Interview with Evangeline Collins & Giveaway!

SEVEN NIGHTS TO FOREVER by Evangeline Collins

The author of Her Ladyship's Companion once again pushes the erotic boundaries of Regency romance.

Destitute after her father's death, Rose Marlowe has debts to settle and a younger brother to support. But she also possesses a matchless beauty-one that could command quite a price. Now, every month, Rose spends one week at a decadent London brothel, where she's become a sought-after prize.

Then one night she meets a wealthy merchant. Handsome, kind and compassionate, with a lonely soul that matches her own, James Archer is not her typical client. Falling in love with a client, never mind a married one, is unthinkable. Yet Rose can't help but lose herself as one night becomes seven-and seven nights leads to a chance at forever.

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My Interview:

Hi everyone! Please help me in welcoming sensual historical romance author Evangeline Collins to Lovin' Me Some Romance.

Evangeline, thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this interview especially during what must be a hectic time for an author with a new book releasing. Which begs the question: what do you do in preparation for a new release? Does it differ from ebook to print?

Hi, VFG! Thanks for having me at Lovin’ Me Some Romance. As for preparation for a new release, most of it centers around getting the word out about the book. I’ve got a to-do list (I like lists – they’re fun) and a fair amount is similar between print and ebooks, with the main difference being in the scale. For example, for a print novel, the book will be sent to far more review sites than an ebook novella (there are more review and book blog sites for M/F romance novels than for M/M erotic ebooks simply because the market is larger for M/F). The method of book distribution also impacts how I prepare for a release. For print novels, I’ll target some promo to librarians and booksellers, whereas I target only readers with an ebook.

SEVEN NIGHTS TO FOREVER, your new release from Berkley Trade, is a romantic tale of forbidden romance between a courtesan and a married man. A decidedly risky venture given the generally negative reaction of romance readers towards a cheating spouse, did you feel any apprehension while taking your novel in this direction? Was it something that you decided for your characters or was this the plot issues that they were determined you would write?

I love unconventional stories, love the challenge of making unconventional characters work in a romance. I firmly believe everyone deserves to find love, no matter their lot in life, so I wasn’t apprehensive about James’s infidelity or Rose’s profession. But I was very aware I’d be walking a thin line with them.

The high concept of the book – a married man falling in love with a prostitute – was kind of decided for me. My editor asked for a flip on my first Evangeline book (and of course, I said sure). But all of the details of James and Rose, those things that made them who they were and what got them to where they were at the beginning of the book, was a mix of me solving the puzzle of how to make them work in a romance and of the characters themselves nudging me in certain directions. So you could say it was a collaborative effort.

James Archer, your hero, is incredibly selfless as he gives himself endlessly to those he cares about. You know what, I debated with a friend over whether or not James is a beta hero. What characteristics differentiate an alpha hero from a beta hero? What distinct characteristics of each do you particularly love both as an author and as a reader?

Both types of heroes are protective and loyal to those they love (must-have traits for a hero), but it’s their approach that makes them different. I see an alpha as a take charge type of guy. Someone who knows what he wants and goes directly after it, regardless of any obstacles in his path. A very confident and strong personality. Beta’s aren’t weaker than alphas (I’d actually argue they are stronger). They have a different type of strength. Quieter, more sensitive and often more romantic. Usually more aware of themselves and their limitations, which tends to make them less confident at the start of a book. And they tend to think things through where an alpha jumps to action.

As a reader, I adore tortured heroes. Doesn’t matter if they are alphas or betas, the guy just needs to be run through the wringer. As an author, I have a decided preference toward betas. I love the underdog, love the guy who is more than what he seems. Of course, now I’m wondering which side of the debate you were on with James. Alpha or beta? Hum…personally, I see him as a strong beta, but I could make an argument for either side. ;) (In the beginning, I argued for alpha but towards the end, I leaned more towards beta but I'm thinkin' more along the lines that he's a complex combination of both.)

A couple more questions related to the discussion above, is one more difficult to write from the other? Beta verses alpha that is? Why in your opinion, do readers gravitate towards an alpha male? And finally, are authors - again in your opinion - pressured to write alpha males due to market demands?

Betas are definitely easier for me to write. I have a hard time writing alphas and not having them come off as jerks. Some authors can do wonderful alphas, but I have difficulty with them. I think readers gravitate toward alphas because they represent the ideal romance hero. Very action-orientated, swoon-worthy dudes. And it’s fun to close your eyes and image an alpha sweeping you off your feet and that you are the only woman who can bring such a strong man to his knees.

