Welcome to Thank You Thursday, where I invite an author to answer a few questions about his/her book’s dedication and acknowledgements. I LOVE reading these little snippets at the beginning of books and often wonder about the story behind them. So I decided to ask! Today I’m thrilled to welcome fellow Rock*It Reads author Mia Marlowe who writes wickedly fantastic historical romance. Sourcebooks has kindly offered up a giveaway copy of WAKING UP WITH A RAKE for Thank You Thursday! Details below.
Sourcebooks 2013
1. In the acknowledgements of WAKING UP WITH A RAKE, you thank several people. Can you tell us about one or two of them and how they helped you?
Mia: First of all, thanks to you for having me here today, Laurie! [I’m thrilled to have you, Mia!!!]
I’m very attached to my editor at Sourcebooks, Leah Hultenschmidt. She bought my first book (MAIDENSONG), which was originally published by Dorchester under a different pen name. I have the rights back now and it’s available as a Rock*It Reads ebook! Leah has worked with me from the very beginning, so our relationship, while very professional, is also a warm one.
My agent Natasha Kern also happens to be Connie Mason’s agent. She deserves a good deal of the credit for arranging our collaboration. Natasha also frees me up from fretting over the business end of writing so I can concentrate on the fun part—making stuff up!
2. Was there anyone who helped you when you researched a plot detail? If so, who is it and what did you learn?
Mia: I do my own research because I never know exactly what details I’ll want to include unless I have a broad spectrum of things to pick from. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t get help in plotting and characterization. My beta reader is my friend Marcy Weinbeck. She doesn’t help me research plot details, but she does let me bounce ideas off her. When I was brainstorming TOUCH OF A SCOUNDREL (August 2012, Kensington) she suggested it would be a unique twist if the heroine was the scoundrel. Something clicked in my head and the con artist Emmaline Farnsworth was born!
3. Is there a detail or major turning point in the story that would’ve been different without the input of someone who read an early draft? If so, can you tell us a little more?
Mia: My critique partner is Ashlyn Chase, author of light-hearted paranormals. Ash is brilliant and funny and a great friend, but she and I have very different ideas about what we want in our heroes. She likes the kinder, gentler beta guys. You know, the sensitive types. I however believe, as the female sloths in “Ice Age” did, that the sensitive ones always get eaten. I’m all about the alpha hero.
So when I was writing Lord Rhys Warrington, the hero from WAKING UP WITH A RAKE, I knew I had him right if Ashlyn cringed a bit over his swagger and take-charge attitude.
The Fate of England’s Monarchy Is In The Hands of Three Notorious Rakes.
To prevent three royal dukes from marrying their way onto the throne, heroic, selfless agents for the crown will be dispatched…to seduce the dukes’ intended brides. These wickedly debauched rakes will rumple sheets and cause a scandal. But they just might fall into their own trap…
After he’s falsely blamed for a botched assignment during war, former cavalry officer Rhys Warrington turns his back on “honor.” He spends his nights in brothels doing his best to live down to the expectations of his disapproving family. But one last mission could restore the reputation he’s so thoroughly sullied. All he has to do is seduce and ruin Miss Olivia Symon and his military record will be cleared. For a man with Rhys’s reputation, ravishing the delectably innocent miss should be easy. But Olivia’s honesty and bold curiosity stir more than Rhys’s desire. Suddenly the heart he thought he left on the battlefield is about to surrender…
About Mia:
Much of what Mia Marlowe knows about writing she learned from singing. A classically trained soprano, she describes her stories as a cross between Grand Opera and Gilbert & Sullivan . . . with sex! Her work has been featured in PEOPLE magazine and one of her books is on display at the Museum of London Docklands next to Johnny Depp memorabilia.
Find Mia here:
Buy Waking Up With A Rake:
Amazon | BN | Kobo | IndieBound
******************** GIVEAWAY DETAILS *******************
Question: If you could wake up with a rake, who would it be?
1. Open to US/Can addresses
2. MUST leave a comment with your email address so we can easily contact you
3. Winner will be picked next Wednesday via Random.org
Good luck!!!!
Rhys Warrington of course.
Good choice, Rita!
I would have to say that there is nothing wrong with waking up next to Rhys at all, I will take him.
I have to admit, he’s quite a lovely man.
Rhys….of course!
Thanks, Julie!
If you could wake up with a rake, who would it be? Anthony Mallory from Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory series.. Or Jeremy Mallory. Rawr. Those gypsy looks.. * melts*
How about Daemon from Anne Bishop. He is sort of a rake… LOL.
Raonaid at gmail dot com
Oooo, good choices all, Raonaid!
RHYS OF COURSE :-):-):-)
tamip at 2zooms dot com
I’m sensing a pattern here. Maybe we should have offered a few more choices… Not that Rhys is complaining, mind you!
Rhys wins everytime!
Thanks, Kaye.
Well from the book Rhys hot and steamy definitely
Fron a TV series Damon Salvator from Vampire Diaries any day of the week lol
Hmm, from a TV series… I guess I’d have to pick Rick Castle. He’s such a boy sometimes, but I love him.
If I could choose any rake it would be Gabriel Drake from How to Please a Pirate. I have always loved books about sexy pirates and lords, well this book has both in one.
It is really hard to choose from all the many gifted authors. Another One that i truly like is from Stephanie Laurens Cynster Series, Devil’s Bride. For anyone that has read her books know that these boys are nothing but trouble when it comes to being a rake. lol
Sue Ellen, I’m so glad you remember Gabriel Drake with such fondness! If you like my pirate hero, you might also like my smuggler, Captain Nicholas Scott in LORD OF DEVIL ISLE!
I’ll take McSteamy from Grays..
rluken05@yahoo.com
Going with Rhys! Thanks for the giveaway!
luranker@hotmail.com
Rhys of course;-)
Rhys is flattered!
Rhys would be great. Also Dominic Raikes from The Firelord’s Lover by Kathryne Kennedy.
I love Kathryne Kennedy’s imaginative world!
Sebastian from The Devil in Winter
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Hard to beat any of Lisa Kleypas’s heroes.
Hi, i have reading out and i will definitely bookmarrk your site, just wanted to say i liked this article.
Thanks, Sam!
I’m rather partial to Lord Gideon of Anne Gracie’s The Perfect Rake. 😉
julieguan AT gmail DOT com
I’ll have to give Anne Gracie a try. She’s new to me.
Rhys sounds very naughty and absolutely delectable.