Crystal's Blog Along: December 2008

A big welcome to our readers today! Be sure to read to the end of the interview to find out how to WIN the the great prize being offered up. The contest runs until 3:00 pm Eastern time tomorrow to give our east coast and international readers a chance to participate.
NOTE: this is not a fixed time event, the post just goes live at 8:00 am PST. You can stop by any time during the day or evening and leave your questions and comments.
Interview:
Hi Jennifer!
Welcome to Bitten by Books, we are excited to have you here today!
I would like to thank you taking the time to join us for the question and answer session with our readers. It has been very interesting to get to know more about you and what makes you tick as a writer! Readers, if you haven’t done so already please stop by and get your copy of Jennifer’s latest release Eternal Seduction.
BBB: What do you find the most challenging aspect of writing?
JT: Learning to stop when I’m ahead. I’m the kind of writer who will go back over chapters and change little things here, tweak other sentences there. I’m a perfectionist at heart, so it’s very hard for me to tag a filename with FINAL and leave it alone. It usually takes my husband or my mom reading me the riot act to break through the perfectionist haze and make me realize I’m being an unruly snot. But I love them for it!
BBB: What is the most rewarding aspect of writing for you?
JT: Hearing from my readers. I love hearing from all the different people who’ve enjoyed Eternal Seduction, be they family, friends or fans. I have bad days just like everyone else, and when those days happen sometimes I’ll go back through reader e-mails/guestbook entries and it helps me refocus. Helps me remember there are others who want to play in my world as much as I do. I think that’s why I say thank you so much in my blog. Selling books definitely motivates me, but it’s the comments and notes from my readers that keep me going when I want to toss my laptop out the window.
I also get a huge kick out of reading comments where my characters are referred to in the same context as someone you might meet on the street. There’s no greater feeling of satisfaction for me than hearing someone talk about Odin as though he might sit down next to them at any moment. If the characters have come to life in a reader’s eyes or heart…well, it doesn’t get any better than that!
BBB: What or who was your muse that got you started writing?
JT: The title of “Muse” goes to three people. My mom, because there isn’t a weekend I can remember when I was a kid that she didn’t have a Red Silhouette novel in her hands. Her love of reading made me want to read, which inevitably lead to my love of writing. My husband, because not only is he my pillar of stability, he made me promise once I started writing that I wouldn’t stop until it took me somewhere. And Sherrilyn Kenyon, because after reading Night Play, I was so enthralled with the world she created, I wondered if I could make someone else feel that way about my own. If it wasn’t for all three of them, I’m not sure I’d be doing this interview right now!
BBB: What do you feel are the benefits of the new electronic readers such as Kindle or the Sony Digital Book Reader to the environment?
JT: In terms of the Kindle, I don’t think there really are any yet. Most of the portable readers currently on the market are too expensive for the majority of consumers. I think in a few years when they’ve mastered the technology and the prices come down to something a little more reasonable, then you’ll see benefits to the environment. Less paper means more trees. Trees are good. Unless, of course, your name is Will Scarlet. Rumor has it he hates trees.
BBB: What impact do electronic readers create on the bottom line for authors in the end? Do you feel they have a negative impact or positive, or no impact at all that you can see?
JT: I know that I’ve sold twice as many eBooks of Eternal Seduction as I have print. So for me, the impact is definitely positive. And really, I think it’s positive all the way around. A lot of great authors who’ve been turned away by traditional publishers are finding very happy homes with e-publishers. That’s a win for everyone. The authors, who now have a market and home for their work when they may not have otherwise. The publishers, who are getting top notch authors to build their business on and around. And the readers, who literally have thousands of wonderful books available to them 24 hours a day – and they don’t even have to leave the house to go shopping!
BBB: Who among your character families is your favorite and why?
JT: Hmmm. If we’re talking about the families spawned by the six Original vampires, I’d have to say it’s a tie between the Mystics and the Warriors. The Mystics because their powers are off the charts and they can make almost anything happen if they really put their mind to it. The Warriors because they’re all heart and passion. They prize loyalty above all else, and will fight to the death for anything and anyone they care about.
