Today we welcome Maya Rodale to the blog. Yes, Maya has agreed to virtual chit chat so I can literally pick her brain. And she’s pretty brainy so she can spare the loss of a couple of gray cells. š And not only is Maya here to chat about her upcoming release, A Groom of One’s Own, but she (aka Avon Books) is going to give away 5 (five) advanced copies to 5 lucky commenters. Also, A Groom of One’s Own is another book in the July 4th Red, White and Blue Fireworks Giveaway!
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I’ve heard A Groom of One’s Own, the first book in The Writing Girls Romances, compared to Sex in the City in Regency London. What do you think of that analogy?
Instead of four girls in New York City, itās four girls during Londonās Regency. These are stories about female friendship, as well as being straight up romances. Oh, and then there is the scandal, the gossip and the heart-to-heart talks and the fabulous fashion.
Can you tell us a little about A Groom of One’s Own?
Newspaper columnist Sophie Harlow is reporting on the duke of Hamilton and Brandonās wedding to Lady Clarissa, who is falling for a visiting Prince, while Sophie is in love with the duke, who refuses to jilt his betrothed, even though heās falling for the scandalous Writing Girl. Itās a love quadrangle and a comedy.
You said that your mother made you start reading romance novels (chuckle, chuckle) because you were working on a degree of Women in Fiction. How do you feel about romance novels prior to reading your first book?
I confess, I was a snob (see my next answer). I also didnāt know the first thing about romances eitherāother than that my professors at my Serious Academic Institution might laugh at me. They didnāt, in part because I think I was able to argue how romance novels are significant, powerful and valid literary works. In the end, I wrote my graduate thesis on how revolutionary romance novels are.
But I still read them for fun. A lot.
What kinds of books were you reading before you starting reading romances?
Honest to gosh, in high school I was reading Hemingway. For fun.
What does your mother think of your writing career? Was she surprised her nudge got you addicted and now a writer of the romance genre?
My mother is always right, so she wasnāt really surprised that I became a convert and began to write them. She thinks itās really cool that I write the romance novels and often brags about it or mentions it in her blog.
A Groom of Oneās Own
Author: Maya Rodale
Publisher: Avon
Pub. Date: June 29, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0345518859
Retail: $7.99
384 pagesMiss Harlow’s Marriage In High Life London, 1823
A handsome duke. His beautiful soon-to-be duchess. A whirlwind courtship. It is this author’s privilege to report on the event all of London is talking about: the upcoming wedding of the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon to the only daughter of the Duke of Richmond. Every details of the “Wedding of the Year” will be reported in these pages as a London Weekly exclusive.
But I, Miss Sophie Harlow, must confess to a secret infatuation with this “double duke” that can only lead to trouble. It is impossible that this notoriously upstanding gentleman would ever jilt his bride for a scandalous female newspaper writer. And yet…the arrival of a foreign prince, the discovery of a shocking secret, and one passionate kiss could change everything. Will this perfect duke risk the scandal of the year to marry the woman his heart desires?
There are only just three more weeks until the weddingā¦
For a woman to be a writer in Regency London is rare so a woman has to be very independent. Do you prefer to write about independent and self-sufficient heroines?
It was rare for women to be writersābut they did it, and a lot more than we think. Usually they did it because they had to support themselves and kids because their husbands were dead or deadbeats. These women were amazing.
I definitely love reading about independent and self-sufficient heroines because I can either relate to them, or Iām really inspired by them. The challenge of balancing self-interest with a relationship appeals to me, too. And my rule is to write what I like to read. š
To you, what makes for a great hero?
Six pack abs, a rakish grin and a title. Just kidding (sort of). I like heroes that are proud, kind men, with a sense of humor. And a rakish grin.
Tell us about the ‘call’, when you sold your first book, An Heir and a Spare.
