Let's meet the author of A Dangerous Invitation, Erica Monroe

I would like y'all to welcome Erica Monroe to What I'm Reading. Today she will be sharing a little about her up and coming debut, so let's get started.

Welcome Erica and how are you today?
I am great! Very happy to be on your blog as I love your reviews. This makes this author thing seem very real to me—no longer a dream but a career I’m viably accomplishing.

So, I hear you will have a new book out in December, what’s the name of the book and what’s it about? 

A Dangerous Invitation will be out December 14, 2013. It is the first book in The Rookery Rogues series. Set in 1829 London in the Ratcliffe rookery (the 19^th century version of a slum), it begins with Daniel O’Reilly returning to town with a two-fold goal: prove he’s innocent of the murder he was accused of two years ago, and regain the heart of Kate Morgan, the woman he’s loved since the day he started work at her father’s company. But a lot has happened while Daniel’s been away: Kate’s father passed, and his company went bankrupt. With no relatives in town or money of her own, Kate was forced to find shelter in the rookeries—using her knowledge of import/export to fence stolen goods.

Can Daniel O’Reilly and Kate Morgan describe themselves to my readers?

Daniel would say that Kate is above all else fierce. She’s a force to be reckoned with who can certainly shoot a flintlock pistol better than him. Kate has a lot of inner strength that Daniel admires, for he’s not always sure of his own willpower. Kate would say that Daniel is caring, always listening to her and understanding her. But in the beginning, she’d also say that he isn’t trustworthy, as he fled police capture and never said goodbye to her. There’s also that pesky murder charge.

What makes Daniel and Kate unique? Do your characters have any flaws?

I was drawn to the characters of Daniel and Kate for the very reason that they are flawed creatures. For me, what makes writing interesting is getting to bring to life people with real problems and emotions. (Or at least that’s what we aim to do as a writer). In Daniel’s case, he is a recovering alcoholic with a lot of sins to make up for, and he’s not entirely sure he’s even worthy of Kate. So for him it’s a constant fight to keep his head up, to stay away from the drink, and to remember that his Irish heritage isn’t a death sentence to him and Kate (due to the English’s hatred of the Irish).  Kate has a hard time trusting people and letting them into her life. She so ferociously protects her independence that she might miss out on the greatest love of her life.

What makes this series unique is its locale. Outside of Elizabeth Hoyt’s Maiden Lane Series in Georgian London, I don’t know of any others that deal so thoroughly with London’s underworld, and I don’t know any at all that deal with it without the addition of the bon ton. I wanted to stick with middle and lower class characters, as they rarely get to tell their side of the story. Their problems are very real—not enough money to survive on, threat of violence, pestilent conditions.

I know that you are a huge animal lover, is there a sidekick of a dog in the story?

Unfortunately, there aren’t any animals in this story. Originally, I had considered giving Kate a cat, but it just didn’t fit. Given the poorness of both characters, it wasn’t feasible.

What can readers look forward in A Dangerous Invitations?

ADI is historical romantic suspense, so they can expect a lot of action and smexy times. It is a darker, gritty romance so they should prepare for emotional angst and drama. I think there are a few funny moments thanks to the assorted panel of secondary characters but as ADI deals with emotional redemption, the issues are deeper.

How many books do you plan to write for this particular serious?

Thus far, the plan for The Rookery Rogues is five books and two novellas. I’m not sure if that will change as time goes on. The second book in this series, tentatively titled An Artful Seduction, is the story of the Jacob’s Island prostitute introduced in ADI, Sally Fletcher, and a London bookseller, Matthew Harker.

Final question, if you are were to write your on life story what would your title be and why?

Ardently At Odds, Or How One Spastic Imagination Took Over the World. I’m a pretty passionate person, and all jokes about my world domination plans aside, I’m rather dictatorial. I think that’s one of the reasons self-publishing appealed to me, as I long for complete control.

Thank you for stopping by today. Is there anything else you would like to say to my readers?

Thank you so much for reading my little interview! It means so much to me that you have an interest in my book. 

BLURB FOR BOOK –

One fatal mistake cost Daniel O’Reilly the woman he loved, spiraling him toward drunken self-destruction. Now sober, he’ll have to prove he’s innocent of the murder he was accused of two years ago. But pistol-wielding Kate Morgan hasn't forgiven his sins.

 Torn from her privileged existence by her father’s death, Kate Morgan has carved out a new independent life in the Ratcliffe rookery as a fence for stolen goods. Daniel’s invitation to assist him jeopardizes her structured existence. Yet Kate can’t resist his touch, or the wicked desires he stirs within her.

As their renewed passions grow reckless, their investigation takes them through the darkest and most depraved areas of the City. To catch a killer, they’ll have to put secrets behind them and trust only their hearts.

BIO

Erica Monroe writes romantic suspense set in regency London. Her debut novel, A Dangerous Invitation, Book 1 of the Rookery Rogues series, will be out in December 2013. Erica can also be found blogging every other Saturday at Teatime Romance. When not writing, she is a chronic TV watcher, lover of pit bulls, and shoe fashionista. She lives in the suburbs of North Carolina with her husband, two dogs, and two cats.

 If y'all would like to get connect with Erica or find out more about her just click on the links:

Website / Twitter