Monday, May 11, 2009

Welcome Elizabeth Hoyt!

Please join me in a warm LIT Manor welcome to Lust in Time to USA Bestselling author, Elizabeth Hoyt!!

Elizabeth' current book TO BEGUILE A BEAST has just been released this month! You've got to make a point of checking out this woman's excerpts! www.elizabethhoyt.com This one in particular looks yummy as it touches the essence of my favorite fairy tales!! This is the third in the "LEGEND OF THE FOUR BROTHERS" SERIES," with the fourth, TO DESIRE A DEVIL, due out in November of 2009! (Great titles, btw!!)

Elizabeth is one crazy busy woman! And not only does she write sensuous, romantic historical, but she also writes contemporary as Julia Harper!
I'd like to start there with this book as I picked it up the other day and I'm looking forward to finding some down time to read it! It looks like a great summer read! WEelcome to the LIT Manor, Elizabeth!

Amanda: I picked up your Julia Harper book, it looks like its going to make my top "Hammock" reads of the summer. Is this your first contemporary? Please tell us a bit about it. Maybe what inspired it? I absolutely love that title!;)

Julia/Elizabeth: FOR THE LOVE OF PETE (Jan. 2009) is my second contemporary. My first was HOT (Jan. 2009) My contemporaries are fun chase books with a lot of quirky characters. FOR THE LOVE OF PETE has an uptight FBI hero, a
free-spirited heroine, and a kidnapped toddler. Also, a bad guy with anger managment issues and two elderly Indian ladies trying to regain some very important saffron. Romantic Times magazine said that FOR THE LOVE OF PETE was like "Janet Evanovich crossed with The Sopranos."


Amanda: Speaking of nice things being said about your writing...You have got to be walking on air as of late with good news! You've come home recently from the RT BOOKlovers convention with a special award and I hear you are nominated for another this summer! Can you tell us these awards, and what book they are for?

Elizabeth: TO TASTE TEMPTATION just won the RT Reviewers' Choice award for Best Historical of 2008 and TO SEDUCE A SINNER is up for a RITA award this summer. TO BEGUILE A BEAST, my current book, just made the NYT
bestseller list--I'm still shocked!

Amanda: That is fantastic! Congratulations! How long have you been writing, and has writing historical always been your first love?

Elizabeth: I've been writing for about eight years now, and yes, historicals are my first love. The first book I write was THE RAVEN PRINCE. But I do love my contemporaries, too!

Amanda: Just curious, how would you classify the heat level in your historicals?

Elizabeth: Pretty hot verging on scorching. ;-)

Amanda: Woohoo! Lord C.M. will be borrowing that book! Now, of all your books, is there a character that still haunts you? Not necessarily in having their own book written, but one whose character is so strong to you that they linger in your mind? If so, who and why?

Elizabeth: The hero of TO SEDUCE A SINNER was perhaps the hardest to write. On the serface he's a bit of a clown and I wanted to preserve that while also making him a wonderful romance hero. It took a couple of tries, believe me! ;-)

Amanda: Here is the stepback of your new release and NYT's Best seller, TO BEGUILE A BEAST!! *fanning self* This sounds very much like an adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. Which is one of my favorite tales!(yes, even the Disney version) Do you often get inspiration from fairytales, legends, or lore?

Elizabeth: All of my books have a fairy tale that accompanies the main story, so yes, I am inspired by fairy tales and myths. I think often they have a core of something wonderful which is why they live on for centuries. Often my stories have an element that comes from a myth or fairy tale.

Amanda: I couldn't agree more, Elizabeth and it appears your readers agree as well!! Now just for fun, what do you do to rekindle/refresh your creative well?

Elizabeth: Garden!

Amanda: And with the weather we've had of late, its been a wonderful time to get out and play in the dirt and do some planting!

A little later, Elizabeth is going to treat us to an excerpt from TO BEGUILE A BEAST! We will select a winner from those who offer comment and they will receive Elizabeth's first book in the Four Brothers series, TO TASTE TEMPTATION! The floor is now open to questions!

