Today we have an interview up with Monica Burns, author of both historical romances and urban fantasty. Monica’s publisher, Berkley, will give away a copy of one of Monica’s books in a drawing to a lucky commenter, with the following provisos:
Drawing Rules
Drawing is open to residents in US and other countries. Void where prohibited. Shipping/handling fees for shipment of book outside the US is responsibility of winner. International winners may pay the required postage via PayPal. To ensure as many readers as possible have a chance to win a copy of the book, Monica awards only one book per reader, per household.
MM: I love that you write two such separate genres, UF and historical romance. Do you alternate between the two when you are writing?
MB: I alternate depending on what’s up next on the publisher’s schedule. I wrote Assassin’s Honor and Assassin’s Heart back-to-back and then switch back to historical. It’s not an easy thing for me to do. I have a rhythm that’s different in each genre, so it does throw me out of sync. But aside from that, I love writing in both genres. The fun and adventure of my Sicari world or the romantic, decadence of my historical world are both wonderful.
MM: Do you find the world-building skills you developed for your historical romances helped you create the world of the Order of the Sicari?
MB: I’ve never seen my historicals as being a world I had to create. It’s second nature to me, just as the real world I live in, so I just write it that way. Now the Order of the Sicari world was a challenge. It really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I had to set up a foundation for the world, and I’m still building on it. Fortunately, a lot of it was in place from Ancient Roman traditions, but research is always necessary to establish a new piece of the world’s interior. But it’s a world I love developing. In the proposal I’m writing for the third book due out 2011, I’m studying the basics of Dante’s Inferno as a source of some of the Sicari Lords training. It’s loads of fun mixing reality with fantasy and twisting it to my own purposes. I think my pleasure in doing so shows in the books.
MM: I see from your website that you love the rich, decadent feel of the cover of your upcoming historical romance release PLEASURE ME. Do you think the market is turning back to those lush, rich historicals?
MB: I don’t think the market ever disappeared, I just think readers wanted something new and exciting. Life is like that. Trends come and go, and eventually people return to the tried and true. What I love about my covers is that they reflect my style of writing. I’ve had several writer friends call my historicals, lush and rich like chocolate, incredibly sinful. I like that description, primarily because it reminds me of how I feel about my milk chocolate maple cremes, which are my worst downfall into sin. They’re divinely bad and wonderful in the same bite, just like that luscious cover for Pleasure Me. I can’t wait for readers to have this in their hands. It’s a virgin male with older courtesan romance, and I love these two characters.
MM: Was there any hesitation from your publisher about using your historical pen name for your UF series as well?
MB: Not at all. I think they saw the similarities in my writing style between the two genres. And I think they’re about building authors who write crossover fiction. I think readers who love my historicals will love my paranormals and vice versa. I think it might be because I write heavy dialogue surrounded by action and pictures that give the reader images like you’re watching a movie. I know readers have continuously commented on how they were actually there in a scene, which means that I somehow managed to put them there in the place of the characters. While historicals have always been a favorite of mine to read and write, I’ve never limited myself to a good story. My tastes are very eclectic and I hope to continue writing that way.
MM: Could you tell us a bit more about what draws you to the worlds of your stories, both historical and UF?
MB: I think what draws me in are the characters and how they interact with the worlds they exist in. For instance, in Assassin’s Honor, the heroine is drawn into a world that makes her special ability of reading ancient objects seem normal. Everyone in the Sicari world have abilities that either equal or exceed her own on some level. There’s also the aspect of the heroine leading the reader into an unknown world. I like it when a character takes me and the reader along for their ride. And when I say “me,” I mean that literally. I’m a seat of the pants type of writer, and I generally don’t know what’s going to happen next in my books until the character directs me what’s about to happen. It can make for some sticky situations and panic on my part, but it generally works out okay without too many rewrites.
When it comes the worlds of my historicals, it’s the small bits and pieces of history that I get to blend in with my stories. There’s a lot of research that goes into my books in both genres. By adding in the research, it makes for a much richer, full-bodied read. A lot of the time readers don’t even realize the history is there, it’s blended into the background, and that’s what makes it fun for me. I can provided ambiance and historical facts, while ensuring the reader isn’t bored with the information. I can make it fun.
MM: Finally, what advice can you give writers who want to write in two separate genres?
MB: Learn how to world build. Take a class and have the world building down pat for whatever world you’re developing. I’ve had to wing it on a couple of occasions in the Order of the Sicari series. Once you write something, it’s permanent. You can’t change it easily without readers getting irritated.
MM: Thanks for being a guest at Magical Musings.
MB: Thanks for having me.
Monica, thanks for stopping in today. I LOVE the PLEASURE ME cover! I haven’t had breakfast yet, and reading you talk about the chocolates with the caramel creme centers, I got hungry.
I know readers have continuously commented on how they were actually there in a scene, which means that I somehow managed to put them there in the place of the characters.
What a great thing for readers to say about your books! I’m going out today and will look for your historical.
