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Friday, July 11, 2014

Interview with Author Elizabeth Michels and Giveaway


Elizabeth Michels grew up on a Christmas tree farm in rural South Carolina. After tip-toeing her way through school with her focus on ballet steps and her nose in a book, she met a boy and followed him a thousand miles away from home to Kansas City, Missouri, before settling down in North Carolina. She attended Park University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Interior Design. Elizabeth is a lover of happily-ever-afters; she invites you to read her stories, get lost, and enjoy. For more information, please visit http://www.elizabethmichels.com/.

Find Elizabeth at:


First off, can you tell us a bit about you?
Hi, everyone! *waves* I’m Elizabeth Michels. My third book, HOW TO LOSE A LORD IN 10 DAYS OR LESS, released last week. So, it’s official. I’m no longer a debut author. This year has been a wild one. With 3 book releases in this series, my little boy going to kindergarten, and my family’s move to a house that required us to live in saw dust for a few months, I’m just happy to be here, hanging out with you, having survived it. A bit about myself…let me see…I love books, writing fun characters, and I’m fascinated by history. When I’m not writing I’m usually planting flowers in my yard, cooking for my family, or chauffeuring my little boy to swimming lessons. It’s a glamorous life, indeed.

A la Twitter style, please describe your book (or series) in 140 characters or less.
A rebellious outcast helps an uptight lord see that perfect is flawed & flawed is perfect in horses & in love #HOWTOLOSEALORDIN10DAYSORLESS

Next tweet: That was really hard to do. LOL #makingmework #toomanywords #itsalsoaRegency #funrompinthemoors ;)

What types of scenes are your most favorite to write?
I love writing scenes that make me laugh while I’m writing them. If I’m cackling as I write, then I know I’ve done something right. There are a few scenes in HOW TO LOSE A LORD IN 10 DAYS OR LESS that made me cry, but not in the sad way…well, there was one of those too. But, I’m talking about laughing to the point of wiping tears away. My favorite laugh-tears scene involves a dinner party with the neighbors who just happen to be the hero and heroine of the first book in the series, MUST LOVE DUKES. It all starts to go downhill over the soup course because of the itchy lace trim on a dress. And falls into complete shenanigans rather quickly. I love to laugh. So, as much as I love to write steamy scenes and rip-your-heart-out sad scenes, the funny ones are my favorites.

What are the things that influence you the most as a writer?
I can be influenced by anything around me from a song on the radio, to a comment a stranger makes as I check out at the grocery store. The inspiration for Andy, Lord Amberstall, the hero of this book, came from something my brother said while joking around over 10 years ago. He introduced my (now) sister-in-law to our family with a long discussion about his love of “Wide-hipped, child bearing women.” Did I mention my sister-in-law is a Zumba and spin instructor? It stuck in my family. Fast forward many years and I was creating a truly flawed gentleman who was destined to meet his match, and those words came to mind. Of course, many things grew from there, but that was his origin.

What are some of your favorite characteristics to find in a hero?
I like a smart, funny, handsome, kind hero who is also horribly flawed in some way. I like to watch as the misguided and misunderstood man in question finds his way by the end of the story. And, for that to happen, he has to start out a bit of a mess. But, messy heroes are so much fun to clean up! *winks*

Tell me, is there anything that we would be surprised to learn about you?
I usually write books and even some scenes out of order, ending first, then the middle.
If there’s an indoor plant anywhere in sight, I will somehow manage to kill it even though one of my hobbies is gardening.

The worst job I ever had was selling hair to bald men.

I write a lot of my various blog posts from the bathroom floor during 6 year-old bath time.

I’m an alien. Oh, did I say that out loud? I meant, I’m human. Yes, human. *looks innocent*

If you could live inside any book, which one would you choose and why?
Harry Potter. Why? Who wouldn’t want to live there?

If you could spend the day in the shoes of any of your characters, who would you choose and why?
I would want to spend the day in Victoria Fairlyn’s shoes. She’s in DESPERATELY SEEKING SUZANNA, book 2 of the Tricks of the Ton series, and she will have her own book soon. I choose her shoes because she has pretty amazing taste in shoes and if you have to wear dancing slippers for a day, go for the fanciest ones on the dance floor!

If you were stranded on a desert island and could bring only three items, what would you bring and why?
Is it cheating to steal the answer to this question from this season of Agents of SHIELD? Because, if you had the TARDIS, really what else would you need? LOL, I suppose I would also take a good book to enjoy under a palm tree while I was there and my husband…also to enjoy under a palm tree while I was there. *grins*

Last question, are you working on anything right now?
I am! I’m currently writing Roselyn Grey’s story and planning for 3 more books to keep hers company on the bookshelf. I wouldn’t want her to get lonely and ladies do like to travel with friends, especially when those friends are Evangeline Green, Isabelle Fairlyn, and Victoria Fairlyn. I’m having so much fun with these stories, and I can’t wait to share them with everyone!

Thank you so much for hosting me today on Ramblings from this Chick! 
What types of scenes are your favorite to read?



"I want to know you, to understand anything at all about you, because you are the most maddening lady I have ever encountered."

He's the perfect gentleman...

