Sandra Master Author of One Night with a Duke
Give a warm welcome to Sandra Master, author of One Night with a Duke, released TODAY, July 21, 2017! Happy Book Birthday!
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Sandra and His 
Grace, Raven, Tenth Duke of Ravensmere from One Night with a Duke.
Sanrda, tell us a little about writing One Night With A Duke.
I wrote this book in 1999 when I didn’t know anything about craft or markets or word counts. It was 160,000 words. Every year after that, I took it out and revised…and revised…and revised. Then stopped and cried. Four years later in 2016 I chopped 55,000 words, bringing it to an acceptable word length.
Boy I know that must have been tough! Now let’s hear from his Grace Raven, Tenth Duke of Ravensmere.
Setting: Regency England 1817, the industrial revolution, and returning soldiers with no employment set the scene for political turmoil.
His Grace, Raven, Tenth Duke of Ravensmere, reclusive, politically powerful, denies love after the tragic deaths of his duchess and baby son. Bound by a deathbed promise made ten years prior, he has vowed never to allow love to enter his heart again.
He meets Lady Samantha Winston, a young widow, who permits him to seek refuge in her carriage in a time of need, and what started out as a kiss in the name of safety, became pleasurable and not safe at all. In spite of every caution, his interest escalates into unexpected but welcomed desire.
Author: What is your main fear, Your Grace?
Answer: Being a mature and politically savvy peer, I feared to fall in love again passionately as I did with my late wife. The loss of her and our son paralyzed my every thought. To assuage the remorse, I delved more into all political events and devoted my efforts to my constituency and the tenants on my estate. England won the war against France but bankrupted the country. My goal was to propel my country back into the forefront of the financial world. My loveless life continued. And then by accident, I met Samantha Winston.
Author: Can you tell me about the incident?
Answer: You were the one who concocted the scene, but I’ll relive the events for our readers. After a meeting with the Prince Regent at his Carleton Townhouse, I chose to walk to the Townsend Ball a few blocks away. However, I encountered anarchists intent on doing me bodily harm simply because I was an aristocrat. The night darkened, and I cat-walked against walls, turned into an alley, and somehow avoided direct contact. Seven to one are not great odds for success. I saw a waiting carriage on the street with lit lanterns and raced to the door, pulled it open, expecting it to be empty. Instead, a lady sat on a seat, alarmed at my intrusion. The mob was now around us. The coachman bellowed for them to leave, but one lout climbed to peer through the window. Before I could speak to her, I went to her side and took her to me. All the thug could see was two presumed lovers in an ardent embrace and kissing. It must have amused him because he jumped down and chuckled moved the group down the street.
Author: Lady Winston allowed you, a stranger, to kiss her?
Answer: There was little time to speak, only to act. The lady kicked me in the shins, clouted me with her reticule until I uttered a sentence.
Author: Rather curious, Your Grace. What was the sentence?
Answer: Damnation, Madam. I asked her assistance since I was in dire straits…that I would explain and then I kissed her. It was when I said, “Please,” that she consented.
Author: Odd, that a duke of the realm would resort to such a word.
Answer: In dangerous times, a man would resort to any unusual actions. Now stop your falderal and let me continue.
Author: One kiss or two?
Answer: One long and pleasurable kiss. I remember thinking that a kiss in the name of safety was not safe at all. In the lantern light, I memorized her young face, but it was her verdant eyes that begged further inspection, not to mention her copper colored hair.
Author: And then what happened?
Answer: I apologized for my rash actions, made my explanation, and introduced myself. Other women would have fallen apart. Instead, she said, “It seems peculiar, Your Grace, to have introductions after our scandalous kisses. Perhaps it should have been the other way around?” Most of all, her sense of humor appealed to me. Her pleasant demeanor impressed and she chatted informally with me as if we were old friends. I offered to stay and wait for her relatives to explain my presence, but she asked for propriety’s sake that I leave.
