Please welcome back
Casablanca Author Kristine Grayson, whose new novel in her fairy tale inspired series,
Charming Blue, hits stores this
month! In today’s post, she shares some infor about a recent signing…
Signings
By Kristine Grayson
Last
weekend, I went to a book signing. Actually, I was part of that book signing,
as I have been every year since its inception. Bob’s Beach Books in Lincoln
City, Oregon, hosts one of the largest book signings in Oregon every
August. (http://bobsbeachbooks.net/events/)
We
sit outside the bookstore in the cold. Yes, cold.
As in 55 degrees. Oregon beaches are always cold in the summer, usually because
of fog, but mostly because of the west wind that constantly blows off the
ocean. Think Gothic Romance beach instead of Hot California Nights beach. (Sex
on the beach is not advised around here, unless you want to freeze your parts
off—or you just want the alcoholic beverage.)
The
locals bring extra coats because the guests always forget the cold. Usually
there’s a fifty-degree temperature drop from the main cities 100 miles
away. The writers hide behind their
stacks of books, or mill about and talk with each other. It’s not uncommon to
send a runner to find an author to sign a book for a tourist, because the
author’s talking to friends she hasn’t seen in a while.
The
signing is always successful. Streams of tourists buy books, have books signed,
gossip, and just hang out for the entire event. They even forgo the (very cold
but sunny) beach.
I
write under a bunch of pen names, so signings like this are dicey for me. I
have to get up about four hours earlier than usual, so I’m not at my best. Then
I’m signing different names on different books, and the last thing I want to do
is put Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s signature on a Kris Nelscott novel.
This
year was the first year that I had a book coming out just after the signing. Charming Blue hadn’t hit stores yet, and
I’ve had such a crazy summer that I’d been thinking it was July, not August, so
I didn’t even think of asking Sourcebooks to ship some copies early.
Two
days before the signing, my author copies of Charming Blue showed up. I gave five to Bob’s Beach Books—and the staff
scarfed up four copies, then demanded more. I haven’t had that happen before a
signing ever, not in more than thirty years of publishing.
But
the kind folks at the bookstore had heard me talk about this one for more than
a year. In Wickedly Charming, I had a
passing scene with a very drunk Bluebeard, and while he smelled bad and
stumbled around, I find him strangely appealing. Plus he nearly stole an entire
third of the first draft of that novel. (I had to cut it back.)
Clearly
the man wanted a book of his own.
Although
why a notorious villain thought he deserved a romance all to himself, I didn’t
know. Not then anyway. Except that Cantankerous Belle, who is the grumpier
cousin of one Tinker Bell, kept saying that we’d all misjudged Bluebeard.
Misjudged? I argued with
myself. I thought there was proof.
So
last August, as I went to the signing, I was writing about Bluebeard. He told
me his convoluted story. Apparently, I had mentioned it to the staff at Bob’s
Beach Books, and they’d been waiting ever since.
I
brought ten more copies to the signing, and all of them sold, not just to the
staff and their friends, but to folks I’d never met before. Of all the books I
had at the signing, Charming Blue
sold the best. And the only reason it was even there was a box of books had
landed on my porch that same week.
I
thought Bluebeard had some cache. I didn’t realize how much.
I
just hope I signed “Kristine Grayson” on all those copies instead of one of my
other pen names. I guess I’ll never know…
Thank you Kristine,
for chatting with us today! To enter to win one of two copies of Charming Blue, please share in the comments
your favorite fairy tale, or leave a question for Kristine. Please leave an
email address so you can be contacted if you’re a winner! Winners (US and
Canada mailing addresses only) will be chosen Tuesday, 9/11.
CHARMING BLUE BY
KRISTINE GRAYSON – IN STORES SEPTEMBER 2012
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 attractived to him.
"Grayson
deftly nods to pop culture and offers clever spins on classic legends and lore
while adding unique twists all her own." —Booklist Starred Review for Wickedly
Charming
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Acclaimed author Kristine Grayson has won the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice award
and, under her real name, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, the prestigious Hugo award.
Before turning to romance writing, Grayson edited the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and ran Pulphouse
Publishing. She lives with her own Prince Charming, writer Dean Wesley Smith,
in Portland, Oregon. For more information, please visit www.kristinegrayson.com and follow
her on Twitter, @KristineRusch.
Wonderful, wonderful premise! An underdog among underdogs, and who wouldn't want to see HIM liberated from his castle of misery.
ReplyDeleteMaybe those chilly Oregon summers stir up the creative juices, because it sounds like you've come up with a new classic.
I love fairytales. At least Disney version with there happy endings. I like cinderella and sleeping beauty.
ReplyDeleteI feel so bad for blue beard. I hope he ends up with a happy ending.
countessofmar(at)yahoo(dot)com
Sounds like fun! I loved visiting the Oregon beaches when we lived in Tigard. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Kristine. Your book sounds good. My favorite fairy tale is Cinderella
ReplyDeleteMine too was Cinderella.
ReplyDeletepatoct@yahoo.com
I absolutely love this premise, congrats on the release. Sounds like a great location for a book store, btw. :)
ReplyDeleteLove the cover. My favorite has always been Beauty and the Beast - inner beauty over the superficial - true love.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun! I'd love to visit that area sometime. It's going on my list to visit there during that book signing!
ReplyDeleteI've always loved Cinderella, but your take on the story in Wickedly Charming was delightful and gave me a whole different outlook on the fairy tale. :D
ReplyDeleteBarbed1951 at aol dot com
Oregon is a beautiful state, even if the temp can drop to your toes. At least all those books can help keep you warm =)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, bring on more of very drunk Bluebeard!! hahaha!
I have a soft spot for any fairy tales, though my favorite was always Beauty and the Beast (can't get over how he changes/grows and becomes this strong caring man). So of course I am loving your books and can't wait for Charming Blue!!
eyesofblueice (at) gmail (dot) com
Congrats on the book! I like Cinderella.
ReplyDeletebn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
There are actually two fairy tales that tie for my favorite: Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel.
ReplyDeleteWriting under so many pen names, do you have books from multiple ones when you do a signing or do you stick to one name per signing?
June
manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com
Congrats on the latest release! Charming Blue has such an intriguing premise, I can't wait to read it :)
ReplyDeleteAs for favourite fairy tale, it has always been Cinderella for me :)
chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com
Wow! I didn't realize this was another of your pen names...how in the world are you keeping all of your universes separate...you must clone yourself! Congrats on the new release, I like Beauty and the Beast!
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS on your latest release, Kristine!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite fairy tale? Rapunzel:)
yadkny@hotmail.com
Thanks to everyone who commented! Our winners are
ReplyDeleteMelody May
and
June M.
I'll email you both shortly.
Danielle