Jon Paul Ferrara Interview with Vince August

Christmas Dance

Hello my bookworms! Today I thought to take a break from featuring authors and feature someone you all know I have a weakness for and that is Jon Paul Ferrara and his awesome, amazing and soul reaching cover art.

If you read romance novels, then you’ve heard of him and if you didn’t I am 100 % sure that you’ve at least once bought one of the books for which he did the cover art. There’s no way in Hell that you can look at one of his art covers and not be deeply moved and touched by them. They in themselves are just too powerful…too real…at times overwhelming.

The man himself is a very, VERY private person and last year I had the privilege to ‘meet’ him [albeit only on Facebook] and through many of our conversations, I have now come to respect him as much as his work. What an awesome human being he is!

To me, he was a mystery, but thanks to Mr. Vince August and his interview, that has changed and I can finally put a face and a voice to the artist I came to admire very much. I really hope you watch this short two-part very fun and informative interview.

Before you do, here is Jon Paul in his own words about how he came to do the interview.

“Vince August is a very good friend of mine from way back. One of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet. He approached me awhile back with the concept of doing an interview about my artwork and a little look behind the scenes of the process of how a book covers are done.

I am a very private person and very seldom do interviews, especially where video is involved. Well, needles to say, Vince talked me into it, thinking it would be a good idea for people to see how passionate I am about my work and get a behind the scenes look of my work environment and the process of cover art.

It turned out, I had a lot of fun doing the interview, as you can see in the video. He made me very comfortable and that put me at ease by the way he handled  the thing, and to be honest, it really didn’t even feel like an interview. It felt like we were just two friends hanging out.

I also recently did another interview before Vince August and that was for a Canadian TV art program which has already aired in Canada this past fall. Doing both, I can say that I really had a good time…

I hope to sell my art in print form and I have several other ideas I have in mind… hopeful the first item will be out before Christmas.

The other day Facebook disabled or deleted my Fan Page for no reason that I am aware of. I never promoted, sold or ran any contest on my Facebook Fan Page or did anything that would offend anybody. I posted my artwork. Period. After building up a fan base for several years and over 5000 of you loyal fans, as of yesterday, I have no Fan Page! I actually was going to release something in the next two weeks until FB knocked my fan page off and that kind of put an obstacle in the road that might hold up my plans.

Hopefully if the day comes when FB decides to re-enlist my Fan Page again or I decide to create a new one, I will post it and share it with you guys.

I am working on a whole new series of books for my publishers that I will be posting soon… though wouldn’t be able to release any info just yet out of respect to my publishers…in the meantime, I hope you watch and enjoy the interview…

FEATURED ARTIST: Jon Paul Ferrara

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Bookworms, I’m gonna make you work for this Giveaway and you’ll love it!

To ONE of you Jon Paul will send a piece of his art signed!

To TWO of you b2b will send one book each of one of the books he did cover art for.

All you need do is tell us what does the book cover art means to you? How important is it when deciding to buy the book? Which one of Jon Paul’s cover art books is your favorite?

Won’t you join our celebration by:

1) Subscribing to our Blog…

2) ‘LIKE’ -ing us on our Facebook!

All of the above are required for a TRIPLE chance to win in the Grand Giveaway!

However, if you’re already a follower and our FB buddy, all you need do is…COMMENT on the upcoming posts and you’re all set to go.

*Giveaway US only.

Fan2Author Interview with…Jamie Quaid!

b2bKrissie: Hello Jamie!  Thank you so much for stopping by to chat with us about your upcoming début release Boyfriend From Hell!  We are so excited to have you here!  I have put together a handful of questions to give our readers a bit of info about your book and your ideas for future books as well as helping us to get to know you a little better!

First off, I want to tell you that I am absolutely overflowing with excitement over the release of Boyfriend From Hell!  I have it pre-ordered on my Nook and I (very conveniently) have the day off of work to read it!  Squueee!  Can you tell us a little of what went into the writing of Justine’s story?  Was this something that you had thought about for a while, or did she just come to you like a wonderful little surprise?

Jamie Quaid: Thank you for having me here and for the squee! Justine’s story is a mixture of both inspiration and perspiration. Her situation popped into my head one day as I reached near trance state while riding through hundreds of miles of cornfield listening to bad music on the radio. Killing a boyfriend apparently made weird sense at the time, and it was such a brilliant scene, I played with it for months. Even after I finally battered out a plot outline, it took months of writing to develop Justine’s character. She has so many layers that it was fascinating to watch her unfold.

b2bK: I want to tell you that your web page is BEAUTIFUL!  As a matter of fact, that was my very first thought upon opening the page up.  Is the very capable looking woman on the front page our heroine, Justine?  If so, is that how you envision her to look?  I think she’s a perfect fit to the mental image I have!

