Meet My Mistresses...

Yes, it's true. The wise and beloved Rockville 8 is my first—and for a long time, only—critique group. But a couple of years ago I took a mistress. Four mistresses, to be exact.

When the Lifesavers invited me to join them I was flattered and more than a little mystified—four of my favorite authors, inviting me to work with them! And when, almost a year ago, they suggested we should publish an anthology of novellas, I was excited and more than a little terrified. I wasn't certain I could do it. But I did! And here's proof:

Available now on Amazon: Once and Forever, by Mary Blayney, Elaine Fox, Emelle Gamble, Lavinia Kent, and Evie Owens.

One lucky commenter here will win a copy of the new anthology, because my mistresses are the best! And as a way of introducing them to you, I asked them three important and revealing questions!

1) Many writers have a soundtrack they listen to when they write, or songs that they associate with their stories. Name one song that's associated with your novella (or the writing of it) in the anthology.

Mary Blayney: I don’t listen to music when I am writing. The fewer distractions the better for me. But there is always a song I associate with a story. In Playing for Keeps it’s Holding Out for a Hero  by Bonnie Tyler. I first heard it in the movie Footloose and for certain stories of mine, Captain’s Mermaid, Lover's Kiss and If Wishers Were Horses: in the anthology Mirror Mirror, it’s in my head the whole time which is not quite as weird as it sounds. Good thing I love the song.

Elaine Fox: I used to write with music, and sometimes now I’ll turn something on (usually classical—nothing with words) to create a mood. But I always end up turning it off once I get going. Seems I need total silence for my words to start flowing—and to keep flowing. But if I were to have had a soundtrack for this novella I’m pretty sure it would have gone something like this.

Emelle Gamble: In my novella Duets Actress Molly Harper, after a terrible ambush by the paparazzi, hides out in her best friend’s truck by laying on the seat and covering her face. The radio is playing Moondance, her favorite song. But it’s not a marvelous night for anything. That Van Morrision classic is also one of my favorites. It’s all about the night, the ‘fantabulous’ night when everything is right. Duets, on the other hand, explores a whole lot of nights that are anything but perfect. As a writer, those are the nights that interest me, because I think those are the ones we all live through until, if we’re lucky, we get to the one where “…all the nights magic seems to whisper and hush—And all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush…”  I guess I’m just a bittersweet kind of girl, because for me, the bitter does make the sweet sweeter.

Lavinia Kent: I can’t. I am probably the world’s most unmusical person and don’t listen to music when I write. I find it very distracting. I do occasionally listen to the Benedictine monks’ CHANT, but I can’t say that it’s what inspires my hot and heavy romance. I really wanted to make something up because I’ve always longed for some musical understanding, but my mind faltered at even attempting such a task.  Now if we were to talk movies or other books...

Evie Owens: One of my favorite places to write is the local Panera's. I can't write in silence, all alone in my room. I can't listen to music with words. So at Panera's there's stuff going on around me but it isn't my stuff, so I don't have to pay attention to any of it. I can just get lost in my story. There is a song, though, that sort of set the mood for Erin and Martin—Bloodstream, by Stateless. You Vampire Diaries fans might remember this song from one memorable Damon-Katherine kiss on the old front porch...

2) Tell us about the romantic hero in your life.

Mary Blayney: The conventional and honest answer is that my husband Paul is the romantic hero in my life. The only one for more than forty years. He is calm to my storm, steadfast to my mercurial and sometimes as annoying as he is lovable. But if we put in "fictional" romantic hero, the list is a lot more fun. My favorite heroes are those who have honor at the core of their being. On that list: Aral Vorkosigan and his son, Miles from the series by Lois McMaster Bujold; Roarke (and Eve Dallas) from JD Robb’s In Death series; Martin, the Psychic Detective from Evie Owens novella of the same name;  and Michael Garrett from my own Lover's Kiss. The list goes on but I am sure I have already exceeded the word count.

