An Interview with Rae Summers

Welcome to week two of the Wild Roses Blog Tour. Today I’m interviewing Rae Summers, author of LETS MISBEHAVE.

Lilly-

Rae, LET’S MISBEHAVE isn’t your typical historical romance. It’s not a regency and it’s not a western, two of the categories we think of most often when discussing historical romances. Tell us why it’s different and about the era in which it is set.

Rae-

This story is set in the Jazz Age, the decadent 1920s. I just love that period, partly because in so many ways it’s very similar to the age we’re living in now, and also because it was such an exciting time. For me the Jazz Age was all about music and parties, champagne and short skirts, film stars and sports icons. It was a time in which anything was possible. LET’S MISBEHAVE is also different because it’s not set in America, which is the place we usually associate with the 20s (The Great Gatsby, Prohibition, Al Capone) but in England, where the social changes might have been a little more subdued, but were no less exciting.

Lilly-

Wow! Sounds fabulous. This is one of the very reasons why I love e-publishers. They seem more open to romances set in different times than say, traditional New York Publishers. Is there anything you’d like to share with us about your road to publication with this book?

Rae-

I wrote this story in one mad week; it practically wrote itself. I then submitted it to Harlequin’s fledgling Historical Undone imprint, and when they rejected it I submitted to The Wild Rose Press. Harlequin’s loss was definitely my gain. My editor at TWRP pushed me to add deeper layers to the story, and her encouragement has made this book what it is today.

Lilly-

What made you decide to write it?

Rae-

The inspiration for this story came from the Cole Porter song Let’s Misbehave, written in 1927, which also features heavily in the story. Driving home from work one day, singing along to the song, the characters suddenly appeared in my head. I just had to write their story, and as I said earlier, the words practically flowed out of me.

Lilly-

Is this your first published book? And what other ideas do you have for a historical? Are you working on anything right now?

Rae-

Yes, LET’S MISBEHAVE is my first published book. It was also the first time I tried writing a novella rather than a full length novel. I have loads of ideas for more historical novellas, most set in the 1920s. I just wish I had time to write them all! Right now I’m putting the finishing touches on a story set on the Amalfi coast in Italy in the early 20s.

Lilly-

Did any particular event in real life inspire your story?

Rae-

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Not really, though the theme (of being free to be the person you want to be) is something that means a great deal to me and runs through a lot of my stories. 

Lilly-

Where are you from? And do you have a job other than writing?

Rae-

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I live in South Africa, where I work in television advertising. It’s interesting, varied work but the hours are long and demanding, and these days I find myself resenting anything that takes my time away from writing. I dream of the day I can quit the day job and call myself a full time writer!

Lilly-

What do you find most rewarding about writing?

Rae-

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Reading something and thinking “that’s good. Did I really write that?” And losing yourself so completely in a story that the rest of the world disappears.

Lilly-

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Rae-

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It’s not something I really thought about while writing this story, but the message that comes through quite loudly, perhaps because it was something I was discovering for myself at the time, is that we must all stay true to ourselves. If you try to be someone you’re not just to please others, you’re never going to be happy.

Lilly-

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Rae-

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Revisions. I remember reading my first ever revision letter and thinking “I can’t do this – it’s too big!” But I did, and I’m glad I persevered, because the story was so much better for the changes.

Lilly-

How long have you been writing with the goal of actual publication? And what if any obstacles did you have to overcome to get to this point in your career?

Rae-

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I’ve been writing all my life but only taken it seriously the last 3-4 years.

The biggest obstacle is Time. Just finding the time to sit down and write amongst all the other demands of life; children, the day job, daily chores and the internet. I’ve had to learn to say ‘no’ to a few things (like sleep!) in order to make time to do what I love. Saying ‘no’ to the distractions of the internet is actually proving to be the most difficult.

Lilly-

Can you give us an excerpt from LET’S MISBEHAVE?

Rae-

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She shifted in her seat to take a harder look at him and felt an unfamiliar frisson of longing. He was not her usual type. He was too staid, too tightly wound, to interest her. Men like that held back all their lives, never living, never feeling. She wanted to feel everything. She wanted to experience every sensation, go places she’d never been. She wanted to taste life. Because only in those thrilling moments of living on the edge was she able to overcome the sense of loss that infected their generation.
He must have sensed her eyes on him, for he turned to look at her. Driving, even at this decorous speed, had altered him. His sandy hair was tousled by the wind, and his bright blue eyes were alight with excitement. He even laughed to catch her staring.
Her stomach did a flip. She imagined those eyes bright with mischief, burning with desire. It would be a thrill to be the one to put that look there, to push him over the edge and make him lose his careful control. It could be done. If just this little drive could stir his excitement, imagine what full blown arousal would do. The devil voice inside her head laughed.
Before he married and settled down, and allowed that spark to die inside him, Sebastian needed to learn to live. And she was going to show him how.

Lilly-

How can readers purchase your books?

Rae-

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LET’S MISBEHAVE can be bought direct from The Wild Rose Press 

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/lets-misbehave-p-4119.html

and also from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lets-Misbehave-ebook/dp/B003V4B6AK/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&m=A7B2F8DUJ88VZ&s=digital-text&qid=1279057490&sr=8-7

Lilly-

And how can they contact you? Do you have a web-page or blog you’d like to share with us?

Rae-

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I blog at http://raesummers.wordpress.com. Here you’ll find background information on this story, as well as on the period.

Lilly-

Thanks so much for joining us today, Rae. And for those of you who’d like to get to know Rae better or offer congratulations on her latest release, LET’S MISBEHAVE, please post a comment. At the end of the blog tour, some lucky commenter will receive a $20 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press. And, I believe there might even be a drawing for a gift basket from the entire blog tour. So, leave a comment people and enter to win. No purchase necessary and chances of winning depend on the number of comments.

Good luck! And happy reading.

Rae-

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Thank you for hosting me here today, Lilly.