Ask Sarah MacLean - Tuesday, December 3rd! discussion

Welcome to the group! Sarah MacLean will be answering questions throughout the day on Tuesday, December 3rd in this thread only. In the meantime if you have a question for Sarah, or just want to introduce yourself, feel free to do so in this thread.

Hello, my name is Marianne. I am so addicted to the Rule of Scoundrel series! My question for Sarah is, when selecting the scoundrels, where did you get the inspiration for the development of these extraordinary characters? Are they a composite of actual persons? Thank you for the opportunity to ask questions, and please let this series go on for as long as possible. It is riveting!

Hi! My name is Amandha and I absolutely love all your books and the wonderful characters you create. Nine Rules is one of my all time favorites books. Anyway on to my question, could you tell us if we've met the character you will pair Chase with in any of your previous books? I know you probably don't want to give it away but throw us a bone here please and at least let us know if it will be a brand new character. After reading No Good Duke Goes Unpunished my curiosity about Chase has skyrocketed! Thanks for sharing such wonderful stories with us ;)

The Season is one of my favorite books! I finished it in one night.

What gave you the idea for your books?

When will we see the Duke of Leighton's sister book?? I'm very curious about her mysterious lover!!

Hi! My name is Rita. I was very happy to know that you'll answer questions on 3rd December (it's my birthday). My sister live in Scotland and she send me the first book of the series 'love by numbers' and I loved it! What is your inspiration? I live in Portugal. Do you know if in the future, your book will be published in Portugal? Thank you

Hi Sarah! I read your book The Season and fell in love with it. You are the reason that I started reading historical fiction and I am very grateful for historical fiction is now my favourite genre! My question for you is are you going to write any more novels for young adults? Thanks!

Hello! I'm (just called me) Red and I'm from Indonesia. Have you ever heard of that country?
Well, I love historical romance, and since your book first published in here, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (Love by Numbers) (and if I'm not wrong) and I'm became your fans!
Oh, well, the second book of Love by Numbers has published a few weeks ago and I'm still curious about the story about the bold Juliana!
And, of course, I want to read your another novel; The Rules of Scoundrels series and The Season! Hope that all your books can publish in here immediately *crossfinger. well, hope you can always make a novel with good story and romance! fighting!!

Sarah, I was totally "knocked out" by No Duke, and even more excited to read Chase's story. I think I know who Chase will be paired with and I'm thrilled. You are so evil! (but in a great way that keeps us reading!) When in 2014 can we expect it?

To revisit an old series, has Benedick managed to whisper in your ear yet who he's looking for in a heroine so he could get his HEA?

Thanks for taking time to answer our questions!

Sarah, your books are my absolutely favorites historical romances. I support my fellow people here, and want to know more about Chase (principally) and Benedick. Or in short: Will you write a book for Chase (pretty please?)and Benedick?

Thank you!

Just wanted to say that you are one of my pre-order auto buy romance authors, and I just finished Temple's book and picked my jaw off the floor. What a clever way to ensure that I have to reread all the "Rules of Scoundrels" books while even more impatiently waiting for Chase's book. I'd always suspected Chase's secret was going to be intriguing, but this exceeded my wildest expectations. Does Chase's book have release date yet? I want it!

Hey, I'm Cheyenne. I absolutely love your book The Season. The three main girls are average girls that you would see all the time but have this flair and passion that makes them unique and special. Also, the main male character (which name, at this time, escapes me)is not perfect as so many men are portrayed. He has imperfections that are evident and make him more reachable and alive. I have only one question for you which is:

When did you start writing and why?

Hi everyone my name is Gabby and I've read all the Rules and Scoundrels series. Love love. Just like everyone else, I'd like to know if Benedick will get his own HEA. Love him. What about the Duke's sister in the last Rules book? And OMG OMG Chase character AMAZING. Have loved Chase from the beginning. So, do we know who Chase is going to fall for or is it a new character? BC I think I have an idea who it might be if we have met him lol. Temple's book was great.

Hi my name is Ana and i´m from Mexico, my question is you have any contract for all your books are sold here in Mexico? pd. Sorry for the translate :)

Hi Sarah, congrats on the new book. Could you tell me how much of your time is spent researching the Regency period? I tried to write something set in that time and then someone said, women weren't allowed at funerals, and sure enough, they weren't. Have you ever been caught out in a detail like that?

Hiiii I'm Deb!! I want to say I absolutely love all of your books! I'm still floored with Chase's secret. I knew it was going to be a good one but I don't think I could have ever expected that. With that, I wanted to know have you always wanted to go that direction with Chase or was it something new you came up with while writing Temple's book? Do you also have an idea of when Chase's story will be coming out because I absolutely can't wait for it to release. :D

Actually, I realized that I have another question. Will we ever find out more about Bourne's enigmatic housekeeper, Mrs. Worth? She seems to have romantic heroine potential written all over her.

