tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post7816664700968903851..comments2024-03-22T05:18:29.555-04:00Comments on Romance Bandits: Colleen Gleason, creator of the "Regency Buffy"Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217492654108300014noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-72917893852770623422007-06-25T15:41:00.000-04:002007-06-25T15:41:00.000-04:00I love the concept of this, Buffy and the Regency ...I love the concept of this, Buffy and the Regency together! And five books - great!<BR/>Also fascinated about the plotting - or not! Sounds a bit like me, a seat of the pantz writer with a general idea, and then go for it. Thankfully it usually works out. <BR/>I've just submitted my first Regency - my others were contemporary and time travel romance. <BR/>Hope i can find your books in our stores down here in New Zealand.<BR/>Happy writing<BR/>Jane Beckenham<BR/>www.janebeckenham.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11062322527055572465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-20775170101984821442007-06-09T19:24:00.000-04:002007-06-09T19:24:00.000-04:00I love the idea of a romance that spans five books...I love the idea of a romance that spans five books! And what a great concept, Colleen. One of those ideas every writer wants to come up with. Wow, wouldn't it be great as a movie? Thanks so much for talking with Trish, Colleen and thanks, Trish, for those great questions.Christine Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14260589566405262159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-31636818748118472552007-06-09T10:18:00.000-04:002007-06-09T10:18:00.000-04:00Colleen, thank you for stopping by to chat with th...Colleen, thank you for stopping by to chat with the Banditas! I haven't read the first book, but you make it sound so good I think I'll be making a trip to the bookstore this weekend just to pick up a copy.<BR/><BR/>SuzanneSuzanne Ferrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05761579189372602292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-34041051906967638242007-06-09T04:30:00.000-04:002007-06-09T04:30:00.000-04:00Great interview. I got to say I love Spikes accent...Great interview. I got to say I love Spikes accent,but I'll take Angel anyday.*g*<BR/><BR/>Congrats on the new release Colleen!<BR/><BR/>*hugs*danettebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10080821348744144432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-11297080552135298092007-06-09T01:01:00.000-04:002007-06-09T01:01:00.000-04:00Glad to see everyone commenting today. Sorry, I've...Glad to see everyone commenting today. Sorry, I've been away from the computer since posting this interview last night. Spent the day at the Memphis zoo with my sister and nieces, drove for several hours, re-watched an old favorite tonight (Benny & Joon, starring a very young looking Johnny Depp), and trying to do a little online time tonight before falling into bed. We're off again tomorrow for more touristy excursions.<BR/><BR/>Colleen, I got Rises the Night at Barnes & Noble last night! Will start reading as soon as the sis and nieces head home. I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next.Trish Milburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812010789617982102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-88734479452424876682007-06-08T23:53:00.000-04:002007-06-08T23:53:00.000-04:00Keira, I definitely owe you a drink when I see you...Keira, I definitely owe you a drink when I see you in Dallas! So glad you enjoyed CTC again. That's actually my test of a book, if I can read it again and get more out of it. I do that a lot with my favorites. Is anyone else a re-reader? Given my TBR pile, I always feel slightly guilty when I pick up an old favorite but sometimes only something I know I'm going to love will do! <BR/><BR/>I love the Patrick Doyle soundtracks too. The Henry V one is one of my all-time faves. So powerful. I find, though, when I'm writing, that sometimes the music can be too demanding (that soundtrack actually fits in that category - Gladiator is another one). Speaking of Philip Glass - I had exactly that experience you describe. I had one CD of ballet music which really worked as a writing tool and then I bought another one that was really loud and dramatic and no use at all! <BR/><BR/>Colleen, I think it's sad that CP despises TSOM (yes, I'd heard that too - apparently he winces when it's mentioned). That movie is so important to so many people and he played Captain Von Trapp so beautifully, so he's not a horrible arrogant tyrant, he's a man trapped in his grief, that he should be proud of it. Nothing he's done since has touched that many lives whatever artistic integrity his subsequent work may have had. <BR/><BR/>Oh, dear, I'm talkative this morning! Somebody shut me up! <BR/><BR/>I'm going to a meeting of the south-east England branch of the Romantic Novelists' Association today at the Lamb pub in Holborn. Doesn't that sound like fun? It's lovely to have friends all over the world through the romance writing gig!Anna Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06695579361323275316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-29676388057674963672007-06-08T21:12:00.000-04:002007-06-08T21:12:00.000-04:00Great interview. Your covers are awesome looking. ...Great interview. Your covers are awesome looking. I have to say I've never read your books before, but will picking them up now.Stacy Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00057427848452822949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-78807604155361060452007-06-08T18:00:00.000-04:002007-06-08T18:00:00.000-04:00HI Anna, Aunty Cindy, and Beth...Thanks for having...HI Anna, Aunty Cindy, and Beth...