Hello my friends. Today I am chatting with romance author Barbara DeLeo about her newest release, Contract for Marriage.
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Denise:
Barbara, lovely to meet you. Thanks for stopping by
here at L’Aussie Writing on your tour to let the world know that you have a new
novel released. Contract for Marriage sounds a riveting read.
Barbara: Hi Denise! Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog
today. It’s been a hectic couple of weeks since the release of my debut novel, Contract for Marriage, so it’s lovely to stop
in for a chat. I’m a New Zealander so just across the pond from you, but am currently on a three month trip to
Greece and Cyprus with my family. Today I’m in a tiny village on the west coast
of Cyprus and it’s gorgeous.
Denise: I'm so jealous! I've not made it to Greece yet! But tell us a little about your writing journey thus far. How many books have you
previously published or do you have in the works? Tell us about being picked up
by Entangled Publishing.
Barbara: I’ve been writing seriously for the past seven years and
in that time completed six manuscripts. I’ve always written romance but in the
last few years targeted category length stories specifically.
I completed revisions on a number of manuscripts for different
editors but my stories always seemed to be a little out of the box. When my
agent suggested we submit my latest manuscript to Entangled Publishing, I was very
interested. They’d only just started the Indulgence line and the titles were so
fun and fresh that I was more than happy. When my agent called only a couple of
weeks later with the offer for Contract for Marriage I was thrilled. I’ve since
sold another book to the Indulgence line. “Last Chance Proposal” is out in
January.
Denise:
Why category romance? For readers who might not be familiar with these books,
what do you think their appeal is?
Barbara: Category romance is generally defined as a romance between 40,000
and 80,000 words in which the primary focus is on the developing relationship
between the hero and heroine. Someone once described category romance as a hit
of rich dark chocolate while a Single Title romance was a three-course meal. I
love a three-course meal as much as anyone but I also love my indulgent quick
treats and that’s the way I like to think of my category romances. In terms of
craft, they are an intense, tightly written story which needs to have full
character development, a satisfying story and a happily ever after in one neat
package, so they are an exciting challenge to write.
Denise:
I see you love to travel and also that you set your stories in exotic
destinations. Did any of your travel experiences turn up in Contract for Marriage?
Barbara:
My husband’s family is from Greece and Cyprus (hence
the current trip with him, his parents and our four children now!) and we lived
and travelled in Europe when we were in our twenties. I love different sights
and sounds and smells, so try to layer these into my stories. Contract for
Marriage is set in New Zealand but Christo has Greek heritage so I was able to
weave in some of my experiences with the Greek culture. While I’m in Europe now
I’m taking photos and notes for some settings in future books.
Denise:
Both your hero and heroine, Christo and Ruby, sound like very strong
characters. How did you find the balance with their strengths? How did you play
one against the other?
Barbara:
What a great question! I love strong characters, strong
alpha males because they know exactly want they want and will do whatever it
takes to get it —including moving any obstacle to get the woman they desire—
but I believe a strong hero also needs a strong heroine. When each of the
characters is challenged by the other we not only get lots of spark, but lots
of passion and emotion too.
In Contract for Marriage, Christo and Ruby are not only strong in
their belief that they each should have the house, they’re also very strong in
their desire to fight for someone they love. For Christo, it’s getting the
house for his mother who has lived there for forty years, for Ruby, it’s
acquiring a legacy for her baby. I think the fact that both their goals are
such honorable ones, readers are prepared to see some fire and conflict between
the two. The fact that they’re required to share the house until they can sort
their issues out leads to all sorts of interesting shenanigans!
Thanks so much for hosting me today, Denise.
You can find Barbara at:
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Bio
Barbara
DeLeo’s first book, co-written with her best friend, was a story about
beauty queens in space. She was eleven, and the sole, handwritten copy was lost
years ago much to everyone’s relief. It’s some small miracle that she kept the
faith and now lives her dream of writing sparkling contemporary romance with
unforgettable characters.
Degrees in English and Psychology, and a career as an
English teacher, fuelled Barbara’s passion for people and stories, and a number
of years living in Europe gave her a love for romantic settings.
Discovering she was having her second set of twins in
two years, Barbara knew she must be paying penance for being disorganized in a
previous life and was determined to get it right this time. It’s amazing what
being housebound with four preschoolers will do for the imagination and she
decided it was time to follow her writing dream. Funnily enough, those first
manuscripts had not a single child in them.
Married to her winemaker hero, Barbara’s happiest
when she’s getting to know her latest cast of characters. She still loves
telling stories about finding love in all the wrong places, but now without a
beauty queen or spaceship in sight.
- Barbara would love to gift a copy of Contract for Marriage to one lucky commenter, so please comment before leaving. You never know...
- And don't forget to sign up for RomanticFridayWriters Halloween House of Horrors. Sign up now and post between October 19 - 21st!
