Ah, it's sad to see that our time together is coming to an end, and that for now, we must say good-bye to Colleen/Joss. I want to thank her for her fun interview - I had a blast putting it together. However I hope you'll stick around for the contest, and that you enjoy her books even half as much as I do :)
S~ You're one of those authors who can write the male POV very well, where > it doesn't sound like a woman's words coming out of a man's mouth. Is this something you have to always be conscious about or does it come rather naturally while you write?
C/J: I think it must come naturally when I write, because I don’t really think about it. (Thank you, by the way.)
I’m guessing it comes from hanging around a lot of guys all my life—and having a husband who is very male in his speech/thought. What I mean by this is, he doesn’t sort of try to couch his words or make them softer when he’s talking to me—he just says things like he would say them to his friends. (As you can imagine…that doesn’t always go over well. LOL.)
C/J: I think it must come naturally when I write, because I don’t really think about it. (Thank you, by the way.)
I’m guessing it comes from hanging around a lot of guys all my life—and having a husband who is very male in his speech/thought. What I mean by this is, he doesn’t sort of try to couch his words or make them softer when he’s talking to me—he just says things like he would say them to his friends. (As you can imagine…that doesn’t always go over well. LOL.)
We’re very open with each other about a lot of things—so I think I get a good sense of how the male mind works (at least, his), and not only does he tell me all about conversations with his friends (pleasant or other
wise), I also notice how they talk when they are together. Plus, my husband (fondly known as Music Man to those who follow me on Facebook), he and I talk a lot about the male perspective.
S~ Okay, 'fess up: what do you find sexy in a man? Who are some of the actors/musicians out there that you find sexy?
C/J: Oooh! Oooh! Love this question. I’m a chest/shoulders girl: love a good, solid male chest with just the right amount of muscle/hair. I like dark men, too.
Oh, you mean things like…personality? Heh.
I like a smart guy who listens to me and respects me—which is a theme you will see in all my books. No matter who the guy or the heroine is, he has to respect her and accept her strengths for what they are.
As for actors/musicians who do it for me? Top on the list right now is Robert Downey, Jr. I just love him for a variety of reasons—partly because he’s not a pretty-boy. I don’t really like pretty boys; I like guys that have a rugged or lived-in look—that look like they’ve lived. His face is so expressive, too.
I also love Matt Damon and Johnny Depp and will always love Sting too.
S~ What about women? Which women in the public eye do you think exemplify sexiness and why?
C/J: I have a huge girl-crush on Angelina Jolie, and since Sherlock Holmes, I’ve really liked Rachel McAdams. I also like Scarlett Johanssen and Kate Winslett.
S~ At what age would you let your kids read your books?
C/J: I’ve told my 13 year old daughter that she can read the Gardellas or the Envy books…but I’m not necessarily encouraging her to do so. I know what I was reading when I was her age—and look how I turned out! ;-) It’s not the worry of her reading the books and their content as much as whether it would squick her out reading sex scenes written by her mother! LOL.
S ~ Is there any writing trend out there that you wish would die a slow, painful yet final death?
C/J: Hmmm. Yes…the taking of classic works and adding a small percentage of words to make them paranormals.
S ~ Does it ever seem strange to have such a connection with fans? Does the "fame" of being a writer ever seem surreal or have you come to terms with all the attention?
C/J: I love interacting with fans, and it doesn’t really feel weird as most of it is via Facebook or the web. I think if I were someone like JR Ward or Charlaine Harris, who drew hundreds to an event, that it would be surreal. For me, it’s still manageable and very enjoyable.
S ~ I see that Colleen Gleason has a new historical vampire series set for 2011. Can you tell us a little more about that?
C/J: Yes, I do. There will be three books coming from MIRA in April, May, and June of 2011. These are historical vampires in Regency England, but they are not part of the Gardella world. In fact, I’ve sort of been describing the series as JR Ward’s BDB meets Jane Austen’s world of propriety.
But they are dark and sexy and I am really loving writing them!
S ~ What has been the most exciting thing that has happened to you since becoming a published writer?
C/J: Being able to take naps and call it working. Oh, seriously? Seeing my books in print and calling myself a novelist without flinching. It’s the best job in the world, and I feel so very fortunate to be able to make a living doing it.
S ~ You've really written about some amazing guys in your books. Which hero has just really broken your heart?
C/J: I think Simon in Embrace the Night Eternal, so far, is the one who’s broken my heart. But it’s repaired now that he’s found true love. But I’m working on some others who are bound to have their own angst.
S ~ What characteristic about a book makes it memorable for you?
C/J: Typing THE END. (just kidding)
I think it’s the specific dynamic between the hero and heroine—what finally “gels” between them, puts them in an equal, loving relationship.
S ~ Any future pen names in the future or are you satisfied with the ones you have now?
C/J: I think the ones I have are good. ;-)
S ~ Any upcoming news you want to share with us before you go?
C/J: Hmmm…nothing that I haven’t already said! Thank you so much for having me here!!
S ~ Thank you Colleen/Joss for taking the time to answer my questions. It's been a real pleasure :)
wise), I also notice how they talk when they are together. Plus, my husband (fondly known as Music Man to those who follow me on Facebook), he and I talk a lot about the male perspective.S~ Okay, 'fess up: what do you find sexy in a man? Who are some of the actors/musicians out there that you find sexy?
