An Exclusive Interview with Delilah Marvelle + Giveaway (Thank you, Authors! Thank you, Fellow Readers!)

This is the last feature for my series and I'm happy to welcome Delilah Marvelle to my blog.

I've been reading Delilah since her debut novel, Mistress of Pleasure, and have loved her very unique, very innovative, very Delilah take on writing romance novels. When I recall the three books in her Rumor series, I remember the wonderful feeling that came after reading them and, I have to say, they are three of my favourite books this year. (And you should see the book trailers that Delilah helped produce to introduce each book -- as with her books, only superlatives come to mind. ^_^)

I was delighted when Delilah announced that she would be revisiting The School of Gallantry series, and she has already released a book 3 and an e-novella as part of the series. She's one of the authors whose books I'm looking forward to in 2014. ^_^

LStW: Hi, Delilah! What inspired your School of Gallantry series?

Delilah Marvelle: This may be a rather long winded answer, for which I apologize for, but it’s well worth reading if you’re a history buff. I read a lot of historical non-fiction and dig through a lot of history that isn’t usually covered by scholars due to their ‘salacious’ nature. So much of my research ends up inspiring me. Big time. My silver haired retired courtesan and headmistress of the School of Gallantry was actually inspired by a real life figure and courtesan, Ninon de L'Enclos who was born in Paris in 1620. I stumbled across her name quite accidentally, as she isn’t often written about in books and in reading more about her knew I HAD to create an equally fascinating character.



As a courtesan, she held literary events and discussions with aristocratic men having to do with philosophy, life, love, and even sex. It was a "school" of sorts she had created and she had quite the following of men. In the early stages of creating my books, I decided to take these "discussions" of hers with men and turn it into an actual school. Hence the creation of the School of Gallantry.

Without a doubt, Ninon was known for her quips and wit. She had great sayings like, "Much more genius is needed to make love than to command armies." And my favorite "The resistance of a woman is not always a proof of her virtue, but more frequently of her experience." Her fabulous quotes and wit gave me ideas as to how my imaginary school should be run and that I should also use some sort of quotes of my own. Quotes, which I place at the beginning of each chapter within my books as lessons. Call it a tribute, if you will, to the fabulous Ninon.



What is perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Ninon and why I created an elderly courtesan for my series as opposed to a young one, is that the older Ninon got, the more sought after she became by men. Unlike most courtesans who were forced to retire due to age and lack of beauty, Ninon's circle of admirers grew because they simply could not get enough of her wit and charm. Even women flocked to her for advice. One of my favorite stories about Ninon is when she was approached by a gentleman who desperately wanted to bed her but she really didn't care for him. So she told him, "When I turn 80." The man was so obsessed with her, that he waited, and when she turned 80, he showed up at her door saying it was time. Ninon was so amused by the man, she decided to bed him after all. Indeed, her approach toward men and toward life, the amount of wealth and power she acquired in her lifetime is beyond the comprehension of even a modern woman. I hail her for this alone. Ninon died at 84 and left her vast fortune to friends and admirers.

So there you have it. Ninon AKA Madame de Maitenon.

LStW: (Halloween) If you could dress up as any character, real or fictional, who would it be?

Delilah: Without any doubt, I’d say Marie Antoinette. I’m a sucker for historical fashion and if there’s anyone who had the best gowns EVER, it was Marie Antoinette. Every gown I’ve ever seen her in (from paintings and sketches) were just stunning. I’m drooling just thinking about it, lol.


LStW: (Thanksgiving) As a writer, what are three things that you are most thankful for?

Delilah: My family, my heath and my life. I feel incredibly blessed and am always thankful for the same things every year.


LStW: (Christmas) Do you have a favorite thing to gift friends for Christmas?

Delilah: Most of my friends are writers, so I’m all about giving them gift cards to book stores or anything that might help them in their writing careers. I’m all about being generous but practical. 


LStW: (New Year) What's next for Delilah Marvelle in 2014?

Delilah: I have so much planned! I am currently finishing up Book 4 in the School of Gallantry Series, Night of Pleasure, that will be coming out sometime in Spring, and also started writing Book 5, Master of Pleasure, which will finish the series. Both will be out in 2014. I’m having WAY too much fun writing these books. I’ll also be releasing a sizable novella by the end of 2014 that will introduce my upcoming Whipping Society Series which will be longest running series to date. We’re talking as many as 10 books (or more, depending on how readers respond to it). It’s based on real history and will be about Madame de Maitenon’s dark rival who heads a club and brothel dedicated to pain (historical BDSM). They are a secret circle known as the Whipping Society. It’s fascinating history and gives me so much to play with. 2014 is going to be such a fun year!

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The School of Gallantry series by Delilah Marvelle

Real Pleasure Can't Be Taken ...
Granddaughter of a renowned courtesan, Maybelle de Maitenon has no interest in her grandmother's school in London where gentlemen receive instruction -- in the art of seduction. Her only desire in life is to remain independent, free from men and the shackles of marriage. But when Maybelle lays eyes on Edmund Worthington, the Duke of Rutherford, at a soirée, and hears of his scandalous reputation, she decides he's the perfect person for her to have a tryst with no strings attached ...