If we’re talking about individual family bloodlines, I’d have to say it’s a tie between the Nelek family and the Black family. The Neleks because I love writing Stefan and his kids. They span such a wide range of age and personalities, they always keep me guessing. The Blacks because Justin holds a very, very special place in my heart. He’s one of the strongest, most confident characters I have – but at the same time he’s so lost and trapped in his own guilt.
BBB: Are Servios ever allowed to become a vampire or are they always a servant?
JT: Truthfully, it all depends on their Master. Some vampires won’t make someone a Child unless they’ve served as a Servio for a specific and usually extended period of time. Think of it almost like an internship, where you learn all the rules and come out more prepared to finally take the big step into true immortality. Other vampires will tell you, “Once a servant, always a servant.” They see Servios as second class citizens and can’t imagine one of them actually earning fangs, let alone passing their curse to one of them.
Believe it or not, the decision to turn a Servio into a Child gets more complicated the older a vampire is. If you’re a 10,000 year old vampire, and your personal Servio has been with you most of that time, chances are they’re more of a friend than a servant. No doubt you’ve come to depend on them during the day, will most likely listen to their council for better or worse, and you might even love them in some ways (and/or vice versa). Turning that beloved friend into a vampire can be a risky gambit. Vampires are constantly in competition with each other for food, power and prestige. Is it really a good idea to put someone who knows you so well on even ground with you? What if the new relationship between Sire and Child sours? Your former Servio, now Child, knows your greatest secrets…and more importantly, they probably know when and where you sleep.
So, is it physiologically possible for a Servio to be turned into a vampire? Yes, absolutely. Is it necessarily a good idea to allow it…maybe, maybe not.
BBB: Can you tell us how many books are planned after Eternal Seduction and when we can expect them? Or what your next releases will be if they are stand alone titles?
JT: As it stands, I have about 13 books and a few novellas planned for the Eternal Series. My goal is to release them no more than 6 months apart. Books 2, 3 and 4 are written and going through final revisions, and I’m writing book 5 (Odin’s Book!) on the in between. I promised myself I’d keep the series going as long as there’s interest, and as long as I never reach a point where I feel like I’m writing the same story over and over. If that happens, I’ll write the last book and move on to something else.
BBB: Succubus or Vampire. Which would you choose to be and why?
JT: Definitely a vampire. Although, in my world, the most effective way for a vampire to hide their feeding is to bite their prey during orgasm…so I suppose you get the best of both worlds! As for why, I think it’s because I’m strangely comfortable with the idea of never seeing the sun again and sleeping all day.
BBB: How would you describe the writing style in the Eternal Seduction? Is it serious dark paranormal or a cross between Urban Fantasy and paranormal or something else entirely?
JT: Personally, I’m still trying to figure out exactly what Urban Fantasy is. I’ve been told it’s essentially a paranormal romance novel where the romance takes a back seat and the fate of the world is always at stake, usually resting in the hands of the protagonists. To be honest, I’m not a big fan of series where the fate of the planet is hanging in the balance in every single novel. I’m all for putting a character’s personal world in jeopardy, but I don’t think every book needs an Earth shattering battle sequence.
So, with all that in mind, I’d say Eternal Seduction is Dark Paranormal Romance with mild horror elements. I know there’s been a big trend lately to stray away from the more romantic aspects of vampire/paranormal novels, but I don’t intend to follow that curve. Call me a rule breaker, but I really enjoy writing romance and I love the complexities that particular emotion brings out in my characters, ancient or otherwise. Will there be a little sarcasm and ass-kickery to go along with all the love? Of course, but only when pertinent to the story and characters.
As for serious, there are certainly moments in my novels when things take a more serious turn but I wouldn’t necessarily choose that word to describe my series. Dark? Definitely. I’m not sure I could write a novel that didn’t have some horror elements in it. I mean, we’re talking vampires here, some of whom are truly ancient. They prey on the very species they once were a part of. Now, that’s not to say I don’t have my good guys, but you’re not going to find any of my vampires frolicking in a sunlit field of poppies.
Side note: Every time someone uses the term Urban Fantasy…I automatically think of Marvin the Martian. “Where’s the ka-boom? The earth shattering KA-BOOM?!?”
BBB: How do you keep track of your characters and world building?
