Please Welcome Maggi Anderson author of The Reluctant Marquess

Rogues Angels are pleased to have Maggi Anderson here today. Maggi is the author of The Reluctant Marquis a historical romance.


Maggi will be giving away a $10 Amazon GC to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour.
So please comment! Oh and don't forget to buy her book.

Bio
Let's learn a little more about Maggi.

Interview:

1.    What or who inspired you to start writing?

      The books of Georgette Heyer when I was a teenager. I loved the worlds she created. Victoria Holt’s Gothic romances too.

2.    How did you come up with your idea for The Reluctant Marquess?

     My fascination with the Georgian era. It was beautiful, colorful, bold and wild. When I researched the period I became interested in the lives of Georgian women and how they overcame the restrictions placed on them.

3.    What expertise did you bring to your writing?

      Years of reading good writers while completing a BA in English and Fine Arts and an MA in Creative Writing. What I’ve learned from being a parent, travelling, meeting interesting people.

4.    What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio?

      I am passionate about my work and quite tenacious. You need to be both to write I think.

5.    As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

      I am writing a three book series set in the Regency era. The Spies of Mayfair for Knox Robinson Publishing. The first book A Baron in Her Bed is released in September. Details are on the Knox Robinson Publishing site.

6.    If you could be one of the characters from this book, who would it be and why?

      I like both my hero and heroine, but Charity would be my pick. Robert is a spoiled rake. He needs to learn a few lessons and Charity’s the girl to do it. She’s tenacious like me. I hope I’m as capable of forgiveness and as loving as she is. Charity has to adapt to change too. When she becomes a marchioness, she must learn to cope with her new status and mix with the sometimes spiteful ton.

7.    Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your writing?

      The wrong group would be a great hindrance I think. I’m fortunate to belong to a critique group of exceptional historical writers. They have proved invaluable in critiquing my work. Sometimes I grimace when what I feel is a perfect scene is criticized. But I consider their suggestions carefully. You have to be confident in your own abilities though. Your voice is a vital part of who you are as an author.

8.    When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step?

      No one, really. I was always determined to be a writer, but circumstances made it difficult for many years. I wrote for ten years before I seriously considered submitting my work, and more years passed before a novel was accepted for publication. Those years were invaluable though – a great learning experience. The earlier work wasn’t good enough. 

9.    What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or             publishing) 

      Don’t go down the e-book track, wait to land a contract with a print publisher?                        That wouldn’t have worked for me back then. And I believe working with an e-publisher taught me a lot. Never listen to advice which might stop you writing. Choose the readers you give your work to carefully. Those that read in your genre are best. I can’t pinpoint the best advice I’ve been given. Writer friends have been a great support though. I’ve studied writing technique reading the best how-to books. I’m still honing my technique, still learning. Writing requires a lifetime of learning in my opinion.

10.    Do you outline your books or just start writing?I roughly outline the entire story, but I’m a panster. I never know quite where the characters will lead me; I just know where they’ll end up. For instance, in The Reluctant Marquess, Charity, who likes to talk things through, suddenly loses her temper. Neither Robert or I saw it coming. 

   Here’s an excerpt:

In the corridor outside her chamber, he barely touched her gloved hand with his lips as he bid her goodnight.

“Robert?”

He turned back to her, his brows raised, looking every inch a marquess. “Yes?”

She put her hand to the emeralds at her throat. “Shouldn’t you return these to the safe?”

“That might be wise.”

“Come in and help me take them off.”

He followed her into her boudoir, as she removed her gloves. The room was empty for she’d told her maid not to wait up.

His touch on her neck felt cool and impersonal. He slipped the necklace into his pocket and turned to go. Charity touched his arm. “Won’t you kiss me goodnight?”

He bent his head and touched his lips briefly with hers. She put a hand on his chest, feeling tension there. He was always annoyed with her and she struggled with the unfairness of it.

“Stay a while?”

“I thought you didn’t wish me to make love to you.”

“Not in the salon. Here, in my chamber.”

His blue eyes blazed hot with anger. “Perhaps Lord Southmore can oblige. He knows where to find your chamber.”

Charity slapped his face. The noise seemed to reverberate around the room in the long silence which followed. They stared at each another, breathing heavily. “I did not deserve that. I find your behavior disappointing, my lord.”

Robert raked a hand through his hair. He gave a crooked grin. “That makes your true feelings clear then, my dear, doesn’t it?”

He turned on his heel and left her chamber, closing the door behind him. The room seemed too quiet with just the ticking of the mantel clock. Charity put her hands to her flaming cheeks.

His rebuff hurt as surely as if he’d thrust a knife in her heart.

11. How do you maintain your creativity?

That’s difficult at times. It ebbs and flows. Writers are subjected to highs and    lows during their career. If a book does well you’re keen to get stuck into the next one. The publishing world is constantly changing and a writer has to change with it, if they want to continue to be published. An unfair review can bring you down momentarily, because there’s no opportunity to address it. You just have to take it on the chin. Like any artist who puts their work out there you have to develop a thicker skin. I do listen to criticism though. If I believe it fair and warranted I act on it next time.

12.Anything else you might want to add?

I love feedback from readers so do get in touch with me, if there’s something that interests you about my work.

Please leave lots of comments!