That morning I had gone on a Real Job interviewāI had given up on the book deal, you see. And then I was taking a nap because that is what you do when youāre unemployed and have given up. Usually I am very irked when someone calls while Iām napping, but not when itās my agent saying I have an offer on my books!
How many books do you have planned for this series and who is next on the agenda. Can you tell us anything about that story?
Ooohā¦secrets! The next Writing Girl book will feature Lady Julianna, the secret author of the gossip column Fashionable Intelligence. Our hero is the rakish Lord Roxbury (complete with six pack abs, a rakish grin, a sense of humor, and a title). Scandal GALORE.
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I want to thank Maya for dropping by and I encourage you to check out Maya’s other books on her website.
Ladies…have any of you had a crush, fallen in love, been smitten by a married, engaged, seriously dating or likewise man?
Yay! A new (to me at least) author to start reading…I like the sound of this new series and will have to check it out.
I’ve not had a crush on or been in love with a man who was married, engaged, or seriously dating another. Those traits always firmly put a man in the “only friends’ category for me!
Oh yes, I’ve had a crush on a married man. The heartache!
I agree with Babs; a married or otherwise engaged man is off-limits, even for a crush. I am looking forward to this book. I enjoyed Maya’s previous romance books!
So excited about Maya Rodale’s new book!
Can’t say I have ever seriously crushed on a guy involved with someone else. I think I will enjoy reading about it though!
Hi Everyone!
I’m so happy to be here–thanks for having me!
What a scandalous question! This Lady couldn’t say… š But I will say that it quite a challenge writing a romance where the hero is betrothed to another. Because we want him to get with the heroine, but not at the expense of honor and decency. Tricky, tricky!
Laura B, I think my heroine would share your words exactly.
Maya
When Maya first told me the idea for this series, I thought it was brilliant and so unique with lots of potential for a series. I can’t wait to read the first book! Maya’s writing style is so fun and witty. She only gets better with every book. š
Never had a crush on a married man I knew. When I was dating, I had an unspoken rule that I would never even go after a guy that one of my friends mentioned liking. However, I did (and do) have some mad crushes on married actors: Harris Ford (as Indiana Jones when I was a kid), Brad Pitt, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman … the list goes on. š
Yes I’ve been smitten before. Never acted on it though. The book cover is very pretty. You are a new author to me. Some more great books to add to my ever growing library.
I’ve definitely had a crush on a man who was either married, engaged, or in a serious relationship, but I also have NEVER acted on it. Usually it wasn’t a serious crush or anything, more a lusting after him because he seemed like such a great guy and I want one of those. I guess you could say it was more a crush on the idea of that man, than the actual guy himself. š
Hi Maya,
Thanks for a great interview. Love your previous books and so looking forward to this new series…sounds yummy good! And in answer to your question…yes, a short fling with a married man…might be fun for a little while, but those things never end well. In his favor, he was tall with dark hair and dark brown eyes and he did have a great set of 6-pack abs and a true rakish grin…’nuff said!
I’ve admired certain committed men before but definitely not crush level and certainly never acted on it. Once I know a man is married no matter how charming, sweet, charismatic he is, the luster is gone for me.
Rnjoyed reading the comments. Would be fun to read your thesis. I am always looking for different authors to read so have added this book to my TBR list.
Wow! Love your personal story and your books sound exactly like the ones that become my keepers. What writer can resist reading about women who are writers?! š I’ve now got a trip planned to Borders to pick up A Groom of One’s Own! (not a play on the title A Room of One’s Own by any chance . . . š )
As for your question, when I was in college, I crushed on a guy who was dating someone else. But in the end, we were better off as friends. I’ve never crushed on someone who was married or engaged or “seriously” committed to someone else, but I can certainly see where it might’ve happened in the Regency world, where titles and money and arranged matches often interfered with emotions. š
I assume all men are taken or married I encounter (until told otherwise)so no crushs either.
