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* Skye Warren: Author Override
* Narrator Lorelei King: Interview
* Stephanie Tyler: Interview
* Carolyn Crane: Author Override | UTC Review
* J.T. Geissinger: Interview | UTC Review
* Men and Women of the Military Giveaway Hop
* Keri Arthur: Interview | UTC Reviews

Monday 23 April 2012

Interview and Giveaway with Jillian Stone


Maidens, we have today the talented Jillian Stone.  A little bit of hot, a little bit of mystery, some steampunk aaaaaand some paranormal.  We want to welcome her today to Under the Covers while we pick her brain a bit about how she comes up with her stories.  So lets get right to it!

Welcome Jillian!  The Seduction of Phaeton Black is the first book in your Paranormal Investigator series, what can you tell us about it?

First off, I should warn the reader that Phaeton is truly a bad boy. Not a pretend bad boy, he is the real thing! As the story opens it's 1889, and Phaeton has recently taken up residence in the basement flat of London’s most notorious brothel. A master of deduction and other midnight maneuvers, Phaeton is Scotland Yard's secret weapon against things that go bump in the night. His prodigious gifts as a paranormal investigator are as legendary as his skills as a lover, his weakness for wicked women as notorious as his affection for absinthe.

Unfairly linked to Scotland Yard’s failure to solve the Whitechapel murders, Phaeton is offered a second chance to redeem himself. A mysterious fiend, or vampire is stalking the Strand. He is asked to hunt down a fanged femme fatale who drains her victims of blood, and walks straight into the arms of the most dangerous woman he's ever known––America Jones, a Cajun beauty who captures him at knifepoint and threatens to spirit away his heart.

The novel is an April Top Pick RT Reviews and was nominated for their Seal Of Excellence award. Here's what the editors wrote about The Seduction of Phaeton Black."Throw out everything you think you know about heroes, because Phaeton is like no character you have ever read about before. Readers picking up this fast-paced Steampunk novel should get ready for a very wild ride!"

Steampunk is a very popular genre right now, why did you choose to write Steampunk and if you had to describe your particular style how would you describe it?

Phaeton Black actually crosses over several genres. It's a steamy Steampunk paranormal romance about an occult detective living in Victorian, London. I think that's like…five or six sub-genres. LOL! Publishers Weekly attacked Phaeton for being multi-genre and yet RT REVIEWS loved it, so…can you see my eyes rolling and shoulders shrugging? I just write the stories and characters that come into my head. I never think: "Oh, that's hot right now so I'll write that." I write what I love, what inspires me, and hope that readers will be carried away on a romantic adventure for a few pleasant hours.

How long does is take you to write a book?

Anywhere from six weeks to six months. I'd love to get six months with another month or two to work on edits (editors reading this are rolling on the floor). I write for two publishers, Kensington Brava and Pocket Books, so I'm either finishing or starting a new project while working on edits and proof pages for other novels. As a contracted writer with multiple deadlines I am constantly interrupted and asked to drop one thing and attend to another. I'm ADD anyway, so when I add book promotion to my writing schedule––it can get ugly.

You've been blessed by the cover faerie! Did you have any input on what your covers would look like?

I have been very fortunate when it comes to covers. And I love the latest cover for The Moonstone and Miss Jones, the second installment of the Phaeton Black series. Since I come from advertising and started out as an art director, I give my editors and their art departments input whether they want it or not. I have learned that they listen to what they want to listen to and discard the rest! %)

Tell us 5 things about yourself that people don't know.

I wonder what people would really like to know about me?
1. My horse's name is Bronson (awesome ride)
2. I drive an old diesel pickup truck
3. My favorite outfit is a long sleeve black t-shirt and jeans
4. I want to have my hair colored ombre
5. I can't wait to get back to London and do a bit more skulking around.

You are hosting a dinner party. If given the chance to invite characters from yours or any other book, who would you invite?

