Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back Shana Galen to the blog.

Can you please share with us a little about yourself
SG: Of course! Thanks for having me back. I write adventurous historical romances set in the Regency period and featuring spies, pirates, courtesans, and the like. I live in Houston, Texas, and I write full time. I live with my husband, two cats, and my daughter.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

SG: I didn’t know that author was a profession until I was about 28. Even then I never thought of writing books for a living (and it was a good thing I didn’t expect that!). I did always have stories to tell, stories in my mind that needed to get out. If you don’t believe me, ask my little sister. I used to make her stay awake and listen to my stories when we were kids and shared a room.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
SG: In the historical genre, I read Anna Campbell, Vanessa Kelly, Kate Noble, Robyn DeHart, Margo Maguire, Sophie Jordan, Kieran Kramer, Erin Knightley, Katharine Ashe, Theresa Romain, Miranda Neville, and Sarah MacLean. Contemporary favorites are Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Nora Roberts, and Tera Lynn Childs. Marsha Canham, Joanna Bourne, and Julie Garwood have really been the largest influences on y writing style.

How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?
SG: Oh, I blame it on Julie Garwood. I picked up one of her historicals and had to read them all. When I finished, I didn’t know what else to read, so I wrote my own. Yes, I would like to write in other genres, but right now I don’t have much time since I have a young child, plus I have a lot of historical books contracted.

What are some of your writing rituals?
SG: I like to write early in the day. I have difficulty focusing in the evening. If I can sit down at my computer when it’s still dark outside, sip some coffee, and write a thousand words before everyone wakes up, I’m happy.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
SG:  TRUE SPIES is the second in the Lord and Lady Spy series. It’s about Winn and Elinor, who are married but estranged. Winn is a spy, and Elinor has no idea of his secret identity. If it sounds a bit like the movie True Lies, that was the inspiration.

How did you come with the idea for this story?
SG: Readers asked for another book in the Lord and Lady Spy series, so I started re-watching some of my favorite spy movies, and I knew True Spies was one that would translate well to the Regency period.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
SG: I’m actually writing the third in the Lord and Lady Spy series, LOVE AND LET SPY. It’s a nod to the James Bond films, except the heroine is Jane Bonde.

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

SG: Here you go. In this scene Winn (Baron) is consulting with Adrian, the hero from LORD AND LADY SPY, about what to do about Elinor.

Baron raised his brows, looking skeptical.

“All you have to do is talk to her.” There. Adrian folded his arms across his chest. He felt rather proud of himself, actually. Sophia wasn’t the only one who could be sympathetic or solve others’ personal problems.

“Talk to her?” Baron said, sounding less than enthusiastic about Adrian’s advice. “And tell her what? I overheard her chatting about bedding another man?”

“I don’t know that I’d take that tack…”

“Oh, perhaps I should reveal I’m a member of the Barbican group. Even if I hadn’t pledged to keep that a secret, I can imagine her reaction when she realizes I’ve been lying to her for years.”

“Yes, well—”

“Or how about this idea? I go find this Rafe and beat the hell out of him…”

What would you be if you were not an author?

SG: A frustrated author. I’d have all these stories in my head, driving me nuts.

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

SG: I was asked to read an advance copy of Vanessa Kelly’s SECRETS FOR SEDUCING A ROYAL BODYGUARD. I cannot wait to get to it.

Is there anything else you would like to add? 

SG: Thank you so much for having me again!

TRUE SPIES

by SHANA GALEN

IN STORES SEPTEMBER 2014

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He’s Getting Tired of Deception…

Baron Winslow Keating is honor-bound to finish one last mission as an elite spy for the Barbican group even though he just wants to go home and be with his family. But after years of secrecy and absence, his daughters hardly know him and his wife has given up on him…

She Wants to Try a Little Intrigue…

Lady Elinor has had enough of domestic boredom. She contemplates an affair with a rakish spy, only to discover a world of intrigue and treachery that she never knew existed. Even more shocking, her neglectful husband is suddenly very attentive—quite the jealous type—and apparently there is much more to him than she ever knew…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shana Galen is the author of fast-paced adventurous Regency historicals, including the Lord and Lady Spy Series, the Jewels of the Ton Series, as well as the Sons of the Revolution Trilogy. A former English teacher in Houston’s inner city, Shana now writes full time, and is working on more regency romance novels! She’s happily married to the Ultimate Sportsfan and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making. Shana loves to hear from readers: visit her website at www.shanagalen.com or see what she’s up to daily on Facebook and Twitter.

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