Author of the Month: Julie James

Happy September, Maidens! For this month, we are honored to have the talented and hilarious JULIE JAMES as our Author of the Month! As many of you know, I am a huge fan of Julie's and just adore her books. So I am thrilled to make this announcement as a fan. 

For those of you who aren't familiar with James's work, she is a contemporary romance writer whose titles include Just the Sexiest Man Alive, Practice Makes Perfect, Something About You and A Lot Like Love! Before she was a full-time writer, she was a lawyer and a screenplay writer. Her next book, About that Night will be available in April 2012. Stay tuned for more Julie James here on UTC!

Interview and Giveaway with Gena Showalter!

The month of August will be dedicated to New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Gena Showalter. We are all big fans of Showalter's books, so it wasn't hard for us to decide who was going to be the next author of the month! Showalter does it all! She writes paranormal romance about Lords possessed by demons, sexy aliens, and even a great YA series! We are also thrilled to announce that Gena will be celebrating with us for reaching 600 followers! Yay! For more information of Gena Showalter, please visit her website here.

Now, let's get started!

UTC: Hi Gena! Thank you so much for being our Author of the Month! We're such big fans! We here at UTC like to say that you are a writing machine! With several series in paranormal romance and young adult, how do you find the time to write so many books?

OCD! Seriously, once I start writing a book it’s all I can think about until it’s done. That means I write eight days a week and twenty-five hours a day (or so it seems).

UTC: The OCD may be a good thing for our fans, we get more books! Of all your sexy heroes, who would you say was your favorite to write so far?

William is number one on my Must Do list. He is as bad as a boy can be, thinks nothing of torturing his enemies, is positive there’s no line he won’t cross (he’s right), has a smart- ass mouth, and yes, he is a womanizer. BUT. There’s always a “but” with these super strong alpha warriors <g> When this prince of darkness falls in love, it will be with all that he is. He will never stray. He will protect his woman even if it means dying/suffering a little torturing himself, and he will continue to piss off everyone around him with his brilliant observations. (He made me add that last one)

UTC: Ah, William. We should have known. And I don't blame ya. *winks* What's your favorite series to write?

I love them all for different reasons. With the young adults, I get to explore all of the “firsts.” First crush, first kiss, first time. With the Lords of the Underworld, I get to play with the line between good and evil. (To give you a little tidbit about the upcoming angel spin-off, I’ll be exploring that line a whole lot more!) With the Alien Huntress novels, I get to indulge my love of cool weapons and characters who know how to use them.

UTC: For your Lords of the Underworld heroes, do you have specific actors or models in mind as you write them?

Right now I’m totally in love with Jason Momoa from Game of Thrones. What that means to my writing process is that his face now belongs to every Lord.

UTC: OooooooHhhh! Jason Momoa!!! You, girl, have amazing taste. I wouldn't mind his face on my favorite Lord. Speaking of my favorite Lord, I LOVE TORIN! What can you tell us about his book without spilling any secrets? I'm the heroine, right?

I’m so sorry to admit this, but Torin’s book isn’t even a blip on my radar right now. I just turned in Paris’s book, and let me tell you, that one totally wiped me out! Torin undergoes some changes in it, but the main side-story belongs to Kane. So Kane’s the Lord currently taking up space at the front of my mind. Plus, I’m now writing the first book in the new angel spin off, so I’m consumed by feathered wings, swords of fire (that’s not a euphemism, I swear) and my most tortured heroes by far! That’s not to say Torin won’t get his day in court. He will, I just have a few other things to work out first.  

UTC: What made you write about demons?

I’ve always preferred bad boys in fiction, and nothing skirts the edge of dark and dangerous more than evil fiends from hell.

UTC: Which of your heroines is most like you?

Let’s see, let’s see. Well, none of them would curl into a weeping ball of shame at the first sign of trouble, so I have to go with . . . none. I think I write the heroines the way I ~want~ to be, rather than the way I am, and for that reason, Anya is probably my favorite. I adore that girl.