JT: Right now, it’s all in my head. I keep telling myself that I’m going to go buy one of those fancy little notebooks with the fabric cover then write all the rules and whatnot down, but whenever I actually make it to the store I always get sidetracked. And usually it’s because of something shiny or containing dark chocolate.
BBB: What is your favorite paranormal fiction book of all time?
JT: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. I read it for the first time back in 5th grade, and to this day, I’m still fascinated by the idea of the 4th dimension.
BBB: What do you like to do in between all the time you spend writing?
JT: I like to spend time with my daughter and my Husband. We’re feeling the economic crunch just like the rest of the country, so we’ve been staying home a lot and having Call of Duty 4 tournaments (my husband couldn’t live without his X-Box). I know COD4 is probably not the best video game for a 9 year old girl, but there’s something seriously funny about watching her use her infamous brute force machine gun attack, then hearing her talk smack to her Dad.
I also like to watch movies, read, and listen to music. Music is a huge part of my life, and there aren’t many moments in the day where there isn’t music playing somewhere in my apartment.
BBB: What made you decide to self publish instead of go with an e-pub or print publisher? Are you glad you did? Would you consider making the move over and letting somebody else do it all?
JT: To be completely honest, I chose to self publish because I couldn’t find an agent who wanted my series. I ran into a lot of opposition concerning Logan Ellis (the heroine in Eternal Seduction) because she starts out as a homeless drug addict. Apparently that concept pushed the bounds of Dark Paranormal a little too far for them. I was given the option a few times to change those elements and resubmit, but after a lot of thought I decided against it. Not because I was trying to be difficult, but more because I felt those aspects were very important to Logan’s character. I’m all about compromise, but removing Logan’s addiction and homeless status would have changed who she is and her outlook on the world, which inevitably would’ve changed the way Kerestyan saw her, and in turn changed the entire novel. Plus, considering the issues they had with the darker nature of Eternal Seduction, I could almost envision the look of horror on their face if they saw what happened in the next book.
Am I glad I self published? Yes. If nothing else, I learned firsthand about the amount of work that really goes into preparing a book for publication. The editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design, proofing and general hair-pulling-out feeling you get when that one line just won’t go where you want it to. Then you have the marketing and promotion. Self publishing has been a very trying road to walk at times, but getting a 5 Tombstone review and hearing from all the people who’ve enjoyed the first book…makes it all worth it!
Would I consider making the move over and letting someone else do it all? Gladly! Know anyone who’s interested??
BBB: Do you plan on having the twins battle each other?
JT: Believe me when I tell you – they already are…
BBB: Will Odin get his own book or Drake??
JT: Drake’s book, Eternal Hearts, is next in line with a scheduled release date of May 1, 2009. Odin’s book, Eternal Embers, is book number 5, but you get to meet his woman in book 4, Eternal Desires.
BBB: What did you do before you became a writer? Do you write full time?
JT: I’ve been a cashier, a press operator at a dry cleaner, a food court attendant, an assembler at a chemical factory, a data entry operator, a recruiting specialist, a human resources assistant, a tattoo artist, a payroll clerk, an administrative assistant, a distribution clerk, and an inside sales representative…in that order!
I became a serious writer in between the last two. I do write full time now, but only because my husband, the awesome man he is, works a standard 48 hour week to give me this opportunity.
BBB: Why does Logan brush her teeth so much?
JT: LOL! For her, it’s a somewhat twisted but comforting affirmation of survival. Most people brush their teeth first thing after they wake up, to most, it’s an absolute necessity. So if she lives to brush her teeth that day and has the means to do so, she knows her life could be a lot worse.
BBB: Katie who reviewed your amazing book has one big question she would like to know but at the same time wouldn’t want to know, is Drake the vampire/werewolf?
JT: Is Drake a vampire/werewolf? Yes. Is he *THE* vampire/werewolf…you’ll have to read his book to find out.
What?!? You didn’t think I could just give that one away…did you?
BBB: Do you have any pearls of wisdom you would like to share with our readers here today?
JT: The sarcastic side of me says: Don’t eat yellow snow. But the other side says: Go ahead, a little dog pee never killed anyone.
