Author Archives: Sarah MacLean

I’m so excited for today’s edition of Writers on Rogues — my celebration of rogues in honor of the release (next Tuesday!) of A Rogue By Any Other Name — because my friend Lauren Willig has written about a rogue I just knew she couldn’t resist.

As you certainly know, Lauren’s Pink Carnation series is an homage to the Scarlet Pimpernel…the books (now numbering nine!) follow a collection of English Spies during the Napoleonic Wars as they trounce the French, save the day and find love in the process. The most recent in the series, The Garden Intrigue, is out this week (I’ve already got my copy…do you have yours?)! 

So…that said, is it any surprise that when asked to wax poetic on her favorite rogue…she chooses Sir Percy Blakeney, the Scarlet Pimpernel? 

Take it away, Lauren! 

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They seek him here, they seek him there; those Frenchies seek him everywhere….

In the library of a London mansion, a man in an elaborate waistcoat slips through the darkness. Light flickers briefly before subsiding again into darkness. Moments later, the only remnants of his presence are the charred remains of a message among the ashes of the hearth and the faint, elusive scent of a very exclusive sort of snuff. Meanwhile, in the ballroom, a dandy is seen proclaiming a bit of a doggerel verse, punctuating his rhymes with a wave of his quizzing glass.

Yes, it’s my favorite rogue: the Scarlet Pimpernel. Otherwise known as Sir Percy Blakeney. Baronet.

I had other rogues in my past. My very first rogue, when I was just a wee thing, was Robin Hood, as played by Errol Flynn. Talk about style and flair! Dumping a haunch of poached venison on the very table of Prince John, hijacking monastic conveys, pricking Friar Tuck’s pride and filching his lunch—and, of course, seducing Maid Marion in the very castle of his enemy. Swoon! Robin had all the impishness of a good rogue and the tights. We really can’t forget about the tights. From Robin Hood, I graduated to Zorro (anyone else remember that Disney theme song? “The Z that stands for Zorro!”), who also had the crucial rogue components: a puckish sense of humor, a way with a sword, a quick quip, and, behind all the insouciance, a deep and driving sense of honour.

The extra “u” is for extra derring do.

And then I found Sir Percy. Sir Percy was the rogue to end all rogues, fop by day, daring spy by night, tweaking the nose of the humorless revolutionary authorities (and, really, can there be anyone more humorless than Robespierre?). He even had the mandatory chorus of all male colleagues, for as we know, no rogue is an island. Rogues need other rogues to provide lead ins for their quips, the occasional rousing “huzzah!” and, of course, sequel fodder. A true rogue knows better than to take himself too seriously—and Sir Percy was willing to masquerade as a a buffoon, to be the butt of London’s jokes, and to hide his intelligence under and excruciatingly awful waistcoat and even worse poetry.

Augustus Whittlesby, the hero of my latest book, The Garden Intrigue, an English spy undercover as a truly awful poet, is a direct tribute to Sir Percy and his wonderful, doggerel verse.

Long may we seek him here, there, and everywhere!

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Now it’s your turn, readers! Lauren talked about her earliest rogues…Sir Percy, Zorro & Errol Flynn…who was your earliest rogue? One winner (Internationally!), will receive a copy of Lauren’s latest (winner to be chosen on Friday)!

On  today’s edition of Writers on Rogues — the fabulous Kate Noble joins the celebration. Now, I think Kate is the Bee’s Knees. She’s clever and funny and I adore her wonderful Regencies…only more so now because my next book sports a ginger hero, and we authors of ginger heroes must stick together (Kate’s ginger is the swoon worthy Jason Cummings in Follow My Lead)!

But I digress (And can you blame me? Redheads are my favorite.)…I knew Kate would have a fabulous pro-rogue stance…and sure enough, she does.

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rogue
[rohg] noun, verb, rogued, ro·guing, adjective

noun
1. a dishonest, knavish person; scoundrel.
2. a playfully mischievous person; scamp: The youngest boys are little rogues.
3. a tramp or vagabond.
4. an outcast, especially in animal groups: rogue elephant or other animal of similar disposition.
5. Biology. a usually inferior organism, especially a plant, varying markedly from the normal.

