emilyhorizontal20headshotAward-winning historical Romance Author Emily Bryan is in the midst of a 50-day blog tour. We’re so happy to have her visiting with us today. Check out her post to see how to WIN a SIGNED copy of her upcoming release, VEXING THE VISCOUNT!

MW: Your life has been crazy lately as you have a fabulous new release coming up and are on a 50-day blog tour. How are you keeping yourself sane? Are you having a blast?

Emily: Thanks for having me here, Mama Writers!

So far, I’ve been able to stay a few days ahead of the blog tour. It’s a little like having 50 deadlines to meet. Sending my posts in early keeps me from getting too anxious and probably takes a load off my gracious hosts as well. Since I’m blogging ahead and my release is slated for February 24th, I’m starting to see the light in the “blogtunnel.”

The tour has been great fun. I’ve met some wonderful readers and blog owners. There have been a few technical glitches here and there, but I’ve learned a lot over the past 50 days. Some of the blogs gave me access to go in and post myself, so I had to figure out WordPress, which seems less intuitive than Blogger (I use that platform for my blog http://www.emilybryan.blogspot.com ).

I’ve really enjoyed the merry group of commenters I’ve dubbed my Blog “Touristas.” It’s been lovely to hear from some loyal readers throughout the tour. I suspect I’ll have blog withdrawal when this is over.

MW: What do you think you’re teaching your children by being an author and writing for a living?

Emily: I’ve done a lot of different things over the years. I was a professional opera singer, choir director, homeschooling mom, teacher, realtor and banker. When I first made the decision to get my real estate license, one of my daughter’s friends said, “Your mom can’t do that. She’s a teacher.”

My daughter fired back, “She’s a renaissance woman. She can do anything!”

It was one of the proudest moments of my life. (And I rewarded her by hanging a ‘will sell houses for tuition’ sign on my back for the next 4 years!) In my quest to find what I really wanted to do (writing, I’ve finally come to understand) I was teaching my daughters that it’s ok to take risks and try something new. We don’t have to stick with only one thing in this life. And all our experiences prepare us for the next adventure.

When I first started writing, I wondered if I’d ever publish. My daughters had no doubts.

MW: Your children are grown now. How do they view your career? Do they read your books?

Emily: They regard it as a family accomplishment.  When I started writing in 2001, they were both still at home. That meant when Mom was writing, they learned to do their own laundry, fix the family dinner, and help their dad clean the house on Saturdays so Mom could write all day. (That was my prime writing day since I was working a 40 hour a week 9-5 job then as well). They are proud of helping me achieve this dream.

And no, they haven’t read my books, except for selected scenes (the non-explicit ones). They refuse to believe their Mom knows enough about sex to write about it! :)

MW: Did any of your children inherit the writing gene? If so, what type of writing do they do?

Emily: Yes! They both are noodling with some stories. The oldest is really into fantasy and has a couple chapters of a story with a real kick-butt heroine in an alternate universe. Very compelling premise. She’s let me read and critique it, but she only occasionally takes my advice.  After all, I’m still her Mom. I haven’t reached the stage where I know all that much yet.

The youngest just bought herself a laptop and is working on a children’s book. The story is told from the POV of a terrier. Very cute.

Whatever else my girls decide to do with their lives, I’m so glad they feel empowered to express themselves this way.

MW: How do they feel about their mom’s spicier scenes? :)

Emily: My sex scenes are pretty hot and I’ve told the girls they can read them after they get married. For some reason, that got a lot of laughs. My daughters assure me the scenes probably aren’t too hot for them to read, but the “ick” factor of a sex scene written by their mother is just too high!

I’ve tried explaining that the love scenes in my books are about my characters’ journey, not their Dad and me, but evidently they are not swayed by that argument.

You know, I might feel the same way about a sex scene written by my daughter!

MW: What was the best piece of advice you ever received regarding a writing career and being a mama?

Emily: I don’t know that I’ve ever received any mama writer advice. Mind if I offer some?

Our children catch attitudes more quickly than a cold virus. They model our behavior more thoroughly than they’ll ever obey our spoken word. I believed I’d raise readers if they caught me reading often. When my kids were younger, we turned off the TV and had D.E.A.R. Time (Drop Everything And Read Time) each day. That meant cuddling and reading aloud when they were young. When they were older, it meant 30 minutes of each of us cuddled up our chosen book. It was a wonderful, refreshing time for us all.

If your children see you writing, why not encourage them to take it up as well? If they are very young, this might be coloring while you write, but they’ll catch the idea that it’s cool to express yourself through the written word. Teaching your kids about re-writing and polishing is a perfect way for you to help them learn about proper grammar, punctuation and spelling.  Even if they never take up writing as a vocation, you’ll be giving them a tremendous gift—the ability to write concisely and clearly. It’s rarer than you might imagine.

MW: Your new historical romance, VEXING THE VISCOUNT, is due to be released on February 24th. I love the concept! Your heroine in the book is a masked courtesan by night. Sounds like this will be very hot. What inspired the concept?

Emily: My heroine Daisy is desperate for an adventure. At first, she only intends to play a French courtesan for one night at a masked ball. Then when she fools Lucian (the vexed viscount in the title) into believing she really is the infamous French courtesan Blanche La Tour, the game goes on. As Blanche, he accepts her as his partner in the search for a lost Roman treasure. But no self-respecting courtesan would grub about in the dirt, so “Blanche” sends Daisy to represent her interests. Lucian finds himself attracted to both of them. Hence the vexation!