Hi Sarah, I absolutely love your books! No Good Duke was one of your best yet and I can't wait for Chase's story. Will Mr. West be her love interest? Crossing fingers that I am right!

Hi! I loved The Season and it is one of my top 5 favorite books. I have read it so much that the spine is cracked and I know the story by heart. I recommend it to all of my friends, it was a brilliant book. I was wondering if you have any plans to write more about young adults in Regency London, or perhaps a sequel to The Season? I would really enjoy reading something like that.

I absolutely love your books. I am so happy that I discovered you from an Amazon recommendation. My favorite is One Good Earl Deserves a Lover. One of my all time favorites!

I was wondering whether Duncan West from No Good Duke is the same person as "Donovan West" from A Rogue By Any Other Name? If so, can we assume that he is also the same person identified as just West in Eleven Scandals?

You referred to Chase as "he" in the previous books..Did you always plan for the character to be female or was it a flash of inspiration...I love the idea of the character being female..It explains why Temple didn't hit Chase when he found out Chase knew of Mara's being alive...I have enjoyed reading all your books..

Hi Sarah, congratulation on the success of your latest book. I am totally in love with your scoundrels and i can't help feeling a tinge of jealousy with penny, pippa and mara. I think i know the identity of both chase and her hero and i don't want to spoil it for others so won't be making my guess here. I wanted to ask you were any of your books or any moments in your books inspired by your own life?? And do you have any personal favorite character from your novels??

Thank you Sarah for writing! You truly have a gift and we all fall in love with every book. Will there be a next book in this series?

Hi Sarah, my name is Buni and I absolutely loved the Season series and aspire to become a writer in the future. I want to ask you how you got into writing historical fiction as well as ask you how you find your inspiration for you books and what your writing process is like? Can't wait to read your next book and read your response!

Hi Sarah, my name is Tammy and I've greatly enjoyed reading your books.

My question is how much input / control do you have with regards to your book covers?

It was the cover of "One Good Earl..." that got me reading the series. It's gorgeous. As are all the others.

Dakota wrote: "Hi my name is Dakota and I just wanted to say that I loved your book The Season. I thought it was great. I can't remember much but I do remember that it was awesome. I am looking forward to reading..."

Thank you, Dakota! I'm so happy you enjoyed The Season...I'm hoping to get back to YA novels someday soon!

Marianne wrote: "Hello, my name is Marianne. I am so addicted to the Rule of Scoundrel series! My question for Sarah is, when selecting the scoundrels, where did you get the inspiration for the development of the..."

Hi Marianne! Thanks for reading...I'm thrilled the Scoundrels are working for you. The short answer to your question is that they're all a mish mosh of both real and fantasy. The real part, I'm afraid, isn't very sexy at all...while doing research on Regency-era casinos, I discovered a remarkable real-life character named William Crockford who, by all accounts, was horrid: ham-fisted, pasty faced, foul-mouthed and fouler-smelling, with a penchant for prostitutes

But he was cunning and brilliant and pretty much invented the modern casino...so he was more than enough for me to chase down the rabbit hole. Crockford’s Casino became The Fallen Angel, and Crockford himself morphed into four fallen aristocrats—Bourne, Cross, Temple & Chase—each exiled from society either by chance or by choice.

Amandha wrote: "Hi! My name is Amandha and I absolutely love all your books and the wonderful characters you create. Nine Rules is one of my all time favorites books. Anyway on to my question, could you tell us if..."

Hi Amandha...thanks for reading! While I can't get into specifics...I will tell you that you have met Chase's hero before...and you can probably guess who he is even without me telling!

Aubrey wrote: "The Season is one of my favorite books! I finished it in one night.

What gave you the idea for your books?"

Hi Aubrey...I'm so happy you like The Season...it's always nice to meet someone who has read that first book! :)

As for ideas...I get them from everywhere -- people I know, places I go, movies I watch (my current series is all because of an obsession with the Ocean's 11/12/13 movies)...but mostly books I read. As you can imagine, I read a lot of nonfiction set in the 1800s in London...and sometimes real life is far more exciting than anything I could come up with on my own!

Hi Sarah! :) Thanks for being here to answer all of our questions! I was lucky to get an early copy of No Good Duke as part of the Avon Addicts program and totally loved it. And I am now dying for Chase's book! I know you can't reveal too much yet, but is Chase someone we've already "met" in previous books or in the Love by Numbers series? Or is she someone totally new? I know a lot of readers think it's Simon's sister Georgianna, but for a variety of reasons I don't think it's her. I'm dying of suspense here! :)

Asousa wrote: "Hi! My name is Rita. I was very happy to know that you'll answer questions on 3rd December (it's my birthday). My sister live in Scotland and she send me the first book of the series 'love by numbe..."

