Welcome, readers! I have another wonderful author for you to meet today. Clean Reads author Wendy May Andrews writes Historical Romance focused in the Regency era. And her newest release is no exception. As a great fan of clean Historical Romance myself, I am always excited to find a new author in that genre to check out. I love Jane Austen as much as the next girl, but can’t say as I’ve read a lot of Regency outside of Austen’s legendary books until the last few months. And I am finding that there are some real gems. So, I am pleased to have an author that writes in this period on the blog today.
Welcome to the blog, Wendy. First, can you tell us a little about your novel.
A Dangerous Debut is, in some ways, a Cinderella retelling. Daisy is in a tight spot, financially, but is a well-bred young woman. She has just lost her position as governess and needs a new job. The viscount offers to hire her to pretend to be his fiancé so that he can convince his parents that he has turned his life around and they’ll loosen their purse-strings. He really has turned his life around but his parents don’t have much confidence in him. He doesn’t want to raise expectations with any of the ladies of his acquaintance so this seems to be a reasonable solution (to him, at least). Daisy resists the idea but is tempted by the opportunity to see how the ton lives. Mayhem ensues 🙂
I love a good Cinderella story. And I am enjoying this Regency period more and more.
Care to share the more historically significant events behind your story?
Unlike some of my other stories, this one isn’t centered around any particular historical event. It is set during “the Season” in 1807.
I love learning about other writers’ inspirations. It is true that it can strike anywhere! What was the inspiration for A Dangerous Debut?
I am never at a loss for ideas. Because I write historical, I’m always wondering “how would this be for my characters.” In this particular case, I was watching the movie Barefoot (which was hilarious and quite well done) and thought, this could totally be a Regency. Of course, once I sat down and started writing it changed considerably, but that was where the kernel of the idea came from.
Movies always take me off on a tangent 🙂
Did you always want to be a writer? If not, what did you want to be when you were a child?
I always loved to read, and had a favorite aunt who used to say I would be a writer one day. She even went so far as to make up pen names for me. But, to be honest, I never really thought I would be able to do it!
Interesting. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
When my husband challenged me to write that first book. I got bit by the bug and haven’t looked back 🙂
I know we all love writing or else we wouldn’t do it. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. There are things we don’t love so much. What part of the writing process do you dread?
Editing! And marketing, of course. If I could only write first drafts I would be beside myself with glee. But you have to put the work in for other people to benefit from it.
So true. Marketing is such a necessary thing, but it doesn’t come easily to most writers I think.
This next question is purely to satisfy my curiosity. It varies so much from writer to writer–how long does it take you to write a book?
This really varies depending on what else is going on in life. I’ve done National Novel Writing Month (NaNo) and have “won” in that I managed to write at least 50,000 words in 30 days. But two or three months is much more comfortable for me for getting the first draft written. Then there’s the editing but that can overlap with writing the next one…
Do you have any current projects you’re working on? Care to share?
Yes! I’m very excited about my next projects too. I’ve started writing two series. One is set in my usual Regency era. The other is a trilogy set in 1850s mid-West America. It’s a different time and location for me so a lot of research required. But I love it! Hopefully book one will be out in the next few months.
Late 1800’s is becoming my sweet spot. I look forward to that series!
Again, thank you so much for joining me and for sharing with us about your process and your newest release. So, readers, without further ado, I’ll let you read on and check out A Dangerous Debut.
A Dangerous Debut
Daisy meets Lord Seaton quite by accident while standing outside a closed employment office. The handsome viscount proposes they might be able to help each other out. He offers to hire her to accompany him to visit his parents while posing as a potential love interest.
Being a proper lady, if only a “Miss”, Daisy objects to such an inappropriate proposition. Once the viscount is able to convince her that he will observe all proprieties, she reluctantly agrees while secretly looking forward to experiencing the aristocratic life, if even just for a week.
When a shady character from her past shows up looking for her, Jasper’s protective instincts kick in. But will it interfere with his own reasons for the ruse? Jasper’s feelings for Daisy get even more muddled when she is abducted.
Their masquerade could lead to true love if her past doesn’t destroy them first.
Enjoy an Excerpt
Excerpt: First meet (Opening scene):
“What am I going to do now?” Daisy kept her wail silent as she struggled not to panic.
The door was locked, and there was no sign of movement inside. The early morning sounds of carriages, carts, and people going about their business behind her on the busy street could not penetrate the dark sense of dread she was struggling to control. Daisy was staring morosely at the locked shop door when a voice behind her shoulder nearly made her jump out of her skin. She was surprised she hadn’t noticed his approach reflected in the gleaming glass of Miss Holstein’s shop window, since she had been staring at it so intensely.
“Is aught amiss, ma’am?” the cultured voice slurred, stirring Daisy’s amusement, despite the terrifying dilemma she faced.
When she turned to answer, her usually glib tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. The wellborn man’s handsome face stole her breath. His golden brown hair was dishevelled, as though he had been running his hands through the waves repeatedly throughout the long night. His light gray eyes were fringed with long dark lashes. If he were not so ruggedly handsome, they would have looked feminine. But his strong physique declared him an outdoorsman of some note, and no one would ever confuse him with a woman. She realized her confused blinking probably made her look like a simpleton, but she could barely marshal her thoughts into order, they were so scattered.
Seeing the concern forming in his eyes despite the air of ennui about him that declared he rarely cared about anything, Daisy pulled herself together enough to remember his question.
“Thank you, my lord, I shall be perfectly fine.” Daisy realized her tone sounded repressive and prim, but she couldn’t help herself.
“You do not seem perfectly fine.” The handsome gentleman’s observation sounded vague. The emphasis on “seem” implying that even though he was bosky, it was apparent even to him that all was not right with Daisy.
Daisy was now beginning to find his presence irritating and could easily see past his remarkable good looks. With her tongue no longer stuck to the roof of her mouth, she was able to make use of it. “I truly am not in need of any help from you, my lord,” she began, not bothering to mask her disdain. “You may carry on with your own business without concerning yourself about mine.”
Daisy’s sunny disposition usually prevented her from being snide, but she felt her nose wrinkling as she observed the young man before her. His clothes declared he was a member of the Corinthian set, verging toward being a dandy. It was obvious he was a wealthy nobleman, perhaps even an aristocrat. That thought made her lip curl just a little with feelings of scorn. The air of authority with which he held himself, despite the fact he had drunk too much the night before, declared his position loudly without his uttering a word.
Her resentment began to rise despite her knowledge that it was irrational. She really ought not to be so judgemental. Under normal circumstances, she tried to be an open minded individual, but truly, aristocratic “gentlemen” are all the same, she thought with an audible sniff, just as her father had always told her.
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More About the Author
Wendy May Andrews has been in love with the written word since she learned to read at the age of five. She has been writing for almost as long but it took her some time before she was willing to share her stories with anyone other than her mother.
Wendy can be found with her nose in a book in a cozy corner of downtown Toronto. She is happily married to her own real-life hero, who is also her best friend and favourite travel companion. Being a firm believer that every life experience contributes to the writing process, Wendy is off planning her next trip.
She loves to hear from her readers and can be found at her website, on twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Connect with Wendy and her books
Website: www.wendymayandrews.com
Social media:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WendyMayAndrews
Twitter: @WendyMayAndrews
Instagram: WendyMayAndrews