Come one, Come all – Ms Jeri Smith-Ready is here. If you have never read this author before – you don’t know what you have being missing.
Jeri Smith-Ready has been writing fiction since the night she had her first double espresso. A constant stream of caffeine has resulted in six published novels, including Wicked Game and Eyes of Crow, which have each won multiple awards in the fields of fantasy and romance.
Jeri is without a doubt one of my favourite fantasy author and I can’t get enough of the world she creates or the characters she introduces to the world. I am so pleased she braved the battle of RWA to be here with us today, I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did.
Welcome to our take over week. Tell us what the past few weeks have been like for you.
First of all, thank you so much for having me. The last few weeks have been amazing! My life usually consists of sitting around the house writing, with a break once a week to sit around a coffee shop writing. Most days I speak to my husband, dog, and cat (and my characters—oh, and my 1,001 online friends) and no one else. I wear whatever I wore
to bed the night before.
But between July 9 and July 19, I went to the American Library Association National Conference in Chicago and the Romance Writers of America National Conference in Washington, DC. I spoke to readers, booksellers, librarians, and a ton of fellow authors. I won an award. I wore real clothes. I showered every day. I even got my first tattoo!
Life is back to normal now, which is somewhat of a relief, as the lack of sleep was starting to catch up to me. But I love travelling to conferences—where else can I talk about reading and writing twenty-four hours a day (okay, twenty-three hours)?
In another interview you commented that you are working on one or two new series. Can you tell us anything about them yet?
I’m continuing the WVMP Radio series for at least two more books (BRING ON THE NIGHT in 2010 and the tentatively titled LUST FOR LIFE in 2011).
And next May I’ll have my YA debut! SHADE is the first of two books about a 16-year-old girl on a quest to find out why she and everyone younger than her can see ghosts, a problem that gets a lot more complicated when her boyfriend becomes a ghost himself. I am crazy excited about this.
Your latest book "Bad To The Bone" is the second in the WVMP Radio Urban Fantasy series. For fans who have not read this book yet, sell this book and the series to them. Why should we be reading 
this book?
The WVMP RADIO series (WICKED GAME and BAD TO THE BONE) is about a cadre of vampire DJs and the con artist trying to keep them “alive.” Over the course of the first two books, the station faces obstacles ranging from corporate takeovers to religious extremism to paranormal paramilitaries with the murkiest of motives.
The main character, Ciara Griffin, is a former con artist trying to live the straight-ish life by turning their ramshackle station into a media phenomenon. She does this by bringing the DJs “into the light”—creating WVMP, The Lifeblood of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Basically, they are vampires pretending to be humans pretending to be vampires. This publicity stunt electrifies the masses but pissses off a lot of powerful enemies, both human and vampire.
Why should people read it? If they crave something different, if they think they’ve seen everything the vampire genre has to offer. Charlaine Harris said in her review, “Just when I think the vampire genre must be exhausted, just when I think if I read another clone I’ll quit writing vampires myself, I read a book that refreshed my flagging interest. Jeri Smith-Ready’s WICKED GAME was consistently surprising and original.” So don’t take my word for it.
What is the true story behind WVMP Radio and its characters? Is any of it a wish or from personal experience?
I always wanted to be a rock star—growing up, I would do the sing-into-the-hairbrush thing, usually to Pat Benatar. Alas, I lack singing talent for all but a few songs, so my musical affinity comes in the form of fandom. Each of the DJs represents a different form and era of music that I adore: blues, rockabilly, psychedelic, reggae, punk/Goth, and alternative/grunge.
As for the characters, they’re not modeled on any real-life individuals. However, they are inspired by a real-life phenomenon. See, each vampire is “stuck in time” in the era in which they were turned—they wear the clothes and speak the slang of their original “Life Time.” Don’t we all know people who are stuck in the sixties, or the eighties? People who think that nothing worthwhile was created after they were young? To me, the vampires represent that state of never changing, never growing. Ciara makes it her mission to break the vampires out of that fossilization, especially her boyfriend, the young grunge vampire Shane McAllister.
With more than a fist full of books under your belt, what would you say is your strongest asset that you bring to each book?
Wow, I have no idea. If I had to guess, I’d say that readers seem to find my characters easy to relate to. Even the vampires are very human while still retaining some monstrous qualities. Also, my books are fast-paced—I make sure to cut out all the boring parts. ;-)
With two series and enormous possibilities for a fourth or a third book in each respectively, did you know when you started that you 
wanted a minimalist series with a natural conclusion, rather than a never ending series? Any views on over long series?
