5 Questions of a Historical Erotic Romance Author, Kate Pearce, and a #Giveaway

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked and Happy New Year 2014! Today I have the honor of hosting historical erotic romance author Kate Pearce with her newest release, The Sinners Club! I’ve known Kate since I happened to pick up her sci-fi erotic romance Planet Mail in a used bookstore. She had me hooked and I branched out to her Madame Helene’s Pleasure House series. I’m absolutely delighted to have her here on my blog.

Welcome, Kate. Thank you so much for being with me today.

Nice to be here!

What started you on the path to becoming an erotic romance author and what did you do before that?

I had a brief career in finance and then became a full-time mother to three boys. When we relocated to the USA I had the opportunity to do something I’d always wanted to do-write a book. At first I thought I wanted to write historical fiction, but I sucked at it. Then I read some romance novels and realized I’d found my people! I came very close to being published several times with the historical romances I was writing, but it was very frustrating.

One day, I sat down and wrote something so filthy and dirty that I hid it because I’d scared myself. LOL. That turned into Eden’s Pleasure, which was 27K words, and erotic Regency in first person. All no no’s for traditional publishing, Luckily Ellora’s Cave was publishing just that kind of thing, and snapped it up in 2005. I realized I had a talent for writing the very steamy and erotic and I never looked back.

Congratulations on your release of The Sinners Club. Introduce us to the main characters and premise of your story.

The Sinners Cub is a spin off of the House of Pleasure series, which was getting way too bogged down in itself for my liking and felt too complicated to keep writing. I wanted to write something in the same time period, which had a slightly different feel to it. With this in mind, as I attempted to close out the House of Pleasure series, I was simultaneously trying to introduce some new characters who would take on the new series. It was like spinning twenty plates at once, and I wouldn’t recommend it, LOL.

So the Sinners starts with Jack Lennox, who is Violet Lennox’s twin, investigating his potential inheritance. Once I’d set that up, I was able to focus on writing a good bawdy tale with plenty of sex and mystery entwined. The Sinners Club is a place where ex-spies and those who have served their country in an undercover capacity can meet and receive protection. It’s an interesting mix of men and women of all classes and political persuasions.

Book two, Tempting a Sinner is already finished and stars the elusive Benedict Lord Keyes. I haven’t started writing book three yet, but I do know who the hero will be. J

Throughout your novels, you’ve often written very strong heroines, women who don’t need men to help them despite the social mores of the time. Where did your inspiration for Mary Lennox come from?

Mary Lennox is another survivor in the same mold as Helene from the House of Pleasure. She’s done everything necessary to survive and isn’t ashamed of what she’s done-until she meets Jack Lennox and things start to unravel.

How has living in the US expanded on your view of history?

Well, it’s been interesting seeing the other side of the story when my kids bring history books home. I tend to find myself saying, "Actually, it wasn’t quite like that” and giving them the Brit version of the story, which they really don’t want to know. LOL

What other projects are on the horizon for you that we’re likely to see?

I’m writing book three of the Sinners, which will be fun. I’m also going to be publishing some novellas with eKensington, which are about Val and Peter from Simply Sexual and Sinful. I described them to my editor as Regency-angst filled New Adult, but they definitely aren’t for teens. LOL They are prequels dealing with Val and Peter’s return to England from years in a Turkish brothel at the age of eighteen. They examine some of the sources of conflict that emerge in the Simply books. I loved writing them.

I’m also self-publishing a few things such as more classic Regency historicals and erotic Science Fiction romance which I write purely for my own enjoyment.

I’m also writing mysteries as Catherine Lloyd, which are cozy Regencies set in a small English village. Death Comes to the Village came out in November 2013 and the second will come out in November 2014.

Thank you for joining me today, Kate, and we look forward to all your upcoming releases!

Thank you!

Kate is graciously offering a copy (either ebook or print) of The Sinner's Club, please leave a valid email address or Twitter handle when you answer this question: What is your favorite historical time period? The giveaway is open to US residents only and closes Friday Jan 3 2014 at 11 pm Pacific time. You must be 18+ years old to win.

If you’d like a copy of The Sinners Club and can't wait for the giveaway, you can find it at:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Sinners-Club-ebook/dp/B00DV1ITB2/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sinners-club-kate-pearce/1115132068?ean=9780758290175

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-sinners-club

And be sure to check out Ms. Pearces’s other releases.

I’m just going to give you the website because there are just too many links to add LOL

Http://www.katepearce.com

You can find Kate at:
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads

EXCERPT from The Sinner's Club:

The Sinners Club @Kate Pearce 2013

Jack took off his hat and advanced toward the diminutive lady who reclined on the couch. She gave a little cry of distress and struggled to rise. It was Jack who reached her first and tenderly assisted her to sit up. He found himself looking into a pair of big brown eyes filled with a hint of wide-eyed terror and a suggestion of tears. Her face was heart shaped and framed with artfully arranged golden curls.

“Oh my, have you come to throw me from my house in my condition?”

Jack forced his gaze from the beauty of her face, down over her fabulous bosom and finally to the swell of her belly clearly outlined against the black silk of her high waisted gown.

“Ma’am?”

She clasped his hand in hers. “It’s true, isn’t it?”

Jack carefully disengaged himself from her frantic grasp and stepped back. “I have no idea whom I’m addressing, ma’am. Perhaps I should start by making myself known to you. I’m--”

“We know who you are.” The male sibling interrupted Jack and came to stand by his sister’s side. ”You’re an imposter.”

Jack fought down an absurd desire to laugh. “I assure you, I am not. My name is John Smith.”

“Then you are not the scoundrel who claims to be the new earl?” the woman whispered.

He bowed. “Didn’t Mr. Ferrers tell you? I am the private secretary of the man who expects to be the next earl. May I respectfully inquire who you are?”

The lady glanced at her brother and exhaled. “Oh love, it’s not as bad as we feared at all! I’m sure Mr. Smith is a reasonable man, and will soon understand why his employer is mistaken in his beliefs.” She smiled brilliantly up at Jack. “Your employer cannot possibly be the new earl.” Her hand curved over her belly.

“I’m not sure I understand, ma’am.”

“I am the current, or should I say, dowager, Countess of Storr, and my child is not yet born.” She raised her chin. “Your master cannot possibly claim the title until my child is delivered. And if it is a boy, as I believe it will be, then the title will never be your employers.”

Jack abruptly sat down.

“You are the Countess?”

“The Dowager Countess.” She opened her eyes wide at him. “Obviously.”

“The Lennox family solicitors made no mention of the last earl being married.”

She bit her luscious lower lip. “I suspect that was Jasper’s little joke. He was known to be rather secretive about such things.” She reached out a hand to the auburn-haired man standing beside her. “My brother Simon, has been a rock in this time of trial. I am so lucky to have him.”

Simon’s face softened as he looked down at his sister. Jack took stock of the tall redheaded man and the petite blonde woman. They didn’t look at all alike, but there was an obvious bond of affection between them. And why was he worrying about that when there were other more important things to concern him? Like the fate of his inheritance? He hardened his resolve. He’d be damned if he’d let it slip away again.

Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the giveaway! :)