I’m really excited to be featuring historical romance author Mia Marlowe on my blog today. Mia is such an interesting and talented person it’s hard to know where to start when talking about her work. In addition to being a fantastic writer, she’s a classically trained soprano who won the District Metropolitan Opera Auditions and even shared a stage with Placido Domingo. Wow! I wonder how many romance authors can boast that kind of claim to fame! BTW, the picture at the top of the post is of Mia, appearing as Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus.
Mia is now an award-winning author, who writes historical romance for several publishing houses. Some of you may already be familiar with Mia’s work from her earlier historical romances penned under the name of Emily Bryan. One of those books, Distracting the Duchess, was featured in the Best of 2010 issue of People Magazine. By the way, Distracting the Duchess is now available in reprint, which is really terrific.
Emily’s other books are Pleasuring the Pirate (awesome title!), Vexing the Viscount, and Stroke of Genius.
After writing these books, Emily switched publishers. In doing so, she added a few paranormal elements to her writing and, thus, Mia Marlowe was born.
Mia’s writing receives rave reviews. Library Journal named it “worthy of Shakespeare.” Publishers Weekly called her stories “charming, colorful and fast-paced.” Booklist says she writes “wickedly witty historical romance.” Her books have also received multiple awards, including the RomCon Reader’s Crown and RT BookReviews Reviewer’s Choice Award.
And here’s something that’s really cool! Mia will be writing a couple of books with New York Times bestselling author, Connie Mason. Their first book together will be Sins of the Highlander, set during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. Be on the lookout for this sure-to-be fab collaboration between two wonderful authors in January, 2012.
Mia’s latest book is Touch of a Thief. It has received wonderful critical acclaim, including this starred review from Publishers Weekly: “Marlowe weaves a gentle paranormal element into this delightful 19th-century romance. Both historical and paranormal readers will love this crossover tale.”
Here’s the blurb for Touch of a Thief:
London’s most talented criminal
is about to be fingered…
Lady Viola Preston can relieve a gentleman of the studs at his wrists without his being any the wiser and pick any lock devised by man in less than a minute. But she’s careful to wear gloves when she steals jewels. Because when Viola touches a gemstone, it “speaks” to her, sending disturbing visions–visions almost as unsettling as the sight of the cool-eyed stranger who catches her red handed.
Now Viola will only be stealing at Greydon Quinn’s behest. And even more daunting than the violent history of the red diamond he’s after is the prospect of a night in the devastatingly handsome lieutenant’s arms. Touch has always been Viola’s weakness and the full body-to-body contact Quinn has in mind is about to shatter her defenses and set her senses reeling.
Sounds awesome, doesn’t it?
Touch of a Thief is available at Amazon, in bookstores, and at other on-line retailers.
And in July, Mia will also have a novella coming out in the anthology, Improper Gentleman, with authors Diane Whiteside and Maggie Robinson.
Mia has very graciously donated a copy of Touch of a Thief to give away to one commenter today on the blog. Just tell me what you do with your old paperbacks—keep them forever, give them away to friends, or donate them to the library?
There’s more! In a nice bit of synchronicity I’m appearing today on Mia’s blog. Stop on by for a chance to win a copy of My Favorite Countess!
Thanks for an awesome excerpt. I haven’t read any of Mia’s books yet so, she would be a new Author to me. This book definitely sounds very interesting.
Now, as to what I do with my my paperbooks when I’m done with them. Well, I only dispose of the ones that I don’t want anymore and, then I donate them to the library. I just gave the library 32 books a couple of weeks ago. Every little helps towards them raising money to buy more books.
As you know Vanessa, my sister just had a kidney transplant and is feeling very down. I’ve packed up a box of books for her so as she has something to read and maybe take her mind off of things for a little while.
Mia is a wonderful writer, Diane. I think you’d really enjoy her. And I hope your sister starts feeling better very soon – hopefully the box of books will help!
Thanks Vanessa for your good wishes. She is feeling a lot better than she was a few weeks ago. She’s still dealing with the way the organ came about, sad that somebody has to lose their life for a person to gain a better life. I mailed off her books to her yesterday.
Diane–Hope your sister recovers well. How sweet of you to take her books to give her a break from what’s happening in her life.
