Fallen Women Week: Interview with Delilah Marvelle + Giveaway (US)

Delilah Marvelle is one of our favorite authors to host on the blog and hang out with a cons. She's an absolute hoot and her books will keep you up all night while setting your loins ablaze. Okay, that's inappropriate but for those who know Delilah, inappropriate is the name of the game. Today Delilah is sharing why fallen women are a delight to write and a super exclusive excerpt from the much anticipated third book of The School of Gallantry series. <

WELCOME BACK TO THE BLOG DELILAH!!!

Meet Delilah:

Delilah Marvelle spent her youth studying various languages, reading voraciously and playing the pianoforte. She confesses that here ends the extent of her gentle breeding. She was a naughty child who was forever torturing her parents with countless adventures that they did not deem respectable. Confined to her room on many occasions due to these misadventures, she discovered the quill and its amazing power. Soon, to the dismay of her parents, she rather enjoyed being confined to her room. She is a two time Golden Heart finalist and winner of RT's Best Sensual Historical Romance of the Year. You can visit her at her website at www.DelilahMarvelle.com or her blog, which explores the naughtier side of history, at www.DelilahMarvelle.blogspot.com.

Connect with Delilah: Author Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

J&K: Hi Delilah! Thank you so much for being here today sharing your fallen women in all their glory :) You truly are a master at writing trouser rippers.

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Delilah Marvelle: Thank you so much for having me! AND for crowning me master of writing trouser rippers, lol. The trousers are all trembling in fear, I’m sure.

J&K: What inspired you to write about a “fallen woman”?
DM: A “fallen” woman has a deeper story. When it comes to writing stories, I love digging into the many facets of a character, and the bigger the ‘fall’ the bigger the ‘story’. It’s not just about story itself, either, but the idea of taking this woman on a journey of redemption that lifts who she is as a person and a woman. We all make mistakes, big or small, and the idea that even a fallen woman can rise above her ‘fall’ is something I aspire to write about to better understand myself as a person. The biggest kick I get out of it though, I’ve always had a dirty sense of humor. I make my husband blush. So I like being able to use the grittiness of a fallen woman to use ‘dirty’ humor I wouldn’t be able to use on a ‘respectable’ woman without offending her sensibilities, lol. And the best part? She doesn’t get all giggly and shy around the hero because she’s done these things before.

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J&K: What are the characteristics of a hero would you want for your “fallen woman”?
DM: Above all else, he has to be the ultimate gentleman, even if he is a rake. Because hey, a fallen woman needs a man who can tend to ALL her needs, not just those in the bedroom. He also has to be gallant and be able to stand at her side even though the rest of society made a jog for the back door (though, um…not HER back door…ehm, yes dirty humor). And last but not least, he has to be compassionate. So even though he may not understand where our fallen woman is coming from, he recognizes how difficult it is to be a fallen woman.

J&K: If Hollywood optioned your book into a movie, who would play the lead characters?
DM: Wowsa, that’s a hard one to answer, because depending on the book, would depend on who I would cast . Although I can probably say without hesitation that Richard Armitage could probably be cast for any of my men. He’s broody, strong, sweeping and just plain hot with a sexy accent to boot. For the heroine? I love Christina Hendricks as an actress, and think she’s equally hot, so I would book her too, lol.

J&K: What are you writing at the moment? Can you give us a sneak peek into your current WIP?
DM: I *just* finished my Christmas novella which will be out this December with Entangled. It will be in a Christmas anthology featuring me and Maire Claremont and will be called ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A DUKE. I had such a blast writing it. It’s sexy, flirty, fun, and has eggnog and brandy splashed all over it (I’m not kidding).

My current WIP is LADY OF PLEASURE, book 3 in the School of Gallantry series, which will be out March 1st, 2013. It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to return to the School Gallantry series, so I’m super excited about returning to it! The series centers on a school that educates men in the art of love and seduction. In this book, we revisit with Lady Caroline who has been madly in love with her older brother’s best friend since she was 12. And now that she’s all grown up, she has a few fantasy checklists she needs to take care of, including seducing said best friend.
Naturally, chaos ensues. It’s so much fun writing this story!

