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Interview Author Kate Pearce + Giveaway
Filed in Giveaways , Interview , Kate Pearce , The Geeky Lover Posted on August 20, 2010 @ 6:00 am
28 comments
We are really happy to have author Kate Pearce here today. Her new novel Kiss of the Rose, book 1 in her new Tudor Vampire Chronicles came out this month and she is here to talk about her world, an exciting mix of the historic Tudors and a paranormal world of Druids and Vampires. Be sure to stay tuned till the end to check out the prize Kate offers for one lucky commenter. Please give Kate a warm welcome.
The Geeky Lover: Kate can you please tell us a bit about yourself?
Kate Pearce: I’m originally from London, England and moved over to California twelve years ago with my husband’s job, which was great because my visa said I couldn’t work, so I got a chance to sit down and write properly for the first time in my life.
We have 4 kids, three boys and a little girl ranging in age from 21 to 8 so life is crazy busy. We also have a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel and a Blue Mackerel Tabby cat.
I love to write and I’ve been published since 2005, getting my start at the emerging Ellora’s Cave, moving briefly through Virgin Black Lace and Cheek and then onto Kensington Aphrodisia where I still publish my erotic Regencies. Now I’m also a Signet Eclipse author for my new paranormal historical romances set in Tudor England.
The Geeky Lover: Describe a typical day of writing? Are you a planner or pantser?
Kate Pearce: Well I have 4 kids so some of them have to be taken to school, and others coaxed out of bed (sometimes with shouting) to get to college, and then there’s that whole house wife/mothering stuff to do. When I’m not doing that I have about 4 clear hours a day (during the school year) when I have to write new stuff, edit stuff coming back, and maintain a presence on the writerly internet.
I’m a pantster at heart who has had to learn to plot a little bit, seeing as I sell my books on proposal these days. I have to turn in a synopsis at least. I find that synopsis very helpful these days when I have so many books to write 🙂 I try and write at least two thousand words a day which means I write steadily enough so if a disaster happens with the kids, I can usually cope.
The Geeky Lover: What do you think is the difference between a reader and a real Book Lover?
Kate Pearce: For me its the difference between a reader being able to pick up a book occasionally and enjoy it but not worry about finishing it and the true book lover who reads voraciously into the early hours of the morning, loves to discuss books with other addicts and happily day dreams about meeting the fictional heroes when things get too boring in the real world. I’m definitely a book-lover 🙂
The Geeky Lover: The world of your new “Tudor Vampire Chronicles” series is rather unique.Why did you chose to mix the Tudor setting of your book with paranormal elements like vampires and druids?
Kate Pearce: I was given an editorial suggestion, ‘Tudor Vampires’ and I sort of took it from there. I studied history, Tudor politics and Archaeology at university in Wales and my mind conjured up the image of pagan Druid magic aiding Henry Tudor to win the crown of England despite all the odds. Once I’d worked that out, the link between the Druids making human sacrifices and the Vampires drinking blood from humans seemed obvious. They’d started out the same and diverged when the Vampires realized they gained power and immortality from drinking human blood. That set up a lovely ancient long running feud which as all writers know, fuels every story.
The Geeky Lover: How close to reality did you keep the story in your novels? For example:Will Henry VIII still have so many wives and out of the same reason?
Kate Pearce: I’m a history major so I actually try to tie the real history of each queen into the story. For example in the first book, King Henry VIII really is trying to get rid of his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. That is the starting point for my story too. Henry wanted a son to succeed him, and was trying to escape Katherine so that he could dally with Anne Boleyn, I added a paranormal element both for why someone wants to kill Henry and for the appearance of Anne Boleyn. I love to mix it up using the real history.
And yes, each book follows what really happened to each queen and just adds something other-wordly 🙂
The Geeky Lover: What can we expect of Kiss of the Rose?
Kate Pearce: Well I’m hoping you’ll get a great mix of an interesting take on the Vampires and Druids, a very hot love story, a mystery plot, and a little bit of history as well.
The Geeky Lover: Your heroine Rosalind Llewellyn is a female druid who bears the mark of Arwen. What does that mean for her and how does it change her life?
Kate Pearce: Rosalind is considered an anomaly as women aren’t supposed to be born with the mark of Arwen. That impacts her life in many ways and sometimes she feels like an outsider in her own family.
The Geeky Lover: Your hero, Sir Christopher Ellis should be Rosalind’s natural enemy. He protects the vampires and fights the druids. What tempts him most about Rosalind to turn his back on that?
