Special speed blog from Eileen Wilks:
The question writers hear most often is, “Where do you get your ideas?”
With Tempting Danger, the answer seems obvious. A little over a year ago I wrote a novella called “Only Human” that drove me distracted . It did not want to be a novella—the characters and their world begged to be made into a longer, richer book. I was blessed with an editor who agreed and asked that I expand it into a series. Look for more about Lily and Rule in Mortal Danger, available [insert pub date.]
And yet, as those of you who’ve read both novel and novella have seen, the story told in Tempting Danger is very different from that in “Only Human.” Though they explore some of the same ideas, they share only a single scene—the opening—and even that isn’t identical.What happened? Do I just like to make things hard on myself?
Well, yes, that’s probably part of it. There’s also the old adage about never stepping in the same stream twice. When I returned to the stream I’d forded in “Only Human,” the water had moved on. I was in a different stream. The current was stronger and carried me farther, through different—and wilder–territory.Then there’s Dark Matter.
Scientists say that around 98% of our universe is composed of a mysterious substance they cannot see, measure, or identify. They’ve dubbed it Dark Matter, or Dark Energy–and that’s where my ideas really come from. Like the mystery mass that makes up so much of reality, creativity can’t be seen, measured, or identified. It’s everywhere . . . and it’s moving.
Happy traveling.
Yesterday I mentioned how I enjoy paranormals that lean toward urban fantasy.
Well, I couldn’t have picked a better book for that. TEMPTING DANGER is easily among the best I’ve read this year. I’ll be honest; through no special attraction of my own, I wound up planning an RWA workshop panel on writing and selling cross-genre fiction with Eileen. By the time we were done, we’d chatted on the phone, and I concluded that Eileen is a lovely person. And people had been telling me, you have to read her books. They’re amazing.
Lauren Dane was one of those people, and since I trust her judgment, I added all Eileen’s Lupi books to my massive Amazon order. After reading all the reviews and sample chapters, I was really excited to get my grubby little hands on them. Admittedly, I was a little nervous too because I consider Eileen a friend at this point (or at least a friendly acquaintance). But I figured I could always just not comment at all. You’re never sorry about keeping your mouth shut.
Then the books arrived, and I read the first one right away. It was a Sunday morning. By Sunday evening, I had devoured the other two, and was wishing I could get my mitts on Night Season, which comes out in January. Sheer brilliance.
TEMPTING DANGER has everything: world-building, characterization, and lovely, lyrical writing. I was talking to Lauren afterward, and we both agree that Eileen has an amazingly fresh voice. Really, I’m talking about all three of her Lupi stories when I say such things, but we’ll focus on the first one for ease of reference.
Lily Yu is a cop with a special gift — you could call it the Sight, and you wouldn’t be wrong. She knows when magic has been used in a crime, and what’s more, she can ID the types of magic by the way they feel to her. For example, death magic stinks of putrefaction. Eileen does a wonderful job with world-building. There are no inconsistencies, and everything ties together beautifully.
At the start of the book, there’s been a brutal murder, which Lily knows has been committed by a lupus (or werewolf, but that’s not the PC term anymore). I love the little touches like that, and the bits of history Eileen slips in along the way without a trace of info dump. Her use of exposition feels utterly integral to the narrative, which can be difficult to achieve.
Enter Rule Turner, the heir to the Nokolai clan. Someone is trying to frame him, and it’s up to Lily to clear his name. Whether she wants to or not. Add an explosive sexual attraction to a dangerously fraught political clime, and you have the beginning of TEMPTING DANGER.
I think I’ve given you a pretty good idea of how the book starts with a bang. Now for my reactions to it.
OMG!! I can’t believe I hadn’t read these books before. I wish I could say it was because I was living under a rock because these are some of the best paranormals I’ve ever read. Sadly, I was just missing out. As I said earlier, they do edge toward urban fantasy in their scope, because there’s certainly more plot than Wolfman finds mate, Wolfman rogers mate, mate cannot resist Wolfman, the end.
Lauren and I talked about these books at length. Really, I just popped up on IM to squee and she was nice enough not to say, “Duh, everyone else was squeeing about these years ago!” So I’m behind — at least I found my way at some point. We both agree that Eileen has a captivating style and her characters are just brilliant. You know how you feel when you run across a perfect pairing? Not that there aren’t fights, tension, and all the other yummy stuff. But ideal chemistry that makes you sigh and clutch the book once you’ve finished it?
TEMPTING DANGER has that in spades. I would go so far as to say Rule and Lily are the Eve and Roarke of paranormal romances. They have the same delicious complementary relationship. Sometimes when I finish a book, I don’t really understand why the hero and heroine are together, other than the fact that the author wanted them to be. Sometimes I could actually see them matched with a secondary character instead.
Not so with TEMPTING DANGER. When I finished this book, I could not imagine Rule or Lily with anyone else. They were a matched set, complete with realistic tension and conflict. I loved this book. Don’t let the cover fool you. It absolutely isn’t just another romantic suspense.
Who else has read it? What did you think?
And our random prize winner from yesterday should email me. Happy Early Christmas! Kat O+, I need to hear from you!
Gah! I haven’t read her books. Alright I need to get them like pronto ’cause Tempting Danger sounds awesome.
You totally need to read them. For me, they were like a cross between Nalini Singh and JD Robb. Talk about a delicious mix.
