Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Blog Tour of Seduce Me and Q & A with Robyn DeHart

I am so excited to be part of the Seduce Me blog tour!

a brief interview with Robyn DeHart

I'd like to welcome the author, Robyn DeHart and thank her for taking the time to stop by and answer questions.


Q: When did you start writing fiction?

RD: I’ve always written, wrote my first “novel” in the 4th grade. The teacher even bound it. I still have it. But I started writing my first romance novel while I was still in college so somewhere in the early 90’s, I guess.

Q: Please tell us a little about your most recent work, Seduce Me.

RD: Seduce Me starts my new Legend Hunters series and I’m so excited about it. It’s about Esme Worthington a spinster who fancies herself a scholar of Pandora’s Box and Fielding Grey a treasure-hunter for hire. The quest for Pandora’s Box brings them together then causes them all kinds of trouble in the form or curses and a criminal mastermind. It’s action-packed and sexy and was a hoot to write. And so far I think most of my reviews have commented that it’s similar to Indiana Jones, which is exactly the feel I was going for.

Q: I enjoyed reading about The Men of Solomon in Seduce Me. How do you research and develop the characters in your books?

RD: Well, thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I actually do quite a bit of character work before I ever write a single word. I start with an archetype book I use, that’s my starting point for my characters and then I expand, figure out their goals and conflicts and motivations. I also like to scour the internet to find the right picture of my characters – it’s not so much that I pick a specific actor for my hero, but rather a specific picture of an actor, a precise image that somehow captures the essence of my character. I find this a crucial step to my character creation. Even though I do a lot of preliminary work on the characters, it’s often not until I’m done with the first draft of the book that I really have them completely figured out. It’s definitely a learn-as-you-go kind of method.

Q: When you create a series, like The Legend Hunters, how much do you plan out the different characters and plots at the start? Could you tell us a little about your writing process or your writing schedule?

RD: I did some preliminary planning to select the heroes I wanted to write about and which legend they would seek, but I didn’t do much more than that. Since the Legend Hunters doesn’t have any over-arching storylines each book can be plotted as I go, which is nice and freeing. But I did have to make some decisions about the world in which Solomon’s and my Legend Hunters live.

Writing process, you know I love talking about this, not just my process, but other writers as well. It’s just one of those fascinating things. My process is pretty straight forward and I have a love/hate relationship with it. I suppose that’s pretty normal for most writers. I generally start with an idea, which is often a character in a situation. With a series like the Legend Hunters then that initial stuff is done for me. Then I work on my characters, do a ton of work with them and from what I discover about them I create the plot. I tend to plot from the inside out, meaning initially I focus a lot on the romance and the internal/emotional journey of the hero and heroine. With the Legend Hunters books I’ve had to really stretch my focus to include the external plotline since the adventure is such a huge part of the story. So I do some scene work and then I write the synopsis, which is often quite helpful (though often painful at the same time) in making everything more cohesive. Then I start writing. And I write the rough draft from start to finish, I don’t stop to research (though I do often have blips where I have to stop and have an emergency brainstorming session to figure out plot snags) I just get it done. Once the rough draft is done I start the layering, I tend to go through the book no fewer than four times before I deem it worthy to send to my agent and editor. And then of course there are usually more revisions from them. It’s a long process, but there’s much in that process that I love.
Q: What are you working on next?

RD: I just turned in the second Legend Hunters book, which is slated for June 2010 and is about Atlantis. I’m pretty excited about it too, and while that book had it’s own unique struggles that made it challenging, it also had a storyline that I just love. Right now I’m working on the brainstorming for book 3, no details yet to share about it though.

Q: Which writers have influenced you the most? Who do you enjoy reading?

RD: Oh wow, what a great question. Well, first and foremost, definitely Judy Blume. How I loved her books when I was growing up and like that one scene in You’ve Got Mail so beautifully illustrates – the books you read as a child become a part of you in a way that no other books do. I feel like I grew up with Judy. Reading my first Kathleen Woodiwiss book solidified the type of writing I wanted to do. Before that I knew I wanted to write fiction, but I was unsure of what I wanted to write, but there in my bedroom reading that as a teenager, I just instinctively knew and I went after that dream from that moment on. Pamela Morsi who has become a dear friend, but before that I was such a big fan of hers, has been very instrumental in my career. As for authors I love, well, there’s Teresa Medeiros, JK Rowling, JD Robb, Jim Butcher, Suzanne Enoch, Amanda Quick, Allison Brennan, and man, I could go on and on. I so love to read and while my reading has slowed down as my career has progressed I still binge on books between deadlines.

Q: Is there anything that you wish someone had asked you but didn't?

RD: Not that I can think of. But I would like to remind everyone that they can find Seduce Me in a bookstore near them and I knew when they do they’ll have a great time reading it. Thanks again for having me.

Thank you again, Robyn! Congratulations on the new book. I look forward to the next in the Legend Hunters series.

