INTERVIEW WITH RACHEL BRIMBLE!

A Rebel at Pennington's

by Rachel Brimble

GENRE: Historical romance/saga

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Blurb

1911 Bath. Banished from her ancestral home, passionate suffrage campaigner, Esther Stanbury works as a window dresser in Pennington's Department Store. She has hopes and dreams for women's progression and will do anything to help secure the vote.

Owner of the prestigious Phoenix Hotel, Lawrence Culford has what most would view as a successful life. But Lawrence is harbouring shame, resentment and an anger that threatens his future happiness.

When Esther and Lawrence meet their mutual understanding of life's challenges unites them and they are drawn to the possibility of a life of love that neither thought existed.

With the Coronation of King-Emperor George V looming, the atmosphere in Bath is building to fever pitch, as is the suffragists' determination to secure the vote.

Will Esther's rebellious nature lead her to ruin or can they overcome their pasts and look to build a future together?

Excerpt

His beautiful daughter beamed as she held the cricket set aloft, Nathanial standing tall and proud beside her. ‘Daddy bought me the cricket set.’

Miss Stanbury looked from Rose and Nathanial to Lawrence and back again, her face lighting with a smile. ‘Well, look at that. I’m so glad your father saw sense in the end.’ She met Lawrence’s gaze over their heads, her eyes glittering with victory. ‘That’s wonderful.’

He stared at her, his smile fixed and his heart pounding with frustration. Did the woman not see how condescending she sounded? ‘Wonderful or not. I thought it important you knew I am not the tyrant you clearly consider me.’ Dragging his gaze from hers, Lawrence looked at his children. ‘Come, Rose. Nathanial. Let’s leave the nice lady to her work.’ He took their hands before looking at Esther once more. ‘It was…interesting meeting you.’

Her gaze shadowed as she glared, her smile too bright to be sincere. ‘I hardly thought you a tyrant, Mr Culford.’

‘Good, then the matter is settled.’

He turned towards the department exit and didn’t look back…regardless of the almost overwhelming urge to do so.

The woman had infuriated him, bewildered him and left him feeling she’d ended the conversation on her terms once again. Damnation!

Interview with the Author

Please tell us about growing up. Siblings? Locale?

I grew up in the maritime city of Bristol, England with my parents and older brother. I loved Bristol and my family and my husband’s family still live there – I have fond memories of walking by the harbour in the city centre and going to the pantomime in the famous Hippodrome theatre. I lived there from birth to age 27 when I moved to a small market town near Bath where I still live with my husband, our two daughters and mad chocolate Labrador, Tyler.

The Family Brimble

Were you the shy kid or the tomboy?

I was most definitely a tomboy – our street was full of boy playmates rather than girls so I didn’t have much choice. It was a case of dog eat dog! I met my husband in 1993 and we married five years later. We’re still very happily married, and our daughters are our pride and joy. The eldest is currently studying policing in the seaside town of Plymouth and the youngest is studying musical theatre in the prestigious Italia Conti Academy in London. I’m a very happy mummy! My family are everything to me.

When you’re not writing, what’s your favorite way to relax and recharge?

My next obsession to writing is knitting – I am literally obsessed! My mum was an avid knitter and taught me when I was young but I lost interest and didn’t pick up knitting needles again until I was in my thirties. For the last twelve years, I’ve never stopped and these days my favourite way to relax is with my knitting in front of the TV catching up with as many crime dramas, British Royal Family documentaries and period dramas as I can. Bliss!

How long have you been writing?

I started writing when my youngest daughter started school full-time in 2005. My first book was published by The Wild Rose Press in 2007 and I’ve had at least one book published every year since. I was ecstatic when Harlequin accepted Finding Justice in 2012. I went on to write a total of eight books for Harlequin (the Templeton Cove Stories). I have also written four Victorian novels for eKensington and in January 2018, I signed a four-book contract with Aria Fiction for my Pennington’s Department Store series – all my books can be read stand-alone 

Where do you prefer to write? Do you need quiet, music, solitude?

I am lucky enough to have my own home office which I love – when I’m writing I need silence, but if I’m working on blog posts, interviews or social media, I have a UK radio station (Magic FM) constantly playing through my laptop. It’s mostly 80s music which I love! I am always on my laptop, but often have a pen and paper handy for ideas and work in progress changes that pop into my mind throughout the day.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Most definitely a plotter! I start each book trawling the internet for pics of my hero, heroine and villain (if I have one). I then complete character sketches for each which usually gives me their goals, motivations and conflicts. Then it’s onto a chapter plan and a 3-4 page synopsis.
I always give myself permission to ‘write a crappy first draft’ from beginning to end. The hard part comes in the following drafts!

Tell us about your writing schedule. Do you set goals? Do you write daily?

These days, I write full-time so I work 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday with lunch and couple of dog walks in between. I am happy if I’ve written 2,000 words a day along with a blog post or interview. That’s a productive day! I try my best not to work in the evenings and at the weekends…but if I have a deadline looming then I am back in my office for a couple of hours on Saturdays and Sundays, too. I love my job!