Edie, I’m delighted that ya’ll asked me to pop in. And I LOVE my Pleasure Me cover. I was at work when I first saw it and I tried hard not to squeal with joy at the sight of it. It’s soooo dead on with these two characters.
I can’t wait until February when Pleasure Me hits the shelves. Kismet came out in Feb with my two paranormals hitting in between. It’s been a wild and crazy year so far.
oooh, my friend showed me the cover to Assassin’s Honor and I just about died! She won’t let me borrow her copy though! I love historicals, I have been a fan of Jane Feather for some time. I would absolutely love to get ahold of one of your books!
Thanks for the contest!!!
Audrey,
I’m thrilled that someone won’t loan out Assassin’s Honor, even to a friend! That is a major boost to the ego! And I confess that I am blessed with covers that potential readers can’t resist picking up off the shelves.
Just thought that maybe folks might like to know that I have chapters 1-3 up on my website for both Assassin’s Honor and Assassin’s Heart. Gives people a taste for my writing style.
http://www.monicaburns.com/BookshelfAssassinsHonorExcerpt.htm
http://www.monicaburns.com/BookshelfAssassinsHeartExcerpt.htm
Hi Monica,
Wonderful interview! At a workshop, Karen Hawkins mentioned she liked going from historical to contemporary back to historical. She said it was like cleaning her palette and made her excited to write historicals again. Like coming home.
I thought that sounded really nice, but I’m sure it’s a big shift in cadence.
Tracey
Glad you enjoyed the interview, Tracey. I think Karen said it well in terms of coming back to something that’s so familiar. but it is definitely a shift is pacing for me. although I do like that I get to use history with my Sicar heroes. THAT’s a big plus in my paranormal world. *grin*
Wow, that “Pleasure Me” cover is awesome. I’ll be looking forward to that one, especially since the guy is the virgin instead of the usual girl.
Cories, isn’t that cover AWESOME!! I love it, all it needs is the blindfold. LOL
When my editor asked me to write a virgin hero for Pleasure Me, I was really hesitant. I write alpha heroes, so I didn’t have a clue as to how I could have a guy who was an alpha be a virgin. I think I managed to accomplish it, but my editor’s yet to read it, so I’m hoping she likes it. *grin*
I agree with everyone else – fascinating interview Ms. Burns! So interesting to know the historicals don’t require (or rather “feel” they need) the world-building of your Sicari series. I’m looking forward to both Assassin’s Honor and Pleasure Me – love those innocent heroes.
Catie, glad you’re looking forward to the books. I’m looking forward to folks reading them. *grin* I should clarify that historicals require research for historical accuracy, which is world-building in the sense that the writer has to draw someone into the read and create the ambiance and atmosphere of the historical period. Sort of like that old kid’s program YOU ARE THERE! With UF/paranormal, it’s more detailed because you have to give your readers a frame of reference. I think the key for both is research. I think it’s critical.
Great interview Monica, Assassin’s Honor rocks and I am so looking forward to Pleasure Me…I love the cover too. (As for loving the covers, I am with the poster who likes the cover on Assassin’s Honor…tasty!)
Ciao Bella,
Ardee-ann
Ardee-ann, I’m so glad you enjoyed Assassin’s Honor. I’m really lucky that I have such awesome covers. Ciao back! LOL
Monica, thanks again for a great interview. It has been such a pleasure having you at MM.
All your covers are wonderful. I have not read Assassin’s Honor yet, but I’m really looking forward to reading it soon.
Saw that you have the second book in The Order of the Sicari series coming out in September. Do you know yet how many books will make up your series? I hope for 10 or more! I love books with a paranormal or psychic aspect to the storyline.
Thanx for joining us here at MM, Monica. Absolutely love your covers … both the UF and the historical although I have to admit to a preference for the UF … but that’s just me.
Will definitely have to check them out since I’m a huge fan of UFs. Always on the look out for a new author.
Very, very interesting!! Those chocolate maple creams sound good. Love the info.!!
Linda, I love my covers too, and I hope that when you get the chance to read Assassin’s Honor you enjoy it.
Lovie, At this point there are three books in the Order of the Sicari series. Book 3 comes out sometime next spring or summer. I’m not sure of the date. But you can always get the lastest news at my Google Group or Facebook Author page
http://groups.google.com/group/monica-burns-announcements
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMonicaBurns
Rebecca, why do I think I keep revealing TMI??? LOL I want to remain the reclusive, mysterious author everyone wonders about. NOT! ROFL
Liz, Michelle, thanks to the MM Gals for having me. It was fun and the interview questions were great! And Liz if/when you do read, I hope you enjoy the book.
Monica, sorry I’m so late to the party, girl! It’s been so fun having you here with us at Magical. I did read your post earlier, but was away from home.
Those covers of yours are something special! I’ll definitely be looking these titles up. The Order of the Sicari ones totally caught my eye, and I’m anxious to order.
Can’t wait!
LaDonna, Late is better than not at all!
Say one of you needs to draw a winner for the copy of Assassin’s Honor I’d like to give away.
Catie, you are the winner! Congratulations. I’ll send you Monica’s contact details so she can arrange for your book to get to you.