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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Character Interview + Giveaway: Jennifer Estep

First off, I'd like to thank Jennifer Estep for dropping by the blog again. Her latest Elemental Assassins book, Tangled Threads, comes out next Tuesday (04/26) and it was amazing. You can see my review here. Today, Jennifer will be interviewing her main character, Gin Blanco. Hope you all enjoy!


Greetings and salutations! First of all, I want to say thanks to Sara for having me on the blog. Thanks, Sara! ;-)

So today, Sara asked me to interview one of the characters from my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series, and I decided to talk to Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider and the star of the series. Here’s what Gin had to say for herself:

JE: Tell us a little bit about yourself, Gin.

GB: My name is Gin, and I kill people. That’s all you need to know.

JE: Okay, someone’s a little touchy today. Can you at least tell us a little about your latest adventure in Tangled Threads?

GB: *Sighs.* If you insist. In Tangled Threads, I learn that my nemesis, Fire elemental Mab Monroe, has hired an assassin named Elektra LaFleur to come to Ashland to track down and kill the Spider, aka me. I’m not too worried about Elektra, though, even if she does have deadly electrical elemental magic. What I’m more concerned about is this little girl who’s been kidnapped –- a girl that I’ve vowed to find and bring home to her father. Too bad LaFleur and Mab want to keep that from happening.

JE: Sounds like there’s quite a showdown between you and LaFleur in the book.

GB: You could say that. Let’s just say that my silverstone knives get very bloody before it’s all said and done –- and so does LaFleur. *Chuckles at her own joke.*

JE: And what about Owen Grayson, the sexy businessman that you hooked up with in Venom? Is he still in the picture?

GB: Definitely. Owen’s back, as well as Finn and the Deveraux sisters. I’m not sure what to think about Owen, though. I’m starting to really like him, so much that it scares me a little, especially since my last relationship with Donovan Caine ended so badly... *Stares off into space.*

JE: *Clears throat.* Anyway, what happens with your sister Bria in the book? We all know that she’s back in Ashland and that she’s a police detective who’s hot on the trail of the elusive Spider.

GB: I’m not sure what to do about Bria either. On the one hand, I want to tell her that I’m really her long-lost big sister Genevieve Snow. On the other, I’m not sure that she’ll understand about me being a notorious assassin either. Decisions, decisions...

JE: Indeed. Well, besides going up against another assassin, can you tell us what else is in store for you?

GB: If things go the way that I want them to with LaFleur, I’ll be back in Spider’s Revenge, which will hit shelves in October. Until then, I’ll be doing the same old, same old. Running the Pork Pit, cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland, and facing down any trouble that comes my way.

Jennifer writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books. The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional Southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals -– Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.

Books in the series are Spider’s Bite, Web of Lies, and Venom. Tangled Threads, the fourth book, will be published on April 26, while Spider’s Revenge, the fifth book, will be released in October.

Jennifer also writes the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington. The books focus on Gwen Frost, a 17-year-old Gypsy girl who has the gift of psychometry, or the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. After a serious freak-out with her magic, Gwen is shipped off to Mythos Academy, a school for the descendants of ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, Amazons, and more.

The first book, Touch of Frost, will be out in August, while the second book, Kiss of Frost, will hit shelves in December. First Frost, a prequel e-short story to the series, will be out in July. Visit www.jenniferestep.com for excerpts and more.




Thanks again to Jennifer for stopping! She has also offered up a copy of Tangled Threads to a lucky reader! All you have to do is answer Jennifer's question: Who are some of your favorite Urban Fantasy authors?

Title: Tangled Threads
Author: Jennifer Estep
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 04/26/11
Summary:
I’d rather face a dozen lethal assassins any night than deal with something as tricky, convoluted, and fragile as my feelings.

