On Second Thought - - Breath of Magic

Breath of Magic

By Teresa Medeiros

Publisher: Bantam

Release Date: January 5, 2011

(Originally published by Bantam.

February 1, 1996)

If you like your romances with a seasonal touch, it’s the time of year to read romance fiction that features witches and ghosts and things that go bump in the night. I’m not much of a paranormal reader, but I do have a few favorites that might be termed paranormal light. Breath of Magic ranks high in that group. I reread it not just at Halloween but also at other times when I need a romance that makes me laugh.

Arian Whitewood was sent by her ailing grandmother to live with her mother and stepfather in colonial Massachusetts. Arian’s mother died before Arian arrived, and her stepfather, who sincerely loved his wife and promised to care for her daughter, has struggled vainly for a decade to turn his white witch stepdaughter into a proper Puritan. Arian tries to cooperate with his efforts, but her supernatural abilities cannot be contained. When her stepfather asks for help from a minister, the result is a witch trial that concludes with Arian undergoing the water ordeal. Fearing that she is about to die, Arian casts a spell that goes awry, sending her, her emerald amulet, and her broomstick from Gloucester in 1689 to New York City in 1996.

Eccentric tycoon Tristan Lennox has cynically promised one million dollars to anyone who can prove the existence of magic outside the parameters of science. When a broomstick-riding Arian, dodging helicopters, lands in the courtyard of Lenox Tower where the magic contest is being conducted, Tristan is convinced she is a fraud. Feeling the need to keep an eye on her, he houses her in his penthouse apartment while his team of experts examines Arian’s broom to determine how it flew. Tristan, jaded and distrustful of almost everyone, is suspicious of Arian, angry with the chaos that she creates, and reluctantly intrigued by her. Arian is learning to use her own gifts and adjusting to life in a world that seems to her to be filled with unimaginable wonders and fearsome dragons. Tristan eventually learns to trust Arian and his feelings for her, but the two must survive many dangers before they can claim their HEA.

To enjoy this novel fully, you must be willing to suspend disbelief and accept this story as you would a fairy tale. If you can do this, you will be charmed by the effervescent Arian and gradually won over by the wounded loner Tristan. I adored them both. The secondary characters are also deftly drawn. The villains are appropriately heinous, Sven, Tristan’s bodyguard, and Michael Copperfield, Tristan’s Native American best friend and legal adviser, are scene-stealers. There is adventure and mystery in the plot, but it is the humor that makes the book special for me. Arian’s encounters with twentieth century plumbing and her first shopping trip to Bloomingdale’s are laugh-out-loud funny. They are among my favorite funny scenes ever even though I generally prefer more cerebral humor.

If you are looking for a bewitching romance to read for Halloween, I highly recommend Breath of Magic.  The sequel, Touch of Enchantment in which Arian and Tristan’s genius daughter travels to the 13th century, is almost as good. Another delightful bit-of-witchery romance is Jill Barnett’s Bewitching, with one of the best epilogues in romance fiction. Why not make one of them—or all of them—part of your Halloween celebration?

~Janga

Do you have a favorite witchy or ghostly romance? 

Teresa Medeiros Winner

The winner of Kindle copies of

A Hint of Heather, Diamonds and Dreams and The Barefoot Bride is:

Kathleen O

Congratulations, Kathleen!  Please send your email address to us at:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Today's Special - - Teresa Medeiros and Amber House Books

Teresa Medeiros, the author has written some of my all-time favorite books and Teresa Medeiros, the person is one of the kindest, most genuine people I know. Today, I'm excited to introduce you to this multi-faceted woman's newest identity: Teresa Medeiros, publisher and owner of Amber House Books!   Before you ask, no, this does not mean Teresa has stopped writing her own books.  In fact, she is currently working on a historical romance project.  But today, she's here not to talk about the books she's writing but those she's publishing. Please give her a warm welcome!

WHY THIS NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER IS GOING INDIE AND STARTING HER OWN PUBLISHER

Almost every professional writer starts out with the same goal—to write a book wonderful enough to catch the eye of a New York publisher. To get “the call” from a New York editor that will change their life forever, a call that will begin with the magical words “I want to buy your book.”

I started writing my first novel when I was only twenty-one and a short time later, that call came for me. I’ve spent the past twenty-six years since that day living the dream—being gainfully employed by some of the top publishing houses in the United States while writing twenty-three bestselling novels. I spent most of those years as a client of one of the best agents in the business, a woman I will adore both personally and professionally until the day I die.

So why on earth would I choose to walk away from all of that now? Was it because my publishers were oppressive dark overlords who sought to drain all the joy from my soul by squelching my creative freedom?

