If you’ve stopped by the website contest this month, you know what a fan I am of Shana Galen‘s historical romances. Her books are a delicious blend of adventure, passion, humor, and–of course–romance. On March 5, Shana will release IF YOU GIVE A RAKE A RUBY, the second in her Jewels of the Ton trilogy. It’s been earning great reviews, with both RT Book Reviews and Night Owl Reviews naming it a Top Pick!
While I wait impatiently for her new book’s release, I asked Shana if she’d be willing to join me for an interview about her work. Delightful lady that she is, she agreed–and even offered an international giveaway! One commenter on this post will win a signed copy of IF YOU GIVE A RAKE A RUBY. Stick around to learn more about Shana’s new book and get all the giveaway details.
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Shana, thanks so much for joining me!
Hi Theresa! Thanks so much for having me today.
You’re known for lacing your romances with mystery and adventure. What drew you to start writing that kind of story?
It was a gradual process. I didn’t start out to write that sort of book, but I would get bored as I was writing more traditional Regency scenes in drawing rooms and at Almack’s. I’d want some excitement and would end up having my characters kidnapped or running from pistol-wielding thugs. Finally, I stopped fighting that aspect of my books and embraced the fast-paced adventurous aspect.
IF YOU GIVE A RAKE A RUBY is the second book in your Jewels of the Ton series. The first, WHEN YOU GIVE A DUKE A DIAMOND, introduced a mystery element along with its delicious romance. How much did you have to plan out the continuing plot threads, and how much did each book’s plot grow on its own?
I don’t plan much at all. In fact, it was my editor who challenged me to think of a more interesting plot twist in When You Give a Duke a Diamond. Initially, the diamonds really were diamonds. But once I expanded that mystery, the other parts of the series plot sort of fell into place. And, still, everything except the most general aspects of the overarching mystery grew out of the writing of the story.
The hero and heroine of RUBY—Warrick and Fallon—both deal in secrets for a living, but in very different ways. How did you turn a patriot and a courtesan into the perfect matches for one another?
Very carefully—almost more carefully than turning a duke and a courtesan into perfect matches! Fallon and Warrick are secretive because they’re damaged and because the truth of what they hide is dangerous. Because they have both been through traumas, they understand one another in ways others couldn’t. But that doesn’t make falling in love easy. They have to learn to trust one another and realize they need one another.
What was your favorite part of the book to write—or what scene most made you want to tear out your hair?
I liked the very first scene with Fallon and one of her admirers. She kicks his butt, and that is always so much fun for me to write. I knew I would write that scene long before I knew anything else about the book.
The heroines of your Jewels of the Ton series are known as The Three Diamonds: fascinating women with mysterious (and surprising!) pasts. In honor of the Three Diamonds, will you share something mysterious or surprising about yourself?
Oh, I have lots of secrets! One is a secret project you may have read and not even known I was the one who wrote it! That’s all I can say…
Intriguing! All right…what projects are coming up next for you?
In September, the next book in what has become my Lord and Lady Spy series will be out. It’s titled True Spies and continues the story of Sophia and Adrian from Lord and Lady Spy, as well as introducing a new couple who must fight to save the Barbican group from the man bent on destroying it and England with it.
Sounds wonderful. Shana, thank you for being here today!
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Readers, it’s your turn to answer a question. Giving a rake a ruby worked for Warrick and Fallon; now we want to hear about your gifts! Please leave a comment telling about the best or most surprising gift you ever got–or the gift you most wish you would get! One random commenter will win a signed copy of IF YOU GIVE A RAKE A RUBY.
This giveaway is open internationally and will remain open until noon ET on February 26, 2013. The winner’s name will be posted in the comments; the winner will be contacted using the email address submitted with the comment.
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About Shana: Shana Galen is the bestselling author of fast-paced adventurous Regency historicals, including the RT Reviewers’ Choice The Making of a Gentleman. Her books are published all over the world and have been featured in the Rhapsody and Doubleday Book Clubs. She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston’s inner city. Now she writes full time. She’s happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making. Shana loves to hear from readers: visit her website at www.shanagalen.com or see what she’s up to daily on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ShanaGalen) and Twitter (@shanagalen).