It Must Be Given ...
Unbridled passion has again muddied Edmund Worthington's family name. After his very public dalliance with the strikingly beautiful and sensual Maybelle, his mother insists he marry her. But much to the Duke's surprise, Maybelle scoffs at his proposal. Never has he encountered such a brazen -- and maddeningly irresistible--woman. But when Maybelle's grandmother falls ill, forcing Maybelle to take over the operation of her school, Edmund devises a plan to make her his. He enrolls in the school, where no one other than Maybelle must give him expert lessons in carnal pleasure ...

Desperate Times ...
It's been months since Lady Charlotte Chartwell's philandering husband met his untimely end at the hands of an angry mistress. But as miserable as he made Charlotte in life, his death proves to be an even harsher blow. For not a farthing of his fortune or estate have passed on to her, and as a ruined widow, she is destitute, penniless, and utterly without hope.

Lead To Desperate Pleasures ...
Then, as Charlotte is considering the worst, a man steps into her carriage. His intentions are quite indecent at first, but the more he learns about her, the more an unfamiliar -- and undesirable -- emotion creeps over him. Could it be compassion? Never! For this is Alexander Baxendale, third Earl of Hawksford. He is known throughout the ton as the Lord of Pleasure, dedicated to passion, ruthless in his pursuit of sensual gratification. Yet never in all his exploits has he met a woman who could intrigue him as Charlotte does. Can this mysterious beauty make him hang up his title and see to her pleasure alone?

WARNING: This book is Rated Double S (Sweaty & Sinful) and contains strong language and sexual content which may cause respectable people to swoon.

Educating one's self in the art of love takes time ...

Lady Caroline Arabella Starling has been in love with her older brother's best friend, Caldwell, since she was thirteen. Unfortunately, too many things keep getting in the way of proving her love. Her four younger sisters, her mother, her brother, all of society and the man she loves himself. But where there is a will, there is a way, and Caroline is about to redefine not only respectability but true love.

Ronan Henry Dearborn, the fourth Marquess of Caldwell, lives to see himself through Caroline's eyes but knows he is leading a life unworthy of her or her dreams. He will do anything to keep her from learning the truth about himself and his past, including keeping her at a distance. But when he and Caroline get tangled in a situation neither of them can get out of, the only way to create a happily-ever-after is to take up the advice of a French courtesan who re-educates them both in the art of love.

WARNING: This book is Rated Double S (Sweaty & Sinful) and contains strong language and sexual content which may cause respectable people to swoon.

He believes in destiny. She just wants to survive it ...

At forty, Lady Cecilia Evangeline Stone thinks she has everything a woman could ever want. A title, a fortune, and four children who make her proud. After a marriage of convenience that was anything but convenient, she has no desire to complicate her life by including a man in it again. When her eldest son announces his engagement to a Russian actress in Saint Petersburg, Cecilia sets out to do what any good mother would do: stop the wedding. Unfortunately, destiny has other plans.

Konstantin Alexie Levin never considered himself to be a villain. In fact, he considers himself to be a Russian gentleman. Having grown up in a refined and well-educated family that embraced criminal life to avoid debtor's prison, the only thing preventing him from knowing happiness is the rest of the world. Everything changes, however, when Konstantin is given a chance to start life anew and travel to London to collect an unexpected reward for saving a man's life. To his surprise, he is about to become a hero at midnight to a beautiful aristocrat who desperately needs his help. The problem is ... he wants to do more than save Lady Stone. He wants to make the woman his, all his.

To read my reviews of the books in Delilah Marvelle's books, click here.

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Meet Delilah Marvelle --

Delilah Marvelle is the winner of the Reviewer's Choice for Best Sensual Historical Romance of the Year and had Booklist name her historical romance 'Forever and a Day' one of the TOP 10 Romances of the year. When she isn't writing, she's digging through historically inappropriate research books that make her poor husband blush.

To find out more about Delilah Marvelle and her books, click below:

Website
Facebook
Twitter
Blog
Goodreads
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It's almost New Year! This is my way of saying "Thank you" and, hopefully, sharing the good cheer to all the wonderful authors and to all the wonderful romance readers in the world by giving away books!

Image from Freedigitalphotos.net

For this final feature, I'm giving away a copy of Mistress of Pleasure by Delilah Marvelle, her debut novel and book 1 in her School of Gallantry series and Delilah Marvelle is offering a $5 Amazon Gift Card!

*This giveaway is via Rafflecopter and is open to International Readers.
*This giveaway will run until January 7.
*One entry per household per IP.
*One winner will win a copy of Mistress of Pleasure by Delilah Marvelle and a $5 Amazon Gift Card (Thank you, Delilah!).

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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And, like that, we're done. 16 authors, 18 books given away so far (and more to be given away until January 7).

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the wonderful authors who participated in this series of interviews.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to my fellow readers who dropped by and commented and discovered new authors in the process.

Shall we do another series in 2014? Which authors would you like to read about? ;-) (I have a wish list, but would love it if you shared yours.)

Happy New Year, everyone! Here's to another year of books, blogging and ... more books!