Tiffany Clare Is Here to Seduce Us!

by Anna Campbell

Hey, guys, I have a HUGE treat for you in the lair today. Tiff is well known to most of you as she's a diehard member of that exclusive club THE BANDIT BUDDIES!!!

It's always wonderful to celebrate the successes of one of our own. Tiff's debut THE SURRENDER OF A LADY is a luscious book about passion in the harem and we had huge fun last September when she came to visit us for her launch. Now I'm delighted to bring her back to took about her second book, THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE.

THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE is garnering rave reviews everywhere. Fellow Bandit Buddies, the Romance Dishes gave this book a rare five star review and said:

Tiffany Clare has penned another superb and masterfully crafted romance. THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE has all that I love in a book: humor, suspense, sigh-inducing romance, and fan-your-face, sizzling sex scenes. Ms. Clare's first book, THE SURRENDER OF A LADY was a bold and daring story, and her latest book is equally as entertaining. If you've never read a Tiffany Clare book, run to your nearest bookstore. You don't know what you're missing!


Romantic Times chose THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE as one of their February Top Picks (congratulations, Tiff!) and said:

The second chapter of Clare’s trilogy is as bold and alluring as this exciting newcomer’s first book. Clare takes a “second chance at love” romance, twisting the theme into a highly sensual tale of passion and suspense. But there’s also humor, created by secondary characters, and love to round out a tantalizing read.

You can find out more about Tiff's books at her website: www.tiffanyclare.com

And Tiffany has been VERY generous with prizes on the blog today, as you will shortly see! And by the way, aren't these some of the most gorgeous covers EVAH? That purple one for THE SECRET DESIRES OF A GOVERNESS is exquisite.


Tiffany, welcome back to the lair! Huge congratulations on all the buzz for THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE.

Anna, Thank you SOOOO Much for having me here. I love the Bandits' blog. Everyone here is so friendly and made of awesome that I’m offering up three copies of THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE.

See, guys, I told you she was generous! Tiff, I adored your debut THE SURRENDER OF A LADY. Now I’m dying to read THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE. Can you tell us about this story?

THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE is my twist on the MOC (Marriage of Convenience) trope.

I absolutely love stories where the couples marry for political alliances or simply because their parents have made arrangements (since their infants were in the cradle) to marry someone else's kid (also in the cradle, or maybe not even born yet!). There is something about two people who don’t necessarily want to be married finding common ground. And hopefully, finding love.

Also, did I mention that I based my hero on Alan Rickman, looks, attitude, all around hotness? Yeah, totally thought I SHOULD share that tidbit of information.

(ANNA: Snork! Yeah, I think you definitely should share that! What a gorgeous photo!)

Here’s the back cover blurb:

AN INCONVENIENT SCANDAL...

Emma Hallaway has not seen her husband in twelve years—and that’s fine with her. As a young girl, she’d agreed to a simple marriage of convenience, allowing her to pursue her private passion for painting. And though unknown to the rest of polite society, Emma is now one of the most daring and sought-after artists in London. However, when her secret is threatened to be exposed, Emma is forced to open her heart—and her home—to a total stranger: her husband…

AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE...

Richard Mansfield, Earl of Asbury, is all too familiar with danger. As a matter of fact, it is hard on his heels when he returns to England. Still, even he is shocked to learn of his wife’s scandalous double life as an artist. But once he sees the vibrant grown woman she has become—so passionate, so strong, and so alluring—his undeniable attraction to Emma stuns him. Suddenly Richard is determined to turn their sham of a marriage into a true and lasting love. But how exactly does a gentleman seduce his own wife?

You can read the first chapter here: http://www.tiffanyclare.com/bookshelf/the-seduction-of-his-wife/#excerpt

I was fascinated to hear about the research you did for THE SURRENDER OF A LADY. Did you come across any unusual or surprising facts when you were researching THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE?

