Unlike a lot of writers, I’m fairly new to fiction writing. In my former life I worked in Financial Planning, constructing dry analytical documents five days a week. When I became unexpectedly redundant at work, I changed jobs and opened a second-hand bookshop. I spent a lot of time reading the stock, but regency historical romance made me laugh out loud the most so that’s what I began writing.
Can you tell us a little more about the book?
For one wicked night . . . .
Benedict Abernathy, an untitled and wealthy gentleman visiting London, is heartily sick of his celibate existence. Determined to leave his shattered heart behind and move on with his life, he accepts an invitation for a night of debauchery in the arms of London’s infamous courtesan, Lottie Townsend.
. . . . she will indulge his every desire.
Lady Charlotte Goodchild has fallen far from privilege and longs for one night of pleasure with the man she loves. But Benedict must be spared the truth of her ruin at all costs. Posing as Lottie Townsend, a notoriously discriminating courtesan and old friend, she disguises her identity and invites Benedict to share the night of passion that fate denied them.
How much fun did you have writing this book, or were there times when you wanted to throw up your hands and walk away? I had a blast writing this story. Up until One Wicked Night all my heroines had been virginal proper girls trying their best to fit in. With Charlotte I didn’t even try. I had twenty-four hours of storytelling time to let her have her wicked way with Benedict. I’m quite proud of my adventurous girl.
For those writers out there reading this and trying to break into publication, what advice would you give them? I always glance behind me with these questions. LOL.
• Write often, be very open to advice, and at least consider that advice might have some merit.
• Embrace change. The publishing industry is evolving rapidly and you need to keep your ear to the ground.
• Learn about contract law. As a starting point, visit the Pub Rants blog for more information.
• Keep writing and submitting.
What have you found it like being a part of the Noble Romance family? Is it as supportive as we all hear it is? And I understand your book will soon be available in print format? Can you tell us a little more about this? Noble continues to impress me. Our senior editor, Jill Noble, is very hands on, extremely professional, and keeps her authors well informed. The changes that are coming for the business are awesome. New website with more customer focused features, a second website for the upcoming Young Adult line. All new books will soon be in print (just after e-book release) and the backlist of previously released titles will come out in print over the next twelve months. At this stage, my One Wicked Night comes out next December (2011).
Are you part of any writing or critique groups? Would you recommend aspiring authors to join organisations like the ones you mentioned? And how have they helped you to succeed and become a published author? I would be so lost without the daily contact of my critique group. LOL. At the moment, we have about ten active members in our online Historical Romance Critique group. (I know it sounds a lot, but not everyone critiques every person’s chapters of every book.) We’ve become great friends and I’m so looking forward to seeing them again at the 2011 RWA conference in New York. They are an invaluable source of support and information.
What’s next for Heather Boyd? Have you anything out on submission at the moment? Well, I’m always writing and submitting stories so hopefully I will have some good news to share soon. I’m currently editing a novella length regency romance with a cougar relationship (gotta love a young man with stamina), and I’ve just begun work on the first of four books, tentatively titled the Noble Widows War series set around an infant duke’s family. Busy, busy, busy.
Thank you, for joining me today, Heather, and may I wish you all the best with your future writing career. I’ve read One Wicked Night and loved it, so I’m especially looking forward to reading your future works. Heather has been kind enough to say she will drop in over the day and reply to any questions you may ask, so feel free to chat, we welcome all comments.
To find out more about Heather Boyd please stop by her website to read an excerpt and free short story. Heather also blogs at LadyScribes and her own personal blog. She’s on twitter (@heather_boyd) and uses Goodreads.com to keep track of her romance books. To purchase One Wicked Night please visit Noble Romance Publishing.
And the winner is…Maree Anderson!!!!
Congratulations!!!!
Heather will forward you a copy of One Wicked Night later today.
Enjoy!
Morning Ladies!
Wow, I'm first commenter for the day. Great interview Tam & Heather, OWN sounds like a great read.
And I just have to say, Noble is a fantastic, supportive family to be a part of. They are doing great things at the moment and I believe Jill's aspiration to see Noble become one of the top e-pub/print-pub publishing houses will be realized.
And coz Tam told me so, I'm going to quickly mention the fact that I've just contracted another book with Noble, called Dead Reality, a romantic suspense. Don't have a release date yet, but will post it on my blog and website as soon as I do.
As for answering the question:
Benedict is an untitled, wealthy, celebate gentleman.
Great post girls. Heather, congratulations on having OWN put out to print next year. Noble sounds like a great place to grow a readership and a career.
