Month of Love Q&A and Giveaway: Silk is for Seduction by Loretta Chase
Everyone please welcome Loretta to Paperback Dolls! Loretta released the first in her new The Dressmakers series, Silk is for Seduction, this past June! To learn more about Loretta Chase and her other works, please visit her website here. To learn more about Month of Love and who is visiting you can go here.
PBD: What was it about the Romance genre that made you choose to write love stories?
LC: My favorite books were 19th century British novels. But I was always bothered by books in which the love story went sour and things didn’t end happily or there wasn’t enough love story. So Historical Romance seemed perfect: I could capture the feel of those books, and write the love stories the way I thought they ought to be. I think human relationships are just endlessly fascinating. There’s always something to explore in terms of characters and the psychology of a relationship, how it develops, the jockeying for power—tons of material.
PBD: has long been a top pick as favorite romance – why do you think it’s such a firm favorite (Personally I think the heroine’s right hook has something to do with it)
LC: I really don’t know. I’ve tried to answer this question, and my answer is always lame. I think it’s simply one of those things that happen to an author sometimes, if she’s lucky: The writing gods send her a story and she somehow manages to write it in a way that resonates with readers. I knew it was a strong story when I wrote it, and I had a wonderful time writing it, but I never imagined it would have this kind of longevity.
PBD: Many of your heroes are more anti-hero (or start out that way) … Is a reformed rake really the best kind of husband?
LC: I think we have to distinguish here between a romance novel and real life. Some of the guys I create for my stories are exactly the kind I would recommend running away from, screaming, if they turned up in the real world. But the fantasy—of love being a channel into a difficult or dangerous or damaged man, of love helping him become what he was meant to be, of a woman giving him reason, motivation, or the necessary bullet to be a better person—all that makes for strong romantic fiction. Too, if he’s OK and she’s OK, then the conflict has to come from outside, and that’s just not as interesting to me as the psychological possibilities for two flawed human beings.
PBD: Regency, Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, Medieval… favorite period to write about? Which do you think is the most romantic?
LC: So far, I’ve stuck to the first third of the 19th century, but that doesn’t mean one period is necessarily more romantic than another. It’s up to the author to discover what’s romantic about an era and to communicate that to the readers. Right now, I’m working in the 1830s, and loving the crazy, flamboyant fashions for women. It’s a very interesting time: We can see the Victorian prudery starting to creep in—a big contrast to the earlier part of the century, and the rough and tumble 18th century—and yet that offers so much potential for conflict and sexual tension. So much more is hidden that didn’t used to be. But really, I love the clothes, and spend a lot of time happily dressing and undressing the characters.
PBD: Do you have playlists that you use when you write?
LC: I write in silence—or try to: My neighbors’ dogs think I need to hear a lot of barking.
PBD: And one of our Dolls wonders – do you have a “smexy scene” playlist?
LC: Nope.
PBD: In July you launched a new series that focuses on three sisters who have a dressmaking business… The first book focused on Marcelline, the eldest – can you share a little about what’s next for the series?
LC: Next in line is Scandal Wears Satin, coming in July 2012. Maison Noirot’s troubles are far from over. Marcelline’s marriage has alienated powerful women, causing the shop to lose customers in droves. The shop’s hated rival has made a comeback. And Lady Clara is not handling her new-found freedom very well. So this time it’s Sophy to the rescue, with another one of those Mad Schemes/Big Gambles the Noirots love—and with Lord Longmore planting his big, gorgeous body directly in her way.
PBD: Who is your favorite romance writer?
LC: Jane Austen.
PBD: What do you think is the Ultimate love story?
LC: I have to say Pride and Prejudice. I have read this book at least 30 times. Not only does it never get old, but I’m always discovering something new in it. I remain in awe of Austen’s talent for delineating characters. Every last one of them is perfectly clear in my head. The love story at its heart, about Elizabeth & Darcy, is interwoven so beautifully with several other relationships, and it deals with status and power and so many aspects of living in that world—and all of it done in so subtle and smooth a way that even this hardened, cynical novelist can’t pin it down. And Austen has captured something about human relationships that resonates with readers today, including teenagers. It’s just a brilliant book. There are other great love stories, with more Sturm und Drang, but this is the one the writer in me most admires and respects.