For Seduction I relied upon previous research I did on the opium trade for Richard’s background. A lot of English gentlemen participated in the Opium trade through Asia (and more specifically, China) during the mid Victorian period (prior to the second Opium Wars). Don’t worry, Richard comes to his senses and is trying to get out of the opium business and find something much more morally appealing.

I sort of just do research as I go along in a book (so long as I know the time period, culture and place—unlike my harem romance where I did a lot of ‘pre-research’). For THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE, I needed a manor for my earl. I actually chose Haddon Hall (and made a few changes to the interior and the general layout of the land) but doing that research helped me ground my setting and build the characters and story from it.

I also looked at a lot of art. More specifically of the female form. I based a lot of the images Emma painted on Delphin Enjolras’s paintings.

This painting is the image she gave to the Duke of Vane. Yes, my heroine gave a nude of herself to her dearest friend. Did I mention that Emma stayed faithful to her husband in his twelve-year absence because she’s totally, completely in love with him? Aren’t you even more interested in reading her story now?

Something I had to think a lot of about before and while writing this book is making my heroine independent and not dependent on her husband’s fortune. I wanted her to be Richard’s equal in all things and I wanted Richard to see and adore this trait in his wife (once he finds out her secret). I had a lot of fun exploring Emma’s artistic side and learning about her desire to excel and succeed in something of her own making.

Haddon Hall is actually one of my favorite old houses. Great choice! Your third historical romance THE SECRET DESIRES OF A GOVERNESS comes out in late May 2011. It sounds deliciously gothic! Can you tell us about this story?


Best sum up I’ve had for this book (from my amazing critique partner, Elyssa Papa) is: Beauty and The Beast having babies with JANE EYRE.

Elliott has been my favorite hero to write to date. He’s dark, brooding and tortured. Made into a beast by his unfortunate past. He’s really hard not to love because you want to give him a big hug and tell him it’s going to be all right. I’ll tell readers (you can find out for yourself when you read the book) that he has a disability not obvious to the naked eye; one that he is deeply ashamed of. Abby (Emma’s baby sister) runs off to Northumbria to carve her own path in life as a governess. When she firsts meets her new employer, she wonders at her sanity in leaving her sister’s home. Worse, she never expected a man to consume her thoughts so thoroughly as Lord Brendall has.

Elliott, The Earl of Brendall, isn’t expecting the young tenacious spitfire that comes into his and his son’s life, to tempt him into things he knows he cannot have. But when his governess does the impossible and teaches his son, as no other governesses in the past have been able to achieve, he can’t help but fall for her, even realizing that all the women in his past have taken their own lives because they wanted to escape him.

Ooh, can't wait. And I love Ely's description. Sounds delicious! What’s next for Tiffany Clare?

This and That! :) I’m going back to my musical roots and classical music training for the characters in my newest story! There might just be a composer and a musical prodigy working together. :) But nothing is firm yet!

I’m sure this last year has been a whirlwind with two books out and a third in the wings! Can you share some highlights? Have there been any surprises along the way?

There is so much going on that I don’t know how I’m still sane—though that is arguable! Did I mention, in the midst of my crazy schedule I got a puppy in October? (Isn’t she gorgeous—her name is Scarlett—as in O’Hara—my husband said ‘only you could find a dog that was exactly like you in animal form’—I’m an Aries what can I say and Scarlett knows what she wants and how to get it.) Puppies are like babies, you have to get up in the middle of the night to take them out, you get little sleep, you are exhausted and your brain always hurts and then edits come in when you so aren’t ready but you have to do them, and the kids want attention (always when I’m on the phone with a friend or busy working) and my husband is like, when is it going to be ‘me’ time! I’m also the President of my local RWA chapter this year. I’m coasting day-to-day. But it’s good coasting. I’d be bored if I wasn’t this insanely busy.

Oh, she's a darling! On a more writerly note, do you have any advice for unpublished writers?

It’s a tough market right now. Just believe in yourself and push till you get what you want! And then keep pushing to keep what you want most!

Tiff, do you have a question for our Banditas and Bandita Buddies?

