Hello! It’s me, Jaunty P. Quills, Porcupine Extraordinaire. I’m here with a stash of pine nuts and my latest author interview. Welcome to the Jaunty Quills Shana Galen!

Shana: Jaunty, this is my blog.

Jaunty: So tell us about your new book, If You Give a Porcupine a Pine Nut.

Shana: Jaunty, you know that’s not the title. It’s If You Give a Rake a Ruby.

Jaunty: That makes no sense. Why would a yard implement want a ruby? You can’t eat rubies. Can you?

Shana: Jaunty, the book is about a courtesan and a spy. Fallon is the Marchioness of Mystery, and she wants to keep her past a mystery. Warrick is under threat of assassination, and Fallon holds the key to finding the hired assassin. She and Warrick meet when she finds him in her bed. She kicks him out, but he blackmails her into helping him.

Jaunty: And then they find the hidden pine nut treasure?

Shana: No. Then they have to delve into London’s underworld.

Jaunty: And that’s where the pine nuts are!

Shana: No. There aren’t any pine nuts in this book. Just rubies.

Jaunty: And the rubies taste like pine nuts!

Shana: No, Jaunty. There are no pine nuts and no porcupines in this book.

Jaunty: Shana, you know Kristan is my favorite, right? Are you even trying to compete?

Shana: No.

Jaunty: I don’t believe you. I’ve seen the cover of your book.

Shana: And?

 Jaunty: There’s a porcupine on the cover! Thank you, Shana!

Shana: No problem, Jaunty. Readers, I have no idea what Jaunty is talking about, but as a thanks for reading this interview, I’m giving one person who comments a copy of If You Give a Rake a Ruby. Let me know your favorite color on the cover of romance novels.

CEO Jaunty Quills: Hello! This is Jaunty P. Quills, Porcupine Extraordinaire. Today I am interviewing author Mia Marlowe for a spot on my illustrious blog. No one gets on this blog without my paw’s up.

Mia Marlowe: Pleased to meet you, Jaunty. However, I must confess I thought the Quills referred to an elegant 18^th century writing implement, not a member of the rodent family. Oh, dear! I fear this interview may have gotten off on the wrong foot…or in deference to you, should I say wrong paw?

CEO Jaunty Quills: Deference to me? That’s the attitude I like.  Mia, tell everyone all about me—I mean, you. You’ve led an interesting life—rode an elephant, sang at Carnegie Hall, worked in Greenland. Have you ever blogged with a porcupine?

Mia Marlowe: Not even in my wildest imagination. And believe, I have a pretty good one. But in the interest of full disclosure, that list of accomplishments you reference on my website has one bald-faced lie in it. (Readers can click here to see if they can spot the whopper!)

CEO Jaunty Quills: Why should I hire you to blog for me? I have Kristan Higgins writing about me in all her books and Emily McKay and Robyn DeHart cooking pine nuts for me—well, they forgot to invite me to dinner, but that’s a small detail. Katherine Garbera offered me a vacation spot in England. What can you offer?

Mia Marlowe: I can arrange for my next Viking hero not to kill you and roast your little carcass over his camp fire. Oh, but you mustn’t consider that a threat if I’m not hired. I haven’t killed anyone in my books lately . . . unless they deserved it.

CEO Jaunty Quills: (gulp) That’s a persuasive reason. Ah…Your resume is impressive. But I’ve seen other impressive resumes, like Terri Brisbin’s. And, I ask you, what has she done for me lately? How do you intend to keep writing so many books and entertain a famous porcupine like me?

Mia Marlowe: Well, I didn’t want this process to sink to offering a bribe, but I do know a fellow who keeps exotic pets in his backyard. He’s got this really cute little female hedgehog. I’d be happy to arrange for the two of you to do lunch. Nothing fancy. Nice little salad bar, a few insects on the side and you’ll get her to lower her spikes before you know it.

CEO Jaunty Quills: Hedgehog? Hedgehogs are cute, I must admit.

Credit: Adam Foster

My subordinates, Margo Maguire and Nancy Robards Thompson, tell me I have to ask you something about your books or where our readers can find out more about you.

Mia Marlowe: I write historical romance for Kensington and Sourcebooks along with self-publishing ebooks with the gang from Rock*It Reads. I’m not locked in to any one time period. I’ve written stories set in the 9th century and the Victorian era (and most of the centuries in between!).  Love works whenever it’s tried. And speaking of love…I’d love to invite readers to visit my cyber-home. They’ll find my truly gorgeous covers, excerpts from all of my books and my active blog.

CEO Jaunty Quills: Last question, Mia. This one is extremely important. Cindy Kirk and Shana Galen can’t cook. Can you cook, preferably with pine nuts?

Mia Marlowe: My DH always says the best thing I make for dinner is RESERVATIONS.  We can always look for a place that serves pine nuts! Hmm… I’m not sure any of them will serve porcupines though. I’ll bring you doggie bag. Er, should that be porkie bag?

What do you think, readers? Should we add Mia to the blog?

Mia: Oh, please say yes everybody! I haven’t interviewed for a job for a long time and I think I really blew this one. If I’m going to make the Jaunty Quills, I’m going to need YOUR help!

Mia Marlowe’s work has been featured in PEOPLE magazine. One of her books is on display in the Museum of London Docklands next to Johnny Depp memorabilia. Her TOUCH OF A ROGUE was named one of Publishers Weekly’s Top Ten Romances for Spring 2012. But the accolade she really loves comes from her readers. Find her at http://www.miamarlowe.com !

Jaunty: Hello! It is I, Jaunty P. Quills, Porcupine Extraordinaire, and I am here with yet another fabulous, poignant, and awe-inspiring interview. This time I have Shana Galen, author of When You Give a Porcupine a Pine Nut. Shana, how are you?

Shana: I was fine until—

Jaunty: I’m doing well, thank you for asking. Now to the important questions: do you think my fur looks a little drab? I was thinking of having it highlighted.

Shana: Jaunty, I really don’t care about your fur, and don’t point your needles at me. I have a lot of work to do and no time for your shenanigans.

Jaunty: My—? You authors! Always using those big words. You can just say how awesome I am in plain terms, Shana. You don’t have to use a thesaurus. Now, let’s talk about you.

Shana: Great. I have a book out this month.

Jaunty: Right. And back to me. Did you know there are two dozen porcupine species? Guess which one I am.

Shana: Jaunty, I don’t care.

Jaunty: Come on, guess!

Shana: Are we going to talk about When You Give a Duke a Diamond?

Jaunty: What’s that?

Shana: My new book. The one you’re interviewing me about.

Jaunty: I thought your book was about porcupines and pine nuts.

 Shana: No, you didn’t! You just want it to be about porcupines. It’s actually about a glamorous Regency courtesan who gets mixed up with some dangerous diamonds and an equally dangerous duke.

 Jaunty: Snooze. Did you know porcupines can live on their own at only two months of age. Tell your Baby Galen that!

Shana: Jaunty, I’m just going to post the links to the book and the blurb, okay?

Jaunty: Are you saying this interview is over? No one tells me when my interviews are over.

Shana: Do you have another question?

Jaunty: As a matter of fact–

Shana: About my book.

Jaunty: Oh.

Shana: Ahem.

Jaunty: This interview is officially over. Go out and buy When you Give a Porcupine a Pine Nut.

 Shana: (bangs head on desk) Never mind. Here’s the info about When You Give a Duke a Diamond, the first in my Jewels of the Ton series. And tell me your favorite jewel for a chance to win a copy of When You Give a Duke a Diamond. The contest is open internationally, and the winner will be posted on Sunday and notified by email.

He had a perfectly orderly life…

William, the sixth Duke of Pelham, enjoys his punctual, securely structured life. Orderly and predictable—that’s the way he likes it. But he’s in the public eye, and the scandal sheets will make up anything to sell papers. When the gossip papers link him to Juliette, one of the most beautiful and celebrated courtesans in London, chaos doesn’t begin to describe what happens next…

Until she came along…

Juliette is nicknamed the Duchess of Dalliance and has the cream of the nobility at her beck and call. It’s disruptive to have the duke who is the biggest catch on the Marriage Mart scaring her other suitors away. Then she discovers William’s darkest secret and decides what he needs in his life is the kind of excitement only she can provide…

Read an excerpt from When You Give a Duke a Diamond

See Shana’s inspiration on Pinterest

Buy the book!

Download Shana’s free app on Apple or Android