Kate Pearce: That’s an interesting question. I think he reluctantly comes to admire both her fighting skills and her intelligence and he’s also drawn to her physically even though he tries to resist. (this is a romance novel LOL) And I also think that when they get to know each other they realize that under the skin, they have a lot in common.
The Geeky Lover: It is not really typical for an historical series to follow the same
couple through all the books. We mostly get the HEA in each book and a different couple will be the focus of the next book. Why did you decide against that? Is it to give the series a more paranormal touch?
Kate Pearce: Originally when I proposed the series, I envisioned the same hero and heroine over all 6 books, because I thought it would be fascinating to watch their love story in relation to the trials and tribulations of each queen. But the time span just made that impossible. So we compromised and Rosalind and Christopher are the hero and heroine for the first two books and then another of the characters already featured will take over for another two, and then the third. One hint, is that luckily Vampires never age. 🙂
The Geeky Lover: Genre-wise,is your book more historical or more paranormal in you eyes?
Kate Pearce: I’d say it is more paranormal. It was a hell of a job fitting in three sets of world building (Tudor, Vampire and Druid) and three important male characters and a plot and a love story. I didn’t have the time to write a really deeply historical novel, although I did my best to make sure the history is an accurate as possible.
The Geeky Lover: How many more books will there be in this series?
Kate Pearce: ‘Blood of the Rose’ is already written and will be out in February 2011. It features Rosalind and Christopher again and the rise of Anne Boleyn. I’m very happy with it. I’m currently writing the third book and I’m hoping Signet will buy the remaining three off me next year.
The Geeky Lover: What is next on your schedule? Any other books we should keep our eyes open for?
Kate Pearce: I also write for Kensington, so I have a Brava novella coming out in an anthology “Lords of Passion” with Virginia Henley and Maggie Robinson. That out in early December. My contribution is called “How to seduce a wife”.
And then also in February 2011 I have the 6th book in my House of Pleasure Regency erotic romances coming out “Simply Forbidden.”
After that, who knows? Publishing is a weird business. 🙂
The Geeky Lover: Now the mean questions (we apologize in advance):
Most Book Lovers have a favorite author. The one who can write anything and will still be on our auto-buy list. Do you have one of those author crushes, too?
Kate Pearce: If you twisted my arm and made me name only one, which is very mean of you, I’d have to say Linda Howard. I will always read whatever she puts out. LOL
The Geeky Lover: Who is your favorite secondary character?
Kate Pearce: Of mine? You’re making me choose? At the moment, I’d say it is a tie between Rhys Williams in “Kiss of the Rose” and Captain David Gray from the Simply series.
The Geeky Lover: Now can you tell us 3 reasons why people should read your books?
Kate Pearce:
1. They are written from the heart and full of emotion and heroes to die for.
2. I write fabulous sex scenes that will make you blush.
3. I need the money to support my purse addiction?
The Geeky Lover: Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions.
Kate Pearce: Thanks for having me! You made me think!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~*~*~Giveaway~*~*~Kate offers a signed copy of Kiss of the Rose for one lucky commenter.
All you have to do is ask Kate a question or just leave a meaningful comment about the interview.
Please leave us a way to contact you (email in blogger profile or twitter name is okay).
Open to everyone!
Giveaway ends on Saturday, September 4th and we will announce the winner on Sunday.
Good Luck everyone!
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I'm fascinated by the mix of history and fantasy (and romance!) from what I've heard about Kiss of The Rose. I'd love to read it!
k_anon[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk
Hi Kate, I would to know if you take details of your own life for write (about your desires, for example), thank you 🙂
paraelisa21 (at) hotmail (dOt) com
mixing history with fantasy..its just great!! i havent read the books but would love too
vidishamun@gmail.com
I love her…er.. I mean.. Thanks for the interview 🙂
I can't wait to get my hands on those bookseys..
*sex scenes that make you blush* I'm all over that!
Thank you!!
forgot my email
sugarw@qdotcom
I love this idea. Mixing the Tudors in w/the paranormal is fantastic. My q is: Who is your favorite author?
Sex scenes that will make me blush…*blushing just cos thinking about it*
But I do find it cool that you put vampires at the Tudor Court
blodeuedd1 at gmail dot com
Hi everyone! And thanks so much for having me on the blog!
sRY interesting question-I suppose I'd have to say that I have a great and perhaps kinky imagination -which is where all this stuff comes from. I'm pretty boring in real life 🙂
And about sex scenes making you blush-if I write it and it makes me blush, I know its good to go 🙂
it sounds like a yummy mix of historical, fantasy, and paranormal all mixed into one, and i need to partake! thank you for the wonderful interview, kate!
k_sunshine1977 at yahoo dot com
Wicked cover!
