E.Guest Chats with Amanda Quick about THE RIVER KNOWS

ELIZABETH. GUEST: Your new hardcover, THE RIVER KNOWS, is in stores as we speak. Please tell us about it.

AMANDA QUICK: This is historical romantic-suspense and the setting is Victorian England but I'd like to make it clear up front that this is NOT an Arcane Society novel.

ELIZABETH GUEST: (nodding) You did warn us that not every book would be an Arcane Society book.

AMANDA QUICK: Right. But if you enjoy my kind of characters (EG: I love AQ's characters!) you'll probably like them with or without the psychic twist. In THE RIVER KNOWS, Louisa Bryce is a lady with a little secret in her past.

ELIZABETH GUEST: Little secret? She killed a man.

AMANDA QUICK: Details, details. Unfortunately, it turns out braining a man with a poker is the sort of secret that can utterly ruin a lady in Victorian high society.

ELIZABETH GUEST: Picky, picky. People can be so small and mean-spirited.

AMANDA QUICK: Sad but true. Louisa was obliged to change her name and take up a career as a secret reporter for a newspaper that thrives on gossip and scandal among the elite.

ELIZABETH GUEST: I see things haven't changed all that much in supposedly exclusive social circles.

AMANDA QUICK True. Louise soon learns that when it comes to scandal, no one is more of an expert than sexy Anthony Stalbridge. Rumor has it he killed his fiancée when he discovered that she was having an affair with another man. But when you're as rich and powerful as Anthony, a little gossip doesn't hurt. You still get invitations to the best parties in town. You also get pressure from your family to find a nice girl and settle down.

Here's a little taste of THE RIVER KNOWS. It takes place the morning after Louisa and Anthony share their first passionate encounter. Let's just say things did not go transcendently well...

“What are you doing here?” Louisa demanded.

He took her arm. “A man who does not call upon the lady the morning after cannot call himself a gentleman.”

“The morning after what?” she asked, going quite blank.

His mouth twisted ruefully. “I am crushed, Louisa. Surely you cannot have forgotten our interlude in the Lorrington conservatory so soon?”

Her breath caught in her throat. She could feel the heat flooding her cheeks.

“Oh, that,” she said in a half strangled voice.

“Continue on in that fashion, my sweet, and I will sink straight into the ground under the burden of my humiliation.”

“You must not blame yourself, sir,” she said briskly. “I have done a great deal of thinking about the incident and I see now that I must bear the majority of the blame.”

“Because you did not warn me that you lacked experience in that particular enterprise?”

She glowered. “No, for expecting too much from the business, itself. I fear I placed too much credence in the glowing descriptions of the novelists and the sensation plays All that lovely nonsense about exquisite rapture and transcendent passion. I should have known that the reality would fall somewhat short.”

“In my opinion, you would do well to withhold judgment on the matter until you have conducted a few more experiments," he said.

“Hmm.”

He tightened his grip on her arm. “And I must insist that those experiments be conducted with me. Now, then, we have another problem.”

“What?”

“My mother has invited you to tea tomorrow afternoon.”

She stopped short, utterly aghast. “Your mother? She cannot possibly want to meet me.”

“It was inevitable. She has heard the gossip about us.”

“But we are having an illicit affair. Mothers never want to entertain the women with whom their sons are conducting illicit liaisons.”

"You don’t know my mother.”

ELIZABETH GUEST: Something tells me that tea with Stalbridge's mother is going to be a bit awkward. (Rubbing her hands together.) How utterly delicious! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of the latest AQ. My fellow readers, THE RIVER KNOWS is available at your local bookstore or you can purchase it online at any of the links below. Enjoy!

Sex in Books: How High Does Your Sex-o-meter Go?

Toni Blake is a good friend of mine with a LOT going on in her career.
I love her books, all of them, so I'm thrilled to introduce her to you here, where she will share with Quill readers her most exciting news!
Ladies, let's give a hand to Toni Blake, and her alter ego, Lacey Alexander.

Thanks Lori.
I appreciate the chance to be on Quills with such esteemed ladies, and I'm glad I get to share my news! You see, a few weeks ago I announced to the romance community at large that I’ve been leading a double life. In addition to writing big, sexy, emotional romance novels for Avon as Toni Blake, I’ve also been writing erotica as Lacey Alexander for over three years.

Now if you’re wondering why I kept this a secret for so long, there are numerous reasons.
1) When I first started as Lacey, a clause in one of my contracts stipulated I would keep my erotica identity quiet.
2) I feared being tracked down by creepy men.
3) I really thought that the “extreme” elements in my erotica would not be the average Toni Blake reader’s cup of tea – and I feared it might even offend some of them.
In short, I didn’t think there would be a significant cross-over audience, and I didn’t want Toni Blake readers to try my erotica and go, “Ugh, this is obscene!” and then decide they’re never going to read another Toni Blake book again. Because I won’t lie to ya – Lacey writes some pretty kinky, out there, don’t-try-this-at-home kinda stuff.