I would love to sit down with Phaeton Black for sure, as well as America Jones and Doctor Exeter. Then I'd have to invite Lestat de Lioncourt, Claire and Jamie Fraser, Sherlock Holmes, Natty Bumppo, Katniss Everdeen. I could just go on and on…!

If you could cast someone to play the main characters, who would you chose?

Well, as some of you out here already know, Phaeton is a soupçon (a little of this––a little of that) of three actors: Ben Barnes, Robert Downey Jr., and main man, Johnny Depp. If you go to my pinterest page http://pinterest.com/gjillianstone/ you can peruse many preview images of all the characters in the upcoming The Moonstone and Miss Jones.

Your book is in a historical setting of Victorian London, did you have to do much research in to the time period?

That would be a big YES! I have amassed a formidable library of books on Victorian London, plus I subscribe to OED's historical thesaurus, which is the most wonderful thing! I use it everyday.

Thanks again for stopping by our blog!

Thanks for having me Francesca, I really enjoyed the interview!

A bad boy is essentially a maverick character. He is often brilliant, eccentric and rather pleased about his badness. Perhaps his upbringing was strange, Phaeton's surely was. When Phaeton was a small boy the demons in the nursery were real, not nightmares! So, the bad boy is likely to be a loner and misunderstood. But he can also charismatic, charming, even sweet––when he wants to be. Name your favorite bad boy from novels, TV or film––the darker the better!

In the gaslit streets of Victorian London, phantoms rule the night, demons dance till dawn, and one supernatural detective dares to be seduced by the greatest power of all. . .


He's The Man With The Magic Touch
A master of deduction, seduction and other midnight maneuvers, Phaeton Black is Scotland Yard's secret weapon against things that go bump in the night. His prodigious gifts as a paranormal investigator are as legendary as his skills as a lover, his weakness for wicked women as notorious as his affection for absinthe. But when he's asked to hunt down a fanged femme fatale who drains her victims of blood, he walks right into the arms of the most dangerous woman he's ever known. . .

She's The Devilish Miss Jones
Pressing a knife to his throat--and demanding he make love to her--Miss America Jones uses Phaeton as a willing shield against the gang of pirates chasing her. As deadly as she is, with a derringer tucked in her garter, Miss Jones is not the vampiric killer he's been staking out--but she may be just what Phaeton needs to crack the case. As the daughter of a Cajun witch, she possesses uncanny powers. As a fearless fighter, she can handle anything from Egyptian mummies to Jack the Ripper. But when an ancient evil is unleashed on the world, she could be his only salvation. . .or ultimate sacrifice.

Two signed copies of The Seduction of Phaeton Black to commenters chosen at random.
Can't wait to hear your picks!
Giveaway is open internationally.
International winners will get a print copy from Book Depository not signed.

Plus a chance to win the key to Phaeton's heart


A unique Steampunk necklace created by Ula Kapala: "Every piece I make is one of a kind. Even if I make similar items, there’s always some difference: color, size, type of wire, type of stone, pattern. My favorite materials are enameled craft wire, silver foil glass and various minerals."


All commenters will be entered to win the key to Phaeton's heart, so be sure to leave your e-mail contact info! The necklace winner will be chosen at random May 28th. Follow Jillian's blog tour over the next month or visit her website contest page for more chances to win the necklace.
To enter the giveaway:


1. Be a follower
2. Answer Jillian's question in the comments.  Make sure you leave your email address so we can contact you if you win!

38 comments:

Geek_Queen_Gem said...

Ooh I have to say my fav bad boy on TV had to be Sawyer from Lost! The southern drawl, the six pack, the quircky nicknames and yet still he had a heart of gold. I blubbered like a baby when he held a dying Juliet in his arms and was still cheesed off that Kate chose Jack over him.

Nope Sawyer was my fav bad boy

Chrisbails said...

I love bad boys. They are my favorite.
I like Eric from True Blood. I love Ian from Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost, Professor Snape from Harry Potter, and love James from the Twilight series.
These books look great. This is a new author for me and would love to win and read this book. Love the covers of both of these books.
Thanks for the giveaway.
christinebails@yahoo.com

Geek_Queen_Gem said...

