Oh dear readers. I have been in lust with Jenn LeBlanc’s book since the beginning. I’m not obsessed I swear. Just in lust. It could be the pictures or the story (I hear Jamie coughing “yeah right” all the way from New Jersey) that drew me to this wonderful author and her illustrated romance. Yes, pictures. Inside. This is not your children’s picture book so keep it under lock and key until they are old enough to understand that this is a work of art, not porn. It is tastefully done.
Meet Jenn:
Meet Jenn:
Colorado, Canon, CJ, kids and curls.
Born and raised in a household of other people’s children in this beautiful state —very nearly with a camera in hand— I never left. I started my own family, got used to the curls, went to college, built a CJ, and started a business, all with a camera in hand.
I always had another passion; storytelling born from daydreams and nightmares. My fingers were never as quick as my mind, and no amount of practice got them there, so it was difficult and frustrating to have this inside me. When my second daughter was born her inherent traits kept me pinned— my only escape the keyboard. Spending my days in parenting chat rooms I got highly adept with one-handed typing and I can still type just about as fast with one hand as I can with two. It’s a great talent to have when engrossed in a scene and in need of a hit of caffeine. I recently finished my first novel but I quickly realized: I was born a photographer.
From the realization that someone ELSE would be shooting the cover of MY book my control-freak took over. What started as an easy cover shoot ballooned into this completely new kind of media, designed specifically for digital book readers.
I live and thrive off chaos and the constant flow of the creative process. I wear shorts and flip-flops year-round —much to the chagrin of my friends and family— and I am currently working on the illustrations for my second novel.
Anywho, Jenn joined me for the December Joyathon which was the release day of the first part of her serial novel. Today is the release day for the second part of the serial novel and I will be interviewing Gideon Alrick Trumbull, Duke McHottie Pants or Duke of Rox My Sox Off. Disclaimer: The following interview may seem a bit spastic but in the presence of this too good looking for his own good Duke had my mind wandering. Have you seen the pictures? Sheesh!
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Kati: Ma’am? Who you calling ma’am? Do I look that old?!!! First off, tell me a little about yourself. Please no grunting one word answers or glaring at me. I know you have an awful glaring problem.
Rox: *glares* Eh hem. Well. I am Roxleigh. There isn’t much beyond that. I mean that is who I am, who I was born to be.
Kati: Let’s talk about that woman you nearly ran over. Could you tell us your initial reaction when you first saw her?
Rox: Panic of course. Who in their right mind runs into the path of oncoming horses? Oh, well I shouldn’t say it quite like that I mean...well. I can see I am going to have myself in a bind here with this interview.
Kati: Now, my favorite thing she said to you is “Compose this jackass!” How do you feel about being called a jackass?
Rox: I quite got a rise out of me, in more ways than one. That’s a bit forward now, is it not. Will Francine read this? *clears throat* Well, to be quite honest, it is the very moment that I knew.
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| Buy from: Amazon B&N All Romance |
Rox: He was always a misfit. I believe I resented him in the beginning but once our mother left I did take to him quite well.
Kati: What is his, I mean, sorry. Since listening to Ms. LeBlanc reading the infamous piano scene (in which I fell out of my chair, blocked my camera because I was DYING of laughter and gasping for air) I’ve had Perry on the brain. Forgive me.
Rox: Piano? Well he is quite an accomplished pianist, though I doubt he has told many people about that, it isn’t something he generally shares, but if it’s in the book...I, well I suppose he has shared it. He has this beautiful instrument, really. Very smooth, only the best wood. Intricate and precious as well. I daresay he would be eternally saddened if something were to happen to— are you quite right Miss Kati? Ma’am?
Kati: *falls out of chair* Beautiful instrument indeed! Now, where was I? Oh yes, what do you look for in a woman? Someone who you would marry.
Rox: Oh dear, she must be able to stand up to the likes of me. Frankly only one woman ever has. I did not know what to look for in a woman, if Francine had not crossed my path quite honestly I would be miserably matched to a poor woman who would be just as unhappy with me.