Tell us something about yourself that might surprise readers.

My family and I were rescued by helicopter during the 2010 French floods – it was the most terrifying time of my life as I was so afraid for the kids. We were trapped on the clubhouse roof of a holiday park for 12 hours before we were rescued. The pictures don’t tell the true horror of that night and day…

Waiting on top of clubhouse for rescue 

What advice would you give to unpublished authors?

See above! Give yourself permission to write a crappy first draft – once I adopted this mindset, my productivity soared, and I never looked back. Full pages can be edited, blank pages can’t. Simple.

What has helped you in your writing career?

My critique partners, for sure – I’ve worked with three wonderful partners for years now and I’d be lost without their valuable feedback during the first draft stage of my books. I think it’s imperative writers have someone else look at their work as they are going through the process.
The other thing that has helped me is planning! I set aside some time every Friday to plan next week’s work, social media posts and day-to-day things that need to be done. This keeps me focused and on track with my weekly goals.

What do you hope your writing brings to readers?

The theme that runs through many of books, but especially the Pennington’s Department Store series, is ‘female empowerment’. I set out to write books that inspire, empower and bring hope to women to reach for their personal and professional dreams. I’m a true believer that anything is possible and hope my books reflect that and inspire others.

Rachel Brimble, Author

Rachel lives with her husband and their two daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. Since 2007, she has had several novels published by small US presses, eight books published by Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and four Victorian romances with eKensington/Lyrical.

In January 2018, she signed a four-book deal with Aria Fiction for a new Edwardian series set in Bath’s finest department store. The first book, The Mistress of Pennington’s released July 2018 with book two coming February 2019.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America and has thousands of social media followers from all over the world. To sign up for her quarterly and new release newsletter, click here to go to her website: https://rachelbrimble.com/
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Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1806411.Rachel_Brimble
Bookbub:
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GIVEAWAY

Rachel Brimble will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

A STRANGER IN THE COVE

A Stranger in the Cove

Templeton Cove Stories #8

by Rachel Brimble

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Mac Orman is on a mission. When he discovers his recently deceased father
had been searching for his birth mother, Mac aims to finish the job
by finding the grandmother he never knew. His quest leads him to
Templeton Cove—and a firecracker of a woman who instantly
jump-starts his tortured heart.

For Mac, Kate Harrington is the most tempting kind of distraction. But
their sizzling connection comes with a side of suspicion for Kate,
who doesn’t trust this brooding stranger in her town. Mac arrived
with no plans to stay, but as he falls for Kate, he wonders how he
could ever possibly leave.

**easily read as a standalone!**

Add to Goodreads

Amazon * B&N * Kobo

Rachel lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near
Bath in the UK. Her first novel was published in 2007. Since then,
she's had several books published with small presses and since 2012
has written mainstream romance and romantic suspense for Harlequin
Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and Victorian romance for
eKensington/Lyrical Press.

Agent represented in the US, Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists
Association and Romance Writers of America. When she isn't writing,
you'll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful
English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is
Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England. And in the evening? Well,
a well-deserved glass of wine is never, ever refused...

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INTERVIEW WITH RACHEL BRIMBLE!

If I Want You

by Rachel Brimble

GENRE: Romantic Suspense

IF I WANT YOU Blurb:

When local journalist, Tori Peterson, fails to prevent a child abduction outside her niece’s school, her horror and guilt sparks a vow to do whatever it takes to get little Abby Brady home to her parents.

While Tori battles the vile memories of her own kidnapping as a child, she accepts the help of widowed father, Mark Bolton. As he and Tori join forces with the local police, their attraction and intimacy grows…along with their fears for Abby.

Links are uncovered between Abby’s disappearance and Tori’s kidnapping, and Tori is forced to accept the monster who held her captive is back. But this time, Tori is all grown up, and there is no way she will let him hurt another little girl.

IF I WANT YOU Excerpt:

It wasn’t the just the smell of fresh air and sandalwood that alerted Tori to the fact Mark had joined them. It was the way his shadow fell over her as though covering her body with his wide, deep and potentially dangerous protectiveness.

She didn’t bother to look at him...even though her Cally was seriously looking. Tori lifted her hand in a half-hearted wave. “Take a seat, superhero.”

“I will.” He sat beside her. “Thank you.”

Every now and then, when she was alone at home, she’d picked up a book. And every now and then, Tori would toss the book across the room whenever she read the words, “the air crackled between them.” Well, whatever instantly plagued the atmosphere between her and Mark as she forced her gaze to his, she was loath to call it crackling. Maybe humming… screaming… burning… but definitely not crackling.

She swallowed. “What are you doing here?”

“Olivia’s staying at a friend’s. I was at a loose end.”