Oops, forgot to leave my email address. its barbie-fan@talk21.com

Dawn said...

These books look really interesting! I love Damien from Vampire Diaries...Tony Martinez from Lori Armstrong's Julie Collin's PI series.

I love bad boys!

Rebe said...

Hmmm, I don't have a favorite bad boy from TV, but I love Roarke in JD Robb's In Death series! Reformed and filthy rich bad boys are the best!

rwschwarz11ATgmailDOTcom

Anne said...

John McClain from the Die Hard series, yeah he saves people and is cute in a rough way but his sarcastic wit and drinking would make him hard to live with.

I agree with the Eric and Sawyer commenters too.

acm05atjuno.com

Unknown said...

My favorite bad boy? Has to be Eric Northman from True Blood. He is so damn sexy and I love how he is always there to protect Sookie.
Lmackesy @ gmail.com

justpeachy36 said...

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

My favorite bad boy is Zsadist from J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood.

He is dark, tortured hero that could probably scare the crap out of most people LOL...

Thanks for the giveaway!

Maria D. said...

My favorite bad boy is Eric from True Blood on TV, Spade from the Jeaniene Frost series and Jean Claude from the Anita Blake series.
The Seduction of Phaeton Black sounds like a really good book. Thanks for the giveaway!

junegirl63 at gmail dot com

wickster72 said...

On TV, Eric does it for me. Even though he is not a true bad boy, I am crazy about Bran in Mercy Thompson novels.

Arianne said...

Favorite bad boy is Damon Salvatore from Vampire Diaries tv show :D Ian Somerhalder is amazing :)

email: cruz042 at cougars.csusm.edu

Pgnangel said...

Beautiful necklace! And my favorite tv bad boy was a one episode wonder, "Mad Hatter" Jefferson from the tv series Once Upon A Time.

Pgnangel said...

Oops, contact info pgnangel@gmail.com

Diane D - Florida said...

I have to say that I always loved Josh Holloway aka "Sawyer" from Lost. Like so many others, he's my favorite "bad boy" too. Plus, he's bloody gorgeous and sexy to look at.

dpd333(at) aol dot com

erin said...

Thanks for such a fun interview!!!! I *want* this book ;) I've had it on the top of my wishlist and I'm waiting for a slurge day (or sale) to snap it up! And OMG, that necklace is gorgeous!!!

I like Mal (Nathan Fillion) from Firefly. He's not necessarily bad bad, but he's got his own code of ethics.

megblod said...

My favorite bad boy would diffenitly have to be Zsadist from JR Wards BDB series, although they all are bad boys but Z is diffenitly the badest of them all.

Megblod@yahoo.com

G. Jillian Stone said...

Hi Everyone!

Seems like Sawyer of LOST and Damon of Vampire Diaries, and Eric, True Blood are neck and neck for most votes.

And I love some of the choices, Eric From True Blood, Roarke from JD Robb series, Zsadist (of course!)from J.R. Ward's series.

Keep them coming!

books4me said...

One of my favorite villians is Lash from the BDB by JR Ward.

GFC: books4me

books4me67 at ymail dot com

Jen B. said...

I like Zarek and Valerius from Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series. One is insane and the other is an outcast for no good reason. Love them! jepebATverizonDOTnet

msmjb65 said...

So many bad boys...so little time!
Spike from Buffy
Angelus - oh, when Angel reaches that pinnacle moment - watch out!
The BDB are bad-ass, but not truly bad, as in evil-bad;
There are so many more, but these guys come to mind first.
Thanks for the giveaway. The necklace is beautiful and would go with my bad-ass leather and lace outfit...
MJB
msmjb65 AT gmail DOT com
I follow Under the Covers by email.

Timitra said...

My favourite bad boy from tv is Damon Salvatore from Vampire Diaries!!!!

taccb_1981@yahoo.com

Lexi said...

