Today, the writing team of Anthea and Lawson are dropping by to talk about their latest historical romance, All He Desires. Visit their website to follow them on all of their stops on their blog tour.
Thanks for having us here at Smexy Books, Mandi! We’re thrilled that you asked us to stop by as part of our big November blog tour.
Name two great things and two not so great things about writing with each other
All He Desires is your second published book. Did the process feel different this time? Was it easier? Harder?
Both of your books are set in more exotic locations. What kind of research is involved?
Besides being a great romance, All He Desires has an evil villain and a mystery to solve. What kind of planning or outlining do you do? Do you have the entire mystery planned out before you start to write?
How much input do you have on your covers? Are you happy with their outcome?
What is next on the agenda? Do you ever see yourself exploring a different genre?
Since you are in Smexyville – I have to ask:
What fictional character do you lust after most?
Anthea has always had a hankering for Stryder/Aragorn – though after the LOTR movies, Legolas is a close second…
If you could switch places with any hero or heroine, who would it be?
Anthea would love to be Lessa of Pern, from Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonrider series. Have a telepathic bond with an awesome dragon, plus, her sweetie F’lar is a hottie!
Hairy chests on your heroes? Smexy? yay or nay
Anthea says “A light dusting is way smexy.” (Winks at Lawson)
To celebrate the release of our new book, ALL HE DESIRES, we’ll be giving away a copy to one lucky commenter~ And if you don’t win here, you have more chances. Just follow our blog tour! Complete schedule is at www.anthealawson.com.
I would choose Samarkand as a setting. That's in Uzbekistan and I have a little infatuation with this city. I read about it in a book(Last Watch, book 4 in the Watch series by Sergey Lukyanenko) and since then it's the one place I have to visit before I die. It just fascinates me and I sometimes search the net for pictures just to sooth my mind. I would definitely choose this city.
Hi :)
Thank you for the great interview.
I had no idea Anthea Lawson was two writers, not one.
I'd set a romance in New Zealand.
All the best,
RKCharron
xoxo
Hi Mandi, Anthea & Lawson,
Great Interview!!
If I wrote a romance novel I would have the setting be in America during the Old West.
I would choose Scotland, love all the old castles over there!
I'd sure love to go for Scotland, Ireland and Wales, cos I love them, but then again all romances are set there.
I think someone should take a chance and set in in Finland ;) I am sure they could think of something to do lol
Hi Mandi, Anthea and Lawson – Fun interview. I love that you are married and do this together!
If I were to write a romance book, I'd probably set it in Ireland or Scotland; of course I'd have to travel there for research!
Oh, definitely Victorian Era. I don't know why, lol, but every time I gave writing a whirl, that was the time that fascinated me most.
If I were to write a romance I think I'd go with a contemporary and set it in a small town.
For a historical, I'm fascinated by Constantinople (now Istanbul).
Great interview and review. I would choose Urban Fantasy, 21st century with a zing plus demons, not vampires.
Please count me in.
cindyc725 at gmail dot com
Great interview Mandi & Ms. Lawson.
It is always a pleasure to learn more about the people who write the books we love!
If I had to write a romance novel, it would be set in today's world… With all things in life going on, to see a HEA in today's world would be nice!
Thanks for the contest!!!
As always Mandi ~ have a great day!
I've always wanted to go to Hawaii so that would be my pick! tWarner419@aol.com
I find it fascinating this series is written by a husband and wife team. Way cool!
My romance book setting would have to be Alaska. I've been obsessed with Alaska since Jaid Black's Warlord series – plus the cold means more snuggie time.
What a great way for spouses to spend time together–writing a romance novel! I love this!
For my setting I'd choose Scotland. It's so romantic and I love everyone's accents.
I want Reginald to have his own book. He may seem to be the villain, but there's something about him that makes me believe he can be redeemable.
Really? I found him too slimy. I was glad to see him again though..I like a good villain.
Wow, fabulous locations you are all coming up with! (You know our secret plan is to find our next locations from your suggestions, heh heh.)
