I met the amazing Kresley Cole at a writers’ conference many years ago. I’d just read her very first book, The Captain of All Pleasures—and by “read” I mean “devoured”—and approached her with drool on my mouth to tell her so. Tall, blond and gorgeous—and witty and talented and brilliant—this girl charmed me completely. Somehow, some way, she liked me, too. (Sucker!)
Now she can’t get rid of me. She’s one of my dearest friends, a sister of my heart and a bright star in the romantic fiction world. Recently, we sat down together and chatted about the Lords of the Underworld (among other things). We hope you enjoy the results!
Kresley Cole (KC): When I was younger, I would do anything to get out of writing—did you always like it, knowing you’d want to be an author when you grew up?
Gena Showalter (GS): Yes and no. (I know, right? Of course I’d kick things off with a non-answer. Oh, stop shaking your head, Cole. This is typical Gena, and you know it!) I wrote in junior high and high school, but only for myself. And the friends who paid me. Publication wasn’t even a blip on my radar.
So, in college, I dabbled with nursing, phlebotomy and microbiology, but never ended up finishing. Like, any of them. After a heart-to-heart with myself—and by “heart-to-heart” I mean slapping myself repeatedly and telling myself to finally get in the game—I realized that writing was what I loved, and the only thing I could see myself doing for the rest of my life.
I decided to go for it, to finally try for publication, no matter how long it took me. Which, as it turned out, was about five painful years.
KC: I’m delighted phlebotomy—a word which I totally and completely know the definition of—lost out to your career in writing. [furtively searching Google for “phlebotomy” on cell phone] So what made you decide on the paranormal romance genre? For me, I moved from historicals to paranormals because I couldn’t get Lore creatures out of my head. Did character possession affect your decision, or was it something else?
GS: Oh, yes. Phlebotomy. PB, as I called it. When my family would give me strange looks, I would then add: Pulling Blood. Out of people. With needles. I’ll stop there. You look pale.
Moving on to PR. I picked paranormal romance—after first trying to write a historical, a couple contemporaries and several series romances—because anything I could imagine, I could write about, and the only limitation was my mind. And yes, I hate my mind for not coming up with the Immortals After Dark first. Damn you, Kresley Cole, you brilliant goddess you! But I do love my mind for envisioning the oh, so seductive Lords of the Underworld. I don’t know if they possessed me so much as completely seduced me. The way they tell it, I’m easy.
Anyway. Having all of that beefcake inside my head is pretty delicious some days. Although, to be honest, most of the time they are unbelievably stubborn. And opinionated. And bloodthirsty. (Maybe they were once phlebotomists?)
KC: Brilliant goddess? [Fluffing hair] You shouldn’t! But it is a perfect segue into our next question: Everybody knows I’m your all-time, one-hundred percent favorite author—and the feeling is mutual in a big, adoring way—but were there any particular writers who influenced your craft or your desire to become a writer?
GS: I love that you love me. Though I love you more. (And do not argue about it. You know it’s my turn to win.)
Johanna Lindsey was the first romance author I ever read. I stole Silver Angel right out of my grandmother’s house and I’m still not sorry! And then, when I read Warrior’s Woman, also by Lindsey…I fell deeply in love with her strong alpha men and realized I wanted to create men like that. Larger than life, willing to die for their woman, and well, so in love that no other female but the heroine would ever be able to turn them on again.
You know, like our husbands.
KC: Give us an inside peek into a day in the fabulous life of Gena Showalter. Do you write every day? If so, for how long? Does your editor know you spend a great deal of your time entertaining me? If not, how can we make sure that stays secret?
GS: You know that’s going to appear on the cover of one of my books, right? “Gena Showalter is fabulous!”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole.
Anyway. My writing life. I wake up, mainline coffee and get to work. And as you know, by “get to work” I mean e-mail you a thousand times, maybe call you, chat your ear off—entertaining you, as you said, and not pestering you—and then finally opening my work in progress (the WIP, as writers call it. And it does—whip me). Believe me, the secret of my pester…uh, entertaining will remain just that, as I want to continue doing so. Forever.
While crafting a rough draft, I work until I finish a chapter. That could take me two hours or twelve. While editing a finished draft, I tend to work from sunrise to sunset. OCD…sadly, I am her bitch. I can think of nothing else until the story is done. Except for you, of course. And my entertaining.