And I love the story idea. I, personally, love to slap history and make it my hooker. *grin* Those types of stories where you take history and polish it with a paranormal sheen are my favorite.
And there's blushing? Bring it on!
All the best on your new release!
~Saranna DeWylde
blackenedquill at aol dot com
I liked the interview. I am really surprised no one has thought of this before. When you think about the major medical treatment of the time was blood-letting, the vampire genre, should fit right in. I was wondering if there are any other time periods in history you are considering writing about.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
Hi Debbie 🙂 I write Regency-set erotic romances for Kensington Aphrodisia and I'd love to write books about Dark Ages Britain and the Roman occupation of Britain but no one seems to want those lol
I know I have said this before, but this is one of my very favorite book covers. A poster would be fantastic in my office.
robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com
Wow from england to Ca. that must a been a big change its hot here in the summer I know I live here I live up near the top Redding ca it gets very hot around here was it a big change for you?
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com
Hi Kate! 😀
Have you ever kept a dream journal for inspiration?
Thank you for the interesting interview and for making the giveaway international! I love the cover of Kiss of the Rose. This book sounds really intriguing.
Giada M.
fabgiada (at) gmail (dot) com
Love the interview Kate!
How many purses do you have? And which is your favourite one?
chidoryx AT hotmail DOT com
It's so cool that you're from London. And the cover for Kiss of the Rose is really pretty!
Res498(AT)aol.com
Great interview–Do you think we'll see more of the Tudor vampires?
I like reason #2 to read your books! LOL!
meredithfl at gmail dot com
What a great concept for a book series, historical and paranormal themes all rolled into one! ^^
Would you consider tapping another era in history in one of your future books?
Grace C.
vesipisaroita [at] gmail [dot] com
How much if any of your personal experiances do you put into your books? And do you relate to any of the charactors at all, looks or personality?
So can't wait to read the sex scenes that make you blush!
Brillinat interview and giveaway!
JessicaLLWright (at) gmail (dot) com
Hi Kate!
Question: Did you read any vampire books to prepare yourself to write Kiss of the Rose, or you inspired yourself in any other way? (if you read vampire books tell me one!;))
jen7waters (at) gmail (dot) com
I think the Tudor setting is very interesting 🙂 I love the cover of the book!
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
Answering questions here 🙂
Victoria-my favorite author is probably Dorothy Dunnett, I also love Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer and Linda Howard 🙂
Stacey-yes it was a bit of a culture shock moving from the UK, but I love the weather 🙂
Giada-I often wake up with ideas for books or find issues resolved while I sleep but I usually rush to my keyboard to write them down rather than keeping a journal 🙂
Lu-purses… I have way too many-more than 30? I dunno, but I keep them all in their little bags and some I have never used, my favs are the red Louis Vuitton ones and the Lulu Guinness flowerpot with roses but I usually have Coach for every day 🙂
Meredith-I'm writing 3 so far, I hope to write 6 one for each wife 🙂
Grace, I write erotic Regencies for Kensington Aphrodisia but would love to write Roman Britain or the Dark ages.
Jessica-trust me, my life is very boring, luckily I have an incredibly vivid and slightly kinky imagination which takes care of what goes into the books 🙂
jen7waters – I read Vampires for Dummies (I really did) I also already read the Anne Rice books, J R Ward and Laurell K Hamilton.
History and paranormal sounds like an interesting combination and I'll be happy to contribute to your purse addiction.
I agree with your definition of a booklover as I've stayed up until the wee hours reading when I should be sleeping.
I love it when two of my favourite genres come together. I just bought Kiss of the Rose today (won't say no to a signed copy though, so please enter me in the giveaway) and am eager to read it.
Is it readable as a standalone or is book 2 a must read? (not that I will mind that if book 1 lives up to my expectations)
I'm so excited to read this book! The anthology looks great, I hadn't seen it before.
I love secondary characters, so I'm excited to read about Rhys Williams!
inthehammockblog at gmail dot com
Thank you for the contest!
Thanks for the great interview! I love that you wanted to have the same couple in all six of your books – I realize that it couldn't happen, but I think it's great that you were willing to try. I am always sad to see a series end because I always want to know more about the characters! Please enter me – I am a follower – thanks for hosting the giveaway! bsharp88@gmail.com
I haven't actually read any stories with Druids in them (plenty of vamp stories though) so I'm pretty excited about this book! 🙂 Also, following one couple throughout a series of books, as opposed to one couple/book is a nice breath of fresh air.
xlilangeltorix[at]gmail[dot]com