Nope.

When I went to Bantam in 1995 and told them I wanted to write a book about a time-traveling witch who flies away from a witch hunt on her broom and crash lands in the arms of a cynical billionaire in contemporary New York City (a book that turned out to be one of my biggest bestsellers—Breath of Magic), they didn’t even bat an eyelash.

For most of my career, I’ve been well-compensated, well-published, and extremely well-represented by my agent. (And since my first advance pre-agent was for $2500, I recognize what a rare and extraordinary blessing that has been.) I’ve also had the pleasure of working with some of the most insightful and talented editors in the business including Wendy McCurdy, Carrie Feron and Lauren McKenna. For the most part, I’ve had perfectly lovely covers, attentive marketing teams, and competent copy editors who didn’t make me gnash my teeth in frustration, but instead made me exclaim, “Why didn’t I think of that?!”

So why would I be bolting for the proverbial door now? In the South Park movie, there was a hilarious song called Blame Canada. Well, these days I’m humming Blame England with a rousing chorus of Blame Australia. It was my devoted readers from across the pond and down under who kept sending me frustrated e-mails because my e-books weren’t yet available in their territories. That’s when I decided to publish all 23 of my books in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

All. By. Myself.

I quickly discovered two things:

1) Being a publisher was a staggering amount of work

2) I adored every minute of it

There’s a reason my website is designed and maintained by “Control Freak Productions.” Being able to manage every aspect of publication from cover design to book blurb to conversion to pricing to uploading for my babies made me positively giddy with delight.

I loved it so much that I decided it was what I wanted to do with the rest of my publishing life. Creatively, I’m not even sure I had a choice because the lack of autonomy in traditional publishing was finally beginning to wear me down. 

So that’s why I’ve started my own publishing house—AmberHouse Books. I thought it was time I gave something back to the industry that has given me so much. The Amber House Books’ motto is “Entertaining Readers…Empowering Authors.” Not only will I be publishing my own books under the Amber House Books’ umbrella, but I tracked down some of MY favorite romance authors and am publishing their backlist titles as well as brainstorming new projects. (Rebecca Hagan Lee’s A HINT OF HEATHER just came out this week while February saw the release of DIAMONDS AND DREAMS and THE BAREFOOT BRIDE by Rebecca Paisley.) I want to be the sort of publisher who gives each of her author’s books the same tender loving care I give my own. I’m also thrilled to announce that I have projects with Jill Marie Landis, Christina Dodd, and Connie Brockway already on our 2014 schedule.

And for those readers who still prefer the joy of holding (and smelling!) a print book, Amber House is also offering beautiful collectible trade paperbacks of all of our books. I’m even working directly with foreign publishers, agents, and translators to sell our titles all over the world. I just sold my first Rebecca Hagan Lee book to Japan.     

This blog was never meant to be a “kiss off” to legacy publishing. Instead, it’s a loving kiss blown in New York’s direction for all of the wonderful years, books, and memories we’ve shared. Life is long and sometimes our paths must diverge, but I will always treasure the time we spent traveling hand-in-hand along that path.

And I’m beyond grateful that I won’t be traveling my new path alone, but hand-in-hand with those beloved readers who have shared my dreams every time they’ve opened up one of my books.

Since I’ve gone out and found some of my favorite books to publish over at Amber House Books, I’d love to know what YOUR favorite romance of all-time is?

One lucky commenter today will win Kindle editions of A HINT OF HEATHER by Rebecca Hagan Lee along with DIAMONDS AND DREAMS and THE BAREFOOT BRIDE by Rebecca Paisley.

LIKE Amber House Books on Facebook by midnight 3/15 for a chance to win a KINDLE FIRE HD!

 http://www.facebook.com/amberhousebooks 

For more information about Teresa, her books and places to connect with her online, visit her website.

For more information about Amber House Books, visit their website.

Teresa Medeiros Winner

The winner of an autographed copy of

The Temptation of Your Touch by Teresa Medeiros is:

SuzyQ

Congratulations!  Please send your full name and mailing address to us at

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Today's Special - - Teresa Medeiros

It's my pleasure to welcome one of my favorite authors and people back to the blog today.  I first discovered Teresa Medeiros when I picked up a copy of her 1999 historical romance, Charming the Prince and I've had a non-stop love affair with her books ever since.  Many of them have honored places on my keeper shelf, including her newest release, The Temptation of Your Touch. (Check out Andrea's 5 star review here!)  Teresa is not only a successful author of immense talent but she's also one of the nicest, most charming and most genuine people I've had the opportunity to meet.  I hope you will join me in giving her a warm welcome to the Romance Dish.

