AN INTERVIEW WITH STEPHANIE LAURENS Q. Could you outline the differences in the Cynster men? A. The Cynster men all have the same inherited characteristics — where they differ is in those characteristics that are more shaped by life and society. Devil, for instance, is the most dictatorial of them all, hardly surprising given he's a duke and head of the family, and has been for years. Vane, on the other hand, is quieter, more reserved, Devil's second-in-command in large degree, a man who plays his cards close to his chest. Richard, a bastard but fully acknowledged, longs for a home and land of his own to defend — something he won't get from his Cynster birthright. Demon is a hellion, a hedonist who was stubbornly convinced he could always go his own way. As for Gabriel and Lucifer, you'll have to read the Bar Cynster books #5 & #6, A SECRET LOVE and ALL ABOUT LOVE, to learn about them. Q. Will a Cynster man be the hero of your next novel? A. Assuredly. The Bar Cynster series #5, A SECRET LOVE, tells the story of how Gabriel Cynster most unexpectedly and entirely unwittingly stumbles into love. That book will be followed by the Bar Cynster series #6, currently titled ALL ABOUT LOVE and scheduled for release in February 2001, which tells the story of how Lucifer Cynster, running from love, lands himself in his true love's arms. Q. What difficulties do you experience writing your novels? A. I honestly can't think of anything I would rank as a difficulty. Challenges, certainly, but those differ dramatically with every book. I love writing my stories, so there's no element of "work" to it - each book is simply a story I want and need to write and the primary challenge with each is to writeit, present it, as effectively as I can. Q. What steps would you recommend to aspiring romance novelists to overcome these difficulties? A. As I said, I have no difficulties, but I would attribute that to the fact that I love what I'm doing. My advice to aspiring romance novelists would therefore be: do it only because you LOVE doing it. I can't imagine anything worse than finding myself in a position of having to write something I didn't want to write. Frankly, I wouldn't attempt it. You have to love what you're doing, or why do it? Q. Do you have any plans to write novels other than romance? A. Not plans. Thoughts, ideas, that sort of thing, yes, but nothing definite. That said, I would still imagine anything I write would have a strong romance thread within it. Q. Do you see any of yourself in any of your heroines? A. (laughing here) Probably only in the stubbornness quotient. Generally speaking, each heroine is in many ways "dictated" by the particular needs of and character of the hero, by which I mean she must be a believable match for him and that will specify a number of her most important characteristics. To my way of thinking, heros and heroines come as matched pairs.

<P>And now, Stephanie Laurens has created her boldest Cynster yet &ndash; Gabriel &ndash; a man who has known the pleasure of many women, but who has given his heart to no one.</P><P> She was desperate for his help...</P><P> When a mysterious lady, her face hidden by a black veil, begs Gabriel Cynster for his help, he cannot refuse her plea. For despite her disguise, Gabriel finds the woman alluring and he is powerless to deny her. But he exacts payment as only a Cynster would demand: with each piece of information he uncovers, she must pay him &ndash; in the form of a kiss. </P><P> He was powerless to resist...</P><P> Lady Alathea Morwellan knows Gabriel is intrigued, but despite the sparks that fly between them, they have never passed a civil moment together. Yet as the stakes get higher, so does Gabriel's desire for payment. And with each overpowering kiss, each passionate embrace, Alathea knows that she will not be able to resist his ultimate seduction...but what will happen when she reveals the truth?</P>

All of Regency London knows that no Cynster male would ever walk away from a lady in distress...but their protection can come at a tantalizingly high price. And now, Stephanie Laurens has created her boldest Cynster yet--Gabriel--a man who has known the pleasure of many women, but who has given his heart to no one.

She was desperate for his help...When a mysterious lady, her face hidden by a black veil, begs Gabriel Cynster for his help, he cannot refuse her plea. For despite her disguise, Gabriel finds the woman alluring and he is powerless to deny her. But he exacts payment as only a Cynster would demand: with each piece of information he uncovers, she must pay him--in the form of a kiss.

He was powerlerss to resist...

Lady Alathea Morwellan knows Gabriel is intrigued, but despite the sparks that fly between them, they have never passed a civil moment together. Yet as the stakes get higher, so does Gabriel's desire for payment. And with each overpowering kiss, each passionate embrace, Alathea knows that she will not be able to resist his ultimate seduction...but what will happen when she reveals the truth?