Welbourne Booty!

by Caren Crane

Thanks to everyone for participating in our "Friends To Lovers" discussion with the magnificent Deb Marlowe. The winner a copy of Deb's May release How to Marry a Rake is...JEANNE M!!

Congratulations, Jeanne! Please e-mail your full name and snail mail addy to Deb@DebMarlowe.com. Enjoy the wonderful Regency read!

Deb Marlowe on Friends To Lovers

by Caren Crane

My darling Banditas and Buddies, I am thrilled to welcome one of my very favorite people (and authors), Deb Marlowe, back to the Lair. Welcome, Deb!

Thank you for having me. You know I love you and the Banditas!

Believe me, the love is entirely mutual. I am very excited about your May 1 release, How To Marry a Rake. Tell us a bit about the hero and heroine of this new Regency delight.

Stephen Manning is one of the Fitzmanning Miscellany, the scandalous Regency family introduced in The Diamonds of Welbourne Manor. He’s not the same rakish boy we saw growing up in the anthology. He’s had some hard knocks and has had to learn that the world doesn’t revolve around him, as many young men do. He’s spent the last few years building a racetrack on his mother’s destitute estate, and he’s come to Newmarket determined to set his tenants’ lives back on course by bringing it to the attention of the racing world.

Mae Halford has spent the intervening years abroad, mending her heart and broadening her horizons after Stephen’s rejection broke her heart. She’s in Newmarket, too, where her father is determined to find a stud for both his brood mare and his daughter. Mae’s ready to launch her Marriage Campaign, an effort to have a say in what sort of husband she ends up with. The last man on earth she wishes to see is Stephen—which makes it a certainty that he is the first one she bumps into!

Deb, Mae and Stephen have a long history together before the book begins. Was it just a deeply hidden sadistic streak that had you fling Mae and Stephen together again?

Would you be surprised if the answer was yes? :-) I think all writers have to have a sadistic streak. We create characters we love and admire and in whom we see such great potential for growth—but unless we put them in difficult and uncomfortable situations, then there is no spur for growth and change—or for the chance at true love!

It seems that Mae and Stephen had a serious falling out before she left England. Will Stephen find Mae much changed after her European tour?

Yes! In many interesting and frustrating ways. Mae has grown up. She's the same in that she knows her own mind, but she's learned how to be subtle in going after it. Also, she truly feels that she's over her feelings for Stephen. And he, being typically male, doesn't want her to want him, but is taken aback when she doesn't.

So tell me, is the theme of friends becoming lovers one you have wanted to explore? It was one I found most intriguing when I was a teenager and I find myself, here in my dotage, interested in it still. It seems being friends could both aid and hinder the development of a romance.

Friends to lovers is one of my very favorite themes. It's a classic fantasy, isn't it? I think many of us have an old friend we might wonder about, or think about in terms of what if? But it's also a theme that lends itself to greater and more immediate intimacy and one which can make for a rich, emotional story. The stakes are higher when someone knows all the scoop and scandal, strengths and weaknesses of your past, but I think the payoff can be that much bigger.

Do you have a bit of How To Marry a Rake you would care to share?

Well, if you insist...

Stephen was happy. She felt his contentment flow into her, warming her blood, crawling into her very sinews and bones. It was beautiful. It made her feel beautiful, and whole.

Her eyes slid closed. For long minutes she lost herself to the glory of the music and the moment. Stephen gave in to it as well; she could feel his surrender in the grip of his hands, in the intimate press of her legs to hers, and in the graceful, floating ease with which he guided them about the dance floor.

And that was when she knew she’d come full circle. Her campaign was forgotten, her plans and strategies left behind. Here she was, right back where she’d started, two years ago, wanting Stephen Manning with all of her heart.

Yet, thankfully, not everything remained the same. There were new levels to their friendship, their partnership. So easily had he come to share his victory with her tonight. So naturally had he assumed she would take part in the next step. He was the one who gifted her with appreciation and acceptance and passion and all the things she’d vowed to have in a husband.

Perhaps she needed a new campaign, with new strategies designed to win his heart. Because she longed for it, and for his unfathomable blue eyes and his maddening imperious ways and his warm acceptance and his heated kisses.

But there was one other thing that was different now, too. She wasn’t that young girl anymore, happy to accept whatever part of himself Stephen was willing or able to give. She wanted all of him. And no campaign of hers was going to be successful in flushing it out. She sighed. He had to choose to give it.

