I’d planned for part two of this series to actually be about my husband’s *cough, cough* romantic side. However, I’ll postpone that post until tomorrow or Tuesday, and instead drag up an old habit: a character interview. I’m having a bit of trouble with Her Imperfect Groom so I need to pull Sir Wallace in here so I can try to understand what is going on in that thick head of his.
So without any further ado, allow me to introduce you all to Sir Wallace Benedict, the hero for book four in the Groom Series, Her Imperfect Groom.
Wallace, did you happen to read the synopsis I wrote for your book?
Yes.
Are you sure?
Yes.
Are you positive?
For the third time, yes.
Then why are you being difficult?
I’m not being difficult. *Shoots me a rather smug smile* Actually, I think I’m being the most cooperative hero you’ve written so far, don’t you think?
No, Wallace! I don’t think that at all. You clearly didn’t read the synopsis because if you did, you’d realize you cannot already have fallen in love with the heroine in chapter two. You weren’t supposed to realize this until more like chapter twenty-two. So, due to your unplanned behavior, I have reason to believe you didn’t read a word I wrote.
Correction. I read the synopsis. I just disagreed with it.
Clearly.
*Shrugs* I don’t see the problem, Rose.
You wouldn’t.
*Frowns* Well, it seems to me, you could have this entire book wrapped up in chapter three. No, four. It needs to have four chapters.
And why is that? So it can be an even number that’s easily divisible into an even number of reading sessions?
No. I was thinking in chapter three we marry, then in chapter four we have our wedding night.
Absolutely not! Do you think I write porn?
Uh…
Well, I don’t. In a manner of speaking, anyway.
*Lifts one eyebrow*
What I mean is, I prefer to use sex only as a means to enhance the plot, not make it literally a quarter of the book.
Then add an epilogue and it’ll only be a fifth of the book.
*Rolls eyes* No. Now, listen here, you better start cooperating or I’ll make you impotent.
*Flinches* You wouldn’t dare.
Oh, wouldn’t I?
No, you wouldn’t. That wouldn’t be the slightest bit romantic and you know it.
Be that as it may, don’t push me or I’ll do it, Wallace.
You can’t do that.
Try me.
I don’t believe you.
Oh, really.
What are you doing?
Typing.
Typing what? Let me see that clicky box you keep tapping on.
*Pulls laptop away from handsome hero*
Let me see that, or I’ll tell everyone about that mermaid your son just shoved in front of my face.
I don’t care.
You don’t care that your son drew a mermaid, complete with a revealing scrap of fabric across her chest, covering what your son referred to as, “Mom things”?
*Blushes* All right, I care. I swear even G-rated moves are unsuitable anymore. And don’t even get me started on the PG movie we saw a few days ago. Oh my, it was totally in—
Don’t change the subject, let me see what you’re typing. *Grabs laptop and runs across the room* What is this? *Blinks*
It’s called a computer, Wallace. Welcome to 2011.
But what am I looking at?
Oh that? Nothing.
No, it’s not nothing. You’ve deleted “erfect” from the word “Imperfect” on the screen. Why?
Because I’m changing the title of your book.
To?
Her Impotent Groom.
Excuse me?!
I believe you heard me. Since you insist on not cooperating, and now you’re being belligerent about it, I have no other options left to me.
Yes, you do.
And what would those be?
You could just change the description of the book!
*Blinks* Why didn’t I think of that?! Ahem, I suppose that’s a possibility.
Good. Now make it a reality.
*A slow smile spreading across my lips as a very wicked idea pops into my head…* Wallace, I’m going to give you one more chance. Are you sure you do not wish to comply with the synopsis I originally wrote?
You mean where I spend the majority of the book thinking I’m in love with Jane Cloy, Lady Chattersfield, while both she and Lady Silverton compete to gain my attention, and meanwhile Edwina Banks becomes a friend who gives me female advice so I can win Jane once and for all, but at the last second I realize I’ve fallen in love with Edwina? No. That’s an old and tried storyline. Very boring, if I do say so myself.
All right, fine. You can have it your way. I’ll allow you to realize you’re in love with Edwina in chapter two. And I’ll even change the description on my website, and in the back of all my books within the next day or so. However, you just remember you chose this destiny for yourself, and you’re the one responsible for whatever chaos you find yourself in during this book. In short, your brought this upon yourself.
*Shrugs* I see no problem. As we’ve already discussed this can all be wrapped up in total of four chapters. Oh, and the epilogue. Let’s not forget the epilogue. I’d hate for your reputation to be sullied if someone were to think you write porn…
Four chapters and an epilogue huh?
Yep. That should cover everything.
That’s what you think.
No, that’s what I know.
