Interview with historical romance author Shana Galen

Today we have historical romance author Shana Galen.  Welcome to RomFan Reviews Shana and thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit with us.

SG: Thank you so much for having me. I’m excited to be here!

   

Tell us a little about your new release When You Give a Duke a Diamond.

SG: When You Give a Duke a Diamond is the first book in my new Jewels of the Ton series. The series is about three glamorous Regency courtesans, called The Three Diamonds, who have secrets to keep. When You Give a Duke a Diamond centers on Juliette, the Duchess of Dalliance, and Will, the Duke of Pelham, who are thrown together after a murder and embark on a search for missing diamonds.

Will the other Diamonds get their own stories?

SG: Absolutely. In fact, Fallon’s book will be out in March, and I’ve already started working on Lily’s book.

What is the hardest part of writing a book?

SG: I think it’s the day to day drudgery. Not every page is exciting and fun to write, and sometimes the words won’t come. It’s hard on those days to make myself sit there and meet my goal, but that’s the only way the book gets written.

Do you write any other genres besides historical?

SG: I wrote two contemporaries as Shane Bolks, and I have a proposal for a Young Adult novel with an editor right now.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

SG: Oh, I am such a pantser. I don’t even bother to try and plot anymore.

How much time did it take from writing your first book to having it published? 

SG: I started When Dashing Met Danger in January 2000, and it was published in May 2005. So over 5 years.

What or who influenced you to become a writer?

SG: I don’t know that anyone or thing influenced me. I always liked to write and was always told I was a good writer. But when I first started writing romance novels, I didn’t even tell my family. I guess I thought they’d think I was crazy to believe I could ever publish, much less, write a book.

Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?

SG: I multi-task. I’m able to think about one project in the back of my mind while I work on another and strangely enough that makes me more productive.

When not writing, how do you relax?

SG: I like to read, go see a movie, get a pedicure, or take a nap. Any time I can have some quiet alone time is relaxing to me.

Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it? 

SG: Nope. I’m too busy to have writer’s block. That’s not to say that ideas always flow quickly or come easily. If I’m floundering, I usually walk around or fold laundry. The words will come to me. Anything but laundry, right?

What's the weirdest thing you've ever done in the name of research?

SG:  I guess the weirdest thing is when I worked with my dad on The Rogue Pirate’s Bride. I needed help with the sailing scenes, and he’s a sailor. I had to read sections of the book to him, and it’s a little weird reading steamy scenes you wrote to your dad.

Where can readers learn more about you and your books?

SG: Lots of places! My website www.shanagalen.com, Facebook www.facebook.com/ShanaGalen,Twitter @shanagalen. Pretty much anywhere there are authors, I’m there too.

WHEN YOU GIVE A DUKE A DIAMOND BY SHANA GALEN – IN STORES SEPTEMBER 2012

Praise for Shana Galen:

"Galen pulls out all the stops...will leave readers breathless and highly satisfied." —RT Book Reviews

He had a perfectly orderly life…

William, the sixth Duke of Pelham, enjoys his punctual. securely structured life. Orderly and predictable—that's the way he likes it. But he's in the public eye, and the scandal sheets will make up anything to sell papers. When the gossips link him to Juliette, one of the most beautiful and celebrated courtesans in London, chaos doesn't begin to describe what happens next...

Until She Came Along

Juliette is nicknamed the Duchess of Dalliance, and has the cream of the nobility at her beck and call. It's seriously disruptive to have the duke who's the biggest catch on the Marriage Mart scaring her other suitors away. Then she discovers William's darkest secret and decides what he needs in his life is the kind of excitement only she can provide...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SHANA GALEN is the bestselling author of Regency historicals, including the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice for The Making of a Gentleman. A former English teacher in Houston’s inner city, Shana now writes full time. She is happily married, with one daughter and a spoiled cat.  If You Give a Rake a Ruby, the next exciting book in the Jewels of the Ton Series, hits stores in March 2013. For more information please visit www.shanagalen.com, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter, @ShanaGalen.

Read my review of When You Give a Duke a Diamond here

Contest:  One lucky person will win a signed copy of When You Give a Duke a Diamond!!  Leave a comment with your email address, contest ends September 14^th at 11:59pm EST US and Canada residents only.