**Please note: the giveaway is now closed. Winner will be announced shortly.
As promised, I’ve got a another giveaway this week. . . .
I’m delighted to welcome Sherry Thomas today!
Sherry and I met last year at the RWA conference in D.C. and got a chance to hang out at the RT Convention in Columbus this past April–and I have to tell you, she is a riot. And I’m such a fun of her writing–she writes fabulously angst-y, emotionally complex historical romances. I read Delicious last year after meeting Sherry and loved it. So when I saw her newest release, His At Night, available in the RT goody room I immediately snatched up a copy and devoured it as soon as I got home from the conference. Here’s a little more about the book:
Elissande Edgerton is a desperate woman, a virtual prisoner in the home of her tyrannical uncle. Only through marriage can she claim the freedom she craves. But how to catch the perfect man?
Lord Vere is used to baiting irresistible traps. As a secret agent for the government, he’s tracked down some of the most devious criminals in London, all the while maintaining his cover as one of Society’s most harmless—and idiotic—bachelors. But nothing can prepare him for the scandal of being ensnared by Elissande.
Forced into a marriage of convenience, Elissande and Vere are each about to discover they’re not the only one with a hidden agenda. With seduction their only weapon against each other—and a dark secret from the past endangering both their lives—can they learn to trust each other even as they surrender to a passion that won’t be denied?
* * *
So without further ado, here’s Sherry to tell us more about His At Night and her writing process:
Q. When did you first realize you wanted to write, and how did you get started?
I wrote bits and pieces of—what else?—love scenes throughout college, but never really thought about a whole book because I didn’t know where the stories would go beyond their opening love scenes. (They were kind of awesome, by the way, full of old romance chestnuts mixed with the most overdone sci-fi clichés. If you want a virgin courtesan whose clothes split apart along electromagnetic lines embedded in the fabric, I’m your gal.)
Then I read a bad romance when I had the least patience for bad romances, threw the book across the room, and declared to my husband that I could do better. Wise man that he was—and is–he said nothing as I spent the next eight years not getting published.
Q. What is it about writing romance that appeals to you?
You mean besides virgin courtesans whose clothes split apart along electromagnetic lines embedded in the fabric? : )
I like creating characters and testing them in all kinds of trying situations. I like fiddling with words. I love the community of readers and writers.
Once upon a time I heard about this survey on what women would most like to be and romance writers came in second, right after goddess. So really, it’s all good.
Q. What do you do on those writing days when you’re stressed, worn out, or distracted?
I eat, I goof, I play computer games and surf the interwebs endlessly. What can I say? I have the worst self-control ever. When distractions appear, I wave the white flag without shame or hesitation. So I can only be thankful that I’m not stressed or fatigued all the time!
Q. What can you tell us about your current release?
His at Night is my attempt at light fare. The premise is that of a gentleman spy who pretends to be an idiot, which lends itself to all kinds of comical situations. And then he is trapped in marriage by the one young woman he wants to avoid above all, so now he’s totally screwed–and the fun really begins.
Q. Can you share a brief excerpt from the book?
I’m sending this tidbit because it made my husband laugh out loud.
“But do you know what the most important aspect of judging a dairy cow is?”
“No, I‘m sure I don‘t, my lord,” she said, stabbing her knife into the muffin on her plate.
“Mammary development, Miss Edgerton, worth a whopping thirty-five percent of the overall score. The udder must be very large and very flexible. The teats must be of a nice size and evenly placed. Milk veins, extensive; milk wells, capacious.”
He was no longer looking at her face but at her chest. “I don‘t believe I‘ve viewed a dairy cow quite the same since. Now when I see cows, instead of just saying to myself, ‘Oh, look, cows,‘ I study their udders and teats for their conformity to the principles of animal husbandry—and for the sheer enjoyableness of studying udders and teats, of course.”
Q. Fun questions: What are you watching on TV these days? (Or what are you reading?)
Not so fun answer: We don’t watch TV in our house. Not for any noble reasons, but because when our Senior Kidlet was a tot, he would be so enthralled by the TV that we couldn’t budge him to do anything else. So one day we made the decision to just turn off the TV. It wasn’t a permanent decision, but as we weren’t following any particular shows on TV at that particular moment in time, we didn’t really miss it.
This, however, doesn’t mean we never watch any TV shows. If we hear enough about it, we’ll get around to it. I watched the first three seasons of House on DVD, the fourth season kinda lost me though. We recently finished the whole series of the rebooted Battlestar Galactica—loved it so much! And within the last two weeks we zoomed through the first two seasons of Lost.
And Mad Men and Glee, someday.
The most recent book I finished is an apocalyptical YA called Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. I got it after Senior Kidlet requested it, but then I got totally into it. And finished it in front of my shower, naked, because I’d stripped for my wash, but couldn’t put the book down.
