Deadly Valentine Guest: Denise Agnew (And Giveaway!) Back to Blog
Update: The winner is…Missy V!
Today I’m interviewing multi-published author extraordinaire Denise Agnew. Denise is a great lady who writes in a variety of romance sub-genres. Denise, thanks for participating in the interview!
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1. Why did you become a writer?
It’s simply in my blood and I’m compelled. I’ve been writing stories since I was fourteen.
2. Of all the books that you’ve written, which one was the hardest to write? Why?
I think all my books are hard to write on some level. There will always be those times when I feel like I haven’t a clue what I’m doing and want to chuck it into the trashcan. The hardest books, though, are the ones where I’m deep into researching, and I’m more concerned with historical accuracy, etc. One of the most difficult I think was Meant To Be, because when I first wrote it close to fifteen years ago I was more concerned with conforming to category rules and I was writing it for a category line. I don’t do that anymore. 🙂
3. Now let’s flip it…was there one book that just poured out of you because the pages came so quickly?
No. I have spurts. In every book I will have these sections where the first run/draft is going so well and easily and then at some point, I’ll run into a rough patch that I have to find my way around.
4. What’s next for you? Please share any projects that will be releasing soon.
The next story out for me that is already scheduled is the June 2011 release of BEFORE THE DAWN at Samhain Publishing. It’s a historical. HOT PURSUIT may also be out between now and then. It’s the last story in my Hot Zone military romance series at Samhain. In the meantime, I’m writing a trilogy that is definitely romance, but not like anything people have seen quite before.
5. What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
After you’ve listened to all the conventional advice, realize at some point it is your career and it’s got to feel right to you. Follow the rules to a point, but remember this is your career in the end and not anyone else’s.
6. Tell me about the darkest book you’ve written—why is it so dark?
The darkest book is actually coming up. I’m almost ready to start it. It’s set in 1918 and deals with a hero who has experienced shell shock/PTSD in World War I, and a nurse that’s also had her experiences seeing war in France. But they’re also in an asylum that has a haunted legacy. This is the second book in a series. It also deals with the influenza epidemic that occurred at that time and it’s dark because it was a particularly horrible time in our history that many people have completely forgotten about. Most people are totally unaware that it killed such huge numbers of people. I’d say second to that is Dark, Deadly, Love (Samhain) which is my tale set during the Jack The Ripper murders in 1888 London. I have more POVs in this book than I do in others, and the prostitutes who were murdered are a larger part of the story than people would normally expect in a romance. These books I’m describing are definitely romance…never fear. 🙂
7. Let’s lighten things up now…will you share your ideal Valentine’s Day?
A secluded resort cuddling with my hubby after a delicious gourmet dinner. There’s probably a bottle of champagne or wine in there somewhere.
Thanks, Denise! Now…what’s *your* ideal Valentine’s Day? Share and one commenter will win an e-copy of Denise’s book, FOR A ROMAN’S HEART (I’ll send it to you via Amazon.com so it will be the Kindle edition. If you don’t have a Kindle, you can use the Kindle for PC program–I’ve used that program so many times!)
I agree with Denise that the perfect Valentine’s Day must involve a secluded location. Having a bunch of people around totally kills the mood. Great food with emphasis on DESSERT is a must for me. I don’t drink alcohol so I over indulge with chocolate!
Dark, Deadly, Love sounds right up my alley. I have been fascinated with the Jack the Ripper period since I was little. Okay that sounded creepy LOL, I mean I wanted to know WHO did it.
Great post!
My ideal Valentine’s Day is just a nice quiet day with a lovely dinner out, so I don’t have to do any work ;).
I agree with the dinner out…that would be great. We hardly ever go out to eat alone…sigh!!!
I have this book, haven’t read it yet but it’s high up on my TBR pile.
Valerie
in Germany
valb0302@yahoo.com
I agree, a nice quiet dinner out, someone else cooking and cleaning up!
Definitely alone time with that someone special… a nice quiet meal together, and something really yummy for dessert…
Viki,
Sounds divine to me! Any day we can have some leisure is a fine day indeed.
Stacie, tried to reply to your post and for some reason it isn’t coming up. Well, if I answer this twice, sorry about that. 🙂 What I said is that if I have alcohol with dinner or after dinner I can skip dessert. 🙂
Hi there Valerie!
