Today I’m happy to welcome Sarah MacLean to my blog, to tell answer a few questions about her recently released debut novel The Season. I think this book will be of particular interest to a certain contingent of my friends who share my love of Jane Austen, as The Season is set in the Regency era and features plenty of feisty young gentlewomen with quick wits and vivacity. Don’t these gals look ready to get into some regency intrigues?
Here’s what I said about The Season over on Goodreads:
As a fan of Jane Austen, mysteries, and strong female characters, this book was the perfect thing for me to read curled up on a snowy day with a cup of tea. All too often I find romances in novels don’t move me as I would wish, but I was completely enthralled by the complicated and conflicted relationships in The Season. It was also a very fun read– I particularly enjoyed the scenes of Alex and her two best friends Vivi and Emma discussing all manner of subjects. I am very much looking forward to visiting with them again!
Q: Tell us about a scene or character from your novel that was especially easy (or especially difficult) to write.
A: There’s a scene about 2/3rds of the way through the book, when Alexandra, the main character, is sad and depressed and wants nothing more than to find someone who will believe in her. And she finds her two best friends…and they are resolute in their faith in her. It was a great scene to write…because it just rang so true to me. Sometimes you just need your girls.
Q: What is your favorite (or one of your favorite) myths or fairy-tales, and why?
A: I love the myth of Cupid & Psyche…which so perfectly represents the
evolution of the romantic relationship, from passion through doubt and anger and remorse to, ultimately, forgiveness and love. It’s one of the best love stories there is!
Q: What has been the most exciting part of selling your book(s) and getting published so far?
A: Oh, definitely holding the finished copy in my hand. That’s the most wonderful part! Knowing that I wrote this real live book!
About The Season
Seventeen-year-old Lady Alexandra Stafford doesn’t fit into the world of Regency London — she’s strong-willed, sharp-tongued, and she absolutely loathes dress fittings. Unfortunately, her mother has been waiting for years for Alex to be old enough to take part in the social whirlwind of a London Season so she can be married off to someone safe, respectable, wealthy, and almost certainly boring. But Alex is much more interested in adventure than romance.
Between sumptuous balls, lavish dinner parties and country weekends, Alex, along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, manages to get entangled in her biggest scrape yet. When the Earl of Blackmoor is killed in a puzzling accident, Alex decides to help his son, the brooding and devilishly handsome Gavin, uncover the truth. It’s a mystery brimming with espionage, murder, and suspicion. As she and Gavin grow closer, will Alex’s heart be stolen in the process?
Romance and danger fill the air, as this year’s Season begins!
About Sarah MacLean
Sarah MacLean is the author of THE SEASON, a YA novel coming in March 2009 from Scholastic. She grew up in Rhode Island, where she spent much of her free time bemoaning the fact that she was more than a century too late for own Season. Her unabashed addiction to historical fiction helped to earn her a degree in European History from Smith College before she moved to New York City to pursue a career in publishing. After receiving a Masters in Education from Harvard University, Sarah returned to New York, where she lives with her husband, their dog, and a ridiculously large collection of romance novels. She is currently working on a series of regency-set romances to be released in 2010 from Avon/HarperCollins.
You can visit Sarah at her website.
The Season is available now! I encourage you to shop at your local independant bookseller.
Tags: debs blog tour
