*You'll find me out guest posting at The Story Reading Ape Blog today. Click HERE to visit. *
On my Welcome Wednesday slot I'm delighted to meet Elaine Violette who has come to be interviewed so that we can get to know her a bit better, and to share her historical romance- A Kiss of Promise (published by Ellora's Cave).
From the excellent cover design, I'm guessing Alaina has a bit of the reckless in her to venture forth on the ship we see that's behind her, but we'll get onto her part in the story after Elaine answers some questions for me.
I am excited to announce the release of A Kiss of Promise on April 3rd!
A Kiss of Promise is a Blush Historical Romance being published as an ebook by Ellora’s Cave. Though
it can be enjoyed on its own, it continues the story of the Blackstone brothers
introduced in my debut regency, Regal
Reward. Fans of Regal Reward urged me to write a sequel and it’s finally available!
I admit
my desire was to finish a manuscript I had already begun before I completed the
Blackstone sequel--A Convenient Pretense,
which was published in 2013. While Regal
Reward tells of York Blackstone’s struggle to regain the title lost to him
when his father is falsely accused of treason , my newest release, A Kiss of Promise tells of Martin
Blackstone’s desire to free himself from his family scandal and seek adventure
in America.
He leaves the beautiful and desirous Alaina Craymore broken hearted in order to
realize his dream. It’s only when he discovers that she is in danger that he is
forced to face what he is truly running from.
I truly
enjoyed writing the sequel, especially since Martin and Alaina’s romantic
journey takes place both in England
and America.
As in Regal Reward, readers will be,
I hope, captivated by sinister intrigue, a touch of blackmail and, of course, a
sweet and sensual romance.
Were there any
triggers which led to the plotline for A Kiss of Promise?
Alaina and Richard Craymore are the children of the villain
in
Regal Reward. They
had been deeply injured emotionally by their father and needed to have their
story told. Although Richard is not the main hero in A Kiss of Promise, he plays a major role. The story couldn’t be
told without him!
Who is the hero of the
story?
Martin Blackstone. In Regal
Reward, he demonstrates more patience and often more common sense than its
hero, his older brother York, but Martin’s personal journey in A Kiss of Promise, reveals how his past
affected his ability to commit to love and his need to run from the society
that destroyed his family.
Do the names for
characters just pop into your head as soon as you start a book?
Yes, naming my major characters is pretty immediate and once
their personality develops, their name fits them. I have changed the names of
minor characters as their parts are played out. The original names may not seem
to be right for their growing involvement in the plot.
What does your heroine
think when she first meets the hero?
Alaina first meets Martin in Regal Reward. She actually meets him when he is captured by her
villainous father and tied up in the barn at her family estate. She immediately
feels both fear and attraction.
In A Kiss of Promise, their
pasts are intertwined already. A budding romance begins with a stolen kiss.
But, because of their fractured selves, they must face inner and outer demons
before their love can grow.
What do you find is the hardest part of a novel for you to write?
The middle. I am facing
that right now in my present manuscript. Although I know how it will end, I’m a
panster, and getting there is always a challenge. I don’t know yet what each
major and minor character will do before romance has a chance!
I confess that the middle is probably my problem area, too. What about settings?
Do you tend to write about places you’ve been to…or just ones you would like to
visit?
I’ve been to England
three times, but it’s been my vicarious visits in British novels written by
many wonderful historical romance authors, that have given me the desire to
write in that setting. I love researching the culture, dress, and customs of
nineteenth century England.
As authors, we love to
delve into new areas. In A Kiss of
Promise, my English characters voyage to Boston. I thoroughly enjoyed researching the
sailing vessels and the dangers of ship travel in the early 1800s. In the manuscript I am presently working on,
the setting is New England. Since I live in Connecticut, I find the research of nineteenth century New England fascinating as well.
Who is your favorite
character in A Kiss of Promise and why?
Ah, not sure if I want to reveal her name yet,
but I can tell you that she is quite mysterious and demands to right a wrong
that has remained a scandalous secret for too long.
Fun time short answer questions:
What is your favourite
time of year?
Usually summer. I love lazy summer days but this year I am
looking forward to Spring weather since it’s having such a difficult time
arriving this year. I can’t wait to see flowers blooming once again and all the
now muddy, murky snow finally gone.
Favourite place to
visit for a short weekend break?
Cape Cod. It’s not too far
away from us. I love the village charm
of Chatham and the fury of waves at Race Point Beach in North Truro.
Favourite colour?
Purple! My mom told me that it was my favourite colour when
I was just four years old. Then, I married a Violette. How coincidental!
It is indeed, since Violette is not too common a name in my part of the world and I don't imagine in yours either?
Thank you, Nancy,
for the opportunity to visit your blog and talk about my writing adventures and
my newest release.
You're very welcome.
Back Cover Blurb - A Kiss of Promise
Adventurer Martin Blackstone escapes the stuffy rituals of England to seek his destiny in America. He
leaves Alaina Craymore behind, believing she is better off without him.
Suffering under the scandalous circumstances surrounding her father’s death,
only Alaina’s love for Martin and the memory of their one stolen kiss have kept
Alaina steady. But she hasn’t heard from Martin in far too long and cannot wait
forever in the hopes that he will return from America. Just as Alaina begins to
recover, one of her father’s associates emerges from the shadows with a
choice—she must pose as his fiancée in America or he’ll send her brother
to prison on charges of forgery. Willing to endure ruin and an uncertain
future, Alaina agrees—she can do no less for the brother who’s spent his entire
life protecting her. Only the man who spurned her can save her from the black
mailing scoundrel and a ruined reputation.
Martin hasn’t forgotten Alaina or the kiss they shared. When word of her sacrifice reaches him, he’ll move heaven and earth to find her and make her his, no matter the cost.
Will the strong-minded, independent Alaina chose ruin over the fear that a marriage proposal has been offered out of duty rather than love?
Martin hasn’t forgotten Alaina or the kiss they shared. When word of her sacrifice reaches him, he’ll move heaven and earth to find her and make her his, no matter the cost.
Will the strong-minded, independent Alaina chose ruin over the fear that a marriage proposal has been offered out of duty rather than love?
A Blush® historical romance from Ellora’s Cave
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Biography
Elaine holds a BS in English Education from the University of CT
and an MS in Educational Leadership from Central CT State University. When she’s
not writing, she teaches public speaking part time at a local community
college. She enjoys drawing, kayaking, traveling, and most of all, being with
her husband Drew, her children and grandchildren. While her newest release, A Kiss of Promise, leads
her characters from England
to American shores, her present work, still in the manuscript stage, takes
place in New England and deals with prejudice
and its power over love. She is a member of Romance Writers of America,
CT Romance Writers (CTRWA) and Charter Oak Romance writers (CORW). Elaine is
available as a speech coach and presenter to help authors hone their public
speaking skills.
Buy links:
A Kiss of
Promise available at Ellora’s Cave
For your
Kindle
For your
Nook
On her
website
Visitors can follow Elaine on Facebook at
and Twitter
Elaine’s other books mentioned above:
Regal Reward (print and ebook)
A Convenient Pretense (ebook)
Thank you, Elaine, for coming to share your historical romance today on Welcome Wednseday with us. My best wishes for great sales of your novels.
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