Oh, my! It sounds like Stephen won't stand a chance against the woman Mae has become. I do believe Mae will get her man! I hope everyone will run out and snap up a copy of How To Marry a Rake. Many of us have been waiting for the 'sibling' books to the The Diamonds of Welbourne Manor for ages! Deb, thank you so much for giving us the inside scoop on Stephen and Mae's book. (And here, for your delectation, is a dude Deb thinks should totally play Stephen in a movie version of How To Marry a Rake!)

Now, do you have a question you would like to pose to our Banditas and Buddies today?

But of course I do!

Do you guys have someone in your past who makes you go What If? Do you like friends-to-lovers-themed romances? Can you name a favorite "Friends to Lovers" couple? A randomly selected commenter will win a copy of How To Marry a Rake!

Ooh, we do love a giveaway! Deb, thank you so much for being with us today. I'm off to search my memory banks for my very favorite pair of Friends Who Discovered Benefits!

Bandit Booty! (or is that Booties?!)

Denise Rossetti has picked her winner and....

PINKPEONY...Congratulations!!!!!!!!!

You can email Denise at deniserossettiATgmailDOTcom and give her your snail mail address and choose your prize!

Deb Marlowe has picked her winner and...DREW gets the autographed copy of Her Cinderella Season for getting called out by her husband over hyperbole! Congratulations, Drew!! E-mail Deb at debATdebmarloweDOTcom and give her your snail mail addy to claim your prize!

Deb Marlowe On Typos and Slips Of the Lip

by Caren Crane

Hola, Banditas! As many of you are aware, I (the contemporary romance writer) count many fabulous historical romance writers as my dear friends. One of my best and most beloved friends, the delightful Deb Marlowe (please note self-indulgent inclusion of extra-cute Caren and Deb picture from RWA conference when Deb won her Golden Heart!)is here with us today to discuss a dirty little writing secret. One we hope no one notices or holds against us: typos. Here with the dish on typos and other little "oopsie" moments, is Darling Deb.

I was in the grocery line the other day, behind a woman who was disputing a sale price on one of her items. The exasperated clerk sent someone to check and it turned out the customer had been right. She didn’t gloat, but she did leave with a parting shot. “You didn’t have to be so surely about it,” she muttered as she left.

It took me a minute to figure out that she meant surly. I didn’t correct her, of course. She was right—the clerk was surly—and I wasn’t going to rain on her moment of triumph. We’ve all had days when we needed that small triumph—and days when what we meant to say came out as something else.

Those sorts of things happen in publishing too. Books do sometimes get printed with . . . gasp! . . .typos. Sometimes they are introduced in the original manuscript and get past the author, a critique partner, an editor or two and even the copy editor. Sometimes they are introduced in one of the many steps it takes to convert a file into an actual book. All authors cringe when they find them, though.

I’m cringing. There’s a mistake in my new release, Her Cinderella Season. I’m not sure when it happened, but I didn’t find it until I held my first author copy in my hand. But after I got over the horror, I had to laugh. Let me set the scene:

The hero of Her Cinderella Season is Jack Alden. He was the scholarly younger brother of my first hero in Scandalous Lord, Rebellious Miss. In An Improper Aristocrat, he’s the expert that Trey and Chione come to for help in their quest to foil a ring of antiquity thieves. So I was thrilled to give him his own story at last.

As Her Cinderella Season opens, Jack is recovering from the wounds he received at the end of An Improper Aristocrat. A gunshot wound is a shocking thing for a quiet, scholarly type, and this one has shaken loose a few demons. Jack has his wounded arm in a sling and is driving a feisty team of horses through the busy London streets—even though he knows he should not be.

In the scene, the horses are meant to be spooked by a calling cart vendor. You know the sort—oranges, meat pies, chestnuts, etc. Instead, it is a calling card vendor who frightens them with his shouting.

So after the gasp of shock, I was hit with the funniest image! Picture a shady Regency gentleman in a greatcoat, whipping it open to showcase a large selection of parchment calling cards. “Psst! Ye want an entrée into Society? I got yer calling cards here—get you into any house in Mayfair! Ye want ter be the Duchess of Devonshire? Right here! Lord Byron? I’m yer man!”

Okay, so it’s ridiculous, but I’m trying to look on the bright side! Cut me a little slack?

The heroine in Her Cinderella Season, Lily Beecham, wants an entrée into Society. She was born a gentleman’s daughter, but she’s spent the last years in an Evangelical household. She enjoys the charitable and political works she’s been involved in, but she’s not willing to accept her mother’s choice for her husband, and she’s not quite ready to give up on the idea of a life filled with music, joy and love. She faces the difficulty of blending her two worlds, finds herself mixed up in the excitement of helping Jack track down a villain, and takes on the greatest challenge of all—winning the elusive Mr. Alden’s heart.

So—have you ever said the wrong word in public? Found an irritating typo in a book? Found a typo in your book? Will you give Her Cinderella Season a try even though I planted that image in your head? :-) Make me feel better, please! Share your story and I’ll send an autographed copy of Her Cinderella Season to one commenter!

A Diamond of a Prize!

Thanks for a great day in the lair yesterday with Diane Gaston, Amanda McCabe and Deb Marlowe. It's with great pleasure that I announce the winner of the anthology THE DIAMONDS OF WELBOURNE MANOR.

And the winner is...

LLEHN!

Llehn, can you please email Amanda McCabe on amccabe7551@yahoo.com with your snail mail details and she'll get your book off to you! Congratulations!

Three Diamonds of the First Water!

by Anna Campbell

It's always fun to have Bandita favorites back. And today, I've got two faves and a wonderful new guest for you all to meet. Let the festivities begin!

Amanda McCabe, Deb Marlowe and Diane Gaston are launching their new anthology for Harlequin Historicals, THE DIAMONDS OF WELBOURNE MANOR. Here's the blurb for what sounds like a really intriguing trio of stories:

JUSTINE AND THE NOBLE VISCOUNT by Diane Gaston

Guardian to the unconventional and newly orphaned Fitzmannings is not a role that brooding Gerald Brenner relishes. But Justine, the illegitimate daughter who strives to hide her shame, calls powerfully to something deep within him….

ANNALISE AND THE SCANDALOUS RAKE by Deb Marlowe

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 marriage!

CHARLOTTE AND THE WICKED LORD by Amanda McCabe

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…?

Now it's my great pleasure to introduce the heroines from all three books, Annalise, Charlotte and Justine, as they enjoy a very elegant Regency afternoon tea together.


Charlotte Fitzmanning, who had only been Lady Andrew Derrington for a few weeks, surveyed the drawing room of her new London home in nervous excitement. Everything seemed to be quite in order—the new furnishings, the stylish silk draperies, her sister Annalise’s paintings on the walls, the vases of hothouse roses, the polished silver tea service that was a wedding gift laid out on the table with her mother’s Wedgwood.

But was it perfect?

It had to be, for not just any guests were soon to arrive for her first tea as a married lady. She expected her sisters, Justine and Annalise. She wanted so much for them to see she was happy and settled, that she was a fashionable lady and not just their wild little sister! That she and Drew had a lovely life together.

“No, Oliver!” she cried, grabbing up the pug just as he lunged for a cake. Just in time, too, for the butler announced her first guest—Justine.

Justine entered the room and immediately enveloped Charlotte in a big hug. “Oh, Charlotte! It is so good to see you. I’ve missed you so.”

“I’ve missed you, too.” Even though her life with Drew was like a dream come true, Charlotte did miss her sisters and brothers and their carefree days at Welbourne Manor.


Justine surveyed the room. “Why this is lovely, Charlotte. I must get some decorating ideas from you. Our townhouse is no longer gloomy, but you’ve achieved the very latest in fashion.” She spied the Wedgewood. “Oh, your mother’s tea set. How pretty it looks here.” Justine and Brenner lived with Brenner and his father, who was once married to Charlotte’s mother, who, of course was Brenner’s mother, too, but not Justine’s. So Brenner was Charlotte’s half-brother, but, then, so were Nicky and Stephen, but that was because the duke was their father, as well as hers, Annalise’s, Leo’s, and Justine’s. But not Brenner’s.

Charlotte pressed her fingers to her temple. Sorting out their family always gave her a headache. “How is baby Catherine?” she asked Justine.


Justine smiled. “She grows by the day! And she is so clever. You should see her shake her rattle and I would swear she is trying to talk with the sounds she makes.”

The butler returned to announce that Annalise had arrived. Justine and Charlotte immediately turned to greet her.

