Urban fantasy mega chat with Rachel Caine, Chloe Neill, and Christina Henry.
IN THIS ISSUE
The Knight Post: Interview with Rachel Caine, Chloe Neill, and Christina Henry
Author Tip of the Month from Katherine Garbera
The Informer: Lucienne Diver on the Thrill of Searching for New Talent
Agent Round Table: Why Libraries are Still Important
TOP ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chloe Neill's BITING COLD is #27 on the New York Times trade fiction and #34 on the Times' e-book bestseller lists. BITING COLD also hit #79 on the USA Today bestseller list.
Rachel Caine, Chloe Neill and Christina Henry will be chatting about their latest releases and writing journies Thursday, August 23rd at 8pm ET via Twitter. Use #knightauthor to join the conversation!
The entire Knight Agency team attended the Romance Writers of America conference in Anaheim. Check out our pictures of a few TKA authors at the RWA literacy signing:
THE KNIGHT POST: INTERVIEW WITH RACHEL CAINE, CHLOE NEILL, AND CHRISTINA HENRY
Rachel Caine, Chloe Neill, and Christina Henry all have one thing in common -- they love writing books about strong heroines with a sense of humor. The latest installment from New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine's Revivalist series, TWO WEEKS' NOTICE, features a snarky undead heroine kept alive by a mysterious drug. Merit, from Chloe Neill's NYT bestselling Chicagoland Vampires novels, is known for dispatching vampires with the flick of a wrist. Christina Henry's popular Black Wings series features plucky Agent of Death Maddy Black, who also happens to be Lucifer's granddaughter.
These urban fantasy authors are all at the top of their game and will converge on Twitter this Thursday, August 23rd at 8pm Eastern for a mega chat with The Knight Agency. Below they share thier fears, feelings, and thoughts about the writing life.
TKA: What are you most afraid of? Does this inspire any part of your writing?
RACHEL: I spent a long time contemplating this question, and I suppose what I'm most afraid of, at this point in my life, is very different than what used to scare me when I was much younger. Zombies, vampires, werewolves, all the creatures of the night -- they don't scare me. I'm more worried about people, politics, and extremism these days, because that is the stuff from which real horror is made. I don't know that it creeps into my writing so much, but the lengths people will go to for their beliefs -- or for their own pleasure or gain -- are more horrible and chilling than anything Dracula ever contemplated.
CHLOE: I really, really don't like snakes, and although I could easily imagine how they might pop up in an urban fantasy series, I have no interest in writing about them. I am a very impatient person, and the anticipation of a stressful event bothers me. Merit often has to anticipate stressful events--fights and confrontations with enemies--and I try to use my own experience with that discomfort to make her emotions as realistic as possible.
CHRISTINA: I fear loss the most - the loss that comes with death. That's definitely informed my writing of these books. Maddy is a person who not only deals in death but has suffered from it. I always want there to be a sense at the end of every book that something irrevocable has happened, and that Maddy will have to deal with the aftereffects.
Q&A with Rachel Caine --
TKA: If you could jump into the pages of any of your own books, which world would you choose and why?
RACHEL: Hmmm, difficult choice -- because in all of them I'd probably be dead in 10 pages or less! But I think I might have to go to Morganville, Texas (my young adult series), because at the very least I could hang out with the Glass House gang, who not only could keep me alive but would be super fun to be with.
That said, I could totally raid Joanne's closet and date David, if I could have Joanne's fantasy dress size!
I wouldn't dare to jump into the pages of the Revivalist series, because I am really NOT equipped for that high level of survival skills! Also, I'm not sure I'd be a very good mortician. (No, I am sure. I would NOT BE a very good mortician.)
TKA: The star of the Revivalist series, Bryn Davis, is kept alive by the drug Returné after her murder. If a drug like that existed, would you want to be brought back from the dead?
RACHEL: NO, definitely not ... although it does give you a normal life in some ways, it's very dangerous in others! If you miss doses you start to decompensate -- er, decompose -- and it's a gruesomely long process to extinguish all the life left in you. On the up side, though, you're basically invulnerable while you're on the drug, since it can heal you ... and you're not going to get any older. Hmmmm. Okay, it's a trade-off. I know plenty of people willing to make that deal! (But not me.)
Q&A with Chloe Neill --
TKA: Without giving away anything spoilerish, can you share one of your favorite quotes from the new Chicagoland Vampires book, BITING COLD? Why is it your fave?
CHLOE: My favorite quote, spoken by vampire Ethan Sullivan to his mentee, Merit, is: "“Irresistible force. Immovable object. Choose the one you want to be, and do it.”
In the quote, Ethan is challenging Merit to push herself and be more than she believes she can be. I love that he's supportive of her while also pushing her to be her best.
