Maggie Robinson

Posted by Anna Campbell Apr 4 2012, 12:02 am in Anna Campbell, Bandita Booty, Captain Durant's Countess, Courtesan Court Series, erotic romance, Guests, historical romance, interviews, maggie robinson, Master of Sin

by Anna Campbell

I’m delighted to bring back to the lair for your reading pleasure Maggie
Robinson. Maggie is here to tell us about her latest historical romance MASTER OF SIN.

This book has been garnering rave reviews everywhere. For example, Romantic Times Book Reviews said:

Robinson crafts an intelligent, powerful, emotional, highly sensual love story with a damaged hero and an exceptional heroine, moving the story beyond the typical and into the unconventional. Readers will become so invested in the characters that the fast pace and heated sexual tension only add to the delight. Fine storytelling.

You can find out more about Maggie and her books at her website: www.maggierobinson.net

Maggie, welcome back to the lair! Congratulations on the release of your latest book MASTER OF SIN, the last in the Courtesan Court series. Can you tell us about this story?

I’m thrilled to be back and rubbing shoulders, etc. with the lair’s cabana boys again! The blurb-writers at Kensington are much better at this than I am, so I’ll just cheat and quote the back of the book:

Andrew Rossiter has used his gorgeous body and angelic face for all they’re worth—shocking the proper, seducing the willing, and pleasuring the wealthy. But with a tiny son depending on him for rescue, suddenly discretion is far more important than desire. He’ll have to bury his past quench his desires—fast. And he’ll have to find somewhere his deliciously filthy reputation hasn’t yet reached…

Miss Gemma Peartree seems like a plain, virginal governess—or so she hopes. True, she has a sharp wit and sharper tongue, but handsome Mr. Ross wouldn’t notice Gemma herself. Or so she hopes. No matter how many sparks fly between them, she has too much to hide to catch his eye. But with the storms of a Scottish winter driving them together, it will be hard to keep her secrets. Keeping her hands to herself might prove entirely impossible…

What were the inspirations behind this book?

Andrew appeared as a quasi-villain in MISTRESS BY MARRIAGE, and I just couldn’t get rid of him. I sent him to Italy on the page, but he kept shouting from afar. I’d given him sooo much baggage I couldn’t imagine turning him into a hero, but he was insistent. That makes me sound kind of crazy, but there you go—I wanted to give him his own HEA after torturing him so viciously.

Can you tell us about the Courtesan Court series as a whole? Will you be revisiting this scandalous address in the future?

The series is loosely connected by the un-mistressy women who accidentally wind up living on Jane Street, fictional home to the most exclusive, expensive courtesans in London. I revisit it very briefly (but pivotally—is that a word?) in December’s LORD GREY’S LIST.

I see on your website that you’ve recently sold CAPTAIN DURANT’S COUNTESS to Kensington Brava. Can you tell us about this book?

I’m excited to have a digital-first book fall between LORD GREY’S LIST and LADY ANNE’S LOVER. This is my new series, the London List trilogy, where a newspaper, kind of a combination Craigslist/National Inquirer, links the characters. In CDC, a broke ex-Army officer responds to a most unusual advertisement. He’s desperate for a job, but the requirements for this one may prove to be his undoing.

Ooh, sounds intriguing! What’s next for you?

I’m working on a super-secret project, hopefully another trilogy. It involves research, which I love. Amazon is delivering to me daily.

I’m in awe of your productivity. Do you have any hints on time management for us (um, me?)?

Ha. Well, it helps that my four kids are grown and gone, and I quit my library clerk job when the high school girls wanted to read my books, LOL. My husband is extremely supportive and does almost all the cooking except for holidays, when I still put my arm into the turkey’s nether regions. I get up very early and write until late morning, unwashed and unbrushed, aiming for at least 1000 words a day. In the afternoons I try to be normal, but it’s not working.

And can you give us a taster of your delicious new romance MASTER OF SIN?

Here’s the first paragraph:

Andrew Rossiter was on the cusp of reformation. He could taste it, sweet as the wine Giulietta had passed him at dessert from their picnic basket, bold as the wind that whipped the sails of their little yacht, tempting as the green coast of England would be at this moment. Alas, he was cruising the Mediterranean, the city of Savona in the distance, still steeped in sin, and rather bored with it. The only saving grace was the sight of his little son drowsing on a velvet tufted cushion, his small fist curled under a distinctive Rossiter chin–square, dimpled and determined.

Thanks, Maggie. You have many fingers in many pies right now! Great to get your update and good luck with MASTER OF SIN! Do you have a question for the Banditas and Bandita Buddies to get the conversation going?

Anna is famous for her tortured heroes, and I hope Andrew Rossiter can hang out with them. Who is your favorite reformed master of sin in fact or fiction? One commenter will win a signed copy of MASTER OF SIN!

133 Comments

Confessions from Miranda Neville!

Posted by Anna Campbell Apr 2 2012, 12:02 am in Anna Campbell, Avon Authors, Bandita Booty, Confessions from an Arranged Marriage, historical romance, interviews, Miranda Neville, new releases, Paris, The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton, The Burgundy Club, The Dangerous Viscount, The Importance of Being Wicked, The Wild Marquis

by Anna Campbell

We love all our guests in the lair, doncha know? But a few people who visit us on a regular basis hold a very special place in our heart. One of those teacher’s pets is MIRANDA NEVILLE!

Miranda’s here today to tell her about her wonderful new historical romance CONFESSIONS FROM AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE which hit the shelves on 27th March. I’ve been waiting on tenterhooks for Minerva’s story! My pre-ordered copy is already winging its way to me (yay!), but if you haven’t yet bought this book, all you need to do is click on the cover and it takes you right to Amazon. We make it easy for you here in the lair.

Here’s the Book Depository link: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Confessions-from-Arranged-Marriage-Miranda-Neville/9780062023056

This book is already grabbing huge critical praise. Publishers Weekly, no less, says: “The developing romance is a pleasure to witness, with witty banter and racy love scenes. The gradual discovery of Blakeney’s secret shame is genuine and endearing, making him far more than the standard scurrilous scoundrel.”

Here’s the blurb for CONFESSIONS OF AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE:

They couldn’t be more different, but there’s one thing they agree on.

In London after a two-year exile, Lord Blakeney plans to cut a swathe through the bedchambers of the demimonde. Marriage is not on his agenda, especially to an annoying chit like Minerva Montrose, with her superior attitude and a tendency to get into trouble. And certainly the last man Minerva wants is Blake, a careless wastrel without a thought in his handsome head. 

