Please welcome my special guest this week, Robyn Grady, who writes for both Mills & Boon Modern Heat and Silhouette Desire. Robyn is also giving away a copy of her two recent releases to two lucky people who comment - Baby Bequest (C says: I've just read this one and OMG the hero is to die for!!!) and Confessions of a Millionaire's Mistress!
Robbie, over to you!
Thanks so much for popping by today Robbie! Can you tell us a little about your book, Baby Bequest?
Thanks for the invite, Christina!! And congrats again on the release of Foretaste of Forever. I’m really looking forward to enjoying what promises to be a terrific read.
(Christina):Thank you!
My latest Desire, Baby Bequest (released in NA November, Aus/NZ December and UK January), features my favourite hero yet! Gage Cameron is the perfect alpha male. Strong in his convictions, honourable in every sense, and driven mad with want for a woman he can’t have. Twelve years ago, Gage, a penniless bad boy, fell in love with a rich man’s daughter. After being falsely accused of a crime, the heroine’s father paid Gage to leave the country, and his daughter Jenna alone. Convinced he wasn’t good enough for Jenna, Gage left.
In present time the heroine’s family are killed in a freak accident, and Jenna’s tiny niece is in the custody of her stepmother, a narcissist who doesn’t know the meaning of the word love. Jenna needs to gain custody of her niece. But when her former flame shows up - now a powerful multimillionaire and sexier than ever – Jenna must decide whether she can accept the terms, and dangers, of Gage’s drastic solution.
There are elements of suspense and a gorgeous German Shepherd called Shadow, as well as a beautiful baby girl who so deserves happiness.
Gage is one of my fave heroes too. How did the idea for the plot come about?
I wanted to create a hero who was one hundred percent noble. Alphas are leaders of the pack, but Baby Bequest’s alpha male is very much a lone wolf, and I play on that image, and mentality, throughout the story. I wanted a heroine who could admit she still feels deeply for the man who had apparently deserted her years before. And I wanted to give Gage a watertight reason for leaving the woman whom he loved, in fact, still loves enough to walk away a second time. He hadn’t banked on falling even harder for Jenna, as well as for this adorable baby. There are some light/playful moments, but basically this story is a ‘heart-ripper’, as one reader called it.
Well Robbie, as you know I love sale stories! Can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?
Ah, yes! My loooooong road to publication, lol. After leaving my TV job, I decided to follow my heart and write! That was 1999. Barbara Hannay had just sold. Jane Porter too. I was so excited and had no idea of the wild ride ahead of me. I joined Romance Writers of Australia and worked my way up from form rejections to personal rejections, to personal rejections with suggestions and requests for more, to emails and finally, in 2005, a phone call from a London editor who loved my latest manuscript for a new line, Modern Extra.
I remember stuttering and stammering on the phone and thinking, “This is it!” Unfortunately I “didn’t go far enough with the revisions”. I sent another manuscript to London and received another phone call. But I didn’t do those oh-so minor revisions right either. In 2006, I finalled in 13 US contests but I’d started to feel as though I would never break through and give this editor what she needed. I emailed another story to London and received a very long email with revisions that amounted to a complete rewrite.
I slaved over the rewrite for two tough weeks. Then, slightly out of my mind, I email queried a New York agent. To my amazement, the agent took me on and I sold to Desire the following month and to Modern Extra (now Modern Heat) in a two book deal the month later. Since that time, I’ve received 12 contracts (five from Modern Heat, 6 from Desire and one on line eharlequin read) and I’m still floating!
That sure was a rollercoaster ride, but so worth it in the end! We are all about the love here, so please share your fave books, movies, TV shows or current fantasy squeeze (it's all in the line of research!)
Favourite books…
The Time Traveller’s Wife (I could read that last page over and over)
Year of Wonderd
My Favorite Mistake
The Love Machine
Favourite movies…
Phantom of the Opera (sob!)
The Notebook (What a kiss!)
Stepmom (I cry every single time.)
Last of the Mohicans. (No better hero)300 (Because… Well, just watch it and you’ll see!)
TV shows…
I don’t watch tele really, other than Law and Order. I totally love Bobby Goran’s character in Criminal Intent. If I weren’t a writer, I’d want his job!
Fantasy squeeze…
Can’t go past Gerard Butler. Can you blame me??
Hmm, that Gerard is a very popular guy round here!! What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on my fifth Modern Heat, a reunited lovers story with a matchmaking twist. I wanted to create a completely irresistible bad boy. No wonder the working title is Devil in a Dark Blue Suit.
I love bad boy stories. How can readers keep up with your writing and books?
Come and visit my website! http://www.robyngrady.com/ My books are available on Amazon and the Harlequin and Mills & Boon sites. Please email if you’d like to comment on any of my stories. I’d love to hear from you
Two books to give away!
Question to win either Baby Bequest or Confessions of a Millionaire’s Mistress…
Tell us the name of your favourite romantic hero (book or film) and why.
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