Special Interview with historical romance author Vonda Sinclair + Giveaway

I know your asking. What's an historical author doing on a paranormal romance blog?? Well, if you read her books you'll know I just couldn't resist her hotties from the highlands. LOL. 

Hello Vonda! I want to thank you for doing this interview and welcome you to BbPNR. I hope you don’t mind being seen on a paranormal romance blog since you’re a historical romance author.

Vonda- Hi, Laurie! Thanks so much for allowing me (along with my Highlanders) to crash the awesome paranormal party you have going on here!

Laurie-Oh! That’s right, you write about the hot highlanders. Sorry, your highlanderness! LOL.

Vonda- LOL! No problem. I love reading paranormal romance! It's one of my favorites. Sometimes I want to read something really unusual and different. This can give me a fresh new perspective on history. Besides, Scotland has many legends of supernatural happenings and paranormal creatures.

Laurie- Girl, I know you said that right and that’s another reason I do love to stick in a highlander book every once a while, even though I love reading about my hot vamps and shape-shifters, I have to have me some hot highlanders in there too LOL. So, speaking of highlanders, why did you choose to write highlanders?

Vonda- Who can resist a sexy, muscular, highly-trained warrior in a kilt? There's just something about them that's addictive. Am I right? The Highlands have an aura of mysticism that few other places have. Plus, the Highlands of Scotland is a harsh but beautiful environment and the people who lived there in the past, without modern conveniences, would've had to be tough and resourceful people. This makes for strong men (aka heroes) who don't back down from anything.

Laurie- Speaking of Sexy, muscular and highly-trained warrior in kilt. I remember reading one lately he was sexy and highly trained warrior and he definitely hit my highlander hottie spot. I believe his name was Laird Alasdair MacGrath. I have to beg your pardon for the next few questions because this hottie and his brother hit me so hard I’ve been a little absent minded since LOL. I am thinking Alasdair may belong to you somehow. If so, would you tell us a little about him?

Vonda- Absolutely! (The two brothers thank you for blaming your absentmindedness on them LOL! They are glad to be distractions.) Alasdair is the kind of man most any woman would want to marry. He's hot, sexy and great in bed. He's also very responsible and protective. He's a strong leader and will give the woman he loves anything she wants.

Laurie- I have to admit I don’t remember Alasdair wearing kilt * grumbling and flipping pages on kindle, I must have missed reading it somehow * But that’s no biggie for me because kilts only has one purpose and that’s to have access of one detail quicker LOL.  So, I believe this one would fall to his brother, what’s his name again? And please tell me how many women has he been with anyway? If he even knows *snorting*

Vonda- LOL! Alasdair wore a kilt a few times, when he wasn't dropping it and crawling into Gwyneth's bathtub. ;)  As for his brother… Lachlan… he has no idea how many women he's been with. He's a pleasure seeker and I think he might be addicted to it. Now he only needs to teach Angelique about the sensual pleasures. She's a stubborn student but eventually she sees what he's talking about. haha

Laurie- Oh yeah, that’s right, Sir Lachlan MacGrath. Sorry, I should have remembered that one because he has a cover with a blond hottie on it, I love blonds.  Can you tell me did he finely keep his kilt down for one special lady, yet?

Vonda- Yes, he only lets Angelique lift his kilt now. ;) What surprised him was that it wasn't all that difficult. He never thought he could commit to ONE woman. But Angelique makes him forget other women exist. And thanks about the cover! I'm so glad you like it!

Laurie-Oh my, I sure can’t wait to get to Lachlan book this next week, so I can see how Angelique got him all to herself. I love that name Angelique by the way. I don’t see it much anymore. Now, tell me where are your hot highlanders taking you next?

Vonda- I hope you enjoy My Wild Highlander! In the next story, I'm thinking Lachlan's friend Dirk will take us north, further into the Highlands, perhaps even to the wild and untamed north coast. I've been sort of obsessing about Durness recently. Although I won't say for sure it will take place there, I'm hoping, because it's a very atmospheric and beautiful place. Not for wimps either. When I was there in late spring, the weather was very harsh and temperamental--strong winds, rain, hail, even some snow on the higher mountains. But something about it calls to me… and Dirk. He will unfortunately find himself in a hornet's nest of problems and conflicts.

Laurie- I love baking and cooking and I see on your site you have an awesome sounding Scottish apple scone recipe. Would you please share that with everyone here today? I’m going apple picking this week so I know what I will be making;)

Vonda- Yes! I love Scottish foods and scones are yummy.

Apple Scones

Ingredients:

One medium cooking apple

2 cups self-rising flour

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ stick butter or margarine (1/4 cup)

1/3 cup fine granulated sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

up to ½ cup milk

Ingredients for glaze:

A little milk

3 tablespoons light brown sugar

dash cinnamon

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees F

Peel and core the apple and then finely chop. Sift together the flour, salt, cinnamon and baking powder. Then rub in the butter followed by the sugar and chopped apple and mix. Add milk until you have a soft but not sticky dough. Roll out on a floured surface to about ¼" thick and 8" round and mark into 8 wedges. (Or use biscuit cutter.) Place on a greased baking sheet, brush the top with milk and sprinkle with the light brown sugar and dash cinnamon. Bake in the pre-heated oven at 400 degrees F for 20-25 minutes. Serve warm with butter.

Laurie- I just have two more questions if you don’t mind. Why self-publishing? I myself love that author’s chose this way because it gives them a better choice on what’s in the book, covers etc. I am very glad you chose this route. The next question is. Are you going to put these books in print one day?

Vonda- Good questions! I went with self-publishing these two historical romance novels because I knew they were ready. The other option was to let them sit on my hard drive forever. A few years ago, an agent signed me because of My Fierce Highlander. She loved the book and submitted it to NY publishers for over three years. Some of those publishers made us wait 2 1/2 years before making their decision. Others said we love this and it’s publishable quality, but we're not going to offer a contract. I'm sure they have their reasons. I was thrilled when Amazon created Kindle Direct Publishing, Barnes and Nobel created Pubit, and Smashwords came into being, because now I don't have to wait for NY editors to give me a chance. I can make it happen myself. The sales so far of both books have surprised me in a good way. Needless to say, I'm thrilled I chose to self-publish. I may put them into print one day. I've just been learning more about that option, and it's becoming more appealing. Thanks so much for the awesome interview! It has been a blast!

Vonda is giving away a eBook copy of My Fierce Highlander to one lucky commenter with an email.

Giveaway rules