Out of all the definitions of a rogue, I like the first the best. Nothing against rogue elephants, but there is little better than taking a wholly dishonest, knavish scoundrel and then – in true romance novel form – redeeming him. While a scamp already has rather fun, impish connotations, and a vagabond is probably just in need of a shower, the true rogue is the one who lives a life of utter uncaring dissipation, and then, is tempted by something (or better yet, someone) who does make him care.

In Regency times, there was no better person who fit the definition of a rogue than Lord Byron. He was intelligent, led life the way he wanted, getting exiled and catching gonorrhea in turns (when he lived in Venice during Carnival in 1819, he famously said that he caught the one bout of gonorrhea he hadn’t paid for), and every so often becoming completely obsessed with one of his paramours. He holds constant fascination for many of us still today, because of the way he lived – unapologetically – and because of the dedication to his writing that was the one thing he seemed to take seriously. (A true rogue always needs a goal – else he’d simply be a wastrel.) But what is the modern-day equivalent of the Byron Rogue?

The Jersey Shore guys? They have the dissipation and drinking and DTFing right, but lack the charm and the purpose – hence, wastrel-dom.

Matthew McConaughey? Nah, just a scamp in need of a shower.

Ladies, I give you Chuck Bass.

On Gossip Girl, the introduction of Chuck Bass is not a promising one. In the pilot episode, he acts only as a troublemaker – and in fact, takes some shocking liberties with poor high school freshman Jenny Humphries. But as the show goes on, the character of Chuck Bass deepened, and expanded. He’d had everything given to him his entire life… except for his father’s love and attention. He has the run of the city – both the highest echelons and the underground – but the dissipation that normally fills his 17-year-old days doesn’t excite him anymore. He’s searching for something he can’t define.

But there is one person who does make him care… one person that he sees the point in being good for: Blair Waldorf. They may drive each other crazy, but they always find their way back to each other. When Chuck’s father dies – it’s Blair’s house he goes to when he’s finally reached the bottom of his grief. When he inherits his father’s real estate empire, he finds that meaning, that goal that he needs, and will work his ass off to make himself a success in the family business.

Oh, he’ll always have that roguish touch – he’ll always be prepared to blackmail idiot Yale secret societies and outmaneuver his opponents by getting them wasted at his underground burlesque club, but the perfect ending to Gossip Girl for me is Chuck, reformed but still a rogue, and Blair (hopefully sans headband) having their happily ever after.

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Kate’s hit the nail on the head with this one. The reason why we love rogues is because of that Chuck/Blair dynamic. Bad boy meets the one girl he just isn’t good enough for…and sets out to reform. Le sigh.

So, what do you think, readers? When it comes to your rogues of choice, are you more Byron or Bass? Historical or Modern Day? Silk turban or silk smoking jacket? (Fun fact: Eric walked into the room while I was watching Gossip Girl one day, looked at the TV, and said, “Why is that guy always dressed like Hugh Hefner?” I nearly spit out my diet coke. But, for the record, Hugh Hefner–not a rogue. Just…ick.) Anyway…tell us your thoughts in comments, and one lucky winner will receive Kate’s yummy Follow My Lead (chosen on Friday – US Only).

I make absolutely no secret of the fact that I love Sophie Jordan and have since her very first book came out, when I was just a romance junkie with a dream of being a writer.

When I made the leap from YA to romance, Sophie was one of the first romance writers to welcome me into the family–and I had a tremendous friend crush from the start. In fact, I called my sister after our first lunch together and said, “This is officially the greatest job ever. Guess who I just had a burger with?!?” Well, several years, several hundred phone calls and a few RWA conferences behind us, Sophie’s now not just a friend crush and favorite author, but also a friend. So, when I conceived of Writers on Rogues–she was my first email. Because if you can’t ask your friends to talk about hotties on your blog, what can you ask them?! 

And then…when she told me which rogue she wanted to write about, well…obviously I was going to make room for this in the rotation!

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When Sarah invited me talk about rogues I was like: sign me up!

