Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Captain Jack Sparrow Parlays With Miranda Neville About Her Wild Marquis
*in the early morning light, where the Romance Writer’s Revenge is anchored at port in Vermont, which is truly magical since Vermont is not a state with a coastline, and the deck is suspiciously quiet. Perhaps the crew of the RWR are sleeping in preparation for their guest Miranda Neville, who will be dropping by the ship to discuss her new book, The Wild Marquis*Miranda: *peeking over the railing* Hello? *climbing over the edge and finally standing on deck* Whew! I wasn’t sure about that rope climbing thing. I mean, even with the knots tied at intervals, it’s still pretty….
Jack: Miranda! My sweet, my luv, my precious, my pet. I’m so glad to see you. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to come get you personally, but I was busy getting the ship ready for your arrival.
Miranda: *breathless, patting down her hair* Really? The crew is ready for me?
Jack: *laughing* Oh, no, I sent them to shore. Amazing what free pints of Ben & Jerry Ice Cream coupons will do for a bunch of chocolate-loving tarts like them. I mean, I could barely get the ship pulled into port before they were diving off the sides and swimming for land. I think they’ll be stockpiling.
Miranda: But…what about my interview?
Jack: Oh, we’re still doing your interview, luv. *guiding her with one hand at her lower back* Come with me where I can now assure you no interruption as you tell me more about your delightful novel. *kissing up her arm* The Wild Marquis, is it?
Miranda: The setting is Regency England, my favorite place, and it’s a tale rife with sex, violence, and deep, dark secrets involving ruthless rare book collectors.
Jack: The story does sound very promising. Especially the rife with sex part. The hero himself sounds very much like yours truly. What did the blurb say? “He is notorious for his wretched morals and never received in respectable houses. The ladies of the ton would never allow him in their drawing rooms . . . though some of them have welcomed him into their bedchambers.” I mean, that sounds like a page out of one of my journals! Tell me more about this Marquis. I like to know about my competition.
Miranda: Cain, the Marquis of Chase loves women. Not just for you-know-what. He really likes them as people. He was just a lad when his father kicked him out of the house and he was rescued from a robbery by some charming prostitutes. Since then all his best friends are women and he makes a point of protecting them and treating them well, not just you-know-where. This makes him unlike a lot of the befuddled hunks who inhabit so many romances (not that I don’t love a befuddled hunk too). Cain rarely misunderstands women but, perhaps because he knows them too well, he has never fallen in love.
Jack: You know, it takes a special sort of woman to appreciate men like the Marquis and me. Someone daring, someone yearning to be a bit wicked herself, someone…devastatingly beautiful. Who is this girl, and did you bring her with you? I know she’s met this Chase fellow, but do I have a shot at her at all?
Miranda: Juliana Merton is a very serious girl and I’m afraid she might not appreciate your … unusual … approach to life. Her husband was murdered and she’s having a hard time making ends meet in her rare book shop. Turns out most men don’t think women know anything. But when Cain needs an expert to help him buy back a family heirloom, he’s thrilled to find a woman with the right knowledge. Plus she’s cute as a button and Cain’s not good at depriving himself—and the women in question—of a good time. Juliana doesn’t think much of Cain at first but she needs him as a client. Then he starts to make her laugh. (Hmm. On second thought, Jack, perhaps you’d better stay away from her. She might fancy you.) Specters from both their pasts emerge and Juliana is in danger. Next thing the two of them are charging around England in a carriage, and you know what happens when you put a hero and heroine in a carriage together ….
Jack: Fine, fine. The next girl then. You definitely have to introduce me to the next girl. What’s up next for you? Any winsome wenches on the horizon for me?
Miranda: I think you’ll like Diana, the heroine of my next book. She’s quite a saucy minx. On the other hand she wants to marry a duke. The book is called The Dangerous Viscount, a hint about how that plan goes. You’ll have to invite me back in October if you want to meet her.
Jack: Where are my manners? Have a seat, my dear, and a spot of rum. *goes to pour rum but his bottle is empty* Chance has it here somewhere. *returns with two new bottles* Here you go. Go ahead, perch yourself in Hellion’s hammock. She won’t mind. So what is the daily life like for a glamorous romance novelist like yourself?
Miranda: *holds out glass* Thank you, I will. Or just give me the whole bottle. Just to keep you all guessing, I’m going to make the account of my day multiple choice.
I start the day with (a) a little champagne (b) a lot of coffee (c) a hangover.