But here I am. Gin Blanco, the semi-retired assassin known as the Spider. Hovering outside sexy businessman Owen Grayson’s front door like a nervous teenage girl. One thing I like about Owen: he doesn’t shy away from my past -- or my present. And right now I have a bull’s-eye on my forehead. Cold-blooded Fire elemental Mab Monroe has hired one of the smartest assassins in the business to trap me. Elektra LaFleur is skilled and efficient, with deadly electrical elemental magic as potent as my own Ice and Stone powers. Which means there’s a fifty-fifty chance one of us won’t survive this battle. I intend to kill LaFleur -- or die trying -- because Mab wants the assassin to take out my baby sister, Detective Bria Coolidge, too. The only problem is, Bria has no idea I’m her long-lost sibling... or that I’m the murderer she’s been chasing through Ashland for weeks. And what Bria doesn’t know just might get us both dead...


Giveaway Rules:
Open to US/Canada.
Must answer Jennifer's question.
Must leave a valid e-mail address.
Contest ends at midnight on Friday 29th.

45 comments:

  1. Of course, my all-time favorite is Laurell K. Hamilton. She is my Goddess of UF. But I'm also into Jeaniene Frost, Kelly Gay, Diana Rowland, Rachel Vincent and Keri Arthur. Thanks for the giveaway!

    chicareader(at)gmail.com

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  2. LiLi -- I like Frost's Night Huntress series a lot, along with Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series (although that one's paranormal romance and not UF).

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  3. My favorite Urban Fantasy authors are Richelle Mead (both Georgina Kincaid and Dark Swan series), Kelley Armstrong, Jes Battis, Laura Bickle/Alayna Williams, Kelly Gay, Jeaniene Frost, Jess Haines, Nancy Holzner, Carrie Vaughn and, of course, Jennifer Estep. :)

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  4. Jeaniene Frost and Kelly Meding are two of my favorites! Nancy Holzner is also awesome.

    robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com

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  5. Sara -- Aw, thanks! That's so nice of you to say. ;-)

    Robin -- I've heard good things about Holzner's books. She's on my list to try.

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  6. Great interview! Some of my all time favorite authors are:
    - You, of course!;)
    -Ilona Andrews
    -Kelly Gay
    -Rachel Vincent
    -Richelle Mead
    -Jaye Wells
    -Seanan McGuire

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    Van
    Littopandaxpress(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  7. How to pick just one? Some faves include Charles de Lint (he's definitely number 1!!), Seanan McGuire, Jeanine Frost, Jeanne C Stein, Kim Harrison, Patricia Briggs, Tanya Huff.

    eilan1206 at gmail dot com.

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  8. Jennifer, you should definitely grab Deadtown by Nancy Holzner when you get a chance. The idea of Deadtown (the part of Boston meant for the monsters), her take on zombies, the different demons, and Vicky's famous vamipre roommate really make for a great novel. (Plus, Nancy was the first author to contact me for a review. And I'm so glad I said yes.)

    And I tell everyone they need to read your Elemental Assassins series. My girlfriend won't read them because she's "sick of all the cops and PIs, etc in Urban Fantasy..." Somehow, she lumps assassins in with those investigators (I don't understand it). She's been on a Paranormal Romance kick (she likes the romance more, I like the action more), but I keep threatening to hold books she really wants to read hostage so that she'll read Spider's Bite. I think I have her convinced, except she's afraid to read signed copies. Lol.

    Oh and van_pham reminded me... I forgot to include Rachel Vincent. :)

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  9. I haven't read that many of these, but I like Jennifer Estrep (obviously), Kim Harrison, not sure if Karen Marie Monings Dark series is considered this or not and I've read a few L.A. Banks novels. I just picked up two of Estrep's books from a different series last week, but haven't had the chance to start them yet.
    buckfamily at ptd.net

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  10. Love Jeaniene Frost, Laurrel K. Hamilton, Yasmine Galenorn, Karen Marie Moning (even if the dark ones don't count, the fever series was great), Kim Harrison, and of course, Jennifer Estep. I am counting down the days until Tangled Threads :) Although I do miss the bigtime books.

    adujay at gmail dot com

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  11. My first Urban fantasy author that I ever read and still read it Laurell K Hamilton and after meeting her at comic con a couple years ago Im really got to understand the world she write about it was awesome. Also: Kelly Armstrong, Richelle Mead and of course Jennifer Estep :)

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    seeingnightreviews@gmail.com

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  12. Van -- Thanks! I appreciate that. I've heard a lot of good things about Jaye Wells's books too.

