Sep 29, 2023 | Blog, Coffee With, Dirty Dozen, Regina Kyle, September 2023
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Rae: Welcome to the blog. With fall just around the corner I’m having a Spiced Almond Milk Latte with a drizzle of caramel in my mug. What is in your cuppa?
Regina: Well, I’m kinda weird in that I love to drink iced coffee year-round. Decaf, with 2% milk and more artificial sweetener than I care to admit LOL.
Rae: I find that reading is best when I have a beverage and a snack, what do you need to have for yourself when you are settling in to read?
Regina: I’ve been on a health kick this past year, walking more and eating healthier. Right now one of my favorite snacks is coconut chunks. Sweet and tasty and easy to snack on without making a mess while I read (or write).
Rae: In a few words, can you describe the type of books you write?
Regina: I think Kristan Higgins said it best when she inadvertently gave me my tag line: fast, sassy, and laugh-out-loud funny.
Rae: When was the moment you knew you wanted to write “steamy romance with heart and humor?”
Regina: I had just gotten an e-reader and was devouring free books on Amazon and from my local library. One of the books I got from Amazon was Leslie Kelly’s Slow Hands, a Harlequin Blaze.I was like wow, this is so not my mother’s Harlequins LOL. I read through her backlist and a lot of other Blaze books by authors like Jo Leigh, Tawny Weber, Samantha Hunter, and Sarah Mayberry. I knew then that those were the kind of books I wanted to write, and I was lucky enough to get a contract writing for the Blaze line two years later.
Rae: What are your writing rituals? Do you prefer pen and paper or type away?
Regina: I’m definitely a typing kind of gal. I write in a program called Scrivener which lets me organize my scenes into chapters and has a corkboard where I can pin inspirational pictures. I’m almost attached to my MacBook Air, which, sadly, is in the shop right now for a few days. Meaning I’m typing this in Word on a PC and it’s killing me!
Rae: The attention to details in your books provides a reader with a story filled with adventure, drama, and yes, a bit of spicy heat. If you could go back and chat with your 2014 self when you released your debut book, what words of wisdom or advice would you offer?
Regina: So much has changed in publishing in the just over ten years that I’ve been writing. I think I’d tell myself to not take anything for granted and celebrate every victory, no matter how small, because some days it seems like they are few and far between.
Rae: When you start writing the first book in a new series do you plot out how many books there will be?
Regina: Sometimes yes, sometimes no. My first series for Blaze was always four books. My Worthington Sisters series for Entangled was originally three books, but we couldn’t agree on the plot for the first book, so we ended up contracting for just two. I have a single title series that I’ve been noodling for a while that started as three books in my head, but then one of the second characters I hadn’t intended writing a book for started screaming for her own story, so now it’s four.
Rae: How extensive is your research before beginning a new story in a series?
Regina: That depends. My first book Triple Threat was set in the world of theater, a world I’m very familiar with having performed on stage since I was ten years old and then being the parent of a professional child actor (my daughter was in the national touring production of Mary Poppins). One of my two current works in progress, Close Quarters, is set in the world of Formula One racing, and I’ve had to do a lot more research for that one than I typically do. I did some before writing, but as I write I always find that more questions pop up in my effort to be as true to the real racing world as possible.
Rae: What is next on the horizon? I hear you might be working on a new series that involves Formula One and is a M/M romance? Perhaps a Mediterranean Millionaire? Can you share more with us?
Regina: Yes and yes. The second book in the Mediterranean Millionaires series has been a long time coming, I know. Truth be told, I had a very difficult couple of years mental health wise, but thankfully am back on track again thanks to a great therapist and supportive family. Side note: if you’re struggling, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. By far one of the best things I have ever done. Anyway, long story short, I turned in Miguel’s story, How Not To Marry A Millionaire, to my editor, and now we are in the process of doing some extensive revisions that are painful but I know is going to make this book better and exactly what I want it to be. Meanwhile, I’m also in the final stages of drafting Close Quarters, a MM romance set in the exciting, fast-paced world of Formula One racing. This one is proving to be a blast to write and has definitely helped me regain my mojo. It’s a grumpy/sunshine age gap romance between a rookie driver and his grizzled crew chief, and it’s part of a shared world with two other amazing authors that I met while writing in Sarina Bowen’s Vino and Veritas world, Victoria Denault and Leslie McAdam. We hope to release in October or November.
Rae: Were there any unplanned events or characters that you did not intend on while crafting these story?