I step into my (a) rose-scented bath tub (b) dust-infested office (c) dungeon
where I (a) receive a massage from a Swedish movie star (b) check my email (c) am tortured by publishing professionals wanting to know where my book is.
Dressed in (a) a chic little number I picked up in Milan (b) my bathrobe (c) armor, I (a) compose ten pages by noon (b) stare at the screen for an hour then eat half a jar of peanut butter and a candy bar (c) have a nervous breakdown. Then I (a) plan my next research trip to exotic locales (b) go to my day job (c) drink heavily. It a (a) hard (b) hard (c) hard life being a romance novelist, but there are compensations, like meeting delicious pirates with a steady hand for eyeliner application.
Jack: Well, I do enjoy being a perk. (That is what Hellion called me the other night…or did the word start with j?) All right. Last question—but definitely the most important—do you think you’ll write a few pirate romances in the future? Because I can help you in the most indelible ways in researching for those stories. The way a pirate thinks. The kind of eye liner he wears. The sort of place he prefers to seduce his winsome wench. We can start researching now if you prefer….
Miranda: You know, Jack, I don’t know anything about ships, but if you could give me a few pointers I might be persuaded to put someone like you in my next book. Especially if you give me eyeliner lessons. But before you do that-- *watching Jack kiss up her arm* --let me wrap up here.
I have the most chaotic work habits and it’s a miracle my books get written. I’m still not entirely sure how it happens. I’m always madly impressed by writers who sit down at the same time each day and produce a quota of pages. Are you like that? Or do you type THE END and wonder where the heck all those words came from? (Oh, and did I mention I am giving away a copy of The Wild Marquis to one lucky commenter?)
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88 comments:
Jack! We're back! And we brought you some chunky monkey... Where the hell did he go?
Oh! Miranda, there you are! Want some ice cream? I'll even whip it up in a nice frothy drink...in honor of your new book we'll dub it The Blended Book! Or the Blinded Book for how ya feel after drinking a few.
Now, ya asked about writing habits... I'm an out of the office sort a' writer. And since I am a woman of leisure...I have no official office to report to. Sorry, now...don't turn so green with envy! You're published, honeybunch...I'm not.
*raises eyebrows
Dear, you have a smudge of eyeliner on your cheek there, might want to rub that away afore Captain Hellion returns.
Now, I do the bulk of my writing while sitting at a table in one of the assorted Starbucks within thirty minutes of my home. (I try not to play favorites.) And the rest is usually parked in front of a tv. (Probably why I'm not published. LOL!)
I must say, I do enjoy your choice of professions for your heroines...desert chef, rare book dealer... What does Diana do? Other than chase dukes?
Hi Miranda, Welcome aboard!
Its a real pleasure to find an author from my part of the world venturing onto this crazy pirate ship.
I was brought up in the Cotswolds and often visited Oxford, though mainly the Clarendon. I guess we might have passed somewhere among those dreamy spires without knowing. Did you frequent the bar at all?
I loved the outline of 'Never Resist Temptation'. Fascinating idea to have the heroine gambled away in a card game by her uncle, and then while working as a chef, poisoning her uncle with a pastry. I hope such ideas were not spawned while studying at the University! :shock:
I tried to download your book so that I could look half intelligent, but fictionwise refused me, because I don't live in North America. Damned cheek!
I'm going to have to order hard copy now, though where on earth I can put it in a house weighed down with (mostly physics) books I don't know. Still for such literary gems, I will make the ultimate sacrifice. Its time some of those old cosmology text books were thrown out. The theory has totally changed since they were written! Your stuff will be far more entertaining.
Lovely to have met you. :D
PS A tip from a concerned Englishman:
If Chance offers you a drink called 'the glittery hoo-ha' I would decline. Insist on malt scotch with ice. You won't regret it! :wink:
Welcome, Miranda. This sounds like a book I *need* to add to my collection. :) A hero who loves women, but has never fallen in love? Sounds like a wonderful combination!
And "writing schedule" is a bit of an oxymoron for me. I *think* about keeping a schedule, and I *plan* to keep one. . .but I seem to do better if I have a word goal for the day. I mean, week. Yeah, that's the ticket. For the week!
Thanks for the laugh Miranda, I can see a saucy wee pirate novel in your future!
I write sporadically. I can't say I suffer from writer's block, but I do have blocks of time when I don't write. (When life gets in the way, my writing's the first thing to be dropped. Am endeavoring to right this terrible wrong!)