Great to see you here. Thanks for always taking the time to say hello, and thanks for putting this book on your to read list. 🙂
Jean,
Thanks for stopping by. Here’s to many more of those kinds of moments for you.
Colleen,
Hey, I’m a fan of apple pie. So it would be hard for me to resist it. I’ll admit it.
I think mine would be dinner at home with my DH alone without the kids for a few hours, I wouldn’t care if it was pizza as long as it wasn’t made at my house. Sometimes we just need our time without the going somewhere. Its simple and easy as long its the two of us for a bit.
My ideal Valentine’s Day right now would be to just have someone to share it with. lol
I’d love to actually have a valentine who would want to share a nice quiet evening with me, whether it’s at home or on a small getaway.
Don’t enter me in the contest, but wanted to say I read For a Roman’s Heart and I whoever wins will be very lucky…it is excellent!
Gigi
On vacation somewhere alone with my boyfriend. Don’t care where as long as we are together.
My ideal Valentine’s Day is having a quiet evening with my husband. A candle, some music playing quietly, and a cocktail. Nothing fancy.
My perfect Valentine would be with someone who I loved and he loved me as much.Someone who would cherish me the way I am and not try to change me.And would have my back the way I had his.
We would spend a quiet day together.We would have a special meal with candles glowing every where.Soft romantic music playing.We would then just sit on the sofa and/or in bed just cuddling and talking.Sharing and renewing our love for one another.
No gifts just us giving to each other.
Miss V,
Hi there. Thanks for stopping by. Quiet moments can be some of the best!
Karin,
You couldn’t pay enough to be single. Celebrated twenty years of marriage this month. Woot! May you find a special someone to share your life with. 🙂
Congratulations on the twenty years of marriage, Denise. My parents will celebrate 36 years in 5 months.
Thanks. I’m hoping I find that person as well. 🙂
Gigi!!! Why thank you so much. I appreciate your kind words! Does this author’s heart good! 🙂
Danielle,
Are you getting that vacation soon?
So are you planning that kind of Valentine’s Day this year?
Jeanette,
Sounds like an absolutely perfect day and evening.:)
I mean to say…Rita…are you planning that kind of Valentine’s Day this year? LOL.
I’ll have two grandbabies here all day and one in the evening so it’s doubtful. Someday 🙂
MY perfect valentines day would be with someone who adores me, and has my best interests at heart instead of his own. A nice secluded spot, a relaxing dinner, a massage, and just take it from there!! 🙂
My nice Valentine’s day is a dinner out with the family where I don’t have to cook. A totally amazing Valentine’s day would be sending the kids to the grandparents to the night. Have a nice dinner with the hubs then going to a nice hotel with the jacuzzi tub and enjoying an evening as adults with no responsibilities.
Susan,
Sounds like a perfect evening!
JoAnna,
That seems like a big theme here, and very understandable. Hard to get cozy and romantic if there are little ones running about, eh? LOL.
All I need is my boyfriend and some dark chocolate. He can give me a massage. Hawaii would be great, too.
Dinner and a movie, then the evening to ourselves, that would be my dream Valentin date with mu hubby!
For me a dream Valentine would be a quiet dinner with my sweetie at home. After eating a yummy dinner to just cuddle on the couch and eat dessert sounds divine 🙂
A quiet night out without our 3 kids would be the ultimate Valentine’s for me. I love my kids, but… well all you moms know what I mean 😉
Oh Angela, I do indeed understand 🙂 A quiet dinner would be nice, but to go all out, let’s plan a whole day–a day sans kids for me to sit around and enjoy something off my TBR and maybe some pampering, followed by a dinner out with my sweetie, and then some grown-up snuggle/playtime after 🙂
Don’t enter me, Denise–For a Roman’s Heart’s on my TBR!
A very late hello to Diane, Michele, Angela and Fedora. I was out of town all day and missed the opportunity to stop by. Thank you ladies!
Thanks again to everyone for stopping by the blog. Cynthia is going to pick one winner soon! Thanks again, Cynthia, for inviting me to stop by and chat with everyone.
Everybody have a fabulous weekend. 🙂
I blogged over at the goodreads site…hope that counts as well as this!!!
leaghchristensen@yahoo.com