I've had the pleasure of sampling this debut author's first book (review coming soon), and I must say- She's definitely one to look out for! Stefanie Sloane's voice is loud, clear, and mesmerizer as she takes readers on an intense journey and makes us fall in love with the members of the Young Corinthians! Shoot, I want to BE a YC (click here to find out how you can become one!) She has also lead a pretty exciting life herself as the 30th employee at Amazon.com! So much about this author is interesting, so let's jump in, find out more, and meet this debuting dynamo!:
About the Author:
A native Northwesterner with the pale skin to prove it, Stefanie credits her parents’ eclectic reading habits—not to mention their decision to live in the middle of nowhere—for her love of books. A childhood spent lost in the pages of countless novels led Stefanie to college where she majored in English. No one was more surprised than Stefanie when she actually put her degree to use and landed a job in Amazon.com’s Books editorial department. She spent over five years reading for a living before retiring to concentrate on her own stories. Stefanie currently resides with her family in Seattle.
About the Book:
Lord William Randall, the Duke of Clairemont, is a wicked rake with little regard for society—a most unlikely suitor for the prim and proper Lady Lucinda Gray. But his latest assignment for the Young Corinthians, an elite spy organization, involves protecting her from a kidnapping plot and to do this, the notorious “Iron Will” must get close to Lucinda, and convince her that he’s a man worthy of her attention. It is a simple enough task to use his devilish charm to seduce her, but William never would have guessed that he’d become enthralled by the lovely Lady Grey—or that he’d lose his own heart in the bargain.Book Trailer:
Beautiful and fiercely intelligent, Lucinda has managed to gracefully sidestep even the most persistent suitors. Until the Duke of Clairemont, that is. His rugged features, sinfully sensuous mouth, and piercing eyes are as alluring as the champion thoroughbred he tantalizingly offers in exchange for the honor of courting her, and she finds it hard to resist either temptation. The feelings he stirs in her both excite and arouse, urging her on despite the very real danger he represents. But when the truth is revealed, will Lucinda risk her heart and her life for a chance at everlasting love?
Get Your Copy Today:
The Interview
RJ: Hey Stefanie! Thanks so much for stopping by the blog for some book chat today. Congrats on your May release-which is also your debut historical romance novel, ‘The Devil in Disguise’! (Regency Rogues Series- Book 1, Ballantine Books, May 24, 2011) I am so happy to have you on! Can you tell me and the readers how it feels and what it means to you to have your debut novel hitting the shelves today?
SS: Hi to you Rita and all of you out there. First, thank you so much for inviting me to come and chat. I adore your blog and am honored to be here. Second, how does it feel to see my book on the shelves? In a word, AWESOME! I sold The Devil in Disguise in 2008—yes, that 2008. So this day has been a long time coming. It’s the realization of a very special dream, so it really means so much to me as both a writer and as a woman.
RJ: I am always curious to find out how a debut author fared on their journey to becoming published. How did your writing journey begin and how did you get here? What pit-stops, wrong turns, and perfect lane changes did you make on your road to publication?
SS: When I left my job as the Amazon.com Romance editor, I knew that I wanted to work on a novel—I just wasn’t exactly sure how to do it. So, in a very naïve fashion, I sat down and started to write—and didn’t stop until I typed “The End.” Then I signed with a top agent and made the very ridiculous assumption that I was about to embark on a bestselling writing career.
The book didn’t sell and I was devastated—which wasn’t that surprising as I look back on it, because of my unrealistic expectations. But at the time, it was a real blow to my creative process. I sort of let life take over and I stopped writing for a while, which I regret. But I picked the pen back up in 2007 and slowly but surely made my way to today.
If I had it to do all over again, I never would have let the disappointment of the first book not selling keep me from pursuing my dream of publication. You’ve got to believe in yourself, even when others don’t—actually, especially when other don’t!
RJ: Let’s jump right in and gush all about this debut book of yours, shall we? What is ‘The Devil in Disguise’ all about?