JQ: Thank Kim Killion at HotDamnDesigns for the gorgeous website! Oddly, we created that site when I was working with a different heroine for a different series. So, no, Justine does not look like that page. The cover artist for BOYFRIEND FROM HELL got a wee bit dramatic, but Tina is probably closer to the cover image. She’s of mixed origin, and at the beginning of the story, she is not gorgeous by any means!

b2bK: The excerpt is PERFECT!  Just enough to get my chops watering and make me whine and complain waiting “patiently” for release day!  I immediately think of Max with a greased back shaggy hair cut and penny loafers…. I have no idea why he comes to mind like that.  So tell us, how fun was it to write this story?!  I would love for you to tell us all about it, but I know I need to wait for release day!

JQ: I ADORED writing this story! It should probably be illegal to have so much fun while working. I doubt Max wore penny loafers while riding his Harley, but he can have the greased hair, if you like. “G” I can tell you that Tina’s world doesn’t include vampires or werewolves, and if demons exist, they’re inside respectable society matrons, and shape-shifting chimps are a part of the fun. It’s a weird, wacky world, and as time goes on, the stakes keep increasing. I do hope you’ll enjoy it!

b2bK: Can you tell us a little about yourself?  What is your favorite genre of books?  How about music and movies?  I’m a huge sucker for romance, romance anything.  Paranormal romance, contemporary romance, historical romance…anything that can be possibly construed as a romance has my vote. LOL

JQ: I’ve been told I have a cynical and evil mind, but mostly, I like turning things upside down and inside out because looking at the surface isn’t enough. If the book or movie or whatever doesn’t survive my examination process, oh well, there are plenty more to read and watch. The world is my oyster! I enjoy strong humor more than angst because life’s just too short to suffer more than necessary. I love the happy endings of romance, but I like urban fantasy to leave the messy little edges dangling, while still leaving the reader smiling. And my stories will always have potential love interests if not necessarily a romance. I don’t prefer one genre over another so much as I prefer strong writing and great characters, but I do want that satisfying ending! I want to walk away feeling good.

b2bK: Have you always wanted to be an author?  Was there anything else that you aspired to be as a little girl?  Was there ever a dream of being a doctor or lawyer in there somewhere?

JQ: I have always written. I was writing Nancy Drew mysteries in the fourth grade. But I never expected to earn money as an author, so I’ve always kept my eye on the practical. My mother wanted me to be a doctor, but being a Candy Striper taught me that I don’t like the sight of blood. My father told me I should be a lawyer because I argue so much, but I was shy and courtrooms didn’t appeal. I thought journalism might work, but y’know, that shyness thing doesn’t work so hot on interviews. Since I seemed to fall into bookkeeping jobs pretty easily, I just eventually earned an accounting degree. I had two manuscripts under my bed by the time I graduated and sold one of them shortly after!

b2bK: So, what are you willing to spill about the Sisters of Saturn?!  Maybe how many sisters there will be?  Or how many books total are you thinking of?

JQ: Given the current state of the book market, I make no promises. I’d like Tina and the Zone to have three solid stories together, culminating in a near apocalyptic experience that shifts the Zone and brings in more of Saturn’s daughters. Then I’d like Tina to take off, visiting her “sisters” and learning more about their abilities. At the moment, Tina is dangling three fascinating, completely different men, on her line. She needs to choose, I think. Or maybe not. “G”

b2bK: Even though we are still eagerly awaiting Boyfriend From Hell (September 25), do you know when your next release is going to be?  Would you be willing to share a little of the premise for that book, if you have an idea?

JQ: I don’t have a release date on the second book, but it’s called Damn You to Hell.  The premise I’m working with is that the Zone is blasted with gaseous green fumes and pink flakes, old people start beating each other up, the locals are falling comatose, and Tina’s hunky neighbor gets arrested for murdering her boyfriend’s mother. What are the chances that she can save her new home, her best client, and not send anyone else to hell?

b2bK: Last but certainly not least, because I absolutely need to be in the know (ha ha) where can we go to learn about all of your upcoming releases?  Is your Hell Blog the best way to keep up with you?

My website is always an excellent place to go. Everyone can reach me at my Facebook and Twitter addresses. But if you want to win free books and meet other authors, then I’d also recommend POCKET AFTER DARK. It’s a fun place to drive by occasionally to see what we’re all up to.

b2bK: Thank you so much for stopping by and chatting with us Jamie!!  I cannot wait to read Boyfriend From Hell and promise to post my review as soon as I have read every single word!

JQ: Bless you and how many chocolates do you require?

And now here’s a question for some of our readers [and a prize is one copy of Boyfriend from Hell]: Jamie Quaid also writes wonderful historical romances under another name…can you tell us that name?

Fan2Author Interview with…Erin Knightley!

b2bMelanie: Hello Erin and welcome to b2b! I’m so happy you’re here! It was so much fun meeting you at this year’s RT’s and I’ll always remember your awesome smile and southern charm.  How have you been and are you enjoying your summer so far? How exited are you with ‘More Than a Stranger’ coming out?

Erin, this is your début novel and I cannot even imagine the feelings you’re going through! The closest I can compare it to is sending my kids off to the Kindergarten and hoping they’ll do good without me there to guide them….

