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| Photo by Marcia Reynolds |
It's my pleasure to welcome Amelia Grey back to The Romance Dish! This award-winning author of historical romances knows a thing or two about romance. She's been happily married to her high school sweetheart for more than twenty-five years. Amelia recently answered some questions for us about her new book and a few other topics. Hope you enjoy our interview!
PJ: Welcome, Amelia and congratulations on the release of A
GENTLEMAN SAYS “I DO!”
Thank
you! I’m very happy to be back at your fabulous site.
PJ: We're always happy to host you. Would you please tell our readers what they can expect in your new book?
I
think the best way to tell you about this book is to give you the short
synopsis I sent to my editor when this book was in the baby stages of being
formed. Let me know what you think.
A Gentleman Says “I Do”
Iverson Brentwood has
finally met his match. Catalina Crisp heats his blood like no other lady. Her alluring countenance has stopped him dead
in his tracks. But no matter how attracted he is to her, he can’t give into his
desire to possess her in every way… she is the daughter of the man he’s sworn
to destroy.
Catalina’s
father is a well-known writer, but he’s a wastrel whose disappearances
continuously put them close to destitution.
Something drastic must change, so it is with quill in hand, that
Catalina completes her father’s latest parody of Iverson and Matson Brentwood’s
spectacular arrival in London. When the
story hits the newsprint, a darkly handsome man is at her door, looking for her
father.
Seeing the dashing rogue
in the flesh, for a bewildering moment dallying with the rake seems like the
perfect fictional escape—and it’s all she can do not to give into the madness
of the intriguing man.
PJ: Wow, that certainly captured my interest!
This is the fifth book in The Rogues’ Dynasty
series. Is it a stand-alone or is it
better for readers to have read the other books first?
All
five of the books are complete stories. No plotlines carry over from one book
to the next. They are connecting books only because some of the same characters
appear in all five books. Actually six
books. I am currently putting the
finishing touches on the last book of the series.
PJ: There’s usually one scene in every book I read that
stays with me long after I turn the final page.
What’s the one scene you would never cut from A GENTLEMAN SAYS “I DO?”
Yes,
this book does have a very special scene for me. The heroine, Catalina has an aunt who has a
tendency to drink a little too much port and often becomes tipsy. For that
reason, Catalina never lets her go to a party alone and they always leave
early—before her aunt imbibes too much. During the dark moment of the plot,
when the hero, Iverson and Catalina have parted ways, he finds her aunt at a
party alone and in a situation that could be embarrassing for her later. He
does the gentlemanly thing and takes the aunt home. And of course, Catalina is
truly touched that he saved her aunt from certain scandal and ridicule.
PJ: He would certainly melt my heart with that gesture.
Some authors say they prefer complete silence when
writing while others play music or are at their most productive surrounded by
people in a coffee shop. What’s your
writing routine? Does it vary from book
to book or remain constant?
I
need complete quiet. I can’t focus if people are around or the tv, or radio is
on. I’ll find myself listening to whatever is surrounding me, even if it is
what’s called elevator music. I will usually know the tune and I’ll find myself
humming along or thinking “oh, I love that song!” I can’t be trusted not to let my mind wander
from the story if there is anything near me other than a ticking clock.
PJ: Your stories take readers into the heart of Regency
England. If you were given the
opportunity to time travel what period would you most want to visit? Why?
It
would have to be the Regency. I’m infatuated with all things British and have
been since the Beatles landed in America when I was ten or eleven years old and
I tried to talk with a British accent. I
would love to visit the Gentleman’s clubs—not that they let ladies in—but this
is wishful thinking here. I would love to see the palaces, the streets of
London, and Hyde Park during the Regency. I would want to visit the great manor
houses and see what they looked like back then. I’ve seen pictures of the
ballrooms with the beautiful clothing, the jewels, and the candlelit
chandeliers hanging in the ballrooms. I really would not have wanted to live
back then, but to visit? Yes, I’d love to visit just for an evening or two.
PJ: I have to laugh at you affecting a British accent because of the Beatles. I was 13 when they landed and did the same thing!
What books do you enjoy reading when you’re not busy
writing?
I
enjoy biographies. I like to read about other people and try to figure out what
made/make them tick. An example I’ll use Steve Jobs biography. His death and
his biography happened about the same time last year. Some of the news media
touted him as the man who made the most strides in technology advancement of
our time. I’m sure this is true so I couldn’t wait to get the book and read
about him. I understand he picked the man to write it and read most of it before
he died, so I’m thinking most of the book must be close to the truth. But
reading the book, I discovered Steve Jobs was nothing like the man I had
imagined him to be from what the news stories said. He was very, very
different. I enjoyed Tim Tebow’s autobiography and Keith Richards, and Ozzy
Osbourne’s and too many more to list. It’s amazing what makes successful men
tick.
PJ: That certainly is an eclectic group of men! I love biographies. They're like pulling back the curtain and discovering the real person behind the public persona.
Time for Quick Six!
Mountains or Beach?
Beach!
I live on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico!
Dogs or Cats?
Oooh,
don’t send me any hate mail, but I am not an animal person. Not a flower and
plant person either. If it has to be fed or watered, I don’t want it!
Alpha or Beta?
Hubby
is alpha and I’m beta and I love it!
Fruits or Veggies?
Oh,
both! I love to eat! I love sweets, meats, starches, and well, food! Okra and
oysters are about the only things I don’t eat.
Early Bird or Night Owl?
Early
bird by far!
Music or TV?
Oh,
again I love both but only when I’m not working!
What’s next?
I’m
so glad you asked! Let me share with you the short synopsis I wrote for my
editor about Matson Brentwood and Sophia’s story which will be the last book in
the Rogues’ Dynasty Series. It will be the second twin story, and I hope you will
be watching for it next spring. The title hasn’t been decided as of today.
Matson
Brentwood has finally met the woman of his dreams. The lovely, red-haired
Sophia Hart heats his blood like no other lady.
Her alluring countenance has stopped him dead in his tracks. But no
matter how attracted he is to her, he can’t give into his desire to possess her
in every way because she is the ward of the man he’s sworn to hate.
Newly
arrived in London, Miss Sophia Hart is in need of a husband, but not just for
herself. She has twin, spinster aunts
and one of them has decided she wants a man. Sophia agrees to help her aunt by
allowing older gentlemen to call on her and then make sure Auntie spends more
time in the gentleman’s company than Sophia does. But when Sophia meets the
darkly handsome and intriguing Mr. Matson Brentwood, she knows that for the
first time, she in danger of losing her heart.
But
there’s more than just an adversarial guardian and a long list of beaus
standing between Sophia and Matson. Sophia promised
her dying father she would honor his lifelong plan for her as an heiress and
marry a titled gentleman. Matson isn't titled so she must deny her love for him
and make up to her father for costing him the love of his life.
This book will be out next spring, however, Iverson Brentwood’s story comes first in A Gentleman Says “I Do” which is
currently available at your favorite local or online bookstore.
Thank you so much, Amelia! Do you have a question for our readers?
A Gentleman Says "I Do" is the 5th book in the Rogues' Daynasty Series. Each book stands alone as is the case with most series. I'm putting the finishing touches on the last book of the series and then I'll be ready to come up with something new. I'm trying to decide if I want to begin another series or go for a few solo books. Tell me, do you prefer books in a series of two or more, or do you prefer books that aren't connected in any way?
One randomly selected person leaving a comment will win a book from Amelia's back list. (US addresses only)