Author: Did you?
Answer: Yes, after all, it was her request. I thanked her for her assistance. And that’s when she leaned forward and said, “Au revoir.” She whispered, “Until we meet again,” and touched my arm.
Author: Did you meet soon after?
Answer: You certainly know the entire story, but I avoided two dangers. One was the anarchists attempt to harm me. The second was the danger of a beautiful, high-spirited woman intent on flirtation or seduction. The latter intrigued me no end and represented a risk I would face with infinite pleasure. I determined that at another time, another place, I would find her again and demonstrate all the other things my lips and manly parts would do.
Author: Your Grace, I’m shocked that you would speak so.
Answer: I beg to differ with you, Mistress Masters. I can’t believe I did and said many of the things you wrote. You took great liberties with my persona in our book. You brought me out of the darkness of my personal life and gave me the desire to live and love again. There were those who never would believe me capable of such passionate utterings. They used to speak of me, under their breaths, as cold as ice with an even colder heart. The truth of the matter was that my heart needed resuscitation and my lady did an adequate job. Admittedly, you took a circuitous route, caused me great angst, pain, and suffering, but then I might not have appreciated Lady Samantha’s firebrand wit and courage. So I forgive you.
Author: For our readers’ sake, I’d like to say that you did reunite in Chapter Two. However, Lady Samantha Winston appeared to push all your ‘hot’ buttons much to your chagrin.
Answer: Yes, she did. I got the distinct impression you enjoyed every moment of my distress. We did meet at the ball later that evening, and I knew that my life would change forever because I saw the spitfire side of the lady and wanted to tame her indomitable spirit. I’ve always loved a challenge. Now, I suggest you go on to the next book because I want to savor the publication of our story. Feel free to join my lady and me in the library for a libation. I remember that you favor gin over brandy.
Author: Raven, you’re such a rogue. If I were to drink with you, I might have to write you in another book. You were one of the first dukes I created, but you gave me such a hard time because you were complicated in every way imaginable. Most of all, I liked your charming arrogance. I have created you out of the figment of my imagination. I hope I brought you justice. So, goodbye for now…oops, perhaps I should have said, “Au revoir. Until we meet again.”
Amazon | Kobo | BN | Apple iBookstore | The Wild Rose Press
Tell us about One Night With A Duke.
When a spirited woman disrupts the world of a duke who follows the rules, sparks fly, passions ignite and planets collide.
Reclusive, cold as ice, the politically powerful Raven, Duke of Ravensmere, denies love after the tragic deaths of his duchess and baby. He is bound by his vow never to allow love to enter his heart again. Samantha Winston permits him to seek refuge in her carriage in a time of need, and what started as a kiss in the name of safety, becomes something more pleasurable and not so safe after all. In spite of every caution, his interest escalates into unexpected desire.
Samantha, a young widow with a secret, irreverent and high-spirited, has constructed impenetrable walls against all men. When she and Raven meet again, strong wills clash. Political intrigues and a dreaded nemesis place his life at risk, and Samantha finds herself in a dire predicament. All the while, passion soars.
Can Samantha’s barriers fall with more kisses?
Can Raven be released from his deathbed vow?
A peek inside the pages of One Night with a Duke:
“I do hope that none of the rakish kind will offer for my basket. Men do feel widows are fair game. I’m not sure how I would handle such rakes. I have insufficient experience, but I suppose I will have to learn.”
“My dear Samantha, do you expect me to believe that in these past three years, you haven’t encountered disreputable men?” He laughed, “I do believe you will have a sufficient amount of reputable young men who will bid on you and your picnic basket. After all, it’s for a good cause, isn’t it? But I do hope you will keep your conversation light, or you will suffer the young man to have indigestion or apoplexy.”
Impishly, she said, “I deserved that. I like your sense of humor. It’s also good to hear you laugh. We do battle well.” Perhaps he could be a man of consequence?