UTC: A lot of your heroes are deliciously tattooed. What’s the sexiest tat on a man in your opinion, and do you prefer tats to piercings?

I do love tats, and I do love piercings. Tats are probably my favorite, though. And my fave tat of all time? My name on my husband’s arm <g>. One of my husband’s arms is actually sleeved and that was the inspiration for the tats on Hector Dean’s arms in Dark Taste of Rapture. Or rather, what his arms look like by the end of his book.

UTC: Let's talk about your upcoming release Lord of the Vampires. This is the first book in the Royal House of Shadows series. I think the idea of a series where a different author writes a book is excellent. Who came up with this? Did you all have a say of what the series will be about and where the story would go? How did you decide who got to write which sibling?

HQ Nocturne came to the four of us (me, Jill Monroe, Jessica Andersen, and Nalini Singh) with the idea of writing a series together, and we came up with the rest. We emailed back and forth, sharing our ideas—the main one: to retell fairytales—building off each other, until the world and the characters were created. I had such a blast!

UTC: You also have a new book coming out in your Alien Huntress series, Dark Taste of Rapture. I LOVE your take on aliens! I know some people might be put off by reading about them, but you did an excellent job at making them so hot! How did you come up with the concept?

I knew I wanted to write about (sexy!) humans who policed (equally sexy!) predatory otherworlders. I also wanted to make my otherworlders more humanoid with supernatural abilities rather than straight up science fiction aliens. But the only way I could work out the logistics in my mind was to create an alternate earth, where these otherworlders had walked among us for nearly a century. And that meant creating an entirely new world history.

UTC: Dark Taste of Rapture is Hector's story. What can you tell us about it? I'm dying to know what happens with Dallas's vision of himself with Noelle and how this will affect their friendship.

Dark Taste of Rapture is one of the hardest books I’ve ever written (and not just because of Hector’s body. Yes, I went there.) I started the book a year before the end of (Ecstasy in Darkness, and showed Hector and Noelle’s very first meeting. They have one of the hottest connections, but this uber alpha hero can’t actually touch a woman without killing her. So . . . yeah, making out? A little difficult to work out, but oh, do they find creative ways.

UTC:  And when is MY sexy man Dallas getting his book? Is he going to eventually be with the Queen?

I ~think~ Dallas’s book will be released in 2012. I’ve toyed with the idea of pairing him with the Queen—she’s not the witch everyone thinks her, I promise!—but then, while talking to my editor, another idea slammed me. I won’t know which direction I’ll go until I actually sit down to write the book, but either way, I’m very excited about my ideas.

Thanks so much for chatting with us today! 

 

Maidens, we are giving away a SIGNED copy of Lord of the Vampires, Gena's new Harlequin Nocturne book! This contest is open internationally.

To enter, please:

1. Be a follower

2. Fill out the form below

Author Override: Gena Showalter (and the Lords of the Underworld)

Author Override is the place where authors take the reins and take you on a journey into their world. Some may allow you into their private writing dens. Others may take you along with them on research trips or interviews. Whatever the case may be, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride because here you’ll get an in-depth look into an author’s musings.

 

Today we have Author of the month, Gena Showalter, with us and she has brought with her the Lords of the Underworld!!!! *squee* We're all trying not to hyperventilate here, but failing miserably. We'll try to compose ourselves so we don't look like fools in front of all of them. We're not doing a good job...

BUT we hoped we asked the questions that our maidens would've wanted us to ask the Lords. So check out our interview with the Lords below!

1. Hi Gena! *looks seductively at the Lords* Hellooo boys. *ahem* Ready for this interview? How is it having your house full of your friend’s wives/women now? Do you think it has improved things?

Kane: Bleep that! Wait, can I say bleep?
Gena: No.
Kane: Whatever. Everyone is driving me bleeping crazy. When is it my turn?
Strider: Oh, goodie. Someone brought whine.

2. For Torin: How many times have you watched Carrow’s video on Youtube?

The same number of times I’ve thanked the gods for her creation.

