Please give a lovely welcome to this week’s guest author, Shana Galen! I grabbed this fantastic author to ask a few questions…

Tell us about a book that you’ve written that you’re most proud of. 

The book I’m most proud of is The Rogue Pirate’s Bride, which was published in 2012. That book features a hero who’s a pirate (well—he says he’s a privateer) and the daughter of a Navy admiral.

They’re sworn enemies. I’m really proud of how I wrote the hero and heroine’s point-of-views. Much of the book takes place on a ship, and both characters grew up on ships, so for them, everything relates back to the sea and ships. I had to do so much research to learn all the sailing terms and the types of ships sailing in the early 1800s. I even had to write sea battles, and let me tell you, that was difficult! My dad has read a lot of Patrick O’Brian, and he gave me some of his books and helped me with the battle scenes. It’s the first and only time my dad ever helped me with a book.

Aww, I love that! So what do you think is the most swoonworthy characteristic of a hero? 

Respect. I don’t like men (in fiction or real life) who don’t see women as their equals. In historical romance, the ultimate hero is one who, despite the societal conventions of the time, completely respects the women in his life. Hopefully, he has nice hair and eyes too!

Nice hair is so important – but how do you decide what your heroines look like? 

That’s a mystery. I don’t usually decide before I start writing. I start the book and at some point the heroine mentions what she looks like or the hero sees her and describes her, and that’s how I know how she looks. 

I love it when characters help out! Where do you love to write your stories? 

I am the kind of person who has to write at my desk in complete silence. I don’t like distractions and interruptions. I know that’s pretty boring, but I just sit at my desk (the same one I’ve had since like 2006) and work.

You are not alone, I love writing at my desk. I keep it simple! Lastly, tell us something that your readers might not know!

I worked for an animal rescue during the pandemic. I got to help hundreds of animals find their forever homes (“furever,” as we say in rescue). I also have 4 rescued cats and 1 rescue dog. 

That is a purrfect (sorry)! note to end on – thank you so much, Shana, for spending time with us! You can find Shana by clicking here, and make sure to grab her latest release!

Twenty-one days. A measly three weeks. That’s all the time Bianca Featherswallow is allowed to convince Theo Filliol to marry her. If she doesn’t marry in three weeks, Bianca will be prey to fortune hunters eager to abduct her for her dowry. Theo was hired as her protector. If only he wasn’t so attractive. How is she supposed to woo him when she’s tongue-tied and her heart thunders every time he’s near? Theophile Filliol, younger son of an earl, can’t protect anyone—least of all an heiress. He’s literally been gambling and drinking for weeks to forget the failures of his past. Considering his debt, he can’t ignore Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s orders to play bodyguard to Bianca Featherswallow. The lovely Bianca would make any man a happy groom, but Theo isn’t the kind of man she needs...

read now!