43 comments:

Booklover1335 said...

It sounds like you have just finished writing the Four brothers series. What's up next for you? Another historical series, or a contemporary?

BTW I love the description the reviewer gave you for "Pete" cross of Evanovich and Sopranos, is so perfect!

Anonymous said...

Weclome to the Manor Elixabeth! I hope you enjoy your stay!

I have to say I've been a fan of yours since the Raven Price and have fallen in love with the Four Soilders series as well! (Lord Vale is a fave of mine!)

Your trademark of fairy tales is something I always look forward to in your books, will you be carrying that over in your next books? Have a fave fairy tale yourself?

I really love the history behind your books as well, how do you go about reseaching for your books?

:) enjoy your stay at the Lit Manor!

Amanda said...

Hi Elizabeth,

I started to begile a beast last night, this is my first of yours, I bought it not realising it was a series and oh my gosh I am in love with your writing so far cna't wait to get my hands on more!!

btw LOVE your covers!

Anonymous said...

Hi, Elizabeth!! Congrats on making the NY Times Best Sellers List. I have ALL of your historicals already, and LOVE them. So no need to enter me in the contest.

To Beguile A Beast is also waiting patiently in my TBR.

Good luck to all who enter today.

Charlotte Featherstone said...

Welcome, Elizabeth! It's really nice to have you here at the manor! Lord Craven-Moore is still abed, exhausted from last night's festivities! I'm sure one of us will be rousing him later one!

I have To Beguile A Beast, but haven't been able to get to it yet because of those dreaded deadlines! lol! I'm very anxious to read it though because it deals with the tortured/scared hero and I love those themes.

Fairy tales are such an inspiration for romance, and I like the way you have used them in this series.

Now, I have a few questions for you, what makes a historical 'hot' for you?

What period would like to write in, just for a shot at something different?

Cecile Smutty Hussy said...

Hey LIT ladies!! Thanks for having Ms Hoyt here... I have HEARD SO MUCH FROM BARBARA about this author that I am glad I got to peek inside! Barbara has gotten my interest peeked on historcials... So please enter me in the contest!!
Your book covers are amazing.

Eva S said...

I love The Princes-trilogy, with the Raven Prince as my favorite and this series sounds great too! I'll add it to my long wishlist....

Kristi Cook said...

Hey, Elizabeth! Great to have you here with us at the LIT Manor today--and mega congrats on making the NYTimes list!!

I actually recently read HOT and *loved* it! It was, indeed, quite hot, LOL! But it just amazed me how different your historical 'voice' is from your contemporary 'voice.'

Charlotte Featherstone said...

Cecile, what great news that you've got turned onto historicals!!!! I'm sure you'll love Elizabeth's writing!

Anonymous said...

Sure, blame Barbara. LOL!! YAY!! Cecile! You know I LOVE my historicals.

The Brunette Librarian said...

Please don't count me in the drawing...I already have the first book...which is WONDERFUL!!

Can't recommend Elizabeth Hoyt enough to anyone who hasn't read her. Her books are so dang sweet, funny, and naughty...it's the perfect combination and I've enjoyed EVERY single one of them.

Haven't had a chance to read the third one yet...can't find it anywhere, so I may have to bite the bullet and buy from Amazon.

Do you have any idea of what your planning on writing next??

Cecile Smutty Hussy said...

Yes, it is allll Barbara's fault!!! Damn her with them hot covers on her site!!! She plasters them over there to make me want them!!! LOL!! Thank you Charlotte, well that little teaser you gave at your site... was... ummm.... very clever!

Genella deGrey said...

Hi Elizabeth!

To Tempt a Beast sounds like an awesome read - I'll have to snap it up next time I'm at the book store!

What is the order in which we should read the Four Brothers Series?

Hey Amanda - Can I borrow your hammock?

:D
G.

Amanda McIntyre said...

