My friend (and conference roommate extraordinaire) Esri Rose is with us today….play nice and maybe you’ll win a book!

Hi! I’m Esri Rose. My second book about Elves in Boulder came out last week (Stolen Magic). You might want to scamper over to ElvesInBoulder.com to enter my big promotional giveaway, where you can win jewelry, art, body care, hotel nights, restaurant and boutique gift certificates, and theater tix. Yeah. It’s huge.

Colleen kindly invited me to blog and since I’m on the promo trail, I accepted. (“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you.”) Of course, this is my fifth guest blog this month, and it’s getting harder to think of creative ways to show what a smokin’ hot writer I am in a page or less. Then I thought of those handy-dandy 10 Things About Me lists of questions, and decided to give one to Adlia, the Elven heroine of Stolen Magic. Here are her answers.

1. How old do you look?

Somewhere in my mid twenties, which is pretty good for someone who is over 200.

2. Where do you live?

Just outside of Boulder, Colorado, land of rich hippies.

3. What do you miss from when you were younger?

Bison, I guess. They were loud and crapped all over the place, but there was always someone to talk to.

4. Who do you most look like in your family?

I have no idea. Apparently my parents died when I was still very young, and I survived by linking to their land. (Elves get their life force from the wilderness.) I wish I’d known my parents, not that Kutara didn’t do a fine job of raising me. Well, an adequate job, anyway. No one tell her about this blog, okay?

5. Do you have an artistic talent?

You’re just being mean, now. No, I do not. Alone among every elf that ever existed, I do not have an artistic talent. Sheesh.

6. Have you ever slept with a coworker?

Um, that’s kind of personal. Plus, I still work with him.

7. What’s one pet peeve of yours that is not common?

How about people who take your picture when you’re not expecting it? There’s nothing like getting caught with your pointy ears showing. In real life, we glamour (hypnotize) humans into not seeing them, but the camera can’t be fooled. It also adds five pounds.

8. If you could have something right now, anything, what would it be?

A date with Mark Speranzi, professional photographer.

9. If you could cut one person out of your life, who would it be?

Kutara, who happens to be my boss at Elf Operations. She’s not reading this, right? Actually, I take it back. She’s horrible to me, but it’s a caring horribleness.

10. Do you have hope for the future?

Strangely, I really, really do.

For those curious-minded folk, here’s what others are saying about the book:

“I enjoyed Stolen Magic so much, I devoured it in one night!”
- Kerrelyn Sparks, NYT Bestselling author

4 Stars from Romantic Times BOOKreviews

In a world where humans are displacing elves in alarming numbers, Adlia spends her days working at elf headquarters. But with no artistic talent of her own, and orphaned too young to have known her parents, Adlia is an outsider even among her own elven kind. Only Mark, her human photography instructor, sees that beneath her sarcastic humor lies a vulnerable soul – and a desirable young woman.

But while relationships with humans are pleasurable, they’re also complicated, as Adlia is about to discover. For somewhere between her mind-blowing first human kiss and falling in love, a mysterious memory loss strikes the elf population. Adlia must save her people and herself before she forgets everything. If she succeeds, she may solve an important piece of her personal puzzle and find that Mark fits perfectly.

You can read the first chapter of Stolen Magic on my website. Thanks so much for having me, Colleen!

You can learn more about Esri Rose at ElvesAmongUs.com, and don’t forget to visit her Giveaway site, ElvesInBoulder.com. Esri lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband and her cat, only one of whom has pointy ears. Stolen Magic is her second book about Elves in Boulder, following 2008’s Bound to Love Her.
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Annnndddd….one lucky commenter who states what they love most about Elves and/or their favorite Elf will have a chance to win Stolen Magic, signed by Ms. Rose herself.

Have fun, gang! I’ll check back later!

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ETA: Don’t know what’s up with the wonky text color going on…sorry! Tried to fix it. Must be the elves tampering with stuff.

Bound by Honor: An Erotic Novel of Maid Marian

CONTEST IS CLOSED. WINNERS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN.

No, I’m not talking about Max and Sebastian, believe it or not!

