Guest Author: Chloe Neill

2 June 2009 Jackie LE Guests 40

Chloe NeillHave you heard of this great new novel by Chloe Neill?  Some Girls Bite is a great addition to the Urban Fantasy genre and Chloe is here today to talk about her heroines and the guys they undoubtedly meet up with.  If you haven’t checked out this book yet, you really need to.  I couldn’t put it down (I do have a review for it, but I haven’t been on the computer much, so it’ll be up later this week….as will the newsletter).  Long sentence short – GO BUY IT NOW!

First in a brand new series about a Chicago graduate student’s introduction into a society of vampires.

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn’t exactly glamorous, but it was Merit’s. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker—and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she’s traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan “Lord o’ the Manor” Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred- year-old vampire, he has centuries’ worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects her gratitude— and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan’s attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone’s still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago’s nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war—and there will be blood.

Make sure you stick around because we have a bunch of goodies we’re giving away.
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I Love a Good Hero . . . But Does My Heroine?

One of the most frequent questions I receive as an author is whether the events that I write about (presumably the non-supernatural ones) actually happened to me.

The answer that I invariably give–an honest one–is that I’ve already lived the stuff in my life, so why would I want to write about it? :) At least in part, I write so that I can try on someone else’s experiences, someone else’s friends, someone else’s drama.

But that’s not to say that my characters are any less real to me than if I actually knew them. And that makes one thing a pretty big challenge–connecting to the hero.

At least so far, in order for me to put the hero and heroine together (or, in Merit’s case, to think about how she and her hero might *eventually* get together), I need to connect to him. That is, even if he seems completely irredeemable in the beginning–as was the case in a half-finished contemporary romance that’s moldering in a dusty folder on my laptop–if I “get” him in some way, I can figure out a way for he and my heroine to make it work in the end.

Sometimes, that connection just isn’t there. Sometimes, no matter how many great qualities the hero has–charm, good looks, great personality–I don’t connect with him. There’s no pull. No spark. It’s like dating a guy who, on paper, is perfect for you, but who doesn’t trigger that tingle in your stomach when he smiles. And just like in real life, it’s not just about physical attraction; it’s about the connection, truly understanding someone. Truly connecting to someone.

If I don’t connect with the hero, how can I convincingly write about a heroine connecting with him?

Therein lies the problem–is it fair for me to bring my preferences (as an author) into her relationships (as a heroine)? It is her life, after all. Should I simply pick the “best” guy on paper–the one with the best resume and credentials and the least emotional baggage–and put her together with him? And if I don’t, am I giving the guy I *do* connect with a chance he shouldn’t have been given?

These are tough questions, and issues that I struggle with. Each of my heroines, I’m sure, has some bit of me in them. They are, in some way, my fairy-tale children. And like any parent, I want them to be happy. But as a writer, I also have to follow my gut, to write the plot that wants to be written, whether the hero turns out to be the sensible one . . . or the redeemable one.

Here’s the moral of the story: relationships aren’t simple, fiction or otherwise. In both cases, you do the best you can.

Best wishes readers, and thanks to Literary Escapism for hosting me today!

~ Chloe
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Friday Night BitesThank you Chloe for visiting Literary Escapism.

Contest Time! We’re giving away a Cadogan House tote bag, Some Girls Bite magnet, “I Heart Cadogan” bumper sticker, and an autographed Chicagoland Vampires bookplate to a lucky commentator and it’s very easy to enter. All you have to do is answer one of these simple questions (or all of them your choice):  What are some of your favorite Heroine/Hero matchups?  Has there ever been a matchup that you didn’t like (i.e. Bella should have been with Jacob instead of Edward)?

The contest is open to everyone, so everyone overseas can join in the fun as well.

As always, if you want more chances to win, you can post about today’s contest on your blog, social network, or anywhere you can. Digg it, stumble it, twit it, share it with the world. Wherever you share it, make sure you add a link to it along with your answer (in the same post).  The more places you share it, the more entries you get.

For 2 more entries, purchase either Some Girls Bite and/or preorder Friday Night Bites (through LE’s Amazon store or any other novel) sometime during this contest and send a copy of the receipt VIA email for your purchase to: myjaxon AT gmail DOT com.  That’s a possible 4 entries if you purchase both books!

Join the Literary Escapism Facebook page and you’ll get an additional entry (for each page).  Make sure you leave a comment so I know that’s why you’re joining.  Only new readers to the group will be considered.

For 2 additional entries, subscribe to Literary Escapism’s newsletter in the sidebar. This is for new subscribers only.

I’ll determine the winner with help from the Research Randomizer. All entries must be in by midnight on June 9th.

