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.
Website
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.
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!
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)
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)
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:
Congratulations in your debut as Eva Leigh. I too am a big fan of Blades of The Rose.
ReplyDeleteI'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
I'm not a big tea drinker but I'd happily join you in running the book portion of your shop, Carol!
DeleteCongratulations in your debut as Eva Leigh. I too am a big fan of Blades of The Rose.
ReplyDeleteI'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
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.
ReplyDeleteSome of the prettiest covers I've seen in a while, Diane. Love those jewel tones!
DeleteCongratulations 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.
ReplyDeleteI think acting could have been very difficult in some regards but incredibly liberating in others.
DeletePJ, 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.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed it, Janga!
DeleteLove 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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! ;-)
Deletethe cook
ReplyDeleteAs much as I enjoy spending time in the kitchen, I'm surprised that cook never crossed my mind!
DeleteI absolutely love the red dress on the cover
ReplyDeleteA healer I think its interesting the about how all the things in nature can help different ailments
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.
ReplyDeleteI'd probably be a housekeeper, because I'm good at organization.
ReplyDeletejmcgaugh (at) semo (dot) edu
DeleteBook 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.
ReplyDeleteWell, 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!
ReplyDeleteI guess I'd be a companion or something similar..
ReplyDeleteThere 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.
ReplyDeletea book described as haveing 'Wit, wordplay, rakes, empowered women, and hot love scenes' sounds like my kind of book!
I loved Zoe's Blades of the Rose series and I'm looking forward to reading Eva's new series. Thanks for visiting.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your debut as Eva Leigh. I would have liked to be a spy back then.
ReplyDeleteI would either have had a book store or bakery back then. :-)
ReplyDeleteLove this interview! This series has been on my wish list since I first heard about it!! :-)
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.
ReplyDelete