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FULL TRANSCRIPT: Matilda Madison Samples A Duke Makes A Deal

[00:00:00] Katherine Grant: Welcome to the Historical Romance Sampler Podcast. The place for you to find new historical romance books and authors to fan over. I'm award winning historical romance author Katherine Grant, and each week I'm inviting fellow authors to come on and share a little bit of their work and themselves.

They'll read a sample of one of their books, and then I'm going to ask them a bunch of questions. By the end of the episode, you'll have a sense of what they write and who they are. Hopefully, you and I both will have something new to read. So what are we waiting for? Let's get into this week's episode.

Alright, today I am joined by Matilda Madison from the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. A history lover, Matilda finds immense joy in knowing useless facts. exploring the woods around her home, and drinking copious amounts of tea. When she's not writing, she can be found researching obscure topics for her books, refurbishing old furniture, and baking bread.

Matilda, I'm so glad to have you on the podcast. Thank you for joining me.

[00:01:11] Matilda Madison: Thank you for having me. I'm so excited.

[00:01:13] Katherine Grant: Yeah. So I know you're reading from your book that's coming out June 11th, A Duke Makes a Deal. What can you tell us about the book and about the scene that you're gonna read?

[00:01:21] Matilda Madison: So, The Duke Makes a Deal is the first book in my Gambling Peer series. It's a new series. There's three books. And each of my heroes deals with a mental health issue. So the Duke Silas has an anxiety issue, but because of the time period, it's not really understood, but he he gets panic attacks essentially.

And in the scene, he's second guessing going out into a crowd and our heroine, Clara, is able to kind of walk him through it. And because of the time period, there wasn't a lot of information on panic attacks or anything like that, so it's a little uneasy, but I've dealt with panic attacks before, so I was able to pull from experience.

[00:02:07] Katherine Grant: Yeah, yeah. Well, I'm excited to hear the excerpt and then talk to you more about that, because I have some questions already. Alright, take it away whenever you're ready.

[00:02:18] Matilda Madison: Okay. Silas wasn't sure if he should have explained his problem to Clara before agreeing to escort her on a walk through Hyde Park. What had seemed like a completely plausible idea yesterday now seemed impossible.

For whatever reason, being in Clara's presence had given him a false sense of security, and he had foolishly believed he could handle the crowds of Hyde Park when she had suggested a walk. He was never going to get through the next hour, let alone manage to keep his composure under the curious eyes of the tawn.

He stuck his fingers into his vest pocket and fished out a watch as he waited in the wood vine foyer. A quarter past ten. He had purposely Come early before the fashionable hour so he could avoid the largest of the crowds. Perhaps Clara wouldn't mind if he had remained quiet during their outing. He would need to concentrate on his breathing to stop himself from experiencing the panic that often settled in when he was in public. Just then, voices sounded from the top of the stairs.

Turning, he saw Clara dressed in an overly embellished maroon and cream striped walking gown, followed by her mother, who wore a similar style dress. Who in the world was their seamstress, he wondered, as his face remained blank upon their descent. "Your Grace," Mrs. Woodvine said, coming up to him, "We are so grateful to be in your company this morning."

"The pleasure is all mine," he said, his eyes fixed on Clara. "Shall we?" "Yes," the ladies said in unison as they moved around him. They were out of the house and into the carriage in a matter of minutes. Silas tried to make small talk with the mother, but the closer they got to the park, the warmer his body became.

His clothing seemed stifling and too tight. He thought absently as his gaze drifted out the window. Good Lord, why were there so many people here? The sidewalks and roads seemed to be overrun with bodies. Did people really come together at the exact same time? Each day simply to gossip. "Your grace." "Hmm," he said, turning back to his companions.

The mother had an expectant expression on her face while Clara tilted her head, her eyes seemingly going through right through him. He shook his head. "I beg your pardon, Mrs Woodvine." "I was wondering if you were attending the races next week," she asked, evidently repeating herself. "Mr Woodvine and I had never actually been and we had been and we had planned on going until well," Mrs.

