Look Who’s Going to RT: Jackie Kessler

Can you introduce yourself to my readers a little?
I write about demons, angels, the hapless humans caught between them, superheroes, the supervillians who love to pound those heroes into pudding, vampires, and the occasional Horseman of the Apocalypse. I’m also a Deadline Dame and a Reluctant Adult. And I tweet more than is healthy. (At least, to my writing productivity.) For more information about me than you probably care for, you can visit my website: www.jackiekessler.com.

Can you introduce us to the world that you have created?
Which one? **grin**

The Hell on Earth series (Hell’s Belles) stars Jezebel, a former succubus and current human exotic dancer. She thinks she’s done with Hell, but Hell isn’t quite done with her. The series also focuses on Daunuan (that’s “Don Juan,” sort of), an incubus who had been paired with Jezebel for thousands of years (you can read “paired” as “bed buddies”) and still has a thing for her, even though now she’s got a “cute human soul.” The fourth Hell book, HELL TO PAY, will be available soon. But be warned: everything changes.

The Icarus Project is a dystopian superhero series about Jet, the superheroine who works with shadow, and Iridium, the supervillainess who works with light. I write in the POV of Jet; my coauthor Caitlin Kittredge writes in the POV of Iridium. I’m the tortured hero; she’s the evil genius. (Of course, she gets all the great lines.) BLACK AND WHITE is already available; the second book, SHADES OF GRAY, comes out in June.

HUNGER is my first YA novel, written under the byline Jackie Morse Kessler. It’s about an anorexic teenage girl who becomes the new Famine—one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It’s a hard-hitting look at eating disorders, and I’ll be donating a portion of proceeds to the National Eating Disorders Association. HUNGER will be available in October. The second book, RAGE, which is about a teenage girl self-injurer who becomes War, will be available in spring 2011.

I also had the opportunity to write an online vampire comic book set in the Buffyverse. “Carpe Noctem,” part of the “Tales of the Vampires” series, is available at MySpace Dark Horse Presents, issues #31 and 32.

Will this be your first RT or are you a veteran? Any advice for those who are going for the first time?
This is my.. **counts** fourth RT. (Oh my God, there ought to be a law…) I always have a terrific time when I go — I get to see friends from all around the world, meet new people, and get to hang out with authors, editors, readers, librarians and booksellers.

I was horribly nervous during my first RT. (Richelle Mead had to bully me to get me to join her, Charlaine Harris, Jeanne Stein, and two lovely booksellers for breakfast. When I met Charlaine, I shook her hand and said to her, “I feel like I should bow.”) But the thing is, everyone’s there to have a good time, and everyone’s happy to meet new people. Bet you have a great time. :)

Are you speaking on any panels during RT? Are there any you are looking forward to?
Yep, I’ll be on a bunch of things: a workshop about crit partners (with my lovely crit partner, Heather Brewer); an American Idol-style workshop for readers called “Fun to Be Bad” that’s all about the perfect hero; a YA panel; a vampire panel; a craft panel that focuses on the business of writing; and co-hosting the Not So Sweet 16 Bookseller and Librarian party. Whew. And I’ll be in Club RT on Thursday starting at 11 am.

I’m looking forward to all the panels! Of course, it’s getting me to shut up that’s the trick…

If someone were wanting to meet up with you at RT, who should they look for?
The short chick in glasses, probably by the bar. :)

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.

5 Comments

  1. This is my first RT and I’m already nervous. I get to drive this year, which means overpacking. But I have wings, a mask, leopard ears and spanx, so I think that covers the necessities. Right? Right?

  2. Becky, there will be another time!

    Cathy, can’t wait to see you again!

    Keri: Spanx? You’re golden. :) I just tried on some of my jeans, and I pretty much cried. Sigh. I’m not doing any costumes this year.

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