Welcome to Lindsay Townsend's guestblog!

Welcome Ms. Townsend to Love Romances and More, thank you for joining us.


Did you always want to become a writer?

I’ve always made up stories, even as a child. Things developed gradually over the years and I eventually found myself wanting to work harder at it and try to write for a living.


What is the most, and the least interesting fact about writing?

The most interesting fact, or facts, is discovering my characters as I write about them. The least, for me, is spell-checking!


How did you celebrate your first release? What was it like to see your book in a bookstore? Do you have a special ritual for celebrating a book release?

I think I jumped about and squealed a bit, and the publisher sent me flowers, but I don’t think I’ve ever developed a ritual. Seeing one of my books in a store is a mixed blessing – it’s good to see it there, but I also want to strangle anyone who walks out without buying one.


How did your family react to fact that you also write romance novels? Have your family read your books?

They’ve got used to it, and my husband has always been a helpful reader and critic. As for others, some have read my books and some don’t go for romance much anyway.


Most authors are also avid readers. Is this the case with you? If so, who are some of your favorites? Have any influenced your writing?

I read a lot, especially when I’m not writing, and it’s often thrillers or spooky material - Dean Koontz, John Grisham, Lee Child and so on – though I did grow up with ‘Rebecca’ and the romantic suspense novels of Phyllis Whitney. I’m not sure if any have influenced my writing: I try to make my writing distinct.


Your characters come to life in your books. Do you feel each of your characters live with you as you write? Do their lives sometimes take over a part of your life? Can you name an example? Do you have living role models for your characters?

Sometimes my characters come into my mind while I’m asleep. I use aspects of real people but never a ‘whole’ person.

Where do you get the inspirations for your books?

From the characters themselves and their loves, secrets and fears. From the setting. From watching real people. From asking myself the question, “What if?”

Do you find it difficult at times to write love scenes?

Only if I’m out of sorts.

What is your favorite book from the books that you have written so far? Who are your favorite hero and heroine, and why?

I have a particular affection for my first published novel, “Voices in the Dark”, because it was my first published novel. It’s a dark romantic suspense.

My favourite hero – Gosh! That’s difficult. I love all my men for different reasons. Marcus of his strength and compassion. Guillelm for his power and honour. Roberto for his sexy singing voice and personality. Fearn for his healing and patience and massive abilities… I can’t choose, sorry!

My favourite heroine – equally tricky. I love Sarmatia for her vulnerability and stubbornness. Flavia for her quick wit and compassion. Julia for her passion. Melissa for her joie de vivre. Strangely, the heroine I had most fun writing is my most amoral: an ambitious, dangerous, tricky, vengeful but caring princess called Ahhotpe from my ancient Egyptian epic, “BLUE GOLD.”

Which book was the hardest to write and which the easiest?

All were both hard and easy to write at different points. I always find the endings tough.

If you could change places with one character from your books, who would it be and why?

Sarmatia. I’d love to be able to bull leap and to have mystical connections with animals.

If you could travel through time to visit a special time period or famous person, what or who would it be and why?

Today it would be Catherine of Aragon. I’d take some modern drugs with me so that hopefully some of her sons by Henry VIII survived.

Do you listen to music while you are writing and if so what music is it?

Yes, sometimes. I tend to have a regular CD which I keep coming back to as I write a particular book. I’m having a Philip Glass period at the moment, the violin concerto and some other pieces.

If you could choose one of your books for a movie, which one would it be and who would you pick as the cast?

“A KNIGHT’S VOW,” would make a wonderful movie, I think. Sadly I would have liked Heath Ledger in the role of Guillelm, and Natalie Portman as Alyson.

Are you working on anything right now, and can you tell us a teaser about these projects?

I’m working on my third “knight” book for Kensington books. It’s called A KNIGHT’S ALCHEMY, and it’s set in the west of England in 1214. It features a female alchemist, Joanna, who has a deadly secret, and Hugh Manhill, a tourney knight, who will stop at almost nothing in order to rescue his brother, including taking Joanna as his prisoner….

Thank you for having me along today at the Love Romances Café Blog!

Warmest wishes,

Lindsay

I leave you with a scene from my forthcoming medieval historical romance, A Knight's Captive, where the hero Marc acts as a hero should and rescues the heroine, Sunniva:

"Rot in hell and back!" Marc bawled, bringing his sword round in a close, lethal arc that raised sparks on the bastard's belt buckle and rent a bloody welt across his chest. "No sanctuary here - you are dead!"

He stamped on the jerking creature and raised his sword, aiming for the heart, when a low moan beside him had him tumbling to his knees to guard her. At the same instant, her two attackers crawled away, stumbling through the door and out.

Marc let them go. Dropping his sword, he gathered Sunniva into his arms, whispering over and over in Breton, "You are alive. Safe. Safe, my angel. Safe."

He had been so afraid she was harmed that having her trembling but whole beneath his hands was overwhelming. Tears stormed into his eyes, swiftly followed by rage.

Where was her father? Her brothers? Where were the useless escorts, meant to protect?

"Hush, hush," he crooned, rocking her back and forth as he struggled to keep his own grief and anger in check.

He dared not look at her too closely while he had tears in his eyes and looked so unmanned, but the warrior's sense in him told him she was not fatally hurt in the flesh. He could smell no blood or sickness on her and though she shook, she did not grimace or writhe in pain.

The injury to herself, however: her integrity, trust, humor, spirit - Marc furiously blinked away the moisture in his eyes as he prayed that Sunniva would soon recover and forget.

"King Christ, ruler of heaven, let her not be afflicted by night terrors, as my poor Isabella is. Let her know peace."

He should be raising the alarm, since none of the other fools of the pilgrim party seemed to have realized yet that anything was amiss. He should be returning to his own three. In a breath, his memory went back to the fire that had carried off his elder brother Roland and his wife: on that dreadful night he had cradled his niece Alde in his arms, even as he was now clutching Sunniva; he remembered how his and Alde's tears had mingled as they clung to each other.

Sunniva did not cling. She was still too stunned to do anything save take great gasping breaths and shiver. There was a dark, welling bruise on the left side of her cheek and her eye was puckering, threatening to close altogether. Tears had streamed down her face; he saw them glistening near her nose and quivering lips. Such a red, soft mouth -

"Do you hurt anywhere else?" he asked softly, relieved when she shook her head. Longing to wipe away her tears, he held her close.


Contest:

One lucky blogger will win a signed copy of A Knight's vow, so stop by and say hello to Lindsay and ask her a question. The winner will be announced here tomorrow morning.