TKA: The reviews for the Chicagoland Vampires series have been overwhelmingly positive, but like any author you sometimes have to face negative feedback. How do you recommend authors handle criticism?
CHLOE: Thank you! I feel very fortunate that folks are enjoying Merit's journey. That said, Merit's stories often cross the boundaries between science fiction and romance in ways that surprise many readers, and not all readers enjoy the surprises. I believe, like many others, that reviews are for readers, not authors. It can be devastating to read a negative or unkind review of a book that took hours and hours of work and required sacrifices of the author. But venting about negative reviews should be directed toward friends, family, agents, and editors. It should be offline. The writer's brand is himself or herself, and being unprofessional on the Internet--or bullying those who review your work negatively--will only hurt the author in the long run.
Q&A with Christina Henry --
TKA: You have a knack for creating three-dimensional characters like Madeline Black in the Black Wings Series. What methods do you use to create distinctive personalities that readers can easily identify with? Would you consider character development your biggest strength as a writer?
CHRISTINA: I love to write dialogue, and I think that's probably my biggest strength. But a lot of the characters' personalities come through in the dialogue, so it definitely ties in to character development. A single line spoken by a character can have so many meanings - especially if that line is spoken by Maddy's great-great-grandfather, Lucifer!
When I'm writing each character I always think of their flaws before I consider their strengths. I think that's a good way to make the characters three-dimensional. Every human being is comprised of positive and negative attributes, and as a writer it's important to be aware of every aspect of your characters. I think readers tend to relate more to characters that fail, or don't always make the right choice. That's one of the reasons why Buffy the Vampire Slayer was such a popular character. Viewers loved her because she was flawed, not because she was the Chosen One.
TKA: What first gave you the idea to write about the Grim Reaper, and how many more novels with Maddy can we expect?
CHRISTINA: When I first conceived the story I pictured a male reaper, someone tall and dark and brooding - a lot like Gabriel, actually. But then I heard Maddy and Beezle talking in my head, and the protagonist very quickly changed. Maddy is sort of the anti-reaper - she hates her job, and she's not a perfect heroine. But that's what makes her so much fun to write.
There will be a total of nine novels set in the Black Wings universe. I can't wait to see what happens to Maddy next!
TWITTER Q&A CHAT WITH RACHEL, CHLOE, AND CHRISTINA
WHEN: Thursday August 23rd, 8PM ET WHAT:Q&A Chat with Rachel Caine, Chloe Neill and Christina Henry + Prizes! WHERE:Twitter. Moderated by @KnightAgency HOW TO CHAT: Use the hashtag #knightauthor to join the conversation
Jasmine Haynes's next two erotic romances in that vein of THE PRINCIPLE'S OFFICE, to Wendy McCurdy for Berkley Heat, in a very nice deal, by Lucienne Diver of The Knight Agency.
Shirlee McCoy's THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL, a holiday romance about a woman who inherits more than just her sister's quirky antique shop, to John Scognamiglio at Kensington, in a three-book deal, by Melissa Jeglinski at The Knight Agency.
Cheryl Brooks's RASCAL, the tenth title in the author's paranormal erotica series The Cat Star Chronicles, to Deb Werksman at Sourcebooks, by Melissa Jeglinski at The Knight Agency.
C.T. Adams's THE EXILE and sequels, a new urban fantasy series featuring a half-fae, half-human who becomes embroiled in a war for control of the Faerie kingdom, to Melissa Singer of Tor, in a very nice deal, by Lucienne Diver of The Knight Agency.
Christina Henry's BLACK WINGS Nos. 7-9, to Danielle Stockley of Ace, in a nice deal, by Lucienne Diver of The Knight Agency.
Sales Roundup is a selective sampling of TKA's deals for the past month. For more info on our recent sales, visit www.KnightAgency.net/recentdeals. AGENCY NEWS
A Publishers Weekly review of David Cristafano's THE EXCEPTIONS calls it "an intriguing companion piece and a good read. . . . Cristofano knows a good story when he writes one."
Chloe Neill's BITING COLD is #27 on the New York Times trade fiction and #34 on the Times' e-book bestseller lists. BITING COLD also hit #79 on the USA Today bestseller list.
Publishers Weekly has weighed in on Saranna DeWylde's HOW TO MARRY A WARLOCK IN 10 DAYS with a great review in their 8/13 issue, declaring it "a laugh-out-loud mixture of paranormal romance and erotic encounters." DeWylde, writing as Sara Lunsford, also earned praise for "a gritty, raw, and engrossing voice" in her memoir SWEET HELL ON FIRE.
Publishers Weekly had this to say about MISS LAVIGNE’S LITTLE WHITE LIE by Samantha Grace: "The suspense and intrigue are well tuned and the humor is subtle and charming, much like the novel as a whole."
