An Interview with Mia Marlowe!

Nicola here and today I have the pleasure of chatting to Honorary Word Wench Mia Marlowe about her lovely new novella and her future writing plans. Mia's award-winning historical romances have been praised by readers and reviewers alike and her novella My Lady Below Stairs has been acclaimed as "worthy of Shakespeare!" It's a wonderful story and I was utterly charmed by it. Before we move on to the interview, here is a blurb:

Nobody misses Lord & Lady Hartwell's Christmas Ball, but they all go for different reasons. When Lady Sybil runs off with an Italian portrait painter, her bastard half-sister Jane Tate goes in her place. Lord Eddleton plans on proposing to "Sybil" under the mistletoe. Lady Darvish is on the hunt for her fifth husband.

And Ian Michael MacGarrett, the head groom with more than horseflesh on his mind, is determined to show Jane that love doesn't have to pretend.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B005WCL942/httpwwwmiamar-20 

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-lady-below-stairs-mia-marlowe/1106721423

Mia, welcome back to the Word Wenches!

Mia: First, thanks for inviting me to Word Wenches again, Nicola. At the risk of having a gushing fangirl moment, let me share that some of the brightest stars in my romance heavens make their home on this wonderful site. I’m feeling as if I’m in very fast company indeed!

Nicola: I love the idea of the Wenches being fast company! It's lovely to have you back and please tell us a little about your new novella.

Mia: It’s actually a reissue of my novella from A Christmas Ball, an anthology which was released in 2009 with USA Today bestseller Jennifer Ashley. When I moved from Dorchester to Kensington, my agent was able to secure rights to this story again. I’ve become addicted to reading on my phone, so we decided to offer it as an eNovella.

When I wrote My Lady Below Stairs, I wanted to try some out-of-the-box characters. Most Regency stories are peopled with lords and ladies, but I always wondered about the lives of those who toiled for their daily bread instead of being born to the Upper Crust. So I decided to give a Christmas miracle of love to my scullery maid heroine and her head groom hero.

Nicola: I do enjoy a historical romance with a different slant to the characters. Now, I know that we are only in November but Christmas is fast approaching and My Lady Below Stairs is set against a background of Regency Christmas festivities. What sort of research did you do into Christmas traditions and did you discover anything that surprised you?

Mia: Many Christmas traditions harken back to the Victorian era instead of the Regency. There were no Christmas trees during “Prinny’s” time. They didn’t become popular till Prince Albert brought them to England. However, Regency holidays featured a “kissing bough” fashioned of ivy (symbolizing women), holly (to represent men—guess they’ve always been prickly!) and mistletoe (which provided the all important little white berries). When a gentleman caught a lady beneath the kissing bough, he plucked a berry from the branch and when all the berries were gone, there could be no more stolen kisses.

Something that surprised me was the holiday game called Snap Dragon. Revelers actually snatched raisins from burning brandy while the rest of the party chanted a many-versed poem. Needless to say, there were plenty of burned fingers and tongues. These people seriously needed cable TV! 

Nicola: Hmm, I don't think I'll be re-introducing Snap Dragon at my Christmas party this year but I am always fascinated to hear about these old traditions. I must admit that I was already hooked on your story from reading the excerpt on your website. What key elements would you say one gets from a Mia Marlowe story?

Mia: Thanks so much for those kind words, Nicola.  Here’s the link to that excerpt in case your readers would like to take a peek as well: http://miamarlowe.com/books/stairs.php . My novels always include a bit of humor, some dramatic action/adventure, and a deeply-felt, sensual love story. Some of my works also include a sparkle of magic, but not all. Unless, of course, you count love. That’s magic enough for most of us.

Nicola: Lovely and very true! What character did you have the most fun creating and why?

Mia: I actually enjoy playing with unusual secondary characters. Lady Darvish in My Lady Below Stairs has been widowed 4 times and is on the hunt for husband #5. Rumor has it that they all died of exhaustion. This Regency cougar was a hoot to write!

