But I digress.

Thankfully, other than stirring up dust that tweaked my sinuses, it was virtually painless. My room is mostly decluttered (have more work to do today), my bed is facing south, and my desk is facing my bedroom door. No one will be sneaking up on me now. The added bonus is that now I’m right next to the storyboard which was previously behind me and to the left. I need to see my storyboard from the computer in order to work on revisions.

So now the big question is, have I worked on revisions? *shuffles to change the subject* Did anyone watch football this weekend? How ’bout those Giants!

Seriously, this is all part of the process. The process of getting the process going again. In order to proceed. (Am I talking in circles?)

What I want to know today is what is everyone reading? We’ve talked about Goals and resolutions that come with the new year, but there are also books! Our own 2^nd Chance will have the third in her Kraken’s Caribbean Series, The Pirate Circus, out in the next month or so. I know Assassin is also working on getting another book on the virtual shelves. Something different but you all are going to love it!

Who else? I see so many book release celebrations on Twitter I’m starting to wonder if they don’t come out hourly now. Tell us what you’re dying to get your hands on. It’s book pushing day on The Revenge.

And Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!!!

Hi, Terri O. and the rest of the Revengers!  Thanks for hosting me today. 

It’s a delight to be here because I wanted to go postal on pirates.  And I’ve been thinking a lot about pirates lately, and uh, not the Jack Sparrow kind (although I do love Jack), but the tall, dark, and dangerous ones.  The pirates of the romance genre. 

I don’t know why pirates are a source of romantic fascination and fantasy, but from the early Vikings to the Caribbean pirates, from the Japanese pirate raids to the Barbary coast raids off North Africa, we’ve been fascinated by the daring deeds of these ferocious men. 

Names like Bluebeard and Captain Kidd, Jack Calico and Jean Lafitte, fill our cultural imaginations with mystique and mystery. 

But why? 

Likely these men, criminals and outcasts, were sour, smelly and sullen.  With broken teeth and without education.  With craftiness and wiles, but no finesse.

Still, there’s something wickedly delicious about them – in their sanitized versions, of course.  We’ve whitewashed their stories because … well, why else would they be interesting, appealing and downright fun?

While editing my latest book (“The Traitor,” the final book in the Bigler County Romantic Thrillers), I revisited this description of my hero Rafe:

All the while, she’d escaped in the swirling emeralds of his eyes slashed through with tiny black flecks like angry cuts. Sharp and probing, the eyes were a strange contrast to his coppery skin and short thick lashes. A wide scar bisected his left eyebrow and gave him the roguish look of a pirate. A rush of pheromones flooded her as his gaze wandered to her mouth and lingered there, then dipped to the cleavage that spilled from the juncture of her breasts.

Although “The Traitor” is a contemporary story, I subconsciously wrote that passage likening Rafe to a romance pirate.  Metaphorically, that is.  In the “real life” of the story, Rafe Hashemi is a DEA agent trying to bring down a drug cartel operating out of northern California. 

He’s in conflict with the heroine, Isabella Torres, who wants to prosecute the same villain, Diego Vargas, for human trafficking.  You can see this Vargas fellow is a nasty piece of work, intentionally irredeemable. 

However, his bodyguard and attorney of record – Gabriel Santos – is a much more complex character.  Take a look at this excerpt:

Gabriel Santos was not a man to cross.

His name among the Mexicans was El Diablo and although his given name reminded José of a holy angel, the street runners had forewarned him. Indeed, the persistent rumors of the man’s ferocity and the myth that he had made a pact with Satan seemed true. 

You see, I can get behind a man who may have made a pact with the devil (pirates, Vikings, and privateers).  There’s a dark appeal to such a character even if he is one of the villains in the story.  The implication is that he’s wicked and dangerous because life’s circumstances have given him no choice.  We’re almost ready to forgive this person, hero or villain.

The pirate “hero” or “villain” reminds us of the savage part of man, the part that lies beneath the surface, ready to erupt in passion or anger or punishment.  We don’t know which will spew out, but it’s sure to be exciting.

Here’s another excerpt of hero Rafe:

She opened her mouth to form a half-hearted protest.

“But,” he interrupted with a steely gaze, pointing a finger at her like a pistol, “you do have to be honest with me. I won’t put up with any bullshit tricks if I’m going to let you work this case with me.”

She began sputtering. “Wh – what, you’re letting me work the case? Diego Vargas has committed crimes in Bigler County. He’s been under our scrutiny there, in my county, for over a year. You have no more right than I to nab him for the depraved and accumulated atrocities – ”

“Shut up, Torres,” he said pleasantly, which effectively took the wind out of her sails.

She stared at him with her mouth a round oh of surprise while their server returned and Rafe gave the woman both their orders.

“The federal government has jurisdiction over anything interstate,” he reminded her after the server left. “You know that and I know that. Vargas’ atrocities include intra-state and international drug trafficking which comes under federal drug enforcement.”

He continued in a neutral, even-tenored voice as if his logic were reasonable and indisputable. “Now, in exchange for your personal files, I’ll continue to allow you to work the case rather than call your boss and have you jerked off it and sent back to Hicksville.

Bella felt the hot sting of outrage creep up her neck to stain her cheeks. Not only had he steamrolled her case, but he had the affront to order her lunch for her! She blinked furiously while trying to formulate a sharp enough response for both insults.

Rafe reached for a chip and dipped it in the thick salsa. “Actually, it’s a pretty good deal. You ought to take it.”

And another description of Santos:

With his long black hair tied at the neck, his lean hard form, and his dark scowl, Santos looked like un angel caído, a fallen angel.

But José knew the man was no angel.

