Interview of Author Carly Carson

Today I'm pleased to present an interview of romance author Carly Carson.

Latest Book: Duke of Devonwood
Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B00JIANN1G
Nook: http://bit.ly/Q7AgRO

BIO:
Carly will probably never marry into the British nobility, as she is already happily married to Traveling Man. But there's nothing wrong with a little fantasy in one's life, right? She has three children, who provide a daily dose of reality, even though they are almost perfect (just ask them!). Carly loves traveling, outdoor sports, reading, and visiting with friends and her large extended family.


Q: What is the most important thing you do for your career now, as compared to when you first started writing?
A: In the beginning, I only worried about writing. Now I spend a lot more time marketing, which I don't enjoy as much, but it's a necessary part of the business.

Q: How much of yourself is hidden in the characters in the book?
A: I find it more entertaining to write characters who are different from myself. But I know my value system is present in my main characters because that would be hard to change too dramatically. I do look to some of my zany relatives to provide interesting traits for my secondary characters.

Q: Do you eat comfort food/listen to music when writing?
A: I don't need comfort food for my writing, but I do need it for my life. (Who doesn't?) Lol. I use music for inspiration, but I need quiet to actually write.

Q: Give one advice tip to an aspiring author.
A: Amateurs wait for inspiration. The rest of us just get up and go to work. (Stephen King quoting Philip Roth) This is true in any profession.

Q: If you could give a younger version of yourself advice, what would it be?
A: Sometimes, you just have to jump. Jump in and do it. Now.

Q: What genre would you like to try writing that you haven’t yet tried?
A: I've toyed with the idea of writing an erotic romance. But I'm put off by the fact that a couple of men we know have made comments to my husband such as: "You must have a very satisfying home life." This is after announcing they've read the "hot" parts of one of my books. Really? Do they think suspense authors murder folks in their spare time? It's fiction, not fact. My husband doesn't mind, but I do.

Q: Have you ever used an incident from your real life into one of your books?
A: I use real incidents all the time. For example, I have a novella in an anthology (Breakaway) in which the hero is a dolphin trainer at a water park in Mexico. I used my own experience swimming with dolphins to write that. (Try it if you ever get the chance!) In another novella (Love Charm for Carlotta), the heroine goes to Menemsha Beach on Martha's Vineyard with the hero. I never did what they do there (lol), but I have visited that beach to watch the memorable sunset. That's where I got the idea for their romantic tryst. (On my website, you can read my blogs about our sunset dinner on Menemsha Beach, and also my dolphin swimming experience.)

Q: Any part of a book that drives you crazy as you write: beginning, middle, or end?
A: The beginning is always my favorite part. I always have the ending drafted before I actually get there. The middle can be a slog.

Q: Out of your entire backlist, which book has the best opening line? What's the line?
A: Eclipse of the Heart: "No matter what he says, his thoughts will revolve around stripping you naked and bending you over his desk," Jessie said.

Q: How many stories are swirling around in your head?
A: Do you keep a mental list, a computer file, or a spiral notebook filled with the ideas? I have many, many stories in my head. I have snippets and chapters for a lot of them, and I keep it all on my computer. I'm often surprised at what I find in there!

Fun Stuff:
Q: What is your favorite holiday and why?
A: I love Christmas. I love buying the tree and trimming it. (We always get a large tree, and we have many ornaments with sentimental value.) I generally enjoy buying the presents (but not wrapping them). I love having a big family dinner on Christmas Day (usually about 25 people, although we aren't always at my house). I love the excitement of my children on Christmas morning. Most of all, I love carrying on traditions started with my parents that I'm now passing on to my kids.

Q: What are two things people might be surprised to know about you?
A: I have an MBA in Finance. I've been in a mine in Chile.

Q: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: A writer. Sorry, that's a bit of a cliche, but it's true.

Q: Favorite food.
A: Potato chips.

Q: Favorite happy memory.
A: Playing with my cousins during our long summer vacations in Maine.

Q: Favorite drink.
A: Lemon Buzz-so tart!!

Q: Hot summer days or chilly winter nights?
A: Chilly winter nights because we ski all day and then in the evening, we have friends or family over. We sit in front of a roaring fire and play board games. So much fun!