The heat and noise of her debutante ball give Minerva a migraine. Surely a moment’s rest could do no harm … until Blake mistakes her for another lady, leaving Minerva’s guests to catch them in a very compromising position. To her horror, the scandal will force them to do the unthinkable: marry. Their mutual loathing blazes into unexpected passion but Blake remains distant, desperate to hide a shameful secret. Minerva’s never been a woman to take things lying down, and she’ll let nothing stop her from winning his trust … and his heart.

You can find out more about Miranda and her fabulous books on her website: www.mirandaneville.com

Miranda, I’m delighted to have you back in the lair as my guest. It’s always a party when you visit. Congratulations on the release of your latest historical romance CONFESSIONS FROM AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE. Can you tell us about this story?

This is the fourth book in my Regency Burgundy Club series, but let me summarize in non-period, totally non-historical language. The Marquis of Blakeney, the heir to a dukedom, is a good-looking jock. Minerva despises sports and thinks Blake’s a complete idiot. Since she thinks she’s the right person to rule the world, she has her eye on an up-and-coming politician whom she’ll marry and push up the greasy pole to be Prime Minister. (In nineteenth century England the British Prime Minster is like the President of the United States.) So we have the captain of the football team and the smartest girl in the class who hate each other. They end up forced to marry.

What inspired this story?

Blake and Minerva first appeared in THE DANGEROUS VISCOUNT. As soon as I started to write Minerva, who was the heroine’s younger sister, I knew I had a winner. She was such a smart, entertaining character. Blake was the villain – or at least the antagonist – in that book, the guy who lost the girl.  When Beverley Kendall read the book she immediately asked me “are you getting Blake and Minerva together?” “How did you guess?” I asked. It’s because we are romance writers and therefore sick. We take a man and a woman who appear totally incompatible and think “perfect couple.”

Mind you, it wasn’t easy. Blake was such a jerk in THE DANGEROUS VISCOUNT and had a childhood feud with Sebastian, the hero of that book. I had to discover his dark secret that made him behave so badly. Once I found that, the story came together. I’m partial, I know, but I have to say I ended up adoring Blake and so does Minerva. Eventually.

What about Sebastian? Not thrilled to have Blake as a brother-in-law, I imagine.

That’s putting it mildly. For readers of the previous books in the series, I do resolve the Blake-Sebastian feud. But it’s a very minor part of the story. I wanted the book to stand alone

By the way, if anyone hasn’t yet read THE DANGEROUS VISCOUNT, grab it, grab it, grab it. It was one of my top reads from 2010 What’s next for you? More wonderful Burgundy Club books?

I have a few leftover characters, but for now I’m moving on, or rather back. I’m working on a series set in 1800, featuring some extremely wild and badly behaved art collectors. I can now reveal the title of the first, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING WICKED. It’s out in December 2012.

Ooh, can’t wait! Sounds fascinating! I always ask you about interesting tidbits of research you’ve discovered when you write each book. Did anything unusual take your fancy when you were researching CONFESSIONS OF AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE?

Blake and Minerva go to Paris on their honeymoon. By 1822 the English had resumed their trips to the Continent after the long Napoleonic Wars and I found plenty of contemporary guidebooks. I discovered it was perfectly proper in Paris for ladies to dine out in restaurants and cafés. So I sent my warring couple out on a date, to the slightly disreputable Café de la Paix, located in a converted theater in the Palais Royal. I had to augment the descriptions I found from my imagination but the setting gave me an idea for a very fun and sexy scene.

You’re always jetting around the globe – and I have the postcards to prove it, thank you! I’d love to hear about your recent travels. Are you going to use any of your journeys as inspirations for future books?

Not sure I could fit it into a Regency, but I just spent a wonderful long weekend in Miami soaking up gorgeous March sun. It was a lot less humid than that day we spent together in Saint Augustine, Florida, after RWA in Orlando! Among the places I visited was Vizcaya, an incredible mock-Venetian Palazzo built by an industrialist in 1916.

Miranda, that looks spectacular. I often think back on our day at St. Augustine and what fun we had bowling along in our convertible. Do you have a question for the Banditas and Bandita Buddies to get conversation rolling like said convertible?

Paris is one of the most gloriously romantic cities in the world, but for some reason it’s not popular as a setting for romance novels. But there are some great books and movies set there. What’s your favorite Paris story, in any medium?

Miranda has very generously offered two signed copies of CONFESSIONS FROM AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE today to people who leave comments. So good luck and get commenting!

156 Comments

April’s Coming Attractions!

Posted by Susan Sey Apr 1 2012, 12:44 am in Anna Campbell, coming attractions, contest winner, Donna MacMeans, Eloisa James, Grace Burrowes, guest blogger, interviews, JD Tyler, Jessica Andersen, Kate Walker, maggie robinson, Mari Mancusi, Miranda Neville, Susan Sey

Welcome to April, & we’re not fooling!  There are tons of treats & hijinx to be had in the lair this month.  Here’s a quick preview of what’s in store….

WE HAVE GUESTS!

On April 2nd, our own Anna Campbell hosts Lair favorite Miranda Neville!  Miranda is coming back to us to cause general mayhem & talk about her wonderful new Burgundy Club book CONFESSIONS FROM AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE.  A lot of romance fans have been hanging out for Minerva’s story and it’s about to arrive.  Huzzah!

On April 3rd, Suzanne Ferrell brings JD Tyler to the lair to talk about SAVAGE AWAKENING, the second full book in her Alpha Pack series.  She and Suzanne will discuss   JD’s sexy wolf shifter, Arik Savage, and all the newest developments in the world of the Alpha Pack. Will Arik meet his mate or find himself a victim of secret experimentation claiming more than one shifter?

On April 4th, Anna Campbell’s back with Maggie Robinson who will tell us about her latest release MASTER OF SIN.  Maggie writes a really hot historical so we’re expecting the windows of the lair to steam up when she starts talking about her latest hero Andrew Rossiter.  

On April 5th, if she escapes from the chaos of having her house totally revamped–walls knocked down, kitchen replaced, etc.—Kate Walker will be talking about the publication of her latest Presents Extra title–THE DEVIL AND MISS JONES– and celebrating being 60.  In book terms, that is.

On April 6th, Jessica Andersen returns with the penultimate Nightkeepers book, MAGIC UNCHAINED.  Join us for a chat about the hunky hero, Sven (no relation to our equally hunky Sven, alas) and his magical familiar.

On April 9th, Eloisa James will be back in the Lair to chat about her fabulous memoir, PARIS IN LOVE, and the year she spent in Paris. 

