Interview of Historical and Contemporary Romance Author: Renee Vincent

Where did you get the idea for The Temperate Warrior?

Since high school, I’ve had an abnormal fascination with Vikings, particularly those in the 10th century. When I read my first Viking romance about twenty years ago, I knew then that I’d found the perfect genre for quenching my fetish for the bold, brazen, Alpha male. And because of my dream of being writer one day, it only made sense to write one of my own.

In 2010, I published my first Viking romance. Since then, I’ve written an entire Viking/Irish series (The Emerald Isle Trilogy) and a couple of contemporaries thereafter. However, I eventually ventured back to my first love and wrote yet another Viking romance, THE TEMPERATE WARRIOR.

Did the title come first or the novel?
The title came before the story line, truth be told. In MAC LIAM (book 2 of the Emerald Isle Trilogy) we are introduced to Gustaf, the eldest brother of Dægan in RÆLIKSEN (book 1) and his lover, Æsa. In this book is where their love story begins and we quickly find out that Gustaf is a burly, noble warrior, dedicated to avenging his father’s murder. While he is often crazy passionate with Æsa, he is also an attentive and generous lover. Because of this, Æsa gave him the pet name of 'temperate warrior.'

Fast forward two years later, and the title for the first book of The Warrior Sagas just seemed ideal. There was no better title, in my opinion.

Since becoming a writer, what’s the most exciting thing to ever happen to you?
I have two things now actually.

#1 To get in touch with Sam Bond, the cover model from England who has graced two of my Viking romances: RÆLIKSEN and THE FALL OF RAIN. He is such an incredible person and very gracious, allowing me the opportunity to interview him on my blog. He even signed both my books for me.

#2 would be posing on the cover of USA Today Best Selling Author, Shelly Thacker's cover for her western AFTER SUNDOWN with cover model and dear friend, Billy Freda. The very talented Kim Killion made me look like a real cover model. If you'd like to read how that all came about, I've posted the whole story on my blog.

What was the first book you ever wrote (and we're talking the very first one you wrote, not published)?
Okay, don't laugh. Back when I was younger (in grade school) I was on a huge Stephen King kick. I read Cujo, Pet Cemetery, Carrie, Christine, Salem's Lot etc. So, in following that dark influence, I wrote a paranormal horror story entitled Fire and Ice and my best friend who was also my illustrator. I still have it, along with all my other works from childhood, but it's utter crap. In my defense, I was only ten or eleven years old.

What is your writing day like?
I get up in the morning to send my kids off to school and then brew some coffee. Coffee is a must! Then I sift through my inbox and reply to those most urgent. I try to get them off my plate so that hovering emails do not distract me from writing. I do some promo for fellow authors on my Deep In The Heart Romance site http://www.deepintheheartromance.com/ and chat a while on twitter and facebook. Again, trying to alleviate any and all distractions for when I sit down to write. By 10 AM, I am ready to offer my full attention to my current sexy hero until the kids get out of school. Once they come home, I'm back to being just mom.

Who are your favorite authors of all time?
Nora Roberts, Johanna Lindsey, Catherine Coulter, Juliet Marillier, Amanda Quick, Heather Graham, and Elizabeth Lowell. Recently, I've added Kimberly Killion and Margaret Ethridge to that list. I've read EVERYTHING they've ever put out.

At a book signing, do you just sign your name or do you write a personal note?
I always put a little note in there. I figure if readers have taken the time to come out and see me, the least I could do is offer a little more of my time and write something more personal than just a signature. Usually, I talk to them before signing their book; I try to get to know them first so I can capture that moment of our conversation in the book they wanted autographed. I love meeting my fans!

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I love cars. Classic muscle cars, in particular, and I own a 1975 Corvette Stingray. I've even named her Lady Mara after my first Viking/Irish romance heroine.

How do you react to a bad review?
Like anyone with feelings, a bad review crushes me because I've poured my heart and soul into my books. Imagine being a parent and someone publicly insults your children. It's virtually the same feeling.

However, while I might be disappointed by someone's negative opinion of my work, I also realize that they have a right to their unique opinion. Not everyone is going to enjoy my style of writing, my voice, or even my plot or genre. But under no circumstances, do I ever lash out at a reader for it. If anything, I am happy that they took the time to read my book and I owe it to them to respect their feelings.

How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?
I signed a three-book contract with Turquoise Morning Press in 2010 at the West Baden Hotel in Indiana at a writer's conference. (Again, that whole story is on my blog if you'd like to read it.)

Upon returning home, I visited my sister at the cemetery to share my good news, given her words of encouragement before she'd passed made it all possible. That next weekend, my husband gathered my closest friends together at a restaurant as a surprise and they toasted me on the start of my writing career. I will never forget it.

Along with your contemporary and historical romances, you also write lighthearted and funny Chick Lit under the pen name Gracie Lee Rose. How did this come about?
From an early age, I've always had scenes playing out in my head. Whether it was a story with a moral or a tale with a twist, those ideas have never let me sleep until I wrote them out. And considering I have an eclectic ensemble of stories swarming in my brain at any given time, I write under a couple pen names to accommodate the various genre categories. Gracie Lee Rose is just one of them.

I'm currently writing the next two books of the Jamett & Joseph Series and a stand alone novel called WHERE THE WIND BLOWS. Here's the blurb:

She blew through his perfect world like a gale force wind.

He took her heart by storm.

Dropping everything and leaving her idiot boyfriend behind, Carly Fuller heads to the country to start her life anew, never expecting the dolt to turn possessive and follow her. On the run and in fear for her life, she turns down a long blacktop drive with beautiful black-board fencing. Hoping the wealthy, respectable owners will help her get to the authorities, she finds that the gorgeous horse farm belongs to one hunky carpenter who has more than enough muscle to safeguard her.

While his childhood friends have eagerly left the country, Jeremiah Kessler remains as far away as possible from the busy city life. Content to live in the quiet, rolling hills of Kentucky, his perfect world is torn asunder the day Ms. Windy City Whirlwind blows up onto his doorstep looking for sanctuary from her volatile ex-boyfriend.

As every goodhearted country boy had been taught, he doesn’t turn his back on a woman in need—especially when a funneling tornado is threatening to rip through his town. As the two take shelter in his basement, Jeremiah learns that some good can actually come from the city, in particular the feisty little windstorm under his roof.

You can find Renee Vincent at her website www.ReneeVincent.com

and of course she loves to connect with her readers on Facebook and Twitter.

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