To celebrate the release of The Duchess of Drury Lane, I sat down with author Janna MacGregor. Read on for insight into her story and a fantastic anecdote about Hamilton!

Tell us more about the main characters of The Duchess of Drury Lane. What inspired you to write them?

Malcolm Hollandale comes from humble beginnings, but with his nimble mind, he’s become a renowned chemist. He’s made millions. (Yes, there were millionaires during the Regency period.) Malcom is one of the few who is part of the Duke of Pelham’s Millionaires Club. He’s working on a varnish for the Drury Lane theatre when Celeste Worsley, the granddaughter of a duke, walks up to Malcolm and makes an offer he can’t refuse. Celeste has always loved him but keeps her distance because she knows her grandfather would never approve. Throw in a couple of kittens, a wedding breakfast, and a tête-à-tête in a courtyard, and these two discover they have more in common than either of them thought. The only question is how to thwart Celeste’s grandfather, who has already betrothed her to another!

What is your approach for writing novellas? Do you like to begin with a trope, characters, a setting, or something else for inspiration?

This is such a great question. I usually think of a setting first, then the trope and characters. That’s why it was so much fun to write about Drury Lane. I enjoyed this story so much that it turned into a novel!

The Scandals and Scoundrels of Drury Lane are all based around a Regency theater. Do you like to go to the theater? What are some of your favorite productions?

I adore going to the theatre. My favorites are naturally Hamilton. A funny story - I was in New York when it first opened on Broadway. I didn’t have anything to do one evening and snagged a ticket. I sat on the third row and saw the original cast. I also love Emma by Kate Hammel, Arms and the Man, and Book of Mormon.

Have you ever been involved in the theater as a performer or backstage?

Never, but I wanted to. I just can’t sing. So, it makes it hard to be a triple threat!

Which of your characters outside of The Duchess of Drury Lane would be most likely to see this new production at the Drury Lane Theatre? What would they think of it?

Probably Daphne and Paul, the Duke and Duchess of Southart, from The Good, the Bad, and the Duke. Their middle name is drama. Seriously, they love to attend the theatre.

After reading The Duchess of Drury Lane, which book of yours should readers pick up next?

Next spring, I’m releasing A Simple Seduction and A Simple Marriage, the second and third books in the Millionaires of Mayfair series. Readers will be able to visit Malcolm and Celeste in that series as well!

The Duchess of Drury Lane

She plays a part in society. He's convinced she's been miscast.

Raised to be a future duchess, Celeste Worsley must marry the duke her grandfather chooses for her. That means staying away from Malcolm Hollandale, one of the infamous self-made Millionaires of Mayfair. The only problem? He’s irresistible, completely unacceptable to her family, and she’s been in love with him since the first time she saw him.

On his hands and knees and covered in his newest attempt to varnish the Drury Lane stage, chemist Malcolm Hollandale tries to ignore the enticing woman everyone calls The Duchess. Celeste is everything he can’t have, but when she needs his help to right a wrong, he can’t refuse her or her plush red lips. A stolen moment leads to a forbidden love that neither can walk away from, but fate has other ideas. Yet, Malcom can’t stop thinking that perhaps this bold, passionate woman might be the perfect formula for achieving all his dreams.

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About Janna MacGregor

I credit my darling mother for introducing me to the happily-ever-after world of romance novels. I write stories where compelling and powerful female protagonists meet and fall in love with their equally matched male protagonists. I split my time between Kansas City and Minneapolis with my very own dashing rogue, and a smug, but not surprisingly, perfect pug. I love to hear from readers.

Connect with Janna:

Janna MacGregor’s Ladies and Lords of Langham Hall Facebook group

Janna’s Facebook Author page

Janna’s Instagram

Janna’s TikTok

Sign up for her newsletter at www.JannaMacGregor.com

Don’t forget the rest of The Scandals and Scoundrels of Drury Lane!

Janna’s is one out of eight books in our series behind the scenes of the theater on Drury Lane.