The Aspect of Crow trilogy is complete (yes, a rare three-book trilogy!). I plan to finish the WVMP Radio series after five books. Much as I love each of these series, I’m always getting new ideas, and until I figure out how to clone myself, I can’t develop the new series without ending the old ones.
As a reader I prefer to know the length of a series before I start reading it, but I’ll make exceptions if the writing is fantastic. A couple of my favorites in this vein are the House of Night series by PC Cast and Kristin Cast, and the Weather Warden series by Rachel Caine.
The covers of "Aspect of the Crow" and "WVMP Radio" series and their short spin off’s are very dramatic. How much input did you have in getting a theme going – to the final work.
I do have some input into my covers—my publishers usually ask me for ideas and a short synopsis and/or sample scene to give to the artist. Then I see the initial cover and provide feedback. I don’t know about a theme, though—that’s really up to the art director. They choose things like fonts and cover models to provide continuity (or not) among the books.
In the end, it’s up to the experts to decide what the cover will look like—I appreciate the chance to share my thoughts, but I’m not an artist by any stretch of the imagination. I have been extremely blessed in my covers.
You have made yourself available to quite a few bloggers for book promotion and sharing the love, so to speak. How important are we to you and what impact – good or bad have we made on your writing?
Bloggers have made a HUGE difference for me. Few authors receive enormous promotional budgets from their publishers, so it’s up to us to get the word out. I credit online word-of-mouth for the surprise out-of-the-gate sales performance of WICKED GAME—it went back for a second printing three weeks after its initial release!
I don’t read reviews unless they’re sent to me. I don’t ego-surf or subscribe to Google Alerts. In my opinion, readers should have their own space to speak freely about books without the presence of authors. If a reader reaches out to me, I’m thrilled to respond and have a dialogue about the books—it’s one of the best parts of the job—but I don’t like to impose myself on those who would rather enjoy the book on its own.
Not only are you an Author but you are a blogger and have been for awhile. Where do you find the time?
Excellent question! It’s been a challenge to keep up with blogging as my deadlines have gotten tighter. Last year I started on Twitter (http://twitter.com/jsmithready) and found that it fits my skills, thought patterns, and time constraints much better than writing a long essay. It also fulfills that need for interpersonal interaction that I love about blogging.
I still try to post a real blog entry at least once a week on my personal blog (http://www.jerismithready.com/blog); and I’m a member of several group blogs, including Fangs,Fur,&Feyhttp://community.livejournal.com/fangs_fur_fey/ and SFNovelists http://sfnovelists.com/. I also do guest blogs and interviews nearly every week—more frequently near the time of a book release.
When I read Urban Fantasy, I am always in the mood for some "Linkin Park." What are the music that gets you through the day and the last simply pleasure that you have had.
The music I listen to most varies from day to day. When I’m in the car I’m most likely to be tuned to Sirius satellite radio’s Alt Nation (alternative), XMU (college/indie rock) or Faction (punk/alt-metal/hip-hop) stations, or Little Stephen’s Underground Garage station, which features songs from all eras with one common denominator: they’re all cool. Even though my DJs are stuck in the past, I love discovering new music. It keeps me young and human, I guess. ;-)
Speaking of music, the songs from the WVMP Radio series can be found on my website at: http://www.jerismithready.com/books/wicked-game/music.htm. The “soundtracks” are the songs that are actually mentioned in the book, and the chapters are each named after songs, so each book has two separate playlists. It’s a lot of fun to put them together and it adds another dimension to the creative process. I just feel so lucky to be able to write books about my first love: music!
Thanks again so much for having me. I’m happy to take more questions, and please stop by my website and say hi some time! You can visit me at www.jerismithready.com, or on Twitter (http://twitter.com/jsmithready) Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/jerismithready), and MySpace (www.myspace.com/jerismithready).
Follow any one of the link to find out what Jeri gets up – you are bound to find her footprint somewhere.
Contest Time
Jeri has been kind enough to offer up a Personalise signed copy of any of “her” books – I have attached two of the covers from each of her series. Check out the list of her work HERE
WVMP RADIO series
TURN ON. TUNE IN. DROP DEAD.
If you’re just joining us, welcome to radio station WVMP, "The Lifeblood of Rock’n’Roll." Con-artist-turned-station-owner Ciara Griffin manages an on-air staff of off-the-wall DJs — including her new boyfriend Shane McAllister — who really sink their teeth into the music of their "Life Time" (the era in which they became vampires). It’s Ciara’s job to keep the undead rocking, the ratings rolling, and the fan base alive — without missing a beat.
