Tags
Black Wolf Books, Character development, Fallen Princeborn Stolen, Historical romance, interview, Jean Lee, London Jewel thieves, Loving Lady Lazuli, Shehanne Moore, Small Press, Splendor, Starkadder Sisterhood, Ya author
Jean Lee – Let’s first begin with what you write—smart, sexy, historical fiction. You delve into various time periods with your books, such as the 9th century in The Viking and the Courtesan and the 19th century in Splendor. What process do you go through when choosing the right century for a story’s setting? That is, if Splendor took place in another century, would it still be the Splendor we know?
Probably not. The stories are influenced by the time, the characters too, although they don’t always abide by the constraints of them. Mind you Splendor would be a shopaholic , running up debts galore in any time because some things are timeless. She’d be having to manage everything too. So I guess a bit of both would be true. I generally stick to the Georgian/Regency period—it’s a sort of genre in own right. BUT I do like to dabble and I do spend time thinking of how I will set a book physically within that period, in terms of imagery etc.. There’s also things that happen when I write.
I mean there was never meant to be a Viking in The Viking and The Courtesan. That was a straight Regency. But then halfway through chapter two, the little voice whispered, ‘You know that Viking story idea you have, the one you’ve never really got the idea for the heroine ‘s goal in? How about you just use it here?’ Much as I want to ignore that little voice, I can’t.
Jean Lee. – Such a question should mean I ask you about research, too. I know you’re very passionate about your research to keep the period lifestyle true to history.
Visit my pages on BookFunnel & Instafreebie today!
Jean Lee. What’s your process in making the research phase as productive as possible?
You know people think I do a lot of research. I don’t . Too much can kill a story and read like a Wikipedia cut and pastes. At the end of the day I don’t want to know every detail of the time a story is set. I can read a history book for that. I want to read of the things that are universal. The things that stand the test of time. But I have always loved history, especially social history, ever since I can remember. I guess that’s what I have at my fingertips when I write. And of course, I will check a historical timeline detail where it is pertinent to a character, or setting, if I want a certain backdrop.
Jean Lee – One thing I love about all your books is that these characters are layered with feeling. They desire, they hate, they aspire, they love, they fear. Your books are so, so much more than the “meet-cute” kinds of romances out there populated by characters with little more than a single quirk each. These characters can get downright wicked, like Devorlane Hawley in Loving Lady Lazuli. How do you bring together both light and dark natures into your characters to keep your stories compelling and un-put-downable?
SHEY – Now Jean, it’s all right, I won’t set the dudes on you and the check is in the mail. You are way too kind. I just love characters. I want to write about the human condition and let’s face it sometimes it’s downright ugly. Okay, Devorlane Hawley, for example, page one, is not a man you would want to meet. He’s plainly gone to hell in a hand cart, is behaving outrageously and now he’s come into the dukedom because his older, perfect brother is dead, he’s for turfing out his sisters, his late mother’s ward, installing some floozie he’s scoured London to find and setting up a pleasure palace in the ancestral home. By page two/three he’s noticing that his home is nothing like he remembered, it’s a mess, his oldest sister is a drunk and that’s needling at what humanity he has, because it’s plain these years have been hard and the family have regrets. The fact is he’s the family black sheep, the man who made the kind of messes we can all make when we’re young. And that law-abiding, God fearing family let him go down for a crime he never committed, largely for the sake of peace. By the end of chapter one he’s spotted the woman who did commit that crime and his goal instantly changes. Now he’s becoming the architect of his own doom in many ways.
No-one’s all bad—I think it’s important to remember that when you write. But we are all flawed in some way, a bundle of contradictions, the sum and substance of our life experiences. That’s what I’m trying to blend. Ultimately underneath everything Devorlane Hawley isn’t a bad man. In some ways he’s man interrupted by his earlier experiences– and what has shaped his life since has been hardship and brutality. So the race is on then to see if he can become the man he could be, or are the flaws going to get in the way. I spend a lot of time peering through my fingers going… I wouldn’t have done that, to my characters when I write. AND I let them drive everything. I seriously never have any idea where a story is going next.
Jean Lee- Yet another thing I dig (someday I’ll learn to write questions better), particularly where the London Jewel Thieves are concerned, is that the series doesn’t just revolve around one heroine; rather, each book focuses on a different character of a group. I love how these different perspectives give us a richer look into their world, as well as fresh looks at characters we’ve met in the other books. Which heroine came to you first? Did she bring all the other thieves with her, or did they start telling you their own stories later on?
Good question. Actually the heroine of a short story I have yet to turn into a full length, came first. The idea was there of the jewel thief gang and being forced into stealing because for one reason or another they’ve fallen into the clutches of the man who runs this gang. BUT Cassidy Armstrong aka Sapphire from Loving Lady Lazuli came first in terms of the writing. Originally it was a standalone but as I wrote it, and I was working the background, I thought of that short story and the whole thing just fell into place. The idea of giving the women the name of a jewel, of the Starkadder Sisterhood, and of setting the books after the gang has broken up. So it’s about them having to find their feet by whatever means and keeping one step ahead when there’s prices on their heads.
Jean Lee – Lastly, congratulations on beginning your own small press! I’m so excited to see what Black Wolf Books will bring to readers—your own books, and the books of other authors. You’ve been writing for publishers for a number of years, but now you are both publisher and writer. How would you say your earlier experience prepared you for this change? What’s been the biggest “culture shock,” as it were, with donning the publisher robe?
Shey – Thank you so much Jean and ALSO for having me here today AND congrats on your own forthcoming release. Sure to be a rip along read. MAY I SAY HERE ON TO MY FOLLOWERS, JEAN IS WELL WORTH CHEKING OUT.
Shey- I have wanted to set up Black Wolf Books for about four years now but life got in the way. But I’m there now. I think the writing industry is in a constant state of flux. When I first subbed back in 2012, you still went the traddy route. Yes there were self published books but not so many, nor the same amount of tools to do it. I mean Amazon makes it so damned easy actually now. I have a lot of experience in the writing business that goes way back before 2012 and I’ve been able to use most of it now.
I think the biggest shock…well learning curve was formatting for ebooks and for paperback. Amazon does make it easy I just got in a flap till I mastered it. I initially paid a formatter for the print version for Splendor. I was too scared to do it, in case I messed it up. But when it came back like a dog’s dinner, I stood at the foot of the mountain and told myself to get up there. That it wasn’t anything like the time I took over the editing and design of a magazine and didn’t know how to draw a text box…
Jean Lee. Are you looking for submissions right now? If so, what kind and do you have any guidelines to share?
Shey – Well we are not officially open in that I didn’t want swamped. I wanted to feel my way, get out my books, and the Mr’s book, before dealing with what could be an avalanche. And often I think publishers can take on way too many authors without concentrating on the ones they have. But we already have a signing of a YA author who has a trilogy. So I say to folks, contact me through my blog contact right now. And really so long as it’s good, I’m not laying down all kinds of conditions.
One of the reasons I wanted to do this is that I’ve seen a lot of authors get raw deals, not been able to get a book out cos it’s not fitting the mold, despite having books out. My aim in setting up BWB is to help authors. Believe me, I know how brutal this biz can be.
Jean Lee – Lastly lastly I’m hoping you’ll allow the little Hamstah Dudes, that precocious batch of knowledgeable cuties who share amazing author interviews & writing advice on your site, to come on over for a moment and have the last word, as they’ve been very good and patient all through our chat.the last word, as they’ve been very good and patient all through our chat.
Jean Lee – Many thanks to Shey for sharing her experience and stories with us! And don’t worry, Hamstah Dudes–Blondie’s working on a Halloween picture just for you. Hopefully I can stop by Shey’s site to share it! 🙂
Shey, first of all it’s exciting to learn about your small press – best of luck with Black Wolf Books (terrific name!). This is a great interview and your fascination with your characters shines out, you really get under their skin and bring them alive to the reader. Hugs xx
Thank you so much Annika. I named it after my hero in His Judas Bride. Oh I do like characters. For me they are king. xxxxxx
What a great interview, on either site, though it’s always a pleasure to hear what the little dudes think of everything 😉 Your new covers are striking!
