Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Guest Author ELLA QUINN Is Here!

It's a great pleasure and thrill to host my first guest author interview with the lovely and talented Ella Quinn! Her newest book, The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh, is available for pre-order now from Kensington Books and will officially release on November 7, 2013. It is Book 2 in The Marriage Game series.

Ella will be giving away a copy of her new book to a lucky commenter. Please enjoy the beautiful cover, excerpt, and our interview!


“Let yourself be seduced by this sexy mix of spies, smugglers, and happily ever afters.” —Sally MacKenzie

EXCERPT:

     Since she was a young girl, Anna Marsh has dreamed of Sebastian, Baron Rutherford asking for her hand in marriage. But that was in another life when her brother Harry was alive, before she vowed to secretly continue the work he valiantly died for. Now as Sebastian finally courts Anna, she must thwart his advances. Were he to discover her secret, he would never deem her a suitable wife...

     Sebastian has always known Anna would become his wife someday. He expects few obstacles, but when she dissuades him at every turn he soon realizes there is much more to this intriguing woman. Somehow he must prove to her that they are meant to be together. But first he must unravel the seductive mystery that is Miss Anna Marsh…

What an intriguing premise! Ella, what is your writing day like?


After exercising (I learned the hard way I cannot skip that part), I do Twitter, Facebook and visit blogs. Then I write or edit. If one of my critique partners has chapters posted, I will work on those as well.
I need to start an exercise routine, too! Sitting at a desk all day takes a toll on my back. Tell us - was there something interesting or strange that you had to research for you book?

Quite frankly, I find all research interesting. The Secret Life of Miss Anna March takes place in 1814, when Napoleon was exiled in Alba, but not too long before he makes a comeback. I had to research the political climate of the time, the types of things being smuggled, who would have been working behind the scenes in preparation for Napoleon’s escape, and the geography of the area where I placed my story. I’d lived in England and had visited Kent several times, which helped, but it’s been a while and I needed a refresher.
I love researching a new book. Sometimes you find ideas for new stories amid all that history. Do your characters have any bit of yourself in them or are they unrelated to you?

Their desire to help their country might reflect something of me. I served in the Army during the 1970’s.
Authors are always discussing how much or how little they plot their books before writing. Are you a plotter or do you like to write as the ideas come to you?
I am not a plotter, unless you want to include plotting the next scene or the story arch in my head. I find it works better if I just type.

I write the same way. I think most writers do what is most fun for them. Speaking of fun, who is more fun for you to write: heroes or heroines?

My heroes. Most of the time, I bond with them much faster than I do with my heroines. I once went a full five chapters without my heroine’s point of view for the first few drafts.
If you could time-travel, where would you go and what would you do?

I’d visit the Regency, but I’d make sure I was a wealthy widow. That way I couldn’t shock anyone.
I'm sure you'd raise a few eyebrows at Almack's! Speaking of time travel, what is your favorite historical era?

LOL, need you ask? The Regency period.
That era is so popular, I think, because it was the dawning of so many new ideas and happenings around the world. What is your least favorite era?
Victorian. Though with the second series, I know I’ll get there at some point.

Sounds interesting! We need more Victorian-set romances. What advice do you have for aspiring authors?


If you want to be published, treat writing as a job. Join a critique group, professional organizations, learn to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to critiques and contests, build your marketing platform, and be true to your voice.
Good advice, especially about it being a job. It's one of those professions that has more "on the job" training than most. What are you currently working on, and what are your future projects?

I’m working on the 5th book of my first series, The Marriage Game. It takes place in St. Thomas, where I live. For the 6th and 7th books I’ll be back in England. There is a second series, A Season for Love, which has some of the same characters as The Marriage Game. I’ve written the first two books, but have not edited them yet.
You are very busy, which is great news for your readers. You've inspired me to finish my projects. You must relax sometime! What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I walk, paddle-board, and read.
 
Thanks you, Ella, for chatting with us today! We wish you continued success with your new book and the books to come.
Ella Quinn has lived all over the United States, the Pacific, Canada, England and Europe before finally discovering the Caribbean. She lives in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands with her wonderful husband, three bossy cats and a loveable great dane. Ella loves when friends connect with her. Please visit her at her website, Facebook, Twitter, and her blog.
Ella Quinn


 

 

55 comments:

  1. The book sounds great. I am never sure nowadays whether books are in print or only in e-formate.So many new books, so little time, so little money.
    I really need to have one of Ella's books.

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    1. Thank you so much for stopping by, and wanting a book! Most books are in e-book format. For better or worse, in the past year it's been very difficult for a new author to be offered a print contract. Mine will be in e-book and print on demand. Unless my sales entice my publisher to give me a print contract.

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  2. Great interview! Ella you are tireless and fearsome! But I love these books! Tweeted

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  3. I agree with you about so little time, money, and the wealth of new stories out there. If only there were more hours in a day!

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    1. LOL, Anna. We all need more hours in the day!!

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  4. Ella,
    I've been to St Thomas and loved it there. Looking forward to reading a book with such a beautiful island setting.

    Another great interview!

