This Sunday, Megan interviews Amanda about her new series, “The Muses of Mayfair”! The first book, To Catch a Rogue, is on shelves next week. Comment here for a chance to win a signed copy….

Megan: Amanda, congrats on your new series! Tell us about the Chase Muses.

Amanda: Well, when I started writing these books I wondered if I was setting myself up for some kind of karmic fail naming the Chase sisters after actual Muses! What if I angered them and they deserted me? But it turned out I loved spending so much time with this family and seeing where their romances took them. Each of the couples was very different from each other, and it intrigued me to see what they would do next!

I never had a sister, just one younger brother, and I always kind of wanted one. Until I got a little older and one of my best friends in high school was the middle of three sisters. I would go to her house after school sometimes to eat potato chips and watch Days of Our Lives, and I would see what happened behind closed doors–screaming fights, hair-pulling, illegal clothes borrowing, phone call eavesdropping. It made me glad I didn’t have sister after all! But it did give me a bit of insight into how family dynamics might work with 3 intelligent, strong-willed, very different but also loving sisters. (A lot of the “I can bully my sister as much as I want, but God help anyone else who does!” sort of thing).

I’ve also had a lifelong love of archaeology and ancient myths, ever since I was a little kid and my parents had a big book full of gorgeous pictures of various sites around the world (Crete, Lascaux, Newgrange, Viking ship burials, stuff like that). I spent hours looking at those photos in fascination. I even became convinced we had Viking treasure buried in our back-yard (why Viking, I have no idea) and dug up some newly laid sod in my own little archaeological dig. I think my dad is still mad about that. I was reminded of all that when I read a book a few years ago called The Medici Conspiracy about modern antiquities theft, which is an enormous problem of great concern for anyone who cares about history. I decided to blend these two loves–antiquities and family dynamics–with my love of the Regency period, which also had a fascination with the classicial world. The 3 Chase sisters–Calliope, Clio, and Thalia–are the daughters of a famous scholar and antiquarian who passed on his love of history to his children.

Megan: And what about this story, To Catch a Rogue?

Amanda: This is Calliope’s story! She’s the oldest of the Muses, and like the “real” Calliope (“chief of the Muses”) she feels like she has to take care of her siblings and keep things in order. She has definite opinions about how things should be! But events are going to turn all that order upside-down for poor Cal. Here is the back cover copy:

When antiquities begin to go missing from London drawing rooms Miss Calliope Chase sets out to restore order. The famous Lily Thief must be a well-connected member of the Ton. And she doesn’t need to look much further than Cameron de Vere, Earl of Westwood, for a suspect.

What she doesn’t realize is that her determined pursuit of a criminal is beginning to look like a budding romance. Until Cameron kisses her, and her ordered life is thrown into appalling confusion!

So the tale moves from the glittering London ballrooms to Gothic castles and moors in Yorkshire–and Calliope realizes that Cameron, and the Lily Thief, aren’t at all what she expected.

Megan: You have written the most delightful heroine in Calliope! Organized, intelligent, studious–only to find herself flummoxed by the Apollo-come-to-life hero, the Earl of Westwood. Knowing you, it’s probably a better question to ask what parts of Calliope aren’t you?

Amanda: LOL! Well, I wish I was more organized–my desk tends to take on a life of its own and swallow papers and pens whole. And I wish I had her wardrobe and nice, shiny hair. But I did put quite a bit of myself into Calliope (unlike Thalia, who is more what I wish I was). She’s stubborn, bookish, protective of people she cares about–and easily flummoxed by a handsome face. 🙂

Megan: And what was Calliope missing in her life before Cameron?

Amanda: Fun, for one thing! She’s always so busy studying and getting her wild family organized she forgets that it’s okay to enjoy life once in a while, to be silly and laugh. She’s also missing someone who really understands her, as Cameron does. He sees things about her she doesn’t even know about herself until it’s almost too late. I do enjoy stories where a straitlaced character is forced to loosen up by another who is more fun-loving (like the movie Bringing Up Baby, which I love!), but it turned out Cameron has a dark side, too, and a troubled heart he keeps hidden from the world–until Calliope.

Megan: It seems as though Calliope and Cameron fell in love through dialogue. Their conversation is so charged, and you’ve written great repartee. What’s your inspiration?

