1. If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Today I’m thinking I would control the weather, since we are getting that dreaded “wintry mix”, otherwise known as rain and snow at the same time. Blech. But overall, I think being able to teleport myself (or others), like Apparating or similar, would be the coolest. No more airport delays, ever!

2. Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

Rhett Butler. Good and bad at the same time, and looked just like Clark Gable. He partied with hookers while the city burned. He was a blockade runner. He played cards with the Yankees who put him in jail. And he had the balls to walk out on Scarlett! Oh my…..

3. What is one of your most romantic moments?

Huh. That’s fairly personal… Like when Bob Eubanks on The Newlywed Show asked where was the most unusual place people had had sex, and the person answered, “That’s be up the butt, Bob.”

4. Of the places you’ve traveled to, which is your favorite?

I haven’t traveled enough to have a good answer for this. Germany was awesome (but not the Eastern part–yes, when I went, there were still two Germanys, and the East was dreadful, to my teenaged eyes). Got my first drink there that came to the table ON FIRE. Score!

5. What’s your most used curse word?

What the $@#%^! kind of question is that? Who the #$^! do you think you are? I mean, it’s too $@?! hard to choose just one…

6. Please take a moment of shameless self-promotion

Shameless, hmm…. My new book, For Your Arms Only, is an RT Top Pick for December, *and* it was named a Reviewer’s Choice Nominee for Best British-set Historical Romance.

It’s the story of a decorated army officer who waked up injured after Waterloo to discover he’s not only presumed dead, he’s been accused, and all but convicted, of treason as well. He becomes an anonymous spy, trying to clear his name, but after five years he’s sent home, still under a cloud, when his older brother dies. His last spy mission is to track down a missing man from his hometown, but the man’s daughter doesn’t want his help. She’s heard all the dreadful stories of treason, but slowly realizes those don’t square with the man she comes to know. And as they work together to find her father, they inadvertently locate the key to the accusations of treason.

I also have a special FREE bonus for this book, a companion short story. It is not independent of the book, but doesn’t really have spoilers. It’s on my site, along with an excerpt from the book:  www.carolinelinden.com

©2010 Maya Rodale Blog. All Rights Reserved.

There aren’t too many academics that give serious attention to romance novels, but Joanne Rendell is one of them! She’s also an author, with a new novel out: Crossing Washington Square, which is a love story with literature professors and odes to romance novels. She will be reading at Lady Jane’s Salon on November 2nd, but first she answers the same six questions I always ask.

1. If you could have any super power, what would it be?

An anti-procrastination-zapper built into my eyeballs. Although, of course, I’d want to use it on myself in order to stop wasting countless hours snooping around other people’s photos on Facebook instead of writing. But I’m not sure how I would zap myself (a mirror, perhaps?). Plus, zapping sounds kind of painful.

2. Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

Daniel Cleaver. I know, I know. He’s more like the anti-hero in Bridget Jones’ Diary, but when I think of him I can’t help thinking of Hugh Grant’s performance in the movie version of Bridget Jones. In particular, I loved him saying “Hello, Mummy!” when he spotted Bridget’s oh-so-attractive tummy support knickers! There was something very sexy about Daniel/Hugh in that moment. What that says about me and my fantasy men, I’m not sure.

3. What is one of your most romantic moments?

When this roguish British guy spotted my tummy support knickers and said…. Okay, I’m kidding, that never happened. My most romantic moment was when my husband wrote me an email after I’d first met him at an academic conference and confessed that he’d felt “giddy” when he met me and heard me deliver my conference paper. I imagined him swooning like a good romance heroine at the very sight and sound of me! I bet you never thought that academic conferences could be the sites of such passion, did you?

4. Of the places you’ve traveled to, which is your favorite?

My mum’s patio in Andalucia, Spain. I’ll simply include a photo and you’ll understand why.

5. What’s your most used curse word?

Bugger.