  

Since I spent my last book (The Pleasure of Your Kiss) exploring the exotic pleasures of a Moroccan harem, I couldn’t wait to return to the misty shores of England for its sequel The Temptation of Your Touch.

Ever since I read The Shivering Sands by Victoria Holt when I was only seven years old, classic Gothics have captured both my heart and my imagination. And what could be more deliciously Gothic than a haunted manor perched on the edge of the stormswept Cornwall cliffs, a mysterious portrait of a beautiful woman, a brooding master with a recently broken heart, and a tart-tongued housekeeper hiding some enticing mysteries of her own? (Of course, this being a Teresa Medeiros novel, I also managed to sneak in a disdainful cat named Sir Fluffytoes and a slightly deranged dog with an underbite named Piddles for all of the reasons you might suspect he was named Piddles.)

After indulging in the sensual excesses of the harem, I had so much fun exploring the Downton Abbey-esque passions simmering between master and housekeeper—a housekeeper who isn’t nearly as prim and proper as she’s pretending to be. (It’ll be fun to see if YOU can figure out which scenes I was writing when I nearly wore out my Downton Abbey soundtrack!)

Victoria Holt is also one of my personal role models because what could be more fitting for a writer than to die on a cruise in your late 80’s while researching another delicious romance?! 

So how many of you grew up reading Gothic novels? If you did, who was your favorite author? Victoria Holt? Mary Stewart? Phyllis A. Whitney? And what was YOUR favorite Victoria Holt novel of all time? (For me it’s a tie between On the Night of the Seventh Moon and Shadow of the Lynx!)  

One randomly chosen person leaving a comment on today's blog will win an autographed copy of The Temptation of Your Touch.  (Open internationally)

Here's a late-breaking bulletin from Teresa:  The Temptation of Your Touch is coming out tomorrow and for the first time ever, both The Temptation of Your Touch and The Pleasure of Your Kiss will be enjoying a simultaneous release this week in Australia, New Zealand and the UK for the Kindle, Kobo and Apple e-readers.  (You can also find Charming the Prince, The Bride and the Beast, A Kiss to Remember and One Night of Scandal in those countries with more of my books to follow in 2013!)  

Connect with Teresa at her website, Facebook and Twitter.  

Review -- The Temptation of Your Touch

The Temptation of Your Touch

By Teresa Medeiros

Publisher: Pocket

Release Date: January 29, 2013

Maximilian Burke, Earl of Dravenwood, is a misunderstood man. Yes, he has done some deplorable things—namely to his younger brother—but when one knows his whole story, one can sympathize with him on some level. I’m not saying that what he did was right. I’m only saying that being left at the altar by the woman he’d loved for most of his life for his own brother (who said bride had loved for most of her life) can make a man do things he wouldn’t typically do. Things like trying to keep them apart, and fighting a duel with someone who besmirched her name. That duel was the last straw for Max’s father, the duke, so it’s suggested that Max leave London for a little while until things blow over. He travels to one of their remote properties, Cadgwyck Manor, on the stormy coast in Cornwall...a place that is apparently inhabited by a beautiful ghost, the White Lady. The story of the ghost is so daunting that no one in the surrounding village will go anywhere near Cadgwyck Manor at night, as Max finds out the hard way.  

Housekeeper Anne Spencer and her band of misfit servants reside at Cadgwyck Manor. They’ve gone through several masters the last few years and are dismayed to discover that yet another one is about to descend upon their quiet lives. The former masters were easily dealt with, but after meeting the earl, Anne senses that he will be anything but easy to get rid of. She and the others usually spend their days searching for the hidden treasure of the Cadgwyck family and now they must do their best to make life impossible for Lord Dravenwood. They keep the place dusty and untidy while serving him bland food that even a dog couldn’t stomach. Anne quickly learns that she has met her match with the broodingly handsome Maximilian Burke.

The earl stood well over six feet but it wasn’t his height—or even the intimidating breadth of his shoulders beneath the shoulder-capes of his great coat—that was so imposing. It was his effortless command of the room and all who were in it. Another man might have looked ridiculous standing there with hat in hand and mud-caked boots, but Dravenwood looked more inclined to bellow “Off with their heads!” while the potential victims scurried away to fetch him an axe. 

... 

His dark-lashed eyes were gray, as gray as the mist that swirled over the moors. Anne had always thought gray to be an ordinary color, but his eyes had the disconcerting habit of flashing like summer lightning when he was displeased. 

