I want to welcome my guest today, Jean Hart Stewart. She's celebrating her new release,
Fiery Pursuit. At every stop,
Jean will give one commenter her choice of a book from Jean's backlist
which can be found at
http://www.jeanhartstewart.com. At the end of
the tour, one random commenter, as well as the host with the
most comments (not counting their own or Jean's) will win their pick of
Jean's books in print, plus a *Fiery Pursuits* t-shirt. So comment often and follow
Jean's blog tour to increase your chances to win! For the blog today, I asked Jean how she came up with her unique story concept.
Here's her response:
Where did the idea come from to mix elves and Constantinople as I did in Fiery Pursuit? You ask a great
question and I’ll answer it as well as I can. I knew I was starting a new
series, hopefully of eight books, for Ellora’s Cave and that it would be about
elves. After all, I’ve done Druids and Mages, so needed a new set of heroes.
Sexy handsome elves appealed to me. Lars is an irresistible dose of male attraction.
I always start my series far enough back that I can allow the protagonists to
raise a family, and then trace the children’s lives. And I had the first
chapter written, which is selling a beautiful slave at auction. Constantinople seemed the perfect place as harem auctions
were still occurring there in the year 1898. I hope you all like Lars as well
as I do. He’s yummy, masterful, and kind, all at the same time. And of course
he’s gloriously handsome.
The research was fascinating, as always. I loved researching
first for the concept of elves. It turns out elves come in many different
shapes and sizes according to folklore of various countries. Scandinavian elves
are tall and handsome and I certainly did not want my hero to look like a gnome
(who are technically in the elf family). Once I had the nationality the name
Lars came easily. So I had the first chapter, the name of the hero, and the
concept. This book was a joy to write. It’s different from my others, but then
again it had better be. The main difference is this is the first book I’ve
written that is frankly erotica. The second book, Stormy Pursuit, is now being
edited and the third, Dark Pursuit is in the editor’s queue. The fourth one,
tentatively called Dangerous Pursuit is giving me fits and I’ve only about 60
pages written. My heroine is being a bit stubborn.
That’s nothing new in a writer’s life, so don’t worry. I’ll
get it straightened out soon. Thanks, Francesca, for inviting me today!
* * *
BLURB:
When Lars uses his Elfin power to rescue Sophie from a slave
market in Constantinople he knows instantly she is meant to be his mate. But
the murderer of Sophie’s father still pursues her, and Lars must all his
strength to try to save her. And convince Sophie he is what she wants.
The villain who sold her into slavery reappears and Lars needs all his Elfin
strength. When his power mysteriously weakens, can Lars get it back? And will
it be enough to save them both?
Excerpt:
Lars had seldom felt so wordless. He’d lived his years in
pleasure and with pain. More pleasure than pain certainly, as his elfin
abilities gave him immeasurable advantage in most situations. But always with
honor. And now, to be offered the one thing he wanted the most, masked in a
reasoning he could not quite dismiss.
As he hesitated he looked at her. He noticed the distress in Sophie’s eyes as
tears filled them, but she didn’t waver. She looked lost as a child in a dark
forest, and well she might. Her life as she knew it had been ripped away. She’d
suffered for weeks at the hands of uncaring brutes.
She needed the cherishing he’d longed to give her. And the life-long protection
he’d commit to at the same time. He’d not tell her yet of his sudden and
complete certainty they were each other’s destiny. But he realized it to the
depths of his soul, and he’d go to her with that conviction.
He moved quickly, wrapping her in his arms. He’d give her what she wanted, and
gladly, and he’d not tell her yet that in doing so he was committing himself
for whatever length of life remained to him. He’d pleasure her—oh, how he’d
pleasure her–even though she wouldn’t know he was giving her his total love and
his soul.
Elves loved only once, and deeply. He’d almost decided he’d never find the one
girl for him.
* * *
Love living in California, even though I’m a transplant.
Love writing and all it entails, crazy characters demanding to be let loose on
the page, long hours of research, every bit of it. I raised two children and
spent about twenty years in real estate before I summoned the courage to quit
and do what I always wanted to do, WRITE! While he was alive my husband was my
first-stop editor and biggest fan. Now that my children are accustomed to my
writing sexy novels they’re equally supportive.
I’m currently finishing my 24th book, tentatively named Double Pursuit and I
have four books coming out this year. My Mage series is finished and I’ve
started a new series where the new hero has Elfin blood. He’s fun, as well as
tall, lithe and gifted. I think I’m blessed as well as lucky. Do write me with
any questions. I love to hear from readers!
LINKS:
Twitter,Facebook and MySpace: jswriter
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