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How to Do Innocent Sexiness
So there I
was with a historical romance trilogy under my belt, and I realized that there
would be an unavoidable lapse before the next one. “I have an idea,” my editor
said. “Why don’t you write an e-story to bridge the gap.”
How did I
answer? The way I answer any question put to me by my editor. “Sure. I can do
that.”
Hmmm. What
exactly should the story be? I couldn’t just slip one into the ongoing
timeline. After all, my series is about a group of gentlemen spies who are in
the midst of foiling a plot to overthrow the British throne in 1815. Before I
knew what I was doing, I had established a timeline. Ian Ferguson, one of my
spies, also called Drake’s Rakes, ended the last book of the first trilogy(Always a Temptress) shot and falling
into the English Channel. I couldn’t simply say, “And now for something
completely different.” By the time I got back to him, he’d be a mackerel snack.
Well, I
thought, how bout I introduce the next trilogy?
“Next
trilogy?” my editor asked. “You just said you’re doing the Rakes. That’s nine
books.”
“Ah, yes,
but if I divide it up by heroines into three, the whole thing would be much
more manageable.”(at least for me.)
Just as with
every conversation I have with my editor, this one ended with me saying, “Trust
me.”
So I would like to introduce my new
Drake’s Rakes trilogy, Last Chance Academy, where the next three heroines—Sarah
Clarke, Fiona Ferguson and Pippin Knight—survived school. They think they were
sent there because they were incorrigible. And while they are, there is another
very good reason. They just don’t know it until they find out in my estory, It Begins With a Kiss.
Excellent.
We have an idea. We have a story that introduces not only the school and how it
affects our heroines, it introduces those heroines, and lets us know which
heroes they will eventually match wits with. Which brings us to an unexpected
problem.
“We’d like it to be…you know…hot,”
one of the publishing people said.
Okay. So in
addition to introducing the characters, I
had to actually introduce one
of the couples. I settled on Fiona Ferguson and Alex Knight, who is called to
the school to stop Fiona from running away. And yes, of course there is
chemistry. How can there not be?
However…
When Kiss
begins, Fiona is only sixteen. Alex is only twenty-three or so, but still, it
just seemed a bit…well, felonious. So I’ll admit it right now. There is no
full-frontal nudity. There is, however, quite enough action to make their
relationship inevitable.
I really
hope you enjoy It Begins With a Kiss.
I had such fun writing it(once I figured out that whole PG rating thing). And I
do get to introduce three new heroines, whom I know I’m going to love just as
much as the Three Graces who made up the first trilogy. Tell me if you agree.
Stop by my
website www.eileendreyer.com or my Drake’s Rakes page on Facebook for giveaways
and notifications. Oh, and romance trading cards. I have a brand new one for It Begins With a Kiss, complete with
one of the most beautiful covers I’ve ever seen, much less had. And let me know
if I got that heat level right. I hope so. I’ve loved my Rakes for a long time.
And I’m really falling in love with the girls of Last Chance Academy.
