Interview and Review: Geek Girls Don't Date Dukes by Gina Lamm

Today we welcome author Gina Lamm.  She joins us with an interview as she promotes her latest book, Geek Girls Don't Date Dukes.

Publisher: Sourcebooks (Casablanca)
Date of publication: September 2013

Leah Ramsey has always loved historical romance novels and dressing in period costumes. So when she has a chance to time travel and experience the history for herself, she jumps at it-figuring it can't be too hard to catch the eye of a duke. After all, it happens all the time in her novels. Avery Russell, valet and prize pugilist, reluctantly helps Leah gain a position in the Duke of Granville's household... as a maid. Domestic servitude wasn't exactly what she had in mind, but she's determined to win her happily ever after. Even if the hero isn't exactly who she's expecting...

My thoughts:

Geek Girls Don't Date Geeks is the second in the "Geek Girls" series by Ms. Lamm.  I have to admit that this one was just OK for me.  I think I liked the first one more.  The one thing about this book that I did like was the hero isn't a rich duke.  He is a valet who has nothing to offer but himself. He has been caught in a bad situation and is doing everything he can to take care of his ailing aunt. I liked him much more for that.  

The only thing that I didn't like was that it felt like it took forever for Avery and Leah to get together. Other than physical attraction, I wasn't feeling the love between the two.  I didn't care much for Leah. She came across as a bit self-centered to me.  But, she did redeem herself in the end.  It was a quick read, so if you read the first one, it's worth reading this one.

Hi everyone, and happy Monday to you all! GEEK GIRLS DON’T DATE DUKES hasn’t even been out a week, and I’m already overwhelmed with love. I’m so grateful to From the TBR Pile for having me as a guest today. Thanks Kari and Autumn!

Kari& Autumn: What inspired you to become a writer?

Gina: I love stories. I’ve been a voracious reader all my life. I love playing pretend, being creative, acting, dancing, writing, all of it. But telling stories through writing has become my favorite way to express my need to create. When I discovered eBooks, I started spending a lot—a whole lot—of money on them. And I read so fast that I really was outpacing my book budget! One day I started to write a story to entertain myself, and that story turned into my very first novel. Through the encouragement of friends and family I decided to try to get it published. Though that book was never accepted for publication, it definitely put me on the path to becoming a career author. I love to write, and I can’t imagine having any other career as fulfilling as this.

Kari& Autumn: Where do you come up with the ideas for your books?

Gina: Stephen King’s book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft says to write what you like. That’s what I had been doing before I read his wise words, but I really do try to keep that the focus of my writing now. I write about what I love, and what I like. When trying to come up with a new concept for a book or a series, I scan my brain for things I’m drawn to. With the concept for the “Geek Girls” series, World of Warcraft and Regency romances were my two “likes” and I mooshed them together to get a kooky time-travel series. I still try to stay true to things I like when picking concepts now. I don’t write to trends, I write what I’d want to read. If that matches a trend, wonderful! But if not, that’s okay too. I think it’s important for authors to be true to themselves.

Kari& Autumn: What exciting projects are waiting in the wings?

Gina: Well, I’m currently hard at work on the third and final book in the “Geek Girls” series. It’s entitled THE GEEK GIRL AND THE RELUCTANT RAKE. I’m billing this one as my “Regency Road Trip,” and it’s hella fun. You’ll meet Ella Briley, the heroine of book three, in GEEK GIRLS DON’T DATE DUKES. I’m having a ball writing this kickass female comic artist. But I’m definitely looking forward to a couple of new, unrelated projects to follow up with. It’s a bit too early to spill any of those ideas, though. Still keeping a coupla cards close to the chest. ;)

Kari& Autumn: Who is your favorite literary character and why?

Gina: Oh gosh, that’s totally a tough one. But I do have to go back to Mr. Stephen King. DOLORES CLAIBORNE is my favorite book of all time. Even though romance is my favorite genre, DOLORES CLAIBORNE taught me so much about voice, and deep characterization that I can’t discount its affect on me now. Even when I didn’t understand a darn thing about novel writing, there was something so magnetic about that character, about her struggle, about the human experience as seen through her eyes. Actually, talking about it makes me really want to go read it again right now! :)

 Kari& Autumn: Just for fun, if you could be any animal, what would it be and why?

Gina: I’d probably be a hawk, or a falcon. A bird of prey, so I wouldn’t have to worry so much about being eaten. But I’d love to fly. I think that’s a pretty common human wish, but as I’m writing this while in vacation up in the mountains, I think it’d be extra cool!

Thanks so much for having me here. I’ve really enjoyed it! 

About the author:

Becoming a magician proved to be less interesting than Gina Lamm had anticipated when she was six,

so in her adult life, she’s turned to writing.

This belly-dancing, wisecracking, marshmallow-addicted mother of three energetic fur-children loves nothing more than penning funny, emotional tales of love, lust, and entertaining mishaps.

Married to a real live superhero, she and her family live in North Carolina, surrounded by tobacco farms, possums, and the occasional hurricane.

Website: http://www.ginalamm.net

twitter username:

GinaLamm