Monday, May 24, 2010
Torturing Prisoners, Me Hearties!
Break out the Hoohas and pour in the Glitter, it's time to celebrate! The Revenge is happy to welcome back one of our favorite (and rowdiest!) guest pirates, the always punny, Anna Campbell!!!
Hey, pirates! Great to be back on the Revenge’s heaving deck (hmm, do I need a heaving bosom to take my place on the heaving deck? It can be arranged!) , setting sail on the Seven Seas of Sensual Somance. OK, it’s ‘romance’ but give me some poetic license! I mean, you’re pirates, license rules!
[caption id="attachment_1529" align="alignleft" width="266" caption="Pirate Anna with her latest booty!"]
[/caption]
Thank you for inviting me back to share in the mayhem. After my last visit, I had such a hangover, I needed to drink a barrel of rum to forget about it. Hic! Then I forgot my name as well which wasn’t in the plan!
Who am I again? Bosun, you know! I’m sure you do!
I’m here to fill the hold with multiple copies of my latest release – so latest it’s out TODAY! – MY RECKLESS SURRENDER. Doesn’t that sound like the perfect book for a band of buccaneers? Well, the reckless part anyway! And with that yellow cover, I wouldn’t blame other pirate ships for thinkin’ there’s gold, gold, gold in them thar bilges!
Actually what there is in them thar bilges is a book that is a MAJOR (sorry to mention the armed forces here, shipmates, I know they send a shiver of fear through your stalwart seadog backbones!) change for me.
Well, some of it is still in the old Anna Campbell mold (hopefully not in the moldy Anna Campbell). There’s still plenty of drama and sexual tension – and lots and lots of naughty bits. Actually this book is as full as a loaded cannon with naughty bits! Honestly, this hero and heroine are like rabbits. I needed a bucket of cold sea water hauled over the side to control them!
My first four books feature that mainstay of romance fiction, the tortured hero. Don’t we all love a tortured hero? The man with a secret sorrow? The man who’s been through the wringer and come back with the scars to prove it? I know you pirates do – I can see you nodding your heads!
Does MY RECKLESS SURRENDER feature this kind of hero?
Not on your nelly!
Tarquin Vale, Earl of Ashcroft, the hero of MRS, is pretty OK with his world. He’s in his early thirties, so obviously he’s got a few pieces of baggage on his tramp steamer, but they’re nothing like the ocean liner worth that someone like Kylemore or Gideon has. Ashcroft enjoys the amusements London offers an attractive, rich, single man and fights for reform in parliament. Wow, almost a respectable citizen. Well, except maybe for the rakish pursuits! And he’s a charmer too – he gets what he wants with a smile! Well, usually!
Life changes big time when he falls in love as you can imagine!
The dynamics of writing a non-tortured hero were completely different. This is a guy whose pain isn’t based on what happened to him in the past. Any pain he suffers (and his nicely arranged life is about to undergo a major upheaval with Diana’s arrival – she tortures him plenty!) happens to him in the course of the story.
So, pirates and other writers, do you have an element that turns up in most of your stories? Have you found yourself turning that trope on its head? How did it change the way you wrote?
Pirates, other writers and readers, do you have a favourite non-tortured hero? The one who springs to mind for me is the delightful Rupert Carsington in Loretta Chase’s MR. IMPOSSIBLE.
And no, having a non-tortured hero is not an excuse for you girls to make him walk the plank just so he gets a taste of misery! Sheesh! Why is it always chaos when I work with the pirates?
If you can answer the chaos question or any of the others, or if you just want to swing by, shake your cutlass and say hello, I’ll choose one commenter to win a signed copy of Tarquin’s story, MY RECKLESS SURRENDER! And you can see just how reckless Diana gets when she meets this rakish roué!
Hey, pirates! Great to be back on the Revenge’s heaving deck (hmm, do I need a heaving bosom to take my place on the heaving deck? It can be arranged!) , setting sail on the Seven Seas of Sensual Somance. OK, it’s ‘romance’ but give me some poetic license! I mean, you’re pirates, license rules!
[caption id="attachment_1529" align="alignleft" width="266" caption="Pirate Anna with her latest booty!"]
[/caption]Thank you for inviting me back to share in the mayhem. After my last visit, I had such a hangover, I needed to drink a barrel of rum to forget about it. Hic! Then I forgot my name as well which wasn’t in the plan!
Who am I again? Bosun, you know! I’m sure you do!
I’m here to fill the hold with multiple copies of my latest release – so latest it’s out TODAY! – MY RECKLESS SURRENDER. Doesn’t that sound like the perfect book for a band of buccaneers? Well, the reckless part anyway! And with that yellow cover, I wouldn’t blame other pirate ships for thinkin’ there’s gold, gold, gold in them thar bilges!
Actually what there is in them thar bilges is a book that is a MAJOR (sorry to mention the armed forces here, shipmates, I know they send a shiver of fear through your stalwart seadog backbones!) change for me.
Well, some of it is still in the old Anna Campbell mold (hopefully not in the moldy Anna Campbell). There’s still plenty of drama and sexual tension – and lots and lots of naughty bits. Actually this book is as full as a loaded cannon with naughty bits! Honestly, this hero and heroine are like rabbits. I needed a bucket of cold sea water hauled over the side to control them!
My first four books feature that mainstay of romance fiction, the tortured hero. Don’t we all love a tortured hero? The man with a secret sorrow? The man who’s been through the wringer and come back with the scars to prove it? I know you pirates do – I can see you nodding your heads!
Does MY RECKLESS SURRENDER feature this kind of hero? Not on your nelly!