The answer to your Question is : Benedict is a wealthy and untitled gentleman who is visiting London.
Congrats to Tam too for her recent sale. You girls are on fire!!
Cassie P
Hi Jess!
Yes you were fast off the block this morning. LOL.
Thanks for dropping by and congratulations on your new contract. Wonderful news.
Tam 🙂
Hi Cass!!
Thanks for dropping by, and yes, Noble is a great place to be.
Thank you for your congratulations on my news, very kind.
Tam 🙂
Excellent interview ladies. I've loved Heather's voice since I first read it and she definitely has a unique flavor of heroine whom I love. Good luck Heather and I can't wait to see the printed version!
Thank you both for a great interview. And what a wonderful book.
Benedict is untitled and wealthy. Please count me in on the drawing. clarissasouthwick at yahoo dot com.
I read One Wicked Night and loved it! I can't believe you were working in financial planning before becoming an author. Congrats on the release and good luck!
Jess – it's brilliant news about Noble publishing Dead Reality. Congrats
Cassie, Melissa, and Clarrissa – thanks for dropping by.
Lydia – I am a geek girl. My royalty spreadsheet has a ton of formulas in it. And there is always room for a graph. Lol
Tam and Heather,
Thanks for sharing all your news with us and to both of you, good luck with your new releases,
Heather, Benedict's story sounds wonderful,
Suzi Love
Benedict Abernathy is an untitled and wealthy gentleman who is visiting London.
Loved the interview! Heather, I had no idea you wrote One Wicked night so quickly. It's hard to believe that all that wit and humor can come to your so fast – must be natural 🙂
Hi Suzi!
Thanks for dropping in. One Wicked Night is deliciously good. You'll love it.
Tam 🙂
Hi Erin.
Thanks for dropping in. I too love wit in a romance novel. Heather did a great job. A natural storyteller.
Tam 🙂
Congratulations on your forthcoming print release of One Wicked Night, Heather — a fantastic achievement! Noble Romance sounds like a wonderful publisher who've really managed to get their hands on some talented authors *VBG*
And I'd love to be included in the draw so….
Benedict Abernathy is an untitled and wealthy gentleman… who obviously has no clue how very lucky he's about to get 😉
Hi Tam and Heather:)
Great interview. Huge congratulations to you both on your recent successes.
Heather, thanks for the clever advice you've offered aspiring authors. One Wicked Night sounds awesome. Love the title:)
Tam, happy blog partying:)
*Benedict Abernathy is an untitled and wealthy gentleman, who is heartily sick of his celebate existence.
What a fantastic interview!
Please enter me in the draw – Benedict is an untitled and wealthy gentleman.
Suzi, Maree, Alli and Leah – thanks for visiting and good luck in the draw
Erin – time flies when you write naughty. Lol. I sometimes think it's much harder to write properly behaved characters. :o)
Hi Maree!
No poor Benedict doesn't know what he's getting into…but he soon does. *wink* *wink*
Thanks for dropping in!
Tam 🙂
Hi Alli!
Thanks for stopping by and entering the draw. It's a great book, you'll love it!
Tam 🙂
Hi Leah!
So lovely to see you here. We all know how busy you must be atm. Good luck with the ms. We're all behind you. Thanks for dropping in.
Tam 🙂
Hi Tam & Heather
Great blog & lovely to hear details of your new releases. It seems lately that e-publishing is really taking off which is fantastic news for everyone.
Lovely covers too.
Answer : Benedict Abernathy is an untitled, wealthy & celebate gentleman.
Cheers
Suz
Hi Tam and Heather,
Super post ladies, I was particularly interested to hear more about Noble–I've heard they've been picking up multiple works from lots of talented writers! *wink wink*
Congrats to the both of you, and you might be interest to hear that Benedict is a wealthy, untitled gentleman! 🙂
I look forward to reading great stuff from Noble in the future! Em x
Oooh, a Regency Cougar! Good One!
Suzanne and Emmaline – I think it's a pretty good idea to check out the pubs well ahead of actual submission. There are a lot out there and you need time to find the right match for you and your story.
Deanna – I had as much fun writing my regency cougar as I did One Wicked Night. Hopefully it will be as well received. :o)
Hi Suzanne!
Thanks for dropping in. It is a very exciting time in e-pub, I'm so glad to be a part of it.
Tam 🙂
Hi Emm!
LOL, you're making me nervous. Thanks for stopping by.
Tam 🙂
Hi Deanna!
I know, Heather has a great story there I think. Regency Cougar, mmmmmmm.
Thanks for dropping in.
Tam 🙂