Wednesday 25 May 2011

Interview and contest: Kristine Grayson - Wickedly Charming

Today I have Kristine Grayson over for an interview. And the end of it there is a giveaway of 2 copies of her new book Wickedly Charming.

Welcome to Mur-y-Castell!


Tell us something about yourself, so we can get to know you better…
KG: I love to read and I love to write.  I have too many cats.  I travel a lot, but I’m really quite shy.  So writing is the perfect job for me.

Your latest release is called Wickedly Charming; can you tell me what it is about?
KG: In it, Prince Charming, newly divorced from Cinderella, falls in love with Snow White’s “evil” stepmother at a Los Angeles book fair.


How did you think of the idea to write about fairy tale characters?
KG:  I’ve been writing inverted fairy tales for years.  I figure nothing is ever quite as it seems—not even fairy tales. So I have a lot of fun with this.

Will we see more fairytale stories from you soon?
KG: Next, Sourcebooks will reissue Utterly Charming, my first fairy tale novel, in which Sleeping Beauty’s Prince Charming falls in love with Sleeping Beauty’s lawyer.  Yep.  My brain isn’t quite normal. 


Who is your favorite fairytale character and why?
KG:  I love the princes charming.  I really do.  They are the Perfect Man for every woman. Or maybe I just watched too many Disney movies as a kid.


You also write under other names. How is it to write in different genres and to use different names?
KG: I didn’t even know what genre was until my friend Kevin J. Anderson (who now writes the bestselling Dune books) told me when we met in college.  Since I don’t really “see” genre, I don’t notice when I’m crossing into a new one.  But as a reader, I have learned that I like some books by certain writers and not others. For example, I love Barbara Michaels, but don’t like Elizabeth Peters—and both are pen names for the marvelous Barbara Mertz.  So I took a leaf out of her book and decided to put my very different books under different names.  My Grayson books are sweet romances. My Kristine Kathryn Rusch novels are all over the map and can sometimes be dark.  My Kris Nelscott books are noir mysteries set in the 1960s.  And I’ve just started a new pen name, Kris DeLake, which will be steamy sf romances.  I’m having fun.


Could you tell me about a little about all the other books you have written?
KG:  If I told you about all the other books I’ve written, we’d be here for weeks! I’ve written about 90 novels.  Many are mysteries, like my Kris Nelscott books. But I’ve also written some mystery/sf crossover novels.  I have a detective series set on the Moon, called the Retrieval Artist. That’s under Rusch. And so are the novels about my kick-butt heroine, Boss.  She appears in Diving into the Wreck and City of Ruins, with more to come.  And then there are the DeLake books, upcoming from Sourcebooks. And I do romantic suspense as Kristine Dexter.  And there’s more. But that’s the shorthand version.


Any advice for aspiring writers?
KG: Write a lot.  Have fun.  And learn the business.  More careers die because a writer doesn’t know business than for any other reason.  A bad book won’t kill you, but failing to understand contracts and copyrights will.  (I write a blog about this every Thursday at www.kristinekathrynrusch.com)

Thanks for stopping by!
KG: Thanks for asking me!


GIVEAWAY
2 winners: Wickedly Charming

1.US and Canada
2. Ends May 29th
3. Just enter or if you wanna make it fun:
comment on the book/interview, or tell me your fav fairytale or anything :)

Winners: Mocha Latte and Melanie

WICKEDLY CHARMING BY KRISTINE GRAYSON – IN STORES MAY 2011

He’s Given Up on Happily-Ever-After…
Cinderella’s Prince Charming is divorced and at a dead end. The new owner of a bookstore, Charming has given up on women, royalty, and anything that smacks of a future. That is until he meets up with Mellie…

But She Might Be the Key to Happily-Right-Now…
Mellie is sick and tired of stepmothers being misunderstood. Vampires have redeemed their reputation, why shouldn’t stepmothers do the same? Then she runs into the handsomest, most charming man she’s ever met and discovers she’s going about her mission all wrong…

It’s only natural that sparks fly and magic ensues when these two fairy tale refugees put their heads—and vulnerable hearts—together…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Before turning to romance writing, Kristine Grayson edited the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and ran Pulphouse Publishing (which won her a World Fantasy Award). She has won the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and, under her real name, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, the prestigious Hugo award. She lives with her own Prince Charming, writer Dean Wesley Smith, in Portland, Oregon. Her next book from Sourcebooks Casablanca, Utterly Charming will be in stores in October 2011. For more information, please visit www.kristinegrayson.com/ and www.sourcebookscasablanca.com

36 comments:

  1. Thank you for the interview :)

    I did not know when I read the book that you were also KK Rusch! I read your Fey books like 8 years ago and really enjoyed them

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  2. Pen names are intriguing. It's fun to find out two of your favorite authors are the same person. Or, finding out one you like and one you don't are the same!

    My favorite fairy tale is Beauty and the Beast. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Diana
    bookofsecrets(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  3. It is great to meet Kristine. She is a new to me author and after reading what Wickedly Charming is about, I want to read it!

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  4. Great interview!
    I had no idea that Barbara Michaels and Elizabeth Peters were the same person :O

    My favorite fairytales are Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.

    (Not an entry)

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  5. Wow, such a prolific writer and such a wide range! I love the premise for Wickedly Charming. It sounds like a blast! Thanks for the wonderful interview. Can't wait to check out her books!

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  6. love the twist with this story! what does the prince see in snow white's evil stepmom? as i think of the stepmom being much older she must have those cougar-like qualities. guess i'll have to read the book to find out!
    vvb32 at yahoo.com

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  7. Great interview! I had no idea she was such a prolific writer. Please enter me: JDQ1175@aol.com.

