Cathy Maxwell

Meet Cathy Maxwell!

Bestselling novelist Cathy Maxwell, a storyteller since childhood, embraces her writing romance as a way to express her belief that “loving well is the greatest adventure of all,” and to explore her fascination with the Regency period.

The author of twenty-five historical romance novels and four novellas Cathy’s latest THE SEDUCTION OF SCANDAL, the fifth of her Scandals and Seductions novels, has just been published. The others, also set in the Regency period, are quintessential Cathy Maxwell—traditional historicals with a contemporary sensibility and a touch of humor. They are A Seduction at Christmas, The Marriage Ring, The Earl Claims His Wife, and His Christmas Pleasure.  Each has appeared for multiple weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list.

Cathy received recognition from the start with her first novel, All Things Beautiful.  Published in 1994, it was nominated for Best First Book by the Romance Writers of America and for Best First Historical by Romantic Times magazine. It also received first place recognition as Best Read of 1994 from the Reader’s Voice

Born in Olathe, Kansas, Cathy’s family roots go back to the Mayflower and the Revolutionary War.  She has long called Virginia home, noting she is “a Virginian by choice, but a Kansan by nature.” She worked in television news and spent six years in the Navy. She attended Air Force intelligence school, worked in the Pentagon and did a tour with Naval Intelligence.

Cathy began her writing career in 1991. Now, twenty years later, she is the author of sixteen national bestsellers and her novels appear regularly on The New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists.  Her books include In the Highlander’s Bed, Bedding the Heiress, In the Bed of a Duke, The Price of Indiscretion, Temptation of a Proper Governess, and The Seduction of an English Lady.  She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Washington Romance Writers, Virginia Romance Writers, and Novelists Inc., and she is a frequent speaker at writers’ conferences, libraries and special events.

She lives in rural Powhatan County with her rescued dogs Rico and Maya and with her son during college breaks, and is just a few miles from her horses, Duncan and Dinero. 

First question:

Eggnog or Mimosas?

Both. Mimosas in the morning and eggnog around the fire in the evening. 

We’re also taking pictures with Santa; did you bring a gift for him? (Maybe a new release or a pretty book cover…) 

I’m bringing the same thing I bring every year—gratitude for a life worth living, for family and friends to love, and for enough bounty to share with others.

Please enter. Drinks are served by the elves in the corner.

What’s your favorite holiday and why?

St. Valentine’s Day.  It’s the only one devoted to love.

Did you ask Santa for anything good?

Yes. Good health, good times, good friends, good family and good grace.

What’s your favorite place to spend the holidays?

At home with as many of my loved ones as possible.

What is your favorite Christmas memory?

The sound of children singing, especially when they’re raising their voices to join in with songs such as Silent Night, The First Noel and Oh Holy Night.

Why do you write romance?

I have no choice.  They had me at “I love you.”

How long have you been writing for? And how would you describe your publication journey?

I’ve always been a storyteller.  When I was a kid, I used to spend the day on the backyard swing set telling stories to myself.  I’d start swinging and develop my own world based on books I was reading, television shows, and movies.  Anything that captured my attention.  I was really taken with the Roman Empire and the Civil War.  Trust me, it was very odd behavior!  But I turned out okay.  I also wore out three swings.

My writing journey has been a satisfying one.  I’m still swinging and I don’t plan to stop.

What characteristics do all your heroines have in all your stories?

All my female characters share a common trait—they are not happy with their lives and they realize if there is to be a change, it is up to them.  I believe each of us has the power to make our lives better if we are willing to toss expectations to the wind and seize living with everything we have.

What writing resources do you abide by as a writer?

Books, books, and more books.  I have a super research library.  However, the point of a romance is not the history.  It’s the dynamic between two people who are falling in love—and that doesn’t change whether we are talking about ancient Rome or light years into the future.

What are you working on right now?

I’m busy with the second book in my Chattan Curse series.  The first, LYON’S BRIDE, is coming out in May ’12. I hope you love it as much as I already do!

What news would you like to share with your readers?

My first bits of news for 2012 are the on sale date for the newly repackaged and republished edition of WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE—it’s March 27th.  Then come LYON’S BRIDE reaches stores to go on sale April 24th.

Where can readers find you?

    1. Facebook:   http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cathy-Maxwell-Fan-Page/144546442251787

    2. Website: www.cathymaxwell.com

List other books you have out:

THE SEDUCTION OF SCANDAL, the fifth and last Scandals and Seductions novels joined A Seduction at Christmas, The Marriage Ring, The Earl Claims His Wife, and His Christmas Pleasure in September 2011. Other bestsellers include In the Highlander’s Bed, Bedding the Heiress, In the Bed of a Duke, The Price of Indiscretion, Temptation of a Proper Governess, and The Seduction of an English Lady.  Please go to http://www.cathymaxwell.com/books/printable-book-list/ for a list of all of my novels.

