Here's an interview with the lovely and talented Olivia Drake!
Tell us about your
release.
The Scandalous Flirt,
November 2017, is the sixth and last historical romance in my Cinderella
Sisterhood series. Each book features a
fairy godmother in the guise of the mysterious Lady Milford, who loans a magical
pair of dancing slippers to a deserving young lady in desperate circumstances.
Synopsis: Aurora Paxton was once the most sought-after
debutante of the season. Then a scandalous mistake ruined her and she was
banished from society in disgrace. Now Rory has been summoned back to London by
her stepmother, who’s being blackmailed by the least likely man
imaginable—Lucas Vale, Marquess of Dashell.
Lucas is as devastatingly handsome as he is coldly disapproving of Rory.
What could he want from her or her family? Rory intends to find out. But she
never expects to discover that the icy aristocrat has a soft spot for her … and
a secret plan to win her heart.
Without giving away
any spoilers, give us a hint about a favorite scene.
When Rory suspects Lord Dashell of blackmailing a member of
her family, she wangles a position in his household as companion to his invalid
mother in order to hunt for the spicy letters that he’s stolen. One night, while he’s out at a ball, Rory
sneaks into his bedchamber to have a look around. Of course, Lord Dashell returns and catches
her in the act! Since he can’t know that
her secret mission is to retrieve the letters, Rory is in a predicament when he
leaps to the logical conclusion that she’s come to seduce him.
When did you first
realize you wanted to be a writer?
When I was in third grade, I penned a story about a set of
triplets who get lost in a cave. It was utterly forgettable--but a writer was
born! In high school, I went through a
brooding poet stage in which I scribbled verse during study hall. I grew up reading Nancy Drew, Victoria Holt,
and Mary Stewart, which is why my romances often have a bit of a mystery in
them. But it wasn't until a few years
after college, when I discovered romance authors like Kathleen Woodiwiss and
Georgette Heyer that I decided to try my hand at writing historical love
stories.
What is a typical
writing day like?
When my two daughters were young, I stuck to a 9-4 workday
while they were in school. But at heart,
I’m really a night owl. Now that I can
set my own hours, I find that I do my best writing from 6 in the evening until
midnight. There’s something about it
being dark outside that sparks my creativity!
Do you have an
interesting writing quirk or habit?
May I confess to being a perfectionist? I edit my manuscript with a sharp eye and an
even sharper pencil. Being picky is both
a blessing and a curse because sometimes I get too caught up in searching for
just the right word or turn of phrase.
But it's very important to me to turn out the best book possible.
What is the most
surprising thing you’ve learned as a published author?
In the beginning, I used to think that eventually I’d reach
a point when I could dash off a completed story in a matter of a few
weeks. But trust me, it never gets
easier no matter how many manuscripts you complete! Since my goal is to make each book better
than the last, I put in many months of effort in order to turn out a
page-turning romance that will please my readers.
What does your family
think about your career as a published author?
Naturally, they’re very proud of me! My mom has a shelf crammed full of my books,
and whenever I’m on deadline my husband is very good about fending for himself
for dinner. As for my daughters, they
brag about me to their friends and coworkers!
Besides writing, what
other interests do you have?
Naturally, I love to read, and I have more time to do that
now that my two grown daughters have flown the nest. I also collect research books and own over a
thousand volumes, primarily on English life in the nineteenth century. Outside of the book world, my husband and I
spend time every summer at our cabin in the mountains of Colorado, where he
fly-fishes while I read, play games with family and friends, and make jigsaw
puzzles. We also love food and wine; my
husband is a renowned food photographer who knows many of the top chefs here in
Houston.
Can you tell us about
what’s coming up next for you writing-wise?
At the moment, I’m working on the first book of a new series
for St. Martin’s which involves dukes and governesses in Regency England. Prepare yourself for breathtaking romance
with a dash of mystery and a sprinkle of fun!
How can readers connect
with you online?
Website: www.oliviadrake.com
Instagram: barbara.d.smith
Twitter: @OliviaDrake1
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/bardsmith/
Email: writermom300@yahoo.com
Blurb:
Scandal begins with just one kiss. . .
Aurora Paxton was once the belle of the ball, the most sought-after debutante of the season―until a scandalous mistake ruined her.Shunned by her family, Rory was banished to the country to live in disgrace. Now she’s been summoned back to London by her stepmother, who is being blackmailed by the least likely person Rory can imagine: Lucas Vale, Marquess of Dashell.
Lucas is someone Rory’s known for years―a man as devastatingly handsome as he is coldly disapproving of her. What in the world could he want from her or her family? Rory intends to find out as soon as she comes face to face with her old foe. What she never expects, however, is that the icy aristocrat has a soft spot for her―and a secret plan to redeem her status. Could it be that Lucas has been in love with Rory all along. . .and has finally found a way to win her heart?
The Cinderella Sisterhood series is:
“Beautiful.”―RT Book Reviews
“Breathtaking.”―Night Owl Reviews
“Magical.”―Once Upon a Romance
“Breathtaking.”―Night Owl Reviews
“Magical.”―Once Upon a Romance
Olivia Drake is the author of 8 books including the Cinderella Sisterhood series: IF THE SLIPPER FITS, STROKE OF MIDNIGHT, ABDUCTED BY A PRINCE, BELLA AND THE BEAST, and HIS WICKED WISH. Another book in the series will be out in 2017. She also has written 24 romance novels under the name Barbara Dawson Smith. Her books have won the Golden Heart Award, Best Historical Romantic Suspense, Best Regency Historical, and the prestigious Rita Award from Romance Writers of America. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and a pair of feisty cats. Her two daughters have flown the nest, but they still come back whenever they want a home-cooked meal.
Want to win a copy of THE SCANDALOUS FLIRT?
Post a comment.
Open to US mailing addresses only