Unless Brad Pitt counts then no..LOL
Hi Y’all! I agree….crushes are one thing, and acting upon them quite another. And then there is crushing on the idea of someone, and then there is the “taken until proven single” rule. I don’t think I’m spoiling anything when I give this away: When Sophie meets her duke, she doesn’t know who he is or that he is betrothed. That way she could fall innocently in love with him–and then deal with the complications later!
Brynna James, yes the title is definitely a plan on A Room Of One’s Own! The first line is, too. Instead of the famous line “If a woman is to write, she must have money and a room of her own,” I kicked off with this instead: “If she is to marry, a woman must have a dowry and a groom of her own.” After all, Sophie already has the writing covered!
Maya, very cool. Never heard about A Room of One’s Own but I like your play on it.
I had many crushes on men. But they were just that, crushes. Although, I have to tell you, sometimes men aren’t all that truthful about their availability status. This can sometimes lead to problems and heartache.
that sounds so good! I haven’t read any of her books but I an tell you I’ll be checking into it after I leave this comment. I love finding new to me authors.
as for a taken man, when I know they’re taken the only type of ‘crush’ I can have is the admiring kind where I feel just as comfortable talking & being friendly around the wife as not.
The book sounds great. A crush yes…but that’s it. Entangled men were something I guarded against very carefully. Too much drama!
Another new author for me to try! Yea! I love the premise of the series and look foward to a chance to read this and more of Ms. Rodale’s work. I had one instance where a gentleman I dated neglected to inform me that the girlfiend he said was an “ex” really wasn’t…fortunately that was discovered before too long and I ended that entanglement, quickly. š
First Maya,
Great book – can’t wait to read — it does sound like a fun, sexy ‘sex in the city’ historical style. I admit I’m a new reader but I definitely will be reading this book.
As for the crush issue- I have to confess and tell you a little story. First I swear on a stack of bibles that this is an entirely true story. I couldn’t make this up if you paid me. Although note to self: it might make an interesting short story. Only something like this could happen to me. I swear, this is my luck/fate or whatever.
I developed a crush on a TV star [can’t mention names] actor when he walked onto my TV screen when I was 13 and he was 22. I being a teenager instantly ‘fell in love’ with him. He was the subject of many diary entries let me tell you. Well the series ended and I always wondered ‘what would happen in the future to this character’. I grew up, followed his career. I got married [hubby knew about crush when we got married] and I became a lawyer etc. Still to this day my heart goes pitter-patter for this guy — he’s even my screen saver. He went about life and I went about life. When I started writing seriously a couple years ago – he was/is my muse – because my first romance novel which I’m currently revamping is based on ‘what happened to that character in the future’ — do to some copyright issues and a refusal on Warner Bros. [darn them] I’ve had to revamp my story plot, but my hero is still based on him.
As only fate could possible have it, this is just my luck, over the past two years I’ve become really good friends with this woman I’ll call Lily for anonymity sake. So much so that I work freelance for her – again can’t say too much. Anyhow, long story short – she is dating HIM!!! my muse. The man of my dreams -those that don’t star my husband of course. LOL.
So yes I have crushed a man who is taken. I see them together at parties or in pictures. My husband reaches over and wipes the drool off my chin.. Yes I still lust after him, after all – he was my muse first!!!!
For anyone who remembers the Friends episode with the ‘list’ of women Ross wanted to sleep with. Mine includes HIM (my muse), Jon Bon Jovi and Mel Gibson. But the muse is 1st on the list. Of course as my husband says – nothing will ever happen because (a) I love my husband more than life after 15 yrs of marriage and (b) she is one of my best friends. But a crush on a guy that is now in it’s 27th year is a hard habit to break. And the older he gets, the hotter he gets… aaaggghhh.
So that’s my confession.
I love the comparison to Sex & the City, though I must say that having read an advance copy, your book is so much better (in my humble opinion).
As for the question, my answer is no:)
Kris, now I’m totally DYING to know who this is!!!
