We would like to welcome author Victoria Vane and special guest Ludovic, Viscount DeVere to RomFan Reviews!!
The Devil You Know and The Devil’s Match are books #3 and
#4 respectively in my 4 novella erotic historical romance series called The
Devil DeVere after the key character, Ludovic, Viscount DeVere, who
connects all the books.
Although DeVere is not the main protagonist of either the
first or second books (A Wild Night’s Bride and The Virgin Huntress), he is very
much a key player and master manipulator in both.
DeVere is a fascinatingly complex character whose own story
it took two books to tell. In The Devil You Know, I take the
reader Back in time four years to show the circumstances under which DeVere and
Diana first meet, what pulled them together, and what drove them seemingly irrevocably apart. In The
Devil’s Match their lives intersect once more, only to find that the
old flame not only still burns, but threaten to consume them!
What can we see
coming from you in the future?
I recently finished my first full-length novel for Entangled
Publishing’s new Scandalous historical imprint. It’s called Dangerous
Designs, and is darkly erotic with elements of intrigue. I had planned
to immediately start on another novel but I have received so many requests from
fans for “more DeVere” that I have put other books on hold to write more
novellas in this series.
I have already begun working on Jewel of the East which is Salime’s story (from The
Devil’s Match). I also plan on going back even further in time with
Ned, DeVere and Annalee as well as introducing some new characters and story
lines in A Devil By Another Name and A Devil in Diamonds. I am very excited that readers have
really taken to this series.
You seem to know the
era in which you write very well, how much time do you spend doing research for
your books?
I am very much an 18th history geek and even have
a blog to prove it (http://georgianjunkie.wordpress.com)! I
have been in love with the Georgian era for about as long as I remember so my
research really is an ongoing thing. Over the past few years, in addition to
reading diaries, letters, and memoirs, from people who lived during this
period, I have studied everything from wars and politics to art, music and
stage plays. I try to sprinkle my stories with all of these kinds of details to
make them more real. I also make appoint of incorporating real historical
figures into my books, when it fell right to do so. I think it’s so much fun to
take what history has left us and add personality!
What was the hardest
part of writing your books?
The hardest part of writing for me is always the first
sentence. Sometimes it takes weeks! But then it’s usually downhill after that.
When writing your
description of your hero/ine what feature do you start with? Eyes, age, hair
color, etc?
Although some readers like a lot of physical description, I
try to go very light on it as I prefer to imagine the characters that appeal
most to me when I am reading. Also for me, the personality has to come alive
before I can describe them. When I do, I usually begin with hair and eyes.
How long have you
been a writer?
I’ll give you a long answer on this one: I began writing my very first book in September of 2007, finished
it in late November 2008, and got a contract on it in January2009. It was
published in April 2010. (The Highest
Stakes, written as Emery Lee). So, I have now been writing for five years and
am published for two and a half.
Do you write under
more than one name? Why?
Yes! I began writing historical fiction as Emery Lee and had
two full length novels published with Sourcebooks, The Highest Stakes and Fortune’s Son but then 18 months ago my publisher
passed on my subsequent proposals, and my agent quit the business leaving me
high and dry.
I was very depressed, disillusioned and frustrated until an
author friend suggested I try writing a short romance for a digital publisher.
Without an agent, there were few options open to me, so I decided to give it a
try. To shorten a very long story- A
Breach of Promise was accepted by Ellora’s Cave under the condition
that I amp up the heat level. Given that my previous books were pretty much
PG-13, I was not very comfortable with this but decided I had nothing to lose.
The book was released last December to a great reception – thus my wicked twin Victoria
Vane was born!
When not writing, how
do you relax?
I read, I ride my horses, and I play the Celtic harp.
Do
you ever suffer from writer's block?
If so, what do you do about it?
Yes, I think all writers do from time to
time. I usually try to edit or do research until my creative brain kicks back
into gear.
I have a web site, an author blog and am very active on
Facebook and Goodreads:
Twitter:
authorvictoriav
DeVere Questions
In the first two
books you played matchmaker for your best-friend Ned and your brother Hew so
why are you so sure there was no such thing as love and matrimony for you?
(He laughs.) My answer to that, my dear, is simple: one
man’s potion is often another man’s poison!
In Devil’s Match it mentions all your travels, is there any one
place that was special to you?
After briefer sojourns in France and Italy, I spent almost
two years in Constantinople. I was very enamored of the place. I found the
sights, sounds, and smells, exotic and appealing, and I was particularly
intrigued by the Oriental dancing. I found it all much to my liking, and might
have stayed permanently had I been inclined to convert to their religion. While
certain aspects of the Mohammedan’s lifestyle appealed to me, I could not find
it within myself to abstain from drink or to pray to Allah three times a day.
Alas, I may be justly accused of many unpalatable things,
but hypocrisy is not one of them.
Without trying to
give any spoilers is there anything you would have changed in your life?
No. I am not a man who suffers regrets. I do what I do
because it suits me and then I move on.
Where is the craziest
place you’ve ever had sex?
On the back of a camel… it’s a long story. (He chuckles.)
If you could have
three wishes granted, what would you wish for?
I have no need to wish for anything for I have all that a
man could possibly desire— good health, great wealth, and a ready wit. And
while I am by no means a philanthropist, given my almost infinite resources, I
prefer to assist those close to me in obtaining their desires. I believe Ned,
Phoebe, Vesta and Hew would concur.
What’s the perfect
romantic evening?
Romantic? (He
frowns.) Romance is for women and poets. I am neither. But if you ask me what
comprises a most gratifying evening,
(he grins wickedly) might I suggest a few hours alone with one’s inamorata in a
hammam?
I would like to thank Victoria and Lord DeVere for stopping
by it was a pleasure to have you both here.
Read my reviews of the Devil of DeVere Series
Contest: Victoria is offering one copy of her ebook I’ll
offer a free e-book A WILD NIGHT’S BRIDE to one lucky person. Leave a comment with your email to be
entered. Contest ends September 17th
at 11:59pm EST
I am a writer too,I like paranormal romance,J.R Ward,Lara Adrian,Kate Douglas, Joey Hill are my most favorite. Would like read Victoria's books they are interesting.
ReplyDeleteNice interview. This sounds like a good series.
ReplyDeletebn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
So Victoria's the naughty one :)
ReplyDeleteI've seen so many rave reviews for your books & I'd love to win a copy!
thumbelinda03@yahoo.com
Great interview, so nice to get a chance to meet new authors.
ReplyDeleteshawny.jeann at gmail dot com
I love character interviews! Such a great sneak peek to the book!
ReplyDeletemodularmates(at)comcast(dot)net