Erin Knightley: LOL, Melanie – that is actually a great comparison! I’m excited, and nervous, and really hoping that everything goes well. As for the summer, I had two deadlines last week, so I’m still recovering from it. I actually went outside – in the sun – for what felt like the first time in ages this weekend. For a person who lives on a lake, it’s hard to believe that I am the least tan person I know!

Thanks so much for the compliment – it was an absolute delight to meet you as well. I hope to see you at more conferences in the future!

b2bMelanie: Seeing you again would be such a treat! Before I start with my interview, won’t you introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a bit about yourself and your début novel?

Erin: I’m so thrilled to be here with you today, Melanie. I’ve been a full-time writer for almost three years now, and with all that ‘typing away in the writing dungeon’ stuff, it’s great to interact with the wonderful romance community like this. More Than a Stranger is actually the very first book I ever wrote, though it went through a ton of revisions. But as I learned more about the craft and my storytelling improved, I simply couldn’t give up on Evie and Benedict, whom I absolutely love. And I’m glad I didn’t! Their story is so special to me, and I’m thrilled to share it with the world (and nervous! But mostly thrilled).

Evie and Benedict’s story begins as 11-year-old Evie sends off an indignant letter to her brother’s new best friend, warning him off. After all, she had always been her brother’s closest friend. Benedict, inwardly lonely and intrigued by a girl who could be so fiercely protective of her sibling—so different from his own experience—writes her back a letter guaranteed to get a response. They eventually end up sharing a five year correspondence, though they never actually meet. So years later, when Benedict comes face to face with her at a time when he can’t reveal who he really is, there is no denying the chemistry between them. Evie might think he’s a stranger, but it seems that her heart knows that he’s so much more…

b2bMelanie: What made you choose this premise? It truly is unique and exciting way to start a relationship that slowly develops between Evie and Benedict through their correspondence.

Erin: Interestingly enough, with this, my first book, I literally just sat down and started typing. I didn’t know what was going to happen, or how things were going to turn out—I just let the story flow. That being said, I’m rather fascinated with the way we communicate these days. There are so many people online who I “know” so well, but really not at all. It makes me wonder if I met them on the street, would I recognize them?  A lot of that fascination came through in the unfolding of their correspondence.

b2bMelanie: That’s so brave! It sounds like you’re the ‘pantser’ and not a ‘plotter’

Do you let someone read your work during your writing process? Who and why? Or do you wait ‘till it’s finished, then you let someone read it…and who?

Erin: Ha! I’m supposed to say yes to this question, but more often than not, the answer is no. I have a wonderful critique group, but these days, I’m pushing against deadlines, and I never feel like I have enough time to let someone else critique my writing, and then try to incorporate their suggestions. So right now, it’s just me and my editor!

b2bMelanie: I must say that the intimate scenes were very sweet and they reminded me of the movies from long ago, (and of Carla Kelly’s wonderful writing as well) where the very details of the intimacy was left to our imagination and I wondered if that was your deliberate choice or did you find it hard writing the intimate scenes?

Erin: You know, I actually tend to skip love scenes when I’m reading. I love the sizzling sexual tension and chemistry of a couple, but not so much the nuts and bolts of what they do together. It wasn’t so much a conscious decision as just writing what I like to read. I’m not saying I won’t ever write a sex scene, I’m just saying I haven’t yet felt the need in my characters’ journeys.

b2bMelanie: I think Cover Art is almost as much important as the content of the novel, but I find that not many publishers are acknowledging the artists or the models, and as an avid reader I love all aspects of the novel I’m about to read. Tell me about the cover art for this book. It is stunning. This girl IS Evie. By the way, who did you model the hero and heroine after?

Erin: Ha!! I have asked multiple times who the models were for my two covers, and I have yet to hear a thing! The good news is that the art department did exquisite work on both my covers; the bad news is that I’m still in the dark on the process! I will say that they let me tell them what I wanted the poses to be on both my covers so far, and each one came out even better than I’d ever imagined. Seriously – my hubby may not know it, but we are totally recreating the cover of A TASTE FOR SCANDAL on our Christmas cards!

b2bMelanie: OMG! Are you serious? My address is….LOL!!!

Let’s talk titles…How hard is it to ‘name’ your ‘baby’? Have you gone through more than one and can you tell us what they were?

Erin: Actually, the first one wasn’t too bad. And I was really surprised that the publisher let me keep it. I was expecting a battle, and they readily agreed that MORE THAN A STRANGER was perfect for the story.  Now the second story is a whole other story, lol. That was a heck of a battle, and in the end, I think I submitted close to 50 alternatives before we settled on the second one I came up with, lol. I was polling my critique partners, my coworkers, my writing friend—anyone who could give me ideas! My first choice for that one, by the way, was Tempting Lord Raleigh. Though I love the new title, I think it will always be TLR in my mind

b2bMelanie: You know what? I like it too! We all have favorite books, authors… How about you? Are you willing to fess-up?

Erin: Oh, there are so many! Sabrina Jeffries, Julia Quinn, Cathy Maxwell, Mary Jo Putney are only a few of my favorites. Oh, and Susan Elizabeth Phillips is my go-to girl for when I feel like a contemporary. As for my favorite books, THE BARGAIN, by Mary Jo Putney and THE DUKE AND I by Julia Quinn are way up there.

b2bMelanie: Most of those are mine as well, and I ADORE Julia Quinn! What’s on your TBR right now?

Erin: I have STACKS in my TBR pile these days! One of the major downsides of having my dream job of being an author is that my reading time is vastly diminished. Right now, I have A WEEK TO BE WICKED by Tessa Dare, WALLFLOWER by Catherine Gayle, and WHEN A SCOT LOVES A LADY by Katharine Ashe all at the top of the list.

b2bMelanie: You’ll love Tessa’s book. She does sexual tension so well. I bought WALLFLOWER at RT’s while waiting for another author to show up and sign my book.

Now, that ends up our ‘professional’ portion of this interview. Are you ready to get personal? Or are you going to chicken out on me?

Erin: I’m totally game – Bring it!

b2bMelanie: I love a brave woman…Let’s get Personal:

So, tell us something personal about yourself that you’d like us to know…anything that makes you comfortable…or not…like how many times did you fall in love? What’s your favorite meal of the day (food)? Flannels or Silk? Do you like to cook? What’s your favorite spot in the house? Cats or Dogs? Champagne or Beer?  Your favorite time of the year? What are your fears? Your joys?

Erin:-My love life is one of the simplest on the books: I met and fell in love with my husband when we were in high school! We just this week celebrated our eleventh anniversary, and I have to say he is a prince among men. And here’s a little secret for you: I was even his first kiss!

-I am a breakfast aficionado, and I think waffles are darn near the most perfect food on earth. Second only to bacon

-I don’t like flannel of silk – only the softest, purest cotton will do for me!

-Not only do I love to cook, I LIVE to bake, and have a whole section of my website dedicated to the recipes I have perfected over the years. And this is another reason my hubby and I are such a perfect match: I cook, he cleans J

-Like cats, ADORE dogs. I have three, and they are my constant companions while I write.

-I’m allergic to wine and champagne (tragic!!), and I hate the taste of beer. I’ll take a chocolate martini, thank you very much.

-My fears? Failure, of course. Although, with my wonderful family around me, even that would be okay in the end.  Which leads me to my joys: My parents, brother, and sister are so important to me. My sister is a screenwriter, and was there for many an angsty writer crisis before I was published. My brother is a composer, and actually took a scene from MORE THAN A STRANGER and composed an original piano piece to complement it. The song is available for a free download on my website, and I ain’t gonna lie—I cried over the beauty of the music when I first heard it. Most of all, my husband and pups bring me immeasurable joy each and every day. I’m blessed within an inch of my life, and I’m so grateful for it!

b2bMelanie: Erin, thanks for ‘coming over to play’! It has been a hoot and I hope you come back often.

Erin: Thanks so much for letting me join you today. And I’d love to hear from your readers! Tell me, what is your greatest joy in life for TWO chances to win!

1. Everyone who comments will be entered in my Sealed with a Kiss blog tour giveaway! Prizes include signed books, lots of fun swag, stationery, a custom iPhone case, and gift cards from Starbucks and Amazon! For details, click HERE. Drawings will be made June 15^th!
2. You’re already a winner! If you’d like a signed bookmark (or more – let me know how many!), simply say so in the comments section, and I’ll send post haste! Offer good for the first 40 requests per blog.

*Be sure to leave your e-mail address so I can contact winners, or email me at erin@erinknightley.com if you don’t wish to list publicly* I’ll ship anywhere in the US, Canada, or Mexico

Fan2Author Interview with… Lauri J Owen

Kristal: Hi Lauri!  Thank you for joining us for an interview!!  We are so excited to have you here with us!

Lauri J Owen: Hi, Kristal! I am so happy to be here, and I thank you for the invitation!

K: Fallen Embers is your debut novel and it is absolutely WONDERFUL!  Can you tell us a little bit about what went into your decision to be a writer?!  Was it something you always wanted to do?

LJO: Oh – thank you so much for saying that! I just love this story, and it’s been such a joy to tell.

I became a fiction writer in mid-life. Before this book, I’d written a lot of nonfiction (both in college and as a lawyer), but I never imagined myself writing fiction. A few summers ago, my son had surgery, and my sister who has written since she was ten or so came and stayed with me. She and I talked a lot about writing while she was here. I admitted to her that I’d been thinking about a story for years, and she encouraged me to just write it and see what happened. Well, the Friday after she left, I sat down at my laptop and let the story pour out. I wrote over 9,000 words that night!

K: I was so excited to read that Keira is a plus-sized woman!  With all the stereotypes and expectations thrown around in today’s mainstream media, were you concerned about how she would be received?

LJO: I love that Kiera is a normal woman – a woman who looks like the majority of us. I wanted her to be powerful, and potent, and I wanted to make it obvious that beauty ideals are cultural. What makes something “beautiful” depends – what defines “beauty” isn’t written in stone, and I hope that knowledge helps us start looking at women – at ourselves – differently. Softens the body hate epidemic.