Despite her best efforts to fight her smile, it was ruthless and broke through her barriers like they were made of sugar paper. “Loose end, my ass. You were no doubt pacing around the house and doing everything you could not to get in the car and go get her.”

He smiled and put a glass on the table. “Merlot, right?”

INTERVIEW WITH RACHEL BRIMBLE

Rachel, please tell us about growing up. Siblings? Locale?

I grew up in the outskirts of the British maritime city of Bristol. I lived with my parents, older brother and much-loved Norwegian Buhund called Butch, who I’ll never forget as he was my first dog. I now live in a small town close to the famous Georgian city of Bath with my husband of nineteen years and our two teenage daughters. My constant companion and latest dog is a chocolate Labrador called Tyler – unfortunately, I lost my beloved Maxie (a black Lab) in 2015.

Tyler

As a kid, I was very much a tomboy and loved nothing more than playing in the fields, climbing rocks and trees and generally getting dirty. My mum used to despair of me whenever we had to dress up and I had to expose my bruised and cut knees beneath the hem of a dress I hated wearing, lol! These days, I’d say I’m somewhere in between tomboy and grown woman. I still live in jeans and flats day to day, but also love to dress up in dresses and high heels. A balance has been found!

Brimble Family

When I’m not working, I love spending time with family and friends – spending far too much walking for miles only to stop in a country pub for lunch and not leave until hours later, lol! I’m also a keen knitter and TV watcher. The two go hand-in-hand as I can’t do one without the other.

Who are your favorite authors and favorite genres?

My favorite authors are Nora Roberts, Jill Shalvis, Philippa Gregory and Alex Grecian – I read a lot of romantic suspense, mainstream romance, historical (including biographies of past British kings and queens) and crime. I am a voracious reader with (I imagine!) a collection of over 400 books spread throughout my house…including the attic.

How long have you been writing?

I used to write stories as a child and bind them with ribbon, but stopped around ten or eleven and didn’t start again for many years. When I decided I wanted to write for a career around 2000, I started with short stories and articles and was thrilled when my work started to be published. It wasn’t until 2005 and both my daughters were in school that I embarked on my first novel. The Wild Rose Press published SEARCHING FOR SOPHIE in 2007 and the rest is history!

Where do you prefer to write? Do you need quiet, music, solitude? PC or laptop?

I am lucky enough to have a home office which I absolutely love – I work on a laptop on a huge white desk with two corkboards on the wall in front of me. On one board is the book I’m writing, and on the other is usually for the one I’m plotting – I concentrate on the one I’m writing most of the time, but use the plotting board for anything that comes to mind so it’s there when I come to work on the next book.

When I’m writing, I need complete silence but can work with background noise…usually my daughters…when I’m editing or working on promotion, interviews etc.

Are you a plotter or a panzer?

A total plotter! I start each book by searching the internet for pics of my hero, heroine and villain if I have one – I then complete character sketches for each. The sketches usually reveal the main characters’ goals, motivations and conflicts. I then write a chapter plan detailing a summary of the action and any significant character development. With that done, it’s (usually) fairly easy to write a 3-4 page synopsis.

Then the writing starts! I usually write the first draft from start to finish without looking back – the hard part comes with battling the initial draft into some sort of shape during the following drafts.

Do you do your research before you begin a new project, or as you go along?

With my contemporary books, I tend to research any questions that come up as I go along. For my romantic suspense, I have a fabulous police detective contact who I use A LOT when I have investigative procedures etc. to check on. My daughter is currently at university studying policing, so hopefully I’ll soon have a police contact under the same roof which will be fabulous!
For my historical work, I tend to do quite a bit of research around the issue I’m tackling and/or the setting at the time the book is taking place before I begin writing. Anything else that comes up, I tackle as and when, usually making use of my vast collection of reference books, the internet or local library.

Tell us about your writing schedule. Do you set goals? Do you write daily?

I am lucky enough to write full-time with one day off a week when I visit my parents – the rest of the week I treat my writing as I would any other job and work from 8.30am to 5.30pm with two dog walks and a short lunch break in between. The weekends are strictly reserved for family and/or friends unless I have a deadline looming.

My usual daily word goal is around 2,000 words, if I’m not editing or promoting a new release.

Tell us something about yourself that might surprise readers.

How about a couple of things?? One, is that my family and I were rescued by helicopter from a hotel roof during the 2010 French floods and the other is…I haven’t had my hair professionally cut since my wedding day in 1998. It’s so curly, I can get away with my husband or one of my daughters giving it a quick trim with the kitchen scissors!

I remember the story of your rescue. What an exciting and frightening event! What do you hope your writing brings to readers?

Ooh, great question! I suppose I like to think, as I write romance, that it brings them escapism and hope in a world that is looking ever more hopeless and scary. In addition to that, I hope I bring positive thoughts, laughter and belief that there’s someone out there for everyone.

What advice would you give to unpublished authors?