6. Please take a moment of shameless self-promotion:

Crossing Washington Square, my latest release, is not strictly a romance. It’s more on the women’s fiction end of the reading rainbow. But I hope you will give it a try because, within its pages, you will find many passionate odes to the romance genre and to popular women’s fiction more generally. The novel tells the story of two very different women and their very different love of books. Rachel Grey and Diana Monroe are both literature professors in the old boys club of Manhattan University. While this should create a kinship between them, they are very much at odds. Rachel is young, emotional, and impulsive. She wrote a book about women’s book groups which got her a slot on Oprah and she uses “chick lit” and popular fiction in her classes. Diana is aloof, icy, and controlled. She’s also a scholar of Sylvia Plath who thinks “beach” fiction is an easy ride for students. But as is often the case, it’s a man that truly divides the two women. Smooth-talking Carson McEvoy, a visiting Harvard professor, has his sights on both Rachel and Diana and gets sparks truly flying!

©2010 Maya Rodale Blog. All Rights Reserved.

1. If you could have any super power, what would it be?

There are quite a few powers I would have liked at different points of my life, but at the moment, I think I’m fine with surfing the wave of powerlessness.  In fact, that’s a bit of a theme in my current WIP !  Although maybe a instant research power would be nice–like the Librarian in Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash.

2. Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

Wow, that is a really tough one.  One of my original favorites was Lord Orville from Francis Burney’s Evelina.  Of course, I first read that book at the age of 16, the same age as Evelina is in the book, and joined her in every roller coaster emotion of her first London season. But actually, a recent favorite is one from an as yet unpublished novel by a friend of mine. She wrote a romantic suspense about a hot, secretive, British choreographer and believe me, that man can move!

3. What is one of your most romantic moments?

There was this one day, maybe four years ago, when I was sitting at the computer and jumped up to give my then-fiance a hug.  Standing in the circle of his arms, my head tilted back to look up, I promptly fainted.  Made me feel  bit like a romance book heroine.  So even though all I really remember is waking up on the floor, covered with a blanket, I consider it a very romantic moment.

4. Of the places you’ve traveled to, which is your favorite?

Another hard one!  There are so many gorgeous places in the world.  I’d have to say the western edge of Wyoming is some of the most beautiful land I’ve ever seen.  In Jackson, not far from Yellowstone, the ground just feels so close to the sky, the clouds so perfect and so low, and the whole valley there feels protected, yet wild.

5. What’s your most used curse word?

I have no idea!  However, all my characters do tend to have their preferences, so I find myself more likely to say whatever the hero or heroine of my current work-in-progress would say.

6. Please take a moment of shameless self-promotion:

My erotic anthology, On These Silken Sheets, was released by Avon Red on September 8th.  It’s a sexy interrelated collection of four novellas that explore the spectrum of deep relationships that often start with sex and end with happily ever after.   I think there is a story there for everyone, from sort of the frothy lightness of the first novella to the deeper, darker tone of the third. And as it says on the front of the book: Four stories.  Four secrets.  One naughty club.

From the back cover blurb:

It is Regency London’s most exclusive after-hours club, catering to the erotic fantasies of randy lords and inquisitive ladies, each discreetly masked to guard every delicious indiscretion. Under the proprietorship of the notorious Madame Rouge, virgins, rakes, bachelors, and courtesans intimately mingle, free of the suffocating moral rules and restraints imposed upon them by good society.

Harridan House: where forbidden pleasures always take place on silken sheets.

I really enjoyed writing this particular Regency world because it’s about people who are either on the edge of polite society or find themselves on the edge.   And it’s about how even the most jaded of people can be surprised by love.

Thanks so much for having me here!

©2010 Maya Rodale Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Anthea will be reading at Lady Jane’s Salon TONIGHT, but first both she and her husband, Lawson (how ever did they come up with their pseudonym?!), will answer The Same Six Questions I Always Ask.

