Today, we’re doing something a little different. If you remember, we interviewed David Russell’s character last week, and it was so fun that I thought we may as well make an occasional habit of it. I had the pleasure of meeting Annabelle Anders, the author of Lady Saves the Duke, on my author journey and I asked if I could borrow a character, Abigail Wright, from the book. We’ll get a chance to talk to Annabelle in a bit, but now we have on the stage…Abigail!
Marie Lavender: Hello, Abigail. Please have a seat.
Character Miss Abigail Wright: Thank you for allowing me to visit, Marie.
Marie: It’s my pleasure!
We’re going to start out with some simple questions, all right?
Abigail: Of course.
Marie: So, what is your occupation? Are you any good at it? Do you like it?
Abigail: I’m taking care of my parents in their home. Am I good at it? I hope so. I’ve disappointed them greatly. Do I like taking care of them? Some aspects, yes. Others, not so much. I wish they appreciated me a little more, but I won’t fall into self-pity over it. I’ve been a trial for them.
Marie: Okay.
Tell us…what is your family like?
Abigail: My mother takes to her bed often enough and my father drinks. I’m an only child but I have a wonderful cousin, Penelope! She is also my best friend.
Marie: 😦 That must be tough to handle, but I’m glad you have your cousin.
If it doesn’t bother you at all, can you let us know what your childhood home looked like?
Abigail: Not a large estate, by any means. It’s been in my father’s family for years. Since he failed to produce a son, however, it will pass to a distant relative eventually.
Marie: All right.
Do you have any hobbies, Abigail? What do you enjoy doing?
Abigail: I love to sew. What do I enjoy doing? Singing in the church choir. Visiting neighbors. Assisting those in need.
Marie: Nice!
So, what is your greatest dream?
Abigail: To see my children again. (Spoiler alert!)
Marie: I see…
What kind of person do you wish you could be? What is stopping you?
Abigail: A good mother. A good daughter. What is stopping me? My own gracelessness. And bad luck. I seem to have an abundance of that.
Marie: Aww. Surely not…
Okay, I’m going to throw another random question at you now.
Who was your first love?
Abigail: Alex, of course.
Marie: (Sighs.) I love romance…♥
So…not to be a downer, but I do have a pretty deep question next.
What’s the most terrible thing that ever happened to you?
Abigail: I cannot say. It is not something one ever speaks of.
Marie: 😥 All right…I’m sure there’s a story here, but I won’t push.
Let’s move on to something a bit lighter now, shall we?
[Abigail 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?
Abigail: To be a mother, a wife. Have a loving family. Did I achieve that dream? Of course! This is a romance, isn’t it? 😉
It was better than I could have hoped for. Unfortunately, it was also worse than I ever imagined.
Marie: Intriguing…
So, who is your role model, Abigail?
Abigail: Ah…perhaps Penelope? But, mostly any person who lives an upstanding life and is happy and loved.
Marie: Sounds good to me!
Now, you’ll probably think I’m digging for dirt on the next question.
Is there someone you pretend to like but really dislike?
Abigail: No. I like everybody.
Marie: Let’s try another question.
What is your deepest desire?
Abigail: To hold my children.
Marie: And your greatest fear?
Abigail: Being alone and unloved.
Marie: That’s understandable. I think a lot of people feel that way.
I’m glad you were comfortable enough to tell me everything.
Well, it looks like we’re out of time. Thank you for visiting us today, Abigail. It was so interesting getting to know you! 🙂
(Waves goodbye to her guest.)
Now, let’s shift over and get the author’s perspective. We have author Annabelle Anders on the stage today. It’s such a pleasure to have you here! Hello, Annabelle!
Author Annabelle Anders: Hi, Marie! Thank you for taking the time to interview me.
Marie: Of course! I love to have authors on ILRB. 😀
So, we just got to talk to a female character from your story, Abigail Wright. Quite an interesting character. Can you tell us about her?
Annabelle: Abigail always tries to do what is best. She doesn’t expect much for herself.
Marie: Okay.
So, what are your character’s greatest strengths?
Annabelle: Unfailing optimism.
Marie: Nice!
And what are your character’s greatest weaknesses?
Annabelle: The same. Her optimism.
Marie: Oh, I see… 😦
Let’s try something fun, shall we?
What are some of Abigail’s favorite foods?
Annabelle: Abigail likes sweets. As a spinster she doesn’t deny herself when they are offered. She doesn’t see the point.
Marie: Sounds delicious!
How about another question?
What’s a positive quality that your character is unaware that he or she has?
Annabelle: Strength of character. The ability to always see the best in people.
Marie: All right.
