MIA MARLOWE—My Cup Runs Over

My guest today is historical romance author, Mia Marlowe. She and Connie Mason (I've long admired Connie) teamed up to write The Sins Of The Highlander, set in the time of Mary, Queen of Scots. They have a series in the works. It will be interesting to see what these two storytellers come up with.


After wrestling with Mia a bit (I'm pretty tough, too, ranching in the Ozarks), I did get her to tell us a little about herself some of the things she's had to overcome. I'm delighted she's visiting Over Coffee.

Hello Sia and all your lovely blog-ettes! I’m so excited to be with you today, but I gotta confess something. When I first saw your guidelines for blog posts and your suggestion that I write about ME, I wilted a bit inside. Writing about myself is the hardest thing I do as a author. I suffer from chronic Midwest-itis. Comes from a lifetime of being trained never to be the grabby child and always to take the smallest piece.

Of course, I don’t live in the Midwest now. My DH and I have made our home in Boston since 2007. Who’d have guessed a pair of Ozarkians could settle down and enjoy life in Beantown? I’ll admit there have been some adjustments. Driving here requires nerves of steel and the reflexes of a cat. But all those things you hear about New Englanders being cold and stand-offish just aren’t true. Every time I get behind the wheel, other drivers honk and give me friendly hand signals. Of course, in Missouri we used a different finger to wave at folks.

Another thing Sia suggested was that I share my personal challenges. So here goes. Until 2008, I took my good health for granted, but that was the year I was diagnosed with cancer. No one was more surprised than me. Hearing that C-word is a surreal kick in the pants.

 

However, we caught the cancer early and my prognosis is excellent. I’m cancer-free and counting. November 2013 will mark 5 years since my diagnosis and I’m looking forward to the lovely day when I can finally use that other “C-word”—Cured! Thank you, God.

I share this because if your doctor suggests any kind of cancer screening test, you really should take it. What you don’t know can hurt you.

Other tidbits about me: I’ve been married to the same great guy for more years than either of us was single. We have two daughters. We love animals and have had two horses, I don’t know how many assorted dogs, cats, goldfish and one gerbil I thought would never die. And my DH still knows how to show a girl a good time. Because he works in the travel industry, we’ve been able to take some really fabulous trips all over Europe and the US. I’m lucky and I know it. My cup is so full it’s running over and making a mess all over the place.

I’m a great list maker. Mostly because if I don’t write it down, it’s likely not to get done. So I routinely post “bucket lists” of things I want to accomplish. (The latest incarnation is on my website www.miamarlowe.com )

People always ask where I find ideas for my books. They’re all around me—in music, art, overheard conversations at the coffee shop... I’ve often said if I was a reality show, I would canceled because my life is too boring. At least on the outside. Actually, my life is filled with tons of drama, excitement and angst, but most of it never really happens. Except inside my head. And in my books.

    

I’ll wrap this up now because I know Sia is going to tell you about my new release SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER and believe me, it’s much more interesting than I am. So finally I’ll share that recently I heard a country song that stuck with me. (This was a real surprise to me since I’m a classically trained soprano and my kids routinely accuse me of being a musical snob.)  The chorus went like this: “God’s great. Beer’s good. People are crazy.”

I agree with two of those sentiments wholeheartedly. I’ll let you guess which ones!

Make your guess, or share which ones you agree with and you’ll be entered in the drawing for SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER. Or you can ask me a question. Just remember I write fiction. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll make something up.

Thanks again, Sia!

SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER

 – IN STORES JANUARY 2012

Abduction…

Never had Elspeth Stewart imagined her wedding would be interrupted by a dark-haired stranger charging in on a black stallion, scooping her into his arms, and carrying her off across the wild Scottish highlands. Pressed against his hard chest and nestled between his strong thighs, she ought to have feared for her life. But her captor silenced all protests with a soul-searing kiss, giving Elspeth a glimpse of the pain behind his passion—a pain only she could ease.

Obsession…

“Mad Rob” MacLaren thought stealing his rival’s bride-to-be was the prefect revenge. But Rob never reckoned that this beautiful, innocent lass would awaken the part of him he thought dead and buried with his wife. Against all reason, he longed to introduce the luscious Elspeth to the pleasures of the flesh, to make her his, and only his, forever.

With two clans against them burning for battle, they must find a way to join together—body, breath and soul. Or both will be made to pay for the Sins of the Highlander? Excerpt

BUY: AMAZON, BARNES and NOBLE, CHAPTERS INDIGO (canada)

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Connie Mason is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 novels. She was named Storyteller of the Year in 1990 and received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews in 1994. She currently lives in Florida. Mia Marlowe is a highly acclaimed new voice in romance whose debut novel released in Spring 2011 from Kensington. She lives in Boston, MA. Together, they are working on a new Regency romance series for Sourcebooks Casablanca, the first of which will be in stores in Fall 2012. For more information, please visit http://www.conniemason.com/, http://miamarlowe.com/ and follow Mia on Twitter @Mia_Marlowe.