Woodvine glanced at her daughter, and Silas saw Clara blush with displeasure. "She means, until I caused a scene," Clara said honestly. "That's not what I meant, dear," her mother said. "It's quite alright, mother. His grace happens to be on our side." Her eyes flickered to Silas face. "Aren't you?" " I am," he said, his tone deep and honest before turning to face Mrs.

Woodvine. "I actually don't believe a word of what was written about Miss woodvine." The older woman sighed with reprieve. "Well, that is a relief," she said, her shoulders dropping a fraction as she watched her daughter. "I don't know Why they wrote those lies. I mean, Clara did speak somewhat loudly, but she certainly didn't scream, and no one fainted."

Thank you, Mother," Clara said, slightly embarrassed. The corner of Silas's mouth turned up at her discomfort. Evidently, she wasn't as calm and collected as she often appeared. Turning to peer back out the window, Silas's good humor vanished as the carriage came to a stop. The door was opened by the footmen, and when Silas didn't move to exit, he felt the Woodvines' eyes on him.

"Silas," Clara whispered, low enough that her mother couldn't hear, but it seemed to echo in his ears. He watched her steadfast eyes and he felt the erratic speed of his heartbeat begin to slow. Clearing his throat, he shook his head and climbed out of the carriage. He did not turn around, though he was sure a number of people were watching him as he waited, first to help Mrs.

Woodvine out of the carriage, and then Clara. When they were All out, he took a deep breath and offered his arm to Clara. She slowly slid her gloved hand into the crook of his arm, and they turned to follow the wide stretch of path that led into the overcrowded park. Silas felt his mouth dry as he kept his eyes on the tree line.

His legs still stiff and gel like at the same time. And he knew he would soon be awash with the terror that gripped him every time he came out in public.

Only this time, as he felt himself trying to float away to internal panic, the small, warm grip of Clara's hand held onto him. "Are you alright?" She whispered, leaning ever so slightly towards him as they walked. "Yes," he said roughly. "Are you quite sure? You seem unwell." Unwell was an understatement. He felt as if a stone was pressing against his chest, making it hard to breathe.

"I'm fine." "It would be alright if you were unwell," she continued, as his panic began to melt into irritation. "I would understand it if you wished to turn back." "We're not turning back," he bit out in a harsh whisper. Hopefully his tone had scared her off from asking whatever. "I wonder if you're coming down with something," she continued.

He looked at her out of the corner of his eyes and noticed that she was facing straight ahead. His eyes darted around them and he realized That nearly everyone they had passed was staring at them. All while Clara prattled off about illnesses. Was she worried about him? Surely not. And yet he wondered if he could tell her about his damned anxiety. Would she be understanding? Or would she politely smile and nod at his confession while plotting a way to escape their arrangement? He turned his head and listened as she tensely chattered about this and that.

His own anxiety seemed to dim as he gently squeezed his arm around her hand. "You're nervous," he said lowly. And as he bent down to her ear, Clara turned to face him, her bright clear eyes catching his as he felt a drop in his stomach. What was the matter with him? "If I admit I am, will you tell me what's wrong?"

He didn't wish to tell her, but then something in her steady gaze gave him confidence. He exhaled slowly as they walked. "I have an issue being out in crowds like this," he said so quietly he doubted she could hear him or the conversations around them. He bit his tongue before continuing, suddenly bitter about his own weaknesses."

It makes me uncomfortable." When Clara didn't answer, he was sure she believed he was some kind of pitiful fool. How could a man of his size be made to feel uncomfortable in crowds? Her fingers squeezed against his bicep, and he felt the strangest of surges go through him. It was a small reassurance, he knew,

but it had surprised him. " Is that why you've not attended anything for the past year?" She asked quietly. "Yes," he answered. She was quiet for a moment before turning her face to him." Well, if you stay close to me, I'll keep you safe." Silas let out a gentle huff of laughter. What a ridiculous thing to say. She was shorter than him, and while he did not think she was weak, the differences in their physical power were evident.

