Scroll down to see FAQs broken up by general questions, questions about each series and questions about specific books.
GENERAL FAQs--
What happened to your Officer Series books?
They’re still coming, however, I decided to switch the order and do the Banks Brothers Brides series first.
Where can I buy your books in print?
They will be available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble soon, but as of now, you can buy them direct from the publisher or if you’d like an autographed copy, you can order one from the Timeless Quills website.
3. Where (or when) can I pre-order future books?
Unfortunately, my books are not available for pre-order. Sorry, that's just the way it is. However, if you'd like to be notified when they go on sale, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with "upcoming books" in the subject line and I'll add you to the list.
4. How long will it take for Book X to reach iBooks?
That's the million dollar question. Usually, within a week of approval from Smashwords it's at iBooks. They're very quick to get it up. But...Smashwords sometimes gets slowed down in approving books due to how many books are submitted there each day. I've tried to sell direct so it can be at iBooks on the same day as it goes up on Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords, but there are far too many hoops to jump through and a lot of frustrations about things I had absolutely no control over.
5. When will Book X be at Sony, Kobo, Diesel, etc?
I have no idea. Sony usually has them up within 4-5 weeks after they publish. So Reluctant should be there now and Secondhand around the first of the year. It's not possible to sell direct with these places, so it's out of my hands.
6. Is it imperative to read the books in order?
Yes and no. While I did put enough information in all of the books to make it not necessary to have read the other books in the series, it would help to understand the emotions and situations better if you read them in order.
7. Are the Scandalous Sisters Series and the Groom Series connected?
Yes. Alex, the cousin from the first series, will play the hero in the first book in the Groom Series, Her Sudden Groom. This allows for a lot of overlapping characters. There are also cameos of the characters in the first series in Her Reluctant Groom and Her Secondhand Groom. However, in Her Imperfect Groom, they all play a small role as once again, Her Imperfect Groom is about a member of the Banks family.
8. Where can I find blog posts about each of the books or blogger reviews?
Please visit the individual page I have set up for each of the books I have out. If you scroll down past the cover and brief description, you'll find links to all the posts I've done about that page. A little further down and you'll find links to all of the blogger/review site reviews.
9. I wrote to you, but you didn't write back OR your monthly newsletter (which is sent on the 1st of the month) didn't come. How come?
I write back to everyone who writes to me, with exception of the blank message with the word "newsletter" in the subject--my assumption they don't really want a response (right?). So if you didn't get a reply within a few days, please go check your junk/spam mail folder, very likely you'll find it there! If it's not there, then it is likely that my spam filter tossed it out, so please do not hesitate to resend your e-mail. Also, while it's perfectly acceptable to send me an email directly, if you use the contact form provided, your email should pass the spam filter without problems.
10. Psst, you have a typo!
*Gasps!* A typo? You don't say! Hmm, how did that get past the editor and my line of proofreaders? Well, it does happen, so if you happen to stumble upon a typo or two in one of my books (or on my website) and feel it's something I should know about, please don't hesitate to inform me. I promise as long as you are nice about informing me, I will be more than thankful for the information! You can either write me at [email protected] or go to my contact page and fill out the auto mailer form.
11. Do your books have S E X in them?
Yes. All of them. I cannot give a "heat" rating though. I've been told by some, they are super hot and I had an older reader who compared them to a PG rating of what she normally read in historical romance. I think "heat" varies greatly from person to person.
ABOUT ME:
1. What are you working on now?
Another series, of course! It will be about three U.S. Army Officers in the 1840s finding their perfect wives.
2. Who is your favorite hero and heroine that you've written?
This is tough. At one time, I'd always say, “The two who I'm currently writing (or editing) about.” But now that I have fourteen different heroes and heroines to pick from it's a little harder. My favorite pair together are Benjamin and Madison. I like how they're both able to verbally spar with the other with sarcastic remarks or plays on words. I also like that four books later and he's still trying to get her to kiss him by spouting off random science facts. But if I have to break the couples apart and pick a favorite. I'd say Juliet is my favorite heroine and for as weird as he is, Wallace is my favorite hero.
