Mr. DiPasqua: Hi folks! I'm thrilled to be back here today on my lovely wife's blog with another Romance Husband. Please help me welcome Mr. Romain! Can you tell us who you’re married to and what she writes?
Mr. Romain: I’m married to Theresa Romain, author of romance novels set during the Regency (1811-1820). Her debut, SEASON FOR TEMPTATION, was published last month.
Mr. DiPasqua: Your wife’s fans would like to know the RH (Romance Husband) behind the author better. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Scholar? Athlete? Businessman? Artist?
Mr. Romain: I studied music and history in college, and I’ve played the French horn professionally for years. But that’s a hobby at this point. My career is in technology. I develop products for a manufacturer of data storage products (like external hard drives).
Mr. DiPasqua: Where did you and your wife meet? What convinced you that she was THE ONE?
Mr. Romain: We met when we were both graduate students in history. I was studying in the TA office—a small room shared by several graduate teaching assistants—when she stopped by to visit another TA. I thought she was cute so I kept glancing up from my book to check her out. Unfortunately, she thought I was glaring at her.
After she left I asked the other TA about her. I suspected (and hoped) that word of my interest would get back to Theresa. Sure enough: a few days later Theresa stopped by the office pretending to look for her friend. In reality, she knew I’d be the only one there. We talked for a while and realized that we were both fascinating people, :) so we made plans to go out.
A few days later we had our first date. We played trivia in a bar, and she wowed me with her knowledge of the bones in the human body. That’s when I started to wonder if she was the one. But I knew she was THE ONE a couple months later when I was helping her study for a class. The fact that we could make each other laugh with Civil War-themed jokes made it clear I had found someone truly unique and ideally suited for me.
Mr. DiPasqua: That's a great story! Where were you when she got THE CALL from her agent/editor? What was your reaction when she told you she’d sold her first book?
Mr. Romain: I was at work. She called to tell me the news, and I was thrilled for her because I knew this is the career she wanted and that was a big step towards that goal. But there was still a lot of uncertainty, too, since we didn’t know what the terms of the contract would be and she didn’t yet have an agent. Over the next few weeks she got an agent and the contract was negotiated, and each of those moments seemed almost as significant as the THE CALL itself.
Mr. DiPasqua: Is the hero in your wife’s last book:
a) Just like you;
b) The opposite of you;
c) You wish it were you;
d) More like Mr. May in the NYC Firefighter calendar.
Mr. Romain: I think James, the hero of SEASON FOR TEMPTATION, is more like me than not, but he wasn’t modeled after me. What I like about James is that he acts realistically and with good intentions. In some romances, the conflict seems contrived, or could easily be resolved by open communication. In SEASON FOR TEMPTATION, James behaves the only way he can given his situation, his sense of honor, and the expectations of Regency society.
Mr. DiPasqua: On your first date with your wife, were you most like:
a) Prince Charming;
b) Prince (bad boy) Harry;
c) The Artist formally known as Prince;
d) Prince, the family pet.
Mr. Romain: “A” on the first date. “B” on the second date. No further explanation will be forthcoming.
Mr. DiPasqua: There is a great story behind that answer :)... Nowadays when you hear the word “ball” do you immediately think:
a) Baseball
b) Basketball
c) An uncontrollable weeping reaction of fans upon meeting your wife in person?
d) A gathering of lords and ladies.
Mr. Romain: I think of playing catch with our young daughter, Little Miss R. And basketball. I’m a big fan of college basketball and always make at least two brackets for the NCAA tournament (hedging my bets).
Mr. DiPasqua: How long have you been a RH? (Romance Husband). What advice would you give new RH’s about what you’ve learned being married to a romance author? What should a new RH do or not do when his wife is under deadline?
Mr. Romain: About three years, I guess. That’s when she first revealed her Top Secret work in progress (she wrote about ¼ of the book before she told me anything about it) and her ambitions for a bold new career choice. I was surprised, but after I read what she’d written I knew she’d be a great success and encouraged her to go for it.
My advice is to be encouraging without offering unsolicited advice. If she asks you to read her work, you should do it. And don’t delay. Offer constructive suggestions if you can, but be aware that even a gentle comment could easily be misconstrued as criticism, so tread carefully. An author’s work is deeply personal, so it’s hard for them not to be a little sensitive about it.
If she’s under a deadline, leave her alone.