PBD: Favorite hero – that you wrote
LC: No way I’d ever try to choose. If I didn’t love them, I wouldn’t write them.
***PBD Side note: We tried people! We really did! :D***
PBD: What do you believe are a hero’s ultimate attributes? And a heroine’s?
LC: I covered this ground pretty thoroughly—and at stunning length—for Sarah Wendell’s . There I drew an analogy to the characters in the classic movie, The Wizard of Oz: Courage, a Heart, a Brain—all crucial. I want h/h to be larger than life, and I want them to be appealing, though they don’t need to be gorgeous. I don’t want them to be perfect because that isn’t interesting. Imperfect people who love in spite of flaws or overcome flaws or help each other heal—that’s interesting. And I need to believe absolutely that they belong together.
PBD: What are the ‘must haves’ of a historical romance?
LC: See above re characters. As to the rest: I need to warn that this is all personal opinion. Not everybody cares about historical accuracy. But I prefer to feel that the author has done her historical homework. It doesn’t have to be detailed or perfect: It’s close to impossible not to make a mistake, and even historical resources contradict one another. But I do need a sense that the author has a feel and respect for the time period. That goes for language, too. None of us can or ought to try to write the way most people did in the 19th century, unless we’re trying to create a foolproof cure for insomnia. Jane Austen wrote transcendent books, which is why she’s lasted, but the rest of us non-transcendent authors can’t write that way and keep readers’ interest. We need to find a happy medium, avoiding anachronisms while still keeping the language accessible and lively.
PBD: All we can add is, Thank you so very much Ms. Chase – you manage to do just that every time!
I attended New England public schools. We diagrammed sentences. We were drilled in spelling and grammar. This brutal process proved useful in later life. It turned out that everything they taught me in school–including the evil word problems in math–was useful in later life. Too bad I forgot most of it.
My career at Clark University was not short. After earning a B.A. in only twice the usual time, I stayed on to work in clerical, administrative, and part-time teaching posts. There were other real jobs along the way: stints with jewelry and clothing retailers, and a Dickensian six-month experience as a meter maid.
But my main business in life was writing. This is why I majored in English instead of something useful that would lead to job with an actual salary. English majors must read mountains of books and write reams of papers. If only they would have paid me for being an English major, my life would have been perfect.
Meanwhile, whether or not anyone wanted me to, I wrote plays, poetry, letters, and, of course, the Great American Novel. The latter went on forever and–happily–remains unfinished to this day.
But no one ever paid me for writing until after college graduation, when I started moonlighting as a corporate video scriptwriter. This led to the fateful meeting with a video producer who lured me into writing novels and eventually became Mrs. Chase.
The books resulting from this union have won a surprising number of awards, including the Romance Writers of America Rita.
It is almost as grand a job as being an English major.
From the Design Book of Marcelline Noirot:
The allure of the perfect gown should be twofold:
ladies would die to wear it . . .and gentlemen would kill to remove it!Brilliant and ambitious dressmaker Marcelline Noirot is London’s rising star. And who better to benefit from her talent than the worst-dressed lady in the ton, the Duke of Clevedon’s intended bride? Winning the future duchess’s patronage means prestige and fortune for Marcelline and her sisters. To get to the lady, though, Marcelline must win over Clevedon, whose standards are as high as his morals are . . . not.
The prize seems well worth the risk—but this time Marcelline’s met her match. Clevedon can design a seduction as irresistible as her dresses; and what begins as a flicker of desire between two of the most passionately stubborn charmers in London soon ignites into a delicious inferno . . .and a blazing scandal.
And now both their futures hang by an exquisite thread of silk . . .
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- Month of Love Guest Blog & Giveaway: Fall Back in Love with Valentine’s Day by Kate Moore
- Month of Love Guest Blog & Giveaway: The Many Facets of Falling in Love by Julia London
- Month of Love: Guests and Giveaways
Love the interview and the giveaway =) i´m always adding to my TBR list. I just wish i could read as fast as i´m adding =/
best wishes, Linda
great in interview loretta…
i haven’t read your book,,,i wish i win this book so i can read ^^
thanks for the giveaway ^^
never read your book before, hope can add in on my list and read it soon ;)
I never read your book but I would like to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway
Loretta Chase could write a grocery list and publish it and I would read it..well, I would and then wait for her to make a plot around it because if anyone could make that interesting, she could. I’ve already read this one although it was a library copy and I WANT/NEED one of my own because I know I will reread it like all her others.
