Monday, February 13, 2012

Today's Special -- Q&A with Jillian Hunter




Today, we welcome New York Times and USA Today bestselling historical author Jillian Hunter to the Romance Dish! Jillian's latest book, The Duchess Diaries, is the third book in her Bridal Pleasures series and released last Tuesday. Please join me in welcoming her to the Dish!







Hello and welcome to the Romance Dish, Jillian! We are delighted to have you dishing with us today. Congratulations on your latest book, The Duchess Diaries, which was released last week! I thoroughly enjoyed it. (See my review here.) Can you share with us a little of what the story is about?

Thank you! I’m happy that you’ve invited me to dish with all of you today. The Duchess Diaries opens as Miss Charlotte Boscastle is supervising the annual graduation ball for the Scarfield Academy for Young Ladies. Charlotte is the lead schoolmistress and while she celebrates her success for her girls, she can’t help feeling as if the romantic parade is passing her by. The young ladies she has trained are already attracting suitors. The members of Charlotte’s family find love wherever they look. But Charlotte’s only romance takes place in the pages of her diary.

In the story, Charlotte pours her thoughts and feelings into a personal diary. Have you ever kept a diary?

Yes. I’ve kept a few diaries in my day. Over the years they evolved from “I got up. I had breakfast. I went to school—” to more embarrassing entries.

LOL, I've been there, too! The Duchess Diaries is the third book in the Bridal Pleasures series. How are these books connected?

The series revolves around three rogues who are dedicated to the pursuit and protection of the women they love. A Duke’s Temptation and The Duchess Diaries have Boscastle heroines. The hero of the second book, A Bride Unveiled, is the master-of-arms for the family.

One of the first things that comes to romance readers’ minds when your name is mentioned is your popular Boscastle family (some of which are featured in this new series). What a loving and scandalous family! That’s my favorite kind! *g* Is it difficult to write such a large family? And how do you keep everyone straight?

It doesn’t seem more difficult to write about a large family because the characters have distinct personalities and storylines. What’s harder for me is keeping the sequence of events straight and I have to use several story boards for that.

Very interesting. Speaking of stories, which comes first for you—the characters or the story?

The characters always come first. They dictate the story.

I think a lot of authors feel the same. Of all the heroines you’ve created, which one is most like you and why?

Right now my two favorite heroines are Jane and Harriet. I love their no-nonsense/take-charge approach to life’s woes even if later down the line they create greater problems.

I simply adore Jane and Harriet! What a wonderful choice. Since you write historical romance, I’m sure you’re very familiar with research. How much do you do? And how often?

I do most of my research before I begin writing the book and after I’ve done a brief outline. I research for almost two months and scribble down ideas as I go. The trick is to detach from the research process before it becomes procrastination.

LOL, I believe we are all guilty of procrastination on some level! What is your favorite part about writing?

I love it best when a plot twist and an unexpected scene suddenly emerge organically to tie loose threads together.

Least favorite?

My least favorite part about writing is creating the skeleton of the story. It’s plain hard work.

It may be hard work, but we are so glad you do it. :) We all have hobbies or activities that we like to do in our spare time. Besides reading (which I’m sure is on everyone’s list *g*), what do you like to do for fun or to relax?

For fun I like to garden. Last year I grew an amazing amount of tomatoes, squash, and cucumbers. My sweet peas and tea roses rock. Barely a day goes by without something from my garden gracing our table.

I have always wanted to grow my own tomatoes. Home-grown ones just seem to taste better. Okay, I'm sure our readers are dying to know, so can you give us a sneak peek at what’s up next for you?

What I’m working on next is Collin Boscastle’s story—his return for revenge and of course, romance.

Yay! Another Boscastle! Sounds like another winner. Now it's on to our Quick Six Time!

Coffee or tea? I am definitely a tea person.
Early bird or night owl? Night owl!
Alpha or beta? Alpha.
Diamonds or pearls? Pearls.
Mountains or beach? I’ll take the beach over the mountains.
Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate is great but I prefer vanilla.

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions, Jillian! I really appreciate it. Now it’s your turn—is there a question you would like to ask our readers?

