Today we have Christy English answering our questions about her Broadswords and Ballrooms series! The first book, How to Seduce a Scot came out in December, and the second, How to Wed a Warrior will be out on February 2nd!

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Thank you so much for hosting me. I love talking about writing and books…and I am so excited to do it here on EverAfter Romance. My latest Regency romance series is called Broadswords and Ballrooms, about two Highland brothers who bring their wild, sword-wielding sister down to London to marry her off, and end up falling in love themselves.

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1. Tell us three fun facts about yourself.

• I adore waterfalls. I did not know this until about three years ago when I first moved to the Western North Carolina mountains, but I have a waterfall outside my back window, and when I sit on my porch in the spring and write, I can hear it flowing. It is the most soothing sound. I truly have moved to heaven.
• I have soda for blood. I love Coca-Cola and Dr. Pepper, and I drink one every morning as I roll into my day job at the bank. Soda is my companion whenever I need an extra boost to get the words down on paper, or in my computer. The sugary sweetness adds to my joy whatever I’m doing.
• I can’t go to the movies without getting popcorn and chocolate. I am a story junkie. Whether in a book or on the silver screen, I love hearing and seeing a good story. And whenever I go to see a movie, I hunker down with popcorn and chocolate. Sometimes I am good, and get the kiddie size, which satisfies me but also makes me feel virtuous.

2. How would you describe your writing style? Are you more of a pantser or a plotter?

I have a flowery, descriptive style of writing, and a distinctive voice on the page which I have had to tone down in favor of character and plot in revisions. For many years I was a serious plotter, writing fifty page outlines of my novels before I even began them. But now that I am writing Regency romance, especially romance comedies, I have started to become more of a panster, in which the characters give me the starting point of a book and the major events of the first act, and then I go to town. Now the characters hand me each act as it comes up, so I have a good idea of where I’m headed as I go, but I can still be flexible for any new mayhem that might ensue. And when I am writing about the Waters family, mayhem is always close at hand.

3. Briefly describe your Broadswords and Ballrooms series.

The Waters brothers Alexander and Robert are ordered by their mother to take their sister Mary Elizabeth to London in order to find a decent man to marry her. After a few months in Edinburgh, Mary Elizabeth had frightened all her suitors away by out-riding, out-shooting, and out-fishing all of them. As Mary Elizabeth arrives in London, she does not tone down her wildness, but the gentlemen of London are not put off by it. She has no interest in getting married whatsoever, and only likes men for their dancing ability. As a result, the London gentlemen are eating out of her hand. So Alex and Robbie are frustrated at every turn as they try to find a way to make their sister behave long enough to get engaged. Meanwhile, they fall in love with English ladies themselves. In the first novel of the series, HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOT, Alex Waters falls for the sweet, seemingly demure Catherine Middlebrook who Mary Elizabeth takes under her wing and teaches how to throw knives. In the second novel, HOW TO WED A WARRIOR, Robbie meets his match in the lovely but prim “widow” Mrs. Prudence Whittaker. This December, Mary Elizabeth will meet the Recluse Duke and we’ll see how she fares when she falls in love.

4. What is your favorite kind of story to read, and why?

I adore stories about true love because they’re inspiring. That includes my favorite romances by Lisa Kleypas and Grace Burrowes. But true love can be found in many different genres and in many different novels, between husband and wife, between mother and child, between father and son. Love is my favorite theme, in books and in life.

5. If you could have dinner with any three authors, who would you choose?

I would love to have dinner with Mary Renault, Lisa Kleypas, and Richelle Meade. How wild to have those three women at one table! Though Mary Renault would have to come back from the dead…

6. What projects are you currently working on? What do you have planned for the rest of 2016?

I just released a short novella on Amazon Kindle called How To Bed a Baron about Baron Farleigh, one of Catherine Middlebrook’s discarded suitors from How To Seduce a Scot, finding true love. I also plan to write an Amazon Kindle novella about Mrs. Prudence Whittaker’s suitor, the Earl of Grathton, who will find his true love in How To Enchant an Earl. And finally, in December, the third novel in the Broadswords and Ballrooms series will be out, in which Mary Elizabeth Waters falls for her Recluse Duke. It’s a busy year!

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Exclusive Excerpt from How To Wed a Warrior

Robbie opened the ballroom door to find his sister brandishing a rapier in Prudence’s face.

He did not think but put himself between them, noting only as it touched his chest that the tip of the blade was blunted. He felt as much as heard Prudence Whittaker’s gasp of surprise. One small hand rose to press against his back, alongside his shoulder blade. He thought he might come out of his skin at that innocent touch. He moved to turn on her, to drag her against him—but then his sister’s voice washed over him like cold sea water, sobering him before he could do anything ridiculous. Or worse, something he might regret.

“Robbie, move out of the way! We’re in the middle of a phrase and Mrs. Whittington has not yet had a chance to respond.”

It took him a moment to grasp what she was saying. A blade had been drawn, so as always, it was in his nature to act first and to speak second. He stepped back from his sister’s sword, bringing Prudence with him. Her hand had dropped back to her side, and when he touched her, it was only to take her arm gently, as any gentleman might…

Mrs. Prudence looked at him then, her deep blue eyes wide behind her glasses. “All is well here, Mr. Waters. You may withdraw.”

She sniffed, and he thought for one delicious moment that he would lose control of himself and drag her down onto that hard ballroom floor, hideous gray skirts and all. He retained some semblance of sense, however, for he merely smiled and bowed. “No, indeed, Mrs. Whittaker. I find myself interested in fencing all of a sudden.”

“It would not be proper for ladies to fence in front of a gentleman,” she said. Her voice was even, almost disdainful, but Robbie thought he saw the hint of a blush rise close to the neckline of her ugly gown.

“Is it proper to learn to run a man through? Perhaps not. But damned useful.” He quirked a brow at her, and watched her frown.

“Language, Mr. Waters, if you please.”

Robbie did not turn from her, but held out his hand to his sister. “Mary Elizabeth, let me try a pass. If you would allow it, Mrs. Whittaker.”

Prudence glared at him now, her simple frown melted away. He watched as she warred with herself, her bosom heaving beneath the gray wool. He wondered which side of her might win, and how he might find other ways to coax out the Fury he saw hiding behind those spectacles.

No matter; this time The Fury won.

“I will allow it, Mr. Waters, if you then concede and leave the room to us.”

Robbie smiled. “I’ll consider it. If you win.”

“Robbie, she’s new at this. She only picked up a blade an hour ago,” Mary Elizabeth said. He heard annoyance in his sister’s voice, but as always, he ignored it. He kept his eyes on the delectable woman in front of him.

Prudence flushed with ire and with what he dreamed was untapped lust. How long would it take him to persuade her to let him tap it? She would benefit from the encounter. He would see to that.

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Ever since Christy English picked up a fake sword in stage combat class at the age of fourteen, she has lived vicariously through the sword-wielding women of her imagination. A banker by day and a writer by night, she loves to eat chocolate, drink too many soft drinks, and walk the mountain trails of her home in North Carolina.

Christy can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and ChristyEnglish.com.