Tarquin Vale, Earl of Ashcroft, the hero of MRS, is pretty OK with his world. He’s in his early thirties, so obviously he’s got a few pieces of baggage on his tramp steamer, but they’re nothing like the ocean liner worth that someone like Kylemore or Gideon has. Ashcroft enjoys the amusements London offers an attractive, rich, single man and fights for reform in parliament. Wow, almost a respectable citizen. Well, except maybe for the rakish pursuits! And he’s a charmer too – he gets what he wants with a smile! Well, usually!
Life changes big time when he falls in love as you can imagine!
The dynamics of writing a non-tortured hero were completely different. This is a guy whose pain isn’t based on what happened to him in the past. Any pain he suffers (and his nicely arranged life is about to undergo a major upheaval with Diana’s arrival – she tortures him plenty!) happens to him in the course of the story.
So, pirates and other writers, do you have an element that turns up in most of your stories? Have you found yourself turning that trope on its head? How did it change the way you wrote?
Pirates, other writers and readers, do you have a favourite non-tortured hero? The one who springs to mind for me is the delightful Rupert Carsington in Loretta Chase’s MR. IMPOSSIBLE.
And no, having a non-tortured hero is not an excuse for you girls to make him walk the plank just so he gets a taste of misery! Sheesh! Why is it always chaos when I work with the pirates?
If you can answer the chaos question or any of the others, or if you just want to swing by, shake your cutlass and say hello, I’ll choose one commenter to win a signed copy of Tarquin’s story, MY RECKLESS SURRENDER! And you can see just how reckless Diana gets when she meets this rakish roué!
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151 comments:
Okay, I'm time traveling again. WTH????
I love it when the Aussie's get the party all warmed up for us so we can start the day with a drink and a good pirate insult. Whoohoo!
Thanks again for dropping the ship, Anna. You are such a busy lady what with all the awards weighing you down and all. (Do tell us about those lovely trophies in the picture!)
I think I'm with Vanessa. Drama Drama Drama! I have to stop myself from going overboard (figuratively AND literally) and I haven't watched soap operas in a decade!
Poor Kandy and Zeee--my spam catcher quarantined their comments until I could approve them. Thanks for coming by, you guys! It's great to have you on the ship.
And yes, Kandy, we're terribly punny around here.
Heck, so did my comment...can I say how much I dislike Wordpress?
And I've gone back in time again. This ship really is a freaking time machine.
Still waiting for answers. Damn it.
Sorry about the technical difficulties. I've sent out an S.O.S. and I'll fix it as soon as I find out how!!!
Well, most common thing I write be heroines who be broken and don't know it.
Anna! So good ta have ya back aboard! Let me break out the big glass and fix ya a hooha ta end all hoohas! And I cleaned the squirrels outta the hold fer ya...so they won't be messin' with yer stuff.
But mind that bloody undead monkey. He's been uppity lately...think he got inta the rancid rum barrel.
Hi Anna, congrats on your new release! I can't wait to read it! I love all types of heros so I know I will love your new ones! Most of the books I read have tortured heros so this will be different for me! Thanks for sharing with us today!
Why, ye parrot-loving swabs, 'tis obviously a touch too much of the rum that's causing the chaos! Yo ho ho!
Hi Anna and Pirates!
I had to go all the way over to the insult-o-matic to look for a special pirate insult for you! I hope you're suitably impressed! LOL
Seriously, good luck with Tarquin and Diana's story, Anna. I confidently predict you'll have another huge winner on your hands with this book.
:)
Sharon
2nd - may I call you 2nd? I almost feel like part of the crew these days! - eeek, the undead monkey! I thought that was one of the first class passenger's lapdogs! I'm not putting that smelly thing on my lap again! What a great description of heroines - they be broke and don't know it. And yes, please, to the hooch! Hoohas ahoy!
QL - oh, dear, I seem to be taking everyone's name in vain today, it's part of the general mayhem when I visit the pirates! Thanks for saying you're looking forward to MRS! You're right about tortured heroes abounding! We clearly like to see those landlubbing menfolk suffer!
Snort, Sharon, mate, you make a bewdy bottler pirate, cobber! Perhaps we should set up an Aussie branch of the Revenge! Call it the True Blue or something! Hey, do you mean parrot-loving swabs in the biblical sense? Dem's fighting words, shipmate! Thanks for the good wishes for Diana and Tarquin!
Tsk and I thought I picked the tamest, sweetest insult! The one I really liked was scurvy-riddled bilge-rat, but I thought ewwwwww not quite nice! You're a wicked grog-snarfing scalawag, Anna!
;)
Sharon
Hey, Sharon, this sounds like a great site. I can REALLY fool the pirates that I'm one of them! And honestly you've called me worse than a scurvy-riddled bilge-rat in your time!
Ahoy, Pirates and Anna!
Congrats on your treasure of a book, Anna! I was lucky enough to read MRS a while ago. Tarquin is delectable and I can't blame Diana for her reckless behaviour when it come to this rake. ;)
I tend towards melodrama in my own drafts. It's something I need to keep an eye on, but being addicted to soap operas sure isn't helping my cause!
Enough about that. I'm parched! Where's the rum, me hearties?
Oy! What's 'appened to our ruddy grog supplies, shipmate? Somebody offered me lemonade! ON THE REVENGE!!! That's just not on! Grog for all!
Hey, Vanessa, I think you'd fit in very well with the pirates! You have that wild look in your eye that is de rigeur for a buccaneer. Or should that be a buccaneur? Thanks for saying lovely things about Tarquin and Diana - hmm, I wish he'd asked me to be reckless with him. Oh, I hear you on the melodrama. I love it! And I'm not even addicted to soap operas!
Hi Anna
Gosh, this is the first time I have boarded this particular boat and it appears to be listing from the load of pirate puns!
Am I allowed to ask questions? Or will I be forced to walk the plank for my insubordination? (And any plank for me seems to have the crocodile from Peter Pan circling greedily below!)
Anna,what made you decide to write a less-than-tortured hero? Tarquin sounds intriguing and compelling and I am looking forward to meeting him!