You can also download Shana’s author app for Android or Apple and check out her blog posts with the Sisterhood of the Jaunty Quills. And if you haven’t entered this month’s contest yet, stop on by–Shana’s giving away copies of WHEN YOU GIVE A DUKE A DIAMOND and LORD AND LADY SPY to one winner, open internationally!
Order IF YOU GIVE A RAKE A RUBY:
Print: IndieBound • Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Books-A-Million
Ebook: Kindle • NOOK • Kobo
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72 users responded in this post
Thanks again for having me, Theresa! I’ll be stopping in all day.
How cool – I love the story already – and LOVE the cover, too – thank you so much for sharing the book and your experiences with us!!!
I loved the 1st book and cannot wait for the 2nd. Thanks for the great interview and the giveaway. Your books are awesome!!!!!!
As a homesick Michigander currently living in Pittsburgh, I would love a tiny cottage on Lake Michigan!
Shana, thanks so much for the interview, and for stopping by today!
Felicia, isn’t that a gorgeous cover? Shana mentioned that the title’s in gold, so the books will be even more beautiful in person.
Patricia, agreed! I loved the HEA in the first book and wished I didn’t have to wait so long to learn more clues to the mysteries.
Maria, that sounds like a lovely getaway!
I’m not able to enter the contest (drat), but I’ve often wished for one of those Time Turners from the Harry Potter stories. Wouldn’t it be great to have time for all of life’s demands–and still time to settle down with a good book afterwards?
Love the first book.
Love the dialogue especially. 
And a ruby would work for me too.
Any type of jewellery actually. 
Thanks for stopping by, Felicia. I love the cover too!
Thanks, Patricia! Good luck, and thanks for posting on my Facebook page, too
A pound of Sees chocolates a customer gave me that they picked out the ones I mentioned I liked.
Maria, I’, originally from Michigan too. We used to go to Big Star Lake in the summer. It was heaven!
The best gift I ever got was a new wedding ring. It was a thick (frosted) gold band with my initials (in scroll lettering) on the front. I had wanted that particular ring….foreeeeever. My hubby kept saying no, that he didn’t like it. I was floored when he bought it for me!
Theresa, I need a time turner! I wish someone would hurry up and invent one. And yes, the lettering on the book’s title is shiny gold and raised. It’s so pretty.
Readers, see how much I like Theresa to let her convince me to part with one of my beauties?
Thanks, May! I never say no to jewelry.
Julie, that’s a fabulous, thoughtful gift. What a wonderful customer!
Betty, maybe he was trying to throw you off the scent. It sounds like a beautiful ring.
Beautiful book cover. My boyfriend is quite generous with gifts, I can’t complain
About 4 years ago on Mother’s Day my husband and kids got me a Nook. I love it and still use it. I have around 4 books on it and so easy to take with you everywhere. It has been on its fair share of vacations.
My dad got me a necklace for my 18th birthday, which I wear every day. I always feel weird if I’m not wearing it!
I can’t wait to read If You Give A Rake A Ruby, sounds fab
Olga, always the sign of a keeper!
Chris, I was wary of e-readers when they first debuted, but now I have seen the light. Great gift!
Cerian, I think that’s so sweet. What a great dad and a great way to show him how much his gift means.
Thank you Shana for making such wonderfully enjoyable books and characters. I think my most cherished gift came from my sister-in-law. It is a silver pendant and chain of an angel that she gave me the year that my husband and I lost our son Sean. The year 2003 was not kind to either me or my sister-in-law, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer the month after my son died. Despite her divorce from my brother, she and I will always share a kinship that we survived that difficult time together.
I love historical romance and Shana’s books are on top of my TBR list! Thank you for the international giveaway
The best gift I ever got was a kindle for my birthday!
My husband asked me to marry him on Christmas Eve.
