Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Jennifer Estep Interview and Black Widow Giveaway!

I'm excited to have Jennifer Estep back at the blog again. She came by to answer some of my questions and to have a great giveaway of her newest book in the Elemental Assassin series!
BT: Hi Jennifer!
JE: Hi! Thanks for featuring me on your blog again. I appreciate it!

BT: I love your villains, can you tell me if you take anything from real life?

JE: Thanks! I appreciate that.

Since I’m writing urban fantasy, my villains tend to have magical powers and be really ruthless and determined to get what they want, no matter what they have to do or who they have to hurt to achieve their goals. So it’s not real life. 

But a hero is only as good as the bad guys that she goes up against, so I try to think of villains that would annoy and frustrate Gin and really push her to her limits, physically, emotionally, and magically. I always have a lot of fun coming up with villains who challenge Gin and then thinking about how she can turn the tables and get the best of them.

BT:  What is your favorite secondary character to write? Does he/she have a novella staring this character?

JE: Finnegan Lane, Gin’s foster brother, is the secondary character that is the most fun for me to write. He’s so shameless and greedy and says whatever is on his mind no matter how annoying or inappropriate it might be. I always enjoy writing his dialogue.

There are a couple of Finn-centric short stories on my website: http://www.jenniferestep.com/short-stories/short-stories/ 

I would like to write a Finn novella, as well as some for other characters, like Phillip Kincaid, but my writing schedule is already full for this year and on into 2015. Hopefully, I’ll have time to write something more about Finn and the other characters in the future. We’ll see what happens.

*yes please have a Finn novella! Phillip would be a great one too!*

What is your biggest wish for Gin?

JE: I want Gin to (eventually) have her happy ending and the peace and quiet that she longs for. I think she’s earned it, after all that I’ve put her through. 

That being said, peace and quiet wouldn’t be that interesting to read or write about, and there are lots of bad guys left for Gin to battle.

*Yes, I agree... don't end her story yet!*

You have elements (easter eggs if you will) from your other books. Give us a few so those that haven't noticed it will try to now find them.

JE: I have four series – Elemental Assassin; Mythos Academy; Bigtime; and Black Blade (coming in 2015). So in every book, I try to mention characters, places, creatures, etc. from the other books.
For example, in my Elemental Assassin series, Finn often wears Fiona Fine suits. Well, Fiona Fine is a fashion designer in my Bigtime superhero series. In my Mythos Academy series, I’ve had characters mention things like the Pork Pit and Ashland from my Elemental Assassin series. So there are just small, crossover references between all the books.

I always have a lot of fun coming up with the Easter eggs, and readers seem to enjoy the little shout-outs to my other books.

What other projects do you have coming up?

JE: Spider’s Trap, the 13th book in my Elemental Assassin series, will be out on July 28. I’m also writing book #14, which is tentatively scheduled to be out on Dec. 29.

I also have a new young adult series starting in 2015. It’s called the Black Blade series, and Cold Burn of Magic, the first book, will be out on April 28.

For more information about my books, people can visit my website at www.jenniferestep.com or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Happy reading, everyone! 

JENNIFER’S SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Jennifer_Estep  (@Jennifer_Estep)

JENNIFER’S BIO

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.

Jennifer writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books. Black Widow, the 12th book in the series, will be released on Nov. 25. For more information about the series, visit Jennifer’s website at www.jenniferestep.com or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Black Widow
Series: Elemental Assassin #12
400 p.
Published: 11/25/14
Publisher: Pocket Books
There’s nothing worse than a cruel, cunning enemy with time to kill—and my murder to plan. 
With wicked Fire elemental Mab Monroe long gone, you’d think I could finally catch a break. But someone’s always trying to take me down, either as Gin Blanco or my assassin alter-ago. Now along comes the Spider’s new arch-nemesis, the mysteriously named M. M. Monroe, who is gleefully working overtime to trap me in a sticky web of deceit. 
The thing is, I’m not the only target. I can see through the tangled threads enough to know that every bit of bad luck my friends have been having lately is no accident—and that each unfortunate “coincidence” is just one more arrow drawing ever closer to hitting the real bulls-eye. Though new to Ashland, this M. M. Monroe is no stranger to irony, trying to get me, an assassin, framed for murder. Yet, as my enemy’s master plan is slowly revealed, I have a sinking feeling that it will take more than my powerful Ice and Stone magic to stop my whole life from going up in flames.
Giveaway!
The publisher is allowing me to giveaway the newest book in the Elemental Assassin series, Black Widow! 2 Winners! US only. Just fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter. Good luck!

21 comments:

  1. Great interview! I am laughing because at first I thought you asked "what is your second favorite character to write about?" I thought what an interesting questions and why isn't Finn first favorite?! LOL Then I realized what you really asked. :-D

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  2. You both already know how much I adored Black Widow and how much I love this series in general, but it always bears repeating I think: I LOVE THESE BOOKS! I would love to have a Finn or Phillip novella, Phillip especially because I want more of his and Eva's story:) Can't wait for Cold Burn of Magic in April!!!!

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  3. I know I am way behind but this series is on my list to read when I have time off during the holidays! Super excited!!!

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  4. I love jennifer estep's books, are amazing!! I want to read this want soon!!!

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  5. I LOVE Finn. I think he's one of the best characters I've read about. EVER. I listen on audio and she nails his voice and personality and really brings him alive.
    Also, I LOVE the Easter eggs! I hadn't realized there were so many crossover references though and that's awesome!

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  6. Oh an awesome villain is so dang nice to find. I mean. I may want to bop them hard but it makes for such an interesting read when they're a quality bad guy :D

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  7. Alright I swear I am starting this on audio as soon as I finish up my review commitments on audio which is small. I can't wait to finally dig in and do some binge listening. I am also so excited for her new YA UF book. I want to get in on the ground floor of that series. I am missing Mythos Academy.

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  8. Just started this series - love it! :)

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  9. I hope she will have her happy ending too

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  10. With a 4-day weekend looming, I sure hope I can squeeze in some reading time - there were too many good books released this week!

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  11. Ha, fantastic interview! I have decided to begin these on audio, even though I own book one and cannot wait to start

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  12. Thanks for such a fun interview! I"m a big, big fan and I love this series! Thanks for sharing :)

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  13. I have not yet started this series but it is on my TBR. I want to read because I have heard that it is AWESOME!

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  14. I've been following Jen and Gin from day one and own a number of the books in the series. I'd love to add this newest one to my collection.

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  15. That's a great interview! Thanks for sharing! That's bad bad bad I need to read book 2!

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  16. I've read all the previous books in this series and am looking forward to reading Black Widow

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  17. Whether or not it be one I love to hate or a pantomime villain I do love a good baddie. Great interview, thanks.

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  18. Great interview and thanks for the giveaway.

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  19. OK, I know I'm a bit cray cray for this but, I haven't even started this series yet. In my defense, I AM incredibly arachneaphobic...*sheepish grin*. My TBR pile is just immense at this point but this interview really makes me want to conqure this irrational fear specifically so that I can finally read these books that everyone has been raving about! Please just tell me if there is a huge spider population within these tomes that I'll have to read through really quickly!? LOL!

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  20. I am always on edge when I know the next Elemental Assassin novel is going to be released. I'm always salivating for it!!!

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  21. I think Google at my comment...I'm actually two books behind on the series at the moment, but hope to catch up soon. Gin is a fantastic heroine :)

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