So when I “came out of the closet” recently, it was mildly stressful. Because of waiting for the creepy men to find me, of course. As well as the offended readers.

So far, however, I’m happy to report no creepy men have shown up, and my theory (knock on wood) is that there are so many erotica authors to choose from these days (which was not the case when I started this) that it greatly reduces my chances of being stalked.

But the real surprise to me has been reader reaction. I was absolutely stunned when I announced my other identity in a large online readers’ group only to have tons of people announce that they loved Lacey Alexander books and how excited they were to find out I was her!
I literally sat at my computer with my mouth hanging open, thinking, “Really?” And then, of course, I did the Sally Field “They like me, they really like me!” thing.
It was a huge relief, let me tell you.

What I learned from all this is that I had greatly misjudged my readers. Looking back, I feel I was truly short-sighted. After all, if I’m capable of loving big, emotional, layered books and can also enjoy indulging in super-steamy erotica, why did I think readers would be any different? It probably all goes back to my deeply-ingrained good-girl, Bible-belt upbringing, but since there’s not enough room here to analyze that (and I hear you all breathing big sighs of relief), let me ask you some questions instead.

How far is too far – when it comes to sex – in a book?
Do you have any limits?
Any taboos that would make you fling the book against the wall?

And what about expectations?
Do you rely on a book’s cover to tell you how hot it’s going to be? Or the back blurb?
Do you like to know what you’re in for, or are getting some “sexual surprises” in a book okay?

And for those interested in comparing my “dual identities,” the timing couldn’t be better. VOYEUR, by Lacey Alexander, will be released in just a few days, on May 1."
TEMPT ME TONIGHT, by Toni Blake, will hit the shelves on June 1 from Avon. "

If you’re in the mood for very sexy, emotion-packed, heart-stopping romance, visit me at http://www.toniblake.com/

But if you want to discover your inner bad girl, go to http://www.laceyalexander.net/. Better yet, I hope maybe you’ll do both.

But first, let’s chat about sex in books and reader expectation.
I want to hear what you have to say!

TONI

ELIZABETH TALKS WITH STELLA

THE WRONG HOSTAGE--FIRST TIME IN PAPERBACK!

STELLA: Sheesh, Elizabeth, I've got finger-cramps from turning the pages so fast. I have a sneaky feeling you've got an inside edge when you write a cling-to-your-seat story like THE WRONG HOSTAGE. I know you, and I know Evan was a crime reporter for years. Just how much of THE WRONG HOSTAGE is real?

ELIZABETH: Well, I've never had a child kidnapped, thank God! But if you’re asking about the book’s backdrop, it’s all quite real. Even though it has been a long time since Evan traded in his journalistic hat for that of a novelist, we still follow doings along the border with Mexico. Our information on what’s really happening (as opposed to what major media outlets call news) comes from many sources, including people “on the ground.”

STELLA: I knew it, insider information. In THE WRONG HOSTAGE the tunnel under the border plays a big part in the plot. It's real, isn't it?

ELIZABETH. The earliest tunnel I ever heard about was from Don Quick, then with the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration). We roasted cabrito and nopales over a campfire, he taught me how to use his hand gun, and pronounced me good enough to stop a man at twenty feet.

Then he showed Evan and me a lonely little house on the desert, just on the California side of the border. In the 19th century, when the contraband was Chinese immigrants and ten-tael tins of opium, a tunnel ran from beneath the house to a cave on the Mexican side. Quick knew about it because his father had been a Customs agent who rode horseback through the desert in search of bootleggers from Mexico.

The fact that the tunnel Evan and I imagined for THE WRONG HOSTAGE was actually discovered a few months ago—in the precise place we imagined it would be!—just proves that truth is at least as strange as fiction.

STELLA: Don Quick? Of course, Amanda's dad. What about St. Kilda Consulting? Is that real?

ELIZABETH: (groan....no relation to Amanda Quick at all!) St. Kilda Consulting is our creation, but it’s based on what’s happening in the real world. One of the FBI agents who once worked with Evan left the FBI and started his own kidnap/ransom insurance business, because he saw how difficult it was for American corporations to protect their employees outside the U.S.

