Highlander's Hope By Collette Cameron

I want to welcome fellow author, Collette Cameron, to my blog today. She has a wonderful new Highland Romance coming out in April!

Highlander's Hope: Not a day has gone by that Ewan McTavish, the Viscount Sethwick, hasn't dreamed of the beauty he danced with two years ago. He's determined to win her heart and make her his own. Heiress, Yvette Stapleton, is certain of one thing; marriage is risky and, therefore, to be avoided. At first, she doesn't recognize the dangerously handsome man who rescues her from assailants on London's docks, but Lord Sethwick's passionate kisses soon have her reconsidering her cynical views on matrimony. On a mission to stop a War Office traitor, Ewan draws Yvette into deadly international intrigue. To protect her, he exploits Scottish law, declaring her his lawful wife—without benefit of a ceremony. Yvette is furious upon discovering the irregular marriage is legally binding, though she never said, "I do." Will Ewan's manipulation cost him her new-found love?   

Here's a sneak peak excerpt from Highlander's Hope!

Highlander's Hope Excerpt - Carriage Scene

Peeking at him from beneath her lashes, she reached up to straighten her bonnet. It hung askew off the side of her head, like a giant drooping peony. She shoved it back into place but the moment she removed her hand, it flopped over once more.

The stranger's unrestrained laughter filled the carriage.

“Oh, bother it all.” Yvette’s patience with both her rescuer and the silly bonnet were at an end. She had no choice but to remove the dratted thing to reaffix it. Several strands of hair tumbled to her shoulders when she removed the cap from her head. Suppressing a shriek of annoyance, she placed the hat beside her. She then set about securing the wayward curls. Pinning the last strand in place, her eyes met those of her companion.

Momentarily forgetting her unanswered questions, she stilled, as did the world around her. The air hung suspended in her lungs. Her eyes widened in disbelief, her stunned gaze riveted on his face. “You exist?” Her voice was husky with awe.

Raising an ebony eyebrow, a flicker of humor softened the nobleman’s features. “So it would appear.”

A voice, deep and dark, caressed Yvette’s heightened senses. She stared. Her gaze roved across his handsome features returning, as if compelled by some unseen force, to his eyes.

Those eyes. Fringed by thick lashes, the mesmerizing turquoise pools gazing back at her sent her senses reeling in recognition. Her mouth dropped open. No, it couldn’t be. “Am I dreaming?” Giving a quick shake of her head, she lowered her eyelids for a moment. Lud, but she was befuddled. "Who are you?

Great sneak peak, Collette! Now, here's a little info about this amazing author: 

 Okay, I've asked Collette a few questions about what makes her tick as an author, here's what she had to say: 

1.)    When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? The truth?  It was when I sat down to write a book one day and discovered writing was more fulfilling to me than anything else.  With the exception of the hubby and kids of course. . . Oh, and teaching. I do like that. . . most of the time!

2.)    What type of genre do you write in? I write historical suspense, Regency era. I fully intend to branch out from Regency, but even if I start writing other genre’s I think I'll always continue to write historical.

3.)    What inspires you to write in this genre? I adore that time period. Actually anything from the Georgian to Victorian era fascinates me. My house is very Victorian inside and out.

4.)    Where to you get your ideas for your writing? They usually start out as a single idea, a scene that pops into my mind. . . often when I'm in the shower. Go figure.

5.)    Who are your favorite authors and why? I don't have any favorites. I like so many, it would be unfair to name just one or two. I will confess though that I named my daughter after Brianna in "The Flame and The Flower" by Kathleen Woodiwiss.

6.)    In your opinion, what key parts of a story make it great? I appreciate humor in what I read and write, and I Iike it when the readers know something the characters don't. It's like they are my co-conspirators. I also appreciate unexpected twists and unusual customs or facts introduced through the storyline. 

7.)    What activities do you undertake for inspiration? Am I supposed to engage in activities?  Oops. Seriously though, I have so many ideas jotted down in my "Writing Bible" right now, I'm not looking for anymore inspiration. And, this might strike some people as odd, but when I need a solution to a plot problem, or need an unusual idea to incorporate into my story, I pray about it. I feel so clever when an answer pops into my head. . . divinely inspired you might say.

8.)    Do you belong to any writing communities, or critique groups? I am a member of RWA, Rose City Romance Writers, The Beau Monde, Faith, Hope, & Love, Inc., Savvy Authors, World Literary Cafe,  Facebook's Author and Book Lover's Group, and Romantic Fiction-For Readers & Writers of Romance. I am part of The Beau Monde's critique group, have three critique partners, and four beta readers. Plus, I belong to several author/reader groups.  

9.)    Do you have a day job? I do indeed. I am a substitute elementary teacher. Right now, I'm finishing out the year as a long-term sub for third grade. The kidlets love it when I tell them stories. I had a class do an author interview of me recently. Some of the questions were what you'd expect: "How long does it take you to write a book?" "When did you start writing?" "How many pages are in your book?" When I told them about 400, one little guy got this horrified look on his face and said, "No pictures? Just words?"  I was also asked, how much I weigh, how old I am, and if I slap myself. No, honey, I don't write that genre. 

10.)  If you could do it over again, what aspects of the writing/submission process would you change before becoming published? I didn't have any critique partners for my first novel. I believe if I had, I wouldn't have had complete so many drafts to make it publishable. I'd also have researched basic manuscript formatting, and read more books on the craft of writing.
11.) What is the title of your upcoming/newly released novel, and where can we find it? HIGHLANDER'S HOPE is my debut novel. It is scheduled to be released through Soul Mate Publishing in April 2013. It will be available as an Ebook through Soul Mate Publishing's website, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. The print novel will be released a few months later

Here's Collette's Bio:

A life-long Oregonian, Collette Cameron was born and raised in a small town along the northern Oregon coast. Today she makes her home in a rural community, 30 minutes west of Portland. Her Victorian farmhouse sits on a one-acre certified wildlife habit, interspersed with a plethora of gardens: English, rose, butterfly, rock, water, and of course, vegetable.

A voracious reader of romance since her teens, she even named her daughter after a heroine in her favorite romance novel. An enthusiast of times gone by, and anything related to romance, she writes Historical Romance, with a dash of inspiration, a pinch of humor, and a liberal portion of suspense.

Having dabbled in interior decorating in her youth, Collette returned to school, graduating summa cum laude from Oregon State University, and went on to obtain her Master's Degree in Teaching. She is member of Romance Writers of America, Rose City Romance Writers, The Beau Monde, and Love Faith and Hope, Inc., and a whole slew of other author/writer groups.

Some of Collette's favorite things include unique blends of coffees and teas, trivia, Cadbury Milk Chocolate, inspirational quotes, and scented candles. Her Christian faith, husband, three adult children, and five miniature dachshunds round out her life quite nicely! When she's not teaching or writing, she is a content and copy/line editor for an Ebook publisher, enjoys amateur photography, bird watching, gardening, interior decorating, rock-hunting, boating or fishing on the Columbia River, and reading of course.

To connect with Collette, please visit www.collettecameron.com/ or http://blueroseromanceblog./ 

Here are some more places to connect with Collette: 

Book URL: http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/meet-collette-cameron/highlanders-hope-by-collette-cameron/

This is not a "buy" link.

My Links:

Web site: http://collettecameron.com/

Blog: http://www.blueroseromance.com/

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/collettecameronauthor

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/collette.cameron.5

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Collette_Author

Google+: https://plus.google.com/?gpsrc=gplp0

Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/collette-cameron

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/colletteauthor/

Soul Mate Publishing Author's Blog: http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13595899-collette-cameron

Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy writing schedule!