Wednesday, January 30, 2013

My Guest Today...Candice Proctor (aka C.S. Harris and C.S. Graham), Author of Absorbing Historical Romances, Tales from Australia and now Mysteries!


For those who comment on this post, one lucky winner will receive the ARC (advanced release copy) of Candice Proctor's new mystery in her Sebastian St. Cyr series, WHAT DARKNESS BRINGS. So, comment for a chance to win!

Welcome, Candy! I have wanted you to be on my blog since I read your first book, NIGHT IN EDEN and I'm delighted you're finally here.

You write amazing historical romance. Your vivid tales from Australia are some of my favorites and I’ve reviewed them on my blog—all 5 star novels in my opinion. How did you pick the heroes and heroines? The particular settings?

I used to live in Adelaide, South Australia, and one year for Mother’s Day my daughters gave me the book The Women of Botany Bay. Although I’d always known England transported woman as well as men, that book was a real eye-opener for me, not only because of its detailing of the horrid conditions under which the women suffered, but because it also made me aware of the emotional impact of transportation on those women, most of whom were mothers and had to leave their young children behind. I kept thinking, how could any woman survive that? The result was Night in Eden, the story of a young mother transported for murder, and the hard man to whom she is assigned.


Because, like most Americans, I knew very little about Australian history, I felt that before I could do a story like that justice, I had to have a better understanding of the history of my adopted country. I probably spent 6-9 months reading Australian history—by the time I finished, I could have taught a course on it! But it was from all that reading that I found the ideas for my other Australian books. I discovered a society in Victorian London dedicated to saving “gently bred” women in economic distress by sending them out to Australia to serve as governesses. Many of the women were predictably miserable, and wrote letters back to the Society begging to be brought home to England.

Their letters are a rich and often hilarious cataloging of the culture shock those women experienced, and inspired what became September Moon. Set in the Flinders Ranges in Victorian times, it’s the story of an uptight Englishwoman horrified by the harsh vulgarities of life in the Outback, and an ostentatiously uncouth Aussie with a sheep station stricken by drought.




The inspiration for my third Australian story, Whispers of Heaven, came from reading about an Irish convict helped to escape by the daughter of the man to whom he was assigned. The real event occurred in Western Australia and the woman stayed behind; I transferred the setting to Tasmania because I’ve always found it such a fascinating place, and of course I gave the romance a happy ending!

I don’t know if you consider Beyond Sunrise one of my Australian stories or not, since it has an Aussie hero but is set in the South Pacific. That story was inspired by my fascination with the intrepid Victorian women who became travel writers.
I also set books in Medieval France, the American West, and Civil War-era New Orleans. My story ideas always came to me as heroines and heroes in a conflict unique to their specific time and place, which eventually came to cause me problems.

How do you write your wonderful stories? Where do you start? And are you a plotter?

I usually kick my story ideas around in my head for several years—sometimes for 10 or more—before I actually write them. When I’m writing a mystery or thriller (I’ve also written contemporary thrillers as C.S. Graham), I like to take three separate ideas or “sparks” that excite me, and weave them together to make a more powerful book. I use the word “excite” very deliberately. I look for sparks that have what I call the “Ooh Factor,” as in “ooh and aah.” The kind of thing that when you hear it, you go, “Ooh;” you’re intrigued and want to know more.

I’m very much a plotter. I shuffle color-coded index cards around on the dining table and write a detailed outline. But once I actually start writing, I let myself follow the magic. I frequently need to stop at various stages and redo my outline.

You have moved from historical romance to writing mysteries…why? Will you ever come back to historical romance? (Your fans, like me, want to know!)

When the historical romance genre began, it was wide open—you could set your books anywhere and do all sorts of things that gradually came to be seen as “forbidden.” Romance writers organizations helped their members get published by teaching them “the Rules,” but I think in the process they also contributed to the narrowing of the genre. I was living in Australia when I first started writing historical romance and I wasn’t a member of RWA, so I didn’t know the Rules. When Night in Eden was published, it created a firestorm amongst romance writers because I inadvertently broke so many of those danged Rules. The book was set in Australia, of all places; the writing was descriptive (something aspiring writers were being told not to do); lots of things besides romance happened in the book, and I killed off not one child but two! Yet the book sold for a large advance, was made a lead title, and was given a huge push. Everyone was asking, how could that have happened?

