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What can you tell us about your new release The Portrait?

I have always loved Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, and the Regency period in England. However, it can be challenging to find novels that are both true to the period and that focus on the thoughts and feelings of real people. Historical fiction is sometimes very dry or obsessed with names and dates; romance novels sometimes dispense with historical accuracy and “feel” because they are mostly interested in the romantic fantasy. I come at it from a different angle: what it was like to live in such a class-stratified society? What if you make a single youthful mistake that then follows you around forever? How do people know whom to trust if their families are cold and unfeeling and can’t give you good advice? That’s what The Portrait is about. It’s the historical romance that I wanted to read but had a hard time finding...a slow-burn romance set in an accurately portrayed historical world where the characters have to struggle with real constraints.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I’ve always written. I wrote by hand starting at about age seven and graduated to my dad’s manual Royal typewriter by about age ten. I took manuscripts with me to college, in fact! But oddly, I never planned to become a novelist. Writing fiction was something I knew I would never stop doing, no matter where I was and no matter what kind of job I had. But recently I began to realize that I hadn’t completed the circle; if no one ever read my words, what was the point? It’s as if I wrote diaries, not novels. And that’s when I knew I had to respect my work enough to put it out into the world.

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

Persuasion, by Jane Austen.

The Subtle Knife, by Philip Pullman (I love all three books from His Dark Materials but this one is my favorite!)

The Dark is Rising, Susan Cooper (The entire series is amazing!)

Imperial Woman, Pearl Buck

Venetia, Georgette Heyer (great slow burn!)

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

I would absolutely want to have a conversation with Philip Pullman about His Dark Materials; every time I read them I see more and more craftsmanship that I didn’t notice the first time round.  He also narrated the audiobooks (along with a full cast! It’s wonderful!), and I would love to ask him why he wanted to do that, and if he had an acting background or any voice training. There is a new BBC/HBO production with some big-name talent and I would also love to ask him to talk about the intersection between books and other forms of media today.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

I really love how slow the act of writing is. It’s one thing that you simply cannot force. Sometimes the ideas come fast and furious, but I can’t force those occasions. I’ve always been an impatient person, but with writing I have to just let things happen on the page. And a lot of the “work” of writing is not actually in the writing itself. It’s in the life you live and the art you consume, and the extent to which you’re willing to let your mind wander.

What is a typical day like for you?

I’m one of these people who gets pulled into narratives easily. So whatever is going on, I tend to get sucked into it! That means I have to get rid of important tasks early in the day and late at night, when no one is around. First thing in the morning I always meditate, read, and leaf through my planning calendar, before I look at any electronic media. If I don’t get those three things done first, they don’t happen at all, and that’s no good. The middle of the day usually involves whatever fire needs to be put out. I try not to over-plan because I really don’t know in advance what will need to get done, so I try to address whatever seems most important. In the late afternoons I am normally at the gym, because writing is an occupational hazard! It’s not healthy to sit as much as I do, so I am very dedicated to my workouts. And in the evenings I try desperately to catch up on everything I didn’t do earlier in the day. I stay up quite late because I’m basically a night owl; and fortunately I can get up late the next day!

What scene in The Portrait was your favorite to write?

I have sometimes wondered whether the book is primarily about Catherine or if it’s primarily about Captain Avebury, because so much of the emotional journey of the plot belongs to the captain. My favorite scene is actually between the captain and Sir Lyle, his nemesis, where Avebury is called to Sir Lyle’s house and sees the portrait. Comparing these two men and their individual senses of honor was quite an experience!

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Yes! I truly believe in the Muse, and I also believe that we all have our own gifts. Not everything is about "work harder." I think a lot of damage is done when a coach, teacher, or family member offers the "work harder" critique. Sometimes "stop efforting" is the best way to untangle a knot. Find your unique gift, and see if you can settle there. Of course, this often requires a painful degree of honesty. I knew in about eighth grade that I probably wasn't talented enough to become the musician I wanted to be. Could I have "worked harder?" Sure. But it would have been a grind, and I don't think I would have produced good art that way. Reach out to the Muse, find your superpower, and rest in it.

Cassandra Austen is the author of the new book The Portrait

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What can you tell us about your new release Need Me Like This?

It's about second chances at life and not holding back, Both characters start in a rough place and have something to overcome, Something they were to afraid to tackle on their own, But after spending time together away from everything and everyone else, They realize that some things ((people))  are worth risking everything for. And that maybe there is a happy ending over the hump for them.

What books are currently on your night stand?

Well on my tablet I like to go back and read certain scenes from Running into love by Aurora Rose Reynolds and also The bourbon street Boys series By Elle Casey.

What advice would you give your teenage self?

Start writing sooner. Don't hold back because you're afraid to fail.

If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?

No question. Napping.

What makes your world go round? Why does it bring you joy?

Napping and getting a day off. Those extra few minutes. ((Yes minutes)) of sleep help me clear my head and get ready to tackle anything.

What scene in Need Me Like This was your favorite to write?

Either the bathtub scene or the snowball fight.

Lola StVil is the author of the new book Need Me Like This

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What can you tell us about your new release, Under The Stars?

I love this book. It is the prequel to my series Iron Orchids. Everyone kept asking me about the parents because they were such an integral part of the books. So this is their story. This is how they met, the summer of 1976.

What books are currently on your night stand?

Currently, it is Katie Ashley's Vicious Cycle series; all three books are there,  I'm just starting book three. Believe it or not, I still read a lot.

What advice would you give your teenage self?

Breathe, just breathe. It’s amazing that when we are young life seems to pass us by in quarter-time. But as we get older it speeds up, fast and faster and faster. We need to stop and breathe more often, enjoy the moment, savor the flavors of the world around us.

If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?

With my husband, he is my…everything. We’ve been married thirty-three years and he knows as much about my business as I do. He handles all of my ads and marketing, he uploads my books to the retailers, he is half of Danielle Norman. But the two of us enjoy riding motorcycles, we both have our own Harleys and go out riding for hours, we travel in our RV and see America, the fact is we just love being together. So my one-hour would be with him, I don’t care what we did or didn’t do.

What makes your world go round? Why does it bring you joy?

I won’t say family since that is a given. So, I’ll say Vodka. I absolutely love the stuff. I’m one of those people that can tell you the difference between rye, wheat, corn, or potato vodka in just one sip although I prefer several just to be sure. But seriously, I love the crispness of it and how different flavors change it. That is my drink of choice when we go out. I’ve never been much of a wine drinker.

What scene in Under The Stars was your favorite to write?

The final epilogue, this book has two epilogues and it wasn’t supposed to. What happened was, the book was complete and my editors loved it. Then one night I laid in bed and something kept niggling at me, something wasn’t sitting right. I knew the book needed more so I got up and wrote a second epilogue and it ties into the characters in the series. I don’t know, I can’t explain it, but that scene was my favorite. Maybe because of the whole excitement of writing about the heroine, who I loved, preparing this huge surprise for her new husband. It was just…awe.

Danielle Norman is the author of the new book Under The Stars

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