She Knows.com picked Maria Geraci's A GIRL LIKE YOU as a summer must-read.
Following the release of TEXAS GOTHIC, Rosemary Clement-Moore earned a spot as a featured author for the first Spirit of Texas Reading Program. Go here for more information.
A Time magazine article about the recent rise in contemporary erotica mentioned Lauren Hawkeye's MY WICKED GLADIATORS.
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN and CAUGHT OFF GUARD by Kira Sinclair received National Readers Choice Awards from the Oklahoma Romance Writers of America chapter.
Sheila Turnage will be signing her bestselling middle-grade novel, THREE TIMES LUCKY, at the Decatur Book Festival during Labor Day weekend.
Daniel Wildermuth discussed his upcoming release of WISE MONEY on Vimeo:
AUTHOR TIP OF THE MONTH
We're kicking off our new feature, Tip of the Month, with some wise words from seasoned romance author Katherine Garbera. Katherine is celebrating her 50th release from Harlequin this month with A CASE OF KISS AND TELL.
TIP: You should write every single day. Even if it’s just for five minutes before you go to bed. When you consistently write, the story stays fresh in your mind and you are always aware of where your characters are headed.
THE INFORMER
Why We Search by Lucienne Diver
Years ago, Carol Berg, Rosemary Clement-Moore, Vicky Dreiling, Lynn Flewelling, Diana Pharaoh Francis, Steven Harper, N.K. Jemisin, Diana Orgain and others were brand-new, unpublished writers who queried. Just that. No secret handshake, no knowing someone special, no having to publish short stories or sell thousands of self-published books or anything else in order to make their marks (although, full disclosure, two of the above already had interest from publishers). Wanna hear publishing’s worst-kept secret?
Lean in closer.
Closer.
That hasn’t changed.
Seriously! We keep reading submissions for the same reason that readers keep reading books by new authors—we’re hoping to find something wonderful. And when we do…wow, it just blows us away. This topic rose to the top for me of all the ones I could have chosen because within the last few weeks, I’ve taken on two—count them, two—brand-new fiction writers. Oh, one’s written non-fiction and the other has worked in the gaming field. But novel writing…all new to them. And they both knocked my socks off. How else do you explain taking on two new writers right around the time of the huge Romance Writers of America Conference and my big Hawaiian vacation? Insanity! And yet, they were too amazing to pass up. You’re going to hear about them in the coming year (or eighteen months or however long it takes from sale to publication), mark my words. Both have amazing voices and original stories, and both are already out on submission, because wait is most definitely a four-letter word. Look out for other brand-new novelists as well, including Amy Christine Parker, whose amazing young adult novel THE SILO will be published in fall 2013 by Random House Children’s Books; Ramez Naam, whose suspenseful science fiction novel NEXUS is set for a December release from Angry Robot Books; and J. Kathleen Cheney, whose historical fantasy mystery will be out in 2013 from Penguin.
I love discovering and supporting new talent. I don’t know of an agent at The Knight Agency who doesn’t feel the same. You know that call you all wait for? We live to make it. We get the pleasure every time we take on a client (new or established) and every time an offer comes in that we get to pass along. But I have to say, the thrill of that first sale for each author, those OMG moments…there’s nothing like them.
AGENTS OF THE ROUND TABLE
Question: Libraries are struggling to find their footing on the digital landscape as eBook sales continue to climb and budget cuts are made in a difficult economy. Why do you think the preservation of libraries is important? What is your favorite memory of visiting your local library?
PAMELA HARTY: I grew up going to the library and have fond memories of our local branch. My mother always enrolled us in the summer reading program, and it was a great source of pride when we completed the required reading and our names were posted for all to see. I've continued the tradition by taking my kids as much as possible. It's just one more way readers can have access to great books.
LUCIENNE DIVER: I think libraries are vitally important for many reasons. For one, they’re more than just a place where books are stored. They’re community centers with programs like reading aloud to children that are very valuable. Starting from this point, I think that children would be the most hurt by library closings. They’re not browsing the web like the rest of us, but picking books off shelves at eye level, having their mothers or fathers sit and read three or four books to them before ever choosing another three or four to take home. It would be such a shame not to raise the next generation of readers because funding and programs are cut. I found so many of my favorite authors in libraries that I can’t imagine a world without them.
MELISSA JEGLINSKI: I’ve always felt libraries are integral to cultivating the love of reading, especially in the young. I learned about the magic of books in my local library when my mother took me to get my first library card and pick out a few books. There was so much to choose from; and knowing we’d come back next week to get more…it was just so exciting. And later, when librarians would offer suggestion of books I would have never thought to read—my world opened up further. I would be saddened if that experience were to go away.
Rachel Caine