SS: A few of my friends have dubbed the series “James Bond in breeches,” which I think is a fabulous way to describe it. All of the books deal with men who are members of the Young Corinthians, an English spy organization, with The Devil in Disguise introducing William Randall, the Duke of Clairemont. He’s big, bad, and dangerous—at least, as far as the ton is concerned. And underneath his brawn and temper? A tender, bruised heart and soul in need of help, which Lady Lucinda Grey reveals with her love and encouragement—and a lot of patience.
RJ: Cover Love! This is the part of the interview where we gawk shamelessly at your gorgeous cover. I love the coloring and the overall cover is just so decadent! What are your thoughts on the cover and what was it like when you first saw the finished product?
SS: Honestly, I think that Ballantine absolutely hit it out of the park with all three of my covers. The colors are rich and provocative, the settings romantic yet dangerous, and the heroes and heroines are gorgeous—descriptions that match what you’ll find inside the books and throughout the Young Corinthian series. There were many emails and phone calls flying back and forth when I received the artwork and everyone agreed that the covers were perfect for the stories.
RJ: ‘The Devil in Disguise’ is not only your debut novel, but also Book 1 in your Regency Rogues series. What is the series premise and how did the idea for it come about?
SS: The Regency Rogues series centers on the Young Corinthians, a clandestine spy organization in service to the king. Hundreds of years old and so secret that most within the government do not know of its existence, the Young Corinthians bonds its members like brothers and asks that they give all for their country—which they all do without hesitation.
As for how the series premise came about, well, I’m a sucker for a good spy. James Bond. Jason Bourne. Simon Templar. Jack Ryan. A dangerous man with a dangerous job is, in my opinion, utterly delicious. When William Randall, the Duke of Clairemont, appeared in my mind, I desperately wanted for him to be a spy. And, as it turned out, he was more than qualified for the job, his adventurous nature and risk-taking tendencies making for the ideal candidate.
RJ: I am slowly warming up spy/mystery plots in my historicals. (Your book definitely helped!) What was it about this element that made you want to incorporate it into your books? Can you name another book that you feel utilizes this plot device well?
SS: As I mentioned, I love a good spy. I also love a good mystery, as, in my opinion, it only serves to heighten the excitement for and emotional investment in the book. So it seemed a natural fit for me to use such a plot device in my books.
As for another book that utilizes the spy/mystery plot well, any of Joanna Bourne’s books are excellent examples of what a spy story should be. Her writing is utterly captivating and heart-stoppingly entertaining.
RJ: Who are your main characters in this book? What are some of their most notable characteristics, flaws, and redeeming qualities? And why are they attracted to each other?
SS: My heroine is Lady Lucinda Grey. She’s the perfect English aristocrat, a lady above reproach, and keenly intelligent. As for flaws, her most glaring one would be her staunch belief that she needs no one’s help—especially not the Duke of Clairemont’s. William Randall, aka the Duke, is wild, dangerous, and, a man with a broken soul, though he’d never admit this to anyone, least of all himself. His most self-defeating flaw is his believe that love makes one weaker, rather than stronger. Why do they fall in love? Well, there’s the sexual current that runs between them and threatens to burn down the entire world. And then there’s the connection they hold that runs much deeper—and forces each to reevaluate their very beliefs. Can they let go in order to live and love? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
RJ: Okay, now it’s Stefanie Time! What is a day in the life of Stefanie Sloane like?
SS: It’s so much less exciting than one would think! The first part of my day is devoted to my kids—getting them up, dressed, fed, and out the door to school. And then there’s the dogs. We walk, we play, and we generally do everything one can to exhaust a lab and a terrier mix. And then it’s writing time. I typically write for three to four hours in the late morning to mid-afternoon, then tackle administrative tasks like web updates, social networking, and the like. Somewhere in all of this I shower—hopefully—and then it’s time to pick up the kiddos and do the Mom dance until after the girls are in bed. The evening is spent enjoying time with my husband with maybe an hour or so spent editing and thinking about the next day’s to-dos.
RJ: In your opinion, what do you think makes a good story?
SS: There’s so much that goes into a good story. First of all, you must have interesting characters. If I don’t care about the characters, then I won’t want to read their story. Actually, while writing this I realized that the characters are probably the most important piece of the story for me. I have preferred settings and such, but a really well-written character will get me reading outside of my comfort zone every time.
RJ: What can the readers and I expect on the book shelves next by you?