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.

25 Comments

  1. One of the matchups that I wasn’t a fan of was Mercy Thompson and
    Adam Hauptman (Patricia Briggs’ Mercedes Thompson series). I was pulling for Mercy to get back together with Samuel. I totally get why it ends up the way it does but a girl can have her preferences right?

    Thanks for the great giveaway!

    *Jen

  2. Scarlett + Rhett = great matchup! And as far as Bella + Jacob, that resolved itself quite neatly in Breaking Dawn, didn’t it?? I’ve already read Some Girls Bite on my Kindle, so I would buy it if I needed to, but I don’t!

  3. @Jen – sorry to hear you weren’t rooting for Mercy and Adam. I love them!

    Along with Mercy and Adam some of my favorites are Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, Cat and Bones, and Kate and Curran.

    There have been a few that I was ambivalent about but, at the moment, I can’t think of any that I thought were just all wrong.

  4. matchups I like Faythe and Marc (Rachel Vincent),Elena and Clay(kelly armstrong),Victoria and Max (Colleen Gleason)

    I’m also a new subscriber to your newsletter

  5. My favorite would have to be Jeaniene Frost’s; Bones& Cat. They just complete each other.
    Patricia Briggs; Mercy& Adam is also one of my favorite and I can’t wait to read her next book.
    Carrie Vaughn; Kitty& Ben, I really didn’t think they should of ended up together, I was all but yelling and wishing for Cormac and Kitty to hook up.
    And as for Charlaine Harris; I hoped Sookie would of ended up with Bill, it was just a romance/love at first sight thing when they first met but I’m not too upset with her being with Eric, I just find Bill more suitable.

    Ohh and Karen Chance’s books; I wished Cass would of ended up with Pritikin just because they have that fight/fight/make up/fight relationship and it’s so funny.

  6. Hi, commenters.

    @ Michelle – Thanks for reading!

    Personally, I’ve always wished that Rachel and Trent would end up together in Kim Harrison’s books. I still believe he’s redeemable! (which fits in with my guest blog today!)

  7. Chloe, thanks for your thoughts on Merit and for insight to your creative process! I can’t wait for FNB!

    Hmmmm, for the contest . . . I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Elizabeth and Mr. D’Arcy. Every time I read P&P I’m nervous it just won’t happen! Another of my all time favorite matchups is Harry and Ginny ;) A silly aside: I always giggle when I imagine Arthur at Weasly family christmases discussing endlessly with his son- and daughter-in-laws boring muggle trivialities like plugs and mailmen.

    As for a matchup I didn’t like, I was never a fan of Sookie and Alcide – so I’m glad that didn’t pan out. I’m hoping she sees that Eric is worth the trouble and hassle (fingers crossed)!

    Thanks for the fun contest :)

  9. Chloe,
    I’ve always thought Rachel and Trent should be together, but everyone I know that’s read the books thinks I’m nuts.I thought I was the only one.

    I read your book in a day, it was awesome,I can’t wait for the next one.

  10. What are some of your favorite Heroine/Hero matchups? Sookie and Eric!!

    Jackie, I subscribed to your newsletter. :)

  13. I’ve always felt Bella should of ended up with Jacob. Edward dropped the ball. Besides Jacob was far more believable and down to earth. While on I’m the subject of bad matchup and Jacob, the whole Renesmee imprint wasn’t what I envisioned for Jacob. I would love to see Stephanie Meyers do an off shoot series centered around Jacob.

    I just started off getting into Patricia Briggs , Mercy Thompson novels so I’m not ready to make a deduction there. Thanks for the opportunity!

    I’m also now subscribed to you. Thanks! Indigo

  19. Wow. This is tough. Truly my stand in forever perfect pairing was Rhett and Scarlet. The only guy that she couldn’t push around and saw her for what she was. Perfect match. I have to confess that I have yet to read Twilight, but my neice has been begging me to get into it. :)

    Great giveaway but most of all, it is really just great reading Choe’s perspective on matching up the hero or heroine. :) Thanks!

    Kelly

  21. I loved “Some Girls Bite” and am eagerly awaiting “Friday Night Bites”. I’ve enjoyed all the pairings in the J.R. Ward Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series especially in the latest book “Lover Avenged.” Rehvenge and Ehlena are a fantastic match. I also love the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris but it’s hard for me to select one match for Sookie. With this last book I’m leaning toward Eric but I still have a soft spot for Bill.

  24. I am with everyone who says Rachel and Trent need to hookup. I really can’t see them getting in a relationship, but I CAN see a total one night stand with lots of wild monkey sex and lots of fighting the next morning. I don’t know why, but I can totally see that. :)

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