SPOTLIGHT ON ~ LORRAINE HEATH~ BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!!

Most of my good friends know that while I was a really big reader back before I had kids, I only came back full force to books in 2008. So even though an author may have been around for years, they would be relatively new to me. One of these ":new to me" is author Lorraine Heath. When a girlfriend of mine practically pushed Passions Of A Wicked Earl one me so eagerly, I stopped all I was reading at the time and gave it a go... Well, the next two days I was a zombie because I plowed through her London's Greatest Lovers series and have gone back to the rest of Lorraine's back list. I am a total fan now. When I asked Ms. Heath if I could do a Q&A with her, she was so gracious and agreed.

Without further ado, here is my spotlight on amazing author, Lorraine Heath.

~Kimberly~

Hi Lorraine! Thank you so much for joining me at Book Obsessed Chicks.  I am going to tell you that I have so many books on my TBR shelf, but I had no read any until one of my Book Obsessed Chicks urged me to read your “London’s Greatest Lovers” series. I was enthralled and you are now I my must read first list!

Thank you so very much! I’m so glad you enjoyed that series. I had such fun writing it.

 Can you tell us a bit about yourself? When did you become a writer?

I think I was born a writer. As soon as I learned to write, I began writing long letters to any relative I could get an address for. I keep diaries. I rewrote the ending to Billie and Blaze. I just loved to write, and knew that someday I would write a novel. But I wasn’t really much of a reader. Not until I discovered romance novels in 1990. Then I became obsessed with the genre and knew I had found a home for the kind of stories that I wanted to tell.

Please tell us about your inspiration for your latest book Lord of Wicked Intentions.

The Lost Lords of Pembrook series was inspired by the true account of the princes in the tower. Richard III imprisoned his nephews in the Tower of London so he could be crowned king. No one knows what really happened to them. Did he kill them? Did they get sick and die? Although children’s bones were later found in a box beneath some stairs in the tower—what was their true fate? And I thought what would have happened if they’d escaped?

So I created a villainous uncle and three brothers who are heirs to a dukedom. Their uncle plans to kill them so he can inherit and they escape. One goes to the army, one goes to sea, one goes to the street. Lord of Wicked Intentions is the last brother’s story. Rafe is a gambling hell owner. He has learned not to care for anything because it can be taken away. Then he meets Evelyn Chambers, illegitimate daughter to the Earl of Worthingham. He wants her as his mistress—and she is hardly in a position to demand more.

Can you tell us your favorite character from your books so far and why?

My favorite characters are always the heroes. My stories are very hero-driven. I have a very soft spot for the Duke of Ainsley in WAKING UP WITH THE DUKE. His story is about great love and sacrifice, and the price we sometimes unintentionally pay. But I love Rafe as well. He is so tormented. I think I can find something about each of my heroes that makes them special to me, and when I start thinking about one of my heroes, he becomes my favorite at that moment.

Who are your heroes? Mentors?

In real life, my younger sister Theresa is one of my heroes. She was a single mom with three kiddoes under the age of 6. She worked full-time, went to school part-time to get her degree in accounting. I have always admired her determination.

Was it difficult for you to get published?

I wrote about 4 books (2 medievals, 2 contemporaries) on an old electric typewriter before I came home from work one day and the typewriter was gone and a computer was in its place. My husband decided that I was serious about writing. It was no fun to rewrite what I’d already written so I started a new story set in Texas in 1884. I called it Tender Embrace. I sold it in 1993. It was published as SWEET LULLABY in March 1994. While it might seem that the path was easy, the challenge over the years has been to stay published. I’ve received more rejections since I sold than I did before I sold. There are no guarantees in this business, but I wouldn’t want to do anything else.

Who are your favorite authors/reads?

I have so many. I know I’ll leave some out but I’m a huge fan of Sarah MacLean, Loretta Chase, Lisa Kleypas, Addison Fox, Linda Howard. And of course, Nora Roberts.

Hobbies?

Reading, movies. I’m so boring! I do collect carousel horse music boxes.

Do you use an inspiration board for your characters? Who do you picture as your characters?

I’m a by-the-seat-of-my-pants writer. I don’t have any visual aids. Everything is in my mind. My characters seldom resemble any actor. I just see them in my mind.

What’s next?

A couple of things. So many readers have been asking for William Graves’ story (he was one of the scoundrels from the Scoundrels of St. James series), and I will finally have the chance to share his story in January (It’s not yet titled). In March, I will begin a new series that I’m calling the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James. WHEN THE DUKE WAS WICKED is the story of the Duke of Lovingdon, the boy who first appeared in BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND DESIRE.

Where can readers find you?

www.lorraineheath.com

https://www.facebook.com/LorraineHeathBooks

https://twitter.com/Lorraine_Heath

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 LORD OR WICKED INTENTIONS...

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