Q. What are you listening to on your Ipod?
Hanging head in shame: I don’t have an Ipod. And you probably guessed it: my cell phone doesn’t do anything except making phone calls. I’m so amazingly low-tech sometimes it takes my breath away. : )
Q. What is your biggest weakness (shoes, purses, chocolate, etc.)?
Hmm, first you have me doubt my fitness for modern life, now you have me doubt my chromosomes: I have very few pairs of shoes, hardly any purses, and don’t generally keep chocolates at home—although I will gladly eat them elsewhere!
As a person, I don’t have any consistent weakness, i.e., nothing my husband can point to and commiserate with his friends about—if he were the kind of man to complain his wife before others, which he most definitely is not. Thank goodness for the strong, silent type. : )
What I do have are fits and bursts of situational madness. There was a time when I lugged in tons of clothes from White House Black Market. Their clothes fit me so well, but ultimately I can’t live on just two colors. Not long ago I’d buy huge containers of roasted pepper hummus and bags of pita chips from Costco, and then just sit down and demolish it all—until I realize the havoc that much hummus and pita chips wreaked on my butt. And then from time to time there would be casual games that get me so addicted I have to delete them from my computer, because I can’t get anything else done.
I really miss scarfing down a tub of hummus at a go.
Q. Complete this sentence: One fun thing about me that people might not know is……
From everything I’ve said so far—no TV, no music, no nothing–it might seem to folks that I’m completely disconnected from pop culture. But that is the furthest thing from the truth. I learn everything I need to know from celebrity gossip blogs. I know the stars of movies, TV, music, and even sports. I know who has slept with whom and who hates whom, who’s popular, who is cheap, who is genuinely nice, and who is completely fake.
And of course I know the latest situation in the Jolie-Pitt household!
* * *
Thanks for joining us, Sherry! For all of you, Sherry has generously offered to give away a copy of His At Night to one lucky person who leaves a comment or question below. The giveaway will remain open until 10pm CST on Friday, July 2nd. More information about Sherry and her books can be found at her website.
Good luck and happy reading!
First of all; I love these blog posts, what a wonderful way of finding out about writers that I did not yet know.
Second; I loved loved loved to read that no, I am not the only person who stands and finishes a book in front of the shower (naked) because she couldn’t put the book down! I’m not so weird after all… 🙂 . Which leads me to a question; have you ever wished for books with waterproof / water resistant pages, so you can just shower and read at the same time… ? 🙂
Hi, Sherry & Julie –
Two of my favorite authors in one blog post.
If anyone hasn’t read HIS AT NIGHT, you’re in for a special treat. Not only is Sherry a great storyteller, but she’s a talented wordsmith. This woman truly knows how to string words together. The plot in HIS AT NIGHT is a bit like THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, only Elissande is much more discerning than Marguerite.
Sherry, was it a conscious decision to keep Freddie sweet. He could have become somewhat jaded at the end of Private Arrangements, but he remained so darned nice.
Finally, two quick questions: Have you settled on a plot for your next novel? Have you finally read one of Julie’s books?
Oh, I loved DELICIOUS and I’ve actually got NOT QUITE A HUSBAND on my ‘to read’ pile. Sigh, I am so behind with that to read pile…
Enjoyed the post today! Do you have any authors who are auto-buys for you?
Hi, Sherry! Thank you for a fun interview! Congratulations on “His at Night”! I love the glorious golden yellow cover : ) Since you loved the “kidlet’s” YA book so much, have you thought about venturing into YA–maybe historical YA?
Sherry – I loved Delicious, I downloaded it on Kindle for my trip last month (fabu beach vaca!). I wanted to say that I love your covers though. The art is beautiful and they are all so shiny! Kudos!
I already have this book on my TBB list…it looks fantastic. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway. 🙂
Absolutely love Julie James books, so if she recommends any books then they’re most definitely worth reading.
I think it would be a great oppurtunity to read this author.
Also, can’t wait to go to America then i will definitely look out for this author while i’m there 🙂 xx
This was a great and interesting interview! I have been hearing about your book all over the web and seriously need to get me a copy so I can be in the know! 🙂
Oh, and girl, I don’t see how you live without a TV! I think I would go insane! 😉 But if you need some recs, definitely try Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, and Lost in Austen!
Awesome interview and post! I don’t really watch TV either, just catch up on favorite shows on Hulu or by DVD too.
This looks great as do the other books. As I wrote on Facebook, I own all of the Sherry Thomas backlist, but I’ve yet to read them. I met her at RWA as well, and I agree it was a delightful experience. This book looks like it has all things I love in a book so I’ll have to check it out.
As for the blog, we’re lucky our Toddler doesn’t really sit in front of the tv. She likes it on, but she doesn’t pay attention. She only watches one show right before bed to calm down and even then, she likes to read while it’s on. We snuggle in my bed, read and watch her show and then she goes to bed. It’s nice that she’s not a tv zombie like my sister was.
This book has been on my ‘to read’ list ever since I saw the cover on Julie’s recently read section of her blog. I’m very excited about this giveaway!!
