Jillian: Ahoy there, Ms. Hellion and Jack! Yes, you’ve nailed it all right. My writer’s cave-like office is filled with brass clockwork gadgets and steam-powered gizmos for the Gentlemen of Scotland Yard to use in their crime solving efforts––like dry cell battery flashlights, or as the Brits call them: torches.

Hellion: I’m sorry about Jack. He usually does the interviews, and he also loved the first book in this series, An Affair with Mr. Kennedy, but I won the coin toss. I would have left him at home, but he couldn’t bear to miss the landship and the submersible. Will he be able to see more of them?

Jillian: If you read the debut novel, An Affair with Mr. Kennedy, then you’ve met Rafe Lewis, the hero of A Dangerous Liaison with Detective Lewis. But you haven’t met his estranged ex fiancée, Fanny, nor have you experienced them together––which is a big part of the fun of this book. Rafe and Fanny’s adventure is what I like to call a road trip romance that includes trains, a landship, a submersible and velocipedes (or as we know them, bicycles). Here’s the jacket blurb:

Hellion: I know Mr. Kennedy’s book was the book that won the Golden Heart for Romantic Suspense. Can you tell us what it was like to enter that contest—and to win? Our bo’sun, Terri, was a nominee for the Golden Heart this year. We hear of so many great books that are nominated; some that win; and many more that go on to be published.

Jillian: Congrats to Terri! It’s quite an honor to final in the GH. An Affair with Mr. Kennedy was originally titled The Yard Man. I entered the 2010 Golden Heart after the manuscript had finaled in a number of RWA chapter contests. (A good way to get your manuscript ready for the Golden Heart.) I had been entering the manuscript in either historical or romantic suspense categories, and it had finaled a few more times in the romantic suspense category. I’m afraid that was the extent of my GH strategy! I was just floored when I finaled, but the dream to reality thing is really scary for me.

On my way to Orlando for the RWA Nationals, I changed planes in Dallas and noticed that I had received a call with a 212 area code, yes, that’s right––NYC. I pressed the return call button and it turned out to be Kensington with an offer on a different manuscript I had just started to market, The Seduction of Phaeton Black. So I arrived at nationals with a three book offer, and the GH award ceremony. At the end of a hectic week, I had won the GH and met the person who would become my agent, Richard Curtis.

All very whirlwind, and pretty overwhelming, but the glamour ends the minute you return home and start writing. I had never written books to a contract deadline before. Let me tell you, it’s been interesting!

Hellion: Ha, I know some of us can identify with that! In Mr. Kennedy’s book, one of his colleagues is Rafe Lewis, who I immediately fell for because he was dark, brooding, gorgeous, and a total ladykiller. Was this a correct deduction? What is the real Rafe Lewis really like?

Jillian: Rafe has secrets. Things he’s not sharing with anyone, including Scotland Yard. In An Affair with Mr. Kennedy you met his more public personae. In A Dangerous Liaison with Detective Lewis, you will meet and get to know many surprising sides of Rafe. I can’t give too much away, as I do not want to be a spoiler!

Hellion: My next favorite discovery is that the heroine was named Fanny, which isn’t too far off my own given name. A delicious man, a heroine who I could imagine to be a bit like me (hey, we all have our fantasies)—and voila, I discover they are reunited lovers. My favorite fantasy to slip into! Why did you pick this trope? Besides being natural to the story, do you favor stories with reunited lovers too? What do you think is the draw?

Jillian: OMG, it sounds like I hit on a couple of favorites of yours, and I do hope you enjoy. Pressure’s on! I think what I love is heroes and heroines with baggage, and if their less than perfect past involves each other––even better.

Hellion: Your series—and the other series you write about Phaeton Black—features many elements of steampunk. What elements will the readers be seeing in Fanny and Rafe’s book? And how do you create this magical-scientific world?

Jillian: Both series do incorporate elements of steampunk. Think of The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard as late Victorian period James Bond characters––with steampunk gadgets and vehicles. I do exaggerate some of the slightly futuristic gadgets, like the flashlight (torch) I mentioned earlier.

Hellion: Since we’re a group of scribbling writers, we love to hear Call Stories. What was your Call Story? And what piece of advice would you give fellow writers?

Jillian: I think I pretty much told my call stories. First, the GH finaling call, which is off the charts. Then the call in the Dallas airport on my way to nationals with the book offer. I probably could have flown to Orlando from Dallas without a plane! Then winning the GH. Anne Stuart opened the envelope and said: ”...and the winner is... and called my name. Really thrilling! Then a few weeks later, my agent called me with the news that An Affair with Mr. Kennedy had sold to Pocket––which was really awesome!

Everyone says my call story is a fairy tale story. But there are problems with being a real life human being in a happily ever after tale. No matter who you are, you’re going to take your knocks as a writer. Too much good luck can cause resentments with critique partners and writer friends, and the snarky reviewers are...everywhere these days. Trust me, there’s good reason the rocky road to becoming a published author is so difficult––it’s preparing you for how tough it’s going to get.

Hellion: What’s up next for the Gentlemen of Scotland Yard?

Jillian: There’s an e-novella for Pocket Star coming out in early November, and another full length novel the end of November! A Private Duel with Agent Gunn. You will meet Agent Gunn in Rafe and Fanny’s story.

Hellion: Jillian, I just want to thank you again for letting me stop by and I hope you will stopy by again in November when Agent Gunn hits the str—JACK! Put down that gun—is that a gun? Whatever, I know it’s a weapon and for God’s sake, don’t point it at me! [there’s an explosion and Hellion screams as she and Jillian dive to the floor, unhurt; Jack is covered in gunpowder soot] I’m really sorry about Jack.

Jillian: Thanks so much for having me, Hellion. No need to apologize for Jack, as long as it’s Jack Sparrow. Do you think it’s the gunpowder that gives Johnny Depp those smoky eyes?