1--What is the title of your latest release?
ODDS ON THE RAKE
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Gemma is spying on the best horseracing stable in England… And the most magnificent duke in the land!
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
Inspiration came from a very unexpected source… F1! I’d been watching Netflix’s Drive to Survive and had the random thought, “Hey! How would this look in the world of Regency horseracing?” Then I really started to think about the sport in terms of all the personalities and jobs that combine to make it possible—horses, jockeys, owners, grooms, stable lads, bookmakers, turf reporters, stud operations, blacksmiths, seamstresses, animal surgeons… Really, the list goes on and on! And from there, a variety of characters and plotlines came to me for the All’s Fair in Love and Racing series.
4--Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
Definitely! Gemma is an intelligent and caring person who will do anything for the people and horses she cares for. And Rake is just such a swoony duke…
5--What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Gemma is strong, intelligent, and fearless. Rake is driven and loyal, but also tender.
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
All about the world of Regency horseracing and the history of the Thoroughbred. Fun fact: Every Thoroughbred horse in the world is descended from only three horses—the Byerley Turk, the Darley Arabian, and the Godolphin Arabian.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I really, really try not to edit as I write, which is possible with plot development. Emotional development can be trickier and require some digging in. I find I can’t proceed all that well with plot development if my characters’ emotional arc isn’t going the way I’d like. I need to feel it the way they do, and if they’re not feeling it, I’m not either.
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
That’s easy! Sushi!
9--Describe your writing space/office!
Standup writing desk, all the usual office essentials, bookcases, and a comfy couch big enough for me and my Beagle writing partner, Bosco, who has been at my side for every single book I’ve written.
10--Who is an author you admire?
Oh, this is a tough one, because I admire so many authors. As I get older, I find myself truly appreciating Charles Dickens, as both writer and publisher.
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
Without a single doubt, it’s Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. The way she brought flawed, imperfect characters to life with beautiful writing and raw emotion on the page made me want to write like her.
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
Making the decision to write wasn’t the difficult one, because I have stories inside me that want to be told. But making the decision to publish was much harder. On the one hand, stories are created to be told and shared. On the other hand, the world of publishing is more than a bit daunting. So, I researched and made the decision to publish—and never looked back.
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
Mostly, I read literary fiction and cozy mysteries, with some non-fiction thrown in. Also, I re-read Black Silk by Judith Ivory every year.
14--What’s your favorite movie?
A Room with a View. I just love everything about it.
15--What is your favorite season?
Autumn
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
I like to bake myself a cake (usually Black Forest) and eat it with my family. That’s a good birthday.
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
If you’re looking for some humor off the beaten path, I would recommend a recent BBC show, The Cleaner. Also, the series finale for Endeavor was so very good. A few tears might’ve been shed…
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Anything involving a cookie.
19--What do you do when you have free time?
I like to go on a rambling walkabout with Bosco. And read. I do love to read.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
Next up is The Duchess Gamble, which is the second book of my All’s Fair in Love and Racing series and will release in November.
All's Fair in Love and Racing #1
For a woman on the run…
Gemma Cassidy is the daughter of an earl—on the wrong side of the blanket. To make her way in the world, and escape her abusive father, Gemma will have to get her hands dirty. Masquerading as a stableboy, she realizes she isn’t only spying on the best horseracing stable in England, but the most magnificent duke in the land.
And a man always in control…
The Duke of Rakesley has everything under control—as usual. He’s a man who knows what he wants and how to get it, like choosing a duchess who will fit into his well-ordered life without fuss. Then Gemma comes along and plays havoc with Rake’s idea of the future—but he can’t help wanting to get closer to all of her beautiful chaos.
When passion flares, all bets are off…
Working closely together reveals a powerful passion that neither of them can deny. Rake knows he wants more than a temporary arrangement, but Gemma refuses to settle for the half-life her mother had as the earl’s mistress. Yet the future isn’t as clear—or as cold—as either had envisioned. Can two independent souls surrender to their hearts’ desire?
Romance Historical [Oliver-Heber Books, On Sale: July 11, 2023, e-Book, / ]
Sofie Darling is an award-winning author of historical romance. Her debut novel, THREE LESSONS IN SEDUCTION, won the Writers' League of Texas' Manuscript Contest in the Romance Category in 2016.
She spent much of her twenties raising two boys and reading every book she could get her hands on. Once she realized she simply had to write the books she loved, she finished her English degree and embarked on her writing career. Mr. Darling and the boys gave her their wholehearted blessing.
When she's not writing heroes who make her swoon, she runs a marathon in a different state every year, visits crumbling medieval castles whenever she gets a chance, and enjoys a slightly codependent relationship with her beagle, Bosco.
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