Taking Tea with... Regan Walker (and Giveaway)

I have been looking forward to welcoming Regan Walker to my tea table.   We are “sisters in law”, by which I mean we are both lawyers (or in my case, a former or  “recovering” lawyer).

And I am delighted to be here, Alison! I love your blog.

Before we proceed, Regan has offered a GIVEAWAY to a lucky commenter so read through to the end for details...

Regan, in lieu of tea, I should pour us both a good red wine (a favourite tipple of my legal friends), but if you prefer tea, George has a wide range available. Just name your preference…

I love all the British drinks: gin & tonic, red wine and most especially, port. (I think of port as an English drink though I know it comes from Portugal.) So, I’ll be having whatever you’re having. Oh, yes, I do love tea, too. Green tea with jasmine is my favourite morning drink.

(AS: It's never too early for a Gin and tonic... my absolutely favourite tipple. I have a bottle of Tanqueray's No. 10 here which is particularly pleasant! George...slice the lemon!)
I have traveled to Australia several times and have friends there (Australians, not Americans) and love the country and the spirit of its people. I find the history of Australia fascinating, too, and have enjoyed many romances set there. In fact, the stories I have loved that are set in Australia are on my Exotic Locales list   (AS:  We need to write more... our history is short but there is plenty of scope there!)

Before we start on the writer Regan, I would like to know a bit more about the lawyer Regan. Are you still in practice or like me, heaving a sigh of relief at having left the demands of clients and regulators behind?

I haven’t actively practiced for the last year. Instead, I’ve been taking a long needed break and focusing on my writing. Can’t say as I miss it though I did love solving problems for my clients.

What was your most interesting/challenging role as a lawyer?

Saving clients millions of dollars and winning the hard case. (Remember in America it is possible to be both a solicitor and a barrister and I was both.) And the most rewarding was seeing their dreams come to fruition.

(AS:  Here in Australia I practised as a solicitor - although we have the right of appearance in court, it was not one I exercised if I could help it. On the few occasions I had to appear before a court - mostly courts martial in the military, I felt physically ill... I just don't have that ability to think on my feet!)

I am often asked why I don’t write “legal” stories. I have my answer (Firstly it would be too boring and secondly the temptation to write people I know into the books would be irresistible and possibly actionable!), but what is your response to that question?

I don’t watch legal shows on TV (well, except for Garrow’s Law-- I make an exception for 18^th century England) --nor would I be likely to write a legal story, though I might feature an aspect of law or a trial in a novel. I find much of it procedural and boring, as you do, and then there is the fact I lived that for decades. Now I’m doing the fun stuff! (AS: Absolutely!!!)

What period of history is your passion and who or what inspired you?

Well, now that depends on the country. For Scotland and Ireland, it would be anything prior to the 19^th century; for England it would be the time just after William I conquered England and then the Regency and Victorian eras; and for France, it would be their tumultuous times. In America, it would be the Revolutionary War and last half of the 19^th century primarily as we expanded West in a new way. Other countries interest me not so much, at least as a writer. And for those that do, it really comes down to historical periods when the events that were occurring interest me.

You have just released the third book in the “Agents of the Crown” series, WIND RAVEN – a trilogy of ‘suspense’ stories set in the Regency.  What is the premise behind the series that makes it a series? Are there continuing characters/ plot arcs linking the stories?

The Agents of the Crown trilogy is based on the premise that government leaders sometimes employ what I would call “special agents” who are not technically part of the government, nor technically spies, to gain information. These are merely trusted men acquainted with the Crown who are sent on private “errands.” Having served at high levels of government, and done some reading, I know such people liked this have existed throughout history. The Prince Regent no doubt had such “friends,” though we may never hear of them.

Thus far, all my novels and stories are Regencies and, though each can be read as “stand alones,” they are connected. You can see that from the list on my website (“The Order of Things”). They often have overlapping characters. For example, the hero and heroine in my first novel, Racing With The Wind, appear in Against the Wind, in my novella, The Twelfth Night Wager and in my short story The Holly & The Thistle.

Will WIND RAVEN be the last in this series and if so, what is next for Regan Walker?

Ah, no. There will be a prequel coming in 2015. It’s the story of the parents of the heroes of books 2 and 3, Captain Simon Powell, the young English privateer they called “the Golden Eagle,” and Claire Donet, the wild daughter of the French pirate, Jean Donet. It will be set in late 18^th century France, England and aboard Simon’s ship the Fairwinds. It’s a tale of adventure, passion and love, for Simon knows if he is to have Claire’s love, he must find a way To Tame the Wind. And, dare I say it, there is a niggling of a story for the pirate son of a French comte, Jean Donet, rumbling around in my brain, so there could be a sequel to the prequel. (Are you still with me?)

Right now, I’m finishing my William the Conqueror medieval, The Red Wolf’s Prize, set in England in 1068. I know, I know. It’s a bit of a detour for me, but I like challenges and going back to the 11^th century has certainly been a challenge. It will be out this year and I’m very excited about it as it will be my first self-published novel (all my Regencies are under contract). It will have a “Cast of Characters” and a map included!

WIND RAVEN

Ordered by the Prince Regent into the Caribbean, English sea captain and former privateer Jean Nicholas Powell has no time for women onboard the Wind Raven, especially not Tara McConnell. The impudent American forced herself aboard, and so she’ll get more than she bargained for: Instead of a direct sail to Baltimore, she’ll join their quest to investigate a rampaging pirate, the infamous Roberto Cofresi.

But the hoyden thinks she can crew with his men, and though he bans her from the rigging, Nick is captivated watching her lithe, luscious movements on deck. Facing high seas, storms, cutthroats and the endless unknown, he must protect his ship, his passenger, his crew. But on this voyage, with this woman, there is a greater danger: to his heart.

You can buy WIND RAVEN on Amazon (including Amazon Aus), Barnes and Noble, Smashwords and where all good ebooks are sold.

And about Regan...

As a child Regan Walker loved to write stories, particularly about adventure-loving girls, but by the time she got to college more serious pursuits took priority. One of her professors encouraged her to pursue the profession of law, which she did. Years of serving clients in private practice and several stints in high levels of government gave her a love of international travel and a feel for the demands of the “Crown” on its subjects. Hence her romance novels often involve a demanding Prince Regent who thinks of his subjects as his private talent pool.

Regan lives in San Diego with her golden retriever, Link, whom she says inspires her every day to relax and smell the roses.

Connect with Regan: 

Regan’s website: http://www.reganwalkerauthor.com/

Regan’s Romance Reviews blog: http://reganromancereview.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @RegansReview (https://twitter.com/RegansReview)

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/regan.walker.104

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6450403.Regan_Walker

GIVEAWAY

Regan is offering an ecopy of the the first in the trilogy, Racing With the Wind or the second, Against the Wind, the winner’s choice. (Must be able to gift it via Amazon or she can send them Mobi for Kindle if it can't be gifted from Amazon’s UK site)

Regan's books all have a common theme of seafaring and pirates... What is it that appeals to you about a seafaring, pirate romance?