I hope my readers will find Santos as compelling as Rafe because it’s the complex characters that stay with us long after we’ve put the book aside.  As a reader I’m attracted as much to the darkness as to the light, for in these gray shades lie the interesting and complicated facets of a person.

What about you?  Do you like your heroes squeaky clean or a little on the wild side, perhaps even a little damaged?  Want your villains to be clearly wicked or do you like the ones who are morally complex, ones you can understand, maybe even sympathize with?

I’m giving away a free download of “The Traitor” to one lucky commenter, so be sure to leave a comment.

Soldier. Spymaster. Husband.

Colonel Jasper Carlisle was defined by his work until he met his wife. When the prima ballerina swept into his life with her affection, bright laughter and graceful movements, he knew that she was the reason for his existence, and that their love would be forever.

But their world is shattered when Callie is kidnapped and brutally tortured by the foes Jasper has been hunting. Mechanical parts have replaced her legs, her hand, her eye…and possibly her heart. Though she survived, her anger at Jasper consumes her, while Jasper’s guilt drives him from the woman he loves. He longs for the chance to show her their love can withstand anything…including her new clockwork parts.

As the holiday season approaches, Jasper realizes he must fight not just for his wife’s love and forgiveness…but also her life, as his enemy once again attempts to tear them apart.

Bo’sun: Welcome back to the ship!

JK: Thanks, Terri! It’s always a treat to come on board!  

Bo’sun: You have a novella available today in the Carina anthology A Clockwork Christmas, and as usual with your stories, Far From Broken sounds intricate, intense, and incredibly high concept. Tell us about this story. 

JK: This is the story of a man and woman—a married couple—who have to find a way to overcome the most horrible event of their lives and find out whether they can come out of it together. It’s not an uncommon theme—forgiveness. Even though it might be told in a less common way, since the story takes place in a Steampunk inspired Victorian England.  

Bo’sun: No one can ever accuse you of making this easy on yourself. I can’t remember the last time I heard a concept this unique. What is it about Steampunk that draws you to write it? 

JK: I like the possibilities of Steampunk. I like that there are no limits, and that it’s about more than just window dressing for the characters. Since my first foray into writing it I’ve done a lot more research in the Steampunk movement (yes, it’s a movement), which is fascinating. I still don’t think I’ve mastered the true feel of what Steampunk is supposed to be, but I’m going to keep writing until I do!  

Bo’sun: Did this story come first or did you find out about the anthology opportunity and then sit down to create something from scratch? 

JK: I wrote the story specifically for the anthology, and I’m glad I did. The three other authors included in the anthology are so wonderful, I’m truly blessed for the chance to be part of this group and we’ve already formed a tight bond. The others are Stacy Gail (Crime Wave in a Corset), Jenny Schwartz (Wanted: One Scoundrel), and PG Forte (This Winter Heart). 

Bo’sun: Great company! You have a mechanical element in this story. What kind of research did you do in that area? 

JK: I’m lucky that my husband is a scientist and I was able to bounce my ideas off of him to see how believable they would be. I suppose there has to be a level of suspension of disbelief (or else it wouldn’t be Steampunk) but I really hope that no one will be disappointed with the scientific elements in the story.  

Bo’sun: From the blurb of this story, I can’t imagine how you kept it novella length. Did you have any trouble keeping it relatively short and were you ever tempted to stretch it to a full length book? 

JK: I could have kept writing about Callie and Jasper forever, but the strength of this book is that it’s nice and tight. In a novella every word counts and I think I made the most of that with this story. 

Now of course, having said that, I realized right away that this couldn’t be the end for my characters, and I’ve just finished their sequel, which I’m calling Broken Promises. Callie and Jasper are sent on a mission by the War Office to find a rogue agent, but along the way they discover a horrible truth that could tear their lives apart again. I sent it off to my editor this week and I’m really hoping that she’ll love it as much as I do.  

Bo’sun: You included Steampunk elements in your novella Iron Seduction (which is awesome!) Do you see more Steampunk in your future? 

JK: I do! As I mentioned, I’ve written a sequel to Far From Broken, and I’m hoping to continue this series for a couple more books. I also have a few other ideas that I’ll try to flesh out when the writing schedule clears up a little bit, but whoooeeee, it’s been busy! 

Bo’sun: Somehow I don’t see you slowing down anytime soon. LOL! Now some fun stuff. If you had to have a mechanical body part, what would you want that to be and why? 

JK: I think I’d want those mechanical eyes. “The better to see you with my pretty!” *cackle* I’d peer through everyone’s clothes and giggle when I see grown men wearing spiderman underwear. Wait a minute…that could seriously backfire. There are things I don’t want to see. Hmm, maybe I could have a tommy gun attachment on my mechanical arm. I could rob banks and go all Bonnie and Clyde on my sleepy home town! I’d make the papers and be famous! (and be dead, but maybe then my books would skyrocket in sales *g*.) 

Bo’sun: You’re one of the most prolific writers I know so I’m sure you have six or seven stories in the works. What’s next from JK COI? 

JK: eek. Prolific? Not sure about that, but I’ll be diving into edits for my YA Fantasy, Greta and the Goblin King soon, and I do have a few things just out in time for the holidays.  

My contemporary erotic romance, BRAZEN GAMES, is available from Ellora’s Cave right now. It’s what I call my “cops and mobsters” story. Jack is the right-hand man to mob boss Sam Moretti. His life is a dangerous place to be, forcing him to always watch his back and never let his guard down. But when it comes to the club’s new dancer, he’s tempted. Very tempted. Trouble is, temptation could very easily expose his secrets and get him—and her—killed. When Moretti confides his suspicions that he has a mole in his operation, he turns to Jack to take care of the problem. For good. Who does Sam suspect? The new dancer…Brazen.  