Amanda: Thank you so much!!! I do love writing dialogue and imagining the characters talking in my head (sometimes I say it all out loud in the car as I drive, trying to figure out what they’ll say next). Dialogue seems even more important in a Regency setting like this than in a Renaissance or Elizabethan story. It has to move the characters toward the physical encounter they’re aching to have! Like I said, I love old screwball comedies from the 1930s, like The Awful Truth and The Lady Eve, where Irene Dunne and Cary Grant (or Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant, or Barbara Stanwyck and anyone, or Nick and Nora Charles) have the wittiest, crispest dialogue, even in the midst of absurd scenes. And they also have great clothes and fabulous nightclubs. They really have a lot in common with Regencies, if you think about it. I pictured the Chase sisters and their heroes as something like sophisticated, elegant screwball comedy characters who are knocked upside the head by true love.

Also there’s the love of Jane Austen and Edith Wharton! There’s no better teacher for “falling in love through dialogue” than them.

Megan: Did you find any interesting items when researching these stories?

Amanda: Oodles! I had to read about a wide variety of topics for these books. They’re set in very different places (London and Yorkshire, Sicily, and Bath) and involve ancient artworks (especially the alabaster statue of Diana that features in Rogue and the silver altar set that appears in To Deceive a Duke and To Kiss a Count), archaeological methods of the Regency period, clothes, theater, music, geography, history of the Italian freedom movement–all sorts of things. It was lots of fun, but also hard to keep straight at times (I could have used Calliope’s organizational help!).

Here at my website I have some more info on the history of the stories, as well as some sources I used (and an excerpt from the book).

Megan: Who did you picture when you were writing Calliope and Cameron?

Amanda: It took me a while to find just the right models for them! It turned out Cameron was something like a young Christian Bale, and Calliope looked a bit like Nina Dobrev from The Vampire Diaries (another guilty pleasure of mine!)–long, straight dark hair, dark eyes, doesn’t smile easily. I had a couple of CDs I listened to a lot while working on this book too–The Jane Austen Companion and an interesting piece called Musique de la Grece Antique, a recreation of a rare musical fragment that survives from ancient Rome (which features in a scene of the book).

Megan: What’s “risky” about this story?

Amanda: Well, usually my settings are somewhat “risky” but not this time! We’re in Regency England, but the milieu of the characters is a bit risky. They’re part of an intellectual, artistic crowd, but one that’s suddenly faced with crime and violence and they have to learn to deal with that while being true to themselves.

Megan: And which sister is next for you?

Amanda: Clio’s story is next, To Deceive a Duke (out in May!). We meet the Duke of Averton, Clio’s great adversary, in Rogue, but like so many other things in this world he is not what he appears to be. When they meet again in sunny, mysterious Sicily, they have to learn to work together even as they try not to admit what everyone else can see–that they’re totally hot for each other. The prequel story, To Bed a Libertine, where we first meet the Chases, is still available through Harlequin Historical Undone, too!

What were your childhood obsessions? What are some of your favorite aspects of a Regency setting, or some favorite movie couples? Comment for a chance to win a signed copy of To Catch a Rogue!

As you just might have heard, this week RWA announced its finalists in the RITA and the Golden Heart awards! (The RWA website says “The purpose of the RITA contest is to promote excellence in the romance genre by recognizing outstanding published romance novels and novellas.” The Golden Heart does the same for unpublished manuscripts). You may also have heard the Riskies and their friends did pretty well (because we’ve been shouting it out to anyone who will stand still and listen!). We thought these books deserved another look.

Deb Marlowe, whose Annalise and the Scandalous Rake from The Diamonds of Welbourne Manor, is up for Best Novella was not even at home when The Call came. “Actually, I spent the day playing hookey!” she says. “I took the day off from writing and went shopping. My friend and critique partner Sabrina Jeffries needed something snazzy for a photo shoot. Since neither of us makes a move fashion-wise without the incredible savvy advice of Claudia Dain, the three of us spent the day shopping and having lunch. We had a productive and fun day, and as we were leaving we decided this was how we needed to spend every RITA day–instead of sitting and waiting for the phone to ring.

“Then I got home to a firestorm! There was a message from the lovely Trish Milburn–and I started to shake, because I knew what that meant. I called her back and blabbered like a fool. Then I got online to slew of messages. I didn’t get to break the news to anybody–everybody already knew! Diane and Amanda were wondering where the heck I was. My mailbox was full of so many lovely congratulatory emails. It was wonderful and truly–I feel like I already won! I was especially happy to see Amanda’s name along with mine, and that my other c.p. Liz Carlyle was nominated as well. A truly great day all around.”

