Interview with Alanna Lucas

Susana: What advice would you give to writers just starting out?

Alanna: Learn your craft, know your genre, and most important, join organizations. After I joined RWA and discovered my local chapter, everything seemed to fall into place. The support and encouragement from my fellow chapter mates has been an amazing part of this journey.

Susana: Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

Alanna: A change of scenery is always helpful. Whenever I am struggling, I try not to dwell on the negative. Instead, I might go for a walk, play a game with my kids, read a book, or listen to music. My current favorite is Imagine Dragons.

Distractions are just as annoying as writer’s block. When my kids are a little too rambunctious and I can’t concentrate, I start blaring classical music. FYI, Beethoven’s 5^th is rumbling through the house as I write this.

Susana: What comes first: the plot or the characters?

Alanna: It usually begins with characters and a scene, and then I build the story around them.

Susana: Are you a plotter or a panster?

Alanna: I am a panster who was learning to be a plotter. After taking several classes and reading numerous books, I have learned to accept and embrace the fact that I am an organized panster!

Susana: In which genre do you prefer to write and why?

Alanna:  I write historical romance. I have always enjoyed researching and learning about different time periods. It seemed only natural to write what I enjoy. There is one downside—it is far too easy to get wrapped up in research and forget what I am supposed to be writing.

Susana: What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to learn about you?

Alanna: Besides the fact that I like to vacuum?

When I am frustrated, I like to rearrange furniture. No, not just rearrange, I pull out the portable drafting table and create scaled floor plans. Time of day does not matter, once I get an idea…watch out! I have even been known to rearrange furniture in the middle of the night.

Susana: What is your favorite food? Least favorite?

Alanna: I love Italian food—all of it! If I had to choose one dish, it would be linguine with seafood.

My least favorite food would have to be chutney. Let’s just say it involves a flight and a lot of turbulence 😦

Susana: Do you have a favorite quote or saying?

Alanna: The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.

—Saint Augustine

Susana: What is your biggest adventure to date?

Alanna: Motherhood

Susana: What is the one modern convenience you can’t do without?

Alanna: You can have the Internet. You can have the TV. But the one thing I don’t want to live without is a bathroom (with indoor plumbing!).

Susana: What would we find under your bed?

Alanna: Nothing! 🙂

Susana: If your publisher offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming project, where would you mostly likely want to go? Why?

Alanna: This was an easy question—England! I want to visit every museum, every grand estate, have tea, and shop!

Do you believe in love at first sight? 

Alanna will give away one e-copy of Face to Face to a commenter answering the question above.

About When We Dance

Nigel Rochefort succeeds at everything he attempts, but burying his family in scandal and breaking up a wedding while seducing the bride is not quite what he had in mind. Nor was finding true love.

Step by step…

Miss Artemisia Germayne is used to gossip. She is far from the ton’s version of an ideal beauty. Worse still, she cannot dance. But when she finds herself in the uncomfortable predicament of abandonment on her wedding day, embarrassed and humiliated she retreats to the country.

Nigel Rochefort, second son of the Earl of Monfort, has always taken his good fortune for granted, so when the woman for whom he has a secret tendre is about to marry his friend, the only logical thing to do is break up the wedding. But that scandal is only the start. The bride’s sister has also disappeared, and Nigel must first clear his name to assure Artemisia’s affections. As he gives chase, many truths are yet to be learned. This is no simple country dance or game of seduction but an unstoppable waltz of desire—and true love.

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Excerpt

She actually struck him. Nigel could not believe what had just happened. A woman had just struck him. Not just any woman or casual acquaintance, but Artemisia. Not a delicate slap, but a hard punch full of pent up anger. That had never happened to him before. He just sat there…stunned. Did she suspect?

Before he had the opportunity to reflect further on the question, Lord Germayne made an announcement and swarms of guests brushed past him, giving him curious looks as they filed out of the chapel. His first thought was to stay put and wait for everyone to leave. He was in no mood for inquisitive gossipmongers, but he did not want to be trapped, surrounded by the same gossips in question.

Following the herd of bright dresses and fanciful hats out of the chapel, whispered theories swirled around him as to the whereabouts of Mr. Chartwick. The general consensus was that the groom had cold feet. Nigel knew otherwise.

Nigel was within earshot when Lady Lamden began to weave one of her vicious tales. “…and this is not the only scandal facing Lord and Lady Germayne. Did you notice that Miss Philippa Germayne was not in attendance?”

The pair of gossips stopped walking, and huddled together, too deep in tittle-tattle to notice that anyone was eavesdropping.

Ducking behind a large urn of flowers, Nigel strained to hear the conversation.

“I have it on the best authority that the young lady in question is not indisposed, but has disappeared altogether.”

“Disappeared?”

“She has not been seen since yesterday when she was discovered alone in the park with a certain notorious rake.”

Nigel’s stomach lurched with guilt. He was the notorious rake they spoke of.

About the Author

Alanna Lucas grew up in Southern California. From an early age, she took an interest in travel, incorporating those experiences into her writing. When she is not daydreaming of her next travel destination Alanna can be found researching, spending time with family, or going for long walks. Alanna Lucas is a member of the Romance Writers of America, East Valley Authors, The Beau Monde, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers.

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