YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

I really love the idea of found family in books. And when Ela inevitably does make mistakes, Church is still there for her. She’s smart and compassionate, but she’s also willing to let Ela make her own choices and her own mistakes. I love the fact that she has come out of some very dark places herself and is able to be such a rock for Ela/Lyra (and vice versa). My favorite character hands-down is Church. YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book? Chess is a game of strategy, and while revenge isn’t exactly a game, it requires the same amount of planning, foresight, adaptability, and execution. The idea came from a combination of two things, one of my favorite revenge stories, The Count of Monte Cristo, and The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix, a gripping miniseries about a female chess prodigy. YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book? In this complicated game of real-life chess, Ela must choose her next move: Finally, bring down the queen or capture the king’s heart? Bestselling author Amalie Howard delivers a delightful, anti-historical Regency-era romp that’s Bridgerton meets The Count of Monte Cristo! She lives in Colorado with her family.Ī teen girl seeking retribution against her backstabbing former best friend finds her plans slightly derailed once she catches the eye of a familiar, handsome marquess.

When she’s not writing, she can usually be found reading being the president of her one-woman Harley Davidson motorcycle club, #WriteOrDie or power-napping. She is an AAPI, Caribbean-born writer whose work has been featured in publications such as Entertainment Weekly and Oprah Daily. Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Amalie Howard (QUEEN BEE)!ĪMALIE HOWARD is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of historical romance, including The Beast of Beswick, The Rakehell of Roth, and Always Be My Duchess, and has penned several critically acclaimed young adult novels.

Amalie howard always be my duchess