SS: Next up in the Young Corinthians series is The Angel in My Arms, which features Marcus MacInnes, a Corinthian that readers are introduced to in The Devil in Disguise. He’s a man for whom the concept of home has never made any sense—until he meets Miss Sarah Tisdale. Sarah makes him feel like he finally belongs—and so much more!
RJ: *sad face* Final Question: What is something shocking or interesting about you that the readers may not know?
SS: Shocking or interesting? Oh man, I think that I might have to make something up. How about the fact that I’ve met Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Al Gore? I know, so not that exciting, but it’s all that I’ve got! Oh wait, my BFF is Julia Quinn! There, finally something interesting!
~*~GIVEAWAY DETAILS~*~
SUPER EXTRA ENTRY:
Young Corinthian candidates get 10 extra entries in the giveaway! How do you become a candidate you might ask? Head over to the "So You Want To Be A Young Corinthian" post for details. The candidate assignment has been detailed and if you participate you'll get the extra entries. Bonus Incentive: Guess the correct culprit and you'll be awarded an extra 2 entries. That's 12 possible extra entries! You won't know if you got the extra 2 until the giveaway winner is announced- at which time I will reveal the correct answer (The post is like Clue 19th century style! Super fun!) Have fun!
[You can also 'Like' Stefanie on Facebook for +2 extra entries]
*Please leave your email in your comment so you can be contacted if you win
*Restricted to US
SS: Hi to you Rita and all of you out there. First, thank you so much for inviting me to come and chat. I adore your blog and am honored to be here. Second, how does it feel to see my book on the shelves? In a word, AWESOME! I sold The Devil in Disguise in 2008—yes, that 2008. So this day has been a long time coming. It’s the realization of a very special dream, so it really means so much to me as both a writer and as a woman.
RJ: I am always curious to find out how a debut author fared on their journey to becoming published. How did your writing journey begin and how did you get here? What pit-stops, wrong turns, and perfect lane changes did you make on your road to publication?
The book didn’t sell and I was devastated—which wasn’t that surprising as I look back on it, because of my unrealistic expectations. But at the time, it was a real blow to my creative process. I sort of let life take over and I stopped writing for a while, which I regret. But I picked the pen back up in 2007 and slowly but surely made my way to today.
If I had it to do all over again, I never would have let the disappointment of the first book not selling keep me from pursuing my dream of publication. You’ve got to believe in yourself, even when others don’t—actually, especially when other don’t!
RJ: Let’s jump right in and gush all about this debut book of yours, shall we? What is ‘The Devil in Disguise’ all about?
RJ: Cover Love! This is the part of the interview where we gawk shamelessly at your gorgeous cover. I love the coloring and the overall cover is just so decadent! What are your thoughts on the cover and what was it like when you first saw the finished product?SS: Honestly, I think that Ballantine absolutely hit it out of the park with all three of my covers. The colors are rich and provocative, the settings romantic yet dangerous, and the heroes and heroines are gorgeous—descriptions that match what you’ll find inside the books and throughout the Young Corinthian series. There were many emails and phone calls flying back and forth when I received the artwork and everyone agreed that the covers were perfect for the stories.
RJ: ‘The Devil in Disguise’ is not only your debut novel, but also Book 1 in your Regency Rogues series. What is the series premise and how did the idea for it come about?
SS: The Regency Rogues series centers on the Young Corinthians, a clandestine spy organization in service to the king. Hundreds of years old and so secret that most within the government do not know of its existence, the Young Corinthians bonds its members like brothers and asks that they give all for their country—which they all do without hesitation.
As for how the series premise came about, well, I’m a sucker for a good spy. James Bond. Jason Bourne. Simon Templar. Jack Ryan. A dangerous man with a dangerous job is, in my opinion, utterly delicious. When William Randall, the Duke of Clairemont, appeared in my mind, I desperately wanted for him to be a spy. And, as it turned out, he was more than qualified for the job, his adventurous nature and risk-taking tendencies making for the ideal candidate.
RJ: I am slowly warming up spy/mystery plots in my historicals. (Your book definitely helped!) What was it about this element that made you want to incorporate it into your books? Can you name another book that you feel utilizes this plot device well? SS: As I mentioned, I love a good spy. I also love a good mystery, as, in my opinion, it only serves to heighten the excitement for and emotional investment in the book. So it seemed a natural fit for me to use such a plot device in my books.
