Historical Romance Author Riley Cole Shares Her Love of Writing
~ Clamoring to Have Their Stories Told ~
Riley Cole writes exciting romantic adventures set in late Victorian London. Today she shares her love of writing, her upcoming books, and some wise advice for new writers.
Take it away, Riley…
What interesting jobs have you had? How have those jobs affected your writing?
I’ve been a psychologist for almost 30 years. Aside from the fascinating and inspirational people I’ve met along the way, I think learning how to listen to others has been a huge help in my ability to draw characters—to say nothing of helping with dialogue!
Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either grown up or as an adult?
Definitely! Like most of us life-long readers, probably too many. But Amanda Quick would be at the top of my list. I adore her heroines and her intriguing plots. Definitely groundbreaking in their day. The other big influence was Elizabeth Peters, both her Amelia Peabody historicals and her Vicky Bliss series. She was writing strong, adventurous heroines early on.
How much research do you do for each book you write?
Far more than I ever expected! Writing adventurous historicals set in late Victorian London, I have to do a tremendous amount of background research. The heroine of the first book in the series, Rejecting the Rogue, is a safecracker who comes from a family of thieves. I researched safes and locks and such for that book. I had a lot of fun learning about late 19th century spy technology. Amazing all the hidden cameras and tiny weapons people came up with. I had no idea how sophisticated some of their creations were.
What was your favorite chapter or part to write?
I always seem to have a secondary character that simply appears, completely unplanned. I chose to believe it’s magic at work. It’s happened in every book so far. In Rejecting the Rogue, the little maid—Nelly—just popped into a scene with my hero and worked her way straight into the plot. She surprised the heck out of me, but it makes her scenes a joy to write. In the second book, Seducing the Scientist, a street boy—Henry—showed up. He fit into the League so perfectly he had to stay.
What other genres of novel would you love to write?
Mysteries. I love to read them. I particularly love series that pull me into a new world (like Nevada Barr’s park ranger, Anna Pigeon and Marcia Mueller’s Sharon McCone stories).
Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?
Persevere… and join a critique group. Without the insights I gained from my early critique group, I’m not sure I would have ended up being published. It took a while to find the right group. But once I did, their advice was gold! We helped each other over two years, trading drafts of chapters back and forth. Of the 5 people in my group, three ended up with publishing contracts. I think that getting ongoing insight from others who get to know you, your goals, and the writing voice you’re trying to polish is immensely helpful.
What project are you working on now or what book will be next?
I’m having WAY too much fun writing the Restitution League series, and there are a bunch of characters clamoring for their stories to be told, so I’ll be continuing that for the foreseeable future. Book 3 is scheduled for release January 22nd, and I’m finishing up the fourth book in the series now. Books 4, 5 and 6 should be out in 2019.
If you enjoy a little high adventure—and a lot of desire—with your historical romance, delve into Riley’s version of late Victorian London.
Thieves, rogues, and love await…
—Meet the Restitution League—
They’re thieves. They’re rogues. They’re well-armed for adventure.
The crew of the Restitution League fights injustice while wrestling with love and desire and the occasional throwing knife.
One blazing romance at a time…
NEW RELEASE!
Rejecting the Rogue: A Restitution League Novel Book 1 by Riley Cole
Thieves make the best rogues. And the worst heartbreakers.
Philomena Sweet, Victorian London’s finest safecracker, knows it better than most. The worst rogue of them all, dashing jewel thief Spencer Crane, smashed hers long ago.
And now he’s back, fleeing danger from their past. Danger he won’t survive without her help.
She’d love to refuse, but she can’t leave him for dead.
Spencer Crane would sooner steal costume jewelry than ask talented, wickedly bright Meena Sweet for help.
But revenge stalks them both. He needs her artistry. She needs his skills.
Neither needs the desire that sparks to life between them.
While they dodge criminals, carriages, and the occasional flying cabbage, who will protect these two notorious thieves from each other?
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PREORDER
Seducing the Scientist: A Restitution League Novel Book 2 by Riley Cole
A woman who disdains love collides with a man who lives for passion. Explosions ensue.
Ada Templeton believes in science. She believes in chemical reactions and experimentation and old-fashioned common sense. She’s far too clever to be seduced by a rake like Edison Sweet.
Con artist, liar, self-taught inventor, Edison Sweet, uses his hard won skills to help others. When he’s not saving unfortunates swindled by Victorian London’s criminal classes, he loves women. A great many woman.
Over Ada’s objections, Edison agrees to guard her latest invention from a mastermind willing to kill for it. He never expected to be intrigued by the lovely widow whose body he finds as exciting as her mind.
Their chemistry is impossible to ignore.
And impossible to trust.
Stalked by a brilliant killer, will they concoct a formula powerful enough to mend two broken hearts, or will love elude these two stubborn inventors?
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Meet Riley Cole
Riley has a long fascination with all things Victorian. She loves the peculiar mix of science, mysticism and innovation that collided in the Victorian Era.
To say nothing of bustles. Bustles and elaborate hats and parasols. Parasols for rain. Parasols for sun. And parasols that morph into swords…of course.
Sadly, Riley has little use for umbrellas in the dry foothills of the Eastern Sierra, but she consoles herself with forest hikes and dips in cool mountain lakes. Besides—no matter where one resides—a proper cuppa never comes amiss.
Website https://www.rileycole.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/riley.cole.official/
Twitter https://twitter.com/Rileycolewrites
Great interview. I love Victorian stories with an edge and spunky heroines. Your books sound great.
Thanks, Amber! I wrote the kinds of stories I like to read…hope there are more readers out there like me!
Enjoyed the interview! In my humble opinion, secondary characters are a plus in any story. They can add humor, break up tension in a scene, or simply be an important plot in the story. Wishing you all the best, Riley, and I’ve added your book to my tbr list.
I totally agree about the secondary characters. I find that in the long run, they’re what keep me coming back to an ongoing series. Thanks so much for the good wishes!
I’ve come to realize in recent years that while a good story sucks me in, it’s the secondary characters that keep me reading through a series. Thanks SO much for the good wishes! I hope my fictional “family” of rogues intrigues you! Riley
Love mysteries, too. Written a few myself, only ones set in the twenties. Best on your book, it looks very good.
Oooh, the twenties! I’m looking you up right now. –I just binge watched the Miss Fisher Mysteries on Netflix & am in LOVE with that post-WW I era.
Good advice, Riley. I agree about the critique groups. The right one can be gold, especially for new writers. Love the idea of your Victorian series. The books sound great. All the best,
Cat
Once I found my group, I truly felt like their advice took my first WIP from ‘meh’ to a solid read. And I SO enjoyed the process as we all learned together.