Time to Celebrate! The Final Release! The Rake and the Recluse: Redux by Jenn LeBlanc
A year ago the world had no idea who I was. Today, the same is still mostly true, except for a smallish group of dedicated readers who managed, mostly through word of mouth, to find my little book.
The past year has been the wackiest roller coaster of my life. I went from photojournalist to author, winning a first place award for my work on the Gulf Oil Spill the next week hosting my book release party, both of those at the Denver Press Club. It was absolutely surreal.
Last summer I befriended a bunch of ladies on twitter; writers, readers, bloggers, and crossovers. I begged, nagged, prodded and bribed and finally convinced three of them, the Pervy Trinity, to come to RomCon in Denver with me and hang out so I wasn’t alone at this big con, all by my unknown self.
We caused quite a stir, impromptu photo shoots on the two storey waterfall in the lobby, attacking Walmart, Chipotle, Cherry Creek, and downtown Denver. We all met some of our favorite authors, some of us climbed them, some of us screamed at them in parking lots. It was overwhelming, and I miss the crazy Trinity.
We are all still around. Doing our things, causing a ruckus coast to coast, but I will never forget how important the readers and bloggers were to me last year. I would be NOWHERE without them.
Now I pass this dream of a book on to all of you. It is out of my hands. It is yours. Take are of my guys please, let them flourish in your thoughts and dreams, care for them, love them and share them with others. It’s up to you to keep them alive.
I miss them already and like a complete geek, I spent the day before my release half in tears wondering if my men would be loved as much as they have been by me.
But now I’m rambling. So I want to share just a few of my favorite images from the books. There are so many, but I’ve chosen a few I think you’ll...appreciate.
Sorry, you want the full image this one is only available in the book.
Thank you. Thank you thank you thank you. To everyone who read the original, and everyone who will read REDUX. Thank you.
I am humbled.
Jenn
The past year has been the wackiest roller coaster of my life. I went from photojournalist to author, winning a first place award for my work on the Gulf Oil Spill the next week hosting my book release party, both of those at the Denver Press Club. It was absolutely surreal.
Last summer I befriended a bunch of ladies on twitter; writers, readers, bloggers, and crossovers. I begged, nagged, prodded and bribed and finally convinced three of them, the Pervy Trinity, to come to RomCon in Denver with me and hang out so I wasn’t alone at this big con, all by my unknown self.
We caused quite a stir, impromptu photo shoots on the two storey waterfall in the lobby, attacking Walmart, Chipotle, Cherry Creek, and downtown Denver. We all met some of our favorite authors, some of us climbed them, some of us screamed at them in parking lots. It was overwhelming, and I miss the crazy Trinity.
We are all still around. Doing our things, causing a ruckus coast to coast, but I will never forget how important the readers and bloggers were to me last year. I would be NOWHERE without them.
Now I pass this dream of a book on to all of you. It is out of my hands. It is yours. Take are of my guys please, let them flourish in your thoughts and dreams, care for them, love them and share them with others. It’s up to you to keep them alive.
I miss them already and like a complete geek, I spent the day before my release half in tears wondering if my men would be loved as much as they have been by me.
But now I’m rambling. So I want to share just a few of my favorite images from the books. There are so many, but I’ve chosen a few I think you’ll...appreciate.
Sorry, you want the full image this one is only available in the book.
Thank you. Thank you thank you thank you. To everyone who read the original, and everyone who will read REDUX. Thank you.
I am humbled.
Jenn
Now Available: ALL 6 PARTS OF THE ILLUSTRATED SERIAL NOVEL
FREEDOM : Part One brings Francine to the world of the Duke of Roxleigh, clashing worlds in first installment of the completely revised novel, with all new material.
BUY NOW:
FOUND : Part Two finds Francine in the world of the Duke of Roxleigh. The clashing of worlds in first installment of the completely revised novel continues as Francine finds her footing, discovers secrets about her elusive host, and learns more about herself than she ever thought possible.
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Taken: Part Three brings Francine and Gideon closer than they ever imagined possible, until the unimaginable tears them apart. What will Gideon do if he loses her, this time, forever?
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RUINATION: Part Four is full of revelations, celebrations, protestations and one surprise that will have you holding your breath for the final chapters. What has Perry done?
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All Romance eBooks
THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE Part Five: Perry leaves Roxleigh House without a backward glance only to be tossed headlong into one of the most difficult trials of his life. How will he protect the very thing he is dedicated to pursuing? How will a man dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure survive a woman who refuses to relent, when he knows he cannot have her.