    Vicki -- Tanya Huff is another author that I keep meaning to try.

    Sara -- I keep meaning to get Deadtown. It has such a cool cover, and I'm a complete sucker for a good cover.

    Heh. That's funny about your friend. I hope you can convince her to give Spider's Bite a try. ;-)

    Jill -- Cool. I hope you enjoy the Bigtime books, although I will warn you that they are quite a bit lighter/campier than the Elemental Assassin books are.

    Amber -- Cool. Glad you are looking forward to Tangled Threads. And I like Kim Harrison's books a lot too -- especially Jenks.

    Kristen -- I've only read one of Kelley Armstrong's UF books, but I really liked the book she did about the female assassin. I keep meaning to get the second book in that series.

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  13. A list of my favorite urban fantasy authors has got to have Jennifer Estep on it (I loved all 3 books in the series), and then Keri Arthur, Jeaniene Frost, Jaye Wells, Laura Bickle, Carrie Vaughn, Kelly Gay, and Kelly Meding.

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

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  14. My favorite urban fantasy writers are Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, Stacia Kane, and Jeaniene Frost. I need to write down some of these authors others are naming because I'm always looking for something new to read in the genre. :)

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  15. i have so many favorites, but some of my all-time favorites are , Laurell K. Hamilton,kelley armstrong,Jaye Wells,Jeaniene Frost, Karen Marie Moning

    blubear12@gmail.com

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  16. I have so many favorites but here is a very small list of the authors I adore and love to read.

    You (can't get enough Gin)
    Jim Butcher
    Kat Richardson
    Kelley Armstrong
    Rachel Caine

    And there are just so many more authors who make this genre a pleasure.

    dragongem@gmail.com

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  17. Barbara -- Thanks! Glad you are enjoying the Gin books.

    Edna -- Me too. I've got several new folks to add to my TBR pile.

    Minhchieu -- I keep meaning to try Hamilton's Meredith Gentry series ...

    DragonGem -- I like The Dresden Files a lot too -- especially Murphy and Bob the Skull.

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  18. Well, I love Jennifer's books, but I really enjoy these authors as well:

    Jeaniene Frost
    Richelle Mead
    Patricia Briggs
    Kim Harrison
    Ilona Andrews
    Kelley Armstrong
    Karen Chance
    CE Murphy
    Chloe Neill
    Nicole Peeler

    I could keep going, but I'll behave and stop there ;)

    kclapsadl at gmail dot com

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  19. KT -- So many books, so little time. ;-)

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  20. Patricia Briggs, Faith Hunter, & Kim Harrison are my favorites. Yummy.

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  21. Among my favorites are (alphabetically):
    Kelley Armstrong, Keri Arthur, Carolyn Crane, Jennifer Estep, Colleen Gleason, Lori Handeland, Charlaine Harris, Kim Harrison, Gini Koch, the late Jennifer Rardin, and Lynsay Sands.

    I can’t wait to read Tangled Threads—Love those Gin books! Keep them coming, Jennifer!

    Thanks for the giveaway. (Email in profile.)

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  22. Hi Jennifer! Some of my fav authors are Cynthia Eden, Diana Rowland, Chloe Neill, Karen Chance and I just read an amazing book by Darynda Jones. Loved it! I've read the first book in the Elemental Assassins series and would love to read more. Thanks for the giveaway! bpatrick64113@sbcglobal.net

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  23. Great interview. Looking forward to reading the new book. Some of my favorites are: Jeaniene Frost, Rachel Vincent, Kelley Armstrong, Carrie Vaughn, Ilona Andrews, and since I could keep going Ill stop here.

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

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  24. Some of my favorite urban fantasy authors are: Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Chloe Neill, Karen Marie Moning, and of course, Jennifer Estep (*squeals* OMG can't wait for Tangled Threads!!!! LOL).

    angeldream3[at]gmail[dot]com

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  25. I've read and enjoyed lots of UF authors, but the ones that I keep up on and must have on or near release day are Jennifer Estep, Patricia Briggs, and Ilona Andrews. My most recent discovery was Diana Pharaoh Francis. Her Horngate Witches series has a very similar feel to Jennifer's books, although the plots are completely different.

    jen at delux dot com

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  26. My favorite one is the one in my hand at the moment. While I was always a paranormal romance lover UF is beginning to edge up pretty close to the top too, so what's in my hand at the moment.... Rachel Vincent.


