Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Kris Tualla a valued member of my local RWA chapter.

Kris Tualla, a dynamic award-winning and internationally published author of historical romances, writes with a fast-paced and succinct style. Her plots are full of twists, passion, and very satisfying outcomes! Kris started in 2006 with nothing but a nugget of a character in mind, and has created a dynasty – The Hansen Series. Norway is the new Scotland!

Kris is an active member of both Romance Writers of America and the Historical Novel Society. She is an enthusiastic speaker and teacher, and created Arizona Dreamin’ – Arizona’s first romance-reader event!

1. How old were you when you fell in love with reading? Can you remember what book/books inspired you?

My first “chapter books” were the animal stories by Thornton Burgess; I believe I was 8 when I began to devour them. By 11, I was reading every book of the “Black Stallion” series by Walter Farley. “Heidi” was another favorite – I had my mother’s copy from the 1930s and read it 5-6 times at least. Then I read “Gone With the Wind” in junior high. Twice.

I love the Black Stallion.

2. We all have favorite books, the books we read over and over again. What other books have you read more than twice?

I discovered Kathleen Woodiwiss in college (early 1970s) and read her first 6 novels repeatedly, all the way through the 1980s. In 2006, I discover Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander” series and read each of her first 4 books twice. The one book in my life which – when I read the last paragraph, I flipped to the front and immediately started it again – was “Shogun.”

My mother adored Shogun.

3. What is your favorite guilty pleasure? The one you’re embarrassed to let other people know about. Come on you can tell us, we’ll keep it a secret.

***Looks around for witnesses, then whispers her answer:*** Reality shows. But ONLY the “good” ones: Idol/X-Factor/America’s Got Talent… Biggest Loser… Bachelor/ette (my HUSBAND got me hooked!)… Celebrity Apprentice.

To counterbalance, I brag about watching Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Castle and White Collar.

Castle and White Collar are two of my favorites. I haven’t gotten into America’s Got Talent, but I love Britian’s Got Talent- I watch it on youtube.

4. If you were to write yourself into your book what kind of character would you be?

I am my heroines. I mean really, aren’t we all? They are the best of our intentions, the most polished of our skills, and a mirror to our own flaws. But in the end, we triumph.

I love that answer- it’s true my heroes and heroines have a lot of qualities that I wish I had.

5. What do you love most about your current book?

My hero. He’s a DEAF private investigator – “A Discreet Gentleman of Discovery” – in 1720s Norway. He’s intelligent, gorgeous, clever, beautiful, determined, so handsome, honorable… and deeply damaged. The heroine shakes up his carefully constructed world and over 3 books – so far – challenges every aspect of his existence. He is fundamentally changing, and healing, in the process.

Sounds wonderful- I love characters with unique characters.

6. If your book was turned into a movie who you play your main characters?

I have 6 books out, so I’ll use my Nicolas & Sydney trilogy to answer that: NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU and JENNIFER CONNELLY. I discovered Nikolaj in the 8-episode FOX series “New Amsterdam” when I was working on the trilogy and fell head-over-heels for this amazing Danish actor with the same name as my hero. He is currently starring as Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones.

Shoot. I just betrayed my real reason for watching, didn’t I? 😉

It’s okay we won’t tell. Great choices I would so watch them in a movie together.

7. Give us a super secret peek into what you’re working on next?

***Looks around AGAIN for witnesses, then whispers her answer even more softly:*** My discreet gentleman’s trilogy is in the hands of Desert Breeze Publishing and will be released in March, August and December of 2012. So now I’m going back to write Nicolas Hansen’s grandfather’s and father’s stories. Nicolas, himself, gave me the plot lines in “A Woman of Choice”:

“Martin Gunnar Hansen was born in Norway and emigrated to America at age twenty-seven. He met a good Norse girl on the ship and they were married by the captain. By the time the ship docked in Boston Harbor, my father was a month past conception.”

and…

“My father applied here in Missouri for a land grant. Then he went back to Pennsylvania and told my mother that he was moving to the Missouri Territory and would she please come with him. She said ‘yes’ and they married in August of 1782. They moved to this land that same month, much to the consternation of her parents. Miss Kirsten Sven was their only child and they were not well pleased to have her go traipsing off to the unsettled wilderness.”

So many wonderful books to look forward to. Thanks so much for joining us here today Kris it’s been a lot of fun having you here. Because I know you want to keep up with Kris and all the great books she’s working on you can find her on Facebook, Blog, website, or find her @KrisTualla on Twitter. All of her books can be found here.

“A Discreet Gentleman of Discovery” – Passed over as heir to the Hansen dynasty because he was deaf, Brander Hansen’s life’s goal is to gain his own estate and prove his father’s decision wrong. Working as an investigator for hire in 1721 Christiania, Norway, he invests in a likely opportunity – until the lady of that same estate requests his assistance in saving her ancestral home.

To view the “A Discreet Gentleman of Discovery” silent trailer in ASL:

To view the traditional trailer: