Ten More Questions With Gerri Brousseau

It's that time again, dear readers. We've reached a milestone here at Typing With Wet Nails, welcoming author Gerri Brousseau for her third visit in our comfy cyberhome. Anybody who loves historical romance and pugs is okay by me, and I'm happy to hep celebrate her newest relase, To Kill a Monarch. Grab a seat and a beverage of choice, and join in on the conversation...

1) Congratulations on your new release, To Kill a Monarch, and being the most frequent guest at Typing With Wet Nails. We won’t ask you to say which thrills you more. What does it feel like to now be a multi-published author?

Thank you, Anna, and thank you for inviting me to share with your readers. It’s always a pleasure to be here on Typing with Wet Nails. What’s it feel like to be a multi-published author? It feels surreal! I’m so blessed. I can hardly believe this has happened and I keep thinking that one day I’ll wake up to find it was all a dream, but then I got into B&N and see my book on the shelf and I know it is real. Real and wonderful.

2) What do you know now that you wish you’d known before your first book was published?

I wish I had started on the path to a writing career much earlier in my life. I think every writer’s journey is different and we all have our own unique struggle and story to tell, but it’s taking that journey that makes a writer an author.

3) What are you glad you didn’t know then?

If I had known how difficult it is to get published, I may have never even tried.

4) So far, you’ve written about pirates, time-travel, and now attempted regicide in the age of Napoleon. With such diverse topics across three different books, what would you say is the one thing readers can be guaranteed to find in all of your novels?

I thought long and hard about this when I was coming up with my tag line, which describes perfectly what a reader can expect to find when they read my work; “Danger, Adventure and Romance, because the journey to happily ever after should leave you .... breathless.”

5) Now, about that transvestite ... (which is not a phrase one uses every day when interviewing romance writers) we’ll let readers discover this particular character for themselves, but what would you say is the most important thing to keep in mind when creating memorable supporting characters?

Supporting characters are so important because they direct the actions of the main characters. Geoffrey Collins has quite an interesting role in this story, the extent of which is revealed close to the end of the book. I enjoy writing flamboyant characters such as The Contessa Theodora de Lorenzo in A Pirate’s Ransom, Half-Breed in According to Legend, and Geoffrey Collins in To Kill a Monarch because these characters add a layer of flavor to the story.

6) To Kill a Monarch has been described as “007 in 1811” – very catchy, by the way- and bears a title dripping with intrigue, but this is still a romance Why are romance and intrigue perfect partners.

Secrets. Lovers always have their private secrets, or they should, and so it’s perfect. The mystery of discovering a romantic liaison or rendezvous adds a layer of excitement to romance.

7) Where did To Kill a Monarch get its start? Plot, character, something else?

With this particular story it was plot first. I ask myself “what if” a lot. I knew I wanted an intrigue and had the time period in mind. I asked myself who would want to kill the Regent. Napoleon. Perfect. The more I thought about it, the more twisted the plot became, and before I knew it I was typing “The End.”

8) Describe a pug to somebody who has never seen one. Include appearance, personality and why they are perfect writing companions.

Ah, the pugs. They think they are my muses and my co-writers. They are small barrel-chested dogs, usually fawn colored with black ears and snouts. Their little snouts are pushed in, thus the name. They have faces so ugly that they are cute. (block your ears, pugs) They are friendly little creatures with quite easy going personalities. When I talk to my two, they move their heads from side to side as if they are attentive and hanging on my every word. They are very affectionate dogs, and great snuggle buddies. They lay in the recliner while I write and never bother me. In fact, they are here with me now. The only draw-back is ... they snore!

9) You’ve been given the chance to host a dinner party for any romance writers, living or dead. You may have five guests. Who are they?

Romance only? Wow. Kathleen Woodiwiss, because she was the first romance writer I ever read; Jane Austin, because she wrote Pride and Prejudice which is one of my all-time favorite books; Margaret Mitchell, because I would like to discuss Miss Scarlett; Nora Roberts, because . . . well, she’s The Queen; and, although not romance, J.K. Rowling because I wish I could be her.

10) What can readers look forward to next?

I’m presently working on three projects. Yes . . . three. This eliminates writer’s block. I just finished the research for a sequel of To Kill a Monarch; I have written the first few chapters of the first book in a YA series I’m working on; and I’m editing a completed novel which I hope to self-publish soon.

How can readers contact you?

All my contact information is on my website www.gerribrousseau.com

and at on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/gerri.brousseau.5

Thank you for inviting me. It was so much fun sharing with your readers.

So, what's To Kill a Monarch all about? Read on:

Whispers in dark allies say Napoleon’s best assassin, The Falcon, has been sent to London to kill the Monarch. The problem – The Falcon’s identity is known only to the French Emperor. Sir Walter Tinsdale’s new partner, Philip Hamilton, arrives to discover their mission is to find the elusive bird of prey before he strikes. But their nemesis is like a phantom and always one step ahead of them. Enter the lovely Miss Charlotte Winston, the object of Sir Tinsdale’s affections, as well as those of Philip Hamilton. Unlikely alliances, deception, murder, and suicide will keep you turning the pages until the identity of The Falcon is finally revealed. With all the seduction and action of a James Bond movie, To Kill a Monarch is like 007 in 1811.

An excerpt, for your reading pleasure:

“Our dinner is getting cold, Mister Hamilton,” Charlotte whispered as she leaned against him.

He drew her into his embrace. “To hell with dinner, Charlotte,” he whispered into his kiss. Lifting her into his arms, he carried her upstairs to the bedroom they shared.

He set her feet gently upon the floor, but his lips never left hers. He ran his hand up her back, pressing her to him, molding her body to his, while his fingers fumbled with the tiny buttons that ran up the back of her gown.

Her delicate and nimble fingers had unbuttoned his waistcoat and shirt, and she rested the palm of her warm hand upon his exposed chest. His breath caught in his throat at her touch. She drew her lips from his. “Mister Hamilton, allow me help you out of these damp clothes,” she purred.

Need a copy of your very own?

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/To-Kill-A-Monarch-ebook/dp/B00EOC3CGY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377457063&sr=8-1&keywords=to+kill+a+monarch

Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-kill-a-monarch-gerri-brousseau/1116560093?ean=2940148743316