Write, write and write some more! Practice is key – also enroll in some affordable online courses. This was how I started, and they were invaluable in teaching me the technical side of writing. Find courses on point of view, setting, characterization etc. and apply everything you learn. Also, read. A lot…and not just in the genre you want to write.

Finally, when you begin writing a book, commit to finishing it until the very end. A lot of aspiring writers start project after project and never finish a piece of work. Lastly, the best piece of advice I EVER received was ‘give yourself permission to write a crappy first draft’. This changed my output beyond belief!

You can always edit it later ☺

Rachel Brimble, Author

Rachel lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. Since 2013, she has had seven books published by Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and an eighth coming in Feb 2018. She also has four Victorian romances with eKensington/Lyrical Press.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.

She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!

Links:

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Facebook Street Team - Rachel's Readers

Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Brimble/e/B007829ZRM/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1490948101&sr=8-1
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1806411.Rachel_Brimble

GIVEAWAY

Rachel Brimble will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

RACHEL BRIMBLE'S VICTORIAN ROMANCES

ALL BOOKS ARE LOOSELY CONNECTED
YET EASILY READ AS STANDALONES!

The
Seduction of Emily

by
Rachel Brimble

Genre:
Victorian Romance

Seduction
is a wicked game, and no one plays it better than the devilish Will
Samson in Rachel Brimble's captivating new novel. . .

Since
girlhood, Emily Darson has accepted that she will marry Nicholas, the
son of her father's trusted business partner. The marriage contract
safeguards her family legacy, Emily's fortune, and everything she
values--except her independence. Only when a sinfully handsome
scoundrel enters her life does Emily realize quite how much a
loveless match will cost her.

Will Samson
has advanced from expert pickpocket to confidence trickster of
the highest caliber. Now he has come to Bath to exact vengeance on
the man who destroyed his mother--the man Emily will soon marry. But
from his first glimpse of the enemy's bewitching, spirited fiancée,
Will's plan changes.

Amid
the ballrooms and salons of elegant society, heated glances explode
into scandalous kisses. Revenge is sweet, but surrender will be
irresistible. . .

Goodreads
* Amazon

The Temptation of
Laura

Laura Robinson 
has always been dazzled by the glamour of the stage. But
perhaps acting and selling one's favors are not so different—for
Laura must feign pleasure with the men she beds to survive. Now, with
her only friend at death's door and a ruthless pimp at her heels,
escaping her occupation seems impossible. Hoping to attract a
gentleman, she attends the theater. Yet the man Laura captivates is
no customer, but a rising star and playwright. . .

Goodreads
* Amazon

What a Woman Desires

From
country girl to actress of the stage, one woman dares to live her
dreams—but is she brave enough to open her heart. . .?

Monica Danes 
always wanted more than the village of Biddlestone had to

offer. After a failed courtship to a man of her parents' choosing,
she fled for the city of Bath and never looked back. Today, Monica is
the undisputed queen of the theater—a wealthy, independent woman.
But when she is called home in the wake of tragedy, Monica
returns—intending to leave again as soon as possible.

Thomas Ashby
has been a groom at the Danes estate since he was a boy—and
has been enamored with Monica for almost as long. He knows he isn't a
suitable match for his master's daughter, despite the special bond he
and Monica have always shared—and their undeniable attraction. But
now that she's returned, Thomas has one last chance to prove himself
worthy—and to show Monica a life, and a love, she won't want to
give up. . .

Goodreads
* Amazon

Her One True Love

Jane Charlotte Danes 
has loved the squire of her idyllic country town for
as long as she can remember. He is good, kind, and alluring beyond
words… and he chose to marry another. Tired of dwelling on her
futile longings, Jane plans a move to Bath, where she dreams of a new
beginning. But the man who has so imprisoned her heart is only a few
steps behind…

He
Can't Let Her Go…

Until

now, Matthew Cleaves has endeavored to meet the responsibilities of
his position with dignity and good spirits--including his dutiful
marriage. But when his wife leaves him for another man, Matthew is at
last free to pursue his one true love. Only one vital question
remains: will the captivating, stubborn, beautiful Jane allow him the
challenge, and the pleasure, of winning her back?.. 

Goodreads
* Amazon

Rachel
lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near
Bath in the UK. Here first novel was published in 2007. Since then,
she's had several books published with small presses and since 2012
has written mainstream romance and romantic suspense for Harlequin
Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and Victorian romance for
eKensington/Lyrical Press.

Agent
represented in the US, Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists
Association and Romance Writers of America, When she isn't writing,
you'll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful
English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is
Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England. And in the evening? Well,
a well-deserved glass of wine is never, ever refused...

Website
* Facebook
* Twitter *
Goodreads
* Amazon

Follow
the tour HERE
for exclusive content and a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

INTERVIEW WITH RACHEL BRIMBLE

I’m excited to have Rachel Brimble on my blog today. Rachel is an award winning author who lives in England and writes in multiple genres.

Rachel Brimble near Buckingham Palace

Caroline: Please tell us about growing up.