C/J: Oooh! Oooh! Love this question. I’m a chest/shoulders girl: love a good, solid male chest with just the right amount of muscle/hair. I like dark men, too.
Oh, you mean things like…personality? Heh.
I like a smart guy who listens to me and respects me—which is a theme you will see in all my books. No matter who the guy or the heroine is, he has to respect her and accept her strengths for what they are.
As for actors/musicians who do it for me? Top on the list right now is Robert Downey, Jr. I just love him for a variety of reasons—partly because he’s not a pretty-boy. I don’t really like pretty boys; I like guys that have a rugged or lived-in look—that look like they’ve lived. His face is so expressive, too.
I also love Matt Damon and Johnny Depp and will always love Sting too.
S~ What about women? Which women in the public eye do you think exemplify sexiness and why?
C/J: I have a huge girl-crush on Angelina Jolie, and since Sherlock Holmes, I’ve really liked Rachel McAdams. I also like Scarlett Johanssen and Kate Winslett.
S~ At what age would you let your kids read your books?
C/J: I’ve told my 13 year old daughter that she can read the Gardellas or the Envy books…but I’m not necessarily encouraging her to do so. I know what I was reading when I was her age—and look how I turned out! ;-) It’s not the worry of her reading the books and their content as much as whether it would squick her out reading sex scenes written by her mother! LOL.
S ~ Is there any writing trend out there that you wish would die a slow, painful yet final death?
C/J: Hmmm. Yes…the taking of classic works and adding a small percentage of words to make them paranormals.
S ~ Does it ever seem strange to have such a connection with fans? Does the "fame" of being a writer ever seem surreal or have you come to terms with all the attention?
C/J: I love interacting with fans, and it doesn’t really feel weird as most of it is via Facebook or the web. I think if I were someone like JR Ward or Charlaine Harris, who drew hundreds to an event, that it would be surreal. For me, it’s still manageable and very enjoyable.
S ~ I see that Colleen Gleason has a new historical vampire series set for 2011. Can you tell us a little more about that?
C/J: Yes, I do. There will be three books coming from MIRA in April, May, and June of 2011. These are historical vampires in Regency England, but they are not part of the Gardella world. In fact, I’ve sort of been describing the series as JR Ward’s BDB meets Jane Austen’s world of propriety.
But they are dark and sexy and I am really loving writing them!
S ~ What has been the most exciting thing that has happened to you since becoming a published writer?
C/J: Being able to take naps and call it working. Oh, seriously? Seeing my books in print and calling myself a novelist without flinching. It’s the best job in the world, and I feel so very fortunate to be able to make a living doing it.
S ~ You've really written about some amazing guys in your books. Which hero has just really broken your heart?
C/J: I think Simon in Embrace the Night Eternal, so far, is the one who’s broken my heart. But it’s repaired now that he’s found true love. But I’m working on some others who are bound to have their own angst.
S ~ What characteristic about a book makes it memorable for you?
C/J: Typing THE END. (just kidding)
I think it’s the specific dynamic between the hero and heroine—what finally “gels” between them, puts them in an equal, loving relationship.
S ~ Any future pen names in the future or are you satisfied with the ones you have now?
C/J: I think the ones I have are good. ;-)
S ~ Any upcoming news you want to share with us before you go?
C/J: Hmmm…nothing that I haven’t already said! Thank you so much for having me here!!
S ~ Thank you Colleen/Joss for taking the time to answer my questions. It's been a real pleasure :)
****
I hope you enjoyed "chatting" with Joss as much as I did, and that it's whetted your appetite to read her books...if you haven't already done so, that is. Stay tuned later this afternoon for a chance to win Beyond the Night, Embrace the Night Eternal, and Abandon the Night. I've read all 3, and can't wait for more.
Labels: author interviews, Colleen Gleason, Joss Ware
posted by Stacy~ at 6/11/2010 07:03:00 AM
They do sound good :)
byLol, I liked that napping thing hehe
Great interviews!
bythanks for the great interview! Can't wait to read her books. See everyone in the underground.
byThanks that was fun! And there is something completely sexy about Robert Downey Jr. Indeed!
byIt is sad to say goodbye to Jossleen...LOL!!! I laugh every time I write that. It's her fault for putting it in my head.
byLove her books. She writes really great characters, and I can't wait to get into the new set of vamps. She seems to be enjoying wrestling and throwing rubies at them, so methinks these books will be fun reads.
I completely agree with the taking of classics and changing them up. I really HATE that.
Stacy, you don't have to enter me in the contest okay. I already have all these books. You know, I really thought she would have chosen Quent as her fave hero, but alas, not every one can love MY Quentin. He is my favorite...could you tell? LOL!!!
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Great interviews! Excited to get more books from the Envy series. The new series for next year sounds really great too.
byThat was a terrific interview. Definitely one of the best interviews I've read in a while. Of course, I'm a huge fan of all the books Joss/Colleen has written, so of course I like it. :)
byThanks for the great 3-part interview! As you both know, I'm a huge fan of the Envy series too and have done what I can to pimp this fascinating post-apocalyptic world that Joss has created.
by