About The Author:The progeny of a slightly mad (NASA) scientist and a tea-drinking bibliophile who turned the family dining room into a library, Theresa Meyers learned early the value of a questioning mind, books and a good china teapot.
A former journalist and public relations officer, she found far more enjoyment using her writing skills to pen paranormal novels in the turret office of her Victorian home.
She’s spent nearly a quarter of a century with the boy who took her to the Prom, drinks tea with milk and sugar, is an adamant fan of the television show Supernatural, and has an indecent love of hats.
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Welcome Theresa! I had some burning questions I wanted to ask the author about her THE LEGEND CHRONICLES series, and all of you readers get to see what she replied.
Please tell my readers a little more about the The Legend Chronicles and the brothers Jackson.
The Legend Chronicles was originally envisioned as a series of steampunk stories all set in the wild weird west. Three brothers, all named after their father's favorite guns, Winchester, Remington and Colt, have been raised in this kind of secret society known as the Legion of Hunters. These Hunters are responsible for protecting humanity against the paranormal creatures in our world collectively known as Darkin (things like demons, vampires, ghosts, shape-shifters, werewolves, etc.) There's a prophecy that three brothers will unite something called the Book of Legend (a kind of compendium of all Hunter knowledge on how to kill different Darkin) which when bound together will help seal the Gates of Nyx to permanently shut out the dark forces from our world (please note that I came up with that whole thing two seasons before it showed up on Supernatural and that the idea for my heroes was spawned in the mid 90s and sat on my hard drive of my computer for years waiting until paranormals were selling again - so while this series seems like Supernatural crossed with Wild Wild West, I had the stories in my head and down in my computer before the series was a glimmer in the producer's eye).
Winchester is the eldest brother and is a law man, trying to get away from the Hunter life and be normal. Colt is the baby of the family and is out to prove he's just as big and bad a Hunter as his outlaw father was. And Remington, well, Remy is a bit of a contradiction. First off he's an attorney who's also a Hunter. He likes to be seen as respectable and he's well-educated, but he's not above twisting the rules to suit him if the need arises. All together each of these brothers must search for a missing section of the Book of Legend using a Darkin to assist them--and of course, it was only fair I make each Darkin as attractive an irresistible as possible to keep things distracting and interesting for my Jackson brothers! So there you have it. The series is a blend of steampunk, action-adventure and paranormal romance.
Which book (or brother) was the most challenging to write? Most enjoyable?
Ah, that's two different questions! This current book, The Chosen, was certainly the most difficult to write, not just because I had to write it back-to-back with three other deadlines for different publishers, but because the series was designed to have a continuing timeline. All the books are happening at once, which means in the third book I had to know EVERYTHING that was happening in the previous two books and all the secondary characters' movements off-stage and keep it all in my head while I was writing. I also had to write a scene or two for the THIRD time from a different point of view. As any writer can tell you, it's hard enough finding the right point of view for a scene, knowing which character has the most at stake. But to take that same scene, rip it apart, and re-stitch it together while being unable to modify any of the dialog or the physical movements or expressions of the characters, is really tough! It requires you to get into the head of the other brothers in the scene and really know them well enough to know what that smirk or raising of the eyebrows meant.
Now to answer your second question, the most enjoyable book to write was The Hunter because it was the first, naturally, so there were no world constraints. I could create anything! In addition it was fun because I really like Colt's mechanical horse Tempus and the idea of having a succubus for a heroine and a womanizer for a hero who have to resist one another was a lot of fun to write.
What was your first encounter with steampunk, and what hooked you on the sub-culture?
I've always been a lover of Victoriana, even as a child. When other kids asked for calendars of puppies or kittens, I asked for one of Victorian house plans (which I still have! *blush*). I was just fascinated by the era and most of the formals I sewed for dances in high school had Victorian styling to them with bustles or big mutton-chop styled sleeves (a la Gibson girl). And when I started writing fiction, I was writing historical romances set in the Victorian era. So when I went to my first "steampunk" event at Steampunk University (a weekend event put on in Seattle by the local steampunk group every year) I was stunned to find people who loved all the things I had loved for years! I was rather hooked on the sub-culture before I even knew what it was so the process of discovering it was kind of like coming home.
