I was tagged by the talented Gayl Taylor to participate in The Next Big Thing series. Last week she posted about her current Work in Progress, The Sweet Spot, which you can read about here.
The Next Big Thing is a blog hop of sorts wherein someone is given the opportunity to answer ten questions about their current WIP. They then tag four more people, who will post about their respective WIPs the following week and pass this invitation on to four more writers to keep The Next Big Thing going.
I’ve invited the following people to participate next Wednesday – Maddy Barone, Leah Braemel, Kat Cantrell, and Charlene Roberts. And now, on to the questions!
10 Questions:
What is the working title of your book?
Loving the Marquess
Where did the idea come from for the book?
The idea for this book didn’t come from one place. I was brainstorming ideas for a new book and hit upon what I thought was a compelling conflict that would keep the hero and heroine apart, despite the fact that their need for one another becomes almost too great to bear.
What genre does your book fall under?
Historical Romance (M/F)
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie?
Henry Cavill (of course!) and Julianne Hough. I haven’t seen Julianne act, so I’m going strictly on looks for her casting.
What is a one sentence synopsis of your book?
Desperate circumstances lead Louisa Evans to agree to marry the new Marquess of Overlea and provide him with an heir, but she doesn’t learn until it is too late that he wants her to conceive that heir with another man.
Will your book be self published or represented by an agency?
I will be self-publishing this book early in 2013.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Far too long! This book actually started off with the title Dark Angel and was to contain a paranormal element. This was a number of years ago and I had to stop writing the book because it just wasn’t working. It was only about a year ago that I sat down with renewed energy—and a revamped outline that no longer contained that paranormal element—to finish writing the book. It took me about six months from that point to finish writing and editing the book.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre.
I’ve always found it impossible to compare my writing to that of another writer, so I will leave the comparisons for other people. 🙂
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
I have a great love for historical romance. I’d already written two contemporary romances (the first will forever remain under the bed, and the second is sitting, unedited, on my hard drive) when I decided to try my hand at writing an historical romance.
What else about your book might interest the reader?
Unlike other books I’ve seen recently with the same basic premise, but which has the romance taking place between the wife and the man asked to father the heir, this romance centers around the husband and wife and the struggles they must overcome to find one another.
Mini Excerpt:
NOTE: The following is subject to change once it has been professionally edited.
The candles were still lit, but there was no fire in the hearth. The room was empty and she found herself waiting, yet again. She turned when she finally heard the library door open and was shocked to find not Lord Kerrick, but her husband standing there. His expression told her he was angry.
“Were you expecting someone else?”
She swallowed hard when he closed the door and moved into the room, his steps measured. Menacing. The odd glint in his eyes sent a shiver of awareness down her spine.
“I take it the two of you have decided to go along with my plan?”
She didn’t reply. What could she say? She wouldn’t lie to him, yet it was vital that he believe what he was accusing her of.
He stopped before her and she barely resisted the urge to take a step back.
“It would have been nice if the two of you had decided to act with a little more discretion. It will be a miracle if the staff aren’t already gossiping about the two of you below stairs.”
Unnerved by the heat in Nicholas’s eyes, she looked away.
“Tell me,” he said, his voice soft with menace, “have the two of you kissed yet? Surely you haven’t already gone to his bed.”
Her temper flared at the condemnation in his tone. What was wrong with him? He was the one who wanted her to conceive a child with his best friend, and now he was treating her as if she were a strumpet.
She tilted her chin upwards and met his gaze evenly, not bothering to hide her own anger. “It is what you desired, is it not?”
She knew he would take that as confirmation. A muscle ticked along his jaw and he took a step closer.
“Did you enjoy it?”
She looked away. Nicholas’s mood was unpredictable and she no longer knew what he wanted from her. “I will not discuss this with you.”
She jumped when he grasped her upper arms.
“Answer me.”
She remained silent. He lowered his head until their eyes were level and she had no choice but to meet his gaze. She could see the turmoil there.
“Nicholas,” she said softly, her anger evaporating in that instant.
His eyes closed and she held her breath. His grip loosened as if he meant to release her, but then he swore and dragged her against his body. The very air seemed to spark around them. Louisa was frozen, afraid to do or say anything that might cause him to turn away from her.