Nicola: I love the concept of the Regency cougar! You write brilliant first lines that grab the reader and pull them into the story. How important do you consider that first line to be and how do you come up with the right one for the story?

Mia: Ever since Barbara Vey crowned me “the queen of first lines,” I do fret over my openers. My goal is to surprise, delight, or befuddle readers with my beginning. It’s very important to me to begin as I mean to continue. My opener is a promise to readers about what sort of story they’re going to receive from me. I don’t want to disappoint them, so I probably revise the first 500 words or so more than the whole rest of the manuscript.

Nicola: That's very interesting and I work in much the same way. So I have to ask... To plot or not to plot? How much of a planner are you?

Mia: To my sorrow, I am a pantser. I so envy those well-organized plotters who plan out every scene and plot point. I follow my characters around and trust them to lead me even if I can’t see how it will all turn out. On the plus side, if I don’t know how to untangle the black moment until it arrives, chances are my readers will be surprised too.

Nicola: It's always reassuring to meet another pantser! If you could describe your writing with a word or phrase, what would it be?

Mia: Oh, that’s a terribly hard question, Nicola. Maybe the best answer is the tag line from my website. Timeless Historical Romance. Because I write in a number of different time periods (Regency, Georgian, Victorian, Medieval Scandinavia and 16^th century Scotland!) it seemed to fit. I also like the tag because it suggests classic themes in my love stories—betrayal, jealousy, temptation, redemption, reconciliation—timeless elements in the dance between two souls.

Nicola: I couldn't resist slipping a Scottish picture in there. Any excuse! What do you believe are the most important ingredients in a historical romance novel?

Mia: More than getting the costumes or furnishings of the houses correct, I think it’s important to make sure the characters think about themselves and their world in a manner in keeping with their time. If a character does otherwise, there needs to be a reason. For example in My Lady Below Stairs, my hero Ian Michael MacGarrett believes he doesn’t have to be trapped in his current situation. Through his own efforts, he can better himself. He believes this because he regularly reads John Locke and has embraced some rather heretical democratic ideas.

Nicola: I confess I fell for Ian in a big way and he's welcome to discuss his heretical democratic ideas with me any time! Which aspect of your research do you enjoy the most?

Mia: All of it. But travel is the most fun! I’ve visited England a number of times and in my imagination, the cobbled streets are alive with the people who walked them hundreds of years ago. I remember passing a house where Sir Isaac Newton lived and wondering if his world made more sense to him than mine does to me sometimes.

Nicola: What resources do you find most helpful for this period? Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?

Mia: For the Regency period, there are reams of information available, but lately I’ve been enjoying Georgette Heyer’s Regency World by Kloester. As far as tips for aspiring authors go, I’d like to invite them to submit a 500 word excerpt at http://www.miamarlowe.com for my Red Pencil Thursday. Each week I do an online critique for a volunteer and my blog readers weigh in as well. The goal is always to be constructive. I’ve had volunteers at every level of writing expertise, from total neophytes to Golden Heart winners and even one New York Times bestseller! At least one Red Pencil Thursday alumnus has gone on to sell.

Nicola: I've checked out your Red Pencil Thursdays on more than one occasion and they are a wonderful opportunity and I encourage people to take advantage of it. So what’s next for you, writing-wise?

Mia: I’m so glad you asked. In January, my first collaborative novel with New York Times bestseller Connie Mason will be released. It’s called Sins of the Highlander and I frankly LOVE this story. Our hero “Mad Rob” MacLaren is tortured by dreams of his dead wife. She’s alive and vibrant in his dreams. When he wakes, even if it’s hours till dawn, he doesn’t seek sleep. He can’t bear to lose her again so soon. Here’s a link to that excerpt: http://miamarlowe.com/books/sins.php

Thanks again for having me, Nicola. I’d love to give away an advance reading copy of Sins of the Highlander to one randomly drawn commenter.  Since the action in My Lady Below Stairs revolves around a Christmas Ball, let’s talk about holiday festivities. Do you have a favorite tradition in your family that makes the season sparkle for you?  