Hi Anna
Gosh, this is the first time I have boarded this particular boat and it appears to be listing from the load of pirate puns!
Am I allowed to ask questions? Or will I be forced to walk the plank for my insubordination? (And any plank for me seems to have the crocodile from Peter Pan circling greedily below!)
Anna,what made you decide to write a less-than-tortured hero? Tarquin sounds intriguing and compelling and I am looking forward to meeting him!
ahoy! This is the first time that I have dropped by the pirate cove!
Congrats Anna! I can't wait to reas it! Personally I am drawn to the tortured heroes of romance because I think they are more dangerous! Tarquin would be a fresh hero to read about...but I think you said that he'll become "tortured" in the story? Awwwwk! This is why I can't wait to read it!
By the way, Bo'sun! What's with the rowdy? I ain't rowdy! I'm tres refained!
Hi Anna, WELCOME.
As I'm chasing the booty I'll answer the question!
Why is it always chaos when I work with the pirates?
That dear Author is a no-brainer. In the hold of this ship lies a strange attractor. His phase space orbits defy explanation. He sends this scientist crazy trying to understand them.
Beware if you meet him for he sends polite visitors wild with confusion. His name is Jack and he's our own tortured hero. Usually found in the captain's cabin but set loose on visitor days.
A rake of the most extraordinary sensual capability.But with a heart of gold!
Fantastic to meet you again Anna. Do pick me for the booty or I'll be forced to cough up dollars. That could be painful with the pound going down the plug hole and all. :wink:
I love when Anna comes aboard! Welcome back Anna!
The party started super early this morning (well, day for our other hemisphere guests!) and I'm still trying to drain enough coffee to keep my eyes open.
Can't wait to pick this book up Anna. I haven't had a chance to read a book since February, so next month when I go on a weekend vacation MRS will be the first one I read! So excited!
Hi Anna! Welcome back to the ship!! And welcome to all you newcomers.
This book sounds wonderful. I love the idea of heroine doing the torturing. :)
In the story I'm working on now, my heroine is the tortured one, the one with all the baggage. My hero had to be a little softer to balance her out. If they'd both been as messed up as her, I think the dysfunction would have gotten out of hand.
Okay, so it's working for Sin. What the heck happened?!
Anna and the Pirates: sounds like too much fun not to stop by (good book title too). I major heart me some Rupert Carsington so if your Tarquin is one tenth as great (and knowing you he's a lot more) this is going to be one fabulous read.
Try not to get too drunk, y'all. I'm returning to my cave to work on my Tarquin. See you soon, me hearties.
Hey there, Miranda! Thanks for dropping by. And all our new visitors, Anna always draws the crowd, don'tcha know.
Hi Anna! So good to "see" you again! (and all the new pirates on the Revenge - welcome!)
I think I tend to write tortured heroines, more often the heroes for some bizarre reason. I write contemps, so the heroes are usually some form of law enforcement who's the strong, stoic, silent type, while the heroine is the tortured one. My current WIP starts with the heroine getting out of prison, so of course, everything that goes wrong threatens to send her back there through the course of the book, which makes the poor girl freak out entirely....
Man, I'm meaner than I thought! I can't wait to try a book with a non-tortured hero, Anna! So what'd you think while writing it? Something you'd like to do again? Do you plan that out before, or did this hero simply show up without any baggage?
Welcome, Anna! Welcome new pirates!
*steps carefully around all the spilled rum and passed-out party folks*
I'm really looking forward to your book, Anna. I love to read tortured heroes, but I don't seem to be able to WRITE them. So I admire writers who do it so wonderfully. My heroes are definitely of the non-tortured type (even if it seems like they torture ME when I'm writing them sometimes!)
I tried to post for what? 2 Hours?! I sat in the comment section just hitting the submit button over and over again until it worked. lol
Has the time situation worked itself out?
I cannot wait to pick up this book! This is quite the day for book launches today--it's like everyone is debuting their BLOCKBUSTER book on the same day! My bookstore is going to be laughing all the way to the bank when they see me today!
What shows up in my books alot?
Beatrice and Benedick bickering. It shows up all the time. Now if I could just be that clever as to have a B&B set of characters that get tricked by their friends into hooking up. Oh, wait, I'm kinda writing that now, aren't I? Kinda, sorta.
Our lovely webhost answered my pleas and fixed the date issue. No idea if it was something I did or the blog just tied one on a little too hard last night.
This is a big day for releases. And it's payday for me. It's like the stars aligned just right.
Lucky for you guys. I forgot to work extra dough into my budget this week for books. So I'm going to spend my lunch money. lol
No idea if it was something I did or the blog just tied one on a little too hard last night.
Somebody probably stumbled trying to get to the rum, and fell against the time-bloggy-thingamabob. :)
Great, now Wordpress is throwing Hellie's comments into the trash. I just fished them out for you so try a regular comment and see if it will work.
At this point, I'm thinking the blog skipped the rum and went straight for the tequila.
Happy MRS Release Day, Anna! May it soar in sales and on lists.
Tarquin is a wonderful hero, just the right blend of darkness and light and of masterfulness and gentleness IMO.
I'm with Donna on tortured heroes. I admire other writers' creations, but I don't think I can write a tortured hero. I have problems with all the baggage just my ordinary heroes have.
At this point, I’m thinking the blog skipped the rum and went straight for the tequila.
Ahhhh, so somebody slipped while dancing on the bar, fell, and BROKE the blog time-space continuum thingie. (Q, isn't that something you can fix? LOL)
Well, Anna, ya gotta admit -- it's a memorable party for you and your book!
I love tortured hero's but my favorite non-tourtured hero is Lord Ferdinand Dudley in Mary Balogh's No Man's Mistress. He has not a care in the world rich, happy, fun loving and so on, untill he meets Lady Viola Thornhill and the story takes all sorts of fun twists and turns. Love this book highly recommend it. You won't believe it!
