The Lady and the Spy is out tomorrow! It’s the second book in Ruth A. Casie’s The Ladies of Sommer by the Sea series. Ruth was kind enough to answer some questions for us.
You can get your copy of this delightful historical romance HERE!
Did you always want to be an author? I never thought I would be an author. I enjoyed reading and there were times when I would imagine a different ending but writing one? No. I wrote product plans, guides, and training presentations for the international bank product that I managed. A good portion of my job was traveling overseas, mostly alone, to bank customers. Romance novels were my companion on the plane, in the dining room, and in my room after I finished writing my daily report. If my college English teacher knew I was an author, he’d be spinning in his grave.
What was the first story you wrote? In 2009, A friend told me she was writing a romance book and I offered to brainstorm or help by being one of her beta readers. We did a lot of brainstorming. One thing led to another, and we decided to each write a book and sell them as a set. We had been planning for about two months when she called and told me she wasn’t able to continue the project. She was training for the New York Marathon and looking at colleges with her daughter. With much fear and trepidation, I continued to write my time travel story, Knight of Runes, the first book of my Druid Knight series. In 2011, after learning what to do once you write your first draft, the book was published by Carina Press.
How did you get from there to where you re today? I branched out into contemporary romance when my critique partners and I decided to write an anthology. I was the only historical author in the group, I went to the dark side, I wrote contemporary romances. I enjoyed writing with them. Our characters always made their way into each other’s stories. But my heart, and my voice was still with historical romance.
I was thrilled when I was invited to write in Kathryn’s and Eliza Knight’s The Pirates of Britannia series and wrote five books for their connected world.
That brings me to this last year and the release of my Regency series, The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea. Last November The Lady and Her Quill released and this month, The Lady and the Spy will be available. Keep an eye open for The Lady and Her Duke this May.
What is the most inspiring place you’ve visited and has it shown up in one of your books? My travels have taken me all over the world. My last trip was a vacation with my husband in September 2018. We went to Scotland. That was the most inspiring place I have ever visited. We traveled from Glasgow
, up to Orkney and Skara Brae. I was so excited. In my second Druid Knight book, Knight of Rapture, a major scene takes place at Skaill House. My research was almost perfect.
How much research do you do into the time period and places you write about? I research as I outline my story. When I start writing I am so sure I have enough material, however I always find something missing. Some authors will not what’s missing and continue writing. I cannot. I think it is my OCD, but I cannot go on until I’ve solved the issue. As to how much research is enough. Enough to tell the story without boring the reader to tears with too much information.
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? This past October, I attended the reader’s event, Romancing the Gold Coast. I bought a costume. I was a bit self-conscious but, in the end, had a wonderful time.
