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In close quarters… With the Viking she’d loved and lost
A Shieldmaiden Sisters story—with her family fallen on hard times, Valda’s forced to join the crew on Halfdan Ulfsson’s merchant ship as he sets sail on the treacherous silk route. But this handsome jarl’s son is the man she’d planned to wed, until his bitter betrayal. Knowing she can never trust him, she must focus on saving her sisters…and not the intense connection that still burns between them!
Passion erupts when these bold, spirited Vikings are reunited!
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Q&A
Did or do you like to read comic books/grapic novels? Which ones?
Not really, but I do like to read fanfiction occasionally. I’ve read some Star Wars, Game of Thrones and Vikings wattpad fan fiction in the past, and I really love how they rewrite the endings for certain characters. The romance writer in me is always desperate to read a happily ever and finish the storyline arcs of my favourite characters ‘properly’.
I do know some Mills & Boon titles have been made into graphic novels and Manga books, I would love to have mine chosen for this one day! I always think the artwork is stunning!
Whom did you inherit your love for books/reading from?
My mum definitely. She loved reading historical romance, and always encouraged me to read widely in all genres.
When you need a murder victim or someone you can diagnose with a serious disease or someone who is involved in a fatal accident do you sometimes picture someone nasty you have met in real life and think ‘got you’ LOL?
No, but I should! I’m one of those people who walk away from someone being nasty, and torture myself for hours thinking of thousands of clever responses that I should have said at the time. So, if anything, I actually get my characters to stand up for themselves — far more than I would for myself in real life!
How do you come up with the names for your characters?
It’s tricky with historical fiction because you need to find accurate names for the era and country. A good technique is to look at the Kings/Queens/Famous people of that time and search their family tree on google. That way, you end up with lots of siblings and spouse names that you know for certain were used then.
Although, it can still be a struggle as you want names that people can pronounce easily today. I hate reading books where I’ve no idea how to pronounce a character’s name. Which is why I try to use short names, or names I’ve seen in film or TV for main characters.
Do write other things beside books (and shoppinglists 😉 )?
I write a lot of ‘To Do Lists’, but I’d like to maybe do some interviewing of authors in the future. I’m always interested in other people’s books and their writing process.
If a movie or series would be made from your books, would you be happy with the ‘based on’ version or would you rather like they showed it exactly the way you created it?
I think ‘based on’ would be fine by me, as TV and film is such a different art form. I would want my characters to have a happily ever after though! That’s a must! But I’d love a Shonda Rhimes version of my books!
Who would you like/have liked to interview?
I would have loved to have interviewed Johanna Lindsey as I loved her books — they were what got me into historical romance in the first place. I’d love to know her inspiration and if she would write them any differently now. Sadly, I’ll never be able to do this as she passed away.
Do you have certain people you contact while doing research to pick their brains? What are they specialized in?
No, but I watch ‘The Welsh Viking’ on YouTube he gives good tips on Viking age clothing and jewellery. I also read a lot of non-fiction books about the era. I know there’s a wealth of knowledge with other Mills & Boon historical authors and I can also ask them about specifics if I’m uncertain.
Is there someone you sometimes discuss a dilemma with?
My two Beta readers Leonie Mack and Lucy Keeling are my first point of critique when it comes to drafting my books. I also ask my friend and fellow Mills & Boon author Virginia Heath for advice too. I’m really lucky to have such a great group of friends.
What is more important to you : a rating in stars with no comments or a reviewer who explains what the comments they give are based on (without spoilers of course)
Oh yes, I hate spoilers in reviews! I understand trigger warnings, of course. But the full synopsis of a book? It’s entirely unhelpful to me as both an author and a reader. For example, when I’m choosing a book to read, I only look at the blurb, or I’ll watch ‘Avas Romance Books’ on YouTube for recommendations — she doesn’t give spoilers, but instead gives you a good impression of what the book is about. I should get her to write my blurbs!
Ratings in stars is enough in my opinion, although I’m human and I love praise as much as the next person. However, negative reviews can really hurt, so I try not to read them. I tend to gage how well a book is doing by the average number of stars instead.
Thank you
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About the author
Lucy Morris has always been obsessed with myths and legends. Her books blend sweeping romance with vivid worldbuilding to whisk you away to another time and place filled with adventure. Expect passion, drama and vibrant characters.
Lucy lives in Essex, UK, with her husband, two children, and two cats. She has a massively sweet tooth and loves Terry’s Chocolate Oranges and Irn-Bru. In her spare time she likes to explore castles with her family, or drink bubbly with her friends.
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Author Links
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100055849813940
Twitter https://twitter.com/LMorris_Author
Instagram lucymorris.author
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Book Links
B for Bookreview 