Interview with Michele Sinclair

I'm pleased to welcome historical romance author Michele Sinclair to Book of Secrets!  Her latest book, TEMPTING THE HIGHLANDER, was released this month.  Hi, Michele!

Please tell us a little about your latest release, TEMPTING THE HIGHLANDER. 

It Begins As A Ploy...And Becomes A Pleasure. But Raelynd's designated intended interests her far less than his quietly powerful brother Crevan, a man born to lead. Though bound by honor and committed to his sworn duty, Crevan cannot resist a taste of Raelynd's crimson lips when offered - and then another and another - until the unlikely couple is entangled in both a public deception and each other's hearts...

Raelynd Schellden has determined that she does not want to marry. Yet as the oldest of Lord Schellden’s twin daughters, it is a choice that may not be hers to make. After the humiliating set down of her last suitor, the King has chosen a Low-land raised Scottish nobleman from his court to marry one of Lord Schellden’s daughters and become the Schellden heir.

Desperate to protect his clan from an outsider who doesn't understand, or care for the ways of his clan, Lord Schellden hatches a plan. If he can catch his daughters in a compromising situation and force an engagement using his long time alliance with the neighboring McTiernay clans he can maintain his clan's safety and also have a viable heir for the King.

After watching the McTiernay twins Craig and Crevan follow his twin daughters into the stables, Lord Schellden does catch the twins together. He was dismayed, however, when what he interrupted wasn’t as compromising as he had hoped. He pulled Craig and Crevan aside, and coming to a compromise, he the McTiernays. Fake an engagement for a month. That would be long enough for Lord Schellden struck a deal with to convince the Lowlander that he didn’t have what it would take to become a Highland Laird.

Things don’t go as completely planned, and as Raelynd and Crevan become closer they realize that they are engaged to the wrong person, even though the engagement is false. This becomes clear especially when the Lowland Noble proves to be more than adequate for the job of Schellden Laird.

What was your source of inspiration behind this book?

Like many, my characters are my inspiration, but I also really try to write about topics that mean something to people in today’s world, even though I write historicals. This book in particular is about “breaking out of the box.” Ever have someone tell you that you should do this for a living? For example, good debaters are often told to become lawyers, empathetic people should be doctors, etc. Sometimes we hear it so much, we actually adopt other people’s opinions as if they were our own! Coupled with a general need to make others happy and a willingness to sacrifice our happiness for our loved ones, I think all of us eventually come to a point when we stand back and think, who am I? What do I want to do? This can be hard to answer and oftentimes hard to enact, but if we are truly to become happy we need to look inside ourselves and dictate the course of our lives and not let others do it for us. Crevan has to “look in the mirror” so to speak and make some decisions that will affect him and those around him. Raelynd’s story is more simple, but again familiar. She has to learn that leading is not being bossy and that an effective leader (or Lady of the Castle) requires respect.

Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in your book/series? Were there challenges or obstacles you had to overcome?

Hmm. I had two challenges. The first is lack of time. Time is a killer. I have two small children and a very full time, challenging job that usually requires me to work more than 40 hours a week. This leaves very little opportunity to write. But that challenge was nothing compared to the one I have had to overcome more recently that resulted in my becoming a single mother. Such loss made it hard for a while to want to be romantic. And then there was the fear….could I be? Well, I have since finished writing CHRISTMAS KNIGHT, wrote THE GUARDIAN, TEMPTING THE HIGHLANDER, and refined PROMISES. But now lack of time is even more of a challenge!

Who was your favorite character to write and why?

Oh this is hard. I like Cole from the third book. He has a special place in my heart. Clyde will take readers on a journey some might not understand if they have never had a loved one touched by war. But the most fun to write is Conan. Because we all know people like him. Good guy but often a pompous schmuck and you just want to be there when they get their “comeuppance” as my grandmother would say. As the author I am always there!

Which character was the most challenging to write and why?

Hardest to write…Usually Laurel. She needs to drive the story, not take over. Her good sense cannot replace that of the main character. She cannot “grow” for them.

We usually never talk about villains in books during interviews. Share with us who or what is the antagonist of your story.