Annalise and the Scandalous Rake–House party guest Ned Milford can see the inner passion and beauty that Annalise Fitzmanning hides. But how close should they become when his reason for being at Welbourne Manor would prompt a society scandal, not a society wedding!

Amanda’s Call (for Charlotte and the Wicked Lord from, you guessed it, The Diamonds of Welbourne Manor!) went somewhat differently. I had just stumbled out of bed and was trying to make my morning tea (because I can’t really talk until after at least one cup of tea, preferably 2) when the phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and thought “I don’t know anyone in Nashville.” Then I remembered–RITA day! I snatched up the phone and babbled something at the poor lady on the other line (Trish Milburn, who I’m sure heard many incoherent people that day!). Then I got off the phone, jumped around while my pets stared at me like I was insane, and plopped down in front of the computer to see who else was a finalist and share the news. The day was pretty much a waste from then on as far as any useful work went, because I was constantly on Twitter and email! This is my 3rd nomination–maybe third is the charm? LOL. Like Deb, it feels like I already won. And now I have to go out and shop for a new dress.

Charlotte and the Wicked Lord–Charlotte may be the youngest Fitzmanning girl, but she knows her own mind–and she wants Lord Andrew Bassington! Drew requires an eminently proper bride, something free-spirited Charlotte has never been. So how can she make him see the beautiful woman she has become…?

(On another note, there are also more Welbourne stories in the future! Amanda has a Christmas novella, Mistletoe and Folly, about Mary Bassington and her old flame Lord Amesby, coming out in October, plus just turned in Nicholas’s book! Deb’s turned in her book about Stephen, too, so there will be lots more about this family soon…)

Risky Carolyn Jewel has not one but two nominations to her name! Look for Scandal in the Regency Historical category and My Forbidden Desire in Paranormal.

Scandal–The Earl of Banallt is no stranger to scandal. But when he meets Sophie Evans, the young wife of a fellow libertine, even he is shocked by his reaction. This unconventional and intelligent woman proves to be far more than an amusing distraction–she threatens to drive him to distraction. Unlike the women who usually fall at Banallt’s feet, and into his bed, Sophie refuses to be seduced. And soon Banallt desires her more than ever–and for more than an illicit affair. Years later, the widowed Sophie is free, and Banallt is determined to win the woman he still loves. Unfortunately, she doesn’t believe his declaration of love and chivalrous offer of marriage–her heart has already been broken by her scoundrel of a husband. And yet, Sophie is temped to indulge in the torrid affair she’s always fantasized about. Caught between her logical mind and her long denied desire, Sophie must thwart Banallt’s seduction–or risk being consumed by the one man she should avoid at all costs…

Carolyn will have to pop in on comments and let us know her call story! 🙂

My Forbidden Desire–Alexandrine Marit is a witch in mortal danger. An evil mage craves the powerful, mysterious talisman that supplies her magic, and the only person who can keep her safe is a dark and dangerous fiend called Xia. With his fierce animosity toward witches, he’s hardly the ideal bodyguard. Yet as days turn into nights, she can’t deny the white-hot passion between them. Xia hates witches. They enslave and mercilessly kill his kind. But he’s been ordered to protect Alexandrine who to his surprise has a spirit he admires and a body he longs to possess. With the mage and his henchmen closing in, Alexandrine and her protector must trust the passion that unite them–or risk losing everything to the enemies who can destroy them both…

Frequent Riskies visitor and resident Medieval/Victorian expert Michelle Willingham is also a finalist, in the Historical Romance category with Taming Her Irish Warrior! Like Deb, she was not at home at the time the calls were going out. “I knew the phone calls were going out for the RITA finalists, but I couldn’t stand the pressure,” she says. “Instead I chose to leave the house and go get my car fixed at the dealership. I knew if I were home, I’d start obsessing over it and get no writing done, and well…I’ve never been a finalist in a romance contest in my life.

