1–What is the title of your latest release?
IF THE DUKE DARES, it’s the first book in my new Rogue Rules series about a group of girlfriends who band together to make a list of rules about how to steer clear of rogues after one of them is ruined by one.
2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Oops, I gave a little away above, lol, but for this book, it’s: When a rakish duke encounters his runaway betrothed, she’ll stop at nothing to ensure they never wed.
3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I envisioned the group of girlfriends meeting while on a summer holiday at a coastal town in England during the Regency. I wanted to use something with proximity to Bath as I’d planned to set a few books there, so I chose Weston (now called Weston-super-mare) on the western coast of England.
4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
I would absolutely hang out with the heroine, Persephone. We’d absolutely be friends! And I’d be friends with the hero too, especially once he reforms himself—can’t have him besmirching my reputation, lol.
5–What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Persephone: loyal, hopeful, protective
Acton: romantic, cheerful, emotionally blocked (oops, that’s two words)
6–What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I learned that typing the name Persephone over and over again results in constant backspacing as I’ve spelled it wrong (just did it again!).
7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I do some editing as I go, then an overall edit, then I send it to my editor and guess what? Then I get to do more edits!
8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Cheese
9–Describe your writing space/office!
In a word, CATS! We have seven (mostly rescue) snuggly friends, and several of them like to hang out with me. I have four cat beds and a cat tree. I write in a cozy chair and am often joined by Banana or Duchess, either on the arm of the chair or on the footstool. My window has a pretty view of the farmland and hills to the west, and there are lots of birds for the cats to see. I have a desk where I do non-writing work (and on which Apollo likes to sprawl – he’s a big orange boy). I also have a standing desk and a dresser beneath it where I keep all my old scrapbooking and craft supplies (not enough time for that these days!). I also have a wall of bookcases with my books, research books, my friends’ books, and two keeper shelves of (mostly) romance novels. I also have a lot of knick knacks and photos because they make me happy. Oh, and I guess I have a cat box cleverly disguised in a piece of furniture. On that, I have a prized possession I scored at a fun local shop a few years ago – an antique embroidered fireplace screen with greenery and squirrels! It’s really special and I love it.
10–Who is an author you admire?
Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick/Jayne Castle – how can you not admire someone with so many names? I have been a fan of hers for a very long time and during the pandemic we became Zoom friends. We’ve met in person since then and I’ll be seeing her later this month. I still pinch myself because she’s just such an inspiration to me and now she’s a friend.
11–Is there a book that changed your life?
Not really, but several books have stuck with me: The Killer Angels, The Mists of Avalon, Outlander, A Discovery of Witches, Almost Heaven
12–Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
I have done both. I got the call from my agent that Avon wanted to buy my contemporary romance series while on a trip to Great Wolf Lodge with my family so that was fun. When I decided to indie publish, I was at an annual writing retreat with friends. My dear friend Courtney Milan had indie published several months earlier and she looked at me and said, “Darcy, you have three great books in a series ready to go. You need to publish those.” And I did! Best advice I’ve ever taken.
13–What’s your favorite genre to read?
Historical fiction and mystery
14–What’s your favorite movie?
Notting Hill, Robin Hood – the Russell Crowe version, The Bourne Identity. Couldn’t pick just one!
15–What is your favorite season?
Autumn
16–How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
With my family and wearing green. (It’s on St. Patrick’s Day.)
17–What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I’m currently watching All Creatures Great and Small, which is based on a book. It’s just the coziest, most feel-good show. I listen to a bunch of nerdy British historical podcasts such as Gone Medieval, You’re Dead to Me (comedy+history), and Betwixt the Sheets.
18–What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Cheese. (Is that not an entire cuisine?)
19–What do you do when you have free time?
Hahahaha. I spend my free time cleaning up after cats. (Actually, I spend it with my family. We enjoy wildlife spotting and spend a lot of time at our very local national wildlife refuge.)
20–What can readers expect from you next?
The next Rogue Rules book, Because the Baron Broods, will be out April 30 and I’ve two more titles in the series coming this year. Later this year, I’ll be debuting a historical mystery series set in the Victorian era featuring an earl who survives his own murder and the aspiring lady private investigator he turns to for help in finding his killer.
IF THE DUKE DARES by Darcy Burke
Rogue Rules #1
Rogue Rules
When a young lady is ruined, her friends vow none of them will ever be ensnared by a scoundrel again. They will resist every gentleman’s charms even—and especially—if it means gaining a reputation for being impossible to woo. It will take extraordinary rogues to break their rules…
From USA Today Bestselling Author Darcy Burke, author of The Untouchables and Phoenix Club series, comes your next Regency romance must-read.
If the Duke Dares
Incorrigible flirt Acton Loxley, Duke of Wellesbourne is in need of a duchess. En route to greet a potential bride, he encounters a most intriguing and captivating widow who completely distracts him from his task. However, she disappears before he can deepen their acquaintance. Acton begrudgingly goes to meet his bride, unaware she and the widow are one and the same.
When Persephone Barclay’s younger sister is compromised, Persephone must wed before the scandal spreads. Her parents scramble to present her to the Duke of Wellesbourne; except he’s precisely the kind of rogue she has now vowed to avoid. Taking flight to avoid a match, Persephone runs straight into her would-be betrothed and pretends to be someone else. But dash it all, the duke proves to be irresistibly charming! If she remains in his company, she’ll end up in the wicked scoundrel’s clutches.
Even worse, her second attempt at escape lands her in increasingly poor circumstances. With nowhere to turn and her safety at risk, she may have to accept help from the one man who threatens her resolve—and her reputation.
Romance Historical [Zealous Quill Press, On Sale: January 30, 2024, e-Book, / ]
Buy IF THE DUKE DARES: Kindle | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Darcy Burke
Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy, emotional historical and contemporary romance. Darcy wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. Join her Reader Group. A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming husband, their two hilarious kids who seem to have inherited the writing gene, two Bengal cats and a third cat named after a fruit.
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