Lorraine Heath begins an exciting new series with a breath-taking romance about a young woman who must marry a titled gentleman to obtain her inheritance and the unsuitable man she begins to fall madly in love with…
We had the pleasure of chatting with author Lorraine Heath about her new novel Scoundrel of My Heart, writing, book recommendations, and much more!
Hi, Lorraine! Tell us a bit about yourself!
Hello! Thank you so much your interest. I am a bestselling author of Victorian-set historical romance. My first book was published in 1994. Hard to believe it was so long ago, but time has passed quickly. I have a BA in psychology from the University of Texas, which has aided me over the years when developing my characters. I live in Texas, near Dallas, with my husband and a rescue mutt, Jake, named after the hero in my first novel.
After the chaos that was 2020, have you set any goals for this year? If so, how are they going so far?
My goal is to strive for optimism and to seek out joy wherever I can find it. It did hit a bit of a snag during February when the cold weather hit Texas and wreaked havoc with so many lives. However, we were incredibly fortunate. Lost power for only 50 minutes. Never lost water, had no pipes freeze so much to be thankful for.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer. It was the first romance I read, and I fell in love with the genre. I hadn’t been much of a reader before that book, but afterward I was devouring any romance I could get my hands on. It remains on my keeper shelf and still serves as the occasional comfort read.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love writing. From an early age, I kept a diary and would write lengthy letters to my grandmother and great-aunts in England. I was seven when I wrote my first story—it involved a fisherman who fell in love with a mermaid.
Your new novel, Scoundrel of My Heart, releases on March 30th 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Love redeems and conquers all.
What can readers expect?
Two characters who have to come into their own and be willing to let go of the past in order to embrace a future together. As with most of my stories, it’s an emotional read with a few unexpected twists here and there.
Where did the inspiration for Scoundrel of My Heart come from?
When I was researching another book, I discovered situations where the Crown would take away a noble’s title and properties. I wanted to explore how someone, who thought he knew what his life would be and had the comforts of prestige and power, would adjust if he suddenly lost everything and was unprepared for the life he now found himself living.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you overcame them?
Because the hero and heroine have a past, I found it challenging to give the reader a glimpse into that past without letting it take over the story. In the end, I changed how I had originally envisioned the story opening and what brought the characters back together. Because I’m not an outliner, I often have to rework various aspects of my story to ensure I give the reader a thoroughly enjoyable read. I do a lot of revising, writing scenes from different points of view to determine which is the best way to convey the story.
If it’s not too spoilery, were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
One of my favorite moments is when the hero and heroine meet up after they haven’t seen each other for nearly a year. After his family lost everything, the hero has become hardened. The heroine, learning he had taken advantage of some information she’d shared with him in secret, has lost her innocence and now has an edge to her. When they meet up again, it’s at his newly established club. They are in a room with the door open, having words, and he dismisses her. I love her reaction. “I’m not done with you yet.” And she slams the door shut to finish confronting him.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
The best: Write the story the way you think it needs to be written. It can be reworked later if need be.
The worst: Never have a prologue. No exceptions.
What’s next for you?
Next up, is The Duchess Hunt, Sept. 28, 2021. In Scoundrel of My Heart, the reader will be introduced to the Duke of Kingsland and he is the hero of the next book. In his story, he has tasked his secretary, Penelope Pettypeace, with finding him a wife. The problem: she’s in love with him.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
- Daring and the Duke by Sarah MacLean
- The Devil of Downtown by Joanna Shupe
- The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite
- The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne
- Like Lovers Do by Tracey Livesay
- Beach Read by Emily Henry
Already read it. Left a review on Amazon! She is the BEST WRITER!
My copy will download tonight, in the wee hours. So excited! Woot!