You write some of my favorite heroes and in LOVE IN 3D, Xavier is another example of your strong and sexy yet sweet heroes. What makes a good hero for you?
He must be someone I’d want to date in real life. - grin - Emotionally mature but not perfect by any means. Handsome—if not traditionally, then at least appealing to the heroine—and funny. And he’s typically a part of a group, a family or band of brothers. I find the hero’s family almost as appealing as the hero!
Justine, the heroine in LOVE IN 3D, has complicated family relationships. These is a theme often repeated in your novels. What do you like about using this as a source of conflict in your books?
When writing contemporary romance, a lot of the conflict has to be with relationship dynamics, as the heroine isn’t running from a killer (not a romantic suspense book) or fleeing vampires (not paranormal.) And if there is no obstacle to the protagonists’ happily ever after, the book will be done in a few pages. And boring, to be frank. We need to see them hurdle obstacles and succeed! Family makes for the juiciest conflict, and I like families where there’s some dysfunction as it makes for better growth for the main characters.
Since you write both contemporary romance and paranormal romances, what do you like most about writing each?
Ah, such a great question! I love writing contemporary romances because they feel more real to me, and I can make my own happy ending for the characters, set in places I’d like to live. (You have NO idea how much time I spend on Zillow looking at apartments and cute towns where I set my characters.) When my McCauley Brothers series hit, it was probably because of all the love and longing I had to live on the West Coast alongside these great fictional people.
Paranormal romance has always been a favorite of mine. Why? Because I can dream up worlds and make all the rules for my characters. Physics gives way to magic, and all sorts of creatures fall in and out of love. Plus, there’s never a limit on anything I can do in a paranormal world. I find that really exciting.
You write a lot about male friendships. How is it different writing male friendships or dialogue between men versus women?
As much as we like to think we’re all basically the same, there are some stark differences between the sexes. Having spent a lot of my work life in male-dominated spaces (the Marine Corps, a trucking company, IT), I’ve seen how the male mind works (yeah, yeah, I know everyone’s different.) Men tend to be frank around each other, not always curbing language or inappropriate dialogue. And they banter a lot. Women tend to be more emotionally focused (again, I KNOW everyone’s different; I’m generalizing.) They’re softer, more supportive in an overt way. A lot of men tend to keep serious, emotional baggage close, whereas women will take out that baggage, air it out with girlfriends, then be done with it. Or tuck it back away to deal with later. Again, different strokes for different folks, but when I’m writing, I’m conscious of how I see men and women reacting to things.
If you could only pick one of your books, other than this one, to a romance reader unfamiliar with your work, which one would you pick? And why?
Hmm. Other than this one? I think I’d choose What to Do with a Bad Boy (McCauley Brothers) for a contemporary romance, as it’s got a terrific balance of family, romance, emotional distress, and laughter. And Between Bloode and Wolf for a paranormal romance. I absolutely love the world I created in that book, and the heroine is big and strong and more than a match for her vampire love interest.
I love every book I write, but my most recent releases are only getting better.
Other authors I’ve interviewed have told me that the kinds of books they enjoy reading are different from the kind of books they enjoy writing. What do you like to read? Favorite books? Favorite author?
Ha. It’s funny, but I agree! I tend to read books in a genre other than the one I’m currently writing. But my favorite genre is urban fantasy. It’s a blend of the real world mixed with the supernatural. My favorite authors all write in that genre: Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, and Anne Bishop. They’re auto-buys for me. I have too many favorite romance authors to count. But some authors I really like are Shelly Laurenston, Cynthia Eden, Laura Griffin, and Jayne Ann Krentz, to name a few.
What are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on a paranormal romance novella, the ninth book in my Cougar Falls (small town shapeshifter romance) series. The title is Winter’s Thaw, and it’s part of a multi-author, holiday anthology releasing in December titled Shifter Christmas Howlidays. Winter’s Thaw is such a cute Christmas romance between an introverted fox and a sly bear. Bring on the romance, shifter style!
"I got 99 problems but a Mitch ain't one."
A friends-to-lovers, fake-boyfriend romance from NYT and USA Today bestseller Marie Harte
DEAR AUNT TRUTH: Thanks for taking the time to answer me. I got 99 problems but a Mitch ain’t one. (Heh—he’s my ex.) My life is complicated. I have enough trouble dealing with my jerk of a boss, my overbearing parents, an awful bridesmaid’s dress, and my wayyyy too sexy downstairs neighbor. He’s the real problem.
The good news is we’re friends. Xavier is smart, kind, and heck, I’ll say it—beyond nice to look at. But when my mom forces me into a plus-one situation for my sister’s wedding, I lie and tell her I’m bringing Xavier—my new (fake) boyfriend.
He’s up for tricking my parents, especially if I return the favor with his mom, acting as his new (again, fake) girlfriend. Except somehow I find myself liking him a lot more than I should. And, well, things are getting heated, especially in the bedroom. I’m falling in love. And I’m not sure what to do about it…
Falling for 2C
Romance Comedy | Romance Contemporary [No Box Books, On Sale: August 16, 2022, e-Book, ISBN: 2940166715975 / eISBN: 9781642920765]
A strong, sexy, and supportive hero and a story you can sink your teeth into!
Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. Writing romance, and in particular erotic romance, across the genres, she's created stories set on other worlds, among paranormal creatures, and between normal men and women seeking true love. Marie is a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit her website and fall in love.
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