Rachel: I grew up in the city of Bristol, England with my mum, dad and older brother. Bristol is famous for its maritime history and a great place to live with plenty to do and see. I then married and moved to a small market town near Bath and have lived here for almost fourteen years. My husband and I have two teenage daughters and my third “child”, a black Lab called Max.

I was most definitely a bookworm! Happiest in the library or reading in the park/my bedroom/ the bath, it was inevitable I would write my own stories one day!

Caroline: Who are your favorite authors and favorite genres?

Rachel: Favorite authors are Nora Roberts, Jill Shalvis, Jodi Picoult and Philippa Gregory – favorite genres are romantic suspense, women’s fiction and historical novels revolving around real life people or events. I also read a lot of biographies of the past British monarchy. I particularly love the Tudor and Plantagenet eras.

Caroline: You included some of my favorite authors. What’s your favorite way to relax and recharge? Hobbies?

Rachel: I watch FAR too much TV but can’t resist US shows like Scandal, Rizzoli & Isles, The Blacklist & Grey’s Anatomy as well as UK series like Downton Abbey, Eastenders, Ripper Street & Call The Midwife. While watching TV, I am always knitting! Gone are the days when I used to watch with idle fingers, haha!

If I’m not watching TV and knitting, I am reading or walking the beautiful English countryside with my family and beloved dog, Max.

Caroline: Your countryside is indeed beautiful and Bath is one of the loveliest cities. Do you have a favorite quote that sums up how you feel about life?

Rachel: “Set it up the way you want it to be.” Iyanla Vanzant

I totally believe if you don’t like something in your life or the way it is going, do something to change it. Make yourself happy, don’t rely on others to do it for you. This is YOUR life, go be happy!

Caroline: Excellent advice. How long have you been writing?

Rachel: I started writing short stories when I had my eldest daughter in 1999. I had a little success online and in women’s magazines but my real dream was to be a novelist. It wasn’t until my youngest daughter started school full-time that I got serious. I started writing my first novel in 2005 and The Wild Rose Press published SEARCHING FOR SOPHIE in 2007.

I am proud to say I have had at least one novel published every year since then. At the moment, I write contemporary romance and romantic suspense for Harlequin Superromance and Victorian romance for Lyrical Press/eKensington.

Caroline: The Wild Rose Press author’s loop is where I met you. Where do you prefer to write? Do you need quiet, music, solitude? PC or laptop?

Rachel: I am lucky enough to be able to write full-time around being a wife and mum – I move around the house with my laptop. Mornings I write on the settee, early afternoon at the kitchen table and when the kids come home from school, it’s in my bedroom. I am in the process of decorating my own office in the spare room – fingers crossed, this will become my domain! I need silence to write, but can edit anywhere, no matter the background noise.

Caroline: I’m the opposite. I write to music and edit with silence. Are you a plotter or a panzer?

Rachel: A bit of both! I start each book with a premise, usually something I’ve seen on TV or in the newspaper…sometimes on historical documentaries. I then trawl the internet for “pictures” of my hero and heroine. After that, I sit down and write a rough chapter plan and finish with a 3-4 page synopsis. Once I’ve done this, I am keen to start the writing and tend to write the first draft from beginning to end without looking back.

The pantser side of things comes in the fact I don’t mess with where the characters want to go…which is sometimes a long way from what I had planned. You have to trust the work to come out right, regardless of your ideas. The following drafts are spent clearing up the mess of the first draft!

Caroline: So, you do use real events or persons in your stories or as an inspiration for stories.

Rachel: See above – a lot of my story ideas come from real life events or people, but by the time the story is written, the original idea is unrecognizable to me, let alone anyone else. I think TV & newspapers are vital sources of inspiration.

Caroline: I agree. When I hear or read a story, I can’t help thinking of an alternate spin on the story. Do you set daily writing goals?

Rachel: I am lucky enough to write every day…although I try not to at the weekend. I am happy if I manage 2,000 words a day but this doesn’t happen if I have editing to do as well as the writing. I start my work day at 8.30am and work straight through until 3.30pm when the kids get home from school. After getting a few chores done, I head back to the laptop for an hour before dinner…maybe grab an hour after dinner and finish about 7pm.

Caroline: What do you hope your writing brings to readers?

Rachel: Enjoyment, escapism and a sense of the happy ever after – I don’t plan to write literature now or in the future. I want people to pick up my books and be hooked for the pure enjoyment. I like writing about lifelike places and people – hopefully I manage to convey that for the reader too!

Caroline: Well said! What long-term plans do you have for your career?

Rachel: I would love to write a big single title romantic suspense sooner rather than later and look forward to seeing which direction that takes my career. I love my job and can’t imagine doing anything else so I hope with each book, I gain more readers and more success. Writing is hard work, but the rewards are worth the blood, sweat and tears.

Caroline: We do have the best job in the world, don’t we? Would you like to tell us what you’re working on now?

