1–What is the title of your latest release?
2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
In this second-chance Regency romance, when Lady Philippa Ware finally comes to the decision to make her debut in London society, she is forced to reckon with Lucas Arden, Marquess of Roath, the man whose cruel words years before delayed her season in London until now. Unfortunately for Philippa, Lucas’s grandfather has decided that this is the season Lucas is to find a wife, and he believes that Philippa and Lucas are a perfect pair…
3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
Most of my more than 100 novels and novellas are set in Regency England or Wales, sometimes on a country estate, sometimes in London or Bath. I am thoroughly comfortable with these settings. This story needed to take both the hero and heroine to London for the spring Season—he to find an eligible bride at the behest of his ailing grandfather, who wants another heir before he dies, she to find a husband at the great marriage mart.
4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
My heroines are of all types, whether in age or looks or personality or circumstances. But all are—or will become in the course of the book—sensible, honorable, well-mannered, empathetic women who have to reach a point at which they can give and receive real love and expect a lifetime of stability and contentment and even happiness if they work on it every day of their lives. They are ultimately strong women with whom I can identify and whom I can admire. So yes, I would enjoy spending time with Lady Philippa Ware though she is only in her early twenties.
5–What are three words that describe your hero?
Charming, attractive, dutiful.
6–What’s something you learned while writing this book?
The terrible hostility between Philippa and Lucas at the start of the book had its origin in the previous book, REMEMBER LOVE. At that time I merely wanted it to happen for the sake of my plot. I had no idea why it happened. Making Lucas Philippa’s love interest in REMEMBER ME seemed like an impossibility at first. What he had done and its consequences for Philippa were quite dire and had strongly adverse effect on her for several years until they met again. In writing their book I learned the story behind that earlier, insulting behavior toward her. I also learned that almost nothing is quite unforgivable.
7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I edit as I go—over and over again. Because I cannot plan a plot ahead of time and because I cannot know my characters thoroughly until they begin acting and reacting in the developing story, I constantly have to stop writing and go back to the beginning to make adjustments, to add, subtract, and smooth out rough edges. It is not a comfortable way to write, but it works for me. And at least by the time I come to the end, I am more or less finished except to go through it all once more to make sure it has the proper flow and to make a few, basically cosmetic changes.
8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Vanilla ice cream.
9–Describe your writing space/office!
I write during the all-too-short summer months in Saskatchewan. So my favorite writing spot is the large deck behind our house, sheltered from the sun and protected from mosquitoes and other insects by screening. I get the fresh air and am surrounded on three sides by green grass and trees. It is sheer bliss and the perfect setting for some intense writing. If the weather is inclement I sit in a large, comfortable chair in my study. Sitting at the desk there is no longer comfortable for prolonged spells. Thank heaven for lightweight laptops!
10–Who is an author you admire?
There are a number. I love Kate Clayborn and Jacqueline Winspear. The one I most admire is Georgette Heyer, who wrote with such wit and perfect command of the English language.
11–Is there a book that changed your life?
Yes. Georgette Heyer’s FREDERICKA. It was on a long-suggested reading list for Grade XI students when I was teaching English. I had never read any Heyer but read that book while I was on maternity leave with my third child. I was enchanted. I felt a huge sense of what I can only describe as nostalgia. I knew I had to read everything she had written. And since at that time I was searching around and floundering over what I wanted to write myself, I suddenly knew the answer. This was it! I started writing my own Regency romances soon after—and my life certainly changed!
12–Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)
I had written A MASKED DECEPTION, a Regency romance, but had no idea where to go from there. There was no internet at the time, and I lived in a small town (pop. 1,000) in Saskatchewan, Canada. This was back in the early ’80s. I found a Canadian address inside the cover of a Signet Regency, bundled up my whole manuscript and sent it on its way with a very brief covering letter. I received a letter a few weeks later, telling me I had sent it to a distribution center! However, someone there had read it, enjoyed it, and sent it on to the publisher in New York. A very few weeks after that I was home from work with a wicked migraine headache when the phone rang. It was Hilary Ross, the Signet Regency editor in New York. She loved my book, she told me, and offered me a two-book contract! I have never been without a writing contract since then.
13–What’s your favorite genre to read?
I am not sure I have one. I will read anything that sparks my interest and can hold my attention until the end. Until Covid hit, romance was the only genre I tended to avoid—partly because it is too much like what I do for a living, and partly because I did not want to be influenced or, horror of horrors, find myself unconsciously plagiarizing. During Covid, though, I started to read some romance as a sort of comfort thing, and I continue to read some now. I tend to choose contemporary romance instead of historicals.