Today I’m excited to welcome my dear friend Colette Gale in honor of the release of her new book, Bound by Honor: An Erotic Novel of Maid Marian, wherein we meet a dark brooder (William de Wendeval, the Sheriff of Nottingham) and a charming rogue (Robin Hood). Not to mention a totally pervy Prince John and his Court of Pleasure.*mrowrrr*

Doesn’t Colette have the absolutely most gorgeous covers? I’m pea-green with envy, as Scarlett would say.

Colleen: Welcome, Colette. So let’s cut to the chase–who wins Marian’s heart? The charming rogue or the dark brooder?

Colette: Now that would be telling, wouldn’t it?

Colleen: I figured that’s what you would say.

Colette: Isn’t that what you told everyone for two years during the Gardella books?

Colleen: Erm. Yeah. (aside) I hate it when she makes sense.

(back to Colette) Okay, well, here’s the next question: I heard that you have a thing for Richard Armitage. And that you modeled the Sheriff of Nottingham after his character in the BBC America’s Robin Hood.

Colette: Well, first of all, it’s the Sheriff of Nottinghamshire. And yes, I did model Will after Richard Armitage (and Alan Rickman, too, as Nottingham) in my book.

Colleen: Everyone around here knows that Richard Armitage doesn’t do a thing for me. He’s just not bulky enough to appeal to me. I like my men to have hair on their chests and nice muscles. And to not do stupid things to the women they love.

Colette: I’m certain that a big portion–if not all–of your readers would disagree that Armitage doesn’t cut it. (Right, readers?) Guy of Gisborne is so hot in Robin Hood and so angsty and broody–how can you resist? Especially after writing a character like Max Pesaro?

Colleen: Yeah, well Max had a pure heart, and Guy…doesn’t.

Colette: *snort* Whatever. So you’re saying you prefer Robin Hood to Nottingham or Gisborne?

Colleen: Without a doubt. So tell me–does Robin get the girl?

Colette: (sigh) Robin gets the girl.

Colleen: Yay!

Colette: (aside) But I didn’t say which girl.

Colleen: It’s about time the charming rogue fans got theirs around here! So tell me…how pervy is Prince John in your book?

Colette: He’s not a very nice guy. And he likes his pleasure. In many forms.

Colleen: Give us a hint. Inquiring minds and all that.

Colette: Let me just say one thing: living statues. Okay? That’s all I’m saying.

Colleen: Hmmm. I can only imagine what that means. Did you stick with your rule about at least one person getting off in each chapter?

Colette: Not as strictly as I did in my previous books, but there’s an awful lot of sex. Not for the faint of heart. But this book is more romantic and sweet than my previous books, if you can believe it.

Colleen: Don’t believe it. Not for one minute. I know you.

Colette: It really is more of a romance.

Colleen: Yeah right.

Okay, well you heard it first here on For All the World to See–Robin gets the girl and Prince John likes living statues. And the Sheriff of Nottinghamshire is a cross between Richard Armitage and Alan Rickman.

So go buy Colette’s new book–if for no other reason than to ogle the cover. It really is gorgeous.

Colette: Wait a sec. I want to give away a couple books to your readers. In gratitude for you having me here today. *bats eyelashes*

Colleen: A couple? Cool! A prize for each of two randomly chosen commenters who give their opinion: should Marian ride off into Sherwood Forest with Robin and live happily ever after, or subject herself to the angsty broodiness of a constantly-PMSing Armitage-like Sheriff of Nottinghamshire?

Colette: Don’t you think you’re skewing the audience when you put it that way?

Colleen: It’s my blog and I can do what I want to. Besides, what do you care? The book’s already written!

Colette: Whatever. Thanks for having me. (I think.)

Colleen: Thanks for coming, Colette! Good luck!

Please welcome to my humble abode on the Web my dear friend, Tricia Mills (aka Trish Milburn). This is the release week for her new Young Adult novel, Heartbreak River.

I confess, I haven’t had a chance to read the book yet, but if MiniMe’s response (read it straight through in one day) is any indication, it’s a great read. Full of romance and coming of age, tragedy, and rising above it.

Tricia and I are giving away a copy of Heartbreak River to one lucky commenter. So if you have questions or comments for Tricia, please add them below to enter! (Isn’t that an awesome cover???)

And, now, heeeeeeere’s Trish!

