Authors In Conversation: Vivienne Lorret and Lorraine Heath

Lorraine: First I have to say how much I enjoyed reading My Kind of Earl and getting to know these characters. You bring their world alive with your sumptuous descriptions. In the opening, you paint such a vibrant portrait of London at night that I truly experienced Raven walking through it. He is a wonderful male lead. I fell in love with him in the first scene when he purchased wilting flowers from an elderly woman. Like Beast in my story, Raven doesn’t know anything about his background or parents. How did not knowing his past shape him?

Vivienne: Thank you so much! I’m beyond thrilled that you enjoyed Jane and Raven’s story.

In answer to your question, not knowing anything about his past and enduring the abuses he suffered were the very things that compelled Raven to create a life of his own making. He didn’t want anyone to have power over him again. But it’s also, for this very reason, that he’s afraid of what Jane might discover. He has worked hard to become the man he is and he doesn’t want to risk losing that, too. So the more Jane pushes to find out the origins of the strange birthmark on his arm, the more he wants to turn back. And yet, there’s also part of him that needs to know who his parents are and why they left him on the doorstep of the foundling home so that he can finally have answers and take full possession of who he really is.

And as for your story… Beauty Tempts the Beast is a thoroughly entrancing romance. From the very beginning, you captivated me with these dynamic characters. And Benedict Trewlove is utterly swoon-worthy! He’s a big, broad-shouldered hero with a dark past and a soft spot for the less fortunate. I just love him! So much of his life could have easily turned him mean and bitter, but instead he has a strong code of honor. How much did growing up being called “Beast” shape him?

Lorraine: Being called Beast had a large impact on his attitude toward others. Originally, he fought it and those who addressed him as such—but his siblings fought alongside him, which helped him to realize his family had his back. Throughout the series, he never says, “My name is Beast.” He always says, “They call me Beast” or “I’m known as Beast” and he does it as a way of having control. “They may see me that way, but I don’t see myself as such. However, rather than continue to fight to be known under a different name, I took the power away from them by saying, ‘All right, call me Beast.’” Because of his beginnings, he is always standing up for others and striving to show them how to take advantage of what power they might have. 

Speaking of power . . . Newton’s apple! I love Jane. Her inquisitive scientific mind is wonderful. I love how she thinks about and responds to kisses in such physiological terms. Did writing her require a lot of research? And how did you come up with “Newton’s apple” as her response where other’s might use profanity?

Vivienne: I had so much fun writing Jane. She believes she’s perfectly logical. So, when she requires insight into the differences between gentlemen and scoundrels, her mind instantly jumps to studying her subjects inside a brothel. To her it makes perfect sense. And since she’s a character who is prepared for every possible outcome, I gave her a giant red paisley reticule to keep her supplies on hand. At the end of the first scene, she uses (what she refers to as) her urgent escape smoke. And yes, I did research the potential ingredients for this, along with other sorts of incendiary devices that might have been available during a firework exhibition at Vauxhall or on the stage of the theatre. And considering all the weird things I’ve googled, I’m pretty sure I’m on a government list by now. As for Newton’s apple… Jane just didn’t seem like the kind of heroine who would think in terms of dear heavens or gracious sakes. However, I did briefly consider having her exclaim Galileo! until I found myself singing Bohemian Rhapsody all day.

And I have to say that your heroine is simply amazing! Althea Stanwick has a no-nonsense approach to choosing a life of her own making. I love the way she decides to accept Beast’s offer and then makes a scandalous counteroffer of her own. And the passion between these two is absolutely explosive (… that glove scene…the corset scene)! This book should be sold with a fan. You have such skill in creating chemistry between your characters and building the intensity between them. My question is, are the love scenes something you look forward to writing or do they make you blush?

Lorraine: Too funny about Bohemian Rhapsody. Now I’m not going to be able to get the tune out of my head. Maybe I’ll sing it the next time I write a love scene. After writing 44 books with love scenes, keeping them fresh is becoming a little challenging, and to be honest, there are times where I’ll put [insert love scene here] because it actually takes an emotional toll and sometimes I’m not ready to expend that energy yet. I don’t know about you, but I find it draining when writing the emotional scenes, and usually I find the love scenes change the relationship between the characters and tend to be pivotal moments in the story. I will write them late at night, with only the computer and a dim light glowing. I also always listen to a thunderstorm CD that I’ve used for over twenty-five years now to set the mood.

