Over the next few
months I'll be bringing you some different authors and their new
releases here on my blog. Today I'm delighted to welcome Joanne
Troppello who is talking about her latest romantic novel, MR
SHIPLEY'S GOVERNESS.
Joanne is an author of
inspirational and romantic suspense novels. She and her husband are
Network Marketing Coaches and owners of Mustard Seed Marketing Group,
LLC. They have several active blogs and readers are encouraged to
visit their Author's Corner Blog, a place for authors and readers to
connect. They host various blog parties throughout the year and many
guest authors stop by to meet with readers.
I was dying to know more about Joanne, and she has kindly answered some questions about her life as a writer.
Q. How did you first
get into writing?
My high school English
teacher during my senior year was very influential in my dreams to
become a writer. My teacher brought life into the stories of
literature and encouraged us to follow our dreams.
Q. What inspired you to
write this particular book?
One
of my favorite authors is Jane Austen. I love her books, my
favorites--Emma, Sense & Sensibility and Pride
& Prejudice. I thought it would be neat to include some
Austenesque elements into the book and my heroine is also
a huge Austen fan. I wanted to write the book with an old-world
romance style but in a contemporary setting. My goal was to maintain
a classic tone reminiscent of some of the treasured books I'd grown
up reading. I hope readers love Sophie and Sebastian as much as I
enjoyed creating them.
Q. Do you ever hit
'writer's block', and if so how do you get through it?
Sometimes I have
experienced it. However, I have been trying to write everyday even if
it’s only a little bit. When I do run into writer’s block, I try
to do some free writing and also listen to inspirational music.
Q. What are you working
on at the moment?
I’m currently working
on a YA Fantasy novel. It’s my first foray into this genre and I’m
enjoying the experience of writing something new and outside my
comfort zone.
Q. Please tell us the story behind Mr. Shipley’s Governess
Since my teenage years,
I’ve been a fan of reading first YA fiction and then romance
novels. Who doesn’t like reading about a dreamy hero as he pursues
the heroine of the story? I began my foray into writing during my
high school years. I was not actually published until many years
later, but the dream was born in my heart during my senior year in
English class. I had a very inspiring teacher who shared his love of
writing and literature with our class—it was the first time that I
thought hey, maybe someday I can become an author too.
It took me several
years to write my inspirational romance novel, Mr. Shipley’s
Governess because I had a full-time job while I wrote it. Now that
it’s finally published, it’s exciting to bring my characters to
readers’ lives for them to enjoy their story. I wanted to write a
tale of love and inspiration with a romantic hero, and a heroine in
need of “rescuing.” Now, this is not a damsel-in-distress tale
per see, like a knight in shining armour rescuing the imprisoned
princess. However, this is more of a modern day twist. The hero,
Sebastian Shipley is a well-to-do business man who has a daughter
with an illness. She is in need of a live-in tutor. Into the picture
comes the heroine, Sophie Baird. So what does she need rescuing from?
A few months earlier, her parents had died in a car accident and she
needs to escape the pain of their death and be rescued from her life.
One of my favourite
authors is Jane Austen. I love her books, my favourites—Emma, Sense
& Sensibility and Pride & Prejudice. I thought it would be
neat to include some Austenesque elements into the book and my
heroine is also a huge Austen fan. I wanted to write the book with an
old-world romance style but in a contemporary setting. My goal was to
maintain a classic tone reminiscent of some of the treasured books
I’d grown up reading. I hope readers love Sophie and Sebastian as
much as I enjoyed creating them.
BLURB FROM MR
SHIPLEY'S GOVERNESS
Sophie Baird is looking
for a way to escape the painful reality of her parents' deaths.
Unable to live in their home any longer, she takes a job as a live-in
tutor to Anastasia Shipley to remove herself from her painful
memories and the feeling that God has abandoned her. Anastasia has an
illness that has prevented her from ever attending school and makes
her father, Sebastian, over protective. When Sophie first meets
Sebastian, she cannot deny the intense attraction she feels toward
him. When an unexpected romance begins between them, she starts to
rebuild her relationship with God, with the help of a certain little
girl.
EXCERPT
Sebastian
crossed his arms and leaned against the arched doorframe, amused that
Sophie continued reading—oblivious to his intrusion. He watched as
she scrunched up her face in consternation, seemingly engrossed in
the eBook. “So, who do you like better, me or Mr. Knightley?” He
heard her sharp intake of breath and she nearly dropped the e-reader
as she turned to discover her intruder.
“Definitely,
that would be Mr. Knightley. He doesn’t have the bad habit of
sneaking up on me all the time.”
Sebastian
spanned the room in several strides and sat in the chair opposite
her. “Yes, he’s so charming. I hope to someday be like him.”
“Hey,
don’t make fun.” She closed the leopard-print tablet cover with a
thud. “He is the epitome of the perfect gentleman.”
“Actually,
I’m serious.”
“What
do you mean?”
“I’m
reading the same book as you. It must be a coincidence.”
Sophie’s
expression softened. “You’re only trying to get on my good side.”
He
leaned forward in mock surprise. “Whatever do you mean, my dear? I
thought I was on your good side.”
“That
depends on my mood.”
“I
see. You’re all about a woman’s prerogative.”
“Yes,
I live by that rule.”
He
played along and enjoyed the teasing. “Oh, so you’re one of
those.”
“You’d
better believe it. It’s my prerogative to change my mind whenever I
want.”
He
fluidly maneuvered to the ottoman where her feet rested and he sat
down. “I hope you don’t change your mind about me.”
“Well,
that all depends on you.”
“I’d
better be on my best behavior then.”
Sophie
got up quickly and before he realized it, she walked across the room
to the bookshelf. “So, you actually read Emma, too. That’s still
surprising and sweet.”
He
followed after her. “You’re avoiding any serious conversation,
young lady.”
She
moved away, running her delicate fingers along the spines of the old
leather-bound books. He kept following like a lion stalking his prey,
backing her into a corner. Leaning her hands against the windowsill,
she backed up as far as possible and laughed nervously. He smiled
inside as she avoided his steady gaze. He had her exactly where he
wanted her. She glanced up shyly. “So, tell me again why you
interrupted me.”
“I
did because I’ve wanted to do this for a long time now.” His
hands trembled slightly as he cupped her soft cheeks. With his
thumbs, he gently traced the outline of her rosy lips. Staring at her
for an eternity, he slowly lowered his mouth to hers. Kissing her
gently at first, soon his fervor took over. Even though his brain
operated in a fog, he realized she must be enjoying the kiss, since
she wrapped her arms around his neck and moved in closer to his
chest. Nearly breathless, Sebastian pulled away. “I…I’m sorry.”
She
caressed his cheek and for a moment he closed his eyes, relishing her
touch. “Don’t be. I’ve wanted you to do that for a long time,
too.”
Oh
the sweet bliss of making the right-move at the right-time. He
brought her hand to his lips for a kiss. “I should get back to
work. David’s going to wonder what happened to me.”
Sophie
giggled and batted her eyes. “Oh, I’m sure he knows.”
“Now
try not to compare me too much to Mr. Knightley because there’s no
contest.” As he left the parlour, the warmth of her lips and the
softness of her body in his arms still lingered—making it doubly
hard for him to switch gears back into work mode. Taking a deep
breath, he hurried down the hall in search of his brother and another
inevitable lecture that awaited him for his tardiness. He couldn’t
wait for his brother to find the right woman to love. Maybe then,
David would realize why Sebastian had one foot on earth and the other
in heaven like a love sick puppy.
Discover more about
Joanne Troppello:
********************************************
And please visit my
website: www.annevansbooks.co.uk
