Today we have author Raven McAllan visiting. Raven lives on the edge of a Scottish forest with her husband and two cats, her children having flown the nest. She loves good books, fine wine and chocolate, and hates midges and liver. Especially midges!So, Raven, what inspired you to become a writer?
Winning a competition at primary school. The prize was chocolate.
When did you attempt your first story? What length was it? What's become of it?
As a proper try? A very long and rambling effort about living in a Scottish Castle, it's probably in a box in the attic. I wrote it (or attempted to about 20 years ago. But I've always written stories, often to the disgust of my teacher. "Facts dear, facts!"
How many stories did you complete before you sold your first?
This was the one of the first I completed, (I think I had three written) and there were a few more almost done.
What genre(s) do you write in? What drew you to write in it/them? What’s your favorite genre of all to write in?
I write romance in one form or another. Regency, contemporary, paranormal, mystery— both sweet and sinfully hot! M/f, m/m, f/f, menage, I love them all.
What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?
Best? Write as you can not as you think you should! Worst? You can't write!
How do you celebrate/deal with acceptance/rejection letters?
Wine and chocolate, both times!
In regard to the book you’re promoting, which actor and actress do you envision playing the roles of your hero and heroine? If there’s a villain or other characters who are pertinent to the story, who would play those parts?
This is the only thing I can't do. I never ever base my chracters on real people, they are truly a figment of my imagination. I know what they look like, but it isn't anyone I know! I like my readers to make their own minds up. If you see Ivo as Daniel Craig, or Alexander Skaarsgard, that's fine by me.
The book you’re promoting, is it a stand-alone story or part of a series? If it’s part of a series, please list the order the books need to be read in for maximum reading enjoyment.
I'm really lucky here, because Rogue Scandals is the 3 in 1 paperback of 3 of my Regency stories.Wallflower's Don't Wilt is the first, then To Please A lady. These are both available as ebooks. The third story, A Most Unusual Mistress is out on August 17th. So if you want to know what happens you have to get the peprbsck. It's very losely a series, in that the characters from book one pop up in the others. They can be read in any order but, much better like that!
*The first book was written in response to a dare by my crit group, but once I started to realize the problems they encountered in trying to get their relationship to work I was hooked. And my love of all things Regency increased.
*** Now for some fun info… ***
Are you a cat, dog or both kind of person?
I have cats, but love walking with my friend and her dogs.
Which do you prefer: rain or sun & warm weather or cold weather?
Oh sun, sun and heat!
Are you a morning person or night owl?
Morning, I get up and write!
*** About Raven’s book… ***
So, Rogue Scandals. Due in paperback on June 15th.
*Researching these books was so much fun. The more I did the more I found how hard life was for anyone who wished to live a non conventional lifestyle. I remembered some of the stories my great aunt (who herself wasn't what you called conventional in her younger days—there is definitely a story or two there) had told me about her great grandma, and thought hmm! There's a book in all this. I also love rummaging through junk stalls, antique shops and old book stores, and it'd amazing what you find. To say nothing of what you find when you put stuff into your search engine!
*I was looking a stall in China and saw a very interesting piece of jade! I researched it later. (there was no way I was going to ask my son who spoke mandarin to query if it was indeed a carved part of a gentleman's anatomy. And yes it was!) We bough a tiny jade elephant instead!
Here's the blurb...
*Rogue Scandals. Where rogues and ladies, love fight, and play
*Beneath the prim and proper surface of the ton, intrigue and scandal was only a gossiping word away.
*For many men and women, the fear of ruin and worse accompanied them at all times. Some defied propriety, took hold of their happiness and hoped for the best.
*Meet the men prepared to defy convention to win their ladies.
*But are those ladies prepared to let them have it all their own ways?
*Of course not, for their partnerships are as unconventional as the ladies themselves.
Wallflowers Don't Wilt
*Two women on the verge of freedom. One man looking for adventure. Can he persuade them that freedom comes in many forms, including three bodies entwined?To Please A Lady
*When your lovers are lovers themselves, and want you to help them make the perfect triangle, what do you say? Persuade me of course!A Most Unusual Mistress
*Why be a wife if a mistress has more fun? All Adriana has to do is get Ashley to agree.
This will be available from
Breathless Press
Amazon
Amazon UK
All the ebooks are available from the above plus
ARe
Bookstrand
1placeforromance
***Find Raven here***
Rogue Scandals Facebook page
Website
Blog
Raven's Giveaways! "I'm happy to give away a copy of whichever of these stories people would like in pdf format. If they are kind enough to comment by July 4th. As a second giveaway, if you go to my blog and 'follow' I'll do another random giveaway!
Thanks for joining us here today, Raven! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your work.
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