Yes – I was afraid that Kiera would be marginalized and even ridiculed because of her size. So far however, the criticism has been slight, and the raves plentiful. I think more and more of us are tired of the caricatures and more than ready for real-looking heroines.

And if you found my books empowering, I highly recommend looking at the other authors Pearlsong publishes.

K: I read a review recently that compared Fallen Embers to Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander.  I know that Outlander was HUGE for Gabaldon fans.  How did that make you feel to have Fallen Embers be compared to something that practically has a cult following?!

LJO: I love Diana Gabaldon, of course, and I am completely honored that anyone found anything in common – a wondrous spark – in either of the Embers books. I wouldn’t begin to compare my books with such lofty examples, but I do love my story, and my characters, completely and utterly, and I am thrilled that others do, too.

K: Blowing Embers also received wonderful reviews!  It is being called epic, gripping and amazing, to name a few.  It has to be exhausting mentally taking hours and hours pouring yourself into a piece of work and then waiting on pins and needles to see how it is received.  How does that make you feel, as a writer?

LJO: It’s not as hard the second time. I wrote Blowing Embers in about a month, and in fact sometimes I could not type fast enough. Whereas Fallen Embers went through uncountable edits, Blowing Embers only required a few. It felt like a living story that I channeled. And when it was finished, I was in love with it, and so I wasn’t as tender and afraid of reviews as I had been with Fallen Embers. Of course, Rising Embers, book three, has only been outlined, and so I do not know how I will feel about that when it’s finished!

K: Can you tell us a little bit about your characters and how they came to be?  Maybe give us a little background into how these storylines took place in your head?

LJO: This story comes from two geneses. First is the story that had been swirling round my head for years – for decades. I have fairly severe insomnia, and telling myself stories is a tool I developed a long time back to help me relax into sleep. The storyline – huge chunks of it – had been told and retold a thousand times inside my head before they ever got to paper.

Genesis two is my time living in the Alaska Bush. The characters and some of the story come from there – the Native Yup’ik stories and legends and from many of the people I met there. Keira is a woman I created using pieces of me as well as pieces of a couple other women I greatly admire, and then mixing all that together with characteristics I wish I had.

K: Where do you see your characters going in upcoming books?  Im anxious to see what is next for Keira!  Can you tell us a little bit about Rising Embers and what is next for you?

In Rising Embers, we’ll stumble across a character or two from the “real” Alaska, and remember that Kiera still has a mighty big problem to solve – and maybe two. Or three. And what is going to happen with Kuruk anyway?

LJO: As I mentioned, Rising Embers is outlined, though it’s a living outline, and may change some as I go. As soon as I get some time, I will write it.

I have another book outlined, too, that is not set in the Alternate Alaska. It’s a science fiction-fantasy-mix piece, and I’m excited about it, too!

K: I was reading your bio and I am astonished with how full your plate is!  Mother, lawyer, author, how do you fit it all in?  Can you tell us what a normal day is like in the Owen household?

LJO: Well, I was recently promoted to an administrative position, and I also volunteer to help some refugees learn English, and so my full plate has grown even bigger. Life is busy right now. I go to work, and sometimes I bring work home. I work every Saturday. My son is still in elementary school and goes to the babysitter. We eat a lot of simple foods, but spend good time together every day. I make time to love my son, and each of my cats, every day. Life is far too short and the ones I love are the most precious part.

K: Thank you so much for answering my questions today!  I am so excited for our readers to get a chance to read your books and learn more about this intriguing world that you have created!

LJO: Thank you very much, Kristal! Again, I sincerely appreciate this opportunity to talk about my books. And I am pleased to say I’m giving away two sets of both books to two nice readers who came to hear about the Embers series.

Kristal here!  Everyone, come on over and say hi to Lauri J Owen and get a chance to win both of her books!!

Don’t forget to come back tomorrow to read my reviews of Lauri’s books and make a comment BOTH DAYS to be put in the drawing to win both of her books!

TWO lucky winners will win BOTH of her books!!!

Don’t forget two comments (one each day) wins you two books!  See you tomorrow!!

Fan2Author Interview with… Delilah Marvelle

Bookworms, please help me welcome Delilah with my first question…

I never read any of your work before the latest two, (and for my review of both please visit RCJReZine) so please tell us a bit about yourself and your writing career. When did you know that writing was what you wanted to do?

DM: I knew I wanted to be a writer from a very young age.  When Hemingway was once asked what makes for a good writer, his response was, “An Unhappy childhood.” And sadly, I fall into that category. Writing is an extension of my emotions and a need to escape.  Reading books inspired me to want to write them and get published. I knew well before high school that I wanted to be a published writer.  And I set out on the path to do it at 17.  I was writing horror at the time, until I met my husband and my life changed.  I started writing romance   It took me 11 years, over 40 manuscripts and over 200 rejection letters to finally get published.  I learned a lot from the journey of writing and how to believe in myself even when the world is telling me otherwise. 

b2b: Delilah, that right there tells me why your heroines are so strong, loving and determined…

The book that you’re promoting now is ‘FOREVER and a DAY’ and I can’t tell you how much fun I had reading it. What was the idea behind it? The mystery was and still is unsolved and I’m on pins and needles waiting for it!!! When you write, what comes first, the plot, voice, characters or setting?

