Monday, November 10, 2014

Today's Special - - Andrea Pickens a/k/a Cara Elliott


I'm delighted to welcome back a lovely woman and one of my favorite writers, no matter what name she's using. I first discovered her as Andrea Pickens back in the day when trad regencies were all the rage. Years later, I stumbled upon a historical romance author by the name of Cara Elliott, not realizing at the time that she was the same person as traditional regency favorite, Pickens. (By the way, she also writes historical mysteries as Andrea Penrose!)

You can learn more about Andrea and her books at her website and connect with her online (as Cara Elliott) at Facebook and Twitter.  You can also follow her regular posts at the multi-author Word Wenches blog

Those among us who enjoy traditional regencies - and I know there are many - will be delighted to hear that Andrea is re-releasing many of her previously published books in digital format as well as writing some new ones. But I'll let her tell you about that.

Please give Andrea a warm Dish welcome! 



Hi Everyone,

Most of you may know me as Cara Elliott, but today I’m here under my nom de plume Andrea Pickens, which is actually the name I used when I started my writing career at the Signet Regency Romance line.

As Andrea, I write traditional Regencies, which means no unlacing of corsets—but wait, wait! Don’t leave! The heroes are still hunky, the banter provocative, and the storylines fun. (Or at least I like to think so!) In fact, I enjoy creating this sort of book so much that as I’ve been self-publishing my Signet backlist, I’ve also started writing some new original ones as well.



Now, lest you think traditional means REALLY traditional, I confess that I do like to bend the rules a little. While I love stories set in the conventional drawing rooms and ballrooms of the ton, I like to push the boundaries a bit. So A Diamond in the Rough, one of my newly released e-books, is a golf romance set on the links of St. Andrews, Scotland. (Yes, they did play golf in the Regency. It’s an ancient sport in Great Britain—in fact King James II of Scotland issued an edict banning play in 1457 because it was so popular that archers were neglecting their practice in order to hit the links!) 














Now, for those of you who may think the game sounds boring, take a look at golf superstar Adam Scott! I think you will agree that a golfer can inspire a rather nice hero.















I also like to have fun with unconventional occupations, because one of the fascinating things about the Regency is it was a time of new discoveries and new ideas. One of which was edible chocolate. (In my research, I’ve discovered that the physician to Queen Marie Antoinette mixed her medicine into solid chocolate pastilles with fruit and nut flavoring to disguise its bitter taste. In Sweeter Than Sin, which is a brand new original book, my hero is a wounded Spanish war hero who is an expert on chocolate and likes to experiment with creating new recipes. (I’d like to have him walk off the pages and into my kitchen!) He strikes up a friendship with his English uncle’s neighbor, the disgraced daughter of a duke, and together they explore the healing power of both chocolate and love. 


Here’s an excerpt:

