JAUNTY: Hello! It’s me again—Jaunty P. Quills, Porcupine Extraordinaire! And I’ve sunk my quills into yet another guest author—Elizabeth Vaughan. Some of you may know Elizabeth’s work. She’s the author of the groundbreaking WARPRIZE and WARSWORN. The third book in the series, WARLORD, is out March 6. Since I’m Jaunty P. Quills, I got a sneak peek, and I have to say that my quills are still a-quiver. This book is sexy, suspenseful, and poignant. I might have even shed a porcupine tear or two. It’s definitely a must-read.

So, Elizabeth, let’s get right into it. Tell us a bit about your series and your fabulous new book.

Elizabeth Vaughan: Thanks, Jaunty! It’s great to be here. WARLORD is finally out, and we get to see the Plains through Lara’s eyes. And Keir’s people get their first look at the so-called Warprize. Keir and Lara have a lot to deal with in this book.

JAUNTY: The Jaunty Quills are always blabbing away on this blog about things like point-of-view. Blah, blah, blah. Let’s talk about what’s important, people! Things like pine nuts and when Jaunty gets more of them!

Anyway, I noticed in one of these discussions, you and your expert use of first-person point-of-view were discussed. That made my quills stand on end (mainly because I figured if I asked you about it, the Quills would feed me extra pine nuts!).

So, why did you decide to write in first-person, and have you encountered any resistance to it among potential readers?

Elizabeth Vaughan: Yes, I was very surprised that my choice of POV would cause a bit of a rukus. But I needed Lara’s POV for the book. It’s her ignorance and interest about Keir’s world that helps pull the reader into the story. Besides, I have to admit that I enjoy reading first-person POV myself.

JAUNTY: Is it hard to write in first-person? I mean, not that it would be hard for ME, but are there challenges for someone who’s not Jaunty P. Quills?

Elizabeth Vaughan: It has its challenges, but I enjoy it. I think it’s easier than third person, but that’s just me.

JAUNTY: I was also told—er, wanted, rather—to ask you about your villains. For porcupines, bears are villains. I’m scared of them—in a manly way, of course. But when I read WARLORD, I found my little paws shaking at your villains as well, especially Iften. I was impressed by how much motivation you gave Iften. He wasn’t a caricature of a bad bear twirling his mustache, but a real character with real conflicts and goals. How do you craft characters so well?

Elizabeth Vaughan: I’m not real sure, Jaunty. I can tell you that I usually have a great deal of back story about my characters that the reader never sees. Lord, I could do a book on Simus alone. I know that Iften is certain that Lara and her ways are a threat to his people, and he will do what he must to protect them from her.

JAUNTY: I’d love to see a book about Simus. He’s strong, manly, and witty—just like me!

We should probably go ahead and get this out of the way. You have a crush on me, don’t you? I noticed that you mention porcupines several times in your books. Unfortunately, you refer to them as “needle rats.” Is this an attempt to disguise your infatuation for me?

Elizabeth Vaughan: Er, Jaunty, I really don’t know how to break this to you, but porcupines are a form of rodent. The name actually comes from Middle French porc d’espine “thorny pig”, hence the nickname “quill pig” for the animal. The People of the Plains see your kind as. . .er. . .well, a kind of rat.

JAUNTY: A…a rat!! I have never been so insulted!

Elizabeth Vaughan: Sorry, sweetie. Let me make it up to you. I brought you a present – a nice, worn axe handle. It’s nice and salty from sweat.

JAUNTY: Um, thanks—yum!

Elizabeth Vaughan: Now, answer a question for me. Tell me more about this ‘Golden Quill’.

JAUNTY: [EYES WIDE] How do you know about. . .

Elizabeth Vaughan: You mentioned it to Shana the other day. And I sense a story here.

JAUNTY: No, no, I can’t. Really. Drat that Shana, she was supposed to delete that in the edits. Tell us a bit about what you’re working on now. Is it, perhaps, a book about a very handsome, manly porcupine?

Elizabeth Vaughan: Well, as a matter of fact, I was thinking about a fantasy world full of talking porcupines. But my research indicates that the mating habits of porcupines are not what one would call ‘romantic’.