For Halloween, WVMP is throwing a bash sure to raise the dead. They’ve got cool tunes, hot costumes, killer cocktails — what could go wrong? Well, for starters, a religious firebrand ranting against the evils of the occult pre-empts the station’s midnight broadcast. Then, when Ciara tracks down the illegal transmission, the broadcast tower is guarded by what appears to be…a canine vampire? And behind it all is a group of self-righteous radicals who think vampires suck (and are willing to stake their lives on it).
Now Ciara must protect the station while struggling with her own murky relationship issues, her best friend’s unlikely romance with a fledgling vampire, and the nature of her mysterious anti-holy powers. To make it to New Year’s in one piece, she’ll need to learn a few new tricks….
ASPECT OF CROW trilogy
At one time the Spirits united the land and its people.
Then came the dark days.
She is Rhia, bound to the Spirit of Crow and gifted with vision. In a world besieged by escalating conflict, fate has marked her to deliver the Reawakened from oppression.
Now, with a mighty army of Descendants threatening to crush what’s left of her people’s magic, she must trust an ancient prophecy and accept the power that is her birthright—the power of life and death itself.
For while the storm of revolution rages, the legacy of the Reawakened is about to be rewritten…in her family’s blood.
Here’s today question for the contest..
I love a good, strong heroine in a book, of course that depend on the book I am reading. However I must admit I am all about the kick ass chick – the one’s who give as much as she can take – that said there are times that I like a little TSTL especially when they let their inner biker chick out (LOL). What sort of heroine rocks your boat – Kick Ass Chick or TSTL and which one(s).
Contest Rule
Just leave a comment answering the question – That’s it…
This is open to all commenter’s.
For basic general rules CHECK HERE
Whose on Your Cover contest is still open until 5pm today.
And I
Kick Ass Chick. TSTL tends to have me frothing at the mouth and not finishing the book.
Thanks for the great interview! Jeri, have you ever listened to The Current? You might enjoy the mix of music…
Hi Jeri and Mandi!
The Aspect of Crow trilogy is my second most prized set of books I own! I absolutely love them. Jeri, you have been so gracious to me and I thank you very much.
I still need to read Wicked Game. Me and Vamps, well, I don't do those often!
Did I miss something? What is TSTL?
I'm not a huge fan of the kick-ass heroine, which is likely why I don't read the UF genre. I like a strong female character, one who isn't afraid to stand up for herself and what she believes in. One who stands by her man and trusts him when necessary.
Wonderful interview!
Hi everyone! Thanks so much for having me as a guest on your blog. It's funny, when I first saw the title of the post, I thought the "Kick Ass Chick or TSTL" was supposed to apply to me, and everyone was supposed to decide which one I was.
I actually don't think the two are mutually exclusive, because a lot of times the Kick Ass Heroine jumps in to save the day when she'd be better off calling for backup, or she gets mouthy and pisses off the wrong person unnecessarily. (Amy, TSTL stands for Too Stupid To Live.)
So I don't think Ciara is actually either. She doesn't get into fights, and she always keeps her head about her. She gets out of situations with her wits instead of her fists.
So Amy, I really think you should try WICKED GAME–these are not your usual vampires and kick ass heroine! ;-)
Chris, thanks for the recommendation of the Current! That looks like a great station. I'll give it a listen today while I'm online.
OMG – Jeri is here.
Amy, I totally agree with you- she rocks.
what a wonderful interview and I'll be looking out for your YA book – and the other book WVMP series…
Enter me please….
Amy TSTL – Too Stupid To Live – and I also agree with Chris absolute waste of time, they frustrate me really…
I am so a kick Ass chick – can't think of one now – I will be back with one though..
E.H>
What a fabulous interview and already heard about The Aspect Of Crow trilogy though I have not read them *rolls eyes*
I have got no clue what TSTL means but I'm guessing it is opposite of the kick-ass heroine and I like both, it just depends on the mood I'm in. Such a neutral answer but I'm very eclectic in what i read so I like and enjoy multiple kinds of heroines
Ok, I now know what TSTL means (thank you Jeri and EH) and those heroines aggravate me to no end, making me toss the book through the living room. I'm glad I only had those a time or 2-3. So in light of the question I’ll go with kick-ass heroines!