3. Which two books did you re-write?
A: It wasn't two full-length books, it was more like one full book and two partial books. I re-wrote the first half of Her Sudden Groom. I had gotten to the part where Alex and Marcus were talking after Alex had just returned Caroline from the day with his family (where he proposed). I remember I'd just written the line about Marcus crossing his ankles on his desk and scraping one boot edge along the side of the other. Then suddenly the computer froze and never turned back on. Rewind thirty minutes, and the computer had taken a slight tumble... If I'd been smart, when I realized the laptop was still working after its recent hit on the floor, I would have e-mailed myself a copy of the manuscript so I would have had it. But I didn't. I took for granted that the computer was still working... Anyway, the hard drive died and I had to re-write the first half. Fast forward a few months, I lost the second half of Her Reluctant Groom due to technical difficulties. AKA the computer was acting up. Again. Finished it, then started on Secondhand. I had more technical difficulties on this one, so I bought a new laptop and was able to nearly finish it when I realized the hero and heroine didn't give a fig about the other. I got all the way to the last chapter and the two weren't even in “like”. So I literally threw the whole 95,000 words away and started over. I am so much happier with this version.
4. Did your husband really best you in pall mall (croquet)?
Yes. Yes, he did. Quite badly, too. Similar to Alex and Caroline, I was only halfway through when he announced he'd just finished. NEVER AGAIN!
5. Which is your favorite cover image?
The one for Her Secondhand Groom. I love, love, love, that green dress.
SCANDALOUS SISTERS SERIES QUESTIONS:
INTENTIONS OF THE EARL--
1. Why did/didn't (fill in the blank here) happen or get explained in Intentions of the Earl?
Please keep in mind this is a three-book series, and while some of the reasons behind the actions of the hero/heroine/secondary characters are obvious right off, others aren't. However, all shall be revealed (I hope so, if not I didn't do my job right...) by the end. But just in case, I will post on May 16th (one month after the release of the third book), a list of common questions I've received and answer them completely from the author's view from inside the character's head.
2. What was Gateway’s real motive for hiring Andrew?
(See below.)
3. Is your husband Andrew Black, Earl of Townson?
No. As much as my own parents like to argue that with me, he’s not. The two do have two physical similarities: unusually tall and a broken nose. That’s it. Hair is different, eyes are different, body build, the reason for the broken nose, etc, all different. As for the personality, completely different. My husband is for the most part very carefree and laid back, his tongue would never get away from him and get him into such a bind.
4. Did you intend to make Paul and Liberty despise each other so much in the first book, and how do you plan to resolve that?
Talk about a loaded question! I’ll answer part of that and let the second book answer the rest! I did not intend to make them dislike each other so much. When I started writing Intentions of the Earl I knew it was to be the first in a three book series and I wanted to include enough of the secondary characters to spark interest. However, my plan for Liberty and Paul was not to dislike each other at all but to have a mutual secret attraction that they both tried to deny because of her father (Paul’s mentor). But then Liberty burst into Brooke’s room--all the sudden my fingers took on a mind of their own and instead of writing that she thought she’d fallen in love with Mr. Grimes, she said she hated him!
At first, I stared at the computer–stunned. What was I going to do now? Then I remembered this nifty little key labeled “backspace” and just as I started to backspace, I stopped. While a secret love affair might be fun, it was too soon for those two to be in love. For goodness’ sake, the hero and heroine of the current book weren’t even in love yet, how could the secondary characters be?! Besides, I think it turned out better this way. Liberty has a lot to learn about herself and life before she can fall in love! And she’ll do just that in her own book, Liberty for Paul.
5. Was it really necessary for Brooke to bind her breasts?
Uh, yes. At the time I wrote that scene I realized those two were moving fast. Very fast. I needed something to not only slow them down and get them to stop just then, but also so they’d not go so far the following night (more on this in a minute). In order to get them to abruptly stop kissing I need something to happen. I didn’t want her to have a sudden, “Oh my goodness, what am I doing” moment right then, so I opted for another kind of distraction to bring things to a screeching halt. Therefore, she bound her breasts. From there I just played off it and wrote the rest of the book with her having that insecurity. It was not originally part of the plan.
6. Why did I need things to slow down? (Continued from previous question.)
I felt if she’d allowed him to lower her bodice and caress her breasts, she’d not have stopped him from reaching up her skirt the following night.
7. And why didn’t Andrew ruin her in truth in the woods?
There is no simple answer to this. First, Brooke was a strong character. Though many historical romance heroines easily give up their virtue, she was written to be herself and stand her ground, no matter what. She may flout the rules, but she clung to her morals in this regard for several reasons: a. though she loved him, she didn’t really know if he loved her, b. she was afraid of being used and neglected (this foreshadows what we learn about her sister in book 3), c. she was truly worried about the same of breaking that rule tainting her sisters’ marriage prospects, d. Brooke had the kind of personality that would have always left her wondering Andrew’s change of heart about marrying her only came about because he’d taken her innocence.
