It’s time to meet The Troublemakers! Book one in Addy DuLac’s new series is available now, and she was kind enough to answer some questions for us.
You can get your copy of this spicy historical romance HERE!
Did you always know you wanted to be an author?
More or less. I’ve been writing since I was 13 but it was mostly fanfiction. I didn’t think I could do it for realizes until college. What is the first story you remember writing? It was a fanfiction for The Patriot cause I HATED that Heath Ledger’s character died. So I started writing one where he was found by this nurse who saved him. How did you get from there to where you are today? I just kept writing and creating more OC (original characters) until it was mostly unrecognizable to the original work it was inspired by. Then I thought “Huh, I could probably publish this…” At that point it was using the vibes or premises (tropes) I got from movies or TV shows and applying them to new characters I made up.
What is the most inspiring place you’ve visited and has it shown up in one of your books?
Biddulph Grange in England. Those terraced gardens are like a fantasy place. From the top you just see trees but inside is this hidden world with different special gardens, ponds all kinds of stuff. I want to go back so badly! I believe I describe similar gardens in Book 2 of the Troublemakers.
How much research do you do into the time period and places you write about?
The short answer is A LOT. I was a history major in college and my amazing teachers never shied away from showing the true diversity within history. But I also was aware of the huge gaps in my knowledge about certain eras and places in the world. So it always ends up being a serious deep dive with notes, saved pages, cross references etc. Do you have any experience dressing in character or participating in living history situations or are you more a fan of libraries and online resources? I love dressing up for Renaissance Festivals, does that count? I think I more do online things, books, articles, documentaries, etc.
What drew you to the era you write in? 
I never really thought about it before but I think I’m drawn to era’s where I love the look of the fashion and then I dig deeper. The Victorian era is so broad and has so much going on that I find it fascinating from an imperial standpoint and also fashionwise, legislatively etc Is there something about the time period you think most people don’t know about? I think like most eras people are largely ignorant of the level of racial mixing that was happening. Especially for an American audience where there were laws prohibiting interracial marriage for most of the history of the country, I don’t think there’s a real sense of what it meant for a tiny country like England to takeover a bunch of countries, and then bring them in to one island nation with no laws preventing class mixing or racial mixing. I don’t think they understand that there were POC in government, in the upper class in schools teacher pioneers like Darwin. What do you think would be the most difficult part about living in that period? Other than the obvious racism thing, LOL, I think the reality of the lack of a social net and the amount of labor it took to do basic chores, or cook. Like if you have no money you die, washing literally took all day, cooking even a simple meal is at least and hour or two LOL. The stakes are super high.
What are your favorite kind of characters to write?
Characters who are clear about what they want and have humor. They can be wrong about what they want but they need to stand ten toes down on it until they are enlightened. Do you have a specific trope that you’re drawn too? Marriage based ones, so convenience, arranged marriage. ( for the angst and tension factor) And Enemies to lovers for the fun.
Where is your favorite place to write?
Wherever the spirit takes me baby! I grew up writing during classes, between classes, on road trips, during parties LOL. I can write anywhere as long as I have my own music. Does it change depending on where you are in the process? See previous answer… LOL. So when I’m writing long hand which is my first draft normally, I can do that anywhere. But when I’m typing I prefer to be in my office with my big monitor and 4 walls around me LOL.
Which comes first for you: the plot or the characters?
I guess the tropes and the characters and then the plot shows up eventually lol.
Do you know where the story is going before you begin, or does it come to you as you write?
Both. I am a plantser. I need to know generally who they are, what they want and where they are going. If there is a main antagonist etc. Then I allow the gaps to be filled in as I go. Do scenes come to you fully formed or are you as surprised as the reader? Sometimes it’s the full scene and sometimes it’s the dialogue. I always end up surprised by some subconscious connection I’ve made and laid in there.
Does your writing process include any kind of ritual?
Story specific playlists, tea, or candles, for example? So I sketch the dresses for my female character as a way to get into their POV’s, I assemble playlists and I write longhand before I begin transcribing into the manuscript.
Do you write better in the morning or evening?
On balance I think in the evening. It takes 12 hours of mulling for me to go, “Ok this is what I want to say.” How do you handle the distractions of working from home, especially if you’re sharing the space with others? Headphones and music. Cause I need distracting from myself half the time LOL.
When it’s difficult to physically travel, how do you find ways to escape?
Movies or TV shows. I love Bollywood and Asian Dramas.
From all your books, who is your favorite hero and why?
Oh Geez… I think as of now Richard from Book 3 of the Troublemakers. Because he has so much going on from his anger, his isolation and loneliness, his charm and mischievous humor, his need to give and receive love and affection. I adore him LOL.
What do you like to read when you’re not reading in your genre?
Biographies or Historical Non-fiction. Cause I’m still a nerd LOL. Did you have a favorite book or series when you were growing up? Oh Gosh… Um. Harry Potter was formative for me even if the author is a dumpster fire (IMHO). Romance wise I think my favorite series as a whole was Lisa Kleypas’ Hathaways series, and then Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series.