I am SO glad you asked this question. When I first started thinking about this particular story I thought I wanted what I’m calling an “anti-antagonist”. Basically I wanted to write a Highland story that didn’t have a major battle at the end where the good and the bad guy battle it out over the girl. I also wanted a story where at the end…you realize there was no bad guy. Where the antagonist is the catalyst, but not evil…You’ll love Cyric. When I sent this to one of my trusted reviewers at first she said there is NO way I will ever like this guy…but in the end…she did a lot. Cyric, like Crevan, has been defining his life by how others see him, not as he sees himself. This story is absolutely the funniest I have written to date. (Of course that is IMHO LOL, but my editor and publisher both told me the same!)

What was one of the most interesting things you learned in researching your book?

When my editor asked me to do a Christmas series (can you write a Christmas book? “Of course!” I replied, not having a CLUE what I would write about…), I thought about it and I had always wanted to write a Beauty and the Beast story because it is my very favorite. So I kind of played around with the idea and what ended up was not a B&B, but something very touching nonetheless. I always wanted to know more about the 12 Days of Christmas and the stuff I learned was so fascinating that I actually included a little historical blurb at the beginning of each chapter (or day). This is rarely done in romance but even the editors and copy editors said keep it! You learn about England’s Boxing Day, the origins of “Do Re Mi Fa…”, piggy banks, etc. I love all the research, but this time it answered questions I didn’t even know I had :)

What makes your book stand out from others in the same genre?

I don’t know about standing out. I rarely read my genre so I might not stand out at all! I have been told that unlike some out there my heroines are usually smart and pretty independent. Weak, helpless women aren’t my style.

And, as I hinted to before, all my stories have a theme. The first, THE HIGHLANDER’S BRIDE, is a light read that set the premise for the series. These two fun characters show up in active roles in every book and explore sharing personal responsibility. We all have aspects of our lives we feel like we need to shoulder alone, but when you have a partner in life, the miracle is discovering you don’t have to. The second in the series, TO WED A HIGHLANDER, focused on pride. How it can strengthen a relationship, but also damage and even destroy it. We all have pride and sometimes we let it stand in the way of getting our heart’s desires. The third book in the series is about promises. We make promises to ourselves and to others. Sometimes out of instinct to protect ourselves from pain, sometimes in revenge, sometimes to ensure someone is protected, helped, etc. Promises, especially long term ones, can affect how we go about our lives and choices we make. They are also something that we need to believe in, trust in, (such as marriage vows) even when circumstances tell us not to.

Book four explores people’s perception of you and sometime people assume roles others give them and how choices we “fell into” can govern our lives. Book five (the next one) is about the transition from friends to lovers. The whole “When Harry Met Sally” question – can men and women just be friends? Crevan’s story is less about him growing up (he does) but more about what is the definition of a home and family life. Clyde’s story is about PTSD and how his and Meghan’s love sees them both through things. My family background has a lot of military and this story means a lot to me.

The first Christmas book is about the healing after experiencing a physical trauma, but with a twist. The characters accept who they are, but they don’t realize that they never really give others a chance to accept them as well. The second in that series is about post partum depression (something I suffered for nearly a year with my second child) and the third is the famous “love triangle”, but I look at how and why we choose the men we do.

The Regency series coming out is about friendship and how for us women it drives so much in our lives. The second in that story explores the “follow up” story—something I really wanted to do. Romance often has two people who are so different fall in love and get married. But being so different, is it really all happiness afterward? That story talks about how falling in love is the first…and the easiest part. Accepting the one you love is a greater challenge.

Well, hopefully this answered that question :)! I could go on, but hopefully these give you an idea of what intrigues me and motivates me and just who might be interested in reading one my stories.

  

What is the best part of being a writer?  What is the most difficult part?

Having the ending EXACTLY the way you want it to be. Have you ever watched a movie and thought…no! That’s wrong! That’s not how it should end….

The most difficult? Time and managing everything. Writing the story is just one piece. Responding for fan mail, maintaining websites, interviews :), edit reviews, workshops, helping as a judge for contests...

What is your writing process like?

Interesting question. I have a mental picture of the characters and who they are (quirks, personality, issues…) before I start writing, but I went to a lecture at my local RWA chapter and heard the phrase “Write it wrong till you can write it right.” Genius.

So now I just write what the characters tell me. I start out with the basic idea - X goes to see Y, they have a fight and Y leaves resulting in X feeling very guilty and afraid they just might have made a big mistake…perhaps the biggest of their life.