I'm a stay-at-home-mom, so am most productive when I write at my local library. To quote children's author, Jane Yolen, "When men are working at home, they're working. When women are working at home, they're available."
One day I tried, "Mummy's not here. I'm working. Go and ask dad." It got old, fast. My hubby soon yelled back, "For someone who's not here, you're making a helluva noise!"
2nd Chance - Chunky monkey is divine -and whipped into a frothy drink? I'm salivating (really, I'm going to try a chunky monkey daiquiri for my next party)
Starbucks! (hits self on head). Now I know my problem. I'm 25 miles to the nearest. If I lived in a city I'd write like clockwork, fueled by grande skinny lattes with an extra shot.
Diana is a change of pace for me. She's a fashionable lady who inherited a pile of dough from her first husband. Now she's looking to trade up. The hero, Sebastian, is a Regency nerd. Seriously, he collects books, had a telescope as a boy and writes things down in a pocket notebook. And he never has anything to do with women. When his cousin, Diana's duke-dude (I never noticed before duke and dude are practically the same word), says there isn't a woman alive who could make Sebastian kiss her, Diana takes the bet, to prove how hot she is. Sebastian falls for her like a ton of bricks and when he discovers she was trifling with him, he swears revenge and gets an extreme make over. Voila. Regency Revenge of the Nerd.
I know I'm supposed to be promoting The Wild Marquis but I love the next book too and can't resist talking about it.
Hey Quantum, my fellow countryman. I spend the good part of three years frequenting the King's Arms. It was very handy for the library: an hour or two of study, then pick up a friend (or someone) and hie to the pub.
The only game I learned at university was poker and never (that I can recall) with a human stake.
Lovely to meet you too. As for the "glittery hoo-ha", I'm always game for an exotic cocktail.
Donna: Thanks for the welcome. Otherwise you are no help. I could have written that piece of advice myself :) I can see it's a mystery for you too.
LOL, Miranda. Not only is the writing process a mystery, half the time it seems like some sort of magic voodoo is at work. The other day I was re-reading a manuscript and I thought, "Dang. Good thing I wrote this stuff down. I don't even remember being here for that!"
I could retype Donna and Jennifer's answers here and they'd fit me exactly. And I've been feeling resentful lately that I have this damn day job I must keep and don't get to write all day. Since you're now multi-pubbed and in the same situation (as I know MANY other authors are) I don't suppose I can keep using it as an excuse, can I?
Didn't think so. *sigh*
I've promised Chance I'd write a minimum of 3 pages a day and she has the freedom to call bullshit on all my silly excuses when this doesn't happen. I've removed my desk from the living room again, as I can't write with the television going.
Oddly enough, I can write in coffee houses and the like, but I never get to do it. Very difficult with a 10 yr old asking if we can go now.
Oh, forgot to say WELCOME, MIRANDA!! Loved this interview. You handled Jack so well. I've been searching for a fresh historical and this sounds like it fits the bill. But now I'm totally intrigued by the Regency Nerd Make-over. October you say? Damn, that's a long time to wait.
Jennifer, welcome to the ship! I love writing at the library too! And that quote is PRICELESS! *LOL* (Plus the library has that children's hour...you can write a lot in an hour, if you put your mind to it.)
I know for damned sure and certain if I was paid to sit at home and write, I'd have to remove my internet, TV, radio, and kitchen to do it. It's not that I don't like writing, but sometimes it's a lot like house chores. You'd rather do just about anything else than to just get it out of the way, even though you know you're going to feel better once you're done and you'll want to show it off. It's that exhausting thought that it doesn't matter if I do them today, they'll only be here tomorrow to do too...and I'm no better at it than I ever was. *LOL*
The gym is a lot like that too. But like chores, the gym, et al, I try to commit to writing about 30-60 minutes before bed (I can usually do about 2-4 pages, which is about all I can do before I'm just done), so I have to basically commit to not watching 9 pm shows. I'm usually okay with sacrificing them.
I'm not a morning writer at all. (I know many who are.) And I'm not a writer who can have humongous chunks of time to write, like a weekend, because I'm a horrible procrastinator. I'll diddle around all day until about an hour before I want to sleep and write 2-4 pages. It's sad really.
Welcome, Miranda!
Loved the interview and a peek into your day!
I try to write everyday, but honestly most of my writing gets done Tuesday morning. That's because I meet with my critique group that afternoon. And when I get emails from them asking if I'm writing I tell them no, but the story is percolating.