BUY NOW:
RELEASED TODAY!!! THE FINAL INSTALLMENT!
RETRIBUTION: Part Six Perry must find the woman who has managed to capture his heart, then he must find a way to keep her. Someone else is on the hunt, someone from her past who doesn’t appreciate that she still lives and breaths.
RETRIBUTION: Part Six Perry must find the woman who has managed to capture his heart, then he must find a way to keep her. Someone else is on the hunt, someone from her past who doesn’t appreciate that she still lives and breaths.
BUY NOW:
All Romance Ebooks
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Don't worry Jenn, we'll love and take good care of The Brothers Trumbull, Francine, and all of your amazing characters!
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Don't worry Jenn, we'll love and take good care of The Brothers Trumbull, Francine, and all of your amazing characters!
Release Day Interview...in reverse! With Jenn LeBlanc & Maire Claremont (+ Giveaway)
So you guys know how I usually invite authors on the blog on their release day for an interview, right? Well, TODAY is Jenn LeBlanc's release day; but instead of ME interviewing HER, SHE will be interviewing someone ELSE! A new author to me, but sure to be a fav, Maire Claremont! This is part of Jenn's "The Wicked Blog Tour", so sit back at your computer desk, relax, and enjoy the mayhem!!
Getting Down to Business:
Who's Jenn LeBlanc?
"Jenn has several constants in life that define her: Colorado, Canon, CJ, kids and curls.She always had another passion; storytelling born from daydreams and nightmares. Her fingers were never as quick as her mind, and no amount of practice got them there, so it was difficult and frustrating to have this inside. When her second daughter was born her inherent traits kept Jenn pinned-- her only escape the keyboard. Spending her days in parenting chat rooms she got highly adept with one-handed typing and she can still type just about as fast with one hand as she can with two. It's a great talent to have when engrossed in a scene and in need of a hit of caffeine. She recently finished her first novel but quickly realized: she was born a photographer.
From the realization that someone ELSE would be shooting the cover of her book her control-freak took over. What started as an easy cover shoot ballooned into this completely new kind of media, designed specifically for digital book readers.
Jenn lives and thrives off chaos and the constant flow of the creative process. She wears shorts and flip-flops year-round --much to the chagrin of her friends and family-- and she is currently working on the illustrations for her second novel.
Follow the blog or twitter for up to date information!"
What has she released lately?
TODAY is the official release day of Jenn's latest installment to her six part serial series: The Rake and The Recule: REDUX. Totally remastered and remagnificent-ified and broken up into the six-part serial e-novel it was meant to be. Did I mention it is FULLY ILLUSTRATED. Your eReader will thank you later ;)
Six weeks ago, PART 1 was release (Get part 1: here), and then 4 weeks ago, Jenn stopped by with the lovely Delilah Marvelle for an interview and released PART 2! Then, she was back with Elise Rome and the Third installment of her novel (get part 3: here). And now, it's time for another interview to celebrate the release of PART 4!
A woman out of time.
A man stifled by propriety.
A nemesis determined to take her away.
A brother to the rescue.
How will a powerful Duke deal with a woman who doesn't know her place? How will a woman used to the 21st century survive in time where she is considered property?
A man stifled by propriety.
A nemesis determined to take her away.
A brother to the rescue.
How will a powerful Duke deal with a woman who doesn't know her place? How will a woman used to the 21st century survive in time where she is considered property?
THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE Part FOUR is full of revelations, celebrations, protestations and one surprise that will have you holding your breath for the final chapters. What has Perry done?Francine Larrabee woke up on the wrong side of the century. She was fairly certain she went to sleep in her own comfy bed, but she doesn’t quite seem to be there now. Only adding to her problems is that she has no voice, is constantly being glowered at by a large, stunning man who is obsessed with propriety, and she is apparently betrothed to another horrid little man, determined to ruin her, and any other girls that get in his way.
How does she find herself in the past, when she couldn’t even find herself in her present? How does a self sufficient businesswoman survive in a time when women were still considered property for the whole of their lives and what is she going to do with this man who draws her to him so fiercely.
How do I get my copy now, Now, NOW?
Amazon (Kindle)
All Romance eBooks (digital ecopy)
Barnes and Noble (Nook Book)
Who's Jenn Interviewing Today?
Chatting Up Maire Claremont:
 |
| Marie Claremont |
Hello my lovelies! Welcome to Not Another Romance Blog. Rita thank you SO much for hosting my Wicked Blog tour! I’m baaaaaack!!