“Indeed, but I warn you, I have not started my retaliation. When one acquires an enemy, I don ‘t believe in keeping him or her closer; however, I might make an exception for you.”
“Oh, No, I’m not your enemy, Your Grace. Please don’t consider me as one.”
“Perhaps if you try hard, you can change my mind,” a small grin curled his lips.
“What would I have to do?” her large eyes implored.
“I leave that to your resourcefulness…and mine…under a starlit night with nothing but our naked imaginations.”
“Sweet heaven,” she muttered, cheeks crimson.
Sandra, now I have a couple questions about you.
What secrets do you use to blast through writer’s block?
I find that being a plotster with an outline helps me to work on a continuous basis. That outline is first and foremost on my desk so I know where I’m going with the characters. Yet every once in a while, a character idea will take over and I find I have deviated from the original intent hopefully for the good. Without that outline/synopsis, I wouldn’t be as focused and it keeps me in line as an author.
Who is your favorite character of all the books written?
Raven, Duke of Ravensmere, Book Five, ONE NIGHT WITH A DUKE.
Because it was a too-long epic book and took so long to get him to publishing. Yet, with every book, he nagged me. I gave him cameo appearances in every other book written, but it wasn’t enough.
This was a May-December relationship and it had to be told. Some said it was a difficult task but I just tackled it. See below.
About the Author:
From a humble beginning in Newark, New Jersey, a short stay at a convent in Morristown, NJ, to the corporate world of NYC, Sandra Masters retired to the rural foothills of the Sierras and traded Board Rooms for Ball Rooms of the Regency. Her business world was left behind, and she never looked back.
Nothing she expected, but everything she dreamed.
Sandra lives in Coarsegold, California with her husband, Ron, who is her plotster, and their dog, Sophie. When not writing, she’s busy cooking way too much rustic Italian food for friends and family. She loves bears of all kinds and prefers to collect them in paintings and wood carvings.
Ohhh, rustic Italian food, good thing you don’t live close or I’d be on your doostep! LOL Any way, learn more about Sandra below:
Follow Sandra Masters on Facebook
Follow Sandra Masters on Twitter
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with One Night with a Duke.
Views: 3
Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged On Night With A Duke, Regency, Romance, Sandra Master by Tena Stetler with 25 comments.
Beth Trissel Author of Somewhere My Lady
Give a warm welcome to Beth Trissel, author of Somewhere My Lady, first in the Ladies in Time series released on July 12, 2017!
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, or there’s a pitcher of Lemonade on the counter, along with a plate of Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookies. Let’s find out a little about Beth and her new time travel adventure, Somewhere My Lady.
Thanks so much for having on your blog, Tena. I’m excited to be back into time travels again. I’ve been on break, writing YA fantasy and historical romance. Time travels suit my flighty attention span. The blend of history, mystery, fantasy, romance, and the paranormal in Somewhere My Lady (Book 1, Ladies in Time) were a fun meld. I set the story in my home state of Virginia, as I have all my time travels thus far. Although, that’s not necessarily where the characters end up.
I love old homes and have lived in them most of my life. The homeplace on my father’s side of the family (circa 1816) is the inspiration behind all the old homes I write—and it’s haunted. Naturally, Harrison Hall in Somewhere My Lady has ghosts. They took shape in my mind on their own.
I live on a farm in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley that’s been in my husband’s family for several generations, but the story unfolds in an 18th century manor along the James River. Harrison Hall, in Somewhere My Lady, is partly fashioned after Shirley Plantation.
I’m fascinated with the past and enjoy researching different eras. Not only do I sometimes get plot ideas this way, but it helps me bring the story to life. Research into family genealogy is the original inspiration behind my writing. My ancestors arrived in the early colonial days and left interesting accounts. One line goes back to Jamestown, another to the Salem Witch Trials. They were caught up in the French and Indian War, some taken captive, and fought in the American Revolution, the Civil War…
Gardening is also a passion of mine. I love growing herbs and heirlooms flowers with their deep connection to the past. I included a lovely garden in Somewhere My Lady, and used herbs in the story. It’s richly fragrant.
