I’ve very happy to welcome fellow Kensington author Christie Kelley to the blog today. Christie writes critically acclaimed, Regency-set historical romance, and her books are described by RT Book Reviews as “racy and romantic.” Fun! Christie has a new book out, so let’s find out all about it, shall we?
Bewitching The Duke is not your standard Regency romance, with lords and ladies cavorting about London and living the good life. What can you tell us about the book, and why you decided to write it?
After writing five books of lords and ladies cavorting in London, I needed something new to write. The idea started when watching a documentary on witches on the History channel. They had a quick blurb explaining what wise women were and how their healing abilities led to them being called witches. All it takes is a little something like that to make think…what if? What if there had been some wise women protected by their landowners and still practiced their healing ways in the Regency period. Plus the idea of writing a woman who was a free spirit and not tied down by society’s rules intrigued me. It was actually a lot of fun to write Selina.
Your heroine, Selina, is not from the same social class as the hero. Did you have fun playing with those class differences?
I loved writing Selina. She is a woman who really doesn’t care if she wears her hair unbound. She doesn’t want to cause the servants more work so she’ll take her boots off before walking around the manor. While Colin was born and raised to be a duke, he thinks she is completely mad. He doesn’t understand how a woman can act so freely. It was great fun to write! Plus writing about a woman who is hiding out in the manor under the nose of a duke made me laugh as I wrote it.
What attracts you to the Regency period, and did you come upon any interesting historical tidbits when you wrote the book?
I love writing the Regency period because I can play with the mores of the day. I can stretch those boundaries or stay strictly inside of them depending on the story or the character. And who doesn’t love the clothes! For me, learning more about the healers of the day was terribly interesting. I had to stop myself from the research so I could get the book written. Does that make me a geek? Probably.
What’s up next in your writing life?
I’m currently editing my October release, Enticing the Earl, which is Mia’s story. And writing the third book in the trilogy. After that, my editor mentioned writing some novellas for some of the secondary characters in Enticing the Earl. So, I’m keeping busy!
Vanessa, here. Bewitching The Duke sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Here’s the blurb:
ONLY HER DESIRE…
After losing his wife in childbirth, Colin Barrett, Duke of Northrop, does not trust healers. So when he discovers Selina White cleansing his home, he is livid. As duke, Colin is accustomed to his charges taking orders from him. But the fiery Selina has the audacity to defy him when he asks her to leave his lands. More infuriating, he cannot stop thinking about the seductive sway of her hips when she walks.
CAN HEAL HIS HEART…
The sick tenants of Northrop Park depend on Selina, and she’s not about to let a man tell her she must leave her village—even if he is a duke. And while Selina does not fear Colin’s temper, she is afraid of the secrets she keeps from him and of the desire he sets off in her every time he is near.
For my readers today, Christie is giving away a copy of Bewitching The Duke. Since Christie’s heroine is not your usual Regency lady, let’s talk about that. What kind of heroine do you like to see in your historicals? The gently bred lady, the sexy widow, a free spirited commoner, or all types? One person who comments will win a copy of Christie’s book!
Thanks for the fun post and congrats to Christie on the new release! I guess I’m a “lazy” reader as it’s been described. I don’t have a preference. I just go where, when and with whom the author determines 😉
Erin, there’s nothing wrong with that! When I read, I’m the same way.
I love the free spirit- governess, maid, etc, and always root for her.
Me too, Sheila. I think that’s way I had to write one!
I just like smart women who don’t let the men decide how a woman lives her life.
LOL CateS. I have to agree with you there. My heroines don’t usually let that happen.
Great interview, Vanessa and Christie.
Christie, I love unconventional heroines. I really enjoy reading about how they push the boundaries of their society, and especially how they question their roles as women in that society.
That said, I also like the staid, strict heroine, who MUST be unleashed by the hero!
Jo, I like those women who are leashed in by society until the hero sets her free, too. Hmm, maybe next series.
I just like smart women who don’t let the men decide how a woman lives her life. and i try to be like that every day
Good for you, Laurie! I like smart women too.
I always love the the girl that has spunk. She doesn’t care about proprietary and loves with all her heart. I like when she tells the hero how it is going to be.
Sheryl, I like that type of heroine too. I’m writing the third book in trilogy right now and Tia is definitely the type of woman who will tell the hero how it’s going to be. I really hope they keep the title I’ve been using…Vexing the Viscount. That pretty much sums it up.
I am so very glad to be introduced to Christie Kelley today and can’t wait to read her stories. Thanks for this wonderful interview and the giveaway opportunity. Hello to you, Christie!
Thanks, Janice.
I like reading about the gently bred lady, the sexy widow, a free spirited commoner…they all are very interesting.
I couldn’t agree more, Olga!
I love them all. I go where the author takes me. I must say though I dislike whine, weak ones.
I’m not big on the whiney ones either, Mary.
I like well-born Regency ladies who through no fault of their own have to make their way in the world.
Deanna, I like women like that in historicals.
i like to mix up my heriones (& heroes to some extent for that matter) as I don’t want to be reading the same thing over & over, plus depending on the mood I’m in might influence what I want as well (do I “want to be” the pampered lady or women that makes things happen) 🙂 but one thing heriones that I like tend to have in common is some smarts (book, street, or otherwise) & inner strength (no complete push over, utterly helpless & hapless heroinse please)
pm, authors feel the same way in that they won’t want to be writing the same characters over and over. That’s why I enjoyed writing this story so much. It was nice to write someone who wasn’t from London and in society.
A strong and smart heroine
Absolutely!!
I love your historical romance novels. Can’t wait to read this one
Thanks, Beichy!!
I like the free-spirited commoner. I guess I can relate more to that type of heroine as opposed to the well-bred, wealthy ones. 🙂
Kelli, it is fun to write the well-bred debutante but sometimes they can come off as spoiled. And why wouldn’t they be spoiled?
But I really enjoyed writing the heroines from these stories because they are anything but spoiled.
Congrats on your new release! I kind of like them all depends on the mood. I do like to switch it up some.
QuiltLady, authors like to switch it up too!
I don’t have any preference. But I do like my heroines smart… That’s my only requirement…
May, I would have to agree with you.
It doesn’t matter to me, as long as she’s likable! Even if she isn’t, if her story is intriguing enough I’ll read it.
I do love my heroines to be intelligent & feisty. This makes for great fireworks.
I like all types of heroines. Whatever her origins, if the heroine is smart and has an interesting backstory, then it doesn’t really matter if she’s of the nobility or a commoner.
I like smart, strong heroines who aren’t tstl.