Tell us about your latest book. What inspired it? Is this a series and if so, how many books are you planning? If not, do you plan to have any spin-off’s from secondary characters inthe future?
Lord of Pleasure is the second book in the School of Gallantry Series. A series about a school that educates men on the topic of love and seduction in London, England 1830. It’s very funny and VERY hot. There were two main factors that inspired this book and this series. The first being the elderly version of Ninon de L’Enclos who I cast as my fictional character Madame de Maitenon, headmistress to the School of Gallantry. Ninon was a 17th century courtesan in France who became more and more admired with age, which is really rare for a courtesan. She was known for holding “formal meetings” with aristocratic men in her bedchamber in which they would discuss sex, love, and philosophy in a classroom-like setting. After all, in those times, men didn’t have the means to openly discuss personal matters with a woman. She made that possible and for it, men loved her. I found her and her ideas fascinating and decided to push it up one more level. Why not altogether create a school for aristocratic men? Obviously, it wasn’t something that was going to be serious in tone, but the possibilities were too fun to pass up! Factor in my grandmother who I hadn’t seen most of my life, who appeared about the same time I was beginning to write the series and it simply took off. My grandmother is a Polish, retired opera singer who walked with a sashay and referred to sex as “poom-poom.” I felt as if I had met Madame de Maitenon. Altogether, there are five books. What I love about this series, isn’t just the humor, but that you can read it in any order, as they all take place at the same exact time. I shifted the time frames just enough so that the overlapping is minimal, as I wanted readers not to be re-reading storylines.
What element of writing in your genre is hardest for you? Easiest?
The hardest aspect of my writing is infusing history and historical tid bits into the story itself without making the story sound like a history book. I’ve pretty much got a handle on how to weave those aspects through, but it is the most challenging for me. The easiest element? I would say writing the sex scenes, LOL. And it’s not because I’m naughty (even though I am…) but because I feel it is an aspect that really delves into the vulnerability and understanding of sensuality of both characters.
Do you have any pet peeves as a writer? As a reader?
I would say my biggest pet peeve as a reader and a writer is how warped everyone’s perception toward historical sexuality is. People seem to think that dukes didn’t marry courtesans or that people were all prim and proper and that all women were completely uneducated when it came to sex. They’ve been reading too much fiction and not enough real history to help them realize that truth is in fact stranger than fiction. Many people think the dildo is a modern invention. I even had someone point out that there were no dildos in 1830 London, England. The truth is, the oldest dildo is 28,000 years old. Greeks, Egyptians and Shakespeare alike discussed dildos. I have a blog called A BIT O’MUSLIN at www.DelilahMarvelle.blogspot.com in which I delve into topics of sex throughout history every first of the month. It is my way of having fun with history while also educating people into realizing that there is nothing new under the sun. A lot of it simply has been censored.
If you could ask readers in your genre one question, what would it be and why?
What is your biggest pet peeve in historical romance? What has been overdone and what would you like to see more of? I ask because although I am writing for myself, it is my readers that I ultimately seek to please.
What do you think is most important in the relationship between the main characters?
Trust, respect, passion and humor I feel are equally important in the building of a relationship.
How long does it take for you to create, write and submit to your editor a finished book?
I can write a book in as little as 6 weeks, but then of course it needs to be cleaned up, which takes me an additional 3-4 weeks. After that, it is up to the editor to fill the slot you belong in. Although I’m a fast writer, I have the publisher’s slots to dance around with. Which usually means about a year between books. I hope to change that one day, but that is what it is now.
If one of your books was made into a movie, who do you think would capture your characters perfectly?
In Lord of Pleasure, the hero — Lord Baxendale — would be played by David Beckham (oh yeah…) and my heroine — Lady Chartwell — by Anne Hathaway. I just sigh thinking about it. LOL
Anything in the pipeline for 2009? Can we get a sneak look into upcoming projects?
As much as I love the School of Gallantry series, and the fact that my entire print run for the first book, Mistress of Pleasure was completely sold out, my publisher will not be continueing the series. I’m hoping that the sales from Lord of Pleasure will be strong enough to convince another publisher to finish the remaining three books in the series, as there are a total of five book. That said, I am working on a new series which right now is very hush, hush. But it is funny and very wicked.
For fun: If you could meet any character you want, who would it be & what would you do?
If I could meet any one of my characters, it most certainly would be Madame de Maitenon, the elderly headmistress of the school. I would love to actually
have her start a school during *our* time as I think men seriously need a good education when it comes not only sex, but women. She’s give Dr. Ruth a run for her money.
Check out the first THREE chapters of LORD OF PLEASURE at http://www.themysticcastle.com/pdf/pleasure1_3.pdf
is actually a link for the first three chapters of Lord of Pleasure.
The buy link for Lord of Pleasure is:
http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Pleasure-Delilah-Marvelle/dp/1420104497/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247112237&sr=8-1
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