The awesome Jerrica Knight-Cantania tagged me in a blog hop game. Here are my answers!
1: What is the working title of your book? I'm currently taking part in an upcoming anthology titled The Duke's Heart. My novella is called Fate Unexpected.
2: Where did the idea come from for the book? It's the historical equivalent of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants! Five debutantes buy a heart-shaped pendant from a gypsy, who prophesies it will lead to the heart of a duke.
3: What genre does your book come under? Regency Romance.
4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? My heroine, Eleanore, would be played by Kate Hudson and Eddie Redmayne would be perfect to play my hero, Jacob. H's my first gingery hero and I'm absolutely in love with him!
5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? Five young ladies take turns testing the power of a pendant to win the heart of a duke only to discover the necklace leads to something much more valuable, true love. *
6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency? We're going Indie on this one!
7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? About two and half months, because of a few major interruptions such as moving into a new house. It's hard to write about true love when you're buried neck-deep in packing boxes!
8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? I don't think there's anything quite like it out there at the moment, but it's fun, warm and sweet.
9: Who or what inspired you to write this book? My particular story was inspired partly by recent events, in the vaguest of ways. It's all about a woman's choices, or lack thereof, and how she might deal with that. And, as always, I'm inspired by the idea of finding true and everlasting love, especially where one doesn't expect to find it.
10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? There is a common thread that binds these women throughout the stories, that of their shared belief in the gypsy pendant. Each one of these ladies has a different reason for wearing it, however.
Here's an excerpt:
"You must be joking."
Jacob Mackenzie stared at his cousin, the Duke of Langley, wondering when the man had gone mad. He picked up the brandy that had been poured for him and threw it back in one swallow, savoring the burn as it slid down his throat.
His gaze searched the duke's face, but saw no hint that his cousin was indeed playing a prank. "Do I look like a wedding liaison to you, Drew? I'm a man of the law, not some society fribble."
"As my personal barrister, you are to take charge of things that vex me." The duke looked unconcerned as he leaned back in his chair and swirled the amber liquor in his own glass before taking a swallow. "This wedding vexes me. Correction: my mother and Lady Huntington are plaguing, hounding and haranguing me, attempting to drag me into every tiny decision."
"I am not in charge of dealing with things that vex you. I did not study for years to become a man of law so I could chase away people who pester you."
The duke continued as if he had not heard Jacob's muttered protest. "Do you think it matters to me if Eleanor wears cream or robin's egg blue? Or if the long tables are decorated with lilies or roses? It does not. I do not care in the least."
"And I do?"
Jacob loved his cousin, which is why he hadn't punched him in the face and quit his employment months ago. Drew could be an arrogant pain in the arse, but really, this was too much. The man was attempting to fob his betrothed and his wedding responsibilities off onto Jacob because they were an annoyance.
He felt a small pinch of pity for the irritatingly perky Lady Eleanor—though she was so wrapped up in flitting from party to party, she probably wouldn't even notice which man was at her side until the vows were spoken.
"Ahh, but you will get paid to care." Drew waggled his eyebrows at him, his gaze lit with amusement. "I will grant you a bonus of one thousand pounds if you take over my wedding duties. And I will provide you with an open purse with which to please the ladies in their furor over flowers and lace. Just keep my betrothed occupied and happy, and out of my way."
"You must truly be desperate."
"I am."
*I completely lifted this description of our anthology from Samantha Grace, who said it better than I ever could. ;)
1: What is the working title of your book? I'm currently taking part in an upcoming anthology titled The Duke's Heart. My novella is called Fate Unexpected.
2: Where did the idea come from for the book? It's the historical equivalent of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants! Five debutantes buy a heart-shaped pendant from a gypsy, who prophesies it will lead to the heart of a duke.
3: What genre does your book come under? Regency Romance.
4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? My heroine, Eleanore, would be played by Kate Hudson and Eddie Redmayne would be perfect to play my hero, Jacob. H's my first gingery hero and I'm absolutely in love with him!
5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? Five young ladies take turns testing the power of a pendant to win the heart of a duke only to discover the necklace leads to something much more valuable, true love. *
6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency? We're going Indie on this one!
7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? About two and half months, because of a few major interruptions such as moving into a new house. It's hard to write about true love when you're buried neck-deep in packing boxes!
8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? I don't think there's anything quite like it out there at the moment, but it's fun, warm and sweet.
9: Who or what inspired you to write this book? My particular story was inspired partly by recent events, in the vaguest of ways. It's all about a woman's choices, or lack thereof, and how she might deal with that. And, as always, I'm inspired by the idea of finding true and everlasting love, especially where one doesn't expect to find it.
10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? There is a common thread that binds these women throughout the stories, that of their shared belief in the gypsy pendant. Each one of these ladies has a different reason for wearing it, however.
Here's an excerpt:
"You must be joking."
Jacob Mackenzie stared at his cousin, the Duke of Langley, wondering when the man had gone mad. He picked up the brandy that had been poured for him and threw it back in one swallow, savoring the burn as it slid down his throat.
His gaze searched the duke's face, but saw no hint that his cousin was indeed playing a prank. "Do I look like a wedding liaison to you, Drew? I'm a man of the law, not some society fribble."
"As my personal barrister, you are to take charge of things that vex me." The duke looked unconcerned as he leaned back in his chair and swirled the amber liquor in his own glass before taking a swallow. "This wedding vexes me. Correction: my mother and Lady Huntington are plaguing, hounding and haranguing me, attempting to drag me into every tiny decision."
"I am not in charge of dealing with things that vex you. I did not study for years to become a man of law so I could chase away people who pester you."
The duke continued as if he had not heard Jacob's muttered protest. "Do you think it matters to me if Eleanor wears cream or robin's egg blue? Or if the long tables are decorated with lilies or roses? It does not. I do not care in the least."
"And I do?"
Jacob loved his cousin, which is why he hadn't punched him in the face and quit his employment months ago. Drew could be an arrogant pain in the arse, but really, this was too much. The man was attempting to fob his betrothed and his wedding responsibilities off onto Jacob because they were an annoyance.
He felt a small pinch of pity for the irritatingly perky Lady Eleanor—though she was so wrapped up in flitting from party to party, she probably wouldn't even notice which man was at her side until the vows were spoken.
"Ahh, but you will get paid to care." Drew waggled his eyebrows at him, his gaze lit with amusement. "I will grant you a bonus of one thousand pounds if you take over my wedding duties. And I will provide you with an open purse with which to please the ladies in their furor over flowers and lace. Just keep my betrothed occupied and happy, and out of my way."
"You must truly be desperate."
"I am."
*I completely lifted this description of our anthology from Samantha Grace, who said it better than I ever could. ;)