Sure Genella! as soon as I break it out! Its almost a ritual around here...the official beginning of summer when mom preps her hammock;))

My biggest distraction is watching the clouds...LOL

oh yeah, and occasionally the 90 lb lab who thinks he belongs in it with me.;)

Amanda

Heather D said...

congratulations on making the NY Times best sellers list. I love your books!

I have been reading the Ice Princess from your website, Is there any chance that you will have this published?

Mandi said...

Congrats on NYT Bestseller list:)

I have The Raven Prince sitting here looking at me. I have moved it to the top of my tbr!!

Mari said...

Hi! I have read a few of your books as Julia Harper, but not your EH books. I would love to try one!
For a while I was only reading contemps but it's nice to see Hist. novels making a comeback!

I ♥ Book Gossip said...

Congrats on making it to the bestsellers list. Please count me in for the contest.

Elizabeth Hoyt said...

Hi Booklover! Yup, I'm done writing TO DESIRE A DEVIL--the last book in the Legend of the Four Soldiers series--and I've moved onto a new series that you won't see until 2010. It's tentatively titled the Maiden Lane series and takes place during the gin wars in London (about 1742-1753.) The first book in the Maiden Lane series is WICKED INTENTIONS (the manuscript I'm working on now) and involved a cynical aristocrat hero and a heroine who runs a foundling home in St. Giles. I'm really enjoying writing it--hopefully you'll enjoy reading it! ;-)

Elizabeth Hoyt said...

Hi Ranearia!

Yes, I'll definitely continue including a fairy tale in each of my new books. ;-) I don't know if I have a favorite fairy tale, but my mother used to tell me "Rapunzel" over and over again when I was a child. Hmm. I haven't riffed on that one yet, have I?

Elizabeth Hoyt said...

Hi Amanda,

I'm so glad you enjoyed TO BEGUILE A BEAST! My covers are nice, aren't they? (I make sure and give chocolates to the art department at the end of the year!) If you haven't seen the other covers and their stepbacks in the series, you can go to my website: www.elizabethhoyt.com. They're all up now.

Elizabeth Hoyt said...

Hi Charlotte,

Thank you for the welcome! ;-) Very explicit sex scenes are what I consider "hot"--whether in an historical or other romance sub-genre.

I'd love to someday write in the Victorian or Edwardian time periods, but for now I'm pretty wrapped up in the Georgian.

Elizabeth Hoyt said...

Hi Kristina/Kristi! Nice to see you after our infamous historical panel at RT (which devolved into a discussion about condoms!) My contemporaries (which I write under the name Julia Harper) are quite different in voice, pacing, and plotting from my historicals. I'm glad you liked HOT!

Elizabeth Hoyt said...

Hi RachieG! I hope you can find TO BEGUILE A BEAST--I have heard about it being sold out in some stores (!) Hopefully, they'll restock.

Hi Genelle,

The book order is:

TO TASTE TEMPTATION
TO SEDUCE A SINNER
TO BEGUILE A BEAST
and coming in November,
TO DESIRE A DEVIL

BTW, I have first chapter excerpts up for the first three books at my website and the excerpt for DEVIL will be up sometime this month.

mrsshukra said...

To Seduce a Sinner made Elizabeth Hoyt one of my few favorite historical romance authors... and made me follow her on twitter! I just got To Beguile a Beast and so excited to start reading it!

gnosticserenity said...

You said that it was difficult writing Lord Vale, but I must say you did a wonderful job. He's so much fun and yet so intense as well. I think I've figured out the traitor, but I'll keep my thoughts to myself on that one. LOL I read To Seduce A Sinner first and then To Beguile a Beast. Although Alistair was divinely intense, Vale is still my fave... and Melisande is the perfect heroine for him... your heroines are all strong and powerful women... well done.

I am currently enjoying To Taste Temptation... had to search a bit harder for that one, but it's well worth it. Samuel is just great... definitely a fish out of water in Regency England. LOL

I guess my question is the history. You are so vivid and well researched. Were you always fond of history or is this acquired due to the nature of your writing?

Anyway... many cheers on your work. I'm a new fan but devoted... can't wait to read the Prince collection.