JAUNTY: Er,

Elizabeth Vaughan: I mean, spraying the female with—

JAUNTY: Nevermind.

Elizabeth Vaughan: From a distance of over six feet—

JAUNTY: NEVERMIND!

Elizabeth Vaughan: Oh. Sorry.

JAUNTY: Your newest project?

Elizabeth Vaughan: I decided to write what I love best. Sword and Sorcery. Magic. Dragons. Evil men doing bad things while wearing very tight leather armor.

JAUNTY: You’re drooling.

Elizabeth Vaughan: Sorry. My new project is something new. It’s third-person, and my heroine is VERY different from Lara. But I don’t want to give too much away.

JAUNTY: What’s your favorite vegetable? And, while we’re at it, what’s gurt? Is it something porcupines would like?

Elizabeth Vaughan: My favorite veggie is chocolate.

Gurt is a form of dried cheese. It tastes rather dry and bitter. And from the way you are eyeing the axe handle, I’m thinking you’d love it.

JAUNTY: We have a lot of aspiring writers who read this blog. Do you mind telling them a bit about how you sold your first book, your writing schedule, or anything else you think might be helpful to an aspiring author?

Elizabeth Vaughan: Well, you can find the story of how I got published at my website [http://www.warprize.com/about-elizabeth-vaughan.htm]. I’m a slow writer, Jaunty. For me, I write every day and some days it feels like I am plodding up a hill. But persistence pays off.

JAUNTY: Thanks so much for being with is today! We wish you all the best with WARPORCUPINE—I mean, WARLORD (we know what you really wanted to title it!).

Elizabeth Vaughan: Thanks, Jaunty!

JAUNTY: Psst!. Did you know that I am often called Jaunty the Generous? That’s right. Post between now and tomorrow morning, when I stumble out of my treetop bedroom, and I’ll pick one reader to receive an ARC of Elizabeth Vaughan’s WARLORD.

Becoming a writer forever changed the way I watch TV and movies. I’m not hard to please (stop laughing!) but as someone who’s striving to be a better storyteller, I do have a few requirements.

A plot, for starters — an actual coherent storyline, not just a series of loosely connected spectacular stunts and special effects with the occasional pause for reflection, recovery, and/or making out. A story arc — a beginning, middle and end. Slice-of-life movies drive me nuts because they’re just the middle. A growth arc for at least one of the main characters – they need to learn and change in some way, even if it’s just acknowledging the need and exhibiting the willingness to do so by the time credits roll. A satisfying ending –- not necessarily a happy ending (though those are preferred) but it has to make sense and tie up loose story threads. (A romance writer would have been able to come up with a happy and satisfying ending for Sommersby, starring Jodie Foster and Richard Gere.)

Bonus points if the actors, script and technical things like continuity allow me the willing suspension of disbelief to enter and stay in the story world. (“Wasn’t her skirt slit on the left when she got in the elevator, and now it’s on the right?” “Why is his hair still blowing backward even after he turned around to face the beastie?”)

Friday I went with a friend to the opening matinee of Amazing Grace. Since we both write novels set in England’s past and share an appreciation for the leading man, Ioann Gruffudd, this was a must-see movie. (For the uninitiated, he’s Welsh, his name is pronounced YO-an GRIFF-ith, and he’s best known for playing Horatio Hornblower. Apparently I have a thing for guys who can wear pumpkin-butt breeches and a cravat with panache.) Grace begins in 1797 and chronicles the true story of William Wilberforce’s more than 20 years of efforts to get Parliament to abolish the slave trade in England. (And I thought it was rough going through a mere ten years of rejection before I sold my first novel.)

The movie has no sex, violence, foul language, car chases, shoot-outs or explosions, so its audience is limited from the get-go. While we don’t see slaves on-screen, those images are conjured up, so it’s a bit disturbing at times. Historical figures are brought to life, such as William Pitt the Younger, who became Britain’s Prime Minister at age 24. (Wilberforce, no slouch himself, was first elected to Parliament at age 21.) We also get to meet Lord Charles Fox, Hannah More, and other people I’ve encountered in my research. A lot of the funny one-liners will, alas, go over the head of those who haven’t studied British history. There’s a crack about Jacobites near the end that had my friend in stitches – she’s written a novel set in the midst of the Jacobite rebellion of the mid-1700′s – while no one else in the audience but me was so much as snickering.

