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Monday, November 17, 2014

Guest Post with Author Mia Marlowe and Giveaway


Mia Marlowe is a rising star whose Touch of a Rogue was named one of Publishers Weekly‘s Top Ten Best Romances for Spring 2012. Mia learned about storytelling while singing professional opera. She knows what it’s like to sing a high “C” in a corset, so she empathizes with the trials of her historical heroines. Mia resides in Boston, Massachusetts.

Find Mia at:
Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

Inspiration

First, thanks for having me today and for letting me talk about where I get my ideas for my books. I always feel ideas are floating all around us. Like the word ‘inspire’ implies, I sort of breathe them in. Sometimes it’s a song. Sometimes a painting. Once in a very great while, a television show.

That’s right. Downton Abbey got me started thinking about why I loved it so much. Part of it was the wonderful house and grounds, the clothes and sparkling crystal. If I could create a setting like that, only in my beloved Regency era, I believed readers would enjoy visiting it. So Somerfield Park was born and with it, the first book in the series, A Rake by Any Other Name.

The second part of Downton’s pull for me is the wonderful characters. I knew I had to people my fictional world with an eclectic bunch, starting with my hero.

Richard Barrett, Lord Hartley, has earned the reputation of a rake while traveling the Continent with his profligate friend, Lawrence Seymour. He may have sown his wild oats, but when his family needs him, his sense of duty, of “ought-ness” kicks into high gear. Not enough to go quietly when his family tries to convince him to let down Lady Antonia, to whom he very nearly proposed, and marry an heiress whom he’s never met instead, but Richard stands ready to take the reins of Somerfield Park in its time of need.

During the Regency, young ladies dream of doing everything right, of fitting in and winning the approval of all with their fine manners and proper behavior. Nothing could be more repugnant to my heroine, Sophie Goodnight. Raised in India, she has outlandish ideas and can’t fit into the narrow confines of British society any more than she can walk briskly in the narrow column dresses she’s expected to wear. And she’s as against the match her parents are trying to broker with Lord Hartley as he is.

Nothing brings a couple together like their shared distaste of being thrown together.

Of course, I had to have some intrigue going on in the “below stairs” world of Somerfield Park. So I treat my readers to the breathless courtship between Eliza Dovecote, the wistful scullery maid and David Abbot, the handsome footman as they try to uncover a secret that’s likely to upset the entire estate. And there’s also the middle-aged joy of the under-butler Mr. Porter’s Walter Mitty-esque pining for Mrs. Culpepper, Somerfield’s buxom cook.

Once my characters become firm in my mind, they are my best inspiration. I sort of follow them around while they whisper their secrets. Writing is the only profession where it’s good to hear voices!



A Reluctant Lord. A Resistant Lady. A Superfluous Fiancée.

And a Devastating Family Secret…

When Richard Barrett, Lord Hartley, is abruptly called home to take the reins of the estate, he discovers the extent of the family’s financial straits. The remedy: marry the heiress their families have picked out for him. Unfortunately, he’s already planned to marry someone else.

Miss Sophie Goodnight isn’t too keen on becoming his purse with feet…and she sabotages all attempts to woo her. But when Lord Hartley discovers the shenanigans in his father’s past, he realizes that deciding between two beautiful women is the least of his problems.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | Kobo | iTunes |



Check out what's up for grabs.


Up For Grabs:
  • 5 copy of A Rake by Any Other Name

To Enter: 
  • US/CA shipping ONLY.
  • Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.

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Special thanks to Sourcebooks for sponsoring this tour-wide giveaway.
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17 comments :

  1. I love Lord Gabriel Sharpe from Sabrina Jeffries' To Wed a Wild Lord.

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    1. One of the joys of writing has been getting to know other writers. Sabrina and I have gotten to know each other at RT and RWA Nationals. What a neat person.

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  2. Ooohh I love stories with side romances going on!

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    1. Me too. For me it makes the world of the story more real. After all, love doesn't happen in a vacuum. There are always other things going on around the primary love interest.

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  3. I don't have a favorite fictional rake yet. But I would love to read this book. Thanks for having the giveaway.

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  4. Leo from Lisa Kleypas' Hathaway series is a great rake.

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    1. I haven't read that series. Will have to put it on my TBR list. Thanks!

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  5. I don't have a fave fictional rake because I love 'em all (just about). I have fave go-to authors (Mia is one of them) who write delightful Regency/Georgian/Victorian romances and rakes are part and parcel one of the big reasons I love reading these romances. Major truth here: I love the reformed rake plot line. :-) Maybe because I reformed the rake in my own life--hubby dearest! :-) Thanks for the interesting question. jdh2690@gmail.com

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  6. I don't have a favorite fictional rate. I love whichever rake I am reading about at the time.

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  7. I like Leo Hathaway from Lisa Kleypas's Hathaway series. Very hot!

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  8. I have a hard time deciding on a favorite rake. Though it's looking like I need to try Lisa Kelypas's series for sure!

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  9. My favorite fictional rake is always the one that I'm currently reading about.

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  10. Im not sure I have a FAVORITE ... I like them all!
    =)

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  11. It's whatever fictional rake I'm reading about. :) But Roarke from JD Robb's In Death Series is close to any favorite. :) Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750(at) aol (dot) com

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