Susan May
Elaine Burroughs
Deborah Beckers
Anna Doll
Linsey Lanier
Sally Kilpatrick
Tammy Schubert
Darcy Crowder
Marilyn Baron
Tami Brothers
Sandra Elzie
Carol Burnside
Debbie Kaufman
Tamara DeStefano
Maxine DavisErica Ridley and Too Wicked To Kiss
Hi Erica! How’s release week treating you?
Fabulously! I may be averaging about 4 hours of sleep a night, but the past couple weeks have been amazing. On Sunday, I had my official launch party: a signing at a local independent bookstore followed by an after party at a friend of mine’s café. Another friend of mine baked lip-shaped cookies as “kiss” favors. (Yet another friend of mine brought a fabulous key lime dessert. Key lime may have nothing whatsoever to do with my book, but it was delicious!!)
Do you realize that your description of release week primarily details the food?
Er, yes. Pretty much all my stories have to do with food. I spent the past year in Europe, and I’m pretty sure 99% of my Twitter and Facebook updates were about the incredible things I was eating and drinking. (Or not eating. Like the time someone brought over a frozen fish as a party favor, unwrapped it, and set it directly on the coffee table. I was the only one who seemed to find that strange.)
Are there many strange goings-on in Too Wicked To Kiss?
Each of the house party guests is up to no good (and trying to hide it) so there are plenty of secrets and lies and machinations. Then there’s a murder on the first night of the party, which throws everyone’s secret plans off-kilter. (That Gavin Lioncroft is suspected of the crime isn’t at all strange to anyone, but the fact that he might have an ally in the heroine turns his world completely upside down.) If one could ask Evangeline, she might say the strangest moment was the one in which she discovered he’d left a pot of dirt in her bedchamber…
What was the best part about writing this book?
Hands down: telling the story with a Gothic tone. I had so much fun trying to think of ways to make the setting both atmospheric and relevant, and trying to come up with evocative turns of phrase to describe the world of Blackberry Manor through my characters’ eyes.
What was the best moment during Too Wicked To Kiss’s journey to publication?
Actually, every single milestone I hit felt like the best moment! Each step made it seem more and more “real”: Getting the offer, signing the contract, getting an email from my editor, receiving an advance check, seeing the cover art, reading through the copy edits, receiving a cover flat, proofing the galleys, receiving an ARC, getting a PW review, to holding an actual copy of my book in my hands. And there are many more firsts to come!
HIS TOUCH HOLDS HER CAPTIVE…
From the ravens circling its spires to the gargoyles adorning its roof, Blackberry Manor looms ominously over its rambling grounds. And behind its doors, amid the flickering shadows and secret passageways, danger lies in wait.
TO HIS EVERY DARK DESIRE…
Evangeline Pemberton has been invited to a party at the sprawling estate of reclusive Gavin Lioncroft, who is rumored to have murdered his parents. Initially, Gavin’s towering presence and brusque manner instill fear in Evangeline…until his rakish features and seductive attentions profoundly arouse her. But when a guest is murdered, Evangeline is torn. Could the man to whom she is so powerfully drawn, also be a ruthless killer?
Erica Ridley learned to read when she was three, which was about the same time she decided to be a writer when she grew up. Over the course of her school years, she graduated from self-illustrated stories written in crayon to dramatic sagas filling reams of spiral notebooks.
Now, Erica writes Gothic historical romance novels, often with a touch of paranormal. When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found riding camels in Africa, zip-lining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.
Visit Erica’s website at: http://www.ericaridley.com/
Get bonus features for Too Wicked To Kiss at: http://www.2wicked2kiss.com/
Be friends with Erica at: http://www.facebook.com/EricaRidleyFans
Tweet with Erica at: http://www.twitter.com/EricaRidley
What’s the weirdest gift you’ve ever received, or the most unusual custom you’ve come across? And what’s the most recent goal you’ve celebrated completing?
Erica will be giving away a copy of TOO WICKED TO KISS today to one lucky commenter! Just get your Madlibs-style vision at www.2wicked2kiss.com and post it here to the comment thread on Petit Fours & Hot Tamales!
Tags: Erica Ridley, Gothic, historical romance, Too Wicked To Kiss
About the author
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PF&HT Bloggers | |
March 10th, 2010 at 7:16 am
Good morning Erica,
Love the cover!!! Congrats on the release. I know you’re having fun with this one, but what’s next? Got another one in the pipeline? If so, is it gothic also?
Thanks for joining us today.
Sandy
March 10th, 2010 at 7:16 am
Thank you for joining us today.
What got you interested in gothics?
March 10th, 2010 at 7:47 am
Thanks for blogging with us. Your book sounds like it was a lot of fun to write and that it will be a great read. I especially liked the part about your path to publication and of course, the food. You are now officially an honorary member of the food- obsessed Petit Fours and Hot Tamales.
