Thursday, 4 September 2014

Author Interview and Giveaway: Amanda Forester

Today I have Amanda Forester over and she is talking about her new book :)


 1. Tell me about yourself.

Hello!  Thanks for inviting me to stop by today.  Unlike many writers who emerge from the womb knowing that they are destined to pen the next great American novel, it never occurred to me until relatively recently to try to publish a novel.  Sure, I always had ideas for stories running around my head, but I thought everyone did.  What else did people think about when they were waiting in line?  It wasn't until my husband was deployed to Iraq for 14 months and I was beyond stressed for his well-being that a friend gave me a historical romance novel.  I loved it!  Soon I was hooked and consumed books like chocolate.  Even better, I recognized the stories I was reading were a lot like the stories I have always had rampaging through my head.  I discovered that I think in historical romance novel!  I started writing and have had a great time with it!

2.  Tell us in a few words what A Winter Wedding is about?

Miss Penelope Rose, the notorious Madame X, exclusive matchmaker to London's elite, has made a modest fortune creating love matches for everyone but herself.  Her toughest client yet, the Duke of Marchford, has commissioned her to find him a bride, but he is more interested in tracking down a spy than in interviewing potential mates.  Marchford is willing to do anything to find that spy, including announcing an impromptu engagement to force Penelope to stay close and help him catch the traitor.  When Penelope refuses to play along, Marchford takes to wooing her to stay, including embracing that most perilous of holidays--Christmas!  As Penelope and Marchford work together to uncover a deadly plot, they find falling in love is the most dangerous adventure of all.

3.  Describe Marchford in 5 words.

The Duke of Marchford can be described as:  Determined;  Intelligent;  Honorable;  Daring;  and Mischievous.

4.  Let's give Madame X the same chance. 5 words.

Madame X is the matchmaking pseudonym for Penelope Rose. Five words that describe her are:  Sensible;  Clever;  Courageous;  Dependable;  and yet Utterly Unpredictable.

5.  How did you come up with the matchmaker idea?

Trying to describe how ideas come into my brain is difficult to describe.  I do know the first two characters who introduced themselves to me for this trilogy were Penelope and Marchford. Though they have been waiting in the wings during A Wedding in Springtime and Midsummer Bride, the tension between them has been sizzling until they are finally being rewarded with a book of their own.  After Penelope gave up hope of finding a husband, she became the companion to the Dowager Duchess of Marchford, thus forcing Pen into the company of Marchford himself.  At first, he is determined to have his grandmother move into the dowager house in the country and actually goes so far as cutting off her funds to force her to leave London.  Furious, the dowager determines to find other sources of revenue and finds Penelope has a certain knack for finding husbands (at least for her sisters, though not for herself).  They go into business together, finding matches for societies elite, and thus the matchmaking service of the notorious Madame X was born!

6.  What are you working on right now?

In A Winter Wedding, one person Penelope was unsuccessful in finding a match for is the reserved Lady Kate, twin sister of the Earl of Darington.  Since Penelope failed at her task, I have taken on the mission of trying to find the perfect match for her.  I confess, it is not easy.  Kate is absolutely determined never to wed.  I've never had such a difficult heroine!  So...I had to trap her into marriage.  Sorry Kate, but it's for your own good!  Or at least for the amusement of our readers.  Poor Kate...

I hope you will enjoy reading about Penelope and Marchford in A Winter Wedding now available. To get you started in the series, the first book in the trilogy, Wedding in Springtime is being offered FREE for a limited time, and Midsummer Bride is currently only $1.99. I love to hear from readers so come visit me at my website, facebook, or twitter.
Since you asked me to describe Marchford and Penelope in a few words, what attributes do you enjoy most in your favorite characters? Comment for a chance at winning a copy of Winter Wedding!

