Guest: Jennifer Haymore + Giveaway!

I'm thrilled to be interviewing some of the other authors from our new anthology, Captured by a Celtic Warrior. Everyone, please welcome Jennifer Haymore!

USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Haymore is the author of sexy historical and contemporary romance. Her books have been nominated for numerous awards, including five RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice awards and the prestigious RITA® award for best historical romance.

You can find Jennifer in Southern California trying to talk her husband into yet another trip to England, helping her three children with homework while brainstorming a new five-minute dinner menu, or crouched in a corner of the local bookstore writing her next novel.

I've read Jennifer's story in this anthology and absolutely loved it! It's titled Her Wicked Highlander and this is what it's about:

1816 - Maxwell White is the newest member of the Highland Knights, an elite mercenary group sworn to protect the Crown. His first assignment is to keep independent and spirited Aila MacKerrick safe from a madman determined to get his hands on a treasure she unwittingly possesses. But Aila isn’t going to simply allow some Highlander—as handsome as he might be—to capture her and whisk her away to an abandoned castle. She’ll fight to the death for her freedom...as soon as she rids herself of this pesky, insistent desire that makes her far more inclined to run into his arms than away from them....

Q: Welcome, Jennifer and thank you for visiting with us! What is the story behind your story?

A: Kris Kennedy came to me over a year ago and asked me to be a part of a box set she was organizing. The box set had two themes: (1) Celtic hero (easy since I’m in the middle of writing the Highland Knights series!), and (2) A capture story (a little bit more tricky, but capture stories? Yum!). My mind started churning immediately, and over the next few months, the story of Aila MacKerrick and Max White formed in my mind.

Q: I agree. The capture part of the story was fun but tricky. :) Why do you write romance?

A: I write romance because I love a happy ending that makes me feel good. I also like a bit of heat and sexual tension in the books I read. So it seems natural that the books I write should be romances as well. :)

Q: I love your Highland setting, naturally. :) Why did you choose this setting and why was it perfect for your book?

A: Strangely enough, my Highland Knights books have mostly been based in London (with frequent travels north). I have been craving writing a book that takes place entirely in the Highlands and I was finally able to with Her Wicked Highlander. Yay! And there is a dilapidated but beautiful castle thrown in for good measure.

Q: Please tell us about your favorite character in the book.

A:  I love Aila, the heroine. She is the most feisty heroine I’ve ever written. She has a sharp tongue and a strong wit, and she so strong. She isn’t afraid of anything! But I love Max, the hero, equally. He’s one of those quiet, strong warrior-types, and Aila makes him scratch his head in confusion more than once. He’s not used to dealing with women like her, lol.

Q: I love them both too! Please tell us about your other books.

A: I have over 20 books published in four series. The James Series, The Donovan Sisters, The House of Trent, and now the Highland Knights. They’re all steamy historical romances with lots of heat and heart. You can read more about them all at www.jenniferhaymore.com.

Q: If you are self-published, why did you choose that route? Do you love it or what would you do differently?

A: I am both self-published and traditionally published—I am a “hybrid” author—and both routes have their pros and cons. Traditional publishing gives a bit more structure and built-in support while self-publishing offers a ton of freedom. So depending on my mood on any given day, I’m a fan of both.

Q: Do you have any advice for unpublished authors?

A: Read! Read tons of romance in the subgenre that you love, and read outside the genre as well. I really think reading books is the #1 way to learn how to write them.

Q: What’s next for you?

A: After Captured by a Celtic Warrior, I have another book in my Highland Knights series coming out—Highland Awakening.  It releases on March 29, and you can read more about it at http://www.jenniferhaymore.com/bookshelf/highland-awakening/.

Q: Would you like to ask readers a question?

A: Romance heroes. We love them. Warriors, pirates, rakes, gentlemen, bad boys, dark and damaged, alpha...and so many more. What is your favorite kind of hero and why?

One commenter will win an ebook copy of Highland Heat, book 1 of the Highland Knights!

Captured by a Celtic Warrior is available at:

Amazon  Nook  Kobo  Ibooks

Read an excerpt!

Please visit Jennifer Haymore online at:

JenniferHaymore.com

Twitter @jenniferhaymore

Facebook.com/jenniferhaymore-author

Thank you so much for being our special guest today, Jennifer!