A chat with Wareeze Woodson, author of 'Conduct Unbecoming of a Gentleman'

Please give author a warm welcome to Books to Light Your Fire. Today, she is talking about Regency romances. Please feel free to leave your own questions and comments below!

What was the inspiration behind this book?

I watched a report about a woman digging in the garbage to feed her children. A reporter asked her why she didn’t seek assistance. She told him because she feared the government would take her children away from her. That started the process, but I also ached to redo the ending and part of a story I’d read. I thought the mother deserved whatever happened to her in the story, and everything did, but nothing unpleasant. She rode away married to a very rich man completely besotted with her, but she left her child behind. No, no and no!

Which character spoke to you the most during the writing process?

Lady Laurel Laningham. She had to overcome obstacles, one after another to stay with her son. Her young son’s new guardian had the law on his side, but she fought for a way to be included in his life despite the guardian’s low regard for her.

What was one of your favorite scenes?

The scene where Lord Adron Gladrey came to the nursery to become better acquainted with his ward. Laurel had never received attention from her own father and her deceased husband had completely ignored his son when he returned wounded from the war. During the regency period most men played little part in their children’s upbringing. Fascinated, Laurel wanted that attention and love for her son. All her resolve and resentment against Adron melted. She couldn’t help herself against such appeal.

What kind of research did you have to do?

There is always scene research necessary, the landscape, the buildings, furnishings, dress and the weather. The most important is making certain the words used (especially in the dialogue) were used during the period or as closely as possible. Example: Cad was not used, but I wanted Laurel to scream that at Adron several times. I didn’t allow her to do so, but it was hard.

What is it about writing in the Regency romance genre that appeals to you so much?

I love to read and write in the Regency romance genre because that world seems so different, make believe almost. I like the pomp and ceremony, the fashion of the day along with the men taking leadership roles. Ladies were bound by the rules of society, much more than gentlemen, but there were still problems to solve with whatever wiles the ladies had to employ.

Why do you think this genre appeals so much to readers?

It is like make believe, but the people are real. Certainly the characters are fictitious, but each one is fully human, not a werewolf, vampire or other mystical creature. Those are fun too, but sometimes it’s pleasant to exclude such characters.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I don’t know that I knew I wanted to be a writer. An author with a published work and earning real royalties is usually a dream, not a reality. One day, I decided to change a story ending to my liking. When a true villain, doesn’t get his comeuppance, I want to shout at the author and rewrite the story. Of course the script took a life of its own, and now it is a published book.

Please tell us about your other published and upcoming works.

My next book will be release March 26, 2014. An Enduring Love is Worth Keeping. Blurb follows:

Born and raised in Latvia, Rebecca Balodis marries Rhys Sudduth, an English diplomat. Shortly thereafter, he is summoned home to attend his father’s death-bed. Rebecca cannot accompany him at the time and becomes trapped in the turmoil plaguing her country. He is informed she died in the upheaval.

Nearly four years later, she escapes and arrives in London with their son in tow. Arriving in the middle of his sister’s ball is very awkward, especially since Rhys plans to announce his betrothal to a young debutante later in the evening.

Trouble, tangled in suspense and danger, follow her from Latvia. Can this pair ever find or even recognize an enduring love? Is it worth keeping?

I am working on Vanishing Choices at the moment. A young lady took the gig out without permission and comes upon a man burying a body. She cannot tell, or her disobedience will be discovered.

What have been some of your favorite travel destinations?

Hawaii, the Virgin Islands and other places called tropical paradise are wonderful to visit. I’ve traveled from Canada to Mexico, but there are still destinations in the good old USA that I haven’t visited. I have visited Louisiana, New Mexico, Tennessee and the states surrounding Texas many times. I plan to revisit such places again.

Which locations are still on your "bucket list"?

I would love to visit England. I’d like to catch a glimpse of the downs, feel the rain on my face and see a few castles. Still, all the states I haven’t visited call to me. Perhaps one day!

What is something readers may be surprised to learn about you?

The readers would be surprised to believe that I continued to write after my rough beginning. I went to a mini-conference and brought a few pages of a manuscript as requested. All the participants lined up in front of an agent or perhaps a publisher. The agent I was unlucky enough to draw, told me (in front of everyone there in a voice loud enough to hear all over the place) that I was too fat and unattractive to write. He continued and told me I might as well give up to save myself a lot of grief. Needless to say, that was a little off-putting, but I kept on keeping on anyway.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Keep reading and if you write, don’t give up.

Thank you so much for your time!

Thank you for having me on your blog. I truly appreciate the opportunity.

Conduct Unbecoming of a Gentleman

by Wareeze Woodson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Recently widowed Lady Laurel Laningham flees Landings to escape her untenable position. Alone now and at the mercy of her sister-in-law, she decides to nestle under her aunt’s wings for a spell. To add to her burdens, her young son’s new guardian, Lord Adron Gladrey, has announced his intentions to take complete charge of his ward. The killer is stalking her and a devious jewel thief is stealing the family jewels. Can she convince her son’s guardian she is not a dangerous lunatic and is perfectly capable of raising her son or will he always consider her untrustworthy as a mother to his ward? Will his stubborn blindness send her straight into the path of the murderer, or will he relent in time to save her from following her husband into the grave?

Read an excerpt:

Freedom. Freedom. Freedom. Each rotation of the hired coach’s wheels whispered the word. Laurel cradled her sleeping two-year-old son, the new Lord Laningham, as a heady sense of satisfaction curved her lips. She didn’t even mind the slight musty odor pervading the vehicle, although she leaned over and raised the window cover for a breath of fresh air. With a sigh she settled back against the seat. At least for a while, Rhonda’s constant complaints would no longer ring in her ears and for that she was devoutly thankful.

Out of nowhere, a rider flashed by the coach window and her startled gaze locked with his brief glance. Although she’d caught only a glimpse of the stranger, in that instant his intense, deep-brown eyes mocked her and unease shivered down her spine. She stared after him for a second before instinctively gathering her child closer. Laurel planted a kiss on his blonde curls, drawing reassurance from the nearness of his warm little body. As long as she had Jamie nothing else mattered. Her son must remain safe.

Everything happened at once. The coach lunged to the right and scraped against the bushes beside the road, sending a shower of droplets splashing inside the window. Her book and Jamie’s wooden horse thumped to the floor. The racket of brakes screeching shrilled in her ears as the vehicle rattled and lurched out of control.

“Jamie,” she cried.

Available on Amazon

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I am a native Texan and still live in the Houston area. I married by high school sweetheart, and after raising 4 children, they blessed up with 8 grandchildren. AND after all these years, we still love each other. True romance is happy ever after.

Website: www.wareezewoodson.com
Twitter: @wareeze
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wareeze-Woodson/523727757689755

Wareeze will be awarding one eBook to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour, and one $50 GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Follow the tour for more chances to win!