Di
Bo'sun, right now I do not have a 9-to-5 job, and I have to say (drops voice to a whisper): I think I get LESS writing done now than when I was working full-time. On the other hand, I'm generally a lot happier. LOL I have heard of people who get their writing done while they're at their jobs, which seems incredibly efficient. :)
And Hellion, what you're describing is what I call the Hierarchy of Avoidance. :) It's the only way I get housework done, by avoiding something else. LOL
I need to start going to the library on the weekend to get writing done. Hells, how do you feel about meeting at the library on Saturdays to write and write only?
Donna, I know that's why my dishes ACTUALLY get done. I'm avoiding something else. *LOL* My own father wouldn't recognize my sink. "What? It's EMPTY? Who does your dishes? You never ever did them when you lived at home."
Hells, I know what you mean. The more time I have to write the more I procrastinate. I got more writing done when I was working two full time jobs than I do now just working one.
I'm a late night writer. It has to be complete silence in the house for me to focus in and concentrate on what my characters are saying. When I'm writing, I see the sun rise a lot. I need to get back to that. Some of my best ideas come at 5 am and dead tired.
Miranda, it's always a pleasure to see you aboard the ship. Fabulous interview. Jack doesn't get handled that often, but you put it to him. Very amusing.
And don't mind Q and his warning about the glittery hooha. He got a little too much glitter the other day and had a wicked hangover. How he can handle his scotch and not handle a weak little wench drink is beyond me. *cheeky grin*
Bo'sun: Frankly I cannot imagine writing all day, unless I am facing a deadline (in that case it's all night too because I can't sleep). I spend much more time thinking about writing than I do putting words to screen. When I've finally got a scene worked out in my head I write it quit easily. When I'm really stuck it usually turns out there was something wrong with what I intended to right (I have a bad feeling abut chapter 1 of my new book at the moment. Not a good start)
And dare I say, there's no law against reading both books (in fact I'd like to pass a law making it mandatory). The nerd makes his appearance in The Wild Marquis.
Welcome, my saucy wee Jennifer. (She's a genuine Scottish lass, pirates. Can you tell?). What I want to know is, how come you were making so much noise while you were writing? Were you by any chance writing a love scene? Inquiring minds want to know.
Oh, and I wanted to play with the multiple choice answers. I do love a choose your own adventure sort of thing.
Miranda: *holds out glass* Thank you, I will. Or just give me the whole bottle. Just to keep you all guessing, I’m going to make the account of my day multiple choice.
I start the day with a little champagne and a hangover. (Everyone knows that a little champagne is the cure for a wicked lady's hangover.)
I step into my rose-scented bath tub where I receive a massage from a Swedish movie star, check my email, and am tortured by publishing professionals wanting to know where my book is. (Because all writers are multi-taskers.)
Dressed in my bathrobe (ie: the armor), I stare at the screen for an hour then eat half a jar of peanut butter and a candy bar and have a nervous breakdown. (Because you just realized that you ate the last candy bar.)
Then I plan my next research trip to exotic locales and drink heavily. It a hard life being a romance novelist, but there are compensations, like meeting delicious pirates with a steady hand for eyeliner application.
Donna - Admittedly, if I had all day I'd have to do what Chance does. I'd head to a Starbucks or Panera and write there. I'd have to *go* somewhere or I'd blow off the day. And my house only gets cleaned when it gets so bad it starts giving me anxiety attacks. LOL! (Couldn't live without my dishwasher.)
Miranda - I get to meet him now?! Okay, I really need to make a trip out at lunch time for some other stuff. I'll be checking the book department for this one. (And I would have read both anyway, but this is a nice perk. ;) )
Hellion. You will find (and I know one day it'll happen for you all) that an advance plus a deadline concentrates the mind. I have six months each to write two books in the next year. Before I was published there's no way I could have met that schedule. That added dimension of cash (even if it doesn't come out to a very high hour wage) turns it into a job. On the other hand, I can still procrastinate with the best. If I had a year per book that's how long it would take.
The "hierarchy of avoidance" indeed, Donna. I think I'll steal that. But the very best thing about having a writing contract is it gives me a cast iron excuse for a dirty house.
Di: You are born to have a deadline! I do the same thing. My first reader is my best friend. We get together over cocktails and I read the latest chapter to her (she's a gloriously uncritical partner so if she looks bored I KNOW it's bad). Sometimes I'm scrambling to have a decent chunk for her.
