Teresa Medeiros on the Ship: There's Nothing Like the First Time!
*ship is abuzz with rumors of THE Teresa Medeiros being interviewed today; as a cabin door opens, the buzz dies and out of the dark depths emerges*
Captain Jack Sparrow: *waxing the left side of his mustache with one hand, he staggers over to a big cushy chair and sits* ‘Ello me lovelies, have you missed me? It has been a while since I’ve been above to visit you; but I insisted to Hellion that I should be the one to do the interview today. Therefore, it is my very great honor to present you our guest of honor, NYT’s bestseller and beloved romance author, Teresa Medeiros!
*much clapping and screaming from crew and fans; Hellion spies Teresa and faints where she stands*
CJS: *pointing at Hellion* Is she still doing that?
Bos’n: ‘Fraid so. *helping Hellion to stand again, who looks faintly confused to be on the floor again and is rubbing her head*
CJS: *turning to Teresa and taking her hand to lead her to the chair across from him; he kisses her hand* Thank you, Teresa. It really is wonderful of you join us today. We’ve been buzzing about it for months….
Teresa: *sits and offers Jack her other hand to kiss as well* I'd heard you were "buzzed," Captain, but I thought that had more to do with the jug of rum in your hand. *crewmembers laugh, CJS looks…not the least abashed*
CJS: *his devilish smirk in place* Witty as well as beautiful. *kissing her other hand in an unseemly manner; sitting back down* So, let’s get the important question out of the way, shall we? Your fans are dying to know. Your eighteenth book, Some Like It Wicked, hit the shelves July 29th; all of your books have been national bestsellers; and you’re a seven time RITA finalist: just how many times did you watch Pirates of the Caribbean? And will I get to play a part in any of your future novels? You know everyone loves a pirate. You could revisit that Thief of Hearts setting, you know. Everyone loves a sequel!
Teresa: I've lost count of the number of times I watched Pirates. I think Pirates and The Mummy both did an amazing job of bringing historical romance to vivid and pulse-pounding life. And it's ironic that you would be chattering on and on about yourself because I'm already telling people that Simon, the hero of Some Like It Wicked, is a cross between Captain Jack Sparrow and Sawyer from Lost with a spritzer of Cary Grant splashed in to liven up the mix. And it's also amazing that you should mention Thief of Hearts because the first time I watched Pirates, I noticed a definite similarity between Captain Doom's ship in Thief and the Black Pearl. As far as I'm concerned, pirates are like a good Chanel suit. They never go out of style!
CJS: *tugging on the cuff of his jacket, flicking lint off his sleeve* Indeed. As I mentioned before, Some Like It Wicked, hit the shelves July 29th. What is this book about? What is your favorite part about this book?
Teresa: After doing the two vampire books, I'm celebrating my return to the Regency historical with Some Like It Wicked. My heroine, Catriona Kincaid, goes looking for a hero but finds a man. Sir Simon Wescott is languishing in Newgate Prison when she asks him to escort her to the Highlands to help her find her missing brother and restore the honor of her clan. She offers him both wealth and freedom but Simon has a more sensual prize in mind. And of course my favorite part of the book is Simon, who's a very bad boy but a real good man *Teresa gives CJS a knowing wink*.
CJS: *smirks back knowingly* Simon! I think I’ve met him. Complete pirate. The wenches here are going to go mad reading your novel, I can tell. It will be all I can do to keep up with them. *grins wickedly* And for that, I thank you. How important is a character’s name, do you think? I mean, clearly, I don’t believe my name could have been anything but *turns and smolders at the camera* Captain. Jack. Sparrow. *turns back and smolders at Teresa* But I’m curious if there was a special process you went through in picking out names? I did notice in your many, many novels a particular dearth of rakish heroes named Jack, for instance. Any particular reason why?
Teresa: I have to confess that I've always had a fondness for those sweep-you-away classic romance names like Sebastian (Heather and Velvet), Gabriel (Yours Until Dawn) and Simon. I'm not bashing the John's, Edward's and Jack's of the world, mind you. I think there was a rather famous "Jack" featured in Lisa Kleypas's Suddenly You and one of my favorite heroes of all-time—besides you, of course—is Jack Bauer of 24.