And thank you Lady Rita, ever so kindly, for allowing me to hijack your blog to chat with some amazing authors!
My third victim guest (ok now it’s just habit) is Maire Claremont. Maire is the 2011 winner of the Golden Heart in Historical Romance from Romance Writers of America. That is quite the accomplishment! Congratulations!
Maire: Why thank you, my darling Jenn. It was an amazing experience. Sometimes I can’t believe it happened, and I end up staring at my little Golden Heart necklace to prove it! Also, thank you to our hostess, Lady Rita for having me too! I was pleased as punch to be asked.
Jenn: I’m so excited you said yes because the buzz on the interwebz is quite...buzzy with your book. Why don’t you tell these readers a little bit more about yourself.
Maire: {Waggles brows} Where does a lady begin? Well, I’ve spent most of my life gypsying about, practicing dance and theater. I’ve lived all over the US and Ireland, Scotland, and London. At present I’m working toward my Ph.d in theater so that one day I might corrupt . . . Ahem. . . educate young minds. Every spare moment is spent researching dark, luscious landscapes for dark luscious heroes, of course.
Jenn: *sigh* Who could go wrong with luscious anything really, but luscious heroes? *daydreams*
Oh my! I beg your pardon! Eh hem. Tell us about the manuscript that won, THE DARK LADY. As if the title isn’t compelling enough, who is the dark lady?
Maire: Thank you for the compliment! The title actually originates from Shakespeare’s Dark Lady Sonnets. They are fabulous sonnets about a very cheeky woman who doesn’t fit the contemporary mold of women in his time. And who is my Dark Lady? She is Lady Eva Carin, a character who crashed into my world one night whilst I was in bed. Eva clamored so loudly I had to get up and write her first scene, a scene which launches her into a darkness so deep only her childhood love, Lord Ian Blake, can save her from it.
Jenn: Aw! I adore that. But I understand that this book is set in Victorian era and that is rather a recent development for you after being dedicated to the ever popular Regency. Why the switch?
Maire: I LOVE Regency. Its a fabulous genre full of delicious fun and sometimes darkness depending on which lens you focus with. I’d been writing it and getting very close to being agented with it, but Eva came along and with her tale, I knew I couldn’t abandon her to the back files of my imagination. I’d also just read Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran. If you haven’t read this book, get yourself to the nearest book store or fire up your fingers to purchase a la Amazon. Its a gorgeous dark Victorian novel about impossible redemption.
So, I was quickly awakened to a new time period and the wild, repressed passion of a society in the midst of astronomical change. What I truly love about Victorian society is that the veneer was so placid, so still, so proper, but beneath it was a sea of roiling emotion, aggression, rapture, wicked sex, and opium addiction.
Jenn: Talk about dark! Sex, drugs and...and...waltzing? Maybe? Yikes! So back to this awakening of yours, because writing in any historical era requires a lot of research, you must have had to delve into this new world. What are some of the more interesting points you’ve discovered while researching?
Maire: Oh my, lady. This is hardly a fair question! The most fascinating piece of information that I discovered was Godfrey’s Cordial. This was a medicine for children to “calm” them. It was basically laudanum and treacle, known as maple syrup in the United States. Parents used this to knock their children out so they could have a few hours of peace from their grueling work days and sometimes that peace was to drink their gin. Essentially, the laudanum, which is opiates mixed with alcohol, would deplete the nutrients from the child’s body and kill their need to eat. As a result, thousands of children died of malnourishment. Upper class women also used Godfrey’s Cordial to sooth the nerves and dampen their appetite which then helped them fit in those oh so tiny corsets. Godfrey’s Cordial was available easily over the counter.
And one last piece, in India, Indian soldiers could not be flogged for offenses whereas troops from “home” could. I thought this was remarkable and almost had to rewrite an entire scene because I had assumed floggings would occur to Indian soldiers as well to those from the Isles. This wonderful bit of research allowed me to become more creative with how a certain character showed his cruelty.
Jenn: WOW Godfrey’s Cordial. Cough syrup offenses suddenly seem quite minor in comparison. *eh hem* Soooo....will WE be able to read The Dark Lady?
Maire: {Wink wink} The answer is yes, but the details are still hush hush. Can’t wait to squee all about it in the next weeks.
Jenn: Ahhhhh!! I can’t WAIT to *squee* right along with you! I’m so intrigued by this world you’re shaping for us, I’m very much looking forward to diving in head first.
