Leslie Langtry on Drinking, Writing, and Sexy Bombays in Speedos
Cy: Ladies, really, is this necessary?
Hellion: This is a very clean ship, Coney…
Cy: Cy. My name is Cy.
Hellion: Right, Cy, and we love to keep everything on this ship spic and span. We take our jobs very, very seriously.
Sin: *wearing goggles and scuba gear, steps one foot into the tub* VERY seriously.
Cy: Holy sh…
Leslie *walking through the curtain, looking confused and slightly disgruntled* Cy, are you here? I thought we were meeting at nine?
Cy: Nine? They told me I had to be here at 7 to get ready for the interview.
Leslie: That’s interesting, since they told me I only needed to be here at 9.
Hellion: *innocence personified* Well, we knew you wouldn’t need a bath. We’re just trying to be helpful. Make our guest feel at home.
Terri: *running into the room* I found the whipped cream!
Marn: And I found the sprinkles! *pausing at seeing Leslie* Oh, is bath time being cut short today?
Cy: Yes, please. *stands, water whooshing off him as all the pirates stare*
Leslie: *shaking head* Pirates.
Hellion: Yes, we are. Okay, while our intrepid hero dresses, or escapes, I suppose we can cut to the business, right?
Leslie: I think I should have a drink first. Maybe three.
Chance: ‘lready ‘head of ye. Aye ‘ave jess the thing: Bombay Bombers and an Assassin’s Last Call. *handing Leslie the drinks*
Leslie: Why is Assassin’s Last Call smoking?
Hellion: Don't worry, it just give it the last bit of zip, really. *Leslie takes a tentative sip* Leslie, it is so glad to have you and Cy on the ship…
Leslie: Really? You’ve been so subtle about it.
Hellion: Of course, Subtle is my middle name. *clears throat* Quick backstory, just in case people have been living in caves. You write a mystery-romantic series of books about a family of assassins. The first one was about Gin Bombay, a mom just like you or the Bo’sun, trying to make ends meet and get that monkey off her back by the name of Vivian the PTA Nazi—and oops, Gin happens to also be an assassin. Cue chaos and laughter. The following books have featured Gin’s hot brother Dak—and the famous bear incident; and Missy, the gadgets guru, who finds herself on a reality TV-show (due to parental interference), which is really not too far off from “Help Me, I’m a Celebrity” show. (Clearly NBC has been reading your book.) This book features the much adored and dangerous, Coney Island (Cy). What sort of shenanigans can we expect this time?
Leslie: Actually a large chunk of the book takes place in Mongolia with Cy participating in the Naadaam Wrestling festival there. He’s wearing nothing but teeny, tiny briefs. You’ll love it.
Hellion: In Ginny’s book, there were several circumstantial similarities between you and the heroine. Has there been any real life incidents lately that made it into this book? I'm guessing not the trips to Mongolia...
Leslie: Cy’s guinea pig, Sartre, is based on my guinea pig, Dewey, but that’s about it. I think with the first book I put a lot of my own experiences in. But by book 4 I was able to use my imagination more.
Hellion: Terri will be so relieved that using real-life ancedotes wears off. She's really tired of seeing my dating life show up in parts of my books. I hope using one's imagination is just as fun as using real life. At our last interview—and I want to thank you for returning, your bravery really has no bounds—you indicated you were working on Book 4, which featured (in your words) “The Conester”, and you were going to try out two points of view. Were you successful? And were they both first person POV? (One of our pirates is thinking of doing something with multiple first-person POV and we’re curious if it works—and how hard it was to do.)
Leslie: *handing Hellion two empty glasses to indicate she wants more, please* I love coming here! Alas, I was not able to make the two points of view happen. You’re in Cy’s brain for the whole thing.
Hellion: *motioning to cabin boys to bring Leslie more liquor, which they do* What was the most fun about writing this particular book?
Leslie: Putting Cy through the paces. Imagining Daniel Craig naked. And a brawl in a toy store using light sabers.
Hellion: Now granted, I do plan to savor this book—I mean take at least eight hours to read it instead of the customary four—and drool all over Cy. Nothing’s changed in that regard. What’s next for you? Is there another Bombay book in the making, or are you going somewhere different for awhile?
Leslie: The Bombays have informed me that they’d like to take a break from killing so many people, please. So I’m working on another series with some paranormal elements. I’d love to go back and do more Bombay books at some point. I know I promised Sin a book on Paris.
Hellion: I remember the day I first picked up one of your books—the first one—I was at the library, and I cracked up at the title. I’m a sucker for a clever title, and the bright pink was pretty flashy—but what what made me take the book home was the first page. (I know, difficult right? How do you suck someone in like two paragraphs or less?) But you use quotations to preface your chapters—and by the way, the one about monkeys in Missy’s story, still makes me laugh—WHERE do you find these quotes? And do you find the quotations before or after you complete a chapter? (I’m curious if you find a quote that fits what you plan to do in a chapter and use it as a sort of inspiration.)
Leslie: Ha! I get a lot of questions about the squibs (sounds like a pirate term, doesn’t it?). The Howler Monkeys quote is actually from one of my best friends, Todd Welvaert, who wrote that in an e-mail to me once. He’s a journalist and photographer and one of the funniest undiscovered writers out there.
Generally, I put the quote in right after I write the chapter. But sometimes I have to go back and fill them in later.
Hellion: We might have to invite Tom on the ship. He's damned hysterical. I did a sneak peek of Cy’s book and immediately started laughing on page one. Now I grant you my sense of humor is slightly on the dark side, but I’m curious how you’re able to make such a dark subject so funny? It’s almost like the Sopranos on laughing gas. Spill your funny-bone writing secrets!
Leslie: I guess it just comes from my strange family. We all had a dark sense of humor. But I think anyone with a family can relate. That, and I also sold my soul to Davy Jones Locker to write funny books.
Hellion: I knew I'd neglected to do something. *jots down "sell soul"* What will you be doing this summer? Are you going to be at any conferences/signings where you can be easily stalk…er…found and persuaded to indulge in adult beverages?
Leslie: I’ll be at RWA in DC next week and next spring should be at RT and Chicago Spring Fling. Hellion, you’re just one state away. You should just sail up the Mississippi and see me!
Hellion: Do you have any questions for the crew?
Leslie: Yes. Please stop snapping Cy with the towels. And hand over that whipped cream…
Has anyone else had a chance to read Leslie's new book yet? Anyone else mad for Cy like me? And lastly, crew, I have a signed copy of 'Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy, and I will give it to the crewmember who shares the best "fan girl" or "fan boy" moment you've had meeting an author, celebrity, et al.
Books by the Crew
86 comments:
Welcome, Leslie! Good ta 'ave ya aboard the Revenge. I weren't 'ere fer yer last visit. I tend bar, so let's me know when ya wants more. Special requests be honored!
I do love 'ow imaginative ya see people ta their maker... After spendin' many hours in drive ins, watchin' the teenage slaughter movies while bein' courted by me eventual DH,(decades ago)... I always appreciate a new way ta do murder.
'fraid I gots no 'best' stories a' meetin' authors. Many, many, many-dumbest-fan ever stories...
*picture me, standin' in line, vapid expression on face, book in 'and...passin' the book over... "Duh, like yer books. Sign please. snort..." Tongue firmly braided with lips...
I did 'ave a nice experience wit' Charles de Lint... I actually made 'im a pin and he liked it!
*Come on, crew! Everyone down...I know, I know. Everytime I say 'is name I gots ta serve up double rations a' rum... Let me fetch me magic keg... Cy? Wanna 'elp?
*wink, wink
Hi Leslie!
I have read Cy's book and loved it! It was the first I had read from you and I was so excited reading it becuase I knew you had more books for me to read about the Bombays, and becuase your voice is so unique.
I loved seeing the book through Cy's eyes and your humor was pitch perfect for me!
Can't wait to start reading the rest of the series!