CJS: *grinning rakishly at her* Those dimples of yours are beguiling. *leans forward, looking at her through his eyelashes* What are the necessary things every hero must have? What is your favorite kind of hero to create? And do they look anything like me?
Teresa: I look for the same qualities in a hero that I look for in a man—intelligence and a sense of humor. There's nothing sexier than a man who can make you laugh or who can laugh at himself. And my favorite hero to create is a dangerous one. To me, the main conflict in a romance should always be between the hero and heroine so if the hero doesn't pose an emotional (and sometimes physical) threat to the heroine, then the story loses steam. I like to write about men who have the power to either kiss or kill the heroine but who end up being unable to resist the kiss. To me, that's where the true emotional power of the story lies.
CJS: Danger is my middle name, lass. No worries. *lounging back indolently* You frequently go to the RWA conferences, do you not? Can you tell us a little about what it’s like to attend one? And if Hellion ever gets to go to one, will it be okay if she stalks you? (She did it to me; she’s really completely harmless.) Of course, she’ll have a better time, I think, if she stops fainting. She’s going to give herself a coma.
Teresa: *peering nervously around to see if Hellion is still lurking behind the potted plant* I've been attending the annual RWA conference since 1989 when I was (cough, cough) twelve. They have wonderful workshops where you can learn everything you need to know about writing and publishing. The only problem now is that I never have time to go to any of them! I'm too busy being wined and dined by my publisher and agent and eating and drinking with my friends. Oh, wait a minute—that's not a problem, is it? It's the best slumber party in the world!
CJS: Maybe I should go to a conference. I love slumber parties! I, of course, am your biggest fan. (I am, for understandable reasons, most partial to Thief of Hearts; however, Nobody’s Darling is perhaps my second favorite, because of the “éclair scene”.) Do you have a particular book that is your favorite, or can you not bear to pick only one? Hellion’s favorite scene (she raves about it constantly) is in Whisper of Roses when Enid and Ranald get caught having sex. Which is ironic since she never laughed when we were caught having….
Teresa: Hellion! *turning to gape at the plant* I'm shocked! I would have sworn you were as pure as one of my heroines before she meets one of my heroes!
Crewmembers: *laughing hysterically at thought that Hellion’s a virgin*
Hellion: Well, I wouldn’t say pure. But I wouldn’t say, impure either.
CJS: The priest didn’t understand your logic either, darling. Go back to your plant. *Hellion sticks her tongue out at Jack and releases the fronds*
Teresa: *turning back from the plant, looking bemused* And ah, yes, Billy Darling from Nobody's Darling remains one of my all-time favorite heroes. It's the rocking chair scene I remember with great fondness *eyes glaze over as she sighs wistfully*. And I can't pick a favorite book because that would be like picking a favorite child. I love each of them for different reasons. I love the dinner party scene where the lobsters escaped in Once An Angel and I'm very partial to Yours Until Dawn because I was so terribly, achingly in love with Gabriel by the time the book ended. And I have to humbly confess to sharing your fondness for Thief of Hearts. I still swoon a little when I listen to Captain Doom's theme (Unforgiven by Metallica).
CJS: That sounds like my theme-song as well. I swear, you do a little light thievery and piracy and no one lets you forget it. How are you able to balance both sides of your writing life: the writing and the business? Those aspects seem completely opposite of each other. And how do you keep on top of fan mail, promotion, and all the other stuff that seems to be forgotten when newbies are pursuing the writing dream? (What was your biggest shock to adjust to in the writing business?)
Teresa: I think the internet has brought a tremendous amount of work into the writing life that wasn't there before. The best thing to do is compartmentalize the writing and keep it away from the promo aspects of the job as much as possible because it's two separate sides of the brain. I can no longer write on ANY computer that has a connection to the internet. So instead of working in my beautiful office, I end up crammed into a corner of the bedroom writing on my laptop. (I like to think of it as "the magic box where I keep my book.") I think it's very easy to get swept up in the promotion of your work, but you have to remember that if you don't write, there won't be anything to promote. Balance is essential!