Other people Evan worked with have gone on to think tanks, started their own advice/security businesses, etc. In the Post Cold War world, gigantic just doesn’t get most jobs done. Many non-combat jobs in war zones go to private contractors, from feeding soldiers, to electronics maintenance (and operation) of high-tech weapons, and even the training of Iraqi policemen. Some companies are run by former special forces personnel. Many are run by former government employees from the military services to the CIA, FBI, and any other agency that requires expertise in the shifting reality of geopolitics and transnational crime.

I certainly wouldn’t be surprised to find that one or more private businesses such as St. Kilda Consulting exists. Whether we know it or not, we need them.

STELLA: No arguments from me. And the love story grips in all the right ways--just as I would expect. Joe Faroe is a classic Lowell hero--strong and vulnerable, smart and yet dumb as only a guy can be about women, and sexy. Did I mention sexy?

ELIZABETH: What can I say? No love, no story. Not for this woman. Faroe demanded a special heroine, one who could go toe-to-toe with him, yet touch him with her own vulnerability, her own needs. Grace Silva is a great match for Faroe—even if neither one wants to admit it!

STELLA: THE WRONG HOSTAGE paperback is on sale April 24th.

ELIZABETH: Some folks will find it in the stores a week before that, some a week after. Let me know when Y'ALL find it!

STELLA: If you break a toe running an errand (to the bookstore) and have to take a couple of days off to recover, we'll all understand. Buy a copy for your doctor in exchange for a letter of excuse to your boss--you need quality reading time for THE WRONG HOSTAGE!

Waving from San Francisco--a day late!

My feet are dotted with moleskin and I now own the ugliest pair of shoes imaginable. Of course, they're comfortable and we all know that's all that matters to a woman when she buys shoes. Our Susan would definitely agree with that.

This isn't the first time I've ended up hobbling around San Francisco with various parts of my feet bleeding and stinging. I come here regularly. I don't seem to learn the lesson.

What would you absolutely not wear? Until I got these black numbers with straps across the foot, putrid green stitching, fake putrid green buttons and those mushy soles formed to fit the the bottom of your foot (what a concept)and a shine like wet rubber even when they're dry--until these I could have said I absolutely would not wear icky shoes.

Speaking of things that go on your feet, I have finally seen BLADES OF GLORY. I "had" to give up walking yesterday so I chose to see a movie and this time I actually ignored Jerry's wrinkled nose (there's no violence in BLADES OF GLORY) and insisted this was my choice. If you haven't seen it, get there. My life could not have been complete if I hadn't seen an Iron Lotus performed, or poor Jimmy sucking toilet paper along the public bathroom floor because the key he needed was on top. He couldn't just pick up the key because his hands were handcuffed to a rail inside the stall. The key unlocked the handcuffs. It really is funny. Trust me.

Almost forgot. This has been a chocolate vacation. I've eaten chocolates from every fine chocolate shop in town. There are a zillion fine chocolate shops here. Each piece was individually selected my moi. Coffee mushrooms, marzipan filled dates, champagne truffles . . . everything covered with delectable chocolate, the silky, slip-down-your-throat kind of chocolate.

Then there was the chocolate croissant, chocolate moche and green tea brownies. I'm feeling quite sick and the thought of getting on a scale frightens me.

A tip: almond croissants settle the stomach after too many cups of coffee.

What was most memorable about your last vacation?

Cheers, Stella

My friend, Patricia Sargeant, did a blog that fascinated me.
Her blog was 3 weeks ago at www.pinkladiesblog.com and she flattered me a lot, but that's not the point. It was such a fun blog!
So I'm stealing it.

The point of the blog was things that other people might not know about you, that could be surprising.
For instance, Patricia was surprised at the music I prefer. Like KORN and Drowning Pool and Rob Zombie...

I'm surprised that super sweet, soft-spoken Patricia could ever utter a curse word, but I have it on good authority that she does indulge on occasion.
(Personally, I can't imagine anyone in this biz who doesn't get fired up enough on occasion to fry the air! )
So what is surprising about you?

On my end, yeah, I love really hard loud music with a strong beat. Almost all my choices are male bands/singers, although a lot of times I enjoy Macy Gray, and I loved Janis Joplin.

Another suprising thing from my past...
Back in my super young, super skinny days, I worked for a well known factory and ended up being their first female material handler.

Yeah, what a distinction!
I have to admit, with all the heavy boxes and lifting, I got help from the guys on occasion. They were all super nice and accepting of a young woman in their all-male domaine.
I think it was the only time in my life that I had noticable biceps.

Initially my job was standing at an assembly line, packing shampoo into boxes. We rotated stations on the line, but man oh man, was it boring! I'm not good at standing still. Never have been.

When the offer to work in the back came up, I volunteered. Anything was better than the line, and I've always enjoyed male camaraderie more than female.
Sorry, but it's true.
The "Powers that be" jumped on the chance to have a female in the ranks. It even got written up in the paper, which was great exposure for them and their "fair practices."

