Interview and Giveaway With Sophie Barnes

United By Books is pleased to welcome back Sophie Barnes on the blog today to answer a few questions and share a little with us on her latest release The Secret Life of Lady Lucinda : A Summersby Tale.

1~ Can you please share with us a little about yourself?

First of all, I ‘d like to thank you for inviting me to join you on your blog today – it’s good to be back =)

I was born in Denmark, spent my childhood in Spain and have since lived in France, Ghana and the US, so I’d say that I have a pretty multicultural background with a particular penchant for ethnic food =) Aside from that, I’m a romantic at heart who loves peaceful walks in the forest or just finding a quiet spot, surrounded by nature, where I can sit and relax. My favorite romances are (in no particular order): Somewhere in Time, Pride and Prejudice & Gone with the Wind, but as much as I love watching movies, I’m just as happy (sometimes more so) to sit in a quiet corner and read a delicious book =)

2~  Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing historical romances?

Form of address has put me through the wringer a few times…lol…Not so much figuring out what’s correct and what isn’t, but deciding based on a character’s POV and relationship with individual how to refer to other characters both in internal thoughts and through dialogue. It’s not always as straight forward as you might think.

3~ What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

Oh, I don’t know…I’ve seen an elephant up close in the wild and I love theme parks =)

 4~  Can you please tell us a little about your newest release ( The Secret Life of Lady Lucinda : A Summersby Tale 11/20) ?

Absolutely! This is the third book in the Summersby series and in it, we follow William Summersby, the eldest of the three siblings. As his father’s heir and seeing his younger siblings settled, he’s decided that it’s time for him to abandon his career in the Foreign Office in favor of getting married. He’s even selected his bride – a woman picked based on logical reasoning rather than an emotional one. But to his surprise, he suddenly finds himself trapped into marriage by a woman he’s never set eyes on before, and must find a way to either make the marriage work or accept it as the failure it seems destined to be.

Lucinda Blackwell has only one objective – revenge. Seeking out England’s foremost spy and attaching herself to him is a means to an end for her, for she will do anything to avenge the murder of her parents. However, she did not count on losing her heart in the bargain. Set in England and Constantinople, the story follows the blooming love and affection between William and Lucy as they find their lives threatened by a vindictive killer, and must risk everything in order to save each other.

5~  What's in store next for your readers or can you share anything about your current WIP?

Next up is another three part series with each book centered around the grand Kingsborough Ball. I can’t say much else yet, except that I’m currently reviewing the WIP for book one which is due on December 1st. 

6~ Would you like to share an excerpt from The Secret Life of Lady Lucinda : A Summersby Tale?

Oh, definitely! Here’s one from the beginning of the book =)

“Do you love her?” Miss Blackwell suddenly asked, her head tilted upward at a slight angle.

By deuce, even her voice was delightful to listen to. And those imploring eyes of hers…No, he’d be damned if he’d allow her to ensnare him with her womanly charms. She’d practically made a fool of both his sister and his father; she’d get no sympathy from him. Not now, not ever. “You and I are hardly well enough acquainted with each other for you to take such liberties in your questions, Miss Blackwell. My relationship to Lady Annabelle is of a personal nature and certainly not one that I am about to discuss with you.”

Miss Blackwell blinked. “Then you do not love her,” she said simply.

Good grief, but the woman was insufferable. Had he at any point in time told her that he was not in love with his fiancée? Why the devil would she draw such a conclusion? It was maddening and quite beyond him to understand the workings of her mind. “I hold her in the highest regard,” he said.

Miss Blackwell stared back at him with an increased measure of doubt in her eyes. “More reason for me to believe that you do not love her.”

“Miss Blackwell, if I did not know any better, I should say that you are either mad or deaf—perhaps even both. At no point have I told you that I do not love her, yet you are quite insistent upon the matter.”

“That is because, my lord, it is in everything you are saying and everything that you are not. If you truly love her, you would not have spent a moment’s hesitation in professing it. It is therefore my belief that you do not love her but that you are marrying her simply out of obligation.”

Why the blazes he was having this harebrained conversation with a woman he’d only just met, much less liked, was beyond him. But the beginnings of a smile that now played upon her lips did nothing short of make him catch his breath. With a sigh of resignation, he slowly nodded his head. “Well done, Miss Blackwell. You have indeed found me out.”

Her smile broadened. “Then it really doesn’t matter whom you marry, as long as you marry. Is that not so?”

He frowned, immediately on guard at her sudden enthusiasm. “Not exactly, no. The woman I marry must be one of breeding, of a gentle nature, and graceful bearing. Lady Annabelle fits all of those criteria rather nicely, and with time, I am more than confident that we shall become quite fond of each other.”

The impossible woman had the audacity to roll her eyes. “All I really wanted to know was whether or not anyone’s heart might be jeopardized if you were persuaded to marry somebody else. That is all.”

“Miss Blackwell, I can assure you that I have no intention of marrying anyone other than Lady Annabelle. She and I have a mutual agreement. We are both honorable people. Neither one of us would ever consider going back on our word.”

“I didn’t think as much,” she mused, and before William had any time to consider what she might be about to do, she’d thrown her arms about his neck, pulled him toward her, and placed her lips against his.

7~ How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

He’d chuck as much as a woodchuck could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood – Ta Da =)

8~ Please tell the Readers in two sentences why they should check out your Summersby Series?

Because it’s a fun-filled romance adventure with a twist. And because the hero’s not only charming and protective of the heroine, but quite hot too (see Paul Walker) =)

9~ How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?

With my family and a bottle of wine =)

10~  How would you describe yourself in three words?

Sensitive, Dreamer, Determined.

11~ So are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Took me a while to figure this one out, LOL. I can’t say I’m a Twilight fan though I did see the first movie so I have to go with Edward – definitely =)

12~ Is there anything special you would like to share with the readers while we have you here today?

I would really like to thank everyone for showing such unbelievable kindness and support toward me during the past year. It’s been an incredible journey so far – more so because of how wonderful you’ve all been – readers and bloggers alike. There’s some big news to come, but I can’t share it just yet (it’s highly confidential – lol), though I’ll give you a hint – it has something to do with my next release =)

 Born in Denmark, Sophie has spent her youth traveling with her parents to wonderful places all around the world. She’s lived in five different countries, on three different continents, and speaks Danish, English, French, Spanish and Romanian.

She has studied design in Paris and New York and has a bachelor’s degree from Parson’s School of design, but most impressive of all – she’s been married to the same man three times, in three different countries and in three different dresses.

While living in Africa, Sophie turned to her lifelong passion – writing.

When she’s not busy, dreaming up her next romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, cooking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading. She currently lives on the East Coast.

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