    (\___/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

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  27. Tough question! So many to choose from! My faves include JR Ward, Larissa Ione, Jeaniene Frost, Diana Rowland, Patricia Briggs... and of course Jennifer Estep!

    c.a.legere(at)gmail.com

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  28. Xaria -- Hunter is also on my list of authors to try.

    LSUReader -- Thanks! I hope you like Tangled Threads even more than the other books.

    Barb -- Cool. Hope you get a chance to check out the rest of the books.

    Donna -- Vaughn is another author that I've been meaning to try for a while now.

    Amy -- Cool. I hope you enjoy the book. ;-)

    Jen -- I've heard a lot of good things about Francis's books too.

    Lisa -- Vincent is another author that I keep meaning to try.

    Cat -- I need to get caught up on Ward's series, along with about a dozen others. LOL.

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  29. Ilona Andrews, Kim Harrison, Laurell K. Hamilton, Jennifer Estep and Patricia Briggs are my favorites!

    So excited for Tangled Threads!!

    miaka_yuki70@hotmail.com

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  30. Besides Jennifer, Patricia Briigs, Jim Butcher, Lilith Saintcrow, C. E. Murphy.

    sgiden at verizon.net

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  31. Alexandra -- Thanks! Hope you enjoy the book.

    Sandy -- Lilith Saintcrow is another author I like. I need to finish out her Dante Valentine series.

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  32. I really like Rachel Vincent and Patricia Briggs.

    iqb99@yahoo.com

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  33. Some of my favourites include Kelley Armstrong, Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, Karen Chance, Kim Harrison, and so many more but I'm afraid I'll run out of room before I list through them all! LOL

    whitewolfreads AT gmail DOT com

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  34. I love Illona Andrews, Chloe Neill, Kelley Armstrong, Stacia Kane, and Jeanine Frost.

    not_so_cg[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  35. Favorites are Ilona Andrews, Faith Hunter,Karen Moning, Chloe neill, Stacia Kane,Kresley Cole,Charlaine Harris, and of course Jennifer Estep just to name a few:)

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  36. Danielle -- I keep meaning to try Rachel Vincent as well ...

    Whitewolf -- It's a great time to be a fantasy fan, isn't it? ;-)

    DH -- Stacia Kane is another author I've been meaning to try ...

    Joslynn -- I really like the Immortals After Dark series by Cole.

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  37. I'm a fan of Jeaniene Frost, Diana Rowland, Ilona Andrews, Karen Marie Moning, Karen Chance, Meljean Brook, Patricia Briggs, Seanan McGuire, Chloe Neil, Kresley Cole, Larissa Ione, Shelly Laurenston, Nalini Singh, D.B. Reynolds (I know some of them are paranormal romance and not urban fantasy, but they're still fun to read!)
    AND
    Jennifer Estep =)
    Congrats on your upcoming release!

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  38. Kristy -- Thanks! I appreciate that. I'm behind on Nalini Singh's books and need to get caught up on those, and Larissa Iona is on my list of authors to try too.

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  39. I've been looking forward to the latest release! Some of my favorites are Keri Arthur, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Charlaine Harris. tWarner419@aol.com

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  40. Tetewa -- Thanks! I hope you enjoy it.

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  41. Some of my favorite are: Kim Harrison, LKH, Angie Fox, & Nicole Peeler


    heatwave96(at)hotmail.com

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  42. Ilona Andrews
    Patricia Briggs
    Jeaniene Frost
    Kelley Armstrong
    Karen Chance
    Rachel Vincent and probably many more I am forgetting right now.

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  43. Heatwave -- I like The Hollows series a lot too.

    Pam -- There are so many authors on that list I want to try. I need more time to read!

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  44. Some of my favorite fantasy authors are Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, and Jeaniene Frost.

    lilazncutie1215[at]yahoo[dot]com

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Thanks for stopping by Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog! I'd love to here what's on your mind. :)