After reading the blurb, I am totally hooked! This sounds like a delightful story! š
As for crushes, I fall for men who are “taken” every time I read a romance novel! š
Lol! I have definitely had crushes on men who were spoken for but I never acted on it. Oh I agree with you Bev, sometimes men aren’t as honest about their status. Which is really a shame.
Kris, you have definitely peeked my interest š
Cheryl, cute way of putting that.
Cheryl–Haha, brilliant!
Sarah T–yay, glad to hear it!
I’m with Beverly–desperate to know who Kris’s muse is!
Hi Maya,
Love the blurb (and the cover). I’m new to your work and am going to be looking for more of your stuff.
Happy reading,
~Aliyah
This sounds wonderful. Truly. All the best for your release. Besides the crushes on TV/movie stars that I still have to this day, plus a certain crush/devotion to a certain romance cover model, I did have a harmless crush on the man married to my aunt (they were 7-8 years older than me) when I was 14! LOL! I got over it by the time I was 16. And I found out years later, they (the family) all knew I had the crush on him!! How mortifying!
Oh wow Karyn!
no i never had a crush on a married man. your book sounds so good.
Awesome interview!! The book looks and sounds great plus that cover ^^
I’ll admit i’ve had a crush on a married and engaged man before. In junior high i crushed hard for a teacher named Mr. Vandella. He was engaged to be married, but that didn’t stop me from acting like a idiot or stearing whenever he went by. Then there used by a man at my old church that was quite nice to look at. He was married with 3 kids though. lol
The way i see it the good ones are always snatched up from me before i can get to them.
Hi Maya, You are a new to me Author and I loved the blurb. Can’t wait to read this one. Love the cover also..
As to your question yes, as a teenager I had a wild crush on a guy and like Beverley said sometimes they aren’t truthful about their availabilty. Turned out he was engaged. It broke my heart but as young as I was I dealt with my broken heart and avoided him. Later to find out his wife divorced him for cheating. All I can say is “Thank God”.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com
Hi, Maya! I’ve loved all of your books and am so looking forward to the new series. Yay! Years ago, when I was working out at the gym, I thought the owner was very handsome and charming–harmless crush, since we’re both married. I don’t cross that line!
Ladies,
Trust me even if I told you his name you probably wouldn’t recognize the name. He does a lot of episodic TV work – meaning he does guest appearances on TV shows most recently Castle, Dexter, Closer etc.
Okay – I know how us ladies are — Swear you won’t tell because his ‘Lily’ really is my boss on a part-time basis so…. Tom Schanley – IMDB him and you’ll see that you probably will recognize the face.
Kris
Great interview and review! This would be a new author for me and I would love to read her book! I love trying new authors. Please enter me!
Maya, Congrats! I was lucky enough to review A Groom of One’s Own for The Season and I thought the concept was great! I love that you have a group of women breaking the norm. It was a fun read and I can’t wait for the next book… I kinda have a crush on Lord Roxbury lol so I can’t wait to see more of him and his rakish ways!
Great interview. I confess myself very eager to read this particular novel! Haven’t read anything by Rodale, but I definitely would like to remedy that!
as for the question about crushing on the unavailable guy, your looking at the prime example of unrequited and incapable love. I am graduating HS on Friday (woot woot), and I’ve been stuck on this guy for as long as I could remember. He’s been nicer to me than I’ve ever deserved. I was a veritable stage 1 clinger in the beginning, always trying to talk to him and whatnot. But we developed a strong friendship since before HS even started. He was single for a while, but he never gave me a shot, and then he had to go and fall in love (and I mean deep love) with the most perfect girl at our school. And it sucks because I can’t even say mean, hurtful things about her because she is the nicest person you’ll ever met. Anyway, I am going to have to say goodbye once and for all in 4 days and I am so torn up about it. It sucks that I read all these romances, which just adds to the patheticness of it all. I am glad he was in my life, but I will always wish thing could have been different. I wasn’t good enough for him when he was single, and I still liked him. And now that he’s taken, it still hasn’t waned me off. But I am happy for him (NOW) and glad I didn’t make too much of a fool of myself. I’ll find the right guy who will want me the first go around and think I AM the perfect one =P
(Some times, you just gotta let it all out, lol)
Maya said: Brynna James, yes the title is definitely a play on A Room Of Oneās Own! The first line is, too. Instead of the famous line āIf a woman is to write, she must have money and a room of her own,ā I kicked off with this instead: āIf she is to marry, a woman must have a dowry and a groom of her own.ā After all, Sophie already has the writing covered!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this! š I simply adore when an author can take a classic and make it connect with our genre! Well done. š
Sounds like a great book.
