Guest author: Ella Quinn

“Ella Quinn’s bachelors are clever, charismatic—and determined to remain single. Yet one by one, they find that fate—and certain irresistible women—cast doubt on even the best laid plans...”

Have I got your full attention? 

Clever, charismatic Regency bachelors are always appealing to me. I’ve loved The Worthingtons Series by USA TODAY bestselling author, Ella Quinn, and am looking forward to reading title number 6 in the series which is scheduled for release in the next few days (February 26^th!!). 

Ella’s author tagline of writing “smart, fun, spicy Regency romances with a large cast of characters” lives up to its promise and readers are swept away by her stories. I must add that I’ve also loved following Ella’s Regency tidbits on her website—all sorts of gems such as the latest posts about “How Boy’s Learned to Dance” and “Almack’s”.

Welcome to Ella Quinn who is my guest author today!

It’s lovely to have you on the blog, Ella and I’m hoping there’ll be a chance to meet you in person as we are both signing at the inaugural Booklovers Convention in New Orleans in May.

I'm looking forward to meeting you too!! I'm also looking forward to the convention! I'm involved in four events, the Puzzle Party, the Historical Event, the Libations Party, and Kensington's author event. But I'll still have plenty of time to walk around and meet readers. 

I’ll definitely try to find you at the Historical Event!Can you tell us about your latest release “Believe in Me” and whether it posed any particular challenges for you?

Believe in Me is a continuation of my series The Worthingtons. Series readers already know that Lady Augusta Vivers is a scholar (or blue stocking in Regency terms) and will not be that surprised that she is more interested in continuing her studies in languages and geography than in finding a husband. Naturally, knowing her family, there is a mix of support and hindrance. Along the way she meets Lord Phineas Carter-Woods, whose passion is studying architecture and just returned from Mexico. His brother has not had any luck having an heir, and wants Phinn to marry and start filling his nursery.

The research was a huge challenge because there was so much of it. I had to find a university that could have accepted a female, learn enough about the Aztec language and culture to make the conversations believable, Old French. Look at maps of Paris in 1818. Research the British consuls and ambassadors for a few countries, and figure out how to get my characters from London to Padua, Italy. And that was only part of it.

I mentioned your charismatic heroes, as with Lady Augusta Vivers, your heroines are captivating too!

You have the most divine covers from Kensington Publishers. Can you pick a couple of personal favourites?

One of my favorites is Three Weeks to Wed before the words were added. I also love a cover from The Marriage Game, Lady Beresford’s Lover.

                 

You say that your studies and jobs have always been 'on the serious side', can you tell us a little bit about your life prior to full time writing?

I was in the US Army twice. The first time I was the first female assigned to a Green Beret battalion. The second time I was an army lawyer. I’ve also taught things like comparative totalitarian systems, Western European governments, US political parties, and US Foreign policy at two universities. I’d been practicing law for twenty years when I decided I needed to find another job and started writing.


They definitely qualify as serious jobs! It's amazing how many romance authors - particularly regency romance authors - have been practising lawyers, but being the first female in a Green Beret battalion is an incredible career history!

You've found the time to do quite a bit of travelling. (Ella has been to the South Pacific, England, Europe, North Africa, Central America and lived all over the USA. She’s also lived on a sailboat and cruised around the Caribbean and North America and done a transatlantic crossing from St Martins to Southern Europe!) Which countries are still on your bucket list and are you planning a trip to Australia at any time?

I have lots of countries on my bucket list: Greece and Malta are high on the list, as well as Hungry and Poland. I’d love to get to Australia sometime! I won’t sail there because I always have a dog. The one we have now is a Great Dane.

Yes, quarantine restrictions in Australia are very tight.

What's next for you as an author?

I’m working on the first book of a trilogy called Lords of London. I’m taking secondary characters from The Marriage Game and matching them up with secondary characters from The Worthingtons. Of course, some of the main characters from both of series will be involved as well. Then it’s time to age the next group from The Worthingtons (the twins, Alice and Eleanor and Madeline) so they can have their HEAs.

Great series title and I love the concept of secondary characters having their turn in the spotlight. Good luck with that project. Thanks again for being on the blog, Ella.

Thank you so much for asking me! It was a lot of fun!

You can find out more about Ella and her fabulous stories by visiting her website at: https://www.ellaquinnauthor.com/


And, don't forget to look both of us up in New Orleans if you're attending the Booklovers Convention!

Thank you for visiting the blog today. I hope you've enjoyed the interview and that you'll join me next week for my author interview with Sabrina York (another attending author at the Booklovers Convention). Until then, Happy Reading!

Best wishes,

Alyssa

www.alyssajmontgomery.com

________________________________________________________________________________

About the Blogger:

Alyssa J. Montgomery is an Australian contemporary romance author who is published by Escape Publishing (Harlequin Enterprises, Australia). She also 

writes medieval romance as Alyssa James.