Hi, readers! I am pleased to announce a very special post today on ILRB. We’re doing something a little different. This is our fifth official author interview on this romance blog! I know in the past, we did character interviews then switched over to the author’s take on it, but this approach is a bit unusual.
We have a real treat for you, readers. Today we get to speak one-on-one with a talented author of historical romance novels. Please join me in welcoming Faye Hall to ILRB! 🙂
Marie Lavender: Hello, Faye. Please have a seat.
Author Faye Hall: Hi, Marie!
Marie: Hey, it’s such a pleasure to have you here!
I’m going to throw in some standard questions first.
Obviously, we know your occupation as an author, but some writers have other jobs as well. Do you have another occupation? Do you believe you’re any good at it? Do you like what you do?
I know I’m overloading you with questions, but we’re really interested in finding out more about you…
Faye: I’m an Australian Historical Romance author and I love it! I get to set stories in my hometown and bring a part of mostly unknown history to my readers. I’d never claim to be good at it, but I just hope my readers enjoy what they read.
Marie: I think that’s about all we can do as writers! 😉 So, tell us…what is your family like?
Faye: Usually a madhouse, ha ha. Hubby and I have 9 children between us, 5 of those are still at home and going to school. Life is very busy, as you can imagine.
Marie: (Chuckles.) Yes, so many! I have enough trouble with a couple fur-babies at home.
Let’s try something else, okay?
If it doesn’t bother you at all, can you let us know what your childhood home looked like?
Faye: I grew up on a several acre farm in a simple, little house. I loved it out there and never tired of the peace and tranquility.
Marie: Nice!
Do you have any hobbies, Faye? What do you enjoy doing?
Faye: I enjoy gardening. Hubby and I try to grow a lot of our own food, as well as some flowers to help bring the bees in. I also enjoy cooking and do quite a bit of it, considering the size of our family.
Marie: Okay. So…what is your greatest dream?
Faye: To live a peaceful life and write a best seller.
Marie: I’m with you there! ♥
Let’s try another question.
What kind of person do you wish you could be? What is stopping you?
Faye: To be honest, the last few years I have finally found myself being the person I always wished to be. I spent 17 years in an abusive relationship, and I think surviving that and finally escaping that with my children made me into the determined, strong woman I am today.
Marie: I understand. Those type of scars may mark us, but they do shape us into a stronger force to be reckoned with.
Not to pry too much, but who was your first love?
Faye: You’ll think it funny, but James Dean. Up until about the age of 12, I simply adored him.
Marie: All right.
Let’s try something else now.
What’s the most terrible thing that ever happened to you?
Faye: As I mentioned before, I used to be in an abusive relationship so I’ve had full beer cans thrown at my head whilst nursing a child; I’ve been told I’d be stabbed in the throat if I didn’t shut up; but I guess the worst was holding my 5 year old and being threatened with a sledge hammer, and told my head would get smashed in if he ever caught me. That was the day I called the police.
Marie: Yikes! 😥 I’m so sorry you went through all of that. But I am glad you got out of the situation. I also went through a similarly abusive relationship, and every day I think about how lucky I am to have walked away. Not everyone can…
Let’s move on to something a bit lighter now, shall we?
[Faye nods.]
What was your dream growing up? Did you achieve that dream? If so, in what ways was it not what you expected? If you never achieved the dream, why not?
Faye: My dream growing up was to be a writer and live in France with the love of my life. I still don’t live in France, more because of family commitments and money. The rest I managed to achieve. My love life is beyond wonderful. As for writing – it can be harder than I thought sometimes, especially when it comes to appealing to the readers.
Marie: I know, right? 😉 I am so glad that you found the love of your life. 😀
(Sighs.) I love romance. ♥
So, who is your role model, Faye?
Faye: My parents. They’ve been married over 50 years and have been through so much, yet can still smile about something.
Marie: That’s great!
Is there someone you pretend to like but really dislike?
Faye: Not really. I’m not very good at pretending.
Marie: I know what you mean…
Let’s try another question.
What is your deepest desire?
Faye: To give my children a happy, peaceful life and to live long enough to see them create their dreams.
Marie: Sounds like a plan!
Tell me something, Faye. What is your greatest fear?
Faye: Losing my family.
Marie: I think we all fear that on some level.
So, I want to try something different next…
If you were trapped on a deserted island, what five essentials would you need with you? They don’t have to be practical.
Faye: Face cream. Wine. Pen and Paper to write. Hair ties – because I usually always lose a few.
(Laughs.) I would need pen and paper too!
It’s funny, since one of my cats tends to steal my hair ties. 😉
Readers, let’s shift somewhat and get the author’s perspective on one of her characters. 🙂
We’ve heard rumors about the hero of your story, Finley Helmer. Quite an interesting character. Can you tell us a little about him?
Faye: Finley is an honest, hardworking man who is very protective of his family and the woman he loves. He has blondish hair, green eyes and usually dresses in jeans and a buttoned work shirt.
Marie: What are your character’s greatest strengths?
Faye: His desire to do what is right, even after he becomes involved in smuggling. He also can’t bear to see any harm come to the woman he loves, and will risk his life to protect her from harm.
Marie: Admirable!
And what are his greatest weaknesses?
Faye: He’s broke, so he’s being forced to do things he doesn’t like to earn enough money to survive.
Marie: Okay…
Let’s try something fun, shall we?
What are some of his favorite foods?
Faye: Mutton of pork.
Marie: How about another question?
What’s a positive quality that your character is unaware that he or she has?
Faye: His loyalty.