Working women seems to be a common theme in all my books. I had my harem girl (a true courtesan), an artist, a governess, I’m working on a musician, and how cool that in writing this blog, I finally figured out what my ‘thing’ was! I totally write about women who are independent. Okay, back to my questions, readers: What do you think of working women in historical settings? Do you have any favorite jobs a woman might take on? Favorite historical romances with working women?

P.S. I’m giving away three copies of THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE. Please comment for your chance to win.

Wow, Tiff, THREE BOOKS???? That's wonderfully generous. Thank you! OK, everyone, get commenting! And good luck!

We have an AHA Go Red pin for one commenter today.

The healthy heart tip for February 7th is: Make a date to volunteer at a local charity. Giving back is a healthy habit that will boost your mood and beat stress.

Romance Writers of America and the American Heart Association have partnered to raise awareness of heart disease in women and encourage you to join us in wearing red on February 4, National Wear Red Day. Visit Go Red for Women to learn how to fight heart disease.

And just in case you missed it...

Sign up for the Go Red Better U Program and receive two free romance e-books.

From Feb 1 through May 31, 2011, receive one free romance e-book when you sign up for the American Heart Association's Better U Program and one after you complete week six of the program. And look for the Eat Smart for Your Heart limited edition magazine (that features this offer) on newstands and in a grocery store near you.

Go Red for Women is trademarked by the American Heart Association, Inc. Romance novel downloads provided by Belle Books. Source URL: http://idontwanttobeanythingotherthanme.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Surrender%20of%20a%20Lady
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Surrender to Tiffany's Winners!

Wow, we had a blast of a day in the lair yesterday! Thank you to everyone who came by and a special welcome to all the new faces!

As you know, Tiffany went wild with prizes, offering five books in total to readers from North America. I threw in a signed copy of CAPTIVE OF SIN to someone outside NA. So without further ado, here is the (long!) list of lucky winners:

The winners of Tiffany's fabulous debut historical romance, THE SURRENDER OF A LADY, are:

LAURIE
DANIELLE GORMAN
MISSKALLIE2000

The winner of Courtney Milan's latest TRIAL BY DESIRE is:

SUZANNE FERRELL

The winner of Maggie Robinson's MISTRESS BY MISTAKE is:

BARB

The winner of CAPTIVE OF SIN is:

KAETRIN

Congratulations, ladies! We just need your snail mail details and we're cooking with gas. For Tiffany's prizes, please email her on: tiffany @ tiffanyclare.com (no spaces). For Anna's prize, please email her on anna @ annacampbell.info (no spaces). Happy reading!Source URL: http://idontwanttobeanythingotherthanme.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Surrender%20of%20a%20Lady
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Tiffany Clare Shares Her Brilliant Debut!

by Anna Campbell

It's my great pleasure to introduce a debut author who is no stranger to regular visitors to the lair (because she IS one! We love it when Bandita Buddies make good!).

Tiffany Clare's debut historical romance THE SURRENDER OF A LADY is a scorching hot, clever, intensely sensual, emotional rollercoaster of a story. I read the tempestuous, dramatic story of Lady Elena Ravenscliffe and the man who has never forgotten her, Griffin, Lord Rothburn, in one sitting and then said:

Dazzling, daring and different! Exotic and erotic! THE SURRENDER OF A LADYwill have you turning the pages until you finish, no matter how late it gets. Tiffany Clare is a brilliant new talent in historical romance.

I wasn't the only person bowled over by Tiffany's debut. The reviews have been amazing, including a Top Pick from Romantic Times Book Reviews!


RT said:
Debut author Clare bursts onto the scene with a unique, unforgettable, sensual love story sweeping from the harems of the east to staid Victorian ballrooms. Watch out for this sizzling new talent to rise to the top.