Also, the AGONY/ECSTASY anthology from Berkley Heat and edited by Jane Litte of Dear Author is available December 6! My story CAGED is a part of it, which is So. Darn. Exciting! It’s a painful love story where, in the dark, nothing and everything has changed. 

To celebrate release day, I’d love to offer a copy of FAR FROM BROKEN to a commenter and I’ll also send out a full set of romance trading cards for all of the novellas in the anthology.  

Thanks for having me back on the ship, pirates! It gives me warm fuzzies that I haven’t been banned yet. 

Hugs and rum!

JK Coi

www.jkcoi.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jkcoi

Facebook: www.facebook.com/JKCoiAuthor

Bo’sun: You heard her, pirates. Get to commenting! What do you enjoy about the Steampunk genre and what would you like to see more of?

JACK is illuminated by a white beam of light, startling him from his criticism.

JACK: Hal! Not that much light! This is an interview, not an interrogation!

JACK is sucked up into the spaceship, landing in a silver cup chair on a deck that looks like it’s from the set of Star Trek.

JACK: Oh, bugger.

ENID: *a beautiful woman in a silver outfit smiles at him* Jack! I’m so glad you could join me today.

JACK: J-J-Join you? Oh, but of course, was…er…I supposed to join you for the interview I give on my ship? I do still have a ship, don’t I?

ENID: *laughing* Don’t be hysterical, Jack. Of course you have a ship. I just thought we would be a lot more comfortable up here, in my spaceship.

JACK: Where’s my rum?

ENID: *sighing, pushes a button, beams up rum* Here’s the thing, Jack. I’m not interested in doing things how they’ve always been done. I follow my own drummer, if you will.

JACK: *uncorking rum and taking a long, long draw* Whatever you say, luv. So does this mean I won’t be asking the questions?

ENID: Of course, you will, but because I’m an equal opportunity girl, I get to ask some too.

JACK: Hellie owes me more rum. Sounds great. *clears throat* So let’s start with you, shall we? Tell us about your book, Every Savage Can Reproduce, Enid—what makes it different? Why will we love it?

ENID: In official wording: in the futuristic society on Planet Earth, Elizabeth Bennet is accused of luring Fitzwilliam Darcy to an illegal establishment, which leads to their exile deep in the center of a rebel planet. The subsequent galactic war exposes dark secrets regarding the autocratic Queen Immortal.

Will Elizabeth and Darcy discover their love for one another and find their way back to Earth in this Pride and Prejudice-inspired science fiction?

But unofficially, Every Savage Can Reproduce is ‘when Elizabeth Bennet meets Mr. Darcy’ in the 39th century, with a mad man, an evil queen, a galactic war and a revolution throw in.

Why will you love it?

If the wild adventure in the book is not enough, my Mr. Darcy is quite an excellent swordsman. A match with you, Captain, will be interesting. I bet Mr. Darcy will win because he uses a laser weapon. *hehe* (you need to update your tech, Captain!)  And the Queen Immortal Catherine de Bourgh in the book, she can rival Barbossa. She has plenty of men serving under her and she likes to turn aliens into pets. No apple is mentioned though but some radioactive dates. The dates are quite useful as they created a talking baby who can protect Darcy and Elizabeth. And there are brain numbing torpedoes hidden by the evil prince. He wants to turn people in Northern Hemisphere into zombies. You’ve to dive into the book to see if the villains get their way. *clapping* Okay, now you: What kind of underwear do you wear, boxers or briefs?

JACK: *almost blushing* I go commando. Less washing required, and this close to the equator, one doesn’t require too many layers of clothes. And might I add: my weapon is just fine; it is huge and fierce…and it does not need to be updated. My turn again: Did I hear you correctly? Your story is the beloved favorite of Pride & Prejudice set in outer space? It sounds a little bit like Star Wars? Bo’sun will want to know if Mr. Darcy is anything like Hans Solo.

ENID: Hans Solo is impressive, but not handsome enough to tempt me! Mr. Darcy is much more to my taste. He is a fine, tall person with stately features and noble mien. Of course, he’s renowned for his prideful attitude and 10,000 a year. Although he’s involved with the Resistance Alliance, he’s President Mrs. Darcy’s First Bloke. The book is more about girl power. Very good, Jack. You’re a lot better at this give and take than you let on. What else are you good at that others might be surprised to know?

JACK: Scrabble. I’m trying to broaden Hellie’s vocabulary, but she’s difficult to teach. Might I add: I applaud your girl power. I am equal opportunity lover. I love all beautiful women equally. Since your book is based on Pride & Prejudice, I’m assuming your Elizabeth is every bit as clever and witty as the original—and I also bet she would be excellent at Scrabble. Tell us more about your version of Elizabeth. How is she the same and how is she different?

ENID: Lizzy in Every Savage Can Reproduce has read all the self-help books in the galaxy. She’s the one approaching Darcy to ask him to father her child. She’s the one with sunnier outlook when they were trapped in the centre of Planet Hartfield with no possible way of returning to Earth. And of course, she’s the one chosen by people on Earth to become the temporary President. My Elizabeth is definitely as clever and witty as the original but a lot more proactive. That’s not surprising as the futuristic Lizzy faces fewer restrictions in society. Now for an unusual question.

JACK: Your questions have been normal up until now?

ENID: Obviously. Okay—if you were a vegetable, what would you be?

JACK: A potato. Filling, satisfying, and invited to every table. All right, Ms. Wilson, Enid, what will we be seeing next? And when will we be seeing it?