The greatest threat to them was the glint of intelligence in those eyes. He was not a man who missed much, and that, more than anything, could prove to be their downfall if they weren’t careful. When she had introduced herself, his gaze had flickered over Anne, taken her measure, then dismissed her for what she was—a menial, an underling, his inferior. He didn’t find her wanting; he simply found her beneath his notice. 

Which is exactly where she needed to stay.

It is no wonder that Teresa Medeiros’s books always hit the big-time lists and get starred reviews because her writing is exceptional and her stories are so compelling. The Temptation of Your Touch is the sequel to her best-selling The Pleasure of Your Kiss, which features Max’s brother, Ashton, and the woman who came between them, Clarinda. In The Temptation of Your Touch, Max is dealing with the emotion and consequences of his actions toward Ash and Clarinda and his emerging fascination with both the White Lady and his housekeeper. Anne is prim and proper and has very good reason for being so. She holds her cards close to her chest, much like her new master. Both Anne and Max have been hurt after offering their hearts to someone and are reluctant to do so again and risk more heartbreak. And yet, they soon realize that taking a chance on the other may be worth the risk.

Anne gazed into Dravenwood’s eyes, mesmerized by their crystalline clarity. It was as if he was seeing her...truly seeing her for the very first time. His regard was like the most rare and costly of gifts, giving her back something she had believed to be forever lost. 

Herself.

One more thing I love about this book is that Anne is described as having a “winsome gap” between her two front teeth. That endeared me to her right away as my husband and two kids have winsome gaps between their front teeth, too. J 

Teresa Medeiros may only release one book a year, but she certainly makes it worth the wait. And I have to add that the cover of this book fits the story perfectly! If you enjoy tender, beautifully-written historical romance with a gothic feel and sprinkled with humor, do yourself a favor and pick up The Temptation of Your Touch. I can’t recommend it enough!

~Andrea

Review -- Goodnight Tweetheart

Goodnight Tweetheart

By Teresa Medeiros

Publisher: Pocket      

Release Date: August 28, 2012

I first reviewed Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros back on December 17, 2010 after it was first released in trade paperback (December 14, 2010). Here is my original review posted below. 

A few years ago, I was hesitant and a little apprehensive when one of my favorite historical authors penned a contemporary. After reading it, I learned I had no reason to have had either of those feelings. And I have since enjoyed many contemporary books by other historical authors who have followed the same path. The latest of these is Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros . . . and what a delightful story it was. 

Four years ago, Abigail Donovan was on top of the world. Her debut book hit multiple best seller lists and was even picked by the queen of book clubs, Oprah Winfrey. Because of her success, Abby was able to afford living in a small but stylish apartment nestled in the heart of New York City. Now, years later, she can’t find her muse for all the tea in China. And because she can’t seem to get past the dreaded Chapter Five, Abby is left considering that perhaps she is nothing more than a one-hit wonder. She is a little reluctant when her publisher signs her up with a Twitter account in order to keep her devoted readers from forgetting about her, but decides to give it a go. When she starts, she “meets” someone named Mark Baynard, who is kind enough to show her the ropes. She learns that he teaches English lit at Ole Miss and has taken time off to travel. They flirt and message each other a few times, which becomes more often until they’re chatting on a regular basis. They begin to live vicariously through each other’s tweets and Abby eventually falls for Mark. When she finds out that he isn’t exactly who she thought he was, will his secret ruin any hope of a future together? 

I loved this story! It was tender and sweet and really quite addictive. It was a quick read that I couldn’t put down. And the fact that I’m not on Twitter didn’t diminish my enjoyment one bit. I felt all the ups and downs Abby experienced both in her personal and professional life and was impressed with how much emotion was expressed in a book consisting mostly of tweets. I’m so glad I didn’t read any reviews about this book before reading it as I was thrown for a loop with the twist, right along with Abby. From the beginning, I was laughing at the quips and quick wit, but leave it to Teresa Medeiros to make me cry, too! Kudos to her for a job well done! Do yourself a favor and put this wonderful book on your Christmas list. You’ll be so glad you did! 

As you can tell, I loved this book! I thought it was extremely creative and spoke volumes of Teresa Medeiros’s talent that she could tell and show readers a love story based almost entirely on tweets. In my original review, I gave the book 4.5 stars. Why? Well, at the end of the story, I wanted...just a little something more. I won’t say more than that because I don’t want to spoil it for those that haven’t read it yet. Those that have read the story know what I mean. So, why am I giving it 5 stars now? Because Ms. Medeiros has added an epilogue to the mass market version and it gave me the exact ending I was longing for! I thought it was an utterly perfect happily ever after for Abby and Mark. As before, this is one book that I highly recommend! 