As for another book that utilizes the spy/mystery plot well, any of Joanna Bourne’s books are excellent examples of what a spy story should be. Her writing is utterly captivating and heart-stoppingly entertaining.
RJ: Who are your main characters in this book? What are some of their most notable characteristics, flaws, and redeeming qualities? And why are they attracted to each other?
SS: My heroine is Lady Lucinda Grey. She’s the perfect English aristocrat, a lady above reproach, and keenly intelligent. As for flaws, her most glaring one would be her staunch belief that she needs no one’s help—especially not the Duke of Clairemont’s. William Randall, aka the Duke, is wild, dangerous, and, a man with a broken soul, though he’d never admit this to anyone, least of all himself. His most self-defeating flaw is his believe that love makes one weaker, rather than stronger. Why do they fall in love? Well, there’s the sexual current that runs between them and threatens to burn down the entire world. And then there’s the connection they hold that runs much deeper—and forces each to reevaluate their very beliefs. Can they let go in order to live and love? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
RJ: Okay, now it’s Stefanie Time! What is a day in the life of Stefanie Sloane like?
SS: It’s so much less exciting than one would think! The first part of my day is devoted to my kids—getting them up, dressed, fed, and out the door to school. And then there’s the dogs. We walk, we play, and we generally do everything one can to exhaust a lab and a terrier mix. And then it’s writing time. I typically write for three to four hours in the late morning to mid-afternoon, then tackle administrative tasks like web updates, social networking, and the like. Somewhere in all of this I shower—hopefully—and then it’s time to pick up the kiddos and do the Mom dance until after the girls are in bed. The evening is spent enjoying time with my husband with maybe an hour or so spent editing and thinking about the next day’s to-dos.
RJ: In your opinion, what do you think makes a good story?
SS: There’s so much that goes into a good story. First of all, you must have interesting characters. If I don’t care about the characters, then I won’t want to read their story. Actually, while writing this I realized that the characters are probably the most important piece of the story for me. I have preferred settings and such, but a really well-written character will get me reading outside of my comfort zone every time.
RJ: What can the readers and I expect on the book shelves next by you?
SS: Next up in the Young Corinthians series is The Angel in My Arms, which features Marcus MacInnes, a Corinthian that readers are introduced to in The Devil in Disguise. He’s a man for whom the concept of home has never made any sense—until he meets Miss Sarah Tisdale. Sarah makes him feel like he finally belongs—and so much more!
 |
| Quinn receiving 2008 RITA® |
SS: Shocking or interesting? Oh man, I think that I might have to make something up. How about the fact that I’ve met Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Al Gore? I know, so not that exciting, but it’s all that I’ve got! Oh wait, my BFF is Julia Quinn! There, finally something interesting!
~*~GIVEAWAY DETAILS~*~Stefanie has generously offered to giveaway a signed finished copy of 'The Devil in Disguise' to (1) one lucky commenter! All you have to do to be eligible to win is comment on this interview! The giveaway will end on June 7th and the winner will be announced and contacted shortly thereafter.
SUPER EXTRA ENTRY:
Young Corinthian candidates get 10 extra entries in the giveaway! How do you become a candidate you might ask? Head over to the "So You Want To Be A Young Corinthian" post for details. The candidate assignment has been detailed and if you participate you'll get the extra entries. Bonus Incentive: Guess the correct culprit and you'll be awarded an extra 2 entries. That's 12 possible extra entries! You won't know if you got the extra 2 until the giveaway winner is announced- at which time I will reveal the correct answer (The post is like Clue 19th century style! Super fun!) Have fun!
[You can also 'Like' Stefanie on Facebook for +2 extra entries]
*Please leave your email in your comment so you can be contacted if you win
*Restricted to US
---
I hope you all have enjoyed this great interview and learn a little more about an author I am sure will be a fixure on everyone's shelf for years to come. Please leave your feedback on this interview in the comments to enter the giveaway and make sure you swing by the special post to solve the all-important mystery and get your 12 extra entries in the giveaway!
Happy Readings!!!
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