I’m utterly fascinated with Raven. Without revealing any spoilers, from the moment you envisioned him, did you always know the journey his life would take or did it come as a surprise?

Vivienne: I sort of knew from the first moment he appeared on the page in The Rogue to Ruin. As I was typing up the description for this subordinate character with inky dark hair, pale eyes, and a past so dark he never spoke about it, the rest of it flooded me all at once. And I was like, of course! He’s Tarzan in London! Being the oh-so organized writer that I am *cough*, I jotted down a thoroughly descriptive “Raven is Tarzan” on one of 2.3 billion Post-it notes littering my desk, then went back to writing the main story. The surprise came with wrapping up the details of the villains. Thankfully, my youngest happens to be a plotting guru and he gave me the insight I needed.

The way you wrote Benedict and Thea’s world, it is so vivid with lush descriptions and interesting sub-characters that I could easily imagine stepping through the doors with them. Did the inspiration for the brothel come from an actual building you found in your research? And in regard to your sub-characters… I have to know… will Jewel have her own story in the future?

Lorraine: I did read about some brothels that were very fancy indeed, but I didn’t model this one on a specific house of ill repute. For some reason, I’ve always been fascinated by brothels. My first published book has a Texas setting and a brothel. The last time I was in a New Orleans, I had dinner with some readers at a restaurant that was converted from a brothel and I looked at those chandeliers and imagined all that had happened beneath them. So it’s probably that building more than anything that influenced the way I described the one in this book. As for Jewel, I don’t know if she will ever get her story, but I do know who I’d like to match her with . . . so who knows? Maybe I’ll find a way to work her story in.

Jane’s inquisitiveness and her need for answers drives a lot of the story—she’s just not willing to let a question go unanswered and I felt like she had a lot of influence over Raven. She is such a strong female lead. Since you’ve kindly shared some of your past research tidbits with me, I know you enjoy discovering the details of things others might not even wonder about. So in some ways, Jane reminded me of you. Do you identify with her or share any traits?

Vivienne: In a way, I do identify with Jane. We both have somewhat unconventional ways of finding answers. She, too, can easily fall into a research rabbit hole. I can only imagine what her Google search history might look like! But Jane is much braver in her “real life” than I am. Where I might wonder what it would be like to enter a brothel under the cover of darkness—for research purposes, of course—she doesn’t hesitate to turn that thought into action.

Lorraine: I’d be right there with you—not going into the brothel. But I was certainly rooting Jane on in her exploration. I’m thoroughly enjoying your Mating Habits for Scoundrels series. Lord Holt Takes a Bride pulled me and now My Kind of Earl has me anxious for the next. When will we see the third book, and can you give us any hints about it?

Vivienne: The third book, The Wrong Marquess, will be available in 2021. This is Ellie’s story and it has a love triangle between herself and the marquess she’s wanted to marry all her life and the marquess who keeps getting in the way. If you’ve read Ten Kisses to Scandal from my previous series, The Misadventures of Matchmaking, then you’ve already met one of the marquess’s. Hint: He was London’s most elusive bachelor.

And speaking of wrapping things up for our characters… Beauty Tempts the Beast is such a wonderful story to wrap up your Sins for All Seasons series in a perfect bow. You are so adept at layering mystery upon mystery that I find myself needing to know more about Althea’s brothers. Is there something on the horizon for Marcus and Griffith, and can you share a bit with us?   

Lorraine: I can’t wait for The Wrong Marquess. I’m so glad you enjoyed the wrap up to the Sins for All Seasons series. It’s always hard to say goodbye to a cast of characters. Yes, there is a future for Althea’s brothers. Through that family, I wanted to explore what happens when your destiny is snatched away from you. So in Scoundrel of My Heart coming in April 2021, Griff will start the Once Upon a Dukedom series. After experiencing London’s darker side, the spoiled spare becomes a man to be reckoned with, hard and unforgiving, until a woman from his past shows him how to love again.

Vivienne: That ticks every box for the perfect romance. I can’t wait!

Will you be picking up either or both books? Tell us in the comments below!