March 10th, 2010 at 7:56 am
Good morning, Everyone.
Erica, thank you so much for joining us today. I must say, I was really intrigued by the pot of dirt. The book sounds awesome. I’ll have to check it out.
As far as unusual gifts, I would say that the weirdest thing I was ever given came from my sister. For my birthday several years back, I opened this huge box that arrived in the mail and inside was a bag of–hair??? I thought she’d used it as packing material, so I pulled it out and on the bottom of the box was what appeared to be a wooden boat anchor and a book. The card said “Happy Birthday, Sis. You need a hobby. Love, Jacki”
Turns out the “hair” was lovely dark brown llama fur and the boat anchor, a drop spindle. The book was an instructional book on learning to spin yarn.
Today, I’ve spun miles and miles of yarn, knitted countless garments and find it to be the best way for me to meditate on plot problems.
Oh, and Erica, whatever happened to the frozen fish?
March 10th, 2010 at 8:03 am
Sandra: I’m excited to say that the second book will be out next year! I’d be even more excited if I could say the title… LOL. Right now, it’s called Too Sinful To Deny, but I won’t get final word on whether or not that title is sticking until next month. It features a connected character from Too Wicked To Kiss, and is also a Gothic historical. I had so much fun writing these books!
March 10th, 2010 at 8:04 am
Tammy: The very first romance novel I ever read was a historical, and I have been in love with the genre ever since. I think, for me, it’s the escaping into a world completely unlike my own, in which the characters battle problems that I don’t have to deal with in these modern times. Before romance, I read a lot of thrillers, and paranormal/horror by authors like Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Even though their novels are ostensibly set in modern times, the characters face otherworldly problems. Writing Gothic historical lets me explore how relatable characters react to and overcome obstacles in extraordinary circumstances. It’s spooky, it’s sexy, it’s suspenseful… I love Gothic romance!
March 10th, 2010 at 8:05 am
Marilyn: Thank you! I am definitely food-obsessed. In fact, when I got back from my trip, all my friends were shocked to see that I looked the same as when I left. Based on the conversations they’d had with me (“Hey, Erica, how’s Paris?” “OMG, I’m eating ten crepes a day, this so rocks!”) they were convinced I’d come home looking more like the Michelin Man than myself!
March 10th, 2010 at 8:10 am
Cinthia: A box of hair?!? LOL, that’s classic! I just read a novel last month about a heroine who spun fur into yarn, but I’ve never tried it myself.
And the fish? I am not sure. My flatmate had invited a dozen or so people over to watch a soccer game. One brought a fish. Frozen. Unwrapped it, set it directly on the table, next to the beer and Tostitos… and there it remained throughout the entire game. Perhaps it was a talisman to watch over the team?? I have no idea… Nobody explained anything and nobody tried to cook it. (Granted, it was frozen.) I didn’t see it at all the next morning, so… maybe it returned home with its owner?
March 10th, 2010 at 8:36 am
OMG, the frozen fish reminds me of the time in China that myself, my exhausted 16yr. old daughter, and the rest of the group we were with were served the last course of dinner – a huge bowl of soup with a whole fish, head and eyes out one side and full tail hanging out the other! My daughter didn’t eat fish for a decade after that night.
March 10th, 2010 at 9:19 am
Debbie: LOL, I don’t blame her! That would’ve done it for me, too. =)
March 10th, 2010 at 10:14 am
Okay, first of all…. I love your guts, Erica, and cannot wait to read your book. I’ve heard such wonderful things about it and will get it this weekend.
Secondly, I cannot believe you mentioned the fish.
Now I have to buy 2 copies of the book.
So many congratulations, darlin’. I’m going over to our PFHT page on FB to brag about your visit.
I have a non-writing question for you. What was one of your favorite traveling experiences this past year? When I spent a year abroad, I’d have to say it was the time we climbed an Alp in the middle of the night, drank fermented apple cider in some mountaintop chalet then tobogganed down the icy roadway singing “Let’s Talk about Sex,” at the top of our lungs. And don’t forget: I’ve seen your pictures. I know you can top this.
