I’m delighted to welcome New York Times Bestselling author ELIZABETH HOYT to Rakes and Rascals today for an exclusive interview.
I’m delighted to be on your blog, Carol!
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R&R:
Could you tell us where you were born and what it was like growing up there?
Elizabeth:
I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, which is muggy and hot and sub-tropical and where my mother’s extended family lives. I remember catching an anole lizard when I was four-ish and being quite proud of myself and bringing it in the house to show my mother where, of course, it got loose and my mother and aunt had to chase and catch it.
We moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota when I was four and a half. Saint Paul is very cold in winter and I walked to school in snowmobile boots lined with plastic bread bags to keep my feet dry. This was very sad as some of the other girls wore mod shiny snow boots that came to their knees and were much easier to slide in the snow in.
With my grandmother
R&R:
How would you describe yourself – temperamental or easy-going?
Elizabeth:
I’d like to say I’m easy-going, but I have something of a wicked temper, so…
R&R:
When it comes to food do you like sweet or savoury or both?
Elizabeth:
Both! Duh!
R&R:
What is your most treasured possession?
Elizabeth:
My maternal grandmother’s star sapphire ring. My grandfather was in the merchant marines in WWII and picked up an egg-shaped star-sapphire in India, which he brought back to my grandmother. It was set into a ring. When my uncle married in the late 1970s he gave his wife my grandmother’s engagement ring. After that my grandmother wore the star-sapphire ring on her ring finger. I was very close to my grandmother and when she died shortly before I married she made sure that the ring would be given to me.
R&R:
If you were able to afford a second home anywhere in the world where would you choose and why?
Elizabeth:
Ooo! That’s a hard one! I think Scotland—maybe even in the Orkney Islands—because I loved Scotland as a young girl. Also, the Orkneys at least are very beautiful and very out-of-the-way so it would make a perfect place for a writing retreat.
The Orkneys
R&R:
Finally, what has been your most embarrassing moment?
Elizabeth:
Well, the most recent embarrassing moment was when I helped host a historical romance party at the Romantic Times Convention and we all wore costumes. My costume was, hands down, the most half-assed: I had a white Marie Antoinette wig and a long knit dress in bright pink. The wig started falling off I believe before the party even started. Half way through, sweating, with white make-up running down my face and my wig askew, some lovely French girls came up with my books that they’d brought with them from FRANCE to have me sign and all I could think was, “They must be soooo disappointed!”
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Elizabeth, thank you so much for taking time out to be here today and sharing these fascinating facts about yourself.
Thank you, Carol!
If you would like to find out more about Elizabeth and her books, here are the links:
Rakes And Rascals 
Woohoo to a fellow Minnesotan! Although it’s definitely cold in winter here, I’ll prefer the cold than the hot muggy weather of the south.
But laughing out loud to your embarrassing moment. I don’t think they were disappointed at all. You probably showcased the reality of how difficult it was to be afloat in a wig, makeup, and dress throughout the party. Just be glad there was no dancing. There wasn’t was there? 🙂
No dancing, ki pha, thank goodness! But I think Minnesota today may be just as hot and muggy as New Orleans. Uff da!
Another terrific interview! Thanks Carol. Ms. Hoyt is a fave of mine.
Thank you, Dot. I was thrilled to welcome Elizabeth back to the blog.
So glad you like my books!
Another lovely interview, Carol, and incidentally, another of my favorites. LOL
Thank you, Rose. 🙂
So glad you like my books, Rose! 😉
I love Elizabeth’s books!! That wig was something else, as was the pink gown! Shared.
Thank you for sharing, Ella. It’s a real privilege to have Elizabeth on my blog.