Interview with historical romance author Andrea Matthews

Romance author Andrea Matthews joins me today to tell us a little bit about her new historical time travel, Thunder on the Moor.

During her virtual book tour, which ends today, Andrea will be awarding an e-book copy of books 2 and 3 in the series to one 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:
Andrea Matthews is the pseudonym for Inez Foster, a historian and librarian who loves to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogical speaking. She has a BA in History and an MLS in Library Science, and enjoys the research almost as much as she does writing the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history. She is the author of the Thunder on the Moor series set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Border, and the Cross of Ciaran series, where a fifteen-hundred-year-old Celt finds himself in the twentieth century. Andrea is a member of the Romance Writers of America, the Historical Novel Society, and the Long Island Romance Writers.

Welcome Andrea. Please tell us about your current release.
Thunder on the Moor is the first book in the Thunder on the Moor series. It’s a time travel romance set on the sixteenth century Anglo-Scottish border and tells the story of Maggie Armstrong, the twentieth century daughter of a sixteenth century Scottish border reiver, Robert Armstrong, who had been transported to the twentieth century before she was born. Now, he’s found a way to return to his sixteenth century Scottish home and intends on taking his daughter with him.

Maggie finds his century enchanting at first, particularly after being introduced to Ian Rutherford, the handsome son of a neighboring laird. However, when her uncle announces her betrothal to Ian, Maggie’s twentieth-century sensibilities are outraged. She hardly even knows the man. But refusal of his affections could ignite a blood feud.

Maggie’s worlds are colliding. Though she’s found the family she’s always wanted, the sixteenth century is a dangerous place. Betrayal, treachery, and a tragic murder have her questioning whether she should remain or try to make her way back to her own time.

Tensions escalate when she stumbles across Bonnie Will Foster, the dashing young man in her father’s portrait collection, only to discover, he’s a dreaded Englishman. But could he be the hero she’s always dreamed him to be? Or will his need for revenge against Ian shatter more than her heart?

What inspired you to write this book?
While doing research on my husband’s ancestry, I discovered the history of the border reivers and was instantly intrigued by their stories.

 

Excerpt from Thunder on the Moor:
Maggie lounged back amongst the fragrant blossoms, the soft sunlight no more than a golden glow along the horizon. Though the air remained damp, the promise of warmth comforted her, and she closed her eyes, letting its delicate cocoon engulf her weary body. A few yards away, a thrush welcomed the coming day, tweeting its morning song in perfect harmony with the steady bass of a croaking frog. The sweet melody soothed her cluttered mind and lulled her into a light sleep.

Images of beaches and warm summer days at the shore filled her dreams. Memories of sandcastles and dabbling her toes in the ocean sent her senses reeling. She could almost smell the salt air, hear the surf crashing against the shore. But wait—those were no breaking waves she heard, but something else, something far more menacing.

With a sudden jolt, she woke, the predawn tranquility shattered by a distant rumble. Maggie sprang up, her eyes widening as she recognized the thunderous beat of hooves rising from beyond the ridge. Behind her, about five hundred yards away, pressed against the graying sky, stood her uncle’s tower. He’d warned her about venturing from the safety of its walls, but she’d been too stubborn to take his words to heart. Perhaps she should have put her dislike of the man aside just this once.

Frantic visions of vengeful reivers sprang to mind, and she rose, determined to make a sprint for the distant peel tower. With the creak of leather armor already echoing in her ears, she struggled to gain purchase on the dew-covered ground, but she slipped and fell into the tall grass of the gentle slope.

Pushing herself up, she chanced a glance over her shoulder and froze. He was nearly upon her, his steel-blue eyes reflecting the mood of the moor. A wave of terror washed over her, for somehow she knew this time Will Foster wouldn’t turn and ride away.

She slumped back on her elbows, unable to move, the world around her fading into obscurity. Riders rode by on their way to the tower, their images blurred and distorted, for nothing could pry her attention from Will or the amulet he wore around his neck. He paused a few feet from where she’d fallen, tugging hard on the reins, hunger burning in his gaze.

Maggie swallowed hard, anger and fear lodged in her breast. She tried to embrace the former, but it was tempered by a sudden desire that caused her thighs to quiver and her mouth to long for the touch of the striking young reiver before her.

Will nudged his horse closer, the fire in his eyes intensifying, and this time fear surged to the fore, jarring Maggie back to her senses. No matter how handsome he may appear, he remained at heart a murdering barbarian, his intentions all too clear. Digging her heels into the soft earth, she pushed herself into an upright position and started running for the tower.

 

What exciting story are you working on next?
Right now I’m working on The Cave of Rúin Ársa, which is book three in my Cross of Ciarán series about a 5^th century Celt who wakes up in the twentieth century. That is due out at the end of May. I’m also working on book four in my Thunder on the Moor series, With Fire and Sword, which I’m hoping to publish in November. In the meantime, I’m hoping to publish a historical mystery in August under the name I. M. Foster, which will be entitled Murder on Oak Street.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Though I’ve always loved to write, I don’t think I actually consider myself an author until I’d published my first book. Seing it published and so well received made it real. Before that it was more like a dream.

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 was still working as a librarian when I published my first novel, but since then I have retired, so yes, I do write full time now. I don’t really have any hard and fast schedule though. After all, though I’m now a full-time author, I am still retired. Most days though I start writing over breakfast, so soon after I get up. I really enjoy it andI can’t wait to start. My afternoons are filled with everyday things, but I may spend some time designing a new trailer or setting up some promotions. After dinner though, I return to my writing or doing some research, both of which I look forward to getting back to. Sometimes I’m having such a good time I don’t even want to go to bed. In between books, I tend to take a few weeks to binge read my favorite series, to get them all in before I return to my next book.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Probably the insistence of getting even the small details right, if possible. I even use a calendar from the year in question to check on what day of the week a certain date would have been etc. It’s the librarian in me.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
After the nurse and ballerina stage, which weren’t going to work out since I don’t like the sight of blood and my dancing won’t win any prizes, I wanted to be an archaeologist. I did become a dig around for arrowheads in the backyard a bit, but that’s about as far as it got. So I became a historian and librarian instead and write about the archaeologists. But who knows, I may go on a dig yet.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I think we just about covered everything. I hope you all enjoy my books. I’d love to hear from you. You can contact me at andreamatthewsauthor@gmail.com or stop by my website. Thanks, and have a great day.

Links:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon

Thanks for being here today, Andrea!

a Rafflecopter giveaway