40 Comments

The Last Man Standing

Posted by Anna Campbell Feb 2 2012, 12:15 am in Anna Campbell, Bandita Booty, Black Ops Series, Cindy Gerard, Guests, interviews, Last Man Standing, Nancy Northcott, Romantic suspense

Please join Nancy and me in welcoming New York Times bestseller Cindy Gerard on her first visit to the Lair.  We both love Cindy’s current series, Black Ops, Inc., as well as the prior Bodyguards series.  These books match tough, patriotic men with brave, determined women in stories full of action-adventure and hot romance. The last book in the series, Last Man Standing, was released January 31.  

(Nancy)  I loved Last Man Standing, a wonderful concluding volume for a dynamic series.  How would you describe the Black Ops Inc. series to readers who might not be familiar with it?

I think the best way to answer that is to share the short pitch I made to my publisher when I first created the series – so here goes ) 

BLACK OPS, INC.

Where patriotism meets the seamy underbelly of a world held hostage by greed, corruption and terror.

Black Ops, Inc. (B.O.I.) picks up where the Bodyguards left off.  Where E.D.E.N. Securities showcased the all-American Garretts and their extended family, B.O.I., a private contracting firm specializing in jobs even the military and the CIA won’t touch, features an equally heroic but different breed of men and women fighting a covert war pitting good against evil.

The B.O.I. operatives are shadow warriors – former SEAL, DELTA, Special Forces, and CIA types who valiantly served their country and now fearlessly serve their employer.  They are individuals so committed to their cause they’ve lost touch with the concept of baseball, mom and apple pie.  Their world, instead, is comprised of bullets and bad guys and a daily fight to save not only the free world but their very lives.

 (Anna) Can you tell us about your latest Black Ops extravaganza, LAST MAN STANDING?

Last Man Standing is the 7^th and final book in the BOI series and brings the team full circle, tying up an event that brought them together years ago in Sierra Leone when they were all active military.  I think this blurb from the back of the book summarizes things nicely:

Special operative Joe Green has gone vigilante.  His mission, avenge his Black Ops.,Inc. brother’s death during a bloody ambush years ago in Sierra Leone.  He refuses to drag the BOI team or his lover, Stephanie Tompkins, into the hunt for the man responsible, so when he finds himself beaten, starving, and alone after being falsely imprisoned for the murder of a Freetown priest, he knows he’s as good as dead.

Joe meant to protect Stephanie when he walked out on their relationship, but he can’t stop her now from executing his escape.  Breaking him out of prison is the easy part.  After Joe’s explosive theory pans out and his cunning enemy emerges as the front runner for a high level presidential appointment, he and Stephanie must race to derail the traitor’s conspiracy if they are to save their loved ones, the nation and each other.

 Would you like to share an excerpt?

Absolutely!  Thanks so much for asking.  Here’s the opening scene:

Freetown, Sierra Leone

Joe Green was as good as dead. He’d known it the moment he’d started digging for answers to questions no one wanted asked.

What he hadn’t known was the havoc his hunt would create.

What he hadn’t wanted was for the priest to die.

“No, man. Oh no, man. You—”

“Quiet,” Joe snapped when Suah’s whisper echoed through the cavernous nave of the Sacred Heart Cathedral.

The teen-aged boy at his side was frozen in shock. On the cold stone floor, blood pooled beneath the holy man’s head, crept around the base of the chancel rail, then spilled down the step to the altar.

Joe dropped to a knee and pressed his fingers to the cleric’s neck. No pulse. And no life in the eyes that stared blankly at the stained glass windows.

“Is he—?”

Joe swallowed heavily. “Yeah. He’s dead.”

Regret, self-disgust and defeat pounded through his veins, a reminder that what he had started would come to no good end.

No good end? Jesus. The priest was dead. Ends didn’t come much worse than this.

He glanced up, beyond gold candlesticks on the high altar, above yards of maroon velvet cascading from an alcove that hosted a life-sized statue of a benevolent Christ. Pale candlelight flickered eerily through the church, casting his and Suah’s shadows in tall, wavy relief along the far wall, like ghosts already here to claim the priest’s soul.

He lowered his head into his hand. God help him … what had he done?

The thick wooden doors at the front of the cathedral swung open with a heavy, echoing thud. He whipped his head around to see several uniformed officers storm into the nave. The police – Freetown’s bastion of corrupt law enforcement – had arrived in force and put an end to any hope of a quick search of the cleric’s prostrate body.

“Hide before they spot you,” he whispered urgently when Suah stood there, petrified in fear. “Hurry! Duck under the high altar.”

He shot to his feet and gave the boy a shove as the contingent of gunmen raced down the center aisle between the rows of worn wooden pews. Satisfied that the kid was well hidden beneath the draping cloth, he made certain the men got a glimpse of him then sprinted for the sacristy, leading them away from Suah.

He got as far as the Epistle door and swung it open. The rattle of rifles being shouldered and the ‘snick-click’ of a dozen safeties switching to off position greeted him. The beams of as many flashlights blinded him.

He was surrounded.

“Hands in the air,” a voice shouted from behind him.

Slowly, he did as he was told. Slower still, he turned around … and stared into the dark, angry faces of the men who had passed the priest’s body to get to him.

Without warning, the butt end of an assault rifle swung around hard and slammed into his temple.

He fell to all fours, fighting both a screaming pain and the hard pull of unconsciousness. Yeah, he thought again, just before the darkness sucked him under. He was as good as dead.

(Nancy) Do you naturally create heroes before heroines, or vice-versa?  Once you have a hero or heroine, how do you create his/her perfect match?

I don’t have an absolute pattern when it comes to character creations.  Generally, however, the hero presents himself to me before I meet his heroine.  I have to get to know him before I know what kind of woman will be a good match and an equal.  In some cases, my heroes/heroines start out as secondary characters – I love it when that happens.  When a character becomes so intriguing that I just know they have to have their own book.  Gabe – the Archangel – Jones, the hero of Show No Mercy began as a secondary character and the moment he walked on the page, I knew he had to have his own story.  The same thing with Joe Green and Stephanie Tompkins (Last Man Standing)  They were never supposed to have their own stories but they just kept showing up and demanding that I let them speak. )

 (Anna) I love the Bodyguard series although if I had to pick a favorite it would probably be FEEL THE HEAT. I think B.J. and Raphael were just so perfectly matched, their romance sizzled. Do you have a favorite and why?

Thanks for that. I loved the Bodyguard series as well and hated to let those people go even though I was already in love with the first hero from the Black Ops, Inc series.  B.J. and Rafe were a really fun couple to work with.  She was so prickly and he was so not wanting to break through that wall she’s built … but fate had other plans for those two.  As for my favorite – that is so hard.  I love all my characters but if you MAKE me chose, I’ve always had a soft spot for Johnny Reed.  He was such an arrogant, womanizing bad boy and yet so irreverent and funny and heroic.  I loved watching his veneer get peeled away by Crystal until she uncovered the REAL Johhny Reed.  The man who carried a lot of emotional scars and hid those scars behind a bad boy facade.  He was a really interesting character to unearth. 

