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!