Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Today's Special - - Lecia Cornwall


I'm delighted to welcome historical author Lecia Cornwall back to the Romance Dish!  Lecia won me over with her debut novel, Secrets of a Proper Countess and has continued to impress me with each subsequent novel that she has published.  Her newest, The Secret Life of Lady Julia, gives us an unconventional hero and heroine who leave England for the glittering and intrigue-filled city of Vienna during the post-Napoleon peace talks.  It's another winner that kept me reading way past my bedtime!  

You can read about Lecia and her books at her website and also find her online at Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Pinterest.   



Welcome back, Lecia and congratulations on the upcoming release of THE SECRET LIFE OF LADY JULIA. Will you please tell your readers what to expect from this book?

Lady Julia Leighton was a minor character in How To Deceive A Duke. Engaged to a man she’s known all her life, someone more brother than lover, she takes a risk and flirts with a handsome, charming stranger at her betrothal ball. But flirtation leads to kissing, and kissing lead to disaster. Julia’s life changes completely. When her family disowns her, Julia is forced to take a job as a paid companion, and leave England, heading for the Congress of Vienna with her employer, a junior diplomat. Julia is a woman determined to make a new life for herself. In Vienna, when the British ambassador discovers Julia speaks several languages, he assigns her the task of listening to the conversations of other delegates, and reporting what she hears. Slowly, as her new life unfolds, there’s a new chance at love, if only she can forget Thomas Merritt, her seducer, at long last—but a man like that is impossible to forget! They meet again in very unexpected circumstances, and when Julia’s job as a listener leads her into danger, scandal, and betrayal, only Thomas, a man with a reputation even more tarnished than Julia’s own, can save the day. Julia must choose between the two men who love her. There’s lots of history, suspense, the beautiful backdrop of Vienna, and of course, romance.

Julia and Thomas are certainly not your typical historical hero and heroine. What would you like readers to understand about each of them?

I love tortured heroes with so much to overcome before they can find love! After I wrote How To Deceive A Duke, I wondered just what a ruined lady like Julia might do when her family disowned her, and society turned its back on her. She’d have to make a new life for herself within the limited opportunities open to ladies at the time. She’d need to be brave, resourceful, and careful. Passion, for her, would become a thing of the past, representing her momentary lapse in judgment. Or would it? Passion takes many forms for a woman like Julia, and she explores them all.

Thomas Merritt is one of my favorite heroes! He’s disreputable, he’s honorable, he’s a rogue, he’s a gentleman. He’s utterly, completely delicious! Doing the right thing sometimes clashes with the necessity of surviving, and he’s come up with ways of doing the wrong thing for the right reason in such a way that as few people as possible ever get hurt. Except himself, of course. He’s never forgotten Julia, and the one night they spent together—it’s true love, and guilt and desire. When he meets her again in Vienna, he feels the same old passion, but this time, it could get him shot, or hanged—or worse, he might have to find a way to live without her yet again. There’s a much better man, an honorable, noble military officer who’s proposed to Julia, and can offer her a future. He should walk away again, but can he?

Thomas is one of my favorites too.   

I was fascinated by the intrigue and jockeying for position taking place during the Vienna peace
talks. Did you base the scenes on historical fact, or is it primarily a product of your imagination?

This is one case where the real history was more fascinating than anything I could ever make up! Vienna in 1814 offered the perfect setting for intrigue and romance. The facts about the official events of the congress, including the spies, and the social events are real. So are characters like Talleyrand, Castlereagh and the wonderful Prince de Ligne and Anna Protasoff. Some of the details are subject to artistic license, and Julia and Thomas stepped in to fill fictional roles amid real events. For example, while there was gossip involving the Duke of Wellington and Pauline de Borghese, Julia’s part in that scandal came from my own imagination. If you’re interested in reading more about the events behind the congress, I recommend ‘Vienna 1814’, by David King. It really is an incredible story, filled with spies, lots of sex, parties, diplomatic tantrums, more sex, illicit affairs, princesses, kings, rogues, and some of the most scandalous, incredible personalities in any historical time period.

You sure know how to leave your readers wanting more. The epilogue has me hoping—okay, begging—to know what happens to a certain secondary character. Will there be another book?

Yes! Stephen Ives will get his own story. My daughter was crushed when Stephen lost the girl, and suffered the torments of a broken heart in The Secret Life of Lady Julia. Stephen deserves a happy ending. Never fear—he’ll meet another lady, someone he once spurned in London. Blinded in battle at Waterloo, and accused of some terrible crimes, he’ll need to depend on the heroine to nurse him back to health, and help him restore his honor. Imagine falling in love with someone using every other sense but sight. I am so looking forward to writing this story!