CJS: I strive for balance in everything but my rum consumption. I could interview you all day. You’ve been such a wonderful guest, and so informative; however, I think we only have time for one more question before I turn it over to the crew for their questions and comments: Which of the POTC movies did you enjoy most and why?
Teresa: I'd have to say the first movie because you know what they say, Jack--There's nothing like the first time!
CJS: *waxing his mustache in a happily embarrassed gesture* Indeed, luv, indeed. *turning to crew* Okay, your turn: what have you to ask THE Teresa Medeiros?
Books by the Crew
37 comments:
Thanks for coming aboard Teresa and facing CJS...not many authors can drive the cap'n to hide behind that potted plant! *g*
Fascinated to hear that you write on a laptop. Here in the UK a number of laptops containing sensitive material have fallen into the hands of evil doers. Do you carry all that gold with you and encrypt for safety?.....Was that a parrot I heard, over by the pot plant, croaking 'pieces of eight' ?
Do you have many men reading your books? Belonging to that gender myself I started with 'One night of scandal' and immediately fell in love with Carlotta as she climbed out of the bedroom widow to get stuck in a tree. What a fabulous opening passage! Do you think hard about the opening pages of a book in order to captivate your readers early on with this kind of magic?
I often wonder whether romance authors are very romantic themselves. Please ignore if this is too personal a question, but I would love to know if you enjoy candle lit dinners with champagne and whether you have modelled any of your heroines on yourself.
Teresa, I just finished SLIW around 2:30 AM this morning and loved it! I'll blame you when I conk out later. When you finish a book, do you plunge right in to the next? Do you have ideas circling the airport ready to land? (sorry, CJS, air travel is faster than the RWR, altho those pesky flight attendants charge for the rum)I've read you edit as you go, and when you're done, you're done. Do you have a goal to write a certain number of books a year?
Great interview, CJS and Terri! Yours Until Dawn is one of my favorite books of all time. I heart that book. And I also love One Night of Scandal.
However, I think it's because both heroes are tortured in the novel. *g*
How does your writing process go? Do you plot or pants more? How do you keep your writing fresh with each book? What's one piece of advice that has helped you the most during your writing career?
Wow, I'm so excited! I haven't read the book yet because I'm waiting until I have some uninterrupted time to sit back and really enjoy it, but it's sitting on my nightstand beckoning to me.
Can you tell us what else you're working on?
Teresa, we are so excited to have aboard the ship today. Thank you for visiting and submitting...errr...agreeing to the interview with Capt. Jack. He is such a rascal, isn't he?
Since we're talking about your amazing heroes, do you ever have a hard time leaving them behind and moving on to the next story? Is there a mourning period or is the excitement of the new hero enough to keep you moving?
Hi Teresa! Great interview, Captain Jack. I'm sure you've probably guessed by now that I absolutely adored Simon, Catriona and SLIW. :) There are so many terrific scenes in this book but my favorite was the ballroom scene toward the end of the book. I've lost count of the number of times I've re-read it...and the number of kleenex I've had to use while reading it!
Many historical writers have dipped their toes into the contemporary pond over the past few years. Do you ever toy with the idea of writing in a sub-genre besides historical and paranormal?
Will you tell us a little about Connor's book? It can't come soon enough for me!
Ah! Captain Jack in the morning... what could be sweeter then say... rum? I'm jealous that he focused his attentions elsewhere (and that Hellion hid in the fronds without me) but happy to welcome Teresa to the ship.
Teresa said: "...but you have to remember that if you don’t write, there won’t be anything to promote. Balance is essential!"
These words should be tarred on my mizzenmast! Teresa, how do you find time to write while balancing your family life?
When researching an historical, do you start with an event or the characters first?
And, how were Jack's kisses? :-D
Hey guys,
I've got some dreadful bug today so I just crawled to the computer to check in. Forgive me if I'm a little foggy!
