Pages

Monday, September 10, 2012

Guest Blog by Kristine Grayson and Giveaway - September 10, 2012

Please welcome Kristine Grayson to The Qwillery. Charming Blue, Kristine's most recent Charming novel, was published on September 4, 2012.




Surprise!
by Kristine Grayson

       Over the past few years, I’ve written a number of guest blogs at the invitation of various websites. Some let me choose the topic, but I prefer the blogs that suggest topics, because they give me the opportunity to express things I might not normally talk about.

       The Qwillery did that. One of the suggested topics was this: Write about the most surprising character in the Charming series.

       Three characters surprised me in writing this series. Plus the series itself surprised me. I had no idea I had so many fractured fairy tales inside me (with more to come).

       The three surprising characters are Sancho Panza from Utterly Charming; Cantankerous Belle, who first appeared in Wickedly Charming; and Blue, who also first appeared in Wickedly Charming. Sancho pretty much took over parts of Utterly Charming and Thoroughly Kissed. He became such a part of those two books that I had to write his book, Completely Smitten (which you can find in trade and e-book).

       Blue wandered into Wickedly Charming as a joke—a guy who wears blue valour on a hot day, hasn’t bathed in months, pours cologne all over himself, and is completely drunk—and let’s not forget his Smurf-blue beard. I thought it was a one-shot, just a snapshot of what happened to Bluebeard hundreds of years later.

       But Blue proved more stubborn than that. I actually felt sorry for him in that scene. (Yeah, Bluebeard. Go figure.) And I wanted to know more.

       It turned out that Cantankerous Belle, Tinker Bell’s grumpy cousin, knew all about him. Tank, who seems like an obnoxious little pixie in the books, actually has a compassionate side. She works hard in Charming Blue to convince Jodi Walters to meet Blue in the first place. Then Tank works even hard to make sure Jodi helps Blue.

       I had no idea Tank had a heart until that moment. She’s tough, she’s outspoken, and she’s got a soft gushy center.

       I think that surprised me the most.

       It also provided the impetus for a book I had a great time writing. I hope you enjoy Charming Blue as much as I enjoyed writing it.

       And thanks to the folks at the Qwillery for getting me to talk about surprises. It was…surprising. And fun!



The Charming Novels

Charming Blue
Sourcebooks, September 4, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 384 pages

Welcome to the fractious fairy tale world of Kristine Grayson, where the bumpy road to happily ever after is paved with surprises...

He lived through ages with the curse of attracting women...who end up dead...
One upon a time, he was the most handsome of princes, destined for great things. But now he's a lonely legend, hobbled by a dark history. With too many dead in his wake, Bluebeard escapes the only way he knows how—through the evil spell of alcohol. But it's a far different kind of spell that's been ruining his life for centuries.

How will she survive this killer Prince Charming?
Jodi Walters is a fixer, someone who can put magic back in order. She's the best in Hollywood at her game. But Blue has a problem she's never encountered before—and worse, she finds herself perilously attracted to him.


Wickedly Charming
Sourcebooks, May 3, 2011.
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 384 pages

He's given up on happily-ever-after...

Cinderella's Prince Charming is divorced and at a dead end. The new owner of a bookstore, Charming has given up on women, royalty, and anything that smacks of a future. That is, until he meets up with Mellie...

But she may be the key to happily-right-now…

Mellie is sick and tired of stepmothers being misunderstood. Vampires have redeemed their reputation, why shouldn't stepmothers do the same? Then she runs into the handsomest, most charming man she's ever met and discovers she's going about her mission all wrong...

It's only natural that sparks fly and magic ensues when these two fairy tale refugees put their heads—and vulnerable hearts—together...


Thoroughly Kissed
Sourcebooks, June 5, 2012 (reissue)
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 384 pages

Sleeping Beauty has sworn off kissing...

Emma awakens to an entirely different world than the one she lived in a thousand years ago, and although she's the real Sleeping Beauty, her life is no fairy tale. After parting ways with her supposed Prince Charming, she's determined to be a normal girl—she hides her magic and swears off kissing strange men.

But her gorgeous boss Michael knows there 's something unusual about Emma, and he thinks she's as infuriating as she is beautiful. Now Emma needs to teach Michael a lesson, which means mastering her magic. She knows she's flirting with danger, but after one look at Michael's perfect lips, all she can think is, "What's another thousand years ... ?"