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| coming soon |
Rox: They are quite useful, you have to be careful, you can’t use them overmuch you could damage the hide and it isn’t proper. If your mount is well trained you will need it very rarely, and then only the gentlest of touches. Why are you laughing?
Kati: How do feel about your story being illustrated? Does that handsome fellow look like you?
Rox: Quite a bit, of course he is a smashing young gentleman. I would be a fool to say he didn’t, you would then pull up images of trolls would you not. That would be a great misstep on my part.
Kati: Who is this fellow Amberly Shaw and where can I get my own architect? (Please excuse the lewd and inappropriate questions Your Grace. I have been staring at half naked men for my man candy Monday post.)
Rox: Man Candy? Well I...What, pray tell, is man candy? Shaw is a smashing young businessman. He will do quite well in society, I believe he has what it takes to do very well in London.
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| coming soon |
Rox: My first horse was given to me at my birth. It was not a Friesian, it was a beautiful imported Paint. My father loved to find new breeds and had a stable of horses collected from all over the world. I learned everything I knew bout horses from him. Unfortunately I was not allowed to breed him because we did not want to spoil the English breeding programs. Paints are famous, of course, in the colonies. Excuse me, Northern America. Francine hates it when I refer to the States as Colonies. *grins* Is she around here? Hiding somewhere? Laughing at me? I feel her eyes on me. It is quite..quite— are we finished yet?
Kati: Yes, quite... and we’re almost done. I haven’t seen Francine. Maybe she’s reading. I’ll be hanging out with her for part three of Jenn’s novel. Sorry to disappoint you. Besides, can’t have you two being all touchy feely. We must keep this strictly professional.
Rox:*glares*
Kati: *shakes head* All this glaring. Really Your Grace! Good thing your glaring is what I like best about you. Let’s play a little game called either/or... I name two things, you pick one of them. See? One word answers. Just your thing. And go!
Boxers or briefs
I don’t...uh pardon but what exactly does this mean? Pugilists are referred to as boxers in your time, yes? But briefs?
Dogs or Cats
Dogs. Large ones.
Singing or playing the piano
And who might be attempting this? Certainly not myself.
Dancing or Riding
*glares*
Wallflowers or Belle of the Ball
*smiles*
Alpha or Beta
Omega
Kati: You are not playing fair *stomps foot*
Rox: Who...me? *points at self with a flash of teeth*
Virgin widow or Secret baby
*shakes head* Miss Kati, you are attempting to get me cuffed by my wife. (oh no worries your Grace. I may even ask her the same quick questions. What do you think of that?)
19th or 21st century
Wherever my lady is (taking the easy way out, Your Grace? tsk tsk. You're a whipped man)
Heir or Spare
Heir
Love or Duty
If you ask me today I say love. Be that my duty.
Well there you have it. Straight from the Duke's mouth. Such a charming man is he not? All that glaring would make a girl think twice about approaching him but he grows on you after a while. Thanks to Jenn for letting me be my spastic self with Rox.
FOUND: The Rake and the Recluse
This is PART TWO of The Rake And The Recluse, it has been completely re edited with new scenes and new images and is being released as it was originally intended, as a six part serial novel. This is NOT a series it is a SERIAL, that means it has to be read in order.
A woman out of time.
A man stifled by propriety.
A nemesis determined to take her away.
A brother to the rescue.
How will a powerful Duke deal with a woman who doesn't know her place? How will a woman used to the 21st century survive in time where she is considered property?
THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE Part two finds Francine in the world of the Duke of Roxleigh. The clashing of worlds in first installment of the completely revised novel continues as Francine finds her footing, discovers secrets about her elusive host, and learns more about herself than she ever thought possible.
Francine Larrabee woke up on the wrong side of the century. She was fairly certain she went to sleep in her own comfy bed, but she doesn’t quite seem to be there now. Only adding to her problems is that she has no voice, is constantly being glowered at by a large, stunning man who is obsessed with propriety, and she is apparently betrothed to another horrid little man, determined to ruin her, and any other girls that get in his way.
How does she find herself in the past, when she couldn’t even find herself in her present? How does a self sufficient businesswoman survive in a time when women were still considered property for the whole of their lives and what is she going to do with this man who draws her to him so fiercely.
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