Also, Andrew had no intention of actually ruining her in truth. He’d decided that long before that night. Just the appearance would be enough to serve his purposes; he didn’t really need to rob her of her innocence.
Not to mention, the floor of the forest isn’t usually the best place to have sex for the first time. (Especially since Gateway—followed by Lady Algen and Alex—make an appearance soon after Brooke ended things. Talk about awkward!)
8. Is it true you passed up a publishing contract because of Brooke’s lack of easy seduction?
Yes. I guess it could be said I cared far more for my characters than I did for money, fame, a publishing contract and all that goes with it. I was asked to follow the norms of historical/Regency romances and have Brooke give into Andrew that night while he was so lust-fogged he forgot the promise he’d made to himself not to ruin her in truth. As I mentioned before, I didn’t think Brooke had the personality that would accept Andrew’s marriage proposal as anything other than an offer made out of guilt for taking her innocence. I also wanted Brooke to stay true to character, which meant putting things to a stop that night in the woods and effectively costing me a publishing contract. But not for one minute have I regretted it.
9. Did you forget something? Like the EPILOGUE?!
In a word: no. I've tried to write an epilogue for Intentions of the Earl, but I can't. If the epilogue goes any further into the future then there needs to be an explanation for why things happened the way they did in the book. If I do that, it'll ruin a future book for those who read them in order.
LIBERTY FOR PAUL--
1. Liberty despised Paul just because he asked her to use his Christian name after first meeting, that’s a little pathetic, don’t you think? Yes, that’s why that’s not the real reason. If you read closely while they’re at the masquerade together, she admits when she first sees him she’s attracted to him and becomes nervous because she’s attracted and chats his ear off. Because of Paul’s quiet personality, he just sat and listened, giving nods and one-word answers periodically. While this is typical male behavior, to Liberty, who was used to being ignored or dismissed, she took it as disinterest. Thus, not only was she hurt he’d rebuffed her in her mind, but she was embarrassed she’d made such a fool of herself.
2. So if she despises him, or claims to anyway, why doesn’t she just leave him alone?
This is left up to the reader to decide. Either she truly doesn’t like him after being rebuffed, or she does and it’s her love for revenge that keeps drawing her to him to do unkind things, OR considering her age, she’s just trying to catch his attention. You can decide this one.
3. Liberty taking Paul’s clothes and having him chase her around the room doesn’t seem like something the Propriety Queen would do.Why on Earth did she do that?
Sometimes propriety takes a backseat. Even for Liberty. At the time she was so mad/embarrassed that he’d taken it upon himself to strip her of her clothes and look at her naked (even though it was unavoidable) that she let propriety be damned and sought full revenge.
4. What about the Propriety Queen kissing—and more—another man at a masquerade?
This one is actually easier to explain. As said before, she’d always been easily dismissed or overlooked, particularly when compared to her sisters. So to have a man—even a stranger—desire her, sparked something she wasn’t familiar with. Yes, she loved Paul, she even knew it at the time, and yes, Paul sparked those feelings in her, she didn’t deny it, but Paul hadn’t looked at her the same way the mysterious Mr. Daltry was. Paul had never had desire in his eyes when he looked at her, nor had he ever given any other indication he was attracted to her. So while she loved him and desired him, she fell into a lustful snare when another man looked at her thus and sparked the same feelings she felt for Paul. Not to mention, if Paul truly had 14 illegitimate children, like she thought, surely he would have already tried to seduce her if he’d wanted her that way!
5. Why the blazes did Paul not have more of a reaction when he realized it was Liberty at the masquerade and she was kissing—and more—a man she thought to be a stranger?
At first he was going to give her a reaction. And not a good one. He was mad she was at a masquerade ball with a man she thought was someone other than her husband. However, once she confessed she thought he’d been unfaithful to her, his heart softened toward her while at the same time he wanted the whole truth out of her as to why she thought such a thing and he knew she’d never tell him if they were Liberty and Paul, but she’d be more willing to divulge her secrets in disguise. That’s why he kept his identity concealed when they went off together. Why he kissed her back and didn’t unveil himself or get angry with her then is a combination of things: 1. He wanted to kiss her and touch her just as much as she wanted it. 2. If he told her who he was or he got angry with her at the time for what she was doing he could have driven them apart again. 3. Paul really didn’t have a high-handed personality. It just wasn’t in his make-up to be angry with her, haul her off and teach her a lesson in seduction like so many heroes in (historical) romance books.