Hey QUANTAM! My trick to not losing my laptop is to never take it anywhere. Actually I treat it just like a "desktop" and it rarely leaves the little writing desk in the corner of my bedroom. I like to think of it as the "magic box where I keep my book" :)
As for male readers, my brother-in-law and my father-in-law are two of my biggest fans.
And I'd say I'm kind of romantic but also very practical. I can totally find the romance in ordering a pizza and watching a great movie with my hubby (or playing ROCK BAND together on the Playstation!) The character in my books who was most like me was Carlotta Anne Fairleigh in ONE NIGHT OF SCANDAL. She was a writer. She was very nosy. And she had an insatiable appetite for sweets and kittens.
Oh Welcome, Teresa! I am Really looking forward to reading Some like It Wicked. I love all of your books… but I must confess that A Kiss To Remember has a special place in my heart. I have never been told to “be careful for what I pray for” in such an entertainingly charming manner. And I love the fairy tale twist!
My questions are: Do all of your Heroes & Heroines have musical themes?
And
Do you still have your stuffed pig help you block out the love scenes?
Hooray! Teresa's here!!
Welcome Teresa, we are so happy to have you!
Over the years you've dipped into all kinds of subgenres. Westerns, historicals, paranormals.... Did you run into any resistance from meandering through the subgenres? Obviously not from the fans; I personally adore every single one of your books. But from the publishing/agent realm.
Hi MAGGIE,
So glad you enjoyed the book but I'm sorry to have deprived you of your sleep :)
Alas, I'm one of those writers who usually gets one idea at a time so I usually take a little break between books to fill the well of my subconscious. I'm happy writing a book every 8 months to a year. It seems to be my natural rhythm and I like to respect that.
Hey ELYSSA! I both plot and pants. I usually start out with a certain number of scenes that I know (maybe a dozen?) but each of those scenes may lead to 3-4 more. And I think setting measurable goals is the best writing advice I ever got. I wrote my first 5 books while working as a nurse full-time because I committed to 3 pages a day. If you can even do 1 page a day on your novel, you're doing more than most people!
Oh no! Please feel better!
Hey JK, I've already turned in SOME LIKE IT WILD, the sequel to SOME LIKE IT WICKED and it's scheduled for April 2009. I'm "between books" at the moment but plan to get to work on my next one in the next few days.
Terrio, I have DEFINITELY had a hard time leaving behind certain heroes. I absolutely "lived" my first book LADY OF CONQUEST so Conn of the Hundred Battles haunted me for a long time. I was desperately in love with Gabriel in YOURS UNTIL DAWN. Ditto for Julian in THE VAMPIRE WHO LOVED ME. But you know what they say--the only cure for a broken heart is a new man! ;)
Hi PJ,
I tend to make every book the "book of my heart" so I'm never really longing for another time period or sub-genre while I'm working. I did VERY much enjoy writing the contemp scenes in my time travel BREATH OF MAGIC. (Characters could eat donuts and watch "Geraldo"!)
I hope you'll enjoy meeting Connor in SOME LIKE IT WILD as much as I did. At the beginning of the book, he's given up on his dream of reuniting his clan and has become a rather dashing highwayman. The book starts out with my heroine saying, "I need a man" and in Connor, I definitely gave her one! ;)
Hey Kathy,
It's a constant challenge to balance family life with writing with career and promotion (which definitely requires a whole different portion of your brain!) A lot of people don't realize that we're not only writing books; we're also running small (and some not so small) businesses. I'm a control freak so I like to do everything myself but several of my friends have recently succumbed to the lure of the personal assistant. I do try to keep my priorities in order and always remember that my family comes first with the writing a close second and the promo stuff a distant third.
And I start all of my books with the characters. Next follows the plot, which I consider the bones upon which I hang my story. Then I consider which time period and setting will best "frame" that story.