Rachel: I am currently writing the first draft of my fourth Victorian romance with eKensington – this is set in and around Bath and tells Jane and Matthew’s story, secondary characters in my upcoming release, WHAT A WOMAN DESIRES (Jan 2015).

Caroline: Gorgeous cover and I believe everyone loves a series. What advice would you give to unpublished authors?

Rachel: Keep going and don’t be afraid to submit your work – too many authors give up at the first ten or even twenty rejections. You have to keep going, keep writing and keep learning. The only author who remained unpublished is the author who gave up. Also, you will never be published if you don’t submit your work. Take a leap of faith and go for it!

Caroline: Correct, success requires persistence.  Share a fun fact readers wouldn’t know about you.

Rachel: I haven’t had my hair cut professionally in almost 16 years – because my hair is so curly, I can get away with my husband or daughters giving it a quick trim, lol!

Caroline: I envy you. Mine usually looks as if I’d stuck my finger in an electrical outlet. Share something about you that would surprise or shock readers.

Rachel: My family and I were rescued by helicopter from a hotel roof during the 2010 French floods – the most terrifying 12 hour ordeal of my life!

Caroline: I remember that, Rachel. That must have been terrifying. Is your book a series? If so, how long?

Rachel: CHRISTMAS AT THE COVE is book four in my Templeton Cove series with Harlequin Superromance, but all the books can be read as stand-alone stories. I have no idea when the series will end because I have notes for at least three more books on file. Fingers crossed, Harlequin will renew my contract once my editor has reviewed book number 5 which is sitting on her desk right now J

Caroline: Can you give readers a blurb about your book?

Rachel: Gladly.

More family for Christmas? 

Scott Walker doesn't have time for a relationship. The sexy mechanic has career ambitions, not to mention a mother and three sisters to take care of. The last thing he needs is Carrie Jameson, the beauty he never forgot, arriving in Templeton Cove over the holidays with some unexpected news. 

Scott still finds Carrie irresistible, and he's not one to shirk responsibility. Scott's issues with his own dad make the prospect of parenthood a minefield. But if he and Carrie can overcome their fears, this Christmas could bring them the best gift of all.

Caroline: How about an excerpt of CHRISTMAS AT THE COVE?

Rachel: Here you go.

She glanced around the garage. “I’m sorry to turn up unannounced like this, but I’m here and we need to talk.”

He stared at her in disbelief as questions, demands and weaknesses hurtled around inside him, battling with the intense sexual frustration storming through his body. “Just like that, you turn up and say, ‘We need to talk’?” He shook his head and turned away from her, lest he get caught in the snare of her wide, impossibly gorgeous eyes. “Go away.”

“No.”

Keeping his back to her, he uncrossed his arms and planted his hands on his hips. He tipped his head back and smiled as insanity rushed his bloodstream. He wanted to grab her, shake her, kiss her and make love to her. God, he wanted to drop to his damn knees in front of her and beg her to tell him where she’d been and now she was back, was she back for good?

“Scott?”

He closed his eyes, barely resisting the urge to cover his ears with his hands and block out her tempting voice, achingly laced with the unmistakable sound of a plea. “Whether you want to see me or not, I have to talk to you, and I won’t leave the Cove until you hear me out.”

Her heels clicked closer and his body tensed, waiting for what came next. The dangerous, musky scent of her perfume wafted under his nostrils and he inhaled. She approached the bench beside him and put down a business card. “My number’s on there. I’m staying at the Christie. Call me when you’re ready to talk. It’s important or I wouldn’t have come.”

He glanced at the card. Carrie Jameson. Producer.

She turned and walked away. He let her go, feeling like a smashed up car after a hurricane, tossed and turned through the air before being spewed crudely across the highway, left to rust and burn.

He picked up the card. His hand shook and the rare sting of tears shamed him. What the hell was he supposed to do now? Carrie was back and his libido told him only too clearly there was no way in hell he wouldn’t go to her. How was he supposed to let her go a second time when he’d lived the last three years regretting he didn’t stop her the first time?

Caroline: Where can readers find your CHRISTMAS AT THE COVE?

Rachel: At these links:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

Caroline: How can readers learn more about you?

Rachel: I love connecting with readers so please follow me so we can chat! I am ALWAYS on Twitter… ;)

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Thanks for stopping by!

INTERVIEW WITH VERSATILE ENGLISH AUTHOR RACHEL BRIMBLE

Today, please welcome English friend Rachel Brimble. Rachel is an amazing woman who writes wonderful books in multiple genres.

Rachel and her husband at
Cherhill Manor in July 2013

Caroline: Tell us something about growing up and your life now.

Rachel: I have been married to my fabulous Mr. B for nearly 16 years and we have two teenage daughters. I grew up in the famous maritime city of Bristol and lived there until Mr. B and I moved to a small market town in 2001. I am lucky enough to live just a short thirty-minute drive from the beautiful, historical city of Bath which is just THE best place to visit and why I chose to set my Victorian novels there.

