We want to give a massive welcome to Beverley Kendall, historical romance author, and the mastermind genius behind The Season. Beverley’s début novel, Sinful Surrender, was released last year and the second book in the Elusive Lord series, A Taste of Desire, will be released January 4th. My review for A Taste of Desire will be posted just before the official release date.
And here is the lovely trailer for A Taste of Desire:
Book Pushers: Beverley, welcome to The Book Pushers and thank you for agreeing to this interview!
Bev: Hi Sarah. Thanks so much for having me.
Book Pushers: Can you tell us how many stories there will be in The Elusive Lords series, and are you able to give us any sneak peeks of what’s coming up after A Taste of Desire? 
Bev: Right now I have a total of three stories in this series. The final book, An Heir of Deception, hasn’t been contracted yet, so the series is in very much a holding pattern. My fingers are crossed that Alex and Charlotte will get their story though.
Book Pushers: Your upcoming release, A Taste of Desire, is Thomas’ and Amelia’s story. What was your inspiration for writing about such two strong headed characters, and will Thomas be getting a little payback for the grief he put James and Missy through in Sinful Surrender?
Bev: The inspiration for A Taste of Desire came from a contemporary I started to write four years ago that I targeted for the Harlequin Presents line. It was about a hero who’d asked the heroine out years ago and she turned him down flat. Now years later, she’s working for him and is talking about him to a co-worker. He overhears her telling the co-worker that his car—a Lamborghini—says everything thing about him. Essentially that he’s undoubtedly overcompensating for the other areas where he lacks (if you get my meaning).
When I was deciding how Thomas and Amelia’s story would go, I took that outline and retrofitted into a Victorian setting and voila, that is how I ended up with A Taste of Desire.
Book Pushers: Will we see any more of the Armstrong siblings have their very own stories?
Bev: I do love the Armstrong family and I would love to write stories for Thomas’s younger sisters, Emily and Sarah, as well as James’s half-sisters, Charlotte and Catherine. But that really depends on whether there will be sufficient interest and demand for more books in this series.
Book Pushers: Can you tell us the story on how Sinful Surrender came to be published?
Bev: LOL. Well I’ll give you the short version. After being turned down by every agent I queried, I sent the manuscript to a couple of editors who expressed interest in seeing the full, one who was Hilary Sares at Kensington Publishing. I sent it to her in August of 2007. By January of 2008 I hadn’t heard back so I decided to send her the revised manuscript—I’d made some changes, especially to the opening scene. One week after I sent it off, I received her rejection letter. At that point, I thought all was lost and was kicking myself for wasting the postage to send out the second revised manuscript. On September 4, 2008 she called to offer me a contract on that same revised manuscript.
Book Pushers: Is there a favourite historical time period of yours that you would love to write in?
Bev: I would say definitely mid to late Victorian. I love writing about a time on the cusp of such great industrial changes. I firmly intend that my stories will be set closer and closer to the dawn of the 20st century, which I think is an interesting time in history.
Book Pushers: What are your all time favourite historical romance characters, and your all time favourite historical romance?
Bev: I’m a huge Lisa Kleypas fan so I would have to say Marcus Westcliff and Lillian Bowman from It Happened One Autumn. I can’t tell you how much I love the fact that, ostensibly, they do not like each other but it’s quite obvious there’s this unwanted attraction between the two. I love setups like that.
Book Pushers: If you had to choose, what type of hero would you pick that would sweep you off your feet from any time period? Such as: Roman Centurion/Gladiator, Duke/Lord or Billionaire Greek tycoon…ect. Â Which would it be and why?
Bev: My specific preference isn’t for dukes, lords, Greek or Italian tycoons, mine is for a really confident man (and only slightly arrogant) in any time period, with the capacity for tenderness, love, fidelity and utter devotion.
Book Pushers: Do you have any plans to expand in different sub genres within Romance?
Bev: Actually I do and I am. I’m currently working on a contemporary romance, which is what I started writing long before I tried my hand at a historical. In the past, I really only ever dabbled when writing contemporaries and never managed to finish a manuscript, but this time around I’m definitely more focused and determined.
Book Pushers: Do you remember reading your first ever romance? What was the title, and can you remember your reaction to it?
Bev: I will never ever forget the first romance I read. It was a Harlequin Presents by Anne Mather titled, No Gentle Possession. My sister was shocked because the heroine bit the hero when he tried to kiss her. I was very young and found the scene slightly forbidden yet very very intriguing. Not only did I read that particular scene, but I finished the rest of the book and then read it from beginning to end. I was hooked on romances from that point on.
Book Pushers: And lastly, if you could choose any romance hero, who would you kiss, marry and chuck off a cliff?
Bev: LOL. Well I would kiss and marry Alex Cartwright, who is the hero in the third book in the series, An Heir of Deception. Alex has just the right amount of wit, charm and dark brooding bitterness I love in my heroes and in all three books, you get to see all those wonderful and compelling sides of him.
As for which hero I would chuck off a cliff, I might just chuck Adrian Alistair Rohan from Anne Stuart’s Reckless. I think he needed to evolve another 45 degrees to be the hero I wanted him to be.
Once again Sarah, thanks for having me and for the great questions. I would like to offer a commenter a copy of A TASTE OF DESIRE.
***
Big thanks to Beverley, and we hope you enjoyed the interview. 😀
The giveaway is open to all, and all you have to do for a chance to win is comment below.
Good luck!
This one sounds so good and funny! I love the story, especially since it shows how revising is something that can make or break a book deal for you. The series sounds like a load of fun.
(I’m a historical romance addict, though, so take this into consideration. xD )
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Fun interview! I’m looking forward to trying your books, Beverley!
I’m looking forward to reading this one, I really enjoyed the last one.
