Lori Devoti, paranormal romance and urban fantasy author

Continuing with the American Title interviews, I’m going to post two more today, both finalists this year. First up is Theresa Meyers. Theresa is best known to many authors as the owner of Blue Moon Communications, a public relations firm that does a lot of work for writers. But she’s also a writer herself and an American Title finalist.

Welcome, Theresa!First tell us about your book.

TM: The Devil’s Maiden is a Scottish historical based on the actual North Berwick witch trial presided over by King James VI of Scotland, who later became King James I of England in 1603 (the man we credit with the King James version of the Bible.) The extent and the horror of the witch hunts of the time made the Salem witch trials looks like a little girl’s slumber party in comparison. I was captivated by the period and how much of it was politically motivated. A line popped into my head that started the book “Don’t marry the lass, Mangus. You’ll be dead before sunrise.” I wanted to find out who she was, why he’d die and what would happen to her. That was the start of The Devil’s Maiden.

The book centers on Sorcha MacIver. Suspected of witchcraft, she must find a man who can overcome the curse that haunts her and keep her from being burned at the stake. The Campbell clan believes her to be a Devil’s Maiden, able to keep her virginity via the dark arts, but Sorcha knows different. From the time she was little, everyone she loved, has died.

Seeking protection from the taint of witchcraft, Sorcha’s uncle hires a mercenary to marry her and take her virginity. He selects Ian Hunter, The Immortal Mercenary, as Sorcha’s groom. But Sorcha has her own plans. All Hunter wants is to earn his money and leave Scotland behind forever. His older brother stole his bride and is about to steal his inheritance as well. But once he weds the suspected witch, that’s when everything starts to go wrong.

Sorcha is a pawn in a deadly play for the throne of Scotland and they uncover political schemes between the treacherous lords of Scotland, where witch-hunts are only the beginning. (Think along the lines of what William Wallace endured in Braveheart.) Once they discover who is behind the deaths of Sorcha’s husbands and family, no one can stop the vicious game of death, deceit and power.

Q: If you were to design your dream cover for this book, what would it look like?

TM: I absolutely love Liz Carlyle’s covers where you see a woman’s hands or her shoulders, with a hint of a secret, like the girl holding the book behind her back on Three Little Secrets. I imagine if I were to have a dream cover it would be something similar to a swath of Campbell blue and green plaid, just below bare shoulders, a loosening plait of raven hair and her hands holding a little dagger behind her.

Q: What made you decide to enter American Title? Had you entered any of the RWA contests with this book before that? What kind of results did you get with those contests?

TM: I entered it more or less with the thought of, “this can’t hurt, might as well try.” I had entered The Devil’s Maiden into a few RWA contest, including the Hearts Through History chapter contest and the Golden Heart, but the book never finaled. I would always hit in the middle because I’d get a mix of low and high scores.

Q: How do you feel about your first sentence, etc. being posted on the web for everyone to judge? Have you received any feedback or fan mail from voters?

TM: My day job is as a publicist, so I wasn’t too worried about it. I’m use to counseling my clients on how to handle public attention. I also have a rejection file that’s approaching three inches thick for my books, which has gone a long way to developing the famous thick skin a writer needs in this business. What was a wonderful surprise was how well it was received. I did receive a lot of congratulatory emails and notes from voters telling me that they really thought it was the best first line (which thrilled me!). I’m just hoping that they like the other parts that will be posted just as well!

Q: Once you are published what can readers expect from you in future books? Will you stick with historicals or would you like to try something else? What makes your books different from others?

TM: I’ve been writing for over 10 years, so I have several books I’ve completed. I’ll continue to write historicals set in Elizabethan Scotland, but I also have some Victorian novels, and I write chick lit and contemporaries as well. (I’m a Gemini and trying to pin us down to one thing is nearly impossible.) In general I tend to work on two to three books at a time and switch off between them. What makes my books different? Good question. I’d say first my voice, a mix of sly humor and deep emotion shaken with a splash vivid description and flavored with a twist of suspense, and second my characters, who always tend to be out to prove something to themselves or others, but have to discover who they truly are first.

So we are ready to vote, what’s the schedule?

TM: The next round of voting starts soon!

• Best hero and heroine, starts on Dec. 19th to Jan. 1. (note from Lori: Uh, yeah, she sent me this a few days ago. Anyway, voting has started at Romantic Times for best hero.)
• Best story summary, Jan. 23 - Feb. 5
• Best Dialogue Scene, Feb. 20- March 5
• Best Romantic Scene, March 20-April 2

The winner will be announced on May 22!

Q: And where can readers learn more about you and your books?

TM: Absolutely! My website is www.theresameyers.com and I have story descriptions, a blog, a great extra’s page with links recipes and more just waiting for them.

Thanks for taking the time to visit with us and Good Luck!!