No. Never been smitten by a “taken” man.
I use to get offers when younger when I worked from married men but I’ve been married since I was 18 for 41 years now so I was never interested although I did see it go on all around me. The new series sounds like a fun read!
HIstorical Romance Junkie Rita: I love your phrase “veritable stage 1 clinger.” If you don’t mind, I might use that? Congrats on graduating from high school!
Jamie, I can’t wait to read your review!
And Gannon, HELLO! Nice to see you here š
Most importantly: does anyone think imdb.com will wonder why there is a big spike in searches for Tom Schanley today?
Great interview! As for your question, no I haven’t. I’ve been married since I was 2. LOL! (Just kidding…)
Maya, I enjoyed your interview. I have not read one of your books, but I am adding it to my summer reading list.
Hi Maya,
Congrats on the upcoming release and wedding. I have had a crush on guys with girlfriends, but never acted on those feelings. Never had any feelings for married men.
Hey Maya! I’m already halfway through Heir and a Spare and I’m loving it! BTW this new series sounds interesting! I always love reading about independent women set in the Regency era.
BTW we all have crushes to those that are taken and I’ve had quite a few…but that’s all they are – crushes. That said, I’ve had these crushes when I was totally in love with my bf (now my hubby). I haven’t acted on those crushes, though and all of my crushes are my friends, of course so it would be really weird to act on them!
Maya- as the administrator of his fan page on FB — it helps his star meter go up so feel free to look him up…. š Just don’t tell why you’re looking….
Again Maya – really looking forward to reading the book – it does sound like a wonderful spin on Sex and the City… š
Maya, this series sounds great. It sounds funny and intelligent, which is the best kind of romance for me. I’d love to read your thesis.
The only time I’ve had a crush on a guy who was taken was when I knew him first. We were very close friends and he led me on and then met someone else (whose name is almost exactly like mine). I then had to listen to him gush about how perfect Girl-With-Name-Like-Mine-But-Not-Me was, until I finally grew a pair of nuts and stopped hanging out with him.
Never. Again.
Looking forward to reading this book!
I can’t say that I’ve ever had a crush, fallen in love, or been smitten by have a married, engaged, seriously dating or likewise man that I can recall.
However, I am totally looking forward to reading A Groom of One’s Own, which sounds like an fantastic book. And I’ll be checking out the rest of Maya’s books as well.
This is a new to me author. (I love when I find new authors!) I haven’t had a crush since high school.
No, thank goodness!
Hi Maya! Congrats on the upcoming release and so neat its a series! Secrets on how many there will be out in this serie? I must make sure I don’t miss any! A GROOM OF ONE’S OWN sounds humorous too. I love how your mom got you into reading romances! My mom read both sweet series and hid the big historical romances behind them but I found them, and she figured it out, LOL.
I remember HS years when I had a huge crush on this guy that was also our neigbhor and he figured it out and always reminded me that he would never marry so I shouldn’t become his girlfriend, etc. He was insistant of this and when I went away to college, I slowly let go of him but never found out if he gave that up and did marry!
I hope the duke makes the biggest scandel of the year to marry the woman his heart desires and not the duchess that he should marry. That’s what I love about a great romance – this sounds like a really fun read.