You seem rather confident, Wallace.
Well, shouldn’t I be? Besides, I’d think with four chapters and an epilogue you could easily use this book for NaNoWriMo.
*Shakes head* You know what, Wallace. I’ll take that challenge. I’ll use this book for NaNoWriMo, where the goal is to write a 50K novel in the month of November. Except, I bet the novel will be far longer than that, 90K words, perhaps. And, I can gaurantee, it’ll be more than four chapters and an epilogue.
What could you possibly find to fill another twenty to twenty five chapters.
Oh, you’ll see.
Rose, I don’t like that look in your eye.
And I don’t like it when my characters misbehave, so I guess we’re even.
But—
Save it, Wallace. You’ll get your wish. However this is not a short story. It will not have only four, conflict-free chapters; and since you’ve already discovered you have feelings for the heroine so early in the book, I am forced to take drastic measures that you may not enjoy. Be warned.
[Please note: due to an unforeseen development with the hero in Her Imperfect Groom, I really am changing the description and plot. A new description should be posted within a day or two. Also, since this has a publication date of January 10, 2012 *gulp* I will be using this book for NaNoWriMo. I will update periodically throughout the month… And yes, Wallace’s curveball in chapter two will result in a string of events he might have rather avoided…unwanted seductions, duels, and widespread rumors, notwithstanding!]
Rose Unscripted 
Now I will need to go back and read the original discription and then see what the new one is. Is Wallace the first chracter to really misbehave this early in the novel?
Actually, no. Liberty misbehaved in a novel that wasn’t even hers! Originally, Liberty and Paul were suposed to have an instant attraction and he was afraid her father wouldn’t approve, blah blah. But then, when Liberty burst through Brooke’s door, instead of saying she’d found the one person she loved….she’d found the one person she hated! I was stunned. But there you go. From there, it was easy though. And for her book, she behaved quite on task: she hated Paul. And Paul behaved, too.
In fact, all my characters in my first five books behaved themselves.
Patrick/Drake in my sixth book gave me all sorts of trouble in the second half of his book, and we had to have a talk. I told him in no uncertain terms that if he didn’t get it together, I’d scrap this version of his book, and go back to the original one. The one where he didn’t so much as kiss his wife. Needless to say, he shaped up.
But Wallace? Good grief. I had no idea what I was in for when I took him on! But it’ll be fun all the same!
Sir Wallace can be rather annoying at times. Your discussion with him of his upcoming story I’m sure does not help matters any! I must admit I have fallen in love with all your heroes but I am going to have a hard time with Wallace. Only time will tell, however, between your great creative mind and sense of humor I’m looking forward to seeing how you can make him an addition to your other passionate and romantic men. You do have your work cut out for you – I can tell he’s going to be a royal pain in the ……….. Just keep him away from the “delete” key!! If all else fails a “bucket of prunes” might keep him busy.- I’m just saying…….
Oh Linda, you are too funny. A bucket of prunes… You’ll never forget that, will you?! LOL That had to be one of the funniest e-mails I’ve received, ever.
Actually, Sir Wallace has so much chaos going on in this book, the last thing he needs is a bucket of prunes! He might hedge on the side of annoying and difficult—oh what am I saying? He doesn’t hedge on those, he flat out has a personality that is NOT for everyone. But he does have a good heart. Besides, for almost every book I’ve written so far, I’ve had at least one person write me to say they didn’t like X type of hero/heroine but somehow I pulled it off. So hopefully, I’ll be able to pull off yet another miracle!
Send me your “good luck” vibes, would you?
I just finished “Her Reluctant Groom,” and I have to say I am looking forward to Wallace’s story. At first, he was a bit of a surprise and I wondered if we were going to have a character who underwent some scientific study with one of Alex’s scientist friends on Autism. I fell in love with him though during the interrupted marriage scene. Besides being devastatingly handsome (who can resist that?) the warmth in the way he convinced Emma it was ok for her to leave him at the altar was the epitome of grace and class. I can’t wait to see how he falls in love and his story plays out.
Thank you for these stories….the Banks sisters and the Grooms create a wonderful world to visit.
Annette, I am so glad you’ve enjoyed the stories.
LOL on Alex’s science study of the autistic Wallace, there just might be a hint of that in Wallace’s book…
It’s interesting because I had another reader who thought Alex himself might be borderline autistic, or have Aspergers Syndrome. But Wallace definitely has the traits though the word “autism” wasn’t coined or defined until the 1900s.
Once again, you’re very welcome for the stories, and I should be the one thanking you for taking a chance on an unknown author and reading them. I appreciate your faith in me, and I also appreciate your letting me know how much you enjoyed them.