Bronwen Evans Interview & Giveaway

Today we are honored to have Bronwen Evans with us. Her newest release in Invitation To Ruin. She is giving away a signed copy of Invitation to Ruin, more details below.

Would you mind telling the readers a little about yourself?

I was born in the 1960's (that's as much as I’m prepared to share re: age!). I grew up in New Zealand, although I did spend almost 4 years in the USA while my father completed a PhD at Cornell University in Ithaca, upstate New York. Plus I lived almost 8 years in the UK when I graduated from University.

All I can really remember of Ithaca, (I was around 3 years old) was the very hot summers and the very cold winters - oh and learning to ice-skate.

On our return to NZ, when I was almost 6, we bought a farm in the Wairarapa - sheep and cattle - and I grew up with dogs, ponies and pet lambs.

I'm one of five girls. I have a twin sister; I'm the eldest by twenty minutes. I'm also the eldest full stop. I have no bothers. That's a shame really as there is a long tradition of great rugby (the NZ national game) players in my family. My great-grandfather was an All Black (that's the name of our national team in NZ), my grandfather and his brothers represented their provenance Hawke's Bay, and my father captained the NZ Universities team in rugby. I think he even introduced it at Ithaca - the Americans thought he was made as they tackle but have no padding.

I was a pretty studious child, and studied hard at school. But I wasn't a nerd. I loved sport, represented my school, and provenance, in Netball and Tennis. I went to University at 18 and got a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration degree.

I've worked in big corporates mainly, banking and telecommunications, including my almost eight year stint in the United Kingdom. Finally, I branched out and set up my own E-Commerce Beauty website in 1999. Listed it on the NZ Stock Exchange in 2000 and sold it to a large NZ Pharmacy chain in 2005. That's when I decide I could focus on my biggest passion - writing.

I still work in business but only 20 hours a week. I run a small private surgical association in NZ.

I've never married. I lost someone very dear and haven't found anyone to replace him. I am looking though. I’m enjoying the looking.

I keep myself busy with work and writing. When not doing either of those, I love spending time with my niece and nephews, reading, golfing, hiking and playing bridge.

Your newest release is Invitation To Ruin, what can you tell us about it that we haven't heard/seen before?

Some of the scenes in Invitation to Ruin were a bit too vivid for my editor, and she suggested I allude to, rather than be explicit, in some of the scenes between the villain and my heroine.

Anthony and Melissa are strong characters, are they based on anyone in particular?

My characters are never based on anyone in particular. My hero Anthony, and my heroine Melissa, are all my imagining.

The external features I might use pictures of my favourite actors, like Alex O’Loughlin, or Hugh Jackman, or Orlando Bloom (can you see a trend here – tall dark and handsome). But my character’s personalities I create by thinking of a premise or topic, and then analysing how that situation would shape a person.

For example, in Invitation to Ruin, Anthony’s father was a Slave Trader. How would that shape your personality, given such a man is your father? What sort of man would Anthony’s father have been given he was prepared to trade in human lives and expected his son to continue the business?

Melissa was fun to write. I thought what it would be like for an intelligent woman in the 1800’s. Not being able to work or to choose her how she lived her life. I’d be a bit miffed to put it mildly!

Do you do any special research for Invitation To Ruin specifically?

I did a lot of research for Invitation to Ruin because of the slave trading element. Of course I knew that slave trading wasn’t abolished until 1833, but the Slave Trade Act was passed in 1807, making it illegal for British ships to carry slaves. The hardest piece of information to find was the price of a slave in England. There was plenty of information available for the USA slave trade but difficult to find in England. I also had to research where the auctions were held, what ports were used etc.

Did anything inspire the "Lord of Wicked" idea besides the common rake of the time?

Again it came from the story. I thought about a man who wanted to block out his past, who loathed himself, and found no enjoyment in the world around him. When I got to know Anthony, I knew he’d want to lose himself in something to forget. Pleasure seemed to fit the times, and I thought with such an ugly childhood, sensuality and beauty would captivate him.

You addressed some ideas that were (and still can be) controversial at the time, the slave issue and you even touched on women's rights, or lack thereof. You even took a harsh approach to some of this. It must have taken some nerve to be willing to take this view. One assumes you have strong opinions about this/these issues? How do you feel we are doing in modern times vs. what you wrote about?

I do feel strongly about EVERYONE’S rights. Because I have travelled extensively (almost every continent) I’ve learned that people are very similar, while also having differences. I’ve become a more tolerant person. Everyone has a right to live the life they want, to live as they see fit, as long as they don’t hurt anyone else.