It was preposterous to think that this woman could keep him safe from anything, and so he laughed, but Clara did not. His brow creased. "You're serious." "Very much so." "And how would you be able to keep me safe?" "Distraction," she said, as they slowed their steps, coming to a particular crowded section of the crossing path.

"If you feel weary about crowds, you might only focus on me, and in doing so, forget that there are people around." "And you think that would work?" "It's working now, isn't it?" She asked. Silas wasn't able to argue with her. The misery he had felt along their ride to the park had subdued the moment she touched his arm. Maybe she was onto something. "I suppose I should keep you near me then." Clara smiled at him, but seemed oblivious to his meaning. "I wouldn't mind," she said, "but if you're ever not close by and you find yourself experiencing the same feeling, remember that it will pass."

"Let it be." He scoffed. "Easy for you to say. You've obviously never experienced it." "No," she admitted. "But a friend of mine's mother was a nervous sort of woman." Silas glared down at her and she blanched. "Not that I'm calling you nervous, or a woman." Clara bit her lip, obviously worried that she had offended him.

Silas breathed deeply. "This woman," he said, ignoring her apology. "Who was she?" Clara smiled wistfully. "My dear friend Holly Smith's mother, Lady Smith. Perhaps you knew her? She passed away about five years ago now, but I remember her quite well. She was always very kind to me." Silas shook his head. "I did not know her, no."

"Oh," Clara said, her shoulders dropping a bit. "Well, she was a fine lady, but she often suffered a certain sort of attack, as she put it. Sometimes, when it would happen, her face would become drawn and her eyes appear distant. I remember she would experience them from time to time when I visited. Her eyes would close and she would breathe deeply for several moments before regaining herself.

When I asked if she was all right, she told me that she often experienced a terrible bout of anxiety and that she had suffered for many years." Silas was skeptical but curious. "And she closed her eyes to dissuade it?" He asked, unbelievingly. "No, not exactly. When I asked her if closing her eyes helped, she told me that once when she was caring for Holly's younger siblings, their twins, not long after their birth, she had felt the beginning of one of her bouts.

But she had been rather busy. Well, dreadfully busy, from what she explained. The twins had been crying non stop, and the entire household staff had come down with a sickness. And she had been so tired from the demanding workload that she felt, It coming on, she got angry." "Angry?" "Yes. Apparently she'd been so upset that she decided to drop everything and let the bout happen, in an effort to be done with it as soon as possible so she can go back to work.

But the moment she decided to let it happen, it faded away." Silas's feet slowed. "It faded away." "Yes." "You're not serious." "I am," clara said. "That's what she told me. And that ever since that day, instead of dreading or fighting the feeling, she simply let it be. She would wait for it to come, accept it. But she said that they were never as bad as they had been before that day."

"But she still suffered for them." "I suppose. But she said it was never as bad as it once had been after that," Clara said. Silas wondered if such a thing were possible. It seemed the opposite of what he wanted to do. When the choking anxiety would fester in his chest, he wanted to beat it down. To strangle it away.

To simply let it wash over him sounded like poor advice. But then he hadn't been able to find any doctor that can explain to him what he was experiencing. Nor did he know How to stop it. He turned his head and watch Clara's profile as they continued their walk rather than all of this person who would have such information.

And he wondered what else she he might learn from her.

[00:12:40] Katherine Grant: What a nice scene to read. Because, you know, it's obviously a moment of vulnerability, but we don't often have the scenes be about something so very

[00:12:49] Matilda Madison: vulnerable.

[00:12:51] Katherine Grant: I have more questions for you. Well, I have questions for you. First, we're going to take a break for our sponsors.

Hey samplers! It's Katherine Grant. I am interrupting this episode to tell you how to get a free book, the Viscount Without Virtue. First, go to bit.ly/hrs fan, go through the checkout process. This is where you add the promo code, HR SFAN as your last step. Just download your free ebook to your ereader.