Good morning, Sin. The busiest people get the most done so the two job thing makes sense. And I agree about silence - for that reason I never listen to music when writing. OTOH I find I can write when I have to wait somewhere with nothing else to do. I've written decent pages at the mechanic's waiting for my car to be fixed, at the hairdresser, and at the airport.
And thank you for integrating my choice of answers. I can see *you* at least are a multi-tasker.
And Hellion, what you’re describing is what I call the Hierarchy of Avoidance. It’s the only way I get housework done, by avoiding something else. LOL
How come this never works for me? If I'm avoiding something...well, it's usually housework, but that's not the point. Nothing motivates me to do housework save for the spurts of rage when I can't find my cutlass and there's a rotten student hogging the tables by the outlets at Starbucks!
Ah, so Diana is a woman of leisure...sounds great fun. Did you model her after me? :)
Never mind Q, the Glittery Hooha makes his mouth pucker...which we enjoy but he's a bit shy about...
Great interview, Miranda. You uummm handled Jack quite nicely! Your hero Cain sounds very intriguing. Kicked out of his house and rescued by prostitutes? His best friends are women? So he rarely misunderstands women? Hmm … your “Wild Marquis” Cain really is unique. I’m Definitely going to have to read his story.
I too am totally intrigued by the “Regency Nerd gets an extreme make over” so that he can get revenge. But I can’t read it until October? Sigh. Patience is not One of my virtues!
As for saying yes to having a “glittery hoo-ha”, take my advice Miranda , make sure that the thing you are saying yes to is being served in a glass. If you see a little Pixie coming towards you with a handful of rhinestones and a glue gun … then Run like Hell!
Miranda~Thanks! If, no WHEN I publish I'll know I'm in good company.
Yesterday, I surprised the ladies, they asked if I had anything, and I had 8 pages that I did in about 2 hours.(3 of them I'd written earlier, but I changed 90% when I put it where it went)
If I could do 8 pages everyday, I'd be golden.
Di
I am a very organized person. I dislike chaos … mostly because I am the One in my household who has to clean The Chaos up. And I’ve learned that the sooner one dispatches chaos, the easier it is to deal with. I set daily goals, weekly goals, and long term goals. Then I reward myself … usually with a good book! I’m A Reader, not a writer. But I have been know to set some writing goals for myself. Goals such as Write something that:
Makes Hellion spit out her Mountain Dew
Causes SIN to giggle at work
Makes Terri shake her head
Gives Q hives.
Q only has hives because you talk about event horizons and black holes, Jules.
Hells, how do you feel about meeting at the library on Saturdays to write and write only?
That'd be AWESOME!!! I'm so on board with that!!
Hellion. You will find (and I know one day it’ll happen for you all) that an advance plus a deadline concentrates the mind.
*ROTFLMAO* I have no doubt. It was amazing what a college deadline was able to concentrate my mind so I didn't flunk out.
Chortle, chortle. Sadly, the noise was not from a raunchy love scene, but from me sounding like a broken record. "Mummy's not here. I'm working. Go and ask your dad." I think it was perhaps by the fifth repetition of this little phrase (and I do confess, it was grating on my own ears by then too) that my husband made his obvservation.
Ho hum! He's working from home today (and yes, he IS working!) so I'm off to the library. My haven. Where no-one suggests a wee cup of tea would go down a treat...
I'm looking forward to the story about Sin and Hellie being asked to leave the library.
Jules - The head shaking is always in awe, my dear.
Jennifer - I have no one to send the tot off to bother. Except the cat. But then he harrasses her and she's back to bothering me.
Today's writing schedule:
Take a sip of coffee.
Wonder what the pirates are up to.
Go check. Laugh uproariously. Add a comment.
Stare at blinking cursor on blank Word page.
Feel like it's accusing me of slothfulness.
Go check fridge.
Look at squirrel frolicking outside.
Sigh wistfully.
Counts words in blog comments as daily writing goal.
Whew -- tired. Takes a break.
:)
Jules – The head shaking is always in awe, my dear.
I know that you're always shaking your head in awe, Terri … Awe as “Awe-My-Gawd! I can’t believe she wrote that!” :)
I’m looking forward to the story about Sin and Hellie being asked to leave the library.
I imagine it will be as good as when me and my boyfriend were asked to leave the library.
Today’s writing schedule:
Take a sip of coffee.
Wonder what the pirates are up to.
Go check. Laugh uproariously. Add a comment.
Stare at blinking cursor on blank Word page.
Feel like it’s accusing me of slothfulness.
Go check fridge.
Look at squirrel frolicking outside.
Sigh wistfully.