My best gift was a ring I got from my grandparents. I always wear it and it is a great reminder of the people I love in my life
Time spent with my grandmother. We lived in different states, 8 hours away and I would go every summer and stay with her. We would travel and have the best time.
Right before my 25th anniversary I lost the stone out of my wedding ring while raking tons of leaves. I was devasted. That Christmas he surprised me with a new engagement ring that he had specially made. Although I miss my original ring, this one also means the world to me.
As a child my best gift was a wild farm cat – the rest is history lol.
catslady5(at)aol.com
Great interview! I loved When You Give A Duke A Diamond! Looking forward to reading If You Give A Rake A Ruby.
I must lead a pretty boring life as I cannot think of a surprising gift I have received, nor one I really want. Boring, I know.
Thanks for the giveaway!
jakki36 at yahoo dot com
Jewelery isn’t really on my list of high priorities anymore. But a beautiful dinner, lovely house plant, selection of good books, and other things of a personal nature are wonderful and surprising gifts that I love to receive.
When I was working as a teacher, my paraprofessional gave me a ring that had belonged to her for Christmas; it is an antique Mexican opal which her first boyfriend gave her and which she never told her husband about. I treasure that ring and only wear it for special occasions, remembering the special relationship I had with this paraprofessional.
I absolutely loved the first book in the series (that’s also how I found out about you, Shana!) and can’t wait to read this one.
As for gifts, the most precious gift given to me were 4 finger puppets from when I first emigrated to the U.S. as a child. They were the first gift that I received from a stranger and it was immensely kind of him to do so. They came from a guest at my aunt’s wedding who found me really funny, and coincidentally, this guest later became one of my closest friends.
I can’t wait to read this book!!! Great interview. I tweeted.
I loved the first book in this series and am eagerly awaiting this one!
I got a Nook for Christmas in 2011. I love it. I got my hubby a hot air balloon ride as a wedding present. We both enjoyed that.
The best and most surprising gift I’ve received is a new camera from my son for Christmas. It was a surprise and I loved it.
I’d really love to get an ebook reader or an ipad. Hope my parents or siblings are reading this post :p
Love your books Shana!
My husband gave me a Tiffany key necklace for our 25th anniversary. He included a card that said I know had the key to his heart literally.
Sandi, that’s a lovely story and a wonderful gift to remind you of your son.
Kristia, I love my e-reader too!
Lori, that’s so romantic! Sounds like a romance novel
Veronica, I’m lucky to have received some pretty rings and necklaces from my grandmother too. They aren’t really anything I would pick for myself, but they were things my grandmother loved and wore and gave to me.
Lori H., I remember spending weeks at my grandparents’ house too. It was a special time. I am trying to do the same thing with my daughter.
catslady, that just kills me! Somewhere in a mulch pile is your diamond! Glad you got a new one, though.
Jakki, I would have been able to think of anything either until my last birthday when mu hubby surprised me with a car.
Karon, I’m with you. I love special dates that aren’t necessarily expensive but show some thoughtfulness. That means the most to me.
Trudy, what a fabulous gift! I love opals, too.
Mary, what an original gift! I need to pull out my daughter’s finger puppets.
Ella, I hope you get it soon! Thanks for the tweet.
Marcy, I have always wanted to take a hot air balloon ride. It seems so romantic. It might not be with me, though, since I’m scared of heights.
Barbara, you must like to take pictures. That’s a very thoughtful gift, too.
Linda, I have an ipad and love it. I have the Nook and Kindle apps on it and use them both!
Ann, I have yet to get one of those little blue boxes. That’s a very elegant, classy gift.
Shana, I can’t wait to read this book! If I had to say what gift I want the most it would have to be more books, especially If You Give a Rake a Ruby!
Hello Theresa and welcome Shana! Oh I can not wait for the next Lord and Lady spy book, I’m predicting Blue will get his own story *wink wink*
As for the question, my best gift was receiving my first MP3 player, still have it, still works, and still uses it. It’s small and portable and fits in my pocket and small places, thought of getting an ipod or something but that’s to high tech for my taste.
kp_kazamei(at)yahoo(dot)com
Nice interview. Would like a trip around the world.