But then Joe Green – Last Man Standing – was a huge surprise too.  The opposite of Johnny, Joe is a quiet man.  And beneath all that somber exterior run a gamut of emotions and longing and secrets.  Very intriguing character.

 (Nancy) Many of your stories are set outside the United States.  How do you research these locations?

The first thing I do is get a map of the country, a Lonely Planet guide and then I haunt travel blogs, any videos that are posted showing the country or city and I read first hand blog journals to get a real feel for the setting.  I also belong to several writer’s loops and often I’ll put a shout out to anyone who might have lived there or currently lives there or knows someone who lives there and dig up even more information.  People are very generous and I’m grateful for that.  But I do a lot of research as I always consider setting as another character in the book and that setting must have as much dimension as the people I write about.

 (Anna) What’s coming up next for you?

Oh, I’m really glad you asked me that!  As you know, Last Man Standing is the 7^th and final book of the Black Ops series … however, you will be seeing the BOI’s again, only as secondary characters instead of in starring rolls.  I’ve just begun writing a new series entitled: One-Eyed Jacks which is a spin off of the BOI series.  The first book (no firm title yet) stars Mike – Primetime – Brown, a character you first met in With No Remorse (Luke and Val’s book) and who shows up again in an even bigger role in Last Man Standing.  Mike – again – was one of those secondary characters who walked on the page and demanded his own book.  Here’s a little over view of the new series:

ONE EYED JACKS

 The One Eyed Jacks (a multi-branch military task force formed in 2002 and disbanded in 2005) got their nick name because of the uniqueness of their experimental unit, their tight camaraderie, their slightly reckless reputation, their favorite downtime/pastime of high stakes poker and because each of them made a pact to always carry a One Eyed Jack playing card (either a Jack of hearts or a Jack of spades) as their lucky charm and a sign of unity.

Today, only three men of the original detail are still alive – Mike Brown, Bobby Taggart, Jamie Cooper.  On their last mission in Afghanistan, all three were dealt a losing hand and now share one common bond:  The military that they proudly served had cut them loose eight years ago with a ‘less than honorable’ discharge when their team led a covert operation that went south and the powers that be laid the blame squarely on their shoulders.  To the dismay of the prosecutors of the Navy, Army, and Marines military tribunals, the most serious of charges could not be proven, which negated the possibility of court martial and prison but still ended in their separation from the service.

Now Brown, Taggart and Cooper lead separate lives in separate countries, have all dropped out of ‘normal society’ and not only live with the lie that led to their military separation but with the weight of the deaths of both their task force team members and several innocent civilians haunting them.  For these three men, life is now all about getting by, about forgetting the past, dealing with the anger and coping with the hand they’ve been dealt.  None of them intend to break the status quo – until a mysterious woman confronts and forces Brown to ask questions about what really happened in Afghanistan and how those events played into a current national security threat.  She dangles bait Brown can’t resist – the means to clear his name, deliver justice and expose the master mind behind the death of his teammates and his own downfall. 

Oooh, way cool!  We can’t wait! 

Thank you so much for having me here today.  And I’d be happy to answer any questions.  You can always catch up on my news at:

www.cindygerard.com

or on FB at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cindy-Gerard-New-York-Times-Best-selling-author/167877057439

Cindy is giving away a signed copy of one of her books (winner’s choice) to one commenter today.  Do you have a question for her, ask away.  Or tell us, what’s your favorite of Cindy’s books or your favorite other book featuring covert operatives?

132 Comments

Q&A with Aunty Cindy and Jo-Mama

Posted by admin Oct 21 2011, 1:34 am in Aunty Cindy explains it all for you, interviews, Jo Robertson

posted by Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy and Jo Robertson aka Jo-Mama

Darkness enveloped the new and improved Lair as Mario (aka “The New Guy”) wandered in and out of the various rooms, familiarizing himself with his new home. When he walked into the luxurious new library, he heard voices in a far corner and discovered Aunty Cindy and Jo-Mama brainstorming promo tactics for their newly released works.

Mario: Excuse me ladies. I didn’t mean to interrupt (Eyes Aunty’s riding crop suspiciously).

JM and AC: No problem! We were just finishing up.

Mario: You know I’m new here and never had much experience with writers before. May I please  ask you some questions about your books?

JM (soto voce): You recruited a polite one, AC!

AC (lifts eyebrows in a ‘don’t-I-know-it gesture): Sure, Mario. Ask away!

Mario (shuffles feet nervously): Do you read reviews of your books?

 I do.  I think reviews are a good indicator of whether you’re reaching your target audience or not.  You can learn as much from a bad review as from a good one.  What didn’t work for that reader, for example, and is that a valid criticism.  It’s delightful when a reviewer homes in on what you consider are the strengths and weaknesses of your book.  It’s kind of a “I knew that” epiphany.

AC:  I try to only read the good ones, but it’s the bad ones I remember. Go figure! And no matter how much an author wants to respond, you never EVER answer to nasty reviews because the author inevitably winds up looking bad too. Sometimes it can be a real challenge… like when a reviewer says, “EWWW! This book was a romance and I never read romances!” Or worse  the reviewer says, “I stopped reading on page 5 because the author used a swear word, but…” and then goes on for another 2,000 word rant that has nothing to do with your book.

Yes, Aunty is speaking from personal experiences in both those cases, but somehow she managed to restrain herself and NOT reply. Copious amounts of chocolate and maybe even a couple of margaritas did help her maintain her restraint.

Mario casts his gaze on the empty TimTam wrappers and Pepsi cans in the nearby trash bin and a light of understanding glows in his dark eyes.

Mario (judiciously changing the subject): What’s the first thing you do when you finish a book?

JM: This is a tricky question because the answer is two-fold.  If it’s a bad book and I’ve been forcing myself to finish it (for a variety of reasons) by skimming,  I snap off my Kindle and sigh right before saying, “Thank goodness that’s over!”

If it’s one of my favorites, I never want it to end.  I always hate the ending of a good book; that’s one of the reasons I’m a slow reader.  I enjoy savoring the dialogue, the characters, and the language and voice of the writer.  I’m always sad to end a good book.

AC: I thought you meant when I finish writing a book. When I finally get to “The End” I usually shout WOO HOO! I shoot off an email to my critique partner (lifts eyebrow at Jo-Mama) and my BFF with the words THE END in screaming red 18 point font. Then, depending on the time of day or night (I have this tendency to finish things in the wee hours of the morning) I consume copious amounts of chocolate and/or a margarita or two.   

Mario: If you had a chance to talk with someone, past or present, who would it be, and how would you break the ice?