Frankly, I think it was the exception that proved the rule. I kept writing books set in weird places and times, with strong, realistic historical backgrounds, and I had a wonderful editor, Shauna Summers, who let me do almost anything I wanted to do. But the historical romance genre was heading in a very different direction—toward linked series, and light and funny story lines, or such heavy-handed sexuality that it overshadowed plot and character development. When my house got a new publisher, I started coming under intense pressure to “pick a time and place and stick with it.” Publishers were learning that authors benefited from “branding,” and because they were lazy and unimaginative, that translated into the marketing and sales departments being able to say, “She writes funny Westerns” or “She writes a hot, sexy series about seven Scottish dukes who are all cousins” or whatever.

I decided that if I had to pick a time and place and stick with it, I’d rather write a historical mystery series. Historical accuracy is important to readers of historical mysteries, and they like evocative descriptions. So I developed Sebastian St. Cyr, who is basically a romance hero in a mystery series set in Regency England. It began with What Angels Fear.


Will I ever go back to writing genre romances? Probably not. I refuse to follow the Rules. But I do hope to keep writing historical love stories. My Sebastian series contains within it several powerful love stories, and it’s fascinating to be able to develop a romance and explore characters and their relationships over so many books and such a long period of time. I’ve now followed Sebastian’s life and loves through nine books of heartache and joy. For a writer, that is both challenging and enormously exciting and satisfying.

Why would lovers of the historical romance genre enjoy your mysteries, too?


Many of the most enthusiastic readers of my mysteries are also romance readers. Part of what attracts them is Sebastian himself; he's brilliant, sexy, tough, resourceful, honorable, courageous, and yet wounded, too. And, of course, historical readers love the rich sense of time and place I've always brought to my books.

But I think large part of the series' attraction for romance readers comes from the rich emotion in the books, not simply love and lust, but all the other emotions that both enrich and trouble our lives. Each book in the series contains its own complex, stand-alone mystery. Yet each book is also a chapter in Sebastian's path to redemption, as he must deal with a tragic past and an increasingly complicated present, as he loses and finds love, and slowly begins to heal. I love writing this series. Working with the same set of rich characters over a span of ten years has been an incredible experience for me as a writer. My affection for them is real and deep, and their stories actually excite me more now than when I began.

Did your sister, Penelope Williamson, another of my favorite authors, provide any inspiration or encouragement for you to begin your writing career?

Ha! Penny told me I was crazy to want to be a writer. It’s a killer business, and you really need to have a fire in your belly to survive.

Based on what your sister has hinted at about your family, it seems like you come from a long line of storytellers and great loves…did that influence you? Did it suggest characters to you?

I think all the experiences of our lives, and the people we have known, come out in our writing, one way or another.

What are you working on now?

I’m just finishing the 9th book in my Sebastian St. Cyr Regency mystery series, and starting on #10. My publishers are very excited about this series and pressing for more books, closer together, so this is going to keep me busy for a while. But I also have several ideas for other books I’d like to explore. I believe a series writer needs to keep writing other things, too, to stay fresh.

What is on your wish list for 2013? Any New Year’s resolutions?

On my wish list: good health, and more time to relax. My perennial New Year’s resolutions are to eat well, sleep more, and exercise. I always try, but every year I resolve to do better.

Any tips for new authors?

I’ve been criticized for discouraging beginning writers, but I’m going to echo my big sis’s advice here: this is a brutal business, and you really need to have a fire in your belly to do this. If you can walk away from writing, do. If you can’t imagine living and not writing, then go for it!

See more of Candice Proctor/CS Harris at her website HERE, and comment for a chance to win her latest, What Darkness Brings.

87 comments:

  1. I loved all the Candice Proctor books, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the CS Harris books!! I would be thrilled to get an ARC!

