Reading Romances discussion

Read my interview with author Nancy Gideon, where she talks about her latest book, Unleashed by Shadows!



Welcome to Reading Romances, Nancy! Let's begin getting to know your references a bit:

When did you first start reading romance? 

Sneaking peeks at THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER with co-workers on my lunch hour during my first part time job. It was SO scandalous! Considering before that it was Georgette Heyer regencies and Frank Yerby historicals, her love scenes were eye openers. I was hooked.

Who are your favorite romance writers and their book that stands out the most for you?
Kresley Cole for her Immortals After Dark series (especially Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night. LOVE that Bowen!), J.D. Robb (everything Eve and Roarke!), Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series and everything else I can fit onto my Kindle!

What was the most challenging thing you’ve done in the name of research that might have been out of our comfort zone?
I was riding in an elevator during a conference with one of the hotel staff who turned out to be the head of public relations for the chain and asked if I could interview her for the next book in a series I was writing. It was an unexpected opportunity and I had to get all my questions together in the time it took to ride up four floors. It was a great peek behind the scenes and she was very gracious.
And I went on every tour and to every restaurant in New Orleans I could fit into a week’s research trip – like that was a dirty job!

What's the craziest writing idea you've ever had?
That I could retire off my writing income. I’m still holding onto that one!


Please tell us five fun facts about Unleashed by Shadows that readers would love to know!

1. I have a serious author crush on my dark, tortured, rowdy, tattooed, rock-n-roll, cage-fighting, Shifter prince-turned-king hero Cale Terriot! Sigh . . .
2. Discovering New Orleans’ The Saint Hotel’s Archangel Lucifer Suite as a place for my naughty Shifter princes to entertain themselves led to some very . . . fun scenes.
3. Though it’s Book 10 in my “By Moonlight” series, readers will have no trouble jumping in as a stand-alone–though I’ll warn that they’ll want to go back and read them all once they meet the cast of characters.
4. UNLEASHED started out as a scene I couldn’t get out of my head while writing REMEMBERED BY MOONLIGHT. I never start in the middle of a project with isolated bits and pieces but thought once I wrote it down, it would leave me alone. That scene turned out to be the three chapters that anchor the middle of the book.
5. Cale first appeared as hero of PRINCE OF SHADOWS. When he roared in on his motorcycle for a secondary role in REMEMBERED BY MOONLIGHT threatening to take over that book, I had to appease him by promising to bring him back in another book of his own.

If you could only describe a single scene to encourage someone to read your novel, which scene would you describe?
Here’s a peek . . .

He feared no man, no foe, no obstacle or challenge.
He’d learned to stand his ground and take it without a wince while growing up with the most to prove in the House of Terriot. He’d been schooled beneath the heavy heel and meaty fists of Bram Terriot, bearing the marks of those lessons scored into his skin and once tender psyche. He understood intimidation better than he did compassion. He’d once indulged in every savagery expected from him now, and would have become a brutal, heartless monster walking the same path his father followed had it not been for the two things that called to his latent decency: The brothers who’d fearlessly stood beside him and the female brave enough to believe his claims.
He owed them. He owed his family prosperous lives without fear and subjugation, where pride wasn’t measured in cruelties. He owed the woman he loved the fulfillment of promises made by a starry-eyed boy. He owed them a future in which they bowed to no one and had no reason to expect the worse from one another. And to achieve those things, all he had to do was right the wrongs of the man who’d desecrated the crown he now represented.
All . . .

What are you currently working on?
I’m doing a group of novellas around Cale’s hot and hunky princely brothers called “House of Terriot Foursome.” The only problem is which to start with!

What makes a romance novel a great love story and how would you define "romance"?
Struggle and sacrifice for the sake of one another. I’m all about passionate angst as the fuel for a relationship. Love Conquers All would be my mantra, with that happily-ever-after as the reward.


This or That:
1. Alpha or Beta?  Alpha! Grrrrrowl!
2. Wallflower or Belle of the Ball?  Wallflower (or Belle who is a secret Wallflower!)
3. Debutante or Spinster? Spinster, more complex and independent!
4. Virgin widow or Secret baby? Virgin widow
5. Titled peer or Working man? Titled peer-yummy!
6. Love at first sight or Second chances? I’m all about second chances.
7. City or country? City (or country in the city)
8. Writing or Reading? Writing. Reading. Writing. Writing. Reading.
9. Plotter or Pantser? Plotter with Pants on Fire
10. Your turn to ask a question: 
Do you dare pick up the 10th book in a series and read it first? I hope so. I promise you won’t regret it!

Thanks for inviting me to share UNLEASHED BY SHADOWS with you and fellow readers!!

Unleashed by Shadows in currently $3.99 on Amazon!