Counts words in blog comments as daily writing goal.
Whew — tired. Takes a break.
Totally the same as my writing schedule! Except instead of "look at squirrel frolicking outside" I have: "Wonder what that sound is coming from my bedroom is. Realize the neighbors are having sex again. Contemplate going out to lunch until they are done"
Hellion, the NEIGHBORS are having sex in YOUR bedroom? LOL
Now THAT counts as a justifiable writing distraction! (Take a long lunch, just to be on the safe side.)
Well, might as well be my bedroom, if their headboard finally beats a hole in my wall. I'm waiting for that day, by the way.
Donna - I do the same wondering away only without actually leaving the computer. But I do this with the day job as well. For instance, It's noon and I've yet to actually do any work. And now it's time to head out for errands and in search of food. What great timing!
We've no learned that Hellie and Sin will be having hooha time together at the library and Hellie neighbors use her bedroom for sex. A day of revelations aboard the Revenge.
So, Miranda, did you know Sebastian would be the next hero or did he surprise you?
I'm pretty sure if someone was having sex in my bedroom other than myself and/or parties of people invited, I might have to watch and make notes for future sex scenes in my writing.
Q only has hives because you talk about event horizons and black holes, Jules.
SIN, I use words like Event Horizon and black holes because those are words that he is comfortable with.
It’s just like when I’m conversing with you and I say “Yo, Bee yach. Don’t Choo bee talkin no smack tuw me, I ain’t yor mama!”
Oooer, yes. Must talk business while Miranda is here and held captivated by Capt'n Jack.
Do you get the characters or plot first? What are your favorite scenes to write? What do you take the most joy out of while writing?
What is all these puritan questions? I want to know what is the sexiest thing about Cain.
Jules, I love how you tone it down for the blog. No one here is fooled for a second that you talk like that to me. They know how straight forward we are. LOL
Well, other than women are awesome.
Yeah. I wanna know that too. And the thing he loves most about women.
My real Horoscope for today
Has it been difficult these past few days for you to communicate with those close to you? Are you a little skeptical about your charm? In fact, have you been feeling somewhat unsure of yourself in general lately? The day ahead is an excellent one for a fresh start full of confidence. You have natural a gift for diplomacy, and your sense of refinement will once again attract notice and appreciation.. Oh.
So since I am now back to my diplomatic & refined self i shall ignore that SIN person and ...
"Yes Ms.Neville please tell us. Do you get the characters or plot first?"
I'm imagining all the wicked things he knows about women since he was raised by prostitutes. Wicked, wicked man.
And does your story come from the POV of the hero or the heroine?
You guys are too much. And I totally relate to Donna's writing schedule.
Bo'sun: that's a great question about Sebastian. How do characters evolve?
When I started The Wild Marquis, I wasn't thinking series. I needed a couple of book collectors, one of whom was going to royally piss off my heroine by being snotty about female expertise. So Sebastian Iverley was born. (the other collector, Tarquin Compton was the hero's best friend in my first unpublished book and I always wanted to resurrect him). Then I thought, three men, hmm. Bingo! Trilogy!
There are lots of books about the guy who bets he can kiss or seduce a woman (one of my favorite romance plots) but I thought it would be fun for the woman to make the bet. And since men aren't exactly noted for refusing offers of casual sex, he had to be vehemently opposed to women (but not gay LOL). Sebastian was the perfect man!
Avon bought the first two books based on a partial and two full synopses. And I'm happy to say they just signed up for Tarquin's story, plus a fourth book featuring Diana's sister from book 2.
Incidentally Cain started as a minor character in another unpublished book. The minute I started to write him he took on a life of his own. (That's maybe why that book never sold)
Do you get the characters or plot first?
I think I answered that above: a bit of both - I have character ideas and plot ideas then I have to match them up.
What are your favorite scenes to write?
The post sex scenes. Sex scenes are fun, but they are intense, and require a huge amount of concentration. (You're worrying about where his hands are and did she take off her drawers while trying to keep the erotic and emotional level high). But afterwards is when I find I can let the characters rip. Perhaps it's because they are feeling vulnerable and open to doing/saying interesting things.
In NEVER RESIST TEMPTATION the first love scene is a complete disaster and degenerates into a huge fight complete with flying pastry. In The Wild Marquis the encounter is a success (ahem) and I really love the scene afterwards when they are in bed together talking. It may be my favorite scene in the book.
What do you take the most joy out of while writing?
