June 1816, Summerworth Park, Kent Sir James Branstoke slowly laid the letter he’d just received onto his desk. He unconsciously pinched his lower lip with his thumb and forefinger as he considered the letter’s contents. It was from Mrs. Lilias Montgomery. He remembered her from when he and his wife, Cecilia, were searching for young Christopher Sedgewick. She’d provided key information that led them to rescue the kidnapped child, the Earl of Soothcoor’s nephew. The short, obviously dashed-off letter, heavy with evidence of tear-blurred words, stated the Earl of Soothcoor sat in a gaol in Lincolnshire, charged with murder. Murder? Soothcoor? His brow furrowed. Soothcoor was being held over for the next county assizes. In the meantime, Soothcoor had directed her to contact them for help. Wise man. She begged for James and Cecilia to prove Soothcoor’s innocence before he must appear before a judge. She felt too shattered to explain the circumstances in a letter. When they came to London, she would explain everything. He didn’t like the idea of hieing off to London right now; however, Soothcoor was a good friend —and more than that— a good man. Of course, he would assist. That went without saying. But…

Book Title: AN ARTFUL LIE Character Name: Aidan Nowlton   How would you describe your family or your childhood? My father, the late Bertram Nowlton, was the Duke of Malmsby.  The Nowltons are a family of multi-talented individuals. I had four older siblings. I was an afterthought, ten years younger than my sister Catherine. As a young boy I would follow them and try to do what they did. They asked me to help them sometimes and I enjoyed that. It wasn’t long until helping the family instead of doing something unique for myself became my life. What was your greatest talent? You could say I am the black sheep in the family as I never had a talent. I helped my siblings with their talent endeavors, but never had a recognized talent. Where do you live? London, just outside of Mayfair. I have a townhouse with an Art Gallery on the ground floor. Do you have any enemies? No, though I don’t get along with Lord William Candelstone, my sister Catherine’s husband. He is a spymaster whose mantra is “For King and Country.” What do you do for a living? I own an Art Gallery. Greatest disappointment? Courting Bella….

Book Title: AN ARTFUL LIE Character Name: Aidan Nowlton   How would you describe your family or your childhood? My father, the late Bertram Nowlton, was the Duke of Malmsby. The Nowltons are a family of multi-talented individuals. I had four older siblings. I was an after-thought, ten years younger than my sister Catherine. As a young boy I would follow them and try to do what they did. They asked me to help them sometimes and I enjoyed that. It wasn’t long until my helping the family instead of doing something unique for myself became my life. What was your greatest talent? You could say I am the black sheep in the family as I never had a talent. I helped my siblings with their talent endeavors, but never had a recognized talent. Where do you live? London, just outside of Mayfair. I have a townhouse with an Art Gallery on the ground floor. Do you have any enemies? No, though I don’t get along with Lord William Candelstone, my sister Catherine’s husband. He is a spymaster whose mantra is “For King and Country.” What do you do for a living? I own an Art Gallery. Greatest disappointment? Courting…

1–What is the title of your latest release? AN ARTFUL COMPROMISE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Helena Littledean secretly acquired a painting of Adam in the Garden of Eden. She has kept it hidden for Adam lacks even a fig leaf! Then she meets the Earl of Norwalk. Her heart catches in her throat. It’s her Adam…the embodiment of her closely held dreams. But he is an aristocrat, and she comes from trade. There is no way she can admit she owns a nude painting of an Earl! 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I knew the heroine’s family were potters, so that led to Staffordshire, the hub of English pottery. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Yes. I love the arts and she is an artist. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Troubled, Loyal, Determined 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? About clay and the clay mines of Devon and Cornwall with their tools and methods. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? A bit of both. When I get about ½ through, I start to…

1–What is the title of your latest release? AN ARTFUL DECEIT –  book 1 of a new 5 (or maybe 6) book series “The Art of Love” 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? What happens at a house party when a Duke is mistaken for a Viscount? Add two Michelangelo sketches, hidden passages, vanishing and reappearing art, threatening messages, conniving art collectors, arrogant academicians, a Bow Street agent, a lovelorn couple, and an elderly prankster. It’s enough to give a Duke a headache. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I wanted to take my hero “out of his element” to shake him up a bit. Plopped him down in a house party he couldn’t simply ride away from. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Yes! She is the embodiment of the phrase “still waters run deep”. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Creative, polite, determined. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Trust my unconscious mind. I practiced telling my unconscious mind to work on the next scene for me. I had ideas suddenly come to me while in the shower, folding clothes, pushing a…

In HEART OF A TIGER, a child is in danger. What made you use this element in your story? Was that meant to increase the tension and engage the reader even more? The child in the story is because of the Earl of Soothcoor. He has been a “cast member” in three previous stories. I’ve become quite fond of him. He’s 40ish, never married, plain looking, and secretly heavy into philanthropy. I decided he was in a rut and needed something to push him out of his comfort zone. The child is his heir through his brother and his Indian wife.   I like a mystery series with a couple who solves mysteries together. Was it always the plan to have a mystery series with a married couple? Or did things change as you began writing the first book? Things changed after I wrote the first book, THE WAYLAID HEART. Readers requested I have them in a series. So, I did! I adore them. They are a loving couple, opposites that complement each other.   I love historical romances and historical mysteries, but I always wonder one thing. How much research went into a book like this? Are you a…