You can find out more about Tiffany and read excerpts from her books at her website: www.tiffanyclare.com

Because Tiffany loves us (she must!), she's very generously giving away...wait for it...FIVE BOOKS TODAY!!! And I'm throwing in a bonus Anna Campbell opus for good measure! So make sure you comment! And don't forget that if you click on the book covers, you can go straight to Amazon and order this fantastic debut!

So without more ado, HERE'S TIFFANY!

Tiffany, huge congratulations on the release of your brilliant debut THE SURRENDER OF A LADY. Can you tell us about this story?

I can’t thank you enough for having me here! It’s very exciting to be blogging with you wonderful gals! THE SURRENDER OF A LADY is about a woman, who’s sold into slavery by her no good husband, to pay off his debts. To be reunited with her infant son, she agrees to become part of a harem where her favors will be sold to the highest paying bidders. She reinvents herself as Jinan, a Turkish princess, and never expects the only man she ever loved to find her in the harem. Nor does she ever expect him to bid for her favors for three months. Rothburn is a man broken and learning to live life one day at a time. His fall started when the one woman he loved married another. It’s been ten years since Elena slipped from his grasp and he’s been on a long road to recovery from opium addiction. When he sees her on auction, he knows he can’t walk away from her again, and he knows he’ll never be able to walk away again, despite the end of their contract looming.

Back cover blurb:

THE PRICE OF PASSION…

Sold. With one word, Lady Elena Ravenscliffe’s destiny changes forever. Forced into Constantinople’s slave market to pay off her late husband’s debts and save her son, Elena reinvents herself as Jinan—a harem girl adored by the rich lords who bid on her favors. But one man instantly sees through her façade.

…IS COMPLETE SURRENDER

Griffin Summerfield, Marquess of Rothburn, let Elena slip through his fingers years ago. When he recognizes her on the auction block, he pays an outrageous sum to possess her even if it is for a short period of time. But when his deadline looms, Griffin will risk all in a desperate bid to make her his—and his alone…

The research for this story must have been fun – I speak from experience because of my courtesan books! Can you tell us some of the surprising and interesting things you unearthed and what resources you found particularly inspirational?

Oh, there was a lot of reading and research for this book. I knew nothing of the time period, the setting I had chosen, and the cultures of the Middle East and East. There was a lot of surprising information I uncovered . . . One thing in particular: Women of all cultures were sold into harems. Fathers with beautiful, nubile daughters, rich men who seized women in wars, pirates who stole women on the high seas, all seeking the a sultan or emperors favor. That was a major source of inspiration for the story. I thought to myself, why not sell my English beauty into a harem? She could be well sought after if this wasn’t your typical harem.

And yes, that was something I had to change. In the harems of the Ottoman Empire, the only man allowed inside the harem women’s quarters was the Sultan or his eunuchs (who were de-manned, so to speak). So I needed a reason for Amir (Jinan’s owner) to not follow this ‘rule.’

I uncovered that the sons born to sultans did not have an easy life. There were often death plots and attempted murders towards those in line for the ‘throne.’ Those not directly in line for the ‘throne’ were kept like prisoners in the dark and survival was slim, and madness common. I mention it very briefly in my book that Amir did not have an easy life growing up and despises how harems work. This is why he won’t impregnate (and thereby be forced to marry) his harem girls. I made his mother English, so he would ‘understand’ Jinan/Elena ‘culturally.’

I also did a lot of research on the opium trade. In the mid-Victorian era, England controlled much of China, and subjugated the population by giving them easy access to addiction—opium (it was banned in England at this time). It took me a long time to figure out Rothburn’s character because I was so focused on Jinan.

One thing I knew was that he had fallen into a dark life. Just think of the type of man he would have had to be to slowly kill off another nation. It’s justifying in a sense that he fell victim to the drug. With the life he led, there is nothing that can shock him (including seeing an English woman on auction in an Ottoman Prince’s harem), nothing that can intimidate him, and most certainly nothing that he won’t take if he wanted it bad enough. He admits freely that he is a man driven by one addiction or another.

Oh dang, this was a question about research, not the psychoanalysis of my characters!