Here’s a sneak peek excerpt:

Spring, 1825

London, England

The Hawksford residence

Two porcelain dolls dressed in matching lilac gowns and bonnets were wagged up toward
Caroline’s face, one in each hand, before their frozen round faces were crookedly turned and forced to face each other in mid-air. Without warning, those pouty painted mouths were savagely smashed together with urgent chinks that almost chipped the porcelain off their faces.

“This is how it’s done,” her younger sister Victoria strategized, grinding the dolls’ faces together as their three younger sisters peered in on the action. “Though it’s supposed to be one man and one woman, not two women, or it’s considered wrong. And for some reason, I have seen Mama and Papa open their mouths when they do it.” Victoria paused, her brows coming together as she adjusted the dolls. “I think they actually use their tongues. Much like a dog would. They also moan quite a bit in the bedchamber. Something about ‘Oh God’ and ‘Ride me.’”

“Ewwwwww,” Anne, Elizabeth and Mary said in unison with twisting freckled faces as they leaned away.

Caroline rolled her eyes. This was exactly what happened when parents took to being overly amorous. It permanently damaged the delicate sensibilities of their children. Why couldn’t they have normal aristocratic parents who hated each other and shared separate bedchambers?

J&K: If you could trade places with any fallen woman (real or fictional) who would it be and why?
DM: I would say Ninon de L’Enclos. The woman led an amazing life as a courtesan back in the 1600’s (and is who my School of Gallantry series is based off). She met A LOT of amazing people, from Kings to philosophers (and she didn’t sleep with all of them either, lol). Her motto was to live like a man whilst recognizing one is a woman.

J&K: If you could live anywhere in the world (or a place from a book) where would it be?
DM: I would love to live in Paris, France. No doubt. I haven’t even been there yet, but the history and the language and the artistic community appeals to this heart of mine. It’s on my agenda to visit France in the next year or so, as I plan on writing a huge series that will involve a lot of research. And who knows, maybe I *will* stay there

Either/Or:

1. Alpha or Beta? Alpha
2. Wallflower or Belle of the Ball? Belle of the Ball
3. Debutante or Spinster? Spinster
4. Virgin widow or Secret baby? Virgin widow
5. Titled peer or Working man? Titled peer
6. Love at first sight or Second chances? Both!
7. Naval officer or Swashbuckling pirate? Swashbuckling pirate
8. Vampires or Shifters? Vampires
9. Past, Present or Future? Past
10. Writing or Reading? Writing
11. Paperbacks or e-books? Paperbacks
12. Plotter or Pantser? Panster
13. Author’s choice: You get to ask a question for the readers to answer.
    What is your favorite “fallen woman” historical movie? We’re talking Vanity Fair or Dangerous Liaisons, baby!

J&K: Thanks for celebrating Fallen Women Week with us!

Excerpt from Lady of Pleasure ©2013 by Delilah Marvelle. All rights reserved.

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FOREVER A LADY:

Genre: Historical
Length: 368 pages
Publisher: HQN (July 24,2012)

TWO DIFFERENT CLASSES, ONE COMMON DESIRE...

Lady Bernadette Marie Burton may be the richest widow in England, but like her dreams of finding true passion, her reputation is deteriorating. Cruel gossip, loneliness and hoards of opportunistic suitors have her believing Society couldn't be more vile...or dangerous. So when an attacker threatens her life, she finds safety in the most unseemly of places: the arms of a mysterious, Irish-American gang leader.

His fortune stolen, young Matthew Joseph Milton is done playing the respectable gentleman. In the slums of New York, only ruffians thrive. But from the moment he arrives in London and encounters the voluptuous Lady Bernadette, he can't help but wonder about the finer pleasures he's missing. Or just how much he's willing to risk-not only to bed her, but to prove his worth...

Get Your Own Copy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook | Book Depository | Jan's (signed)
Book Extras: Read An Excerpt
Other Books in Series:

Delilah is giving away two(2) copies of FOREVER A LADY to two(2) lucky readers. This is a book you don't want to miss out on. Here's how to enter:

• Leave a comment answering Delilah's question: What is your favorite “fallen woman” historical movie?
• Fill out the rafflecopter form below. You must leave a comment. All other entries are optional.

***Shana Galen is hanging out at Aislynn's blog. Stop by for a fun interview and giveaway***

A huge thanks to Delilah for stopping by and for donating 2 copies of FOREVER A LADY.
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