“Even so, I used the free wireless at the dealership and worked on my new ‘Undone’ novella, thinking well, it’s not going to happen, so just get over it and get some work done. The names of the finalists started rolling in, and as I saw more and more historical authors listed, I thought–great! I’ll have to try those books. But it’ll never be me. Then a close friend of mine, Larissa Ione, emailed me with a huge congratulations. She didn’t even tell me why, just wrote in all caps, CONGRATULATIONS I KNEW IT! My hands started shaking, and it was a miracle I even managed to type the web address of RWA to see who the latest finalists were. When I saw my name up there, I wanted to start bawling in the dealership. Do you know how hard it was to keep those emotions bottled up??? I wanted to scream at everyone there, “Oh my gosh, I’m a RITA finalist!! Can you believe it?!” Then they would have thrown Styrofoam coffee cups at me, I know it.

“So I emailed my editor and agent in all caps, and I’m not even sure what I typed. Maybe something like Gilbwerious aweroui OMG werepiogh RITA finalist werararar. I don’t know. But there were 4 messages on my phone when I got home–2 from the RWA Board and 2 from the person trying to contact me, confirming that yes my wildest dream had indeed come true.”

Taming Her Irish Warrior–When did Ewan MacEgan grow to be so overwhelmingly strong and disarmingly sexy? He intends to wed Honora St. Leger’s demure sister–but why should that matter to her? Honora would rather wield a sword than a mending needle, and as a widow she knows there is little pleasure in the marriage bed… Ewan MacEgan has set his sights on a wealthy bride, but tantalizingly he finds himself drawn to the forbidden Honora! One touch and he is longing to awaken her sensuality, for he suspects she will be as passionate in bed as she is on the battlefield!

You can see a full list of the finalists (and there are so many great ones!) here at the RWA National site

(I also have to mention a friend of mine, Donnell Epperson, who is a Golden Heart finalist in the Paranormal category with Glorious Misfortune. Donnell sadly passed away last month after a valiant battle with breast cancer, but she never lost her great love for the art and craft of writing romance. I am so proud of her!)

I’ve recently jumped in at the deep end of book 3 of my “Daughters of Ireland” series (Lady of Seduction, Caroline’s story, out in June 2011!), and I’m finding my way to really knowing the characters. Some authors have great success with character outlines and things like that, but the only way I can do this is to actually sit down and start writing the book. After about 50 or so pages (about where I’m at now) I have a clearer vision of them and what they’re all about, what motivates them and what they really want, and their flaws too. I live with them and they start to be my friends (or my enemies, depending on how stubborn they’re being!). Of course, they also sometimes surprise me by insisting on taking the plot in a new direction or doing something out of left field…

How does my vision of them start to take shape? Well, it starts with names. They have to be just right, which can sometimes be a challenge. Especially in historical stories, where there is often a limited range of plausible names. (I’m also plotting out an Elizabethan-set story right now, and for women in this period it’s an endless parade of Katherines, Marys, and Janes and Williams, Edwards, and Roberts!). I like to find a “period” name that sounds right and isn’t jarring to readers. Sometimes there were unusual names, to be sure–also in the Elizabethan era, the Devereaux family had a tradition of naming daughters “Essex”, and Jane Grey’s husband Guildford Dudley was named after his mother’s family.

I’m not sure there were as many men in the Georgian/Regency period whose names could be shortened easily to Sin, Devil, or Hawk as we romance writers seem to think! 🙂 But the important thing is 1) it fits the character, and 2) if it is unusual, explain it and have a good reason for it. I start by flipping through baby name books, old primary resources of the period, Internet sites, etc, until I find the right one. Once they’re names, it’s on to…

How do they look??? Now this is the fun part! I scan websites and magazines for photos of hunky actors (tough, but a diligent author must make sacrifices for the art…) and actresses in beautiful gowns to get an idea of my characters’ appearance. Then I work on…

Putting them into their setting. Setting is huge part of Lady of Seduction. Our hero was a villain in book 2, Duchess of Sin. After a terrible fire at the end of Duchess, he retreats to a crumbling medieval castle on an isolated Irish island, very stormy and Gothic and spooky. There are ruins, secret passages, and locked tower rooms, all sorts of great stuff like that. The setting has to become its own character in a way, so I researched islands like Inishturk and Caher to devise the ruined monastery and envision the harbor and coast as well as the castle.

I put inspirational pictures on the cork board by my desk so I can keep all this in mind as I work! It helps me fall into their world and I can really embark on the adventure of a new book.

What is your process for finding characters? And were you a big fan of Gothics like I was? (I gobbled up Victoria Holt stories when I was a kid!)