Congrats Maya! It was long ago and awkward and nothing really happened… now I warn my own daughter about its dangers!
Sex in the City in Regency London?! Sounds terrific!
You had me at ‘love quadrangle’!
Also, I must naturally read the work of an author with such a great first name *g*
I’m intrigued by the premise of this story by this new to me author.
Luckily, I never had a crush on anyone who was unavailable. The one guy I had a serious crush on wasn’t interested. I was just a friend. The next guy I liked became my husband and I love him. We just celebrated our 38th anniversary.
This series sounds good. Women who persisted in a writing career when it was not really acceptable had pluck and make for good heroines, I like that humor is an important part of it. It is an important element for a good story and is often forgotten or under rated.
Hi Maya,
It’s so nice to see you here at the Season! š I enjoyed reading your interview with Bev, especially the part where you mentined reading Hemingway for fun!
Your new book A GROOM OF ONE’S OWN looks like a fun and light read. Perfect for the summer! Also, I’m not romantically interested in “taken/married” men. (Except someone like Pierce Brosnan).
I wish you great luck with your new book! š
Oooo, ooo, pick me! Would love to get my hands on Maya’s latest book. As for married men, I’ve been with my husband since I was 14 (that was 19 years ago), so he’s pretty much THE married man with whom my heart resides (yes, I know, gag!).
Ladiesā¦have any of you had a crush, fallen in love, been smitten by a married, engaged, seriously dating or likewise man?
No ! And Thanks God!
It’s been a great thing knowing a new author.
Aww, Amanda so sweet and funny! Maya M–what a great name we have!
And everyone else….thanks for the great comments! I totally enjoyed reading them and I hope y’all enjoy A Groom Of One’s Own!
Hi Maya! I love the premise of this book. Can’t wait to read it!
I had a crush on a guy from 5th grade through high school but, though we were great friends, he never viewed me as more than that. A couple years later we ran into each other and this time there was interest on both sides. He was available, asked me out, I was so excited and when we kissed…nothing. It was like kissing a good friend. All those years of crushing down the drain! lol!
I’ve never read a book by Maya but this one sounds amazing!
I fell madly in love with a guy who turned out to be engaged. We were friends for a while but my unrequited love made me decide to end the friendship. It hurt too much. Never saw him again after I ādumpedā him. Sometimes I still wonder what might have been. His marriage didn’t work out in the end. But it was thankfully not because I went after something that wasn’t meant to be.
Ladiesā¦have any of you had a crush, fallen in love, been smitten by a married, engaged, seriously dating or likewise man?
No, in 26 years I have been married I have never had a crush on a real person other than my hubby.
I have over the years developed crushes on heroes in the romance books I read.
Hey, Maya! I’m looking forward to this book and series!!
I had a few crushes growing up, but nothing like the one I had on my husband before we started dating. From the moment I first laid eyes on him, I was a goner. And the rest, as they say, is history! š
I’ve had a crush on a couple guys who were dating, but my crushes began before their respective relationships. I’ve never taken it farther than a crush either.
Sounds like a great series!!! Congrats….and no secret crushes on married or engaged men here, thank goodness!!!!
I find it really interesting how many people answered “no” to the married man question.
Looking forward to the book, and I like the play on A Room of One’s Own!
A teeny tiny crush one time. That’s it.
Never. If I know they are married or seriously involved, it’s like they are not there for me.
I had a terrible crush on a co-worker who was married. He was a flirt and would sit in the cubicle next to me and tell me about his marital woes. The entire office went out drinking one night (used to do that a lot) and we chatted quite a bit and he offered to drive me home. I declined. I knew he was the type to cheat and it was one thing to listen and talk to him, but another thing to become involved in that madness. If he was unhappy enough, he should have gotten a divorce. He was sure nice to look at when I went to work though.
Good luck with the book, Maya!
Hi Maya, I haven’t read any of your books but I love the analogy to Sex and the City. I’m crossing my fingers I win a copy.