The Christmas after my husband finished grad school and started his first job, he surprised me with a gorgeous emerald necklace for my support. Nowadays I don’t have a lot of occasions to wear it. However, I was thrilled when my daughter borrowed it on her wedding day.
Great interview, love Jewels of the Ton series. Can’t wait for the the second diamond(If You Give a Rake a Ruby) that’s the gift I want to be given:)
Shana, thanks so much for being here! Can’t wait to find out what happens in IF YOU GIVE A RAKE A RUBY.
Hi, everyone–thank you for all your great comments about gifts and Shana’s books! This giveaway is open until 2-26, so you can keep stopping by.
Patti, I know what you mean. I have so many books to read, yet I’d never turn down more!
Ki pha, I’m hoping for more about Blue too! There’s a teaser for TRUE SPIES up on Amazon…http://www.amazon.com/True-Spies-Shana-Galen/dp/1402276028/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361378126&sr=1-2&keywords=true+spies
bn100, you must be a traveler! How would you like to see the world: by plane, train, or automobile (or boat)?
Laurie, what a beautiful surprise. It must have meant a lot to your daughter, too, to wear something that was so special to her parents.
Khadijo, you and me both.
At least we don’t have too long to wait!
Patti, that must be why I like you! My favorite gifts are always books.
Ki Pha, I cannot live without my iPhone. Well, I could but not happily. I just sent the revised manuscript for True Spies, so onward!
bn100, that would be so much fun! Think of everything you could see!
Laurie, what is special jewelry for if not to give it to our kids to borrow for their special days. I can’t wait to give my daughter some of my special pieces. Love your story!
Khadijo, good luck with the giveaway!
Theresa, thank YOU for having me
I’ll try to check back a few more times through 2-26. Yes, there is going to be a novella for Blue. In fact, I need help with the title. Right now it’s THE SPY WORE BLUE, but I don’t love that. Any suggestions?
I also just sent the contracts for LOVE AND LET SPY, another Lord and Lady Spy book!
Shana, thanks so much. And what fantastic news! How awesome to get more stories in your Lord and Lady Spy series. Will Blue’s novella be out this year?
asked my mom for a new white gold chain bracelet (the one I’d been wearing daily for ~ 20 yrs has some links that were thin & at risk of breaking) for either my b-day (in Nov) or xmas. (she often liked to get nice jewelry or such for one of the 2 events)for my b-day she got a lovely multi colored jade bracelet so figured would have to wait another year for the chain bracelet. instead she surprised me at xmas with a new white gold chain bracelet, a little thicker than i’d been wearing, but with interesting links/design that I love. it turned out to be the last one as well since she passed away suddenly a few months later. I wear that new bracelet every day & remember how pleased she was to be able to surprise me with just what I wanted & asked for that year
congrats on the upcoming release & new book contracts.
Donna Ann, that is such a sweet story. What a wonderful mom. I bet she was as pleased by your surprise as you were by the gift.
Theresa, Blue’s novella will be out in January. I’m asking for help with the title, so if anyone has a suggestion, you can put it here or on my Facebook page.
Shana, I put out a title call on Twitter! I’ll think about titles, too. “Blue Spies” came to mind right away, since it will follow TRUE SPIES.
Too similar? Yeah, probably.
Readers, got any other title ideas for Shana?
Thanks, Theresa! I have some great suggestions but I could use more.
Hi, everyone–thanks so much for entering! I’m a little late closing this giveaway (thanks, Winter Storm Rocky)–but I’ve got a winner!
bn100, random.org picked your comment, so even if you don’t get that trip around the world, you’ll get a copy of IF YOU GIVE A RAKE A RUBY. I’ll follow up with you by email.
Everyone else: there’s still another giveaway going on! Shana’s offering signed copies of LORD AND LADY SPY and WHEN YOU GIVE A DUKE A DIAMOND. You can enter on the site’s Contest page.
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