Regina: Well, there are always unplanned events in my stories, as I usually plot out only the major plot points and let a lot of the stuff in between happen organically as I write. For example, in Dirty Work, one of my favorites of the books I have written, the whole Ferris Bueller theme was not originally planned. What I did plan was that they would attend Hudson River Flicks, where they show movies in Hudson River Park in New York City. When I researched what kinds of movies were typically shown, I learned that they show a lot of family-friendly 1980s flicks, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was the first movie that came up when I Googled 80s movies. Then when I went to write Jake and Ainsley’s interaction in that scene, I realized that their reaction to the movie would be very different and essentially a reflection of the main conflict in the book: workaholic Jake would view Ferris as a slacker, while reformed workaholic Ainsley would view him as a role model. That wound up leading to an argument that foreshadowed the black moment and even changed what the grand gesture was going to be.
Rae: What was your biggest obstacle while writing these books?
Regina: Well, to be honest, my mental health struggles. As a major extrovert, the pandemic was particularly hard on me. Combine that with day job pressures and family changes (my daughter moved across the country), and I found it hard to write for a time. And what I did produce was not up to the standard I wanted. I’m happy to say that I’ve rediscovered the joy in my writing and am regularly getting words down again, and I have several projects in various stages of development for once Close Quarters and the final two Mediterranean Millionaire books are done, including a super-secret single title series and a gay holiday romcom.
1. What is your must read book? Why? Rachel Reid’s Heated Rivalry. Textbook example of enemies to lovers. And Ilya Rosonov is one of the most well-developed characters I’ve ever read. A complex chaos gremlin who just sticks with you. He and Shane get a second book, too, The Long Game. Both are must reads for me, and I reread them often. No cliffhangers: they get their HFN in one book and their HEA in the second.
2. If I visit your hometown, where are you taking me, and what’s the best place to grab a bite? You’ll definitely have to come in the summertime so we can take you out on our boat, Casting Call, to the Thimble Islands. After a day of relaxing, noshing, drinking, swimming, and gawking at the beautiful island homes, we’d go to our favorite Italian place, Rosso Vino, for a fabulous meal including the best Caesar salad I’ve ever eaten. I swear, I don’t know what they put in their dressing, but it is the best!
3. What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you? I don’t know about surprised, as I’m pretty much an open book online LOL. Some people are surprised to learn that my day job is as an assistant district attorney. I’ve been an amateur actress since the age of ten, and after a long hiatus have started performing again in the past few years. (Favorite show to be in: Mamma Mia. I played Rosie, one of the Dynamos.)
4. What is your guilty pleasure? I don’t really have a pleasure I feel guilty about. Although I have watched Red, White, and Royal Blue way more times than I want to admit. And it’s entirely possible that all of my heroes in the foreseeable future will bear a striking resemblance to Taylor Zakhar Perez.
5. What are you afraid of? Any and everything creepy and crawly. Bugs. Spiders.
6. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one? None, but I’m not ruling out getting one.
7. Binge watcher or weekly viewer? Which show(s)? Binge when I can. Right now hubby and I are working I way through Good Omens and Only Murders In The Building. I also recently binged Heartstopper and Young Royals, and I’m reliving the 1980s and 1990s by rewatching LA Law, which was big when I was in law school.
8. Is there a book you have read that you would love to see made into a movie (besides yours)? Well, since I’ve been reading a lot of MM romance lately, and since I think there needs to be more queer representation in media, I’m going to say Nic DiDomizio’s The Gay Best Friend. Super fun romcom that I can totally picture on the big screen.
9. What is the one thing you cannot live without? My MacBook Air LOL. As I said earlier, I’m dying here without it!
10. What is the one career that gives you the shudders? Teaching. Not because I think badly of it. To the contrary, it’s an honorable and amazingly difficult and challenging profession. My husband is a high school psychics teacher, and honestly I don’t know how he does it. It takes a lot of patience and understanding, especially in today’s environment. I just know I don’t have the temperament for it.
11. If I opened your handbag/bag/briefcase, what item would I be shocked to see? A stash of Royal Caribbean pens and highlighters. I love cruising, and am the queen of cruise trivia, where they give pens and highlighters as prizes. I’m also the proud winner of Dancing With The Stripes on my last cruise, where they paired passengers with crew members. My partner was a lifeguard from the Maldives, and we totally rocked it! I didn’t get a pen for that one, though, but I did get dinner for two at one of the specialty restaurants and a bottle of champagne.
12. What app on your phone/ipad gets the most use? It’s a three-way tie between Kindle, Hoopla, and Libby.
Rae: Thank you so much for hanging out with me today.
Regina: Thanks for having virtual coffee with me!