Thanks for joining in and sharing today! I can't wait to read your yummy looking book!
Ahhhh, so somebody slipped while dancing on the bar, fell, and BROKE the blog time-space continuum thingie. (Q, isn’t that something you can fix? LOL)
When I can't think of anything better I always suggest inverting about a point at infinity. It might work! *grin*
Huh, I always suggest turning it off and turning it back on. The difference between a scientist and a non-scientist. :)
Hey, Johanna! Thanks for stopping by. I think that was my first Balogh book and I dove into all the rest with gusto. Great suggestion.
Add me in with Donna and Janga. I don't think I can write a tortured hero. My characters all have *issues* and *baggage* but nothing that falls into the *tortured* column, I don't think. I do have one broody, mad-at-the-world hero coming up. We'll see how that goes since I don't even like broody, angry heroes. LOL!
Hi Anna and crew!
I'm curious about how this non-tortured hero business will work out...what can I say? I'm a gal who likes her men a little bit tortured *muwahahaha* BUT I'm also up for checking out the other end of the spectrum...so bring it on I say!
Well, pirates, now that I finally got here -- I've got to run to the bookstore! I'll check in later (if there's a ship left when you're done! LOL)
Hi Anna -
Just dropping by to wave and say congratulations on the release. Tortured or not - I KNOW this will be a fabulous read. Can't wait to get my hands on it.
Anna, I love that picture! Congratulations on the new book. I'm looking forward to reading it. No tortured hero, though? Hero and heroine like rabbits? So the heroine isn't tortured either, in the sense a couple of yours has been? A definite change, then, but it sounds like fun!
I've been thinking about your question re: motifs that keep turning up in my own work (or on my bookshelf) and nothing is coming to mind. I like action. Or "boom," as we call it in the Lair.
Anna, congrats on the new release. I am continually struck by how lovely the cover is. My own copy should be on its way to me from Amazon.
Wow! That post was so full of nautical terms that I'm not sure I can respond. My pirate speak is rusty but I can still speak Daniel Boone...
I think a non-tortured hero is even MORE fun to turn on his head (and other positions ;-) than a tortured one. He goes along with reckless (Ah!!! A RECKLESS SURRENDER!)and bang..here comes a totally unexpected twist (and other positions) in his comfortable life....the heroine.
Woohoo...swinging in to say hello to my bandita Anna! I can't wait to read this book! It sounds fantastic!
And that cover is to die for...sigh...
Whoa! I slun on my bucket boots and buckled on my swash to come over and play and here I find a FULL SHIP! My Goodness, what a partyhardyhar, we have here. And is the Revenge lying a bit low in the water? (All those books in the hold, I guess!)
Sin, we have a new hangover remedy in the Lair. Verrrrry good. Grins. Secret weapon of one of the new cabana boys. Bwah-ha-ha-ha!
Anna, you know what my recurring element is - things BLOW UP! Snork. Oh, and I use "that" too much, that's a recurring element.
Looking SO forward to this next plum of a book, Anna. Cain't WAIT to get it in my hot little hands...
Wow, when the Banditas storm the decks, they sure bring the numbers. LOL!
Thank you all for stopping by. Nancy, I'd say boom is an interesting element. Is that the booms keeping your characters hopping or do you just like blowing up bad guys? Maybe both?
Joanie T - I sense a theme running through your post there. Should I have Chance pour you a Mighty Mast? :)
Jeanne - I just learned the origins of "swashbuckling" this past weekend. Turns out, had nothing to do with pirates. LOL! Wouldn't ya know!
Try not to blow up the ship, k?
Such a wealth a' visitors...it be tryin' on a pirate's heart ta not be lifting wallets from this crowd! Puns or no puns!
But we be tryin' ta be on our best pirate behavior. Which means we should be liftin' wallets, now that I think a' it!
So, Anna, what made ya write a non-tortured hero and ya sure we can't do some torturin' so he'll fit inta the rest a' yer crew?
Just a little?
A mighty big pitcher a' the Mighty Mast, comin' up!
Bo'sun! Me? Blow up the ship? *whistles, snuffs out the match, kicks aside the trail of gunpowder* Never! You're pals over here on the Revenge. I'd only make a little fireworks display. For fun. Right Nancy? Nancy? Drat that woman, never around to bail you out when you...oh, there you are. Grins.
So, Bo'sun, tell me about the swashbuckle? BTW, I SLUNG on my boot, not slun them. I don't even know what slun means. Snork.
JT, if' you'll try a Mighty Mast, I'll try one...
Ah, ya see! I jus' needed ta pour in a jigger a' rum into the space time continuum thingamabob and pick the monkey hair outta it.
Sin, ya gotta control that damned monkey. Let's give 'em ta la Duchess and she can "Boom" 'im!
Oh, I'd be happy to tell ya about it. So in the middle ages, they had these buckler shields like these > http://revival.us/ProductImages/armour/Buckler-Front-Small-Web.gif
They would carry them around looped over the handle of their swords so they would clang or "swash" when they walked. Hence, the swashbuckler.
No idea when or how this got carried over to the pirates.
Ya can't try jus' one...the Mighty Mast be addictive.
So 2nd, is that like the mast used to make moonshine or the "stand up and be counted" mast? Snork. And if they're addictive? Yikes. Like I don't have ENOUGH addictions in my life...
Okay, gotta say that whole swashbuckle thing is pretty cool! Grins. Kinda like the origin of "deadline"
Bwah-ha-ha!
*she laughs evilly as she drops that little bomb and swings away....*
Now, Jeanne, don't be dropping that little nugget and running off. Don't make me google it, I'm lazy.