Alright, well let's get back to this week's episode.

All right, we are back with Matilda Madison, who just read a sample of a Duke makes a deal, which comes out June 11th. And it was an, a really interesting scene because you set it up that all your heroes in the series deal with some mental health challenges, and the hero in this scene is having a panic attack and the heroine helps Him calm down, which is such a beautiful example of the partnership that they might have if they figure out how to get together.

So I'm curious. In terms of mental health, it's easy to understand that humans have been experiencing things like panic attacks the entire time that we've been humans, but it also is such like a modern term and our framework for understanding it, at least in the West, really didn't start until decades after the Regency period.

So how do you approach mental health, knowing that you have modern readers who understand the modern framework, but

historical characters.

[00:14:37] Matilda Madison: So in this, well, because My hero is a duke, so he's the most powerful of his spot in time and place. So, but he, men experience mental health just as much as women.

But they, you're right. These character, you know, humans have been having anxiety attacks and panic attacks since the beginning of time. And so there would be like a communal, like, I'm sure back in the day, like, oh, that woman's hysterical was what it was called, but it didn't negate like how to get through it.

Like the, the friend's mother in the scene, she used to have panic attacks and there were people around her who witnessed it, who talked to her about it, store that information. When she meets the Duke who has the same thing, she was like, Oh, I heard once upon a time about a woman who had the same thing.

And Instead of leaning into the, the gender roles back then, because I don't know if, I really don't know if men were ever diagnosed with hysteria. But I, I know for a fact men have panic attacks. So it was there. I don't know how much it was talked about, but I'm sure there was a common thread throughout society that was, Oh, this is a situation some people experienced.

So just, you know, replaying information and my heroine, Clara being so open about it because she's never experienced it. But yeah, she's, she talks about it and that's, a bit of me, so.

[00:16:15] Katherine Grant: Yeah, did you choose to make your heroes the ones who were having mental health challenges explicitly? Because there's this historic gender dynamic where we think of women as being

hysterical?

[00:16:27] Matilda Madison: Yes. I know just in my experience of my own life that the men in my life, I mean, men and women, everybody experiences Mental health issues. And I personally know men who go through it, but it's it seems more difficult for them to find a community to find friends to talk about it openly. So I wanted to write a series of books where, you know, because My, my three heroes in this series are also friends and even they're uncomfortable talking about it with each other, which is very much how the men in my life react.

So I wanted to, to explain that, that, you know, men have problems and that's okay. If you go through it, if you search for help, if you do as best you can, you can, it's something that we can all work, on and regardless of gender and stuff.

[00:17:20] Katherine Grant: So yeah, no, that's really interesting. I think about the alpha hero stereotype sometimes as where we're writing towards the man who is not allowed to have emotions and then love is an emotion.

And so when he starts to experience love, some other emotions come out. And I think that's one of the reasons why it's kind of cathartic to read alpha hero sometimes. Cause you start with like this man who refuses to admit emotions and he's so strong. And then like by the end of the book, it's like, Oh no, he has a heart.

 I think the way that you're approaching it is another very interesting and necessary way to say, well, they have emotions, but also there's more to it. Like, like men have a full spectrum. Sometimes I feel alpha heroes are just like, not a real man. They're just, they're just like symbolizing something else.

So I think that's really interesting that you have explicitly set out to do this. Now, did you do any research? Have you found any interesting stories or anecdotes of people in the period who you know, wrote in their diaries or anything about experiencing mental health?

[00:18:25] Matilda Madison: I did some research on trying to, like, find, like, the, the history of anxiety and depression disorders.