As for Jack's kisses, a true lady never kisses and tells! ;)
Teresa - so sorry you're not feeling well. But did I hear "highwayman"? *swoons*
Julie,
I still have Petunia, my enormous stuffed pig who is occasionally called into duty to waltz with me. I thought of getting rid of her recently because her stuffing is leaking and she takes up a tremendous amount of room but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
And yes, all of my books have several musical themes. I actually used the orchestral soundtrack from SHREK to score SOME LIKE IT WILD.
Hey Marnee Jo,
My publishers have been amazingly lenient when it comes to my sub-genre and time period ADHD. I'm always amazed that they didn't even bat an eye when I proposed a book about a time-traveling witch (BREATH OF MAGIC). I think there's a certain amount of trust involved once you work with them for awhile.
Okay, I'm crawling back to bed for awhile. Will pop in later to see what's happening! :)
OMG Teresa!! It almost feels like an Avon FanLit reunion. Wow. I've read so many of your books since I 'met' you on Avon and loved every single one of them, particularly Yours Until Dawn. I'm thrilled you've got more work coming out to keep me from working on my own stuff. I procrastinate like nobody's business.
I don't have any questions, I just had to come 'squee' like a fangirl.
Sarah / skirbo (a/k/a, Queen of the Bottom 503)
Wishing you a quick recovery, Teresa! Perhaps your interview with Jack was a little too exhausting? :-D
I'm first drawn to my charcters, then plot and lastly I do historical research. I'm thinking there might be hope for me yet!! :-)
What do you look for in an historical hero?
What about a heroine?
Hi Terri!
As always, it was so lovely to see you at the conference!
As for dangerous men - the "kiss or kill" factor, as you put it - have you found these heroes harder to write in today's market?
I personally adore the truly alpha males of earlier historical romance - I mean, who doesn't love a bodice ripped in the heat of passion?! - but they seem too politically incorrect to sell nowadays.
This is where I find the business aspect creeping into the writing - at least for newbies - because as much as you're told to write the book of your heart, if you want that book to sell, odds are you're going to have to adapt it somewhat to match what publishers and book buyers want.
Okay, now back to my regularly scheduled revisions...
Hugs,
Sara
Sara, you'll be happy to know the old bodice rippers are back. That's according to editors I heard speak about this at the Conference. They want heroes who want to possess their women and women who outwit them.
Michelle Buonfiglio, for instance, from Michelle Buonfiglio's Romance: B(u)y the Book blog, mbuonfiglio@rbthebook.com, said readers are asking for them.
Hope this helps brighten your day!! :-D
Sin - the bodice ripper/heroes who want to possess the heroine stuff reminds me of Cin and Fallon. Such good news! :)
I love that line: men who want to possess their women and women who outwit them. *LOL* That's a great line! I don't think alpha men go out of style--I think it's that getting published is just plain hard no matter what hero you have. There is always some exception to the rules you've learned (and you're rarely going to be the exception. *LOL*)
I always thought the book of your heart meant "write what you're passionate about" because if you're not passionate about your story, why should anyone else be? You have to believe in your product to make anyone else buy it. I don't know. It's definitely a balance that's probably eventually learned....
Okay, I think I can come out of my swoons long enough to dance gleefully around the ship going, "OMG, OMG, Teresa Medeiros is really here" a few dozen times... *grins*
I am really sorry though, Teresa, that you're feeling under the weather. Jack is very sorry too, though he can't be totally disappointed that you'll be in bed most of the day *grins*--I think he's gone to the galley to make you some soup. Out of a can, of course. I hope he doesn't try to put any rum in it this time.
Indeed, good news for my lovelies.
Teresa, welcome! I'm so sorry you're under the weather today! I've been looking for Some Like it Wicked, but it's been sold out everywhere I've been, so I will make a special trip to B&N today. I've loved all of your books. Breath of Magic was the first book I ever read of yours and I fell in love with your writing style. I've been gobbling up your books ever since.
I don't have a question. I feel the need to swoon in your presence. Thank you so much for coming aboard today for an interview!