Of course, I would do just about anything the fab-fab Sarah MacLean asked me to do! I’ve adored her ever since I met her on my first visit to NYC — and then I read Nine Rules To Break When Romancing Rake. Safe to say, my love for her magnified! Ever since, I can’t get enough of her or her books! And her books – oh, my! I’m waiting with baited breath for A Rogue By Any Other Name, absolutely positive that the hero will be the most roguish rogue ever!

Heaven knows I love a good rogue. I’ve been reading them for years. Reading about great rogues is what made me want to write about them in the first place. They’re that perfect sexy bad boy that oozes danger … meaning not really bad at all, just misunderstood. At least in my book (er, books). All they need is the right woman to fight for and set them on the right and noble path. But before they’re set on that path? Ohhh, the naughty fun! There’s the story! The complexity, the drama, the emotion, the adventure. Er, and romance. Did I mention romance? It’s always about the romance.

Most of the heroes I write about in my British historical romances are rogues. Almost always tanned with perfect teeth … and muscled … and hot. I once had a friend point out how rare this eighteenth century British male specimen would be. Hm. Sure. Maybe. But I operate in fantasy. Although I write fiction, I like to use a little modern day inspiration. And who better than an Englishman to inspire me in creating my rogues of old?

Behold … a tanned, muscled Englishman with great teeth …

And behold again ….

And because you can never behold him enough…

There you have it! Inspiration to feed anyone’s notion of the perfect rogue! David Beckham just might be the most perfect rogue. Sure, there are others – like Colin Firth and Richard Armitage. I love them both. They’re beautiful – great in the role of hero … but they don’t possess the edge of a true rogue. David? He’s got the requisite edge. Hmm. Staring at these photos, I feel the sudden urge to invent a new rogue for a new book. What do you think?

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Oh….drooooollll…David Beckham. I mean, is it really fair that he get so many of the good genes–talent, looks, and that bangin’ body all together? I mean, it’s fair for us…but for general humankind, that can’t be best. David is the first sports rogue on the list, but there are SO MANY sports rogues! Is there one in particular who makes your heart pound? Share in comments for a chance to win a copy of Sophie’s Wicked in Your Arms (US Only, winner to be chosen on Monday)! 

On  today’s edition of Writers on Rogues — the fabulous Anna Randol joins the celebration of rogues. Anna’s debut romance–A Secret in Her Kiss, is a fabulous Regency romp set in Constantinople, and a wonderful book that I devoured in one sitting.

When I invited Anna to join us to talk about her favorite Rogue, I didn’t know what to expect…but she has not disappointed!

Take it away, Anna! 

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When Sarah emailed me to ask if I had a favorite rogue I wanted to highlight to celebrate the release of A Rogue By Any Other Name. I responded right away. Not only do I have a rogue, but he’s dashing, funny, and quite handsome.

Readers, I give you Jack Rattenbury!

Umm… okay, or maybe I just think he’s handsome because I picture this smuggler instead. (And yes, I am a nerd. It’s something I’ve learned to live with.)

Raised by a single mother, Jack spent his childhood running free and unrestrained along the coast of Devon, England. By the age of sixteen, he’d already given up on a dozen professions, charmed his way out of a French prison, and sailed the seas as a pirate. Sure, you may say, that’s interesting, but what makes him a rogue worthy of being compared to the Marquess of Bourne?

If Jack were here, I’m sure he’d make a case for himself. (He did title himself the Rob Roy of the West.) But in his absence, I’ll make his case.

A true rogue needs adventure:

One day the smuggling ship he was working on on was captured by a French vessel. The French removed the officers but left young Jack behind. Now luckily for Jack, the Frenchman ordered to sail Jack’s ship to the nearest French port turned out to be far more interested in drinking than sailing. He was happy to let Jack have the helm. But when a heavy fog set in, Jack steered the ship to England instead. Every time the French asked where they were, he gave them the name of a place closer to France. When they got near the “French” coast, Jack jumped overboard and informed the British customs officials who gave chase and reclaimed the ship.

A true rogue needs a keen wit:

While England was at war with France during, the Royal Navy tried many times to impress Jack (forcefully recruit him to serve on their ships).  But Jack, being dashing and clever, escaped every time. One lieutenant in particular took his escape personally and tried to hunt him down. But Jack wasn’t easy to catch. As he crept through the countryside, he traded his cap to another lad for his hat.

