FROM CAROLINE LINDEN

answer to comment # 1 (andreina)

I'm glad you enjoyed that scene. It is one of my favorites because *I* knew as I was writing it that nothing would actually happen, but I didn't want anyone else to know it.

As I was writing Stuart, I would ask my husband, 'would a real man do this?' because I really wanted Stuart (as all my heroes) to be as real as possible. My husband is just a wonderful man, the sort of guy every woman should be lucky enough to find, and I do always seem to pick up some traits of his for my heroes. Like my husband, Stuart is very practical, and very charming; he can get along with just about anyone. He's also got a semi-naughty, semi-dark sense of humor. Every wisecrack Stuart makes is inspired by my husband, who has the ability to make me laugh even when I am FURIOUS at him. it drives me crazy at times, but it means we never really fight.

answer to comment # 2 (Naan)

Thank you, I hope you enjoy the book!

In my opinion, a seduction isn't 'real' until there is a deep emotional tie between the characters. I can't write my characters into a really intimate scene until I've written enough about them getting to know each other and liking each other, even aside from a passionate attachment, because it shouldn't be just about seduction and physical pleasure. In other words, they can't sleep together until they've laughed together.

It's hard to say which of my books is most sensual. The level of sensuality seems to settle itself pretty naturally based on the characters. Some characters are more sensual creatures (like Charlotte) and others are a little more restrained. The book with the most love scenes in my fourth, A Rake's Guide to Seduction, but there is a scene in What A Rogue Desires that I personally thought was the best I've written.

answer to comment # 3 (Silvietta)

Let's hear it for the math students! Another author who studied math is Sabrina Jeffries, who is just wonderfully funny and warm. We should start a posse, and recruit more math and science graduates to join the fiction writers' ranks. And you are welcome to join us, Silvietta!

answer to comment # 6 (Maet)

Thank you so much! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed the book.

I think the inexperienced heroine is more of a tradition than anything else. Most historical romances are about well-to-do people, who could afford--and demand--stricter rules of behavior in their young people, and having legitimate heirs was hugely important to people with lands and money. So I think it started off being historically accurate to have a young lady as a heroine, but as times have moved on I personally think women today can relate better to the more exceptional women, the ones who didn't live like the duchess of Devonshire--who have always been around, in every era. And to me as a writer, it's more interesting to write about people who have lived a little, gone through good times and bad, and who really deserve to find happiness. Not that young ladies don't, but I definitely always root just a little bit harder for the woman who's suffered a broken heart to find love, than for the girl who finds her prince at her first ball.

And I WILL write the duke of Ware's story. Some day. Hopefully soon. I just love him, and so do all the people who email me about him...

answer to comment # 7 ( Hatshepsut81 )

This is one of my only regrets about the book; in the process of editing it, I managed to make Charlotte sound like a slut at times. In my mind, she never was; she really was just looking for love, or at least comfort and affection, and her marriage to an elderly man was completely a marriage of convenience where he offered her the chance to find pleasure. And while her experiences were hard and painful, Stuart had been through much the same. His ability to accept Charlotte, understand why she did what she did and not be offended or judgmental, was so important. So many times in historical romance, the hero is a rake or a rogue, and he rarely suffers any sort of angst or trauma over his debauched past or has it held against him, even--this time it was the heroine.

The story of Leonardo's painting fascinated me. As soon as I read about it, I KNEW it would going into a book of mine somehow. Now I'm going to go search NatGeo for information about that documentary; thanks for the tip!

answer to comment # 9 (Cris1969)

Thank you, Cristina! I like the 'bad girls,' too (obviously). Another of my heroines, Vivian in What A Rogue Desires, is also a true bad girl: she's a thief. And she robs the hero. Perhaps someday it will come out in Italian as well.

Caroline