Shelli Rosewarne

Hi all,

Hope you’ve all been having a lovely weekend 🙂 After a busy week and a really fun gig on Friday night, it’s been nice to have a quiet few days and start to catch up on some writing. Plus, today I have the fab Kirsten Blacketer dropping by. Kirsten is one of my favourite historical romance writers, so I’m excited to hear all about her new release, At Winter’s Demand 🙂

Thanks for being here, Kirsten. So, let’s start with you telling us a bit about yourself.

Stick her in the middle of a chaotic home with two children, a hyperactive dog, and a camouflage wearing husband, and she can cook and clean with the best of them. But when the sun goes down and the children are nestled in bed fast asleep, she tucks away her pots and broom and like Cinderella she transforms.

Her characters creep forth from the dark recesses of her mind taking their places in the castles and forests built from her words. No simpering heroines linger there with forlorn gazes turned to the horizon, waiting for their Prince Charming. They straighten their spine, arming themselves with blade and bow, prepared to do their part in defense of their honor and destiny. She breathes life into the women she believes our ancestors to be, showing how they lived and loved with passion and grace.

Never bored by the tales still left to tell, she battles the ever sarcastic muse in her quest for romance.

I do love strong heroines 🙂 Was there a specific moment where you first knew that you wanted to be a writer?

When I was fifteen, I fell in love with the idea of being a writer. I had a fantastic English teacher in 8th grade and another in 10th grade. Both of these men encouraged me to pursue my love of the written word.

I worked very hard to get from that point to this one. Looking back on my early works, I’m proud of how far I’ve come.

Aww, it’s lovely when you get that level of encouragement and inspiration from a teacher. Do you have a particular writing routine, or any special rituals?

Coffee, music, and writing. All three are needed for survival. *wink* Oh, and silence. I can’t write when my husband and kids are home. Too much chaos to focus on the romance. Hahaha.

Lol, I know the feeling! I need silence, but then not complete silence 🙂 Tell us about the genre you write in, and what drew you to it.

Romance. I’ve always been a hopeless romantic at heart, ever since I was a little girl. I loved Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid. Romance is in my blood. I love that I’m guaranteed a happy ending with a romance novel. Little else in life has such a guarantee.

Oooh, I remember growing up on those films as well. Are there any particular authors or books that have really inspired you?

I love Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen. Both of these women have inspired me to some extent. I’ve also been inspired by some fantastic contemporary romance authors like Teresa Medeiros and Tara Janzen.

Big Austenphile here! What five things could you never do without?

1. Coffee

2. Chocolate

3. Tom Hiddleston

4. My family

5. Romance novels

Hehe, I hope you’re sharing Tom – that man needs a cloning machine 😉 *coughs* Moving on, tell us a bit about your new release.

At Winter’s Demand is the second book in the Thieves of Winter Series set in Victorian England around 1896. The first book, Jewel of Winter, establishes the scene and plot, but each novella focuses on a different character and his relationship. Edmund is first, then Simon. I’m working on Under Winter’s Control, which is book 3, and focuses on Monty’s story. The plot arches over the three books and their timelines overlap, but each novella is a single couple’s romance.

At Winter’s Demand follows Simon in his mission to recover jewels that disappeared in the first book. I don’t want to give too much away, but if you want the full effect of the story, it would be wise to start the series by reading Jewel of Winter first.

I would definitely recommend Jewel of Winter – great read! Where did your inspiration for it come from?

I play Japanese visual novel games (Otome games) on my iPad in my spare time (ahahahaha, that’s a joke…spare time. *sobs*) One of my favorite games is called Kissed by the Baddest Bidder. Three of the characters from that game inspired my heroes in the Thieves of Winter Series: Edmund, Simon, and Monty. All of whom are hiding secrets. *shhhhh* No spoilers here.

Hehe, well now we’re intrigued 😉 What did you find most enjoyable about writing it?

Following the characters. I love letting them lead me. I often plot just the basic structure of the story and let them have free reign. It’s exhilarating to let them take control of their own destiny.

True, sometimes it’s just a question of hanging on and seeing where the characters take you lol! What was the hardest part about writing it?

Actually writing. I can find a million ways to put off my daily word count goal. But actually forcing myself to sit down and write. That’s the hardest part for me.

I feel you, there’s always just too many distractions in the way *sighs* Who’s your favourite character in it? (I know, I know, favouritism!)

I have a soft spot for all three of my heroes (Edmund, Simon, and Monty), but Simon is by far the most complex. He’s hiding lots of secrets, plus he’s the strong, silent type, which is a total turn on for me.

Hey, I think we’re all with you there 😉 So, just in case we’re not convinced yet, why should we run out and buy it right now?

Because Simon isn’t who you think he is. He’s hiding things…like his sinister past. So are Edmund and Monty. You really need to dive in and read these books because they’re not your typical historical romance adventures.

Ooh, well I think that’s my reading for the week sorted. Here’s the book details:

Blurb

A spirited country girl at the mercy of a silent thief harboring a dangerous secret.

Working at the inn Judith fears a constant state of boredom. One snowy night, three strange gentlemen appear and topple her quiet haven into chaos. The leader kidnaps her sister, leaving her under the stern eye of his silent compatriot. Her sister had warned her one day she’d cross the line. With him, that doesn’t take more than a frying pan to the head.

Simon detests disorder. Edmund charged him with one mission: find the jewels. But he never counted on a feisty, curvaceous hellcat standing in his way. She demands to be reunited with her sister in London, and Simon is more than willing to leave her on his friend’s doorstep. When she’s kidnapped at King’s Cross Station, he must summon all his unsavory resources to find the woman who unwittingly stole his heart.

And you can get your hands on a copy here:

Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/hej5sx2

Nook: http://tinyurl.com/goof97m

iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/huvhbsf

Smashwords: http://tinyurl.com/z7y53ns

And don’t forget to follow Kirsten on social media to keep up-to-date with all her news and releases 🙂

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KirBlacketer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KirstenSBlacketerAuthor

Tumblr: http://kblackship.tumblr.com/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Kirsten35

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7223054.Kirsten_S_Blacketer

Subscribe to my Blog: http://kirstensblacketer.com/

Subscribe to my Newsletter: http://kirstensblacketer.us11.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=ca0c6667d9e02463015064502&id=c6f8640f0c

Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend x