Guest Author Day with Maggie Dove

To get us started can you tell us a little about what you are working on or have coming out?

Hi Dawn, thanks for having me here today. I want to tell you about my just released historical romance/romantic suspense novel that was just released by Eternal Press. It is called Call Me Duchess and it is my second novel and the prequel to Angel of Windword. It is also part of a trilogy. I am now working on my third book, The English Marquesa, which will take place in Spain.

What makes a book great in your eyes?

When I just can’t put it down and I start to resent all my little chores, which keep me away from it. I like romance and suspense. There is nothing better than to be enraptured in a good book, where the characters come alive and become endearing.

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

Frozen Margaritas and a weekly manicure. I have gotten spoiled. 

How much of the book is realistic?

Well, I write fiction…but I have to get the historical aspect right. Also, some of my characters’ traits are taken from people that I know.

What is the hardest scene you have had to write (published or not)? Why?

The love scenes. By love scenes, I don’t mean the sex scenes. Those are easy to write. I mean when the hero tells the heroine that he loves her because I want him to be sexy and romantic, but I want my hero to be manly, too.

If you had a reporter follow you around for the day, what would the readers get to see in your daily schedule?

Everyday, I go and walk one hour at a mall. It makes me feel great and I don’t get bored. I plot my next scenes. Afterwards, I go to Brookstone and sit in a massage chair and get a massage. I highly recommend this!

When you begin your stories, do you go with the flow, or go with an outline?

I go with the flow. I have a basic idea of what the plot is going to be, but once I start the book, the characters take on a life of their own and I just go with the flow.

Is it hard coming up with titles or characters names?

No, not hard at all. I love coming up with them. 

Are you the type of individual who gets weepy at the end of a good movie, or a sad movie, or do you just stay neutral through it all?

Definitely weepy. 

Is there any books coming that you are itching to read (either electronic or print) from your favorite authors?

Ginger Simpson has a few good ones out recently that I want to read.

If you were to replenish your cabinets with one junk food, what would it be?

Marshmallows. I love to melt them!

What is one thing scientists should invent?

Delicious food that tastes fattening but makes you thin.

Are you a morning person or a night person?

A morning person when it comes to writing. If I do not start a scene in the morning, it simply won’t get done, but I’m definitely a night person. I love to stay up late.

Do you like thunderstorms?

Only when I’m in bed and safe under my covers.

Where can readers find you on the ‘Net?

www.maggiedove.net

 Sneak Peek into Call Me Duchess

Available at Eternal Press

Buy it HERE

A rapist is loose in London…and he has plans for Marguerite Wiggins.

Grippingly suspenseful and romantic, CALL ME DUCHESS is one young woman’s stunning journey to find love in 1870s London while a dashingly handsome chaperone, a heinous villain, and her own lofty aspirations stand in her way.

Left penniless by their father, Marguerite Wiggins and her sisters must find husbands during the London season or find work as governesses by season’s end. Determined to become the next Duchess of Wallingford, Marguerite must make the difficult decision between following her heart or attaining her lifelong dreams and ambitions as a depraved rapist seeks to make her his next victim.

Excerpt:

Ah, the London Season—how glamorous, how debauch!

Staring at his image in the gilded mirror on top of the marbled staircase, the nobleman adjusted his black mask over his eyes and smiled with approval while surveying the fine-looking picture he presented. As usual, his appearance was faultless. There was not a hair out of place. It was time to make his grand entrance, but he couldn’t help but linger a while longer as he looked over the banister at the massive ballroom below.

The magnificent Bentley House boasted the most exquisite of ballrooms, and tonight the festooned and tinseled room did not disappoint. What would the London Season be without the Dowager Duchess of Wallingford’s annual masquerade ball, held every year at the commencement of the Season? He had looked forward to it for months.

His heart pounded with anticipation as he slowly descended the staircase, his keen eyes surveying the magical grandeur before him.

There she was now—the bejeweled and crusty dowager, dressed in black silk and lace, smiling at her doting son, the Duke of Wallingford. The duke’s escort, Lady Lorena Bonner, giggled and blushed while speaking to Lord Christopher Jackman, who looked more enamored by her than ever.

Entering the room, the nobleman recognized Lord and Lady Hardwood and their delectable daughter, Samantha, from last year’s Season. He accepted a flute of champagne from one of the numerous silver trays being passed around by uniformed waiters. He glanced at the dance floor and noticed the Countess of Salesbury waltzing with a young dandy while her aged husband watched silently. And was that not the exquisite Marchioness of Albester in lively conversation with the Earl of Deville? Where were their other halves? No doubt enjoying a lovers’ rendezvous in the terrace while their spouses conversed for all to witness. The nobleman smirked, remembering how the four had scandalized the ton with their blatant behavior last summer. But that was last year’s gossip. He wondered what tidbit this year would bring.

The marchioness called him over, but he could not go and speak to her now. He pretended not to notice, for he had more pressing matters at hand. The nobleman was not interested in the guests he recognized. He was more fascinated by the guests he had yet to meet.

Looking to his side, he observed a large group of young ladies standing by the north wall. So many of them! Giggling and hoping they’d be noticed. This year’s pretty pickings—such beautiful, dainty flowers just waiting to be plucked. Where would he start? Knocking back the champagne with one quick gulp, he headed toward them.

The London Season—how glamorous, how debauch, indeed! The time of year when the upper crust departed from their country manors and brought their young daughters to London to partake in the marriage mart, all anxiously hoping the young debutantes would meet eligible bachelors from good families such as theirs.