Here's omething else that many people don't know - all 3 of my sons modeled when they were very young. I think my oldest was about 6 or 7, then the middle son was 4 and the youngest 3.

They were in newspaper ads mostly - you know, the ads for clothing stores. I had very cute boys who were extremely well behaved and good at direction.
They LOVED being in front of a camera.

My oldest even did a commercial for the amusement park "Kiddieland" in Chicago. I'm not sure if Kiddieland is still around, but I can recall the jingle that played in the commerical. He had to eat so much ice cream for the shoot that he went about a year not wanting it anymore.

As my sons got older, they chose sports over modeling, and that was that. But while they did it, they were well paid!

Speaking of sports - I'm a lousy athlete. I can't throw a ball, can't run fast, and I was one of those kids who hid during gym when they made us play an organized game. I'd claim to be sick sometimes - anything to avoid sports!

HOWEVER... I was always pretty good at water-skiing. Not quite as good as my sister and younger brother, but I could do some tricks (with special skis) and a disk (round board that you "skiied" on,) and I could slalom with ease.
I learned to ski when I was 6 years old.
I love the water, but now those murky lakes sort of scare me. These days, it's in the water, grab the robe, and I yell "Hit it!" so I can ON the water instead of IN it.
The faster I'm on the skiis and out of the water, the more I like it.

So what about you sometimes surprises your friends or acquaintances?
What surprising things are in your past, or in your present?
Happy Friday everyone!

ELIZABETH G. ASKS FOR A DRUMROLL: AND THE WINNER IS . . .

Okay, I'll admit right up front that I'm not one for entering contests, whether it be to win a trip for four to Disney World (and I LOVE Disney World), an entire makeover for my kitchen (and, believe me, my kitchen could use a makeover, but that's another story for another time) or even one of the numerous awards out there given for writing romance novels. (I keep getting published; that's reward enough for me.)

Heck, I don't even buy lottery tickets. Here's why: I know someone who buys $10 worth of weekly lottery tickets, playing the same numbers each and every time. This has been going on for 20 years. So I did the math. $10 per week = $520 per year. $520 per year X 20 years = $10,400. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that her return would have been much greater if she'd invested that money in the stock market, or even in a savings account or CD. As it is, she's simply out over ten thousand she couldn't afford to lose.

So I asked "Bunny" --- not her real name --- why she kept buying lottery tickets when the odds of winning are astronomical. I was astonished by her answer: She told me she was afraid NOT to because what if this was the week her numbers were drawn.

Now, I'm no math wizard (I confess I did get an A in college algebra, but my degree is in English Lit), but even I know her odds of winning are the same week after week.

And we've all heard of lottery winners who find themselves dead broke only a few years after winning millions. There's even a book out titled THE WINNER'S CURSE, not to mention the legion of books that supposedly teach you the magic formula for winning the lottery. (Then there's that whole SECRET phenomenon, but I won't even go there.)

On the other hand, anyone who clicks that "contest" icon at the top of this page, and fills out a brief form, has a pretty darned good chance of winning a book from each of the Quills. Even I would enter that contest . . . if I were allowed to.

So, CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS for the past few months:

November: Kim from Calmar, Iowa.

December: Cheryl from Honolulu, Hawaii.

January: Pat from Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania.

February: Joan from Templeton, California.

March: Carol from Gig Harbor, Washington.

April: Well, it could be you, if you click on the "contest" icon and follow the simple directions.

By the way, my friend Tina once won a van --- as in vehicle! In fact, she's won everything from shopping trips to mountain bikes to vacations. So, Inquiring Minds want to know (because they're kind of snoopy): Have any of you won anything exciting that you can share with the rest of us?

Happy Contesting!
Elizabeth Guest

P.S. Speaking of winning books: I'm doing a chat Wednesday, April 18th, at 9:00 p.m. ET at www.writerspace.com/chat (followed by our very own Stella Cameron at 10:00 p.m.) and I'll be giving away four copies of NIGHT LIFE to four different readers in the chatroom during my hour.

JAYNE PREDICTS: THE END IS NEAR

Yesterday I wrote the last sentence of the first draft of the last chapter of the book that I have been working on for the past few months. I can finally see clearly for the very first time precisely where I've been headed since I started the project. I now have the whole, complete vision of the story in my head. (Hey, there's a reason a lot of us call this first draft the "discovery" draft).

But working this little bundle of chaos into a coherent vision is only Phase One for me. I know my writing patterns very well after having crafted so many books. I am well aware that I will go through this manuscript from start to finish at least four more times, editing it on each pass, before I send it off to my editor. (And that does not include the many, many times I went back and changed stuff along the way as I was writing the first draft). In addition I will read it again a couple more times in the copyediting and typesetting stages.