I don’t feel any pressure to write alpha heroes. The pressure I do feel is to write strong, complex heroes. The type of man a reader will get behind, root for and sympathize with. A hero readers will fall in love with. And that’s not an easy bill to fill, at least I don’t find it easy.

Your heroine, Rose Marlow, is a renowned courtesan in London. The most expensive and the most beautiful she appears as innocent and lovely as Snow White with her red lips, pale skin, and black as night mane. An aspect that I particularly loved about how you penned Rose is that given the undeniable fact that she's an experienced courtesan, she doesn't ever seem to hold the knowledge of an experienced courtesan. What are the benefits and drawbacks of writing a courtesan heroine? How do you humanize her and make her easily identifiable for the reader?

The primary drawback is the old double standard – it’s perfectly acceptable for a hero to have slutted his way around town for years (until he meets the heroine, of course), but your heroine better not even be close to dipping her toes in the slutty waters. With a heroine like Rose, she’s not only swimming laps but getting paid for it. To give her a chance at being palatable to readers, I tried to give her very good reasons for why she’s doing what she’s doing, a strong conscience, and an acute sense of what she’s become. I also gave her a hero who would throw her off her game, so to speak, to try to allow her to have that giddy, young-love vibe and all the uncertainties that come along with it, even though her knowledge of horizontal activities could fill a book.

As an author, the drawback can become a benefit because the heroine already knows her way around a bedroom. She’s got the terminology down, which frees me up with word usage, especially with a heroine in a historical book. She’s got the skills to tease and torment her hero in all sorts of yummy ways. On the angst side, she’s just loaded with it, which I see as a benefit since I love angst. A veritable gold mine of drama just waiting to be mined.

And I love that Rose reminded you of Snow White. Her name came from the book ‘Snow White and Red Rose’. I based some of her physical appearance off Snow White, and James is definitely her prince.

I love, LOVE, love your covers! I was especially delighted with the character elements that were accurately portrayed with SEVEN NIGHTS TO FOREVER. How much input do you have in the design of your covers? And how stressful is it awaiting for the first looksie of your covers?

Thanks! The cover gods have been very kind. For Seven Nights to Forever, I provided physical descriptions of the characters and asked for the same cover artist who did my previous Berkley book. I loved that cover, and I knew if James Griffin did this one as well that I’d love it, too. He’s a truly amazing artist. So it wasn’t stressful waiting for the first peek at the cover, but definitely a lot of anticipation and stalking of my inbox.

You also write male/male historical romance as Ava March. LMSR readers generally aren't accustomed to me reviewing this particular subgenre. Can you tell us what male/male romance means to you, why you enjoy penning what's rapidly becoming a reader favorite in romance, and what types of plot readers can expect from your Ava March collection?

M/M romances are romance between two men. They may be gay or bisexual or might even identify as straight at the beginning of the book. But at its core, it’s a love story between men, and it’s that relationship dynamic that draws me to M/M romances. It’s hard to put into words, but it’s a different dynamic than a M/F romance. Read one and you’ll likely immediately see what I’m failing to describe.

My Ava books are similar in feel to my M/F books – very character driven Regency romances with sex and angst. I love unrequited love themes, that intense longing from afar, so it’s a theme that pops up in my Ava books. Those books are typically novella length, so the plots are more compact and focused. Oh, and definitely erotic. I give the guys free rein to do whatever they want in the bedroom. But the writing is the same. It’s still me, just hotter, shorter, and with two men as the heroes.

And in conclusion of our interview, what's next for Evangeline Collins?

In February 2011, my first Trade book with Berkley, Her Ladyship’s Companion, will release in mass market format. As for new Evangeline books, I’m really not sure yet, to be honest. I spent 2009 focused on Evangeline and writing SNTF, and 2010 focused on Ava. I have an Ava novella that’s due in early 2011, and after I finish it I’ll likely turn my attention back to M/F romances. The muse has been toying around with a few ideas. I’ll have to see what rises to the top and screams ‘write me’ in a few months.

Giveaway Details:

Evangeline Collins is giving away one signed copy of SEVEN NIGHTS TO FOREVER to one lucky commenter. Here's how to enter:

*Leave a Comment with a Valid Email Address (Entrants that do not leave an email address will be disqualified)*

**Contest Open to ALL**

***Must be 18 or Older to Enter***

****Contest Closes Thursday, November 4th at Midnight U.S. Pacific Standard Time and the Winner will be Chosen Randomly and Announced Friday, November 5th****