3. For Paris: How do you feel about having had sex with Kaia now that you know your friend Strider is in love with her?

Shit, you just had to go there, didn’t you? But no way in hell I’ll start spilling details. Strider will try to spill my guts. Again.

4. It's not a secret that Nix from Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series has a thing for the Lords of the Underworld. Does the sexy sooth-sayer catch any of your interests?


A collective: Hell, yes!
Paris: That’s not even a question. Girl is straight up hot.
Strider: You say that about everyone, P-man. But in this case, you’re right. So if Nix and Kaia want to do a little fighting over me, I say go for it.

5. Lords, time to fess up. Give us the dirty on Gena Showalter. Got any secrets you'd like to share about the wonderful person who writes your books?

Paris: That little witch loves to torture us, but that’s hardly a secret.
Torin: I’d do her.
Aeron: I caught her crying over a commercial once. I won’t say I was disgusted by it, but I think we’ll all know I’m lying.
William: She’s my true love, I just know it.
William: Scratch that shit right now, Showalter. I’d give you a go, sure, but true love? Please.

6. Where would the ideal vacation spot for the Lords be and what would you do?

Gideon: Pits of hell. For real.
William: Gena’s bedroom.
William: For the love of all that’s unholy! Stop answering for me, woman.
Paris: Making love to the same woman over and over again. And I think we all know who I’d pick as mine.

7. What do the Lords do for each other's bachelor party?? We won't tell anyone!

Paris: Not that he appreciated it, but I tried giving my man Stridey some tips about pleasing his woman.
Anya: Lucien will have strippers at his, and I’ll kill those strippers at mine. It’s win/win!
Kane: Since I can see where Showalter is headed with my “happily ever after,” I’d rather gnaw off a limb than get engaged.

8. If you could trade demons with another Lord, which demon would you rather have?

Maddox (Violence): Paris
Lucien (Death): Paris
Reyes (Pain): Paris
Sabin (Doubt): Are you kidding? I’m made of awesome! Right? Right!
Aeron (Wrath): Paris
Gideon (Lies): Anyone but Paris
Strider (Defeat): Screw that! Everyone had better pick me, or their last encounter with Hunters left them stupid
Paris (Sex): Anyone but Strider
Kane (Disaster): If I could kill every single demon, I would. So trade? Bleep no! (Why are you letting everyone else cuss, Showalter, but censoring me?)
Cameo (Misery): Did you know 8.6 million women die from heart disease every year?
Torin (Disease): Paris
William: Gena
William: I give up! Fine, whatever. I want Gena, can’t get enough of Gena.

9. If we could have a contest where a loyal fan would get to have a date with you, what surprise will you have in store for her?

Paris: Me, naked.
Strider: Like that’s really a surprise, Sex. Me? I’d do the whole candy, flowers and candlelight thing. (snicker) Okay, okay, I almost gagged even saying that. The truth? Me, naked.
Gideon: A hot air balloon ride through a rainbow. Yeah, I’m romantic like that.

10. Which do you prefer football (NFL), hockey (NHL) or basketball (NBA)? Any big Superbowl parties at the Lords place?

Strider: Dude, I can’t believe you even have to ask. Naked oil wrestling. Or so Paris thinks, I’m sure (snicker).
Paris: What’s with you and the snickering, you ass? Never mind. Don’t answer. I don’t care. Because if your balls are what we’re kicking around, I’m for the sport, whatever it is.
Strider: Someone clearly needs a massage to release some tension. With oil.

11. Pick your poison . . . What’s your drink of choice?

Paris: single malt
Maddox: And isn’t that a shocker? I thought you preferred ambrosia-laced wine that nearly kills my woman.
Paris: shut it, Violence.
Strider: God, the arguing. Both of you shut it, ‘cause it’s my turn to answer and I say Harpy blood. What? It’s good.
William: Gena. Of course.