Happy birthday, Asousa! Unfortunately, my books have not sold into Portuguese yet...but I hope that someday they will! In the meantime, you can get them shipped free to anywhere in the world (in English) from bookdepository.com!

Aisha wrote: "Hi Sarah! I read your book The Season and fell in love with it. You are the reason that I started reading historical fiction and I am very grateful for historical fiction is now my favourite genre!..."

Hi Aisha...thank you so much for your sweet words. :) I'd really like to get back to YA sometime soon...the problem is that my romance deadlines are pretty close together, so sneaking in a YA novel is harder than I would have imagined! I do have an idea, though, so perhaps sometime soon! Thanks for reading!

Trisha wrote: "Sarah, I was totally "knocked out" by No Duke, and even more excited to read Chase's story. I think I know who Chase will be paired with and I'm thrilled. You are so evil! (but in a great way that ..."

Hi Trisha! You can look out for Chase's story -- Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover -- in late 2014. I'm in the middle of writing it...and about to have a baby, so I don't think I can get it out any earlier! So sorry!

As for Benedick -- wow...that is the question I get asked more than any others. Sadly, nothing in the cards for him yet...but I know many of you want that book! Maybe someday! xo

Gloria wrote: "Sarah, your books are my absolutely favorites historical romances. I support my fellow people here, and want to know more about Chase (principally) and Benedick. Or in short: Will you write a book ..."

Chase's book is next, Gloria! Look for it (Never Judge a Lady By Her Cover) in late 2014!

Cheyenne wrote: "Hey, I'm Cheyenne. I absolutely love your book The Season....When did you start writing and why?"

Hi Cheyenne...thanks for reading! I've always been a writer -- I have boxes of journals from when I was in middle & high school & college, and I always kind of dreamed of writing a book one day (always romance, too!). I suppose it's because I often prefer make believe to real life!

Virginia wrote: "You are in my top 3 for historical romance authors. Auto buy.

Question - Any chance of getting some shorts where we could catch up with previous characters?

Thank you, Virginia! What high praise!
I'd really like to do some second epilogues (I love the Julia Quinn Bridgerton second epilogues)...the issue is finding time! Maybe in the next year or so!

Ana wrote: "Hi my name is Ana and i´m from Mexico, my question is you have any contract for all your books are sold here in Mexico? pd. Sorry for the translate :)"

Hi Ana...I don't have a contract for Mexican books, sadly...though I'd like one! I am translated into Spanish in Spain (though I'm not sure that will help you?), and you can always get my English books shipped for free to anywhere in the world via bookdepository.com!

pauliree wrote: "Hi Sarah, congrats on the new book. Could you tell me how much of your time is spent researching the Regency period? I tried to write something set in that time and then someone said, women weren't allowed at funerals, and sure enough, they weren't. Have you ever been caught out in a detail like that?"

Hi Pauliree...thanks for the question. I do a lot of research (and I generally read a lot of nonfiction on the time period) to make sure that I'm not going way off track with the books, but you can never catch everything. My advice to you is to write the book you want to write, to read as much set in or about the time period as you can, and to be willing to be flexible in editing. The most important piece of the book is the character and the plot. The historical accuracy can always be fixed in a second draft...don't let it get in the way of you getting your story down on paper.

Deb wrote: "Hiiii I'm Deb!! I want to say I absolutely love all of your books! I'm still floored with Chase's secret. I wanted to know have you always wanted to go that direction with Chase or was it something new you came up with while writing Temple's book? Do you also have an idea of when Chase's story will be coming out because I absolutely can't wait for it to release. :D"

Hi Deb! Thanks for reading! Yes...I've known Chase's secret since the beginning of the series -- I had to in order to properly write scenes with her and keep the secret from readers. If you go back to the beginning of Rogue, you'll see that there are no gendered pronouns in the narrative, and that the only people who refer to Chase as "he" are people who have never met her. It wasn't easy, but it's so rewarding to hear from readers who are surprised!

As for release, look for the book in late 2014...I'm still writing (and I'm having a baby this month)!

Malin wrote: "Actually, I realized that I have another question. Will we ever find out more about Bourne's enigmatic housekeeper, Mrs. Worth? She seems to have romantic heroine potential written all over her."

Hi Malin...I have an idea for a novella with Worth...I just need to find time to write it! As for your other question...look for Chase's book -- Never Judge a Lady By Her Cover -- in late 2014.