And that would be the Mast that all our heroes wave when they really like their herione. LOL! You know, "Is that a mast in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" *said in best Mae West voice*
Hmmmmm Bo'sun, A Mighty Mast?
Is that anything like the swords our Gladiators carry in the Lair?
The Gladius might be shorter but its thrust is quick and true and when positioned just so...gets the job done ;-)
Joanie, don't be silly. I'm sure nothing is shorter on your Gladiators. ;)
But I bet you could do some awesome sliding on that tiny buckler shield!
Awwww Bo'sun.....there is nothing tiny about their shields ;-0
Congratulations Anna. And welcome aboard everyone! So nice to see you --ewwww what lovely leather this wallet o’ your’s is-ssssshoot! Yah don’t have to throw no bottle o’rum at me, Chance. I was just lookin’ .
Anna, MY RECKLESS SURRENDER sounds like the perfect get away from my dally chaos. Between leaking oil wells, a bleaky financial market, and some freaky weather patterns I AM Ready for a story about someone who is pretty OK with his world. In fact, I am More than ready. I Am Desperately desperate for a story about someone … Anyone … who is Ok with their World. Honestly. I need some Fun. Plus I love the idea of heroine taking an Untortured Hero and …umm … torturing him.
Speaking of which … Who used my whip for a clothesline? I ask you, how would you Like it if someone’s undies hung off yor rod?
Why is it always chaos when I work with the pirates? I don’t know for sure. But I think that it has to do something to do with Pirates having to much dirty laundry.
Julie, I don't think we realized there would be so many guests -- and then what with all those Mighty Masts -- well, somebody had to do laundry. :) And since your whip was just laying around on the deck, doin' nothin'. . . LOL
Everybody -- make sure you check the laundry basket on your way out -- that's where your wallets are gonna be!
Wow, we're moving up if we've got to enter words now to post! Sweet!
All this talk of books is really making me want to go to my bookstore. Like RIGHT NOW.
Sin, want to make a book run?
Hey, shipmates, I need me ocean charts to work out what's happening here! Bo'sun, you seem to be the first comment? I'm all confused! We had quite a party goin' yesterday before that varmint Blackbeard kidnapped me away for the night.
Sharon's insults were SOOOO cool, weren't they, ye wee bilge rat!
Oh, the awards? I'm SOOOOOO glad you asked. Last weekend, they held the Australian Romance Readers Association Awards and Captive of Sin was voted most popular historical and I was voted most popular Australian author. Isn't that great? I'm still smiling about it! They're big enough to make anchors, aren't they, me hearty?
For some reason, I see drama, drama, drama, and think Marsha, Marsha, Marsha! Clearly I need my early morning cup of tea!
Actually I think Vanessa's right!
Speaking of Vanessa, she made me the most gorgeous trailer. Check out out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2d13kFVnzo
Bo'sun, I'll give ye a hoy from the halyard when I've found the charts! Perhaps we've entered the....ominous drum roll....Bermuda Triangle!
IT'S THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE! Run for the hills! Oh, that's right, we're at sea. There ARE no hills!
I love that trailer. The "Quite a Book!" is such a fun quote. And I'd say that trailer is filled with drama drama drama!
You slept right through all the time traveling, Anna. I think we're back on course. Course, I could be wrong. We're known to veer off regularly.
Huge congrats on the awards. Did you have an Oscar speech all ready to go when they called your name? Twice!
Howdy, Miss Hellion! Thanks for asking me back to play on your deck! I mean, conduct SERIOUS pirate business! Hey, me rum glass is lookin' mighty empty! Jump to it!
Kandy, I went looking for you yesterday on this crowded deck but they'd locked you below! You gotta be careful when you play with pirates. Yeah, the puns kinda proliferate, don't they? I'm sure there will be more before we're done sailin'!
By the way, this boat is one of the funnest places to hang out in Romancelandia! Sometimes they even get Cap'n Jack Sparrow along to man the mainsails!
Questions welcome. Sanity even more so!
What an interesting question. I'm not sure - I think it was just the way the story panned out. My original concept of him was darker than how he turned out in the end and I've learned to trust my subconscious about that stuff. I think Diana is so embroiled in plots and guilt, maybe he needed to be lighter to maintain the balance. Hmm, I'll think further!
Hiya Zeee! I hear you've been locked up in the brig with lovely Kandy! Hope you gals got acquainted down there with the rats and the sea biscuit! Yeah, I tend towards tortured heroes, as I'm sure you know. But this guy just...wasn't. Mind you, once Diana comes into his life, he's got plenty of angst heading his way. There's one particular scene towards the end when I just want to hug him, poor guy! He really does go through the wringer.
I've gotta hop in my Pontiac dingy and hit the waves for a while, I'm leaving Anna in charge. I suggest playing nice or you could find yourself served up on the barbey! (Did I spell that right? LOL!)
Hey, Quantum, does the pound go down the plughole clockwise in your hemisphere?
Wow, that's one bodacious explanation of why it's chaos. Personally I think it's just a bunch of rowdy buccaneer gals, dangerous sharp things and too much hot toddy! Although I'm willing to interview Jack to find out if he does have that influence on the navigation! I suffer for my art.
Your subtle (well, subtle in pirate terms!) hint is noted!
Wow, Sin, you haven't read a book since FEBRUARY??!!! That's worse than getting scurvy! I love visiting the pirates too - nobody else puts up with quite this amount of PUN-ishment! Hope the coffee's kicking in. I've had some rum so I'm feeling very bright-eyed and bushy-tailed! Unlike the undead monkey!
Marnee Jo, I'm very happy to be here - especially now I've found my sea legs. Although I'd rather find Jack's sea legs!
Actually I hadn't thought the book was a bit of a change to the regular in that my heroine does the torturing - but you're right!
