Give us a little bit about your background and when you first started publishing.
I started publishing back in the dinosaur age before e-books! Yup, my first book came out in 1999 (before the turn of the century) with a small press that is no longer publishing. It was a good experience, but the world of e-books is so much more exciting! As for my background, I started reading regency romances in high school, especially the Signet traditional regencies. They were sweet and often ended with a single kiss! OMG, as a teenager, I swooned at that final press of the lips.
Historical Setting Related:
Have you visited the places you’ve written about or just read about them?
- I’ve visited London and Bath. Had a great vacation and even went on a tour of regency sites.
What interesting settings have you used (homes, battlefields, events in history, etc)?
- I’m much more of an Upstairs, Downstairs kind of girl (or Downton Abbey girl) rather than the big battlefields. I’m all about the intrigues that happen between people. That rarely makes the world stage. But when hearts are involved, it feels like the fate of the universe is in our hands.
Why did you choose the particular period you write in? What is it about that era that speaks to you?
- I love the dance of manners, what is and isn’t allowed, what is daring as opposed to scandalous. My Chinese upbringing really emphasized the public face vs. the private one and was filled rules about appropriate behavior. Translation: every aspect of my life felt severely restricted, including the way I breathed. (No lie. We had rules about how a child was allowed to breathe) It made me love all those hoyden heroines who just wanted to escape for a lively romp on a horse.
Writing Process:
What inspires you to create a certain character (give example)? Have you ever changed the character arc because it didn’t work with the storyline?
- I have a friend who designs magnificent custom jewelry. Here are pictures of a few of the pieces he’s done for me. A stunning bracelet for my daughter’s wedding and a flame opal I wear all the time. I became fascinated by
the process of making jewelry and found out it is much the same now as it was back then. So I created my heroine Amber Gohar as the jewelry designer who has to do the work in secret because she’s a woman. That worked for the character, but I 
couldn’t forget my dear friend. His name is Christopher Jupp. His website is https://www.christophersfjd.com/ if you want to look as some of his amazing pieces. And I gave his name to the really nice guy who doesn’t get the girl in this book. But he may get another soon! As for characters who didn’t work, the less said about them the better! I do have to adjust stories all the time. Inspiration is important, but having a sound storyline is key.
Do you have a certain quirk in your writing process? Do the stars have to be aligned or do you have to have your favorite tea? Where do you do your best writing?
I write after a really good cup of coffee. I was given an Ember for a Christmas present and I love it! It keeps my coffee hot, hot, hot, so I don’t have to interrupt my writing flow to get hot coffee. Best gift ever!
Miscellaneous:
From all your books, who is your favorite hero and why?
- From all my books? It’s the couple I just finished writing. They’ve usually put me through hell but are now gloriously happy and I’m usually thrilled at how it turned out. So right now, the best, most awesome couple are from Into the Lyon’s Den – Amber and Elliott!
Outside of your own genre, what’s your favorite genre?
- Paranormal romance, especially shifters. Because that’s what Kathy Lyons writes! (She’s my other pen name)
We hope you enjoyed getting to know a little bit more about the talented Jade Lee. If you haven’t seen it yet, her latest book “Into the Lyon’s Den” comes out on Thursday February 27th. Check it out!!