When my sweet little grandma was still alive, I visited her in the nursing home every day after her stroke. In doing so, I became acquainted with a group of octagenarians who were avid readers. Each month I cleared off my shelves and brought them some fresh books. You would have thought I was bringing them diamonds and pearls!
Hi Mia,
Thank you too for your good wishes for my sister. I know that reading books will help take her mind off of what is she trying to come to terms with.
That’s so sweet what you did for your little grandma. I do know from experience that so many older people (especially those in Nursing Homes) love to read. I used to visit my beloved Auntie in the Nursing Home when I went home for holidays to England. Bless her, she really loved her sweets and would chompand chew away whilst we chatted to her. She lived to a ripe young 97 and, I still miss her dearly.
Hi Mia,
Love your ‘Rosalinde’ photo! You look so proper, yet as if you have a secret. Hummm. Much like your heroines 🙂 ‘Touch of a Thief’ is a wonderful book. I have a copy, so no need to enter me in the drawing. Looking forward to the next installment in the series.
Vanessa, your question about paperbacks really hits home. I don’t have ‘keeper’ shelves, I have ‘keeper bookcases’ 🙂 When I absolutely am forced to get rid of books, I take some to my writers’ meetings to give away and donate others to the library.
Great interview.
Barb, I also have “keeper bookcases.” It’s really getting ridiculous in my household!
Thanks, Barb!. Yes, Rosalinde has a secret. She shows up at a mascerade and keeps her foolish husband from straying because he falls in love with his own wife!
Good morning ladies!
Great post! 🙂
I first read Emily Bryan’s book Distracting the Duchess, if you haven’t read it you MUST get your hands on a copy, I highly recommend it!
Because of DTD, I had to get my hands on Pleasuring the Pirate, Vexing the Viscount and Stroke of Genius, hubby thinks I’m a bit nuts sometimes. 🙂
If I find an author I truly enjoy reading, I have to track down all of her books.
Ahem……yes Vanessa, your on my keeper shelf! =)
I think you look awesome as ‘Rosalinde’, I bet you had a blast, congratulations on you ‘side job’, just don’t stop writing please! 😀
What I do with my extra books or books that are not keepers, is two things. One, I donate to the women’s shelter here in town. Mamagement there is always happy to see me show up with my boxes full of books. I also ask friends to drop off books they no longer want by me so I can take those too.
Second drop off is to the retirement home, the folks there love any book they can get their hands on. They also go for any magazines we can round up for them.
I would like to wish Diane Diamond’s sister a speedy recovery and hope she feels better soon.
Have an awesome day ladies! 😀
Dalila, how cool is it that you donate your books to a woman’s shelter and a retirement home? Kudos to you, girlfriend!
Dalila–Tell your hubby he reaps the benefits of your romance addiction. At least that’s what I tell mine! 😉 Thanks so much for your kind words about my work!
Touch of a Thief sounds like a great book. Since I love paranormal and historical, combining the two is a great idea to me! Oh, wait…I love pretty much any genre, if it’s well-written LOL. I just love books of all kinds. I’ve been know to pet them and dance around with them, when I get one I’ve been waiting a long time for, and even shove it in the hubby’s face, saying, “Isn’t it beautiful?!?!” Sadly, I’ve also said, “Ain’t it purty?” just to really make him crazy LMAO.
Since I love books this much, I find it very hard to part with them. This is why I have five very over-flowing book cases filled with my beauties. I do sometimes pass on a book, but usually only if I really didn’t like it much or if I have duplicates for some reason. If it’s a keeper…I KEEP it! And autographed copies have their own shelf. Yep…Countess is up there!!
Betty–I love the combo of historical and paranormal too. They both say “Let us take you someplace you can’t visit for real.”
Since I’m a condo-dweller right now, I have to keep the bookshelves pruned. Otherwise we’d be overrun with them in short order. Because of space constraints, I’ve begun reading on the Kindle app on my cell phone. I never would have thought it, but I LOVE reading ebooks. It’s always available and I can have a whole bookcase in my purse!
I have most of Emily’s books and her earlier ones written as Diana Groe. TOUCH OF A THIEF is still on my Wish List. The publisher did a nice job with the cover. The excerpts I have read are really good. The addition of a light paranormal element has added an interesting dimension to the story. The reader doesn’t need to be a paranormal fan to accept it and enjoy the story.
This is the first I have heard about her collaboration with Connie Mason. I will definitely be looking for SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER. Connie Mason is another favorite.
