Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre?

I’d wanted to try my hand at writing a book for as long as I could remember, but I’d only ever written short stories. I discovered the genre of romance late in life. My only experience with romance novels before college had been reading the condensed versions of Victoria Holt books in my grandparents’ Readers Digest library, or the teen romances I could buy at the PX on the Army bases where we lived.

When I was on maternity leave, my mom and I were at a used bookstore and she found a copy of Kathleen Woodiwiss’ Shanna and bought it for me. Holy cow! After I read that novel, I went back to the same used book store and loaded up. It didn’t take me long to decide romance was what I wanted to write. There’s just something very exciting about that first moment an amazing couple first encounters one another, and the sometimes dangerous and challenging dance that follows before they can find their happily-ever-after. 

Where did your love of books/storytelling/reading/writing/etc. come from?

From my mother, and her side of the family. Everyone in my mother’s family are readers and book collectors. My aunt is a retired university librarian. My best early memories are of my mom reading to me. I had a younger brother as well, and every night at bedtime, he went to his room, and I went to mine, and mom came to our rooms separately to read a book of our own choosing, sing a song, and say a goodnight prayer. It was our special time, where my brother and I weren’t competing for her attention, and being that we were an Army family, with all the irregularities of life that brings, it provided us with comforting structure. Even now, as an adult, I usually read for at least ten minutes before bedtime. As we grew up, my brother and I would write silly round robin type stories back and forth with each other, trying to outdo each other–and there were just always books and full bookshelves and gifts of books and reading for entertainment. 

What do you think most characterizes your writing?

Whenever I sit down to write a book, I set out to capture the story of my characters’ “most exciting days”! If they are 100 years old, and looking back on life, what memories are the most grand and epic? What’s the most exciting or dangerous thing that ever happened to them? What’s the biggest decision of their life? The most critical fork in the road? How did they almost lose the love of their life? That’s the story I want told on the pages of my book.

Do you have any strange writing habits (like standing on your head or writing in the shower)?

My favorite place to write is in the car. I’d write in the car all the time if I could. When my house is a little too lively, I have gone and sat in the driveway in my car to write, just to isolate myself and focus.

How many donuts are you capable of eating in one sitting?

I’m a two donut girl. Or one donut, plus one kolache. (I confirmed this yesterday).

How violently do you have to fight the urge to scream when you hear the ice cream truck coming?

I have a very strong reaction to ice cream trucks, indeed!! Ice cream trucks are happy things, in my mind. One of my earliest memories of my dad is of him acting like a total fool, and insisting that I RUN with him to go catch the ice cream truck. I was probably four at the time. We ran across our neighborhood in the Army base, with him picking me up and carrying me most of the way, so that we could have ICE CREAM.

Say there’s like a whole box of your favorite snack in a room all by themselves. Say I left them there and told you not to eat any until I got back. How long would it take you to disobey my wishes?

The first thing that came to mind with this question was PIZZA!! which may not be a snack food, but hey. PIZZA! I’m not sure how long it would take me to disobey your wishes, but PIZZA! I’m thinking I probably misheard your instructions because (PIZZA!) you wouldn’t want it to get cold.

Finally, and this one is important, so please pay attention What do you think cats dream about?

I’m pretty sure my flame point Siamese, Tango, dreams about world domination.

THIS OR THAT???

Tea or Coffee?                      Coffee

Winter or Summer?             Autumn!

TexMex or Italian?               TexMex. Oh, gosh, but lasagna!

Chocolate or Vanilla?          Chocolate.

Vintage or New?                  Vintage

From the author of The Beast of Clan Kincaid comes the second installment of the dangerously tempting Highland Warriors series.

Set on the captivating hills of Scotland, THE REBEL OF CLAN KINCAID (St. Martin’s Press; December 6, 2016; $7.99; 978-1-250-08475-0), is a story of revenge, rebellion, and, most importantly, desire…

Magnus isn’t who he thought he was. Unbeknownst even to the laird himself, Magnus is in fact Faelan Braewick the second son of the murdered Laird of Kincaid and his wife. Magnus wants nothing more than to unleash his revenge. Yet rather than reveal his identity outright he returns to Alwyn’s treacherous hall in search of answers about what really happened the night his parents were killed—but also to free the mysterious young woman imprisoned in the laird’s tower and claim her for his own.

Tara Iverach is a prisoner. Ordered to marry Bryce, the Laird Alwyn’s brutish eldest son, she’s been confined to the laird’s tower “for her own protection.” She fears the day she will be forced to marry Bryce…but fears even more that the laird has decided to keep her for himself. The only light in her days comes from Magnus and their fleeting glances and clandestine messages. But with her wedding day approaching and a dark secret rising to the surface, can Tara trust her heart to this rebel?

 

Lily Blackwood lives in Texas, with her husband, their two teenagers, a devoted red golden retriever and two rascally cats. She enjoys flea markets, cooking, eating and not cleaning her house! She recently taught herself to knit and has been making a mess with yarn ever since. She loves all things historical, and finds it thrilling to imagine a time period where each day held very real dangers, and true love stories and happily-ever-afters were precious and rare. Lily loves to hear from readers!

Lily is also the RITA Nominated author of Regency romances, Lily Dalton.

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