JM: I was just thinking about this since I’m over here in Monterey and Carmel and was wondering if I’d run into Clint Eastwood.  He was Carmel mayor a long time ago and still lives, I believe, on the famous Seventeen-mile Drive.  I grew up on his “spaghetti westerns,” and Dirty Harry movies, but have come to admire him as an exceptional director and producer.  

What would I ask him?  Uh, wouldn’t you like to buy the movie rights for “The Watcher”?

AC:  OOOO! GREAT IDEA, Jo-Mama! I happen to think “The Watcher” would make a GREAT movie! But then so would “The Avenger” or any of my books too. Plus Eastwood is a fantastic director!

As for the question… If I could talk to someone from the past it would definitely be William Shakespeare. First thing I’d say would be, “So Will, tell me about this Dark Lady…”

Mario (with a faraway look in his eyes) mutters something that sounds suspiciously like Angelina Jolie.

 Mario: Sorry, it must be past my bedtime. I’m still adjusting to all the new and exciting things here in the Lair. By the way, what costume will you be wearing for Le Duchesse’s big bash on Halloween?

JM: A happy pirate, I know this because Miss Emma, age almost three, tells me that SHE’S The Scarrwwy Pirate and Grammy’s The Happy Pirate.

However, the last legitimate costume I wore was a witch.  Not very original, but apparently I make a really good witch!

 AC: I’ve always wanted to dress up like Cleopatra — the Liz Taylor version of her with all the blue eye shadow! Oh, and can’t forget, my lily-white asp.

JM (whispers urgently to Mario): DON’T SAY IT!

Mario (judiciously bites his lip): Um, it’s late. I better bid you Banditas sweet dreams.

JM: Polite and smart too!

AC (nods sagely): Don’t I know it.

Okay everyone, it’s your turn! Do you have a question for Aunty Cindy or Jo-Mama? Don’t be shy!

And while we are on the subject, what do YOU plan to wear at Le Duchesse’s BIG BASH in ten days?

Continuing on with our Tricks & Treats prizes, today one lucky commenter will win the following TREATS: A $10 Amazon gift card, your choice of one of Jo-Mama’s books (The Watcher or The Avenger) and your choice of one of Aunty Cindy’s books (The Wild Sight, The Treasures of Venice, The Wild Irish Sea, or The Sidhe Princess). One not quite so lucky commenter will get a TRICK, but don’t worry, winning the trick also qualifies you for a great prize packages at the BIG BASH on Oct. 31st!

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Out of the Shadows!

Posted by Anna Campbell Sep 2 2011, 4:02 am in Anna Campbhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifell, Bandita Booty, Blood Kin, debut, fantasy, interviews, M.J. Scott, Shadow Kin

by Anna Campbell

I’ve been really looking forward to introducing you all to my lovely friend M.J. Scott. M.J. is a long-time and very active member of Romance Writers of Australia and it’s always a pleasure to see her at our conferences.

It’s even more of a pleasure to talk about her debut book SHADOW KIN which hits the shelves (and the e-waves) on 6th September. The great reviews for SHADOW KIN are rolling in. RT Book Reviews said, “Exciting and rife with political intrigue and magic, SHADOW KIN is hard to put down right from the start. Magic, faeries, vampires, werewolves and Templar knights all come together to create an intriguing story with a unique take on all these fantasy tropes…the lore and history of Scott’s world is well fleshed out and the action scenes are exhilarating and fast.”

Here’s the blurb:

On one side, the Night World, rules by the Blood Lords and the Beast Kind. On the other, the elusive Fae and the humans, protected by their steadfast mages…

Born a wraith, Lily is a shadow who slips between worlds. Brought up by a Blood Lord and raised to be his assassin, she is little more than a slave. But when Lily meets her match in target Simon DuCaine, the unlikely bond that develops between them threatens to disrupt an already stretched peace in a city on the verge of being torn apart…

You can find out more about Mel and her books and read an excerpt from SHADOW KIN on M.J.’s website: www.mjscott.net

M.J., welcome to the Romance Bandits and congratulations on the release of your debut book SHADOW KIN. Can you tell us about this story?

SHADOW KIN is the story of a half-Fae assassin who has been controlled all her life by some fairly unpleasant people.When she botches her latest assignment and meets someone with a different perspective on the world, things begin to change.

You describe SHADOW KIN as ‘dark fantasy’. Can you tell us about the world your characters inhabit and what inspired it?

I will confess that when I first started SHADOW KIN, I thought it was urban fantasy. But then I realised that they weren’t wearing modern clothes and when the first gun appeared, in my head it was an ornately engraved old-fashioned pistol. Then as my heroine told me more about the world and said that the four races who live in the Half-Light City maintain peace through a treaty, I started to think about what sorts of things a treaty between humans, vampires, werewolves and Fae might govern. The obvious things seemed to be rationing the amounts of iron and silver that are available for use. Which has some flow-on effects on the level of technology the humans have reached. Plus there’s magic to deal with. SHADOW KIN isn’t steampunk but the world is somewhere around an early Victorian level of technology, with some differences. As for the inspiration, I can’t point to any one thing. A lifetime of reading fantasy, science fiction and lots of historical romance, I guess!

Sounds great! What’s next for M.J. Scott?

Book 2, BLOOD KIN comes out in June next year. I’m just finishing book three and am working on other things that I can’t yet talk about.

Here in the lair, we LOVE call stories. Can you please share yours?

My call story is a bit of a saga. SHADOW KIN was the third book of mine that my agent went out with. I wrote it in a year where I was having a lot of near misses, so it was a bit of a roller coaster plus it was a bit of an odd book and I wasn’t sure where exactly it would fit and was feeling gloomy about the whole thing (even though I loved the book). Luckily my agent loved it too and then, when she sent it out, we got the first offer in about three weeks. But it then took another two weeks to get other offers and have a bit of an auction, during which I had to keep quiet about what was happening and didn’t sleep much. Lots of very early morning phone calls and emails given the time difference between Australia and New York. When we got to the actual final result, my agent finally got to make “the call” after nearly three years of repping me and there was much squeeing and snoopy dancing. Then I got to share the good news with the world and have a long nap. lol



I bet that was a very happy nap! Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Stick to it, keep learning and don’t give up. It took me nine years to sell and almost ten years before I finally got to hold my book in my hands but it’s worth all the hard work along the way!

Your heroine is an assassin – did you set out to write a bad girl heroine?

The couple of urban fantasy books I wrote before SHADOW KIN both had heroines who started out more normal and got dragged into darker worlds. When my heroine showed up in my head, standing outside a door, getting ready to go in and kill someone, I realised I was dealing with a whole different kettle of fish. So I didn’t start off to write her that way, she arrived that way and then the hero popped up almost her complete opposite and I had a good guy hero to deal with too. Which was a lot of fun to play with as a writer as things are rarely quite as black and white as they seems.

Okay, Banditas, I had a blast writing a bad girl/good boy story even though it was different to what I’ve tended to write before (as I’m usually a bit of a sucker for a bad boy hero). What’s your favourite romance pairing? Do you like to see the good girl get her bad boy or two charming tricksters go head to head in a bad boy/bad girl heroine or see a good guy get his world turned on its head by a sexy bad girl? Or even see two good people struggle to get it right?

Thanks, M.J. Get commenting, people. There’s a copy of SHADOW KIN up for grabs today! Good luck!

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Vanessa Kelly Is In The Lair!

Posted by admin Jun 7 2010, 2:00 pm in Aunty Cindy explains it all for you, interviews, vanessa kelly

posted by Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy

Not long ago, yer olde Aunty was enjoying the sights on another blog (oh, all right, it was The Romance Dish), when a very intriguing cover caught my eye! Needless to say, I had to find out more about this gorgeous hunk… er, um, BOOK!

Turns out this luscious…BOOK is the creation of a lovely author who happens to have a ‘Bandita Connection’ and she agreed to join us today for an interview. So please help me welcome Vanessa Kelly to the Lair!

AC: What made you start writing? Did anyone inspire or encourage you to write?

VK: I’ve been writing all my life in one form or another, either in graduate school or in my work life as a researcher. In grad school, I studied women writers of the Georgian and Regency era who, as you know, were the foremothers of the modern novel and the romance novel.

Several years after I left grad school I started toying (fool that I was!) with the idea of writing a romance. I’ve loved Regency romances ever since my sister introduced me to Georgette Heyer when I was in the eighth grade. And after studying all those fabulous writers in grad school, I developed a natural affinity for the period. So it made sense that when I started to write, I wrote Regency-set historical romance. I guess you could say my inspiration came from writers like Fanny Burney, Maria Edgeworth, and that well-spring of inspiration, Jane Austen. Throw Georgette Heyer into the mix and it all makes perfect sense!

AC: Yes, truly come GREAT inspiration!

How long have you been writing romance with an eye toward publication ?

VK: I’ve been writing romance for about four years.

AC: How many manuscripts did you finish before you sold?

VK: I completed two manuscripts before I sold, and my first book came out in April, 2009.

AC: We love “Call Stories” in the Lair, please share yours with us.

VK: I had just signed with an agent about two months before my book sold. She shopped it to a few houses, who liked it but enough to buy it. She then submitted it to a particular editor at Kensington, who she really believed would love it. By that point I had come to expect a fairly long submission process, so I wasn’t expecting to hear back for several weeks, at least.

Two days later, my husband and I were out shopping. When we returned home there was a message from my agent, telling me to call her at the end of the day because she had something important to discuss. Needless to say, by the end of the afternoon I was a wreck. When I called her, my agent said hello and then immediately put me on hold—for several very loooooong minutes. By the time she got back on the phone I was a total basket case! But the news was great—a two-book contract in Kensington’s Debut program.

AC: WOW! Well, I guess we can forgive her for putting you on hold for so long. LOL!

Please tell us about your current release.

VK: I actually have one book that just came out, and one book soon to be released. My Regency-set historical romance, SEX AND THE SINGLE EARL, came out in early May. It’s the second book in my series, which started with MASTERING THE MARQUESS. It’s a friends-to-lovers story, with a dash of danger and suspense thrown in, and it takes place in Bath, England. Sophie was a really fun heroine to write, especially since she keeps my hero, Simon, running in circles throughout the book. And you may notice that on the cover of the book—right next to the hunky guy with the great chest—there’s a fabulous quote from a certain Bandita!

If you want to read an excerpt of SEX AND THE SINGLE EARL, here’s the link to my website: http://www.vanessakellyauthor.com/excerpt_sse2.html

The other book I have coming out is called CADDYGIRLS, and it’s a contemporary romance that I wrote with my husband under the pen name of VK Sykes. It’s being released by Carina Press, which is Harlequin’s new digital imprint. We’re thrilled to be part of the first wave of authors for Carina, who I think is going to take the publishing world by storm.

AC: You are one busy lady! And how brave of you to co-write with your DH!

Plotter? Pantser? Or something in between? Anything else you want to share about your writing process?

VK: I’m a mad plotter. I make up plot boards, write outlines, character bios, GMC charts—you name it. If there’s a chart I’ve tried it! But I find that the more pre-work I do, the more efficiently and easily I write. I probably go overboard, but I don’t really find that it stifles the creative process. When I have a certain level of security as to what happens next, I can relax and just let the good stuff roll on out.

AC: I can see you and Tawny are go to get along famously.

Do you have any advice you’d like to share with unpublished or recently published writers?

VK: Don’t treat your novels like your babies. The publishing business can be tough, and putting a little distance between yourself and your work can help keep your sanity intact. And definitely don’t read bad reviews!!

AC: Excellent advice! Especially about not reading bad reviews.Why are those the ones I always remember?!?!

On a happier note, what’s next for you, Vanessa?

VK: The next book in my Regency-set historical series will be out in May, 2011. It’s called MY FAVORITE COUNTESS, and the heroine is Bathsheba, who was the evil ex-mistress in SEX AND THE SINGLE EARL. It was so much fun reforming her. And just to make things more interesting, I paired her up with a crusading slum doctor—most definitely not the kind of man she’s used to!

I also have a short story in the Mammoth Book of Regency Romance, which comes out this summer. I know that Anna also has a story in that anthology—I can’t wait to read it!

AC: All those sound GREAT! I can hear the TBR piles growing now. Thank you for being here today Vanessa.

What about you? Do you like friends-to-lovers stories? Or are you more intrigued by the reformed bad boy/girl? What are some of your favorite stories with either of these two themes?

Vanessa is generously giving away TWO copies of her book SEX AND THE SINGLE EARL to lucky commenters today, so let us hear from YOU!

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Colette Gale is Seducing the Classics

Posted by Trish Milburn Jun 15 2009, 4:16 am in Colette Gale, interviews

Today, I’m very happy to host talented author and good friend Colette Gale, who is making a name for herself in the erotic romance world by retelling classic tales with, shall we say, a bit of a spicier twist. And Colette is giving away not one, not two, but all three of her published novels. So today, we’ll have three lucky winners — so be sure to ask Colette questions, make observations, etc. Maybe even tell us what classic tale you’d like to see given an erotic twist.

Q. Your third “Seducing the Classics” release, Bound by Honor, just came out last month. Tell us a bit about this erotic tale of Maid Marian, Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham.