One of the great things about the romance genre is that we can have nearly ALL of that — Alaska and demons and plenty of Scotland, and a couple New Zealand and Hawaii… I'm not sure her characters make it to Istanbul, but Carolyn Jewel's recent novel, INDISCREET, is mostly set in Regency Turkey. But Finland and Samarkand — now THOSE are locations not often written about. Hmm :D
For those of you who like a dash of something different with your historicals, you may want to check out Carrie Lofty's site — called, appropriately enough, Unusual Historicals~
Feel free to leave us any questions. We'll be stopping in again later today!
Great post! I'd choose a creepy dark New England town for a paranormal romance.
I would choose the shores of Italy as my setting because I just love their scenery and atmosphere there!
Great interview!
There are so many places in the world that are totally romantic, but I think I would follow the footsteps of Emily Bronte and use the gorgeous Yorkshire Moors in the UK as the setting for my romance novel.
Thanks for the international contest :)
Book Chick, we have Crete AND the Yorkshire Moors in ALL HE DESIRES! Who said books have to stick with one location? :)
Katiebabs, Anthea definitely thinks Reggie can be redeemed. Lawson is not so sure…
Keep the comments rolling! We've told Mandi that if we get over 25, we'll throw a copy of PASSIONATE in the mix (Ooh, Tunisia!) so that two lucky folks can win a book~
Never knew there were 2 writers.
great interview.
I would set my romance in the summer months in the country, perhaps it would be near ne on the Norfolk broads.
@sherieannb twitter
I think my setting would have to be Scotland. Just love those kind of books!
Wow, I think that is so neat that a husband and wife can manage to write a book together! Jeez, my husband and I have a hard time agreeing on what to eat for dinner, let alone write a book together!
So when writing your story does Lawson write the thoughts of the hero and Anthea write the thoughts of the wife? So, am I getting a true sense of the mysterious interworkings of the male mind, LOL??
For an exotic setting, I would like to read a story that takes place in Hawaii or Cuba.
I'm surprised that Anthea Lawson is a duo. How super impressive to be able to write a book with two different people.
I think Bermuda would make a good setting. It's a island that is not really by anything with alot of history with smugglers and pirates. It has a beautiful yet dangerous setting.
I would set it in Smalltown, USA.
I would set my book it Dublin. There is just somthing about that city that speaks to me
aliciahall0605(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
I would choose Ireland.
amyturci(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
I think if I were to write a romance, I'd set it in the future, in an urban setting.
I enjoyed the interview, I think it's great that the authors choose exotic locales as the setting for their books. It's fun to read something other than the standard locales.
Hello, you two! Reading your posts and perusing your website is a much fun as a good romance read. It may be even better!
I would like to read a romance set in Small Town America which revolves around our armed forces and their families. Such a story would be quite deeply felt, touching the core of many hearts.
I am a follower.
gcwhiskas at aol dot com
Loved the interview!
Hmm…for my hypothetical romance, I'd set it as an alternate reality contemp like Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling or Guild Hunter series.
;) VFG
I'd probab;y set a book in the near future.
Thanks for the sweet words, Virginia!
Jill D., we haven't yet written a novel in a he said/she said style (like Bob Mayer and Jennifer Crusie do), but Lawson certainly tweaks the male perspective~
Such fabulous settings and ideas in the comments – you guys are inspiring!
AND we're going to add a give-away copy of PASSIONATE. Thanks for the great day at Smexy, everyone! (And comments are open until the 8th, I believe, so keep 'em coming)
I would love to set a book in a small village in Ireland. I think it would be beautiful.
i'd set it in the english countryside with castles!! :) It's the best place for a romantic setting.
or better yet some isolated island in the middle of nowhere
rubs.escalona [at] gmail.com
Very interesting interview!! I had no idea ya'll were a husband & wife team!!
If I was writing a contemporary, I'd go with New Orleans. If I was going historical, I'd set it in theAmerican West right after the Civil War!!
mlawson17 at hotmail dot com
A husband & wife team! That's so wonderful, first I've heard of it too ;D
I'd set my romance in Asia or Egypt, be it an historical or contemporary since they're very rarely used. I'd like to see more exotic locations!
Love that this book was written by a husband and wife team! :D
How about China…with Chinese leads? :O
Scotland would be my setting
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
I would choose Regency as my setting.
kalynnick AT yahoo DOT com
I would choose New York City. I just love it there. There is just so much energy.
lizzi0915 at aol dot com