Anyway, that’s just a few of the things I found out. There were many, many more. But I don’t want to bore anyone.

Tiff, I found all that absolutely fascinating! Thank you for sharing it. Here in the lair, we love call stories. Can you tell us yours?

It started with an email. My agent thought she’d tease me with a message that said something like, ‘today is going to be fun,’ then make me suffer a few hours before she called to give me the news that we had an offer! The best part of that was that no one else had offered, which meant drawing up interest to get other editors to respond with either a rejection or another offer. There was bidding for the book. It was full of much tenseness and silent squeeing for a few weeks. Actually, it was the most intense two weeks of my life, but it was totally awesome when St. Martin’s came in with a final offer! I’ve been very blessed with an awesome house, awesome covers, and awesomeness all around. You’d think, as a writer, I could find another adjective! :) But, really, it was totally awesome!

You’re an active blogger with the Vauxhall Vixens (and a regular visitor to the Bandits where we love to see you!). Do you think your web presence has helped your writing career?

I have no idea. I feel a little more connected to the internet romance community as a whole because there are a number of people I’ve met and gotten to know over the years online, but I’m not sure how that translates into helping my career (aside from meeting my amazing critique partners who kick my ass when needed). I’m still a baby in the industry; maybe I’ll have an answer in a few years :)

Can you tell us about your writing journey?

There were lots of ups and downs. It’s not an easy path; you have to really, really want it to help you get past the rejection and deal with the slow pace the industry moves at. For me, I needed writing partners. People—and now my dearest friends—who I was accountable to daily for word counts and finishing the next scene, chapter, and finally the book! I always wanted to publish my first book, but once I got over that (I thank God every day that it wasn’t published), I continued to write, and a few books later… Jinan came along!

What’s coming up next?

THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE. A marriage of convenience and reconciliation story. Emma and Asbury married 12 years ago when they were both incredibly young, she 15 Richard only 19. Richard felt stifled and longed to explore the world and make riches of his own, so he left after their wedding night. Emma grew up, found her passion in life (her art) and she doesn’t really know what to think of her husband’s return…


Back cover blurb:

AN INCONVENIENT SCANDAL...

Emma Hallaway has not seen her husband in twelve years—and that’s fine with her. As a young girl, she’d agreed to a simple marriage of convenience, allowing her to pursue her private passion for painting. And though unknown to the rest of polite society, Emma is now one of the most daring and sought-after artists in London. However, when her secret is threatened to be exposed, Emma is forced to open her heart—and her home—to a total stranger: her husband…

AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE...

Richard Mansfield, Earl of Asbury, is all too familiar with danger. As a matter of fact, it is hard on his heels when he returns to England. Still, even he is shocked to learn of his wife’s scandalous double life as an artist. But once he sees the vibrant grown woman she has become—so passionate, so strong, and so alluring—his undeniable attraction to Emma stuns him. Suddenly Richard is determined to turn their sham of a marriage into a true and lasting love. But how exactly does a gentleman seduce his own wife?

Wow, Tiff, that sounds fantastic! I can't wait to read it! Thanks so much for giving us some insight into your work! Do you have anything you'd like to ask the Bandits and Bandit Buddies to get conversation started?

What are your favorite tropes in romance? I’m giving away THREE copies of THE SURRENDER OF A LADY, ONE copy of Maggie Robinson’s MISTRESS BY MISTAKE and ONE copy of Courtney Milan’s TRIAL BY DESIRE (North America only).

For our faithful non-American visitors ONLY, I'm giving away a signed copy of the Australian edition of CAPTIVE OF SIN with that wonderfully over the top cover!

So it's a positive plethora of giveaways today! How can you resist? Get commenting people - oh, and please tell us when you comment where you're from so we know which section of the draw to put you in. Remember that's FIVE books to share among North American readers and a bonus CAPTIVE OF SIN for non-American readers! Good luck! Source URL: http://idontwanttobeanythingotherthanme.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Surrender%20of%20a%20Lady
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