Barely an hour into the film I decided I have to own the DVD, if only to be able to study the costumes and backgrounds, especially the dockside scenes. At one point we both whispered “Wow, look at his boots,” at the same time. Reading descriptions and looking at pictures in reference books doesn’t hold a candle to seeing it brought to life on a big, big screen by a costume department with a decent budget.

I won’t give away more of the story because I hope you’ll take the time to see it for yourself. There’s a charming romance sub-plot, and I warn you to have a tissue at hand because the film’s title comes from the hymn of that name, something that can make me cry all on its own. And now knowing the story behind those moving words… sigh. (We debated whether that’s really Ioann’s voice we hear singing the hymn or someone else. His bio says he was an accomplished singer and oboist by age 13, so maybe…)

As we walked out of the theater we discussed how amazing the film was (yes, pun intended) and that we must see it again. But I wonder – do I think it’s so good because of my love for the time period, the historical characters brought to life, the fantastic sets and costumes, witty script, and always-delightful-to-watch Ioann? Does it stand on its own merits as a movie if one is not already fascinated by these things?

We puzzled over the same question last year after viewing The Libertine, a little-seen movie that chronicled the life and death of John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, a brilliant though bawdy writer and poet. Being set in the Restoration era (late 1600′s), the film was already difficult for modern audiences to follow, and was grievously injured (in my opinion) by the cutting of key scenes in which audience members who don’t know Wilmot’s story find out the motivation for his self-destructive behavior. (His best friends were blown to pieces, literally, at his side during battle while Wilmot escaped without a scratch. Having no therapists to help him cope with a massive case of survivor’s guilt, he self-medicated with drugs, booze and sex, and died horribly at 33.)

So, back to my thoughts at the beginning. Both movies have a plot, story arc, character growth, and a satisfying ending (one happy, the other decidedly not). But am I still overly influenced by my predisposition to like these particular projects? Entertainment Weekly called Grace an “unstirring” history lesson. (Then again, they gave both Pirates movies a C, so what do they know? )

But since it’s just my opinion, does it really matter that I can’t be impartial?

Wipe your keyboard and mouse day! Spring is peeking around the corner and the temperatures are (hopefully!) going to continue their upward trend. Get a head start and take a swipe over your computer peripherals!

Unplug your keyboard and wipe an anti-bacterial cloth or just a damp one over the top of each key. Don’t pour liquids onto the keyboard, just use a damp cloth. I don’t know about you guys and gals, but the right side of my keyboard gets way dirtier. Probably because I’m a righty and handle more things with my right hand.

Do the same with your mouse. A couple of swipes over the top should do it!

Here are some articles on how to clean your keyboard safely when you need more than a swipe – I suggest the moderate cleaning tips, unless you have really grunged your keyboard!
Help with PCs
EHow article

How do you rate? Clean sheen? Or dirt alert?

…starts soon! Who are you rooting for? What do you think will win? Who will be best dressed? Worst? How will Ellen do? Put your Oscar picks here and reap the glory should you come out on top.

My Oscar picks inside!

First….for any of you who posted a sentence last week –email me your address (cindykirk@aol.com) and, as promised, I’ll send you my March Silhouette Special Edition, Romancing the Nanny.

Okay….for this week’s topic….anyone watch Gray’s Anatomy? Even if you don’t you’ll be able to get my point. Several weeks ago they had a scene where Derek and Meredeth were in bed together. He told her she snores, she told him he had morning breath…..hold it! TMI! Ruined the romance for me.

It’s the same way in books. Yes, people go to the bathroom but we don’t want to see it on the page. Yes, they have morning breath but I don’t want to be reminded of it.

I read a romance novel where the hero passed gas (I’m not kidding). It was a western and it so startled me (and pulled me from the story) that I still remember the scene.