Welcome to the fractious fairy tale world of Kristine Grayson, where the bumpy road to happily ever after is paved with surprises ...


Utterly Charming
Sourcebooks, October 4, 2011 (reissue)
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 320 pages

He could be her own personal Prince Charming if only dreams did come true. . .

Mysterious, handsome wizard Aethelstan Blackstone hires beautiful, hardworking attorney Nora Barr to get a restraining order to protect Sleeping Beauty from her evil stepmother. But if Sleeping Beauty is supposed to be his soul mate, then how come he's becoming bewitched by Nora?

And when Nora finds herself baby-sitting a clueless maiden from the Middle Ages, avoiding a very wicked witch, and falling hard for a man whose magic she doesn’t believe in , she begins to think that love itself is only a fairy tale. . .

Welcome to the fractious fairy tale world of Kristine Grayson, where the bumpy road to happily ever after is paved with surprises. . .




About Kristine

Before turning to romance writing, award-winning author Kristine Grayson edited the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and ran Pulphouse Publishing (which won her a World Fantasy Award). She has won the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and, under her real name, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, the prestigious Hugo award. She lives with her own Prince Charming, writer Dean Wesley Smith, in Portland, Oregon..

Website : Twitter @KristineRusch.: Facebook










The Giveaway

THE RULES

What:  One commenter will win the 4 Charming novels Charming Blue, Wickedly CharmingThoroughly Kissed, and Utterly Charming from The Qwillery!

How:  Leave a comment answering the following question:

Who would be your Prince or Princess Charming and why?
(The Prince or Princess may be imaginary or real, of course.)

Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You may receive additional entries by:

1)   Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2)   Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

There are a total of 3 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry) and Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry).  This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook or Twitter mentions. You MUST leave a way to contact you.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Monday, September 17, 2012. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*

23 comments:

  1. To be honest, I don't think I have a Prince Charming. Maybe PC in the Alex Craft mysteries. That would be a dog named Prince Charming ;-) I'm quite happy to learn about others' prince charming and I like being happy for other people but personally, I find Prince Charming to be rather too much work. I'd rather be lazy.
    Quillery Follower: April V.
    april dot vrugtman at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my Prince Charming would definately be Joe Manganiello from True Blood. He is definately tall, dark, and very handsome. I first saw him on One Tree Hill, but the completely fell in love with him on True Blood. He is definately a man of my dreams and dirty thoughts. I use him as a the face of a lot of my characters when I read. Especially wolves. These books sounds awesome and would love to win and read the series. Big fan of series, love to be able to follow along with the characters.
    +1 comment
    +1 follower: GFC-Chrisbails
    +1 shared on facebook and twitter
    https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fqwillery.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F09%2Fguest-blog-by-kristine-grayson-and.html%3Fspref%3Dfb&t=Guest+Blog+by+Kristine+Grayson+and+Giveaway+-+Sept...
    The Qwillery: Guest Blog by Kristine Grayson and Giveaway - Sept... http://qwillery.blogspot.com/2012/09/guest-blog-by-kristine-grayson-and.html?spref=tw
    christinebails@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hmm... I'm rather fond of Daniel Craig, lol! He'd make a great Prince Charming!

    +1 comment
    +1 follower: Rebe
    +1 Tweeted: https://twitter.com/RebeLovesBooks/status/245166714181013504

    rwschwarz11ATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  4. For me it would be someone like Adam Hauptman from the Mercy Thompson serie by Patricia Briggs or Bones from the night huntress series because they are persistent, loyal and in love

    +1 comment
    +1 gfc follower: miki

    isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. A Bluebeard retelling!? I must have that one!!
    As for princess Charming: Tara from Alayna Williams' Oracle series. I adore her!

    +2 comment and follower

    sullivanmcpig(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. For me I guess my prince charming would be either Hugh Jackman, Tom Hiddleston or Jeremy Renner. I can't chose one so I put them all because I think that they are all lovely people, and very talented actors. <3 :)
    +1 comment
    +1 gfc follower : Rogue484
    +1 Tweet :https://twitter.com/rogue484/status/245201597347549184
    neoterragoddess@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for a great post and congrats to Kristine on her success :)

    I'd have to also say Adam Hauptman from the Mercy Thompson series or Curran from the Kate Daniel Series.