My fangirl moment was with Leslie. I was at the Chicago Spring Fling--and I was standing there with Sin and across the lobby I spot Leslie Langtry, who I've only raved about 15 billion times to everyone I've met. I go flying across the lobby and bounce up between her conversation with Kim Castillo--whom I also know and never formally met and had actually "known" longer--and I say like a Jack in the Box, "Hi, I'm Hellion!" "Hellion!" and it was a bit like a long lost reunion. Leslie was completely sweet about me interrupting her private conversation and introducing myself like I was somebody important. *LOL*
Kim, of course, has yet to forgive me for introducing myself to Leslie first.
Chance, don't start off by saying you made your author something artsy and creative...because then Leslie will probably start expecting me to make something, like a mosaic Bombay Family Tree or something. And frankly I just don't have that kind of talent.
Sabrina, all the Bombay books are hilarious. I know you will love them all. Dak in Disney World--I swear that book should be made into a movie...actually I think they'd all be good movies. They'd be a riot. I'd settle for a TV series, actually.
Hi Leslie! Welcome to the ship! :)
I've read Missy's book and it was great. :) I wish I were all McGyver like that. But alas, I can barely wield a screwdriver without injuring someone.
Fangirl moments.... I did see JR Ward at the NJ RWA conference, but that was before I fell in love with her books. I'd probably make a fool of myself now. I had dinner with Eloisa James that conference too and she's very sweet.
Not too fangirl-y actually. :)
I'm a fly by, today, getting my hair done and I still have to work. First, I love the premise and the title of Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy. Second, Cy sounds delicious.
I met Gemma Halliday once, but I had never heard of her prior to meeting her. Shame, I know. I saw Scott Baio in concert once, but I didn't get to drool all over him.
I've lived quite a sheltered life.
I could totally see this series as a television show!
Hey there, Leslie!!! So happy to have you back on board. I just started this one a couple nights ago so I haven't gotten far, but I'm with Hellie, how DO you suck people in on that first page. You're like the master at this.
My most embarrassing moment was when I met Eloisa James for the first time. She knew who I was right away (as I had kiddo with me and she knew ahead of time we were coming) and I was so nervous, I said, "No, I'm Terrio." Well, she had just said, "You must be Terrio" so that must have seemed like an odd response.
Some other fans and I had put together a scrap book for her and just as I was moving over to have my books signed by LaNora (whom I adore), Eloisa held up the scrap book and I proceeded to totally ignore Nora. As if she wasn't even there.
I'm sure that has never happened to LaNora. LOL!
Happy Birthday to Renee Lynn by the way!!
*snorts* I think Terri is ahead with the fan girl moment. I might have to give her the book just for ignoring LaNora. That's priceless.
However, since I'm like 99% sure she's got SMWIKTG, I'll have to send her something else for that story.
You know I have the book, we compared page 34. LOL! Are you going to ask about that? Come on, you know you wanna.
It's Renee's birthday?!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RENEE!!!
Someone give this girl a Bombay Bomber!
PS. Welcome back aboard. I've missed stalking you.
I must have Paris.
Leslie!!!
I know you have I Shot You Babe (since I made Terri look at the page that says Cy had his heart broken by a girl named Frannie. Coincidence? I don't think so.) But I'm not positive you have the first book.
Oh, all those letters confused me. LOL! I have the first two and this one. Missy's book is the only one I don't have.
Happy birthday Renee!! May it be filled with lots of men and booze!
Hellie, you must admit, even though we are Leslie's most premier stalkers she is very good to us. She even let us sit beside her at her awesome table so that we may stalk her better.
Leslie is awesome. The awesomenest. And now that I know she's going to Spring Fling, I will be going as well. LOL
And maybe I'll have something to pitch by then. LOL
Hm, I can't remember if I had a fan girl moment with Leslie. Debbie Macomber chatted me up in the Starbucks line and told me that if I loved coffee I had to move to Seattle. She was very sweet and I was very tongue tied talking to her. Not to mention, I'm a full foot and a half taller than her and felt like a lumbering giant that might accidently crush her with one wrong move.
Eloisa was so wonderfully sweet and gracious and funny. She was a treat to meet. And Kim is hilarious. She's my long lost twin.
And Leslie, wonderfully hilarious Leslie. Hellie she put up with a lot considering we were drinking like pirates and laughing the entire time. LOL Meeting her was like meeting with a friend who I hadn't talked to in a while. It seemed like we'd all been buddies forever.
Afraid I haven't read much in the romantic suspense genre yet.
These titles and covers look very tempting though.
If only I could download one in a format I like!
Leslie, you clearly have both male and female assassins in your books. May I ask whether you prefer creating creating the male or the female?
I imagine that they will have quite different techniques for trapping their prey.
I might guess that the end game will be subtle and prolonged with the female in charge and perhaps more direct and Bond like with the male.
It seems to me that a little scientific knowledge could be helpful in devising imaginative murders. For example, perhaps the female agent could have a nerve agent discretely smeared inside a condom :shock:
I have lots of ideas *grin*
Lovely to meet up again! :D
Leslie - The Bombay characters are all so unique and interesting, how to you go about creating their significant others?
Well HELLO! I sleep in just a smidge and you guys are already up and stuff! I thought pirates slept in!
Hellion, there are no coincidences. Frannie Smith is you. I thought if you couldn't loofah Cy, you could at least break his heart, thus ruining him for all other women.
Sin! I loved hanging with you at Spring Fling! Please tell me the dred pirates will be there next spring!
And I've met Terrio at last year's RWA! Are you going again this year???
Happy Birthday Renee!!! That's actually my middle name!
Quantum, I don't know if I prefer writing from male or female POV. They are both so different. I did so with Dak's book because I was worried that any female voice would just sound like Gin. It's kind of nice, working back and forth like that.
Hellion, WHERE IS my Bombay mosaic? A true stalker would make one for me! ;)
And someone give me a damn drink!
I told you Hellie!!
I haven't had any Fan boy moments with romance authors. In fact I don't think I have ever met one in the flesh.
I have met many famous scientists that I admire though.
On one occasion I was visiting a well known university to examine a PhD student. I arrived before lunch and as is customary,the resident prof took me to lunch.
They had laid on the most amazing spread. We got to the restaurant at about 1.30 and didn't leave until nearly 4.0, leaving a couple of empty wine bottles in our wake.
If I didn't know better I would guess that they were trying to dull my critical faculties before the oral exam.
Fortunately I had made copious notes to keep me on track and somehow staggered through.....he passed by the way and I nearly passed out!
Such are the competitive foibles of academics!
If there was any wine left, you could have it Leslie!
Where is that bar pirate! *grin*
Thanks Quantum!
And Sin, I just told Sgt. Assassin that when I write Paris' book, you will be the love interest, of course. I love my fans!
I think I'd have a fan girl moment if I got to meet Q in the flesh.
*sneaking behind the bar* Youuuuuu hoooooooo! Leslie! You gotta sneak. Chance is going to wake up and bring the ship down yelling at me but I'll get you a drink. How's a keg of rum? We'll tap it and get plastered and drool over the Hotties.
Yay! Leslie remembers me! LOL! I even got to meet Sgt. Assassin. I totally see why all her heroes are based on her hubby.
I will be there again this year. I'm so excited but freaking about packing. No idea how I'm going to fit all this stuff!
I think we should make a special drink for Leslie called the Exploding Mickey. :)
OMG!
OMG!
Leslie!!! YOU ARE MY ABSOLUTE HERO!!
*fan girl squeal!*
But I ask about Paris all the time. *pouts* Can I at least be the girl who breaks his heart?
I'm liking this drink idea. But I've not met the Sgt. Assassin yet in the flesh. Heard all sorts of stories about said Sgt. Assassin.
And I would concede my victory of Paris to you Ter, if you wish. I know you love him too.
You're giving in that easy?! You aren't even going to fight for him?! What kind of heroine are you?
LOL!
He is beta, it's only fair.