From now on, however, I will be working with a coherent, intuitive comprehension of my characters and their story. Much will be removed, much will be added. The story will take on added nuances that I could not have imagined when I sat down to write the first page back in late January. For example, a lot of new characters showed up along the way including a dog named Fog who was not there back at the beginning. What can I say? There is something about the very act of creativity that promotes creativity.

Writing is an incredibly personal and private experience for me. I love my readers and I am delighted when they enjoy my books but the truth is, I could no more write for them than I could fly. I write each and every story for myself because that is the only way I can write. It is the reason I started writing in the first place and it is the only way I can continue to find joy and passion in my work.

If people like my books it is because they "get" my sense of humor, share at least some of my world views and hold a lot of the same values that are important to me. In addition to all those things, they simply like the way I tell a story. If any of those factors is missing for a reader she or he probably won't like my books. In the end, you see, it always comes down to such intangible issues. No two people bring the same things to the reading experience and no two people take the same things away. (I've never understood why people who dislike a writer's stories continue to read that author, let alone bother to review her books. Seems like an enormous waste of time. But nobody ever said that humans were logical beings).

Don't get me wrong, there is a lot I do not yet know about this book. I cannot predict who will like it and who will hate it. I don't even know what the title will be. That always comes later in the process for me. I have no idea what the cover will look like or how the book will be marketed. All I know is that the story satisfies me. The vision is complete. That is enough for now.

Oh, wait, I take that back. There is one thing I can predict with absolute certainty. Although I will personally go through the manuscript half a dozen times or more and although my editor will read it and although a copyeditor and a proofreader will read it, I can promise you this much: Somewhere in the finished book there will be a least one typo and a small screw-up involving the name of a character or the color of his shirt. And I also know that somewhere out there a reader will notice those mistakes and let me know about it. I want to thank that reader in advance.

--Jayne Ann Krentz

Susan wonders: Can a woman ever really have enough shoes?

My best friend Mimi gave me this card for my birthday and inside it reads: Do I know you, or what?

Uh...yeah. She does. I LOVE shoes. Love em, love em, love em. I was watching a morning program as I Nordic Tracked one day and one of the hosts said that in a survey, when asked what they would rather have--given the choice between shoes, handbags or clothing-- women overwhelmingly picked...

Handbags.

Say what? I gotta tell you, I don't get that at all. Now, I like a nice purse as much as the next woman, but frankly I don't have the time to be constantly transfering all my stuff from one bag to the next. Shoes on the other hand take no time at all to slip on and kick off.

Don't get me wrong, if it ever came down to a choice between shoes or books, books would win hands dow--

Well, there is always the library.

No, no, I don't mean that, really I don't. Just kidding. I have WAY more boots than-- BOOKS! Books, I meant to say. I have way more books than shoes.
Hey. It's not as if I HAVE to buy shoes. I can stop any time.

Man, would you look at those Manolo Blahniks?



Um, what was I saying? Oh, yeah. It's not as if I'm addicted, or anything. I don't have that many pairs. Ask the Soulmate, ask Mimi. Well, maybe not those two. They're still giving me a bad time about spending the only 40 minute break I had in a Nordie's shoe department during the Sizzling Summer Authors bus tour. But it wasn't as if I was the only one! Ask Jacquie D'Alessandro and Gemma Halliday. I was just following them. Everyone knows I have no sense of direction.

Anyhow it's not a problem. But I do know where my little shoe habit began. I distinctly remember a saleslady coming up to my mother when I was still an infant. "Booties for your baby?" she asked slyly. "First one's on us."

What's your downfall?

ELIZABETH'S SPRING FEVER

We just switched from our winter home in AZ to our spring/summer/fall home in WA. Went from 80 degrees F and sunny to 50 degrees F and rainy. (I don't mind, because my allergies were giving me fits in AZ. Can you say ACHOO, twenty-five times? In twenty-five seconds?)

As soon as I got home, I checked my two long planters to see what had survived the winter and what hadn't. Since it got down to 20 degrees F at the water for several days running, I was expecting total loss.

It wasn't quite that bad.

The patch I reserve for growing herbs--basil, rosemary, two kinds of sage, two kinds of parsley, tarragon, and thyme--had mostly survived. The Italian parsley was toast, as was the tarragon and basil. (Basil hardly ever winters over so that wasn't a surprise. Ditto for tarragon.) The picture isn't my herb garden, but you get the idea....

The flower sections of my planters were frozen toast. Absolute carnage. Nothing wintered over, even the bulbs.