Maire: Thank you so much for having me, but before I go, I must ask our lovely readers what’s their favorite part of a dark historical. I love to chat about passionately dark tales, so comment or ask away!
Jenn: If you’d like to chat with Maire (and who wouldn’t) hit her up on twitter- @MaireClaremont. AAAND! One very lucky commenter will win a copy of our sweet friend Delilah Marvelle’s FOREVER AND A DAY from me!! Because she was my first interview...because her tales always have that dark wickedness to them. Because...just because. So comment away!!
Find Maire Claremont on Twitter and stay tuned for her updates: @MaireClaremont
**GIVEAWAY**
Jenn has generously offered to giveaway a copy of her buddy, Delilah Marvelle's, book FOREVER AND A DAY to 1 lucky commenter. So leave a comment AND fills out the raffle copter widget below to be in the drawing!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Release Day Interview...in reverse! With Jenn LeBlanc & Elise Rome (+ Giveaway)
So you guys know how I usually invite authors on the blog on their release day for an interview, right? Well, TODAY is Jenn LeBlanc's release day; but instead of ME interviewing HER, SHE will be interviewing someone ELSE! My secret mistress, and amazing authoress Elise Rome! This is part of Jenn's "The Wicked Blog Tour", so sit back at your computer desk, relax, and enjoy the mayhem!!
Getting Down to Business:
Who's Jenn LeBlanc?
"Jenn has several constants in life that define her: Colorado, Canon, CJ, kids and curls.She always had another passion; storytelling born from daydreams and nightmares. Her fingers were never as quick as her mind, and no amount of practice got them there, so it was difficult and frustrating to have this inside. When her second daughter was born her inherent traits kept Jenn pinned-- her only escape the keyboard. Spending her days in parenting chat rooms she got highly adept with one-handed typing and she can still type just about as fast with one hand as she can with two. It's a great talent to have when engrossed in a scene and in need of a hit of caffeine. She recently finished her first novel but quickly realized: she was born a photographer.
From the realization that someone ELSE would be shooting the cover of her book her control-freak took over. What started as an easy cover shoot ballooned into this completely new kind of media, designed specifically for digital book readers.
Jenn lives and thrives off chaos and the constant flow of the creative process. She wears shorts and flip-flops year-round --much to the chagrin of her friends and family-- and she is currently working on the illustrations for her second novel.
Follow the blog or twitter for up to date information!"
What has she released lately?
TODAY is the official release day of Jenn's latest installment to her six part serial series: The Rake and The Recule: REDUX. Totally remastered and remagnificent-ified and broken up into the six-part serial e-novel it was meant to be. Did I mention it is FULLY ILLUSTRATED. Your eReader will thank you later ;)
Four weeks ago, PART 1 was release (Get part 1: here), and then 2 weeks ago, Jenn stopped by with the lovely Delilah Marvelle for an interview and released PART 2! Now, she's back with Elise Rome and the Third installment of her novel (get part 3: here)
A woman out of time.
A man stifled by propriety.
A nemesis determined to take her away.
A brother to the rescue.
How will a powerful Duke deal with a woman who doesn't know her place? How will a woman used to the 21st century survive in time where she is considered property?
A man stifled by propriety.
A nemesis determined to take her away.
A brother to the rescue.
How will a powerful Duke deal with a woman who doesn't know her place? How will a woman used to the 21st century survive in time where she is considered property?
Francine Larrabee woke up on the wrong side of the century. She was fairly certain she went to sleep in her own comfy bed, but she doesn’t quite seem to be there now. Only adding to her problems is that she has no voice, is constantly being glowered at by a large, stunning man who is obsessed with propriety, and she is apparently betrothed to another horrid little man, determined to ruin her, and any other girls that get in his way.
How does she find herself in the past, when she couldn’t even find herself in her present? How does a self sufficient businesswoman survive in a time when women were still considered property for the whole of their lives and what is she going to do with this man who draws her to him so fiercely.
How do I get my copy now, Now, NOW?
Amazon (Kindle)
All Romance eBooks (digital ecopy)
Barnes and Noble (Nook Book)
Who's Jenn Interviewing Today?
After spending countless hours memorizing both traditional and simplified Chinese characters, perfecting her tones, and practicing her speaking with any Chinese native she could find, Ashley successfully graduated with a degree in Mandarin Chinese. Then she discovered writing romances was as much fun as reading them, and her Chinese capabilities have never been the same. When she isn't writing, Ashley stays busy chasing around her two young daughters, attempting to do housework, and hiking in the beautiful foothills of Colorado.
And it begins...