Thanks for reading! xo

Sheila wrote: "I was wondering whether Duncan West from No Good Duke is the same person as "Donovan West" from A Rogue By Any Other Name? If so, can we assume that he is also the same person identified as just West in Eleven Scandals?"

Color me embarrassed, Sheila! Donovan and Duncan West are the same person. That's 100% my fault, and a perfect example of authors' infallibility. :) And yes...he's the same person as West in 11 Scandals. Wow, you're a close reader! I had to go back and check that! :)

Ronda wrote: "You referred to Chase as "he" in the previous books..Did you always plan for the character to be female or was it a flash of inspiration...I love the idea of the character being female..It explains why Temple didn't hit Chase when he found out Chase knew of Mara's being alive...I have enjoyed reading all your books.."

Thanks for the question, Ronda!

Are you sure that the narrator referred to Chase as a "he" in prior books? Certainly the heroines have...and others who have never met Chase...but the rules of the series (from page 1 of Rogue) have always required that neither the narrator nor any of the Scoundrels refer to Chase as a he in conversation unless they are discussing him with people who aren't in on the secret. If there is a reference that slipped past those of us who have known the truth from the beginning...that's all my fault, because I've known Chase was female from the moment I dreamed up the Fallen Angel!

Chase's secret *does* make much more sense of the scene in *One Good Earl...* with Pippa's mask arriving complete with a ledge for her glasses, and the comment gets made (I'm paraphrasing here!) that "Of course Chase would think of something like that!" ... and I can remember thinking, "*why* is it so particularly odd/noteworthy that only Chase would think of something like that..." ... Color me floored with Chase's secret as well.

Thanks for writing! and Good luck with that baby!

Thank you so much for answering our questions! I very much enjoyed your interview with Sarah Wendell from Smart Bitches, Trashy Books. There you mentioned that Chase often "hides in plain sight" in the club, dressed as a woman. Is Anna from Duke one of her alter egos?

Sarah wrote: "Deb wrote: "Hiiii I'm Deb!! I want to say I absolutely love all of your books! I'm still floored with Chase's secret. I wanted to know have you always wanted to go that direction with Chase or was ..."

Thank you for taking the time to answer all these questions! Definitely going to be re-reading to try and figure it out! Best wishes with the new baby! :D

Hi! I LOVE your books! I was wondering if you believe (for your characters at least) in one true love. Or do you believes that there can be many "ones" throughout someone's lifetime? Hope that makes sense!

I've got to ask, because I'm a curious pervert...how comfortable are you when writing your steamy scenes? Is there any conflict between you and your publisher/editor about juicing them up, or toning them down? Thanks so much!

Hi Sarah! I am a huge fan of your books and characters- and I am also in the camp of Georgina/Anna/Chase and West... but only time will tell-

I was hoping that you could go back and explain why Daniel looked so much like Temple- and also if there was any significance to him being the first boy of McAlisters?

Thank you,
Helga

Hi Sarah! Congrats on NGDGU, it was amazeballs. I think it takes something really special to make me completely bonkers for the next book in a series, and believe me, I'm eagerly awaiting. (view spoiler)[I'm hoping for (Anna) Chase and Duncan West! (hide spoiler)]

NGDGU was completely engrossing. To me, foreshadowing can sometimes feel like the elephant in the room but I thought you used it brilliantly (view spoiler)[I honestly was freakin’ excited when the knife in the ring became important because I had completely forgotten the little line about it being dropped in the saw dust (hide spoiler)]. Honestly, I haven't had this much fun pulling apart dialogue and searching for clues since reading Harry Potter - I had to go back and see how deftly you'd written Chase's previous scenes. How did we not notice the absence of possessive pronouns!?! Really, most exciting read of the year for me.

You create such rich stories and I always appreciate your characters so very much. They're so flawed and therefore quite real, and yet I still want to heartily root for them. Mara was no exception and perhaps the best example of this, and I adored her! Really, you've nearly ruined me for historicals because yours are so satisfying.

I highly recommend you to fellow readers often, so keep doing what you're doing!

So, no question, I just wanted to offer some praise (and who could tire of that?!?). I wish you all the joy and health in your upcoming delivery and hope these final days of your pregnancy are as comfortable as possible (oh, those final days!)

I've been an avid follower of your writing since I first fell in love with A Rogue By Any Other Name! I adore this series and your other writing as well, you're fabulous! I just finished No Good Duke Goes Unpunished and was stunned, STUNNED, to read the final lines regarding Chase! Stunned! I love where you've taken this series, and can't wait to get my hands on Chase's story in 2014! Thanks for all of the wonderful work you do!