He wondered which one he would rape tonight.

My Review for FAIR GAME by Josh Lanyon

FAIR GAME
Carina Press
Josh Lanyon

Mystery/Thriller GBLT

Former FBI agent Elliot Mills has just gotten used to teaching at a local college when he is asked to look into a case of a missing young man for his father’s friends. Now another man is missing and Elliot finds himself drawn in a game of cat & mouse with a serial killer. Working with his ex-lover/friend, Tucker Lance, Elliott is torn in a bunch of directions as he tries to stay one step ahead of the killer, figure out who and what happened to the missing young men and his complicated relationship with Tucker.

FAIR GAME is one enthralling ride from start to finish. This is an author who completely captivates the reader from the first page till the explosive end. With each word, Mr. Lanyon reels in the reader with his complex story, mystery and multi-dimensional characters that brim with life. I am a huge fan of this author’s work and found FAIR GAME to be his best story to date. With his trademark writing style, Josh Lanyon is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with in the mystery/thriller genre and one you don’t want to miss.

I love Josh Lanyon's writing and just got into his work. Tough, vulnerable characters, tight writing and a fast paced storyline keep the readers clamoring for more. If you haven't picked this latest story up, then I highly suggest you grab it. I am hoping we see more of Tucker and Elliott in the future. I would love to see how their relationship evolves and what other mysteries they can solve.
FAIR GAME is one story you won't want to miss.

WRITER'S WRITE...WRITING PARTNERS FEUD

WE WERE JUST THINKING ABOUT....

To bring you a little into our world we decided to share our thoughts about writing the strange and zany way ~

Where ideas originate....

Z: The cultivation of ideas has great import. To do this we participate in what we call lamestorming sessions. About twice a year Angelica and I pitch stories and plots. It is a set aside day in which we each bring twenty ideas and participate in a game of war similar to that of the card game. I'll play one flaming arrow princess love story which would then be triumphed by one biological plant that trans-morphs into a man who becomes horny. If it's lame it goes. This single elimination tournament then leaves us with the four semi-finalists which we then consider as possible projects.

Bombastic... Imbecilic... Improbable are coupled with social relevance, entertainment value, and fortunetelling when we each privately create our pitch points. Then the fracas begins. At the conception point of ideas, we allow ourselves the freedom of being without boundaries because once the idea is set into our queue natural boundaries will restrict it.

A bit of background....

Z: Educated as an engineer. (Long pause should be placed here... one pensive sigh) I find myself uncomfortable talking about me, but I shall do my best. Obviously, like most writers I love the play of stories and how well-crafted words can steer reaction. From age twelve I knew there were stories housed between my rather dapper ears. At age fifteen, I rewrote the ending of Lord of the Flies. Let my friends read it, and was applauded. At age sixteen I wrote a school play. At age twenty-seven I wrote a community theater play. By then I was writing, and haven't stopped since.

A: I'm a control freak.

Z: That would be quite the understatement.

A: (I turn, stare, providing my best effort to... control any further outbursts by him.) As I was saying... So even as a child when I wrote my first book using construction paper and crayons, I wanted the princess to have the sword and ride the horse. So I wrote it.

Z: So you self-published?

A: Signed limited editions.

What book to take to a deserted island?

A: I’d bring an e-book reader like the Kimble, that way I could bring about 1500 books. Seriously, how do you pick just one? Impossible. There are the classics like Jane Eyre, more Victoria Holt books than I can count, let’s not forget Piers Anthony and Asmiov, King, Koontz, Cook, and all those authors coming out of Champagne Books…(Starts to hyperventilate and calms down.) Sorry, books are a passion of mine.

Z: I'd take the dictionary. It in itself could inspire my imagination. The word mohair could inspire a story about big foot. Stubble makes me think of a planet that all of the corn stalks were cut close to the ground, and I'd wonder why and imagine huge cannons that shot popcorn. So, captured in that treasury of words could be endless possibilities.

A: Never mind...I'm just taking a cell phone and calling Zi.

Z: Did you notice neither one of us answered our own query?

First book that enthralled....

Z: Lad A Dog was special because in the privacy of my own read when the copperhead set fang to Lad and brought the dog to the brink of death, I as a lad myself found apt tear, cursed at the book but have held a great respect for the power of the word.

A: (Remembering the story, sniffles and blows nose, loudly.) The Velveteen Rabbit… Actually, it was read to me. I cried and laughed and felt sad when the story was finished. I missed the characters. I’d carry the book around after that and hold it out in a demanding fashion to any and every reading-able adult. I couldn’t wait to learn how to read so I could read every book in the world. I’d hoard books and comic books like a rabbit and its carrots. They were my friends.

Z: Chipmunks horde. Rabbits they wiggle their noses. Re-examine your simile.

A: No....

Overcoming writer's block....

Z: We define writer's block as time set aside to write. A definition quite different than most. We think our optimistic approach works. Except for once in my entire life, I can't remember being without appropriate words or an idea. How do I prepare? How do I put myself in the mood? What are my rituals? Habits? Provide me a pencil and a pad, I write. Provide me a computer, don't even need a chair, I write. Provide me a tape recorder, I write. Provide Angelica on the other end of a cell phone, one of us having something to scribe with, and I write. It seems as natural as a boy chasing a girl...and she catching him.

A: (Takes a breath, thinks, blurts.) Tea… tea… and more tea.

Z: That's Tea-rffic. (Wasn't that punny?)

To be continued next week....