We’ll assume the Jack’s old cap looked like this. (And yes, he was man enough to own this before its time.)

And his new hat looked like this. (Because let’s face it, Jack wouldn’t wear anything that didn’t have a bit of swagger.)

The men chasing him caught to other young man, allowing Jack to escape. Later this same lieutenant tracked him to an inn and threatened to shoot the owner if Jack wasn’t turned over. Jack, hearing the warning, climbed into a chimney where he hid for over an hour while the building was searched.

A true rogue needs a beautiful woman to try to tame him and fight at his side.

Jack met his match when he married the (I will claim on Jack’s behalf) beautiful, feisty, and brave Anna Partridge. We’ll assume she looked like this.

On at least two occasions, she rescued Jack from both the customs officials and the Royal Navy. Once she grabbed a lieutenant by the neck and then called for the rest of the town to join in and hold him off while Jack escaped. Another time she rowed a boat alongside the ship where Jack was being detained and even wrestled a pistol out of the hands of one of the officers when he shot at them. That sounds like a woman worthy of our Jack!

Pretty convincing case for a rogue, isn’t it? But with all the rogues out there, why did I decide on Jack? Well, a rogue also needs a certain flair. A devil-may-care disrespect for authority. Well, Jack doesn’t need me to prove this one. He did it himself. After finally settling down with his wife and children, Jack had the gumption to write a book boasting about his illegal escapades called Memoir of a Smuggler. The final line of memoirs says, “I have since been served with a summons to appear before the magistrates; but as I took no notice of that, I received another.” Yep, that’s definitely a true rogue.

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Now it’s your turn, readers! Sounds like Anna has written about two rogues, Jack and his awesome Miss Partridge! Who is your favorite Roguess? Share in comments for a chance to win a signed copy of A Secret in Her Kiss (winner to be chosen on Friday)!

Yesterday, I launched a new series on the blog–Writers on Rogues–in celebration of the launch of A Rogue By Any Other Name at the end of the month! I’m so so happy to say that one of my very favorite authors EVER has agreed to join us today and talk about one of my very favorite rogues EVER.

Today, Lorraine Heath (whose most recent book, She Tempts the Duke released last week and landed handsomely on New York Times Bestseller list!!)  shares her fascination with Sebastian, Marquess of Dain, the hero of Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels.

Welcome Lorraine!  

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I have to confess to being quite fickle when it comes to rogues. My loyalties can shift with little more than a sultry look on the big screen or a well-written line in a novel. In this case: “His was a Dartmoor soul, where the wind blew fierce and the rain beat down upon grim, gray rocks, and where the pretty green patches of ground turned out to be mires that could suck down an ox.”

Loretta Chase has given me such an incredibly enticing rogue in Lord of Scoundrels. I only recently read the book and discovered a wonderful author and scoundrel in the process. Lord Beelzebub, as Dain refers to himself, is such a wounded, tormented soul that I’m not sure anyone could resist falling in love with him. On the outside he appears hard and monstrously wicked and yet the glimpses into his heart and soul quite often had my own heart tightening in sympathy. I just wanted to hold him close and assure him that he wasn’t the beast that he was painted to be.

The heroine describes him as, “Coal black hair and bold, black eyes and a great, conquering Caesar of a nose and a sullen sensuality of a mouth—the face alone entitled him to direct lineage with Lucifer…”

She is beauty to his beast and quite up to the task of taming him.

The same could be said of my Mary in She Tempts the Duke. It, too, is a beauty and the beast tale. My hero is also named Sebastian, but he’s the Duke of Keswick, and like Dain, he possesses emotional wounds that run deep.

I believe that every scoundrel does. Scoundrels aren’t born, but made—by circumstances of their life which usually involve harsh lessons learned, very often at the hands of those who should love them unconditionally. They strive so hard to live up to their reputation of not caring and yet there is always that one moment when their guard slips just a bit and we catch a glimpse of the hero lurking inside.

And the heroine has the great fortune of discovering the hero within before anyone else and luring him into the light.

In fiction, every beast can become a prince. But even then, he usually remains a scoundrel at heart.