Q: What is the top thing on your bucket list?
A: Attend the weddings of all my children.

Q: If you could have a super power, what would it be?
A: I guess I would like the ability to eat whatever I want and remain slender and healthy. I won't be greedy and ask to give up exercise.

Tell us where to find you: website(s), publisher’s page(s), blog(s), Facebook page(s), etc. List them all!
Author Website: http://www.carlycarson.com/
Author Blog: http://www.carlycarson.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlyCarsonAuthor
http://twitter.com/Carly_Carson
http://pinterest.com/carlycarson/
http://www.goodreads.com/CarlyCarson

BLURB:
Miranda's father left her inheritance under the trusteeship of a Duke of England? Did he not realize this is the twenty-first century? She is certainly capable of managing her own money. More importantly, she needs that money to start her business, and to keep her family together.

She is not about to sit around while some arrogant Duke tells her what she can do with her own inheritance. Luckily, she's determined, hard-working, and a touch devious. She vows to do whatever it takes to foil the Duke...

The Duke of Devonwood doesn't want more dependents. With an entire dukedom to run, plus his father's second family to manage, he has too many people hanging on his coattails already. But this headstrong American, Miranda, won't take 'no' for an answer. In fact, she soon has his other dependents conniving with her—and against him.

He could handle the problem...if only she weren't so enticing.

EXCERPT:
Drawing a deep breath for courage, Miranda grasped the edge of the pool. Devonwood's rhythm faltered, just for a second, but she knew he was watching her.

She pulled herself out of the water, naked as the moonlight.

He stopped swimming.

Although she was pretending to be unconscious of his movements, she was well aware of the moment when the water stopped rippling, indicating that he'd halted.

She sauntered over to the lounge chair. His eyes were glued to her, something she knew with one hundred percent certainty, even though she couldn't see him. But she could feel his gaze burning her.

When she bent over to pick up a towel, he sucked in a quick breath. Her heart pounded with excitement and fear. If only she could turn around and see what he was doing. Was he angry, aroused, amused?

She knew he was not indifferent, because he had not resumed swimming.

Then she turned around, and sat down on the edge of the pool chair, giving him a full-frontal view. She reached behind herself, picked up another towel, and wrapped it around herself.

"There!" She sounded as brainless as Tweety bird. "Nobody saw a thing."

"I saw lots of…things." Devonwood's deep voice rumbled in the darkness.

She laughed. "No one made you look."

With two strokes, he was at the side of the pool. "Let's see how far you're willing to go. Jiggle those things for me."

"Goodness." She managed a light laugh. "I'd better get dressed."

She stood, picked up her thin cotton dress, and well, she had to do it. She dropped the towel and then pulled the dress, as slowly as she dared, over her head. It settled down around her, but she knew it was reasonably transparent when she stood in the full light of the moon, because she'd checked earlier.

When her vision cleared, she jumped in alarm.

The duke had climbed silently out of the pool, and was standing in front of her, his hair slicked back, his broad shoulders providing a sturdy platform for translucent drops of water, and his hands clenched in fists at his sides.

She had to remain cool, or she would lose control of her scheme. Picking up a towel, she rubbed it against her head.

"Are you trying to provoke me," he said, "or does it just come naturally?"

She dropped the towel, shook back her hair, and took a step toward him. "I was out here minding my own business. You—" she poked him in the chest "—are the one who showed up and started criticizing me."

"Anyone could have found you in the pool. What if I'd been Godfrey?" He grabbed the finger that had been poking him.

"For crying out loud! I would have asked him to turn his back so I could get a towel."

"You didn't ask me to turn my back." His big hand, cool with water drops, hot from his inner heat, curled around hers.

"You're a grown man," she said breathlessly. And some part of the grown man in front of her was growing right now, and it was pressing against her with eager demand.

"I thought you'd be able to get over the sight of a naked woman," she added, her voice faint as she looked up into his hot gaze.

"That's where you're wrong. At least, not when the naked woman is you." He pulled on her captured hand, she cried out and stumbled forward and then she was in his arms.


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