A. My first “seduced classic,” UNMASQUED: An Erotic Novel of the Phantom of the Opera, was something I just started to write for myself. I am a fan of erotic novels, and I was always fascinated by Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s take on the original story. He romanticized and, dare I say, eroticized, the original in such a way that I was furious when Christine didn’t stay with the Phantom at the end of the play/movie.

A. I love my covers. And thank you for the compliments! I love them all, but when I saw the cover for Master, I thought it was the most beautiful cover I’d ever seen. But when I saw the cover for Bound by Honor, I had to change my mind! The art department really outdid themselves on it, didn’t they?

Part of the reason I’m waffling is because in each of my books, I generally write twenty chapters or so. And my goal is, because it’s an “erotic novel,” that there is at least one sex scene per chapter–i.e., someone’s going to get off. Somehow, some way.

However, many of you know that I also write under my other name, which is a not-very-well-kept secret. I recently released the last in my Gardella Vampire Chronicles series, and I have a brand new series coming out in early 2010 that doesn’t have vampires in it (it has zombies) and it isn’t set in the past (it’s set in the future). So I’ve been busy working on the first three books in that series, and hopefully Trish and the Banditas will have more information about that when the time is closer.

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Bonjour to Madame Sophia Nash and her Tres Merry Widows!

Posted by Anna Campbell Mar 6 2009, 5:02 am in A Dangerous Beauty, Anna Campbell, Bandita Booty, interviews, Love with the Perfect Scoundrel, RITA winner, Sophia Nash, The Kiss, The Widows Club

by Anna Campbell

It is my huge pleasure to introduce one of my favorite people in Romancelandia, the RITA-winning, endlessly witty, stunningly intelligent, gorgeously attractive Sophia Nash!

Sophia, I hope you’re soaking all this up – I certainly don’t say it to your face. To your face, I call you a Tim Tam hound, which is also true!

Sophia writes sparkling, emotional historical romance for Avon. The latest instalment in Sophia’s THE WIDOWS’ CLUB has just been released. You can find out more about Sophia and her books at her website: www.sophianash.com

Sophia, welcome to the lair. I think you’re going to fit right in. Yeah, I saw you steal that margarita from that cabana boy. And all with a smile on your face! Grand larceny, yikes! The latest in your wonderful Widows Club series hit the stands at the end of February. Could you tell us about LOVE WITH A PERFECT SCOUNDREL?

This is the third book in the series I’ve had so much fun creating for Avon. The book’s back cover blurb follows:

Twice jilted in the last two years, the achingly beautiful yet stoic Grace, Countess of Sheffield has given up on love. Now she’s no longer capable of maintaining the elegant, serene facade with the members of the Duchess of Helston’s secret circle of friends. And so she flees… only to encounter wretched disaster during the carriage ride north. But little does Grace know that once she faces all fate has tossed her way, she will find a new life…with a tall, rugged stranger who not only saves her life but forces her to dig deep into her hidden reserves of desire and fortitude to blossom into the woman she was destined to become—a lady willing to sacrifice all for a mysterious, yet powerful man who insists he is nothing more than a perfect scoundrel.

Sounds delicious! Where next for your wonderful widows?

There will be an anthology: FOUR DUKES AND A DEVIL which arrives in book stores June 30th. In this stand alone novella, the most eligible gentleman in London’s marriage mart reluctantly rescues a stranded school mistress. When the duke is forced to go heart-to-heart with the spirited siren, (Victoria Givan introduced briefly in LOVE WITH THE PERFECT SCOUNDREL, the well-documented Catch of the Century finds out she’s the only one he can’t have.

And after the novella, the final book in the Widows Club quartet, which I’m currently writing, will be on shelves. Although…there might be another widow or other liar lurking about in mourning if the powers that be have a say… You just never know!

Can you tell us about your writing journey?

Journey? I was NOT one of those writers who started scribbling stories in the 1st grade. But I did love to read as did my father. We would sit like two zombies on the couch until my mother dragged us to the dinner table each night. But I did figure out that I liked to “create” when I worked at PM Magazine in WTVJ-Miami after college. I loved writing and producing stories. I spent many years in television, then as a congressional speech writer, and head of a non-profit. But when my father was very ill, he made me promise I would do what he and I had always talked about: write a book. He edited parts of A SECRET PASSION before he died, but I’m sorry to say he didn’t see it published.

You won a RITA award for your Regency A PASSIONATE ENDEAVOR. Congratulations! Can you tell us about that experience? Just in case, you know, a Bandita has to appear with panache and style on that stage one day. Also what is your feeling about awards? Do you think they help a writer’s career?

I recently wrote about this subject, but it’s one I always like to tackle, because my take on awards surprises many people. While the initial glow of winning any award is lovely, I’ve also learned the hard way not to take any of it seriously. Author Anne Lamott wrote something like, “whenever the world throws rose petals at you, beware the cosmic banana peel right behind.” This could not be more true in my case. Right after the RITA and having a book named “Top Ten Romance of the Year” by Booklist, the Signet Regency line closed, I struggled with a proposal that flopped, changed agents, wrote a new proposal, etc. ad nauseum before FINALLY, my stories found a new home. And of course the opposite is true re my Banana Peel View on winning awards: All the writers who don’t win awards are the ones with the last laugh since they’re being offered “significant” deals and selling television rights to HBO, right?

You write luscious heroes. Do you want to give us the lowdown on the men in the Widows’ Club?

Luc, Quinn, Michael . . . and coming soon: John and Rowland. They are a big, bad bunch except Quinn, the only Beta male of the group. He was the toughest to write because he is so calm, serious, and has a heart of gold, not a hot-headed, brute like Luc, who knows his power and uses it, or Michael who is capable of seducing half the female population at first glance.

I will admit that I love writing in the hero’s point of view and writing about male posturing between them. I was an only child surrounded by a huge number of French and American male cousins. All of them are very good looking, funny alpha males. I watched them blaze a trail littered with broken hearts on two coasts. I also watched what sort of women brought them to their knees (as in “Will you marry me?”). It was a wonderful education especially for writing romance!

It looks like when the series is finished there will be: 2 dukes, 1 earl, 1 marquis, 1 viscount, and a “gentleman” (or not). How is that for leaving a loophole?

Ooh, la la! You’re half French and I really feel there is a strong European influence in your writing. Do you draw on your French heritage in your work?

I think writers draw on everything they’ve got, don’t you? But, yes, I have so many paintings and beautiful crumbling photographs of my French ancestors surrounding me in my house, and I swear that while I’m writing, I have the ghosts of the lot of them looking over my shoulder (kind of like those dead ancestors hanging over Mulan’s shoulder in that Disney movie ). But you see, I also have an American father, with British roots. And those Brit ghosts are always keeping a stiff upper lip and trying not to tell the frogs where to go. So when I’m writing scenes in the ballroom, the Brit/American voice inserts itself, and beyond the bedroom door? Well, there’s a reason it’s called French kissing;-}

Where do you find your inspiration?

