The Romance Dish: The Shamrock and the Rose

I love discovering new-to-me writers and then sharing them with my fellow readers. Today, I'm pleased to introduce historical romance author Regan Walker. A lawyer who has also worked in high levels of government, Regan gained a wealth of knowledge from her work and travels (she's visited more than 40 countries) that she has put to good use since leaving her government career and turning her focus to writing. You can find more information about Regan and her books at her website and connect with her at Facebook and Twitter.

Welcome, Regan! It’s a pleasure to have you visit with us today. You have a new short story out this month. Please tell our readers what they can expect from The Shamrock and the Rose.

The story is set in London in 1818, and is the second that features the Dowager Countess of Claremont’s matchmaking efforts. This one tells of Rose Collingwood, daughter of a baron, who wanted to play Portia in The Merchant of Venice. To accept the part at the Theatre-Royal at Haymarket, however, the very proper young lady must assume the disguise of Miss Lily Underwood, the actress. Soon all of London is at her feet sending her love notes. One such Valentine goes awry only to be found by the dashing Irish barrister, Morgan O'Connell. Though he would have seduced the actress, Morgan must court the lady. Given three choices, much like Portia's suitors, can she resist the handsome Irish rogue?

Does this story stand on its own or is it part of a series?

Neither really but it’s related to all of them. Though my two short stories can be enjoyed on their own, The Shamrock & The Rose and my Christmas one The Holly & The Thistle are loosely related to each other and include characters from my Agents of the Crown trilogy. The first in the trilogy, Racing With The Wind, was released last July and the second, Against the Wind, is coming out in March. I’m writing the third, Wind Raven, now. All are Regencies set between 1816-1818.

I enjoyed the matchmaking countess. Will we see her again in future stories?

I love Muriel, too! Yes, she is in my other short story, The Holly & The Thistle, and she makes a cameo appearance in Against the Wind when she encounters Sir Martin Powell, the handsome spy for the Crown upon his return to London. Indeed, she is quite taken with the dashing, blue-eyed Sir Martin.

What can we expect from Racing with the Wind and the Agents of the Crown trilogy?

Racing With The Wind begins in 1811 as a mysterious figure steals plans for Napoleon’s invasion of Russia from a French general’s chateau in Paris in the dead of night. The thief is a legend known as the Nighthawk. Years later, we meet Lady Mary Campbell in London, a young hoyden who rides a black stallion astride and has postponed her first Season as long as she can. Succumbing to her mother’s demands that she attend a ball, she goes only to see a dark stranger staring at her from across the room. Hugh Redgrave, the Marquess of Ormond and heir to a dukedom, is not your average member of the nobility. He has a secret. When next Lady Mary encounters him she thinks him quite arrogant. But when her statesman uncle returns to Paris to the court of King Louis XVIII, Lady Mary will go with him—and so will the mysterious Lord Ormond. And oh what adventure awaits them there!

The next two in the trilogy involve two brothers, Sir Martin Powell, the spy we met in Racing With the Wind, and his older brother Jean Nicholas Powell, an English sea captain you’ll meet in Against the Wind, both on special assignments for the Crown.

According to your bio, your previous jobs have taken you to more than 40 countries. Might we expect more non-traditional locations for future books?

I do hope so. Against the Wind is set in the Midlands of England, which is not terribly exotic, but Wind Raven takes place on a schooner and in the Caribbean (with pirates, of course!). And the prequel I have yet to start will be on the high seas and in France.

Let’s talk a bit about you.

What do you enjoy reading when you’re not busy creating your own stories?

When it comes to recreational reading, my passion is historical romance and was before I began writing. I am an avid reader of the genre and a reviewer with my own blog (Regan’s Romance Reviews: http://reganromancereview.blogspot.com). I have over 500 reviews on Amazon with a 90% helpful rating and 10 best lists. So, I guess you could say I’m always in the deep past. I’ve just been reading to update my Best Pirate and Privateer Romances list and for St. Patrick’s Day, I’ll be updating my Best Irish Historical Romances list. I like reading to a theme as it allows me to compare books. There are so many good authors out there! When I’m not reading romance, I’m reading background research for my books. I read The Bachelor Duke by James Lees-Milne and enjoyed it thoroughly (the Duke is a character in my upcoming novel, Against the Wind).

You’re a very busy lady! What are your favorite ways to step away and de-stress from all of your responsibilities?

You’ll laugh when I tell you but I still play the lawyer and still give legal advice. I like solving problems and enjoy helping others to succeed. In my true off hours I am a fan of PBS, especially Garrow’s Law and Downton Abbey and any period mystery when accompanied by popcorn. And I love to have dinner with a small group of friends. I also cook; did I mention that? Baking can be very therapeutic.

Will readers have the opportunity to meet you at any conferences or book signings this year?

Oooo, funny you should ask. Last year I went to RWA, Romantic Times and the Emerald City conferences, but this year I think I’m staying home. Look for me in 2014!

You’ve been all over the world. Is there a county you haven’t been to yet that you have a burning desire to visit? Why?

Yes! I’d love to go to Morocco. I nearly went on business twice, but alas, I still have yet to go. It was a country beloved by Winston Churchill, a leader I greatly admire (I named my son after him!). It’s exotic and echoes an interesting past, yet it is also modern. They like America there (or did) because George Washington was the first leader to recognize their independence. And, their women are more encouraged to have active careers than in other Arab countries.

What’s next?

Well, I’m deep into research of the workings of a schooner and Irish mythology in the process of writing the third in my trilogy, Wind Raven. It’s the story of an English sea captain and an American girl sent to live with her aunt, a dowager baroness, to become a young lady. Of course, she is having none of it and when she has the chance to return home to Baltimore, she takes the first ship out. It would have to be the ship captained by Jean Nicholas Powell—brother to the spy, Sir Martin, and grandson of the French pirate Jean Donet. Nick is on secret assignment for the Prince Regent involving pirates!

After that there is the prequel for the trilogy, tentatively titled On Fair Winds; and a Christmas reunion of the Agents of the Crown in Scotland hinted at in The Holly & The Thistle.

And dare I mention that I have a half done medieval, The Red Wolf’s Prize? I set it aside to finish my trilogy but I have not forgotten it! I love the period when William the Conqueror stormed England and his knights divvied up parts of the country claiming Saxon brides as they did. The Wolf is a very sexy hero, I promise!

Thank you, Regan! Do you have a question for our readers today?

I would love to know what they’d like to see in my novels. When I learned that many of my readers are cat lovers, I decided to include some cats in my novels. (You will see cats in Against the Wind and a very intelligent cat in Wind Raven.) So, you see, I listen!

One randomly chosen person leaving a comment today will receive an electronic copy of The Shamrock & The Rose.

Links:

Amazon link for The Shamrock & The Rose: http://www.amazon.com/The-Shamrock-Rose-ebook/dp/B00BA2DUVS

Author website URL: http://www.reganwalkerauthor.com/

Regan’s Romance Reviews blog: http://reganromancereview.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @RegansReview (https://twitter.com/RegansReview)

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/regan.walker.104

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6450403.Regan_Walker