E.H. & Leontine: I think the challenge for a writer is how to make stuff actually HAPPEN to the heroine without making her TSTL. Sometimes as a reader when I get frustrated with something dumb the character does, I think to myself, "Well, okay, how else could the plot move forward?" When there's no way to have a story without the heroine being foolish, that's a problem. ;-)
Hi Jeri! I was so excited when I clicked to Smexy and saw your name! Love your WVMP books and convinced my husband to give the first one a try – he liked it and the 2nd book and asked when the next comes out! Great stories, great characters(Shane is on my list of fictional boyfriends) and I love the characteristics you've given to the vamps in your world. Thanks! (*embarassed about the total fangirl rant*)
Aha too stupid too live…well I'll rather take that kick'ass heroine then, or perhaps something in the middle. Not too kick ass and not annoying cos then I just want to slap her.
Didn't know about the other series and it looks cool
Patti: Thank you so much! Shane is on my fictional list of boyfriends, too. ;-) I'm glad your husband enjoyed the books as well.
Blodeuedd: LOL, I know what you mean! They can take it too far in any direction.
I'm off to go work on BOTN for a few hours, but I'll check in later for more comments. See ya!
Great interview. Jeri's books sound good. I prefer a kick ass chick. Two series I like to read are Keri Arthur's Riley Jenson and Karen Chance's Cassandra Palmer.
I so don't have my head with me today *sigh* Okay kick-ass heroines as more favorable by me and whom?? Well, we have Mac from KMM's Fever series, she defintely rocks. Eve from SJ Day, she's among the kick-ass heroine hall of fame too. Jaenelle from Anne Bishop's BJ series. Just at the top of my hat names here…
Okay here is my thing I don't like my girl to be too kick ass or TSTL! I want a balance! I need her to sometimes NEED a hottie to come save her day but not all the time. She sometimes needs to save the hottie and at the end of it all save the day in a hilarious unplanned out sort of way. Which is why Ciara and Shane *swoons* rock my world lol.
oh yea *waves enthusiastically* Hi Mandi, Hi Jeri!
Oh kick ass all the way. I just want to choke TSTL heroines. One of my favorites is probably Mercy Thompson.
My type of heroine is the kind of gal who can take anything and still have a heart. Example: Bella from The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series. Everyone says Beth is a heroine; which she is, but Bella goes through hell and is still able to be sweet and kind to Z.In my books, that is one awesome heroine.
cindyc725 at gmail dot com
Good Morning!
I'm not sure where I've been but I've not read anything by Jeri and I'm about to fix that! These look like awesome books!!
I love a kick ass chick…….she is strong and can take care of herself but she can also let down her defenses at times and show a little vulnerability as well!
Kick Ass Chick totally. TSTL characters drive me insane and I want to kill them myself.
Wicked Game is an awesome book and start to a series. I really need to start the Aspect of Crow trilogy soon.
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Kick Ass Chick it the way to go. When reading books with Kick Ass Chick's I tend to not be able to put the book down. I want to find out what she is going to do next. TSTL just drives me insane and leads to me yelling at the book trying to convince TSTL to become Kick Ass Chick.
Hi Jeri,
Love the interview!! I have had your books on to read list for a bit now (doing course work and of course kids are home for the summer! lol), and haven't read as much I would like to…
I would say 90% of the books I read have the kickass Heroine in them! I have been fortunate not to have come across many TSTL, I tend to not want to finish a book when they are like that.
My ideal heroine is someone that is very tongue and cheek, can totally stand her ground against the men she works with as well as her boss. She would also be sexy because of who she is and be totally comfortable in her body. =)
Happy Weekend!
Not sure why I just came up anonymous when I didn't choose that option…..ugh….
great interview.I have been meaning to pick up these books.I've heard great things about them.
I'd have to go with Kick Ass Chicks.
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
Kick ass chick because its closer to how I feel about myself. I get sp frustrated with people who do unsmart things( is that even a word). TSTLs mak me want to shake them and say Snap out of it, or you're gonna die!
I love a strong heroine who is smart, reacts well under pressure, stands up for herself, and if not totally kick ass herself, knows when to ask for help.
Love how Nalini Singh writes her heroines.
Hi there! Great interview with Jeri, whose books I adore! I enjoy a kick ass heroine, but it's okay if she has a TSTL moment or two—doesn't everyone? And sometimes when someone is acting Too Stupid to Live, it's because s/he is operating with incomplete information. If the heroine does something she shouldn't have, but no one explained WHY she shouldn't, she's not really the one I hold responsible.
I like a kick-ass chick, although it doesn't have to be physical. Don't get me wrong. I'm a Buffy fan from way back! But I also like the heroines who stand up for themselves emotionally. When nary an ass is actually kicked, if a heroine can still say "that's not right" and stick to her guns, it's good by me!