TV and Movies: How They Inspire My Writing
By Tricia Mills

I’ve been cracking up at the new Hulu commercials that make fun of TV rotting our brains. While I know that sitting in front of the tube for hours on end and channel surfing isn’t the way to enrich my brain, I don’t subscribe to the belief that TV is inherently a bad thing. In fact, I get a lot of inspiration from TV programs. Plots or characters will trigger something in my mind, and off my imagination goes.

For instance, in the summer of 2006, I went on a DVD binge on programs I’d not seen when they originally aired. I watched all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, all five of Angel and the first of Supernatural. The novel I wrote that fall isn’t a copy of any of those programs, but it was definitely inspired by all that viewing of paranormal programming.

Characters on shows can be the models for characters I create – physically, that is. I rip their photos out of magazines and put them up on a corkboard above my computer for inspiration as I’m writing their descriptions.

Sometimes it’s just a spark that comes from watching a certain show, and my own story goes off in a totally different direction. From watching Legend of the Seeker, I have an idea for a magical story percolating in my brain. And I have to admit that Craig Horner, who plays Richard Cypher (the Seeker), may appear as the inspiration for a hero at some point.

It’s not only TV characters and plots that inspire me, but also those of movies. For my second young adult novel, Winter Longing (set to release in the summer of 2010), the two main guys in the book are modeled physically after Ben Barnes and William Moseley, who played Prince Caspian and Peter Pevensie in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

Sometimes inspiration can even come from a sub-par show or movie and the thought that “I so would have written that differently.” That’s the cool thing – I can. ☺

When you’re a writer, you don’t have to feel guilty about those hours you spend in front of the TV. After all, it’s research!

(And can I just say YUMMMY on the Ben Barnes character!!)

Trish Mi (as we call her, to differentiate between Trish Mo [Trish Morey, another author]) is one of my best buds in the Wet Noodle Posse. We angsted for years as we wrote book after book and received rejection after rejection. Sigh.

But Trish is the epitome of never, never, never give up….after writing for many years and probably over a dozen novels, she finally sold her first book…and then a second (to a different publisher)…and there are more to come! Yay Trish!

Her first published book (not first sold; that one comes out this summer) was released earlier this month. Put your hands together and give big welcoming hugs to Trish as she writes about The Power of Music.

(We will be giving away a signed copy of A Firefighter in the Family to a commenter. It’s a fun, quick read with a good mystery subplot.)

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It’s amazing how much emotional power can be packed into song lyrics. I admire anyone who is a good songwriter, creating a story out of a few short lines. I like to incorporate music into my stories to show a character’s feelings or to set a mood. Though I’m careful not to venture into copyright infringement by using actual song lyrics, I do reference them.

For instance, I’m currently working on a young adult story in which my heroine has experienced a significant loss. As teens often do when they’re hurting, she listens to certain music over and over. For my heroine, Marissa, it’s the songs of Breaking Benjamin, a band that I like and whose lyrics really speak to what she’s experiencing.

Marissa is enduring a loss, so when she hears Breaking Benjamin’s “Breathe,” the lyric “You left a hole where my heart should be” really packs an emotional punch. Later, it’s the band’s song “So Cold” that takes on new meaning when heard in the new context of her life. Though I don’t quote the lyrics, it’s the lyrics “You’re so cold, but you feel alive; Lay your hands on me one last time,” that serve as an important turning point for her.

Because making pop culture references tends to be more common in YA novels than adult romances, I use them when they seem appropriate to the story. I try to either reference bands and/or singers who I think have staying power and aren’t one-hit wonders, or I use older artists as deliberate out-of-fashion favorites of the characters even though they might not be popular in the real world anymore. It’s also my way of giving shout-outs to some of my personal favorites.

While doing these revisions, I discovered a band called Anberlin. Their song “Last First Kiss” fit into a new scene I was writing. And in an odd twist, while searching for photos of a Piper Super Cub, a plane that is often used in Alaska, where this story is set, I happened upon a YouTube video that used a beautiful hymn by Chris Rice called “Come to Jesus.” Once again, the lyrics spoke to a specific aspect of the story, so I mentioned the song.

We all know that music can heighten emotions we already feel. So it only seems natural that they would do the same for the characters we create. They help squeeze even more emotion out of the men and women we write. And listening to the songs these characters are listening to can help bring new depths to a scene when we’re writing it.

