The Naked Gentleman
Sally MacKenzie

originally featured March 2008

1-Welcome Sally! It’s a pleasure having you with us this month. To start can you please tell us about your upcoming release The Naked Gentleman, (On sale Apr 1, 2008) the fourth novel in your Naked Series?

Thanks! I’m delighted to be here. Probably the easiest way for me to tell you about the Gent is to give you the back cover copy:

“John Parker-Roth cannot believe that marriage is necessary for his happiness. He would far rather pursue his interest in horticulture, but if one day he should find a female who shared his passion for flowers—a level-headed, calm sort of female—he might reconsider. Certainly the lovely young woman who has just tumbled into his lap will not do, as she possesses neither of these admirable qualities. Yet Miss Margaret Peterson does have many things in her favor. To begin with, she is a true English rose, blushing a delectable pink. And she is not entirely clothed. Her full mouth begs to be kissed. If only she would not wriggle so…oh, dear. He cannot ignore the sudden vision of her in his bed, but he must.

What? Is Meg actually asking him to kiss her? Well, well, well. John Parker-Roth is a gentleman, first and foremost. And he cannot turn down a lady’s request…”

Naked fans will get to catch up with many of the characters—and their children—from the earlier Naked books, which I hope will add to their enjoyment. But I’m always conscious of making each book a stand-alone read, so readers new to the Naked world should not feel they need to read the other books before picking up the Gent. (Of course, I hope they will want to read the earlier books. And a plus—plans at the moment are to have the first three books available in stores, so readers who do want to see what went before should be able to do so easily.)

2-Tell us about your hero John Parker-Roth, and what you think is his most admirable character trait?

John Parker-Roth, poor man, just wants to be left alone with his plants. He prefers facts to feelings. He wants a nice, sensible, orderly existence—but when he encounters Meg Peterson, his orderly world explodes. She drives him crazy...and crazy with desire.

I think what I love so much about Parker-Roth is that he is an honorable man trying to do the right thing, a logical man who has to learn how to acknowledge the very illogical love he feels.

3-What are some of the struggles and conflicts your characters are faced with in this novel?

Well, keep in mind that The Naked Gentleman has a large dose of humor, so most, if not all, of the struggles come with laughter. Both Meg and Parker-Roth have to deal with relatives who think they know best for them—well, maybe they do know best, but neither Meg nor Parker-Roth care to admit that. Meg is miffed that Parker-Roth has ignored her until forced by circumstances to offer for her. If she can’t have his love—not just his name—she wants no part of him. She’s also used to being very independent and fights her new desire to give up her independence to marriage. Parker-Roth was disappointed in love—or at least embarrassed by a woman—once before and does not care to repeat the experience. Everyone—his mother, his valet, his head gardener—is pushing him toward Meg. Even his own heart—and another organ—are leading him in that direction, but his brain—his desire for orderliness and control—holds him back.

4-What is your favorite scene in The Naked Gentleman?

There are many scenes that I like from the Gent—I had lots of fun with babies in this book—but probably the one that sticks in my mind the most and always brings a chuckle is the scene that finally forces Meg and Parker-Roth to the altar. Meg has decided to attend a Horticultural Society meeting. However, there is one small problem—women are not permitted in those hallowed halls. Intrepid Meg dresses as a man and sneaks in. Parker-Roth happens to sit next to her and realizes who she is. They leave immediately, and Parker-Roth is so beside himself with annoyance—and frustrated desire—as they walk back to Knightsdale House, that he neglects to keep his voice down as he berates her for her foolishness. Meg is very aware they are passing a line of coaches—and their very interested, eavesdropping coachmen. She tries to get Parker-Roth to moderate his voice; he becomes more incensed. Finally he stops in front of a townhouse and kisses her—in full view of the coachmen and half the ton. The fact that she is in male attire—and all the onlookers assume she is a man—adds some extra spice to the scandal.

5-Your heroine Meg appears to be very determined based on the excerpt provided on your website. Can you tell us a little bit about her character and background?

Meg just showed up on the pages of The Naked Marquis and I knew when I met her that she needed her own story—only she would have to wait until the earl’s tale was told. She’s the Marquis’s heroine’s sister—and The Naked Earl’s heroine’s best friend—so fans of the Nakeds have met her before. She would much rather be out in the fields, looking for plant specimens, than in a society ballroom, but by the time The Naked Gentleman opens, she’s decided she has to brave the ballrooms to find a husband. Her sister’s matchmaking attempts are driving her mad and she wants a home of her own.

6-I read that you will be part of anthology released later on this year with Kristina Cook and Virginia Henley. Can you tell us a little bit about it? Also are there going to be any more novels coming in the Naked series?

I’m very excited to be in an anthology with Virginia Henley, Kristina Cook—writing as Kristi Astor—and Victoria Dahl. According to my information—and since it’s quite early, I assume everything is subject to change—the book will be released next February in trade paperback format. No title yet, but the stories will all be historical.

I’m also excited because I’ve never written a novella before. Mine will be called “The Naked Laird” and tells the tale of two secondary characters from The Naked Baron. And I guess that answers your other question--The Naked Baron is scheduled at the moment for spring 2009. I’m contracted for two more books after the Baron. I’ve tentatively planned them to be The Naked Viscount and The Naked....somebody else, LOL!!