Even with its wrappings, the object looked no bigger than walnut. Curiosity got the better of Kyra and she asked, “Pray, what is it?”
           Rafael crossed to the far end of the folly before answering. “Open it and see.” Before she could demur, he took her basket and set it down next to the portfolios on the stone slab.
           The paper fell away to reveal a ball of rich brown paste flecked with bits of scarlet. Its soft sheen had the patina of oiled mahogany. Still mystified, she looked up.
           “It is a special blend of cacao, made according to my grandmother’s recipe,” he explained. “Will join me in a taste? It takes only a few minutes to prepare and it will fortify our stamina for an attack on English grammar.”
            Surely he did not mean now. “But you have no kitchen, no cook.”
           “I have all the utensils I need right here.” He produced a tin pot from his satchel, along with a small knife and two mugs. “As for a cook . . .“ Wielding a wooden whisk, Rafael cut a rakish flourish though the air. “I have honed my skills under the tutelage of a culinary master.”
A spark from flint striking steel lit the smile in his eyes. A leaf curled in the first flare of flame.
          Kyra suddenly felt warm all over.
          Rafael pour out a measure of the brew and passed her a steaming mug. Their hands touched, and she was far more aware of the heat of his fingertips.
          Was he flirting with her? If he knew the truth, he would have little taste for her company.
          She colored and drew back, angry with the handsome Spaniard for stirring a longing that ought to have died. Angry with herself for feeling fire where there ought to be ice.
          Having made up her mind to dislike the beverage, Kyra puckered her lips as she raised the mug, determined to abstain from more than a tiny swallow. But then she experienced the oddest sensation. The aroma of tropical fruit and roasted spice tickled her nose, the swirling sweetness filled her lungs and caressed her cheeks.
Dizzy, she smiled in spite of her resolve. A splash fell on her tongue, hot and heady. She drew in a mouthful and downed it in a quick gulp.
         He looked at her from over the rim of his own mug. “It is good, isn’t it?”
         “Delicious,” she murmured. “I shouldn’t . . .”
         “Why not? Chocolate is one of life’s little pleasures.”

~~~~~~~~~~


So, do you enjoy unconventional heroes and heroines? How about unconventional settings? Do you have any favorites to share? I’ll be giving away a copy of one of my e-books (winner’s choice!) to one person chosen at random from anyone leaving a comment here today.


Adrian, Viscount Marquand, is not a typical English lord. Spurning the gaming halls and brothels, he secretly designs the most beautiful gardens in England. Then his ne'er-do-well father bets the ancestral manor on the outcome of a golf match, and it's up to Adrian to save his beloved home. But first he must travel to Scotland to learn the game. 

Miss Derrien Edwards is not a typical Scottish lass. Her bouncy blond curls tucked under a woolen cap, she satisfies her love of the links by passing as a young male caddie named "Derry". 

When Adrian arrives at St. Andrews links, he's paired with "Derry". While learning to play, Adrian struggles to ignore his strange attraction to the impudent caddie, and Derrien finds herself caught in her own trap. Secrets swirl as the day of reckoning arrives—and neither can afford to lose the game. 




Her reputation ruined by one impetuous mistake, Lady Kyra Sterling lives as a recluse, determined never to make herself vulnerable to love again. Then she meets Rafael, a half-Spanish, half-English war hero. 

Hoping to heal his own inner pain, Rafael has come to visit his uncle. He doesn’t expect to strike up friendship with his neighbor, the shy Lady Kyra. But when she offers to help translate his Spanish grandmother's notes and recipes for chocolate, a special bond forms. 

Then the man who ruined and jilted Kyra returns, demanding marriage and her dowry. Now Kyra must choose: become vulnerable again and seek Rafael's help, or quietly return to her reclusive life and succumb to a loveless marriage. 


36 comments:

  1. Loving the sound of all of these stories.

    I'm sure I have read books set in unconventional surroundings, but I can't think of any off hand.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like unconventional stories because that makes them more fun but it has to have enough typical stuff to make it stand out more. If that makes any sense. I do try to throw in different countries when I read historical novels but I keep coming back to England and Scotland for more. Thanks for the chance to win! I like to discover new authors to read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, you make perfect sense, Sally!

      Delete
    2. Each book sounds great. Sweeter Than Sin had me a little more intrigued. Love these books too.

      Delete
  3. Thanks for having me, PJ! It's always such fun to dish at the Dish!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Cara/Andrea! Sorry, I'm sliding in a little late this morning. I blame the fact that I was still reading Sweeter than Sin in bed at 12:30 this morning. I want a Rafael of my own!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awww, thank you, PJ! So glad you think he's pretty sweet!

      Delete
  5. These sound wonderful! You must have had so much fun writing these - the research would be so inspiring. I only discovered Regency romances a decade ago (& I'm very grey-haired now!), and I enjoy them so much! Love the banter, the slow burning heat, the rules and how to break them in novel ways. I would love to win/read one of your books - in the meantime, I'm already on the internet to see (a) if our library has any copies, and (b) the cost of an e-book (being retired is interesting, $-wise). Cheers. I've added you to my must-read list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. THanks, so much, Celia. I'm so glad you enjoy the genre. I have always looked ttrads for exactly the reasons you mention!

      Delete
  6. Hi, Andrea/Cara! Yes, I really enjoy unconventional heroes and heroines. I can't think of a favorite, but Diamond in the Rough sounds really good.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Andrea I love the trads and your were among my first romances! I gave my copy of Diamond in The Rough to a non romance reading golfer friend and she loved it. I am now heading over to Amazon to download both books on my Kindle. I

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Connie, that's so nice of you to say! You've really made my day. And thank you for the word of mouth. Really appreciate it.

      Delete
    2. I think I'm going to send a copy of Diamond in the Rough to college girl. Her boyfriend is on his university's golf team. ;-)

      Delete
  8. Hi, Andrea,
    I love your books because they are so smartly written and you find the humor in your scenes. Not to mention your impeccable research. I think you and I are alike in that we get caught up in the history sometimes.

    I love Diana Quincy's novels because she, like you, takes little known facets of history and weaves her stories around them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jaye! Thanks for stopping by. I'm unfamiliar with Diana Quincy. Thanks for the rec!

      Delete
  9. Thank you, Jaye! I do love history, but I do try to be careful not to let it dominate the story. It's fun when it's a complement to the plot and the characters.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you do a good job of balancing history with story. I always enjoy your books.

      Delete
  10. Congrats Cara on the new release! I do enjoy "unconventional" characters and settings. Never hurts to liven things up and I'm always up for new twists on old genres :) Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Never hurts to liven things up

      Exactly! :)

      Delete
    2. Thanks, Erin. Those are the books I enjoy reading too!

      Delete
  11. Yes, I like unconventional "anything" in my romances...perhaps because I am rather conventional in my own life. When I'm reading I like to fantasize, be adventuresome and brave! And thanks for the introduction to your alter ego (Andrea Pickens), Cara! jdh2690@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Janice, I think that's why many of us enjoy romance. It allows us to escape our normal lives and for a few hours and be someone or somewhere outside our comfort zone.

      Delete
    2. Ha, so true, Janice. That's why reading is so fun for our imagination!

      Delete
  12. Yes I love unconventional in romance books. It help me excape the real world for a change.

    ReplyDelete
  13. So now I get to read more of your lovely stories since I did not know you wrote under other pen names, Cars/Andrea. The books sound so good!! Congrats on the digital releases of previous books!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you SO much, Deb! I really appreciate that!

      Delete
  14. I love characters who have character or quirky traits, oddballs--but not too much. Enough to keep them interesting and entertaining.

    Denise

    ReplyDelete
  15. I like unconventional heroes and heroines as long as they are not stupid or unpleasant (naturally). I just read an Andrea Pickens book (Code of Honour) & really enjoyed it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it's romance so we want our heroes and heroines to be wonderful! And thanks so much —so glad you enjoyed Code of Honor!

      Delete
  16. Unconventional characters are sometimes easier to take than unconventional settings. Even though many readers complain that all historicals are set in Regency or Victorian England, I find that I prefer these settings to other countries around the world.

    ReplyDelete