Well….the little dudes of course went berserk. I can see poor jean will be added to dud enemy number 2. Poor Cat Cavendish has the honour of being 1. What is more both are coming by later this month. Thank you so much re the covers. I am thoroughly loving having control of my work, the covers especially. I feel that at last these books look like part of a series, I have covers I actually want to show off and best of all, they give me the book. I spent a lot of time scouring the net for these images and actually the order the books are going back out in is down to finding a cover that ticks the 3 aforementioned things. So this week I get to my next rerelease as I bought the license and image last week and will give it to my wonderful graphic guy soon as I find something for the back cover. xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Oh exciting!!! xxxx
Yeah.. AM excite already will start to getting it ready for kindle and print this week. I already did the work making this one the way I wanted it inside. Lol, that was almost a rewrite. xxxxxxxx
Great interview, Shey and well done on the beautiful books. I am currently in the middle of Splendor and loving it, having already read Loving Lady Lazuli which was fabulous. Thoroughly recommended. Mind you, I’d better go now and find a good place to hide. Looks lie the dudes are after me again…
What can I say. They were gunning for me too. I won’t tell them you are coming to visit and they are going to be reblogging the post I gave you too later on. You are an angel you know. Thank you so much. It’s been all go but getting there… getting there…
Fabulous and fun. Splendors a beautiful book.
Oh I don’t know about the dudes but I had fun. Thank you Holly. You are very sweet. I was saying how much I enjoy finding a cover now I have my rights back and picking something that gives me the book. It was even nice choosing a bigger paperback size cos I thought it looked better! xxxxxx
Ah, little dudes, you can’t ALWAYS have the world dominated, you know. And you know how Shey gets when you don’t let her see her friends every now and again. Now you mind yourselves, or I’ll have to summon one of THE great Wisconsin monsters….the hodag.
Dunh dunh DUUUUUUNH!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hodag
Ah they have run away shrieking…finally. Can’t stop laughing at your comment Jean xxxxxx
Happy to share a smile when I can! 🙂
Well you did and I know you have had your share of things lately xxx
Love the interview and delighted to read it in both locations. Congratulations on your small press. What an adventure, and so satisfying.
How lovely to see you Leggy P. And THANK YOU for reading in both locations. I hope you’re still good after recent things xxx I have to say I am finding it very satisfying working for myself, so thank you for the congrats too xxxxxx
Lovely post . enjoyed reading the details.,Great pictures.
Lovely to see you back. Missed your blogs you know. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I appreciate your wonderful thoughts , fondly Jalal
I hope you are good x
Great interview. 👏👏👏👏
Leslie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Great interview. I loved the comment that a historical novel can easily get weighed down by too much detail until it reads like a wikipedia cut and paste job. Yes that is what history books are for and though they can be great reads they are not the smexy historical fiction you delivered so beautifully in the two novels of your I have read Splendor and the writer and the rake. In both the feel of the period drenched every page as a reader I never felt lost in time but knew exactly where i was. And that is what an historical novel needs a heady intoxicating atmosphere not Cold bone dry facts being shoved down your throat. Black Wolf Books too a wonderful venture! Pxx
Paul…the cheque is in the post as agreed. What a fortune this post has cost me!!! Great to see you but while I think you are too kind I do agree re historical facts in books I am aye wary of any book where the author said they spent hours and hours over the research. I am not reading the book for that unless it’s a bio or a factual history book. So I am glad we agree. x
Ah, the dudes really need to cut you a break once in awhile. The interview was fabulous. I think they are just jealous. oxo
Dir Pat,
Shey is the one who is jelus of us, our writin, our spellin…
love the dudes…
Ah, well, when you put it that way I can see both sides, I guess. 😂
Pam, so gald you liked the post. Jean was great with the questions. xxxxxxxxxxxxx
😘
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Fabulous, Shey. Huge congrats on what you are achieving with Black Wolf Books. It takes a whole heap of courage and hard work – especially with those dudes eating everything in sight. Looking great! xx
Kate xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Message you re the eating things in sight tomorrow…xxxx
Great interview 👍 congratulation on your small press 🎉🎉🍫
Nidhi xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Took me while to get there so thank you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
You’re welcome dear 🙋😘🎉🍫
xxxx
Great interview ✨ enjoyed throughout 🌻❤
Thank you so very much and for following my blog. I am looking forward to following and reading your posts. xxxxxxxx
❤❤
Congrats & Best Wishes! 🙂 Sharing… xo
Bette xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. YOU are so kind.
