RITA – Vanessa Kelly, Author

I’m thrilled to have the awesomely talented Kate Noble visiting the blog today. Kate is the national bestselling author of the acclaimed Blue Raven Series, earning starred reviews from Library Journal and Publisher’s Weekly (Follow My Lead), as well as a spot on the Best Romance list from Kirkus Reviews (The Summer of You) and a RITA nomination for best Regency Historical Romance (Revealed). She’s also a member of the writing staff for the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, a modern-day adaption of Pride and Prejudice.

Let’s find out what’s going on in Kate’s world, shall we?

You studied TV and film in college, and eventually worked in that profession. Why the switch to romance writing?

It’s not a switch! I’ve always loved romance novels, and I’ve always loved TV, so I decided to have a career in both. I write novels, but I also work for the small and smaller screen, my latest project being The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, the hit web series retelling of Pride and Prejudice. (You can visit Lizzie’s world on YouTube, folks)

How does your background in that visual medium help (or hinder) your writing?

I think it helps, honestly. It makes me think differently about how I write my novels. It make me think about what would be the best setting for a scene, the iconography of one place versus another. It also makes me think about chemistry, and how much can be said without saying anything.

What can you tell us about your new book? Is it part of a series?

My new book is set in the same Blue Raven world as my previous novels, but very much stand alone. Bridget Forrester longs to meet a gentleman who doesn’t mention her beautiful sister (Sarah, heroine of If I Fall) upon shaking her hand. But since being branded a shrew after a disastrous social season, Bridget knows she’s lucky to even have a man come near her. It’s enough to make a lady flee the country…

So Bridget heads to Venice for music lessons with the renowned Italian composer Vincenzo Carpenini, with whom she’s been corresponding. But not only is Carpenini not expecting her, he doesn’t even remember her! His friend, theater owner Oliver Merrick, does, though. And one look into her tantalizing green eyes has him cursing his impulsive letter-writing, which brought her across the continent. Yet before Merrick can apologize, Carpenini has ordered her away.

Little does either man know that they will soon be embroiled in a wager that will require the beautiful Miss Forrester’s help—or that there’ll be far more at stake in this gamble than money…

What’s next in Kate’s writing world?

I am very excited about my next trilogy, the first of which will be out in 2014. I’m also working on a comic book with Javier Grill-Marxuach (The Middleman) and artist Kel McDonald, as well as the Welcome to Sanditon web series. Other than that, I have a couple of pet projects in the pipeline, that I hope to make see the light of day.

Wow! Your plate is full with some very cool stuff, Kate! Thanks for taking the time to be with us. Readers, Kate is graciously giving away a copy today of If I Fall. Since her latest book involves music and composers, let’s talk about that. What’s your favorite music to listen to? One person who comments will win a copy of If I Fall.

And don’t forget to check Kate’s website for more info on Let It Be Me, her new book.

You probably know by now (because I’ve been pimping it everywhere!) that my next release will be out this Tuesday, Feb. 1. It’s an anthology called An Invitation To Sin, and I’m in it along with three other fabulous authors, Jo Beverley, Sally MacKenzie, and Kaitlin O’Riley. I’d like to showcase those talented gals over the next few days, ending with a giveaway of two copies of An Invitation To Sin on Tuesday.

The lead in this anthology is Jo Beverley, the bestselling author of Georgian and Regency historical romance. She’s particularly well-known for her two series, the Company of Rogues (set in the Regency era) and the Mallorens, set in Georgian times. If you’ve not read either of those sets of novels, you’re really in for a treat. Jo also wrote four books set during the Medieval period – much-loved by her fans – and she also has a slew of traditional Regencies, romance novellas, and even some science fiction stories to her name.

Jo has received many awards for her books, and is a five time winner of the RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers of America (RWA). She is also a member of RWA’s Honor Roll and Hall Of Fame, along with other great authors like Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Nora Roberts. Romantic Times called her “one of the great names of the genre,” and she regularly appears on bestseller lists, including USA Today and the New York Times.

Jo’s latest books is The Secret Duke, and her next book, An Unlikely Countess, is coming in March, 2011. Her novella in An Invitation To Sin is called Forbidden Affections, and I guarantee you’ll love it.

The celebrate the release of An Invitation To Sin, I’m giving away a book by another fabulous historical romance writer, Anna Campbell. Just leave a comment telling me who your favorite historical romance writers are, and you could win a copy of My Reckless Surrender.