Spotlight & Giveaway: Witty in Pink by Erica George

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Erica George to HJ!

Hi Erica and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Witty in Pink!

Hey, there! I’m so excited to chat with you about my YA Regency romcom, Witty in Pink!
 

Please summarize the book a la Twitter style for the readers here:

This summer, Blythe Rowley is living her best bougie life in the country–until her former nemesis, Briggs Goswick, shows up to ruin it. Now it’s become a season of scandal, complete with nonstop banter, a swarm of bees, and worst of all, love.
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

Growing up, becoming a functioning human being in an altogether relentless and trying world, is just as much a choice as it is a process. And the last time I saw Briggs Goswick, he was well on his way to becoming a certified manchild. I can only assume that in the four years that have since passed, he has achieved that status. He must be someone unimaginably intolerable—certainly not the kind of gentleman who warrants my entire family contemplating what kind of pudding to serve at the sure-to-be-insufferable dinner party being held in his honor.

I have been sitting in Uncle Henry’s lavender drawing room at Wrexford Park for thirty-three minutes—thirty-three minutes—listening to my uncle and cousin Charlotte debate the merits of chocolate or the downfalls of boysenberry.

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

• I started writing this book just before the pandemic, and I treated it as writing that was just for myself, like this little piece of joy when it felt like the world was falling apart. And now I get to share it with everyone! I couldn’t be happier.
• The original title of Witty in Pink was Prattle.
• The inspiration for Briggs and Blythe’s enemies-to-lovers vibe is strongly based on Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh’s portrayal of Beatrice and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing (thus the B names!)
• Witty in Pink was my creative thesis for my master’s degree at Vermont College of Fine Arts.
• I love my main characters, Briggs and Blythe, but Briggs’s younger brother, August, has my whole heart.

What first attracts your main characters to each other?

For Blythe, I think it’s Briggs’s easy confidence, even when being vulnerable. At first, Briggs is all show, and she’s incredibly turned off by his pompousness. She thinks he takes the ease of his life for granted, meanwhile, she’s struggling to make ends meet as a woman in a gentleman’s world. When he finally starts opening up, revealing to her that he struggles with plenty of things, too, she admires his strength and determination.

For Briggs, he definitely loves the challenge that Blythe presents for him. He’s gotten by in the world charming every lady he meets, but Blythe isn’t having it. He has to work hard for her approval, and he’s up for the challenge.
 

Using just 5 words, how would you describe your main characters”love affair?

It’s kind of like: Loud squawking, then they kiss.
 

The First Kiss…

“Kiss me!” she whisper-shouts.

I blink twice. “Excuse me?”

She shoves her hand into mine. Her skin is supple and warm, and I’m keenly aware of how my own hand is sweating. “Kiss me,” she says again, her huge brown eyes staring up at me through long lashes, and I’ll be damned if I make a lady ask me three times.

My free hand reaches out, cradling her jaw, fingers threading through the soft ringlets at the base of her neck, and I draw her mouth, that mouth, up to mine as I finally taste the lips that have hurled a thousand insults at me. She sucks in a sharp breath, her body going rigid, and for the briefest moment, I think I’ve done something wrong. But then she relaxes, her head tilting back just a degree, and she offers me the faintest moan that makes my entire body ache for more of her. While I still hold her right hand in mine, her left reaches for the lapel of my coat, inching me closer until the warmth from her body makes me feel like I have to crawl out of my skin to escape her. But escaping her is the last thing on my mind.

It’s only the crunch of someone’s boots on the pebbles of the garden path that breaks our kiss. I turn, my lips swollen and suddenly missing Blythe’s, and regard the man behind me.

Without revealing too much, what is your favorite scene in the book?

“Are you coming?” she asks from the doorway.

I blink, trying to remember why I’m even here in the first place, and manage to offer a choked, “Yes.” I catch up with her at the barouche and offer her my hand as she takes a step to climb inside.