A great interview and a glimpse into the Dude’s ultimate plan, world dominance. Excellent. xxx
Shey, I’d love to be considered in the future for publishing with you. Please let me know how to go about it.
Adele, you see the contact link on my blog, just get me through that. We are not vanity. This is royalty paying. The books will be edited and out in e and print. Just let me have a blurb and the first three chapters of up to 50 pages. At this stage, that might not attach to a contact form so just contact me and then we can exchange email addresses xxxxxxxx
So sorry this is late Shehanne, we were painting the kitchen. Will give you my email firefly__@live.co.uk Thank you so much. xxxxxx
No trouble at all. I have emailed you back ok
I loved learning more about Black Wolf Press, Shey! Of course I’m wishing you all the best with it! And great to see you and Jean Lee teaming up here 😀
Lol… Yeah Jean is great fun and a great lady too. I did want to set up Black Wolf when we moved but the time was never right. And I have to say I am really loving going at my pace and picking my covers and working with folks in a very different way —editing process going on with an author right now, as well as another back list book being prepared for re-release– that while one should never say never, I am probably going to just work for myself from now on. I did it for years anyway so why not?
Congratulations dear 💛 beautiful work! highly impressed 💐
Ravindra xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx you. But credit for me to a wonderful graphic artist from India who runs with my ideas and choice of cover. I’m just happy thinking about my stories that at last …for me.. I can spend an hour looking at lots of images and then think…THERE is my story. Thank you for the lovely comment x
Pleasure is all mine, keep blogging and keep sharing artistic work and beautiful stories inside the cup of books! Loved it, very creative and very talented, Kudos to both of you, have a beautiful and wonderful Sunday ☕☕
I will now reading your lovely words. May you have a wonderful day xxx
Thanks for visiting my Post.
You are very welcome. I try my best to keep up with everything and everyone x
Great interview, best of luck with your new novel and the Black Wolf Books! xxxxxx
Inese xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. I am loving going at my pace x
I am patiently waiting 🙂 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Aw xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
My pleasure
Thank you Seenu xxx
Reblogged this on Sarah Stuart – Romantic Suspense and commented:
Very interesting. Reblogged.
Bonjour ou bonsoir Shehanne
Que le temps passe vite
Il nous dépasse
On voudrait parfois qu’il s’arête
On ne peux le contrôler
Ca ne sert à rien de le défier
Le temps est là pour nous dire que l’on prends de l’âge
Il nous reste qu’à l’accepter
De profiter des beaux moments de la vie
Et de vivre chaque instant présent
Moi je profite de te dire
Belle journée ou belle soirée
Gros bisous , Bernard
Bernard, je suis si heureux de recevoir de tes nouvelles et de te dire à quel point tes paroles sont importantes pour moi. Le meilleur de tout à toi mon ami x
A great short … this is the post you use to accept your nomination
https://denise421win.wordpress.com/2019/05/20/i-was-nominated-for-the-sunshine-blogger-award-thanks/
short story ,,, I meant
Denise xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. I cannot thank you enough. I am smiling about how we both …despite the fact it is one of the few fruits I like…the same one. There you go xx