Questions and Answers with Cara Elliott, Author of To Surrender to a Rogue

Please join me in welcoming Author Cara Elliott who graciously answers some questions for today's Blog Tour stop.

Q. You share on your website that you enjoyed a semester at Yale teaching "Reading the Historical Romance Novel” class.  How id that class come about and do you have any more plans for teaching at Yale or elsewhere?

Cara:  Mix two romance writers with several glasses of chardonnay . . .

Lauren Willig and I are both Yale grads, and one evening at Lady Jane’s Salon in NYC we started talking about how romance should be treated as a serious genre of literature, and how we would structure a class. Laughing, we both said, “Oh, wouldn’t it be fun to teach a seminar at Yale on the subject.” But the laughter quickly died away as a simultaneous spark lit in our eyes . . and so we decided to submit a proposal. After months of drafting a detailed syllabus, complete with critical readings, and being interviewed by a committee of students and professors in New Haven, our idea was accepted!

The experience was really amazing. Our students were so much fun to work with and the weekly discussions were absolutely fascinating! What struck me the most was how strongly romance resonates with this generation of readers. I loved watching their faces as they discussed the different books we read for class, and talked about their feelings on what makes a great hero and heroine. No matter what the specific plot or point of view was, they all reacted so passionately to the basic conflicts and characters. And they took such joy in celebrating the redemptive power of love. 

I have to admit, I had forgotten how much work school is. But that said, Lauren and I are hoping to teach the class again next spring!

Q.  You were educated and trained in art and graphic design. Do you get to use these skills in your writing?

Cara:  I think my art background definitely colors my writing. Visual images are very important to me and I feel that shapes my storytelling. Since I’ve been trained to “see”  and “sense” in a medium other than words I feel strongly about trying to create a vivid feel for my settings—the smell of the smoke in the air, the color of candlelight on a face, the look of filigree gold and garnets against silk.

Q.  Was there a big transition in writing style from your alter ego Andrea Pickens to Cara Elliott?

Cara:  It was really a natural progression. The styles are similar—but with added spice! Cara Elliott books are a bit “hotter” than my previous books. And that was actually quite easy. I just had to close my eyes and imagine Johnny Depp in tight leather breeches, and . . . well, I’ll leave the rest to your imagination!

Q.    Do you get much input to your sumptuous covers?

Cara:  Well, with my background in design, I naturally always have opinions! However, I have to say that the art department does a fabulous job! I feel really fortunate to such lush, beautiful covers.

Q.  In To Surrender to a Rogue what thing would your heroine never be caught dead doing or saying?

Cara:  Hmmm. Alessandra has been badly burned in the past by trusting a handsome face, so she’s sure that the last thing in the world she will ever do is give in to temptation. However . . .

Q.    What made you choose the trilogy title of “Circle of Sin?”

Cara:  My heroines are a close-knit group of female scholars who each have a dark secret in her past. They have sinned . . . or have they? You’ll just have to read the books to find out!

Q..  In writing the Circle of Sin trilogy is there a particular character you had the most fun with?

Cara:  Oh, that’s too tough a question! I really have a soft spot in my heart for all the characters in the Circle of Sin. It was really fun and challenging to write not only the dashing heroes and heroines, but to also create the supporting cast of children and older, wiser confidants. Each has a unique personality and I came to feel they were a wonderful family of friends. It was really hard to say goodbye to them!

Q.    Do you think the works of James Gillray and some of the other artists you feature at your website were very shocking for their times?

Cara:  They were really the Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert of their era—focusing on everything from politics to persona; peccadilloes, their sharp satire provided a colorful commentary on events in the news. And the public just loved it!

Thank you to Ms. Elliott for sharing her answers with us today.

Questions and Answers with Margaret Mallory, Author of Knight of Passion

Please help me welcome Margaret Mallory, author of Knight of Passion (All the King's Men), who has agreed to answer a few questions so we can get to know her better.

Q. In your article How I Became a Writer you say that as an author you can bend characters to your will; that you "... have to torture them in some way first. Perhaps repeatedly. But I'll reward them with a happy ending." Do you ever find that the characters bend you to their will or torture you?

MM: Mostly my characters torture each other. I spend so much time with them that I become really attached to them. Getting their stories on paper, however, can be tortuous. For me, writing the first draft can be painful.

Q. Can you estimate how many hours go into research and how many into writing your book(s)?

MM: I can't really divide up the time, because the research never ends. I find I'm constantly having to go back to check facts or look up something new while I'm writing.

For example, I spent hours this week researching poisons. The poison I needed for my story had to come from a plant that would have grown on the Isle of Skye in 1513 -- and it had to make the victims vomit, not kill them. Questions like that come up all the time... ;)

Q. When you began Knight of Desire did you already have the three book plots in mind for the All the Kings Men series? Did the story Knight of Passion flow easily from the first two books in the trilogy?

MM:  The hard part for me is ending a series. Each time I write a book, certain secondary characters come alive for me and beg for starring roles in their own books.

I wrote the books in ALL THE KING'S MEN one at a time, without a plan for the series. I'd never been published, so I didn't know if the first one would sell. When it did sell, the publisher wanted a two-book contract, which I think is fairly typical. After I turned in both manuscripts, they were interested in a third.

Writing the books one at a time worked well for me with this first series. For my next series, however, I wanted to take the opportunity to plan it all out ahead of time. I'm very excited to report that my publisher liked the proposal, so you'll be seeing more books from me.

Q. You have stated at your website that it was a surprise to change your career from lawyer to writer. How has your family reacted to the change in career? Are they supportive?

MM:  My children, who are now 20 and 22, are a bit embarrassed that I write books that have steamy love scenes and shirtless men on the covers. At my son's request, I cut out all the love scenes -- literally with scissors -- from his copy of my first book. It wasn't good enough to black out the offending pages; they had to be gone. I did it, but I warned him I couldn't possibly cut out all the pages where my characters are thinking about doing it. That may explain why he still hasn't read it.

Frankly, I wish my mother had not read my books. I have visions of her standing in the romance section of her local bookstore checking IDs to be sure no one underage picks them up.

Joking aside, my family and friends have been amazingly supportive of my unexpected career change. All the relatives pass out my bookmarks at their kids' soccer games and in the grocery store line.

Q. What time period is your next book series set in and can you expound a bit on the research you hope to do in Scotland for that series?

MM:  I'm off to the Highlands! I'm working on a 4-book Scottish series that takes place on the Isle of Skye in 1513. After hearing of the disastrous Battle of Flodden against Henry VIII's forces, my four handsome Highlanders return from France to help their clan through the perilous times ahead. The four are willing to give their lives for their clan, but taking wives to further their clan's interests is another matter altogether...

I'm taking a trip to Scotland at the end of June to do research. Yay!!! I'm excited about seeing the Isle of Skye and various castles I'm using in the books. If the volcano in Iceland doesn't ruin my trip, I plan to Tweet and post photos on Facebook as I travel, June 24-July 5. I'll be in London the first day and hope to post photos of a couple places that are in KNIGHT OF PASSION. Follow me at: @MargaretMallory

Q. Have you had to learn any special steps/skills for promoting your books and career?

MM:  As your mother told you, be nice to everybody. It is also important to be reliable -- to meet your deadlines and commitments.

Promotion takes way more than I ever guessed! I try to remember, though, that the most important thing is to write the best books I can.

Thank you Ms. Mallory for sharing with us!

MM:  Thanks so much for having me! I'm happy to respond to comments or questions.