So I went to the nursery, bought primroses, petunias, lobelias, a flowering ground cover with cute orange blooms, herbs, and fertilizer.





More than a hundred little plants.






And these are just the low-growers. I've got some tall ones to pick out when they're available--iris, snapdragons, chrysanthemums, roses, big marigolds, dahlias, and whatever else catches my eye in four weeks.

One hour a day of stoop labor is all I can take, so I still have a few more of the original hundred plants to put in the ground.

Oh, my aching back. Literally.

Yeah, I'm a wuss.

But in a few months I'll be a wuss with a delicious herb garden and a rainbow of blooms.

Until then, I'm enjoying the chocolate-scented orchid plant Evan got me for my birthday. Gorgeous flowers--deep maroon, rather star shaped, with a bright yellow outline on all the petals. Four racemes blooming and more coming.

So how do you celebrate spring?

Planting things?

Buying fresh flowers?

Or do you prefer a new-clothes-and-shoes kind of spring celebration?

FATHER CYRUS THE MOSTLY UNWILLING

What a puzzle, what a dilemma.


Oh, dear, what shall I do with Father Cyrus Payne-the-Mostly-Unwilling?

I have just started writing the next book set in Toussaint, on Bayou Teche in Louisiana. Needless to say, there’s stuff going on. STUFF. A dangerous dust-up. Love, lust and need. A hero who already has my fingers rushing, and a heroine (she’s Madge Pollard’s cousin) who may seem demure, but, well, haha, she’s a bit of a chamaeleon. However, all of that is not what is scrambling my brain. Father Cyrus Payne is the cause of a growing headache.

He has to be dealt with and I’m not completely certain what will happen when I confront him. What am I talking about? It’s Madge who has to confront him and I think that’s going to make me want to title the book, Double Dust-Up. If you know Madge the way I know Madge, we also know what a mouthy minx she can be on occasion. I just don’t know what Cyrus will do if she breaks into that "Upper Room," as Lil the housekeeper likes to call it, and says, "Stand and deliver! Gimme everything you’ve got. No, it’s not your money I want."

We know all the unattached women (yes–also some who aren’t unattached) in Toussaint pine after Cyrus. I don’t think they go to St. Cecil’s to hear the sermons, do you? One or two of them make nuisances of themselves but they’re no match for Madge. And Cyrus is good at diverting inappropriate and unwelcome advances. Madge’s almost destructive love of this man, however, is another matter. And Cyrus’s love for her is such a conundrum when we’re trying to figure out exactly what he wants from her and whether he might want to . . . advance the situation. Is that a good way to put this?

What do you think about Cyrus and Madge? How do you see their futures? And what would you most like to see happen between them?

Desperate,

Stella

Next time I’m going to write about the making of a hero like Nick Board in TARGET. Now there’s a piece of work to deal with–nice work:)

Please join Susan in giving a big, warm welcome to Samantha James!

Publishers Weekly Starred review calls The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell" just about perfect. . . rich, meaty, sexy and honest."

Romantic Times says : "A story so potent, so powerful, so stunning, it's a sure bet that readers will immediately place it on their keeper shelf."

Susan: Samantha, welcome! The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell hit the bookstores last week—congratulations!

Samantha: Yes, I'm excited! It's been a while since I've had a book out. It's still a kick to see my books on the shelves (If you asked my grandson what his nana does for a living, he'd say I sell my books to Safeway).

Susan: LOL! I've heard great buzz about this book so far. You must be so pumped.

Samantha: I'm tickled pink by the reviews so far for Simon (that's what I've started to call it—The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell is too long to keep repeating!). The word "Keeper" keeps coming up. . . and I'm not complaining!

Susan: No kidding! So, tell us a little about Simon.

Samantha: Well, Simon Blackwell is a man who's weathered some hard knocks—five years earlier, he was on top of the world. But in the space of one night, a tragedy occurred that robbed him of everything—everyone—that he loved.

Susan: I sense a tortured hero coming up!

Samantha: Oh, yeah, BIG-time tortured hero. Probably the most tormented character I've ever written. Simon shuts himself away, out of guilt and remorse, and he's certain that nothing—or no one—can ever bring him back. I shed buckets of tears while writing Simon. Honestly, if that happens while I'm writing, that's my cue that I've done my job. Simon definitely tugs at the heartstrings.

Susan: It must take some kind of heroine to get to a guy like that.

Samantha: (big grin) Let me just say that with two older brothers, Annabel McBride knows how to give as good as she gets. She's pretty darn spunky and once she makes up her mind to go after something—or someone in Simon's case--there's no stopping her. Anne definitely figures out how to get under Simon's skin, if you know what I mean. She was the perfect woman to sneak into Simon's heart when he least expected it—and especially when he was so determined to fight it!

