- After your military service, how did you decide upon writing romance as your next career?
It actually wasn’t my next career. I had a private law practice for years before I began writing but I got their eventually. - Do you find your service has impacted how you approach writing at all?
I learned a lot of what I know and how to push forward from being on active duty. Mostly, from my enlisted time. I was the first woman assigned to an Army Special Forces Battalion (3d Battalion, 10th SFGA at Ft. Devens) in 1975. I learned to trust myself and my instincts, to work hard because people were counting on me, not let anyone put me down, and to be goal oriented. I think all those skills and attributes made me a better prepared to be a published writer. Especially, a traditionally published writer. - Why historical romance in particular?
Regencies picked me. When I first started looking for something to write, I discovered (very quickly) that I couldn’t write about my world. In many ways, I think that related back to my time in the battalion. They don’t call Green Berets the “Quiet Professionals” for no reason. I learned not to talk about what went on. - Historical romance requires a lot of research. What are some of the methods or resources you use?
In addition to my army time, I have two post graduate degrees in research heavy areas. I read books and looked up things on line. Right after joining RWA (Romance Writers of America) I joined The Beau Monde, the online chapter for Regency writers. Not only are there online classes, but there is a mini-conference each year at RWA Nationals, and we have a loop where anyone can ask questions and have them answered. - What is your favorite book?
Seriously, I don’t have one. I love so many books, I’d never be able to choose. - At the heart of your series, is a large family clan. For those who may be new to the series, who are the Worthingtons?
They are a blended family of siblings. Matt, Earl of Worthington, is guardian to his four sisters, and Lady Grace Carpenter (now the Countess of Worthington) had guardianship of her seven brothers and sister. During the Regency, a married woman could not have legal guardianship of minors. Period. End of conversation. When the series begins, she’s twenty-four and the youngest sibling is five. - Describe THE MARQUIS AND I in five words.
Humorous, spicy, poignant, serious, entertaining. - What do you think makes Charlotte and Constantine the perfect match?
From the beginning their chemistry is great. But Charlotte has trust issues with Constantine, and he figures out pretty quickly he’ll have to work to gain her trust in some surprising ways. - What’s up next for The Worthington clan?
The next book, out May 29th, finishes out the Season of 1815 with the marriage of a friend, Elizabeth Turley in You Never Forget Your First Earl. Part of it is set in Brussels during Waterloo, and it was gut wrenching for me to write those scenes. I cried through most of them. After that there is a novella, I’ll Always Love You which is a story that was set up at the end of It Started With a Kiss. Then we have Lady Augusta Viver’s (One of Matt’s sisters) in Believe in Me. That will be the first book in this series where we’ll travel to Eastern Europe. - How can readers reach you?
My website is www.ellaquinnauthorcom. All my links are on the first page. I also run a Regency Romance Fan group on Facebook: https://bit.ly/RegencyRomanceFans