26 February 2019

Historical Romance Author - Arabella Sheen on her NEW RELEASE!


Hello Arabella!  Thank you so much for visiting Written Butterfly with me today!  It’s such a pleasure to chat with you.  So tell me…

Q) How did you dream up the dynamics of your characters?

Arabella: Hi, Beth. Thanks for having me on Written Butterfly.

So…you want to know how I envisaged the subtleties and undercurrents that were meant to happen to my leading characters between the covers of the book.

Well…I had this story in my head that needed to be told. It went along the lines of: Lord Redfield needs a wife. How was he going to find her? And what were the problems he would face internally and externally before “she” (whoever she was going to be) said yes to his proposal.

And then it came to me… I would tell the story from every characters own point of view.

An individual chapter for an individual character.

Instead of changing mid-scene from the hero’s side of the story to the heroine’s take on things, I allocated them their own chapters. I also worked in the same way when it came to featuring the maids and the footmen, and other family members who also play a vital part in the story.

It made for interesting reading and lots of hot, steamy love scenes!!!

Q) Can you give a fun or interesting fact about your book?

Arabella: You might not know this, but as well as writing historical romance, I also write contemporary sensual novels. When my nine-to-five day shift is done, I then sit at the laptop and write. On average, so far, each novel I’ve written has taken me approximately six months to write. This novel, A Bride for Lord Redfield, was like butter on a hot knife. The words just seemed to drip onto the page. It took me two weeks to write. Two weeks to edit. And the rest is history.

When I sent the manuscript off to my American publisher, Beachwalk Press at http://beachwalkpress.com/, to consider, I received a reply saying: “great job” and the contract was signed then and there.

Q) What do you think is your strongest asset as a writer? …What is your weakest factor as a writer?

Arabella: I believe my strongest asset as a writer is in knowing that I can’t please all of my readers all of the time. I deliver what I hope to be a good romance that will stand the test of time and hope the reader likes it too.

Years and years ago, my debut novel, “Blinded by Desire” (a billionaire romance with a hint of passion…and more), kick started with a few bad reviews. One reader’s review said she wanted more explicit action in the bedroom and another reviewer covered the fact that there were several spelling errors.

I took these comments on the chin realizing my sensual is different from their erotic and that U.K. spelling and grammar check is different to the U.S. way of writing things.

As a consequence, any subsequent novels have been written with these harsh reviewers remarks in mind, and I think I’ve improved.

My weakest factor as a writer is . . . Marketing!!! It takes me away from the time I have to write and I dislike having to promote myself and my books into the spot light. My life is never front row seats…it’s always been back row, upper circle.

Q) Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

Arabella: A bit of both, I think.

No reader wants to read the same old thing, so an original slant on the classic love story is a must. Irrelevant of the genre, or sub-genre, (m/f, f/f, m/m, mfm or any other combination), a reader wants something different…but something that still delivers the predictable and desired happy-ever-after ending.

Q) Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?

Arabella: I’m what we call in the trade…a pantser. Someone who flies by the seat of their pants. Wings it. Makes it up as they go along.

To a certain extent I plot…but it’s minimal. I sometimes draft out the blurb (info that’s found on the back cover of a book) and build the romance, tensions and conflicts from there.

Q) What are your upcoming projects?

Arabella: I never like to say I’m going to do this or that. It’s a sure way to put a jinx on things. In the pipeline is another sensual and another sweet historical regency romance, but that could all change. I could start work on another billionaire contemporary…




A Bride for Lord Redfield

Arabella  Sheen

A risqué regency romp enjoyed by both servants and masters as love and passion is discovered―above and below stairs―in his lordship’s household.

At Redfield House, everyone is busy with preparations for a ball, and rumor is rife in the servants’ quarters that the master is about to propose.

Lord Thomas Redfield realizes the time has come for him to take a wife and that this duty can no longer be delayed. The only trouble is…he isn’t sure the desire he once felt for Catherine, the woman he was previously betrothed to, is over and a new life with Rosalinda can begin.

Can Lord Redfield take Miss Rosalinda Mills for his wife, and will she agree to an engagement knowing he could still be in love with Catherine?

As the weekend unfolds and the fun begins, a bevy of illicit encounters are enjoyed between maids, footmen, grooms, and guests, while his lordship inwardly struggles with the problem of finding a wife.

Content Warning: contains passionate, sensual love scenes
Genre(s): Historical Romance


Excerpt

A Bride for Lord Redfield

Lord Thomas Redfield intended to marry Miss Rosalinda Mills, but as yet, she was not aware of his wishes.
She wasn't a beauty by any means, but she had an attraction of sorts. Refined, polished, and cultured, she also had a conversation that did not bore him. Most women he knew were chatterboxes and windbags or bluestockings and dull. But Miss Mills was neither. 
She fell into none of these categories, and after several days and evenings spent in her company, Thomas was prepared to discover more.

* * * *

"Which debutante would you have me consider? Which of your many friends will wish to parade their daughters before me?" Thomas asked his mother cynically. 
"Well, actually, I was thinking about―" 
"Enough, Mama. I'm afraid I must decline your suggestion. Your attempt at arranging a marriage between Catherine and myself was not exactly a success." He recalled with bitterness the outcome of that proposed union. The fact that Catherine and Harry had married had hurt his pride and ego enormously. "An arranged marriage that is of your making and to your liking is not for me. I refuse, especially after my enlightening experience with Catherine. My lesson, when it comes to taking a wife, has been well and truly learned, and I would be a fool if I were to repeat such an endeavor again." 
Those were empty words, and he knew it. At some point in time he would have to marry. The difficulty was finding the right woman who was malleable and compliant to tie the knot with. Someone who would obey him without question. Someone who would tolerate his illicit liaisons without too much objection. And that type of woman was hard to find. 
"But you have to try to find a wife." 
"If I do, this time, love will definitely not be in the equation." 
Thomas decided that a marriage of convenience, where he would wed and bed someone without properly wooing her for love, was his best option. And that was what he was going to propose when he offered for Rosalinda. He liked her. They got along. But the all-consuming passion and physical attraction he had once felt when betrothed to Catherine was missing when he thought of Rosalinda. 
A wife was needed, and she would have to be of good birth and excellent breeding. Someone with whom he could produce an heir. The only question was…with whom and exactly when? So far, by process of elimination, Rosalinda was the best contender. 
Having compiled a list of potential candidates from the many socialites within his circle of friends and acquaintances, Rosalinda seemed the best option. He had known her for years, and although he had never thought of her as a potential wife until recently, he was now prepared to do so. There was respect between them, and he hoped some sort of convivial relationship could blossom. It was a shame that the all-consuming love he had felt for Catherine was not there. 
"Your betrothal to Catherine was more than three years ago, and even though I suspect your heart was never truly given to her, your feelings must have recovered. Surely?" 
That just proved how little his mother knew him. Like many of his acquaintances, she thought his emotions had not been affected by Catherine's decamp. She was so wrong. His wound was still raw. 
"Mama, the subject is closed for discussion. At least for now. I have to go riding with Rosalinda and―" 
"So the servants' rumors are true. You are thinking of proposing to Rosalinda!" 
Thomas approached his mother and bent to place a kiss upon her cheek. "Don't fret. You will be the first to know if and when she accepts my offer." 
His mother's chin dropped, her mouth open with astonishment. And with that announcement, Thomas left the room and went to change into his buckskins and riding boots.


Buy Links:


Amazon Universal:  http://bit.ly/2tx1VkW  

Barnes & Nobel – Nook:   http://bit.ly/2GIyTYa


Beachwalk Press:  http://bit.ly/2NrHKhw

                       . . . and other reputable ebook distributors.

About Arabella Sheen
Arabella Sheen is a contemporary and regency romance author of sensual, passionate love stories. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and was shortlisted for the RNA – Joan Hessayon Award.
Having worked for nearly twenty years as a theatre nurse in the amazing city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, she now lives in the southwest of England with her family.
One of the many things Arabella loves to do is to read. And when she's not reading or writing romance novels, she is either on her allotment sowing and planting with the seasons or she's sitting on the sofa pandering to the demands of her attention-seeking feline.

You can find Arabella and her romance books at the following places:
Website and Blog: www.arabellasheen.co.uk


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