And I think I got back to the mid 1700s. France philosophers were just opening up about it, like just trying to they, I don't have my research with me, but they had different names for it. It didn't sound very nice. I'm sure it was nice at the time period for somebody to read a French manuscript and be like, Oh, I

also have whatever they called it like terrible disease or something like they had terrible. Yeah, but it was at least a step towards modern Diagnosis for mental maladies and stuff like that. I mean depression has gone on since the beginning of time. So obviously You know, ancient Greeks talked about it, but it was like mid 17th century is when they had a, uh, resurgence or interest in how the mind works.

[00:19:24] Katherine Grant: So, yeah. Yeah. A lot of incorrect things that they had to get through before we got to modern.

[00:19:32] Matilda Madison: It's a practice, not a perfect.

[00:19:33] Katherine Grant: Yeah, exactly. And this might be too personal a question, so feel free to say it's too personal, but you know, you mentioned you've experienced panic attacks as well.

I'm curious, do, how do romance books, do they at all fit into your mental health care for yourself?

[00:19:51] Matilda Madison: Absolutely. I'm very open about my mental health. I talk to anybody who'll listen about it because I grew up in a house that was very much like, talk about your feelings and you'll feel better. So I've just always done it.

And So, I've had tons of therapists and stuff like that. But yeah, I mean, romances, particularly historical romances, have always been a self care situation for me. I read them to remove myself from any current situation, whatever my stresses are in current life. And I don't have to be

me in that moment, I could be someone else in a different time period and experience something so far removed from my reality. So in writing them and reading them, it's, and especially writing them. I mean, I started writing years ago As a form of therapy to get my emotions out. And when things didn't go my way in real life, I would be like, well, I'm going to write a story where everything goes exactly how I want it.

And it's probably some kind of like control issue, but I, they help me, they make me feel better at the end of the day and I love them so much.

[00:20:59] Katherine Grant: Yeah. I relate to that so much. However, I've also found that publishing my writing creates all sorts of new mental health hurdles, keeps my therapist employed. Do you have any good frameworks or mantras for keeping yourself grounded when it's, you know, the throes of publishing and it hurts?

[00:21:25] Matilda Madison: So, yes, I, I had a, a day like that yesterday. Actually, I had expected something didn't go my way. And I, let myself from the minute I found out to probably like four hours to be an absolute grump.

I was miserable. I was like, Oh, I'm the worst. I don't care. I played what was that song? It's the climb by Miley Cyrus.

[00:21:53] Katherine Grant: Yeah.

[00:21:53] Matilda Madison: And like on repeat. And I was like, I'm worse. And then after four hours, I only allow myself four hours. And then at the end of four hours, I'm like, okay. Stop. I wrote out four new book proposals.

I shot some ideas, I called a friend, I went through plot points and stuff like that, and I just continued my work. But I did allow myself to be annoyed and sad and mad and grieved because you can't not. You need to experience all of your emotions. So I allow myself it, but I never go past the four hour mark.

And rarely it goes all four hours, maybe like an hour, I'll be sad and then I figure it out. But yesterday I was a little annoyed. So I let myself the whole four hours, but back on work today, like just, yeah, I have word counts to get through and ideas to send out and stuff like that. So I don't, I'm not allowed to grieve for like a week or anything like that.

That's too much time. So I allow it, but not too much.

[00:22:53] Katherine Grant: Yeah. Well, that sounds like a good strategy. I've been having a bad morning where I just couldn't motivate. And I was having all these external voices in my head, and I just knew I wasn't going to be able to be productive if I was writing.

So instead, and normally I write in the mornings, but instead of forcing myself to do that, I said, I'm going to get other stuff done this morning. And then maybe this afternoon I'll feel up to it. We'll find out to be, to, you know, to be decided, but, It's a whole new roller coaster once you start putting your work out there and getting feedback and comparison is the thief of joy and all of that.

So backing up a little I'm curious, in terms of your writing, do you feel that you get connected to characters first, plot, dialogue? Is there anything that like is your entrance point for stories?

[00:23:45] Matilda Madison: That's a good question. I think usually like I'll just think up a scene like I'll I can be inspired by anything in any one like throughout my day and I've gotten better at it at the more the the older I've gotten as a writer.

