The best part of RWA’s annual conference is, for us, getting to talk with authors we love so natch we enjoyed catching up with Kelly Bowen. (Ms. Bowen has received seven DIK reviews from AAR.)
Dabney: What are you working on now?
Kelly: I just finished the last book in the Devils of Dover series. I’m next going to write a series set in WWII. I’m a big WWII buff and I’m doing a lot of research. It’s a big challenge.
Dabney: Which of your books was the hardest to write? The most fun?
Kelly: The hardest was probably A Duke in the Night. I did some pretty heavy edits for it. It was a slightly different book for me—it has less action in it than in some of my other works. The heroine was based on Harriot Kezia Hunt—she was a fascinating woman.
The most fun I had was with Between Devil and the Duke. I really liked my hero. He was sort of inspired by a good friend of mine and that was fun. I also enjoyed the heroine’s journey. She starts out unsure of herself and by the end, she owns herself. I don’t write heroes or heroines that “fix” each other or that need “fixing.” My leads support each other.
Dabney: What’s your prediction for the next big thing/s in romance?
Kelly: I’d like to see more diverse stories. Diversity in voices, in life stories, more places, more countries, more cultures.
Dabney: What’s a word you love to use in your work? One you never use?
Kelly: Fierce.
Never put in? Passive.
Kelly’s latest book is A Duke in the Night which got not one but two DIK reviews from AAR.
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Marvelous interview, Dabney!
After reading your interview with Kelly Bowen and the positive comments above I thought to myself here’s an author worth a look. Low and behold I have Duke of my Heart on my ereader and, after reading the synopsis, I am sure I have read it, but I think it is worth a reread. If it is as good as I hope I will be delighted to have found another author with several books to read. Mel, what is the “chicken” Duchess book? Peg, like you, my list of autobuy authors shrinks each year so I hope I will have found an addition. Thankyou ladies of the AAR community ( we need a name! ) for sharing your enthusiasm for good books and authors.
I’ve Got My Duke to Keep Me Warm is the first book she appears, however the second book A Good Rogue is Hard to Find is were she really shows her “feathers”.
Bowen’s “Chicken” Duchess is one of the best written dowagers EVER!
Love her books, and one of the (few) auto-buy authors I have left.
What pleasure to hear from Kelly’s Bowen in her own words. I adore her books so much.
I loved Between the Devil and the Duke. SO. MUCH.
Love her, love her books & I’m VERY excited for a series set in WWII. That’s a big departure for her & I think she will knock it out of the park.