So, dear readers, are you on Twitter? If so, do you have any funny stories to share?  Because I love it so much, I am going to give away my copy of the new mass market release of Goodnight Tweetheart to one lucky commenter! In addition to the new epilogue, this version also includes snippets from Teresa Medeiros’s last two historicals and a sneak peek of her upcoming historical! (Contest is limited to residents living within the U.S. or Canada.)

~Andrea

We Have Winners!

The winner of a copy of CHRISTMAS IN COLD CREEK by RaeAnne Thayne is

MONICA M

Congratulations, Monica!  Please send your full name and mailing address to us at theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com with "RaeAnne Winner" in the subject.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The winner of a signed Advance Readers Copy of 

THE PLEASURE OF YOUR KISS by Teresa Medeiros is

DTCHYCAT

Congratulations!  Please send your full name and mailing address to us at theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com with "Medeiros Winner" in the subject.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The winner of a copy of UNDER THE MILLIONAIRE'S MISTLETOE, an anthology by 

Sandra Hyatt and Maureen Child is

JANE B

Congratulations, Jane!  Please send your full name and mailing address with "Hyatt Anthology" in the subject to theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The ten winners of a copy of LESSONS IN SEDUCTION by Sandra Hyatt are

LAURIE G

LANEY4

DEB

FS BUCHLER

BARBARA E

MAGGIE LePAGE

TX DEE

STACIE

CAROL L

HRDWRKDMOM a/k/a DIANNA 

Congratulations, ladies!  Please send your full name and mailing address to us at theromancedish@gmail.com with "1000th Winner" in the subject. 

Today's Special - - Teresa Medeiros

It's always a delight when Teresa Medeiros joins us here at The Romance  Dish.  Not only is she one of my favorite people but she's also a fantastic author who can be counted on to make me laugh, make me sigh and always make me happy I picked up one of her books.  Please join me in welcoming Teresa as she talks about one of my favorite topics:  romance kisses!

As a romance reader, nothing makes me shiver with delight or sigh with longing more than a well-written kiss scene, especially if it's the first kiss our hero and heroine share on the page. Here's an exclusive ROMANCE DISH sneak peek at the very first kiss Ashton Burke and Clarinda Cardew share in my upcoming historical THE PLEASURE OF YOUR KISS after being torn apart nine years before:

As if to prove his point, Ash brushed his lips over hers in a feather-light caress, sending her already shaky senses reeling. It was as if their lips had never been parted. As if time had stopped and all the moments between their last kiss and this one had only been grains of glittering sand suspended in some frozen hourglass.

          Clarinda had no defenses against such shattering tenderness. As he deepened the kiss, sweeping his tongue through her mouth in a velvety caress, she was forced to curl a hand around the broad expanse of his nape and tangle her fingers in the wet silk of his hair just to keep from sliding back into the water. If she went under this time, she didn't think there would be any saving herself.

Ashton and Clarinda's reunion takes place in a sultan's harem, which allows ample opportunities for kissing (and other delights ;)). Describing the charms of a kiss in words is never easy and I'm always inspired by those unforgettable screen kisses that still make me swoon with pleasure. 

There's the kiss between Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin in THE BIG EASY after he calls her "cher" and promises that her luck in the bedroom is about to change. There's the jaw-drooping smooch Spike slaps on Buffy at the end of "Once More with Feeling", the musical episode of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (complete with soul-stirring crescendo of romantic music). There's Madeline Stowe and Daniel Day Lewis finally succumbing to passion in LAST OF THE MOHICANS while the world around them is consumed by the fires of battle.

          But my all-time favorite (which is ever so appropriate for this holiday season) is the kiss George Bailey plants on Mary Hatch in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. That single kiss is one of the hottest love scenes in cinematic history. There are no rumpled bedsheets. There are no naked, straining bodies. There is simply George and Mary sharing a phone in her mother's living room. An overtly hostile George is torn between his dream of escaping his hometown while there's still time and his desperate desire for young Mary. I don't have to tell you which one wins and in that moment when he drops the phone and grabs Mary, the chemistry between them is so sizzling it may very well melt your heart and your Blu-Ray player.

          As I celebrate the pleasures of kissing and the release of THE PLEASURE OF YOUR KISS on December 27^th, I'd love to hear about YOUR favorite movie or TV kiss! One lucky commenter today will win an autographed Advanced Reading Copy of THE PLEASURE OF YOUR KISS!

Teresa won't be available to respond to comments until sometime this afternoon.  She's busy this morning bringing home the newest member of the Medeiros family. Welcome home, Pickles!  Isn't he a cutie?  