I was really interested in what you said about your current story. That happened to me in Tempt the Devil. Erith ended up not quite as dark as my original conception of him - Olivia was the one with the big journey to make in that and it would have been unbearable if both of them had been quite that dysfunctional. Interesting where our stories take us, isn't it?
Miranda, welcome on board! Isn't this ship the coolest? And I think Anna and the Pirates sounds like a great title! Oh, I think I'm misleading you to compare my Tarquin to RC. They're very different beasts. It's just Rupert was the first non-tortured hero I could think of! I always laugh that we both put Tarquins in our stories at the same time - obviously we share a brain! Good luck in the writing cave!
That's because I stand in the crow's nest and holler, Bo'sun! Oh, and I tell them you guys have the best cellar in the Seven Seas! Hmm, maybe that's the secret!
Hey, Hal, you old seadog! Great to see you! I'm having my usual ball on the Revenge!
Interesting that you torture your heroines over your heroes. I think I'm probably equal there. New book sounds fab. And we have to be MEAN!!! Or at least that's what I say when I'm ashamed to look at myself in the mirror or when the cruelty to fictional characters cops come around and try and cart me off to the fictional clink.
Actually he does have SOME baggage - he's not a completely blank slate. There's family difficulties and his political career isn't exactly flourishing. But in terms of someone like Gideon or Matthew, this guy is carefree! Next guy is darker but I don't think I'd call him tortured either. In fact, I'm not sure I'd call my heroine tortured in the next one either. Be interesting to see how that pans out! The one after that (you think so far ahead in this business) has been through the wringer so we're definitely back in Tortured Hero Zone then!
Alllllrighty, Bo'Sun, I'll let up. Mostly so I can convince someone to let me fire a cannon later. Grins.
Okay, Deadline comes from the line they used to draw around the perimeter of a prison. The dead line. You come close, they warn you. You cross, they shoot you.
Hence, the Deadline. Grins. Cool, eh?
Pass me a Mighty Mast! YOHO!
Donna, I think some mayhem happened while I was off sleeping the sleep of the just ;-) Watch out for that puddle - it's sticky! Welcome, Anna! Welcome new pirates!
How interesting about wanting to write tortured heroes! I think we're stuck writing what's in our subconscious, frankly! We don't get a lot of choice about it.
Hi Hellie! There's some huge names with new books out today. I'm hoping people will pick up mine when they pop in for the new JQ! I don't know about you but I never buy just ONE book!
Actually I love sparky, witty dialogue. There's a bit of that in MRS - in between the naughty bits, snort! Love the sound of the new story!
Okay, Deadline comes from the line they used to draw around the perimeter of a prison. The dead line. You come close, they warn you. You cross, they shoot you.
No wonder I've avoided deadlines all my life! I feel better now! :)
Hey, Bo'sun, for a while there I thought the undead monkey had staged a mutiny and he was in charge of the ship!
Thanks for checking out the trailer. Didn't V do a beautiful job? I just keep watching it and drooling. And you're right, that's not a pretty picture!
Actually it's quite funny - I wasn't at the awards dinner, I'd committed to teach some workshops in Adelaide. I knew I was up for two awards but thought I'd be lucky if I got one, let alone two. So I gave a girl from Avon here ONE speech which she gave when the historical award was announced. Apparently when the second one was announced she just said, "Anna only gave me one speech." And took off! Snort!
Huge congrats on the awards. Did you have an Oscar speech all ready to go when they called your name? Twice!
Snort, Julie! As long as I don't end up with FLAT characters as a result, snort!
Barbey was beautifully spelt, Bo'sun! Nothing like a literate pirate to make my day. Actually we only throw you on the barbey if you're a prawn/shrimp! So I think the pirates are safe! Happy travels! And thanks for being a fabulous hostess!
Bo'sun!!!! NOOOOO, don't let Jeanne near anything that goes boom! Or we're all in the drink! And I don't mean the hoohas!
Jeanne, that's a really interesting bit about deadline. No wonder I feel so terrified as mine approach!
Woops! I seem to be back in the Bermuda Triangle!
The funny thing, Bo'sun, is if you meet Nancy you think she's such a nice lady - and then when she gets near explosives, she's REALLY scary ;-)
Mighty Masts for everyone!
Bo'sun! Payday and release day? Now that is a pirate's good luck!
Actually, Donna, I still think this ship has turned into a tardis and we don't know where we're going to end up. I hope the aliens on the other side are friendly!
Oh, Sin, I'm so touched you're forgoing your sandwich in favor of MY RECKLESS SURRENDER! Mwah - now what am I going to have for breakfast? Snort!
Bo'sun, I'm thinking it forgot the tequila and went for the acid! This is wild! A few minutes ago, I thought I'd answered all the comments and now there's a stack more. Which is GREAT, by the way! Hey, guys, strap yourselves to the mast, it's gonna be a bumpy night!
Donna, I've taken to drink to help the dizziness. And strangely, it's NOT helping the dizziness, hic.
Okay, I'm loving this bit about the deadline. That sounds like me with kiddo. I warn you once. Do it again, pay the price. LOL! Though I'm not a gun person so nothing that drastic.
Anna - Maybe we're in a lost episode of LOST. LOL!
Thanks so much, Janga. And thank you for that lovely review you gave MRS over on the Romance Dish! I'm still glowing at Tarquin being your favorite AC hero! That was great to hear. And what a lovely description of him!
I seem to be in non-tortured-ville at the moment. The next guy isn't tortured either. I mean, he's got baggage (don't we all?) but I wouldn't call him tortured!
Um, that was lock YOU! Snort. Clearly the space time continuum is affecting my typing! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Quantum, I think they should lock down in the hold with Jack! You're so helpful when the space time continuum decides to have conniptions!
Bo'sun, a good slap sometimes works too ;-)
Thanks for swinging by, Johanna! You've been a stalwart supporter of the blog tour and I've asked the pirates to make you an honorary buccaneer for the day as a result! It's huge fun being a buccaneer!