Anything ever shock you like that? Or am I too sensitive?

Jaunty P. Quills here, interrupting your regular blog with a special announcement. I’ve managed to find historical and contemporary author, The Fabulous Kathryn Smith (which she tells me is her official name). Last year, Avon released the first book in Kathryn’s Brotherhood of Blood series about a group of vampires reunited by evil. The first, Be Mine Tonight, made me cry so hard that I almost put an eye out with a quill.

Um, I mean, I nearly poked my eye out and then it watered. I didn’t cry. Nope. Not me, I’m a manly porcupine. Ask anyone. What have you heard?

But I digress. Please welcome Kathryn!

So what’s the deal with this Brotherhood of Blood? I’m also in a secret club, but I can’t tell you about it or I’d have to quill you.

You’re a prickly little thing, aren’t you? Well, that’s all right. The Brotherhood of Blood are five former soldiers of fortune who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They drank from a cursed chalice and became vampires. The series is set in the Victorian period and the boys are being pursued by an ancient order that calls themselves the Order of the Silver Palm. They want the chalice and they want the Brotherhood — but I’m not going to tell you why because that would spoil the series. Don’t you bristle at me like that, Jaunty! I’m not telling.

Our own Jenna Petersen called the first book, Be Mine Tonight, the best romance of 2006. She also started rambling about it being so emotional and I sort of roamed out of the room. How did you manage to perfect the balance of an adventurous story and something so emotional that it made certain porcupines cry?

Aww, did you actually cry? I think Prince has a song about that. Thanks to Jenna for saying that about my book. I never set out to write a book that would strike so many emotional chords with readers, it just happened. What I wanted to write was a man who had given up and a woman who was determined to carry on. The rest just came from that. As for blending emotion with adventure, I guess that just came naturally as well. I suppose the adventure was as necessary to the story as the emotion and that’s why it worked. These are hard questions, Jaunty.

Ah yes, “When Porcupines Cry”. It’s my favorite Prince song. What about the next book in the series, Night of the Huntress? Can you tell us more?

Night of the Huntress features Bishop, who is not so brooding as Chapel, although he has his own painful past. Bishop returns to Romania, the place where his wife was killed and meets up with a vampire slayer named Marika, who captures him because she thinks he can lead her to another of the brotherhood. It sounds more complicated than it is! lol. Anyway, these two have many reasons to despise each other and they do for a little bit, but then they start to respect and understand one another. And when Marika’s world starts to fall apart, Bishop is the only one she can turn to for help. Adversity sparks their initial attraction, but as they work together that attraction turns into a deep, abiding love. Of course, there’s adventure in this one too as the Order of the Silver Palm is up to no good.

So what’s the deal with this USAToday thing I’m hearing so much about? The Porcupine Times also does a bestseller list. Bark was #1 last week. Is it kind of the same deal?

Not that I would ever dare presume to compare myself to bark, which seems to have remarkable distribution, but I suppose it’s similar. Except that the USAT list is based on books sales, not tree-leavings. My book, Night of the Huntress made the top 150 best-selling books in the US.

Wow. That’s way cooler than bark (which is tasty and leaves your breath with that oh-so-dirty feeling). So, your heroine sounds pretty tough. Do you think you could take her?

I think Marika is one of the most kick-ass heroines I’ve ever written. Could I take her? Of course. I created her, didn’t I? I know all her weaknesses. lol.

Speaking of violence, I heard a rumor about you and JennaP and an umbrella?

No comment. Jenna P scares me.

Me too. We’ll just change the subject . How about the rest of the Brotherhood? Whose story is up next and when?

Saint’s book, Taken by the Night is next in November 2007. Reign’s book follows and then Temple’s book will end the series. I think I may use Marcus, the archaeologist from Be Mine Tonight to launch a new series. At the very least, I’ll give the guy his own story. He deserves it.

I’ve heard rumors of a contemporary series, as well. Tell us more.

