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Welcome to our New Faces column, where we are delighted to introduce debut romance authors to our readers! This time we're visiting with Sally MacKenzie, whose first historical romance is The Naked Duke, a Kensington release. Welcome, Sally! Tell us about yourself. I was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in suburban Maryland, where I still live. I'm the youngest in my family by nine years--I have two older brothers--so in some ways I was an only child. I went to an all-girls Catholic high school and then to the University of Notre Dame the year it went co-ed. (Out of a freshman class of about 1600, only 125 were women.) I graduated with a B.A. in English, went to law school for a while, and then came home to write federal regulations for the school nutrition programs (school lunch, school breakfast, etc.). I married a law school classmate--we have four sons ages 15 to 22. Are you coming to romance writing from another job? I "retired" from the U.S. Department of Agriculture 22 years ago--I left my desk to go to the hospital to deliver my first son. I spent the 80s pregnant or nursing and the 90s carpooling. Along the way I did a lot of volunteer work for schools, scouts, and sports leagues. I also did countless loads of laundry--and plenty of grocery shopping. We are such good customers, our local grocery store sends us holiday greetings! What led you to write romance? When I was a young teen, I discovered Georgette Heyer at the local library. My mother and I read all her books, many times. Over the years I've read hundreds of Regencies from traditionals to historicals, so when I decided to return to fiction writing, a Regency-set romance was a natural choice. Plus I love happy endings! Tell us about your road to publication. It's been long and winding-and an expressway. I decided when I was 10 or 11 that I wanted to be a writer--and I've been writing something for most of my life. I wrote a science fiction romance (on a typewriter!) before the genre was invented. I wrote and submitted picture book texts in the 80s and garnered a number of encouraging rejections. But tending to four growing boys sent me on a detour for a while. About three years ago, once the nest began to empty and my carpool duties lightened, I decided to give publication another shot. I worked my way through my old writing magazines and shooed the boys away from the computer. Finally, I joined the Romance Writers of America when its Regency-focused chapter, the Beau Monde, was trying to get enough Golden Heart entries to keep the Regency category alive. Having saved our local swim team and Cub Scout Pack from folding, I wanted to help here, too, so I edited my book down to fit the category, and Susannah Carleton helped me do my first ever synopsis. The 2004 Golden Heart was my first contest--and I made the final round! One of the judge/editors liked the manuscript, called RWA for my contact information, and then called me to offer to buy the story (as an historical, so I had to add about 10,000 words). So I sold my first romance without ever having submitted it to an editor. What kind of research was involved for your first book? I've read so many Regency-set stories that I sometimes use period expressions in daily conversation--my husband gives me a very odd look when this happens. As a reader and as a writer, I am more interested in the characters' interactions than I am in the history of the period, so I tend to choose plots that do not depend heavily on historical events. That said, I like to get things right. I can spend hours combing my research books and the internet for the perfect detail. I also belong to the Beau Monde which has a wealth of information and many members who are extremely generous with their knowledge. Tell us about your debut book. Miss Sarah Hamilton, a proper Philadelphian, promises her father on his deathbed to come to his brother in England. She stops at an inn, and having no maid or luggage, is on the verge of being turned away when a Good Samaritan offers her a room for the night. In the morning she wakes from her innocent slumber to find herself next to the handsome--and exceedingly naked--Duke of Alvord, a group of onlookers in the doorway. She is compromised, but has no intention of marrying an English duke. Alvord, on the other hand, is enchanted by Sarah and in need of a wife. He sets out to capture her heart. Who are your influences as a writer? Georgette Heyer is probably my greatest influence--I love her wit! Other Regency writers who have been on my "must read" list over the years: Joan Wolf, Barbara Metzger, Edith Layton, Mary Balogh, Julia Quinn, Nonnie St. George, and Madeline Hunter. What does your family think of having a published romance author in their midst? Honestly? I live with five conservative men--they are mortified! My 15-year-old suggested I take up something "normal" like golf or tennis instead of writing. But I think the boys--and my husband--are proud, too, not that any of them ever intends to read my book! They do their part to promote it. For example, my husband won his office Halloween contest for the "Scariest Costume." He came as the Naked Duke--clothed, but with my cover flat. Tell us about plans future books. The Naked Duke is the story of James Runyon, Duke of Alvord. The duke has two friends--Charles Draysmith and Robbie Hamilton, Earl of Westbrooke. The second book, which is due to my editor on January 15, 2005, is Charles's story. I'm hoping to write Robbie's story as well. How can readers get in touch with you? I would love to hear from readers!! My web address is www.sallymackenzie.net and my email address is writesally@comcast.net.
Sally, thanks for joining us, and best of luck with your future books! Readers, we have a review of The Naked Duke here at The Romance Reader.
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