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  2. I am very much looking forward to "What Darkness Brings". I've never read any of your romances, but having read about them now, I'm going to go out and find some!

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    1. Perhaps start with Midnight Confessions, which is also a historical mystery. It was my "let me see if I can do this" book.

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    2. I have to agree with Candy...don't start with this one. Midnight Confessions (reviewed on my blog...just scroll down) is a great place to begin...historical romance with mystery. And then read the mysteries IN ORDER.

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  3. The rules in romance are one of the reasons I rarely read straight romance any more, and why I jump shipped to side genres in romance. I needed more variety. I'm so glad I found the St. Cyr novels in my local book store’s mystery section. This was before I knew authors wrote under various names. He truly is a romance hero in a mystery series. It’s the best of two worlds.

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    1. Yes, I think a lot of women jumped ship as the genre narrowed. Good for those who like those stories, but frustrating for those who didn't.

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    2. I have to put in a word for historical romance...there are GREAT ones out there and that is why I have my blog in the first place...a happy ending with each book is a draw that won't go away.

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  4. Ms. Harris is one of my preorder-as-soon-as-possible favorites! Anyone who likes well written historicals with fascinating characters will love her St. Cur books, even those who think they only like straight historical romance. And what could be better than a backlist of nine books! I envy those just discovering this marvelous series.

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    1. Thanks, Elaine! I'm so glad to hear you enjoy them.

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  5. The St. Cyr series is one of my all time favorites, intelligent and complex; can't wait for the new one. I'm so glad she decided not to follow the rules!

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    1. I've ALWAYS had trouble following the rules! It's nice to know that sometimes that can be a good thing.

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  6. Candice is a strong writer, which many that are doing historical series today are not. They tend to be very light and humorous, which has it's place in the literary world, but Proctor is definitely a writer for those that want to delve a little deeper, who want to truly be stumped on the who done it. She reminds me a bit of Anne Perry in that sense, but unlike Perry she really delves into her characters personal lives which I truly love.

    I love the St Cyr mysteries, I love how she dared to break the romance rules midstream and introduce a character that no one would have guessed would have a leading role. She's definitely a writer with guts.

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    1. Well, thank you for saying that, because that midstream shift earned me some real blowback!

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  7. When I read your description of what happened when the romance industry imposed “the Rules" on authors, my heart sank. It explains why so many other romance authors did the same thing you did and we lost so much in historical romance. I hate the light fluffy stuff so many publishers throw at us today. It is why I so treasure romance by authors like you and your sister, Penelope Williamson. Fortunately there are enough authors like you around to keep me busy for years. And many of those classic authors are thankfully bringing their backlist to eBooks, so hopefully a whole new generation of readers will discover "real" historical romance. Thanks, Candy for being here today!

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    1. My pleasure, Regan!

      I think light and fluffy can be fun sometimes. I just wish there were more tolerance for outliers.

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    2. Candy, I think the self-published authors are changing the genre. The outliers are out there. One of my favorite is Amanda Hughes...her novels are wonderful and definitely stretch the bounds. They are on all my best lists.

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  8. Oh, how I love the Sebastian St. Cyr series! I told Candice last year on her blog how much I loved them and glommed them up one after the other until I'd read them all in the space of about three weeks (and then had to wait for the March release).

    I love seeing the development of the Hero/Sebastian storyline as well as the other relationships in the books - Sebastian and Kat, Sebastian and Herndon; Sebastian and Hero's father, Lord Jarvis; Sebastian and his aunt. And I'm desperate to know when/if Sebastian's long-lost mother will return.

    Your publisher wanting more books more quickly is music to my ears!

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  9. One of my all time favorite series - hands down. Thank you for creating such mesmerizing and complex characters!

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    1. Thank you, Tiffany. I really, really enjoy writing this series.

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  10. wow, loved this interview and truly inspired by Candace! You've got a new fan, can't wait to read your books - ALL of them!

    KL Mullens

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    1. Thansk, KL; I hope you enjoy them.

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    2. I'm so glad you enjoyed the interview, KL--do join the site for more!

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  11. I love your books -- and keep wishing for a new C. S. Graham book too.

    Very much looking forwards to reading your newest, and I hope, many more to come.

    Beth

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    1. I hope to get back to the thrillers eventually. Writing one of each in 12 months was just too much for me, so I had to back off a second contractual commitment. But I have a great idea...

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  12. It would be awesome to receive an ARC of "What Darkness Brings" as the Sebastian St. Cyr series is my favorite series.

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    1. You need to leave some sort of Identifier so Regan will know who you are.

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    2. Realized it a bit late; am in process of creating a google account! <:o)

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  13. It would be awesome to receive an ARC of "What Darkness Brings" as the Sebastian St. Cyr series is my favorite series.

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  14. I think this has quickly become one of my all time favorite series. The Author has caused me many tired days at work because I just cant put the books down the night before! IF you didnt guess it, I love this series and am so excited for the next book!!! I am glad you picked this genre and stuck with it ;)

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    1. Thank you! I intend to be with Sebastian for quite some time.

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  15. Hi!
    I absolutely love the Sebastian series, and have a book crush on Sebastian himself. I can't wait to see where this series is heading, and anything that C.S. Harris writes, I will always buy and read :)
    Thanks for having the giveaway!
    Tiffany

    kohlert(at)mail(dot)gvsu(dot)edu

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    1. Thanks, TIffany. I love that expression--"book crush"! I'm going to have to borrow it.

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  16. Oooh, Regan, you're so fortunate to have Candy on your blog. I've loved her books for years and have 2d hand copies of all her romances and mysteries. I'm constantly checking her site for the next St Cyr book.

    Great job on the interview, ladies.

    I'd love to have What Darkenss Brings. ella at ellaquinn dot net

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    1. I've been chasing her forever! I only feature authors whose books I've read and rated highly...books I recommend to my followers!

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  17. I love the St Cyr series; had not heard of the Candice Proctor books. I have now ordered one and am looking forward to reading it!
    Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!

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    1. Ms. Harris/Candace Proctor
      I started reading Sebastian St. Cyr last spring and fell madly in love with the characters. When Sebastian's and Kat's romance broke apart, I almost stopped reading the series. I was in "mourning" for several weeks, before I could start reading again. I'm glad I did because it was heartening to see Sebastian to start living and loving once again. Eager to see Hero and Sebastian's relationship grow, despite the obstacles that come their way in What Darkness Brings.
      In the meantime, I obtained all of Ms. Proctor's historical romances. I've read 4 of them and have to say that they all took my breath away. Each had stories with characters that have stayed with me and will never forget. One of my favorites was Beyond Sunrise with India and Jack Ryder. The other was September Moon with Amanda and Mr. O'Reilly. The settings, the growing romance and love between the characters, and the passion
      (...be still my beating heart).
      Loved your interview and was wondering if any of these books would be re-released in kindle format? Only Beyond Sunrise was available. Thank you so much for such great stories and characters that you have brought to life in your books! It's great to see more new readers coming on board, and experience what your fans and readers already know and love. LOgalinOR

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    2. LO: Note that in my article on Candice I posted last week (just scroll down through the "older posts," I indicate which are available as ebooks. If you use the buy links on the left side of my blog for Candy's books, you'll get right to the ebooks on Amazon.

      I had a similar experience to you with the Sebastian St. Cyr series. I read the first one and loved it, and then made the mistake of reading the latest (What Darkness Brings) right after it. OMG, I was in shock to see Kat and Sebastian married to other people. I do not--do not--recommend doing that!

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    3. LOgalnOR, I'm so glad you didn't abandon me! The truth is, that twist was very, very painful for me to write.
      And yes, I do need to get to work putting them up on Kindle. It's complicated...

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  18. I'm glad this author is not following the rules, as the Sebastian books are AWESOME --- set the bar very high for me regarding mysteries w/ romantic elements.

    kirshpgh AT yahoo DOT com

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  19. These books are much more interesting than genre romance; they're both broader and deeper emotionally and so interesting historically. To heck with the rules!

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    1. Yes, I agree, and all Candy's historical romances are likewise deeper emotionally.

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    2. Yes, I've always had issues with rules!

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  20. Love, love, love the Sebastian St. Cyrus series. I have been a fan since the first book came out & have enjoyed at how rich and developed the characters and storyline has become. Can't wait until March for the new book!

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    1. Thank you! And I think (although I'm not sure) that the next one might be out in February next year.

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  21. I love the Sebastian St Cyr series. Now I'm looking forward to catching up on the Australia stories

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    1. I hope you enjoy them. One of these days I need to make a push to get the rest of them into ebooks.

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  22. What other seroes are you thinking about writing? Another historical mystery or a contemporary setting?

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    1. I don't have a series in mind, but ideas for stand-alones that I've been kicking around for a while. As I said, I sometimes ponder an idea for 10-15 years!

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    2. Sheila,
      You are the winner of What Darkness Brings. Congratulations! As I do not have an ID or email for you, I need you to contact me (use the email box on the left of my blog, or contact me via my website www.reganwalkerauthor.com) by Saturday (tomorrow) at noon Pacific Time. If I don't hear from you by then, I'll go with the second name drawn).

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  23. I love love love Sebastian, Candice

    He's the best Regency hero ever written.

    And Sebastian (+ you of course) has a huge following in Australia via Romance Writers Australia and Australian Romance Readers as well as The Beau Monde Regency chapter, which is where I met Regan.

    Our only complaint is the same as your publishers - we'd love more books and more often.

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    1. Yes, I love Sebastian, too! And I still really, really miss Australia...

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  24. I discovered Sebastien as book 5 was released and read the entire series to date in one weekend. What Darkness Brings is the only book I have ever pre-ordered and in fact I accidentally placed two orders - at iTunes and Amazon - I was so excited.

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  25. Ms. Harris/Candace Proctor,
    One more passing comment, as Sebastian St. Cyr himself would say, "bloody hell" to all those rules and regulations, you had to wade thru. LOgalinOR

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    1. Well, the truth is that I was for the most part blissfully ignorant of them until I moved back to the States!

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  26. Candice, I've been enjoying the St. Cyr series, though I'm afraid I fell behind and missed the last couple of books. I need to catch up! I don't think I've read any of your romances, and I'm going to look for them now, because I LOVE books set in exotic places (maybe some people think Australia isn't exotic, so I'll rephrase this as set in places other than Britain and America!)

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    1. Judith,
      If you love historical romances set in exotic places, check out my Exotic Locales best list (see "best of the best" under Categories on the right side of my blog). And, of course, Candy's books are on the list!

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    2. Judith, I think 19th century Australia was pretty exotic! Writing those books left me in awe of the people who braved those conditions.

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  27. Congratulations Ms. Regan for having Ms. Candice on your blog. I envy you, truly. Wish I could have her on my blog too. She is one of my favorite authors, and an avid fan of her Sebastian St. Cyr Series.

    Ms. Candice, scrap the rules. I like to have the oohs and aahs in my historical romance/mystery.

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    1. Thanks, Louize. I was honored Candy consented to do this!

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    2. Louize, finding those "ooh"s are one of the best parts of writing this series!

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  28. The St. Cyr mysteries are one of my favorite series. I've already preordered the next book for my library and added it to my reserve list. I love that the characters seem real and their lives are messy. I only started reading "real" romance a couple of years ago and am starting to find it boring with only a few authors writing believable characters. And a number of characters are reading like modern women/men in old clothes. It's getting annoying. I keep looking for something that's breaking the "rules" but, as you said, they're few and far between.

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    1. Faith, my favorite historical romance writers were LaVyrle Spencer, Laura Kinsale, and of course my sister, Penelope Williamson.

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  29. Add me also as someone who loves the St. Cyr mysteries. March seems so far away. I'm glad to see recommendations on the other books. Thank you!
    winnie968 at yahoo dot com

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  30. Sebastian has become one of my all-time favorite characters! Thank you, Candice, for creating such an interesting and intriguing series. Every time a new book comes out - I have no family, no friends - I have just "the book", and that's all that matters:))) I've also hooked on the series many of my friends, so I'm constantly being asked when is the next one coming out. Keep them coming! Please! (the magic word)

    Thank you, Regan, for such an amazing interview!

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    1. Olga; I do intend to keep the series going for quite some time, and my publishers are enthusiastic. Thanks for hooking your friends; nothing helps a series more than good word of mouth.

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  31. Very Interesting interview, thanks. It's always a pleasure to read Candice speaking about her (wonderful) work.
    It's funny how every year I can't wait for my birthday (march 4th) just because I know My new St-Cyr will be out :)
    Hope to see a new book for many years to come (even if I could do without the aging myself ;D)
    I prefer too the mix of genres for my romances so this series is perfect for me.
    Penelope williamson was my first favorite romance author, "heart of the west" my absolute favorite. (my gmail carries the name of the most wonderful character of the book :D) & Candice is my fav historical mystery author. What a talented family!!!

    Still hoping for one day to see this series translated in french so to introduce them to many people.

    Good luck & congrats for the lucky winner of the ARC.

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  32. Thanks for the wonderful interview. I so cannot wait for the next St. Cyr book.

    SandyL

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  33. Sebastian is one of the most fascinating characters in fiction, period. I'm always up to find out what he will do next and what will happen to him.

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  34. So Candice is one of my favorite authors of all time - either as herself, C.S. Harris or C.S Graham. I really love them all. I like her romances specifically because they are not your typical romance novels but break the rules and have "more meat" to them, so to speak. The St. Cyr novels I own in every medium (hardback, paperback, ebook and audible) because I love them so much and have re-read them each time a new one comes out. Also love her spy thrillers with Toby and Jax. What makes her novels special is the plotting and stories within stories - the complexity and thought behind each book coupled with the historical accuracy is simply amazing. I tout her books to all my friends and would encourage both romance and mystery reader to read them. Thanks for doing an interview of her. It is always fun to read about her books, what she is planning and how she creates them. Sabena

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    1. I love Candy's romances, too, Sabena. She makes the emotion so real.

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  35. Hi, Candace. So glad you are receiving the credit you deserve. AND so looking forward to reading the next Sebastian story. There are so many unanswered questions, and i can't wait for the answers. I almost quite reading when you separated Kit and Sebastian, but I couldn't keep away. So little by little, I am learning to like Hero. March cannot come too soon. Diane

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  36. I think a lot of readers would like more authors who don't follow the rules, despite what publishers think. Loved all your historicals, absolutey adore St. Cyr and the complex, ongoing relationship dynamics makes the series top of my list. Always so hard to wait for the next in the series. Thanks Candace for such an intriguing character.

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    1. Thank you, Pam; that's always so encouraging to hear.

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  37. GREAT INTERVIEW! I Hope I'm not too late to enter the ARC contest. Been out of town! =D

    The Sebastian St. Cyr novels were among the first mystery novels that I have read and it remains my favorite still. I have been a long time reader of romance and have read all books published under the name Candice Proctor (a well-loved copy of Night in Eden is among my Keepers shelf). To my shock, lo and behold, Candice Proctor and C.S. Harris were one and the same. Life is truly full of surprises… Well, at least they are for the uninformed – one such as I. *wink*

    Now Sebastian and Hero are among my heroes and heroines (and of course, together, a couple) of all time.

    Where some people count down the days til their birthday or an anniversary of some sort, I find myself counting down the days until the release of the next Sebastian St. Cyr mystery. When I found out that there'd be more books (YAY!) that are going to be released in closer intervals (double YAY!)... I was beyond thrilled. Thrilled for you, Candice, as a writer because someone (or rather, many someones) truly appreciates your work. And thrilled for the legions of fans who out there who are patiently waiting for more novels to savor. So thanks Candice, thank you so much for giving us something to look forward to! Cheers to many more years, many more novels, and many more mysteries!

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