“Good afternoon, you two!” Annalise’s wide smile spoke volumes as she entered. Justine stood closest, so she got the first hug. “Where is my niece? I was hoping to see her today.”


“She is at home, charming her father away from his accounts and his estate matters, I hope.”

Charlotte loved to see the tenderness that softened Justine’s face when she spoke of her husband and daughter. “Today is just for us.”

“Well, I shall just have to make do with Oliver, then.” Annalise laughed as she scooped the pug up from another sneak attack on the teacakes. Her other arm looped around Charlotte’s waist and she gazed around the room with satisfaction. “I don’t have to ask what you have been doing, little sister. I can see you’ve been hard at work—and how lovely it has all turned out!”


Charlotte flushed with pleasure. “Thank you, Annalise.”

"And what of you, Annalise?” Justine asked. “Have you been sequestered in your studio? Brenner ran into Ned yesterday and he said that the gallery is nearly ready for its first showing.”

“I have been painting like mad. My new husband, my new studio, my new life, it’s all been perfect.”

Charlotte heard the trembling note in her sister’s voice and squeezed her tighter. “Come,” she said to distract her.“Everything is ready. I’ll pour and it will be just as if we were girls again at Welbourne, playing tea party.”

“Hardly girls.” Annalise took her seat with a sigh, Oliver still in her lap. “Look at us! Brenner and Justine have worked hard until his estates are flourishing. I saw a mention of the pair of you in the papers, too! You’ve become an exemplary young society couple. Ned and I are so happy together, and he’s about to open his gallery at last.”

Charlotte leaned in to hand her a cup and saucer and Annalise took it with a grin. “Even our wild little Charlotte is a respectable married lady.”

“Who would have thought it would turn out this way,” Justine said quietly, “That day when Brenner first came to Welbourne with such terrible news?”

They sat quietly a moment, reflecting on all the highs and lows that had led to this moment of happiness.

Finally Charlotte could take the solemnity no more. “Do you know, as I was preparing for this afternoon, I had a thought. The three of us are settled so happily . . .” She let her voice trail away suggestively. “But what of the boys?”

Justine grinned. “I’ve entertained the same notion.”

“Surely, working together, the three of us could contrive something,” Annalise said with an evil grin.
Oh, dear, sounds like the boys in the family are facing their collective Waterloo! As a long-time reader of Regency romance, I know that when sisters unite to matchmake, the poor male in question hasn't got a hope! I can't wait to see what happens.

The girls have a couple of questions for the Banditas and Bandita buddies. They want to know whether you like linked anthologies. They also want to know whether your own families are candidates for starring in an anthology. Wow, that's an interesting thought! Diane, Amanda and Deb have very generously donated a copy of their latest anthology THE DIAMONDS OF WELBOURNE MANOR to one lucky commenter today. Good luck!

Things We Love WINNAHS!!

by Caren Crane

Our fabulous guest Deb Marlowe has chosen two lucky commenters to receive the prizes from her Sunday guest post. The winners are MARGAY and CAFFEY!! Congratulations, ladies, you will each receive a copy of Deb's fabulous An Improper Aristocrat. What a lovely early Christmas present!

Please send your snail mail addy to Deb at debmarlowe AT debmarlowe DOT com. Enjoy!!

Things We Love

by Caren Crane

Back by popular demand (and my personal edict) is one of our favorite authors and Bandita Buddies, Deb Marlowe. This picture of me and Deb was taken at the 2007 RWA conference in Dallas where Deb won the Golden Heart. We may hear something about her GH-winning book today. Let's listen...

We all have them. The little things that ignite a glow inside you and set your heart to skipping in anticipation. Now, I’m not talking about the really significant elements of our lives: spouses, kids, families—I’m thinking of the tiny treats, the singular little splurges that we turn to when our spirits need lifting at the end of a tough job or a long day. These little luxuries might change over time, or with the seasons, but they give us the boost we need—when we need it most.

To get the ball rolling, I’ll share a few of the gifts I give myself when I need a pick-me up.

**My new release, An Improper Aristocrat. You knew I had to work it in here, didn’t you? *g* But seriously, this book is special to me. Here’s a blurb:

Navigating the Nile to uncover the antiquities of Upper Egypt might sound perilous, but Niall Stafford, the Earl of Treyford finds it infinitely safer than sailing the fickle waters of the Beau Monde. He is back in England and on dangerous ground when a deathbed pledge has him delivering an ancient artifact to a colleague’s sister.

