Theresa Romain - Interview and Giveaway

Have you read Theresa Romain's debut historical romance, Season for Tempatation? If you haven't what are you waiting for? The second book in the series  Season for Surrender was released on Oct 2, and has been getting fabulous reviews. If you have read Season for Temptation then you know that Theresa has a way with chapter titles, that is amusing, fun and contain a hint of things about to happen. 

Season for Temptation 

Chapter 1

In Which an Unbelievable Number of Biscuits Are Consumed

(click on the link to read an excerpt)

                                                                     

Season for Surrender 

 Chapter 1

Containing Several Damned Nuisances

                                                    (click on the link to read an excerpt)

I thought it would be fun, to ask Theresa about her new book, and find out her inspirations for chapter titles.

Interview with Theresa Romain

Welcome, Theresa!  Season for Surrender's heroine Louisa is, secretly, my favorite character in Season for Temptation, so I am so happy that she has her own book. Can you tell us a little about your new book? 

Thanks for hosting me today, Gayle! I’m really glad to join you to celebrate the release of Season for Surrender.

For the quick plot summary, here’s the back cover copy of the book:

HONOR AMONG ROGUES

Alexander Edgware, Lord Xavier, has quite a reputation—for daring, wagering, and wickedness in all its delightful forms. But the wager before him is hardly his preferred sport: Xavier must persuade a proper young lady to attend his famously naughty Christmas house party—and stay the full, ruinous two weeks. Worse, the lady is Louisa Oliver, a doe-eyed bookworm Xavier finds quite charming. Yet to refuse the challenge is impossible—he will simply have to appoint himself Miss Oliver’s protector…

MISCHIEF AMONG MISSES

Louisa knows her chance for a husband has passed. But she has no desire to retire into spinsterhood without enjoying a few grand adventures first. When Lord Xavier’s invitation arrives, Louisa is more intrigued than insulted. And once inside the rogues’ gallery, she just may have a thing or two to teach her gentlemen friends about daring…

I’m so glad you liked Louisa. I like her too, because she’s not fearless but she is courageous. Because of her shyness, she lives in the country with her sister’s family, but she feels rootless. She takes comfort in books (she actually attends the house party to get a look at Xavier’s notable library), but she wants to connect to people too. 

To her, the house party is much more than an amusement; it’s a way to grow stronger by trying something new. Naturally, it winds up being more new and more amusing than she ever expected!

I love your chapter titles. What came first the chapter or the chapter title? 

Thanks—those are fun to come up with. As for whether the chapter or title comes first, it varies over the course of the draft. I write the first few chapters before anything else, and then I start looking for threads that I could pull out into chapter titles. For later chapters, I usually have a plan for what I want it to include, and I might jot down a title idea even before I draft anything

Are some chapter titles easier to write?

Yes, definitely. They’re easier to write for light chapters—in Season for Surrender, the ones with games and fights. (I’m not sure what it says about me that I have an easier time writing fights than pretty much anything else.) For the deeper emotional moments and love scenes, chapter titles are more difficult because I want to hint at the content without making it seem trivial. I also like to give hints, but never spoilers, so that’s something I need to keep in mind when titling a chapter too.

Do you have a favorite chapter title in Season for Surrender?

Probably the first one: “Containing Several Damned Nuisances.” I like how it captures the hero’s cranky mood at the beginning of the book; he has a cold, so he feels lousy, and as a result he’s impatient with his usual sources of amusement

The title actually happened by chance. I wrote the chapter, and was rereading it for the nth time when I realized I’d had Lockwood say “damned nuisance” twice. Instead of changing it, I decided to have Xavier tease him about that, and it became the chapter title.

Are there any rules you have for yourself, when writing a chapter title? Length?

Just one rule: all the titles in a book start with the same word or phrase. In my debut, Season for Temptation, all the chapter titles begin “In Which.” In Season for Surrender, they all start with “Containing.” I like the old-fashioned, dry-witted feeling of chapter titles: think Tom Jones (the novel) or Jerome K. Jerome’s hilarious “Three Men” books.

What chapter title would you give to the blog tour of Season for Surrender?

Of course it has to start with “Containing.” How about “Containing 19 Stops and Infinite Tomfoolery”?

                                                                      

  Giveaway!    

Theresa makes writing chapter titles look easy, but is it? Leave your own chapter title in the comments. You can describe your upcoming day, week or really anything? 

One randomly chosen commentator will win one autographed copy of SEASON FOR SURRENDER. Contest is open internationally. Giveaway runs until 10/15 9 pm PST.

Thanks again, Gayle—what a fun interview! I look forward to reading everyone’s chapter titles. 

Authors Bio:

Historical romance author Theresa Romain pursued an impractical education that allowed her to read everything she could get her hands on. She then worked for universities and libraries, where she got to read even more. Eventually she started writing, too. Her historical romance debut, SEASON FOR TEMPTATION, was published in October 2011. The sequel, SEASON FOR SURRENDER, was published in October 2012.

Website:  http://theresaromain.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorTheresaRomain

Twitter: @TheresaRomain

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