Jude Deveraux talks romance and guilty pleasures…

Can you tell us a little about the latest release in your Nantucket Brides series, FOR ALL TIME?

Years ago I made up a country, Lanconia, and wrote about a young woman who was the crown princess (THE PRINCESS). People have asked me to write a sequel, so I wrote about my heroine’s grandson, Graydon. It was fun to see him treated as a regular person and for my heroine, Toby, to give him such a hard time.

What drew you to writing romance?

Before I was born, my parents subscribed to all the book clubs so I grew up surrounded by hundreds of bestsellers. I read them all. When I started writing, it was natural for me to go to romance.

Do you have a favourite hero or heroine from your books or by any other author?

I like Nicholas from A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR, but to live with, I’d rather have one of the men from the latest books I’ve written. They’re less throw-her-over-a-saddle and more listeners. The times have changed!

If you could take only three essentials with you to a desert island what would they be?

If I were going to a desert island I’d take a huge box of paper and another one of pens. I handwrite all my books so I’d like a way to do it. The other thing I’d take would be my iPad with hundreds of books downloaded on it. Reading and writing. I’d be happy.

What are your guilty pleasures?

TV is my guilty pleasure. I watch lots of shows, love them all. I wish I could make myself get on a treadmill while I watch them, but alas, I don’t. I stretch out on the couch with a stack of magazines and watch TV. Love it! By the way, I bought a Region 2 DVD player so I can watch English shows that aren’t on American TV.

We’re very much looking forward to the next Nantucket Brides release EVER AFTER – can you give us a hint of what’s in store?

EVER AFTER is a bit different from the other books in the Nantucket Brides series. I wanted to write about a wounded soldier, but I needed to make it happy. I think I pulled it off, but it wasn’t easy. So far, the book has received great reviews so I’m hopeful that readers will like it.

There’s so much interest and excitement around romance fiction right now. What do you think that romance readers are looking for in the romances they read today?

A whopping great story. I think that’s what readers have always wanted. Sex or no sex, whatever. Just so the story grabs you and pulls you into another world. Story, story, story. It is everything!

FOR ALL TIME is out on 28th April in paperback, and look out for EVER AFTER in hardback and ebook on 7th July!