Q&A with Gwyn Cready, Author of A NOVEL SEDUCTION

What can I say about Gwyn Cready? She's so nice and absolutely fabulous. She's got a thing for Colin Firth (don't we all?), she's a 2009 RITA Award recipient for paranormal romance, she writes time travel romances and Diana Gabaldon's OUTLANDER plays a part in her latest release, A NOVEL SEDUCTION. Would it be blasphemous to say that she's my Diana Gabaldon? I've been adding time travel romances to my wishlist. (Hey, the holidays are just around the corner anyway.)


MEET GWYN:

Gwyn Cready is the recipient of the 2009 RITA Award for Best Paranormal Romance and the author of Tumbling Through Time,Seducing Mr. Darcy, Flirting with Forever, Aching for Always and A Novel Seduction. She has been called "the master of time travel romance." A Novel Seduction is her first foray into contemporary romance as well as men in kilts, and she found both eminently satisfying. She lives in Pittsburgh with her family. (picture: ©Garen DiBartolomeo)

WHERE TO FIND GWYN:  Author Site | Facebook | Twitter

Q&A:
Kati: Who is Gwyn Cready? 
Gwyn: Gwyn Cready is a shoe-shopping, purse-buying, Colin-Firth-addicted, movie-attending, time travel-fascinated, Tivo-using, VW Beetle-driving, ethnic-food-eating, dog-walking, cat-petting, joy-chasing, deep-thinking, pop-culture-hugging, sequin-attracted writer who spent a long, long time working in the corporate world before finding a new and happier life.

K: Tell us a little about A NOVEL SEDUCTION. 

G: A NOVEL SEDUCTION is both my nod to the book that made me fall in love with romance novels (thank you, Diana Gabaldon) and my answer to the critics of the genre. However, it is, of course, first and foremost a lovely story of two people meant to be together, who each learn to be a better person in order to earn the right to live happily ever after. The story is very sexy and very funny.

K: If you could run away with one of your heroes, who would it be and why? 

G: Hmm. Good question. I fall in love with all my heroes. I don't think one can write romance--or at least a good romance--without doing that. And all of them have the moves and sense of humor of my husband, so I am in the enviable position of having already run off with my favorite hero, but if I had to pick, I think I might pick Peter from Flirting with Forever. He's a wildly talented painter, handsome, sexy and rich, and of course it doesn't hurt that I'd end up being Lady Lely. Plus it would delight me to make a man with such a sad back story happy again.

K: Do you have any writing rituals? 

G: I guess my only rituals are the things I need to do before I begin to write--drink a cup of hazelnut decaf coffee, read USA Today cover to cover and walk on the treadmill. As far as the writing itself, I can do it anywhere--car, front porch, my desk, dining room table, laying in bed at night, even the bathtub. I am pretty attached to my laptop, though--a cute little Lenovo ThinkPad. I have to go with ThinkPads because I can only work with a pointing stick. External mouses give me a shoulder ache and I hate, hate, hate those pad things you're supposed to draw your thumb over. My pointer is always flying all over the page when I use one of those.

K: What can readers expect next from you? 

G: My next book (working title, Playing the Past) is a return to time travel romance, but as for after that, even I don't know. I'm writing the first chapters for two different books--one is the first of a trilogy of a very interesting time travel idea. The second is a contemporary about a yummy British art thief. I'm going to let my editor decide. I'm also working on a memoir about my sister, who passed away at a young age.

Thanks for stopping by Gwyn!

Thank you for hosting me, Romancing Rakes. 

A NOVEL SEDUCTION:

GENRE: Contemporary
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 373 pages
PUBLISHER: Pocket Star (October 25,2011)
ISBN: 9781451612646
When snobbish book critic Ellery Sharpe screws up at Vanity Place magazine, her boss assigns her the ultimate punishment: write an ode to romance novels, a genre she considers the literary equivalent of word-search puzzles. To make matters worse, he hires her sexy former party boy ex, Axel Mackenzie, to shoot the photos. Axel really want the project to succeed. For one, the magazine will double his fee if he convinces strong-willed Ellery to write a story no woman can resist. Besides, getting Ellery to fall for romance novels might be just the push she needs to believe people can change...even him. At his sister's advice, Axel gives Ellery a copy of Kiltlander, a much-adored romance whose warrior hero is utterly irresistable. To her dismay, Ellery finds herself falling in love with the story---and with Axel, who's drawing his own lessons from the book's compelling hero. With her carefully crafted image of herself crumbling and her dream job on the line, will Ellery risk it all to make the leap from tight-lipped literati to happily-ever-after heroine? (source: back cover)

Where to Buy: Amazon | Kindle | B&N | Nook | Book Depository
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt | My Review

OTHER BOOKS BY GWYN:

So dear reader, do YOU have a favorite time travel romance? What romance book got you hooked on the genre? Have YOU read OUTLANDER?

