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lagilman1. We have had a Popcorn Incident here at Ch. Felidae. The felines are moderately traumatized. I knew I should have gotten chocolate instead.
----------------------
2. Meanwhile, cleaning up files and found an interview I'd done for a site but the person doing the interviews had to step down and it kinda got lost in the cracks. So y'all can see it here -- a little late, but hopefully still interesting/amusing/enlightening.
Wren and Sergei talk about BLOOD FROM STONE
1. Give me a one-line description of your book. The hook, if you will. What’s the “Oooh, cool!” about the book?
For the series as a whole: "A magic-using self-admitted kleptomaniac/professional and her really sexy and deeply frustrating partner, an art dealer with a mysterious past and a slight sex/pain kink he really needs to deal with already, trying to balance work, love, and mayhem in a modern-day Manhattan where electricity = magic."
For BLOOD FROM STONE specifically?
"Can I answer this one?"
"No"
"Why not?
"Because they asked me. You're Male Lead – I'm the Heroine."
"You're going to gloss all over the stuff you didn't like."
"They asked for a hook, not a book report."
"Ahhh. So what is the hook, Valere? Enlighten us."
*glares* "After saving the world – okay, New York City – from the force of self-righteous do-evilers, we don't get the downtime we so desperately deserve, but instead have to turn around and save my esteemed demon sidekick P.B. from the fate he's been running from for the past *coughmany* years. Which will make a lot of P.B. junkies happy, because you get backstory and trauma, and lots of demon screen-time. I swear he has more fans than we do."
"It's the cosplay thing."
"The what? No, don’t explain. I already know I don't want to know."
2. What’s the worst thing about your situation in the book? (Please describe the situation. In great detail.)
"Oh god, where to start? I'm dealing with flashback trauma, people who're supposed to be dead coming back to give me shit, an old friend being threatened with slavery, and my apartment's about to go co-op. And the job we're on? It's not even a paying gig. Talk about insult to injury."
"You can't pick one?"
"Not getting paid. Okay, no, all right, no. The worst thing about this I that if I screw up, P.B.'s screwed. You know what that's like, having your best friend's fate depending on you doing the impossible, and doing it perfectly? But hey, no pressure…"
3. What’s the best thing about your situation? (Again, details.)
"Ah… Sergei and I are finally having sex again. Seriously. I can handle most of the crap life throws at me, but not being able to touch him cause I was afraid he'd land back in the hospital? Unfun and really frustrating. I don't handle frustration well."
"There's an understatement. But you honestly think that us having sex again is better than…"
*glares*
"Oh, right. Those are all spoilers, aren't they? Never mind. Sex it is. Not that I'm insulted that you think…"
"Hey. Just because the lady wanted details doesn't mean you have to give them to her."
"Wrenlet, are you blushing?"
"No. Shut up."
4. What’s your standard outfit—your clothing of preference? What wouldn’t you be caught dead in?
"Jeans and a sweatshirt – something I can move comfortably in. Or my slicks, if I'm working. Not caught dead in…. .if I'm dead I really don't give a damn. Oh, you didn't mean literally. Anything with bow, flounces or excess trim."
"Too girly?"
"You bought me that silk barely-a-thing and you question my willingness to be girly? No, flounces catch and tear too easily. Clean lines, less chance to leave evidence behind."
5. What’s one ridiculous thing about your situation? (And yes, you guessed it: details.)
"I'm never ridiculous."
"The lady asked about your situation, not you."
"Oh. Us, then."
"Beg pardon?"
"Come on. We're two reasonable adults with a good working relationship, a good sex life – when you're not trying to --''
"Moving on."
"Right. We've got everything working – hell, we even talk to each other about stuff that's a problem. So why does everything always go FUBAR?"
"I blame P.B."
"So PB is the ridiculous thing in our situation?"
"He looks like a walking plushie polar bear and wear that stupid fedora. You don't think that's ridiculous?"
"Point, well-made."
6. Okay, spill. You and Sergei. Who’s on top? Or are there other preferred positions?
*they stare at each other, clearly reliving memories. He smirk, she cracks up.*
"I'm 5' nothing, he's 6'. What do YOU think?"
7. What’s your romantic fantasy? (Don’t worry. It’s just us girls. You can be as graphic as you want. In fact, I insist.)