ENID: After Every Savage Can Reproduce, I’ve returned from outer space and back to the time right after the Napoleon War. I have a smuggler in The Spinster’s Vow and my hero owns a ship too, like you, Captain. He takes his new wife across the Channel. I assume you don’t operate in the English and French waters. You won’t come and intrude on their honeymoon? But enough of them, I’m going to graciously assume you have my books on your nightstand—

JACK: That would be a safe assumption.

ENID: So my question is: what do you sleep in, Jack? Your loving fans would like to know.

JACK: *enigmatic smile* I sleep in fear, Enid.

ENID: Excuse me?

JACK: If you slept next to Hellie every night, you’d completely understand. You just never know if the cuddly version of Hellie is coming to bed, or the one with fourteen limbs and restless leg syndrome is coming. Okay, my turn: What’s your Call Story?

ENID: It’s in fact about the conception of Every Savage Can Reproduce. Originally it was a drabble challenge. A reader asked me to write a drabble with the word “hussy” in it. I wrote the short story where Lizzy propositioned to Darcy, asking to have his child, because she’s sick and she needs to have a child fast, or else she won’t able to have children later. After the short story was published, another reader sent me an email, told me she’s having problem conceiving, even with IVF and she’s really sad. I felt a deep connection and responsibility to write and continue to write happily-ever-after romance.

I turned the modern hussy drabble into a galactic sci-fi. And I’m happy to say that the reader has since conceived. She even sent me the ultrasound photo. Her boy is two years old now. Yes, it has taken me over two years to complete this novel. It’s been a bumpy ride. Now, let’s not get too sentimental. I’ve a question. Do you believe in aliens and life on other planets?

JACK: Of course. We managed to get it on this planet, didn’t we? Why wouldn’t it be on other planets? In cards, you can get a great hand twice. Okay, last question, and mine’s a little author color too: it’s a rainy day. What are you wearing, what are you reading, and what are you drinking?

ENID: It’s sunny here. We’re above the sky Sydney. The beginning of spring is lovely. But I’m in full business mode, of course, with Captain Jack Sparrow visiting, I can’t let my guard down. But I do have a picture of Gandhi and a cup of pure water besides me. I like his philosophy of a simple, compassionate and prolific life. Okay, what—

JACK: Sorry, I’m all out of answers today. Now it’s time for you to ask the crew a question.

ENID: Talking about fear and romance, what do you dread most about people’s relationships in our future society? Comment for a chance to win some awesome Aussie souvenirs and a free copy of Every Savage Can Reproduce for your eReader. Thank you Jack, it’s been a pleasure to talk to you. I will beam you back to your ship now.

BRENDA: Hello, Jack, I’m so excited to meet you.

JACK: *hastening over and kissing her hand, making googly eyes* I’m excited to see you too, my sweet. Perhaps I can show you how excited I am later, in my cabin?

HELLIE: Jack! I’m right here behind the camera!

JACK: You’re invited too, luv. *whispers behind his hand to Brenda* Don’t worry. I’ll send her on an errand so we won’t be interrupted.

BRENDA: *pointing* You do know she’s still recording.

JACK: *smiling at the camera* Let’s get to the questions, shall we? Brenda, luv, please have a seat here on my interview couch where I lay all my new authors…I mean, where all my guests spill…er…maybe you should sit on my lap?

BRENDA: That might actually be a nice place to conduct an interview. *Blushing* Er…did I say that out loud? I meant…of course I would never even consider it.

JACK: *soulful look* That is a shame. If you should ever consider– *dodges an empty rum bottle, gets hold of himself* Yes, yes, quite right, I should stick to what I’m good at. Talking to women. *draws out cards from his jacket* Please tell us about your pirate story, Of Noble Birth.

HELLIE: Jack! What have I told you about that question?

JACK: What, what? I didn’t ask a question. I said, please tell us about your pirate story. If you’ll notice that was a gentle command. *smiles smokily* And as you can imagine, Brenda, I’m skilled at giving gentle commands in other places on this ship. My cabin for instance….

BRENDA: I have imagined plenty with you, Jack (sly grin).

JACK: Really? I should like to hear about what you’ve imagined. *ducks, tackling Brenda as another bottle just misses him, rights himself; Brenda looks a bit breathless* All right, if you insist, we’ll talk about your books. I’m a patient man. I know how to woo. So this pirate story—which I’m devilishly thrilled about, there is a DEARTH of pirate stories to be had nowadays, it’s all dukes-dukes-dukes all the time—tell the truth: you were inspired by me, right? Tell me what do you look for in a hero like me?

BRENDA: Nathaniel is almost as sexy as you (could anyone be equal?) *Jack shakes his head “No”*, but he goes a wee bit lighter on the rum. He’s too busy waging a war of revenge against his hated fater and kidnapping the beautiful Alexandra to lose an ounce of focus. His father is a duke, you see (any good historical has to have a duke in there somewhere, right?) and a very powerful man—no one to mess with. But Nathaniel has VERY good reason….

JACK: All of us men have very good reasons. *roguish look at camera* Most of them dealing with pain of death. *silence; Jack clears throat* Every handsome, roguish hero needs a beautiful heroine. I assume you base all your heroines on you, Ms. Novak? *kisses the back of Brenda’s hand* Intelligent, witty, beautiful, and sexy?

BRENDA: Alexandra is a poor seamstress Nathaniel mistakenly believes is his half-sister. Imagine his consternation at being attracted to his charge!

JACK: Yes, I can imagine the consternation. I was attracted to Hellie’s sister once and it was a nightmare when she found out. Will you be writing any more pirate books? And if not, what other books do you have available to keep up with your fans’ demands?