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Your turn, readers! I love what Lorraine says about Scoundrels not being born, but made. In fact, I’m most fascinated by those moments when a man splinters and the scoundrel emerges. I’m so happy she joined us today to discuss Dain (whom I love with frightening fierceness). Who is your favorite romance scoundrel? 

Lorraine is generously offering up a copy of She Tempts the Duke to a random commenter (U.S. and Canadian residents only)!

Y’all, I can’t believe it, but A Rogue By Any Other Name is coming out in less than three weeks. I don’t know how this happened. It seems like only yesterday, I was trolling about the Internet in search of rogues real and fictional to inspire Michael, Marquess of Bourne, the rogue by any other name in question.

So, it’s only natural that to celebrate the launch of Rogue, I host some of my favorite writers to talk about their own favorite rogues! Make sure to come back all month long…as I know there will be some pretty fantastic odes to rogues and even more fantastic book giveaways to come! 

First up! The wonderful Shana Galen, on a Rogue we can all love! Welcome, Shana!

I love rogues. What woman doesn’t? Rogues are the ultimate bad boys. They don’t follow the rules; they don’t play nice; and they’re sexy as hell.

My favorite rogues have always been pirates—think Johnny Depp, Errol Flynn, or my own Bastien from The Rogue Pirate’s Bride. But my favorite pirate will always be the one I fell in love with first, and that’s the space pirate Han Solo.

While all the other little girls were pining over blond haired, sweet-face Luke Skywalker, I was thinking about Han Solo. Han Solo was not the hero of the Star Wars movies. He was the guy who got Luke from point A to point B. He’s a space pirate with a bounty on his head. In the Star Wars galaxy, the big firepower belongs to the Imperial forces, much as it belonged to the British during the heyday of the pirate in our world. Han Solo can’t afford to cross the Empire. With Darth Vader running around choking his own guys, who can? But Han agrees to take Luke and Obi Wan Kenobi on as passengers because he needs the money to save himself.

Han Solo isn’t motivated out of any sense of kindness or goodwill. He just wants money, and at this point, he’s got bounty hunters after him and has little choice but to take a big risk to pay his debts.

But is Han really that mercenary? Like any rogue, I think he’d like everyone to think so, but who flies in at the end of Star Wars to save the day? Who’s still around in The Empire Strikes Back, hanging out with the Rebels on their barren, frozen base? He’s not there because the world of Hoth is hospitable. He’s there because inside he really is a good guy—and maybe because he’s in love with Princess Leia.

A rogue, a princess, a love story, great action, and Harrison Ford. I love how cocky Han Solo is was, and how quick he is to tell others not to be cocky! I love the sexually charged banter between Han and Princess Leia. I love that little half-smile he gives, and I love that even though he’s a rogue, he risks it all for his friends.

Because, let’s be honest: we don’t really fall in love with the bad boy. We fall in love with the good guy we know is hiding underneath the bad boy exterior.

Here are a few of my favorite Han Solo lines. Princess Leia has a part in a few of them because the banter between them is priceless.

Wonderful girl. Either I’m going to kill her or I’m beginning to like her.

Han Solo: Look, Your Worshipfulness, let’s get one thing straight. I take orders from just one person: me.
Princess Leia: It’s a wonder you’re still alive.

Han Solo: Not a bad bit of rescuing, huh? You know, sometimes I amaze even myself.
Princess Leia: That doesn’t sound too hard.

Princess Leia: Why, you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking Nerf herder.
Han Solo: Who’s scruffy-looking?

You like me because I’m a scoundrel. There aren’t enough scoundrels in your life.

Now don’t get jittery, Luke. There are a lot of command ships. Keep your distance, though, Chewie, but don’t look like you’re trying to keeping your distance… I don’t know. Fly casual.

If only I could have found a way for my hero Bastien to tell his helmsman to sail casual. Maybe the next pirate book…

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Your turn, readers! We know you have a soft spot for Rogues, of course…but what do you think of Han Solo? Did he steal your heart the way he stole Shana’s? Or is there another Pirate rogue who you prefer?

Shana’s generously offering two copies of The Rogue Pirate’s Bride  to two random commenters (U.S. and Canadian residents only)!