Amanda Forester Q&A and giveaway

I would like to welcome Amanda Forester to Royal Reviews.

Question 1- Tell us something about yourself, so that we can get to know you a bit better…

Hi! Thanks for inviting me here today! I am excited to be celebrating the release of my first book in a new Regency series. A few years ago I would have never considered being published or even writing a book. It wasn't until I went through the anxious time of having my husband deployed to Iraq that I ever considered it. I was super stressed and needed some kind of relief. Basically, it was either writing or taking up the bottle. I'm so glad I started to write!
Question 2- Your romance novel, A Wedding in Springtime, is out now—congrats!  Could you tell us about it?

Five minutes into Miss Eugenia Talbot's presentation at court, notorious rogue Mr. William Grant makes her laugh before the queen, ruining her debut. To hush up the scandal, Genie needs to make a brilliant marriage, and fast.  Genie's aunt hires a matchmaker to find a suitor—anyone except the infamous William Grant—but amiable Genie shows a disturbing tendency to follow her heart.  When a traitor creeps closer, threatening to ruin more than just her reputation, Genie and Grant are drawn into a dangerous world of deceit and intrigue, where losing their hearts could mean their ultimate undoing.
Question 3- This is the first book in your new Marriage Mart series. Could you tell us more about this new series?

This series follows a matchmaker as first she finds first a match between the amiable Eugenia Talbot and confirmed rogue William Grant in A WEDDING IN SPRINGTIME. Next the matchmaker takes on the difficult case of the uncouth American Harriet Redgrave and the reticent Scotsman, Lord Thornton in MIDSUMMER BRIDE. Finally, the matchmaker herself, Miss Penelope Rose, finds true love in the final book in the series, WINTER WEDDING. All the while, spies and traitors have infiltrated London society during this dangerous time in the Napoleonic war, and our heroes and heroines must work together to defend against them and reveal their true nefarious character.
Question 4- This is also your first book set in the Regency era, what inspired you to set this series in this era?

Shhhh - don't tell my husband but I have a deep and abiding love for Mr. Darcy. If Darcy didn't live in the Regency (and wasn't a literary character) my marriage might be in trouble! I fell in love with the time period from reading the masters: Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer. The Regency is a unique period of time that represents the crossroads between the opulent abuses of the 18th century and the strict morality of the Victorian era. This intriguing blend provides a wealth of opportunities for interesting plots, characters, and love stories.
Question 5- While doing research for this book did you find anything odd or interesting that stuck with you?

I did some interesting research on how young ladies with introduced to the Queen, which opened doors in society, and was the stamp of approval for a young woman to enter adult society. Many rules governed the presentation, including a very specific dress code, which consisted of a pink or purple silk gown, the more elaborate the better. Presentations lasted no more than a few minutes for each debutant, but these few minutes were so important more than one Regency mama hired special tutors to help their daughters have a smooth presentation. One of the most tricky aspects was to make a full courtly bow while wearing elaborate headgear and then walk backwards (one never turned their back to their queen) without tripping on the train of the gown.
Question 6- What can readers expect next?

A WEDDING IN SPRINGTIME was just released and will be followed by MIDSUMMER BRIDE this fall and WINTER WEDDING in the fall of 2014. In order to create a bridge between my medieval Highlander series I will also be releasing some novellas, set in medieval Scotland, which feature the medieval ancestors of my Regency heroes. The first one, HIGHLAND BRIDE'S CHOICE, will be available as an e-book this fall.

Amanda Forester holds a PhD in psychology and worked for many years in academia before discovering that writing historical romance novels was way more fun. She lives with her husband and two energetic children in the Pacific Northwest outside Tacoma,Washington.

 

Her Timing Couldn't Be Worse...

Miss Eugenia Talbot's presentation to the queen is spoiled by a serious faux pas—the despicable William Grant made her laugh, right in front of Her Majesty. Now Eugenia is ruined and had better marry—someone, anyone—at once...

And His Couldn't Be Better...

Roguish William Grant has never taken anything seriously in his life. Until he meets Eugenia Talbot, who makes him feel and do thing he never thought he would.

Now Eugenia's great sense of humor and kindheartedness may be her undoing, unless William can help her find a husband. To his surprise, that's the last thing he wants to do...

One lucky winner will win a mass-market paperback of A Wedding in Springtime

To enter, please leave your name and a valid email address

Giveaway is US only

Will end on May 20