She stares at it for a moment, then meets my eyes. “I can do it myself.” She lifts herself upward, but despite her most adamant protests, her foot slips, and before she can fall backward, I have her around the waist. She’s frozen in my grip, her breath coming fast, but she clings to my forearms, and I let her for as long as she needs.

“I’ve got you,” I say quietly.

She nods, her hands clenching my sleeves. “Thank you,” she finally murmurs.

“But of course,” I say with a small smile. I push her forward a bit so that she’s back on her own two feet and then offer her my hand once more. She doesn’t deny it this time, and I hold on to her until she’s seated across from her cousin.

If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would be absolutely crucial to include?

It’s the scene that comes after that confusing first kiss! Blythe is convinced that Briggs is going to propose, and she’s looking forward to turning him down:

He has a lot of nerve showing up here this morning looking the way he does. All polished and ridiculously handsome and capable of making me produce the most mortifying noises with just the
faintest brush of his mouth. I’m still blushing at the memory.

“Miss Rowley,” Briggs says quietly, removing his hat and bowing.

I curtsy, but it’s difficult to even meet his eyes. “Mr. Goswick.”

“You look very healthy this morning. Your cheeks are particularly pink.”

I swipe at my face. “Please, Mr. Goswick, enough with the pleasantries. Tell me why you’re here.” My hands fist up at my sides, and I wait for his inevitable question. The question everyone was certain he was coming to ask. The question I’ve been dreading, but the longer we stand here in silence, the more I wonder if perhaps I wouldn’t mind hearing it. I’d still refuse him, naturally, but to hear him ask it? It might be rather pleasant.

“Miss Rowley, I come to you this morning knowing full well that what happened last night hurt you more than it could ever hurt me.”

True, I think, and I’m satisfyingly surprised that he’s willing to admit this.

“And knowing you like I do, I’m certain you will not like what I have to say. What I must say.”

I’m perplexed, truly. I suppose he knows me better than I imagined if he’s so keenly aware of my distaste for marriage.

“Miss Rowley?” He lifts his gaze to mine, taking a step forward.

I match his movement, my pulse thundering in my ears. “Yes?”

Taking my hand, he lowers his voice. “I cannot marry you.”

I allow my thoughts to realign, become logical once more, and I snatch my hand from his grip. “Excuse me?”

Readers should read this book …

If they’re suffering from major Bridgerton withdrawal. If they enjoy smartly worded jabs. If banter is their favorite means of flirtation. If they like a dual POV romance.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

I’m working on three things at once, actually! Another YA Regency romcom, an adult romantasy that’s Queen Charlotte meets Outlander, and an adult baseball romcom set on Cape Cod.

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: A signed copy of Witty in Pink! Open to US only.

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: Who is your favorite Regency leading lady and why?

 
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Excerpt from Witty in Pink:

Across from us, August settles in between Amy and Miss Dixon, smiling widely, quite pleased with his work. “Go ahead, then, Miss Rowley,” he says.

Briggs takes a deep breath through his nose, straightens his shoulders, then pushes back that single unruly lock of hair that has fallen out of place. “August, have pity on Miss Rowley. And for God’s sake, have pity on the rest of us. Surely there are more interesting topics of conversation than bees
and their hives?”

I lift my head to see if anyone else shares Mr. Goswick’s opinion. My sister blinks up at me amicably, while beside her, August Goswick scowls at his brother. Julian and Mr. Parker are engaged in what must be a rather entertaining discussion if their laughter is any evidence.

Slowly, I reach for my wineglass in front of me, bringing it to my lips and taking a sip, all while staring at Briggs Goswick. It has the effect I desired. He squirms in his chair, tucks his napkin in his collar, and clears his throat, trying to avoid the fact that I’m clearly unamused by his suggestion that this line of conversation could be anything but riveting. He can say what he pleases about bees, but this is my chance to prove to my mother that my plans for my apiary business are feasible and achievable. I will not let Briggs Goswick ruin it.

“Your brother is right, Mr. August,” I say. “And I take pity on him, of course. It must be difficult to follow along, blessed as he is with the intellectual capacity of a dung beetle.”