"Hrmmmm…. A resort somewhere in the Southwest, one of the little towns where ley lines are just all over each other underfoot, and a thunderstorm crackling and booming overhead, so much that even a Null could feel the magic sparking in the air, and a huge bed with a lot of pillows and staff to cook and clean and serve and there needs to be a huge bathroom with an extra-large shower. I've always wanted to try it in a shower…"
"We're going to need a step-stool."
"And chocolate."
"And Bactine, because if I've got that much power to use, you're so gonna get current-burns… damn. So much for that plan."
"Fantasy, remember? That means it's all good."
8. Which is better: sex or chocolate?
"You noticed that part of the fantasy, huh? Good sex is better than good chocolate because shared pleasures multiply. Bad chocolate is worse than bad sex because even bad sex can still be decent. When at all possible, combine sex and chocolate."
9. So, in BLOOD FROM STONE, were there any parts of the story where you were like, Laura Anne, sweetie, what the Hell are you making me do? Or were you and your Creator in sync the entire time?
"She likes to put me through the wringer, physically, mentally, emotionally, you name it. I think it amuses her. I hear this evil cackle floating through the office and we all cringe…. After six books, I'm kind of used to it, and I know she'll get us through in the end. I mean, I may not like it, but we both know I'd get restless and cranky if things got boring. Although a little boring would be nice, Gilman. For a month or so, maybe? Can we do that, huh?"
10. If you had your way, what would you change about BLOOD FROM STONE?
"Oh God. A little less heart-ripping, that would be nice. Just for once I'd like a nice, straightforward case that has absolutely no effect on my gut, my heart, or my soul. And yeah, I know that would make a really boring story but come on, give a Retriever a break, willya?"
11. If you could make Laura Anne do anything, what would it be?
"Take a vacation. She seriously needs a vacation. The kind where you get a massage every day and someone else paints your toenails and they don't let her near a keyboard no matter how many time she says 'but I have a deadline!'"
12. Tell me one thing in the real world that you wish you could change.
"Kill every single car alarm ever. Nobody pays attention to them, they just go off and wake people up and the cars get stolen anyway. Give it up, people, they're annoying. Especially on my block, where they go off constantly. Sergei's neighborhood, they're all in garages."
13. What about in the publishing world?
We could talk my artist into actually showing me in what I wear, not those leather outfits. I mean, heels? Does he really think I go out on a job wearing tight leather and heels? I mean, sure I can run in them, but why would I want to?"
"Artistic license."
"Hey, I'm not saying he doesn't make me look good, and that doe seem to be the trend nowadays, for belly- baring and black leather and whatnot. But even New Yorkers occasionally wear something other than black!"
"Not often."
"True. You know why, right? It's not a fashion statement, it's that we're all too damn tired and busy to try to find something that matches at oh-god-early in the morning. Black always matches."
14. If BLOOD FROM STONE goes Hollywood, who should play you in the movie?
"You know, LAG and I talk about this occasionally, and we have no damned idea. Jodie Foster when she was younger would have been very cool. Dakota Fanning in a couple of years, maybe? That would work, yeah. Although she'd have to go brunette." [EtA: we've since then decided on Anna Belknap - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1140817/]
What about Sergei?
"Sergei was born out of LAG's fangirrling of Mitch Pileggi ("Walter S. Skinner" on the X Files), only with hair. So we can't imagine anyone else in the role, even now. Although I wouldn't say no to George Clooney. Mmmm, George Clooney and chocolate… And it's tough to cast P.B., since he's four feet of white-furred, red-eyed demon."
"They'll just CGI an albino ewok on steroids and bad attitude."
"Ouch. Not untrue, but ouch."
15. If there’s anything I haven’t asked that you really want to talk about, go for it!
"People keep asking why we're being published by Harlequin when we're not really a Romantic Fantasy. Guys, stop obsessing about labels. Romance is two or more people making each other feel good because they take pleasure in making the other person (people) feel good. Okay? All right. Let us never discuss this again, because it makes me break out in hives and froth at the mouth, and nobody knows if you're reading a book from Harlequin unless you tell them, so your machismo (or machisma) is safe."
"Can we talk about the difference between SF and fantasy when magic is actually based on science, and the difference between paranormal and fantasy genres?"
"You really do like to live dangerously, don't you, Didier?"
"I sleep with you, and have to you ask that?"
16. Finally, if you could be evil for one day, and you were granted spiffy evil powers, what would the powers be and how would you use them?
*wince* "Been there done that already, sorta."
"You weren't evil. In fact, you were…"
"Moving on, Sergei. How about you take a whack at that one?"
"I'd turn every corporate officer who took a huge bonus and/or platinum parachute when they'd run their company badly, and turn them into a chicken. A very tasty chicken. And then give them to someone who was hungry. And liked to eat live chickens. Feet-first."
"You're still bitter about your stock portfolio, aren't you?"
"Damn right I am. You give me heart attacks. My money isn't supposed to."
"And there, ladies and gentlemen, is why he's the business management guy, and I'm the Talent."
--------------
3. and, on a much less silly note, been on a Bruce kick the past few days, for some reason. But in light of events in Iran, "Worlds Apart" really kicked me in the gut.
I hold you in my arms, that's when it starts
I seek faith in you kiss, and comfort in your heart
I taste the seed upon your lips, lay my tongue upon your scars
But when I look into your eyes, we stand worlds apart
Where the distant oceans sing, and rise to the plain
In this dry and troubled country your beauty remains
Down from the mountain roads where the highway rolls to dark
'neath Allah's blessed rain, we remain worlds apart
Sometimes the truth just ain't enough
Or it's too much in times like this
Let's throw the truth away, we'll find it in this kiss
In your skin upon my skin, in the beating of our hearts
May the living let us in, before the dead tear us apart
We'll let blood build a bridge, over mountains draped in stars
I'll meet you on the ridge, between these worlds apart
We've got this moment now to live, then it's all dust dust and dark
Let love give what it gives
Let's let love give what it gives
----------------------
2. Meanwhile, cleaning up files and found an interview I'd done for a site but the person doing the interviews had to step down and it kinda got lost in the cracks. So y'all can see it here -- a little late, but hopefully still interesting/amusing/enlightening.
Wren and Sergei talk about BLOOD FROM STONE
1. Give me a one-line description of your book. The hook, if you will. What’s the “Oooh, cool!” about the book?
For the series as a whole: "A magic-using self-admitted kleptomaniac/professional and her really sexy and deeply frustrating partner, an art dealer with a mysterious past and a slight sex/pain kink he really needs to deal with already, trying to balance work, love, and mayhem in a modern-day Manhattan where electricity = magic."
For BLOOD FROM STONE specifically?
"Can I answer this one?"
"No"
"Why not?
"Because they asked me. You're Male Lead – I'm the Heroine."
"You're going to gloss all over the stuff you didn't like."
"They asked for a hook, not a book report."
"Ahhh. So what is the hook, Valere? Enlighten us."
*glares* "After saving the world – okay, New York City – from the force of self-righteous do-evilers, we don't get the downtime we so desperately deserve, but instead have to turn around and save my esteemed demon sidekick P.B. from the fate he's been running from for the past *coughmany* years. Which will make a lot of P.B. junkies happy, because you get backstory and trauma, and lots of demon screen-time. I swear he has more fans than we do."
"It's the cosplay thing."
"The what? No, don’t explain. I already know I don't want to know."
2. What’s the worst thing about your situation in the book? (Please describe the situation. In great detail.)
"Oh god, where to start? I'm dealing with flashback trauma, people who're supposed to be dead coming back to give me shit, an old friend being threatened with slavery, and my apartment's about to go co-op. And the job we're on? It's not even a paying gig. Talk about insult to injury."
"You can't pick one?"
"Not getting paid. Okay, no, all right, no. The worst thing about this I that if I screw up, P.B.'s screwed. You know what that's like, having your best friend's fate depending on you doing the impossible, and doing it perfectly? But hey, no pressure…"
3. What’s the best thing about your situation? (Again, details.)
"Ah… Sergei and I are finally having sex again. Seriously. I can handle most of the crap life throws at me, but not being able to touch him cause I was afraid he'd land back in the hospital? Unfun and really frustrating. I don't handle frustration well."
"There's an understatement. But you honestly think that us having sex again is better than…"
*glares*
"Oh, right. Those are all spoilers, aren't they? Never mind. Sex it is. Not that I'm insulted that you think…"
"Hey. Just because the lady wanted details doesn't mean you have to give them to her."
"Wrenlet, are you blushing?"
"No. Shut up."
4. What’s your standard outfit—your clothing of preference? What wouldn’t you be caught dead in?
"Jeans and a sweatshirt – something I can move comfortably in. Or my slicks, if I'm working. Not caught dead in…. .if I'm dead I really don't give a damn. Oh, you didn't mean literally. Anything with bow, flounces or excess trim."
"Too girly?"
"You bought me that silk barely-a-thing and you question my willingness to be girly? No, flounces catch and tear too easily. Clean lines, less chance to leave evidence behind."
5. What’s one ridiculous thing about your situation? (And yes, you guessed it: details.)
"I'm never ridiculous."
"The lady asked about your situation, not you."
"Oh. Us, then."
"Beg pardon?"
"Come on. We're two reasonable adults with a good working relationship, a good sex life – when you're not trying to --''
"Moving on."
"Right. We've got everything working – hell, we even talk to each other about stuff that's a problem. So why does everything always go FUBAR?"
"I blame P.B."
"So PB is the ridiculous thing in our situation?"
"He looks like a walking plushie polar bear and wear that stupid fedora. You don't think that's ridiculous?"
"Point, well-made."
6. Okay, spill. You and Sergei. Who’s on top? Or are there other preferred positions?
*they stare at each other, clearly reliving memories. He smirk, she cracks up.*
"I'm 5' nothing, he's 6'. What do YOU think?"
7. What’s your romantic fantasy? (Don’t worry. It’s just us girls. You can be as graphic as you want. In fact, I insist.)
"Hrmmmm…. A resort somewhere in the Southwest, one of the little towns where ley lines are just all over each other underfoot, and a thunderstorm crackling and booming overhead, so much that even a Null could feel the magic sparking in the air, and a huge bed with a lot of pillows and staff to cook and clean and serve and there needs to be a huge bathroom with an extra-large shower. I've always wanted to try it in a shower…"
"We're going to need a step-stool."
"And chocolate."
"And Bactine, because if I've got that much power to use, you're so gonna get current-burns… damn. So much for that plan."
"Fantasy, remember? That means it's all good."
8. Which is better: sex or chocolate?
"You noticed that part of the fantasy, huh? Good sex is better than good chocolate because shared pleasures multiply. Bad chocolate is worse than bad sex because even bad sex can still be decent. When at all possible, combine sex and chocolate."
9. So, in BLOOD FROM STONE, were there any parts of the story where you were like, Laura Anne, sweetie, what the Hell are you making me do? Or were you and your Creator in sync the entire time?
"She likes to put me through the wringer, physically, mentally, emotionally, you name it. I think it amuses her. I hear this evil cackle floating through the office and we all cringe…. After six books, I'm kind of used to it, and I know she'll get us through in the end. I mean, I may not like it, but we both know I'd get restless and cranky if things got boring. Although a little boring would be nice, Gilman. For a month or so, maybe? Can we do that, huh?"
10. If you had your way, what would you change about BLOOD FROM STONE?
"Oh God. A little less heart-ripping, that would be nice. Just for once I'd like a nice, straightforward case that has absolutely no effect on my gut, my heart, or my soul. And yeah, I know that would make a really boring story but come on, give a Retriever a break, willya?"
11. If you could make Laura Anne do anything, what would it be?
"Take a vacation. She seriously needs a vacation. The kind where you get a massage every day and someone else paints your toenails and they don't let her near a keyboard no matter how many time she says 'but I have a deadline!'"
12. Tell me one thing in the real world that you wish you could change.
"Kill every single car alarm ever. Nobody pays attention to them, they just go off and wake people up and the cars get stolen anyway. Give it up, people, they're annoying. Especially on my block, where they go off constantly. Sergei's neighborhood, they're all in garages."
13. What about in the publishing world?
We could talk my artist into actually showing me in what I wear, not those leather outfits. I mean, heels? Does he really think I go out on a job wearing tight leather and heels? I mean, sure I can run in them, but why would I want to?"
"Artistic license."
"Hey, I'm not saying he doesn't make me look good, and that doe seem to be the trend nowadays, for belly- baring and black leather and whatnot. But even New Yorkers occasionally wear something other than black!"
"Not often."
"True. You know why, right? It's not a fashion statement, it's that we're all too damn tired and busy to try to find something that matches at oh-god-early in the morning. Black always matches."
14. If BLOOD FROM STONE goes Hollywood, who should play you in the movie?
"You know, LAG and I talk about this occasionally, and we have no damned idea. Jodie Foster when she was younger would have been very cool. Dakota Fanning in a couple of years, maybe? That would work, yeah. Although she'd have to go brunette." [EtA: we've since then decided on Anna Belknap - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1140817/]
What about Sergei?
"Sergei was born out of LAG's fangirrling of Mitch Pileggi ("Walter S. Skinner" on the X Files), only with hair. So we can't imagine anyone else in the role, even now. Although I wouldn't say no to George Clooney. Mmmm, George Clooney and chocolate… And it's tough to cast P.B., since he's four feet of white-furred, red-eyed demon."
"They'll just CGI an albino ewok on steroids and bad attitude."
"Ouch. Not untrue, but ouch."
15. If there’s anything I haven’t asked that you really want to talk about, go for it!
"People keep asking why we're being published by Harlequin when we're not really a Romantic Fantasy. Guys, stop obsessing about labels. Romance is two or more people making each other feel good because they take pleasure in making the other person (people) feel good. Okay? All right. Let us never discuss this again, because it makes me break out in hives and froth at the mouth, and nobody knows if you're reading a book from Harlequin unless you tell them, so your machismo (or machisma) is safe."
"Can we talk about the difference between SF and fantasy when magic is actually based on science, and the difference between paranormal and fantasy genres?"
"You really do like to live dangerously, don't you, Didier?"
"I sleep with you, and have to you ask that?"
16. Finally, if you could be evil for one day, and you were granted spiffy evil powers, what would the powers be and how would you use them?
*wince* "Been there done that already, sorta."
"You weren't evil. In fact, you were…"
"Moving on, Sergei. How about you take a whack at that one?"
"I'd turn every corporate officer who took a huge bonus and/or platinum parachute when they'd run their company badly, and turn them into a chicken. A very tasty chicken. And then give them to someone who was hungry. And liked to eat live chickens. Feet-first."
"You're still bitter about your stock portfolio, aren't you?"
"Damn right I am. You give me heart attacks. My money isn't supposed to."
"And there, ladies and gentlemen, is why he's the business management guy, and I'm the Talent."
--------------
3. and, on a much less silly note, been on a Bruce kick the past few days, for some reason. But in light of events in Iran, "Worlds Apart" really kicked me in the gut.
I hold you in my arms, that's when it starts
I seek faith in you kiss, and comfort in your heart
I taste the seed upon your lips, lay my tongue upon your scars
But when I look into your eyes, we stand worlds apart
Where the distant oceans sing, and rise to the plain
In this dry and troubled country your beauty remains
Down from the mountain roads where the highway rolls to dark
'neath Allah's blessed rain, we remain worlds apart
Sometimes the truth just ain't enough
Or it's too much in times like this
Let's throw the truth away, we'll find it in this kiss
In your skin upon my skin, in the beating of our hearts
May the living let us in, before the dead tear us apart
We'll let blood build a bridge, over mountains draped in stars
I'll meet you on the ridge, between these worlds apart
We've got this moment now to live, then it's all dust dust and dark
Let love give what it gives
Let's let love give what it gives
no subject
Date: 2009-06-23 12:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-24 04:50 pm (UTC)One of the "problems" a lot of the NCIS characters have is a tendency to ramble or (techno)babble, until Gibbs barks at them to shut up. Now, I haven't done serious analsys on your novels, but my impression is that, while Wren tends to ramble and babble in her head, she doesn't actually *talk* that much to people. It's a recurring issue with Sergei and PB, for instance. Abby on NCIS doesn't share that problem, she's very outgoing.
I'm thinking if Wren ever met Abby, Wren would feel like slugging her at first, but would wind up drinking large cups of soda with her instead. Complete with simultaneous "slurping through a straw" noises.
And while Sergei may be descended from Russian immigrants, he still "sounds" British to me. It's the stuffiness, precision, and arrogance he has. So if we can change his ancestry for the movie version, I nominate Anthony Stewart Head, for what I hope are obvious reasons.