Marie: Will readers like or dislike this character, and why?
Faye: Readers will love him and his undying love for the woman in his life, and his constant need to rescue her from the life she finds herself involved in upon arriving in Australia.
Marie: Great!
Now that we have a real taste of Finley, we have a few questions for you as well as the author, about the writing process of your book.
What first gave you the idea for Wrath & Mercy?
Faye: It’s the fifth book in the Sins of the Virtuous series, and deals with the seven deadly sin of wrath. I got the idea to use smuggling as an underlying story to the romance after reading about the hushed up local history about smuggling.
Marie: Interesting how the muse works, huh? 😉
Let’s try something else.
What is your writing style like? Are you a pantster or a plotter?
Faye: I’m usually a bit of both. I like to have some kind of a plan written/typed out to work from but more often than not, as I start to write, the plot goes in a completely different direction.
Marie: All right.
I’m throwing this one in for our aspiring writers. Did you come across any specific challenges in writing Wrath & Mercy or publishing it? What would you do differently the next time?
Faye: The biggest challenge was trying to use drug and opal smuggling. It took some research on my part whilst I was writing. I probably wouldn’t do much different next time, other than organize my research first before I start writing.
Marie: Sounds like a plan!
Well, it was a such a pleasure having you here on the I Love Romance Blog! And how apropos is that, considering what a great story Wrath & Mercy appears to be. Congratulations on your latest release… ♥
Here is the blurb:
Would you show mercy to the lover who deserted you?
Finley Helmer thought he had it all when Elina Clemence invited him into her bed. When circumstances forced them apart, he vowed to return to her as quickly as possible. He never imagined it would be years before he would be reunited with the woman he loves, and in the process he would be thrown into a world of smuggling black opals, drugs, and aboriginal slaves.
Elina was ripped away from her home and the man she loved when her father took her to Australia to start a new life. He promised her beauty and opportunity. Instead, she found herself forced into a marriage with a cruel and abusive man, who has a grown daughter who’s determined to destroy her.
When her husband dies, leaving Elina his fortune, constant accidents follow her, threatening her life. Elina is a profitable shipping tycoon, with control over most of the town’s supply. But despite her powerful position, her heart still aches for the man she once loved who disappeared from her life without a trace.
Finding themselves passionately reunited, Finley and Elina discover the cruelty that tore them from each other. As they search for answers, they uncover the unrelenting wrath and vengeance of an opium addict who will stop at nothing until she has possession of the black opals she thinks they are hiding.
Can Finley and Elina escape the horror that seems to be following them, or will they fall victim to the greed of an addict? And can they find the courage to once again trust each other with their hearts?
Content Warning: contains sex, strong language, and some violence
Faye is also offering us a teaser from the book!
Elina went quiet, watching Fin’s attention return to the papers on the desk. She knew now wasn’t the best time to bring up her own concerns. Still, he needed to know.
“My father told me we leave for Australia as soon as he has our affairs in order.”
Fin looked up at Elina. “He told me before the funeral that he thought it best to take you as far away from here as possible. He believes what is being said about Ewan, and he doesn’t want those he dealt with finding their way back to you.”
Elina lowered her gaze to her lap. “Will you be coming with us?”
Silence surrounded them. Lifting her gaze to him and seeing his stern expression, she felt her heart sink.
“Archie has instructed me to stay here in England a while longer to finalize the last few shipments. It will be at least a few months before I can get my own passage to Australia.”
His words stabbed at her heart. “I don’t want to leave you,” she uttered, her voice laced with tears.
Getting up from his seat, he walked around the desk. His hands going to her, he helped her to stand. “I’ll join you as soon as I’m able. I promise.”
Her gaze held his as fear filled her. What if this was the last time she’d ever see him? The mere thought pained her.
“This isn’t goodbye,” he told her, his hand going to her face, his fingers stroking her cheek. “I won’t allow it to be.”
Wow! I’m curious to find out what happens next… 😀
Purchase Links:
Universal Reader link: https://books2read.com/u/mlYWB7
Publisher link: http://beachwalkpress.com/wrath-and-mercy/
We’ll be sure to get a copy of this historical romance! ♥♥♥
About Faye Hall
Faye Hall spent her early years listening to stories about the families – including her own – who settled townships in and around her hometown in North Queensland, Australia. The local townspeople, including her own parents, told her stories of corruption and slavery, along with family secrets and forbidden love.
Desperate to remember what she’d been told, along with her already growing love of writing, Faye began to write about the history of her local area. Never could she have imagined the history of her small home town in Australia would become a growing list of published books.
Faye’s passionate stories combine controversial subjects and provocative encounters as her characters struggle to survive the lifestyle in early rural townships throughout Australia. She explores slavery and abortion, drug addiction and murder, as well as forbidden love and passionate affairs of the heart.
When she’s not writing, Faye enjoys sharing a bottle of wine with her husband in their ever-growing garden, and encouraging the varied interests of their combined family of nine children.
Explore the world of Faye Hall, Australian Historical Romance Author at her website.
Books:
And, if you want to know how to connect with the fascinating Faye Hall, here are some author links…
Website/Blog: https://www.faye-hall.com
http://fayehallauthor.tumblr.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Faye-Hall/174774709247649
https://www.facebook.com/faye.hall.3363
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FayeHall79
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Faye-Hall/e/B07KYZMQRF/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6882637.Faye_Hall
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fayehallauthor/
Once again, I want to thank Faye Hall, the brilliant author of this historical romance, for stopping by! It was a pleasure to have you here! Readers, check out her work! ♥
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