<BR/><BR/>Thanks for having me! So excited to be here. What a gorgeous blog and lots of fun and talented people!<BR/><BR/>As for whether these Gardella books were my first....they're my first published books, but THE REST FALLS AWAY was the ninth book I'd written and the first one I sold.<BR/><BR/>And I'd had an agent for two years before we sold the Gardellas, and she'd submitted three other manuscripts before the sale. Since then, we've also sold two more Gardellas (for a total of four) and two erotic historicals that I write under a different name.<BR/><BR/>Thanks so much for having me here today, and for your enthusiasm about my books!<BR/><BR/>ColleenColleen Gleasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15650958015205097847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-89488238928235944962007-06-08T17:55:00.000-04:002007-06-08T17:55:00.000-04:00And while I'm here, AnnaC, I re-read CtC while I w...And while I'm here, AnnaC, I re-read CtC while I was in the land of the sun. Loved it even more the second go around. Thank you!Keira Soleorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14440213826734580889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-1540459627098403262007-06-08T17:54:00.000-04:002007-06-08T17:54:00.000-04:00AnnaC and Colleen, thanks for a great music discus...AnnaC and Colleen, thanks for a great music discussion. I have the Brandenburgs in my list, and also Patrick Doyle's soundtracks. I adore the music to the new P&P Austen movie. Then I added Baby Bach to my list: happy tunes. I love the polyphony while writing.(I know I've said this here before.) Thanks for the suggestion to listen to the music of <I>Piano</I>--I put it in my Amazon list. I like quite a bit of Phillip Glass, great motoring music, but ostinatos can sometimes be a little trying when I'm trying to think. <BR/><BR/>Colleen, thanks also for the discussion about HEAs and readers' reactions. The 'Net has become a great spot for camaraderie, but sometimes it can morph into a lynching place, too. My sympathies. And brava to you for being brave.Keira Soleorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14440213826734580889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-19762509658040472092007-06-08T17:46:00.000-04:002007-06-08T17:46:00.000-04:00Gee I love to see my name in lights -- even if it ...Gee I love to see my name in lights -- even if it is spelled wrong :) LOL!!!!!<BR/><BR/>Colleen -- you books sound wonderful and very intriguing. Guess I'll be checking them out at the bookstore very soon!!Buffiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18320253744501589352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-62039658003931818682007-06-08T17:32:00.000-04:002007-06-08T17:32:00.000-04:00Welcome Colleen! And BIG THANX to Trish for interv...Welcome Colleen! And BIG THANX to Trish for interviewing you!<BR/><BR/>Colleen, I was wondering if the Gardella books are your first. If not, what did you write before them? If so, did you have an agent before you submitted?<BR/><BR/>I LOVED the insight into your writing process. Thanx a bunch for sharing! And the Brandenburgs are my fave Bach pieces, too (though as I've mentioned before Beethoven is my preference).<BR/><BR/>And VA, you are NOT ALONE. I've never watched a single episode of Buffy either. I did watch the originally movie, but only because Rutger Hauer was in it as the Big Bad Vampire...yum!<BR/><BR/>ACLoucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02217492654108300014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-24720124804457209702007-06-08T16:43:00.000-04:002007-06-08T16:43:00.000-04:00Colleen, welcome to the Banditas! And thank you an...Colleen, welcome to the Banditas! And thank you and Trish for such a wonderful interview.<BR/><BR/>I agree, your covers are gorgeous and the high concept sounds wonderful! Will definitely be picking up copies of books one and two :-)Beth Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01204356784898045866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-44258325217391979442007-06-08T16:03:00.000-04:002007-06-08T16:03:00.000-04:00Hi Colleen, welcome! Thanks for taking the time to...Hi Colleen, welcome! Thanks for taking the time to visit with the Banditas.<BR/><BR/>You've intrigued me!Love the concept and the descriptions - going to have to run out and buy your books!