Chatting Up Elise Rome with Jenn LeBlanc
Hello my lovelies! Welcome back to Not Another Romance Blog. Rita thank you again SO much for hosting my Wicked Blog tour! Click on that linky there to find out more and make your way around the world wide web to enter to win a Kindle Fire or Color Nook!
Now! I’m thrilled to be carousing on the internets chatting up lovely bookies like this lady here.
Jenn: Elise, first tell these readers a little about yourself, in case they don’t know who you are.
Elise: Thanks, Jenn! I guess the best way to describe me would be to say that I’m the author previously known as Ashley March. After making the decision to leave the traditional world for a bold new journey in self-publishing, I also decided to start out with a brand new name. I will continue writing historical romances—I plan to debut two new series this year, one in the Victorian era and another in the 1920s—and at some point I also plan to dive into writing contemporary romances, which I’m very excited about.
Jenn: The Victorian era. The 20s. What about these time periods calls to you?
Elise: My new Victorian series, Unmasked, will take place mid-19th century, and what really appeals to me about this era is the transition that’s taking place throughout English society. Unmasked is a series about a group of four women who try to maintain their independence by owning and profiting from a gaming hell, which is a reflection of the struggle women faced later in the century for equal rights.
To be honest, the thing that most appeals to me about the 20s is that it’s different. I’m really enjoying all the research into a new time period and discovering all the different aspects that made that decade fascinating. Here there is also a struggle of transition between society before WWI and post-WWI, and it’s also a great period to explore the changing perspective in women’s sexuality. My own 1920s series, The Golden Twenties, will feature stories based in London, New York, and Chicago, so readers will get to experience this time in history in several important cities.
With both the Victorian era and the 1920s, there’s such rich history to explore that I don’t think I’ll ever run out of ideas. I plan to continue returning to these periods again and again, although I also hope to write in different time periods in the future as well.
Jenn: I think the intrigue that surrounds a nation that has recently come through a major conflict would be an amazing thing to explore so I’m looking forward to seeing what you do there. I’m also excited that you’ll be visiting other countries in the 20s not just USA, I always think of New York and Chicago, of course, when I consider that era, so Paris and London will be great!
Do you have a particular character that haunts you? Is there someone in one of your books who is pounding at the door to your imagination and won’t let up?
Elise: Yes, there is, and he’s been haunting me since early 2010. His name is Frederick, and he’s the hero to Emma Whitlock in the fourth book of my new Unmasked series, titled BEAUTY AND THE VILLAIN. Emma is a writer, and one day a man shows up out of the shadows who looks almost exactly like the current villain she’s writing. To say I’m anxious to write this story would be a great understatement.
Jenn: Oh that sounds incredible!! What about someone else’s books? Are there any characters that have touched you so deeply that they stick in your memory?
Elise: Oh, definitely. Usually the authors who write these kinds of characters become my auto-buy authors. Meredith Duran especially is an author who writes compelling, complex characters who live with you for a while. Nell and Simon, the heroine and hero in her recent A LADY’S LESSON IN SCANDAL, are characters I plan to revisit soon because I loved them so much.
Jenn: Elise thank you SO much for joining me today and giving us a little preview into the new you!! I simply can’t wait for this coming year for you, and by default, for US as readers!! Any closing comments?
Elise: I’d love to hear what you think, dear readers! Who is the most memorable romance hero or heroine you’ve read recently, and why? I’ll be giving away a digital copy of the novella from my Unmasked series, THE SINNING HOUR (as soon as it releases) to one random commenter (open internationally). Thanks for visiting with me today!
Find Elise on the Web:
**GIVEAWAY**
Elise Rome has generously offered to giveaway a digital copy of her novella, THE SINNING HOUR to 1 lucky comment who answers her question in the comments AND fills out the raffle copter widget below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Release Day Interview...in reverse! With Jenn LeBlanc & Delilah Marvelle (+ Giveaway)
So you guys know how I usually invite authors on the blog on their release day for an interview, right? Well, TODAY is Jenn LeBlanc's release day; but instead of ME interviewing HER, SHE will be interviewing someone ELSE! The Lovely Delilah Marvelle. This is part of her"The Wicked Blog Tour". Both ladies are incredible authors, so sit back at your computer desk, relax, and enjoy the crazy-brilliantness!!
Getting Down to Business:
Who's Jenn LeBlanc?
