Guys, we’re not sure what to do with ourselves! This Q&A with Merrie Destefano has left us absolutely charmed! Treat yourself before you run off for President’s Day weekend.

---

FIVE MOVIES

What are your five favorite movies with romance or romantic elements?

While You Were Sleeping, The Time Machine, Romancing The Stone, The Last of the Mohicans, Pride and Prejudice

Describe your favorite scene from each one (you can include a Youtube clip if you want as well).

While You Were Sleeping: The scene where Bill Pullman demonstrates what leaning is to Sandra Bullock. So adorable!

The Time Machine: When Samantha Mumba takes Guy Pearce to read the Stone Language. During their conversation, he gives her a vulnerable, heart-broken look and she instantly knows that he has lost a woman he loved. My heart melts every time I watch that scene.

Romancing The Stone: When Kathleen Turner finally comes out of her shy shell and starts cutting the way through the jungle, ultimately leading Michael Douglas and herself to safety. A beautiful analogy of a how a writer comes to life while digging into the complicated plot of her story.

The Last of the Mohicans: When Daniel Day-Lewis takes Madeleine Stowe by the hand and leads her through the fort. All around them a war is exploding. Inside them is another kind of explosion—that of falling in love. Sigh.

Pride and Prejudice: The dance scene. The look on Colin Firth’s face. The music. The realization that he does care about her, but has put his foot in his mouth and she isn’t going to forget it. I could watch that dance scene ALL DAY LONG.

You’ve Got Mail: The end, where Meg Ryan goes to meet her secret email pal, hoping it’s Tom Hanks. And then Tom comes walking over the bridge. It’s a heart-warming conclusion to what began as a bitter work-related feud.

Did you have any of these scenes in mind when writing scenes from your latest release?

Actually, no. I rarely think about movies when writing a book, unless I’m looking for a certain setting or ambiance. The Last of the Mohicans has been inspiration for a couple of my book projects, but only as far as the wilderness setting.

---

FIVE BOOKS

If you could only read five books for the rest of your life, what five books would they be, and why?

The Bible, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor, and Havah by Tosca Lee

The Bible would provide the spiritual guidance and encouragement I’d need on a daily basis. The other books are so beautiful that they’re almost like poetry. They would provide the music for my book-loving soul.

---

BOOK BOYFRIENDS

Who are your book boyfriends? (list a maximum of five) What do you like about them? What characteristics do they share with the hero from your latest release?

I don’t really have book boyfriends, but I did love Kit Martin from Killing The Shadows by Val McDermid: A man who makes gourmet dinners for the woman he loves on a regular basis? Yes, please! The only character trait Kit has in common with Dylan, from Lost Girls, is that he’s very supportive of the girl he loves.

---

FIRST ROMANCE (AKA My First Time):

What was the first romance novel you read?

The Selkie by Charles Sheffield and David Bischoff.

 

What do you remember about it?

The exotic paranormal elements, how in this book selkies were similar to vampires, and the lovely Scottish setting.

 

What did you like most about it?

The fact that the story took me to a different world. It was our world, but completely different.

 

What did you like least about it?

That I didn’t own a copy. I borrowed the book from a friend.

 

Have you ever reread it? If you did, how do you feel about it now?

I read it a long time ago and it’s really hard to get a copy now, so I haven’t reread it.

---

SNAPPY CHAT

 

Darcy or Wentworth?

Darcy. Definitely! (Colin Firth, please and thank you.)

 

Christian or Gideon?

No.

 

Rochester or Heathcliff?

Heathcliff! (Thomas Hardy, brooding and smitten? Yes!)

 

Spock or Kirk?

Spock. Always Spock. Forever Spock.

 

Sunrise or sunset?

Sunset. Sunrise comes WAY too early for me.

 

Angst or humor?

Humor.

 

Tea or coffee?

Coffee.

 

Wine or beer?

Coke Zero.

 

Cake or pie?

Both. Now. Yum!

 

Scruff, beard, or clean-shaven?

Scruff.

 

Blue-collar or white collar?

White collar. I love an intelligent, witty, well-educated and well-dressed man.

 

Jeans or a suit?

Suit.

 

Car or motorcycle?

Car.

---

Born in the Midwest, magazine editor Merrie Destefano currently lives in Southern California with her husband, two German shepherds, a Siamese cat, and the occasional wandering possum. Her favorite hobbies are reading speculative fiction and watching old Star Trek episodes, and her incurable addiction is writing. She loves to camp in the mountains, walk on the beach, watch old movies, and listen to alternative music—although rarely all at the same time.

Merrie can be found on MerrieDestefano.com.