<BR/><BR/>I'm not a vampire as a romantic hero fan (loved Dark Shadows though!), in fact the only ones I've ever read which I enjoyed were Caridad Pineiro's vampires in her Calls series. Nor am I a Buffy fan (can I admit to never having seen it?)<BR/><BR/>But, I love the idea of a Regency vampire hunter and the way you've described your heroine and your stories has really got me excited about reading something different!<BR/><BR/>So glad you dropped by!Anna Sugdenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02015356374453032571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-33643591239828182932007-06-08T12:21:00.000-04:002007-06-08T12:21:00.000-04:00Anna, I knew were were soul sisters.I think Chris ...Anna, I knew were were soul sisters.<BR/><BR/>I think Chris Plummer in Sound of Music is just delicious (although I've heard he hated making that "sappy" movie and called it "The Sound of Mucus." LOL)<BR/><BR/>And you happened to name a few of my favorites--I love the Brandenburg Concerto (for Trumpet) and had it played at my wedding as a matter of fact...and also the Vivaldi trumpet concertos.<BR/><BR/>I really am going to have to dig those out...especially since in book four, which I'll be starting soon, Victoria goes back to London and will probably be at a musicale or two!Colleen Gleasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15650958015205097847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-47644116696635018752007-06-08T12:02:00.000-04:002007-06-08T12:02:00.000-04:00Colleen, hope you've had a good day with the Bandi...Colleen, hope you've had a good day with the Banditas. Had to pop in and say yum to a young Christopher Plummer. I still find him really sexy in the Sound of Music! Yes, tragic, I know. I think I'm like a duckling who was imprinted because he was the hero of the very first movie I ever saw and I think he's stayed with me ever since. Quack! If you like Vivaldi, try some of the Bach violin concertos. They were my way into the whole Bach universe - really rhythmic and melodic. Or the Brandenburg Concertos. I find them great to write to. Hmm, if anyone remembers my eight facts, I was the classical music nut!Anna Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06695579361323275316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-80871638682056165532007-06-08T09:02:00.000-04:002007-06-08T09:02:00.000-04:00Hi ChrystalG! Nice to see you over here!!Karen...t...Hi ChrystalG! Nice to see you over here!!<BR/><BR/>Karen...thanks for coming by and for your questions. When I was writing Victoria, I was thinking of Emmy Rossum, who played Christine in Webber's Phantom of the Opera film...but Victoria's not quite as sweet looking. <BR/><BR/>As for the male leads (and there are three of them, and one of them will turn out to be Mr. Right--but until that happens, they sort of share the stage. They all have different personalities and different agendas, and they want different things from Victoria)....I do have visuals for some of them.<BR/><BR/>I see Clive Owen or a young Sound of Music era Christopher Plummer as Max.<BR/><BR/>I see Nicholas Cage or Patrick Wilson as Phillip.<BR/><BR/>And I see a much more cleaned up Matthew McConaughey as Sebastian.<BR/><BR/>Yet...I don't have their pictures in front of me as I write. They're still sort of piecemeal images in my mind.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for coming by!Colleen Gleasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15650958015205097847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-36449108188391738662007-06-08T08:39:00.000-04:002007-06-08T08:39:00.000-04:00Hi Colleen,Great interview. Couple of questions:1....Hi Colleen,<BR/><BR/>Great interview. Couple of questions:<BR/>1. Do you have a visual inspiration for your M/F characters in front of you when you write? If so, who?<BR/>2. Is there a central male lead appearing throughout the series who will eventually be the hero in Victoria's HEA?<BR/><BR/>I have the 1st book of this series on my huge TBR shelf and I promise I'll pull it out very soon and get it read. Normally I am not that into the vampire type books, but I love the idea of "Buffy, The Regency Vampire Slayer" so I look forward to reading this book and collecting the others in the series.Karen Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13732638672537005826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-72531564714659932052007-06-08T08:08:00.000-04:002007-06-08T08:08:00.000-04:00Great interview. Loved your answers. I think the c...Great interview. Loved your answers. I think the covers are great too.CrystalGBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16613282698726922126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-68072693476940732002007-06-08T07:12:00.000-04:002007-06-08T07:12:00.000-04:00Oh...and for anyone who's interested, here's a lin...Oh...and for anyone who's interested, here's a link to a $1-off coupon for RISES THE NIGHT (and other books) at Borders:<BR/><BR/>http://www.bordersstores.com/features/<BR/>feature.jsp?file=coupon_romanceColleen Gleasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15650958015205097847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-53663996539452750132007-06-08T07:03:00.000-04:002007-06-08T07:03:00.000-04:00Anna! Thanks so much for being part of the Bandita...Anna! Thanks so much for being part of the Banditas and having me here, and especially to Trish for coming up with some fun questions!