The Elusive Wife Blog Tour (Interview with Callie Hutton and The Earl and Countess)

This is a super exciting interview today. I have with me Jason, Earl of Coventry, Lady Olivia Grant (now Countess of Coventry) and Callie Hutton, the author of The Elusive Wife. I would like y'all to welcome them to What I'm Reading.

Welcome, I hope you are all doing well this day and I hope you don’t mind my living room. After all, most homes aren’t built with parlors or sitting rooms these days.

Callie: Thank you so much for inviting us, Melody. You have a charming home.

Thank you.

Jason: Yes, and you are a charming, lovely lady yourself.

Olivia: And it’s a pleasure to meet you.

Would y’all care for some tea and scones? Before you ask, I don’t have any brandy. However, I do have a bottle of two-buck chuck, but I would advise against that.

Jason: No brandy?

Sorry, my Lord. I just didn’t think to get any, but the tea is very good. It’s a vanilla bourbon, one of my favorite.

Olivia pats his arm: It’s all right, dear. We have plenty at home.

Now the pleasantries are out of the way, lets get to the facts:

Lady Olivia, could you explain to my readers why you went by Lady Olivia instead of Lady Jane? Some may not know you are the same person, since they might not have gotten a chance to read the story yet.

Olivia: Certainly. My full legal name is Lady Jane Olivia Grant. Because my mother was also Jane, my father always called me Olivia, and that is how I view myself.

Lord Conventry, when did you come to the conclusion it would be a great idea to come to your own wedding drunker than a skunk?

Jason: Perhaps I will have a drop of that two-buck chuck.

Olivia shakes her head.

Jason: Very well. To answer your question, I was not happy about giving up my bachelorhood to a woman I’d never met. I know it was childish of me, but I’ve since realized what a gem I have in my wonderful wife. (He gazes adoringly at her.)

Callie:  Good one, Jas.

Have you ever had two-buck chuck? Seriously, vile stuff. Anyways.

Lady Olivia, what did you think of your wedding day?

Olivia: (sniffing) It was an absolute horror. But, as a lady, I did my best to present a happy front to the few people who attended.

How did you find London to your liking?

Olivia: It had been many years that I’d been in London, so it was quite entertaining. I soon drew tired of the balls and other social events, but really loved the opera.

Callie:  Olivia, tell Melody about your trip to the theater.

Olivia: Oh yes, it was wonderful. I agreed to attend the theater with Jason. We saw A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

How was your first encounter of your husband at the ball and having him not recognize you?

Jason: (Clears his throat) May I again request a tiny bit of that two-buck chuck?

Olivia (ignoring him): I was a bit nervous about seeing his lordship again. Fretted about what I would say, what he would say. I hoped we could come to an amicable arrangement. When he didn’t recognize me, I was not at all pleased.

Jason (mumbling under his breath): Why is the rum gone?

I’m telling you the tea is great.

I must say that you handle yourself marvelously. I personally would have handled the whole situation differently. I personally would have been out for blood.

Callie: Now, now, Melody, let’s not stir things up. (giggle). Maybe we can move along with the interview?

Callie, I’m just being honest. However, I believe you are correct, we should move on.

Lord Conventry, how did you feel when you started to receive the bill to your wife’s wardrobe?

Jason: I was stunned. I mean, here she was running about town, charging a new wardrobe to my name, but never made the effort to contact me.

Olivia (eyebrows raised): Indeed?

Callie: Melody, next question, please.

How did you handle it when you found out Lady Coventry and Lady Olivia were one in the same person?

Jason: Anger at first, but then I was thrilled. I wanted nothing more than to have Lady Olivia in my bed. Errr. I mean, in my life. (wipes brow)

Now that this whole mess is over, how is your marriage doing?

Olivia and Jason at the same time, gazing into each other’s eyes: It’s perfect.

I’m so glad.

Now Callie, where did you come up with the idea for the story?

Callie: I just thought about it in church one Sunday morning. The family in front of me had a little girl named Olivia and when I heard her name, I imagined a grown up Olivia in Regency England. I took out my checkbook and wrote the outline for The Elusive Wife right then and there.

I think that is awesome.

Will there any hope for Drake finding himself married anytime soon?

Jason: My best friend better had. It’s time for him to become leg-shacked, too.

Callie: Actually, Drake’s story is in the making. His will be fun and funny. Miss Chloe Hickson will give him a run for his money. Not like Olivia did Jason, but in her own unique way.

I can’t wait to see what mess he ends up with.

What makes Lady Olivia and Lord Coventry special?

Lady and Lord Coventry are special because all my characters are to me. Their story is romantic and edgy at the same time. And funny.

Final question I like to ask authors: if you had to write your own biography what would your title be and why?

“Rainbows and Unicorns.” I tend to be a very optimistic and upbeat person. Like most adults, I’ve weathered some storms, but always managed to look at the bright side.

I would like to thank my guests for coming out today. Is there anything you would like to say before y’all take your leave?

Olivia (standing, shaking out her skirts): Yes, thank you so much for having us today.

Jason (bends over and kisses Melody’s hand – she blushes): My thanks as well, my lady. (she sighs)

Callie: Thank you, Melody. It’s been fun.

The Elusive Wife Book Blurb & Info:

Author:  Callie Hutton

Genre:  Historical Romance

Release Date:  May 2013

Imprint:  Scandalous

Jason Cavendish, the Earl of Coventry, is trying to discreetly locate his unwanted and abandoned bride among London society to request an annulment. However, he doesn’t remember what she looks like because he was blind drunk at his arranged wedding and hasn’t seen her since.

The fascinating Lady Olivia has captured the Earl’s attention. Newly arrived from the country to stay with her school friend for the Season, she is appalled to discover that her husband, Lord Coventry, doesn't even recognize her. She's not about to tell the arrogant arse that she is his wife. Instead, she flirts with him by night and has her modiste send her mounting bills to him by day.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned… Too bad this woman finds her husband nearly irresistible.

Purchase links:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Callie Hutton’s Bio:

Callie has been making up stories since elementary school, and writing gave her a way to turn off the voices in her head. After having a number of articles and interviews published in newspapers and magazines, she took on what she’d always dreamed of. Writing that book. She currently has a number of both historical and contemporary romance books published.

She currently lives in Oklahoma with her husband and adult children who move in and out with alarming regularity. Add three rescue dogs and the household is complete—and full. She enjoys hearing from her readers, and would love to have you visit her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.