KC: Word on the street is you sold your soul to write these scintillating tales. Tell us this isn’t so (since it has already been promised—to me).
GS: No truth to the rumors, I swear! Our pact is still applicable. So I’ll expect you to give me that—oops. Almost let the terms of our agreement slip. My bad.
Anyway. The rumor about me being an alien with five arms is actually true. Right now, all at the same time, I’m answering these questions, drinking coffee, fixing my hair, painting my toenails and drawing pictures to send you. You know, to entertain you. Yes, I am never going to let you forget that you said I “entertain” you.
KC: The Lords of the Underworld are all exceedingly sexy and heart-throbbingly male. Was it your plan to give readers testosterone intoxication by creating, oh, I dunno, TWELVE of them? How did you decide on a dozen main Lords characters (as opposed to, say, five or seven or eighteen)? And how did you make it so that all the warriors have distinct personalities? It must be tough to keep the Lords (not to mention their significant others and the assorted menagerie of friends/relatives/demon companions they collect along the way) straight in your mind as you write….
GS: First, thank you! I’ll be smiling for the rest of the day. Three new cover quotes, right there. “Sexy.” “Heart-throbbingly male.” And “Intoxication.”
As for the Lords, I never planned to write about twelve demon-possessed warriors. Believe me, I didn’t need all that naughtiness in my head. On top of what was already there, that is. At first, I thought three, maybe four. Tops. But as I wrote The Darkest Night, those twelve warriors stood up and said hello in my brain—if only you could have heard how husky and seductive those voices were. I just couldn’t say no. Thank God!
And then their friends started to arrive. Irreverent baggage (you know I’m talking about you, William!). I couldn’t say no to them, either.
Shockingly enough, it’s not hard to keep the growing cast straight. To me, it’s like standing in the middle of a room filled with my family. I know them. They look different, act different and even smell different. And sometimes I want to shake them. Some harder than others. (Yes, William. I’m talking about you again.)
KC: So, just between us and a few mil of our closest friends, do you have a favorite Lord? (I’ve narrowed my fave down—it’s a tie between Torin and eleven others.) If you had to choose one of them to come to life and point at you and say “MY WOMAN!” who would it be?
GS: I shouldn’t admit this, but my favorite warrior is not actually a Lord of the Underworld. I am head over heels for William. Yes, that irreverent baggage! I adore his sense of humor—oh, that wicked tongue! And his cockiness. And his uninhibited nature. And even his temper. To me, there’s just something so thrilling about taming a womanizer and becoming the one female in the world he can’t live without. And of course, the only woman who turns him on anymore.
My favorite Lord, though, is Strider. The moment he took pictures with his camera phone of a naked Lucien chained to a bed, then e-mailed those pictures to all his friends, I knew he was the one for me. Someday, some heroine is going to have to pry him out of my kung fu grip.
KC: Do your readers seem to have one clear favorite, judging from reader mail you get? Do you have a least favorite Lord, or one who’s been tougher for you to write than others?
GS: The reader favorite is, without a doubt, Paris. I get more e-mail about him than any other Lord. And I want to tell his story, I do, but of all the Lords, he truly has proven to be the most stubborn. Finally, though, I know where I want to go with him. It’s just going to take some time to get him there. (Please don’t hurt me.)
The second most requested Lord is Torin. And I have a very special lady in mind for him….
KC: Hurt you? Why would we ever? It’s not as if you had Paris make a heartbreaking sacrifice that got readers a-salivating for his story, yet now you’re holding him just out of our reach. Oh, wait…[pummeling Gena] Next topic! So, I think it’s got to be one of the best feelings in the world when a plot twist pops up and takes me by surprise as I’m writing it—something I didn’t see coming, but that ultimately was perfect for my story. Tell me about any surprises you’ve had in the LOTU series.
GS: I have been shocked many times in this series! With The Darkest Night, I didn’t know that the Greek gods had been overtaken by the Titans until Aeron made his announcement. And I had no idea Danika was the All-Seeing Eye when I made her a painter.