Regina Kyle knew she was destined to be an author when she won a writing contest at age 10 with a touching tale about a squirrel and a nut pie. By day, she writes dry legal briefs, representing the state in criminal appeals. At night, she writes steamy romance with heart and humor. She is a three-peat winner of the Booksellers’ Best award: in 2016 for Triple Dare, 2018 for The Billionaire in Her Bed, and 2020 for Dirty Work.
A lover of all things theatrical, Regina lives on the Connecticut coast with her husband and a highly destructive cat with an unfortunate (read: profane) nickname. When she’s not writing, she’s most likely singing, reading, cooking, rooting for her beloved Pittsburgh Penguins, or watching bad reality television
For more info on Regina Kyle you can find her:
Website: https://reginakyle.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReginaKyleauthor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/romancebyregina
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@romancebyregina
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8144022.Regina_Kyle
Mar 16, 2023 | Blog, Coffee With, Dirty Dozen, Erin Langston, March 2023
Rae: Welcome to the blog. I’ve got a Latte with Almond Coconut Milk and a drizzle of chocolate and caramel in my mug. What’s in your cuppa?
Erin: I’m sadly very predictable with my morning beverage of choice: coffee with an obscene amount of milk.
Rae: Congratulations on your debut novel Forever Your Rogue. I have to know, did you have any input in designing the cover? Those colors are stunning 🙂 While I will select books to read based on the book cover or snippets about an upcoming release, I’m a book cover lover so this was a must read on all accounts.
Erin: I have to give a huge shoutout to my cover designer, Erin Dameron-Hill. I indie published Forever Your Rogue, so I was able to have a lot of input on the cover,
but she was the one who brought it to life. I told Erin I wanted something that evoked the joyful, dreamy, summery vibes of the novel, and above all, I wanted a smiling clinch cover. She delivered in the best possible way. All of the gorgeous pinks and purples were her idea. When I saw the cover mock-up, I almost fell out of my chair! It completely blew me away.
Rae: You mention in your bio that a portion of this book was written in the pre-school pickup line, how would you describe your writing rituals?
Erin: Haha, yes! It definitely seemed like my notes app got an awful lot of use when I was waiting for those school doors to open at 2:30 pm. My best “writing” usually happens when I’m nowhere near a computer. Running errands, cleaning my house, driving my kids–it often seems like my brain has the most space to think when I’m absorbed in another task entirely. But to be fair, the actual writing took place in regular, boring locations: at my desk, with my laptop. I do have a fulltime job, so I write first thing in the morning, before my kids get going for the day, as well as late in the evening, after they go to bed. I worked on this book in the margins of my day.
Rae: Do you prefer pen and paper, or type away at the keys?
Erin: All typing! I don’t draft anything by hand. Although I do use voice notes quite a bit, so I’ll dictate scenes and then go back and clean them up.
Rae: With so many different eras in historical romance, when was the moment you knew you wanted to write Regency Romance?
Erin: Most of the historical romances I read take place in the Regency, so it felt really natural to set my book in this time period. I didn’t even consider anything else at this juncture.
Rae: I find that reading is best when I have a beverage and a snack, do you feel the same when writing?
Erin: I tend to be so caught up in what I’m doing that I neither snack nor sip–I have to reheat my coffee about five times every morning because I keep letting it grow cold!
Rae: How extensive is your research before beginning a new story in a series?
Erin: I can only speak for Rogue because it’s my first novel, but I did research extensively before I started outlining and drafting. I needed to really interrogate the legal status of mothers in this time period, and I read a lot of scholarly journal articles and legal proceedings regarding child custody in England in the early 1800s. At the outset, I had a vague sense of what I wanted to do with this book, but I revised my story ideas heavily as I researched. It was important to me that Cora’s dilemma was authentically rooted in the reality of her time period.
Rae: I was drawn into the story of a widow who will do anything to make sure her children stay in her care while she is dealing with the aftermath of a few legal matters. What was the most challenging aspect of this story to craft?
Erin: By far, the hardest part for me was figuring out how to draw Cora into the romantic arc of the story. I had created a character that was facing constant, pressing fears for her small children–possibly the highest external stakes I could have given her. What would motivate a woman like her to be swept up in the arms of a man (even one as charming as Nate Travers)? It took me a really long time to crack into her interior and realize the extent of her yearning and loneliness, and how that layered onto Nate’s own character arc. After I figured that out, it was just a matter of letting Nate take over (wink).
Rae: Where did you find inspiration for this story?