"Jenn has several constants in life that define her: Colorado, Canon, CJ, kids and curls.She always had another passion; storytelling born from daydreams and nightmares. Her fingers were never as quick as her mind, and no amount of practice got them there, so it was difficult and frustrating to have this inside. When her second daughter was born her inherent traits kept Jenn pinned-- her only escape the keyboard. Spending her days in parenting chat rooms she got highly adept with one-handed typing and she can still type just about as fast with one hand as she can with two. It's a great talent to have when engrossed in a scene and in need of a hit of caffeine. She recently finished her first novel but quickly realized: she was born a photographer.
From the realization that someone ELSE would be shooting the cover of her book her control-freak took over. What started as an easy cover shoot ballooned into this completely new kind of media, designed specifically for digital book readers.
Jenn lives and thrives off chaos and the constant flow of the creative process. She wears shorts and flip-flops year-round --much to the chagrin of her friends and family-- and she is currently working on the illustrations for her second novel.
Follow the blog or twitter for up to date information!"
What has she released lately?
TODAY is the official release day of Jenn's latest installment to her six part serial series: The Rake and The Recule: REDUX. Totally remastered and remagnificent-ified and broken up into the six-part serial e-novel it was meant to be. Did I mention it is FULLY ILLUSTRATED. Can you say "Hot man chest pics on my eReading devices galore" ;)
Two weeks ago, PART 1 was release (Get part 1: here), and today, get your hands on PART 2!
A woman out of time.
A man stifled by propriety.
A nemesis determined to take her away.
A brother to the rescue.
How will a powerful Duke deal with a woman who doesn't know her place? How will a woman used to the 21st century survive in time where she is considered property?
A man stifled by propriety.
A nemesis determined to take her away.
A brother to the rescue.
How will a powerful Duke deal with a woman who doesn't know her place? How will a woman used to the 21st century survive in time where she is considered property?
THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE Part two finds Francine in the world of the Duke of Roxleigh. The clashing of worlds in first installment of the completely revised novel continues as Francine finds her footing, discovers secrets about her elusive host, and learns more about herself than she ever thought possible. Francine Larrabee woke up on the wrong side of the century. She was fairly certain she went to sleep in her own comfy bed, but she doesn’t quite seem to be there now. Only adding to her problems is that she has no voice, is constantly being glowered at by a large, stunning man who is obsessed with propriety, and she is apparently betrothed to another horrid little man, determined to ruin her, and any other girls that get in his way.
How does she find herself in the past, when she couldn’t even find herself in her present? How does a self sufficient businesswoman survive in a time when women were still considered property for the whole of their lives and what is she going to do with this man who draws her to him so fiercely.
How do I get my copy now, Now, NOW?
Amazon (Kindle)
All Romance eBooks (digital ecopy)
Barnes and Noble (Link coming soon!)
Who's Jenn Interviewing Today?
Delilah Marvelle
Delilah Marvelle spent her youth studying various languages, reading voraciously, and playing the pianoforte. She confesses that here ends the extent of her gentle breeding. She was a naughty child who was forever torturing her parents with countless adventures that they did not deem respectable. Confined to her room on many occasions due to these misadventures, she discovered the quill and its amazing power. Soon, to the dismay of her parents, she rather enjoyed being confined to her room and finished writing her first historical romance (which was a heart stopping 800 pages long...) at the age of 14. You can visit her at her website at www.DelilahMarvelle.com or her blog that explores the naughtier side of history at www.DelilahMarvelle.blogspot.comAnd it begins...
Chatting Up Delilah Marvelle with Jenn LeBlanc
Thank you, Lady Rita, ever so kindly for allowing me to hijack your blog to chat with some of my favorite authors! (Better? YAY!)
My first victim guest is the über fabulous Delilah Marvelle. Delilah has three series out there right now, The Gallantry Series, The Scandal Series and her latest, The Rumor Series. I can’t begin to tell you how much I adore her writing. Not just because she is a dirty dirty girl, but because she is such a talented wordsmith.
More than that, when she puts her wordsmithing talent to dirty uses, I tend to lose my footing on gym machines, or fall off benches, or wake up my slumbering husband. She is just that brilliant.
If I had to pick a favorite book right now, I couldn’t. Though, if you twist my arm I might say LORD OF PLEASURE. That is the one that had me try to launch myself from the elliptical machine at the gym. Dangerous.
Of course her newest book FOREVER AND A DAY is out, and holy smokin’ hotness Ms. Marvelle. *swoon*
Jenn: Delilah, first tell these readers a little about yourself, in case they don’t know who you are.