    +1 comment
    +1 gfc: erin
    efender1(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I suppose I'd choose someone from Christine Feehan's stories :) edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom
    GFC Krystal Larson

    ReplyDelete
  9. My prince charming would be Tim McGraw or Robert Pattison from Twilight. Please enter me in contest. I am a follower and email subscriber. Tore923@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I don't have a real Prince Charming in my life. Most of the heroes that I really like would not exactly be known as Prince Charming either, I tend to like the Alpha-Dominate bad-boys :) Some of my faves include Wraith from the Demonica series (along with Ares & Than from LoD), and I love the Masters in Cherise Sinclair & Kallypso Masters books.
    GFC follower: June M.
    Tweet: https://twitter.com/juneannm/status/245324838980448258

    June
    manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think I would like a real prince to come into my life and take me away. Fiction of course but who knows, stranger things have happened.
    debby236 at gmail dot com
    follower

    ReplyDelete
  12. My Prince Charming would be Gerard Butler because he's not only a hottie, but really funny as well. I love a man who makes life fun.

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com
    GFC: Barbara E.

    ReplyDelete
  13. My Prince Charming would be Chris Hemsworth:)

    +1 Comment
    +1 Follower of The Qwillery
    +1 Tweeted: https://twitter.com/yadkny/status/245363678474547200

    yadkny@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. James Bond because he's smart.

    I follow the blog.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Jon Snow from GAME OF THRONES would be my ideal Prince Charming. He is loyal & valiant & sensitive.

    GFC: Mary Preston

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi

    With recent events in the news I am going to have to say Prince Harry - such a cutie and has such style.

    Thanks for the chance.
    + comment
    + follower

    Pam
    tpibrew@msn.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a great question!

    So, my Prince Charming would be...
    Physical features: hazel eyes and lots of dark, curly hair where I can put my hands *swoons*. Not too much muscle, just great arms and lovely hands

    He also needs a good dose of sarcasm. I'd love him to be smart, fun, a little bit on the nerd side, with a love for books and tv series. The Amazing spiderman's actor would be perfect

    +1 comment
    +1 follower

    aliasgirl at libero dot it

    ReplyDelete
  18. Tough question! I would have to say Mr. Darcy! He's rich and handsome! Thanks for sharing!


    evjochum[AT]aol[DOT]com

    comment +1
    follower +1
    =2

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ah Blue, quite the character. I work in a cancer lab and there is one older gentleman that every day I greet him and ask him how he is he has the same answer as he smiles at me. "Mean, ornery, cantankerous." Strong characters, keep life interesting. =)

    My prince charming? Can he be wearing a kilt? And carrying a broad sword? It is a given he would be drool worthy handsome, his features would most likely trend towards my tall blonde husband. Come to think of it...stick him in a kilt with a sword (oh wait, maybe not the sword he might inadvertently hurt someone) and there is MY prince charming.

    GFC follower Lexi
    eyesofblueice (at) gmail

    ReplyDelete
  20. My husband of course handsome,charming,loyal and funny and hes been making all of my dreams come true for 20 years now .
    gfc follower wanda f
    email follower
    flanagan@mebtel.net
    blog post
    http://ilovealldogs.blogspot.com/
    tweet
    https://twitter.com/lilblupixie/status/246066774989238273

    flanagan@Mebtel.net

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wow, that's hard to answer.

    I would have to say Jamie Fraser from the Outlander series. (sighs)

    Kristine is a new author for me. I look forward in checking out her works.

    +1 comment
    +1 follower

    Thanks,
    Tracey D
    booklover0226 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. My PC would be a cross between Bones and Roarke. I dont believe he exists but maybe hopefully one day I can be proven wrong.

    -comment
    -follower
    -tweet - https://twitter.com/DonnaS1/status/246827831269670912

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. My prince charming would be Quinn from the Riley Jensen series, that vamp was amazingly charming and heroic. He is the perfect fit for that role. So I follow on GFC (sdylion) and email. I also posted on face book and twitter:
    http://www.facebook.com/sgstoops/posts/283990581701482
    https://twitter.com/SdyLion/status/247073490296000513
    Thank you-
    sdylion(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete