Guest Author, Jessa Slade with Giveaway!
by sue on Dec.15, 2009, under Book Chat
Setting: November in Chicago, which—if you’ve ever experienced the beginning of winter in Chicago—means the end of light, warmth and hope. In other words, an excellent start to the end of the world.
Subgenre: Urban fantasy romance where repentant demons—the teshuva—possess alpha male warriors—the talyan—to fight against the aforementioned end of the world ushered in by demons of the decidedly less repentant kind.
Hero: Ferris Archer, former spoiled Southern gentleman, current garbage man of the damned
Heroine: Sera Littlejohn, thanatologist (she’s always been compelled to peer into the abyss) and first female talya
One sentence summary: In a world where evil has broken free of the shadows, only a hero cut from a darker shade of wicked stands a chance…if he finds the courage to hold the woman who is the other half of his demon-shattered soul.
Scene you like most and would never cut: I’d cut anything. I have no mercy. Let that be a lesson to recalcitrant scenes that think they can run amok. (I’m in hot first draft mode on Book 3 of The Marked Souls as I write this, so I can’t afford to show those scenes any weakness.)
However, I do like the scene where Archer explains Sera’s possession to her. It was an interesting scene to write because it was so necessary; I had to explain the intricacies of the storyworld to Sera, the reader and to myself, all at the same time. So to me, in a way, it felt like I was there, in the scene with Sera. My favorite line is from Archer:
“You’ve been possessed by an other-realm emanation, latent at the moment, that matched itself to susceptible receptors in your idiopathic, perpetual etheric force.” When she blinked at him, he added, “More commonly called your soul.”
“Did I catch a demon or a cold?”
I know, I know. “Idiopathic, perpetual etheric force”? My dirty little secret as a writer is that I love words. Sometimes I imagine myself as a olde-tyme lion tamer—whip and keyboard in hand, chair under butt—forcing the words to dance. Until they turn viciously upon me and—not doubt deservedly—rend me to bloody bits. But that’s another story.
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: Playing the harp. As a thanatologist—a counselor who helps ease the transition into death—she briefly carted around a harp because it seemed… well, de rigeur. But when a patient informed her that dying would be sweet relief from her strumming, she gave it up. Anyway, she always thought the harp sounded sort of morbid.
Your hero, is he a boxer or brief kind of guy: Boxers. Black, of course, to match his jeans, his hair and his soul. Although from the cover, you’d probably guess commando. A man who doesn’t wear even a t-shirt under his leather jacket during November in Chicago would not bother himself to don underwear beneath his leather pants. I’m guessing. Presumably no shirt reduces his laundry loads when you consider the nasty tarnish left by slaughtered demon gore.
Ancillary character you had the most fun with: I liked working with Corvus, the villain. One of the first things you learn when you start writing bad guys is that the villain is the hero of his own story. And I think that’s very true for Corvus. He honestly believes ushering in the end of days is a good idea. He has justifications, rationales, excuses, probably flowcharts if we checked his briefcase and REM’s “End of The World” playing on his iPod. If he had a briefcase and iPod. He’d swear he only wants to help humanity. But we all know where the road of good intentions leads.
Your heroine’s favorite hobby: Searching for answers. Sera has never been content with platitudes and mysteries. If anyone could figure out the meaning of good and evil, life and death, salvation and damnation, it’s Sera. As for love… Well, she’s finding love is a little trickier.
Your hero’s favorite hobby: Staining the city with the psychic screams of drained demons. In his off hours, Archer putters with lilies in his secret greenhouse. Not a pastime he shares with his demon-slaying, uber-alpha compatriots.
What do you think readers will like best about this book: Oh wow, tough question. I’m not sure I’m qualified to answer that. But I know my favorite stories are ones with deep shadows and flashes of humor; some explosions and a few lyrical passages; and definitely a happy ending (until the next book, at least). Since those are the kinds of stories I like to read, that’s what I wrote. I hope readers will like those aspects too.
