Hi, it’s Anna Campbell here. And I’m delighted to introduce an author who’s new to Avon if not new to discerning historical romance readers. Caroline Linden’s latest Regency historical release is A VIEW TO A KISS and you can find out all about it at Caroline’s website. www.carolinelinden.com

ANNA: Caroline, your newest book is the deliciously titled A VIEW TO A KISS which is out in February. Can you tell us something about this story?

CAROLINE: But of course! It’s about a very well-bred young lady and the mysterious, fascinating man she meets on a dark balcony, but can never seem to run into again…because he’s a spy, working undercover to protect a number of prominent politicians, including her father. One reviewer described it as a cross between Jane Austen and James Bond, but it’s also a twist on Romeo and Juliet. Harry Sinclair is smitten at first sight by the lovely Lady Mariah Dunmore, the only daughter of the earl of Doncaster. Harry’s problem is that he’s not only a commoner and way beneath Mariah’s notice, he’s also a spy–and when he first sees her, he’s in disguise as an elderly gentleman. But a chance meeting on a dark balcony offers him the chance to talk to her as himself without revealing himself, and by the time he slips away into the night, Mariah is utterly entranced. The only way Harry can see her after that is by climbing through her window at night, a secret courtship that makes Mariah even more determined to find him, any way she can…

ANNA: Sounds great! What draws you to the Regency period?

CAROLINE: Mr. Darcy. Do I have to explain more than that?

ANNA: Nah, I think I get it! What was your favorite book when you were 12?

CAROLINE: I think it was GONE WITH THE WIND, although no doubt at least two thirds of it went right over my head. But I adored the costumes in the movie and was sure that if I had been Scarlett, I would have shoved Ashley Wilkes off a balcony the moment Rhett Butler showed up. Because even then I knew he was baaaad.

ANNA: If you were an animal, what animal would you be and why?

CAROLINE: A cat, because I love to sleep in warm, cozy places, I love having my hair brushed, and I would really like to have someone feed me three times a day when all I’d have to do was yowl a little. (Perhaps you can guess that my cat is a spoiled little creature)

ANNA: Describe your ideal holiday location.

CAROLINE: There are waiters, and busboys, and pool boys, and babysitters, and a personal masseuse. Also, low-calorie desserts and a 24 hour open bar. And my husband and I have the place all to ourselves. And it is WARM.

ANNA: What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

CAROLINE: Finishing! No, no, wait: opening the big box of brand new, sweet-smelling books with my name on the cover in shiny gold letters. No, no, wait: signing books and getting to meet fans. No, no, wait: going to conferences and meeting awesome authors like Anna Campbell in the bar. No, no, wait: none of those have much to do with writing, do they? OK, the best part is that moment when the whole plot falls into place, when the characters finally show themselves (to me, at least), when I realize there is in fact enough story there for a whole book, and I know just what to write.

ANNA: Ha, I know just how you feel! Thanks so much, Caroline! And good luck with the book – I love stories based on class conflict and this one sounds like an absolute doozey!

I’m one of those people who derive great pleasure from discovering a new author who has an extensive backlist. So, you can imagine what it’s like for me to discover a T.V. show I missed the first time around and learn that there are 7 seasons on DVD just waiting for me to take advantage of Amazon.com’s ‘prime’ shipping.

I discovered Gilmore Girls by accident. While working on a book in which the heroine has a very close relationship to her mother, and a Korean best friend, a friend said to me, “Hey, you must have been a fan of the Gilmore Girls.” I replied that no, I hadn’t been. And then said friend told me just enough about the show (including the fact that she hadn’t been crazy about it and why) to whet my interest. I found the first season for a steal and started watching.

Friends, I am not ashamed to tell you that I fell in love. Oh sure, Lorelei sometimes makes me want to smack her, and Rory is too perfect to ever survive in the real world, but I love the quirky small town. I love the writing and the characters and the rhythm of the show.

And I’m only on season 2! There are 5 more to go!! Season 3 sits impatiently in its plastic wrap on my ‘to be watched’ pile and season 4 is already in my shopping cart. I want to know what happens to these characters and yet I don’t. See, I want Lorelei to finally get together with Luke — don’t tell me! — And I don’t want Rory and Dean to break up (but I know they must because I watch Supernatural and Jared Padalecki started on that show before GG’s went off the air). Can I tell you how glad I was when Chad Michael Murray’s character got shipped off to military school? I even waved good-bye at the screen as he made his exit, the little trouble maker.

Okay, so what’s the appeal? Aside from the fact that I don’t have to wait a week between episodes? My laundry has gone undone. Emails have gone unanswered (not for long, though), just so because I have Just-One-More-Episode-And-That’s-It-itis where Gilmore Girls are concerned. Those of you who watched the show, tell me why I’m so addicted. Is it the family interactions? Is it Luke’s scruffy jaw? Why do I feel so acutely for both Lorelei and her mother every time they rub each other raw?

And while you’re at it, why not tell me about shows you’ve recently discovered that other people raved about long before you jumped on the bandwagon. I’ve also discovered Kyle XY, but that’s a show for another day…

Kathryn Smith recently had a chance to chat with bestselling Avon Author Stephanie Laurens. Here’s what was said:

KS: When you were six years old, what was your life’s ambition?

SL: I’m not sure I had a “life ambition” at that age – I was very much in a “living in the moment” stage then. I do, however, know I used to write stories at that age. Not for anyone, not thinking I would be a writer, but just because. I never intended them for anyone else to read, I just used to have fun thinking up and writing stories.

KS: Who was your first ‘famous’ crush and what do you think of him now?

SL: First “famous” crush…I think it was the guy who played Illya Kuryakin in The Man from Uncle. David…was it Davil Ireland? I can still see him clearly in my mind, but clearly I have no memory for names! Not sure he’d make my top 10 list today – times, and the eye of the beholder–and the competition–have changed.

KS: When did you decide you wanted to become an author?

SL: I think it was after I had my 5th book published. Prior to that, I was just playing, doing something I enjoyed, and incidentally someone was paying me for it. Then, for completely unconnected reasons, I decided to “retire” from my scientific career, and so had lots of time on my hands and felt compelled to fill it in some way, so I thought I might as well put more focus on my stories and writing, and my writing career really expanded after that. I suppose the true answer to your question is never. I never “decided”–I just became one.

KS: What is your favorite scene in your latest book?

SL: In most of my books, the first scene when the hero and heroine meet is the one where things get “ooh! interesting…” Those scenes are my favorite to write, because there’s always a lot of promise, and an element of humor inherent in the set-up – so in WHERE THE HEART LEADS, it would be the opening scene of the book, in which Penelope Ashford talks Barnaby Adair into helping her find missing ophan boys, and in the new Cynster novel, TEMPTATION AND SURRENDER, it’s the scene where Emily goes to Jonas’s home, and gets him to hire her as manager of the local inn.

KS: If you were a single Regency miss and you could capture the attention of any of your heroes, who would you most want to have pursue you?

SL: That’s an easy question – Royce, Duke of Wolverstone, aka Dalziel – the hero in my August (late July!) release, the very last Bastion Club novel, MASTERED BY LOVE.