Blessings,
Lil

gnosticserenity said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Caffey said...

What a beautiful pic for that book Elizabeth!!

So loved the first trilogy!! I have them all on the keepers shelf! I got book 2 so need to get book one cuz I won't read out of order. I heard so many wonderful things about BEAST and to read more here is awesome! Looking forward to your Harper books too!

Unknown said...

Congrats on making the NY Times Best Sellers List! Great interview!

Lisa said...

Elizabeth,

I've read this excerpt more than once in anticipation of this book. I haven't read the others, but the excerpt to this one has tempted me to read the entire series. Soldiers...*sigh* I love your work, both historical and contemporary. Congrads on your success it's so well deserved!

Anonymous said...

Dear Elizabeth,

I've just finished To Beguile a Beast. It's official now, I am definitely in love with every one of your books. I find myself unable to do anything else until I've finished reading them from cover to cover. :-D

Just wondering though, in 'The Serpent Prince', did the fairy tale really have that sad ending? Original fairy tales often have more sad then happy endings but this one was really tragic (I was absurdly happy that Lucy changed the ending).

And about your online novella, once it's finished, do you think you'll ever publish it as a book? :-)

Have a great day and congrats again on making the NYT Bestseller's List!

-Ikhlas

Fedora said...

Hi, Elizabeth! A friend lent me your Prince trilogy and I was hooked! I'm thrilled to hear you're working on your next series--how many books do you anticipate for that one? (I like to plan ahead when I can ;))

All’sReads said...

Hi Elizabeth and LIT Ladies, nothing too brilliant to add except that I've loved every single cover of Ms. Hoyt's books to date. Covers are pretty important to me, and I love that they help set the mood for the great story inside!

Amanda McIntyre said...

Allison ,
I agree on the cover art! Thats the first thing that grabs me in a store)
and all of Elizabeths covers are just outstanding! Blessed my the cover gods, for sure!

Amanda
one of the Lusty LIT Ladies ;)

Unknown said...

Hello Lit ladies and Elizabeth. Thank you so much for sharing yourself with us. I absolutely love historicals. They are my favorite genre. Your covers are very striking, they just reach out and grab you. I cant wait to jump into your Four Brothers series, I would love to have them all lined up and a few days of no distraction. Have a great day and thank you again.

Genella deGrey said...

OK, one hammock with a side of clouds, please. Hold the 90 lb lab.

Hehe!
G.

Genella deGrey said...

And thanks for the book order, Elizabeth!
:)
G.

Elizabeth Hoyt said...

Hi Lil,

I'm so glad you liked Vale! Like I said, I had to work hard on him. ;-)

I've always enjoyed history, which does come in handy when I do research. I usually have at least one research book on my bedside table and I like visiting museums--especially the portrait galleries--and historical sites.

Elizabeth Hoyt said...

LOL, Caffey! I have to read books in order too (a problem when the series is very long like JD Robb's IN DEATH series!) Hope you can find TO TASTE TEMPTATION!

Elizabeth Hoyt said...

Thank you for the congrats, Amy and Lisa! ;-)

Elizabeth Hoyt said...

Hi Ikhlas,

The fairy tale in THE SERPENT PRINCE (like all my fairy tales) was written by me--so I made up the ending. I modeled it on some of the bloodier Grimm Brothers, though, such as THE GOOSEGIRL, in which the heroine has a magical helper (a goat) whose head continues to help her after he's killed. Like I said, bloody! ;-) In those tales, of course, the magical helper isn't the hero, but I wanted to write a fairy tale in which he was.

I don't have plans to publish THE ICE PRINCESS, but one never knows! ;-) For those who haven't heard, I'm writing a FREE online novella in 2009 titled THE ICE PRINCESS. Each month I'll post a new chapter. Go to the BOOKS section of my website to read chapters 1-4.

Elizabeth Hoyt said...

Hi Flchen1,

My next series (after the four-part Legend of the Four Soldiers series) is a trilogy.

Elizabeth Hoyt said...

Thank you all for a lovely chat, LIT ladies! ;-)