*LOL* I love being the girl who ruined Cy for all other women! *LOL* How lovely; and Sin totally deserves Paris. He *NEEDS* a girl like Sin. Talk about someone who could put him through his paces.
Sin being an assassin and all herself. *LOL*
Oh, I will let you think you've won. But I will get him back. I'm only a heroine if I fight like hell for him. And I don't fight fair.
The true test of love is that you can let them go first and pine away for them.
LOL. I'd definitely make Paris work for it, that's for sure.
She is more interesting than I am. And has more weapons on her.
Fine.
Paris deserves to be fought over. You can't give up Ter.
I know when I'm beat. You're a foot taller, sneakier, recon trained. *sigh* It's no use.
I thinks I'll jus' stay on the sideline here and mix the drinks.
*hip bumps Sin out from behind the bar---Let's see, thats a dozen Bombay Blasters...
Hel, I can show ya how ta make a mosaic...
So, Leslie, yer gonna be at RT next year!? See, crew! I told ya RT gets the goodies! I'll be hangin' with Terrio at the Nationals so I'm sure she'll hover about ya and introduce me.
Chance, you should hook up with us at Spring Fling. It's always a blast. At least the one time I've been it was a blast. LOL
Ter, I'm sorry. :(
Spring Fling is where? I need Deuce to get a bigger plane so I can stretch on those flights to the east coast...
Chance - Spring Fling is Chicago so you wouldn't have to go near as far. LOL!
I want to do Chicago next year, but that's a long way off so we'll have to see.
That's alright, Sin. I'll just put a hit on you before the wedding. :)
*g* I'll be waiting, Ter. LOL
Ha! Not that far! Though I bet I could get a train straight to Chicago from San Fran...which would be an adventure... Hmmmmmm.
It's fun watching you two fight over a fictional character like that. I suppose there could be a love triangle...
2nd Chance, look forward to meeting you. Now if we had Exploding Mickeys, what would go into those?
I can see now that I'm gonna have to pack to my own wedding otherwise, Ter is gonna shoot me in the back and slip into my place. Sneaky wench.
It'll be so easy for Terri to blend in, what with miraculously growing a foot taller, getting paler and dying her hair black. Easy peasy.
How about a duel? Sabers or muskets?
Hey! I didn't say *I'd* be the one doing the dirty work. I'll just tell Dak she's bad for him and he'll take care of everything. The cashier's check will help too.
Who you calling short?!
Leslie - I don't know but the glass plays "It's a Small World". Very strange.
I do loves me tricky glassware...
*humming as happily polishing glasses behind the bar...
A duel would be fun. It's been a long time since we've had a duel.
Is Cy going to be jealous that crew members are actually fighting over Paris rather than him? I think that might be amusing. I mean, I know he has Ronnie and all now, but it is still a blow to masculine pride.
That's a tough one. Can't I just shove her over the side? We are on a boat after all...
Cy left 20 comments ago. And he doesn't really have an ego. I can tell you that Paris is REALLY enjoying this.
Cy left?! Damn it, this is all Sin's fault.
Someone warm up that bath water!
Why? You gonna try ta drown Sin?
Cy will be back. I asked 'im ta fetch me some more grenadine...and cherries. We needed more cherries.
No! That blasted monkey would 'a tried ta do somethin' 'gainst nature wit' the poor thing!
I knew we should have kidnapped Cy's guinea pig to keep him aboard the ship.
Chance - I'd be afraid ta live in that brain of yours.
If I were going to drown her, again, I'd just push her over. I sure wouldn't make it warmer for her.
And don't worry, unless you hold me under, I swim like a fish.
LMFAO. Ter, you're so loving.
Don't take the undead monkeys name in vain! He doesn't like guinea pigs.
Yes, but at least he's not trying to drown me at the moment.
That monkey be the one wit' the twisted brain, not me!
Don't like guinea pigs, me ass. He likes anythin' that be furry! Sin, it be a lost cause ta defend the little deviant!