Desert bandits are more easily managed than Miss Chione Latimer, but her fascinating mix of knowledge and innocence arouse far more than his protective instincts. Can such an improper aristocrat learn to be the true gentleman that Miss Latimer deserves?

I wanted to create a big romance with a breathless adventure, a story in which the reader followed along with the characters as they chased one clue to the next and was never sure where it would all end up. I was about halfway through when a discussion with an editor derailed me. She questioned the marketability of the idea and advised that I start something else. I considered it. It’s hard to question an industry insider’s advice. So I started something else. But Trey and Chione kept calling me back. How could I abandon my half-Egyptian novelist and her antiquity-seeking Earl? I had to finish the adventure and give them their HEA. So I did. And that book went on to win the Golden Heart and help me land my second contract with Harlequin Historicals. Now, whenever I doubt myself—and boy is that easy to do in this business!—I just pick up this book to remind me to listen to my heart as well as all the other voices.

**The Big Bang Theory
Do any of you guys watch this show? These guys speak to my inner geek. This sitcom is about a group of friends, all career scientists in various fields, struggling with life, love and the pursuit of science fiction memorabilia. Sheldon, the genius physicist with OCD tendencies has got to be one of TV’s greatest characters ever. My pre-teen and I curl up together every Monday night to laugh uproariously at their nerdy antics. A great way to end a busy day!

**A Seasonal Favorite — Sitting in the Dark with a Lit-Up Christmas Tree
Is there anything more relaxing? I’ve loved to do this since I was a kid. I’d sit and stare at the patterns the lights and branches made on the ceiling and dream of what might be under the tree on Christmas morning. Now I sit and let my mind drift. No work, kid’s schedules, gift lists or housekeeping worries allowed. Just me, an evergreen, some twinkly lights and the universe. Ah, peace!

So spill! What little thing do you look forward to with happy anticipation at the end of the day? It could be anything; a hot cup of tea, a little Nutella perhaps? Or maybe a Tim Tam or two? Share your private indulgence! Maybe one of us will add it to our own regime. I’ll give away a couple of copies of my December release, An Improper Aristocrat to commenters!

* * * * * * *
Man, are y'all in for a treat! I got to read this book (because I whined to Deb a lot) in its UK release. It's FABULOUS! And I'm not just saying that because Deb gets up at the crack of dawn on Saturdays to go walking with me, either. *eg*

Deb Marlowe Winnahs!

by Caren Crane

Thanks to everyone who helped make Deb Marlowe's release date a fabulous success! We have selected two lucky winners, because both dream of being doctors:

Rebekah, who would love to be a doctor but can't stand the sight of blood, has won a copy of Deb's debut release Scandalous Lord, Rebellious Miss.

Lily, who is studying to become a real, live doctor (and apparently has no trouble with blood *g*), has won an ARC of Deb's An Improper Aristocrat which will not be released in North America until November. Lucky!

Ladies, please e-mail your snail mail addresses to deb AT debmarlowe DOT com. Congratulations!!

Deb Marlowe And The Wicked Lord Dayle...

by Caren Crane

I am very excited to welcome a brilliant new Regency historical star to the Bandit Lair, Deb Marlowe! Deb was the winner of the 2007 Golden Heart for short historical romance with The Lost Jewel. But before she even donned her lovely Golden Heart necklace, she sold her 2005 Royal Ascot-winning manuscript to Harlequin Mills & Boon. That manuscript was released in November 2007 in the UK and has its US release today as Scandalous Lord, Rebellious Miss.

Deb, congratulations on your US debut! Many of us here in the Lair have eagerly awaited the arrival of this book! What can you tell us about Scandalous Lord, Rebellious Miss and the wicked Lord Dayle?

Ah, the Wicked Lord Dayle! I do love him so. :-) In point of fact, Charles Alden, Viscount Dayle USED to be wicked. As Scandalous Lord, Rebellious Miss begins, he is actually a rake reformed.

Charles's days of pranks and peccadilloes ended with the deaths of his brother and father. Now he is working hard to pursue a political career, but someone seems determined to use his old antics against him. Charles decides that the only way to live down the wickedness of his past is to secure the dullness of his future. He determines to find a bride, and only the primmest and most proper will do.