Susan: You write pretty angst-ridden books, don't you?

Samantha: For the most part, yes. I love reading books with snappy banter that are just plain fun (I ADORED Just for Kicks). When I wrote for Loveswept and Silhouette (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth), my books were definitely on the lighter side. But you have to do what you do best, and you have to write what you like. I discovered that I wrote better books when I wrote darker characters who had some baggage to deal with. And when I made the switch to historicals, I really felt I'd hit my stride.

Susan: So I guess that makes you pretty much a time-traveling fool, huh?

Samantha: (another grin) Gee, I never thought of it that way, but I suppose you're right . Contemporaries, western, medieval, Regency. And Simon is Victorian—most of it takes place in 1848.

Susan: Is Simon part of a series?

Samantha: It is; the first book of a trilogy, in fact. I was slow to the game when it came to writing series. I did a couple of mini, two book series before writing the "Perfect" trilogy. But I'm excited about the two books coming after Simon. Annabel's got two very sexy brothers—definitely hero material!

Susan: Rumor has it you were pretty happy about the cover for SIMON.

Samantha: Happy? Oh, man, I was over the moon. I love it. I adore it. I . . . well, you get the picture. Avon did a terrific job. I think it's my best cover yet.

Susan: Yeah, it's sexy and pretty and, well, just downright hot! And I understand there were certain rumors going around about the cover model for Simon.

Samantha: Rumors? Weeell, you might say that. When I got the mechanical for Simon (usually the first peek an author gets of the cover art), my editor asked me and my agent if we noticed anything uncanny about the model for the artwork. Uncanny? Well, for me, it was like Jeopardy and taking tests, you know? When the first thing that pops into your mind is usually the right answer. The first thought that popped into my mind was that he looked like a certain celebrity. So I showed the cover to my kids, to my hubby, to all my friends.

Susan: And? And?

Samantha: Only my editor, my son-in-law and myself came to the same verdict.

Susan: Don't leave us hanging. What conclusion did the three of you reach?

Samantha: (laughing) That I was right . . . the cover model DOES look like a certain celebrity (and no, I'm not saying who!). But I'd like to ask readers to check it out for themselves. Who do YOU think he looks like?

Susan: 'Scuse, me, I gotta rush over and post my opinion.

Samantha: Uh, Susan? You don't think that might blow the fun for everyone else? You already know who I think he looks like.

Susan: Oh. Well. If you're going to be a spoilsport. Still. . . (brightening) Thank you so much for joining us today! All you readers out there--you really need to check this book out. To learn more about The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell, visit Samantha's website at www.samanthajames.com. When she's not writing, you might find her lurking at the Avon Authors Bulletin Board .

Jayne sits down over a cup of tea to chat with Elizabeth Guest.

Jayne: (Getting to the good stuff right away) Boy, howdy, that's one really weird necklace you're wearing.

Elizabeth G: It's a gold cartouche pendant.

Jayne: I knew that.

Elizabeth G: It was a gift from my husband to celebrate the sale of NIGHT LIFE. He had it shipped to me from Cairo. The hieroglyphs spell out my name.

Jayne: Right, hieroglyphs. Yeah, well, I took Spanish in school. Okay, moving right along, it's no secret here at RWQ that you've gone over to the dark side. Talk about a personality makeover! The first book in your new vampire paranormal romance series is NIGHT LIFE. Having read the manuscript, I'm here to assure readers that this is one very different, quite wonderful twist on the vamp story. Tell us about it.

Elizabeth G: It all grew out of my fascination with ancient pharaonic Egypt—a lifelong passion of mine. A few years ago I created the character of Seti III. Then I looked around for a contemporary setting and a story in which to place him. Turns out that the mythology of ancient Egypt is perfect for retelling the vampire myth. I mean right there in the Book of the Dead it talks about the Eater of Blood and the Breaker of Bones.

Jayne: (Wincing.) Sounds gruesome.

Elizabeth G: It’s not really. At least not the way I tell the story. I can’t read some of the vampire books or watch most of the vampire movies because they’re essentially horror stories with a lot of blood spurting everywhere. (Shudders.) I wanted to create a world as lush, as sensual, as exotic and as erotic as the royal court of a man who had once been a warrior-king, a pharaoh.

Jayne: You sure achieved your objective! That waterfall shower scene, alone, is worth the price of admission. Woo-hoo! And speaking of your hero, Adrian King, he's gone through a few changes since he was a pharaoh.

Elizabeth G: Yep. In the current day Adrian is a billionaire casino owner in Vegas and a collector of fine wines.