In the strangest places, like most writers. Sometimes it’s as simple as a movie, or a newspaper article, or a conversation with a friend. The entire concept of the widows club came from a ladies lunch when I asked the group what they would do if they lost their husbands (one absent friend had just lost her husband.) Each lady had a different answer . . . and a series was born. The plot for Love With the Perfect Scoundrel came to me after driving 1,200 miles through a gazillion hair-raising roundabouts in England. I arrived in Derbyshire–right into the teeth of a freak snowstorm. And I wondered….what if Grace Sheffey got caught in a blizzard in Derbyshire?

Thanks, Sophia! What great answers! I can’t wait to read LOVE WITH THE PERFECT SCOUNDREL. It sounds fantastic.

We’re giving one lucky commenter a chance to win Sophia’s latest. So good luck, Bandita buddies. Sophia, do you have a question to get the conversational ball rolling?

When reading a romance, do you have a favorite point of view? Do you prefer to be in the heroine’s head or the hero’s head, and why? What about during a love scene?

118 Comments

Victoria Gardella’s Saga Draws to a Close

Posted by Trish Milburn Mar 5 2009, 5:01 am in As Shadows Fade, Colleen Gleason, Gardella Vampire Chronicles, interviews

Colleen Gleason and I have been friends since we both finaled in Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart contest in 2003. There have been many times when we’ve instant messaged each other late at night or sat in a hotel lobby somewhere bemoaning the fact that we hadn’t sold any books yet. Fortunately, now we both have — after many years of writing, submitting and those dreaded rejections in the mailbox. Colleen hit upon a fantastic, high-concept idea with her Gardella Vampire Chronicles — Buffy in Regency England. Even if I didn’t know Colleen, I would adore these books. Unlike a traditional romance in which the heroine gets her man in the course of one book, Colleen has forced Victoria Gardella (and us!) to wait five books to see if she gets her happily ever after. The last in the series, As Shadows Fade, hit bookstore shelves yesterday. I’m SO looking forward to reading the final installment and hoping my guy (of the two potential heroes), Max, is the one Victoria ends up with. If not…well, I have Colleen’s address.

Q: In this final book of the series, does Victoria finally get her happy ever after? Was it difficult for you to make her choose a hero?

A: Yes, she does!

It wasn’t hard for me to make Victoria choose her man, because, even though she hasn’t always known, I have always known, since the beginning, who her true love would be. That’s never changed, and I’ve never wavered.

But she, like most of us, has had to experience different relationships, and see them begin, end, and change, before she could decide who she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She also has had to grow into her role not only as a woman, but as a Venator, as Illa Gardella, before she was ready to make that commitment.

It had to be a man who understands her, to accepts her, who respects her–and with whom she shares beliefs, morals, and judgments. Again, just like the rest of us! So, Victoria chooses a man who will support her in her role as Illa Gardella and help her make those choices from now on. She won’t be alone.

Q: This is the last book in the series about Victoria. How did you feel about the end, and did you find it difficult to wrap up all the loose ends?

As far as the series goes, I felt it was time to wrap up as many loose ends as possible (there are still some that remain unanswered–such as, the mystery behind those paintings in the Consilium!), as Victoria’s story was winding down. I found it both exhilarating to give Victoria her happy ending, as well as completely devastating. I loved her and her character and her world, all of her men and supporting cast, and it was hard to say good-bye.

But at the end of the day, I thought it was important to end not only on what I felt was a high note, but also now, before it went on too long and became predictable or, as I’ve said in the past, before Victoria has had everything but the kitchen sink thrown at her.

When I decided that five books were perfect for Victoria’s story arc, I did have that thought in mind…that I didn’t want to go too far with her so that the series was battered or done to death. For me, as a reader and watcher, I find that series that go on for too long lose some of their sharpness and freshness. As for how the series was to end…I wasn’t exactly sure how it was going to end until I was finished with When Twilight Burns, insofar as other threads. I mean, you know I’ve always known who Vic would end up with…but the other threads…I wasn’t certain how they would be resolved.

Q: A lot of books get attention because of their heroes. However, in The Gardella Vampire Chronicles, you have created a very strong standout heroine who gets more time onstage than the possible heroes. Was this by design or did it just happen that way?

A: The series has always been about a woman faced with the desire to do and be “everything”–wife, woman, vampire hunter, Society lady, etc.– and her challenges when confronted with having to make choices and decisions about her priorities.

It’s about a woman who is so unique in her world of Regency England that she is stronger than any man, is charged with a special duty…and yet is a woman, and wants what most women–heck, what most people want: to be appreciated, respected and loved, to have companionship and friendship, and to have someone to partner with.

So, it was indeed by design that Victoria is the cornerstone of the series. And it is Victoria who makes Rockley, Sebastian, Max and even Beauregard and Lilith do things and make choices that they might not have made. She changes them, even as they change her. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.

Q: Victoria has grown into her strength a lot throughout this series. What can readers expect to see from her in As Shadows Fade?

A: You can expect to see a very strong, capable woman who has finally come into her own. She knows what she wants (but not always how to go about getting it when it doesn’t have to do with vampires), she has made mistakes in the past and has learned from them, and she is Illa Gardella. She has been through a lot, and by the end of this book, we’ll see that she’s as happy as she can be, that she’s found her place, and has accepted it, even embraced it–with courage, experience, and confidence.

In short, she’s a very different woman than the one we first met in The Rest Falls Away…and I really like the person she’s become.

However, in this book, she faces a different sort of pervasive evil than anything she’s come up against previously. People who have read this book see that the paranormal antagonists are very different than the stake-able vampires in the first book…they’re darker and creepier and more inherently evil. Those scenes feel different than other fight scenes that I’ve written, and that’s purposeful, because I wanted to end the series with her showing that she can fight any evil…not just vampires.

If she’d come up against this particular enemy in the first book or two, Victoria wouldn’t have made it. She’s grown in confidence and knowledge, and only because of that has she been able to come this far.

***

Thanks for hanging out with us here in the lair today, Colleen. I’m sure we’ve got many Gardella fans here. And if they aren’t now, I hope they will be soon.

If you’ve not read this series, go forth and purchase all five books (made easy by clicking on the cover of As Shadows Fade in this post). Also, you have a chance to win one of your very own today. Colleen is giving away a book of the winner’s choice from the Gardella series to three lucky commenters today.

And if you are already a fan of the series, I’m curious who you’re rooting for — Max or Sebastian. I will endeavor not to say snarky things if you say Sebastian.

64 Comments