Briggs smirks, taking a sip of his wine as well. “You understand, Miss Rowley, why sometimes I must drown out your conversation, blessed as you are with the mouth of a shrew.”

Amy and August both regard their respective siblings with wide-eyed wonder, but Mrs. Goswick attempts to interrupt. “Miss Rowley, what inspired you to go into business? It seems a rather risky endeavor for a lady so young. I admit, I’m rather impressed.”

“We didn’t have bees at Awendown House until I became interested in investing in a few skeps,” I say. “But it felt like a waste to have to kill the bees in order to harvest the honey, so I went about researching and designed a box with sliding frames that the bees can attach their combs to. It makes harvesting the honey much easier, and I can inspect the hive for any unwanted pests.”

“Truly a marvel,” says August. “And now she is looking to create these modern apiaries on local great estates.”

“And I wish Miss Rowley all the luck in the world.” Briggs refuses to validate his brother’s comment.

“Tell my brother how bees benefit crops, Miss Rowley,” August tries again.

“Well,” I say, lifting my spoon and dipping it into my soup, “bees are often—”

“I don’t need to know how bees benefit crops,” Briggs interrupts me. “I’m capable of reading a book and coming to my own conclusions. But quite frankly, we’ve never had any difficulty with the old skeps, and I don’t see the need to replace them at this time. My apologies, of course, Miss Rowley.”

I clench my jaw, pinning a smiling expression to my face despite the fact that I’d like to rip his off. “Accepted, Mr. Goswick. Still, I’m not entirely sure that opening a book would equal the amount of hours I’ve put in observing the bees and their hives.”

“That you’ve chosen to spend your free time among insects is no problem of mine,” he continues. “But please understand, Miss Rowley, that while I wish you the best in your apiary business, Mistlethrush Hall will not be where you start this great experiment. I hope I’m clear.”

By now, most of the other guests, including my uncle, are watching our conversation, their eyes settling upon me, waiting for my reaction. Except Mama. She won’t look at me. Probably because she’s right about almost everything. That I should spend this summer at Wrexford, secure a wealthy husband, and forget all about my bees, because what I truly need is a gentleman, and gentlemen—like the one before me—don’t allow ladies to dabble in men’s business.

I push my chair out, throwing my napkin down beside my bowl of soup, and drop Briggs Goswick a withering stare. “You could have at least shared your thoughts with me privately.” I gather my skirts and march from the dining room, almost missing entirely the look of what could be regret occupying Briggs’s face.

Excerpts. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Keep your friends close. Keep your nemesis closer.

After nearly five years of avoiding him, Briggs Goswick may have appeared at my feet on horseback like a handsome white knight but, in fact, he is a certified man-child.

Briggs may be many things―a society darling (annoying), attractive (so unfair), and heir to an elite family (helpful)―but after humiliating me at a ball several years ago, he is primarily my archnemesis.

His presence has made this summer go from bad to…complicated. I have the weight of saving my family’s name and finances solely on my shoulders, while I endure an endless parade of dreary balls and insufferable suitors to make a favorable match. But I have another idea―a business venture―to save my family. All I need are investors.

And as for Briggs? He’s hiding a secret as well: he’s flat broke.

Now the person I loathe the most in this world is just as trapped as I am―both penniless and our households depending on us to save them. And I think I know how. All I have to do is play nice with the very devil I’ve sworn to hate…

His society connections can boost me from near obscurity to help me win over investors for my business. And perhaps I can help him woo an aloof heiress with deep pockets. It’s a long shot. It might even work…but do I want it to?
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Meet the Author:

Erica George is the author of young adult romances including the upcoming Regency romcom, Witty in Pink. She is a graduate of The College of New Jersey with degrees in both English and education, and holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She splits her time between New Jersey and Cape Cod, MA, and when she’s not writing, you can find her exploring river towns, whale watching, or engrossed in quality British dramas with her dog at her side.
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