Monday, May 9, 2016

Author Spotlight~ Rhiannon Wellman

Please give a warm welcome to author Rhiannon Wellman today as we chat about their new book, Lightson Dynasty.

Thanks for stopping by to talk a little about your writing! Let's jump right in. When did you begin writing and why?

I started writing about six years ago, it was fanfiction and partly as a way to build my confidence and partly because I couldn't find the type of story I wanted to read so I thought I'd write it myself.
After a year or so I decided to try my hand at writing something original and here we are.

Do you have a favorite genre? Is it the same genre you prefer to write?

I love romantic stories, but romance can fit into almost ever genre. I'm lucky I guess, right now I'm working on three different stories one in 17th century England and two modern ones, none of the stories the same apart from an underlying theme of love.

Do certain themes and ideas tend to capture your writer’s imagination and fascinate you?

I get inspired all the time by silly little things, even just a phrase will put something in motion. I often try to fit things in to a story I've heard throughout the day. Or start a whole new book just to use something I've seen or heard.

Do you have a favorite author who introduced you to the genre?

I have lots of favorite authors trying to pick one is like trying to pick your favorite child, just not possible. As for romance writers, Betty Neels has written some lovely ones, although she doesn't write MM books like I do.

What advantages or challenges does a writer in your genre face in today’s fiction market?

I think the main challenge I face is that so many small publishers have close recently but that also leads to an advantage because I'm able to self-publish which is really exciting.

What's on the top of your TBR pile right now?

A writer I've loved since I was about ten years old, Terry Pratchett, died just over a year ago and I've not been able to read his final book yet, I tried and burst in to tears after a page. I intend to start at the beginning and re read all his books. I also just bought 50 Betty Neels books from a pre loved book shop so I'm reading my way through those too. So that’s the next month or two sorted.

Tell me a little about the characters in Lightson Dynasty.

Jo and Marcus are such a lot of fun to write. Jo having grown up in India with doting parents who allowed him to live how he wanted, including wearing dresses rather than trousers. After they died Jo moved back to England to live which his grandmother, who having been presented with what appeared to be a young woman, she has decided that her 'granddaughter' must marry a suitable young man.
Enter Marcus, who has a grandmother of his own. He's also been highly advised to marry. Marcus' problems stem from the fact he's never found women to be in any way appealing.

Where’s the story set? How much influence did the setting have on the atmosphere/characters/development of the story?

The story is set in 17th century England which has a huge influence on everything about the story. The characters have to act in a particular way due to the standards of the time, but as much as there are restrictions on everyday life there are also freedoms. No one is going to check if Jo is male or female before his wedding day, providing he finds a man willing.

If you had to write your memoir in five words, what would you write?

She never stuck to the rules.

How often does your muse distract you from day to day minutiae?

My muse is like a hyper active six year old who's been allowed free access to sweets. I can't write one thing at a time, I always have at least three or four books on the go at any one time

What do readers have to look forward to in the future from you?

Well in a month or so Lightson Dynasty will have a sequel out called The Lightson Child. It's already finished and with my darling editor. After that will be a Third called Over Fire and Anvil which will complete the Lightson Trilogy.
There will also be a sequel to Red on the Moon, called Moon Bound, The Mark of the Moon series will have five books in total. Beyond that there are another four in the works too. Like I said my muse is a hyper active six year old.



Historical romance
 The series is The Lightson Dynasty

Jo's life had never been simple. But since he moved in with his grandmother, things only became worse. First, she assumes that Jo stood for Josephine not Joseph. Then she believes all young women should be suitably married, especially her granddaughter, Jo…
So now Jo's expected to marry a man he's never met and whose own grandmother also wants the match. But how can he when he must protect his secret?
Marcus would rather spend time with his books and the gentlemen at his club than women, let alone marry one.
With both their grandmothers working against them, will they be able to find their way out of this potentially scandalous situation? After spending time together, will they want to?

Excerpt:

Jo couldn't help but laugh out loud at that statement. "I will bet you any amount of money you care to name that you will never meet a girl like me again." Jo moved well back from the edge of the cliff and opened the basket to retrieve the blanket that lay across the top of the food. Marcus helped Jo to set out the food, and they sat down.
"How did your grandmother convince you to come, if you do not mind me asking?" Jo asked.
"She did what every mother and grandmother does when she wants a male of her acquaintance to do something he might not want to do. She threatened me. She told me that if I did not comply, then I would be cut off and disowned."
"That seems rather extreme."
"My grandmother wishes to see me settled down before she dies. And my mother, well..." Marcus paused, staring down at his food and avoiding eye contact.
"I know we just met, but I promise you nothing you say to me will go any further than the two of us. My grandmother, after all, is doing the exact same thing to me."
Marcus nodded. "I suppose we are somewhat in the same boat, as it were. Very well, my mother is too frightened of my grandmother to dare oppose her on anything. She is my father's mother, and very used to getting her own way. She also has the type of mind that once 'tis made up, there is no changing it."
Jo nodded. "Grandmother is just the same, but I have no mother and father any longer whom I could turn to. I shall have to put up with it. I must confess, I fully intended to make myself as unpleasant as possible for the duration of your stay to insure that you wouldn't even think of making me an offer."
Marcus laughed goodnaturedly. "I planned to be as boorish as I could manage, so you wouldn't accept when I did. Ye gads, we are a pair, aren’t we."
"What are we going to do now? You have to ask, and I have to say yes."
Jo couldn't help but feel downcast as this all became extremely overwhelming. He just did not know what he could do now.
"I do not know. If they were not such close friends, I would suggest we lie. You could say I never asked, and I could say that you refused me."
Jo huffed a laugh. "A good suggestion, but it would not work. I never expected to marry. My mother used to tell me that one day, I would find someone I wished to spend my life with, and she and my father would be happy for me no matter who the person was. But now they are gone. All Grandmother cares about is that I marry someone suitable."
"Why would you not marry? You are a beautiful woman; gentlemen must have made you offers before," Marcus asked as if genuinely surprised that Jo thought so lowly of himself.
"We better get back to the house. You'll want to settle in and get ready for dinner," Jo said, getting up and artfully avoiding the question.
"Yes, you are quite right. It would be most rude of me to delay you any further."
Jo couldn't help but smile. "I doubt the staff expected me back in time for dinner tonight. That is why they gave me the packed meal."
"Planning to avoid my arrival?" Marcus asked with a wry smile.

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