Hi everyone!
Today I’d like to welcome the lovely Cassandra Samuels, who has
brought along her début novel, A Scandalous Wager.
Thanks so much for coming for a visit. J
Thank
you for having me today on your Blog Nicole.
What type of romance do
you write?
At
present I write Regency Historical Romance, but I do have plans to also write
in the Georgian period and Colonial Australia.
What inspired you to
write this story?
A
Scandalous Wager was inspired by folklore surrounding the raven. The heroine,
Lisbeth, has been nicknamed The Black Raven (bringer of bad luck and death)
because the ton of London believe she
killed her husband (even though she was acquitted). There are many folklore
tales that also say that Ravens are good luck, but for the purposes of the
story the darker one fit better.
What comes first, the
plot or characters?
Most often it is the characters. Usually, either the hero of the
heroine come quite clearly to me and I build the story around them.
Are you working on
anything at present?
The story I am currently working on is tentatively titled The Collector of Hearts and is a rake
reformed story that I have had a lot of fun writing. Next I will be working on
the sequel to A Scandalous Wager.
What has influenced your
writing?
I would have to say Jane
Austen as I had to read Pride and
Prejudice in year ten at school and fell in love with it. I think watching
the BBC miniseries (you know the one) cemented my love for the story and the period. I also read a lot
of Johanna Lindsey books before moving on to Stephanie Laurens and Loretta
Chase.
What made you want to be
a writer?
I
have always wanted to write my own book since was fifteen. I still have my
first attempt which is partly handwritten, partly typed, tucked away in my
filing cabinet. I remember researching how long it took to travel by ship from
England to Australia. I was interested in history even then. When I was thirty
I had a bit of a mid-life crisis where I asked myself where has Cassandra gone?
I was a wife and an employee and a mother but I hadn’t really anything for
myself. Writing was something I could do that didn’t cost much, I could do when
I wanted to, and I could use my creative mind productively. My mother
encouraged me to do it and I started working on my first full length novel that
week. It wasn’t until I joined Romance Writers of Australia (RWA) and the
Breathless in the Bush group that I realised how much I didn’t know about the
craft of writing a novel. I had no idea about goal, motivation and conflict,
character arc or the three act structure. I’ve been learning ever since.
What advice would you
give an aspiring author?
If
you are serious about writing, do it. Find your voice and trust it. Join RWA.
As the Black Raven, she’s cold, distant, and alone,
untouched by the gossip and scorn of her aristocratic peers. Until he enters
her house – and her life – and suddenly her icy shell is no match for the heat
of attraction…
Blurb
Notorious Widow Lisbeth Carslake, Countess of
Blackhurst was acquitted of her husband's murder, but no one believes in her
innocence. Known as the Black Raven, bringer of bad luck and death, she is
eviscerated by the gossips and mocked in the clubs. She’s also the subject of
London’s most scandalous wager.
Oliver Whitely, Earl of Bellamy, needs money,
but it takes more than a few drinks to take on The Black Raven Wager. He finds
himself drunk, at her house, and – more surprisingly – inside, and agreeing to a business proposal at the
end of a fire poker. She will let him win the wager, and he will help find her
husband’s killer before the killer finds her. But business agreements don’t
mean trust, and Lisbeth certainly doesn’t trust Oliver, her body’s reaction to
him, or her heart.
Love may be the biggest gamble of their lives, but
is it a wager their hearts can afford to lose?
Snippet:
Set up. The hero, Lord Bellamy,
has
drunkenly taken on The Black Raven Wager and to his surprise she has let him
in, but she has other plans for him that he is about to find out.
She spun to face him,
fire poker drawn level with his heart. ‘Do sit down, Bellamy.’
This time he did laugh.
He was in no doubt he could overpower her before she did much harm with that
mere stick in her hand — as pointy and well-crafted as it seemed.
‘I believe you owe me
an answer, Lord Bellamy.’ She moved towards him brandishing the poker like a
rapier. He couldn’t believe his bloodshot eyes. He laughed louder. He nearly
told her to keep the tip up, until he saw where her target was and it was no
longer his heart. He stopped laughing.
‘Fifty pounds,’ he
confessed with a slow smile, for there was no longer any reason to conceal his
true mission here. Confounded woman had him at a disadvantage though. If only Henry had not been such a blasted
fool, leaving him with more debt than he knew how to handle, a doddery old aunt
and two entailed estates full of dependents. Oh, and no money.
He saw her glance at
the mantel and realised his time was up. Should he start praying now or…? He
wanted to laugh again. If only the Frenchies could see him now. Undone by a
handsome widow and a fire poker.
Her gaze left the
clock and seemed to focus on his cravat. ‘I fail to see what is so amusing to
you, Lord Bellamy. I can only assume you know of my reputation. Why else would
you be here? Ah, yes, the money. Fifty pounds, was it? How would you like to
earn a lot more?’
This
was a twist he had not expected. ‘Excuse me?’
She
glided over to him and pointed the poker at his vitals. ‘Let me explain it for
you. These little wagers have been
happening for quite some time, Lord Bellamy. You see, you are not the first man
to sit on my steps and demand entrance. Some have even tried to break in. I
find this whole business very
childish and most annoying. Can you understand my frustration, Lord Bellamy?’
The poker came very close to his pride.
‘Yes, most annoying,’
he replied, his eyes riveted on the poker. She had no idea how easily he could
turn this scenario on its, or in this case, her derrière. He was too intrigued,
however, by her suggestion to bother demonstrating just now.
‘However, if you will
assist me, I think you will be more than happy with the arrangement I am
proposing.’ She stared at him coolly.
‘Arrangement?’ The fire
poker remained hovering above his most important asset.
‘Yes. I find I require
an escort. You see, I presume there are a number of…outstanding wagers
concerning my reputation as the Black Raven, and I will allow you to collect
them on the condition you but play the gentlemanly
escort.’ She took the poker away from his crotch. ‘Are we in agreement?’
Links:
Thanks for stopping by.
Nicóle xx