6. Why didn’t Paul seduce her at the masquerade, she practically asked for it?
When I first started writing the masquerade scene my plan was for them to sleep together then for her to realize his identity afterwards by glimpsing his scar. However, from a writer’s standpoint that just didn’t seem like a good plan in the end. Those two had trust/communication issues already; I’d have a very hard time getting them past such an obstacle. Which goes hand in hand with the emotional impact on the characters because the guilt, doubt, blame, hurt, deceit etc etc would have swamped both of them to a degree the book may not have been salvageable. I honestly didn’t see either Liberty or Paul being able to wake up the next morning and realistically be at a place where they were ready to make amends and go off on their merry way after everything was on the table.
7. Where in the world did you come up with the term “love musket”?
I love this question! However, I’d rather not post the story here. But if you’re really that interested, e-mail me and I’ll tell you.
8. Is it true Liberty was voted, "Worst heroin (sic) ever?"
Yes! You can read her nomination and my "acceptance speech" here.
9. Is it true, Liberty was you most "written about" character from your first series?
Yes, again. I blogged about that, too.
TO WIN HIS WAYWARD WIFE--
1. What was Gateway’s real motive for hiring Andrew? Though Andrew believed in the first book it was because Brooke had rebuffed Gateway that was not the real reason. The real reason is addressed at the end of the third book. Gateway’s real motives were to drive the family away from England and back to New York where Madison could find her happiness, even if it wasn’t with him.
2. What if Andrew had picked Madison? Moot point. He wouldn’t have for two reasons. 1. When they first met, Andrew was genuinely attracted to Brooke; therefore, he picked her because their mutual attraction made her seem the best/easiest for his task, which leads to 2. Madison showed not a hint of interest in him, only confirming his choice. (It should be blindingly obvious why he didn’t pick Liberty.)
3. Why in the world did Benjamin have to be so jealous of Andrew?
He wasn’t always. He was when they were lads because he’d truly never been wanted. Not by his parents at least. Elizabeth is the only one who’d ever wanted him and when she could no longer have contact with him it hurt. Therefore, he’d acted in revenge against Andrew by having him tortured because he was jealous. However, that ended badly and put out Benjamin’s jealous feelings for many years. It wasn’t until he suspected Madison had secret feelings for Andrew that he became jealous again.
Thinking about it from his perspective, it’s easy to see why he’d suspect she had those feelings. Madison and Andrew had an easy relationship, whereas he and Madison didn’t. She openly talked and jested with Andrew, she just seemed comfortable in his presence. And don’t forget, she pleaded to Andrew for him to rescue her the day after their wedding and had many times asked to be taken back to Rockhurst, Andrew’s home. (And then there’s the infamous letter…)
In short, Benjamin had nothing else to be but jealous. He was once again watching the woman he loved give her trust, faith and perhaps her love to another man.
4. Did Robbie have to have such a large role in the third book? I was ready for him to die in the first chapter! So was I! Unfortunately, I didn’t think him dying in the first chapter was a good idea unless I wanted to put a swift end to Brooke and Andrew’s happily-ever-after by sending Andrew to the Tower for murder. Nor did I think it really would have solved anything if Robbie just went back to America like a dog with his tail between his legs. The man needed to die so he couldn’t later come back to harass the happy couple. That’s why he had such a large role.
5. When did you know Benjamin and Madison would be a couple? Before I finished writing the first chapter of Intentions of the Earl I knew they’d end up together. Just as I finished the second chapter, I knew the plot/motives.
6. And now, for the clues that gave it all away! In the past month I’ve gotten a wide variety of responses to who the hero of the third book would be, some were sweet, “I was hoping the engagement ring he carried would be given to Madison” while others were of complete shock “No freaking way…Gateway? Wow.” But whether you guessed it or not, here’s the trail of clues that led to the hero’s identity:
1. There wasn't a believable motive given for Benjamin’s actions in the first book. I mean, yes, Brooke did reject him at the beginning, but that's nowhere near reason enough for him to act so drastically.
2. At the house party in Intentions of the Earl during the dinner where Lady Olivia snagged Andrew from Brooke and she has to sit between the drunk Mr. Cook and Gateway, it was Gateway who asked about the origin of Madison's name.
3. This was the biggest hint: he gave Liberty the engagement ring to hold onto while he took Paul's watch to London in Liberty for Paul. This is a big clue for two reasons: a. the fact he even had an engagement ring, and b. he told her the woman he planned to give it to wouldn't mind it was in her possession. Of course she wouldn't, they're sisters.
