Romance Unlaced: Interview with Elizabeth Hoyt
Elizabeth Hoyt experienced "overnight success" when her first historical romances were published. Of course, a lot of work and time were invested before that success, but readers quickly made her one of the genre's major names, and the popularity of her books continues to grow. She agreed to answer some questions for us.
MH: Please tell us about the new book.
EH: Darling Beast is my newest Maiden Lane book, out Oct. 14. It's the story of Apollo, who has recently escaped from Bedlam, and Lily, an out-of-work actress. Here's the back blurb:
A man condemned ...
Falsely accused of murder and mute from a near-fatal beating, Apollo Greaves, Viscount Kilbourne has escaped from Bedlam. With the Crown's soldiers at his heels, he finds refuge in the ruins of a pleasure garden, toiling as a simple gardener. But when a vivacious young woman moves in, he's quickly driven to distraction . . .
A desperate woman ...
London's premier actress, Lily Stump, is down on her luck when she's forced to move into a scorched theater with her maid and small son. But she and her tiny family aren't the only inhabitants—a silent, hulking beast of a man also calls the charred ruins home. Yet when she catches him reading her plays, Lily realizes there's more to this man than meets the eye.
Out of ashes, desire flares
Though a scorching passion draws them together, Apollo knows that Lily is keeping secrets. When his past catches up with him, he's forced to make a choice: his love for Lily…or the explosive truth that will set him free.
MH: What are some of your favorite elements of this book?
EH: Apollo is a big, strong guy who has been hurt badly. I always like showing the heroine helping the hero to heal. I also enjoyed writing about Apollo's love of the garden he's designing. Lily is a playwright in addition to being an actress. I've never used a writer hero or heroine, and it was fun inserting some of my own feelings/frustrations about the process into her character.
MH: Is there any element in your books that does not usually get mentioned, but of which you are really proud?
EH: I think I do pretty well with child characters. It's hard to write kids that are realistic, not annoying, and bring something to the story. ;-) In Darling Beast, Lily has a young son, Indio, who plays a crucial role in the story.
MH: Are you ever tempted to write books in a different sub-genre from historical romance?
EH: Actually, I also write contemporary romances under the name Julia Harper. Once and Always will be out February 2015. It's set in Minnesota and is about a small-town cop, the woman he had a one-night stand with six months before, and stolen diamonds. All of which would be hard to work into an historical. ;-)
MH: Tell us something about your career's trajectory. When in your career did you start writing full time? Any advice for new authors regarding that decision?
EH: I pretty much started out writing full time. I was an at-home mom and when my youngest entered kindergarten, I started writing. I was 35, and before that I really hadn't written at all. Which means, I guess, that a) it's never too late to start a writing career (or any career you really want) and b) it's OK to get to your mid-30s and still not know what you want to be when you grow up. ;-)
MH: What is your writing environment and schedule like? Do you have a page count per day? Do you write more than one story at the same time? Do you have any rituals when you write, to get you started or to fuel your inspiration?
EH: I can't write more than one thing at a time, which is really inconvenient when revisions or copy edits come in on one book and I'm on a deadline with another.
I write both at home and at coffee shops, and I have a terrible work ethic — I have a tendency to write most of my books right before the deadline. I'm trying to work on that, but so far, I'm not getting any more organized.
And as for inspiration, I find stark fear of missing the deadline VERY inspiring. ;-)
MH: Will you share a favorite line or bit of dialogue from your new book with our readers?
EH:
Lily's brain stuttered to a stop and she realized simultaneously both who Apollo-the-god's twin sister was and who Apollo-the-man's twin sister must be.
"Your sister is Artemis Batten, the Duchess of Wakefield," she hissed.
"Hush," Apollo muttered.
"Your sister's a bloody duchess."
"Yes?" He looked at her oddly, as if everyone had a duchess as a sister.
"Which means the duke is your brother-in-law."
"He's rather an ass, if that makes any difference."
"It doesn't," she said decisively. "It truly doesn't. Why are you even talking to me? I'm the blasted help."
MH: Please share one thing about you that most readers do not know.
EH: We've moved four times in my marriage and every time we have a new house the first thing I do is start planning the garden. I've had vegetable gardens, but the problem I find with vegetable gardens is that you have to actually harvest the vegetables on time and cook them. I'd much rather mess about in a purely ornamental flower garden. I just wrote a line in my newest (work in progress) book in which the hero questions why the heroine, an aristocrat, is deadheading her flowers when she has gardeners to do that. She throws back her head and laughs and tells him he isn't a gardener if he has to ask that question. That pretty much sums up my philosophy.
TIDBITS FROM HISTORY
A few weeks ago I posted a video of a woman donning period dress. Today I am sharing a montage of a man dressing in Regency-style clothing.
In 2006 the BBC filmed a series based on the life of Beau Brummell (1778-1840), a man of middle-class birth who exerted a huge influence on high-society fashion. He is credited with popularizing the simple, crisp, less-ornate style of dress that would become a uniform for men in England beginning in the late 1790s. I don't think the series ever aired here, which is a pity since it starred James Purefoy.
In this video of the opening of the first episode of Beau Brummell, the first half minute shows Purefoy donning the garments that made Beau Brummell famous. If you continue watching, you will see him visiting Prince George, who is badly in need of a makeover.
SHARE YOUR OPINION
Think you can judge a book by its cover? A focus group, part of the Historical Romance Network, wants YOUR opinions on romance covers. Head over and take a short survey. Selected romance readers will be contacted by e-mail to take part in an online chat about your opinions and reactions to romance covers. Any romance reader, not just those who prefer historicals, are needed for the survey and focus group.
Paste BN and New York Times bestseller Madeline Hunter is the two-time RITA-winning author of 25 historical romances. Her most recent book, The Accidental Duchess, was published June 3. You can find her at www.MadelineHunter.com. To contact Madeline about content for or in this column, please e-mail her at RomanceUnlaced @ gmail.com (close up the spaces). Due to the volume of mail, e-mails from authors may not be answered personally, but all will be read.