We have the pleasure of being able to chat today with the wonderful Carrie Lofty. Hello Carrie, and welcome to FAR.

Carrie, it is so good to have you with us today. ‘Wow, Romance with a Passion for History.’ What is the first thing you do when you wake in the morning?

Aside from all the boring stuff involved with getting my daughters to school and my husband to work, I check my email and make sure that the day’s post at Unusual Historicals is ready to go. These past few weeks, I’ve also been hitting the sites where I’ve been a guest blog. Then it’s down to work: either new pages on a project I’m drafting, or revisions on one I’ve finished.

Do you make sure to add a bit of romance and passion in all your books?

I have to! That’s my job! I love history, and I love that little *zing* I get when reading a really fine romance. So that’s my goal whenever I sit down to create a new love story.

Why not tell us about Scoundrel’s Kiss that is a new release this month. I believe it is gathering rave reviews.

It has been doing really well, which is a complete relief to me. I had no idea how readers would respond to a warrior monk hero and a heroine who’s recovering from an opium addiction—in medieval Spain, no less! But the people who’ve read it and reviewed it are loving the genuine struggle, the humor, and the surprising tenderness of this rather no-holds-barred medieval romance.

I know you do research when composing your books. What has been the longest amount of time you have done research?

That was for SONG OF SEDUCTION, which will help launch Carina Press, Harlequin’s new all-digital venture, in June. Set in 1804 Salzburg, the story took me several years to complete. I spent most of that time researching. I’ve never been to Salzburg, but I could draw you a map of its streets from memory! Needless to say, that was a bit excessive. Now I spent only a few weeks researching before a new project—to ground myself in what’s possible—and then I layer in research as I draft. More efficient!

Do you find it difficult to come up with your dynamite characters?

Oh, that’s one area where I think I excel. I thrive on finding what quirks will make two characters flawed yet perfect for each other. I play psychologist on them, determine what they need, and then throw them into the romantic fray. Plots are harder, but the characters almost always come be fully formed.

Do you feel as if the characters live with you as you write?

I don’t know if they live with me, but they certainly get inside my head and take over. I’ll narrate scenes of dialogue into a recorder, especially when I’m doing dishes or driving! If I can’t devote time to their troubles and their relationship, I get rather frustrated. Once I have them sorted out, then it’s just a matter of setting them to paper.

In your opinion, what are the three most essential ingredients of an excellent novel?

Characters that make you feel, a plot that gets your heart racing, and an ending that leaves you clutching the book to your chest in happiness.

Why not give us a peek into any works in progress that we can look forward to?

I can definitely talk about SONG OF SEDUCTION, coming in June. A widowed violin prodigy begins a steamy affair with a composer she’s idolized for years, only to learn that he stole the symphony he’s most famous for. You can read an excerpt here: http://carrielofty.com/Salzburg_1.html

Was it difficult, as a child, for you to move from California to Indiana?

I don’t remember it being difficult. In fact, my parents convinced my brother and I to get on board with the idea by telling us we’d have snow in the winter. That sealed it! Life in LA and life in small town Indiana was very different, but I enjoyed the small town freedom of our new home. It was a good place to be a young kid, complete with a $1 movie theater and a genuine five-and-dime.

You have been chosen to be a character in any movie, which movie would you choose?

For years that would’ve been Ripley from the ALIENS movies. Or Princess Leia. I felt especially special when I was little because I shared my name with Carrie Fisher. But for the last few years I’ve been stuck on Rose Tyler from the British sci-fi show “Doctor Who.” Rose is an incredible blend of ordinary and extraordinary, and she just captured my heart.

Besides Salzburg, what other place would you choose to visit for a month?

I’d certainly head to Spain and travel where Ada and Gavriel journey in SCOUNDREL’S KISS. Then I’d hit Sorrento, the setting for my time travel short story “Sundial” (http://carrielofty.com/Sundial.html). If I had any time left over, I’d head to Cancun and sit on a beach with my husband for a few days!

Of all your previous jobs which one would you say was a learning experience?

Certainly when I taught college. I was a graduate master’s candidate and taught introductory American and Latin American history for two years. I stood in front of a classroom for the first time after having completed only two days’ worth of training. I was only twenty-two, roughly the same age as my students, so I intentionally wore suits so as to appeal more professional. I learned *so* much during those two years, not the least of which is that I didn’t want to become a professor! I loved teaching, but if I were going to be published, I wanted it to be in romance, not in a history journal.

Since you love roller coasters, if I wanted to go on a wild ride, which one would you say offers the best roller coaster ride?

I love roller coasters, but I haven’t been on one since before my daughters were born. We live only a few miles from Six Flags Great America, north of Chicago, so I’m sure we’d be able to find something amazing there. I think the Demon is still running!

Of all your favorite foods which one would it be hard to do without? (By the way, I love your fave food choices).

Oh, geez. You’d make me choose? I’d probably have to go with fresh baked bread. I know many people with gluten allergies and that would just cripple me. Give me the basics. Bread please!

Can you share your website, blog, myspace, or Facebook with us?

Websites: http://CarrieLofty.com | http://EllenConnor.com
Blog: http://lovelysalome.blogspot.com
Unusual Historicals: http://unusualhistoricals.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CarrieLofty

Carrie, thank you so much for chatting with us today. It has indeed been a pleasure. I wish you the best in all of your writing.


Interviewed by: Linda L.