Today we have Genevieve Graham with us, so sit back and enjoy the fun!

Genevieve’s debut book, Under the Same Sky, a beautifully written Scottish historical story, released in January. She’s been receiving wonderful reviews and new fans are discovering what a delight it is reading her books.  Her second book, Sound of the Heart, releases today, so you’ll want to make a special trip to your local bookstore or head over to Amazon.com right now!

She’s one of only seven Canadians who have been published by Penguin. A very distinctive accomplishment. As a reader, I’m glad her editor has asked for more stories from Genevieve. These books should be on every romance reader’s keeper shelf. They’re that good.

So now let’s chat!

DUCK CHAT: Welcome Genevieve! Since the usual first question in an interview is “Tell us about yourself,” how about instead you tell our readers that one thing that most other folks don’t know about you!

GENEVIEVE GRAHAM: Hi, Sandy! Thanks for having me here today! This is a REALLY exciting day for me – I get to be on your site AND my second book is being released. So I am responding to your interview questions with champagne in hand.

One thing folks don’t know about me? I can’t stand maraschino cherries. I ate an entire jar when I was three. My grandmother had a white carpet at the time. heh heh. Well, she shouldn’t have left them out for me!

DC: I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions, or dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?

GG: I used to think authors made that up, the part about the characters running the show. But I can safely tell you that with me at least it’s 100% true. I’d never written anything before Under the Same Sky, so I had no idea what to expect. Being pulled into Maggie’s world was a thrill for me because she was more than willing to show me everything in great detail, telling me how she felt about it as we went. The whole story came from somewhere I’d never been, so everything was a surprise. But I particularly love it when one of them comes out with a funny comment or blurts out “no” when I expected them to say “yes.” Under the Same Sky does that less than my second book, Sound of the Heart, but there are moments like that.

DC: Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing? Who usually wins?

GG: At one point during the writing of Under the Same Sky, I sensed two male characters off to the side, nudging me to be allowed into the story. I had no idea who they were, and they seemed a little shabby for my taste, so I ignored them. I figured if they were important they’d come back later. Well, I couldn’t write for two days. I finally relented and let them in, and I couldn’t stop writing for two weeks after that. The crazy thing is that those two characters were eventually cut from the story. There was no need for them to be part of the finished product; however, it was apparently essential that they come into the story at that point so that something else could happen. I’ve tried arguing, trying to persuade them when I think a story should go a certain way, but for the most part they aren’t all that interested in my suggestions. That’s fine with me. It’s their story after all, not mine.

DC: I know you’re a huge Diana Gabaldon fan. (Me too!) You just have to say “Jamie and Claire,” and everyone knows who you’re talking about. While I realize there’s probably more than one from any of those seven five-inch-thick books, but what’s your favorite J&C moment?

GG: Really??? One??? The first one that jumps to mind is the scene in Dragonfly when Claire returns and Jamie’s working in the print shop. He calls out to his associate (was it Geordie?) but it’s Claire in the front, waiting for him. I LOVED his reaction. But really, there are so many scenes. Diana Gabaldon is a genius, in my humble opinion.

DC: Oh, that is a wonderful scene! And my opinion is definitely the same as yours. What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?

GG: Family movie night. We have two teenage daughters and right now we’re on a kick for adventure stories. Just finished rewatching the entire Lord of the Rings series, then Star Wars, and now we’re going through the entire Harry Potter series.

DC: Let’s talk about your MacDonnell family series. First, aside from being inspired by Diana Gabaldon, what was it that drew you to write about this family and this era?

GG: I wish I had a more brilliant answer for you, but the truth is that the story wrote itself. Maggie introduced herself to me the first day I started to write, but the second day I landed in the middle of Culloden Moor. I knew I’d be writing in that time period (yes, Gabaldon’s influence), but I didn’t know where I’d be starting. Fortunately, Andrew dragged me through the muck, showed me his determination, giving me insight into his history and family as he went. Andrew is a deep thinker, so I learned a lot. When I write, I don’t just follow my characters. Especially with Maggie and Andrew. I’m a part of them. I experience all their senses, and because I know them so well, their emotions also flow through me.

Here’s another truth for you: I never planned to write a second MacDonnell story. Under the Same Sky was the one and only thing I’d written, and when it was done I’d never really considered writing anything else. But Penguin asked for a companion novel in the contract. Who was I to say no to Penguin? So, of course, I said yes, then I panicked. For days I tried shoving ideas into my brain, but nothing stuck. Just as I was feeling desperate, I sensed Dougal. He was kind of shaking his head at me, smiling wryly, looking a little disappointed. It was like he was asking, “Why stress yourself out? I already have a story for you. All you had to do was ask.” And what a story he had!

