Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back Mia Marlowe to the blog today.  We are chatting about her newest book One Night with a Rake.

Mia, for those who missed you the first time can you please share with us a little about yourself?

Mia: I’m a totally curious person, always been addicted to learning new things. My kids say I’m a fount of useless information (yet they both read every tag in museums now just as I used to do for them when they were little). Guess I’ve passed on my obsessive need to be a factoid magpie. On a personal note, I’m still married to my college sweetheart and, in addition to the aforementioned kids, am the proud pet parent of two puppy mill reject dogs.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Mia: Heavens, no! I’ve had a pretty checkered career path. I’ve been—hold on!—a professional opera singer, a teacher, a choir director, a home schooling mom, a realtor, a banker and finally, a writer. I decided to try my hand at writing after meeting an author and deciding if she can do it, I can do it. The Greeks have a word for that. It’s called “hubris.” Once I dove into it, I discovered writing involved an ocean of skills to master.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

Mia: I really enjoy Deanna Raybourn, Sherry Thomas, and Diana Gabaldon to name a few. I grew up reading MM Kaye, Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt.

How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?

Mia: Because I love the “take me away” qualities of historical romance, I never considered writing any other subgenre. However, I do enjoy cross-overs and like a little paranormal magic in my historicals from time to time. No weres or vampires, just a little psychic fun.

What are some of your writing rituals?

Mia: I’m a stickler for meeting deadlines so once I have the characters and basic story shape in my head, I map out my word count so I know how much I need to advance daily in order to reach my goal. I write until I hit the count each day—five days a week.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

Mia: One Night with a Rake is the story of Lord Nathaniel, an incorrigible rake who’s been blackmailed into seducing Lady Georgette. However, the beautiful reformist is no easy conquest. Nate has to convince her that he cares about someone other than himself. No one is more surprised than Nate when he actually does!

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Mia: In 1817, Princess Charlotte died along with her stillborn son. She was the only legitimate grandchild of King George III. Suddenly, the succession was in question and the unmarried sons of the king realized if they could present their royal father with a legitimate heir, that child might one day wear the crown. So the Dukes of Sussex, Cambridge and Kent went a-courting. That’s the actual history behind the Royal Rakes series and One Night with a Rake. In my fictional world, a member of Parliament doesn’t want to see the House of Hanover continue on the throne, so he coerces Lord Nathaniel into making sure Lady Georgette is no longer eligible for a royal duke’s attention. The result is a Regency romp with plenty of sizzle.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

Mia: For Sourcebooks, I’m working on a new series called Somerfield Park—a Downton Abbey-esque world set in the Regency era. And I’m also writing a Scottish Christmas novel for Kensington complete with crumbling castles, a hunky, kilted hero and a mysterious jeweled scepter that is the envy of every clan. Check my Coming Next page for the latest!

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

Mia: I opened One Night with a Rake to page 241. Georgette’s maid Mercy has been leading Reuben the footman a merry chase.  She’s a reformed whore who doesn’t believe she deserves to be loved and is irritated when Reuben tries to convince her otherwise. She’d rather welcome him to her bed with no strings attached. Now he’s taken a solid clout to the head that’s rendered him insensible and the doctor recommends Mercy talk to him in the hopes that he’ll waken when he hears her voice. Tough-minded Mercy doesn’t share what’s in her heart very often, but a man who can’t talk back is the perfect sounding board.  

What would you be if you were not an author?

Mia: A travel & food journalist. I love to visit new places and try new things. The DH and I just returned from a cruise around the UK and I’d be happy to write about the dubious joys of haggis, neeps & tatties!

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Mia: Next up on my Kindle is Four Sisters, All Queens by Sherry Jones. Sherry and I are going to be rooming together at RWA Nationals in Atlanta in July, so I want to be able to talk with her intelligently about her work.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Mia: Here’s what Publishers Weekly has to say about One Night with a Rake:

“Marlowe’s fast-paced second Royal Rakes romance (after Waking Up with a Rake) features a progressive heiress and a jaded nobleman. In Regency England, the Duke of Cambridge want to marry quickly, hoping to father the next heir to the throne. His enemies blackmail Lord Nathaniel Colton into agreeing to deflower Cambridge’s potential bride, Lady Georgette—the daughter of the Marquis of Yorkingham and sister of Nate’s deceased fiancée. Georgette often travels to the seediest parts of London to help prostitutes leave their sordid lifestyles, so Nate offers to be her protector; proximity results in romantic trysts that lead her down the path of ruin and him closer to realizing that he has true feelings for her. Mystery simmers alongside the romance as Nate and Georgette seek a killer while contemplating a future together. Passionate interludes and scintillating twists and turns will entice historical fans.”

ONE NIGHT WITH A RAKE

by CONNIE MASON AND MIA MARLOWE 

IN STORES JUNE 2013

Amazon | Barnes and Noble |Books-a-Million | IndieBound |Chapters/Indigo |Discover a New Love |Sourcebooks

For King and Country, Three Notorious Rakes Will Put All Their Seductive Skills to Work.

 After All, The Fate of England’s Monarchy is in Their Hands.

 Since the death of his fiancée, Nathaniel Colton’s polished boots have rested beneath the beds of countless wayward wives and widows of the ton. He’s careful to leave each lady smiling, and equally careful to guard his heart. So seducing Lady Georgette should pose no problem. But the beautiful reformist is no easy conquest, and Nate’s considerable charm fails to entice Georgette to his bed. To woo her, Nate will have to make her believe he cares about someone besides himself–and no one is more surprised than Nate when he realizes he actually does.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Connie Mason is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 novels. She was named Storyteller of the Year in 1990 and received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews in 1994. She currently lives in Florida. Mia Marlowe is a highly acclaimed new voice in romance whose debut novel released in Spring 2011 from Kensington. She lives in Boston. Together, they are working on the next book in the Royal Rakes series, Between a Rake and a Hard Place, which will be in stores in January 2014. For more information, please visit http://www.miamarlowe.com .

Mia loves to connect with readers. Find her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Mia_Marlowe  & Facebook: http://facebook.com/MiaMarloweFanPage .

a Rafflecopter giveaway