As for your bookworm or jock question….most definitely a bookworm. I considered my librarian one of my friends growing up. It’s a miracle how little teasing I had at school––I have loved books my whole life and still have to pinch myself that I am now a published author.

Caroline: Lucky you. I remember being on a hill and looking down at the sunlight shining on the city of Bath. What a beautiful city. Who are your favorite authors and favorite genres?

Rachel: My favorite authors are Nora Roberts, Jill Shalvis and Robyn Carr for contemporary romance and Philippa Gregory, Jean Fullerton and Jean Plaidy for historical novels. Romance is my favorite genre whether that be mainstream, romantic suspense or historical. I also love to read a lot of non-fiction and biographies about past British monarchs. Can’t get enough of Britain’s vast royal history!

Caroline: I am an anglophile and so admire Queen Elizabeth. What’s your favorite way to relax and recharge?

Rachel: Knitting in front of the TV – I watch far too much TV and more often than not have loads stacked up waiting for me. My favorite shows are US crime dramas like Rizzoli & Isles, Castle and CSI as well as UK period dramas like Downton Abbey, Ripper Street and Mr. Selfridge. Fabulous!

Caroline: I watch several of those shows, but am not familiar with Ripper Street. Do you have a favorite quote that sums up how you feel about life?

Rachel: “Set it up the way you want it to be.” Iyanla Vanzant

Caroline: How long have you been writing?

Rachel: I started writing when my youngest daughter started school full time in 2005. I am proud to say every book and novella I have written has been published. The Wild Rose Press published the first book in 2007 and now I write contemporary novels for Harlequin Superromance and Victorian romance for eKensington.

The dream to keep writing for the rest of my life – it is what I love most in the world. When I haven’t written for a couple of days, I turn savage!

Caroline: Where do you prefer to write? Do you need quiet, music, solitude?

Rachel: I need complete silence to write and my favorite place is on the sofa with the laptop and my black Lab snoring beside me. In the rare warm, summer days we have here in the UK, I always take advantage and take the laptop outside and write under the parasol. Bliss!

Caroline: I prefer my desktop PC to my laptop. Are you a plotter or a pantzer?

Rachel: I’m a combination of the two – I start each book browsing the internet for pics of my hero and heroine and then I write a two or three page synopsis and character sketches. After that, I write the first draft without looking back. The hard work comes in the second and third drafts! I usually hit a block around the 40,000 word mark but have learned to write through it because things usually come good in the end. The one thing I am certain of is this writing business never gets any easier, lol!

Caroline: So, true. In fact, I think it gets harder as we try to discover new twists and plots to stay fresh. Do you use real events or persons in your stories or as an inspiration for stories?

Rachel: As I said earlier, Bath is the main inspiration for my Victorian romances and I fully intend to keep writing books set in this beautiful and fascinating city. As for my contemporary romances, I have used several real-life events in my own life as inspiration. The most recent with my second Harlequin Superromance, FOR A MAN LIKE HIM, I used the real life and terrifying experience of my family and I being rescued by helicopter from a hotel roof during the 2010 French floods. The opening chapters are almost an hour-by-hour account of what happened.

Caroline: I remember when I learned about your terrifying experiences in that flood. You shared the experience with readers on my blog. Do you set daily writing goals? Word count? Number of chapters? Do you get a chance to write every day?

Rachel: Every day I appreciate that I get to write full-time around the kids and husband – I treat my writing like a job and work every weekday from 8.30 – 3.30pm with a dog walk in between. Once the kids are home, it’s usually running around or grabbing moments on the laptop before dinner. After dinner, I might allow myself an hour before shutting down at 7pm – after that it’s family time.

Caroline: An admirable schedule. What do you hope your writing brings to readers?

Rachel: Satisfaction/belief in true love – I write for the romantic inside me as well as my readers. I think it’s vital an author believes in what they are writing if they have any chance of a reader coming along with them for the journey. The ultimate hope is someone picking up one of my books and enjoying it so much they look for my backlist. I love it when that happens for me with other authors…not so much the case as far as my husband’s concerned!

Caroline: I love reading a good book and learning the author has a long backlist, don’t you? What long-term plans do you have for your career?

Rachel: Writing is all I want to do for the rest of my life so the goal is to get better and better at my craft – and in turn, hopefully earn enough money that I can support myself and children. The best thing about having a successful writing career is surely the option to write anywhere. A cruise liner, a café in Florence, a beach in the Bahamas....yep, I most definitely have long-term plans ;)

Caroline: I like the way you think. ☺Would you like to tell us what you’re working on now?

Rachel: Right now I am working on the third novel in my series with eKensington. All my historicals novels are set in Bath or the surrounding towns and villages. The first two books (THE SEDUCTION OF EMILY and THE TEMPTATION OF LAURA) mainly take part in the city itself, but this third book will mostly be played out in a real village outside Bath called Biddestone.