4. At the end of the second book when Brooke first sees Robbie the ball and asks what he's doing there, Liberty thinks she's talking about Gateway who's standing alone in the corner. So we know he's there, we also know he's carrying an engagement ring in those overstuffed pockets of his, and Liberty even mentions he's come to London for a wife.
5. If you follow my blog you’ll notice nowhere in the character interviews I did leading up this book did I actually name the hero. Every time one of the character or I went to use his name, the other person in the interview would jump in and cut the sentence off. Even on my interview with Robbie, I didn't call him the hero. I labeled it: Character Interview with Robbie Swift, Character from To...
6. The first chapter of the 3rd book tells you it can't be Robbie because she's in the hall with an unnamed man and Andrew catches them--followed by the busybody gossip lady--and they become affianced. The shock Brooke and Madison express at learning his identity when he steps out of the shadows was a hint, too.
7. One last, and somewhat obvious but overlooked hint is I don’t name a hero in the description. I just say a man who’s loved her all along.
So the clues were both subtle and blunt, but since Gateway really wasn't a character anyone cared to read about, the clues were probably just ignored. Many people--including my own husband--were surprised.
GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SCANDALOUS SISTERS SERIES--
1. Was Elizabeth really a necessary character?
Yes. Though a certain editor and with publisher didn’t think so, I did. She may have seemed an extra or unnecessary in the first book. However, she became vital to the second—someone needed to talk some sense into Liberty!
2. Will she have a HEA?
I honestly don’t know. I’ve thought of writing a novella for her where she meets the real Mr. Daltry and finds love. However, I have a problem writing novellas. I’ve tried before and they tend to turn into novels. Also, with all my other projects right now I don’t know when I’d have the time.
3. Will any of the characters from this series show up in the next?
Of course! The first book of the next series starts with Alex, so not only will we get to see him again, but it’s inevitable that his cousins will make a visit or two!
4. Why didn’t you mention the impending war or the political tensions between the countries in any of these books?
Did you really want me to? Obviously one person did, but to be honest, I have no idea how that would have enhanced the plot so I left it out.
5. Will the next series be so closely linked?
Yes and no. I have a tendency to write overlapping characters/plots and I do it again in the next series, but I don’t have a villain-turned-hero again.
GROOM SERIES QUESTIONS:
HER SUDDEN GROOM--
1. Why didn't Edward have such a vibrant personality in the first three books?
Edward didn't have much of a role in the first three books. He was barely mentioned in the first, not even mentioned in the third, and had a very minor role in the second. With all the other big personalities at the time, his roles had to be kept abbreviated or he and his larger-than-life personality would steal the show, so to speak.
2. Speaking of stealing the show... I wish Edward would have his own book. Is there anything in the works for that?
(Note here, when I read this question, I must admit that I wondered if she'd finished the book yet.) Honestly, I don't know. I've batted the idea around a little, but I don't know if a. the reader interest is there or if b. the expectations for these characters is too high. If you'd like to give me your opinion, please feel free to vote.
3. What about the twins? Their names aren't in the descriptions for the other books in this series. Will they have a story?
Of course! They'll be part of my next series. When I first started writing Alex's book, I knew he had to have siblings because it was casually referred to in Intentions of the Earl but they were never introduced. I thought it would be odd to have an entire book about Alex and not have his siblings introduced, or even alluded to, so I did, and then... You get the idea.
4. Her Sudden Groom has a lot of references to your first series, how come?
Good thing you read my first series then, right? *Grins* While some might think it was a marketing ploy to have such direct remarks and insinuations to the first series, it was not. Remember what I said about the twins? I originally just needed them for the sake of appearances, then grew close and now, they'll get their own stories--eventually? That's what happened with Alex. In the first book, Andrew needed an easy invitation to the baron's house party. How convenient that the baron would have a son who just happened to be Andrew's age. That's how Alex entered the whole fray in the first place. He was just meant to be a means to an invitation for Andrew. Then—if the unsettling truth be known—I'd planned to pair Alex and Olivia up as a subplot romance in that book, until her beastly personality came out, that is.