I am so looking forward to reading it!  

Let’s talk about you for a bit. Summer is just around the corner. Any fun plans?

It’s going to be a quiet summer. I had surgery a few weeks ago, and I’ve been strictly forbidden from having any fun for a while. Well, actually, I’m just forbidden from lifting anything heavier than ten pounds, and I never could travel light. Thankfully, once my kids reached the age of having summer jobs, and planning family holidays away became a challenge, we instituted “Summer Sundays”. We take turns planning day trips—to mountains, museums, new restaurants, shows, markets, etc. and enjoy the day together. Precious mom moments (and writerly inspiration)!

As for fun, I recently enlisted my children (18 and 21) to help me make a book trailer for The Secret Life of Lady Julia. I wanted to give readers a look at how my books look visually like in my head. My daughter helped me find props, choose costumes at a local thrift store, and stood in for Lady Julia. My son took some wonderful original photographs, and put the whole thing together on iMovie. I wrote the script, chose the music, and the stock photos we used along with our own shots. You can check out our efforts on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEKAHBf7FSI


Will you be at any conferences this year where readers can meet you?

Alas, no—but I am planning on being in New Orleans for RT Magazine’s annual Readers’ convention next spring! My kids are clamoring to come with me. My daughter is a jazz musician and history buff, and my son is an intrepid world traveller and photographer. Until then, I would love to hear from readers—I answer all my e-mails and Facebook messages. You can reach me at leciacornwall@shaw.ca, or at  www.facebook.com/pages/Lecia-Cornwall

You’ve said that you sometimes feel like you were born in the wrong century. If you could time travel, what time and place would you like to visit most?

That is a very tough question! I have a lot of historic heroes! I’d love to meet Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Anne Boleyn. Jane Austen would be fascinating to spend an afternoon with. I’d take tea with Marie Antoinette, and I’d actually love to meet Eva Braun, if only to pick her brain about what made her notorious boyfriend, Adolph Hitler, tick. Winston Churchill would also make an interesting dinner companion.

How do you relax when you’re not busy writing a new book?

Usually by reading a new book! I also love to garden, cook, eat, take photographs, draw, and spend time with my kids as well. Tonight, my daughter and I are attending a lecture about the Secrets of The Sistine Chapel.

If you were conducting a self-interview, what one question would you ask yourself and how would you answer?

Well, the question I ask myself most often is why am I here? Not here on earth, but why did I come upstairs to the bedroom? I get lost in my stories at times, and with one foot in the fictional world, and one foot in the real world, things can get a little mixed up at times. A sweater? My glasses? Book notes? Who knows why I came, but climbing those stairs over and over sure helps work out story problems!

What’s next?

I am working on several new projects this summer. There’s a new Scottish series for Avon Impulse, which is a bit of a departure in location for me, but the stories are set in the same time period as the Regency. The first book takes place at midsummer, and is filled with magic, romance, and two ghosts who return from their unquiet graves to bring the hero and heroine together to break an ancient curse. Trouble is, there’s others who want them apart. I’m having a wonderful time doing the research into midsummer rituals, love spells, and the Scottish history of the time.

Do you have a question for our readers?

What do you like best about a good romance novel? Is it a good story, a sexy hero, hot sex, or the happy ever after moment—or something else entirely?


One randomly chosen person leaving a comment (U.S. addresses only) will win a signed copy of The Secret Life of Lady Julia.  





30 comments:

  1. Um, all the above. *LOL* But a sexy wonderful delicious heroic anti-hero usually does all sorts of things for me. :)

    This book sounds intriguing!! I will definitely have to look up a copy!! Thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hellie, I think you're going to like Thomas. A lot. :)

      Delete
    2. I always fall in love with my heroes, but I think Thomas is one of my favourites!

      Delete
  2. A hero with integrity and a wonderful storyline that is memorable and unforgettable.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lecia manages to write a hero in this book who is a thief with integrity. No easy feat but well done, indeed! :)

      Delete
  3. A romance novel has to have a combination of friction, testing the characters strength, and a remarkable hero who lives to save the day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Petite, what about a heroine who saves the day? ;-)

      Delete
  4. I definitely require an HEA in which I really believe, but my #1 criterion for a good romance novels is characters with whom I want to spend time. I can forgive a lot of other flaws if I truly love the characters.