14–What’s your favorite movie?
I don’t watch movies.
15–What is your favorite season?
Summer. It is so short here in Saskatchewan, Canada, that every day needs to be savored. I love the heat and the greenness of nature.
16–How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Nothing extravagant. It is usually nice to go out for a meal. With my family far flung across the whole North American continent as well as in Britain. I can expect numerous texts, phone calls, and Facetime calls. And there are always some gifts to open.
17–What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
By far my favorite book of the year so far is GEORGIE, ALL ALONG by Kate Clayborn. The characterization of both hero and heroine, as well as supporting characters, is superb. The story is gritty and real and develops slowly and believably into an unforgettable love story. She has been a recent and major find for me. I just wish she had written more!
18–What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Indian curries.
19–What do you do when you have free time?
More than anything else I read. I also like to watch cooking and fashion contests on Netflix or Amazon Prime.
20–What can readers expect from you next?
Book 3 of the Ravenswood series, ALWAYS REMEMBER, Ben’s story, is already written and is due out in hardcover early next year. I am about to start on Book 4, Clarissa’s story, with the tentative title of REMEMBER THE HEART’S SONG. There should be three more books in the series after that.
REMEMBER ME by Mary Balogh
Ravenswood Novel #2
Phillippa’s Story
Can Lady Philippa Ware forgive the man who once shattered all her youthful dreams? Discover the passionate and heartwarming new novel on the redemptive power of love from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh.
Philippa, elder daughter of the Earl of Stratton, grew up eagerly anticipating a glittering debut and a brilliant marriage. Then her brother caught their father out in a clandestine affair and denounced him publicly. The whole family was disgraced, and Philippa’s hopes grew dim, then were fully shattered when she overheard the dashing, handsome Marquess of Roath viciously insult her upon learning of her father’s identity. Only years later does Philippa find the courage to go to London at last to meet the ton. She is an instant success and enjoys a close friendship with the granddaughter of a duke. Only one man can spoil everything for her, but surely he will not be in London this year.
The Duke of Wilby is nearing death and has tasked his grandson and heir, Lucas Arden, Marquess of Roath, with marrying and producing a son before it is too late. Lucas, who usually shuns London, goes there early in the Season in the hope of finding an eligible bride before his grandparents come and find one for him. He is instantly attracted to his sister’s new friend, until that young lady asks a simple question: “Remember me?” And suddenly he does remember her, as well as the reason why the daughter of the Earl of Stratton is the one woman he can never marry—even if his heart tells him she is the only woman he wants.
Unfortunately for Philippa and Lucas, the autocratic duke and his duchess have other ideas and believe them to be perfect for each other. They will simply not take no for an answer. Telling Philippa the full truth is the hardest thing Lucas has ever faced, and the discovery of it will change them both before they discover the healing power of love.
Romance Historical [Berkley, On Sale: June 20, 2023, Hardcover / e-Book, ISBN: 9780593438152 / ]
Gentle Regency romance reunites a couple split by family scandals
Buy REMEMBER ME: Amazon.com | Kindle | BN.com | Powell’s Books | Books-A-Million | Indie BookShops | Ripped Bodice | Love’s Sweet Arrow | Walmart.com | Target.com | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Mary Balogh
Mary Balogh grew up in Wales. Before she was ten, she was writing long, long stories about children having spectacular adventures and always emerging victorious. For one of her stories she won a large box filled with Cadbury’s chocolate bars, a far more gratifying prize than any trophy to a ten-year-old, especially in post-World War II Britain. Many years passed before she became a published author. All those pesky things like school and university and a teaching career and marriage and motherhood to three children got in the way of what seemed like a mere dream. Oh, and the move to Canada, which was supposed to be for two years but turned out to be permanent. But it happened eventually–the publication of that first book, A MASKED DECEPTION, a Regency romance, in 1985, and a two-book contract. Twenty-seven years and five grandchildren and one great-grandchild later, Mary has almost one hundred published novels and novellas to her credit, all of them historical romances, most of them set in the Regency era in England. She has won numerous awards and, to date, has had nineteen books on the New York Times bestselling list. She lives in Saskatchewan, Canada, with her husband of forty-three years. They divide their time between the rural town of Kipling (summers) and the capital city of Regina (winters).
No Comments
Comments are closed.