The Legend Chronicles is mostly adventure and romance with some steampunk elements. How easy or hard was it to combine these?
Actually it was easier than you'd think, at least for me, because I started out writing historical romances. Since steampunk is essentially a historical romance but with some reimagining of the era using fantastical inventions and science, it wasn't that hard. As for the adventure? That's always something I try to weave into my stories. It makes them more entertaining and fast-paced to read and to write!
What conventions or book events can a fangirl (or boy) find Theresa Meyers attending in 2013?
I'll be attending the RT Booklover's Convention in Kansas City, May 1-5 as well as the Authors After Dark Readers Convention in Savannah, GA August 15-18 as well as the book booksigning event at Emerald City Writers Conference in Seattle, Oct. 18-20. Readers can always find out updates of where I'll be by checking either my website: http://www.theresameyers.com, twitterfeed: http://www.twitter.com/Theresa_Meyers or author facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/TheresaMeyersAuthor
Theresa Meyers
http://www.theresameyers.com
Steampunk Wild West Style, The Chosen, out now from Kensington Publishing Zebra
Small town contemporary romance, The Baby Mistake, coming soon from Entangled
The O'Connell sisters return, Shadow Hunter, coming soon from Entangled Publishing
Thank you so much, Theresa!
Check out this excerpt provided by the author and Bewitching Book Tours
***
“So how are you planning on getting me out of here? They’ve got a price on my head. And you ain’t a judge and now you’re stuck here in the pokey same as me.”
Remington Jackson’s eyes sparkled with a mix of mischief and determination. “You didn’t think I’d walk in here without an alternative exit plan, did you?” he pulled the right side of his jacket back to reveal not just a holstered revolver and gun belt filled with silvery bullets, but also a couple of glass vials of clear liquid topped with cork stoppers.
China snorted. “It’s gonna take a lot more than that little bit of water if you want to get through those adobe walls.”
He gave her an arch look. “It would, if it were water.” He picked up one vial, and glanced at her. “But considering it’s nitro glycerin, I’m assuming it’ll be much more effective. Toss that mattress up on its side and hunker down behind it for cover.” She didn’t question, just did as he said.
Remington crouched down behind the mattress with her in the corner of the cell, their backs to the bars as he threw the glass vial as hard as he could at the outer adobe wall, then ducked.
The explosion rocked the jail, sending down a shower of dust and chunks of brick. Miss McGee coughed, then frowned. “Blowing up the jail? That’s your solution?”
He shrugged. He really didn’t care what she thought of his methods. “It works.” His life wasn’t a black or white proposition. It was more like a smorgasbord. He took what he needed, when he needed it, to get the job done. Being a Hunter, even part time, meant he didn’t always have the luxury of doing things by the book.
Judging by the narrow-eyed look and pinched mouth on Miss McGee’s pretty face, he’d been right to bring the iron bracelet along as a precaution. Colt said she could change into many things, including a mountain lion, and he had no plans of getting shredded to pieces on the way back to Tombstone. Remington didn’t waste any time. He hustled Miss McGee out of the jail as quickly as possible, helping her cross the rubble, aware that the sheriff and half the town would likely be on their heels at any moment.
They dashed around the outer edge of the jail, and waited for everyone to disappear inside. He grabbed hold of her hand. “Let’s go.”
He rushed to his horse, who was spooked by the explosion, and pulled the reigns from the hitching post.
China’s mouth dropped open. “How are we gonna get out of here quick on that? Don’t you have a mechanical horse like Colt?”
“No. Hate the damn thing. Now are you coming or not?”
China snapped her mouth closed and nodded. Remington mounted in one smooth swift motion, then hauled the Darkin up to sit in front of him. Well, really, given the confines of the saddle she sat more in his lap than in front of him. She was far softer than he’d anticipated. Somehow Miss McGee’s prickly exterior didn’t change how very feminine she felt. “Hold on to the pommel.” She gripped it hard and he grasped the reins in each hand.
“Is this really necessary?” she growled as he kicked the horse into motion.