BRENDA: I hope to write more pirate books some day, but I have several other types coming out before then. First, I have the romantic suspense books published by MIRA. INSIDE just came out. IN SECONDS will be out August 30^th and IN CLOSE will hit bookstores on October 25^th. November 1^st will see the publication of my next historical. It’s called THE BASTARD and is set in the late 1700’s. Sadly, there are no pirates (but plenty of the aristocracy—including the hero who is the bastard of a marquise).

JACK: And sadly, I have a close affiliation with the term “bastard” so it’s just as well. *shuffles cards* This next question is the Writer’s Inspiration Corner. What’s your Call Story, and what piece of advice would you give other writers?

BRENDA: Whoa, Jack, that’s been some time now. Not to date myself, but I’ve been published since November 1999 and have written more than 40 books. So you’re going back some. THE CALL to me refers to the day I hit The New York Times. Hitting the list had been a dream of mine from the very beginning. When my agent delivered the news I just about fainted. She said, “Are you sitting down?” I said, “No.” She said, “I think you’d better sit down.”  What made it shocking was that this was the second week the book had been out. Usually, if you’re going to hit it happens in the first week. So her call was completely unexpected—and all the more memorable because of it.

As far as advice…dream big and then BELIEVE. If you believe you can achieve your dreams you’ll do whatever it takes.

JACK: You are a fine wine, Brenda, never fear. Our last question is a little author color—the pirates would like to know: 1) Name something on your nightstand right now; 2) Favorite place to go on a rainy day; 3) Men in Kilts or Men with Babies; 4) Favorite takeout; and 5) Last book you read that you loved.

BRENDA: Sadly, a pair of reading glasses. My vision is suddenly not what it has always been before (due to age! Yikes! I hope you like older women <G>). My favorite place to go on a rainy day? To bed with my husband to watch a movie marathon. I prefer men in kilts to men with babies any day of the week (I’d probably run away from any man with a baby, at this point—but I don’t see you toting one around.) My favorite take-out is Thai food, and the last book I read that I loved was Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ latest.

JACK: I love older women, but I don’t love husbands. They’re very cranky. So I won’t be joining you for any movie marathons. Brenda, thank you for being a guest on our ship. It was lovely to have you. *whispers* And later….

BRENDA: She’s still recording, Jack.

JACK: Right-o, and I was just saying you are welcome back any time, any time at all. Is there anything else you’d like to say or ask the crew?

BRENDA: *Whispering* Where did you say your cabin was again?

JACK: *grinning and throwing hands wide* And that’s all we have time for today, crew! I hate to leave you to entertain amongst yourselves, but I did promise Ms. Novak a private tour. In the meantime, feel free to discuss the challenges in writing in both a historical voice and a contemporary one? Would you do it, or do you do it? What authors do you think are best at both worlds? And finally, if you received a phone call telling you you just made the NYT’s list, who is the first person you would tell, what would you do? Once I’ve shown Ms. Novak around…er…the block, I’m sure she’ll be glad to field some questions. Ask away!

JACK: Ladies and gentleman, we get to welcome back author Jenny Brown to the ship. If you’ll recall, Jenny is writing a series called Lords of the Seventh House. *kisses Jenny’s hand* What is the seventh house?

JENNY: *pulls her attention away from her hand, looking a bit less serene* The Seventh House is the part of an astrological chart that describes people with whom we have close, ongoing relationships, most notably our spouse. But it can also describe other people with whom we have an intense relationship—including declared enemies—which is relevant to the next book in this astrologically themed series, Star Crossed Seduction. The two Scorpio lovers in this tale have a very tough time figuring out whether they’ve found their soul mate or an enemy sent out to destroy them.

JACK: Lovers and Enemies are described by the same part of the chart, eh? I’ve had more than my share of both, come to think of it. Good thing Hellie and I don’t have an intense relationship. I just tell her what to do and she does it. It’s really more of a master and servant thing…oh, Hellie’s manning the camera again? Darling! I thought you were getting your much needed beauty sleep this morning? *clears throat* Moving on, Jenny my luv, what is your new book about?

JENNY: Seduction. Secrets. Loyalty. Betrayal. And a famed Indian jewel that has some very unique properties. The hero of Star Crossed Seduction is a captain in the cavalry, called Trev by his friends. He’s on leave from active service in India and heading out for a night on the town when he rescues a beautiful pickpocket from arrest. He figures she’s the perfect choice for a few days of dalliance–beautiful, cunning, and completely disposable.

JACK: Sounds like just my kind of woman!

JENNY: Not so fast. The pickpocket has no intention of becoming some soldier’s plaything. Temperance is a runaway who’s left behind a life of privilege to pursue her revolutionary ideals—and if there’s one thing she hates it’s officers of the king. I’m sure you can understand that, Jack, having had your own share of issues with authority. In fact, you and Temperance have a lot in common, what with being irresistibly sexy and prone to get yourself into more than your share of situations that require a the use of finesse and charm to survive.

JACK: *preening* Good thing I also have more than my share of charm.

JENNY: When Trev gets her alone, Temperance uses her charm to draw him into a passionate kiss that makes him drop his guard so she can escape. But the kiss turns out to be more than either of them bargained for, and when two lonely Scorpios connect, watch out!

JACK: Two Scorpios. That is asking for trouble! I too am a man of many secrets, but I’m no Scorpio. What kind of hero does this Scorpio officer make? Do you recommend him as the ideal man?

JENNY:  Trev is ideal for a woman like Temperance, who lives life up to the hilt, and revels in action. He has courage and discipline and is capable of loyalty to the death. And, of course, he has those brooding, magnetic good looks Scorpios are notorious for. But what appeals to me most is that because he’s been in the thick of battle he also has that edge men get when they have spent a lot of time doing things that will kill them if they don’t get them just right.  Like you, Jack do.