Delilah: I write historical romance with a wicked twist, as I like to define it. In particular, my era is the 1830’s. I have a tendency to dig deep into a relationship, which makes some people uncomfortable. But that’s a real relationship. There are aspects of it that will make you blink, snort and want to back away with your hands up, lol.
Jenn: I have to say that while we chat on twitter often, we’ve only actually met once, at RomCon in Denver. You seem so at home with your readers, how much reader interaction do you get in any given year? Are you wont for more?
Delilah: I love people and have always been the sort of girl who loves to meet new people and hang out with everyone. So yes, I feel very much at home with my readers. I know I wouldn’t be where I am without my readers and so I cherish every single moment of it. How much reader interaction do I get in any given year? When I’m writing, not much, because my focus is on my writing and what little time I have left over, with my family. But in between writing, I’m always looking to connect with my readers. I get a lot of email from fans that I always personally respond to, I’m on facebook and twitter and between all these social venues, I interact with my readers a lot. If they want to talk, I’m there to talk. Would I like more? LOL. That’s a catch-22. Because more means less time for writing and my family.
Jenn: I loved your wrap up video from the conference too, it was fun! You seem to really be getting into the video thing, your newest release not only had a prequel novella, FOREVER MINE, but a mini movie as well! How much fun was that?! Tell us a little about the making of it and the two guest stars.
Delilah: I’m finding that writing newsletters isn’t as interactive as sharing clips of my writing world and life with my readers, which is why I’ve gotten into the videos. The Mini Movie was SO much fun. It’s the closest to seeing my books in movie format as I’ll get and it was just thrilling. It was three months in the making. From doing auditions, to getting the script, to the location and costumes and practicing, it was a lot of work. And we only had one day to shoot on the location itself. So it was a long day once it did come time to shoot. The two guests stars were amazing and so fun to be around. We were laughing the whole day. Cyrus is a black belt and does tricking and acting. He wants to be a stunt man and given his skills, I know he’ll be that and more. Jasmine was just a total sweetheart and threw herself into the role of Augustine as if she were a Hollywood Actress right out of Hollywood. I felt like I was playing with real-life Ken and Barbie. It was awesome!
Jenn: Will you be doing more of these movies in the future?
Delilah: Yes! Though not quite as long. We’ll be keeping them below 3 minutes. I just wanted to do something more sweeping. Bottom line, I’m in love with the filming aspect of bringing my books to life. The next trailer will be for the last book in the Rumor Series, FOREVER A LORD. The hero is a bareknuckle boxer in 1830 New York and London and you better believe I’m looking for an excuse to see guys brawling without shirts on. It’s going to be a lot of fun filming THAT!
Jenn: Oh wow, pugilism. Um..I’d like to help with that in any way. At all. Whatever you need, I’m your girl ;) OK back to the uh... what were we doing? OH! Interview! So...nitty gritty: The Victorian era. Though I suppose I should say brass tacks as it is more etymologically correct for the time period. How difficult is it to write in a different era? Where do your books fall in the Victorian era and what had you choosing this time period? It was the bustle wasn’t it? You were intrigued as to how many things a woman could hide in there, right?
Delilah: Haha, you nailed those brass tacks into that bustle, girl, lol. I write 1830’s, which is more Victorian in feel than Regency. Is it difficult for me to write in a different era? No. I’ve researched the Victorian and Regency era enough to feel comfortable delving into a world that almost feels like an extension of who I am as a writer. I chose the early 1830’s because it’s still not full on Victorian, even though we are beginning to see glimmers of it. The 1830’s was a huge time of social and political change and that’s what ultimately drew me to it. I get to play with the morales and the changing climate of the social classes. It’s absolutely fascinating.
Jenn: Your tag line is “Historical romance just got twisted.” Now, some might think that means that you provide some sort of twist in every book, and others might think you are being a bit wicked...so which is it?
Delilah: It’s both, actually. Wicked and a twist in every book. I want every reader to pick up a book and never know what the heck they’re going to get out of me. The only thing they can count on from me is the wicked. But the twist? I never want them to know what I’ll deliver next. Various reviewers always comment on how different each book in the scandal series was. I don’t want to deliver the same book and the same message every time. That would be boring to write and boring to read, lol.
Jenn: I know we’ve discussed the continuation of The Gallantry Series, is that something you are dedicated to finding a home for? Because one of your future heroes is a virgin, and his character even beyond that makes him so intriguing for me as a reader...
Delilah: After the Rumor series, I plan to delve into finishing the School of Gallantry series. If I can’t find a home for it, I darn well plan to publish it on my own and ensure it’s available in not just e-book format, but print. Either way, yes, the virgin hero is on the horizon. I absolutely loved this series and am excited to revisit and finish the series. Male virgins and all.