    ReplyDelete
  5. All of the above of course. I like characters that really feel, that bring you in to what they are feeling

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love tortured heroes, feisty heroines, a good story, and of course the book must have an HEA. If it can make me laugh a bit, all the better.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congratulations on the new release. I don't think I've read any of Lecia's books, but I've heard good things about them. I like romance books with wit and humor like a Julie James novel or ones with lots of angst like Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Most important is that I care about the characters (even the bad ones lol). Then the author can take me anywhere. And if it makes me laugh/cry so much the better! Your book sounds like something I would definitely enjoy and what a lovely cover!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Avon creates such beautiful covers! That, unfortunately, I cannot take any credit at all for. I believe the artist is named Tom, like the hero in Lady Julia.

      Delete
  9. What I love most is the characters and their growth. Lady Julia sounds like an interesting heroine. I look forward to reading more. Thanks for visiting.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sounds like everyone loves deep, rich characters with a good story to tell. I love books (and TV shows) that make me laugh or cry. I don't think I've ever managed to get through an episode of "Call The Midwife" without tearing up.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love the story and how the characters fight to get to their happy ending.

    I loved HOW TO DECIEVE A DUKE and can't wait to read THE SECRET LIFE OF LADY JULIA!

    Marcy Shuler
    bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Congrats to lecia on the on new release! What's been the most fun thing you've ever done to "research" a book?

    efender1(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love having some humor in my romances.. but it really all about getting to the HEA..

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hello Lecia! I'm so glad to "meet" you on this review blog. What do I like in my romances? Well, I like romance and it doesn't have to be hot sex scenes...but the give and take in a courtship...with humor and wit...mutual attraction that gets the blood going. And I do like the HEA of course. The chase, the fun, the love, the HEA...all give me that wonderful feeling whenever I've read such a story. The mellow high I get from reading romance negates all the bad stuff that's in the paper and on TV and the news. I need it like water! jdh2690 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Janice, nice to meet you too! I agree—I think falling in love with the whole person makes romances (inside and out, good and bad) makes a love story more believable and certainly more memorable! I had to stop watching the news a few years ago, because it made me angry.

      Delete
  15. It has to be little things that make me smile and go "awwww". Humor is also a huge yes especially at moments where you weren't expecting them and tense on the edge of your seat moments between the couple are also great. Ohh and great secondary characters~!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And congrats on the release of your book!

      Delete
    2. The awww moments are the best part of WRITING romance, too! They aren't always planned, and tend to pop up when I'm not expecting them to, I LOVE that!

      Delete
  16. I love a good story with engaging characters, a bit of humor and a touching romance, and of course a happily ever after - that makes me happy. :D

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Lecia, been a fan since your first book.

    All of the above makes for a good story, but the most important is the characters and how their interactions engage us and seeing the attraction develop through the story. I love fun and witty, bantering dialog, but also a more complex, emotional story.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thank you for such an informative interview. You and your family did a nice job on the book trailer.

    I like a good story best in the books I read. A well written story will give me the characters and situations I like. One thing I appreciate in any book I read is a sense of humor. I don't mean joking around and silliness. More the ability to not take oneself too seriously, even in desperate circumstances.

    Best of luck for a speedy recovery. Your other projects sound promising. I am looking forward to reading them.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Congratulations to Lecia on her new book! For me it is the emotion and watching the relationship grow between the hero and the heroine regardless of the problems they face.

    ReplyDelete
  20. First of all, let me say that I love your novels, Lecia, and am so looking forward to reading “The Secret Life of Lady Julia.” I enjoy romance novels for so many reasons. The ones that really stay with me are ones with humor, great descriptions of scenery, clothing and events, and characters that come across as “real.”

    Take care of yourself and here’s hoping you heal quickly!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi PJ and Lecia!

    PJ - I love all the information that I learned about Lecia from your interview!

    Lecia - I fell in love with your stories a few years ago when I went into the bookstore and picked up a copy of Secrets of a Proper Countess and read Isobel and Phineas's story and always look forward to your new releases!

    What makes a book a great romance to be is the development of the characters in the story, both the main characters as well as the secondary characters whether they are family, friends, enemies or servants! I think the secondary characters give me a better understanding of the main characters and how they react to each other.

    Ever since I first met Isobel and Phineas I've looked forward to your next book and what situations the characters will overcome.

    Whenever I finish one of your books I feel like a good friend is moving away and think of how much I'll miss them and I love when an author has characters reappear in following stories, or as you are doing with Stephen, giving them a book of their own!

    ReplyDelete
  22. All of the above!! I also like some suspense in my romances. This one sounds awesome. Thanks for the chance. BTW, you are a new to me author, which I love to find!

    ReplyDelete