Guest Post & Giveaway: Ashlyn Macnamara, author of A Most Devilish Rogue

A Most Devilish Rogue

Ashlyn Macnamara

Years ago, when Isabelle Mears was still a young miss too infatuated to know better, she surrendered her innocence to a dishonorable man. Though ruined and cast out from society, she has worked hard to shelter her illegitimate son, Jack. Having sworn off men in her quiet but dignified life, Isabelle is unprepared for the deep longing that rips through her when a handsome stranger rescues her rambunctious six-year-old from the pounding ocean surf.

George Upperton is a man in trouble with debts, women, and a meddling family. He is, by all accounts, the last gentleman on earth Isabelle should be drawn to. But loneliness is a hard mistress, and caution gives way to desire . . . even though Isabelle is convinced that happiness can’t be found in the arms of such a devilish rogue. Only when Jack is kidnapped does Isabelle discover the true depth of George’s devotion—and how far a good man will go to fight for the woman whose love is all that matters.

Happy-Almost-Friday everyone!  Today I have Ashlyn Macnamara over to talk about how characters take over and tell the story - and I don't doubt it!!

When Characters Take Over

by Ashlyn Macnamara

A big thank you to Fictional Candy for hosting me today. This is only my second book release, so the excitement and shock and not-quite-believing-this-is-happening still haven’t worn off.

You would think, since I’m the author and my name is on the book and all, that I am the one in charge when it comes to my stories. You would think that, and you’d be wrong. I know lots of authors who plan their stories meticulously before they ever sit down to draft, but I can’t do that. You see, my characters have this annoying habit.

They like to think they’re in charge.

And they’d be right, too, because if I try to force them into doing something they don’t want to do, they take their toys and go home. So all that meticulous planning? Out the window. It’s a waste of time in my case. I get to come up with the opening situation and the large lines of where I want my story to go, but then the characters figure out how they get themselves to their HEA. Sometimes they take me in surprising directions, directions I probably never would have come up with on my own.

Case in point. Meet Mr. George Upperton, the hero of my second book A Most Devilish Rogue. As you can see from the cover art, he’s quite a cheeky fellow. He appeared in my debut novel A Most Scandalous Proposal as the hero’s best friend and almost immediately revealed cheek of another sort. He started exchanging one-liners with my hero, and I had to stop him from stealing the scene. At which point I realized I was going to have to give this guy his own story.

I may also have developed a crush on him, too, because I have a thing for smart-mouthed quick-thinking heroes. But that’s another story.

So where in all this did Mr. Upperton surprise me? That came when I was working on the second book and he decided to reveal a particular talent—something completely unexpected of him, but I suppose one might say he was hiding it behind his cynical, rakish facade. I even surprised my editor when I turned in the manuscript. I’m also not going to tell you what it is. You’re just going to have to read the book to find out.

Ashlyn Macnamara writes Regency romances with a dash of wit and a hint of wicked. She considers this writing gig her midlife crisis, but figures it’s less risky than rock climbing or skydiving. When not writing, Despite her insistence on looking toward the past, she can be found on her website, Facebook, and Twitter. She also likes to play at being a Duchess from time to time. Her second book, A Most Devilish Rogue releases August 27.
she looks for other excuses to neglect the housework, among them knitting, reading and wasting time on the internet in the guise of doing research.

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