I call it The Nightmare Chronicles. The series revolves around Dawn, who is a psychologist specializing in dream therapy. She’s also a Nightmare — literally. Nightmares are guardians of the Dream Realm
and protectors of all who pass through it. It’s a romantic series with Dawn forging a relationship with former patient Noah Clarke who is also a lucid dreamer. I plan to have Dawn come up against a new external challenge in every book, as well as putting her relationship with Noah to the test. So far it’s shaping up to be creepy and scary but sexy and sassy too!

I have bad dreams. About dogs chasing me. And I can’t find any bark or pine nuts. It’s just awful. Any advice from a nightmare writer?

I think you have a persecution complex and gender issues. Really, Jaunty. It’s just all about you, isn’t it? What about me, Jaunty? Me!!! Ahem.

Hey, they only let me take over the blog on rare occasions, Kate!! Fine. We’ll talk about you Miss Hoity Toity “I’m a big time national bestseller”. You’ve written books in lots of different genres like regular Regency historical, young adult and now you’re writing paranormal historicals and contemporary. Do you have ADD or just like to keep things fresh?

Hmmm, my therapist says I’m in a state of constant flux. I think I just like to try new things. I’ve always loved romance novels and I love the paranormal, so for me to be able to combine those two loves is wonderful. I love YA books too — I’ve got an idea for this series…Oh, and another paranormal series…and this historical thing…What was I saying?

I don’t know, I was thinking about pine nuts… Finally, I have to ask… do you think you could ever love… say… a porcupine? Or at least write a porcupine-related romance? Come on, there is an audience for this stuff!

Jaunty, you’re not the sharpest guy I’ve ever met — wait, I suppose you are. Huh. Okay, sure. I could love a porcupine, why not? I’ve been involved with guys who are prickier…er, pricklier than you. As for a
porcupine romance? Ask Jenna. She writes faster than I do.

I already told you, she scares me, too. Thanks again to USA Today Bestselling Author Kathryn Smith for joining us today! And be sure to pick up anything in her backlist you can get your quills on. It’s worth it!

Recently I was reading a book for a contest I’m judging, and I found myself having trouble turning the pages. Now, I like to read just about anything, and one reason I enjoy this contest is that I get to read books I might not normally pick up at the bookstore. Like most of the books I’ve judged, this one is good. The writing is solid, the romance is there, but the violence…

I’m really having a hard time with the graphic depictions of violence. Maybe the writer is too good because the description of these heinous acts get in my head and stick there.

Do you ever have this problem?

Maybe it’s just me. I have to tell you that I have a low threshold of tolerance for violence. I can’t watch boxing or boxing movies. It makes me wince and feel like crying to see those men or women get hit over and over. I don’t even like fake violence like what you’d see in professional wrestling or some action adventure movies. If I’m at a movie and there’s a violent scene, I often have to cover my eyes and have Ultimate Sportsfan tell me when it’s okay to open them.

And while I can tolerate some violence in a book, the graphic stuff really bothers me.

But I know tons of people love to read mysteries and thrillers, and some of those are pretty graphic. Hey, when I was younger, I loved Stephen King. Not so much now.

So is there anything in books that really bothers you? Are there elements you avoid when choosing which books to purchase?

And scroll down to read Jenna’s blog on Boston Rob and The Amazing Race.
P.S. Don’t forget that Kathryn Smith is our guest blogger this week. She hasn’t blogged yet, so you might want to check in tomorrow. Hint, hint.

I orginally published this on my personal blog in May 2005. And in honor of the new Amazing Race, I am republishing it here.

My husband and I are Amazing Race fans. Actually, I was first and I dragged him along (as I am wont to do). But this season was the best. Because this season we got Boston Rob and Amber. We didn’t watch the Survivor where Rob Mariano first made his appearance. And though I watched Survivor Australian Outback, I didn’t even remember Amber.

So we went into Amazing Race 7 without any preconceived notions about them. But we instantly fell in love with them and rooted for them all the way to the end, without fail. Then I admit, I TiVoed Rob and Amber Get Married and watched that, too. And then I bought Survivor All Stars just to see their game play that brought them to the end and the relationship that brought them together. And I now have a theory:

Rob Mariano is a bad boy romance hero.

