Hello Lovely Readers,

Today we are so excited to chat with Elizabeth Rose! She’s here to celebrate the release of the ninth book in her Below the Salt series, Ladybird!

Welcome! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what got you into writing? Hi! I am happy to be here. I am a resident of the suburbs of Chicago and started writing romance back in 1996! Actually, I had small children at the time and was writing children’s books. Some free books from Harlequin came in the mail. I had never read a romance novel at the time and was going to send the books to my mother-in-law, but decided to read one first, not wanting to be embarrassed if it was horrible. They were medieval and I loved them. That is what inspired me to try my hand at romance.

What inspired you to write historical romance? Like I said, it was those free Harlequin books I got in the mail with the money I supposedly won. (50c by the way) I had chosen medieval since they looked interesting, and that is how I started writing historical romance.

What do you enjoy writing most about historical romance and what do you enjoy the least? I love researching and discovering how commoners in the villages and towns in medieval times lived. That is something you don’t hear too much about. I also love delving into the trades and guilds. It is fascinating. The part I don’t like is the reality of how awful the conditions were in medieval times and how poorly women were treated. Then again, I take poetic license to change those things to make the times sound pleasing and more romantic. That is why I write strong, spunky heroines.

What inspired this series in particular? I have been focusing on a trade or job for every book in my Below the Salt Series. I wanted to write about the second generation of my Legacy of the Blade Series and have the nobles fall in love with commoners. For Ladybird, I delved into the life of being a falconer. It is fascinating how the birds are trained and I love animals so I had to do this. Of course, being a falconer back then wasn’t a job for commoners, but nobles. That is why my noble heroine is the falconer in this book instead of the hero.

How do you go about writing a long running series, can you talk a little about your process and the planning? Sure. I love to write next generation series, which this one is. Like I said, these are the stories of the grown up children of the siblings from my Legacy of the Blade Series. As for the process and planning, well I write by the seat of my pants. What I mean is that I do not plot. I am a pantser. I am horrible about writing down information and facts like eye color of characters or hair color or their pets and children’s names. I am learning to try to keep track because it is terribly hard to bring in characters from other books without remembering the facts. So, yes, it is difficult to do, but I do it. I also let the characters dictate to me, and basically write their own stories.

What is your favorite aspect of the character of Lady Regina Blake’s? I love what a strong and talented woman Lady Regina Blake has become. She has a love for her birds and feels free by watching her birds soar through the sky.

What is your favorite aspect of the character of Hunter Chase? Hunter has had a hard past but is determined to do whatever he has to in order to raise his young nephew. He is smart, observant, and though he tries to hide his emotions, he has a great ability to love.

What are some books you are enjoying reading right now? Do you have any recommendations? Since I am always writing another book (I have 116 published) that leaves little time to read, to be honest with you. However, I have delved into murder mysteries lately (not romance) and am trying my hand at writing one, so we will see what happens.

Want to learn more about Ladybird?

Thief-taker Hunter Chase wants nothing more than to rid himself of the demons in his head regarding his dark and difficult past. Now, as guardian of his unruly thirteen-year-old nephew, he finds his problems quickly mounting. What they both need is a woman’s guiding touch. Unfortunately, the women he meets through work aren’t exactly the type of examples he wants to set for his nephew.

When a mysterious woman arrives at his door one day, wanting to hire him to track down a thief that is thought to be inside the walls of Shrewsbury Castle, he wants to turn her down. The ties to the castle will just remind him of his past. But it is hard to say no when the woman at your door is beautiful, smart, and highly spirited.

Lady Regina Blake’s birds of prey have always been of the utmost importance in her life. Delving into their training, she’s been able to avoid all possibilities of a betrothal of any kind.

To catch her thief, Hunter will have to work with her, disguised, in the mews. She hates the idea until she realizes he isn’t haughty and pompous like the noblemen she knows. Instead, he’s caring, handsome, and funny. This commoner can  make her smile like no man ever has. Believing he’s no threat to her future, she foolishly lets down her guard. Only, to realize too late the threat he poses  to her heart.

Can their forbidden love overcome all obstacles and spread its wings in flight?

Elizabeth Rose is an Amazon All-Star, and bestselling, award-winning author of over 100 books and counting! Her first book was published back in 2000, but she has been writing stories ever since high school.

She is the author of fantasy/paranormal, medieval, small-town contemporary, and western romance. You’ll find sexy, alpha heroes and strong, independent heroines in her books. Sometimes her heroines can even swing a sword.

Living in the suburbs of Chicago with her husband, Elizabeth has two grown sons and one granddog – so far. A lover of nature, she can be found in the summer swinging in her ‘writing hammock’ in her secret garden, creating her next novel.

You can find her on her website, Facebook, Instagram, X, and Bookbub