http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/01/virtual-nbtm-book-tour-barbarian-bride.html
Eva will be awarding a copy of Barbarian Bride and The Last Gladiatrix (the first book in the Romancing The Romans series) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour (US ONLY).
Author Interview
1. Woohoo! You are a published author. Describe a strong character trait you possess, good or bad, and how it helped you become a published author. Determination. Once I get my teeth into something I rarely let go – even if it would be smarter to do so. I’m learning to put aside things that are just not working in favour of things that do. It’s a very hard lesson to learn!
2. Sometimes an author begins writing a story before they are aware of its genre. Did you choose your genre, or did it choose you? I think I’m one of those people. I wasn’t really thinking about genre when I began writing my historicals. I was so invested in the story (and having such a good time with the characters) that it wasn’t until after the story was finished I looked around and wondered where it would fit.
3. The plot thickens, or does it? Which one are you, a pantser or a plotter? Kind of a weird combination of both. I start out all organized and sure of myself. I plot everything out on a Goal Motivation Conflict sheet. Then I pretty much ignore it when I get writing. Not on purpose – the characters often take me in a different direction to the one I planned for them. Or a rogue character will turn up. That’s what makes writing so much fun for me. I never know what’s going to happen session to session.
4. Fear 101: As writers it is our duty to make our characters face their fears. Have you ever included one of your own fears in a storyline? I’m about to embark on an outback romance where the heroine must come to grips with her fear of horses. I’m super nervous around horses so I’m hoping my character can overcome her fears for me.
5. Fear 102: Yes, deadlines are terrifying. Have you conquered the juggling act between writing and the rest of your life? What do you do when it feels like the balls are dropping all around you? Ask for help. I’m super lucky in the support I get from my family. I have a three year old boy and when things are getting sticky my mother comes over and my husband pitches in with the housework until I get through to deadline. I am so grateful! And secretly I think my mother likes sorting my house out because we’re a bunch of pilers here (pile of magazines, pile of books, pile of toys….).
6. Switch positions with one of your main characters in a scene. What is the outcome, disaster or divine intervention? That’s easy! I have none of the skills of my heroines so I’d probably be dead by chapter two. I can sort of ride a horse but wield a sword? No way! We’d have to plump for Divine Intervention I think. The bolt-of-lightening-wrath-of-god type I think. I might just make it to chapter three then.
7. Where is your favorite place to write? Add that one comfort food that you can’t do without. At the kitchen bench. The sea breezes waft in the window and there’s an enormous tree shading the room so it’s the perfect place to write in an Australian summer. As for comfort food I’d have to say it is pizza. My husband makes the best pizza in the world and it’s the one thing I’ll come back to time and time again whenever I feel I need something comforting to eat.
8. Writing inspirations? Gosh this is a hard one! Sometimes it can be another author who has written something that blows my mind. Or perhaps an article in the paper which sparks my imagination. I keep clippings of things I’ve read. I’ve got so many now I don’t think I’ll live long enough to write all the stories contained in them.
9. You are introduced to your favorite author. Who is it, and what is that one burning question you must ask them? I have a whole sway of favorite authors and I was lucky enough to be introduced to Eloisa James at a conference. She was a wealth of wisdom about the business of publishing and I learned a lot. She’s my hero! I’ve got tickets to see Elizabeth Gilbert speak next month and I am so EXCITED!
10. I’ve gone mad – why don’t you come with me? Some people just don’t understand us writers. Name a quirky, writer-thing you do that friends wish you didn’t. I had to ask my husband to answer this for me because I couldn’t think of anything. I think I’m perfectly normal and it’s everyone else who’s weird. Apparently I drive people nuts by not paying attention to the 6 o’clock news. People are always saying ‘did you see this or that’ and of course I haven’t got a clue what’s going on. I’ve usually got my head in a manuscript or a book!
Barbarian Bride
by Eva Scott
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blurb:
On the bloody ground of the Colosseum, she fights to save her life. In the treacherous boxes above, he fights to save their love.
Though Klara didn’t love the man who was to be her husband, she didn’t want him murdered, and she vows to track down the man who committed the crime. Sickened that she’d been attracted to the mysterious Roman, Klara tracks Lucius Aurelius to the fringes of the Roman Empire, only to find that they’ve both been trapped in a clever plot to overthrow Klara’s father, the Chief of the Huns.
Klara is separated from Lucius, captured by slavers and sold to a gladiator school. She is the only one who can save herself, by fighting for her freedom. Lucius can ensure her battle is easier, but only by sacrificing himself. How much is he willing to give up for the fiery woman he’s come to love?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
Settling back, Klara surveyed the room for the candidate most likely to know Lucius Aurelius. With so many unwashed, bearded rascals to choose from it was hard to pick. Finally her gaze alighted on a burly old man whose eyes reminded her of Lucius. Abandoning the revolting beer she made her way cautiously to where the man sat alone. He was intent on a dish of stew and didn’t notice her approach. Klara stood before him, awkward in her uncertainty of what to do next.
She cleared her throat. The man shovelled another spoonful of stew in his mouth and did not look up. She tried again, a little louder this time, and still the man ignored her. Sliding her knife from its sheath Klara slammed the point down into the table where it quivered menacingly. The spoon stopped half way to the old man’s mouth. He looked up under busy eyebrows and regarded her for a long moment before the spoon continued its journey. Chewing slowly he simply sat and looked at her.
Klara put her hands on her hips. Now she had the man’s attention starting a conversation about Lucius seemed even harder than she thought it would be. The man lowered his gaze, scooping up another spoonful of stew, and she found herself dismissed.
“Hey!” she slammed both her hand down on the table. “I want to talk to you.”
“So talk.” The fact he didn’t bother to look up infuriated Klara. The man has no manners— and they call Hun barbarians.
“I’m looking for a man.”
He looked up then. “Really?” Pushing the bowl away he leaned back in his chair, letting his eyes roam over the curves of her body. “I’d be happy to oblige.”
Klara swept the empty bowl off the table with the back of her hand. It clattered on the floor and rolled under the table. Her chest heaved with suppressed anger.
“Might I suggest you would do better with men if you tempered your aggression? So unattractive in a woman.”
Klara wrenched the knife out of the table and held it towards the man. “Do you know a man named Lucius Aurelius?” she hissed.
The old man’s bushy eyebrows shot up and disappeared into his hairline. “Lucius? How on earth do you know Lucius?” He narrowed his blue eyes and leaned forward, his hand shot out grabbing her wrist. “Who are you?”
She tried to reclaim her hand but the man was too strong. Cleverly he’d grabbed her hand holding the knife so there was very little point struggling. She raised her chin and said, “I am Klara…”
“The Hun,” the man finished softly. He let her go and settled back. “I’ve heard about you. Sit down. You’re in luck.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author Bio and Links:
Eva lives on the Sunshine Coast, in Queensland Australia in the town which brought the world the Bee Gees. When she’s not writing romance you can find her out on the water kayaking, fishing or swimming. When on dry land it’s all about the shoes and the coffee (and old Bee Gees records).
Personal Links
http://www.evascottromance.com/
http://www.facebook.com/eva.scottromancewriter
http://www.twitter.com/EvaScottWriter
Buy Link
Thanks for hosting!
What a great excerpt. this sounds like a awesome and unique story.
Thanks so much MomJane – and thank you for stopping by in what I’m sure is a busy day x