Jeri, loved the interview as usual. As for Kick Ass Chick or TSTL, it would depend on my mood and the story. I like reading about strong women but also ones who still have a little vunerability to them. Who is my favorite is hard to decide, it is between Ciara, Adrian Pheonix' Heather, and Jeaniene Frost's Cat
Wow, you guys have been busy commenting while I was, uh, working (okay, mostly doing housework–too sleepy to concentrate on writing today)
I'll take these 5 at a time in case Blogger eats my comment.
CrystalGB: I haven't actually read either of those series, but I've heard great things about them.
Leontine: I LOVE SJ Day's books (as you can probably tell, since my quote is on the back cover ;-). She rocks.
Casse: Yes, exactly! ;-p *waves back*
Jamie: That's a great one (or so I've heard–yes, I am shamefully poorly read in urban fantasy, probably because I'm not a huge series reader. I tend to read the series that are not the ones everyone's talking about, because then I'm more surprised ;-).
I Heart Book Gossip: That's a good point–it's important for them to retain some kind of vulnerability even as they're strong. Not necessarily because they're female, but just because they're human (or whatever they are).
OK, my husband just made Hungry Face at me, so I have to go make dinner. It's like having a third pet sometimes. ;-)
Be back later!
It's nice to hear that bloggers are actually helping! I love getting the word out about new books I find!
I think my preference is toward teh Kick Ass Chick!
Squeezing in a few more replies while the pizza bakes (Mexican Pizza = refried beans + salsa + cheddar + tomatoes & black olives = yum!)
Blanche: Thanks–I hope you enjoy them!
Donnas: Oh, thank you so much–I'm glad you liked Wicked Game. Hope you enjoy the Aspect of Crow trilogy, too. They're very different from my other stuff but they were a wonderful experience to write.
Trudy: LOL! Some of the TSTL's are hopeless, though, no matter how much we yell at them. :-) Though sometimes over the course of a series they grow up and become the Kick Ass Chick.
Colleen: I know how those TBR lists get to be. Half of my family room is full of books I want very much to read. And then there are those I want to read but don't own yet. Yikes!
Buzzer just went off. Be back later after the movie. We're watching DONNIE DARKO. Anyone ever see that?
Personally, I like the Kick Ass Chick, sure, but a little bit of TSTL gives a dimension of reality to the character and goes towards balancing it all out. Sort of like Karen Chance's Cassie Palmer or S.J. Day's Eve Hollis or Rachel Caine's Joanne Baldwin. They have power, sure, but mostly they're taking what they've got and accidentally stumbling into the right track and saving the day. I love that element of…I don't even know what to call it…
Awesome interview :-) I haven't read anything by this author but I would so LOVE TOO
Kick Ass Chicks for sure, TSTL for me usually amount to To Stupid to Read!
Riley Jensen is a Kick Ass Chick as is Elena in Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series and Rose Hathaway in Richelle Meads Vampire Academy series, there are so many and I love them all!
Now that I know what TSTL means, I'm all for Kick Ass Chick. I can't wait for heroines to grow a backbone while her mate's getting beat up.
I prefer Kick Ass Chicks. Mercy Thompson, Faythe Sanders, Joanne Baldwin, Rachel Morgan, and Ciara Griffin all count as this, IMO.
Definitely a Kick Ass Chick. The TSTL's are embarrassing to my feminist sensibilities.
espressogurl at hotmail dot com
kick ass chick!
Kick Ass Chick Or TSTL contest is now closed..
And I
Hi :)
Thank you for having the terrific writer Jeri Smith-Ready here and thanks to Jeri for such an awesome interview.
Also thanks for the links to the blogs where she contributes.
I absolutely adore Jeri's books!
:)
KickAssChick for me.
LK Hamilton spoiled me that way.
So did CJ Cherryh.
And Michelle West.
I could go on & on. But I won't.
:)
Love from Canada
twitter.com/RKCharron
xoxo
Ugh. Sick of both, especially the hooker heroine. Give me a nice strong male. One that knows instinctively when to rub my feet and bring me coffee. Sure, I'll take Shane.
=)
I'm after Requiem for the Devil. Evil of me?
I like books swith Kick Ass Chhicks. Rachel Morgan is a favorite but there are a lot of other good ones out there.
Oh I love a kick ass chick!! My fav is Mac from the fever series!
Kick Ass Chick. TSTL characters drive me insaaaaaane.
Loving Ciara she's awesome..
I'm going to have to be inbetween as well.. don't want them too tough , but not a total push over either ..
Thanks for another great Interview Jeri!!
Debbie in NY
definatly a k.c.a.
Aw, this was a really nice post. In thought I wish to put in writing like this moreover – taking time and actual effort to make a very good article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and in no way seem to get something done.