Like I'll watch a movie or I'll watch a scene and I'll go, Oh, that's great. And I'm like, wouldn't it be great if I did this instead? And then from there, I'll create something like so I'll start with a scene and actually The Countess and the Commoner, that started with a scene that's no longer in the book, but it is from a scene.

So I'll have a scene and then depending on what's happening, if it's like a high angst situation or there's an argument and then I can pull a story. Hmm.

[00:24:34] Katherine Grant: That's very interesting. Are you going to release that deleted scene to your newsletter subscribers? Oh,

[00:24:39] Matilda Madison: I

don't think so.

It was particularly yeah, no, I, maybe one day, I, I don't know.

[00:24:48] Katherine Grant: Sometimes, sometimes I find like, I think like, oh, this is going to be great content. And then I think, By the time I put the book out, the scene no longer makes any sense because I've changed so many things, and so then it's like, well, sorry, the only person who it's gonna make sense to is me, and you're not me.

[00:25:05] Matilda Madison: That's exactly, and that book has already gone through two extensive rewrites, so it couldn't fit in there even if I tried to, but we'll see, I don't know.

[00:25:19] Katherine Grant: Yeah. Who are some of your favorite authors in historical romance?

[00:25:23] Matilda Madison: I'm probably, I'm very basic. My all time hero, my one true is Lisa Kleypas.

Couldn't meet her if I was, if somebody offered.

[00:25:32] Katherine Grant: I know. I'm, I'm always like, I don't want to meet my heroes.

[00:25:36] Matilda Madison: And she is, I'm sure she's lovely, but like, I, would probably faint. Like, I couldn't be in the same room as her. She's so And I thought, like, for the longest time I wasn't a part of the romance community.

I, for a very long time, I was embarrassed by my love of romance. And I think a lot of romance readers are. Because we're told from years very early that it's trashy and that they're not good and stuff like that. And then you pick up something like a Lisa Kleypas and you're like, this is Her imagery is fantastic, her atmosphere writing, I, she does so much research for her books that I don't want to say the romance is secondary, but like, because it never is.

It's always the greatest romance of all time, but her, her surrounding story is so important and so informative that you feel like you learn something when you read her. And, She's my end all be all like I would I aspire to write as well as she does. Again, the comparison not supposed to do that and I don't but she's my my number one and then yeah Oh god, I mean, I'm kind of obsessing her so i'm definitely blanking on others, but like I will say that the first Romance that I bought that I didn't like find in a library or whatever.

It was. A julia quinn Okay, and I think it was You It was two brothers. But I was like 14 and I was like, I'm going to buy this book. And then I went through it and it had scenes. And I was like, I'm too young for this. And I held on to it until I was like 18 and I was like, okay, I think I can manage it now and I went back and I read it and I was like, oh, I'm obsessed.

And I bought, I bought a book a week from like Walmart for like 10 years. Like I was obsessed. But I didn't want anybody to know. I didn't tell anybody. I wrote YA fiction trying to circumnavigate. I'm very happy to be in my historic romance world.

[00:27:40] Katherine Grant: So how did you evolve from being a closeted romance reader to coming out into it?

[00:27:47] Matilda Madison: So, well, I would read them. A book a week at least, like, and I've, I got so good at reading them in public, like, my face wouldn't change a shade at all when I got to certain parts, and my husband, who was my boyfriend at the time, we were on a cruise, and he was like, oh what are you reading? I'm like, oh this, and I showed him the scene, and he like, closed the book, he was like, people are around!

And I was like, nobody can see, it's fine, it's a book, it's magic, but he was actually very supportive of it, he would like find me like old historical romances and he's like, Oh, did you read this one yet? I'm like, no, thank you. And he would like bring them to me. Like I was a raccoon or something.