Plus having spent many years in corporate roles, been a company director a few times, and having sat in many board rooms, I still see that women are not always treated as equals. Why do woman have to be so much better than men to rise to the top? Often they are paid less for the same job. One thing I noticed in my career was that I can count on one hand the number of my female staff who asked for a pay rise. Every single male employee did. It was the first thing they demanded in a review. Men value themselves highly (often too highly), whereas women simply accept. I remember hearing women say, “I’m paid well for what I do, I don’t’ need more.”

The classic example of differences that are not of benefit to women is in politics. Woman Politicians get comments about what they wear, their haircuts, how much weight they have put on etc. Very seldom, if ever, does a news item comment on a male Politian’s latest haircut or outfit.

Do you plan any more books with characters from Invitation To Ruin? (As I said in my review, "I loved Anthony’s brother and best friend (Rufus) and would love to read their stories. Especially since Richard set Anthony up, it would only be fair for him to be caught in the wedding trap somehow.")

I’m glad you like Rufus because his story is book two in my series. Invitation to Scandal will be out in Early 2012.

There are three more ‘Invitation To’ stories.

Richard’s story is book three and he finds himself paired with Rufus’s sister, Madeline. He gets his comeuppance in terms of meddling in other’s love lives.

Book four is Alex’s story, a character in Rufus’s story, book two.

And book five is a Grayson’s story, who is revealed as a secondary character in book Alex’s story.

When did you know that you wanted to be a writer? Was your family and friends supportive?

I have always loved reading romance stories. I’m a huge romantic at heart. I’ve always had stories in my head. I have a vivid imagination and I love the theatre and movies. I love getting lost in other worlds.

In 1990 when I lived in London, I was on a trip to the Greek islands and in the hostel where I was staying, on the isle of Mykonos; I found a Mills and Boon in Greek! Light bulb moment. As I sat gazing on the Mediterranean I thought, what a wonderful life a writer must have (it has its moments I have learned). Being able to live anywhere and work anytime. I could stay here and write! There must be some money in this as a career, if they print them in Greek too. A worldwide market. My business brain kicked in and I investigated the idea of this with Mills and Boon in London when I finished my holiday. But like most people, life got in the way, and I let my dream drift.

Showing my work to my mother was hard. My mother is a bit shocked at the sensual content of my books, but she is very enthusiastic about my career. She has always encouraged all of her girls. My sister’s love them.

Who inspired you the most to follow your dreams of being a writer?

My dear friend, Jock Fanselow, inspired me. My book is dedicated to him.

He underwent a heart and lung transplant in 2004, and unfortunately died in 2006 before I got my book deal, but I’m sure he knows, and is celebrating with me. Jock’s death helped re-focus me on what’s important in life. Family, friends, less stress. Money is not everything and it certainly doesn’t buy you happiness. So I joined Romance Writers of New Zealand in 2006 and focused on getting published.

Jock had been ill most of his life and I met him while at University. He has been my business mentor, friend, and my biggest motivator for following my dreams. He and I use to think up Mills and Boon plots and name characters together. He was so sure it was a simple formula to pump out a few books. I soon taught him it was far from that.

He taught me that life was short and that it was for the living. He would say, don’t get to the last day of your life and go, “I wish I had done…..”

What is the writing process like for you? Do you have a particular writing process or any writing rituals?

I have to be organized to be productive. I think it’s like that in most jobs. So I tend to plot out my books fully before I start writing them. Then I try to write a first draft as quickly as possible. I then edit and edit and polish and polish.

I write at least 20 hours a week – more if I can. I am aiming to write two single title books a year while I work part-time. You need two books a year in the market, at least, to make a living.

In your free time what can you be found doing?

I’m a huge reader and, I’m afraid, TV watcher. I love getting lost in characters’ and other’s lives. Sometimes you can find me playing golf, if it’s a nice day. I’m a fair weather golfer only. I also enjoy playing bridge and going for my daily walks.

What are you currently working on? Anything you can share regarding your current Work in Progress?

I’m currently working on two projects. Melissa Jeglinski, my agent, is enthusiastic about a Harlequin Presents that I started with Jock many years ago. I have basically re-written it, but Melissa loves the first three chapters and she has me finishing it so she can start shopping it. It obviously has special memories for me.

Then I am working on book one of my new Regency historical series called ‘Disgraced Lords’. The book is set in Canada and England. It’s a six book series, and is about six lords who for various reasons are forced from England and it’s about their fight to return to exact revenge. Book one is Christian Trent’s journey to prove his innocence of a vicious crime.

Bronwen is giving away a signed copy of Invitation to Ruin to be entered please leave her a question and fill out this FORM.

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