Jayne: And a vampire.

Elizabeth G: Well, yes, that, too.

Jayne: And like all true Alpha Males, Adrian meets his match?

Elizabeth G: Of course. Can’t have a larger-than-life hero without an equally strong heroine. In NIGHT LIFE it’s brilliant Egyptologist Christine Day.

Jayne: Christine has a few interesting powers of her own.

Elizabeth G: I like to believe that every woman has special powers—she just has to learn how to tap into them.

Jayne: I'm with you on that. Writers often talk about their core story, the story at the heart of every book they write whether it’s a contemporary romantic comedy or a vampire paranormal. What’s yours?

Elizabeth G: It always has been and always will be one man, one woman, meant for each other...for this lifetime and for whatever comes after. You see, I believe that love is eternal.

Jayne: You’re a true romantic at heart.

Elizabeth G: Damn straight!

Jayne: It definitely shows in NIGHT LIFE, the first novel in your new Pharaohs Rising series. Thanks for chatting with us today about the book.

Elizabeth G: Can I just mention my really cool new web site: www.elizabethguest.net?

Jayne: I think that was a rhetorical question, folks, but please check out NIGHT LIFE, a story that reviewers are raving about and calling a "completely original and fresh twist to the vampire story," a "unique and spellbinding" addition to the paranormal romance genre.

Time for Stella's TARGET!

Jayne: TARGET, the new novel in your exciting Bayou Books series is finally in stores. Boy, howdy, about time! I've really been looking forward to this one. Tried to call you to tell you how much I loved this thriller. No answer. Where the heck are you, anyway?

Stella: I’m in Kauai where I’ve been writing for the last three weeks, finishing my first book with supernatural elements. It’s been so much fun, but now I’m ready to be “all about TARGET.”

Jayne: Kauai, huh? That's gotta be tough. Any sign of TARGET? Hard to miss that black and red cover with the big blue eye shining out.

Stella: Where I am right now, books hit the shelves seven to ten days later than they do on the Mainland so I’m getting my kicks from looking at a cover flat.

Jayne: You started this story with a really weird idea.

Stella: My mind is strange (hold back the mean comments, please) and I often think about subjects that don’t seem to have a real purpose. This time I was wondering about children who were born in communes and what might happen to them in life. Nick, Sarah and Aurelie, all grew up in a commune.

Jayne: They’re not related, though?

Stella: No. Nick was an only child. Sara and Aurelie are sisters who were homeless when they were taken in by the commune. They had been through really scary times. But once the three kids left the commune–Nick’s mother feared that Colin Fox, the group’s leader, had mass death in mind–after they got away they were taken in by an old friend of Nick’s mother who brought them up as if they were brother and sisters. She couldn’t adopt them because it wasn’t known if a parent would turn up to claim them one day.

Jayne: Chilling. Things are okay for the three now, though, right?

Stella: If being chased by a man who wants you dead is fine, then I guess so. And if the odd mysterious/scary event makes you feel great, then everything’s fine at this point. Then, of course, if you’re Nick and you’re in love with Aurelie–thought by most people to be your sister–whoopee. This is sounding worse all the time, isn’t it? But I can’t leave out the fact that both Sara and Aurelie are in love with Nick.

Jayne: All those twists illustrate what your fans have come to think of as one of the hallmarks of your writing style: You always tell your story at a scorching fast pace. Is that the way the plot and characters come to you?

Stella: We all seem to have a natural storytelling pace. I enjoy racing along and feeling as if I’m barely keeping up with unfolding events. It has always seemed to me that the only true offense a writer can commit is to be boring. When you want to turn pages quickly, it’s difficult to be bored.

Jayne: The Bayou Books are all set in Louisiana. The sultry, steamy, exotic atmosphere is infused in every story. What draws you to that locale?

Stella: I’m repeating myself, but Louisiana and the bayou country to the west have become one of my characters. The background is woven into the stories and they wouldn’t fit in Chicago or New York–or in most places. I’ve made a lot of friends in Louisiana and I’ve learned a good deal about the way they live and what matters to them. All of this information is my anchor.

Now I feel like rushing to Lafayette at once, then driving into New Orleans just to suck up the atmosphere.Don’t misunderstand me, I’m very aware of the problems New Orleans continues to fight, but we’re talking about people who aren’t about to give up and they’re taking their city back. Standing in the French Quarter, it’s easy to imagine that Katrina never happened. In time the whole city will be reclaimed.

Jayne: Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Stella. Readers, TARGET, is available in stores as we speak or you can buy it online by clicking on any of the links below.

You, Jayne, are a great interviewer!

Hugs to all and I hope you enjoy TARGET,

Stella


Check out Stella's Online Store!