Thank you so much for joining us at Romance Author Hotspot!

Prize: A “hot off the press” copy of her latest republished novel, BECAUSE OF YOU.

 

 

Blurb:

The Seduction of Scandal

September 2011 (On Sale August 30), 0061772127 ● 978-0061772122

It’s never wise to blackmail a highwayman.

Lady Corinne, rebellious daughter of the duke of Banfield, refuses to marry Lord Freddie Sherwin. Yes, he’s the catch of the Season and the man her father chose for her. He’s also the most despicable male of her acquaintance. With her wedding only weeks away, she flees and finds herself a prisoner of the notorious Thorn!

Who says the devil isn’t a woman?

 The rich and powerful tremble at the highwayman’s name, while England’s villagers rejoice in his bold exploits. His identity is a secret; his life a mystery— until Lady Corinne tumbles into his arms. If the Thorn wants her silence, he must hide her until her wedding day passes. It’s a devil’s bargain and one that can only lead to a hangman’s noose.

Corinne believes it’s the perfect plan—until her highwayman reveals a passionate lover’s heart, and she realizes that in the seduction of scandal, she may have found the hero she’s been waiting for her whole life.

Excerpt:  CATHY MAXWELL’S THE SEDUCTION OF SCANDAL EXCERPT 

He turned, ready to eat her up alive with his tongue.  If it hadn’t been for her foolishness, he wouldn’t have had to spend the night traipsing back and forth fetching bandages, worrying if he was doing the right thing, worrying if she’d stay alive.

The tongue lashing he’d wanted to deliver evaporated from his mind at the sight of Lady Corrine standing in the narrow doorway between the two rooms wearing little more than one of his shirts.

Dear God.  He leaned forward onto his knees.  He remembered too clearly how soft her skin was and how full, how perfect, how luscious her breasts were.

It had been his penance to undress her, to keep his hands off of her.

And it didn’t help his sorry state to have her standing there as proud and demanding as a Teutonic goddess.   Her pale blonde hair caught the beams of sun coming in from the back room, creating a halo of light around her.  The backlight also delineated the shape of her amazingly long legs, which could be seen clearly beneath the sheer, fine material of her petticoats.

Her feet were bare and as perfectly formed as the rest of her.

She was The One.  The Incomparable.

The Unattainable … and whoever had christened her such had named her right.  The lure of a siren mixed with the scorn of a harpy in the duke of Banfield’s willful daughter.

Will came to his feet, needing his extra height to keep her, and his lust, at bay.

Her intelligent blue eyes swept his person.

“You appear the worse for wear, Reverend.”

He was conscious that he needed a shave.  His beard was such that he looked quite vicious if he didn’t keep it under control.  And there were probably circles under his eyes that matched the weariness in his bones.  Yesterday had been a very demanding day before he’d made an appearance at his foster father’s dinner table.  Certainly his hair must have been going every which way now.

In contrast, she appeared well rested and amazingly fresh and lovely.

“I needed to see to your welfare, my lady.  You are lucky I discovered you injured on the side of the road on my way home last night.”  If there was a chance she didn’t remember anything after being shot, Will was going to play it.

“And my undressing?”

“Necessary for attending your wound.”

“So you didn’t believe Major Ashcroft would return for me?”

There was an edge to her voice.  “You remember,” he said.  He might as well lay it all on the table.  He had to remember how willful she was, how bold.  Dislike and distrust were good foils for lust.

“Not the undressing,” she said.  She crossed her arms as if protecting her breasts from view.  The movement caused her to wince, but she bravely, stubbornly kept her hands where she’d placed them.  “But I remember everything else.”

“I feared you would.”  He tucked the flint and stone in his pocket.  “So what happens now?  Are you going to go running to Freddie with your discovery of who I am?  I don’t believe so.  There was a reason you were stowed away in that coach last night.”

There, straight talk for straight talk – and it worked.  A small frown appeared between her brows.

“You saw me?” she asked.

“You came from somewhere, and Ashcroft was obviously surprised at your presence.  I had been inside the coach, and you hadn’t been there.  I was very careful to ensure I’d accounted for everyone present.”

She dropped her arms, reached up, and placed a hand on her left shoulder, as if the bit of pressure relieved the pain.  “You truly are frightening as the Thorn.”

“I try to be, my lady,” he said.  “Although you don’t seem frightened now, and perhaps you should be.”

She cocked her head at his warning, considered him, then shook her head.  “You won’t hurt me.”

“Don’t be so certain.”

###

Copyright by Cathy Maxwell. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.   All rights reserved.

 

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