W...W...W...(18)

W...W...W...Wednesdays is a weekly meme MizB of Should Be Reading. 

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

So, here's my answers:

*Click on the covers to read excerpts/learn more.*

• What are you currently reading?

Too Wicked to Wed by Cara Elliott. Oh my. This is intriguing. I just started reading it and let me tell you, that heroine has got spunk and isn't afraid to speak her mind. Totally refreshing. No simpering miss here.

• What did you recently finish reading?

All About Seduction by Katy Madison. This first half of the book turned me off but by 62% of the galley, I finally came to amend my feelings. The anticipation and the build up towards the relationship that both the hero and heroine deserved paid off. It just didn't seem right and very icky that the elderly husband of the heroine tried to force her into having extramarital relations to conceive a child to carry on the family name and business. I still shudder at the thought of what she had to go through during her marriage. Review coming soon.

A Vampire for Christmas by Laurie London, Michele Hauf, Caridad Pineiro and Alexis Morgan. What a great way to start the Joyathon season. Christmas came early this year, in the form of 4 deliciously angsty fanged men. I'm slightly partial to Christmas themed historicals and this was my first Christmas themed paranormal. On top of that, it was an anthology. It's like 4 pieces of sinfully decadent peppermint bark. Read my review here.

A Novel Seduction by Gwyn Cready. Take one snobbish book critic who sees romance books as a waste of time, a boss who makes her write an ode the genre, an ex boyfriend as the model for the accompanying article photos and you've got a hilarious, snarky sounding read. I'll be hosting Ms. Cready on the blog later this month. You can read my review here.

Deliciously Sinful by Lilli Feisty. Read this in one sitting. This is my first Lilli Feisty book and it's HOT! Take a small town girl, a Hollywood chef, plop said chef into small town, add a whisk, chocolate pudding and oranges, and you've got a recipe for some hot loving. I will never look at the food mentioned in this book the same way. Ever again. Look out for my review later this month.

Bound in Lingerie by Gina Gordon. This was the first book that just didn't do much for me. I do like my erotic books and there were definitely erotic elements in this novella but I just couldn't get into it. Read my review here.

Then Came You by Vanessa Devereaux. This was a sweet story about a cowboy and the woman he's been pining for the last 2 years. I liked it, but it just didn't leave me breathless. And I will never look at juice the same way ever again.



• What do you think you’ll read next?

A Winter Scandal by Candace Camp. Ah, tis the season for holiday themed romance. A baby left in the manger, a woman bent on having the father claim the child and the said father denying it. Sounds like a recipe for a season of miracles and love. And maybe a bit of a laugh. My first Candace Camp book.







PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own WWW Wednesdays post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

Review: A Novel Seduction by Gwyn Cready

A NOVEL SEDUCTION by Gwyn Cready
FORMAT: Paperback
GENRE: Contemporary
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 373 pages
PUBLISHER: Pocket Star (October 25,2011)
ISBN: 9781451612646
When snobbish book critic Ellery Sharpe screws up at Vanity Place magazine, her boss assigns her the ultimate punishment: write an ode to romance novels, a genre she considers the literary equivalent of word-search puzzles. To make matters worse, he hires her sexy former party boy ex, Axel Mackenzie, to shoot the photos. Axel really want the project to succeed. For one, the magazine will double his fee if he convinces strong-willed Ellery to write a story no woman can resist. Besides, getting Ellery to fall for romance novels might be just the push she needs to believe people can change...even him. At his sister's advice, Axel gives Ellery a copy of Kiltlander, a much-adored romance whose warrior hero is utterly irresistable. To her dismay, Ellery finds herself falling in love with the story---and with Axel, who's drawing his own lessons from the book's compelling hero. With her carefully crafted image of herself crumbling and her dream job on the line, will Ellery risk it all to make the leap from tight-lipped literati to happily-ever-after heroine? (source: back cover)

Where to Find Gwyn: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter
Where to Buy: Amazon | Kindle | B&N | Nook | Book Depository
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

Go and Buy it NOW!

REVIEW:
From the moment I read this: "Romance Novels: Publishing's Answer to Farmville", I fell in love with this book. Ellery Sharpe is a bookish snob. She thinks romance books are utter drivel and trash but after ripping the head of the most successful romance publishing company Bettina Moore a new one, her editor isn't too happy (as in he's sleeping with her. Men!).