My Keeper bookcases are way too full. Those books I can part with go in many directions. I share with family and friends, sending books their way I think they will enjoy. Since I worked at a library for many years, some go that way for their collection or for their sale. Over the years, I have brought books to the women inmates at the local jail, the domestic abuse shelter (children and adult books), the Ronald McDonald House, and the thrift store that raises funds for the shelter.
It seems that many of us have tolerant husbands. My DH has put up 40+ bookcases here at the house. Of course they are full with boxes of books waiting to find a home. I can’t seem to read fast enough to keep up with all the good books coming out. It doesn’t help that I have several “collections” that won’t go anywhere even when they are read. It must be the librarian in me. My husband is encouraging an e-reader. We have run out of room for bookcases.
See you on Mia’s blog.
Wow! 40+ bookcases – I’m so jealous!
40 bookcases. Sigh. Can I come to your house? LOL
OMGOSH!!! 40 bookcases?!?!! You’re so lucky!
Can I be your new BFF?!! PLEASE!!!! =))
I met a romance reader once who rented a climate-controlled storage unit for her book collection because it had overgrown the space in her home. She couldn’t bear to part with any of them and had collected the entire body of work from most of her favorites.
Another excellent historical writer to add to my list of favorites! Die Fledermaus is my favorite opera, I saw it at the State Opera in Vienna and it was wonderful. I’ll be sure to find Mia’s books to add to my collection.
Of course, I have my keeper shelf that grows bigger every week. I try (really I do ;)) to part with books like giving them away or swapping them. But sometimes it’s really hard. At one time I might love a book to pieces and some years later I think why did you keep that book?
Mia, I love the cover on your new book!
Thanks for the interview and giveaway.
Claudia, I hang on to books forever. I want to be really, really sure that I don’t ever want to read a particular book again before I let it out the door.
Thanks, Claudia. I’m the first to admit I was kissed by the cover faeries for Touch of a Thief!
For the most part I keep the ones I’m seriously in love with. But at some point I’ve become the library. I will suggest a book to a friend and then loan them my copy. After they finish they will ask what else I have and they tell me which types of romances they like. I currently have books loaned out to 3 friends. Wait, no 4. One or two are waiting to borrow the ones the others have.
I invested in a bookshelf finally last year and I love it. I literally have a TBR shelf and a read shelf. Then there’s the DH’s shelf. I love to keep them as I’m always wanting to re-live a moment in a story, or sometimes the whole book!
I love both of Mia’s book covers! I didn’t think Touch of a Thief was going to be something I was interested in and then I read an excerpt and it completely made me an instant fan!
Heather, I’m so glad you stopped by to check Mia out!
I’m so glad, Heather. Your comment proves that readers aren’t motivated by covers however beautiful or blurbs no matter how catchy. We’re all after a good story. End of discussion. I’m glad my Touch of a Thief excerpt appealed to YOU!
I hv a couple of Emily Bryan books & I enjoyed reading both of them. I’m suffering from a severe case of “my cupboard runneth over” too. Resorting to giving away books which I feel are not keepers.
Thanks, LInda. I”m so happy you enjoyed my Emily Bryan books. My Mia Marlowe stories are similar, but have the added sparkle of magic!
Hi, Mia–I’ve enjoyed your books as much as Vanessa’s! Touch of a Thief does sound wonderful. (Unfortunately for you ladies, I’m behind in my reading…fortunately for me, that means I’ve been writing.) LOVE the beautiful picture of you at the top.
Hi Stacey! I’m thrilled to hear that you’ve been writing. Be sure to let me know when you’d like to visit my blog with news about your books!
Oh, and I give paperback books to my friends and family.
Ladies, thanks so much to all of you for stopping by!
I keep think! I wouldn’t even be able to entertain the thought of giving any of them up! 🙂
I only purge the shelves when my DH starts giving me the one-eyed squint!
Hi Ladies,
Mia, I loved the excerpt for Touch. I can’t wait to get a copy to start reading! I’ve read 3 of your EB works and they were great. Still have Stroke of Genius waiting on the TBR shelves.
I don’t have keepers. As much as I would love to keep some books, I just don’t have the room. So, all of the books I’ve read go up on their own shelf, listed for sale at half.com or trade at Paperback Swap. Others that have been around for a long time will probably find their way to a Used Book Store or Goodwill.
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