In The Darkest Whisper, I didn’t know Galen was Gwen’s father until she saw that painting of him. You’d think that would drive me mad, not knowing where a story is going while I’m writing it, but I like finding out the truth at the same time the reader does.
In fact, sometimes I’ll be writing a scene and wonder why I’m being led in a certain direction. I’ve learned not to question it, though. The answers always fall into place later.
And as for upcoming plot twists, there are many in The Darkest Passion and The Darkest Lie. To be honest, I have never been so shocked by the direction of my stories. What Aeron does, what he gives up…wow, just wow. And what Gideon learns…
KC: You have to tell me!
GS: Well, lean over here and I’ll tell you off the record.
[Whispering. Nodding. Gasps.]
KC: Wow. Okay. So let’s move on before I spill. Personal dish question here. When I’m writing love scenes, sometimes I look over my shoulder and laugh nervously because I can’t believe I’m “going there” in certain situations. [cough cough] Icicle [cough cough]. Do you ever do that? Have you ever had to cut or tone down a love scene? If so, will those scenes ever see the light of day?
GS: First, I need to fan myself. That icicle scene in question…genius! And oh, my God was it hot. (Gena just made a funny. Icicle = hot.)
The only love scene that’s ever made me blush while writing is between Aeron and his Olivia in the upcoming The Darkest Passion. She’s a fallen angel, has never known passion before now, and oh, does he show her. Very…enthusiastically. Gymnastics might be involved. Maybe even wings acrobatics. At this point, the details are hazy. I start to sweat every time I think about it, and have to change the subject in my mind.
But I’d like to take this moment to say, “I’m sorry, Mom. Won’t happen again.” Maybe.
I have had to tone down a love scene, but that scene was in my Atlantis novel The Nymph King, and I have since lost the version that was cut. Otherwise, I just might post it! And apologize to my mom again.
KC: Let’s talk about the heroines in the LOTU series for a minute. You always find the perfect woman for each hero—your heroes have been paired with everyone from human females with paranormal powers to ancient goddesses to timid Harpies. How do you figure out what type of heroine each Lord should end up with?
GS: With Gwen in The Darkest Whisper, it was easy. I dreamed of her, and knew she belonged with a Lord of the Underworld. But she did not like the ones I introduced her to—the ones I needed to be writing about. Like, say, Paris. Then Sabin walked through the door. I had no intention of writing about him. Not for a while, at least. But…Mine, Gwen instantly said, and it was either write his story or let her ravage my brain. After much thought, I wrote his story. Much thought = two seconds.
As for the others, wild Anya was so different from by-the-book Lucien that I knew they were the perfect balance for each other in The Darkest Kiss. Maddox was so consumed by his violent urges, I knew he needed someone gentle in The Darkest Night.
Reyes, so far, has been the most difficult to pair. Even in my mind, while writing The Darkest Pleasure, he was so against tainting Danika with his darkness that he resisted the match. At one point, I thought I would have to pick someone else for him, but oh, did he throw a fit then. After that, he relented, willing to try anything to keep her.
In terms of the other Lords, I just don’t know who they’ll end up with. I never know until the sparks start flying.
Oh, wait. I lied. I know who Aeron and Gideon end up with, of course.
Aeron meets his match in Olivia, an angel who tempts like the devil. (You thought I was going to say makes love like the devil, didn’t you? Well, gold star for you, because that’s what I was really saying!)
And in The Darkest Lie, Gideon meets Scarlet, the keeper of the demon of Nightmares, and a woman who claims to be his wife. Just thinking about Scarlet, I’m grinning. I love that girl. She knows he’s telling lies, but purposefully takes everything he says at face value. Talk about tormenting him! But then, he needed someone to shake up his world.
KC: On the subject of heroines… Of all the ones in my own series, I probably identify most with Mariketa the Awaited, though people who know me say I’m spacey like Nucking Futs Nïx (and I don’t know how I feel about that). Is there one particular heroine so far in the LOTU series that you identify with more than the rest? What about a heroine who was tougher for you to write?
GS: I know what you mean about not knowing how to take things. I identify most with Anya—and readers either love her or hate her. But I identify with her, not because I enjoy chaos or world travel in the blink of an eye—I like calm and as a borderline recluse, I like being home—but because of that smart mouth. Sometimes I can’t believe the things I say. (Why are you nodding, Kresley?) I have no filter, no line I refuse to cross. (Stop nodding, Kresley!)
