Romance Unlaced: Interview with Elizabeth Hoyt (plus excerpt!)

I first read bestselling author Elizabeth Hoyt's writing before almost anyone else did. I had agreed to serve as a finalist judge in a contest for unpublished authors some years ago, and one of her manuscripts was among those sent to me.

Editors often talk about how they just *know* when they will want a story, from the first page. I read her first pages, and I *knew* this author would be in print very, very soon. She was that good. I was expected to write a critique of this contest entry, and I had precious little to criticize. I scrounged up something or other, but my cover letter was honest and I admitted it had not been easy.

That manuscript became Elizabeth Hoyt's first published book. She garnered instant popularity and critical acclaim, and her career soared fast. There have been 17 romances now, and a new one, Dearest Rogue, is due out May 26. If you have never read her, you really should fix that.

I am delighted that Elizabeth agreed to an interview for HEA.

MH: Please tell us about the new book.

EH: Lady Phoebe is pretty, vivacious and blind. Her over-protective brother, the Duke of Wakefield, has hired Captain James Trevillion, a former dragoon, to guard her at all times. Phoebe chafes at constantly being shadowed by the dour captain, but when someone makes plans to kidnap her, she turns to Trevillion to protect her.

MH: Will readers fall in love with the hero?

EH: Oh, I hope so! Trevillion is basically a wounded soldier — one of my favorite hero types. He takes his job guarding Phoebe very, very seriously and is at the same time hiding his intense attraction to her. Phoebe is bright and young and funny — everything he longs for.

MH: What are some of your favorite elements of this book?

EH: I liked the contrast between vivacious Phoebe and the stern and unyielding captain. Trevillion is the type who feels deeply and permanently and at the same time mistrusts his own emotions. And I got to visit Cornwall with this book — a new setting for me. Trevillion takes Phoebe to his family home, which is a horse farm on the coast. Horses! Beaches! Goofy dogs! Everything I love. ;-)

MH: If you were not a romance writer, what genre might you be writing?

EH: Probably some type of thriller or mystery, since that's a genre I read a lot. But really, I feel that I'm most suited to writing romance — and particularly historical romance.

MH: Tell us something about your career's trajectory. Have you held other jobs while writing? How many books have you published?

EH: Well, I was a full-time, stay-at-home mom when I started writing, so in a sense I've always "held" that job. I realized when my youngest (now in college!!) started kindergarten that I had an opportunity that I might never have again in my life: to try writing. I didn't have a career outside the family to go back to or to try and fit writing around. I told my husband to give me five years and if I hadn't gotten a book published in that time I'd get a "real" job. Of course I had NO idea about publishing — many, many successful authors take way more than five years to publish — but I did sell and publish The Raven Prince almost exactly five years later. Since then I've written pretty steadily, selling three contemporary romances (under the name Julia Harper), one novella and 14 historical romances. Dearest Rogue will be my 18th book.

MH: Have you done any self-publishing? Is that in your future?

EH: Nope, not yet! But I think self-pubbing is in every author's future, don't you?

MH: I heard that you garden as a hobby. Any special plans for your garden this spring?

EH: We've just moved and my new "garden" is a barren backyard. I'm writing this to the accompaniment of heavy machinery because I've hired a professional landscaper to put in the hardscape — retaining walls, a high privacy fence and a patio. In addition he's planting three trees for me: a sugar maple and two crabapples. (I LOVE crabapple blooms in the spring!) After that, I get the fun of planning and planting new flowers and bulbs this summer and fall.

MH: Has juggling family and writing become easier as your children have gotten older? Do you have any advice for writers (or any women) with families regarding time management?

EH: You would think being a mom would get easier, wouldn't you? But I think if you ask any mother, she'll tell you those teenage years can be a challenge. I have an early-20s daughter (traveling in China) and a 19-year-old, and sometimes I drop everything when the younger one comes into town. I decided long ago that my family absolutely comes first, and I don't regret that. I do, however, sometimes wish I had an extra five hours or so in the day!

I admire writers who have very young children because looking back I remember having trouble just getting dinner on the table — forget the housecleaning! I think you have to be very clear with yourself about how you're going to spend your time. When a child is at school or napping, you need to realize that this is your writing time and you don't spend it surfing the Internet or reading. At the same time, being a mother is a very important job. Give yourself small, manageable goals.

MH: How long does it take you to write a novel? Is there a pattern to how stories develop in your head?

EH: It takes me about six months to write a first draft — the first five faffing about and the final month writing like a demon. (If I have eight months, I'll spend seven faffing, one writing, so …) I tend to think in characters and specific scenes or plot points. Sometimes I'm able to plot out the entire book, scene by scene. Sometimes I have to just start writing.

MH: What are your writing environment, method and schedule like?

EH: I have a beautiful office with six windows and a lot of light. I do have a desk, but I usually sit in a comfy chair and use a swing-arm thingy for my computer. I'm most alert in the mornings, so that's when I try to do my writing. I do have a word count goal per day, but I rarely make it. ;-)

MH: What is coming next, after this new release?

EH: I'm writing Sweetest Scoundrel right now, out in November.

MH: Will you share a favorite passage from your new book with our readers?

EH: Certainly!

EXCERPT FROM DEAREST ROGUE

Lady Phoebe entered the carriage and settled herself. She waited for Captain Trevillion to climb in and knock on the top of the carriage to signal their readiness to the coachman before saying, "I told Maximus that I intended to visit a friend this afternoon."

The carriage lurched forward. "You didn't tell him the name of your friend?"

She pursed her lips. "He didn't ask—he was rather busy with some legal documents at the time."

"My lady—"

"Do you know how old I am, Captain?"

He frowned, then bit out, "One and twenty."

She nodded. "And quite out of the nursery."

"If you—"

"Do you know, I've never inquired how old you are, Captain."

"You're trying to change the subject," he clipped out, frustrated. "My lady."

"Why, yes, I am." She smiled devastatingly and he had to look away. She was always too near, let her feelings show too easily. Did she think he was a damned eunuch? "I'm rather surprised you realized it, Captain."

There was a short silence.

Then he sighed. "I'm three and thirty."

She leaned a little forward. "So young!"

He couldn't stop a wince. How old, exactly, had she thought him?

"I'm a dozen years older than you, my lady," he said, sounding ponderous even to himself. "The same age as your brother, in fact."

The thought made him unaccountably grim.

"And yet you seem much older." She wrinkled her nose. "Maximus is very stern, but at least he laughs. Well, now and again. Once or twice a year, anyway. Now you, Captain, you never laugh and I doubt very much that you smile. I thought you at least fifty—"

He scowled. "My lady—"

"—or even five and fifty—"

"Phoebe."

He stopped, shocked by his use of her given name.

She'd made him lose control.

She smiled very slowly, a little cat licking the cream from her chin, and he felt himself tighten. "Tell me about your family and background, James."

He narrowed his eyes. "You never thought me five and fifty."

She shook her head, the damnable smile still playing around those luscious lips. "No."

He looked away. For his own sanity. For his own honor.

Find out more about Elizabeth and her books at elizabethhoyt.com.

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USA TODAY and New York Times bestseller Madeline Hunter is the two-time RITA-winning author of 25 historical romances. Her next release, Tall, Dark and Wicked , will be published in October. You can find her at www.MadelineHunter.com. To contact Madeline about content for or in this column, please e-mail her at RomanceUnlaced @ gmail.com (close up the spaces). Due to the volume of mail, e-mails from authors may not be answered personally, but all will be read.