JACK:  You say the sweetest things. But since you do seem to get what I’m about, why did you waste your time writing about this guy when you could have made me your hero?

JENNY: Because this is the Scorpio book, Jack. And unlike you, Trev is a Scorpio. Now the thing about Scorpios is that you really don’t want to play games with them or piss them off—but that’s exactly what Temperance does. And when that happens, suddenly Scorpio is no longer just about charm and courage. Now the key word is retaliation.

JACK:  Retaliation, eh. If this Trev of yours ever gets tired of the Army, you might suggest he try out a little pirating. We could use someone like him on the crew when things get dicey—or maybe not. The ladies would be falling all over themselves trying to get a piece of this Trev of yours. Nothing attracts women like a good looking man who can brood and seethe with resentment. I’m not sure I want the competition.

JENNY: He would provide that. Once he does give his heart he is well nigh irresistible. And did I mention that in his years in India he’s mastered Sanskrit and studied many of the classic texts, including the Kama Sutra?

JACK: *clearing throat again*  This book comes out on August 30, tomorrow—I understand that Avon is running a special promotion on your book? Would you care to tell me more about the promotion?

JENNY: September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, and Avon Books’ “KISS and Teal” books are part of an effort to make women aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Avon has already made a donation to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance and will be donating 25¢ from the sale of each copy sold of each book in the “KISS and Teal” promotion to OCNA. So when people buy Star Crossed Seduction—which like any author, I desperately hope they’ll do—their money will do a bit more than just enrich a couple large, faceless corporations.

JACK: I’m always trying to do my share for charity, especially when it comes to things I was going to buy anyway. Now if this KISS & Teal program worked with Tortugas rum—I could be a one man donation show. What will you publishing next?

JENNY: My next book, Perilous Pleasures, is the Pisces book in the series. The hero is a Scottish lord with a tragic past who has taken a vow of chastity after falling under the sway of a mysterious mystical master. I’ve paired him with a cynical Virgo who is the ugly daughter of a beautiful courtesan–the same courtesan the hero believes sent his sister to her death during the French Revolution.

JACK: Jenny, as always, you’ve been a wonderful, gracious interviewee. My last question before I turn the questioning over to you—I like to ask authors about their rainy day. It’s a rainy day, what are you wearing, what are drinking, and what are you reading?

JENNY: Depending on how much I’ve been drinking, I might not be wearing much at all, especially if I’ve been plied with liquor by a handsome devil like you. Rainy days are the perfect opportunity to do research, and let me tell you those hot sex scenes don’t write themselves. They require a lot of research.

JACK: Well if you need any help with that, my dear, just give me a whistle. Okay, crew, do you believe in star-crossed destiny? Are there any “sun signs” you avoid in particular because you know it just won’t work out? Have you been with someone who was sun-sign not a match but you worked to make it work? Do you worry about your character’s astrological charts ever? (Hellie does.) There are a lot of great books out on August 30–what will you be running out to get?

17!

JV, please email me at: magnificentsin @ aol . com  (without the spaces of course!) and I’ll get you hooked up with Jill Shalvis  for your free book!

People ALWAYS ask me about my research. I’ll get: how do you write those scenes (with a wink, wink). The truth is, it’s the other parts that are the hardest (no pun intended). Creating the tension in daily situations, the character building …

But the other day I had a new and exciting experience in research. I’m currently writing a story with a hero who rides a motorcycle. A Harley to be exact. And since I knew NOTHING about this, I decided I needed to ride a Harley …

Hmm, riding a Harley . . . For some reason I didn’t think this would be a big deal. But first I had to find someone who was willing to be subjected to all sorts of stupid questions (doesn’t that leather chafe?) and then get him to give me a ride.

So I found a guy, through a friend of a friend of a friend. I called home and got Alpha Man on the line and said “don’t worry but I’m going on a date this afternoon with a leather-wearing, badass Harley driving dude. Okay?”

Now Alpha Man, well used to my occupation, didn’t bat an eye. “Wear a helmet” was his only comment. “And don’t forget to get milk on the way home.”

Fine. So I’d forgotten to pick up milk three days running and the kids were whining about not being able to eat cereal. That seemed insignificant in the light of this exciting adventure. So I said “I’m not kidding, you know. I’m really going riding on a Harley.”

“Is the life insurance paid up?” he asked.

Men.

I did get my ride, and wow, there is something about the power of the beast between your legs and the roar of the engine and the danger and the wind in your hair . . . And the bugs in your teeth.

Afterwards I found myself grateful to get back into my car, thinking maybe I’m not quite as adventurous as I’d thought.

Oh, and I remembered to get milk on the way home. The glamorous, sexy lifestyle of a writer …

Oh and P.S. … I’m going to be doing a giveaway VERY soon so make sure to stop by my site (http://www.jillshalvis.com) and sign up for my newsletter, and if you have Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/jillshalvis) , come “like” me to be entered.

Grab a drink and pull up to the bar! Jill will be here to answer questions today! One lucky commenter will receive a copy of Simply Irresistible! (Paper or e-format. Winner’s choice.)

Today is more a spotlight than a guest blog. This lady made the mistake of wading close enough to the ship for me to cast a line and reel her in. Thankfully, she was as excited to join us as I was to have her on board. Celebrating (and pimping, cause that’s what we do!) her sophomore release SECOND GRAVE ON THE LEFT pull up a rum keg and settle in for some interesting characters who literally live on the edge of life. I give you award winning author, Darynda Jones!