1 copy of A winter Wedding

1. Ends Sep 14th
2. To enter, answer Amanda's question.
3. Open to US and Canada

Amanda Forester holds a Ph.D. in psychology and worked for many years in academia before discovering that writing historical romance novels was decidedly more fun. Whether in the Highland hills or a Regency ballroom, Forester’s critically acclaimed novels offer fast-paced adventures filled with wit, intrigue, and romance. She lives with her supportive husband and naturally brilliant children in the Pacific Northwest.Visit her at

This adventurous duke...
The Duke of Marchford requires a suitable bride, but catching spies for the Foreign Office takes up most of his time. Not wanting to face another London season as an eligible man, he employs the notorious Madame X to find him a match.

Has met his match
Miss Penelope Rose knows the rules of marriage among members of the ton better than most. Her own unsuccessful attempts at matrimony did not stop her from becoming London’s most exclusive matchmaker. Marchford proves to be a difficult client, but as he draws on her social expertise to help him flush out a dangerous traitor, they find that falling in love may be the riskiest adventure of all.

Buy Links:


  1. What attributes do I enjoy in my characters? I am going to be specific to Historical Romance on this one.

    I want my leading ladies to be unusual for the times but not so unusual that it reads like a contemporary heroin thrown into a historical romance. In other words they need to be smart, resourceful, but also canny and wise within this setting. You won't find a historical woman on the police force but you might find her working a network of other women to figure out a who-dun-it.

    For leading men: again they need to be appropriate for the time. They need to be strong, caring, and giving but men back there were also in charge. They need to have that extra bit of alpha and non-explaining gene. I would never buy a hero that explains everything to everybody. He can share with his love (after they have gotten to that point) but real men back then were decisive and not permission seeking.

  2. Such a lovely interview, ladies! A WINTER WEDDING sounds fantastic.

  3. Ooo the first book in the series is currently free? *runs to Amazon* I'm in the mood for a good historical romance, so I can't wait to get caught up on this series and meet Marchford and Penelope!

  4. Grabbed book one! What a lovely interview and I am most curious about the characters!

  5. Honorable, daring and mischivous? Well, sign me up! And since the first book is free, I'm off to get it from Amazon.

  6. I am with Maja, I like the sound of the honorable and mischievous Duke. I think the two MC sound like a match!

  7. Thank you for the interview Amanda!

  8. Definitely going to grab book one now! Who could resist intelligent daring and mischievous? It's a great combination. :-)

  9. thanks for the really interesting and complete intervie!

  10. Great interview ladies, I took love historical romance novels. A Winter Wedding sounds like a good one.

  11. I prefer headstrong, stubborn ladies and gentlemen with a touch of bossiness. lol Maybe I like it in stories but not in real life. :)

  12. Ah, those darned romances -- they are like chocolate and you just can't get enough! Great interview.

  13. Sounds juicy! I do love matchmaking stories

  14. Sounds good and a nice cover, too!

  15. I love a hero who is honorable, courageous, loyal and witty. I like my heroines to be intelligent, resourceful, independent, and feisty.

  16. integrity, humor and wit :) thanks for sharing and congrats to Amanda on the new release!

  17. A knack for matchmaking? Oh my, where is that woman?? I want her advices and talent. LOL

    As for the question, I like strong yet not arrogant character, great yet not overflowing personality and humor if possible. ^^

  18. Oh that sounds fun! I love matchmaking historicals :)

  19. Sorry but as soon as I read 'Madam X' I thought about a quite different heroine, definitely not a matchmaking.

  20. Smart women who can hold their own against smart men. I like them both to have a sense of humor.

  21. I like my characters smart and witty.
    Thank you for the giveaway.

  22. I like my characters to be common sensical and deliberate. Thanks for the chance!

  23. OMG, the dress <3

  24. I like the women to be smart and fearless. As for the men I like them handsome, sexy, and have a sense of humor. Thanks for having the giveaway.


  25. My favorite characters are interesting, unexpected, honorable, intelligent, and usually someone I would enjoy being friends with.




  © Blogger template Starry by 2008 Modified by Lea

Back to TOP