1. Bad Boy Romance Heroes are charismatic. Any situation Rob encountered on The Amazing Race, he could flash his grin and get what he wanted. He was polite to the locals (for the most part), always introduced himself, and when he got what he wanted, he generally shook hands with the person who gave it to him. Clearly, he has that magical power some people naturally possess that makes people want to like and help them.

2. Bad Boy Romance Heroes are smart. I was very interested to hear Rob say that Amber made him ‘feel smart’ and that was part of why he loved her. First… awwwwww. But second, dude, don’t you KNOW you’re smart? Clearly, he knew how to strategize. But beyond that, he had the presence of mind to have his tribe pull their boat entirely out of the water to bail it, unlike the other geniuses in All Star. In a traffic jam, he was smart enough to get out and help PUSH the blocking vehicle out of the way. He had real smarts. Smarts that actually do some good in the real world.

3. Bad Boy Romance Heroes are capable. Like smart above, but a little different. Car breaks down? Rob can fix it. Need to build a raft? Let Rob do it. Have a hole in your shack roof? Ask Rob. Need a strong swimmer/runner/diver/climber? Rob’s your guy.

4. Bad Boy Romance Heroes love their women. Yes, he can be a jerk. He lied. He cheated. He conned. And he grinned so charmingly the whole time that I laughed every time he pulled the wool over someone’s eyes. But when it came to Amber… that stuff is out. I never once saw him raise his voice to her in the Amazing Race. If she couldn’t do something, he assumed it was because it was extremely difficult, not because she wasn’t capable. In Survivor, he had a choice to betray a friend or betray Amber. He stuck by her. And in their wedding special, he said, “Anything my girl wants” and he meant it. Every word.

Am I a shameless Romber (Rob and Amber) fan? Hell yeah! I enjoyed every moment of their wild Reality Show Ride. And I wish them all the best and more in their new life together.

Are you a procrastinator?

I’ve always been a task-oriented person, and my nursing career was well-suited to it. Now that I’m a full time Creative person, I find it much harder to meet my goals. It doesn’t help that I’m a perfectionist, either. My internal editor will never shut up!

Recently my so-called friends have been sending me interactive web sites, designed to keep me from achieving my writing goals … or any goals, for that matter! So now I’m going to share them with you and then I can truly say that I don’t know anybody who gets anything done in February.

Try this one: Mr. Picassohead

Move your mouse over the image

Or how about this?

Puzzles, too!

I’m in serious trouble here!

One thing that drives Ultimate Sportsfan nuts is my lack of enthusiasm for food and film. When we eat dinner out, he always asks how my food was, and I inevitably say, “It was okay.”

I’m the same way with movies:

Ultimate Sportsfan: “How did you like the movie?”

Me: “It was okay.”

But I am happy to announce that I have recently seen two movies that were better than okay. And I recommend them to you (if you can find them—I don’t think they’re in wide release).

The first is Miss Potter with Renee Zelweger. It’s the story of Beatrix Potter—you know, the children’s book author and illustrator. USF and I went to see it as a Valentine’s Day date. We both really liked it. It was sad and romantic, and, if you like history (historical romance), the film showed the way the English classes were segregated, even as recently as the 1890s. Plus, the scenes of the Lake District were just breathtaking.

The second film is God Grew Tired of Us. This film just opened, and it’s a documentary narrated by Nicole Kidman and produced, in part, by Brad Pitt. It’s about the Lost Boys of Sudan. It shows the lives of 6 or 7 boys in a refugee camp in Kenya, after traveling thousands of miles to escape the war in Sudan. Then the boys come to the United States. The film follows their adjustment to life here. It was so funny and so sad and so good.

My sister is in charge of refugee resettlement for a non-profit group here in Houston, and she invited us to the film. I’m so glad we went. It really made me appreciate how fortunate I am to be living in the United States.

The next movie I want to see opens Friday, and it’s called Amazing Grace. It’s the story of how slavery was abolished in England. For a lover of history like me, I’m sure it will be fascinating.

What about you? Seen any good movies? Looking forward to anything?