Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Author Feature: Helen Hardt


Happy Wednesday, everyone! Please welcome today's feature author, Helen Hardt.

Thanks for joining us this week on Armchair Heroines, Helen. Tell us about your debut novel, Seduced in Seoul.

Thank you for having me, Tiffany! SIS is actually a short story, not a novel, and it's HOT. It's an erotic romance, published in the Scarlet Rose line at The Wild Rose Press. And, I'm thrilled to say, it's been on the bestseller list since its debut on August 22. It's part of the Destination Pleasure series in Scarlet Rose. Each story must be rosette length (3000-12,500 words) and feature an American heroine in an exotic location. Very fun to write!

Here's the blurb: The last thing Allison Sanchez expects when she arrives in Seoul is the Asian god waiting for her at the airport. Right away it's obvious he can't understand a word she says. But body language is universal, and Allison soon casts aside her inhibitions in favor of engaging in one of her secret fantasies with the hot chauffeur. Talking dirty during sex takes Allison to an all new high until she discovers her exotic lover is only half Korean--and her brother's American roommate.

This is the first story I've seen set in Seoul. Why did you choose that particular city?

My husband, sons, and I are all blackbelts in the Korean martial art of Taekwondo. In 2006, we visited Seoul with our Taekwondo master and participated in a tournament and a demonstation. Seoul was a very interesting city, and I thought it would make a unique backdrop for a story. When I discovered the Destination Pleasure series, I came up with the premise and wrote the story.

What are you working on now?

I'm doing NaNoWriMo! My NaNo project from last year, a contemporary western, just finaled in a contest, and was requested by Silhouette at the RWA National conference in San Francisco. This year's project will be a sequel to that story. Actually, a second sequel, because I already wrote the first one early this year, and it also finaled in the same contest. So I'm very excited about the possibilities for this year's NaNo story, and its scrumptious cowboy hero!

You have a law degree and worked as a lawyer prior to writing. How does that background contribute to your writing?

I'm not sure it does, to tell you the truth. Of all my manuscripts, I only have one character who is a lawyer. The heroine in my short novel, Blood Wolf, a werewolf paranormal which just won the Got Wolf? contest sponsored by The Wild Rose Press, is an attorney. I think she's the only one out of all my writing. Blood Wolf will be available in an anthology this coming summer.

When you aren't writing, how do you fill your time?

I work as a free lance editor, and I have two teenage boys. Enough said, LOL!

What are some of the books sitting on your "keeper" shelf?

Oh wow, so many! First of all, anything by the wonderful Lisa Kleypas, the amazing Eloisa James, and the phenomenal Joan Johnston. Those ladies are my three favorite romance authors of all time. A few others: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, Voyeur by Lacey Alexander, The Forever Kiss by Angela Knight, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I could go on and on.

In the spirit of November and the Thanksgiving holiday, what are you most thankful for?

My husband and my two sons, and our good health.

Thank you again, Helen. Be sure and comment or ask Helen your burning questions. She's offering an e-copy of Seduced in Seoul for one lucky commenter!

Can't get enough of Helen? Check out her website: http://www.helenhardt.com/, her blog: http://www.helensheroes.blogspot.com/, and the blog she shares with her critique partners: http://www.coloradovixens.blogspot.com/. Can't wait until Friday to read Seduced in Seoul? You can own your very own copy by clicking here!

23 comments:

Helen Hardt said...

Hi Tiffany, thanks for having me today! I'm tapping away for NaNo, but I'll pop in now and then to say hi to everyone!

Helen

Tiffany James said...

Helen,

Sounds great! Good luck with NaNoWriMo.

Tiffany

P.S. For those of you Armchair Heroines unfamiliar with "NaNoWriMo", it stands for "National Novel Writing Month". It's a furious key-tapping, creativity-busting, word vomit...sounds disgusting, but it's really a way to get the rough draft of a 55K novel written in one month. Check out www.nanowrimo.org for more info.

Donnell Ann Bell said...

Okay, I have my hand up here! I want this book! This plot sounds fantastic, Helen. I love the fact she thinks he can't understand her, put her in this unusual, cultural setting and I would love to read it. Congrats on your success with The Wild Rose Press! And Got Wolf sounds interesting too. Thanks for hosting her, Tiffany!

Nicole McCaffrey said...

I read SIS and loved every word of it Helen! It's a great read!

Looking forward to those hunky cowboys you mentioned! Yee-haw! *G*

Paty Jager said...

Helen, I really have to get this story and read it. Now that I'm done judging EPPIES, I can find the time.

April Vine said...

Hi Tiffany and Helen

I read Seduced in Seoul and its super hot, nothing, and I mean nothing of the good parts get lost in translation, wink, wink.
And Helen, congrats upon congrats upon congrats. I’m just so excited because there’s more Helen Hardt to go round.
Great interview, Tiffany.

Viola Estrella said...

Great interview, Helen and Tiffany! Seduced in Seoul is hot, fun read. I'm looking forward to Blood Wolf!

Renee Knowles said...

Hi Helen and Tiffany,

Great interview, guys! Seduced in Seoul is so hot it will melt your monitor! Thanks for giving us a fabulous read, Helen :)

Looking forward to Blood Wolf.

Hugs,

Renee
www.reneeknowles.com

Helen Hardt said...

Hi everyone, looking up from my NaNo cave, LOL! Thanks so much sor stopping by. And I'm thrilled so many of you have enjoyed SIS! Donnell and Paty, I hope you like it when you read it!

And huge waves to Nicole, April, Vi, and Renee!

Helen

Helen Hardt said...

I mean thanks so much "for" stopping by :). My fingers are going too fast for my brain. 25K or bust this week!

Helen

Cari Quinn said...

Anyone lucky enough to win Seduced In Seoul is going to love it! I'm jealous someone else gets to read it for the first time. ;)

Awesome interview, ladies! And Helen, I never knew you loved The Lovely Bones. It's one of my favorites, too. Alice Sebold is an amazing writer.

Tiffany James said...

Donnell,

Thank you for joining us!

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

Nicole,

I'm so with you on the hunky cowboys! Is there any better hunk? :0)

Thanks for stopping by AH!

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

Paty,

Hope the EPPIE judging went well! Thanks for stopping by.

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

April,

I agree! Helen is amazing! Glad you enjoyed the interview and thanks for stopping by.

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

Hi, Viola!

Glad you enjoyed Helen's interview. Thanks for joining us today!

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

Howdy, Renee!

Great to *see* you here with us today. Glad you enjoyed the interview.

Tiffany :0)

Tiffany James said...

Cari,

Thanks for joining us. So glad to hear you enjoyed the interview! I've never read Alice Sebold. I'll add her name to my list...which is getting very long!

Tiffany :0)

Tiffany James said...

Helen,

I'm still hanging out around 5K...I better get typing if I'm to keep up with you!

Tiff :0)

Christina Phillips said...

SIS is a fantastic, scorching hot read! I am soooo looking forward to reading Blood Wolf next year! huge congratulations, Helen, on all your success with SIS and I know it's the first of many!

Judith Leger said...

Wonderful interview, Helen! Seduced in Seoul sounds very HOT! Wishing you many blessings for this book and all your upcoming releases!

Tiffany James said...

Christina,

Thanks for joining us! How wonderful that you enjoyed SIS so much - not that I doubted it. :0)

Tiffany

Tiffany James said...

Judith,

Thanks for joining us this week! Good luck in the contest.

Tiffany