There's nothing like the feeling you get when you read back over something you've written and think "damn, this is good." On a more mundane level, I love plotting. It's like a puzzle and very satisfying to solve.
While I come up with my next answer, I have a question for you. Do you all write in series, or at least with recurring characters? I can't help noticing debuts with minor characters that scream "we were the H and H of a former book!"
I can totally relate to your answers, Miranda. Except that selling to Avon thing and all. Congrats on getting picked up for another contract.
I think I'm in the minority of NOT setting out to write series or connecting characters. But then the sister of my current heroine popped up and said, "I want my own book next." She even told me who her hero will be and he never appears in this first one. So, I suppose I'll make her happy.
Since I don't have any MSs under the bed, I don't have much from which to pull/recycle characters. But maybe someday. LOL!
Yeah, I think I write in series. Mostly. My first person manuscripts, no. But my 3rd person manuscripts, yes.
I like to write in a series. I like developing the characters and continuing to develop them with each book. Of course, I've not finished one yet, so... lol
I tend to read books that are series based instead of stand alone(s). I enjoy stand alone books, but I take more joy out of reading a series and developing my own relationship with the characters and thoughts on possible future plot lines and ARCs.
I want to know what is the sexiest thing about Cain. .... And the thing he loves most about women.
The first thing Juliana notices about Cain (apart from his boots) are his blue eyes. What attracts her - against her better judgement - is his enjoyment of life. Cain has had a sad life, being tossed out of his home when quite an innocent youth. But he never feels sorry for himself and he's never mean. A blogger/reviewer called him "a naughty, naughty boy" and that was an astute observation. Without knowing it, he is bored with his hedonistic existence. When he's called upon to take some responsibility and behave like a grown up, he steps up to the plate. I think that combination of playfulness and reliability is very sexy.
Cain feels comfortable around women, probably because his male role models sucked. His father was a crazy religious fanatic. He loves women's company. He also has respect for their abilities along with an instinct to protect. And yes, he did learn some useful techniques from his professional friends.
This answers makes me more annoyed they didn't have the book at Wally World. I looked carefully in case I missed something. Dang it.
Hi, Miranda! I searched for The Wild Marquis locally yesterday to no avail, but I'm going to the city tomorrow. I'm hoping BAM will have it. And I just added The Dangerous Viscount to my book calendar. I love male makeover stories and have ever since I first read Georgette Heyer's Powder and Patch.
And an emphatic yes to the "damn, this is good" moment. That's my test for the truly exceptional, whether I'm reading my own writing or someone else's. I used to use the phrase to explain to my composition students the difference in an A paper and a B paper. The B paper was lucid and competent, but it lacked the "damn, this is good" quality.
What attracts her – against her better judgement – is his enjoyment of life.
Julie starts to fan herself whilke she looks for a porthole to stick her head out. "Is it just me," she pants, " or did it just get hot in here?"
The #1 thing that I find most attractive in a man is ... his ability to enjoy life!
Writing series is fun because once you've created characters it's both sad and wasteful to let them go. Clearly most of you feel the same way.
I like reading them too. That said, it's really important to focus on the H and H of the current book. The others should only come in if and when they contribute to the plot. I get very impatient with books where we see a parade of former couples who exist *only* to tell us how many babies they've had. Not that I don't enjoy catching up, but don't bother if they haven't anything else. to contribute. Incidentally, in the next book Cain and Tarquin help Sebastian get his make over (not without giving him a seriously hard time about it).
And does your story come from the POV of the hero or the heroine?
I write third person and use both POVs. I sometimes include short scenes from minor character POV but not, I think, in this book.
What do you all think about using POVs aside from H and H?
Hi Janga! It strikes terror into my heart to hear of stores not having the book. I had to have my local Borders dig it out of the back yesterday.
Powder and Patch was the first Heyer I ever read. Philip is très sexy. Love the way he appears to have become a fop but he's still blissfully masculine underneath the paint. I so understand why Eloisa James decided to go Georgian. Gotta love alpha males in high heels and make up.
Series... Ahem... Well... Yeah. Guilty. Though mine is more the continueing adventures of the same couple... 29 books. I...uh...really love them!
And I want more than the H & H point of view! Adds to the entire picture.
What do you all think about using POVs aside from H and H?
I don't mind the use of a minor character's POV. As long as it is used to move the plot along. And it does not become a distraction from the main character’s development in the story.
What a friendly, lively, witty bunch of bloggers you are. Am having so much fun reading your posts. (A rumbling tummy forced me to come home from the library earlier than I would have liked!)