So I know the gist of the scene, but then I just watch the details in my head and write it down as if I am trying to capture a movie I am seeing. Sometimes it is smooth and sometimes it is jerky, but I have found that you just put it down and move on. I don’t rewrite until the very last chapter is complete. Because it isn’t until then, at that moment, do I really know where my characters are going and developing. Then when I go back I can write with much more clarity and it is typically pretty straight forward. Otherwise, I would fall in that “rewrite until it is perfect loop”—something many find impossible to break.

Not sure if I answered the question, but this is the process I follow.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Didn’t. I quipped one day that I could write a book in my sleep I read so many. I was dared and took them up on it! I was shocked and in many ways still am that I, who cannot keep a journal if my life depended on it, can actually write a complete book.

Why do modern women still crave the alpha male in romance novels?

We read romance to read about heroes we fantasize being with. This is why there are so many very different writers who are successful. They appeal to a different market. Personally, I like men who are strong and to a healthy degree possessive and protective. I also want them to have soft spots that are only really noticeable and understood by very few. Men who usually don’t open themselves up but rather, is shocked to find out that their soul mate snuck in the back door into their hearts. Who they are, not what they look like, makes them attractive. They protect without control, though they like to control. They are strong yet can make even a strong woman feel feminine. They are good people who desire good for those around them. Then again, while they are tolerant fellows to a point, they will not hesitate to draw blood to protect those they love. May not be realistic in today’s world, nor historically common in this period, but these are my heroes and they have to be such type of men to love and be loved by the women of whom I write.

What does romance mean to you?

Someone I cared very much about wrote this once and with very minor changes here is their (and also my) answer. 1. Expressing to your significant other, they look nice, or giving them a compliment 2 . Physical touch - not sex here, but squeezing of a hand or shoulder 3. Lovingly running fingers thru hair, face finger treatment 4. Opening a car door / appreciating the car door being opened 5. A Simple smile 6. Flowers if the person likes gifts / a Hershey kiss in the briefcase 7. Walking arm in arm 8. Swinging on the back porch swing 9. Holding hands 10. Talking for hours about the day, future plans, goals, dreams 11. Quality time with each other 12. Calling someone just to let them know you are thinking of them or I.E.. 13. Love notes, or cards 14. Special treat hidden in a special place 15. Edification 16. Cuddling 17. Cooking together for nice quiet evening 18. Doing the dishes, taking out the trash, 19. Shoulder to cry on 20. Looking out for each other 21. Being gentle 22. Turning over remote control 23. Sharing the little things of life 24. Out for Dinner and slow dancing 25. Intimacy That friend (a man) finished by writing this: A romantic success: Being romantic means doing all the things that were mentioned above, and more. This should speak love to a woman more than anything else. It tells her you care, and you appreciate her. It says I will go out of my way to make you feel cherished and honored. In doing these things roadblocks and barriers will be broken down and each will be able to look into each others eyes and see that I am a part of you and you are a part of me. This shouts out to them I LOVE YOU, and she knows and can feel your heart. These too feel like they are very compatible and have become best friends, even soul mates, they are inseparable and will always be together into eternity. A romantic failure: Men many times are naive and do not feel the above things are either required or have any importance - tragic mistake. Nor do they read minds very well, nor do they speak romance fluently. Even if a woman tells them what she wants and needs sometimes Ad nauseam it will not sink in. If this is not done and help out the poor sap he will not be educated, it is destined for failure. Another component of the equation is, sometimes even when men are educated as what to do, or what they should do they become lazy, uninterested, complacent, worn down, storm battered, and broken this can even lead to things beyond a romantic failure and perhaps become more dark.

What was the last amazing book you read?

EE Doc Smith's the LENSMAN series. Phenomenal. No not romance. Written several decades ago but you would never know because a good story remains relevant. Just your good old good vs. evil story, but incredibly well-written.

What books have most influenced your life?

I read a LOT of science fiction. Those authors are brilliant and because of the context of their stories, I often evaluate my world a little differently after reading a book. They see the environment, people, the future differently and cause me to consider other possibilities as well.

Other than writing, what are some of your passions in life?

My kids. My kids. My kids.

What can readers expect next from you?

I have the McTiernay series, a Regency series, a Christmas series and now a vampire analog (which is very different as this is totally off my typical writing genre).

McTiernay is out this August, the Guardian is out in September, next is the Regency, then another McTiernay, then the wrap up to the Regency, the McTiernay and the Christmas series.

http://www.michelesinclair.com/

Thank you for being with us today, Michele!