And hopefully that will translate to a highly emotional read for the reader.

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So…was there a song in your life whose lyrics made a difference to you? Helped you make it through a tough time, or some sort of turning point? Tell us about it (or make another comment) and we’ll put you in the drawing for a copy of A Firefighter in the Family.

For more info, check out Trish Milburn’s Web site. She will be releasing a new book this summer called Heartbreak River, written for young adults, under the name Tricia Mills.

Everyone put their hands together and welcome Marta Acosta, authoress of the funny, charming Casa Dracula books and owner of the blog Vampire Wire.

She promised me she’d write about something that connected our books (besides the presence of vampires?) and she kept her word. Cool. We’ll be giving away a copy of your choice of one of her books to a commenter, so comment away, ladies and gents!

And now, without further ado, I give you….Ms. Marta Acosta!

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Like peanut butter and chocolate, Jane Austen and vampires are two great things that are great together.  So it’s no surprise that Colleen and I both followed our love for Austen into the vamp realm.  While Colleen paid homage to our favorite writer by creating a Regency world inhabited by slayers and vamps, I took a different route with an updated comedy-of-manners.  The vamps in my Casa Dracula novels are snobby overachievers who look down on my impoverished and clever heroine.

Despite our different approaches, we’re both honoring themes found in Austen’s witty, beautifully plotted novels.

Here are a few things that I’ve learned from Austen and tried to apply to my own Casa Dracula series.

•    A character doesn’t have to be the most stunning woman in the room to be the heroine.  A good nature enhances personal beauty, and a bad soul diminishes it.  The heroine of Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet, is criticized as merely “tolerable” when the proud Mr. Darcy meets her.  After further acquaintance, he says, “but that was only when I first knew her, for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance.”   Chic Caroline Bingley becomes less appealing as her unpleasant nature reveals itself.
•    Characters who have a sense of humor about themselves are excellent company.  When Mr. Darcy describes the extraordinary qualities necessary for a woman to be accomplished, Elizabeth brings him to reality, saying with amusement, “I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any.”
•    Allow the tension build.  Austen takes readers through nerve-racking complications before her characters find their true love.  Her characters aren’t kept about by one drawn-out misunderstanding, but by a series of incidents.  The happy endings may be predictable, but the journey there is terrific.
•    Don’t neglect the minor characters.  Austen’s minor characters were always memorable and beautifully detailed, from pompous and obsequious Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice, to loud and garish Mrs. Jennings in Sense and Sensibility, to the overly romantic young officer in Persuasion.  But there’s no cruelty to her joshing, and we feel the humanity of these characters.  In fact, when Emma casually abuses the garrulous Mrs. Bates, Mr. Knightley scolds her for her unkindness.   Personality is revealed in the way the main characters interact with the minor characters.
•    Make your scoundrels deliciously complex.  Austen’s handsome scoundrels are full of flattery and high sentiments.  Deception is their stock in trade, and they’ll say anything to put themselves in a better light, as well as to destroy others.   The fun is how Austen keeps us unbalanced, wondering if our suspicions are correct about these sleek characters.  These knaves are often perceptive and often the first to notice the admirable qualities of her heroines.  In Mansfield Park, seductive Henry Crawford flirts with little, meek Fanny Price as a cheap amusement.  The joke’s on Henry when he falls passionately for the sweet girl, who rejects his advances.
•    Reward goodness.  I enjoy many books that deal with moral ambiguity, but I am comforted by stories that have a firm ethical structure.   Austen’s heroines will always make right choice over the convenient or financially rewarding choice.  In Persuasion, Anne Elliot rejects the advances of the wealthy, unscrupulous William Elliot.  Fanny Price is thrown out of her home when she refuses to accept Henry Crawford as a husband.   In the end, however, our heroines are rewarded for their noble natures with the love of a good man who truly respects them.
•    Trust in your readers.  In Austen’s most famous opening line, she writes, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a young man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”  She’s sharing a joke with us as her friends, and perhaps this is why we still trust and admire her in return.

Website:  www.martaacosta.com
Blog:  www.martaacosta.blogspot.com
Email:  marta@martaacosta.com
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