Oh, I love gardening too! I’m so excited, this year my garden is fantastic! Crossing my fingers we don’t get softball sized hail like we did last year that destroyed everything. Any way, tell us a bit more about Somewhere My Lady.
Lorna Randolph is hired for the summer at Harrison Hall in Virginia, where Revolutionary-War reenactors provide guided tours of the elegant old home. She doesn’t expect to receive a note and a kiss from the handsome young man who then vanishes into mist.
Harrison Hall itself has plans for Lorna – and for Hart Harrison, her momentary suitor and its 18th century heir. Past and present are bound by pledges of love, and modern science melds with old skills and history as Harrison Hall takes Lorna and Hart through time in a race to solve a mystery and save Hart’s life before the Midsummer Ball.
***‘Somewhere My Lady is a fun supernatural romance that will have you slipping in and out of the past and future as if you were a spirit yourself.’’ ~Colleen’s Book Reviews
Can we have a peek between the pages?
Something about him held her spellbound…the tilt of his head, arch of his brow, glimpse of his profile… She followed his every move with the fixity of an owl.
He turned blue-gray eyes toward her and sensuous lips curved into a smile on his handsome face. Hands down. No contest. He was the hottest guy ever. Her heart beat a thrilling new rhythm.
He circled closer to where she stood rooted in the foyer, not moving a toe, scarcely drawing breath. Did he truly see her backed tremulously against the wall, or did it only feel that way?
Unlike the others in the ghostly assembly, his eyes didn’t skirt past her. He paused in the dance. Bending at the shoulders, he tipped his hand to her in a genteel flourish.
He’d freakin’ bowed. Her jaw dropped. He most definitely saw her. And she sure as heck saw him.
A sparking sizzle jumped between them, awakening her as she’d never been roused before. Even more than when the house charged through her at her arrival. It was as if she were plugged in—to him.
How that could be, she had no idea, but when he gazed into her eyes, time seemed to stop. She spiraled into moonless stars, and back again to this dizzying realm. To him. Even if she were dreaming, she’d never forget this moment.~
Somewhere My Lady is available from all major online booksellers. In Kindle at Amazon
About the author:
Married to my high school sweetheart, I live on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia surrounded by my human family and furbabies. An avid gardener, my love of herbs and heirloom plants figures into my work. The rich history of Virginia, the Native Americans, and the people who journeyed here from far beyond her borders are at the heart of my inspiration. I’m especially drawn to colonial America and the drama of the American Revolution. And I love a good ghost story. In addition to Young Adult and New Adult fantasy romance, I also write historical, time travel, and paranormal romance, plus nonfiction.
Author Links:
One Writer’s Way: https://bethtrissel.wordpress.com
Facebook Beth Trissel: https://www.facebook.com/beth.trissel
Author Beth Trissel: https://www.facebook.com/bctrissel
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BethTrissel
My Amazon Author Page where all my books reside:
https://www.amazon.com/Beth-Trissel/e/B002BLLAJ6
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Somewhere My Lady!
Views: 1
Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Beth Trissel, ghosts, Romance, Somewhere My Lady, Time travel by Tena Stetler with 33 comments.
Guest Blog from Lisa Mondello Author of Lone Star Lady!
Give a warm welcome to Lisa Mondello, author of Lone Star Lady, eighth book in the Texas Hearts series!
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, or there’s homemade lemonade in the pitcher on the counter. Chose a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Lisa, her Lone Star Lady and the Texas Hearts series.
Lisa, Lone Star Lady is part of the Texas Hearts series. Tell us about connecting books in a series.Creating a new world for a romance series can be difficult for an author. How do you create a series of connecting characters while making every book fresh?