Comments

[Brunette Librarian]

My favorite Christmas activity is opening presents on Christmas eve. My Mother's birthday is Christmas Eve so we always open presents and have birthday cake :) Doesn't feel like Christmas until cake!

[Diane P. Diamond]

Our favorite tradition is to all gather together around the Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve and sing Christmas Carols. We also drink punch, egg nog and eat mince pies. I love Christmas and being with the family.

[Catherine-james]

Every year, after my parents and I have spent a chill Christmas Eve opening our presents (hold-over from my maternal grandfather's German ancestry), we snuggle up and gather 'round the television set to watch our Yuletide film: The Ref. That's right folks: infidelity, grand theft, hostages, home invasion, cat-fighting relatives, F-bombs a'flyin...it's just doesn't feel like the holidays until we've had our traditional screening. :D

[Barbara M. Britton]

Hi Mia,

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is having my mom's Danish stuffing. As a kid, I thought it was gross as you use the cooked innards, but now as an adult, I find it delicious. And since it takes a lot of time to prepare, we only have it over the holidays.

[LilMissMolly]

Hi Mia. I love Highlander stories so I'm sure your new one will be a winner! Christmas stories are fun. I wish I could read faster!!
lvsgund at gmail.com

[Mia Marlowe]

Brunette Librarian--So you get to combine a birthday with Christmas. My parents were married on Christmas Day, so there's little chance of forgetting that special date!

[Mia Marlowe]

Diane--My sisters and I always sang carols too, but as well as doing it around the piano, we sang in the kitchen as we washed up the dinner dishes. My dad always said he had no need of a dishwasher--he already had 4 daughters!

[Mia Marlowe]

Catherine--Interesting that a movie figures in your celebrations. My family gets tired of the way I love A CHRISTMAS STORY marathons. I can practically recite that entire movie. So glad Ralphie didn't shoot his eye out!

[Mia Marlowe]

Barbara--Your Danish stuffing reminds me of my DH's family's fixation with lutefisk. It's codfish that's been stored in lye. Legend has it that the Swedes decided to send the Norwegians some poisoned fish, and the Norwegians liked it! Lutefisk was a rite of passage at my DH's family gatherings.

[Mia Marlowe]

Thanks, LilMissMolly. We had a grand time writing our Highlander.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Welcome back to the Word Wenches, Mia! I'm laughing at your story about the lutefisk. So THAT'S how the dish was developed! I have a Scandinavian friend who says you have to be raised with lutefisk to tolerate them. *g*

[Rebecca Zanetti]

Hi Mia! No matter what, my sisters and our families meet up at my parent's house for Christmas dinner and presents. We alternate with what we're bringing...but we're always there.

Then for Christmas we go different ways to our husbands' families.

Great blog post! :)

[Na S.]

There's a saying that food is the way to a man's heart. I think a bit of that is true for everyone. In all family get togethers the fun part is spending time in the kitchen baking/making foods everything from spring rolls, desserts and barbecue. It's about spending time and enjoying each other's company.

[Jeanne Miro]

Hi Nicola and Mia,

I love the holidays starting with Thanksgiving which to me means starting to bake for the Christmas holiday.

Our favorite tradition for Christmas Eve is gathering in our family room in front of a blazing fire in the fireplace and putting the star on the top of our Christmas tree and reading The Night Before Christmas.

It's a time of reflection and thanks. We're thrilled that our youngest son and his family who lives in South Carolina has carried on this tradition with his own children and even though we live in New England they always call us before the grandchildren go to bed to wish them a Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

[Kim]

Congratulations on the release. We always have a big Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner, but gift giving is done on Christmas morning.

[Carrie Bentley]

Baking pies with my dad and sister!

[chey]

My favourite Christmas tradition is Christmas baking!

[Cathy Gilleylen Schultz]

My favorite tradition is to make the boys hunt for their Santa presents with clues left about the house.

[Barbara Elness]

My favorite tradition at Christmas is when my sister and I jump in the car Christmas night and drive all over town looking at all of the Christmas decorations. It's something we've done for many years and I wouldn't miss it.