I haven't read that Mary Balogh although I love her books. The last one I read was a novella in that lovely Christmas collection that had Courtney Milan's brilliant RITA-nominated story in it. Made me cry, gorgeous! Sounds luscious!
Hi, Anna! Dropping by from the Lair to say -- actually SCREAM -- Whooooootttt on the release of MRS. I'm eager to enjoy your first non-tortured hero!
Uh, and clearly hooha means something entirely different in Aussie language than it does in U.S. slang, tee hee.
Good evening, Jo. Great to see you on the decks. Hooha has many implications on this ship.:)
Kiddo has a volleyball game tonight (and I have no idea how to make that a pirate reference) so we're making a swing past the book store on the way. I'll report back on my findings!
Bo'sun, I think you've made an important point. Just because someone has a bit of baggage doesn't necessarily make him a tortured hero. There's that extra level of angst with the tortured hero and this guy just doesn't have it - well, at least when the story starts anyway!
Snort, Anna! I have to laugh at my pitch worrying you. Believe me, poor Tarquin suffers the torments of the undead monkey before he's done! He gets tortured, he just doesn't start tortured! LOL!
Donna, my lovely Bandita sister, lovely to see you! And thank you for saying such lovely things about the book - I'm so excited this one's hitting the shelves!
Ooh, Donna, pick up the yellow book, pick up the yellow book, you are getting sleepy, pick up the yellow book... ;-)
Nancy, lovely to see you away from the lair! Sunlight becomes you, dear! You like boom? Man, I would nevah have known, snort! It's scary when you and Jeanne start mixing chemicals in that back part of the lair. The cabana boys start looking distinctly nervous. Thanks for saying you like the picture - I had a streaming cold when it was taken so I'm pleasantly surprised that I look half-alive! My heroine isn't tortured - she's out to get what she wants from life and of course, comes a cropper! So she ends up just as tortured as Tarquin, snort!
Hey, Trish! Wow, it's a Bandita invasion! Thanks so much for ordering MRS. Happy reading. And thanks for the congrats and for swinging by.
Christie, the cover gods really do smile on the Banditas, don't they? Yours have been pretty spectacular, too! Thanks for swinging by and for the good wishes! Banditas rule!
JT, Daniel Boone and nautical terms? Wow, who knew? Mind you, I specialize in Naughtical terms! Oh, dear, the puns have not yet shipped out. Actually writing a master of the universe who finds himself all at sea when he falls in love (very much against his intentions) was huge fun. So much so, I'm doing another one this time round! Thanks for swinging by!
Jeanne, those bucket boots are YOU! Especially the lightning insignia down both sides. Makes me think of you doing the Boom with Nancy. Hmm, that sounds naughtier than it should! Laughed at the ship sitting low in the water - it's because of the weight of thought that has gone into all these posts! Thanks for saying you're looking forward to MRS!
Bo'sun, what is the original of swashbuckling? You can't tease us like this!
Julie! As long as I don’t end up with FLAT characters as a result
Ooooh Anna, talk about Torturing your characters! Amd your Readers! *giggle*
Oh, no, Chance DID pour JT a Mighty Mast and now we've got trouble aboard! There's dancing on the gun deck and drinking in the hold! Who knows where this ship will end up?
Hey, 2nd! Fill up my Mighty Mast mizzen! Me lips be dry from all this flappin'!
We're the bandits. Any wallet lifting should be left to us! You pirates stick to making the landlubbers walk the plank!
Actually I think the non-tortured thing was just the way the story worked out. Maybe I wanted to lull him into a sense of security and THEN torture him! I wanted someone really charming who gets what he wants usually only for the price of a smile. Made a nice difference in the writing!
Anna, swinging by a little late on a frayed rope to wish your latest MY RECKLESS SURRENDER huge success. I snicker whenever I hear you say your hero isn't tortured. Poor guy. By the time Diana has finished with him he's beside himself. Talk about giving a rake a hard time!
2nd, I have a horrible feeling that the Duchesse and the monkey would end up as partners in crime and the world as we know it would cease to exist. My advice is don't tempt fate!
Oh, you didn't SLIN your boot? I was quite intrigued by that, snort! And don't act innocent. I've seen you in action in the lair! Poor Sven needed counselling last time you decided to test your latest boom apparatus!
Bo'sun, that's fascinating, but as you said, how did the pirate thing come into it. I watched Jeopardy last night and did you know fiasco comes from the Italian word for flask? I didn't either. So how did a flask turn into a, well, a fiasco?
Oh, no, Jeanne! I discovered deadline out of order. I feel like someone told me the ending to a Hitchcock just as I sat down to watch it!
I agree about the Mighty Masts being addictive! Hic! Stagger!
JT, you shock me! Give a girl ten mighty masts and you've no idea what she'll say! GLAD-ius INDEED!
Snort! I KNEW one of you wouldn't resist it. Is that a Mighty Mast OR Commander?
Sliding on the shields is one of our pastimes in the lair. The problem is Jeanne and Nancy are trying to combine it with boom and all they've made so far is an almighty mess!
Hey, Julie! The news is all SOOOO depressing at the moment, isn't it? I think it's just the time to dive into a good romance novel. And that doesn't mean I want to subsidize your purchases by giving your wallet. No, seriously, give it back! Sheesh, clearly I'll have to staple my money inside my bra next time I come on the Revenge! There's something delicious about the heroine torturing the hero, isn't there? Man, we're a psycho lot! ;-)
And I thought the bunting on your whip was very pretty!
Donna, but how much MOOLAH is left in the wallets? I tell you, no wonder you pirates stock such an impressive cocktail bar! And it's all duty free, of course!
Hellie, I think a bookstore run is a great idea! Should I hypnotize you? I have vays of making you pick up yellow books! I just hope security doesn't throw you out - things have got a bit rowdy here!