12. And because our maidens are dying to know. . . Boxers, briefs or commando?

Paris: what do you prefer, beautiful?
Gideon: women’s underwear
Aeron: Someone mentioned gnawing off a limb. Yeah, I’d rather gnaw off a limb than answer that.
Strider: Whatever Paris’s mom prefers.
Paris: You are such an asshole.

13. Finally, What does it take to be a Lord of the underworld?

Anya: Me, me, I want to answer this one! The recipe is as follows: two cups of evil mixed with two cups of not so evil. Avoid adding “honorable” or the beefcake will come out lame. One cup of smartass remarks, 3 TBS of muscles, 2 litters of sexy, and balls the size of boulders.

And there you have it! The ladies at UTC with Gena Showalter and the Lords of the Underworld! Hope you enjoyed this as much as we did!

Gena Showalter has offered a signed ARC of "Lord of the Vampires" + swag to one very lucky reader!  All you have to do to enter is:

1. Be a follower of this blog

2. Fill out the form below

Remember to come back every day between now and August 7 for our Gena post of the day!

Author of the Month: Gena Showalter

Yes maidens!  The writing machine herself is our Author of the Month.  Why?  Well she has two highly anticipated books coming out in August, both on our MUST-HAVE list!

Who is Gena Showalter?

Gena Showalter sold her first book at the age of 27 and now, four years later, is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirteen books, with eleven more on the way in a thrilling blend of genres: breathtaking paranormal and contemporary romances, cutting edge young adult novels, and stunning urban fantasy.

Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, MTV, Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated in French, Italian and Korean. The critics have called her books "sizzling page-turners" and "utterly spellbinding stories", while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise”. 

We have put together some special and fun things for our readers and we want to thank Gena for being so wonderful!

Author of the Month: Laura Wright

Laura Wright hadn’t always been interested in reading and writing. In fact, it was only after her high school days that she discovered her newfound passion for the written word. Before this, she was a ballroom dancer and competitor. It was only until she read Jude Deveraux’s novel, Knight in Shining Armor that it changed her life and opened her eyes to the world of writing. Since then, Wright has conjured up her own stories, including her first published novel, Cinderella and the Playboy for Silhouette Desire and her paranormal romance series, Mark of the Vampire. The first book, Eternal Hunger (Alexander’s book) was published in October of 2010 while Eternal Kiss (Nicholas’s book) was released this year in April.

Laura will be stopping by our blog this weekend!  Don't miss it!  She's taking over our blog on Friday with an amazing post in our Author Override, and you'll be able to read more about her in our interview and giveaway!!!

Bibliography

Silhouette Desire:

Cinderella and the Playboy (2002)

Hearts are Wild (2002)

Baby and the Beast (2002)

Charming the Prince (2003)

Sleeping with Beauty (2003)

Ruling Passions (2003)

Locked Up with a Lawman (2003)

Redwolf's Woman (2004)

A Bed of Sand (2004)

The Sultan's Bed (2005)

Her Royal Bed (2005)

Savor the Seduction (2005)

Rich Man's Vengeful Seduction (2007)

Playboy's Ruthless Payback (2007)

Millionaire’s Calculated Baby Bid (2007)

Front Page Engagement (2007)

Paranormal Romance

Eternal Hunger (2010)

Eternal Kiss (2011)

Kresley Cole Fan Appreciation Contest + Merch Sale!

Calling all Kresley Cole fans!

The month of May is Cole’s fan appreciation month! Head over to her Facebook page for a chance to win a brand new Kindle! All you need to do is "like" her author page between now and June 1st to be entered to win a Kindle 3G. If you're already a fan, you're already entered! One random winner will be announced on June 1^st. Good luck everyone!

Also, Team Cole is running a store-wide sale on Immortals After Dark goods (T-shirts, coffee mugs, totes, mousepads, etc). All you have to do is enter the following coupon codes at checkout:
Dreams25 (for purchases over $25 you'll save $5).
Dreams50 (for purchases over $50, you'll save $10).
Dreams100 (for purchases over $100, you'll save $20).
Sale ends May 15.