VICTORIA WILDER’s ‘The Bourbon Boys’ series is a bourbon-infused romantic suspense trilogy featuring mystery, murder and lots of spice. Read on for a Q&A with the author.
What inspired ‘The Bourbon Boys’ series?
It started with a podcast and dinner with my sister and brother in-law. There was an entire podcast that my brother-in-law had talked to me about regarding ‘Pappygate’ – it was a scandal about bourbon. And like romance, there’s an entire subculture dedicated to bourbon from the way it’s made to how it’s consumed. I hadn’t read many romance books with bourbon at the centre of it. After that it was pure imagination and making sure these romances were a good balance of plot, character, and spice.
What can you tell us about the curse in this trilogy and the mysteries that feature in each book?
The idea of a curse felt like something you would hear if you went to a small town and asked about their rumours and stories. And I think there is something spot-on about the human condition that when you tell someone NOT to do something they’re going to do it. So when I wrote NEVER fall for a Foxx brother, I was hoping readers would fall so damn hard they’d never forget these bourbon boys.
Who are some writers or books your draw inspiration from?
I’m inspired regularly by authors. I read A LOT of romance mostly and some thriller. I think when I’m writing it’s more about remembering the kinds of characters that stuck with me. The ones that I remember their names and how a scene made me feel and then deconstructing that. I eat up just about everything Sierria Simone, Jennifer Hartmann, and Ali Hazelwood put out into the world. Then authors like Harlan Coben and Alice Feeny and the way they can wield a plot twist is incredible. But I also love omegaverse, romantasy, really I’m a fairly moody reader. Most of the time I need romance and spice to really quench my reading thirst.
What drew you to the small-town setting of Fiasco, Kentucky?
Kentucky is the home of bourbon. And while there are so many places that can make fantastic bourbon, Kentucky has made it a part of their identity. When I was researching, that’s where I went. It felt right to create my fictional small town there. And the brilliant part of a fictional town, there are no rules. I wanted to make Fiasco memorable and real, but have fun with it, so I plucked things from small towns that I love and made it one of the focal points of this series.
Set against the backdrop of a family Bourbon distillery. What kind of research did you do into this world to bring it to life?
I went to Kentucky. Spent time on bourbon tours at distilleries of all different sizes and listened to the details. It was remembering how the air smelled, the way the wood on barrels was described, and how it felt every sip of the way.
What’s your favourite romance trope? Why?
Impossible question for a moody reader. I love writing dialogue and banter between characters – so perhaps it’s conflict – hate-to-love, enemies-to-lovers, that vibe will always be my favourite.
Do you have a favourite romance/relationship in your series?
They’re all really unique and when I think about each I love the couples for different reasons. I really love the relationship between Griz and all of my MCs. There’s something special about the old man!
Can you tell us about any other projects you’re working on?
Absolutely! Right now I’m writing the second book in my ‘Whiskey Women’ series. The first book, Rumours & Whiskey comes out on June 16th. Instead of bourbon brothers, we’re heading to Tennessee Whiskey and three sisters. It’s romantic suspense, spice, grit, and if you’ve read the Foxx brothers, then I can almost guarantee the Crowne sisters might just be the next ones you fall for.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Victoria Wilder is a contemporary romance author who lives in Connecticut with her husbands, two and kids and dog.
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