I completely understand your thing for celeb gossip blogs! I used to turn to E! and magazines for that stuff, but blogs are so much more convenient since I spend most of my day in front of a computer.
Jasja,
I think that day of showering and reading together may not be that far away. After all, aren’t there shower radios or some such gadgets? So no reason e-readers can’t be waterproof. In fact, I’ve heard of readers who wrap their e-readers in a ziplock bag and take them into the bathtub!
Kim,
As for Freddie, I just never thought he was the kind of turn bitter. He is very intuitively wise and understands the futility of wallowing too long in one’s own negative emotions–which is why Gigi calls him the best man she knows at the end of Private Arrangements. And it turns out his innate sweetness works well in contrast with Vere, who is much more clever and much less wise.
I ordered Practice Makes Perfect from Book Depository and have been breathlessly watching my mailbox. Alas, it hasn’t come yet.
Barbara,
I hope you like NQAH too. And who among us isn’t behind on the TBR pile?
Teresa,
I will read anything Meredith Duran and Bettie Sharpe writes.
Virginia C.,
Yes, I have thought about historical YA. 🙂
Kristi,
I’m beginning to think the Kindle will ignite a renaissance in reading.
LOL, I rather like my shiny covers too. And I appreciate very much the wallpaper/fabric background on my covers–kind of visually ties all the covers together.
Anna,
Your are welcome. Good luck!
Becky,
Thanks. Not sure where you comment from but my books aren’t that difficult to come by in a lot of English-speaking countries. I’ve met lots of Australian romance booksellers and they all carry my books. I know they are available at some lending libraries in India, and available via Book Depository and Amazon in UK.
Chelsea,
Thank you for the TV recs. Will definitely check them out. And we don’t live without a TV, in fact, the men in the family were just watching World Cup Saturday–alas, USA–we just don’t turn it on often and don’t leave it once we are finished with our intended programs.
Jeannette,
I love doing TV by DVD. No need to bite your nails and guess between episodes, especially for a show like LOST. 🙂
April,
I hope you enjoy my books when you get around to them.
For our junior kidlet, we actually encouraged him to watch some television, to broaden his interests.
Dawn,
Thank you and I’m rather excited about this giveaway myself. 🙂
I love a fake ‘daftie,’ I can definitely see how this plot would lend itself to shenanigans and laughs. I would love to read “His At Night,” especially since “The Scarlett Pimpernel” is one of my favorite classics. Thank you!
I enjoyed this interview since this is a book that I’ve had my eye on and have wanted to read – now I want to even more! It sounds like my kind of historical! Curious, will this also be available on audio?
I enjoyed the interview very much. His At Night sounds wonderful and I can’t wait to read it.
I love your books Sherry, and I’m eagerly waiting for the chance to read His At Night.
His At Night sounds delicious…can’t wait to read it 🙂
As for not-watching TV, a year ago I went back to university to get my MBA diploma, and since I have a full time job and classes in the afternoon and evenings, I just had no time to watch TV. And a lost the habit of watching it, because that what TV really is, a habit. Nowadays I only watch a series or two and stuff on DVD and that’s all. And I don’t miss it at all I read different newspapers and magazines and from there I get my daily fix of news 🙂
I’m looking forward to this one!
your Q&A was great. you don’t sound boring at all, although i must admit a disappointment putting into print the lack of shoes, handbags, and stores of chocolate lying about the house. we can’t let that kind of information get out!!!!
I’ve heard so many great things about Sherry’s books and look forward to reading all of them.
Hmmm…I’m not really into historical romance novels all that much, however this does sound interesting.
Jen X,
I agree, a fake “daftie” done well is very enjoyable.
Julie L,
My first two books, PRIVATE ARRANGMEMENTS and DELICIOUS are on audio and I love them. They are so beautifully produced from the narration to the cover. Haven’t heard anything about HIS AT NIGHT yet.
Linda,
I hope you do enjoy it if you do get the chance.
Barbara,
Thank you! Hope you won’t have to wait too long now.
Host,
I think you are right, TV is a habit. And with all the different ways one can catch various shows these days, it isn’t necessary to go at the TV set’s schedule.
There is one thing, however, that I do like for my TV, and that’s for my fitness program. I don’t always catch it, but I prefer to catch it on TV rather than doing it on DVD.
Marcella,
Hope it will make its way to the front of your TBR pile some day.
Jane,
Lol, I always get nervous when people have been hearing good things about my books. Taste is so individual. Hope mine aligns with yours.
Gwen,
My friend Tracy doesn’t do historicals, but she reads mine. So maybe, just maybe… 🙂
This book has been on my wishlist, I am excited to read it. I have read the First few pages on Amazon and I’m already pulled in. can’t wait to see how the characters evolve.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Sounds like a great read. I would love to be entered.
I loved reading this interview, especially the brief excerpt! I cannot wait to read His At Night!
Paige,
Yes the characters do evolve, a lot. 🙂
Robin K,
Best of luck!
Lori Ann,
Think you might share my husband’s sense of humor? 🙂