Miranda Owen:
Each hero in your Victorian Rebels
series is sexy but a little dangerous, but your heroines are all very different
types of women, and the circumstances surrounding how each romance develops are
wildly different. In THE
DUKE, the hero and heroine have a unique love story and are at odds for a
good chunk of the book. Did their unusual relationship make writing this book
any more challenging than any of your previous books? Do you, as a reader, enjoy
reading stories in which the hero and heroine have a somewhat antagonistic
relationship for a portion of the story?
Kerrigan Byrne: I think thatโs a fantastic question! Iโm not
really one for conflict in my personal life, so actually writing a hero and
heroine who are a bit at odds is kinda fun because itโs so diametrically opposed
to my laid back personality. What I enjoyed most about writing Imogen, the
heroine in THE DUKE, is that sheโs a woman who is relevant to today. With
everyone marching for equality and womenโs issues at the forefront of our minds,
I find it exciting to write about a woman who challenges her heroโs very idea of
what it means to be a woman. I do enjoy reading about a somewhat antagonistic
relationship, only until a woman crosses the line from strong to downright
unreasonable, thatโs where some writers lose me, you know? But we love that
Elizabeth/Darcy dynamic, donโt we?
Miranda Owen: Youโve written stories in which the hero and heroine have
a long and complex past, as well as ones in which they are strangers who develop
a sudden and intense attraction. In THE DUKE, the two main characters experience
a bit of both. Which do you prefer to write about?
Kerrigan Byrne: To be honest, I find it much easier to write
about a couple who has a complicated past already. However I find it a little
more fun to write a couple โfrom scratchโ as it were. So, it really depends on
what the couple, the plot, and the characters call for.
Miranda Owen: One of the subjects that comes up in my online book groups
is โalpha vs. alphaholeโ. I donโt know if youโve heard of this before, but the
debate centers around whether a hero who has many alpha-like characteristics is
by default an overbearing and insufferable jerk. Iโm of the opinion that a hero
can be commanding, confident, and strong without being condescending, abusive
toward the heroine, and capable of avoiding the โpushing her away for her own
goodโ mistake. What is your take?
Kerrigan Byrne: *wince* I grimace because I have kind of a
thing for alpha holes. However, I feel like there is a very real difference
between an alpha male and an alpha hole. For example, the Duke of Trenwyth is
most definitely an alpha hole. Even though heโs dealing with some awful
post-prisoner-of-war PTSD, heโs condescending, heโs a snob, heโs classist, and
even an admitted hypocrite. He has a LOT of growing to do in his book.
However, if you read The Hunter or The Highlander (the previous books in this
series), the heroes of both books are very alpha without really being
condescending or rude because that isnโt a character flaw that belongs to them.
So I share your opinion. There are alphas and there are alpha holes, and I
happen to write both.
Miranda Owen: Iโve seen a few romances turned into manga adaptations or
regular graphic novels โ including books by Jane Austen as well as several
paranormal romance series. Would you ever consider having your Victorian
Rebels series into graphic novels?
Kerrigan Byrne: OMG. I would DIE. I feel like the Victorian
Rebels all have a back story that would make super bad ass graphic novel
stories! Someone get on this, will ya?
Miranda Owen: Two fun yet totally critical questions: Jane Eyre or
Wuthering Heights? And Mr. Darcy or Mr. Rochester?
Kerrigan Byrne: Oh, gurl, youโre making me pick? As much as I
love a good Darcy, Iโve always been team Rochester. Call if Freudian if you want
to, but I am a huge fan of older, complicated men. I cut my teeth on Victoria
Holt and the Bronte sisters. That isnโt to say I donโt appreciate Jane Austen.
Miranda Owen: What are you working on right now? What do you have
planned down the road? You seem to hint at a possible story for Menaโs
step-daughter Rhianna. Do you plan on giving her a book or novella of her own in
the future?
Kerrigan Byrne: I just turned in book five in the
Victorian
Rebelโs series (due out in August). Itโs titled THE SCOT BEDS HIS WIFE, and
features Liam Mackenzieโs younger brother, Gavin St. James. Then, book six is
titled, THE DEVIL STEALS A BRIDE, which is about this shadowy figure The Rook,
that has been getting closer and closer to these Victorian Rebels for the last
few books. Iโll give away a little secret here first about The Rookโฆ
What
if the real Dorian Blackwell isnโt dead? I think I need to give Rhianna a
little time to grow up, but sheโs most definitely getting a story.
Miranda Owen: Do you plan on writing a story for Morley? He seems like
such a Lisa Kleypas kind of male protagonist and an interesting character.
Kerrigan Byrne: Iโm so glad you asked! Some very interesting
revelations about Morleyโs past are going to come to light in THE DEVIL STEALS A
BRIDE that will definitely segue into his book. The title Iโm considering at the
moment is THE THIEF TAKES A LADY or AN INCONVENIENT WEDDING. (what do you think?)
Miranda Owen: While on your website, I saw that you write a series โ
along with some other authors โ about witches. Could you please describe it for
readers who may not already know about it? The covers seem very fun and sexy,
and I was wondering if there was a touch of humor in the series.
Kerrigan Byrne: Certainly! This is collaboration between some
very dear friends and I where we all write about quadruplet sister witches who
fall in love with the four horsemen of the apocalypse while doing their best to
keep the apocalypse from actually happening. It is a light-hearted, sexy, and
funny.
Miranda Owen: Since you write romances that include paranormal,
historical, and contemporary suspense โ is there anything you havenโt tried
writing that you might like to try in the future?
Kerrigan Byrne: Iโm actually working on a series right now that
is a Jack the Ripper meets Hannibal Lecter gothic mystery with a female
protagonist who specializes in crime scene clean up. Itโs REALLY speaking to me,
so I hope good things come of it.
Kerrigan Byrne has done many things to pay the bills, from law
enforcement to belly dance instructor. Now she's finally able to have the career
she'd decided upon at thirteen when she announced to her very skeptical family
that she was going to "grow up to be a romance novelist." Whether she's writing
about Celtic Druids, Victorian bad boys, or brash Irish FBI Agents, Kerrigan
uses her borderline-obsessive passion for history, her extensive Celtic
ancestry, and her love of Shakespeare in almost every story.
She lives at
the base of the Rocky Mountains with her handsome husband and three lovely
teenage girls, but dreams of settling on the Pacific Coast.
No comments posted.
© 2003-2026