Jenn: YAY!! On the subject of characters tell me which one of yours haunts you the most. Is there someone in one of your books who is pounding at the door to your imagination and won’t let up?
Delilah: I would say Marchese Casacalenda from Once Upon a Scandal. He was actually the villain. He’s been pounding on my imagination so much so, that I’m giving him more time by delving into why he is the way he is and who he really is by presenting him to readers more formally in the Rumor Series. They’ll be shocked to find out he’s not what they think he is. I know I was, lol.
Jenn: Does that happen often for you? That your characters refuse to conform to the expected or take you somewhere you never thought they might? (I know my guys quite often make me blush...to the point where I wrestle with my finger hovering over the delete key until I submit to them. Of course one of the statements Gideon made ended up being one of the favorite quotes from the book for my readers...so lesson learned.)
Delilah: Omgosh, yes! It happens ALL the time. Because in the end, they are like real people to us. As you get to know them by writing about them, they surprise you. And though we may question ourselves and why a character behaved in the way they did, just as you said, having that finger hover over that delete button, wanting to change it back to what you thought should be, makes it feel...wrong. They have the right to react the way they want to and we have to step back and allow them to be what they are: people.
Jenn: What about someone else’s books? Are there any characters that have touched you so deeply that they stick in your memory?
Delilah: I would say all of Edith Wharton’s characters have always haunted me. I always wanted so much more for her characters than she ever gave them.
Jenn: Well in the Rumor series you put your own wicked twist on Cinderella, is there a possibility for you to give her characters the more you have yearned for someday?
Delilah: Yes. Totally. I am finding that I put my characters through a lot, much like Edith Wharton, did, only I end up giving them MORE happiness to walk away with. Like I always dreamed of doing.
Jenn: I know your writing (and others’) challenges me to write deeper, stronger, more powerful characters and interactions, and to push the line of what is acceptable in a romance novel. What authors push you to write better? Are there any books have challenged you to revisit a manuscript and really push your creativity and your own boundaries until you have something completely new and different?
Delilah: I would say there are so many amazing authors pushing the genre today. Almost too many to name and I’m so happy to see the genre bending to receive them.
Jenn: *snort* oh..sorry, please continue.
Delilah: For the longest time the romance genre was stuck in white-washing everything. So many subjects were taboo. It was the whole “Oh, we can’t write about that, because it would piss people off” game. I’m not here to piss people off. I’m here to make people FEEL and THINK. That’s all I keep challenging myself at. To reach deeper and dig deeper. My agent, Donald Maass wrote an amazing book FIRE IN FICTION that pushes me to do exactly that.
Jenn: One last question. Your previous series were interconnected, but could also stand alone, the new series looks like it really goes in depth into weaving the books together, how much went into creating the full story line for all the books before writing?
Delilah: Yes, these books are all deeply woven together (much like the Gallantry Series was). How much planning did I do? Hardly any. I knew what I wanted out of the series, I knew the themes I wanted to work with, but otherwise I didn’t know how any of it would come together. I’m fortunate that I have a photographic memory. So I know what I have already written and how things need to fit together. It’s how my mind works. I just finished book 2, FOREVER A LADY, and was astounded as to how things were unfolding and now I have to face how it will all come together with book 3, FOREVER A LORD. It makes it exciting, I’d say. It’s like seeing puzzle pieces before you and making them all fit. It’s what I love about writing.
Jenn: Delilah Delilah. Have I mentioned I have a kitty named Delilah? She is a feisty little thing. I want to say thank you SO much for chatting with me today. It means so much to me. I can’t wait to chat with you again when you Skype in for a reading at Denver Lady Jane’s this month! Congrats on the new releases, I can not WAIT to see what is on your horizon.
Delilah: Heeeelarious to know that you have a cat named Delilah. I won’t even touch on any jokes pertaining to THAT lest I get carried away, lol. Thank you SO much for having me. It is such a joy knowing you and chatting with you! I can’t wait to Skype for Lady Jane’s! I would love to give away a signed copy of FOREVER AND A DAY. All people have to do is answer this one question:
If you were to get lost in any one city (with no name and money), which city would you like it to be and why?
**GIVEAWAY**
Delilah Marvelle has generously offered to giveaway a signed copy of her release, FOREVER AND A DAY to 1 lucky comment who answers her question in the comments AND fills out the raffle copter widget below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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