Monday Author Meetup: Ella Quinn, Regency Shooting Star

I am thrilled to have Ella Quinn, my favorite Regency author, with me today. Ella is offering a Giveaway! See details below.

About the author:

Amazon and Barnes & Nobel bestselling author Ella Quinn’s studies and other jobs have always been on the serious side. Reading historical romances, especially Regencies, were her escape. Eventually her love of historical novels led her to start writing them.

She is married to her wonderful husband of twenty-nine years. They have a son and granddaughter, Great Dane and a Chartreux. After living in the South Pacific, Central America, North Africa, England and Europe, she and her husband decided to make St. Thomas, VI home.

Ella is a member of the Romance Writers of American, The Beau Monde and Hearts Through History. She is represented by Elizabeth Pomada of Larsen-Pomada Literary Agency, and published by Kensington.

Welcome, Ella. You live on such a beautiful island! Amid all that beauty, where is your favorite place to write?

Hi, Lyn. Glad to be here. My favorite place is at my writing desk which has a view over my deck and a hill to a bay. In a few years, I hope my favorite place will be on a boat.

That sounds glorious. Can you write amid noisy distractions or do you need absolute quiet?

I need absolute quiet, or at least, no artificial noise, such as the TV. Also no talking.

I’m with you on the no talking. Are your books published by a large publishing house or small press? How did you come to be with this publisher?

I write for Kensington, which is a large house. My agent goes to New York once a year and visits with editors. They bring with them a list of available titles and the blurbs. My editor saw the blurb and made a request to read my first three books, then he made an offer.

Wow! That’s amazing, but I’m not surprised. You write terrific books. Please tell us how you write. Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m a pantser. Why? After two post graduate degrees, I can still not write an outline. I get mental video of scenes, and start to write.

How do you develop your plots and your characters?

I so wish I could tell you I had a method, but I don’t. My characters start talking to me and the plot flows from those conversations. I always start the book knowing what my hero and heroine want. It’s just a matter of getting there.

How and where do you research for your books?

I do a lot of my research on-line, or in books I’ve bought or borrowed. Many times I’m writing about a place I’ve visited, if not, I try to go there.

Do you have critique partners and/or beta readers?

I have a group of critique partners, without them, my books wouldn’t be nearly as good. They make sure to call me on things that aren’t working, or make me add things I’ve left out. I also have beta readers. My mother-in-law is one. She and my agent seem to be in lock step. I have a woman from England who catches all my Americanisms, and several others. Each one seems to catch something different. I have to say, writing a book is not a one person process. The finished product takes a team.

I so agree with you. How do you unwind and relax when not writing?

I walk on the beach or in the water. I’m also involved in SUP (stand up paddle boarding). For non sports activities I like to go out to lunch and read.

All great ways to relax! When reading (and writing) do you prefer books in a series, or “stand alone” books?

I prefer reading and writing a series. I like being able to revisit with the characters and see how their lives are progressing.

If you don’t mind telling us, which of your books has been most favorably reviewed?

The one that just released, Desiring Lady Caro. The other three books have solid 4-star ratings on Amazon. Caro is edging towards 5-stars.

With that, dear readers, here’s a taste of

Desiring Lady Caro 

Book Blurb:

Ella Quinn’s bachelors are clever, charismatic—and determined to remain single. Yet one by one, they find that fate—and certain irresistible women—cast doubt on even the best laid plans…

Haunted by her past, Lady Caroline Martindale fled England for the solace of her godmother’s palazzo in Venice. But if Caro was hoping to escape the charms of marriage-minded men, she’s come to the wrong place. And she’ll resort to extreme measures to spurn the advances of a dangerously determined Venetian marquis…

Though most of his friends have married off, Gervais, Earl of Huntley, remains bent on eluding the parson’s mousetrap. But his convictions begin to falter when he arrives in Venice and meets his match in the alluring Lady Caro. What began as a hastily concocted lie to save her from the marquis may become a chance for them both to relinquish their fear—and embrace what they can no longer deny…

Excerpt:

Huntley finished his ale and held out his hand to Caro. “Let’s go for a short walk until we have to change for dinner. There is a garden to the side of the building.”

Perhaps now they’d talk of their marriage. Caro placed her hand on his arm. “A stroll is just what I need.”

He led her out the front door and around to the hotel’s walled kitchen garden. Vegetables grew with herbs whose scents wrapped around her. It reminded her of home in England. Paths separated the beds and a bench stood next to the back wall. “Should we speak now?”

“About us?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “How we will go on.”

He glanced at her. “It has been a . . . difficult day. I would prefer we each take time to consider. Once you are out of danger, we will make plans.”

Caro searched his face and could see nothing but sincerity. If di Venier was to be believed, Huntley was also in peril, and he would need to concentrate on their journey. Maybe it was best for both of them to wait. “If you wish.”

Huntley smiled. “I do. Right now, I’d like to enjoy a peaceful evening.”

They strolled and looked at the plants and herbs still thriving in the walled garden before making their way back to the inn. He covered her fingers, briefly, with his. She hoped he would not expect more of her than she could give.

He escorted her to her chamber. “Dinner in an hour?”

Caro had trouble meeting his gaze, afraid he would want her or be angry that he would spend their wedding night alone. But when she raised her eyes, only a smile lurked in his. “I’ll meet you then.”

“I shall do myself the honor of escorting you.”

She nodded. “Very well.”

He reached around her and knocked on the door. Her dresser opened it. He bowed. “Until then, my lady.”

Caro sat on a hard wooden chair that she’d moved next to the window. They were still in the foothills of the Alps, and yet the mountains rose almost straight up from the valley floor. Rows of houses abutted the base, as if they had nowhere else to go, just like her.

Countless women, she was sure, would give their teeth to be the Countess of Huntley, the future Marchioness of Huntingdon, yet it had been forced upon her. Caro couldn’t think ahead even to the dinner she would share with Huntley this evening, much less to the rest of their journey, or their lives.

The snapping of Nugent shaking out a lustring silk gown drew Caro’s attention away from the houses. “Yes, Nugent?”

Her dresser hung the gown on a peg, then took out a pretty paisley shawl and placed it on the bed. “I didn’t say anything, but if I was to do so, I’d say you could’ve done worse than to marry his lordship.”

GIVEAWAY . . .  GIVEAWAY . . . GIVEAWAY . . . GIVEAWAY . . . GIVEAWAY

Ella will give away a copy of Desiring Lady Caro to one lucky commenter. Or, if the winner already has a copy of this book, Ella will substitute a copy of Enticing Miss Eugenie Villaret. Please leave your email address.

Buy links:

Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon German ~ Amazon France ~ Amazon Canada ~ Barnes and Nobel ~ Kensington ~ iBooks ~ Kobo

Find Ella on these sites:

Website: www.ellaquinnauthor.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/EllaQuinnAuthor

Twitter www.twitter.com/ellaquinnauthor

Blog http: http://ellaquinnauthor.wordpress.com