This book is not only an ode to Diana Gabaldon's OUTLANDER but to the romance genre in general. 


Top 10 Reasons to Read This Book:

1. Ellery Sharpe- Literary critic, thinks romance books are a waste of time, has a baby sister who she practically raised, Axel's ex, very driven. Ellery's revelations about the romance genre and the books she's reading had me laughing and muttering to myself--'See? You can't just write off romance.' 
2. Axel Mackenzie- Freelance photographer, beer drinker, half Scottish, looks delicious in a kilt, Ellery's ex and did I mention he's Canadian? He wants to buy a brewery and the only way he can get the money is to partner up with Ellery and push her towards writing the article with the same passion when she writes literary pieces.
3. Monkey Bar- Supposedly the entrance to the underworld of Vamp so it's a total tourist spot. Ellery wants to prove her sister and best friend wrong, she can have fun. She gets drunk, crosses the monkey bars, takes her shirt and bra off, makes out with a random guy, makes out with Axel, all the while thinking she's taken a pill (courtesy of Axel) that's put her on this bender.
4. Lessons learned from romance books according to Kate (Ellery's bff): 1)Forget money and looks. Without honor, you've got nothing. 2)The only heroine of any worth is one who makes things happen for herself. 3)There's nothing more fun than an unruly hard-on.
5. Kiltlander- It's OUTLANDER but Jamie is Jemmie and Claire is Cara. This makes me want to finally read my copy. 
6. Vamp- Ah yes. The latest book by Bettina Moore in which empowered vampire women kick ass and take names. Readers of the book are divided into Teams. Sound familiar? This book has your typical paranormal elements: human turned vampire hero, kick ass heroine, a journey into hell (both figuratively and literally), an evil villain and a secret that must be kept from humans.
7. Kilts- I mean, what is a book without a Highlander in a kilt? Axel and Ellery's travels take them to the site mentioned in KILTLANDER and Axel is talked into wearing a kilt. 
8. Sex positions in romance books: Seriously, this part is pee in your pants hilarious. After Ellery reads a sex scene in one of the books, she starts to wonder how limber the characters must be or if the position is even feasible. Haven't you always wondered how a 5'2 woman gets it on with a 6'2 man? (What is it with historicals putting the man a foot taller than the woman anyway?) Does it really work? What about standing on one leg and hiking up the other, wrapping it around his waist? 
9. Buhl Martin Black- Ellery's boss at Vanity Place who is diddling Bettina Moore and makes Ellery write a three thousand word essay about the positive side of romance. Plus, he's married. And not to Bettina.
10. Lessons learned from romance books, according to Axel: 1)Women love them. 2)If a woman doesn't love romance novels, she still loves romance. 3)Just talking about romance with the cashier at the bookstore earned him a phone number. 4)Kiltlander helped him score with a girl back in college.

It is like the kitchen sink of romance books. Almost everything you find in your categorized romance books, you'll find it in this one. This book has everything: opposite personalities, the bff there for the comic relief, the sister who helps and doesn't hinder the story, the slimy asshat of a guy bent on winning no matter the cost, the whiny mean girl, a road trip (okay, country hopping), a hero who has a secret which the heroine assumes the worst, a heroine who has a secret which cost her the man she loved, a story of second chances, a secret baby, men in kilts, a rowdy bar, readers split into Team [insert character name here] or Team [insert opposing character name here] (you know which books I'm talking about), hilarious secondary characters and the list goes on and on.

FAVORITE QUOTE: "'Would you be flattered or offended if someone described your nipples as 'musket balls'?'
The unpacking stopped. She gave his a curious look.'I'm going to have to say no one's ever asked me that before.'"

OVERALL: Now I finally want to crack the spine on OUTLANDER er, at least pull it up on the Kindle, to see what I'm missing. Yes, Gwyn Cready has made me see the light. Gwyn Cready's writing is sharp, witty, entertaining, laugh-out-loud until you cry and slightly pee in your pants funny (not that I'm admitting to the last part), very refreshing and pegs the thoughts of non-romance book readers that I know. The interaction between Ellery and Axel is explosive yet sweet and fun. The banter between the two had me snorting and getting weird looks from strangers. (I swear I have got to stop reading romance books in public.) It was quite the journey watching Ellery go from romance book skeptic to slightly confused as to why she's got feelings about Jemmie and Cara to fully embracing the genre. Would it be blasphemous to say that this book is my KILTLANDER?


***book provided by Ayelet Gruenspecht from Pocket Books for review***