Will readers like or dislike this character, and why?
Annabelle: I think everybody likes Abigail. Because even though she seems like a goodie two shoes, she’s not afraid to grab hold of a chance a happiness when it’s offered her.
Marie: Awesome! 😀
Now that we have a real taste of Abigail, we have a few questions for you as well as the author.
What first gave you the idea for Lady Saves the Duke?
Annabelle: It picks up from a scene in A Lady’s Prerogative. My mind filled in parts of that scene and the book was born.
Marie: Isn’t it fascinating how the muse works? 😉
Let’s try something else.
What is your writing style like? Are you a pantster or a plotter?
Annabelle: Keeping the story moving. Am I a pantster or a plotter? Pantser.
Marie: How about another question?
Now I’m throwing this one in for our aspiring writers. Did you come across any specific challenges in writing Lady Saves the Duke or publishing it? What would you do differently the next time?
Annabelle: Everything went pretty well. I’m finally getting this figured out. LOL.
Marie: Well, I’m glad! There are definitely some confusing parts of the publishing journey!
Congrats on your latest release! ♥
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 Lady Saves the Duke appears to be.
Readers, you will just have to pick up a copy of this historical romance by Annabelle Anders, a very talented author! 
Here is the blurb for Lady Saves the Duke, book three of the Lord Love A Lady Series:
The duke must decide. Should he make this mouse a respectable offer? She’s harmless, really. Marrying her shouldn’t upend his life…
Miss Abigail Wright, disillusioned spinster, hides her secret pain behind encouraging smiles and optimistic laughter. Self-pity, she believes, is for the truly wretched. So when her mother insists she attend a house party–uninvited–she determines to simply make the best of it…until an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction.
Alex Cross, the “Duke of Ice,” has more than earned the nickname given him by the ton. He’s given up on happiness but will not reject sensual pleasure. After all, a man has needs.
The week ought to have been pleasantly uneventful for both of them, with nature walks, parlor games, and afternoon teas on the terrace…but for some inferior stitchery on poor Abigail’s bodice.
And now the duke is faced with a choice. Should he make this mouse a respectable offer and then abandon her to his country estate? She’s rather pathetic and harmless, really. Oughtn’t to upset his life whatsoever.
His heart, however, is another matter…
Annabelle is also offering us a little excerpt from the book!
“I am going to count to three, very slowly. You must take your leave while you have the chance, Your Grace, for if you are still here by the time I have finished counting, I warn you that I shall accept your proposal and you will leave here an engaged man. I only have so much self-discipline, you see, and part of me sees you as quite the answer to all of my problems.
“I am warning you…
“One…
“Two…
“Two and a half…” Oh, lord, he still had not moved.
Abigail dropped her hands. “Three,” she said.
Ohh! ♥♥♥ Love it! Can’t wait to read this book and find out what happens next…🙂
Purchase Links:
Universal Reader link: https://books2read.com/u/mKYwNv
Add it to your Goodreads bookshelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43557465-lady-saves-the-duke
Link to the series on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VOlZvi
What are people saying about Lady Saves the Duke?
“I want to praise Annabelle for writing a curvy heroine with stretch marks and all. We need more like this.” – from the Sassy Book Lover Review Blog
We’ll be sure to get a copy of this Regency romance! ♥
About Annabelle Anders
Married to the same man for over 25 years, I am a mother to three children and two Miniature Wiener dogs. After owning a business and experiencing considerable success, my husband and I got caught in the financial crisis and lost everything; our business, our home, even our car.
At this point, I put my B.A. in Poly Sci to use and took work as a waitress and bartender.
Unwilling to give up on a professional life, I simultaneously went back to college and obtained a degree in Energy Management.
And then the energy market dropped off.
And then my dog died.
I can only be grateful for this series of unfortunate events, for, with nothing to lose and completely demoralized, I sat down and began to write the romance novels which had until then, existed only in my imagination.
I am happy to have found my place in life.
Finally.
And, if you want to know how to connect with the amazing Annabelle Anders, here are some author links:
Blog/Website: http://www.annabelleanders.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HappyWritingGirl/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AnnabellesReaderGroup/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnabellReadLuv/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Annabelle-Anders/e/B073ZLRB3F/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16889537.Annabelle_Anders
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/annabelle-anders
Once again, I want to thank both of our guests, Abigail, a female character from Lady Saves the Duke, and Annabelle Anders, the brilliant author of the novel, for stopping by! It was a pleasure to have you here! 😀
I Love Romance Blog 
Reblogged this on Dog Eared Pages and commented:
Annabelle Anders quickly became a favorite and go to author of mine!
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