I’m glad to hear of the tale of rejection and then the turn around into a contract – that feeling certainly can be put to use in a romance. I’m glad this series is continuing…my hope for the new year is focused writers and wonderful stories that sit up and yell I’m the one you want! The best ~
I am looking forward to ‘A Taste of Desire’ and love how Beverly retrofitted the Lamborhini story to fit the Victorian era!
I read that teaser & it had me hooked. Thanks for sharing & congratulations Bev 🙂
Please don’t enter me to win a copy since I already have one. I just wanted to comment on your interview. Loved hearing about how you got published. I too loved Marcus and Lillians story.
I can’t wait to read Alex’s story. I loved him in A Taste of Desire. Hopefully we don’t have to wait too long for it to get picked up. Thanks for writing such a great series.
I would be so scared of those rejection letters, I need to toughen up cos books do happen 🙂
Lol, I remember my first romance too, not something one easily forgets
I’m dying to read A Taste of Desire because Beverley’s books are wonderful! Here’s hoping that Alex and Charlotte will get their story too.
Barbed1951(at)aol(dot)com
Thank you for the interview and chance to read this.
Sounds like a great series. Thanks for the great giveaway 🙂
mrsjohnson1982 at yahoo dot com
Hi Everyone,
Thanks so much for dropping by and commenting.
Barbara, I’ll have my fingers crossed till I get Alex’s book out in print–because I’m determined to. 😉
@blodeuedd. As a writer, rejections are just par for the course. You get so used to them, you’re totally unfazed when they come. LOL.
Hi Helena!! What’s funny about that, is that until just about a month ago, I didn’t even realize how much I took from that category I had started to write.
Hi Paula! Thanks for dropping by. Your hopes are mine too. It’s very hard in this ultra competitive field to gain the interest of an editor. It doesn’t get any easier after your published…
Hi Linda! So glad you enjoyed SS. Amelia is not sweet Missy but I loved her just as much. 😀
Hi Chelsea! Thanks for dropping by. I hope you get a chance to read either or both books and enjoy them.
Hi John! Yeah, that revising thing taught me a thing or two. I’m glad I went with my gut. I’m so glad I didn’t get the rejection letter a week sooner or I probably wouldn’t have send the revised version out. Serious stars aligning to get me this contract. 😀 The book, IMO, is fun but not slap stick kind of fun, more on the dry side of fun–oh, and with a good share of angst and emotion. Hope you like that too. 😉
Your first novel was a terrific debut. I look forward to reading the second book. Best of luck with the contemporary. I enjoy reading authors that write in both genres, such as Judith McNaught and Lisa Kleypas.
I can’t wait to read this one!
I would love to be entered to win this one. It sounds really good. I’ve been on a historical kick lately!! Happy New Year.
mlawson17 at hotmail dot com
Hi 🙂
Thank you for the interview with Beverley Kendall & thank you to Beverley for sharing such great responses here. I think it’s pretty awesome that she likes Lisa Kleypas too.
Happy New Year!
RKCharron
Love your books Bev and would also love to start 2011 with a winner from you.
However be blest in 2011 with as much joy and contentment as you can contain.
blessings,
M
Great interview Thanks for the chance to win
The premise of the book sounds really interesting. I’ve read a few excerpts on Beverley’s blog and I’m definitely interested in reading the whole book, especially if it’s angsty as those are my favorite kinds of romances.
jen at delux dot com
Note to self, Twitter is a complete time sucked and it’s hard not to get sucked in.
Thanks for dropping by everyone. I’m hoping for a fabulous 2011 for everyone.
Malin & Renee, thanks for the interest and dropping by. I hope you get to read it and enjoy!
Hi Kim, i’m so happy you enjoyed SS. 🙂 Hope TASTE works out the same for you.
Marjana, what would I do without your enthusiasm. Thank you!!!
Hi Martha, so glad you’re on a historical kick. I hope either of my books makes their way into your hands. 😉
Hi RKCharron. Would it help to say I think my books are like mine. 😉 She’s IS a huge influence in my stories.
Awww, thanks Maribeth. And the same to you for 2011.
Hi Tanya, thanks so much for dropping by.
Hi JenM, I’m an angsty addict if that helps you any. AND I like conflict between my h/h. If they get along too long, I get VERY bored. 😉
Hi Bev. Followed you over here. Happy New Year.
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com
Really enjoyed the first book and after giving us a tease of thomas and amelia in it i can’t wait to read their book 🙂
mariannguyen16(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I love the music of your the book trailer.
Does is also describe the story inside? 🙂
I am looking forward to read this book
Taste of Desire sounds like the type of book that can pull me back to historical, I am afraid to say its been a long time since I have read one. I love interviews and learning how a book came about. also what books and other authors are their favorites.
vampiremistress2010@gmail.com
I have been reading the sneak peeks of A Taste of Desire and I can’t wait to read it. I think I would like this one better than Sinful Surrender… I think the heroine, Amelia speaks to me… LOL
Hi Beverley, I loved your interview. I’m so glad you sent the revised manuscript in because I loved Sinful Surrender and look forward to reading about Thomas and Amelia’s story in A Taste Of Desire. Keeping my fingers crossed with you over Alex’s story as well.
Carol L
Lucky4750@aol.com
Would love to read this. Thanks for the great giveaway 🙂
mrsjohnson1982 at yahoo dot com
Hi, I’d love to read this. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
My, my, my…. this suspence is too much! Anxiously awaiting to read A taste of Desire!
I would love to be entered to win this one.
Great interview 🙂
And Happy New Year.
welzen at hotmail dot com
Congrats on your new release! And with such a great cover!
Sounds pretty interesting . I would love to read this 😀
raluk.93 at gmail (Dot) com
I’ve been following rhis book around. Please Enter me in 🙂