~PJ

Review -- Goodnight Tweetheart

Goodnight Tweetheart
By Teresa Medeiros
Publisher: Gallery
Release Date: December 14, 2010






A few years ago, I was hesitant and a little apprehensive when one of my favorite historical authors penned a contemporary. After reading it, I learned I had no reason to have had either of those feelings. And I have since enjoyed many contemporary books by other historical authors who have followed the same path. The latest of these is Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros . . . and what a delightful story it was.

Four years ago, Abigail Donovan was on top of the world. Her debut book hit multiple best seller lists and was even picked by the queen of book clubs, Oprah Winfrey. Because of her success, Abby was able to afford living in a small but stylish apartment nestled in the heart of New York City. Now, years later, she can’t find her muse for all the tea in China. And because she can’t seem to get past the dreaded Chapter Five, Abby is left considering that perhaps she is nothing more than a one-hit wonder. She is a little reluctant when her publisher signs her up with a Twitter account in order to keep her devoted readers from forgetting about her, but decides to give it a go. When she starts, she “meets” someone named Mark Baynard, who is kind enough to show her the ropes. She learns that he teaches English lit at Ole Miss and has taken time off to travel. They flirt and message each other a few times, which becomes more often until they’re chatting on a regular basis. They begin to live vicariously through each other’s tweets and Abby eventually falls for Mark. When she finds out that he isn’t exactly who she thought he was, will his secret ruin any hope of a future together?

I loved this story! It was tender and sweet and really quite addictive. It was a quick read that I couldn’t put down. And the fact that I’m not on Twitter didn’t diminish my enjoyment one bit. I felt all the ups and downs Abby experienced both in her personal and professional life and was impressed with how much emotion was expressed in a book consisting mostly of tweets. I’m so glad I didn’t read any reviews about this book before reading it as I was thrown for a loop with the twist, right along with Abby. From the beginning, I was laughing at the quips and quick wit, but leave it to Teresa Medeiros to make me cry, too! Do yourself a favor and put this wonderful book on your Christmas list. You’ll be so glad you did!

~Andrea

Today's Special - - Teresa Medeiros

Interview with PJ

Aside from being one of the nicest and most genuine people I've ever met, Teresa Medeiros is also a gifted writer whose books have graced national bestseller lists such as the New York Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly, to name a few.  She has over seven million copies of her books in print and has been published in more than seventeen languages.  Many of her books are on my keeper shelves, including her current release, THE DEVIL WEARS PLAID, which received a "TOP PICK!" rating from RT Book Reviews and 4.5 Stars from The Romance Dish. (read PJ's review here). 

Thank you for joining us today, Teresa!  Congratulations on the release of THE DEVIL WEARS PLAID. (Love that title!) Please tell us a bit about the book.

I've always adored "kidnapped bride" stories and in THE DEVIL WEARS PLAID, my Highland hero, Jamie Sinclair, bursts into the church on his big black horse right before Emmaline Marlow is about to say "I do" and literally sweeps her off her feet. He expects her to be some weak-willed English miss so he's definitely in for some fun surprises.

He certainly is!  I loved Emma's spunk!  

Like THE DEVIL WEARS PLAID, many of your books feature the Scottish Highlands. What draws you to Scotland and the Highlands in particular? Why do you think this setting, and its inhabitants, resonate with so many readers?

Visiting Scotland and the Highlands two years ago gave me a fresh appreciation for the rugged beauty of the place. I think the Highland setting completely transports the reader into another world, almost like a fantasy novel. Writing about the Scottish Highlands is also my sneaky way of combining two of my favorite time periods because you can explore the clash between the "civilized" world of the Regency and the more "medieval" aspects of the Highlands.

Those "medieval" aspects of the Highlands never fail to draw me into a story.  It's my favorite setting.  

Teresa, some authors have said they like complete quiet when writing while others prefer music or are at their most productive in the middle of Starbucks. What’s your writing routine? Does it vary from book to book or remain constant? If you used music during the creation of THE DEVIL WEARS PLAID, what songs were on the soundtrack?

I try to keep fairly regular office hours except when I'm on deadline. Then I'll work nights and weekends to play catch-up. (I was always the annoying kid who wrote their term paper the night before it was due and still got an "A".) I usually write my historicals at home because they require complete immersion in that world but I found that when I was working on my upcoming contemporary GOODNIGHT TWEETHEART, Starbucks became the perfect venue for writing.

(More on GOODNIGHT TWEETHEART a bit later.)  