The heroine who might more closely resemble my own personality, though, is probably Scarlet from The Darkest Lie. She’s sarcastic (check), faux vengeful (check) and surprisingly vulnerable (check). It’ll be interesting—and frightening?—to hear what readers think of her.
The most difficult heroine to write about was, of course, Danika. She underwent such a vast change—from terrified hostage to bait to woman in love to relic of the gods—that I sometimes floundered with what to do with her.
KC: But happily for us, you worked it out with her. Good Gena! Speaking of Danika, I love your character names. Ashlyn, Danika, Anya… How do you come up with them? Is there a name—or a character—from someone else’s book or series [exaggerated stage wink] that you wish you’d come up with yourself first?
GS: The characters either tell me their names before I start writing the book or I scour baby books until I hear a “That’s me!” inside my head. (A fact that horrifies my mother. She tells me I should never admit 1. to having people in my head, and 2. that those people actually talk to me.) All of the ladies mentioned named themselves.
As for a name I wish I’d come up with myself—Mariketa, your heroine from Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night. I freaking love that name. But then, I also wish I was dating Bowen MacRieve, Mariketa’s man. Well, and also dating Lachlan from A Hunger Like No Other. And Rydstrom from Kiss of a Demon King. Yes, I am a romance novel hero slut. I can’t be blamed, though. You create such amazing men! I just need to take up residence in your brain. Or your books.
KC: You’re one to talk about creating amazing men. But yes, on the subject of your residing in my brain—it would be so much easier if we just morphed into one. And would really save on our phone bills. Sigh. Anyhoo, so Her Nïxness just got back from an appearance in The Darkest Whisper and will tell us nothing about it, just grins mischievously. How did you pick which Lord would catch her wandering from one series to another?
GS: She picked. I believe she said something like, “You can let Torin see me and live, or let someone else and suffer. Your pick, Showalter.” That’s not an exact quote, you understand, as I swore never to reveal the truth because the “world could implode.” But now, Torin wants a taste of those ears. I’m going to have to send in a distraction.
And now the plot thickens…
KC: Let’s talk about Cronus’s artifacts for a second. The Lords are on a quest to find Pandora’s box before the Hunters beat them to it. To do so, they first need to get their hands on four separate artifacts—the Cage of Compulsion, the All-Seeing Eye, the Cloak of Invisibility and the Paring Rod. So far they’re two down, two to go. Any hints as to which artifact might be discovered next?
GS: I will tell you that the Lords are actually going to get their hands on all four artifacts—but not for long. Something happens and they lose… Great, now I’ve said too much. Kresley, you can get me to spill more secrets than anyone I know. It’s your smile! It says, Tell me everything, and I can’t resist!
KC: Do you want to tell us how you came up with these four particular artifacts?
GS: Well, I was perusing mythology books and every time some kind of godly weapon or relic was mentioned, I wrote it down. Then I did the process of elimination. (The Philosopher’s Stone got cut, as did the Thunderbolt, different types of armor, shields, swords, the Trident, bows and treasures.) What could be used to hide and find something? Why? How?
The four mentioned here stood out the most, only I still have no freaking clue what the Paring Rod does. Cronus is so damn secretive!
KC: Do you know at this point in your writing where Pandora’s box might be hiding? Just a thought, but has anyone looked under the “Paring Rod”? (No need to thank me [fogging and buffing nails]. I live to be helpful in little ways like this.)
GS: Excellent tip, my sweet! [curses under breath] I have no idea where that stupid box is. Oops. My frustration is showing. I really wish I was a planner. I wish I had plotted the entire series so I would know what direction to go in so the Lords could finally find it. They do not like not knowing where that stu—uh, box is, and they let me know about this dislike every day!
KC: So if the gods cursed you to house one of the demons from Pandora’s box inside you, which would you pick and why? Which would you absolutely never want to get stuck with?
GS: I would definitely want to be possessed by the demon of Narcissism. You haven’t met her yet, but oh…good times! To never doubt yourself? To always know how wonderful you are? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!
The only downside is that, when you’re that confident, you tend to get into all kinds of…sticky situations. But with the right warrior at your side—or under you, whatever—“sticky” really means “fun.”
