Stephanie Queen-Interview with the Author

Some background information about Stephanie Queen from Website

Once upon a time, there was a young story teller in the kingdom…er, queendom. Then she grew up and… er, no… she never actually did grow up. That’s not to say she didn’t get old, or more old, but not terribly old, more like middle-aged really. Okay, so she was no longer short and cute.

But really, I always did like to make up stories. Still do. Still live in my own little world–where I’m Queen. Of the Queendom. Hence, the name. (Or whence the name?) Oh, what’s in a name anyway.

Now I’m sure you’re wondering how I manage to live, but I assure you I am quite competent. Except I couldn’t get the crown to actually sit on my head in the picture to the left. Still learning…

Oh, about me. I love cats. I have a girl cat, a princess technically. Named Kitty. No, I’m serious. Long story. No, I don’t have time. Or space. Okay, so I do not have the inclination.

More about me. I spend hours, days, weeks, months (you get the picture) sitting at my desk, looking out the window of my castle/bedroom and writing complete fabrications in a romantic whimsical vein. Alright, if you insist, you can call the writing quirky. But I do keep myself amused.

Yes, it’s true, and entirely believable, I do have a college degree. I’m not saying when I obtained said degree, however. Go UConn!

Where do I live (for real) you ask? Among the picturesque lake-filled hills and dales (not sure what a dale is) of New Hampshire (the Granite State) (Live Free or Die) (Tough choice, but there’s a lot of tough people around here).

What else do I do besides write presumably fabulous “R”omantic stories with noble heroes and amazing, warm heroines who you want to be just like? As if that’s not enough, I sometimes deign to teach, cook for the two gigantic very well-muscled sons and try to make sure Kitty doesn’t take over the house while I’m away in the Queendom. (That’s no joke. The cat’s a control freak.)

I actually have a very rich non-imaginary life. Right at the moment, however, I can’t think for the life of me what else it’s all about. Maybe I’ll think more about it later and get back to you…

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TRC:  Hi Stephanie and welcome to The Reading Café.  Would you please tell us about The Scotland Yard Exchange Program series?

Stephanie:  It’s a romantic comedy suspense series that I dreamed up one day after watching the old black and white movie The Thin Man.

I said to myself, “What if I had an ex-detective and a dishy doll in Boston? And what if the detective was a rogue from Scotland Yard and he ended up back in Boston where he grew up as a kid. And what if one of his boyhood friends was the Chief of the Boston Police Department and he joined up with the BPD and became head of the a Scotland Yard Exchange Program?”

As it turns out, Scotland Yard–or as they call it in real life, The Metropolitan Police–does have an exchange program with the New York City police department. So I said “What the heck? Why not Boston? It could happen…”

TRC: BETWEEN A ROCK AND A MAD WOMAN is the prequel in the series.  Would you please tell us something about the premise?

LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

Stephanie: This is the prequel in the sense that I created a place–a milieu– characters and a tone. Some of these characters, most of them, appear in the series books. But technically, there’s no Scotland Yard or British connection in this one. Here’s the Snap:

Madeline Grace was always expected to do great things, but she discovers the price of destiny means running for governor–against a man who was once her lover.

TRC: THE THROWBACKS is the most recent release.  Would you please tell us about the premise?

LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO

Stephanie: THE THROWBACKS is book 1 in the Scotland Yard Exchange Program Series. Here’s the snap:

Vivacious young decorator Grace Rogers sets her sights on that picket-fence life she longs for with the unlikely world-weary British exile, the not-so-young David Young. The ex-Scotland Yard detective joins the Boston Police Department to salvage his career. He hires Grace to decorate his Beacon Hill townhouse—and salvage his life.

But this rogue detective’s plans for a new beginning are threatened when he can’t resist the seemingly unseemly romance with his too-young bombshell decorator. Grace turns out to be a key witness in his high-stakes kidnapping case–and like Kryptonite to his career and his well-being with her romantic notions of family life.

David puts his life on the line to save her from the kidnappers, but now is Grace willing to put her dreams on the line to save her real-life superhero from himself?