I assumed I was done after that, but no. Maggie’s sister, Adelaide, woke me up one morning, saying she, too, had a story to tell. She is a very quiet, shy girl with a lot of emotional scars, so I’d never expected her to be keen to share. But she was. My editor will be reading that book this week and I’m looking forward to hearing what she thinks of it.

DC: Which fictional character would you like to hang out with?

GG: In my books it would be Dougal. In other fiction, well, I really like Roger Wakefield. As far as lady characters, I like the fun frankness and intelligence of Elizabeth Bennett.

DC: What advice would you give to your younger self?

GG: Not to worry so much about what other people say. Everyone has flaws and weaknesses, and those are a big part of what makes us unique. Just be confident in who you are and what you can do.

DC: What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever learned by Googling your name?

GG: That there are so many of me! Actually, the big list is on Twitter, but the one that jumped out at me on Google was Genevieve Graham the designer! She was on Project Runway, which is a reality designer show here in Canada. I’m not a fashion person (big fan of pyjamas), so I had no idea who she was. Now I just hope people don’t come to me asking me to write a book AND design an outfit to go with it!

DC: What book would you like to read again for the first time?

GG: Outlander.

DC: If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

GG: Genevieve already had her happily ever after. Now her dream’s come true and she didn’t even know she had that dream.

DC: What would your “voice’s” tagline be?

GG: Often mysterious and mystical, always heart wrenchingly real.

DC: Sound of the Heart, second book in the series, hits the bookstores today. Congrats! This story is turning out just as beautiful as Under the Same Sky. Would you give us a sneak peek into Dougal and Glenna’s story?

GG: I love this story. I love Dougal’s fun-loving nature, his purely masculine presence, and his complete and utter loyalty to Glenna. He would happily die for her, though he admits he’d prefer not to.

Dougal is taken as a POW after the Battle of Culloden (1746) and we learn what it was like to be a captive back then. He escapes and discovers true love with Glenna, but when the English capture her and send her to the colonies as a slave, Dougal must join the despised English Army (albeit as part of the Highlander regiment) and travel over the sea to find her. Glenna, who believes Dougal is dead, has her own adventures to survive as a slave, then suddenly discovers he is indeed alive and not too far away.

DC: What romance book would you recommend our readers pick up during their next bookstore run? (Yes, in addition to any Genevieve Graham novel!)

GG: You mean besides Outlander? There are so many. Personally, I love the epic stories of Penelope Williamson and Jennifer Roberson. If I were to go with more recent releases, I’m really enjoying the exciting western romances by Kaki Warner, the Napoleonic intrigue by Joanna Bourne, and the time travel romance of Susanna Kearsley.

DC: What an honor to be one of only seven Canadians to be contracted by Penguin to publish your books. Tell us about “the call.”

GG: Absolutely unexpected. I think the most difficult part of the entire writing process is finding an agent and finding the RIGHT agent. Jacques de Spoelberch worked with me on my book, then set it immediately on the desk of Wendy McCurdy, Executive Editor at Penguin. She bought it (and the companion novel) within the first 48 hours. I don’t think I slept for two days after that, I was so pumped on adrenaline. It’s still incredibly surreal. I am particularly proud of being a Canadian published in the U.S.

DC: If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?

GG: Well, my university degree is in music, but I’d worked in marketing, media, and promotions for about fifteen years before I became a stay-at-home mom. Now I run my own editing business and teach piano to the local kids. So I guess I’d just be doing more of one or all of those!

DC: What else is on the horizon for Genevieve Graham?

GG: I’ve been writing non-stop and have three slightly more “modern” stories coming along. The most recent is a time travel romance, which I’m really enjoying. I like to set the stories around the area where I live, in a tiny town in Nova Scotia. This place is steeped in history, and the ghosts are only too happy to share their stories with someone who will listen.

Lightning Round:

– dark or milk chocolate?    – MILK
– smooth or chunky peanut butter?     – CHUNKY
– heels or flats?     – FLATS
– coffee or tea?      – TEA
– summer or winter?      – AUTUMN
– mountains or beach?     – BEACH
– mustard or mayonnaise?     – MAYO
– flowers or candy?     – CANDY
– pockets or purse?     – PURSE
– Pepsi or Coke?     – WINE
– ebook or print?     – PRINT

And because we still enjoy the answers we get:

1. What is your favorite word?    – LUGUBRIOUS

2. What is your least favorite word?     – PUCE

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?     – FREEDOM

4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?    – PEOPLE TRYING TO PUSH THEIR BELIEFS ON OTHERS

5. What sound or noise do you love?    – BIRD SONG

6. What sound or noise do you hate?     – NAILS ON CHALKBOARD

7. What is your favorite curse word?     – F___

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?     – MAKING MOVIES

9. What profession would you not like to do?     – GARBAGE

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?   – “COME ON IN! I’LL GET YOU A LATTE.”

DC: Thank you so much for spending the day with us, Genevieve! It’s been an absolute pleasure.