Erin: I mention some of this in my author’s note, but the inspiration for the novel came from research I stumbled upon in the very early stages of this project. It was a legal case from 1804 about a mother trying to regain custody of her infant, who had been taken away from her by her estranged husband. The court upheld the precedent that fathers alone had legal rights to the children of a marriage. That in and of itself was heartbreaking but not shocking–but what really got to me was that this complete authority extended even after a father’s death. A mother was not automatically considered her children’s legal guardian, unless her late husband had named her in his will. Even though the law was really stringent on these matters, some women in the early 1800s still petitioned to keep their children with them. And I wanted to write a story about a fiercely determined woman and the man who falls in love with her doing whatever it takes to keep (and make) a family together.
Rae: What was your biggest obstacle while writing this book?
Erin: For me, the biggest obstacle was getting started. I had carried Cora’s character in my heart for a really long time…but I never felt like I had the wherewithal to see it through. This is not only the first novel I’ve published…it’s the first novel I’ve written. So I had a lot of imposter syndrome and doubts around being able to do this. But it got to the point where I couldn’t not tell the story. Once I got out of my head and started putting words on the page, I felt a huge sense of relief. And I am really fortunate that my husband was one hundred percent behind me and helped make space this last year for me to write. I never would have been able to do this without his support.
Rae: When you have time to refuel and read for inspiration or pleasure, what is your go to genre and how do you select those books?
Erin: I won’t lie, I had very little time to read for pleasure this year. Almost all of my “down” time was spent on writing Rogue! But lately I’ve been reading more contemporary romances–it’s helpful to read outside of my genre right now (it feels less like “work” or research). I also adore suspense and psychological thrillers…about as far from my writing life as possible! And I find books the same way many of us do…usually by asking my friends and family for their recommendations.
Rae: What is next on the horizon?
Erin: Right now, I’m giving myself some time to rest and reset. Writing and then indie publishing this novel took up a lot of my head- and heart-space, and I want to return that attention to my family. But I’m very moved by individual characters, so I imagine my next project will happen the same way Rogue did–by seeing who speaks to me and what story they want me to tell. I have a number of beloved characters we met in Forever Your Rogue, and I hope to spend time with some of them again!
Rae: Thank you so much for hanging out with me today. Readers, if you missed my review and exclusive excerpt of Forever Your Rogue click the link below.
- What is your must read book and why? Anne of Green Gables. The whole series, really, but the nostalgia factor of the first book is unmatched.
- If I visit your hometown, where am I going and what’s the best place to grab a bite? We live in a really small town, but there are so many great local places! Our favorite is a local bakery and pizzeria that makes the best woodfired pizzas and craft cocktails, and they do absolutely divine things with seasonal produce. There is not much I wouldn’t do for their roasted carrots with whipped labneh.
- What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you? I’m such a perfectionist that I was a nervous wreck to take my driver’s test. It’s become this legendary family joke that the summer I was 17, I basically lived at the DMV…it took me five (yes, FIVE) tries to get my driver’s license. I was so anxious that I made every tiny mistake you can think of. Luckily (not to jinx myself!) once I actually managed to pass my test, I never had any issues!
- What is your guilty pleasure? An ice-cold gin and tonic, the porch swing, and my husband on bedtime duty with the kids! Nothing guilty about it–just pure pleasure.
- What are you afraid of? I suffer from horrible stage fright when I know I have to do any kind of public speaking. I’m always completely fine once I actually get going…but the lead-up is brutal for me.
- Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one? No tats!
- Binge watcher or weekly viewer? Which show(s)? A bit of a mix, but I tend to binge a little bit more (likely because we get behind and then have a lot of episodes to catch up on). We tore through White Lotus recently, and we love Only Murders in the Building and The Great. I’ve been faithfully watching Grey’s Anatomy, for better or worse, since I was in high school. It’s my second-longest relationship, haha.
- If you could pick a book you’ve read and make it into a movie, which book would it be (besides yours 🙂 )? I would love to see more diverse historical romances get adaptations. I have not read this book yet (I’m eagerly anticipating the release on April 4, 2023!) but from everything I’ve seen and heard about the worldbuilding and characters in Liana De la Rosa’s forthcoming Luna Sisters series, I think something like this would be incredible to see on screen. Mexican heiresses taking Victorian London by storm? Give it to me!
- What is the one thing you can’t live without? My phone. It’s a sickness!
- What’s the one career that gives you the shudders? I come from a family of teachers, and my mom and sisters are all so creative and patient. One of my sisters is a middle school English teacher, and she does it brilliantly. But I would never, ever trade places with her in a million years. I truly don’t know how she does it!
- If I opened up your handbag/bag/briefcase, what item would I be shocked to see? You would probably be shocked to not see my wallet, because I notoriously forget it in the diaper bag all the time, haha.