Anthea Lawson~ Since we are a writing team, answers are Anthea/Lawson

1.If you could have any super power, what would it be?

A: The ability to fly.

L: The superpower of effortless persuasion.  I would turn my persuasion beam full power on one obstinate nine-year-old, then a couple editors, and the book buying public, Anthea.  Oh yes, effortless persuasion is the super power for me.

2. Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

A: Anyone smart and tortured. Heathcliff. Batman. Lestat. Stryder. Hamlet.

L:  Conan the Barbarian.  I pattern my table manners AND my sense of fashion on Conan.

3. What is one of your most romantic moments?

A: When Lawson proposed to me at sunrise on a bluff overlooking the ocean.

L:  Yes, my persuasion, er, romance beam was definitely working that day.  But when we met for the first-time in person each with our armload of favorite books to share with the other that was good too.  Word-nerds in love.

4. Of the places you’ve traveled to, which is your favorite?

A: Ireland. Or maybe Hawaii.

L:  Oh definitely Ireland.  We stayed for weeks and weeks.  Since we both play traditional Irish music, we had instant community.  And then there was that one perfect Spring day on the west coast of Ireland.  We walked down narrow lanes that were lined with fuchsia hedges in full bloom then up a hill to the ruins of an ancient ring fort overlooking Dingle Bay.  It was the kind of day you can look back at and think, “It was absolutely worth living my whole life just to have experienced that one perfect day.”

5. What’s your most used curse word?

A: Damnit!

L:  A good “fuck!” always makes me feel better. (Anthea giggling madly at this…) [Maya giggling madly at this, too]

6. Please take a moment of shameless self-promotion:

Anthea Lawson’s RITA nominated first novel, PASSIONATE, is still for sale! Order this spicy, Victorian-set romantic adventure from your local bookstore or online retailer. Our second novel, ALL HE DESIRES, will be a November release from Kensington Books.

L: But wait, there’s more!   If you order now we will throw in the Ginsu knives AND the automatic crepe maker.  Order now!  Don’t let this opportunity pass.

©2010 Maya Rodale Blog. All Rights Reserved.

1.If you could have any super power, what would it be?
To go back in time and be with my mom again. I lost her four years ago this month to breast cancer, and I miss her more, not less, with every day. But I would not want to travel to the future – I’m afraid of what I might see!

2. Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
It would have to be a heroine, and I’m torn between two feisty nineteenth century characters that inspired me as a girl: Jo March and Laura Ingalls…both of whom were autobiographical creations of my favorite authors.

3. What is one of your most romantic moments?
When my husband and I were dating, I had to have dental surgery, which ravaged my mouth and made my whole face swollen. He asked me if I needed anything, and I told him I could use some straws. He came home with an industrial-sized box, so sympathetic and wanting to take care of me. That was the first time I knew he loved me-and the first time he told me.

4. Of the places you’ve traveled to, which is your favorite?
Cumberland Island off the coast of Georgia

5. What’s your most used curse word?
Believe it or not, I’m not a big curse-word user. I’m no prude by any means, but cursing has always been a turn-off to me, especially now that I have kids.

6. Please take a moment of shameless self-promotion:
I love to hear from readers, so please come see me online at www.wendycorsistaubcommunity.com–my home on the web. There, you can find out more about the three books I’m releasing in 2009: DEAD BEFORE DARK, my latest thriller, out in May from Kensington Books; LILY DALE: DISCOVERING, the fourth installment in my YA Paranormal series,coming from Walker Books for Young Readers in October; and T HE BEST GIFT, a time travel Christmas romance and sequel to 2006’s IF ONLY IN MY DREAMS, coming in December from NAL Signet and written as Wendy Markham. Right now I’m writing LIVE TO TELL, the first thriller on my 3-book contract with Avon, my new publisher. It’s scheduled for March 2010.

©2010 Maya Rodale Blog. All Rights Reserved.