Actually, Donna, I'll say one thing for a deadline - it focuses the mind wonderfully. Which is I think something Samuel Johnson said about being hanged in the morning! Hmm, I can see the connection!
Yanno, Bo'sun, the possibility had struck me. I'm making sense of conversations now that I'm getting to read all the comments! A few things there made me think you pirates had visited the opium den on your last shore leave!
Happy huntin', Bo'sun! May all your books be yellow ones, snort!
Snort, Jo. I think you give the Aussies too much credit. Although in a pirate context, a hooha is a VERY hoochy drink! I always think of Jenny Crusie's glittery hoohas when I visit. That post really cracked me up big time! Thanks so much for saying you're looking forward to MRS coming out. I'm excited.
Oh, and everyone, we're having a HUGE launch party on the 27th over at the Romance Bandits. So if you've recovered from your hangovers by then, pop over and pick up another hangover!
Julie, I like to iron out any flaws along the way. Oh, no, we've given up on pirate puns and now we're on laundry puns. How low can we go? I'm feeling quite agitated! I'd better come clean about the whole thing!
Annie, just the girl to enliven the dregs of this party! Kick those drunken sots overboard. Catch that monkey! Hoist those sails! Oh, and unpeg the washing from the whip... They don't believe me when I tell them Tarquin is TORTURED before he's done. Bwahahahahahaha! If you give a rake too hard a time, does he turn into a shovel?
Hi Anna!! Just wanted to drop in and raise a tankard of rum to you for the release of MRS!! Tarquin may not be a classic wounded hero but Diana does a good job of torturing him by the end of the book! I love it when love brings a confirmed rake to his knees.
Loretta's Rupert has to be my favourite non-tortured hero of all time. Isn't he fabulous?
Christine, lovely to see you! Wow, Banditas are taking over!
I read the first kiss from Mr. Impossible to the Adelaide workshop girls and I think every single one of them was in love with Rupert by the time I finished. He's just so gorgeous!
It's nice to see a rake discombobulated by lurve, isn't it? I love books like that! Yeah, that Diana is MEEEEEEEAN to him! Go, Diana!
Phew, caught up with you all! Thanks, guys, this is such fun! Although I wish someone would tell the monkey to stop smiling at me! He really creeps me out! Especially since he started wearing Julie's undies!
Anna said: I didn’t either. So how did a flask turn into a, well, a fiasco?
Maybe the flask was full of Glittery Hooha or Mighty Masts and THAT was the cause of the fiasco? Grins.
And hey, the last time Nancy and I made a mess on the hill behind the Lair, we cleaned it up, including all the spent shells. (Always police your brass, you know!) Sven the the boys didn't help on that one. (Grrr!)
But the last big mess was the dragon's fault, y'know...
Ya all heard 'er...money is pinned ta the bra!
As if hidin' it there would stop a dtermined thief!
The 27th, eh? I'll pack me solar powered blender...
Yeah, 2nd, but if Jack wants to get the money out of there, it will require a lot of fiddling around and, yanno, I don't think I mind! Snort! Mind you, the monkey is NOT to try this!
Yeah, only coz you frightened the poor dragon! He's a poor simple beast! How was he to know the boom wasn't meant for him?
Actually I LIKE your thinking with the fiasco. I think there might be something in it - and the flask!
Yuh huh...you try to tell the monkey he can't do somethin'!
Now, ya thinkin' the flask caused the fiasco, hence the eternal linkage a' their meanin's?
Hey, I'm just along for the ride. It's our Jeanne who's coming up with all the brilliant theories!
*pouts* I did a bookstore run. They did NOT have Anna's book! I will check again soon--I blame the publishers. And the fact I live in the middle of nowhere.
Leave it to Anna to keep the party going late into the night. And it's not the middle of nowhere problem, Hellie. I am very unhappy to announce that my B&N has not yet received their shipment of MRS. Or at least that's what the chick at the information desk fished out of her computer.
I have my suspicions she just didn't want to go look.
Also sad to say kiddo lost her first volleyball game tonight, but that's not bad considering there's only one game left in the season. And the coaches and parents of the other team were rude and horrible. We nearly formed a posse of parents and stormed their bleachers!
He really creeps me out! Especially since he started wearing Julie’s undies!
No kiddin’? Hey yah big ape, if yor gonna wear thongs At Least get a bikini wax first!
No underwear … no book … and no money pinned to me bra. I’m startin’ to feel … Tortured!
Oh, Hellion, what a pain! I'm sorry! I was just congratulating myself on the fact that this book seems to be available when it's supposed to be - it hasn't always been the case!
Man, Bo'sun, if I were you, I'd just stay on the pirate ship! No books. No win at volleyball. Rude people. Here, have a mighty mast! Thanks for trying!
Oh, man, sounds like you and Bo'sun need to sink some hot toddies and complain about the state of the world, Julie! And I agree, if the monkey's gonna wear sexy underwear, he should do something about that unsightly body hair first! And now he's eyeing my bra with an avaricious glint in his milky white eyes (because he is UNDEAD after all!).
Hey, guys, it's been a fantastic day of piratical partying. Oh, man, I need to rest my aching head and the monkey has stolen the only comfy bed below decks! Thanks so much!!! And don't forget to check back to see who won the gold...uh, yellow book!
I'm late to the party but I just wanted to drop in & say hi. My favorite non-tortured hero is Quinn from Victoria Dahl's, Start Me Up. Love Rupert too, though!
Hi Jen! Just wandering around picking up dirty glasses and marveling at the mess we made yesterday. Ooh, Quinn sounds interesting. Glad you're a Rupert fan. I LOVE Rupert!
No need to clean up, Anna, you were a GUEST! Thanks again for being such a great pirate for the day. I swear, this ship is never as rocking as it is when you're around!
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