And I, Because I was so comfortable with him and my writing and I just I don't know and then I don't know I think it might have been like bookstagram eventually like Where everybody there was just this community people who knew who Lisa Kleypas was like I thought I was the only one in the world and then you're like, oh no the These books are my favorite too.

And I'm like, Oh, I had no idea other people read that. And then they were also happy and proud. And I was like, okay, me too. Me too. Like I, I want to be proud too. So I am indebted to the romance community because they're so wonderfully proud and they should be because it's all wonderful stuff. So.

[00:29:11] Katherine Grant: Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

I love that story. Okay, we are going to move into Are You a Romantic?

Are you a romantic?

Which do you trust more? Your heart, your gut, or your brain?

[00:29:29] Matilda Madison: Definitely all three, but they're tiered. I, my gut first. Rarely does my gut send me in the wrong direction. I think maybe twice in my entire life.

Like, I believe, I trust my instincts. And then my heart and head are equal because I can follow my heart, but I need to know situation. I need to know facts. And once I know facts, then I can lead with my heart.

[00:29:52] Katherine Grant: So. All right. Do you believe in love at first sight?

[00:29:57] Matilda Madison: Absolutely not. Okay. Lust, I think.

Absolutely. 100 percent you can find anybody attractive. But love is so much bigger and deeper and a lot more. So I don't know how anybody could, I'm sure it happens if it has good, but not, not for me. It took me a very long time. So.

[00:30:21] Katherine Grant: All right. Nice. Do you believe in soulmates?

[00:30:24] Matilda Madison: I don't know if I believe in that either, just because it seems so final.

Like I believe in true love, but soulmates, there's a lot of people. So maybe like soul friends, like maybe there's like a group, but one on one I think is a real big stretch, but definitely true love. I don't know.

[00:30:45] Katherine Grant: Okay. All right. And why is romantic love important?

[00:30:50] Matilda Madison: I think it's the most important thing because I think love is the most important thing. I've always wanted to fall in love.

I was very lucky to meet my one true years 20 years ago now. But it was always my, my My end all be all. Like, I've always wanted to fall in love. I love love. I love reading other people's stories. I like creating stories. I love the angst. God, I love angst so much. And I don't have any angst in my real life.

We've never had any kind of drama. But reading drama is so much fun. That might be why I created it. But yeah. Romantic love is Just the most exciting thing. I think I can't. I love it so much.

[00:31:30] Katherine Grant: Yeah, it's like a magic that's added into your life.

[00:31:33] Matilda Madison: Yeah, absolutely.

[00:31:35] Katherine Grant: Yeah. Well, you're a romantic.

[00:31:38] Matilda Madison: I am.

[00:31:42] Katherine Grant: Matilda, I really appreciate you coming on today.

Before we wrap up, Where can our listeners find you and your books?

[00:31:49] Matilda Madison: Well, you can always check out my website www. matildamadison. com. I'm on Amazon. I'm on Barnes and Nobles for Nook and Kindle readers. The Duke Makes a Deal is going to be on paperback. It's my first paperback. Exciting.

Available for pre order right now. But and I'm on Instagram. I'm on TikTok, all under the same handles, at Matilda Madison Books. And I'm on Blue Sky. I don't know if anybody's on that yet, but

[00:32:16] Katherine Grant: what is Blue Sky? I think

[00:32:18] Matilda Madison: it was like Twitter's replacement and it was like private for a long time and then they just opened up and so I'm, I'm just putting my fingers on everything to see which one's gonna pop, so.

Yeah. I'm around most things, but I was on Mastodon for a minute too, but I don't, I haven't checked the internet, so.

[00:32:34] Katherine Grant: Yeah, all right, great. Well, I'll put these links in the show notes for everybody. Yeah, thank you again. I can't wait for everyone to be able to read A Duke Makes a Deal on June 11th.

[00:32:43] Matilda Madison: Thank you so much for having me.

[00:32:44] Katherine Grant: That's it for this week. Check out the show notes where I put links for my guests, myself, and the podcast. Until next week, happy reading.