The person who readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Since this is the first book in the series, I haven’t heard from many readers yet (shameless cry for help) but a couple have already mentioned Ecco. Ecco is a big, hulking brute of a man who reads women’s magazines for the quizzes and might be harboring secret depths. Not that he’d ever let on. I don’t know if he could be a hero. He’s so gleefully rough around the edges, I’m not sure any self-respecting heroine would have him. I mean, he blames his inner demon for leaving the toilet seat up. Can such a man be redeemed?
What’s next: Book 2 of The Marked Souls, FORGED OF SHADOWS, coming out in June 2010, follows Liam Niall, the leader of the Chicago league of possessed warriors. Liam already despaired of the world going to hell in a hand basket on his watch, and the appearance of the newly possessed Jilly Chan just pushed the minute hand farther along. Yeah, he’s doomed.
Discussion question: In SEDUCED BY SHADOWS, Sera learns that the battle between good and evil isn’t just metaphorical and has been going on beneath humanity’s collective nose for millennia. Have you ever learned something that shook your world to the core? Did you handle it like a plucky romance heroine, or a reluctant hero? How many pages would it take you to believe the world as you knew it had changed irrevocably?
Chapter 1 of SEDUCED BY SHADOWS is available at http://jessaslade.com and a free short story, “Boys’ Night Out,” introducing the world of the Marked Souls is online exclusively at the Borders Romance Reading Room http://www.tinyurl.com/MarkedSoulsPrequel.
Leave a comment for a chance to win one of three giveaways, which include a signed copy of SEDUCED BY SHADOWS, a custom temporary tattoo based on an inside joke from the story, and a pair of Possession In Pearl earrings, pearl sticks with these weird, borderline creepy freeform shapes inside that, to me anyway, look vaguely demonic. Repentant demons, I’m sure.
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12/19 Lucky WINNERS! - trueromance
December 20th, 2009 on 1:25 pm[...] - Jessa Slade winners: Raelena; Bailey; Teresa [...]
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Tweets that mention Guest Author, Jessa Slade with Giveaway! - trueromance -- Topsy.com
December 15th, 2009 on 11:30 am[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Lisa Hendrix and Jessa Slade, Signet Eclipse Books. Signet Eclipse Books said: RT@jessaslade Guesting at Borders True Romance & giving away a book, temp tattoo & demon-possessed earrings. http://tinyurl.com/ydjkrq8 [...]
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Sue G - Borders True Romance Host - Borders Romance Buyer, reads romance. For her JOB. No, really. You can email Sue at sgrimshaw at bordersgroupinc dot com.
Borders True Romance Blog is a community, developed for you, the romance reader, to find out more about the books you love; the authors who write them & where to buy them :) Borders.com
Shape-shifter Dev Peltier thought he knew it all. But one night when a Dark-Hunter, who is also an official member of the Dogs of War, sashays into his bar, he realizes he might have met his match. But as old enemies and new move into New Orleans, Samia realizes that Dev just might be the only hope she and mankind have to save the world.
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December 19th, 2009 on 4:58 pm
You are a new author to me, but your book sounds great and I would love to read it.
December 17th, 2009 on 2:27 pm
“… deep shadows and flashes of humor; some explosions and a few lyrical passages; and definitely a happy ending”
Definitely sounds like my kind of book to read when I’m alone late at night.
December 17th, 2009 on 1:20 am
I love the cover of the book–makes me want one of those shadowy type guys to cuddle with, lol
December 16th, 2009 on 12:30 pm
I’ve never really had anything rock my world. Which is kind of dull now that I think about it. I’d like to think I would handle anything like a plucky heroine.
December 16th, 2009 on 7:49 am
I thought I knew cold until I spent Christmas with the (now ex-) inlaws in South Holland (just south of Chicago, for those who don’t know the area). Just walking from the car to front door made me reassess anything this Kentucky girl had ever thought about the word “cold”.