That's right, let's make Paris that much happier by giving him a wet t-shirt contest as crewmembers wrestle in a bathtub for the privilege of being with him in the next book...
Wet t-shirt? I got this.
*g* I'm down with that.
Ooooh Paris... come sit front row so you can get a good view.
I'm stayin' outta this... Me and wet t-shirts ain't pretty...
See! There be that monkey, spyin' on all of ye! He's a peepin' Mattycakes!
You know, I was trying to stay on topic. I did ask a question up there somewhere. I'll try it again.
Leslie - Your Bombay characters are all so unique and interesting, how do you go about deciding who their significant others should be?
Um, the monkey is humping my leg. Guys?
Thanks! Terrio - I kind of go for opposites with their mates. It's easy to build tension that way. Figuring out who the love interest usually isn't the problem. It's getting them in the sack that's usually the problem.
Really? I never would have guessed that. LOL! You can't tell you have any trouble while reading them.
I loved how Gin's hero had to come to terms with what she did and how to kind of rationalize it. Shows your talent that you take a situation so implausable, make it the accepted norm, then make it all plausable. I totally believe this family could exist somewhere. :)
Thanks! What a great compliment! Can you imagine if there really was a family of assassins somewhere and they got hold of my books? I'd have to join your crew and go into hiding.
As I was reading I Shot You Babe I kept reading quotes to the hubby. He kept asking why I was snickering so I told him!
In fact, I've been giving him my favorite books to read (so far not from the romance genre) to try to figure out what his reading tastes are. Your book was the very first romance I've thought, "He would actually like this and not make assume I'm a silly woman for reading!"
Nah, if the assassin family were reading your stack of books, they'd be going, "Nobody would believe this type of family would actually exist."
It's that Mark Twain thing. Truth doesn't have to be believable or plausible to be true, but fiction does.
That's cool! My husband promotes them through the military. He tells his guys that he reads them. I've had a few male fans who insist that I 1) take "romance" off the cover and 2) never use pink.
Why would taking "romance" off the cover matter if between the covers there IS romance? Boys.
The pink was for the GIRL assassin. I think she should be allowed pink. So long you don't pink up the boy covers, we're good. Though I think I Shot You Babe had pink...but that was more a contrast thing for font.
Ooooh! Stereotype! Pink isn't just fer the girls. Me DH looks lucious in pink. Long as it ain't too fru-fru!
Sorry 'bout the monkey, Leslie. Ya can shoot 'im but it won't do much good...
I gots a whole collection a' lines from yer books... I like ta take particular lines that I read and save 'em fer inspiration. Love ta observe how a simple bit a' workds can carry so much meanin'! 'ope ta 'ave 'em in a book form fer autographs by next year's conferences... So, I'll be stalkin' ya next year!
So, Hel, Terrio, Sin...how do ya stalk and not face a restrainin' order?
Since I seem to be all by myself...I'm goin' ta blather... These be two a' Leslie's quotes I gots in me special collection...
Other attempts proved disastrous, from general calisthenics (I got shin splints from push–ups—apparently I was doing them wrong), to Tai Chi (did you know that howler monkeys consider some of those moves very threatening?), but nothing seemed to work as well as jogging.
- Stand By Your Hitman
I tried my best to be charming, but at this point I was convinced she actually was a man. At least deep down inside.
- Guns Will Keep Us Together
Love that you told me your favorites from the books! It always suprises me what people pick out!
I like quotes that make me smile. And 'ave a way 'bout them that really paint a picture of the speaker.
I 'aven't read the latest yet...me bookstores are slow at gettin' them. I'm sure I'll find one there!
No worries, Chance. You can pick up a copy from Leslie herself next week. And I'll teach you the stalking techniques. The trick is to just happen to be there whenever they turn around. Like it's all a coincidence. You'll be a master by the end of Nationals. LOL!
Oh, and making them mosaics can't hurt.
A mosiac be 'ell on me baggage limit, tho!
Hey! It's past my bedtime! I'm gonna have to take my leave. But I want to thank you pirates for having me aboard today! I had a great time! You're all official Bombays!
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