Monday, September 28, 2015

Today's Special - - Eva Leigh

I'm delighted to welcome historical romance author Eva Leigh to TRD today. Leigh's debut historical for Avon, Forever Your Earl releases tomorrow. It hit all the right notes for this reader, landing the book on my Best of 2014 list. I'm excited to see what Leigh brings us next! 

Eva Leigh is a romance author who has always loved the Regency era. She writes novels chock-full of smart women and sexy men. She enjoys baking, spending too much time on the Internet, and listening to music from the ’80s. Eva also writes in multiple romance genres as RITA-award nominated Zoë Archer. She and her husband, fellow romance author Nico Rosso, live in Central California.


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Welcome! Congratulations on the upcoming release of Forever Your Earl, your debut writing as Eva Leigh. Please tell our readers what they can expect from this book.

Wit, wordplay, rakes, empowered women, and hot love scenes.

That right there would be enough to put it on my must-buy list!

On the surface, Eleanor (untitled owner/editor of the scandal rag, The Hawk’s Eye) and Daniel, Earl of Ashford (the paper’s favorite target) seem an unlikely pair. What is it about these two that convinced you they belong together?

I love the notion of opposites attract, but with a hidden core of mutual understanding and respect. Eleanor is a woman who’s had to make her way in the world, and Ashford has had everything handed to him. They seem very improbable as a couple, but it turns out that they’re both intelligent, driven, passionate people with a lot of compassion and a need to contribute.

Eleanor is an independent, self-sustaining, career woman whose
life choices fly in the face of societal expectations. What is it about this type of heroine that appeals to you as a romance writer?

I’m an avowed feminist, and so it has been very important to me writing both as Zoë Archer as well as Eva Leigh to depict women in male-dominated fields, kicking butt and not backing down. I want my heroines to be as strong and capable as my heroes. Relationships between equals are the sexiest and most romantic kind, to me.

I enjoyed the peeks into life “behind the curtain” at the Imperial. Do you have a background in theater?

Yes, I’ve done theater in high school and college. But what I really enjoy about writing of the theater is showing how people worked, and worked hard, especially in the creation of art. The theater is a very dynamic, not especially respectable place where women can have a lot of power, and I wanted to show that. You’ll see much more of it, and Maggie the playwright, in Scandal Takes the Stage, which comes out November 2015.

Where did you gain your knowledge?

I enjoy doing research! I have lots of books, plus the internet can be a valuable resource for learning more about all kinds of topics. Since readers know so much already about the Regency, I want to give them glimpses into worlds that they might not be as familiar with, such as journalism and the theater.

This reader is eager for more of those glimpses!

Will we see more of Jonathan Lawson and his sister, Catherine in future books? I’m intrigued by both of them.

There will most likely be a novella featuring Jonathan. Originally, I hadn’t planned on writing about his story, but there has already been such a demand to give him his HEA that I felt it was necessary!

Glad to know I'm not the only one clamoring for his story!

What’s next from Eva Leigh?

Scandal Takes the Stage, Marwood and Maggie’s story, will be out October 27, 2015. After that is Temptations of a Wallflower in May 2016. That one is also part of the Wicked Quills series, and it’s about a lady who writes anonymous erotic novels and a vicar!

Count me in for both of them! 


You are also an award-winning author of paranormal, steampunk and Victorian romances written as Zoë Archer. (I’m a huge fan of the Blades of the Rose series!) What’s on the horizon for fans of those books? 

Right now, I’m concentrating on my Eva Leigh persona, but 
Zoë definitely lives on. I’m entertaining different ideas to write under that name.

Thank you for visiting with me. Would you like to ask our readers a question today?


If you could go back in history and have any profession, what would it be, and why?


One randomly chosen person leaving a comment on today's post will receive a copy of Forever Your Earl

(U.S./Canada only)




Eva Leigh's irresistible new series introduces the Wicked Quills of London: a group of bold, brilliant female writers whose spirited allure is beyond seductive . . .

Eleanor Hawke loves a good scandal. And readers of her successful gossip rag live for the exploits of her favorite subject: Daniel Balfour, the notorious Earl of Ashford. So when the earl himself marches into her office and invites her to experience his illicit pursuits firsthand, Eleanor is stunned. Gambling hells, phaeton races, masquerades . . . What more could a scandal writer want than a secret look into the life of this devilishly handsome rake?