Jennifer, thank you again for being here today, it has been fun!! Readers be SURE to check out Jennifer’s website here:http://www.darknesswithinnovels.com/
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Questions and Contest: Now, I am going to open up the internet floor so to speak and let our readers ask Jennifer some questions. Feel free to post as many questions or comments as you like. She will be popping in and out today and tomorrow to answer them.
Readers, here’s how to enter the contest. You can do ONE or ALL of these things, and each one will give an additional entries at a chance to win. One lucky participant will be chosen to win an amazing prize package containing a copy of Eternal Seduction and an ARC of Eternal Hearts AND Eternal Embrace, a month or two before they are set to release. The contest will be open to our international readers as well.
Please note, the prize package IS the prize you will receive, there will be absolutely no substitutions or changes the prize is non-transferable. If you don’t want the prize being offered, please don’t enter the contest. If you ever win an electronic copy of a book, please note that it is ILLEGAL to forward, give away or copy it in anyway once you receive it. Doing so violates copyright. If we find out that it has been done, you will no longer be eligible to win any of our contests.
1. Ask Jennifer some questions. Ask as many questions as you like, you can also start a stimulating discussion.
2. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter here on the right hand side of the site. This is for new subscribers only.
3. Post the link to the interview here today (http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=2780) at another blog, website, Myspace, Ning Group, Facebook, Yahoo Group (any group where it is appropriate) and you will be given TEN additional entries for a chance to win for every link you post. BUT you MUST come back here to this interview and post those links in one response here in this thread. The more places you post the event, the more entries you get, so spread the word! NOTE: if you post multiple links here, your post will not show up right away. If you don’t see it, don’t keep posting it, we WILL approve your entry later on in the day.
4. Purchase copies of Jennifer’s awesome book TODAY or TOMORROW and send us a copy of the receipt VIA email (sorry no faxes) for your purchase to: racoo.smith @ gmail.com (no spaces) for TWENTY additional entries. You get TWENTY entries for each one you purchase. Not valid on past purchases. Click this link to buy her most recent book.Eternal Seduction Eternal Seduction - Kindle Version
Or buy ANYTHING from Amazon today by using the Amazon search box to your right hand side on our site and get 10 entries
Books make GREAT gifts for friends and family anytime!
5. Add us as your friend on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bittenbybooks
Add us as your friend on Facebook: http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=614064436
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BittenbyBooks
Be sure to mention that you are friending us for this contest so we know to enter you!
6. Stumble, Digg or share the post with any social networking sites. There is a button right at the end of this post that says “Share” that you can use.
7. Twitter and ask your friends to re-tweet the URL for this event: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=2780
8. Read the Bitten by Books review of Jennifer’s book here:
http://bittenbybooks.com/?page_id=58&book_author_id=Jennifer%20Turner
Then leave a meaningful comment IN THE REVIEW post that shows you read the review, not just a post that says “sounds good” or “nice review”, a couple of sentences would be great! Simply share your thoughts, ideas or opinions and show the author some love.
9. Add Jennifer’s blog to your blog roll or links page: http://www.darknesswithinnovels.com/
10. Add Bitten by Books to your blog roll or links page: http://bittenbybooks.com if you leave our link up permanently you will always be entered into our contests automatically. Just be sure to stop by each contest we hold and leave the link to where it is so we can give you your entry!
11. Email ALL of your friends and invite them to come by today! If your fiends come and post here and say you sent them, they get TWO entries and you get TWO entries! They have to tell us who you are so we know who to give the entries to. You can invite as many people as you want and get all the extra entries!
12. Join the The Blood Bank the Bitten by Books Community! here: http://bittenbybooks.ning.com/ then come back here and tell us your username. Be sure to post something about yourself on your blog there.
The contest will run through tomorrow 12/9/08 at 3:00 pm Eastern time to allow our East coast and international readers a chance to win too!
Be sure to include an email and name where we can contact you if you are a winner.
We will be awarding the AMAZING prize and announcing the winner to the Bitten by Books website later. And REMEMBER you can’t win if you don’t play!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Jennifer Turner interview and contest at bitten by books

Monday, December 1, 2008

Do you know who Angela James is?...

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