FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: The Countess by Lynsay Sands

Book Interview on January 2011

Thanks for taking time out to answer a few questions, Lynsay. We really enjoyed reading THE COUNTESS and appreciate your helping us gain deeper insights into the book.

Q: THE COUNTESS is the first book from your new historical romance series, The Madison Sisters. What can you tell us about THE COUNTESS that would give readers a quick glimpse of what to expect?

THE COUNTESS is about the oldest sister, Christiana Madison. Christiana is married to Dick (Richard) Fairgrave. Dick isn't the Prince Charming he presented himself to be to woo Christiana into marriage and has set a whole host of troubles on the Madisons. It's almost a relief when he turns up dead only he doesn't stay dead. 'Dead Dicky' reappears in robust form and he also doesn't seem like himself?he actually seems almost nice. But as the saying goes, 'Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.' So as Christiana tries to figure out what's up Richard's sleeve, Richard tries to figure out if his wife has her sight set on his early demise.

Q: You have THE COUNTESS set in a different time period from your other books. What kind of research did you have to do to write the story?

Actually, I've written several regency period stories in the past, and have done so much research for them that normally I don't have to do too much these days. But for THE COUNTESS, I had to do some research on Renaissance era kitchens and cooking utensils as there's a scene where multiple cooking utensils were acquired by multiple parties as makeshift weapons.

Q: I loved the idea of the twin brothers, Richard and George, and the betrayal of stealing identities for wealth and power. How did you come up with the storyline for THE COUNTESS? Was there anything in specific that interested or inspired you?

A couple of close friends of mine went through some pretty nasty breakups and I think they were fodder for this book...

Read more.

Lynsay is giving away a signed copy of THE CHASE!

Mechanics of the contest:

You can do either or both of the following to enter the drawing:

1. Write a comment or question to Lynsay in the comment box on the review site (3 chances to win) from now to January 31;

AND/OR

2. Check out our contest page from January 4 to 6 to enter your email address (1 chance to win).

The winner will be announced in the comment box on February 3.