Thank you so much for having me on Romance Writers Revenge!!!

I’m so honored to be here and to have the opportunity to talk about the Charley Davidson series. It’s basically about a female PI who was born with a rather odd job title. She’s the grim reaper. With her special set of skills, she solves mysteries for both the living and the dead, and of course attracts all kinds of trouble in the process.

On Tuesday the second in the series came out, and I’ve been over the moon. And a little exhausted. SECOND GRAVE ON THE LEFT picks up one week after the first in the series, FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT, takes place and starts off running. There is a missing woman, a string of murders, a dark love interest who is butting heads with Charley through the whole book, and several unfortunate attempts on Charley’s life.

I will say that the books are pretty fast-paced with multiple plots running at the same time, but the story lines are not hard to keep straight. One of the things I set out to do with this series was to create a female character that readers could root for. I’m hoping Charley is that character. She is part Buffy, part Stephanie Plum, and part Lorelei Gilmore from the Gilmore Girls. And let’s face it, with that combination, she’s bound to get into any number of disastrous situations. As a magnet for trouble, both eliciting it and causing it, she has to use her smarts and sarcastic wit to get out of a plethora of tight situations.  

In First Grave on the Right, which came out in February, Charley discovered the identity of an entity who has followed her all her life and who shows up at the most opportune times, mostly to rescue her from whatever mess she’s gotten herself into. Turns out this man of mystery is just as much of a mystery now as he was when she first discovered him, and in Second Grave, there is no limit to the amount of grief he causes her. Each time they meet, the struggle begins anew and the heat index rises. But that tends to happen when dating the son of Satan.

Writing the second novel in the series turned out to be a bit trickier than I’d expected. Any book in a series has to read as a stand-alone. No ifs, ands, or butts. So bringing in all that back-story without boring those who read the first one took some time. I’m certain my editor has a few more gray hairs thanks to me. But one thing I did learn through all of this is not to mess with my “process.” I’m a plotter. Period. When I even try to write without plotting, I get about three pages in and then get stuck. So for me, pansters are these mad, mysterious creatures who surely glow in the dark and can eat chocolate without gaining an ounce. I find them fascinating. You know, like fireflies. But, again, I do not mess with my process. I have it down pretty pat.

First Grave was my third complete manuscript. It won an RWA Golden Heart in 2009 and sold to St. Martin’s Press in a three-book deal along with a YA series, the first of which comes out in April 2012, also a three-book deal. (I have a spectacular agent. J) First Grave has also sold to CBS for the CW. And more recently, First Grave was given starred reviews from the Library Journal and Booksense while Second Grave had the honor of getting a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly. Woot! And THIRD GRAVE DEAD AHEAD is coming out next Janurary.

 This has been such a fun series to write, and I hope it’s just as fun to read. Charley is a handful, but along with her best friend, Cookie, her detective uncle, Bob, and a skeptic skip tracer who has her back more often than she’d like to admit, she is able to solve cases for both the living and the dead while functioning at almost a normal level. Normal being a subjective term.

Thanks SO much again!!!

Winner of the 2009 Golden Heart® for Best Paranormal Romance for her manuscript FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT, Darynda was born spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike. After the Golden Heart final, she pimped herself as best she could, landed an amazing agent and sold to St. Martin’s Press in a three-book deal. Darynda lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of more than 25 years and two beautiful sons, aka the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys. She can be found at www.daryndajones.com.

Darynda is being extra generous today! Up for grabs to one lucky commenter is a signed hardcover copy of SECOND GRAVE ON THE LEFT! How do you feel about jumping into the middle of a series? And what would you do if you suddenly found yourself filling the job of grim reaper?

EVEN MORE BOOTY: MacMillan Audio has also offered a FREE AUDIOBOOK COPY of SECOND GRAVE ON THE LEFT to one lucky commenter as well. So that’s TWO prizes you have a chance to win! Comment away!

Our own Fabulous Captain Jack Sparrow sits down with Ms. LeBlanc to get all the details on her debut release THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE as well as the author herself. Take it away, Jack!

CJS: I’m ready for my close up!

Bo’sun: What are you talking about Jack?

CJS: I was told a photographer was coming aboard today. I knew those cover people would eventually realize I was the perfect model. You put this face *points at himself, nearly puts out an eye* on a cover and those books will fly off the shelves.

Bo’sun: Jenn is a photographer, but she’s here to talk about her book. You’re interviewing her, not posing for her.

CJS: But I bathed!

Bo’sun: *crooks a brow* Having the Undead Monkey throw a bucket of water on you does not qualify as a bath. *hands over cards mixed with photographs* Here are the questions. I’ve mixed in some of the images from Jenn’s book so you can talk about them.

CJS: *flipping through pictures* Since when do your Romance novels have pictures in them?

Bo’sun: Since Jenn LeBlanc wrote an awesome book and brought it to life by including images. Now get ready, here she comes.

CJS: But these are all men. And they’re barely wearing any clothes. *flips to another picture* Good God, woman, this man isn’t wearing anything at all. Why, I can almost see his-

Bo’sun: Good morning, Ms. LeBlanc. We are so excited to welcome you aboard The Revenge. The buzz about your debut has been fluttering our sails for weeks.

Jenn: Why thank you, thank you! I’m excited to be here! *looks around* Very cozy! Who is that up in the Crow’s Nest?

Bo’sun: That’s Sin, our International Ninja of Mystery. Don’t look her in the eye and you’ll be fine. Now, just have a seat right here and Jack will get started with the questions. I’ll be right back with your drink. *eyes Jack, nods head toward his chair, glares until he sits down*

CJS: Yes, welcome, Ms. LeBlanc. I’m intrigued by a woman with not only an ear for a fine word, but an eye for *flips another picture, grimaces* inspiring images.