DM: I’m so thrilled you’re looking forward to the next book in the series!  My ideas come to me randomly.  It’s never one thing that inspires me, but life in general that inspires me.  I’ve always loved the historical setting of New York after seeing ‘Annie’ and ‘Newsies’ and wanted to do my own version of it.  I would say plot comes first and then I build a world and my characters around it.  I’m a panster, though, which means, I don’t plot, I only write by the seat of my pants.  It’s the only way I can write.  Because I get bored if I know what’s going to happen and if I know what’s going to happen, then so will my readers, and so I opt for an earthier more creative approach.   

b2b: You totally stomped me with that answer! I could swear I thought the character came to you first only because both novels, in my humble opinion, were character driven and very well written.

What made this such an enjoyable read for me, and I’m referring to both prequel (FOREVER MINE and ‘FOREVER and a DAY’) was these two very different yet very strong women you created. What blew me away was the strength of their convictions and it’s what made them real to me. Please tell us who inspired them?

DM: Augustine, from FOREVER MINE, is an extension of every emotion I went through when my mother and brother disappeared from my life. I never got a chance to meet my brother and my mother died before I had a chance to see her one last time. The tragedy of not being able to say good-bye to the one person you love most has haunted me ever since and even though, yes, it sounds depressing as hell, I wanted to write a story that could take the good and the bad and make it all good while still keeping it real and true to the emotions of my characters.

b2b: I am so, so sorry to hear that you had that heartache to go through and my heart [and my HUGE Serbian hug] go out to you. You have managed to touch my heart with Augustine’s anguish and pain, and now I know why.

Now, to be fair to heroes of both of these books, would you mind telling us who inspired them? How are they different from your other heroes? And speaking of, who is your favorite hero (not including your favorite ‘firefighter’ or any from your works; I’m not making you choose) from the written word (oh, and just to make it a bit harder on you, no classics either)!

DM: Haha, to be fair to my heroes, they are all inspired by one man: my husband.  He has so much depth to him, I feel like, even after almost 17 years of marriage, I’m still getting to know him and it’s an amazing journey of peeling back those layers and applying them to my characters.  Who is my favorite hero thus far?  I would have to say Matthew Milton (from FOREVER A LADY) and not just because that’s my next upcoming book, lol.  He’s Georgia’s one-eyed theiving step-son and is a gruff romantic.  He sees women and the world through cracked, rose-tinted glasses.  He’s hilarious and I had so much fun writing him.  Without any doubt, he’s my favorite hero thus far.

b2b: It appears we’ve both hit ‘Lottery’ when comes to our spouses. I’ve been married twelve years, but we’ve been together seventeen, and truly there are no words to describe the love that still feels new and fresh. But OH-MY-GOD you’ve now got me twisting in the wind with wanting to get my paws on the next book!!! Mathew was so-so-so cool!

Okay, now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, let’s get back to the rest of my interview…

Is there a difference between, and specifically, what sets apart in your opinion the ‘traditional’ regency novels from ‘historical novels set in the regency time period’?

DM: I see “traditional” regency being very “Jane Austenish” and “Georgette Heyerish” — Complex characters with manners, lol.  And sweet.  Kissing is about as far as it goes.  Everything is offstage physically and romantic wise. 

Historical novels set in the regency dig deeper by showing more of what happens behind those parlor doors.  They don’t adhere to rules.  They adhere to the character and following that character everywhere, from the toilet to the bed, lol. 

b2b: LOL! I’m in accord with you on that!

Delilah, what do you consider the Historical Romance canon?

DM:  I really don’t like the idea of laying out any rules for the Historical Romance genre given that it should be limitless to allow for creativity, but I will say,  for me, regarding historical romance I do abide by one rule:  People in history were people.  They were no different from the people of today in how they experienced love or hate.  The only difference is that societal rules have changed.  But we, as people, have not changed and so I create stories that follow those lines when I write historical romance.  I think historical romance readers have a tendency to forget that. 

When someone says “That couldn’t have had happened in history” I like to prance them over to my blog, A BIT O’MUSLIN so they see all the whacked up history we were never taught in school.  Yes, my blog is about Sex Throughout History.  And my fascination toward the grittier side of history lends to not only my stories but the humor I pull away from it.

b2b: Well said! I loved roaming around your blog and I’m sure our bookworms will as well!

What’s up next for Delilah Marvelle?  I know that there are two more books in the series  scheduled to come out this year, can you tell us a bit about them?

DM: FOREVER A LADY comes out August 1, 2012 and is book 2 in the Rumor Series.  The heroine is Lady Bernadette Marie Burton.  She was Georgia’s ‘tutor’ in all things aristocratic and I loved her so much, I had to give her a story.  She’s the richest widow in England with a devil-may-care attitude.  She’s basically the rake in female form.  (And I had SO much fun with that!)  