Riddick from the Chronicles of Riddick movie. He is a (sexy) bad boy who is tough as nails. Though he heart does break through a little bit in his concern for a certain person.

I do so love the sound of Phaeton. And it sounds like your ADD fits in perfectly with your writing for two publishers, it keeps you going!

GFC follower Lexi
eyesofblueice (at) gmail (dot) com

molly.frenzel said...

My favorite TV bad boy is Eric Northman from Trueblood. Thank you for the giveaway!

molly(dot)frenzel(at)gmail(dot)com

Maritza Robinson said...

My favorite is Reyes from Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones. Love love her books. He is Satan's hot son need I say more. :) This book sounds like such a great read and I love the necklace. It's so beautiful. Thanks for giveaway!

mararob80 at gmail dot com

Barbara E. said...

My favorite bad boy right now is Neal Caffrey from White Collar. He's just so charming, even when he's bad, no one can resist him.
I can't wait to read The Seduction of Phaeton Black. I've had it on my wish list since I first heard of it.

Barbed1951 at aol dot com

Eli Yanti said...

i love anthony malory from tender rebel by johanna lindsey and hawk from how to seduce a scoundrel by vicky dreiling =D

eli_y83@yahoo.com

Linda said...

Does Han Solo count as a bad boy? He was such a rogue in Episode 4; I totally adored him!

thumbelinda03@yahoo.com

Mary Preston said...

Has to be Eric from TRUEBLOOD. No contest.

GFC: Mary Preston

Email Subscriber

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Filia Oktarina said...

My favorite Bad Boy was Roarke from In Death series.

GFC as Filia Oktarina
email : filiafantasy at gmail dot com

Marlene Harris said...

We always hope we can reform the bad boys.
Snape should have lived. And had a chance to reform, or get out from under.
And Roarke, who does get a chance to reform.
And Castle.
Marlene (at) readingreality (dot) net

Unknown said...

So many delicious bad boys: Eric from True Blood, Damon from Vampire Diaries, Angelus and Spike from Buffy. I also loved Brandan Fehr as Michael in Roswell (eyecandy and troubled rebel, yum), and Cole in Charmed! There is just something about a bad boy that makes him so irresistible ;-)

Congratulatioons on the release of The Seduction of Phaeton Black Jillian!! :-D (ps. and you have the BEST covers!!)

stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com

Na said...

Bones is one of my favorite bad boy from the Night Hunstress series. A big part of it has to do with his sense of humor which makes him so fun. Of course he's very serious about his love!

Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

Patti P said...

Some of my favorite bad boys are Vishous and Zsadist from the Black Dagger Brotherhood and Zarek and Valerius from Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series. I love them damaged and brooding I guess.
musicalfrog at comcast.net

Ren said...

Bad boy?.. Oh love bad boy so much. From books, there so much bad boys that I love, such as Sebastian St Vincent from Devil in Winter, Bennett Day from Scoundrel by Zoe Archer, Bones from Night Huntress, all BDB boys, yes the list can go on. From movie/TV series, its Dyson from Lost Girl series.

Phaeton Black is like the mix of Ben Barnes, Johnny Deep and Robert Downey JR? That's what I call bad boy ;)

Of course I'm your humble follower from the beginning, UTC ladies! And thanks for the giveaway, Ms Stone

Ren
sawamura_foxman AT yahoo DOT com

Unknown said...

Spike from Buffy and Eric from True Blood I, also, found the barbarian in Game of Thrones deoolworthy
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

Pamk said...

my favorite bad boy is Cullen from Ilona Andrews series. He's not really bad just does what is necessary for his pack and his love whether she likes it or not.
scrtsbpal at yahoo dot com

Kayla Beck said...

I like Eric from The Southern Vampire Chronicles a lot, but Roland Deschain is the ultimate badboy!

pherlaithiel (at) gmail (dot) com

LilyElement said...

I agree with quite a few others. Eric from True Blood is probably my favorite bad boy. lilyelement(at)gmail(dot)com