Jenn: Don’t be jealous Jack, I’d be happy to have you in my studio for a play date. What do you say? You bring the abs, I’ll bring the talent? I might need some rum as well.

CJS: I’m not sure what those “abs” things are, but I never go anywhere without me rum, darling. We’ll work out the details after the interview, else Bo’sun will have both our heads. So, where did you get the idea for your book and did you always know you would include the images? Tell us about the story.

Jenn: I woke up from a dream with the first line in my head “She ran as if the hounds of hell were on her.” I could see that first scene and wanted to know why she was running. So I figured I better start writing so I could find out. I had NO IDEA I was going to illustrate this book. Heck, I had no idea I was going to finish this book. I just started…and kept going.

After I got the beginning down I wondered what it would be like, to be me stuck back then and that’s how it ended up a time travel historical. I really wanted to play with the fish out of water idea. I ended up falling head over heel for both of my heroes, Gideon and Perry, as well as Gideon’s Francine.

CJS: Two heroes, you say? Is this one of *leans close and whispers* those books?

Jenn: *one brow raised* No Jack, they’re brothers. This is the story of Gideon and Francine, she is a 21^st century woman trapped in Victorian England, and he is a Victorian Duke trapped by his own past and propriety. I really like to think of it as Gideon’s story, he goes through such an incredible journey in the book, everyone loves how he grows and changes.

CJS: And what kind of response are you getting so far? *flips to another picture, chokes* If the wenches see these pictures, you’re not likely to get them back.

Jenn: Hey, the wenches can have them, that’s what they’re for. I like to share, just ask my fans. The majority of the people absolutely love the idea, I mean the romance novel cover is a 20^th century icon. This is that icon on steroids, for the 21^st century. I get some snickers and snide comments *narrows eyes at Jack* but once they see the project (and Derek) they really are blown away by the scope and breadth of it.

Bo’sun: *setting steaming teacup next to Ms. LeBlanc and glancing over Jack’s shoulder* Oh, that’s my favorite. He can share my hammock any day.

CJS: *glares up at Bo’sun*

Jenn: Heh. Page 187? *winks* mmm good tea.

CJS: How do you go about deciding what images you want and how to get them?

Jenn: It was easy for me, knowing the book as well as I do. I knew what scenes stood out for me, and I knew what pieces of the story in particular I wanted to highlight. I also knew what my readers would like to see. Eh-hem. The difficult part was finding my hero. I could never have done it without the fabulous Derek Hutchins.

CJS: *looks at pictures* This Derek boy isn’t shy, is he? I am available if you ever want a real pirate to make the ladies swoon. *Ignores Bo’sun choking off stage* This card says you’ve traveled to distant lands in your capacity as photographer. Where have the winds taken you? Do you have a favorite port of call?

Jenn: Oh yes, last year I actually covered the BP Gulf Oil Spill for three weeks. It was horrific and very difficult to witness, but the people in the Gulf were incredible. They were welcoming, resilient, helpful— just amazing people. I think you would like them Jack. They know how to throw a good party, even when the chips are down. Find a pot of mudbugs and a tankard of ale and it’s all good.

CJS: We do try to keep the bugs out of the ale aboard ship, so maybe keep those at a distance. This card says you weren’t raised in what Bo’sun calls a conventional household. Were you by chance raised by pirates? It did wonders for me.

Jenn: Sometimes I think it was a pack of wild dogs, so we might have much in common. In fact, pirate ships do tend to collect the unwanted people in this world, and that’s what my family was. My parents took in the unadoptable foster kids. The ones that had such dire issues that nobody wanted to keep them. It was always an adventure. Bunk house style.

CJS: Sounds like a motley crew to me. Which is a compliment, by the way. What can we expect from you next? *glances to next picture, smiles* Ah, finally, a beautiful woman. Will there be more of these illustrated books?

Jenn: Absolutely. I’m working on Perry’s story now— my fans are helping me with the casting. It has been a LOT of fun. You can follow along too Capt’n Sparrow— do you tweet? Just follow the hashtag #castingPerry on Twitter and whenever I post a prospect to my tumblr you’ll see it!

CJS: Tweet, you say? I’ll have to talk to Bo’sun about that. They get all hand slappy around here every time I touch one of those computers they’re always carrying around.

Bo’sun: You infected the network!

CJS: ONCE! Not the most forgiving lot on this ship. Now a quick quiz to help the crew really get to know you. Pantser or Plotter?

Jenn: Pantser!! Heck yes. No maps here, eh Jack? Just my magic compass.

CJS: Morning person or night owl?

Jenn: Night owl for sure.

CJS: Top hammock or bottom hammock?

Jenn: I like it on top. You get a better sway up there when the ride is rough.

CJS: *chokes – gains composure* Rum or vodka?

Jenn: Rum, as long as it’s full of fruity goodness.

CJS: Thigh highs or nothing at all.

Bo’sun: Jack!

Jenn: *giggle*

CJS: I should get to ask one of my own. *sniffs* Fine. We’ll turn you over to the crew. Is there something you’d like to ask them to get us started?

Jenn: Help me out with my casting! What is your favorite feature in a man. Now, we are talking about pictures here so let’s get our male objectification pants on and have at it. None of these great personality traits, I concede personality. Let’s talk assets and abs.

EDITED TO ADD: I’m a goober!! Totally forgot to mention Jenn has been generous enough to offer up a free copy of THE RAKE AND THE RESCLUSE to one lucky commenter. Now you could have all the pictures in your hot little hands!!