March 10th, 2010 at 10:41 am
LOL, you set the bar pretty high! I didn’t get to go tobogganing… but I did visit Sicily and climb to the top of Mount Etna (the largest active volcano in Europe) and squeeze inside an igloo for a photo op. There was also the time I went rollerblading through Paris with Eloisa James, then subsequently take a nosedive onto the pavement when I tried to photo the landmarks whizzing past and failed to notice that the street I was skating on was about to take a 45 degree dip down into an underpass. (Camera exploded on impact and the Parisians pointed and laughed.) Or when I dragged my friend into a hole-in-the wall restaurant/bar in the Czech Republic and the only way we could communicate was in a horrendous clash of Italian (me) and Latin (him) and ended up ordering truly bizarre meals. (And we have no way to know if that was because they come like that in Prague, or because we utterly failed in communicating what we wanted and the poor owner was just trying his best to please a tourist!) One of the *craziest* moments, though, was when I friend of mine went to the Athens airport, through check-in, through security, through passport control, and got all the way to the gate… before I realized I’d forgotten to print out my ticket! I have no idea how that happened. (I mean, I know how I failed to print my ticket, but I cannot fathom how none of those checkpoints failed to ask me for it!) That same flight was only a 1.5 hour trip, on which they served dinner. I can’t even get free snacks on cross-country trips in the US, and Greece is giving out free meals to passengers! (Or, I guess, to anyone who accidentally wanders past all the security checks and onto the plane…)
March 10th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Erica -
Congratulations on your first release. This is such an exciting time for you. I stopped by your website – lots going on, a fun place – and saw where you had several signings in Tampa. Are you from there (I am)? Hope to meet you at national in Nashville.
Best of luck with your first book. It sounds wonderful.
March 10th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Hi Erica! Thanks for stopping by. I love to read gothic historicals, so I’ll definitly be picking up your book. It sounds fabulous. And I love your adventurous spirit! I’ve never been to Europe – but hope to some day. Your adventures there sound hilarious.
March 10th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Erica,
Congrats on your first book, and thanks for stopping by. I LOVE the idea of a dinner party gone awry.
I know what you’re saying about food. It’s all about the food. Every trip we take in the US revolves around Roadfood and books like that. Every trip to a big city or out of the states refers heavily to Frommers and other spots that point out the places to eat.
Most unusual gift? I can’t remember receiving one, but I once scared off a friend because I gave them meat from this local butcher shop that is phenomenal. My husband reminded me that most people don’t say “I love you” with meat. Now I can tell him I was just being European. : )
March 10th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Dianna: I do in fact live in Tampa! I’m not a native Floridian, though… I moved here from the arctic midwest (at least, it *felt* arctic *g) the summer of 2011. Do you miss Tampa?
March 10th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Darcy: Thank you! (And in the interest of full disclosure, I tend to have hilarious adventures wherever I go. Instead of saying “hello” when I call, a friend of mine answers the phone “What happened today?” LOL.)
March 10th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Hi Erica! This is a great story line, sounds spooky. I haven’t read many gothics but you’ve grabbed my interest and I can’t wait to find this one. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I’ve tried to think of unusual gifts or customs and nothing is coming to me. I think that means I need to step out of my comfort zone a bit more….
Thanks for blogging with us today. I just checked out your website and ended up spending an hour reading the articles. Great job on those. I’ll definitely be bookmarking your site and reading more.
March 10th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Sally: LOL re: the gift of meat! That’s hilarious.
Frommers is already a friend of mine, but I didn’t know about Roadfood!! Sounds *perfect*. I will have to check it out!
March 10th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Hi Tami! Thanks so much! I had a lot of fun making the website, so it’s really gratifying to know you enjoyed it! I hope you love Too Wicked To Kiss!!! =)
March 10th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Hi Erica,
I enjoyed your answers, and just have to ask–what do you do with a frozen fish on the coffee table?
Love the title, Too Wicked To Kiss. Love the cover. Love the name Blackberry Manor. And the story sounds like one that is going on my TBR list. Best Wishes for many sales and lots of success.
March 10th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Erica,
Thanks for being with us today. I love the look of your book. I enjoy Gothics so I look forward to reading it.
Most unusual gift? My most unusual was also one of my best. I love a fire. We had just moved into our new house and a friend brought us a load of firewood. A complete surprise. It was November and I was so happy to get it.
March 10th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Gorgeous cover, Erica. Sounds like a terrific story, too. Congrats on your first book.
This discussion was a hoot to read. Thanks for being our Guest Chef today!
March 10th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
I do miss Florida at times (I lived in different parts, but grew up in Tampa), but I’ve been in Atlanta so long it feels like home. I’m thinking you meant you moved there in the summer of 2001…or maybe you time traveled back to visit with us. lol. Nice to meet you in cyber space.
March 11th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Erica,
A day late and a dollar short! Just stopped by your website and love that it’s bilingual! What a great idea, one that I’m sure to steal in the coming months…
Plan to order your book this weekend…we’re off to see my son at Spring Training in Clearwater (Phillies camp) the last week in March. Thanks for blogging with us!
Ana
March 11th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Erica,
A day late and a dollar short! Just stopped by your website and love that it’s bilingual! What a great idea, one that I’m sure to steal in the coming months…
Plan to order your book this weekend…we’re off to see my son at Spring Training in Clearwater (Phillies camp) the last week in March. Thanks for blogging with us!
Ana