Visit Robyn DeHart's website and enter her contest at http://www.robyndehart.com/home.html?p=index


About the Author:

Robyn DeHart has published four books with Avon: Courting Claudia, A Study in Scandal, Deliciously Wicked, and Tempted At Every Turn. Known for her unique plotlines and authentic characters, Robyn is a favorite among readers and reviewers. Publishers' Weekly claims her writing to be "comical and sexy" while the Chicago Tribune dubs her "wonderfully entertaining." A two-time Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice award nominee, Robyn has earned 4 star and 4 star top pick reviews on all her books and Kathe Robin says, "Like Amanda Quick, DeHart [will] keep you up all night."

Review of Seduce Me

Synopsis of Seduce Me:

Seduce Me introduces Fielding Grey, Viscount of Eldon, who lives the dangerous life of a treasurer seeker in the 1880s. Unlike his father who approached archeology as a scholar, Fielding Grey has had to accept clients and pursue artifacts based on their monetary value. His latest assignment from The Men of Solomon involves the fabled Pandora's Box. It's this search that leads him to Esme Worthington, a scholar and specialist on Pandora's Box.

Esme Worthington has always loved archeology and has built a reputation as a scholar. Esme's expertise draws danger to her and disrupts her quiet life. She's fortunate to come across Fielding Grey, an unexpected hero. As Esme and Fielding learn to work together to solve the mysteries of Pandora's Box, Esme's curiosity causes her to release one of the Box's curses.


Review:

Seduce Me has a fun blend of romance and adventure. Esme's the sort of intelligent, outspoken, beautiful, good hearted and slightly clumsy heroine that I always find myself rooting for. Fielding is mysterious and likable. As Fielding searches for the story behind his father's death while fighting his growing attraction to Esme, the book draws you in.

From the light banter between Fielding and Esme to the excitement during the hunt for the solution to the curse. this book makes a wonderful escapist read. This is my first Robyn DeHart novel and I look forward to reading many more.


To read more about Robyn DeHart and Seduce Me, visit other sites participating in the Seduce Me blog tour.

Book Tour Stops

yankeeromancereviewers.blogspot.com – Aug. 1 – 14
www.thebookgirl.net – Aug. 1 – 14
bridget3420.blogspot.com – Aug. 2
alphaheroes.blogspot.com – Aug. 3
carolsnotebook.wordpress.com – Aug. 3
www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com – Aug. 4
startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com – Aug. 4
booksoulmates.blogspot.com – Aug. 5
dreyslibrary.blogspot.com - Aug. 5
bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com – Aug. 6
www.mgpblog.com – Aug. 6
ajourneyofbooks.blogspot.com – Aug. 7
hotdealsbybec.com – Aug. 7
justanothernewblog.blogspot.com – Aug. 9
reesspace.blogspot.com – Aug. 10
jmomfinds.amoores.com – Aug. 10
kayespenguinposts.blogspot.com – Aug. 11
cherylsbooknook.blogspot.com – Aug. 11
seductivemusings.blogspot.com – Aug. 12
martasmeanderings.blogspot.com – Aug. 12
nightdweller20.wordpress.com – Aug. 12
mustreadfaster.blogspot.com – Aug. 13
www.mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com – Aug. 13
www.thisbookforfree.com – Aug. 14
www.chickwithbooks.blogspot.com – Aug. 14
trinsnook.blogspot.com – Aug. 14
fallingofftheshelf.blogspot.com – Aug. 14
aparkavenueprincess.blogspot.com


CONTEST DETAILS

To enter, please comment on Robyn's interview or ask Robyn a question. Please include your email address, so that I can contact you if you win.

The contest is limited to US and Canada only. No P.O. boxes. The contest ends at 6 pm on August 21, 2009.

13 comments:

  1. Great interview.This sounds like a great book.
    please enter me in the giveaway
    elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

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  2. Great interview! I think we all loved Judy Blume growing up. I know that I did.

    southrngal(at)gmail(dot)com

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  3. Great interview!
    Seduce Me sounds great, love the cover.

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  4. That's cool that you wrote your first "novel" in 4th grade - guess you really had the love of writing. Can't wait to read this.

    msboatgal at aol.com

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  5. Like Indiana Jones? Sounds like a wonderful book

    chey127 at hotmail dot com

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  6. Oh my goodness I love Atlantis tales. I knew I wouldn't be able to wait for it!! By the way, I love the cover for Seduce Me.
    Angela
    made4books@yahoo.com

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  7. I liked that you asked about influential authors and the response was Judy Blume.

    Amanda
    catss99@yahoo.com

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  8. Great interview! count me in please!
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

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  9. Her writing process sounds similar to what I think I would do if I were a writer. I've gotten "ideas" stuck in my head before, and had a story start to play out. It would stick with me until after a few weeks I put it on paper. But instead of writing a story, I would write a poem that told the story.

    Please count me in. Thank you!

    nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

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  10. The interview was great. I wonder how many authors wrote their first novel in the fourth grade?
    Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

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  11. Great interview. Sounds like you were a "reader" from a young age. Did you parents model that behavior?
    lizzi0915@aol.com

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  12. Mary
    zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

    Honestly, super good interview AND what really stood out and grabbed my attention (since I love to write) was how you looked for just the perfect right image to shape/form your character around!

    I cannot WAIT to get to read Seduce Me!!!!

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  13. Sounds like a fun book - loved the interview - so cool that your 4th grade teacher bound your first work - what a great teacher to encourage you like that.

    budletsmom at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete