Chatting with Wendy May Andrews. ..Giveaways
I am so pleased to be able to introduce fellow Clean Reads author, Wendy May Andrews. I asked Wendy to tell us a little about her writing journey. Stick around to hear about an exciting giveaway…or two! But right now, let’s hear from Wendy.
Wendy: Like most writers I started out as an avid reader. I love words! I even read the cereal box. I have an aunt who really encouraged my love of reading and introduced me to my favorite genre – Regency Romance. She even encouraged me to try my hand at writing, teasingly coming up with potential pen names for me when I was a teenager. I never took this seriously, though, sticking firmly to being a reader rather than a writer.
My husband is not an avid reader and would sometimes find my absorption in a book to be somewhat frustrating. When I’m involved in a good book I think the house might be able to fall down around me and I might not notice. This could lead others to feel ignored. One day my husband challenged me to try to write a book instead of always reading them. I really didn’t think I could do it but decided to give it a try. It took me a while but that first effort actually resulted in a book, Tempting the Earl, which was published in 2010 by Avalon books (a small press that got bought out by Amazon a couple years ago).
That first publishing experience was a little disappointing. They catered to a very small niche market so my sales were minute. Then the publisher disappeared and it was tough finding another publisher for my sweet/clean stories. But I kept writing. And then I found Clean Reads (formerly Astraea Press). My first book with them came out in March and I just had a novella released through them September 22nd. Everyone at Clean Reads has been lovely to work with and it is turning out to be a great experience.
My journey to being a published writer has been a little bumpy but there’s nothing like seeing your book take on a life of its own. And to get to hold an actual paper copy of a book you’ve written is a thrill that is worth all the effort it took to get there.
Thank you so much, Wendy! Remember I promised giveaways? Well, Wendy has graciously offered to giveaway two ebooks. One lucky commenter will win a copy of her recent release, The Governess’ Debut. Another will win a copy of her March release, The Duke Conspiracy. Interested? Here’s a little more to entice you.
The Governess’ Debut is a 24,000 word Sweet Regency Romance Novella
Can the governess charm both the spoiled child and the haughty earl?
Blurb:
After her parents died in an accident and her brother gambled away her inheritance and dowry, leaving her to fend for herself while he ran off to the colonies, Miss Felicia Scott must find a way to keep a roof over her head. No longer able to enter the Marriage Mart but certainly not of the servant class, the only option is to find a position as governess.
Her luck finally turns when an acquaintance refers her to the haughty widower, Lord Victor Astley, Earl of Standish. His spoiled, seven year old daughter has been through three governesses in the 18 months since her mother died.
The earl is highly doubtful the young, inexperienced Miss Scott could possible manage his irascible daughter but since he is desperate he agrees to give her a chance. Much to the astonishment of the entire household Felicia succeeds beautifully, bringing the little lady under control and brightening the lives of everyone she comes in contact with, including the jaded earl.
Will her joyful spirit be able to finally melt his resistant heart?
About the Author:
Wendy May Andrews has been reading whatever she could get her hands on since the age of five. She has been writing for almost as long but hasn’t been sharing those stories with anyone but her mother until recently. Wendy lives in Toronto with her own real-life hero. When not writing or reading, they love to travel wherever the mood takes them. This is Ms. Andrews’ second publication with Clean Reads.
Website:
http://www.wendymayandrews.com
Social Media:
www.facebook.com/WendyMayAndrews
Twitter: @WendyMayAndrews
Excerpt:
Lord Victor Astley, the fifth Earl of Standish, was surprised by his own undisciplined reaction when the young woman was announced. He was always in control of himself and his environment. It was decidedly out of character that he would be unnerved by the presence of a young woman in his library.
“Miss Felicia Scott to see you, my lord,” Alfred, the earl’s aging butler, had announced in even tones, not revealing anything about his own reaction to the elegant young woman who had been recommended to fill the post of governess to the earl’s hoyden of a daughter.
The earl nodded to her from behind his desk, not bothering to come around to bow over her hand. “Thank you, Alfred. Please see that a tea tray is brought in momentarily.”
Miss Scott dipped into a respectful, deep curtsy, forgetting for a moment that her new position in the servant class did not require the varying degrees of courtesy. When it did cross her mind she dismissed the thought, surmising accurately that the haughty looking earl would consider the extra depth to be his due.
Felicia had made every effort to appear as serious and trustworthy as possible. Her sober gown of brown worsted material was just perfect for whatever activities she would be involved in while chasing after a seven-year-old child. Realizing she looked quite young, she had scraped her thick, curling, brown hair into the severest hairstyle she could manage, hoping it lent her an air of maturity.
Of course, in her innocence, she was unaware of the things that were impossible to hide – her obvious breeding was evident in her proudly erect carriage. Intelligence shone from her wide, shining, green eyes as she glanced around the earl’s handsomely appointed library.
Her own governess had done her best to prepare her but since this was the first time Felicia had applied for a position she was somewhat uncertain as to proper protocol. The earl was still gazing at her with a rather arrested expression on his severe, but still handsome face, so she surmised that he was waiting for her to say something.
“Thank you for agreeing to see me, my lord.”
The earl blinked away his momentary inertia. Despite the glowing recommendations he had received it was obvious to him she would be impossible for the position. He was uncomfortable with the strange reaction he had felt to her presence, besides she was much too young. There was no way she would be able to control his daughter. He supposed he still had to interview her.
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1JomcGT
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1gN7se2
iTunes:
I’m so happy Wendy could visit with us today. This giveaway is open until November 4. On November 5, 2016, I will announce the winners.
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Blessings!