Monday, September 16, 2013

Interview and Giveaway: Victoria Roberts

Please join me in welcoming Victoria Roberts to Debbie's Book Bag today. Victoria is here promoting the release of her book, To Wed a Wicked Highlander. I got the opportunity to ask her a few questions that I think you will enjoy. Check out your chance to win a copy of To Wed a Wicked Highlander at the end of this post!

DEB: Victoria, tell us a little bit about yourself.
VR: First, thank you so much for having me here today.

Let’s see. I’m a wife and mother. Home is in western PA, but my heart is in the Highlands.

DEB: What was your inspiration for this book? 
VR: Alexander MacDonell made his appearance in Temptation in a Kilt. He was the cousin of Lady Rosalia Armstrong. Even in the first book, Alex wanted to make his father proud. Duty and honor were important to him and I thought it only fitting that the man had his own tale told. 

DEB:  Is it a single title or part of an on going series?
VR: This book is part of my Bad Boys of the Highlands series.

Temptation in Kilt (Laird Ciaran MacGregor and Lady Rosalia Armstrong) is the first in the series. X Marks the Scot (Declan MacGregor and Lady Liadain Campbell) is the second in the series and To Wed a Wicked Highlander (Laird Alexander MacDonell and Lady Sybella MacKenzie) is the third.

DEB: Were you always fascinated with Scotland or is this just an idea you got for the series? 
VR: I don’t think fascinated is the appropriate word to describe Scotland. I’d say more like obsessed. Before I began my writing career, I was hooked as soon as my friend gave me my first Scottish historical romance to read. I couldn’t get enough. Between the bonny countryside, dramatic history, castles, clans, swords, men in kilts, oh my… 

DEB: What is about the highlanders that you think draws romance readers to it? 
VR: I can’t speak for other readers, but I can speak for myself. 

Scotland is a country with such a rich history. I know the intrigue pulls me in like a magnet. These men and women were so proud, fighting for freedom, wanting to make a better life. The country to this day tries to preserve their historical landmarks and the memory of battles not to be forgotten.

DEB:  Do you have a favorite author or genre that you like to read for pleasure? 
VR: I switch up the genres a lot. I’ll read paranormal, regency, urban fantasy, mystery, etc. 

DEB: How long have you been writing and what was your first experience with the publishing industry like? 
VR: I’ve been writing professionally for about five or six years, but I’ve always dabbled.

My first experience in publishing was definitely not the norm. I finished my first manuscript Temptation in a Kilt in August, pitched to Sourcebooks in September, got asked for a full at the same time, was asked to pitch the series in March or April, found my agent in April and sold the series in June. So yes, my first experience in publishing was a whirlwind in a good way! Not only did I sell my first manuscript, but I sold a series. I still shake my head over that one and occasionally pinch myself to ensure I’m not dreaming. 

DEB:  Do you have advice for new writers?
VR: Follow your dreams and write your passion. Whether you write poetry, fiction, horror, sci-fi, put your heart and soul into your project and readers will see that you do.

DEB: Tell us something about yourself that readers may not know.
VR: I still cringe when I think about this one. My husband used to have a motorcycle (Honda Nighthawk) and in my early twenties, I drove it on a drag strip. Not the brightest of ideas considering I had it up to 70mph and then realized I didn’t really know how to ride a motorcycle all that well. Young and stupid.

DEB: What are you working on right now?
VR: I sold another series to Sourcebooks. I’m currently working on the first book of the Royal Rebellion series called My Highland Spy. This book should hit the shelves in fall 2014.

Thank you so much for having me today.

Giveaway Details:



The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of To Wed a Wicked Highlander by Victoria Roberts.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US  and Canadian Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, September 30th.

1. Please leave a comment on this post. Victoria Roberts wants to know... What's the craziest thing you've ever done?

2. Please fill out the FORM.

19 comments:

Victoria Roberts said...

Thank you so much for having me today!

sin said...

Hi Victoria. Loved your interview & books.. sigh. Men in Kilts Look forward to your new series.

The craziest thing I have done? Let a friend talk me into dying my hair with permanent dye. Not smart. I looked like I had straw half way up my head after a couple of months.

Victoria Roberts said...

Oh, no! My sister did this once in high school and my poor dad had to run to the grocery store in the middle of the night to get more hair dye because her hair was ORANGE!

Di said...

probably when I tried to hold a car back from going over an embankment (the brake hadn't been set!) - fortunately the driver was able to run to the door, lean in & set it. We don't think about how things could have gone bad for either of us if the car hadn't stopped rolling.

sallans d at yahoo dot com

Victoria Roberts said...

Don't you wish we could turn back the clock and fix things, Di? I cringe when I think about all the crazy things I've done. Let's chalk it up to youth.

Anonymous said...

The craziest thing I ever did was straighten my hair. It was the worst hair day for months afterwards. Will never do that again. Will stick with the naturally curly hair forever.

Beth Sheehe
Scottishhighlander@aol.com

Victoria Roberts said...

Hi Beth. My daughter has naturally curly hair and realized she's stuck with it forever, too. No use fighting the inevitable.

Celtic Barb’s Tartan Book Review Blog said...

Hi Victoria! In my high school days I used to get perms and body waves, crimping iron anything to get a curl in my poker straight hair. Don't get me started on how much I dyed my hair in high school...lol. I guess at that age your never happy with what you were born with. My two daughters both inherited my straight hair too,..lol One is a blonde the other is a brunette ironically...lol As always I enjoy your books as Scottish historicals is my favorite genre ye ken...sexy men in kilts a favorite pastime of mine, plus my wee obsession with everything Scottish! Alba Gu Brath...Scotland forever!

Barb Batlan-Massabrook
bmassabrook@gmail.com

CrystalGB said...

The craziest thing I ever did was marrying my husband after only dating for 4 months. It was a crazy thing to do but it has been over 10 years and we are still doing great. :)

Brooke Showalter said...

The craziest thing I've ever done? Agree to date the guy who worked for an outside company that cleaned my office. 4 1/2 years and one baby later...lol. Crazy but worth it!

jmcgaugh said...

What comes to mind at the moment is that I used to (when I was around 11 or 12) jump off of things that were very high; it's a wonder I never injured myself. Fortunately, my mother didn't know about it at the time!

Joanne said...

The craziest thing I've ever done is to keep driving passed this guys house that my friend liked and we would keep switching drivers and clothes thinking, in our teenage minds, that he wouldn't know it was us.

Rachelle21 said...

Take my top off at Whiz Bang Quick City 2 which was held at Woodstock, Ny. It was over 100 and I had been wearing black. I did not have anything on under the top!
I was also much thinner at the time.

Victoria Roberts said...

Barb, I remember those days all too well.

Crystal, I've heard of people doing that and they're still going strong, too. Good for you!

Brooke, stranger things have happened. ;-)

JM, oh the things we don't tell our mothers...

Hi Joanne. Good fun. lol

Rachelle, you are very brave.

Unknown said...

I went sky diving on my 30th birthday. It was the scariest thing I have ever done. Very thrilling though, nothing like getting the adrenaline pumping. :)

Victoria Roberts said...

Wow, Steph. That's something I don't think I could ever do. I admire your courage.

Anita Yancey said...

I let my husband talk me into putting a strawberry blonde hair coloring in my hair. My hair looked extremely red and with my skin coloring it made me look like a freak. Needless to say I don't take his suggestions any more. Thanks for having the giveaway.

ayancey1974(at)gmail(dot)com

bn100 said...

travel by myself

Renee said...

I love to go get lost in places I don't know and have never been. I did it in Tuscon and several other cities. Now I realize I was lucky nothing bad happened to me.