[Nicola Cornick]

It's lovely to have you back at the Word Wenches, Mia. As I mentioned, I adored My Lady Below Stairs and I've been riveted to read all about the Christmas traditions behind it. Love all that research! My favourite Christmas tradition is the village carol-singing two nights before Christmas. It makes me feel very mushy and grateful to live in such a lovely place.

[Minna]

My favourite Christmas traditions are baking and eating chocolate.

[Mia Marlowe]

Hi MJ! It's great to be back at WW, and I'm thrilled to be named an Honorary Wench.

[Mia Marlowe]

Rebecca--When I was a kid, we had to juggle our time between my two sets of grandparents since they all lived in the same small town. It meant we ate TWO big Christmas meals instead of one, and of course, in my family food=love so there was no skimping one place to gorge another.

[Mia Marlowe]

Na--My grandmother made the best rolls in the world. She used the same recipe for dinner rolls and with butter, sugar and cinnamon turned them into the perfect Christmas morning breakfast. I woke many mornings to that heavenly smell.

[Mia Marlowe]

Jeanne--Thanks for sharing the way your family made memories and passed down traditions.

[Mia Marlowe]

Thanks, Kim. We always allowed one gift on Christmas Eve, but saved the motherload for Christmas morning.

[Mia Marlowe]

Carrie & Chey--My nephew has started a tradition of candy-making instead of baking. My favorite is his cinnamon glass candy. Yum!

[Mia Marlowe]

Cathy--One year my sister and her family spent Christmas with us and she and I had colluded to hide her husband's "big" present--an electric guitar. We hid a string of clues (in cheesy rhyme!) all over our house and even one across the street at a neighbors who was in on the conspiracy! When he finally found the guitar, my BIL was in tears both for the present and the trouble we went to in order to make it special. It was a great moment!

[Mia Marlowe]

Barbara--When we lived in NC, we always made a trip to Tanglewood to see the lights display. Amazing!

[Mia Marlowe]

Nicola--Thanks so much for having me. I love caroling too. One of my favorite Christmas memories was going to midnight Christmas Eve service with my DH's grandmother. She insisted on sitting between us so she could hear us both singing (my DH has a terrific bass voice!)

[Ashlyn Chase]

Hey there!

Mia's critique partner here. I noticed Mia described her themes as 'classic.' Please don't mistake that for typical! Her stories are unique and refreshing with snappy dialog, feisty heroines, and very likable Alpha heroes. (Ask her about how brutally honest I can be when I'm not immediately charmed by a hero!) LOL

No need to enter me in the contest. I've read (and loved) every Mia book I've had a peek at.

[Diane Sallans]

I live in a small colonial town founded in 1700's; it has a town green in the center where a large tree is lite every year & on Christmas Eve there is a Carol Sing. Then we move into our church for a candlelight service. Get's us in a happy holiday mood after the hectic period of shopping etc.

[Quilt Lady]

We always have Christmas dinner and gifts with my family on Christmas Eve and Christmas with husband family on Christmas day. We have been doing this for years and since my family is out of town I always wish for the weather to be good and no snow on Christmas Eve. After I get home it can snow all it wants.

[LilMissMolly]

We usually bake cookies Christmas eve and eat nothing but snacky foods, then wrap presents after church.

[Glittergirl]

The tradition I started with my children is individually wrapping each gift in their Christmas stocking. When they were little it slowed the process down and created such a surprise as each gift was unwrapped. Now they stuff each other's stocking and no one knows what's in each package but me :-)

[Grace Burrowes]

Mia, what a protean talent you are, and what a fun story "My Lady Below Stairs" is. Love the title--any more Christmas stories on your horizon?

And speaking as a Red Pencil Thurs volunteer, it really is a nice way to get a lot of constructive feedback from many different, though respectful, perspectives. I wish more published authors ran RPTs--we'd all learn a lot.

[Marie]

My favorite Christmas traditions are putting my on my Ipod full of Christmas music to shuffle and baking and decorating for days, making the house all sparkly and snuggly for Christmas Day at home with family and friends.