Just had to “like” this…oh wait, we’re not on Facebook ;)
Great interview, I think Ms. Chase is one of the best in our genre and I loved getting a peek into her writing, thank you!
I like the run away screaming from my heroes in real life line. I always love when an author realizes that in real life these guys would be no good but we can all still love them anyway from inside our bathtub reading lair.
Thanks for the fantastic post and giveaway! Ms. Chase is the top of my wishlist. I haven’t had the pleasure of reading her yet, but I’ve read such wonderful reviews of all her books :)
I’m sure you get this all of the time, but Lord of Scoundrels is my favorite romance of all time!!
I have been especially drawn to this book as I have always been intrigued by the fashions and the fabrics of this time period. The book cover is gorgeous and when we get to the attraction between Marcelline and Clevedon, well things are really heating up in a delicious way! I have always enjoyed Loretta Chase’s novels and this looks like yet another gem by her. I’m so looking forward to reading it and thank you so much for the synopsis.
Loretta, Thank you so much for visiting us today and for sharing the giveaway…July can’t come soon enough for this Doll!
Sounds wonderful and what an absolutely lovely cover – very eye catching.
love your books cant wait to read this new series.
I’ve read an excerpt of this book on Loretta’s website and loved it. I really want to read this one. I read Lord of Scoundrels and it was wonderful. Thank you for the giveaway.
I recently read Lord of Scoundrels and really enjoyed it. Now that is a rogue hero I can appreciate. Can’t wait to discover your other books.
I would love to read this book. It sounds really good. Please enter me in contest.
I enjoyed the interview. Thanks for the giveaway. It sounds like a great series.
Great interviuw
Can’t wait to read u book & thanks for giveaway
I enjoyed the great interview and I’m looking forward to reading Silk is for Seduction.
Thank you for giving me a chance to talk about my work, and for the very warm welcome & kind words about my books! Good luck!
Congratulations on the new series.
I love your answer for fave hero, sometimes trust simply can’t choose!
And the cover for this book seems to match the story so well. Beautiful cover.
Thank you for the interview! My life is a happier place knowing there is another Loretta Chase story to look forward to. Take Care!
ooooo! First–wonderful interview. Second–LOVE the cover and title “Silk is for Seduction”! Lastly–I’m going to absolutely have to wait to read this until the end of June or the beginning of July just so I don’t have to wait for the July release quite so long… :( But NO WORRIES!! I am (possibly pathetic admission) creating a reading calendar to tell me when to read books based on release dates of authors that I have. You’re getting plugged in there for sure!!
Hi Loretta, this is an awesome giveaway. Have to admit, that I haven’t read your book before, but I’d love to. And this book sounds great and the cover is awesome, I love it.
Great interview by the way, I’m enjoying it :)
Thank you for this giveaway.
its great to see ur interview in this web,, to me it means to be closed to the writer.
thanks loretta and paperback doll for this giveaway.
Love to read this book, great insert cover! :D
well, i never read any of her book before. but i’d love to read it :)
I love your books!
~Krista
I love your books, and I just wanted to thank you for the giveaway!
I’ve never read any of your books but I am really liking the cover. I’m looking forward to trying it out.
Doll Noa, thank you so much for having me. This is a wonderful group of Dedicated readers, I see. To Dee, Angela, Bridgett, Connie, judy, Damaris, Na, Aileen, Krista, Alicia–a big, warm, THANK YOU for the love! Plus, I have passed the word on to Avon’s art department that the cover has received high approval ratings! I know this will please them. The cover for the new book, Scandal Wears Satin, appeared as a sneak preview on my blog & will soon be appearing on my website. I think they did another great job.
What a great idea – all heroines need beautiful dresses :D Thanks for the giveaway!
I enjoy your books. Looking forward to reading this one.
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