“Until I have clear access to Diego Mendoza’s information, absolutely.” That was a half truth. He could have just taken whatever she’d gotten from the safety deposit box and left her there, but his gut had told him that wasn’t the safest path. And if there was one thing Remington did, it was always listen to his gut. Besides everything Colt had him meticulously research indicated a Darkin was needed to access the hiding place of the missing pieces of the Book. No, he didn’t intend on letting Miss McGee out of his sights any time soon.
He wheeled the horse around and sped up the hill, making quick tracks out of Bisbee before anyone figured out what had happened and where they’d gone. He didn’t stop or slow until Bisbee was out of sight over the rim of the hills.
“I can just give you the page. That’s all there was. No map. Not a decent one anyway. Just a bunch of squiggly lines. No place names. No directions.” With her right hand she reached beneath the edge of her leather jacket and pulled a folded page of yellowed paper from the breast pocket of her faded pale blue chambray shirt. “Here. Take it. Then you can just drop me off at the next town. Deal?”
Remington smiled. She was just as anxious to get away from him as she was to get back at Colt. He could tell by the nervous way she fidgeted. “No deal. How do I know that paper will lead me anywhere?”
She shrugged, the movement causing her back and the curve of her shoulders to rub up against his chest. Remington grit his teeth. He was a Hunter, not a monk, after all. And despite the taint of being Darkin, she was a beautiful creature.
“You don’t. But I don’t have anything else, so it doesn’t matter.”
“Oh, I think you have a bit more than that. You were working with Colt to help find the lost piece of the Book Diego knew about, weren’t you?”
She heaved a sigh. “I don’t know anything.”
“That’s not what Colt said.”
A fine tremor worked its way through her body. Remington wasn’t sure if it was anger or desire. There was an exceedingly fine dividing line between hate and love and it didn’t take a whole hell of a lot to push some folks from one to the other.
“Colt knows everything I do.”
“Yes, but he’s bent on finding Cadel’s piece of the Book my father hid. That means I’m collecting you so you can help him find the piece Diego is rumored to have uncovered.”
She twisted in his lap. The leather stretched across her finely curved ass was not nearly enough of a barrier between them. Remington grunted. China gazed up at him. “You’re trying to put the Book of Legend back together, aren’t you?”
They started down the rugged hills surrounding Bisbee and Remington weighed the option of telling her the truth vs. telling her only what he wanted her to know. His gut told him to trust her when every bit of Hunter training told him he was a fool to do so.
“Yes.”
Something changed in her eyes. A flash of silver, like lightning streaking across a stormy, cloud-covered sky. It was a breath-taking sight. “I’ll help you on one condition.”
Remington was tempted to tell her she wasn’t exactly in a position to bargain, but his curiosity got the better of him. In the courts sometimes what people told you when trying bargain, revealed far more about their intentions than they realized. “And what’s that?”
“If you do find all the pieces, I want to be there when you put it together.”
Remington frowned. “Why?”
“’Cause if what the Darkin legends say is true, it’s gonna be one hell of a show.”
In Remington’s opinion deals were made to be remade. He didn’t see the harm in agreeing to it if it could get the information Colt needed out of her. “Sounds like you have a personal stake in the matter. Is that true, Miss McGee?”
She shifted uneasily. “You’ve got your secrets, Hunter. I’ve got mine. Do we have a deal, or don’t we?”
***
Attorney by day, demon-hunter by night, Remington Jackson is used to being on the sunny side of the law, even in the Wild West. But it’s showdown time, and Remy and his brothers are getting desperate. They don’t have the relic they need to slam the door shut on evil—so Remy is going to have to find and steal part of it.
Enter China McGee, shapeshifter, thief, beauty, and current prisoner. When Remy offers her freedom in exchange for a little light-fingered help, she’s pretty sure she’s going to end the association with a good old-fashioned seductive double cross. But there’s something about fighting through a jungle full of Mayan ruins that makes you want to settle down together. China could change. Remy might be special. But none of that matters if the devil takes them all...
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The fun's not over yet! Thanks to Theresa Meyers, there is also a tour-wide giveaway taking place. See what the prizes are, then enter via the rafflecopter below.
Good Luck!
Tour Wide Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card
2 signed sets of The Legend Chronicles (3 books each to 2 winners) US Shipping
10 Signed copies of The Chosen (US Shipping)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This looks like a fun read! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
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