Matthew Joseph Milton (Georgia’s stepson) was once a respectable gentleman who lost everything, including the vision in his left eye.  To keep his life afloat, he creates a gang in the bowels of New York City called the Forty Thieves.  When he and Bernadette meet, let me tell you, linens rip.  As do hearts.  In this book, I show more of what the readers didn’t get to see in book 1, ‘Forever and a Day’. 

The way I’m creating this series is that they are all a puzzle piece and when you put them together, they create an entire landscape for you to look at.  The second and third book will show more of Georgia and Robinson and their lives in London, as well. 

Book 3 in the series is ‘FOREVER a LORD’ and it’s Nathaniel’s story and boy am I having fun with this one!  Here’s the blurb for it:

“He’s a fighter, not a lover.  But that’s about to change…

Lady Imogene Norwood lived a sheltered life of quiet respectability and routine…until she debuts at her first Season. There she meets the wild and broken Lord Atwood among London’s elite. And the very shy English rose suddenly realizes that a little chaos might just be what her heart desires.  

Lord Nathaniel James Atwood doesn’t believe true love exists. Since scandal tore him away from his family at an early age, he has spent his life fighting for what he wants. That attitude made him a rising star in bare-knuckle boxing, and now leads him back to London to reclaim the life that was stolen from him. But upon meeting the innocent Imogene, his beliefs are trounced…as guarding his heart against her proves to be the fight of his life.”

b2b: Oh, woman! What are you trying to do to me?! LOL!

Delilah, it has been not just fun to meet and do this with you, but an utter pleasure and joy! I hope you come back often to chat with us! I’m looking forward on stocking up my shelves with some more of your books because I’m going to need it, until the next one in this series comes along! CHEERS!

And now,

time for a GIVEAWAY

Delilah is happy to give one of you lucky bookworms a signed copy

of

FOREVER AND A DAY!

(*for US residents only)

Fan2Artist Interview with…Jon Paul Ferrara!

My dearest Bookworms! Today I’m ‘DIS’ close to swooning! And here’s why. No doubt one time or another, you’ve bought a book only because of its cover, and I can guarantee that somewhere on your keeper shelf, one of those is probably painted by my guest today. His talent is unique, awe-inspiring and just amazing. It is an honor and a pleasure to welcome the artist that makes all those heroes and heroines come to life and the man who’s behind many beautiful historical covers and step backs, Jon Paul Ferrara.

Jon Paul, just in case some of our bookworms are not familiar with you, please tell us a bit about yourself. You know, the usual…your humble beginning, your inspiration and why art and not architecture. Or maybe even a musician?

JPF: I’ve been involved with my art as far back as I could remember… I always loved creating… When I was in High School, my senior year, under my picture I put I wanted to be an artist… There was no second guessing of what I wanted to be… I went to college and at the time, most college art courses were dealing with abstract art and not realism. So I decided to find my schooling elsewhere and basically ended up ‘self taught’ to a degree.

Years later I had a one man show in an art gallery in NJ when I was still in my early 20′s… A young man walked into the gallery and took an interest in my work and asked me if I wanted to do book covers. At first I was very reluctant to enter the commercial paperback field… The man asked me, that before I make a judgment, to let him take me over to his friend’s house… We ended up, of all people, at the house of one of the greatest romance illustrators of all time, Pino Daeni. When I walked into his house, I was just in awe of his spectacular art and I realized right then and there, that the best art work in the world wasn’t just in galleries, it was also on paperbacks…. From then on, I was hooked on being a Romance Illustrator…By the way, I do like music and architecture also, though out of the three, being an artist (painter) was number one.

B2b: WOW! Now, that I call SERENDIPITY! I swear to you, I have so many questions, but for some reason I’m all tongue-tied! I’m going to be all over the road and you know what?! I don’t care one whit!

Where do you do all your work? Do you have a studio at home?  Can you describe it to us?

JPF: I had a studio built-in my house years ago and I love it… I do my photography as well as my other work in the studio… The studio is beautiful; I have skylights that are electrically operated to let the sun in at different times of the day… I have cathedral ceilings and huge windows in the studio which were all built to my specifications. Being an artist, I knew exactly how I wanted my studio to be… and I guess I got my wish

B2b: I can only imagine it…It sounds so cool! Can you share with us your work day? From the time you get up in the morning ‘till you go to bed…

JPF: I usually start my day around 8:00 AM and I work very long hours… Sometimes when I am really into a piece, I stay up all night and work until the sun comes up

Reason being, I don’t want to stop the creative flow so to speak… I love what I do, so it really doesn’t seem like work … The hours really fly by as if I am in a trance. While I work, I usually listen to Classical Rock, and at other times Classical Music.

B2b: And that sounds like pure and unadulterated PASSION!  To ask you if you have a favorite cover or a model to work with is like asking me which one of my cats I would prefer to cuddle with, so I’m going to pass on that, BUT… I would love to know which period, flower and season as a background, you enjoy to paint the most.