When I wrote the Lone Star Lady, part of the Texas Hearts series, it wasn’t originally supposed to be part of a series. It sold and was originally published by another publisher. But when I got the rights back to the book, I knew I didn’t want it to be a standalone book. So I rewrote it to be part of the Texas Hearts series. In doing so, I had to figure out how a standalone book that was very different than the Gentry brother’s story, could fit into that world.
My solution to connecting Lone Star Hero to Texas Hearts came by connecting the heroines from The Wedding Dress and Leaving Liberty to the heroine of Lone Star Lady. Life sometimes pulls you in different directions and different places. But friendships from the past endure. And so Hannah Ward and Liberty Calvert became Theresa Morales’s best friends. It gave me the opportunity to revisit those characters from past books and give readers and update without allowing their storylines to take over the current book.
I also included country singer Brock Gentry, hero of book 4 Gypsy Hearts, in the story as an off camera character. So readers who are familiar with the series have an automatic connection to that world even though I created a new location outside of Texas to set the story.
Authors love writing series just as much as readers love reading them. But the constant work to create something fresh to keep readers interested is work. Fortunately for me, I love this work. I hope you check out Lone Star Lady and all the Texas Hearts books at http://texasheartsromance.blogspot.com.
Interesting, connecting characters from different books in a series is the reason so many enjoy reading series. They don’t have to say goodbye to characters they’ve grown to love.
A sneak peek between the pages of Lone Star Lady!
“I didn’t know who else to go to. I really need your help.”
Teresa Morales listened to Dr. Dennis Harrington’s words as she sat curled up on the soft beige sofa in the lodge at the Taos Falls Mountain Ski Resort. The fire in the huge granite fireplace in the center of the room was burning hot—almost too hot for her comfort. Or maybe that was just her anxiety kicking in. This was supposed to be her vacation. No one was supposed to need her help here.
She bookmarked the page in the book she had been reading before Dennis’s abrupt arrival and closed it, setting it aside on the end table. With a swift motion, she untangled one long leg out from underneath her and brusquely hit her bare feet to the wide pine floor with a dull thud. If this was his idea of a joke, she wasn’t laughing.
“Dennis, I’m just a tourist here. What help could I possibly give you?”
“Last night…” His voice trailed off. His face looked stricken, and Teresa knew he wasn’t talking about the New Year’s Eve party they’d both attended—or the dance they’d shared. No, he was referring to what had happened afterward—the reason behind the beeper call that had pulled him out of her arms and away from the party after their dance. The horrible car crash on the bridge just a few hundred yards from the ski resort had been the only topic of conversation throughout Taos Falls today.
“I’m not sure you understand how severe the accident that took place last night really was.”
It was wonderful having you with us today, Lisa! Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Lone Star Lady.
Views: 2
Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Contemporary, Lisa Mondello, Lone Star Lady, Romance, Texas Hearts, Western by Tena Stetler with 1 comment.
Yet Another New Giveaway & A Warlock’s Secrets Release!
From Tena Stetler, best selling author of A DEMON’S WITCH, comes the second in Demon’s Witch Series, A WARLOCK’S SECRETS blending the magical and the real…Release June 14th .Author’s Secrets is again doing something a bit different celebrating the release of A WARLOCK’S SECRETS with Ten Authors, Ten ways to win a Kindle Fire, enter the Rafflecopter below until August 10th. Good Luck.
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, choose from a piece of chocolate fudge cake and ice cream, or strawberry shortcake to celebrate my new release A Warlock’s Secrets.
First let me tell you what inspired A Warlock’s Secrets.
A Warlock’s Secrets came to fruition after several readers and a couple of reviewers asked or assumed Tristian’s story was next in the Demon’s Witch Series. In truth, I’d never considered writing his story. He was the Demon Overlords enforcer/assassin, for heaven’s sake. After delving into who he really is and what he wants, come to find out, he has a strong moral compass and when love comes his way he is fiercely protective and everything Hannah is looking for in a man. A Warlock’s Secrets, second book in the Demon’s Witch Series is available June 14th!