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    1. It is beautiful, but so many records have been lost over the years that the research has been slow going.

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  5. Good Morning Ella,
    This sounds like a grand read. I am glad I learned so much about you in your brief interview. I will admit to be a Regency junkie, probably because people were clear on what the rules were and the consequences when you broke them.

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    1. Hi Morgan, thank you for stopping by. I do like that the rules were clearer. Of course, that makes it so much more fun to play with.

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  6. OOOO, paddle-boarding! That sounds fun!!! But then again, everything in the Virgin Islands is fun!

    I'm very excited about your series, Ella! Can't wait to read the first and now the second in it!
    -Lani

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    1. Thank you so much!! I'm excited that you want to read them!

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  7. You're a busy lady, Ella. Your books sound like a very fun read. Looking forward to them.

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    1. Karen thank you. Life does seem to be getting busier.

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  8. I appreciate the advise for aspiring authors. So many people think writing is merely putting words on a page, then getting published. I admire any author who tackles the regency period. I look forward to reading your books, Ella. Very nice interview.

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    1. Thank you, Loretta, for wanting to read my books and for liking the interview!

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  9. I'm so intrigued what Anna's secret is now! Pls pick me before I expire from curiosity :p

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    1. LOL, Linda! You'd have to wait anyway. Kensington won't release the books until the actual release date. Thank you, though.

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  10. Good interview, ladies. Ella, funny you bond with her heroes first. I usually bond with my heroines, although my hero is always a major presence in my mind. When I talked to my daughter about my WIP, she pointed out that all my heroines seem to have a bit of her and me them. Interesting.

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    1. It is funny, Callie. I can't tell you why, but my guys are all in.

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  11. Well I'm having technical difficulties today. Excellent interview. I'm love my ARC copy. Superb story, Endearing characters, fabulous writing. It's looking like another winner.

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    1. Oooh, I'm so glad to hear you say that, Liza!! Thank you for posting it.

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  12. I love this cover so much and can't wait for my copy!

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    1. Thank you, D'Ann. That's so sweet.

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  13. Wonderful interview, ladies! :D That is so cool that your current WIP takes place in St. Thomas! I've always wanted to visit there, ever since my dad and step-mom went on a cruise and stopped there. They loved it!

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    1. It's beautiful. But as I said the research has been slow going. Thank you for coming by, Karen.

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  14. I also like that some of Ella's books are not set in the "traditional" Regency world of England and France. I mean, come on - does it matter if Mr. Darcy is strutting around Grosvenor Square or emerging from the azure waters of St. Thomas?

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  15. What an excellent interview ladies.

    Ella, that is great advice for aspiring authors.

    I'm going to have to pick up the first couple of books in the series. I'm dying to check them out. :)

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  16. Thank you, Layna. I only wish you didn't have to wait so long to read them.

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  17. I'm very much looking forward to reading your books! I especially enjoyed your comment about treating writing as a job. I'm a librarian and write my own personal blog as well as for my library's blog and it helps me very much to have a deadline; I make myself had deadlines for both. Thank you for the giveaway chance.

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    1. Hi Maria, thank you for stopping by. I agree with self-made deadlines. You're very welcome for the giveaway.

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  18. Love the interview~! I too love the Regency era. I can not wait for your book!!!

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    1. Thank you so much! I wish it was coming out sooner.

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  19. Great interview, Ella! I couldn't agree more on the exercise part! LOL! The book sounds wonderful - can't wait to read it. Tweeted as well.

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    1. Thank you, Lana. I really appreciate your support!

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  20. Love the comment about separating the wheat from the chaff - excellent advice.

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    1. Thanks, Daryl. Sometimes it's hard to stick to your guns.

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  21. Ella, you are so wise. Exercise seems like last on the list, but it's so important for authors--and it does help our brains as well as our backsides!

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    1. It's also so easy to skip. Unless I do it first thing in the morning, it doesn't get done. Thank you so much for visiting, Joanna.

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  22. Thanks to everyone who visited us today! Ella, it was a great honor having you grace my blog. And, as I told you before, I'm glad there's finally a heroine with my name

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    1. Thank you so much, Anna, for having me visit. I really enjoyed myself!

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  23. Hey Ella I'm a little late. I love the book excerpt and wish you all the look with the book. Hugs :-)

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    1. You're not late at all, CK. Thank you so much for stopping by.

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  24. Hey Ms. Ella, sorry for the late comment. Love the Excerpt, can't wait for the book! :D

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    1. Hi Margaret, thanks so much for visiting me and loving the excerpt!!

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  25. Sounds like a great story, Ella. I look forward to reading it!

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    1. Thank you, Maggi. That means a lot coming from you!!

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  26. Another great interview, Ella. I always learn so much about you I feel like I'll know you when we finally meet. Can't wait for your series to be published!

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  27. The cover of the book is gorgeous! And the premise sounds really interesting. I love reading about the end of the Napoleonic era so this will definitely be a must read. Much success.

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  28. Great interview, Anna!!!

    Ella, you never cease to amaze me! You're a writing machine and my newest hero. Can't wait to meet you in person!!!

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