I already knew my heroine Daisy from a previous novel. She was the 10 year old orphaned niece of my pirate hero in PLEASURING THE PIRATE. She’s not the oldest of the 5 sisters, but being intelligent and naturally curious, she’s the ring-leader in all their exploits. It was only natural that Daisy would deserve her own story.

Check out a excerpt at http://www.emilybryan.com.

MW: If you could go back and do something different about how you handled the mom/writing combo, what might it be?

Emily: I’d have started sooner. That’s all.

MW: What is your favorite shopping splurge?

Emily: When I can find them, I love to buy shoes.  It’s not easy for me to find attractive shoes because I need a wide size. Last time I went to DSW, when I asked a clerk to show me some shoes in wide width, he took me to a tiny shelf filled with some extremely ugly grannie shoes. I almost asked him if a complementary walker came with them.

Feeling thoroughly depressed, I went to the mall to return something and accidentally found a shoe department with a wide selection of wides!  O joy! I went a little crazy and bought 4 pairs! My “duck feet” are very happy!

MW: Last week, one of our Mama Writers, Stacy Dawn, wrote a blog about guilt and mothers holding the market on it. Is guilt something you think all moms struggle with?

Emily: Yes. If not for what we do, for what we are. I’ve wondered for years if it was genetic or if something I did during pregnancy is responsible for my younger daughter’s learning difficulties. As moms, we want to make everything better. I’ve finally made peace with the idea that some things just are.

MW: What is one thing your readers would be shocked to learn about you?  Don’t be shy…

If you’ve been following my blog tour, you already know I’m recovering from colon cancer surgery. I mention it because it’s a type of cancer people tend to feel embarrassed about. I mean, we don’t have pretty little “awareness” ribbons (What color could they possibly be?) But colon cancer is the 3rd leading cause of death among women and though age is the biggest risk factor, it can strike anyone.

I had no symptoms, but my sharp GP looked at the cancer in my family history (My Mom is a breast cancer survivor and my dad’s had prostate cancer) and said I was due for a screening colonoscopy.  Turns out, she was right.

I had part of my colon removed in December and fortunately the cancer had not spread, so my oncologist is not recommending chemo. I’m so blessed that the cancer was caught early.

So listen up, ladies. Your family needs you. Of course, you have your yearly mammogram. But if you (or someone you love) is 50, or if there is cancer in your family history some experts say 40, it’s time for you to add a screening colonoscopy. Trust me, the thought of the procedure is much worse than the fact. They give you really good drugs.  And it just might save your life.

MW: It’s the end of the day and remarkably you’ve just checked off the last item on your “To Do List,” what do you do now?

Emily: I step into my marble shower and let the hot water stream over my body until the glass door completely fogs up. Then I get into some comfy pj’s and spend the evening cuddling with my DH. (And a couple of dogs who always want to be in the middle of any lovie-ness.)

MW: True or False: Dreams do come true?

Emily: They definitely come true. I’m a firm believer in writing down your dreams (goals).  Even if you never look at the list again, you’ll be surprised how many you accomplish. It’s as if your subconscious has been programmed to bring those things to fruition just by the simple act of writing them down.

MW: What are you working on now? Where can readers find you?

Emily: I just finished my novella for a Christmas anthology that will be coming out next October. Now I’m in the brainstorming stage for the next story and it’s really too gelatinous to share right now, but I hope to have a proposal in to my editor soon.

I’d love for readers to visit me at:

http://www.emilybryan.com (While you’re there, check out my Write Stuff pages. It’s 7 pages dedicated to YOU, the aspiring writer.)

http://www.emilybryan.com (You can drop me an email, sign up for my newsletter or “friend” me on many social networks. Check out http://www.emilybryan.com/Em’s%20Links.htm )

Thanks so much for having me, Mama Writers!

MW: Thank you so much for being with us, Emily!

Emily’s CONTEST: I’m thrilled to be able to offer a signed copy of VEXING THE VISCOUNT to someone who leaves a comment or question here at MamaWriter today. Be sure to check back tomorrow to see if YOU are the lucky winner!

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Daisy Drake is leading a double life! By day, she’s Lucian Beaumont’s unwanted assistant and by night, she masquerades as the masked courtesan, Blanche La Tour, a Frenchwoman who agreed to give Lucian lessons in sensual love!


There’s only one problem. Daisy speaks fluent French and can read ancient Latin without moving her lips, but she doesn’t know the first thing about the pleasures of the flesh!


Good thing she has the real Blanch La Tour’s very explicit memoirs for guidance.

Lucian Beaumont, Viscount Rutland, longs to see his family’s standing returned to its glory days, before his father lost their fortune. And he thinks he can manage it, if he can only discover the hiding place of an ancient Roman payroll.


Daisy never forgot her girlhood fascination with Lucian, even though his father has a score to settle with her uncle. Now that they’re all grown up, she’s determined to help the viscount find his Roman treasure.

Whether he wants her help or not!

What they are saying:

“Bryan’s delicious and witty romance has engaging characters whose fast-paced adventures will truly delight.”–RT BookReviews


“Simply too delicious to miss! Fun, fresh, romantic, passion filled and yes even adventurous. This one has it all!”–NightOwl Romance Reviewers Top Pick!


“Emily Bryan’s Vexing the Viscount is not your ordinary historical romance. It’s fresh, well written and chalked full of the unexpected, the spectacular, and the intriguing. If you’re not drawn in by the heroine and her fiesty nature in the first few pages, you’re obviously not a true historical romance fan.”–WeWriteRomance.com


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