As for who I would most want to avoid…let’s see…so many choices…but probably Pain. I am a baby and I know it. Stubbed toe? Yeah, I sob like the world just ended.
KC: Do you have a set number of LOTU books envisioned? I *might* be happy with an even hundred. (What do you mean that’s a lot? Work it the *%$& out, Showalter!) [composing self] And do you know who the very last book will revolve around?
GS: I wish! But alas, I’m clueless as to how many Lords of the Underworld books there will be—though I am strongly considering one hundred right now. Really.
Besides that, all I know for sure is that I plan to write a book for every Lord. And William, my sweet William. His heroine might be named Gina. Or Jeanna. Only time will tell. Oh, and I would like to write about Kaia, the Harpy. And maybe Galen. And that’s it. Except for, like, ninety others. I mean, the angels are now in play and there are other demon-possessed immortals out there.
The last story will probably be…you know, I actually have no idea. No, that’s not true. The correct answer is, the last story will be about the most stubborn warrior. That changes with every story I write. Right now, however, they all rate pretty high on the Mule Meter.
KC: One thing I catch myself doing a lot is thinking back over the first inkling of an idea I had for certain books. With A Hunger Like No Other, one of the first scenes I imagined was this massive Highlander werewolf running down this ethereal female and rasping, “Never run from one such as me. You will no’ get away—and we like it.” Do you do this, too? What are some of your favorite first inklings?
GS: Those inklings are powerful, aren’t they? So, so powerful. I mean, as you were speaking, I had one of the best inklings of my life. I was the one that massive Highlander was chasing….
Ten minutes later [coughs]
What were we discussing? Inklings? That’s right. And massive Highlanders…
Fifteen minutes later [throws ice water]
Inklings. Right. Yes. I’ve had them and do I ever love them! I can write an entire book because of one inkling (and those are usually the books I love the most). I have three favorites. In The Darkest Night, I saw Maddox being stabbed to death by his best friend, then awakening, then being stabbed to death again.
In The Darkest Whisper, I saw Gwen trapped in a glass cage, saw the door to that cage open, then saw her disappear and return holding a man’s trachea—and nothing else. (Yes, I have the sweetest dreams.)
In The Darkest Prison, I saw a man on his knees, his chest bloody because his skin had just been carved off, and he was screaming at the heavens in fury. I knew a tattoo had just been removed and he wanted that tattoo back. It was only when I sat down to write the story that I realized the tattoo was actually the heroine’s name—and he hadn’t always liked it.
I just realized that my inklings are violent. What does that mean about me, do you think? Wait, don’t answer that.
KC: Veering off topic as we wrap things up, I have to ask you the burning question on every reader’s mind: What is your favorite Gena Showalter novel? (Mine rotates on a continual basis—whichever new release is in my hot little hands, about to be devoured!)
GS: Ah, yes. The burning question. This is going to seem mushy and gushy, but I love them all equally.
Okay, okay. Fine. Mama has a favorite, but if Mama were to mention that favorite, Mama would get into trouble with the other babies, so Mama is zipping her lips.
The Darkest Lie. Who said that?
KC: One last thing—you have a LOTU book to write, don’t you? If you only had twenty dollars in your purse, what would you buy? Actually, let’s make this more challenging: what would you buy—if not for me?
GS: A book (yours), a bottle of wine (cheapest white in stock) and chocolate chip cookie dough. And now, every massive Highland warrior out there knows how to seduce me. Come to Mama…
Bestselling author Kresley Cole is a master’s grad in English and a former world-ranked athlete, who now concentrates on her dream of writing romance. She has followed her highly acclaimed historicals with the continuing Immortals After Dark series, a sizzling paranormal romance collection. In 2007, Cole won the prestigious Romance Writers of America RITA Award for best paranormal for her novel A Hunger Like No Other, and in January 2009, she became a #1 New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling author with her sixth IAD installment, Kiss of a Demon King. Her latest release is Pleasure of a Dark Prince (February 2010), about ruthless werewolf Garreth MacRieve and Lucia the Huntress, the exquisite archer who’s become his obsession.
Kresley invites you to visit her Web site at:
www.kresleycole.com.