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series?

Stephanie: I’m planning a minimum of three, but I’ll keep going until I run out of fun.

TRC: What difficulties or challenges (research, logistics) did you encounter writing this particular series?

Stephanie: My big challenge is that I’m not a Scotland Yard detective. Or Boston detective. Or involved with police work in any way shape or form.
Otherwise, I talk to people. I ask questions. I get around. Boston is my town.

TRC: PLAYING THE GAME was your February 2012 release.  It is a contemporary romance.  Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Stephanie: The story of Barry and Roxanne is a little chicklit with a bit of intrigue:

Roxanne, an irresistible down-on-her-luck socialite is accused of murdering her wealthy husband. She meets Barry Dennis, the “Priest of Basketball”, who’s so high on his superstar pedestal that any misstep seems fatal. He’s not allowed to be human. But Roxanne compels Barry to give his attention to more than a ball. That is, until her tarnished reputation drags him from the top with a crash that could destroy them all.

TRC: THE HOT SHOTS is the latest release in your contemporary romance line. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Stephanie: THE HOT SHOTS is Book 2 of the Scotland Yard Exchange Program series and will be released in mid-November.
The snap on the story:

Would you jump off the USS Constitution into Boston Harbor with a perfect stranger? You would if that stranger was hot shot Scotland Yard detective Chauncey Miller, the usual tall-dark-handsome type, especially since he has an assassin with a score to settle who just caught up with him…

Decorator Sophia Alano’s career gets side-tracked from the moment she meets hot shot Chauncey. He’s on the run from a madman terrorist out for revenge when Sophia ends up targeted too. Now he must protect this spitfire while they’re hunted wherever they go. They escape to London to outwit the madman. But once Chauncey catches their would-be killer, how do they go back to the lives they had before?

TRC: Writer’s block is a very real phenomenon for many authors.  How do you handle the stress and anxiety of writer’s block?

Stephanie: When I run into the writer’s block, I just sit on it and write.

TRC: What five things would you like to accomplish in the next 10 years?

Stephanie: 

1. I want to become an Audiobook Queen! I heard the job was open.
2. That’s only one thing, but it’s one really big thing, so I’m counting it double.
3. Ten years should give me enough time to write 30 or so books
4. One of them is bound to turn into a movie–if I play my cards right (and if I write some great action scenes).
5. Most important of all, I’d love to accomplish Grandmotherhood in the next ten years. Of course a lot depends on my two sons. (I know–you’re gonna tell me I’m too young…pish-posh!)

TRC:  🙂

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Stephanie: Right now–or a minute ago before I was interrupted to do this interview–I’m writing a 10 minute play for my Playwriting class called “Two Pink Lines”. I’ll turn it into a mini-audiobook later. Much later.

But I’m also brainstorming the plot for the next Scotland Yard Exchange Program book where Joe Dellario, the governor’s body guard goes to London for a special detail in royal protective service.

Title: THE UPSTARTS
Book 3 in the Scotland Yard Exchange Program series

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Chocolate (I don’t care if it’s cliche)

Favorite Dessert: Chocolate (duh)

Favorite TV Show: The Closer (Thank you soooo much!)

Favorite Movie: It’s between Cassablanca and Gone in 60 Seconds (what do you mean ‘odd’?)

Last Movie You Saw: Something with Meryl Streep in it (adore her!)

Dark or Milk Chocolate: MILK (I don’t care how good dark chocolate is for me)

TRC: Thank you Stephanie for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on a great start to your writing career.

Stephanie: Thanks a million for the interview, Sandy, and taking the time to look at all my books!

Stephanie is offering a $10 AMAZON gift card to one lucky member at The Reading Cafe.

1. You must be a registered member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not a member, please register using the log-in at the top of the page or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter, please post your email address along with your comment, as Twitter does not allow for email addresses.

3. You must post a comment answering one of the lightning round questions.

4. Giveaway is OPEN internationally.

5. Giveaway runs November 3 to November 6, 2012