SEELIE KAY: Postcards from The Ledge: This week in The Loft: Author Ruth A. Casie!

Joining me today in the Loft is historical romance author Ruth A. Casie. A USA Today bestselling author, Ruth's stories feature adventures from the shores of medieval Scotland to the cobblestone streets of Regency London. She's currently working on a new series, River of Time, about an elite technology security officer whose job is to eliminate time travelers. He falls in love with a time traveling art appraiser and has to choose between his duty and his one chance for a timeless love. Ruth knows a bit about traveling. Formerly employed by a financial institution with clients around the world, she filled up her passport in one year.

Author Ruth A. Casie

S: Welcome back to The Loft, Ruth!

Do you think romance books have gotten too spicy?

R: The beauty of books is you can pick and choose what you want to read. I enjoy a romantic story with the appropriate amount of sex and heat. No, I’m not being prudish. Every story commands its setting and telling. Too much, or even too little sex, heat, etc. impacts the story. So, if a story is too spicy for you, pass it by. Each book has its own audience. And demand is what keeps books on the shelves--real or virtual. If readers demand more spice, authors will write for them. If there are readers who want their historical romance tamer, I’m their author. Just saying.

S: I think a larger concern would be not being able to choose the heat level you prefer. Right now, romance books are diverse. There is something for everyone.

Critics say romance novels mislead readers about the reality of romance and in fact, give readers false expectations. Do you agree?

R: Just as fairy tales give people false expectations, so does romance. Romance stories came to forefront because women were not allowed to enjoy or talk about romance or sex. These stories gave women an outlet and encouraged them to be more vocal. As a matter of fact, it is the romance book emergence that started the women’s right movement. Read Maya Rodale. She can give you a much better explanation. I believe she wrote her master’s thesis on the impact of romance books.

S: After the publication of the Fifty Shades series, some readers ventured into the BDSM world seeking their own Christian Grey. As a result, a few were scammed, sexually assaulted, or otherwise harmed. Does an author bear any responsibility for those types of consequences?

R: This is a good question. I believe that fictional stories tell you right up front that these are creations of the author’s mind and not fact. I would first demand that non-fiction be accurate, like the news. Whether you're on the right or left of the discussion, facts matter. Not make believe ones.

S: Good point. Fiction is not fact. Most works of fiction state that up front.

Do you write in other genres?

R: I have also written contemporary romance stories. I have a series of six, Havenport Romance. These stories started out as short stories for anthologies that my critique partners and I published over the last few years. We decided to individually publish them. My stories take place in a small New England town. While I enjoyed writing them, my readers prefer my historical stories. I believe it has to do with the "voice" of my stories.

S: If you had to do it all over again, would you still choose to write books?

R: Yes, but I wouldn’t have waited so long. I loved my job at the bank and spent over 25 years there. However, the creativity and camaraderie I have found in the writing community has been wonderful, and I find out more about myself with each book I write.

S: Do you read reviews?

R: Yes, I do read reviews of my own books and others. I get insight into what readers like and don’t like. For my own stories, I find out what worked and what didn’t. You can tell I am from corporate America where in my day, "continual improvement" was the mantra.

S: What attracted you to your current partner?

R: Way back, I was a single mom with two kids. I got involved with a singles group and began organizing events. Paul called to come to the Super Bowl Party. We met at the party and had a good time. He asked me out on a date. I brought information about some of the women he met and some that couldn’t make that party. He listened and nodded and said he wasn’t interested in them. The following week he asked me out, I told him about three other women. Again, he listened and nodded then told me, "no." They didn’t interest him. On our third date, I started to tell him about another woman he might want to meet, but I stopped before I got started. He smiled and said thank you. Now, was I interested? Yes, but there was a stumbling block. I am nearly 10 years older than him. This September, we’ll be married for 40 years.

S: Congratulations! I suspect if you fell in love today, few would react to the age difference.

What inspired "The Lady and the Barrister?"

R: If you read the story, I documented those first few dates with Paul. It is my homage to my very dear, very loving husband. In addition, many readers enjoyed my series, The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea. I decided to add three more stories. This series is The Return of The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea. The theme is still women who have special skills, and all are graduates of the same female seminary. Lady Marianna Ravencroft is the ultimate party giver and hostess. Many people want her to create their events. She is more than happy, but Ladies do not work, and especially for money. She does charge a high price, but her fees are given to the village foundation to feed and shelter the needy. Lord Fraser Castleton is surprised to find out he has inherited a title and estate. He has returned from the war. Anna and Fraser are childhood friends. Both find themselves wealthy, single, and attracting money hungry, position seeking people. They decide to pretend they’re courting while they each look for a match for the other.

S: Is there anything special you would like people to know about "The Lady and the Barrister?"

R: The stories in both The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea and The Return of The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea are about strong women who fight with their brains for their place in society as well as for and with the man they love. He just must be worthy!

Here's the blurb:

She swore she’d help him find his soul mate. Will she realize he has met his match?

Lady Anna Ravencroft shines brightly as a much-admired organizer and hostess. In her mind it is the one thing at which she succeeds. Inwardly she is shy, retiring… a wallflower. With two failed seasons that ended in disaster she has accepted marriage might not be in her future.

Lord Fraser Castleton, a London barrister is shocked when he inherits a title and estate from his father’s great uncle and becomes the 8th Duke of Willbury. He returns to Sommer-by-the-Sea to take up permanent residence. He crosses paths with his longtime friend, Lady Anna. He confides that he is the target of every mother with an unmarried daughter. She commiserates with him. Every eligible gentleman sees the Ravencroft purse rather than her. Together they decide to find a mate for each other. Anna presents him with a list of several eligible women. Castleton is receptive, but not enthusiastic. He gives her the same reaction with the subsequent two lists. Will she realize he has already found his match?

Richard Younge who doesn’t always play by the rules wants to be the next Member of Parliament for his borough. His political backer will support him if Younge can finance the campaign himself. He suggests Younge find a wealthy wife to support his political plans. Marrying into the Ravencroft family would all but guarantee not only his backer’s continued support but provide the steady stream of money needed to claim his place amongst the gentry. He calls on Lady Anna for assistance with a campaign event and has an ulterior motive.

Two men vie for Lady Anna, but who will she choose? The smooth politician or the down-to-earth barrister turned duke?