, scenes involving violence trouble me. Is that necessary if my book seeks to entertain by telling a love story?

If you could have dinner with any three authors, who would you choose and why?
Joanna Bourne, because she’s lived all over the world, read more cool books than you can imagine, and writes terrific books. JR Ward because she had to reinvent herself, did so spectacularly, and writes terrific books at a breakneck pace. Eloisa James, because she is an ambassadress for the genre, has been tremendously kind to me and many others, and writes terrific books.

Last question, are you working on anything right now?
Right now this very week, I handed in four-and-a-partial manuscripts to my editor so she can choose which two of the five stories to queue up for publication next spring; I’m reading galleys on a book titled, “Beckman,” to come out this summer; I’m doing major painful revisions on a book called, “David,” due for its first submission March 31; and I have a work-in-progress, “Michael,” which is the third in a Regency trilogy around the theme of captivity.

Question: What puts a book on your keeper shelf?

Though there are lines he will not cross, Darius Lindsey has become the favored plaything of bored, titled society ladies. He contracts one final engagement with the pretty, sweet, Lady Vivian Longstreet, hoping that meeting his obligations to Vivian will free him from the financial constraints making his life hell. Darius finds instead that the bargain he thought would cost him the last of his self-respect instead resurrects both his honor and his heart.

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

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Check out what's up for grabs.

Up For Grabs:

• 3 lucky winners will win an eBook copy of Darius

To Enter: 

• Please answer this question: What puts a book on your keeper shelf?
• Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.

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