Last year I was lucky enough to get a scoop from debut author Elisabeth Hobbes on the release of her book, Falling For Her Captor. The 1st of July 2015 saw her second book, Wager For The Widow published and she’s agreed to come back again and fill us in!
Welcome back Elisabeth and congratulations on your second title being published!
How has life been since your first book was published? In a lot of ways it hasn’t changed. I haven’t been recognised in the street or rubbed shoulders with celebrities. I still work, though now I can legitimately spend time writing rather than having to fit it into odd bits of time here and there. I’ve enjoyed the ride so much though. I’ve been on the radio twice and filmed a video for the So You Think You Can Write blog. I’ve loved reading the reviews for Falling for Her Captor, which have been so positive.
Tell us a bit about your new book. It’s set in Cornwall in the middle of winter, so ideas for reading during a heatwave. Eleanor is a widow who has sworn off men, living independently in her home on a rocky island cut off by the tide and trying to evade her mother’s attempts to marry her off to a nobleman. Will is her father’s steward who wagers he can get her to kiss him before the end of the Midwinter Night feast. Though initially she sees him as arrogant and disreputable Eleanor begins to discover the honourable man beneath the bravado. Will has never failed to get any woman he wants so when Eleanor initially rejects him he’s even determined to win her over. He soon discovers his own heart is not as safely locked away as he believes it to be and always in the back of his mind is the worry of what will happen if she ever finds out about the wager.
Where did the inspiration for this come from? In my first book Falling for Her Captor I threw in a line about the hero Hugh being the son of a noblewoman and her family’s steward and thought there was an interesting story in there. I’ve always loved Cornwall and looking through some old photos I came across one of St Michael’s Mount and knew immediately it would make a perfect basis for Eleanor’s home. I use music for inspiration and the song that fitted this when it popped onto my iPod was Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen.
How long did it take you to write? I started writing it in the February after I got the call from Harlequin offering me the two-book deal and sent it to my editor in December so around ten months. Because I teach part time I give myself one day a week to write and whatever time I can find in the evenings. Fortunately I had the rough plot it in mind otherwise I’d have panicked otherwise.
Are you doing anything special to celebrate the book’s release? On publication day I treated myself to a long overdue massage (on what turned out to be the hottest day of the year) and followed it up with a ginger mojito which is my current favourite drink. It’s my 40th birthday next week so I’m celebrating that this weekend and will remember to raise a glass to Eleanor and Will too.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned since being published? I’ve become much more aware of the amount of research that goes into writing historical romance. The copy editors have a sharp eye for the smallest anachronism so with each book I’ve become a lot more obsessive. This book found me researching tide times, winter flowering plants and oyster farming. I’ve also discovered what an amazingly supporting, enthusiastic group romance readers and writers are. I’m honoured to be a part of the world.
Where can we buy Wager For The Widow? It’s available as an ebook and paperback from Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wager-Widow-Mills-Boon-Historical-ebook/dp/B00VS0FV5U and other online retailers, including Mills & Boon’s own website. It’s also available in bookshops including WHSmiths.
Are you working on anything else at the moment? I’ve just finished the first draft of my third book, currently called The Blacksmith’s Bride and am about to start reworking that. It’s my third medieval for Harlequin and is due to my editor by the end of August.
Aside from your own books, if you could have written any other book in history, which would it be? Persuasion by Jane Austen. It’s such a wonderful story of second chances and characters facing up to the part they played in their own situation. The letter from Captain Wentworth to Anne Elliot is one of the most romantic pieces of writing I’ve ever read.
What’s next for Elisabeth Hobbes? Falling for Her Captor is going to be translated and published in French in October, which is very exciting. Once I’ve handed in my current work I’ve got one more book to write for Harlequin. After that I have a whole folder of stories I want to write so I’m not going to be giving up any time soon!
So if you fancy a spot of historical romance, do get your hands on a copy of the book, or even download it from itunes!
If you’d like to keep up with Elisabeth Hobbes, here’s where you can find her:
Elisabeth Hobbes facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/ElisabethHobbes
Elisabeth Hobbes twitter ~ http://www.twitter.com/ElisabethHobbes
Elisabeth Hobbes website ~ http://www.ElisabethHobbes.co.uk
Leave a comment