Elaine Fox: Mmmmm, my romantic hero… Well, aside from being Argentinean with a lovely Spanish accent {{sigh}}, he’s kind and he’s handsome. He’s supportive and funny, intelligent and strong. He’s also a total pain in the butt when I’m not putting my writing first and he doesn’t let the distractions that lure me away pass without comment. (But that’s a good thing, right? No really—I’m asking.) He also puts up with my moods, my problems, and my dog, and he can make me laugh at even the most unexpected times, and that is a good thing. But there are many literary romantic heroes in my life, and the ones I turn to most frequently are Jane Austen’s. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Knightley top the list, but I’m also very fond of Edward Ferrars, Col. Brandon, and Captain Wentworth. Men with strength and spine, honesty, dignity and character. There is nothing more attractive to me than a guy you can depend on!

Emelle Gamble: I could write 500 words in my sleep about my real romantic hero, ‘Phil-the-fist’ who was a love at first sight love, and continues to be. He’s real, he’s wonderful, and he’s mine. But the ‘romantic hero in my life’ that keeps me awake is that guy in my head who populates my past and present storylines. I feel like I keep re-writing him, stalking him, trying to get him as real to me as ‘Phil-the-fist’. He’s complicated. He’s quiet and watchful and you can count on him. He’s sexy and elusive and I don’t know what he’s going to do next. He needs the love of a good woman to feel complete, not be complete. The search continues…

Lavinia Kent: My husband.  Yes, I know it’s the typical, expected answer (and he also serves as my proofreader, so I don’t dare say anything else), but if you could have seen him at the moment that I first read this question you’d realize it wasn’t quite so typical.  The poor man had a cold and not a pretty one, a red drippy one. And he is not a good patient. He would rather suffer (not quietly) than walk the fifty feet to get his cold meds. Which means that I run back and forth on little errands, patting his head, making his tea and honey, telling him I am very sorry that he feels this way.  But the thing of it is, even as his nose drips and clogs at the same time he makes my heart go pitter-pat. And that is the core of romance to me. (And I should add, the fact that he’d do the same for me, is six-foot three with fabulous hazel eyes, fixes my grammar and let’s me write about him certainly doesn’t hurt.)

Evie Owens: Being single, this just seems cruel and I blame Mackenzie Lucas, because she insisted it was an important question. But if I reframe it to include fictional heroes, then I've got just two words for you: Lloyd Dobler.

And the last, but possibly the most important question of them all:

3) Robert Downey, Jr., Benedict Cumberbatch, or Jonny Lee Miller. 

Mary Blayney: Jonny Lee Miller is my favorite Sherlock Holmes. I suspect that’s because I “know” his Sherlock better than I know the others. Cumberbatch is great onscreen or TV, but I cannot stand the way he portrays Holmes, or maybe it’s the way Holmes is written in that series. Robert Downey, Jr is an actor I will watch in almost anything but I find his Holmes more irritating than sympathetic. Building sympathy (empathy?) for the character is the key in my “affection” for Holmes by Miller. Is that too intellectual? To reduce it to a more basic level: for hotness it would have to be Robert Downey Jr. 

Elaine Fox: Sherlock-wise, absolutely Benedict Cumberbatch. He’s smart, weird, intense and, IMO, very very funny. 

Emelle Gamble: Really? I’m not choosing any man who has slept with Angelina Jolie. I mean, come on. So Jonny Lee Miller, her first husband, does not make my list. Cumberbatch? Yes, love love love me some modern Sherlock, but I’m not sleeping with the dude. Have you seen his apartment? Which leaves, of course, the right answer. HA! Robert Downey Jr….bad, a little mad, and dangerous to know. Take a deep breath and lose yourself in those all-wondering and devouring eyes. I’m betting the trip would be bumpy, but worth it.

Lavinia Kent: When I first got this question it didn’t specify that the question was best Sherlock—and I didn’t quite put it all together.  My answer was a little different then—and you’ll just have to guess about that answer. [Note from Evie: Or ask her in the comments!] I did enjoy the first Robert Downey, Jr. movie.  I thought it was great fun and I LOVE Steampunk.  And if the question was, “Who’s the best shirtless Sherlock?” then Jonny Lee Miller would win in less time than it takes to blink. But for best Sherlock, I can only go with Cumberbatch. The oddness of his character rings so true to me. I find myself believing that his mind could actually work that way. And I love that I can forget that his Sherlock is set in the modern day and that, even wielding cell phones and computers, he still has the Victorian edge of the original. I love them all, but if I can only have one, Cumberbatch is my only choice.  No question.

Evie Owens: Benedict Cumberbatch. Of course.

Comment to win Once and Forever.

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