Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Q&A with Colette L. Saucier, author of Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth



Now available from Southern Girl Press is the historical paranormal romance "Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth” (Book II, The Confession of Mr. Darcy, Vampire) by Colette L. Saucier.

On Sale Throughout October for $2.99 





Also Available Book I
PULSE AND PREJUDICE 


The author has taken a few minutes out of her busy schedule for a Q&A about her newest novel.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

I would say in third grade. We were given a writing assignment to describe our favorite place. I wrote that my favorite place was warm, soft, and comforting because it was being snuggled up against my dog.

What was your first book/story published?

Aside from several poems published when I was in junior high, my first novel—Pulse and Prejudice: The Confession of Mr. Darcy, Vampire (Book 1) was released by my then-publisher in the summer of 2012, followed shortly by my ABNA semifinalist All My Tomorrows, later expanded and republished as The Proud and the Prejudiced.

What inspired you to write Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth?

My daughter. She had originally convinced me to write Book 1: Pulse and Prejudice, because I could not find a vampire adaptation of Jane Austen’s original novel that I liked. She said if it didn’t exist, I should write it myself. Then she didn’t like one specific thing about how I ended it! So she said I had to write a sequel to satisfy her desire for the story. After she approved a detailed outline of Book II of The Confession of Mr. Darcy, Vampire, I wrote the novel for her.

What character in Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

I would never dare compare myself to a character created by Jane Austen! Of my original characters, I would say that I am most like Mina Calmet—about the same age, dark hair and eyes, pale complexion, compassionate, and has knowledge of birth control! This was most important as I raised three daughters to adulthood.

Least like me? Well, the dwarf! I am not that short, and I can’t imagine ever blackmailing anyone. Also, I am not Lutheran, although I do love his quotations.

What is your favorite part in Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth?

The novel is split into two halves—one in England, the other in New Orleans. In each half, my favorite part is a sex scene! Now what does that say of me?

What was the hardest part to write?

The first half of Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth takes place in England, whereas in the second half they are in New Orleans. My progress was delayed for MONTHS because I didn’t know how to handle the sea voyage. Did readers really want to know how the characters passed five, six, or more weeks crossing the Atlantic? I finally resolved it by skipping the voyage itself and beginning after they arrive in New Orleans with Elizabeth describing the trip in a letter to her father.

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

An architect.

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

Rarely. I am far too busy with my own writing. If someone I know has reviewed it, or if it pops up on Google Alerts (which I have set up to fight piracy), then I may take a look. Occasionally, if I see that a reviewer has misinterpreted what I had hoped to convey on the page, I will try to clarify that point in the next edition. That has actually only happened three times over seven novels! Other than that, I don’t really feel it’s my business to read reviews. They are written for other readers—not the author.

In the words of William Faulkner, “The artist doesn’t have time to listen to the critics. The ones who want to be writers read the reviews; the ones who want to write don’t have the time to read reviews.”

What well-known writers do you admire most?

Thomas Mann, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and Douglas Adams. And Jane Austen, of course!

Do you have any other books/stories in the works?

My current work in progress is a Steampunk Shapeshifter parody of Wuthering Heights. I also have a few projects underway using a pseudonym.



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About the Author: Colette Saucier began writing poems, short stories, and novellas in grade school. Her interest in literature led her to marry her college English professor, but eventually a love of history encouraged her to trade up to a British historian.

Technical writing dominated her career for twenty years, but finding little room for creativity in that genre, she is now a full-time author of fiction.

Pulse and Prejudice was named “A Most Inventive Adaptation” by Elle Magazine (April, 2016). It was the 1st Place Winner in its category in the 2013 Chatelaine Awards Romantic Fiction Contest and is listed in Chanticleer’s 2013 Best Book Listing. Colette dedicated 15 months traveling to Europe and Britain, researching Regency England and vampire lore and literature, to complete for historical accuracy. It remains faithful to nineteenth century literary conventions and Jane Austen’s narrative to create a compelling, thrilling paranormal adaptation.

Colette was selected a “2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award” Semi-finalist and named “Debut Author of the Year” by Austenprose for All My Tomorrows—now expanded and republished as The Proud and the Prejudiced—which was also chosen Austenesque Reviews “Favorite Modern Adaptation” 2013.

Colette’s romantic thriller Alicia’s Possession was the publisher’s #1 Bestselling Romantic Suspense for 4 straight weeks following its debut in June of 2013 and then again in January, 2014, after being voted a “Top Ten Romance Novel of 2013” (P&E Reader’s Poll). Colette is also the author of the controversial and erotic noir romantic suspense The Widow, an Amazon bestselling new release and Kobo bestseller.

Colette’s latest novel—Book II: The Confession of Mr. Darcy, Vampire—entitled Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth, follows the newlywed Vampire Darcy and his bride Elizabeth from Britain to Antebellum New Orleans. Due to her devotion to historical accuracy, she spent two years researching Creole Society and Nouvelle Orleans in the years following the War of 1812.

A bestselling and award-winning author under multiple pseudonyms, she is currently working on multiple projects including a parody of Wuthering Heights and a children’s book based on the inspiration for the dog Amadeus from Pulse and Prejudice and Dearest Bloodiest Elizabeth.

Colette lives in a lakeside community in South Louisiana with her historian husband and their two dogs.

For information about the author, please visit her website at: www.colettesaucier.com/

You an also follow her on Facebook and on her blog

3 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. A dwarf? I have not reach that part yet!!!

    I also like Mina but right now I am not happy, I hope she appears again!! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ana, It's the same dwarf from PULSE AND PREJUDICE.
      I think you'll be happy!
      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete

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