OMG, and I didn’t even mention Eileen’s deft hand with strong secondary characters. Not in an obvious way like, “Hello, I am sequel bait,” but so irresistible in their given roles that you’re left dying to learn more.
Rule’s brother Benedict for instance. I want his story as much as I want Hawke’s from the Psy / Changeling books.
And Lily’s grandmother is probably the best supporting character I’ve ever run across. I love her so much, I want a prequel. When you’ve read all the books, you’ll know why.
I haven’t read her books. This one is on my wish/want list. Maybe Santa will get it for me *G* This one sounds good and I love the cover for it.
Hugssss
LindaH
One more thing congratulations Kat.
Hugssss
LindaH
“Hello, I am sequel bait” that’s hilarious!!
Hehe, Wendy. :)
Eileen’s books left me feeling awed, no joke. Sometimes when I finish a book, I’m left with a fine readerly glow, but Eileen’s books did more than that. I was left with a faint sense of writerly inferiority. And honestly, it takes a lot to make me feel that way. I’m pretty secure in what I can do. But Eileen seriously made me think, “Wow, I am SO not on this level. But maybe someday I will be.” She’s just hella good.
Ann, stop singing her praises! You’re just making me want to go get all her books but I’m in class and leaving in the middle of the lecture to go to B&N to buy books is kinda frowned upon.
Ridiculous, isn’t it? ;)
I love this series, and I have to agree. Eileen is an awesome writer, and she sucked me into her world.
Agreed, Shelly.
My kids are used to seeing me wandering the house with a book in my hand. I cook while reading. I clean while reading. But I hardly put these down at all while I was reading them.
Just stopping by to say hi… and go add this book to my wishlist now.
In 2006, Tempting Danger and Mortal Danger were on my top 10 list of books. I think they’re probably the books I felt that should have gotten word of mouth buzz but didn’t. I love that series!
100% agree, Angela.
This is a series that I would love to become a huge hit, due to word of mouth. I’d love for everyone to be talking about it. When I saw that Patricia Briggs had blurbed Eileen, I knew it was going to be amazing.
This would be a new author for me and the series sounds like my kind of read!
I haven’t read anything by Wilks (yet), but I think I’m going to have to. I really enjoy paranormal romance/urban fiction, but there’s so much of it out there that it’s hard to choose. Well developed characters are an essential ingredient in any book I read and enjoy, and it sounds like Wilks has them in spades.
Kimberly B, you’re gonna love this series. Lily and Rule are just sooo yummy. And then book four is Cynna and Cullen. *happy sigh*
I haven’t had the chance to read any of Eileen’s books yet but would love to have the chance to win one. They sound like great books. :)
Congrats to Kat for winning in Day 1 Contest!
Does that mean there are (almost) 4titles in the series so far? And the main couple continues in each story? Please correct my mommy-of-a-toddler (aka permanently fuzzy) brain if I’m wrong… Was just saying elsewhere that my TBR pile is very small these days. Lots of room to add Eileen’s books to it then!
Allison, that’s exactly what it means.
Tempting Danger
Mortal Danger
Blood Lines
and Night Season will be out in January. (Yay!)
The first two are Lily and Rule focused with awesome secondary characters.
Blood Lines is split between Lily / Rule and Cynna / Cullen. It was a good shift, though. I was ready to focus on Cullen and Cynna by that point. In fact I wanted more of them, so I was tickled to find out that Cynna and Cullen will be the focus of Night Season. In this way, I guess her books are more along the lines of Kelley Armstrong. A couple of books for one couple, then a shift of focus, though the overall cast remains constant.
I’m also on that Benedict bandwagon, in hopes that he gets his own book. I just wonder what kind of woman he’ll end up with.
I’m trying to be patient and wait for Night Season. Cynna and Cullen are not your typical romance couple. Which makes me like them even more. I can’t wait to see where their story goes.
Amen, Sweet.
I loooooooooove how different Eileen has made all the characters in the Lupi books. Cynna is so far from a typical romance heroine that I don’t even know where to start. And Cullen is so deliciously tormented. I can’t wait to see where that’s going.
Hmm. I wonder if I could get an ARC of Night Season… if I offered Eileen an ARC of Grimspace. *schemes*
Man I need to get these books now I love lauren’s books and have yours on my wish list for xmas so I trust ya’lls judgement. Matter of fact i think i might have one of these books in my tbr pile. Need to check that out and if not add them to my wishlist lol
Okay, I’ve read all of the J.D. Robbs, and am eagerly awaiting the 4th in this series (I don’t suggest books to my friends- I hand them the books and say read it). I haven’t read any of Nalini Singh’s books, so I should probably add her to my list.
Well you already know what I think, but I’m so ridiculously excited about next month so I can read the next book!!
I loved this series so much, I put her on my auto buy list, and can’t wait to read the next one.
Me too, Cathy.
I’m doubly excited because I’ll be in the States when the Patricia Briggs comes out, along with Night Season. I intend to get The Spymaster’s Lady too. All in person, in a bookstore! Too awesome for words.
Have not read any books by her but I must say this book sounds really good.
Oh another new to me author. This is great. Thanks for all the new book ideas.
I love talking books. Love giving out prizes too!
I haven’t had a chance to read this book yet, but it is on my list to Santa.
wow you really have my attention with this one. I will be checking her books out definitely. Thanks for the info. I love finding out about new books or at least new to me. :-)