Thank you for these intriguing questions! Now I’d love to ask your readers about their favorite plot lines and when they find time to read between the demands of work, family, and all of life’s other distractions.


The Duchess Diaries

As headmistress of the Scarfield Academy for Young Ladies, Miss Charlotte Boscastle is tasked with keeping her charges free from notoriety. But when Charlotte's diary goes missing, she can't imagine having her most intimate secrets fall into the wrong hands.

Although the confessions in the diary he found spark his interest, the Duke of Wynfield has every intention of returning the journal. But when Gideon's encounter with Charlotte takes on an unexpectedly passionate nature, his indiscretion causes a scandal that only marriage can cure...



You can learn more about Jillian and her books at her website: http://www.jillianhunterauthor.com/ or you can find her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/JillianHunterBooks 

37 comments:

  1. Plots that I like:

    1) Escape from an arranged marriage

    2) sexual encounter before an arranged marriage to void the marriage contract

    3) Intelligent, independent, unconventional women making it on their own

    I read before work, after work, any time I have to wait for my husband or family. I carry a book with me at all times. I have them stashed in my car, my purse, my work locker to read over my lunch break. I rarely watch TV. I prefer to read in the evenings.

    I've enjoyed your Boscastle family series!

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    1. Hi Laurie! I just finished reading a book with an intelligent, independent and unconventional heroine. Loved it!

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  2. This is going to be so good, I can't wait to read it.
    I carry a book or my Kindle with me wherever I go, I have been known to read while standing in lines, stuck in traffic, on my ten minute break at work, lunch of course (who needs to eat), and right before bed (this gets me in trouble sometimes as I get sucked in and find I have read way past bedtime). The weekends is my favorite time to read because I can go down to the laundry room and get straight reading time for 30 minutes shots. No one disturbs me in the laundry room.

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    1. I'm the same way, Dianna. I always have a book or e-reader with me. Never know when I'm going to have to wait somewhere and that's a perfect time to escape into a book.

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  3. Hi Jillian! Welcome! I'm looking forward to starting this series. Andrea has been telling us how much she's enjoyed it.

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  4. Jillian, welcome! Thanks again for answering my questions. :)

    Some of my favorite plit lines are: enemies to lovers; friends to lovers; when the hero thinks he isn't good enough for the heroine (because she is a higher rank); and I especially love bad boy heroes!!

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  5. Great choices, Laurie! I carry a book with me at all times, too. ;-)

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  6. I hope you enjoy it, Dianna and PJ!

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  7. Great post! I love the cover of this book and it looks really good, can't wait to read it.

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    1. Isn't that a great cover? I'm dying to know what she's thinking...and what she wrote in her diary!

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    2. Thanks, Quilt Lady! Yes, it is a gorgeous cover!

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  8. Thank you all for your encouragement! This is a great way to start the week. I hope you have a good time with the book. Readers have been asking for Charlotte's story and I don't want to disappoint anyone. You have a fun blog going here.

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  9. Happy release to your book, Jillian!
    My favorite plot lines in stories are definitely those that are about second chances and reunions. I love seeing how a couple can re-capture love and their lives apart (how their experiences have been them better).

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    1. Hi Na! Welcome back! We haven't seen you in a while. I'm with you on the second chance stories. I love watching a couple get the opportunity to do it better the second time around.

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    2. Good choice, Na! So many of those stories are bittersweet.

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  10. I like the plot twist of the hero having a baby with the heroine that he doesn't know about.

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    1. In real life I'd have a tough time with this and yet I love it in my romance stories!

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    2. I enjoy those, too, Gail. In fact, I haven't read one in awhile!

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  11. I like the plot where the couple have to get married & their relationship grows from there.
    I mostly read in bed at night (which isn't supposed to be good for sleeping, but I do it anyway), and sometime I take an hour in the late afternoon - just to relax.

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    1. I like that plot too, Di. I used to read in bed all the time but I can't do it anymore without falling asleep about two minutes into the book. lol!

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    2. Di, I read in bed, too. With two kids that's about the only time I can read! Lol

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  12. Jillian, I got A Bride Unveiled for Christmas and _loved_ it. Kit and Violet are wonderful characters! I'll not only be reading The Duchess Diaries but hunting up your backlist.