Prim and proper, eh? Sounds like a recipe for conflict! I take it your heroine is not exactly a buttoned-up Regency miss?

Oh, no! Sophia Westby is Charles's childhood friend and she has as little use for English society as it has for her. Fate has brought her to London and she is determined to become known as a designer. While she is thrilled to run into Charles again--literally--she despises his new stiff-rumped demeanor and longs for rake's return.

Oh, my, I love Sophia already! Don't we all long for the rake inside our responsible men? And I know a number of Banditas are fans of the friends-turned lover hook, as well. *g* A designer is quite an unusual occupation for a Regency miss. How did you decide on that one for Sophia?

Because it gave me the perfect excuse to travel to England to see fabulous Great Houses up close and personal? Hee hee, not really, although I did do just that. Truthfully, I love people who have goals, interests and passions. I wanted my heroine to be that sort of woman.

In the Regency, technological advances were making interior design possible for all sorts of homeowners for the first time. I had so much fun delving into the subject and seeing how the important events and charismatic personalities of the time influenced furniture and decor.

Ooh, a tour of the Great Houses - how fun! We were just discussing extreme research over at Romance Novel TV last week. Sounds as if you sacrifice greatly for the sake of research. *g* I understand your Golden Heart winner, The Lost Jewel will be released in the UK in March as An Improper Aristocrat. Did you get to do any extreme research for that one?

I wish! That story is a rollicking adventure taking us from the tombs in Egypt's Valley of the Kings through Devonshire and into London. I would have dearly loved to explore Seti's tomb, the gorgeous coasts of Devon, or even the British Museum! Alas, the months when I was working on that story were filled with such excitement as packing school lunches and waiting in the carpool lane, rather than international travel. I have to say, I'm feeling the itch of the travel bug again. Now, if only the exchange rates would cooperate!

Ah, yes, the glamorous life of a writer, another favorite Bandits topic! Working around home and family is always a challenge. With your two releases timed so close together, you give the appearance of sudden success. Could you tell us about your road to publication? We do love a call story!

Sudden success? Is there such a thing in publishing? I suppose there is, but not here! I loved books and history when I was young. I had a friend who used to tell me I should be a writer. But practical considerations prevailed and I went into the medical field instead. It wasn't until my first child was born that I began to write. He had health issues that led me to stay home, and I started writing during nap times. I didn't get really serious until his health was finally settled and the younger one was in preschool. I began to concentrate on my writing, found fabulous critique partners and writing friends. I submitted, got rejected, and whined to said critique partners and writing friends. :-) Then I did it all again.

Finally, one day I was walking out the door to get the kids to school and my dh said, "There's an email here you'd better read." It was from an editor at Harlequin Mills and Boon who asked if she could call later that day. I jumped up and down, cried, then calmly answered in the affirmative. I took the kids, came back and paced the house for two hours, until the phone rang and a voice with the loveliest British accent said, "We've read your book. We love it. We want to buy it."

Miraculously, I did not faint. I held it together, accepted the offer, and then came a wild flurry of phone calls to dh and critique partners and writing friends! Much celebrating ensued! I'm still celebrating, to tell the truth, although everyone else might be sick of it. :-)

Well, we certainly aren't tired of it here! We love success, especially when it comes to lovely people like you. Speaking of transitioning to the writer's life, how has being a full-time romance writer been accepted by your non-writing friends? Have any reactions to your success surprised you?

Hmmm. I would say a lot of them were surprised when I made the decision to pursue this full time. When my youngest went to kindergarten I heard a lot of "When are you going back to work?" Shock was often the reaction when I answered with "I'm not." Even when I sold, some were happy and interested, but still uncertain, mostly because many people do not understand the way that publishing works. But I've had a blast educating them and I think that career changes are becoming more common and accepted. My dh has been wonderfully supportive and has graciously handled the ribbing and all the questions about whether he inspires the spicy scenes I write! I'm very happy, because I love Romance, love the message it sends, and I'm thrilled with my new career.

Deb, thank you for being with us today. Readers, be sure to check out Deb's website or click on the cover and order Scandalous Lord, Rebellious Miss today!

So, readers, have you decided on your dream career? Do you want to be a designer like Sophia, a writer like Deb, or maybe a professional cruiser like Aunty Cindy? Please share! A lucky commenter will receive a copy of Scandalous Lord, Rebellious Miss.