Today’s
special guest is Wendy May Andrews who is talking with me about her new Sweet
Regency romance, The Reluctant Debutante.
During
her virtual book tour, Wendy will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble
(winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for
a chance to win, use the form below.
To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops
and enter there too!
her virtual book tour, Wendy will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble
(winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for
a chance to win, use the form below.
To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops
and enter there too!
Bio:
Best-selling
author, Wendy May Andrews, has been in love with the written word since she
learned to read at the age of five. She has been writing for almost as long but
it took her some time before she was willing to share her stories with anyone
other than her mother.
author, Wendy May Andrews, has been in love with the written word since she
learned to read at the age of five. She has been writing for almost as long but
it took her some time before she was willing to share her stories with anyone
other than her mother.
Wendy
can be found with her nose in a book in a cozy corner of downtown Toronto. She
is happily married to her own real-life hero, who is also her best friend and favorite
travel companion. Being a firm believer that every life experience contributes
to the writing process, Wendy is off planning her next trip.
can be found with her nose in a book in a cozy corner of downtown Toronto. She
is happily married to her own real-life hero, who is also her best friend and favorite
travel companion. Being a firm believer that every life experience contributes
to the writing process, Wendy is off planning her next trip.
Welcome, Wendy. Please
share a little bit about your current release.
share a little bit about your current release.
The Reluctant Debutante is set in Regency era
England, a time period that I love. The earl sees an attractive young woman and
is intrigued but immediately finds out that she is his niece’s enemy. His
initial reaction is to somehow try to use her in his revenge against her uncle,
but he cannot bring himself to do so. They have many obstacles to overcome in
order to reach their happily ever after.
England, a time period that I love. The earl sees an attractive young woman and
is intrigued but immediately finds out that she is his niece’s enemy. His
initial reaction is to somehow try to use her in his revenge against her uncle,
but he cannot bring himself to do so. They have many obstacles to overcome in
order to reach their happily ever after.
What inspired you to write this book?
I
love the initial reaction of seeing someone for the first time. I had the idea
for the opening of my hero seeing the heroine as she climbed the front stairs
to her home. But in this case, there’s the complication of him realizing that
she is actually going into the house of his sworn enemy. From that initial kernel
of an idea, this story developed. I loved their complicated journey!
love the initial reaction of seeing someone for the first time. I had the idea
for the opening of my hero seeing the heroine as she climbed the front stairs
to her home. But in this case, there’s the complication of him realizing that
she is actually going into the house of his sworn enemy. From that initial kernel
of an idea, this story developed. I loved their complicated journey!
Excerpt from The Reluctant Debutante:
chapter 3 – first sparks
Victoria was beginning to feel quite
miserable. She was soaked from head to toe, most of her body immersed in the
water. Her heavy skirts were feeling like lead weights as they pulled her
towards the current. Her boots were slowly sinking into the sludge on the river
bottom. And the gorgeous stranger was now looking at her appraisingly.
miserable. She was soaked from head to toe, most of her body immersed in the
water. Her heavy skirts were feeling like lead weights as they pulled her
towards the current. Her boots were slowly sinking into the sludge on the river
bottom. And the gorgeous stranger was now looking at her appraisingly.
“Can you reach my hand?”
Victoria felt a shiver slither up
her back at the sound of his deep voice as he leaned down for her.
her back at the sound of his deep voice as he leaned down for her.
Wishing there were some other way,
Victoria looked at him then up and down the river once more. Unfortunately, the
riverbanks had not changed in the last few minutes and there was still no way
to get up the bank on her own. Turning back to the stranger, she gritted her teeth
and stretched out her hand.
Victoria looked at him then up and down the river once more. Unfortunately, the
riverbanks had not changed in the last few minutes and there was still no way
to get up the bank on her own. Turning back to the stranger, she gritted her teeth
and stretched out her hand.
Bryghton was struck by the young
woman’s beauty. Her remarkable eyes held so much expressive emotion. He could
tell she was scared and embarrassed but she had the wit to realize she had
little choice if she wished to be rescued from her precarious position. The
duke knew that not too much farther downstream the river deepened considerably.
woman’s beauty. Her remarkable eyes held so much expressive emotion. He could
tell she was scared and embarrassed but she had the wit to realize she had
little choice if she wished to be rescued from her precarious position. The
duke knew that not too much farther downstream the river deepened considerably.
The feel of her cold little hand in
his large, warm one sent a strange sensation through him, but he knew this was
not the time to be distracted. Despite her slight frame, her soaking clothes
were weighing her down considerably, and effort would be required to get her
out. In a similar gesture to hers, he too gritted his teeth and yanked on her
arm.
his large, warm one sent a strange sensation through him, but he knew this was
not the time to be distracted. Despite her slight frame, her soaking clothes
were weighing her down considerably, and effort would be required to get her
out. In a similar gesture to hers, he too gritted his teeth and yanked on her
arm.
With a plop, and after a swift
scrabble up the bank, Victoria landed on the edge of the river next to the
impeccably dressed, handsome stranger. Blushing again, she offered a shy,
hesitant smile as she pushed herself to a seated position.
scrabble up the bank, Victoria landed on the edge of the river next to the
impeccably dressed, handsome stranger. Blushing again, she offered a shy,
hesitant smile as she pushed herself to a seated position.
What exciting story are you working on
next?
I
am currently writing the first book in a new series which I’m very excited
about. The entire series was inspired by a historical plaque I saw while I was
in England doing research. I’m so excited about it because the possibilities
are endless with where I can go with this series which is great because I
always have more ideas than time to write them so having a broad range to build
a series will be fantastic. Writing the first draft is, for me, the very best
aspect of being an author. And I’m actually at the most delicious part of the
story, just before my hero is about to become truly heroic. I can’t wait to see
how the story turns out! Stay tuned…
When did you first consider yourself a
writer?
I
always loved to read but even though my aunt used to joke about me becoming a
writer, I never thought it would be possible. Even after I actually wrote a
book I didn’t feel like a “real” writer until the day I received the first
shipment of my first book, in hardcover no less. I cried a little bit, I will
admit. To see an actual book that I had spent so many hours working on, that
was surreal. And then my first writing related workshop. It was the first time
I ever met other writers. It felt like I had finally found home. It was so
reaffirming! Like I wasn’t alone anymore.
always loved to read but even though my aunt used to joke about me becoming a
writer, I never thought it would be possible. Even after I actually wrote a
book I didn’t feel like a “real” writer until the day I received the first
shipment of my first book, in hardcover no less. I cried a little bit, I will
admit. To see an actual book that I had spent so many hours working on, that
was surreal. And then my first writing related workshop. It was the first time
I ever met other writers. It felt like I had finally found home. It was so
reaffirming! Like I wasn’t alone anymore.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s
your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find
time to write?
I
don’t yet write full-time. I have a day job. I’m a bookkeeper for a small
business. I actually love numbers, so I don’t mind my job, but of course, the
dream is to be able to quit the day job and focus on writing, no matter how
much I like the numbers. Finding time to write that is the age-old
question – we all only have 24 hours in the day. The fact that I really love it
helps. Everyone finds time for the things they really enjoy. Even if I can only
squeeze in a few minutes each day, as long as the story is progressing I can
keep it active in my mind. I have never yet been blocked so as soon as I sit at
my desk words can flow. I’m fortunate that way.
don’t yet write full-time. I have a day job. I’m a bookkeeper for a small
business. I actually love numbers, so I don’t mind my job, but of course, the
dream is to be able to quit the day job and focus on writing, no matter how
much I like the numbers. Finding time to write
question – we all only have 24 hours in the day. The fact that I really love it
helps. Everyone finds time for the things they really enjoy. Even if I can only
squeeze in a few minutes each day, as long as the story is progressing I can
keep it active in my mind. I have never yet been blocked so as soon as I sit at
my desk words can flow. I’m fortunate that way.
What would you say is your interesting
writing quirk?
I
love naming characters after people I know. In this story, almost everyone is
named after or by friends and family members. My sister-in-law named my hero,
Bryghton. It’s an unusual name, I’m not sure where she came up with it. But I
love her, so I kept the name 😉 And my hero is wonderful and suits his unique name.
love naming characters after people I know. In this story, almost everyone is
named after or by friends and family members. My sister-in-law named my hero,
Bryghton. It’s an unusual name, I’m not sure where she came up with it. But I
love her, so I kept the name 😉 And my hero is wonderful and suits his unique name.
As a child, what did you want to be when
you grew up?
Apparently,
I did not have high aspirations. I wanted to be a zamboni driver when I grew
up. In case you don’t know, a zamboni is a machine used to resurface the ice at
a skating rink. I still think it would be really cool to get to drive the
zamboni some day but I’m glad I ended up down a different career path.
Although, come to think of it, a zamboni driver would probably have a lot of
free time for writing. Maybe I ought to revisit that idea…
I did not have high aspirations. I wanted to be a zamboni driver when I grew
up. In case you don’t know, a zamboni is a machine used to resurface the ice at
a skating rink. I still think it would be really cool to get to drive the
zamboni some day but I’m glad I ended up down a different career path.
Although, come to think of it, a zamboni driver would probably have a lot of
free time for writing. Maybe I ought to revisit that idea…
Anything additional you want to share
with the readers?
I
am an avid reader. I am in love with words. I will even read the cereal box over
and over. Traveling is another favorite hobby. And I also enjoy long walks.
Living in a vibrant city, I love to walk to the coffee shop or out to dinner.
And I absolutely love hearing from readers, so please visit me online at my Website, on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Amazon, or leave some comments or questions here.
Thank you for being a
guest on my blog!
am an avid reader. I am in love with words. I will even read the cereal box over
and over. Traveling is another favorite hobby. And I also enjoy long walks.
Living in a vibrant city, I love to walk to the coffee shop or out to dinner.
And I absolutely love hearing from readers, so please visit me online at my Website, on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Amazon, or leave some comments or questions here.
Thank you for being a
guest on my blog!
Thanks for hosting!
Congrats on the tour and thanks for the chance to win 🙂
Good luck 🙂
Thanks so much for having me visit 🙂
I really enjoyed reading your interview, thank you!
Thanks
Great post – I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you 🙂
I liked the excerpt, sounds like a good read.
I hope you enjoy reading it 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway; I like the excerpt. 🙂
What is your favorite type of book to read? Thanks for the giveaway? I hope that I win. Bernie W BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com
What is your favorite type of book to read? Thanks for the giveaway? I hope that I win. Bernie W BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com