After years hidden away from the mockery of the Ton, proud Andrew Clifton, Lord Amberstall, is finally ready to face Society again. But when his horse is injured on the road to London, Andrew finds himself literally thrown at the feet of the beautiful, infuriating, and undeniably eccentric Katie Moore.

...she's anything but a lady.

Katie always preferred the stables to society, so when she was badly injured in a riding accident, she was more than happy to retreat to the countryside and give up the marriage mart for good. She never expected an infuriatingly proper lord to come tumbling into her life - and she certainly never expected to find herself wondering what it would be like to rejoin the world at his side.

They couldn't be more different, and soon Andrew and Katie find themselves at odds about everything but the growing passion between them... and a keen awareness of a threat that may end their unconventional romance before it has even begun.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |
 


Check out what's up for grabs.

Up For Grabs:
  • 1 copy of How To Lose A Lord In 10 Days Or Less

To Enter: 
  • Please answer Elizabeth's question: What types of scenes are your favorite to read?
  • US/Canada shipping ONLY.
  • Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.

Good Luck! 

Special thanks to Sourcebooks sponsoring this giveaway.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

41 comments :

  1. Really romantic ones, or funny ones

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    1. We're totally on the same page with our scene preferences, Tammy. Thanks for commenting! :)

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  2. I like funny scenes with sarcastic banters.

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    1. Me too, May! I'm pretty sarcastic in real life, so this isn't a stretch for me. LOL

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  3. I love the scenes where the H and h realize that they love each other. It is usually pretty romantic.

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    1. *swoons* I know, right, Betty? There's always that moment of hesitation where he realizes he loves her and she feels the same, but neither want to say it. So, there's this unspoken moment of tension between them. Love it! :)

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  4. I too love the ones where their banter makes me LOL. I also like the ones where the guy is trying to figure out how to get the girl (because he really loves her).

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    1. I just love to laugh, Laney! I'm glad it's not just me. :)

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  5. I love it when the hero and heroine have plenty of banter between them. I also love it when the characters are not "perfect", because let's face it, none of us are perfect, right? :)

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    1. Sandra, I think it's safe to say you will enjoy my latest book. Flawed characters who banter is pretty much what the whole book is about. LOL Thanks for commenting!

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  6. I enjoy the funny sweet scenes as well as the romantic sex scenes. Thanks for having the giveaway.

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    1. Oh, the steamy scenes! They're so much fun to read, and to write! ;) Thanks for commenting, Anita!

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  7. :My favorite are when the messed up hero figures it out...that ah ha moment is sweet! Thanks for stopping by to share some of your thoughts with us!

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    1. That's such a sweet moment, Lisa. I agree! When you've been cheering him on throughout the book, it's a pretty sweet victory to see him finally get it. *happy sighs*

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  8. I love the scenes that have some suspense in them, you don't really know if its going to work between the two people. In the end I love it when they are perfect together.

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    1. I think it's that tension that makes readers turn pages. It's that sense of "Oh, no!" or "What if?" that makes a story exciting. And I agree, Deb, I can enjoy those scenes even more, knowing that in romance there will be a happily-ever-after. :)

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  9. I love romantic comedy :) Congrats to Elizabeth on the new release!

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  10. I love to read first meet and first kiss scenes, along with humorous ones.

    Marcy Shuler

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    1. Me too, Marcy! One of my favorite parts in a story is when the two characters are about to meet and you know everything is about to get crazy. First meetings are so much fun!

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  11. Verbal sparring!! Humorous of course!! I love it when they just keep going at each other and keep biting each other's heads off until one of them realizes how childish they are being or something even more hilarious or "silly" trumps their argument. Priceless =D

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    1. It's the best! I get all giddy over a string of humorous dialogue between characters. :)

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  12. Humorous romantic scenes usually in public places.

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    1. Ooooh, Glenda, me too! I love romantic scenes in public places!! The alcove off of the ballroom is my personal favorite. ;)

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  13. I enjoy witty repartee between the main characters and interactions with quirky secondary characters.

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    1. Aren't quirky secondary characters the best? I love them. Of course, mine always start out as quirky people in the background and then end up with their own books. LOL

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  14. I enjoy when the heroine & the hero are working together to solve a problem or mystery.

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    1. I like that too, Di! In fact, that's what I'm writing right now. :)

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  15. I like scenes where there is humor involved, say the hero and heroine are in a tricky situation that they may not think is so funny, but that makes me laugh out loud. :D

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    1. I'm so with you, Barbara! Awkward social situations are so much fun to read...and to write! :)

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  16. The romantic (and/or steamy) love scenes!

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  17. Hi Elizabeth! I love the title of your book and I can't wait to read your #funrompinthemoors! LOL!! I love reading flirty scenes with humorous bantering that makes me giggle and sigh at the same time! :-)

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  18. I just really enjoy scenes about the clash of wills between the hero and heroine with funny and witty exchanges. And I totally agree with bringing the TARDIS to a deserted island! Hehe!!

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    1. I mean, really, Ada. If you have a TARDIS, what more do you need? LOL

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  19. I love scenes that start off with the couple fighting and then turns into a passionate kiss.

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  20. I love all the scenes in the book!!

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  21. love the scenes where the female is rescued by her man!

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