Miranda - in reply to your series question: I'm at the stage of rehashing my first ms, so can't claim to be writing a series, but the stories I have percolating are all set in the same small, west coast town of Castlebay, Scotland. So they're linked, but perhaps not truly a series.
I too like a little extra POV. Both when it's used throughout the story and when it's just a touch here and there.
I too dislike when characters from past books are brought in with no real purpose in the story. But what's worse is when they come across more like cardboard cutouts of the characters you loved. Tessa Dare did a brilliant job of bringing all the characters together in the third of her debut series and they were still real people with true dimension. That can't be easy to do.
I want the dang makeover now. LOL!
Jennifer Brodie, good luck with your writing!
I love linked stories.
Doesn't matter if it is a place, a person, or a thing.
Author Liz Carlyle, who uses the character Kemble as "the link" in her stories, is one of my favorite reads!
I want the dang makeover now.
Me too, Terri!
Miranda ... I have to ask ...
Alpha Heros?
Or Betas?
So as not to hurt Cain's feelings, I'm happy to read his book while I wait. Especially since your description of him matches that of my dream man. (Which is funny since I didn't think I had a dream man until reading your comment.)
Hi, Miranda! **waving madly from Virginia**
Your book sounds wonderful, and your hero luscious. I'm game! The liking women part is nice, but the wild part is even better.
And Quantum is right--skip the glittery hoo-ha. :)
Hey! That is one awesome drink! Quit dissing the glittery hooha!
Hi Dee. Sorry, I want the glittery hoo-ha (to drink).
Julie: Alpha or beta? That's always a tough one for me because it's a question of definition. I like brains and sense of humor, which aren't always prime alpha characteristics. But we don't want our heroes to be even remotely wimpy and they need to be alpha when it comes to their unwavering determination to win the heroine - once they realize what they want. But not alpha in their method of winning heroine. No heroine of mine is going to stand for caveman tactics. At least, I don't believe so. (madly thinking)
OK. There's a really clear answer for you.
Also, Julie, I love Kemble.
Here, Miranda, come sit on the Beta Bench between Janga and I. I'm liking you more and more as the day goes on.
Don't be hatin' on the Glitter. It's not the easiest thing to get, ya know.
We have to shake the pixy to get the glitter and she's a wicked little sucker that likes to bite and doesn't like to get her shots.
OK. There’s a really clear answer for you.
Miranda, you Made perfect sense to me. What I got out of it was you write heroes who are realistic men!
Whew! Just got back from dragging all the recycling stuff to the curb. It ain't easy bein' green! LOL Wish I had one of Miranda's alpha/beta men to help me with all this.
Heck, make him a bartender too while I'm fantasizing! LOL
The beta bench sounds like a fun place. Realistic men? Between you and me I wish they were a bit more realistic, as in actually existing in the real world.
AMEN!
I wish they were a bit more realistic, as in actually existing in the real world.
They do exist. But you hardly ever see them in the every day real world. As they are kept careful tucked away like the Sunday china, good whiskey, or fine lingerie … by their wives! :)
As they are kept careful tucked away like the Sunday china, good whiskey, or fine lingerie … by their wives!
Does that mean we need to be alpha females, carrying out Viking raids on peaceful suburban neighborhoods, carrying off the good men?
Yep!
I do believe Miranda that a Wise Viking Lass could lure those men away with one ... simple ... line spoken in a sultry voice.
That line would be?
"NEVER RESIST TEMPTATION!"
And Oooh Chance don't you think that NEVER RESIST TEMPTATION sounds like a great name for one of your drinks!
You know I'm getting really curious about these drinks. (Not to mention that I need one, having managed to do a full day at work while chatting here).
Is the Revenge planning to dock in Nashville this summer? Can we all meet for an umbrella-embellished glass?
I'm planning on attending Nationals. (If I don't chicken out. *sigh* again.
Di
I'm going to say good night now. Thanks so much for having me on board. I really enjoyed myself. Given how entertaining you all are, I can't wait to read your books. Keep working and good luck!
As for Cap'n Jack... What can I say? He's .... different. I'll send DPHellion an email and she can announce the winner of my drawing.
Di & Miranda!
Chance and I will be attending Nationals and we'd be excited to meet for a drink. (Yes, I'm speaking for Chance. She's my roomie, I'll drag her either way.)
Thanks for being such a great guest, Miranda. And I never got to say that's a great picture of you in the blog. It's been a blast and I will keep searching until I find this book!
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