- What app on your phone/ipad gets the most use? Spotify! I love listening to music and podcasts during my workday. I’ve been blasting the Forever Your Rogue playlist all winter!
Erin Langston is a historical romance author who crafts Regencies with heart, heat, and humor. A librarian by trade, Erin lives in the Midwest with her husband and two children. When not working, writing, or mom-ing, she can be found outside, drinking wine, buried in a book, or attempting to home-improve. A not-insignificant portion of her first novel was plotted in the preschool pickup line.
Apr 15, 2021 | Barbara Devlin, Blog, Dirty Dozen
1. What is your must read book and why? The Green Mile by Stephen King. King is a masterful storyteller, but his real strength is his ability to create book ensembles and make you feel you’re part of the community.
2. If I visit your hometown, where am I going and what’s the best place to grab a bite? The Swiss Pastry Shoppe, hands down. Best bratwurst. Best tuna salad. Potato salad I’ve actually eaten as dessert because it’s that good. But they’re known for their black forest cake and their red velvet cake.
3. What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you? I once held the state speed record in pursuit driving.
4. What is your guilty pleasure? I Love Lucy. I can recite the lines to every show.
5. What are you afraid of? I’m terrified of flying. I fly only first class—because I actually puked on a poor passenger once. I get on the plane and start drinking.
6. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one? No tats. I don’t do needles unless necessary.
7. Binge watcher or weekly viewer? Which show(s)? Binge watcher, unless it’s Marvel. Can’t wait with Marvel. But I binge Jack Ryan.
8. If you could pick a book you’ve read and make it into a movie, which book would it be (besides yours 🙂 )? I’d love to see any of Nora’s In Death books made into movies.
9. What is the one thing you can’t live without? Coffee.
10. What’s the one career that gives you the shudders? Lion tamer.
11. If I opened up your handbag/bag/briefcase, what item would I be shocked to see? A beautiful nickel-plated Colt Python. It was my backup weapon, and it was a gift from my dad.
12. What app on your phone/ipad gets the most use? Gmail
A proud Latina, USA Today bestselling, Amazon All-Star author Barbara Devlin was born a storyteller, but it was a weeklong vacation to Bethany Beach, Delaware that forever changed her life. The little house her parents rented had a collection of books by Kathleen Woodiwiss, which exposed Barbara to the world of romance, and Shanna remains a personal favorite.
Barbara writes heartfelt historical romances that feature not so perfect heroes who may know how to seduce a woman but know nothing of marriage. And she prefers feisty but smart heroines who sometimes save the hero before they find their happily ever after.
Barbara is a disabled-in-the-line-of-duty retired police officer. She earned an MA in English and continued a course of study for a Doctorate in Literature and Rhetoric. She happily considered herself an exceedingly eccentric English professor, until success in Indie publishing lured her into writing, full-time, featuring her fictional knighthood, the Brethren of the Coast.
Currently, Barbara lives with her retired firefighter husband in the mountains of North Carolina. Connect with Barbara Devlin at BarbaraDevlin.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter, The Knightly News.
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Dec 4, 2020 | Blog, December 2020, Dirty Dozen, Morgan Brice
Morgan Brice/Gail Z. Martin is ready to get dirty for readers near and far. In case you missed my recent Coffee With the Authors in the Anthology Trick or Treat at Caynham Castle click
here.
it’s time to discover a few tasty tidbits about Morgan Brice. How would you answer?
1. What is your must read book and why? There are so many! I’m going to stick with, “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss because even now, it cheers me up.
2. If I visit your hometown, where am I going and what’s the best place to grab a bite? Meadville, PA. Fancy food–Chovy’s. Casual and pizza, Valenza’s. (Italian food is a big deal.)
3. What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you? My first paying job was as a graveyard shift DJ at a radio station
4. What is your guilty pleasure? Sleep
5. What are you afraid of? Running out of coffee
6. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one? Not yet. Never say never.
7. Binge watcher or weekly viewer? Which show(s)? I usually just rewatch Supernatural. But I did peek over my Kindle to sort-of-watch The Witcher, Warrior Nun, It’s Okay Not to Be Okay, and a few others.
8. If you could pick a book you’ve read and make it into a movie, which book would it be (besides yours 🙂 )? I’d love to see a good series made from the Harry Dresden series.
9. What is the one thing you can’t live without? Coffee!
10. What’s the one career gives you the shudders? Crime scene clean-up
11. If I opened up your handbag/bag/briefcase, what item would I be shocked to see? I still pack a purse that could get me through a week stranded in the Alps.
12. What app on your phone/ipad gets the most use? Twitter!
Find our more about Morgan Brice here.