<BR/><BR/>Jill, thanks so much for buying my books...and thanks for the compliments on the covers. I love them too. I think NAL did an outstanding job!<BR/><BR/>Keira! Thanks for coming by here too...and I hope we get to meet at Dallas! If you see me, hunt me down, I'd love to chat.<BR/><BR/>As for listening to Haydn or Bach or other music from the Regency era....it's just not my thing, so I haven't really tried it (although I really love Vivaldi)...but maybe I should. *headdesk* Never really thought about trying period music for mood music when I'm writing, if you can believe it!<BR/><BR/>And as far as reader reactions to the not-so-HEA at the end of REST (and RISES)...I haven't really had any angry reactions, or disappointed ones. I've had some people comment that they were sad about what happened, but there wasn't the sense of them being angry or cheated out of the ending they expected.<BR/><BR/>The only place I've really heard or seen that kind of reaction is, funny enough, among romance-reader blogs! <BR/><BR/>And even then, it wasn't anger or disappointment with me, as much as confusion as to why the publisher positioned the book as a romance.<BR/><BR/>But I think people who aren't plugged in to the industry aren't as sensitive to it--after all, my book has a lot of romantic elements, and the readers know it's a series, so I think they expect their HEA eventually.<BR/><BR/>Colleen<BR/>(my blog is at <BR/>http://www.colleengleason.com/<BR/>wordpress/Colleen Gleasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15650958015205097847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-67339668906003191782007-06-08T03:26:00.000-04:002007-06-08T03:26:00.000-04:00Keira, interesting you talking about music. I find...Keira, interesting you talking about music. I find I write best to stuff that has a definite rhythm but nothing too outlandish, if that makes sense. It needs to become part of the pulse of my brain rather than make me listen to it, if that makes sense. I actually find some Philip Glass is great to write to, as is something like the soundtrack to the Piano. That regular throbbing pulse of the music seems to get me into a creative state. Does that sound too new age to be bearable? I hope not!<BR/><BR/>Oh, the covers! That corset one for the first book was just SOOO sexy! Sort of modern and historical at the same time which really worked so well.Anna Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06695579361323275316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-58436996836474628282007-06-08T02:05:00.000-04:002007-06-08T02:05:00.000-04:00Colleen, honestly, I'm not stalking you, though I ...Colleen, honestly, I'm not stalking you, though I "talked" to you at Risky Regencies earlier today and now here. <BR/><BR/>AnnaC, aren't her covers just gorgeous like the eye-catching titles?<BR/><BR/>Colleen, I hope Dallas does the same trick for me as it did you: The high concept jumped out at you. <BR/><BR/>I'm in the process of assembling my music list for the project I recently started. Since this is the first time I'm doing this, it's great to read about what sort of music other writers listen to when they write. <I>AC/DC for a fight scene</I>... :) <BR/><BR/>Do you find that your chosen tracks work even though you're writing Regency-set historicals, not contemps? What would happen to your story if you were to play, say, Hayden or Bach? :)<BR/><BR/>Following up on Trish's excellent question about HEAs, what did you find your readers' reactions were to Victoria not getting her HEA at the end of TRFA? Did the readers go along with NAL's romance classification?Keira Soleorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14440213826734580889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-20210128900450284272007-06-08T01:19:00.000-04:002007-06-08T01:19:00.000-04:00The covers are awesome too. You can't miss it in t...The covers are awesome too. You can't miss it in the store. Got my copy of Rises the Night today at BN. Can't wait to get started.Jill Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04427195661910894382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-59344489142215125112007-06-08T00:40:00.000-04:002007-06-08T00:40:00.000-04:00Trish, great questions! Colleen, great answers! An...Trish, great questions! Colleen, great answers! And welcome to the Banditas. I hope you'll come and visit us again. I've always thought your high concept for the Gardella books was brilliant. Still do. It really makes you sit up and pay attention and as you say, unites two seemingly opposite threads in popular culture in a way that works. Good luck with book two. I'm sure it will be a huge success. There was such a buzz about the first story. By the way, I think your titles are great!Anna Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06695579361323275316noreply@blogger.com