The heroine, Monica, is a secondary character in THE TEMPTATION OF LAURA but as I was writing the book, I knew she deserved her own story. Luckily, my editor suggested it first so I knew we were on the same wavelength J

Caroline: What advice would you give to unpublished authors?

Rachel: Write! It really is as simple as that – you will never get a book published unless you finish one, first and foremost. I also recommend enrolling in as many online courses as you can afford. The Romance Writers of America chapters offer varied courses on dialogue, plotting, point of view etc. They certainly helped me when I was starting out.

The final, and most important, piece of advice – allow yourself to write a ‘crappy’ first draft!

Caroline: Good advice all around. What is a fun fact readers wouldn’t know about you?

Rachel: I haven’t had my hair cut professionally since my wedding day, almost 16 years ago! LOL!

My hair is so curly I can get away with my husband (and now my eldest daughter) giving it a trim with the kitchen scissors as and when I need it.

Caroline: How lucky, and your hair looks lovely in your photos. Can you give readers a blurb about your book?

Rachel: Here’s the blurb for THE TEMPTATION OF LAURA:

Laura Robinson has always been dazzled by the glamour of the stage. But perhaps acting and selling one’s favors are not so different—for Laura must feign pleasure with the men she beds to survive. Now, with her only friend at death’s door and a ruthless pimp at her heels, escaping her occupation seems impossible. Hoping to attract a gentleman, she attends the theater. Yet the man Laura captivates is no customer, but a rising star and playwright…

Adam Lacey has been driven to distraction since the moment he saw Laura. She is his ideal leading lady come to irresistible life—and so much more. Certain they can make the perfect team on and off stage, he is determined to win her heart—and discover her story. But that is precisely what Laura fears. And she has no idea that Adam harbors shameful secrets of his own. Will the truth free them to love—or destroy all their dreams…?

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Caroline: How about an excerpt?

Rachel: Certainly, here it is:

What was she doing inside Adam Lacey’s house, sitting upright and rigid upon a settee she could never afford? Laura crossed and re-crossed her ankles as she glanced around his drawing room. His home was masculine, bare of trinket or flower, but compared to her and Bette’s place, it screamed of achievement. He’d left her to go upstairs and change out of his wet clothes. She glanced at the wall clock. The ten minutes she’d been alone could’ve been an hour.

She needed to leave. Get out of there.

Standing, she stepped toward the door just as it swung open and Adam entered. Her breath caught. The man was ridiculously handsome. His dark blond hair was darker than usual, after his unplanned swim, and his face scrubbed clean. Her gaze drifted, of its own accord, to the smattering of chest hair just visible at the vee of his open-necked shirt. The man was unfairly relaxed. Laura inhaled. Handsome—stupidly, stupidly handsome.

He halted, his smile dissolving. “You’re leaving?”

He moved to touch her, seemed to think better of it and dropped his hand to his side. Their eyes locked and silence descended. Her heart beat fast with the knowledge she would’ve given the world to stay there. Eye to eye; toe to toe with a man who fascinated and intrigued her.

She stepped back. It was too dangerous. The atmosphere between them too potent. Her attraction to him kicked and punched at her heart. It was strong enough to make her want to kiss him, touch him and bring that dazzling smile to the surface over and over. For little more than another breath, she would risk everything to run her fingers over his biceps and up to the plane of his wide shoulders…

Laura blinked as her mouth drained dry. What had she been thinking by coming here? She hadn’t been thinking. In that moment when he asked her to accompany him back to his home––nothing but desire had whipped through her. Nothing but interest had leapt in her veins and obliterated her common sense. The fervor and lust in his eyes bespoke of a man who clearly had an agenda entirely different to hers.

Laura blinked and looked past him to the door. “I have a friend. She’s sick. She needs me and the medicine I bought before I came upon you at the park.” She brushed past him, through the door and into the hallway. “I shouldn’t have come here. I’m sorry.”

“Laura, wait.”

Ignoring him, she hurried toward the closed front door. She had to get out of there. If she looked at him again, she’d falter. Her rationale already hung on a hair’s breadth. His footsteps sounded at lightning speed behind her and when she clasped the door handle, his hand closed over hers. She stared at their joined hands and her body heated.

“Laura. Please. I need to talk to you.”

Swallowing hard, she forced herself to meet his gaze. His dark brown eyes shone with a pleading she hadn’t expected. How was she supposed to refuse? He was the first man in forever to make her heart pick up speed and flourish her hope for something more. She slowly pulled her hand from beneath his.

Caroline: How can readers learn more about you?

Rachel: At these urls:

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Caroline: Is there anything else you’d like readers to know about you?

Rachel: As well as THE TEMPTATION OF LAURA, the next installment of my Harlequin Superromance series is released March 4th, yay! WHAT BELONGS TO HER is available for pre-order right now.

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Caroline: Wonderful, Rachel. Thank you so much for sharing with readers today. Best wishes for continued success in your career.

Readers, thanks for stopping by!