Contest & Conversation with ALONG CAME A DUKE 'S New York Times Bestselling Author Elizabeth Boyle

Happiness is...chatting today with New York Times bestseller Elizabeth Boyle.  I am dancing on the ceiling, dong a happy Irish jig in excitement that Elizabeth is here.  After catching my breath I am ready, set to go.  Please make one of my all times favorite author feel warm and welcome as we get started.

 ALONG CAME A DUKE

INTERVIEW

WITH

NEW YORK TIME BESTSELLING

AUTHOR

ELIZABETH BOYLE

Elizabeth a few months back I was chowing down on my favorite veggie lover’s pizza while flipping through one of several of my RT Book Reviews magazines. I came across the fabulous fun article by Liz French, Stephanie Klose, Faygie Levy and Elissa Petruzzi titled “Legacy of Love.”  In short, the article explained about how the market might be changing but romance, which I agree whole heartedly, is forever.  My curious readers and I would love to know your thoughts on what you believe is the “Legacy of Love.”

I would say that happy endings have been a part of the story telling tradition since time began. The covers may change, the themes may shift, the mores change, but the same result--a happy ending—will never go out of fashion. I think as human beings we are hard-wired for it.

You’re in the thick of a new series, Rhymes with Love.  Can you tell us more about it?

I got this idea for a village of spinsters who are cursed—if they marry disastrous things happen—but as I began to write ALONG CAME A DUKE, the cursed part sort of faded into the background as a sort of interesting side note, and it became a story of friendships and finding love along the way.

Your first installment, ALONG CAME A DUKE is a wonderfully rich love story with two of my favorite protagonists to date.  Can you tell us more about it?

I love Cinderella stories and this is definitely one, but it isn’t just the heroine who is saved, but the hero as well.

I love that I could relate with your heroine, Tabitha Timmons. While reading I kept coming back to the Cinderella scenario.  After her father, the late vicar, passed away she ends up with her conniving, social climbing aunt and uncle.  After years of being at their beck and call, Tabitha becomes a great heiress.  Explain a little about the family dynamic between Tabitha and Lord and Lady Timmons.  

I had to really dig deep into these families—and there is a lot that never made it into the books, going back to Tabitha’s parents’ own marriage—how both of them traded better lives for a marriage of true love. This is something Lord and Lady Timmons would never do, nor would they understand. But Tabitha, having grown up in such a household, with parents who were utterly in love with each other, she won’t settle for anything less.

There were many times I found myself shaking my head and smiling at some of Christopher Seldon, the Duke of Preston charming antics.  Preston is a rogue of the first water.  Some of my favorite scenes are between Preston and his Aunt Henrietta, Lady Juniper and his uncle Lord Henry. Those scenes had my cheeks hurting from all the giggling and smiling.  I love the family dynamics between these three. Explain a bit about the Seldons.

I love the relationships here—Preston lives with his aunt and uncle, who as it turns out are only six months older than he is. So they are more like siblings than aunt/uncle/nephew. And since Preston, albeit younger, is the heir, it really makes for some interesting dynamics. I think Preston and Lady Juniper are a lot alike, and Henry just stands on the sidelines and rolls his eyes at their antics.

How difficult was it to research for ALONG CAME A DUKE?  Plus, did you learn something in this research that you didn’t know before?

After 19 books set in the Regency, I feel quite at home there. So my research is usually more of brushing on my London maps, cant and then whatever loopholes or problems that are specific to the storyline. In this case, marriages and wills.

Elizabeth, you are one of my all time favorite historical romance authors.  Kudos to you for creating such phenomenal reads with unforgettable characters that capture a reader’s heart from beginning to end.

Thank you so much! That really means a lot. I always find it so amazing that I sit in my office and spin these tales and that people actually want to read them. And that they like and feel at home with these characters as much as I do. It is such a dream come true.

Why write historical?

You mean there are other genres?

ALONG CAME A DUKE is set in the Regency era.  What about this time period piqued your interest?

Everything. I love it. The politics, the wars, the personalities. The fashions (don’t get me started on the wretched poofy dresses the early Victorians wore—what the heck were they thinking?) As a lifetime member of the Jane Austen Society, you could say I am the biggest Regency geek who ever came along.

Okay, I want to give a warm welcome to, Tabitha Timmons and Christopher Preston, the Duke of Preston (Waving franticly, trying to get the besotted couple’s attention). I know you two have gone through a lot to get to your happily ever after so I will try to be brief. (Blushes scarlet as she catches the intimate glance between the newlyweds, clears her throat).

Okay, so you two are still in the honeymoon stage, I see. I would like to know what each of you thought when you first laid eyes on the other. Was it love at first sight?

“Absolutely not,” they declare in unison.

I'm curious. Tabitha what was your first impression of Preston?  Preston, I would love to hear your thoughts about the first time you laid eyes on Tabitha, too. =)

Tabitha: I rather thought him the most arrogant, pompous wretch I’d ever laid eyes on.

Preston: After the first glance, I barely spared her a second thought.

Was it love at first sight or lust at first sight?

They share a laugh. “Try love at second sight,” Preston confides.

Tabitha, when was the moment you knew that Preston was the Duke for you?