As for the discussion question, I can’t think of anything I’ve ever learned that shook my world-view to the core. If it ever did happen, I’d like to be the plucky heroine, but I’d probably have a massive freak-out and a day or two of denial before getting on with the business of dealing with it. (Does that make me a reluctant hero or just reluctant, in general?)
December 16th, 2009 on 7:42 am
This book is a must try for me. Thanks Borders for introducing so many new authors, it really has broadened my reading habits.
December 16th, 2009 on 3:06 am
Is it bad that I’m ready to beg for Ecco’s story?
Mmm, I’d like to think I’d be the plucky heroine, but I’d probably have a huge dose of reluctant hero initially. But I can only take whining for so long, so perhaps not that many pages will have passed before I accept my new world view.
December 16th, 2009 on 1:58 am
Christine & Raelena, I have an entire blog category labeled “rippling abs”
Rippling abs in romance are like wormholes in Star Trek, winter in Jack London, and saying “yeah yeah no no” in alternative rock songs; just a given 
December 16th, 2009 on 12:44 am
Hello Jessa! This book sounds awesome! Im going to get this asap! Thanks for the funny interview and the oppt to win
December 16th, 2009 on 2:22 am
Hi, Victoria! Good luck on the giveaway and thanks for ASAPing the story
December 16th, 2009 on 12:18 am
sorry to go OT - but:
Sue, what happened to Sarah and Jane? Are they no longer here?
December 16th, 2009 on 12:14 am
If the book is as funny as the interview I have to read it. “Did I catch a demon or a cold?” is a fantastic line.
The villain musing reminds me of a movie I just saw, ‘In Bruges’, that sort of explores that type of thing. People who’d ordinarily be classed as bad guys having their own moral code and principles, that kind of thing. It was a very thought provoking movie, with superb performances from all three male leads (Colin Ferrel, Ralph Fiennes, Brendan Gleeson)
Best of luck in your writing career.
December 16th, 2009 on 2:20 am
Ooh, Ralph Fiennes? I’ve been digging on his brother in Flash Forward. I love that intensity they both have.
Liam Niall, the hero of the second book, was partly inspired by the Fiennes eyes.
December 16th, 2009 on 12:02 am
Sounds great. Thanks for sharing. And having lived though that setting for a number of years I truly understand it.
December 16th, 2009 on 2:17 am
Donna, it was so cold in Chicago one winter (how cold was it?) that my contacts ON MY EYEBALLS fogged up. That’s cold.
December 15th, 2009 on 10:26 pm
This book sounds great! Onto my wish list with you!
“Have you ever learned something that shook your world to the core?”
Yes
“Did you handle it like a plucky romance heroine, or a reluctant hero?”
Neither. I curled into a ball for a very long time.
“How many pages would it take you to believe the world as you knew it had changed irrevocably?”
Uh, depends? If you’re trying to sell me on demons possessing me I would assume I would believe that pretty quick. I mean wouldn’t the extra voices in my head be a giveaway? If it’s something a little more “possible” then I’d say 10 pages (I can be stubborn that way.)
December 16th, 2009 on 2:16 am
Lol! Ten pages, hmm?
I’ve always admired the hedgehog defense against the world: Tight curl, prickles out, cuteness if all else fails…
December 15th, 2009 on 8:06 pm
Sounds like my kind of read.
As for the discussion question I can’t think of anything I learned that shook my world to the core but if something did I would hope I would react like a plucky heroine. I think the shock would be great though and I might get through a few chapters before I could learn to cope.
December 16th, 2009 on 2:13 am
Cherie, I think a good hero (with rippling abs, naturally) can help even the pluckiest heroine adapt a bit faster. Actually, that’s my favorite part of romance — the way the h/h rope up and challenge the mountain together.
And while we’re thinking about facing obstacles, think good thoughts to Mt. Hood to give up those lost climbers. I know it’s been a long time and it’s been snowing all day, but if there’s still a chance…
December 15th, 2009 on 8:05 pm
This book rocks! I tried to finish it in one night but the eyes gave up. You have taken interesting threads to weave a very sexy fabric. I can hardly wait ’till June for the next bolt of fabric!
December 16th, 2009 on 2:07 am
Hi, Tammy! I definitely wouldn’t want to make you late for work
No, that’s a dirty stinkin’ lie. I have a lot of favorite authors who obviously delight in making me bleary eyed the next day. And I want to grow up to be just like them!
December 15th, 2009 on 7:19 pm
Fantastic new author! Love the book cover! Love the storyline! Great giveaway!
December 16th, 2009 on 2:03 am
Glad you like the giveaway, Lisa. I was psyched to find these weird pearls. They’re almost like worry stones; the texture is very pleasing. I knew right away they’d make awesome gifts to go with the demon storyworld.
December 15th, 2009 on 6:16 pm
I love discovering new authors like Jessa Slade!
December 16th, 2009 on 2:01 am
And I love discovering that I can leave replies in line with comments! I’m such a dork
Etirv, we new authors are THRILLED — not to mention ecstatic, giddy and even awed — to be discovered by you!
December 15th, 2009 on 6:00 pm
An urban fantasy in which they’re fighting against the end of the world? Count me in. And if there’s a happy ending, that’s even better. I’m not sure how I would handle a world-changing event, probably as the reluctant hero, hoping things will just go back to normal if I just give it some time.
December 16th, 2009 on 1:59 am
Barbara, I promised my mom, no matter how much blood ‘n’ guts, no matter how many times I use the f word, there will always be a happy ending. And one doesn’t break promises to one’s mother.
December 15th, 2009 on 5:43 pm
Oh wow. I love that cover (all right, I love the cover mode, but still). Those chopping-bpoard like abs…. Whoa.
December 15th, 2009 on 4:50 pm
I love the cover and the premise of the story sounds interesting
December 15th, 2009 on 3:41 pm
Eva, I hope Santa fulfills your wish list!
Quilt Lady, the halfway point seems a reasonable turnaround time for any hero. I figure, the author can always just make things worse, even for an enlightened hero
Jeanette, thanks! I can take no credit for the cover. Well… I admit, I DID emphasize his rippling abs, so maybe I’ll take credit for that part
December 15th, 2009 on 3:38 pm
Tia, ah, you’re my kind of hero, holding out till the very end
Speaking of till… I’m going to share a little lesson I learned from my copy editor for Book 2 (FORGED OF SHADOWS, June 2010). Since “till” is used in place of “until,” I always thought I could use the contraction “’til.” But it turns out, “till” actually came first in the language; “until” was a later word, and “’til” came later yet, mostly out of confusion. So now you know.
December 15th, 2009 on 3:33 pm
I love love love the book cover and the book sounds fabulous!
December 15th, 2009 on 3:21 pm
I would be the reluctant hero and it would take me about half the book to realize it. Your book sound fabulous and I can’t wait to read it.
December 15th, 2009 on 3:06 pm
I would be the reluctant hero in a book. If the book had 300 pages, it would take the first 200 for me to realize that life as I’ve known it has change.
December 15th, 2009 on 2:42 pm
This series about possessed warriors sounds great, more for my wish list, thanks!
December 15th, 2009 on 1:23 pm
Hi, Liz! I know, June seems a million years away. Especially because I still have to go to the post office today and fight the Christmas crowds. Where’s a man with a sword when you need one?
Although, honestly, I wouldn’t bet on Archer against a half dozen ladies hopped up on eggnog with packages to mail and cookies to bake.
GSM, I adore all my lovely words… but there’ve been too many times where I make myself laugh only to have my critique partners blink slowly at me. That’s when I chant one of my favorite Homer Simpson lines — “I am so smart! S M R T!” — and cut cut cut.
December 15th, 2009 on 1:12 pm
Teresa, Christmas is an excellent time to grow the TBR
And good luck on finals, Amanda!
I like the way you think, Sharon. I suspect all of us have “powers” we can use if we only have the courage.
December 15th, 2009 on 1:09 pm
Adi, I don’t know where you are now, but my family in Chicago has already reported a few pretty snows, which makes me sigh. Although I’m happy to do without the chill that freezes your nostrils shut…
Michelle S. is the perfect combo for a romance character! She’s conflicted about something and then battles her way through
That easily takes up 400 pages.
December 15th, 2009 on 1:07 pm
Virginia, judging by your name and your affinity for Southern gentlemen, I’m guessing you might have a love for one of the quintessential plucky heroines — I’m thinking Scarlett O’Hara draped in green velvet
Lori, I applaud your technique: Step 1. bake; Step 2. kick demon ass. That’s pretty much how I get through the holidays too.
Sue, I admit I fall more toward your end of the plucky scale — hurt and embarrassed — except I add skulking and brooding for maximum effect. Which is why I like wounded heroes, I think. I can wallow with the best of them!
December 15th, 2009 on 12:30 pm
Any Hero who is a “former spoiled Southern gentleman” really has me intrigued!
I am a plucky heroine by circumstance and by choice : )
December 15th, 2009 on 12:01 pm
What an awesome giveaway! I would love to have a chance to read this.
December 15th, 2009 on 11:47 am
Jessa: if your writing is as brilliant as your voice in this interview then you’re going to become a Must Read for a lot of people.
(Those earrings are awesome, by the way.)
I don’t think I’m a pluky heroine type… I’m a more broody, dark hero with a green thumb. I’d probably end up baking the demons a cake and then kicking their asses back into the abyss.
December 15th, 2009 on 11:41 am
Love your Q’s: Have you ever learned something that shook your world to the core? Did you handle it like a plucky romance heroine, or a reluctant hero?
& no, I was not plucky in the least — in fact, direct, hurt & embarrassed!
Thanks for blogging today & for the great giveaways — I’ve not read your series yet but definitely will do so now! I love Chicago for one
& I love stories where the hero & heroine are predestined so to speak.
Happy Holidays,
Sue
December 15th, 2009 on 11:28 am
This sounds very intruiging. I’m from Chicago and since I can’t make it home this Christmas it would be nice to get a double dose of home and blackness, since I’m none to happy about it.
Anyway, good luck Jessica! Sounds like you have a good attitude and a great idea going for you.
December 15th, 2009 on 11:20 am
another series i want to get my hands on! it’s going on my wishlist…
as for the discussion question–i think at first i would handle it like a reluctant hero and it would take me as many pages as it takes until i can see proof with my own eyes to believe the world has changed. then, i’ll probably handle it like a plucky heroine.
December 15th, 2009 on 11:17 am
Looks like another one I need to add to my TBR pile, sounds good!
December 15th, 2009 on 10:51 am
this book is definately going to be bought right after I finish finals!!
December 15th, 2009 on 10:12 am
Great post. I especially like the description of Ecco and your answer to which scene you’d never cut. My my, but you are ruthless with your work!
December 15th, 2009 on 6:20 am
Hi Jessa! What a great way to describe the villian…”the hero of his own story.” Everyone wants to be a hero, don’t they?” LOL And, oh boy, Archer is my kind of man. Commando or not. I absolutely LOVED this book, and I cannot wait to get my hands on “Forged of Shadows”. Do we really have to wait until Jun 2010? This will be the slowest six months ever.
December 15th, 2009 on 5:48 am
Love the premise of the book. I see love as almost a supernatural power accessible to those who have the courage to use it. Since heros and heroines have that gene in their DNA it stands to reason they would fall harder than an ordinary person. And I like that in falling they become stronger.
I’d want to see this capacity in the characters in the first 5-10 pages of a book, but am thrilled when it comes sooner.