I'm trying to remember the first book I read by Teresa...Once an Angel. I did love the lobster scene too, but there were so many scenes that cracked me up: when he turns the lizard loose in the hut to prove that she's faking the sprained ankle; when she buys the bulldog and names it Pudding ("What was I going to name it? Fluffy?"); when he has her wear that ridiculous outfit and she slides down the banister....
Then soon after came Whisper of Roses--that one just broke my heart. Oh my.
My best friend in college and I used to buy Teresa's book on the same day and we'd read them at the same time--and then we'd be like, "Did you get to the part about..." and the other would respond, "Yes, OMG, hysterical"...and on and on. Jackie and I have very fond memories of reading in the same room, reading the same book and just enjoying each other's company even though we weren't doing anything else.
Forgot to add:
I always devoured Teresa's books because I was an ardent admirer of her lush prose. The description was always beautiful, but not intrusive. I always felt swept into the story and the setting...and the characters. I always wished my writing was more like that. :)
Okay, I'm done gushing for now. I'll go hide back behind the palm fronds.
I can't believe I almost missed the day THE Teresa Medeiros was interviewed! Capt and I had a BLAST reading your books in college! Oh the memories! I love how your stories suck me right in and I can't put them down until the last page....then I'm reading it all over again the next month! I was tired for many a college course when a new book came out...
Jackie, I can't believe you almost missed it either! *LOL* Oh, the shame if you had!
Hi Terri!!
As always, it was marvelous to see you again. What a great interview, Capt'n Jack! Isn't he an utter delight?
I am saving myself for your book, Terri but try as I might I keep hearing its siren's song which means I'll probably start it tonight. Yes, I'm that weak.
'Yours Until Dawn' remains one of my all time favorite reads. I recently read 'Nobody's Darling' and fell in love all over again. I had Robby Benson (not the singer) in my head the whole time which, for me, made it an even better experience.
LYG,
Santa
Oops, I hit SUBMIT too fast, Kathy! I think a historical heroine can be flawed but she still has to be likable. I want her to be somebody I would enjoy having as a best friend!
Hi Kathy,
I look for the same thing in a historical hero that I look for in a real man--intelligence and a sense of humor. (Of course a sardonic quirk to his lips never hurt ;))
Hi Sara Lindsey! It was great to see you in San Francisco! You were just as charming and sweet as always :)
And I'd still like to believe the genre has room for all sorts of fantasies, whether they be the "boy next door" or the "rogue next door". I guess I get around some of the "political correctness" by making my heroes highwayman and the like. There's just still so much power in the "taming of the beast" mythos. I think it's one of the reason I write historicals, because I can still access that primal fantasy. There are a few writers who can do it in contemps but not as many--Anne Stuart and Christina Dodd come to mind.
Ha Ha, Hellion! Believe me--if Jack had seen me yesterday, he would have run screaming from my bed! I wasn't able to come back here until this morning because I could barely drag myself out of it. But I'm feeling better this morning--temp down from 101 to 99.4 so I think I just might live :) (And doesn't it break your heart when you're stuck in bed sick but feel too sick to read?)
Thanks Sin! If anybody has trouble finding SOME LIKE IT WICKED in Wal-Mart, try this weekend or next week. Appparently there was a glitch in the Atlanta warehouse and a lot of the stores on the east coast and in the south didn't get ANY of their August books. They're supposed to come in this week and they've promised to keep them out until the end of September.
Thanks Hellion! ONCE AN ANGEL and A WHISPER OF ROSES remain two of my personal favorites. I loved the music that went with them too! Morgan and Sabrina's theme from A WHISPER OF ROSES was NOVEMBER RAIN by Guns 'N' Roses and for Emily and Justin it was another Guns 'N' Roses tune--DON'T CRY.
Oh Santa--Robby Benson!!! He of the electric blue eyes and amazing voice! I STILL have a Robby Benson crush! Isn't ICE CASTLES like the best chick flick EVER?
I wanted to thank all of you for having me and Hellion for inviting me! It's so lovely to discuss "our" beloved genre with people who speak the same language. Smoochies to all of you! :)
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