A little about A Warlock’s Secrets: 
Years ago, a sacred ceremony at the Dragon’s Moon Coven turned deadly. Son of the high priestess, Tristian Shandie’s life changed forever. With a price on his head and revenge in his heart, he has no choice but to follow in his father’s footsteps to a profession shrouded in secrets. Now his skills as an enforcer for the Demon Overlord are second to none. But dangerous secrets he harbors are a liability he can no longer afford.
A chance meeting with a woman he finds irresistible flips Tristian’s world upside down. Hannah is a cyber security specialist with secrets of her own. Bad boys never appealed to her until Tristian, who changes everything. In his darkest hours, she is dragged into his magical world
If they survive, is she strong enough to heal his heart and tame the warlock? Or will their secrets destroy them?
A NEW Sneak Peek between the pages of A Warlock’s Secrets: Oh, yeah I love the cover!
He offered his hand to Hannah as she stood, wrapped an arm around her waist and guided her out of the diner. “How about a ride up the coast?”
“Sure as soon as you explain how you held those teens down without touching them.” She smiled up at him knowingly. “And don’t give me that crap about telling me or killing me.”
A slight grin curved the corners of his mouth. “How about on an as needed basis and you don’t need to know?”
A soft laugh bubbled up from her throat. “If I had to guess, I’d say you’re a warlock with well-honed powers.” She tilted her head up towards his. “Would I be right?”
HIs grin faded replaced with a stormy expression. “Where would you get that absurd idea? They merely tripped and had trouble getting up. I suggested they stay put until the police showed up. Simple as that.”
“Right. Well on that note, I’ll see myself home.” She turned to her car and opened the door.
For a moment, he considered letting her go. Women are more trouble than they’re worth anyway. That’s when the meddling voice of Birch wafted through Tristian’s mind. She’s moved on, so should you. Damn faeries anyway. I’m sure he’s using some kind of magic to do this to me.
“Okay, you win. But only if you tell me why you are disguising your magic signature.” He leaned against the car a smirk on his face.
A Warlock’s Secrets is available at:
Amazon, Kobo, Barnes& Noble, itunes. The Wild Rose Press
A little about the author:
Tena Stetler is a paranormal romance and cozy mystery author with an over-active imagination. She wrote her first vampire romance as a tween, to the chagrin of her mother and the delight of her friends. With the Rocky Mountains outside her window, Tena sits at her computer surrounded by a wide array of paranormal creatures telling her their tales. Colorado is her home; shared with her husband of many moons, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-year-old box turtle. Any evening, you can find her curled up in front of a crackling fire with a good book, a mug of hot chocolate and a big bowl of popcorn. Her books tell tales of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Well,okay there are a few companion animals to round out the tales.
Learn more about Tena:
Website: https://www.tenastetler.com
Authors’ Secret’s Blog – https://www.tenastetler.com/category/authors-secrets-blog/
My Say What Blog: https://www.tenastetler.com/category/my-say-what-blog/
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/tenastetler.author
Twitter Page: www.twitter.com/TenaStetler
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14187532.Tena_Stetler
Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/tenastetler
Newsletter Signup: https://www.tenastetler.com/newsletter-signup/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tenastetler
Tribber: http://triberr.com/TenaStetler
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tena-stetler
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tenastetler/
********
Thank you for stopping by! Don’t forget to enter the giveaway! It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to drop in anytime. You never know what awesomely talented author will be visiting Author’s Secrets next!
Views: 2
Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Warlock's Secrets, Adventures, Books at the Beach Giveaway and Book Fair, Hawaii, Maine, Paranormal, Romance, Scotland, Shapeshifters, Some Girls Like It Hot Giveaway, Tena Stetler, Washington DC, Witches by Tena Stetler with 8 comments.