    Now, commenting on your entry into my giveaway for Here Be Dragons--girlfriend, I can't believe you haven't read that book yet!! It is one of the best books EVER! I hope you win so I can send it to you!

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  8. Wow! Wickedly Charming sounds like a great read! Cinderella and Snow White are both my favorite fairy tales. :)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    melvautour(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  9. Sounds like a great book. I love Cinderella. Donna
    dkmtheriot@yahoo.com
    http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com

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  10. Great interview! I enjoyed reading all about how she got to where she is today.

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  11. On the cover it looks like the Newshwanstien castle (I know I didn't spell that right)in Fussen,Germany. I have been to it once and it is truly a fairy tale castle. The view from it of the Austrian mountains is amazing!

    Margaret
    singitm@hotmail.com

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  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  13. My favorite fairy tale is Beauty and The Beast.

    teakettle58(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  14. I just added this one to my TBR list this morning! I love the idea of this book. My favourite fairy tale is either Beauty and the Beast or Aladdin. It just depends what mood I'm in :P

    erikadlugoATyahooDOTcom

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  15. Kristine - You said you enjoy traveling, so what was your favorite place to visit and why? If you had a dream vacation where would you go? Anywhere in the world...no limits!

    Blodeuedd - Thanks for another amazing giveaway opportunity. Man, you are on a role girl! My favorite fairy tale is Sleeping Beauty and I really liked The Little Mermaid...oh and Aladdin (does that count as a fairy tale?!?!). :-D

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  16. I love fairy tales and always enjoy when authors twist them around.

    Pen names tend to get me confused. I'm always surprised when so-and-so is the same person as someone else.

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  17. Wicked but I can't enter, pity...
    Prince Charming...does your prince has a darker side? (a question to the author, I can ask questions, can't I?)

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  18. Sounds great, thanks for the giveaway. My favorite fairy tale is Beauty and the Beast :)

    vanessanicole21 at yahoo dot com

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  19. Awwww! We have so much in common. I love Prince Charmings too! They are just so... so... well, charming. :)

    Thanks for the giveaway! Very exciting.

    missie at theunreadreader.com

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  20. Wonderful interview!
    I always wonder how authors come up with their pen names.

    Don't enter me ;) still in Germany.

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  21. Her fairy tales are so twisted but I love all the new pairings.

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  22. I've been meaning to read this book - I really love the title.

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    Amanda

    ohmorningglow AT aol DOT com

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  23. Oh I think your last advice was PERFECT for anyone in the creative industries.

    My fave fairy tale, btw is Beauty and the Beast. :)
    books (dot) things (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  24. Don't enter me...I'm currently reading this one right now and loving it!! Thanks for the interview as I enjoyed getting to know Grayson a bit better!

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  25. Wickedly Charming sounds like a wonderful book, and I'm looking forward to reading it. I always enjoy those books that take fairy tales and tweak them into something new and fun. My favorite fairy tale has always been Cinderella, so I'd love to see what happens to Kristine Grayson's Prince Charming.

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

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  26. Great interview.I've been seeing this book around.It sounds really good.
    elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

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  27. I love the modern romantic re-tellings of fairytales. Although I'd like to see some of the harder ones tried at some point.

    But I love the idea behind this story and can't wait to read it!

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  28. Sounds like a really fun read. =)
    tiredwkids at live dot com

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  29. Great interview!
    One of my favorite fairy tales has always been The princess & the Pea.
    (\___/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

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  30. Nice interview! And Wickedly Charming sounds good!
    Utterly Charming sounds cute too.

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  31. My fave is Beauty and the Beast!

    Thanks for the giveaway!!


    quixoticdreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  32. @Diana
    That is a good one and I love that she is a booklover

    @Nise
    It was so very sweet

    @Misha
    Neither did I

    @Alyssa
    It was really sweet and I do like fairytale variations it seems

    @VV
    No no, they are pretty much the same age, and she is not evil at all. Snow White was just a spoiled brat

    @Jenny
    I have heard that :D And dunno how many times I have been told to read the book. I am so very curious

    @Melanie
    Those stories are good :)

    @Donna
    :)

    @Amused
    Thanks, I am glad you enjoyed it

    @Margaret
    I love that castle! And I do not know how to spell it either ;)

    @Hamna
    Thanks!

    @Tea
    I like that one too

    @Erika
    I hope you get to read it

    @Denna
    I know, I have had a A LOT of interviews lately! :D I like those stories too and sure Aladdin is one too

    @Carol
    And I never even know the people are the same even though I have read both penames lol

    @Ana
    You can, just never know if an author shows up. This prince or? Cos nope, but Snows prince was a creep

    @Vanessa
    Good luck

    @Missie
    I know, awww charmings :D

    @Susi
    Lol, makes me wonder what I would call myself

    @Jenny
    I do love twists!

    @Amanda
    It's a good one

    @Melissa
    I liked it too :=)

    @Staci
    Yay, I am glad you like it

    @barbara
    I hope you get to read it then and find out

    @Elaine
    I sure enjoyed it

    @Lola
    They are so fun to read :D

    @Shannon
    it was :)

    @Lisa
    I love the bunny!

    @Naida
    I do love cute

    @Brittany
    Thanks for stopping by

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  33. Great interview. This is a new author to me so would like to read her book.

    Thank you for having this giveaway!

    countrysunset40 (at) aol dot com

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  34. I always love to hear advise from authors. Thank you for that. I woul love to read this book.

    hootowl1978@gmail.com

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  35. Great interview.

    My favorite fairytale...probably a Disney movie. Beauty and the Beast.

    Thank you for the giveaway
    venturinhawendy(at)gmail(dot)com

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  36. Winners: Mocha Latte and Melanie

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