From Alex's impromptu role in Intentions of the Earl I grew somewhat attached and brought him back in Liberty for Paul then made mention of him in To Win His Wayward Wife. I say all that to add, the reason there is so many direct mentions of the first series is because Alex's book was supposed to be part of the first series. However, not wanting to forfeit the name of the series (Scandalous Sisters), I bumped Alex to the next series and made Marcus the mutual friend of all the heroes in the series. Er, "friend" may not be the most accurate term to classify the relationship between Marcus, hero for Her Reluctant Groom, and Wallace, hero for newly added, Her Imperfect Groom. But you'll just have to wait to see how they're connected...
5. Was it necessary to kill Edward off in Her Sudden Groom?
Yes. Please do not misunderstand my motives on this one. It truly had nothing to do with giving Alex a title. I started writing that book shortly after being informed my maternal grandfather had a matter of weeks to live. Ironically, I finished that book the day he passed. So in a way, I look at what happened with Edward in that book as my way of dealing with my current situation. In June, I did consider revising the book so Edward had a miraculous recovery, but decided against it. I think his death and the emotions surrounding it have such a profound effect on Alex and Caroline, it makes it necessary.
6. Does lawn chess exist?
I have no idea. I just thought it sounded fun to play chess with life-sized pieces. If it's really a game, I'll be adding a set to my Christmas list this year...
HER RELUCTANT GROOM--
1. Where can I get a copy of Lady Bird's Ladybird Memoir? I've searched google, but cannot find it.
Oh my! I hate to disappoint anyone who might have an interest in reading this little treatise, but it does not exist outside of my imagination. And no, I do not currently have any plans to write such a book...
2. What did the note say that Marcus pinned to Emma's backside before the musicale?
Surprisingly, I get this question more than you might think. So playing along in good fun, I believe it read something like this, That's not just the trumpet you're hearing, we had broccoli at lunch.
3. E. S. Wilson was mentioned in Intentions of the Earl (the very first book) were Marcus and Emma planned all along?
[WARNING: if you like the romantic notion it was planned all along, stop reading now and skip to the next question. If you're not afraid of what you might find, keep reading.] No. But that wasn't complete irony, either. At first, I created both Alex and Olivia as nothing more than two plot devices. Alex was the cousin/friend who could get Andrew invited to the house party and Olivia was the annoying usurper. But I intended to have Olivia secretly be E. S. Wilson and have a subplot where Alex discovers this and they fall in love. *shudders* The E was supposed to be for Eugenia—Olivia's middle name, the S for Sinclair, and Wilson was to be just some random last name. There were a few problems with this. The biggest being that Olivia did not want to be a nice character. I know, I know, I'm writing her so she should do whatever I tell her to, but trust me when I say this, sometimes even we writers cannot control the characters. They'll do and say whatever they want. Thus her nasty, science-hating demeanor surfaced, and I could not force Alex to marry her (this is how I came up with the plot to his book, by the way). Nor could I even consider the possibility of making her intelligent enough to be the author of those articles. Fast forward three books to when I'm writing Alex's book. Of course, we all know he should end up with the real E. S. Wilson. So he does. Once again this didn't go exactly as planned. I thought at first it should be that Caroline had been the one submitting the articles in quiet. But that wouldn't have worked. If she'd been submitting them, there'd be no reason for her to still be living with Marcus and Olivia since she'd have sufficient funds to live on. Therefore, I had Marcus be the man behind the submission of the articles. It was just by pure coincidence that I named his future wife Emma. In fact, I'd planned to let the whole “this is where the name came from” bit drop until I got to their epilogue. Then out of nowhere, it hit me. E. S.=Emma Sinclair. So maybe on a subconscious level I'd planned it, but it seems more like a strange working of events.
4. Is Wallace (fill in the blank)?
I had multiple questions about Wallace. So instead of telling everyone what he isn't, I'll tell you what he is. Wallace is a young man who had his heart broken at a young age, thus resulting in a chain of events such as more than one public jilting, and a lot of speculation... He's not a fit candidate for bedlam. He's not psychotic. He's not a spy. And he's certainly not interested in men. Autistic? Maybe so, but extremely sweet, nonetheless.
5. What will happen to Wallace?
I picture him marrying a very nice young woman in book four! Once again, Wallace was originally written just as a filler character. I liked him, but I honestly didn't think anyone else would. So I was prepared to say goodbye to Wallace. However, this past summer I used a set of beta readers to give me their opinions on that book. Of the ten, eight asked if I was planning to make him into a hero (one of these eight loved him so much they wanted me to jilt Patrick and work on Wallace's book). So I gave it some thought...and...thus at 2 am on a hot August morning, the idea for Her Imperfect Groom came to be, starring Sir Wallace Benedict and...
6. Who will Wallace's heroine be?