And who told you I had a playlist titled DEVIL on my iPod? Some of the songs include "The Kiss" from the LAST OF THE MOHICANS soundtrack, "The Boys Are Back in Town" by Thin Lizzy, "Nine in the Afternoon" by Panic at the Disco, "If Ever I Would Leave You" from the CAMELOT soundtrack (which I played a gazillion times when writing Jamie and Emma's first love scene. Hey, it was a long scene!), "New Year's Day" by U2 and "Big Country" by Big Country. (This was the song I played when I finished the book and was weeping with joy along with my characters.)

Sorry, I protect all sources. ;-)  That's a terrific playlist and fits this story so perfectly!  I'll never be able to read that first love scene again without hearing "If Ever I Would Leave You" (one of my fav songs, by the way) in the background.

I'm always fascinated by the colors and contents of an author’s office or favorite writing space – that place where delicious heroes are born. Please tell us about your favorite writing location. 

I commandeered the formal living and dining room in our house to create the "Teresa Medeiros Complex." You can actually take a tour at Pocket After Dark: http://pocketafterdark.com/_Teresa-Medeiros-Office-Tour/blog/2562567/159176.html

What's pretty amusing is that I still spend half my time writing on my laptop at a little desk in the corner of my bedroom to get away from the distraction of the internet. I like to think of it as the "magic box where I keep my book".

Wow!  I'm officially in love with your office.  You have everything, including your very own knight in shining armor!   Thanks for sharing the link to that wonderful virtual tour. 
 

Your books are among those I turn to when I’m in need of comfort (and THE DEVIL WEARS PLAID has jumped to the top echelon of that list.)  What books do you turn to for a comfort read?

I love to curl up with THE WINDFLOWER by Tom and Sharon Curtis, my all-time favorite historical, or one of Judith McNaught's classics like SOMETHING WONDERFUL or ONCE AND ALWAYS. If I'm in real need of a literary cuddle, I'll re-read THE SECRET GARDEN and/or A LITTLE PRINCESS by Frances Hodgson Burnett or maybe HARRIET THE SPY by Louise Fitzhugh. Harriet is probably the reason I'm a writer today because I started keeping notebooks just like her after I first read that book as a kid!

Those are some of my favorite books.  I love that you started keeping notebooks after reading HARRIET THE SPY.  I wonder how many other young people she inspired to do the same?
 

Now, for some fun, "non-book" questions from me and the rest of the Dishies. I’ll go first. You’re a well-known Star Trek fan. Let’s say you’ve been given the opportunity to journey to the stars aboard the Starship Enterprise. Who’s at the helm and which fictional characters would you take along for the ride?

Hmmm…I think I'd definitely want "Captain Doom" from my book THIEF OF HEARTS to captain the ship. A pirate ship can't be that different from a starship, right? And I still can't resist a man in uniform! And forget fictional characters. I want you, Andrea, Buffie and Gannon manning the bridge!

Well, I certainly can't argue with "Captain Doom" and, speaking for myself, I'd be more than happy to go along for the ride! 

We were recently in Orlando for the RWA National Conference. Buffie wants to know if you could choose one Disney animated character to be for a day, who would it be and why?

Oh, definitely Belle from BEAUTY AND THE BEAST! I want to be held captive in a grand castle by a gruff but sexy beast with a great library and invisible servants to meet my every need!

Now that's a getaway I think we could all get behind!  

Since you write historical romances, Gannon is wondering if you time traveled to the past, what modern convenience would you miss the most?

I'm torn between TiVo and my Farouk Chi flat iron which I use to straighten my hair every day. If I ever hope to catch the eye of a historical hero, I think I'd better find a way to take along the flat iron.

I'm always fascinated by the answers people give to that question.  I hope I'm never in a situation where I have to choose just one!

I know you'll have fun with this one.  Andrea would like to know who would win the battle for your heart…Russell Crowe as the Gladiator or William Shatner as Captain Kirk? 

Andrea knows me too well, doesn't she? I have such a weakness for authority figures that I'd probably have to go with William Shatner as Captain Kirk. YOUNG Captain Kirk. YOUNG, VIRILE, TRIM Captain Kirk. Seriously, he was such a beautiful man in his heyday and Captain Kirk was so smart and had such a wicked twinkle in his eye.

But Russell as Captain Jack Aubrey in MASTER AND COMMANDER might give him a run for his money (and my heart!) 

Okay, back to me. You’ve gained a reputation as a social media maven with your presence on Facebook and Twitter. In fact, social media is a focal point of your next book, a contemporary titled GOODNIGHT TWEETHEART (another terrific title!) that will be released in January, 2011. Will you share a bit about that book with us?

I've always loved Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail and Same Time, Next Year—stories where two strangers brought together by chance stumble across a love with the potential to last a lifetime. After I signed up for Twitter last year and discovered the joy of connecting with my readers in such an intimate and immediate way, I was even more intrigued by the idea. Before long, Abby and Mark started "tweeting" in my head and insisting that I give them voices on the page. They meet, they tweet, they fall in love, then Abby discovers Mark is hiding a secret that will either be the making or the undoing of them.

Sounds like another great story, Teresa.  I'll be looking forward to it's release in January!

For more information about Teresa, visit her website at http://www.teresamedeiros.com/, chat with her on twitter at http://twitter.com/TeresaMedeiros and "like" her facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/TeresaMedeirosFanPage.

Teresa, thank you so much for visiting with us today and for your patience in answering all of our questions. Now it’s time to turn the tables. What question would you like to ask?

If you were heading out on a long voyage on a starship, who would YOU choose for your captain? (And yes…Gerard Butler, Hugh Jackman and yourself are all options! ;))

Teresa will be giving away an autographed copy of THE DEVIL WEARS PLAID to one lucky commenter, selected by random.org!

~PJ

Review - - The Devil Wears Plaid

The Devil Wears Plaid
By Teresa Medeiros
Publisher: Pocket
Release Date: August 24, 2010









Standing in a chapel about to exchange vows with a wealthy Scottish earl is every young woman’s dream. However, in Emma Marlow’s dreams, the earl is always young and virile, bearing little resemblance to the wizened old man at her side. Yet Emma has no choice but to agree to this union to save her father from debtor’s prison and her mother and sisters from ruin even though the thought of letting the earl, a man old enough to be her grandfather, touch her fills her with revulsion instead of the excitement and anticipation a young bride should feel. Resigned to her fate and about to say “I do”, Emma is granted a reprieve by the unexpected entrance of a brawny Highlander on a huge black stallion, and his band of armed outlaws. But, though the intruder sends shivers down her spine, will he be her salvation or has young Emma just jumped from the proverbial frying pan into the fire?


With surprising strength, Emma’s groom shoved his way past her, nearly sending her sprawling. “I don’t need my nephew to fight my battles. I’m not afraid of an insolent whelp like you, Jamie Sinclair,” he snarled, marching right past his nephew with one bony fist still upraised. “Do your worst!”

“Oh, I haven’t come for you, auld mon.” A lazy smile curved the intruder’s lips as he drew a gleaming black pistol from the waistband of his kilt and pointed it at the snowy white bodice of Emma’s gown. “I’ve come for your bride.”

From the moment of his birth, Jamie Sinclair has been destined to be both an outlaw and the sworn enemy of the Earl of Hepburn. The Hepburn owns the castle and rules the Highland mountains that, by right, belong to the Sinclair clan, living in luxury while the Sinclairs are forced to live the life of outlaws high on the mountain. Most importantly, however, the vindictive and manipulative earl is responsible for the loss of the person most precious to Jamie Sinclair and Jamie is determined to see him brought to justice, even if he has to steal the man’s bride to accomplish it. Rumor has it she’s English so Jamie anticipates a meek and mild miss, too frightened to cause problems while he negotiates the “ransom”. Unfortunately for Jamie, Emma has reached the end of her rope and has no intention of making anything easy for him or his band of outlaws!

The Devil Wears Plaid is my favorite kind of historical. From the very beginning, I was taken on an adventure ride through the Scottish Highlands, with plenty of twists and turns, secrets, surprises, laughter and sighs along the way. The dialog sparkles, love scenes are sensuous and emotion-filled and, of course, there is the trademark Medeiros humor.

“For a brutish Highlander, you’ve a rather persuasive touch, sir.”

“Those fancy English gents are the ones who start all those nasty rumors about us and our sheep. They just don’t want their lasses to know what they’re missing.”

As his tongue swirled around the delicate shell of her ear, making her toes curl with pleasure, she bit back a moan. “Maybe they don’t want their sheep to know what they’re missing.”

Emma is intelligent, feisty and determined to make her own decisions. Jamie is sexy, bold and determined to secure justice for his family and his clan. When they finally come together they are a true force to be reckoned with. In addition to her very likeable hero and heroine, Medeiros has assembled a colorful cast of secondary characters that round out the story, adding key elements without detracting from the hero and heroine. I’m especially intrigued by Ian Hepburn, grand-nephew of the earl and former best friend of Jamie. I’m hoping we’ll see more of him in a future book.

I read The Devil Wears Plaid in one day, then turned around and read it all over again the next. It’s Teresa Medeiros at her finest and a book I highly recommend!

~PJ