    As for favorite plot lines, I love spy stories, Beauty and the Beast riffs, second chances at love, and Cinderella tales (even when the hero is the one who comes up in the world). I read mainly by just carving out time. Otherwise, it doesn't happen.

    Congrats on your new release!

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    1. Nancy, I also like Beauty and the Beast stories. I've read some good ones this past year!

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    2. Oh, oh, oh! I forgot the Beauty and the Beast theme, Nancy! I love those!

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  13. Thank you for your answers! It seems like we never tire of the same plots -- and yet a simple romance retold is a wonderful thing. I read in bed late at night, too, and because my time is always crunched, I'm reading more short stories than ever before. It's satisfying to fall asleep with a happy ending in my head. These days I try not to read the news before bed.
    Nancy, I'm thrilled that you liked Kit and Violet, and there's nothing nicer to hear than a reader is motivated to search out my backlist!

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    1. Nope! Because in the hands of separate authors with distinct "voices" the same plot can be very different. :)

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  14. Jillian, since I've returned to work I've been reading more short stories, novellas, anthologies and category romances. I still read a lot of single titles but during my busy weeks I can get a quick fix with the others. I like! :)

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  15. It's probably been in the last year or two that I've come to appreciate short stories again. I think it was rereading Oscar Wilde that got me back into it.

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  16. congrats on the latest release, it sounds like an enjoyable read. I enjoy reading in the evenings/wknds. I've spent many a too late night with a book I was enjoying ;) reading is also a great excuse for not doing those things you don't want to do any way ;)

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  17. ouch..seem my post not show up here ;(

    i alwasy reading in night :)

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  18. Congratulations on THE DUCHESS DIARIES. It looks amazing & I want that gown.

    I love reading abut marriages of convenience. Total strangers forced into a bond.

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  19. Hi, Jillian! I cannot wait to read THE DUCHESS DIARIES. It sounds like the type of plot that appeals most to me. The position as Headmistress of a Girls School must have been quite a feat for a woman during that time period. However, even today, women realize that having a successful job is not everything in life. I am intrigued how you weave in the perfect hero for Charlotte. I'm betting that her diary entries will be fun reading as well. Thank you for sharing this today and I truly look forward to reading your terrific novel.

    Connie Fischer
    conniecape@aol.com

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  20. Hi Jillian, Some of my favorite plot lines are:-

    Falling in love with the sister of his sworn enemy

    Married, but torn apart by a misunderstanding. Then, coming together again years later.

    I never read during the daytime. I save my reading time for bed. I always go to bed around 9pm and then read for about three hours.

    Congratulations on "The Duchess Diaries". The cover is gorgeous and the color of her dress is beautiful. I'd really love to read this.

    dpd333 (at) aol dot com

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  21. Hi Jillian -
    I couldn't believe it when I read your Qucik 6 and they all matched mine! Now I understand why I like all the twists and turns of your stories than lead to that great ending.

    One of the things I look for in a story is an interesting difference between the hero and heroine and how they will meld those differences together to become one perfect pair.

    I've found that imagination and ingenuity have given me the time to read.

    One of the first things I did as a new mother was to read to my boys constantly. Okay I might have read them a romance novel or two when they were very little but I told my husband it was "age appropriate" because they were less than a year old and didn't know what I was reading).

    Fortunately my husband loves to read as well and the boys joined the ranks in grade school. One of things we always had was an encylopedia set and from the time our sons were toddlers when they asked a questionthey were usually directed to the book to "go get" the correct book by telling them which letter to pick and at the same time teaching them the alphabet and reading and adventure neatly packaged together!

    When everyone in a family enjoys reading you can always find time to read. As my husband says "A family who reads and discusses books together gets to know and understand each other better as well".

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  22. I like plots where the hero and heroine are both proud and strong, the heroine is having/had the heroes baby and he doesn't know about it, the hero is a rake that falls in love, and when they clash but finally realize they are in lust and love.

    I read during the day and/or night and when I'm waiting somewhere.

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  23. Know I have come late to the party, but I wanted to say how much I have enjoyed your books. I love the cover of THE DUCHESS DIARIES.

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