JPF: As far as cover models, I enjoy working with them all… The period I am most drawn to without question is the late Victorian Period. Anywhere from 1880′s up to World War I…The period was called “La Belle Époque” referred to as “The Beautiful Era”…

Seasons, I like them all. Love to do snow scenes, though on the flip side of the coin I love summer scenes and the Victorian Ladies strolling with their parasols… Flowers… You will see many red roses in lot of my work.

B2b: By the way, I have decided to share some of those snow scenes with our Bookworms, so I hope you don’t mind that I snagged some pics from your Facebook

Can you share with us some upcoming Romance Covers? Tell us more about them…

JPF: Upcoming Novels… I usually work on several covers at a time… Lately I’ve done more single women on covers… The trend always changes… Back ten years ago you would see most covers with just the Hero on the cover. Most of my covers are for NY Time Best Selling Authors…Elizabeth Boyle, Karen Hawkins, Stephanie Laurens, and Sylvia Day just to name a few…

I actually just finished an Elizabeth Boyle Front and Step back Cover… I really enjoyed doing it; for it reminded me of the covers we used to do in the nineties… Much more brushwork and passion, then just photographic in style.

As an artist I lean-to a looser style if they allow me so I could get more creative and expressive and not stay so tight and photographic.

B2b: I tend to agree with you on the style. I did notice that more and more the covers are leaning toward the photographic…

How about we get personal? I have no doubt that you’re a romantic (your work is an awesome proof of that), but would you consider yourself a Renaissance man too?

JPF: I am a romantic at heart, which is why I love doing the Romance Novels

When a woman picks up a novel and reads it, she imagines herself as the heroine… well, when I create a cover I have to picture myself as the hero in that scene for the reader to feel the emotions I am trying to get across… Anything I create, I have to feel it or it will lack its believability.

That is just speaking from an artist point of view. Am I a Renaissance man??? (LOL)

I don’t know, I guess you would have to get to know me and determine that for yourself … (LOL)

As an artist I am very passionate and sincere and I always hope that shows in my work.

B2b: Oh do not dare this Serbian woman, Jon! I think without a doubt that you are a Renaissance man…Oh, and the passion and sincerity are certainly shining through everything I’ve seen so far!

Who’s your favorite author, movie? What kind of music does Jon Paul listens to? For that matter, do you play an instrument and what is it? Your favorite season is…? Are you a dog or a cat person? Do you have any pets and what are they? Do you like to read and what genre are you into? Would you take the closest book to you right now and go to page 59 and give us the first three sentences from it?

JPF: Favorite authors? No one in particular… I used to read a lot of art books (artists lives from the past, especially 19th century). These days I read more books on philosophy than anything else.

My favorite movies are “Somewhere in Time” and “Before Sunrise” and I am looking forward to seeing the new Woody Allen film “Midnight in Paris” when it is released on DVD

My musical taste is Classic Rock, The Beatles, The Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, and The Kinks. The list goes on and on…I do listen to classical music once in a while…I enjoy it… Mozart.

No, I really don’t play an instrument… years ago fooled around a little with a bass guitar…

Favorite season… would be summer… I wish I could go off to a secluded island and paint the rest of my life (LOL) like Paul Gauguin did…

At the moment I have no pets… I love animals and had them around me allmy life… I lost my pet cat “Valentino” to an illness not too long ago… He was a pure breed Maine Coon. Gorgeous animal, I also did a painting of him. I seem to prefer cats as pets, though that doesn’t rule out getting a dog…

The book I am reading right now is “A Parisienne in Chicago”. This is a true story and not fiction about a woman from France who came to America in 1893 to see the Columbian Exposition held in Chicago. She kept a diary and through it she tells in detail of what American Society was like in the 1890′s in comparison to the European Society. The book definitely has my interest.

Page 59… “Once married, he works incessantly to improve the situation of his growing family.  He takes care of all the business difficulties but never brings the bustle of business into the home where his wife enjoys sweet comfort. His choice of a wife is motivated by love, not money.”

The reason I am reading this book is to get a feel of a firsthand account of what life really was like back then. As I mentioned earlier, I like to get involved in the paintings I do, just like an actor studies a character he is going to portray, I have to study the period I am depicting in a work of art to make it believable…

I have a project now that I am focusing on and it takes place in the 1890′s. I will release more details on my Website and my Facebook Fan Page as I move along with this project.

B2b: Jon Paul, you are one special Dude! Thank you so much for finding the time to stop by and make my day, week, month and a whole YEAR! This is one Blogoversary I’ll never forget!

JPF: Hey, no problem! Let’s have some fun, shall we? I’ll be giving away a signed 17″x 22″ giclee fine art paper print of one of my covers to one lucky commenter who answers a question I posed on Facebook recently… Oh and there’s no right or wrong…Just curious to know…

Here are some famous works of art that I love and have studied… for composition, color, etc…I love them all… I’m curious, even from my student days, why certain rooms would be more crowded in the museums then others…

If you had to pick one of the groups 1, 2 or 3 which one would appeal to you first and peak your curiosity to go into the room?