Friday, August 2, 2019

This week in The Loft: UK author Alice Renaud

Joining me this week in The Loft is UK romance author Alice Renaud. The author of numerous published short stories, Alice's first book, "A Merman's Choice" was published in January 2019. It is the first book in a fantasy romance trilogy inspired by the landscapes and legends of Brittany and Wales. Born and raised in Brittany, Western France, Alice now lives in London with her husband and son.


Author Alice Renaud

S: Welcome, Alice! Thanks so much for joining me today!

Tell me, what's your favourite thing about writing romance?

A:  I can fantasize about hot men and call it work. It does wonders for my love life.

S:  (Smiles.) I think all romance writers understand that. Is that what attracted you to the romance genre?

A:  I like to see people overcome their problems and find happiness. I love happy endings. I hate gloomy books and sad endings. There’s enough of that in real life.

S:  Do you write in other genres? 

A:  I have written fantasy novels and family-themed short stories, but I prefer romance. Still, I am a big fan of fantasy. My favorite writers are Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, and Ursula Le Guin. I currently write fantasy and paranormal romance, which is a blend of my two favorite things. In addition, I wrote a short time-travel story this year, "The Sweetest Magic of All," and enjoyed that very much. It will come out in the BVS supernatural romance anthology, "Mystic Desire" this year. It goes up for presale on September 1.

S: Congratulations on the anthology. That's very exciting!

What’s your definition of romance? 

A:  Finding the person who will love you just as you are, and loving them back.

S:  (Nods.) Acceptance is very important for unconditional love. 

However, they say before we find our prince, we must kiss a lot of frogs. So I have to ask. What was your worst date ever?

A:  This guy talked at length about his favorite hobby, which was bell-ringing. Then he told me that he had weirdly shaped feet, and proceeded to describe them in detail. Oddly, I didn’t find that much of a turn-on.

S:  (Laughs.) Wow, that's pretty creepy!

What attracted you to your current partner?

A:  He was very easy to talk to and had lovely blue eyes. On our first date, he brought me red roses. And didn’t mention his feet once!

S:  Now he sounds like a keeper!

Tell me about your book, "A Merman's Choice."

A:  "A Merman's Choice" is Book 1 of the Sea of Love series. Here's the blurb--

For centuries the shape-shifting mermen of the Morvann Islands have lived incognito among humans. But one of them, Yann, has developed some bad habits. Like rescuing humans, even when doing so risks revealing his true nature. When he fishes Alex out of the sea, he doesn’t expect her to reappear eight months later, and turn his life upside down by asking him to be her guide.

Alex is determined to fulfill a promise to her dying grandmother, by gathering pictures and stories of the Morvanns. But she soon discovers that, on these remote Welsh islands, legends have a habit of becoming true!

Over the course of a few days, Yann and Alex grow close. But some mermen hate humans. Their hostility, and Yann’s secret, threaten to tear the couple apart just as they are discovering that they are soul mates. Can Yann overcome the obstacles in his path and make the right choice?


S:  Now that is good fantasy! Where can readers buy your book?

A:  It's available through the following buy links--


S:  Alice, thanks so much for joining me today! If you would like to learn more about Alice and her books, please visit--


Next week in The Loft: Author Maggie Blackbird!


9 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for the lovely interview, Seelie!!

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  2. Alice, shocking that you didn't find foot talk very romantic, lol! So happy you found your true love--it's a wish all of us romance writers have for our readers as well as for ourselves. Loved A Merman's Choice!

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  3. This might be the top "bad date" I've ever heard. Hysterical!

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  4. Thank you Dee! Yes, and the foot talk was over dinner too! Oh dear. I do hope he found his special someone :-)

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  5. I must say. I’ve been lucky never to have dated a guy obsessed with his feet. Or mine either for that matter. I don’t get the bell ringing hobby. I’m glad that you eventually found Mr. Right. Loved A Merman’s Choice. The perfect summer read.

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  6. Hi Alice & Seelie:
    Omg, gross. I don't even want my feet touched by a man and I don't want to touch his either. So for sure during dinner I don't want to hear a stranger telling me all the details about their feet. Lol.
    Great to hear about the anthology too.
    If you haven't read A Merman's Choice I recommend that you do.
    Callie

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  7. Thank you Gibby, Suzanne, Callie and Davida for dropping by and taking the time to comment!!

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  8. Alice that date would freak any sane lady. Why call attention to your not so attractive feet? Yikes!

    Great interview and I agree romance writers like to fantize about the meeting, the journey, and the HEA, even if we're happily married.

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