I’m always excited when my good friend Manda Collins visits my blog. Manda writes witty Regency-set historical romance with a dash of mystery. Her next book, Why Dukes Say I Do, just received a prestigious Top Pick from RT Book Reviews. Dukes will released on July 30th.
But Manda has a new novella out tomorrow, and it’s another of her witty, emotionally appealing stories. She’s here to talk with us about it!
How does your novella fit into The Ugly Ducklings Trilogy?
The Perks of Being a Beautyis the story of Miss Amelia Snowe, who is the nemesis of Cecily, Juliet and Maddie in the Ugly Ducklings trilogy. In Book 3 of the trilogy, How to Entice an Earl, we see Amelia coming to the realization that she’s been behaving rather badly during her reign as the toast of the ton. Well, in The Perks we see Amelia in seriously straitened circumstances. Her mother has died, leaving Amelia not only penniless, but also owing a great deal to her mother’s creditors. Forced to make her own living, Amelia has become the companion to a wealthy cit’s daughter. It’s a far cry from being able to wind the gentlemen of the ton around her little finger!
Your heroine is looking for redemption. Why do you think that particular theme resonates so well with readers?
You know, I’m not all that sure it does. I know that readers have a ton of love for redeemed rakes and villains, but I think it takes a bit more for them to forgive a villainous heroines. I’m not sure if it’s because most romance readers are women, and we tend to be harder on our own sex, or what. Still, I do think there is much to touch readers hearts in this kind of story. We’ve all done things that we aren’t particularly proud of, and by watching a character like Amelia make amends to the people she’s harmed, we see the possibility for our own redemption–whether it’s harsh words to a loved one or something more serious.
Hopefully, after seeing how truly repentant Amelia is, readers will begin to root for her.
The book trailer for The Perks of Being a Beauty is awesome. How did you come up for the idea for it?
I’ve been a fan of the Dos Equis commercials about “The Most Interesting Man in the World” since they first came out. And I’ve been thinking about fun promo ideas for my upcoming series, but I knew that the only character who could pull off “The Most Interesting” theme was Amelia, who is somewhat larger than life in the Ducklings books. Coming up with her character traits was the most fun I’ve had in a long long time! Readers, you can watch this adorable trailer here.
What’s up next in Manda’s writing world?
On July 30, the first book in my new Wicked Widows trilogy, Why Dukes Say I Do, will be released. I’m really excited about this new series and seeing how readers respond to it. I’ve just gotten my review from RT Book Reviews and was floored to see it was not only a Top Pick, but my hero Trevor (a real dish, if I may say so myself!) was named a Knight In Shining Silver (or K.I.S.S.) hero! “Witty and smart, Collins’ prose flows smoothly as she merges a charming, compassionate love story with gothic suspense….Add strong pacing and depth of emotion and there’s no doubt this is a winner.”
And I can’t wait to read it! For my readers today, Manda is graciously giving away three copies of The Perks of Being a Beauty. As someone who’s also written a book about a bad girl reformed, I’d like to talk about that. Can you think of any heroines from books, a TV show, or movies who redeemed herself? Three people who comment will win a copy of Manda’s novella!
The first thing that comes to mind is PRETTY WOMAN who goes from being a streetwalker (with a heart, of course) to a princess!
Interesting choice, Susan. My favorite scene in that movie is the dress shop:)
I honestly never thought that Miss Amelia will have a story of her own. I do not think I’ve read a book from an author who wrote about the nemesis of the main heroine and turn her into a good person. But nonetheless I am very interested in reading it. I dislike her for the way she treated Cecily, Juliet and Maddie but I got to give her thanks for her dance card 🙂
LOL, Sandy! You’re right! Without the dance card, where would the Ducklings be now?
I hope you like her story. I’ve seen a couple of authors turn “mean girls” into heroines. One of them was Vanessa’s heroine, Bathsheba in My Favorite Countess!
Xena… the warrior princess. I always like her.
I love Manda and your historical books too! 🙂 I love Bathesheba especially! 🙂
Thanks, May! Wow, I’d forgotten about Xena! I can’t believe I did that!
I love Bathsheba too! 🙂
I’d say Elektra from the movie of the same name. She starts out as an assassin but ends up saving the man and his daughter she’s hired to kill.
Interesting choice, Barbara. I haven’t seen Elektra but it sounds really interesting. I’ll havet o check it out.
Christa McHugh’s Tangled Web has the heroine start out as an assassin who’s supposed to assassinate the hero but when she meets him; she falls for him instead. It was a great book!
Hmm, another assassin? I’m beginning to see a pattern here:) I haven’t read McHugh. I’ll have to check her out. Thanks for the rec.
Elektra!! Thanks for giving Amelia her own book..
You’re most welcome, Cate! I hope you enjoy it!
I recall a character in Nicola Cornick’s Scandalous Women of the Ton series, Charlotte (Lottie). She appeared in the first book in that series, Whisper of Scandal and she was not likeable. However, Lottie was the heroine in the next book, One Wicked Sin, and she was completely redeemed and a wonderfully sympathetic heroine. I don’t know how Cornick did it, but she did it beautifully!
Interesting, Maria. I need to check that series out. It sounds really interesting.
Congratulations on the new book and series. I think Scarlet O’Hara from GWTW was a terrible friend to Melanie, but redeemed herself in the end.
Thanks, Kim! And Scarlett O’Hara! She’s the original heroine in need of redemption!
This was such a fun read-I was so happy to see Amelia get her story! Really looking forward to the new series.
I’m so pleased you enjoyed it, Nancy!!! That gives me a huge sigh of relief:) Not too long til the new series begins!
Congrats on the new release, Manda. The heroine in Debra Webb’s “Faceless” is definitely a bad girl. She’s a fixer for the rich and knows they’re usually not innocent, but she does redeem herself in the end.
Ooh, that sounds really good, Janie! I’ll have to add that to my crazy long TBR list!
Emily from Sawyer Bennett’s Off Limits
Another one to add to the list!
Rachel Caine has a series about a fallen djinn named Cassiel. She’s not a very sympathetic character. Brash, arrogant, rude at times.. but through the course of the books, you see her soften just a tad, and of course, fall in love 🙂
Ahhh, I might remember her from the Weather Warden books. (I stopped those after about eight or so when I became exhausted by the lack of resolution between the main couple.)
I agree with another fan in that Scarlett was a good example of a womam getting redempation. That is one of my all time favorite stories-GWTW. I’ve read lots of romances and only a few have had such women characters…mostly it is the main male character who is changed by the end of the story.
Very true, Jackie. I think it’s much more common for the hero to undergo a character transformation in romances.
Loved the book, Manda!