“What woman wouldn’t fall in love with a man who scoops you up and carries you across Hyde Park?”

Preston, name one thing about Tabitha that you believe changed your outlook on love.

“Her faith in me. That I was more than what everyone assumed I was.”

 Preston and Tabitha I absolutely adore you two. If you could turn back time, would you?

“No,” Tabitha confides. “Everything worked out exactly as it ought.”

“Before Barkworth?” Preston reminds her.

They both laugh again.

Tabitha did you have any apprehension about getting involved with Preston.

She laughs. “Of course! He’s the most notorious rake in London. Luckily for me I didn’t know that when I met him or I might never have gotten past his . . . well, past.”

Preston, what about you?  Did you have a sliver of doubt about involving yourself into Tabitha’s life? 

“Good God, no. I am Preston. Her family doesn’t dare naysaid me.”

Do you, Preston and Tabitha, believe that love conquers all?

“I think we are the perfect example of that,” Tabitha beams.

One more thing before I let you go.  Do you believe that everything you two went through to find one another, fall in love and find your happily ever after was worth the price you had to pay?

“We paid a price?” Preston asks Tabitha.

“Not that I can think of. Not now.” She snuggles closer and I think it is best if you close the door quickly.

Now back to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth, when you were writing Preston and Tabitha’s story was there a scene that popped out the most?

Actually several—I loved the ball scene where she meets Barkworth and discovers Preston’s true identity. The scene in Hyde Park. The scene in the carriage where Preston confesses his fears, his tragic past. All of them, I think, show the emotional heart of the story, that love is the balm that heals.

Out of the many books you have written was there one book that was more emotional to write?  Or did they stand alone, emotional wiping you out as they all did for me? =)

I would have to say MEMOIRS OF A SCANDALOUS RED DRESS. When I made the decision that Pippin and Dash would not have their HEA right after CONFESSIONS OF A LITTLE BLACK GOWN, that it would be 20 years before they rediscovered the love that really defined who they were, they were both going to come to that story with a whole lot of baggage. Which I had to then dive into and explore. It is a book about lost love found, but also so much more.

Elizabeth, what is more difficult to write: an intense sexual scene or a heart-wrenching emotional scene? Why?

Heart wrenching emotional scene. Hands down. As an author you want to wring out every thread from that scene, but at the same time, you don’t want it to be overwraught. It is a difficult balancing act, that fine tuning to get it right that can be a challenge.

When you were writing the Rhymes with Love series did you have music playing in the background? If yes, what type? Does music play an intricate part in your writing?

I have a playlist that I develop as I start drafting the story and the characters that gets pulled together—usually a wide range of songs. Like writing, some stick through the entire process and others get changed out for songs that better fit the overall mood of the story. Tabby’s Playlist (as I called it) included songs from the Plain White Ts, The Romantics, Hooters, Billy Ocean, Billy Joel, Glee, and one of my perennial faves, Cat Stevens.

Elizabeth, please share with desperate readers where they can connect with you in cyber world. =)

Oh, I am everywhere. LOL!

My website, which was just redesigned and streamlined: www.elizabethboyle.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorElizabethBoyle

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/ElizBoyle (Be warned, I love to Tweet and gossip)

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/elizbo/  (I am in the process of putting up boards for all my books, so make sure to follow me or check back often.)

What’s next on the horizon for you? When can readers expect to see the next release in your brand spanking new Rhymes with Love series?

It looks like the next book, AND THE MISS RAN AWAY WITH THE RAKE, the story of Lord Henry Seldon and Miss Daphne Dale, will come out in early spring 2013, with the third book (Roxley and Harriet), IF WISHES WERE EARLS, coming out in late 2013. At least that is the plan.

Elizabeth, as always, you rocked RCJR eZine blog and its readers.  Thank you so much for stopping by to dish about Preston and Tabitha from your new Avon Romance historical romance release ALONG CAME A DUKE.

Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9780062089069
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Publication date: 5/29/2012
• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Pages: 384
• Sales rank: 536
• Series: Rhymes with Love Series , #1

Overview

“A young lady with a fortune is subject to all sorts of untoward attentions by the worst sort of vagrants.” Aunt Allegra

A lesson Tabitha Timmons, a penniless spinster, has never needed to heed. That is, until she is left a vast fortune payable only upon her marriage to the very respectable Mr. Barkworth—a match that offers little chance of discovering exactly what her aunt means by "untoward attentions."

But the same can't be said when the Duke of Preston happens along Tabitha's path. He spies a rebellious streak in her that matches his own and he makes it his mission to save her from such a passionless match, interfering in her life at every turn. All too soon, Preston—whose very name spells ruin—has Tabitha caught between the good fortune that guarantees her security, and his kiss, which promises an entirely different kind of happily-ever-after.

CONTEST 

THE PRIZE: One (1) lucky reader will win a copy of ALONG CAME A DUKE by Elizabeth Boyle. 


TO ENTER: Leave a comment for Elizabeth Boyle including your email address (Email address are required for ALL entries.) 

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*Connect with RCJR eZine at:

 

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Contest is open to ALL

It will runs until July 8,2012

I will contact the winners directly on July 9, 2012

HAPPY READING! =)