Mr. DiPasqua: Okay, you know I have to go there . . . What’s your response when asked, “So where does your wife get the inspiration for her love scenes?” (Usually by a guy smirking.)
Mr. Romain: Well, (smirk), you know, (wink), research is an important part of writing a novel. (Nudge, nudge.)
Mr. DiPasqua: LOL ... Which character in your wife’s books would she say most resembles you and/or your personality?
Mr. Romain: She would probably say mostly James.
Theresa adds: both James and Mr. R have a quirky sense of humor. That’s an essential in any hero, whether real or fictional! James is also comfortable being himself, and he tries to do the right thing—also very much like Mr. R.
HOWEVER…there’s an important scene in the book that takes place at a ball, and we see that James likes to dance. Mr. R does not like to dance. Mr. R would barely even dance with me at our wedding.
Overall, James is a lot more outgoing and smart-mouthed than Mr. R is. So in some ways, Mr. R might be more like the heroine, Julia, who’d do anything to help her family and who is hungry all the time. Or like Julia’s stepsister, Louisa, who’d rather spend time with a book than a crowd of people.
I guess there are bits of Mr. R—and of other people I love—in all my characters.
Mr. DiPasqua: I like that answer, Mrs. Romain! Now then, Mr. Romain, tell me something about your wife her fans would be surprised to learn.
Mr. Romain: Her first book was not a novel, but a biography of a silent film actress. Theresa loves old movies and is extremely knowledgeable about them.
Also, she can lick her own elbows even though that’s supposed to be impossible.
Mr. DiPasqua: This has be a lot of fun! You’ve been a great sport! One last question: What would you like us to know about your wife’s latest or upcoming release?
Mr. Romain: I thought SEASON FOR TEMPTATION was funny and smart, and I’m hardly the target audience. (Have you seen how pink the cover is?) The book has gotten some great reviews, too, so I’m not the only one who loved it.
Here’s the back cover copy:
TWO SISTERS…
Julia Herington is overjoyed when her stepsister, Louisa, becomes engaged—to a viscount, no less. Louisa’s only hesitation is living a life under the ton’s critical gaze. But with his wry wit and unconventional ideas, Julia feels James is perfect for Louisa. She can only hope to find a man like him for herself. Exactly like him, in fact…
ONE CHOICE…
As the new Viscount Matheson, James wished to marry quickly and secure his title. Kind, intelligent Louisa seemed a suitable bride… Until he met her stepsister. Julia is impetuous—and irresistible. Pledged to one sister, yet captivated by another, what is he to do? As Christmas and the whirl of the London season approach, James may be caught in a most scandalous conundrum, one that only true love, a bit of spiritous punch—and a twist of fate—will solve…
Mr. Romain: And here are some of those great reviews I mentioned:
“Give in to temptation–treat yourself to Theresa Romain’s delightfully witty debut.”
—Sally MacKenzie, USA Today bestselling author of the Naked Nobles series
“Hilarious and utterly adorable. Theresa Romain’s brilliant debut manages to be both passionate and just plain fun.”—Courtney Milan, New York Times bestselling author of PROOF BY SEDUCTION and UNLOCKED
“This delicious debut is Regency romance at its best — rich narrative, accurate historical details and interesting characters. Romain is definitely an author to watch.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 stars
“Season for Temptation was an absolute delight to read, and is one of my favorite books of the year. It has it all – witty dialogue, amusing circumstances, charming characters and a perfect romance. I can’t wait for Ms. Romain’s next book.” –Rakehell.com
Mr. Romain: We recently learned that Theresa’s second book was accepted for publication. It’s called
SEASON FOR SURRENDER and will come out in October 2012.
Order SEASON FOR TEMPTATION:
Amazon •
Barnes & Noble •
Indiebound •
Powell’s
Order ebook:
Kindle •
nook
GIVEAWAY:
Giving away a signed copy of Theresa Romain’s historical romance debut, SEASON FOR TEMPTATION. (open WORLDWIDE!)
To win you must:
1. Ask a question or leave a meaningful comment.
2. You
MUST be a
follower/subscriber of Lila DiPasqua's blog (through Google Friend Connect).
3. Must be at least 18 years of age.
4. Winner will be selected at random on
SUNDAY November 6, 2011.
Mr. DiPasqua: Thanks again for chatting with me, Mr. Romain! Okay folks, see you all next month! Now let's hear your questions or comments. :)
