Friday Guest: Susan Macatee, Time Travel, and a spicy new release!

Today I'd like to welcome Susan Macatee, a wonderful author with a penchant for Civil War romances and an eye for detail. Her newest release is Thoroughly Modern Amanda, a time travel romance that sounds like a lot of fun. I'll definitely be picking this one up!

1. At any given time do you work on only one story at a time and maybe plot out the next one or are there many ideas racing around your head?
I'm always thinking ahead to future stories, but I try to concentrate on my WIP and maybe make notes for the next one. Right now, I'm tied up with promotion for two new releases, but I did write the first draft to a new historical romance over the summer that I plan to start revising after the holidays. Once that's finished and submitted, I'll start plotting out the next story. But I also write short stories for magazines and try to squeeze in a couple while a novel or novella is cooling off, or while I’m in between those longer stories.

2. Is there a genre you haven't written in but would like to? Or wish you could write in?
I'm thinking about trying a contemporary romance for my next story. Maybe even one including a baseball player hero. Baseball is my favorite spectator sport and a lot of those players are real hunks any heroine could fall for. Another genre I’d like to try is romantic suspense, since I like to read it.

3. Do you add an element of romantic suspense in your stories? If so, how difficult is it to maintain the integrity of the mystery?
I do like to include suspense in my stories, most of which are adventure romances, set during and around the American Civil War. My latest full-length novel, Cassidy's War, was set after the war and included a lot of suspense. I think that's an ingredient that keeps readers turning the pages of any genre story. They aren’t really mysteries, though. I never tried writing a mystery, because I like to allow the story to flow, not worry about building a puzzle that has to be solved in the end.

4. Say you have unlimited funds: What kind of writing office/cottage would you create for yourself?
With limited funds, it would probably be what I have now. My desk sits in the corner of my dining room next to the window overlooking the back yard. After being a stay-at-home mom for many years, I've learned I can divide my attention and don't think I could write in a closed up room away from the action. I’d be too distracted wondering what was going on in the rest of the house. lol

5. If you could turn your novel into a TV show, which novel or series would you do?
I'd do a series of time travel stories based on Erin's Rebel and continuing through Thoroughly Modern Amanda.
Where would it be set?
They're both set in 19th century America. The first one during the Civil War, the latter, 1880. 
Network TV (ABC, NBC, CBS), Cable (AMC, BBC, Lifeitme) or Premium Cable (HBO, Showtime, Starz)? I'd say AMC because they have the series, ‘Hell On Wheels’. Mine would be a bit different because of the time travel angle, but both stories contain a lot of action and suspense.

6. Finally, tell us about your latest release!
Thoroughly Modern Amanda is based on my Civil War time travel romance, Erin's Rebel , but takes place 15 years later. Amanda Montgomery was a small child in Erin's Rebel, but is now grown up and holding down a job as a magazine reporter. She isn't the time traveler, though. Jack Lawton is a modern day construction worker who travels back in time to meet Amanda.

Here's the blurb:
Believing anything is possible, magazine reporter Amanda Montgomery dreams about being a modern woman in a nineteenth century world, much like her exceptional step-mother.  But society expects well-off young ladies to focus on finding a suitable husband and raising a family.  And then Jack appears—with no past and unconventional ideas. Does he hold the key to another century as well as her heart, or is she destined to stay in her own time?

Construction worker Jack Lawton wants to preserve an old home that's scheduled for demolition.  But when he sneaks inside for a final look, a loose beam falls on his head, and upon waking, he finds himself in the arms of a beautiful woman.  His only problem—he's no longer in the twenty-first century.  Can he find his way back home? Does he really want to?

And an excerpt:
He bit into the potato relishing the flavor. He wouldn’t mind staying in this century so much with a great cook like Mrs. O’Leary feeding him.

As he devoured the chicken and potatoes, he noticed Amanda picked at the food on her plate.

“Not hungry?” he asked.

She gazed at him, licking her lips. “It’s just…I can’t stop thinking of how you kissed me.” Her face colored and she glanced toward the pond.

“Oh.” Jack swallowed, suddenly ashamed. He was doing the exact opposite of what he’d promised Erin. “Was it good?” he asked feeling lame.

She dropped her gaze, but smiled. “Oh, yes. It was very good.” She glanced up. “The best I’ve ever felt with a man.”

“How many men…” Jack stopped himself.
She shrugged. “I haven’t been with any man, except for a quick peck on the cheek. It isn’t proper for an unmarried woman, you know.” Her gaze bore into his.

“Of course.” His face heated. “It was a stupid question. I mean…I forgot about how things are in this time period.”

She bit her lip. “So, it’s different in your time, I gather.”

Jack gulped. He really hadn’t planned to get into a discussion of future dating customs. He was sure they didn’t even call it dating here. Courting maybe?

“Amanda…” He leaned close, so close her sweet breath tickled his cheek. “I’d like to kiss you again, if it’s okay.”

She glanced around, then nodded.

He scooted closer, to enfold his arms around her back and draw her close. Leaning toward her mouth, he noted her eyes closing as her lips parted on a sigh.

He lowered his mouth and kissed her, lightly swirling the tip of his tongue into her mouth. She didn’t resist, her body pliant in his arms. She pressed herself closer as he angled her so she partially lay beneath him. He deepened the kiss causing his body to react, his erection pressing against her belly.

He longed to lie beside her, but the fact they were outside in a public location, reined him in. He released her. 

Her eyes fluttered open wide. “Oh, Jack,” she gasped. “That was so—so wonderful.”

“Glad you liked it.” Jack grinned. He glanced around. “I hope no one here took note of us.”

Amanda pursed her lips. “I can guarantee we’ll be the talk of the town come tomorrow.” She brushed out her skirt.

“You think?” Jack frowned as he pondered the implications of what he’d just done. Her father wouldn’t much like him taking liberties with his daughter. And if Erin found out, she’d be furious.

Thoroughly Modern Amanda is available at The Wild Rose Press

Leave a comment on this post for the chance to win a PDF copy of Thoroughly Modern Amanda and a $10.00 gift certificate for The Wild Rose Press. And if you’ve left a comment on of my other blog tour posts, you’ll be entered to win the grand prize, a $50.00 Amazon gift card. Winner will announced on my own blog tomorrow December 29th.