Daniel has secrets, and if The Hawk's Eye gets wind of them, a man's life could be at stake. And what better way to distract a gossip than by feeding her the scandal she desperately craves? But Daniel never expected the sharp mind and biting wit of the beautiful writer, and their desire for each other threatens even his best-laid plans.

But when Eleanor learns the truth of his deception, Daniel will do anything to prove a romance between a commoner and an earl could really last forever.

Click to read an Excerpt of Forever Your Earl


Book Info:
ISBN: 978-0062358622
Publisher: Avon Romance
Date: 9/29/2015

Links to Buy:


25 comments:

  1. Congratulations in your debut as Eva Leigh. I too am a big fan of Blades of The Rose.
    I'll be looking forward to reading your new books by Eva Leigh. I would probably have had a book & tea shop back in the day when trade was frowned upon, especially for women. Thanks for the giveawway.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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    1. I'm not a big tea drinker but I'd happily join you in running the book portion of your shop, Carol!

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  2. Congratulations in your debut as Eva Leigh. I too am a big fan of Blades of The Rose.
    I'll be looking forward to reading your new books by Eva Leigh. I would probably have had a book & tea shop back in the day when trade was frowned upon, especially for women. Thanks for the giveawway.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  3. Congratulations to Eva on her debut. Those covers are absolutely gorgeous. If I could go back in history then I would probably be a ladies maid. They seemed to have an easier time than a scullery or house maid did.

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    1. Some of the prettiest covers I've seen in a while, Diane. Love those jewel tones!

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  4. Congratulations on your new debut. I think acting would have been an interesting job choice in the 19th Century. While some actors/actresses were famous, there was still that class divide.

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    1. I think acting could have been very difficult in some regards but incredibly liberating in others.

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  5. PJ, I owe you for making sure that I read this book. I too loved it and added it to my Best of the Year list. I enthusiastically second your recommendation, and I am so-o-o eager for Marwood and Maggie's story--and grateful that we have only a month to wait for it.

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  6. Love debut books. I think I would want to be an artist but of course that would be a sideline but I'd have to be titled to enjoy that perk lol.

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    1. I would love to be an artist in any time period. Unfortunately, I'm the family member born with zero artistic ability. And I do mean, zero! ;-)

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    1. As much as I enjoy spending time in the kitchen, I'm surprised that cook never crossed my mind!

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  8. I absolutely love the red dress on the cover
    A healer I think its interesting the about how all the things in nature can help different ailments

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  9. Like jcp, I'd be a cook, or maybe a wealthy titled lady who bakes and makes jam for fun. Someone has to make all those teacakes and jam! I am looking forward to reading Forever Your Earl.

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  10. I'd probably be a housekeeper, because I'm good at organization.

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  11. Book store owner. That is such a male dominated field. That women writers had to write under male names. Look forward to reading your debut novel.

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  12. Well, since I am a teacher, I should choose that profession. You know, Schoolteacher on the Prairie or The Schoolteacher and the Mountie, LOL. The Revolutionary War era fascinates me, so I could be a wealthy Patriot's daughter working undercover for Liberty. :) Congrats on your new release and much success to you with your new pen name and genre!

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  13. I guess I'd be a companion or something similar..

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  14. There were so few professions available to women more than 100 years ago, but I think being a country inn keeper could be interesting, as long as it wan't in to remote a location. Perhaps at one of the ports - that would bring a lot of interesting people through.

    a book described as haveing 'Wit, wordplay, rakes, empowered women, and hot love scenes' sounds like my kind of book!

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  15. I loved Zoe's Blades of the Rose series and I'm looking forward to reading Eva's new series. Thanks for visiting.

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  16. Congratulations on your debut as Eva Leigh. I would have liked to be a spy back then.

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  17. I would either have had a book store or bakery back then. :-)
    Love this interview! This series has been on my wish list since I first heard about it!! :-)

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  18. If I could go back in time a bit, I would like to be an archeologist (would like to do that now). The late 1800's and early 1900's saw many interesting and exciting discoveries. Women were usually assistants if they could participate at all. How exciting it must have been for those early explorers who uncovered Egypt's secrets and discovered so much to share with the world.

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