Laurie Alice Eakes – Real Life Romantic Interview – Part 1 of 1

Shannon here: Historical romance author, Laurie Alice Eakes shares insight into her real life romance and two copies of her latest release, The Honorable Heir (Book 1 in the Tuxedo Park series) up for grabs for two winners. Comment on this post to enter. Deadline: May 17th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Laurie:

• What’s the most romantic thing your spouse has ever done for you?

Oddly the most romantic thing my husband has ever done for me is also one of the silliest and simplest. We were living in a rather remote location for his job, and I was stuck in the house sometimes for weeks at a time for reasons I won’t go into. One day, I was craving a handful of M&Ms.It was a weird craving, not just the chocolate, but these overly sweet candies kept nagging at me for days, though I probably hadn’t had one in years. One day, he came home and handed me a little bag of them. He had gone all over his office building seeking a candy machine that offered M&Ms. He’s done more elaborately and intense romantic acts before and since, and that one melts me whenever I think about it because I know what it cost him to hunt down something so silly.

• Where is the most romantic place you and your spouse have ever been?

Sailing on a catamaran off South Padre Island. Our ninth anniversary.

• What simple gesture does your spouse do that melts you every time?

For some reason, whenever he kisses me on the cheek, I turn into a puddle. Something about that simple gesture of affection goes straight to my heart.

• How soon after meeting your spouse did you know he/she was the one?

Ten days. We were taking a training program together—where we met—and were sitting on the floor of the music room in the dorm. He was playing the guitar, and I was listening to him when I heard that still, small voice of the Lord say, “He’s the one.” I have never doubted that I got the message right.

• Who is most romantic, you or your spouse?

I think he is. For me, being romantic is easy. I write romance all day, after all. With my husband, being romantic doesn’t come naturally, so when he makes a romantic gesture, I know he put a great deal of thought and effort into it, which, to me, is more romantic than the casual, frequent gestures.

• What is the most caring thing your spouse has ever done for you?

He’s done several caring things, and one he has done more than once, one time especially, was spend an entire day off fixing my computer when something went terribly wrong and I was on deadline. He rescued my files and got my computer working better than ever. He really needed that day off, but gave it to me.

• Where did you and your spouse go for your honeymoon?

We went to Chicago. He had just graduated from college, and I was in grad school, so we didn’t have an abundance of money. We could afford four days in the city (we lived about 50 miles from Chicago at the time). We stayed in a boutique hotel right in the inner loop, went to see The Tempest at the Shakespeare theater, and ate dinner at a restaurant right over Lake Michigan… It was a wonderful four days.
About Laurie: Award-winning author Laurie Alice Eakes wanted to be a writer since knowing what one was. Her first book won the National Readers Choice Award in 2007, and her third book was a Carol Award finalist in 2010. Between December of 2008 and January of 2010, she sold thirteen books to Barbour Publishing, Avalon Books, and Baker/Revell, making her total sales fifteen. Recently, she added two novella sales to that collection, as well as having her first book with Baker/Revell, Lady in the Mist, picked up by Crossings Book Club, and six of her books chosen for large print editions by Thorndike Press.
She has been a public speaker for as long as she can remember; thus, only suffers enough stage fright to keep her sharp. In 2002, while in graduate school for writing fiction, she began to teach fiction in person and online. She lives in Texas with her husband, two dogs, and probably too many cats.
About the book – The Honorable Heir: Catherine, Lady Bisterne, returns to Tuxedo Park cloaked in scandal, the widow of a nobleman who’d loved only her fortune. As she sets out to repair her family’s reputation, another Englishman in her midst is seeking reparations of a different sort. While Lord Tristram Wolfe may suspect that Catherine has stolen the Bisterne jewels, he looks at her in a way her husband never had.
As Tristram’s investigation continues, one thing becomes clear: the only thing Lady Catherine has ever stolen is his heart. But can he convince her to trust another English nobleman…and take a second chance on love?
The Honorable Heir is Book 1 in the Tuxedo Park series. The rest of the series is written by Gina Welborn, Lisa Richardson, and Jennifer Alee.
Come back May 7th for Jamie Adams!