• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sugarbeat's Books

The Home of the Romance Novel

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About Me
  • Review Policy
  • Review List
  • My Books

Interview & Giveaway with Jillian Stone, author of An Affair with Mr. Kennedy

By Barb Drozdowich

Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!

Today we are welcoming Jillian Stone, author of An Affair with Mr Kennedy to the blog!  She doing a blog tour and is here for one of her stops.

To celebrate her debut release, Jillian will be giving away a signed copy of AN AFFAIR WITH MR. KENNEDY to a commenter today. In addition, all commenters will be entered in a special giveaway promotion: Jewelry inspired by the romantic notion of recapturing lost time as the French title ‘Le Temps Perdu’ A Steampunk watch necklace from the Time Travel Collection by Yolanda Pang. Cyber travel to Poetic Designs and see for yourself just how whimsical this watch necklace is! http://www.etsy.com/listing/86157293/le-temps-perdu-ii-steampunk-watch 
sugarbeat's books romance novels romance book reviewsThe AN AFFAIR WITH MR. KENNEDY promotion continues here at Sugarbeat’s Books and Jillian will post the winner on February 22  at Get Lost in a Story and her website. Comment on any of her blogs or interviews and you are entered to win. Each time you visit a different blog and leave a comment your name gets entered again! For a schedule of her interviews and blogs go to contact/press on her website. Good luck everyone!
sugarbeat's books romance novels romance book reviews
Barb –  Tell us a little bit about yourself and your writing.
Jillian – I live in California, and I my first career was in advertising. I started out as an art director, but also got involved in copywriting and film. I began writing full length fiction in a serious way in 2006. After writing a medieval historical, I began work on a historical romantic suspense series about an elite group of Scotland Yard detectives set in London in the Late Victorian period. The first book in the series, AN AFFAIR WITH MR. KENNEDY (originally titled THE YARD MAN) won the 2010 Golden Heart and shortly after, I accepted a three book offer from Pocket Books!
Barb –  Who are your cheerleaders?
Jillian – Who continues to encourage you to write? I am fortunate to have a wonderful network of romance writers who keep me sane and make me laugh! My family has been amazing as well. It’s not easy living with a writer on deadline.
Barb –  When you made your first sale, how did you celebrate and with whom?
Jillian – Besides happy dancing around the house? My agent, Richard Curtis, called me to present the offers I received for AN AFFAIR WITH MR. KENNEDY and we both agreed that Pocket Books offer was the one to accept. That afternoon I celebrated with my critique partner long distance (humorous popping of corks over the phone) and then went out to dinner with friends and family.
Barb –  What’s the hardest part of writing a book?
Jillian – Sticking with it, even when you think the writing is crap and the plot sucks. I find that if I just keep schlepping along most of the problems are fixed or edited out in rewrite.
Barb –  What’s your favorite part of writing a book?
Jillian – Writing a scene and the characters mysteriously take over and surprise me with something wonderful. I know, it’s metaphysical, but it really happens!
Barb –  Which scenes were the hardest to write?
Jillian – Love scenes are some of the hardest to write. You are dealing with emotion, action, dialogue, and tingling. A really good love scene has its own arc, but if you get it right––hot!
Barb –  How long did it take you to write your current book?
Jillian – The first book took about a year and a half. The second two books each took six to eight months. (I just completed book three.)
Barb –  Who is your favorite character in your new release?
Jillian – Detective Zeno “Zak” Kennedy will always be a favorite character of mine. He comes off as stern, cold and analytical, but he’s one of those still waters run deep kind of men who turns out to be…;) I don’t want to be a spoiler!
Barb –  Do you see yourself in any of your characters?
Jillian – Not as much as readers might think. To keep things interesting I like to write characters who will surprise me as I write them.
Barb –  What were the challenges in bringing this book to life? 
Jillian – Since this is the first book in The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series, I did a good deal of research on late 19th century London. I knew I wanted to write a historical romantic suspense series and got to thinking about Scotland Yard detectives. It seemed to me that Yard men were always portrayed as bumbling inspectors, five moves behind Sherlock Holmes. So I thought, what if there was an elite group of detectives? During the research phase I discovered that there really was a division of Scotland Yard created in the 1882 called Special Branch! I added a dash (as in dashing) of James Bond Steampunk and that was the start of The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard. The heroines in each book are fascinating, progressive Victorian women. There is an Impressionist painter, an industrialist and a ballerina/jewel thief/spy!
Barb –  Do you have an all time favorite book?
Jillian – I have at least a hundred all time favorites. Here’s a few: Anne of Green Gables, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Outlander, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, and many more!
Barb –  Where can your fans find you?  
Twitter: http://twitter.com/gJillianStone
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jillian-Stone/175049602553242
Website: http://jillianstone.com
Barb –  Where is your work available?
Jillian – Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Powell’s, and bookstores across the country including my local Indie, Mysterious Galaxy. All of them are taking pre-orders by the way!
Barb –  Anything else you’d like to add?
Jillian – In April I have another debut release (is there such a thing as two debut releases? I guess so!) from Kensington Brava THE SEDUCTION OF PHAETON BLACK, a sexy historical paranormal about a paranormal investigator who has taken up residence in the basement of London’s most notorious brothel.
I’d like to thank Jillian for stopping by and offering such interesting giveaways!  Be sure to leave a comment with your email address to be entered!  And good luck to everyone.  I’ll leave you with the blurb…..
London, 1887. Part stoic gentleman, part fearless     Yard man, Zeno “Zak” Kennedy is an enigma of the first order. For years, the memory of a deadly bombing at King’s Cross has haunted the brilliant Scotland Yard detective. His investigation has zeroed in on a ring of aristocratic rebels whose bloody campaign for Irish revolution is terrorizing the city. When he discovers one of the treacherous lords is acquainted with his free-spirited new tenant, Cassandra St. Cloud, his inquiry pulls him unexpectedly close to the heart of the conspiracy and into the arms of a most intriguing lady.

     And Cassie is no Victorian prude. An Impressionist painter with very modern ideas about life and love, she is eager for a romantic escapade that is daring and discreet. She sets her sights on her dour but handsome landlord, but after she learns their meeting was not purely accidental, she hardly has a chance to forgive her lover before their passionate affair catapults them both into a perilous adventure.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Share this:

  • Share
  • Pocket
  • Tumblr
  • Print
  • Email
  • Reddit

Related

About Barb Drozdowich

Social Media and Wordpress Consultant Barb Drozdowich has taught at University, trained technical personnel in the banking industry and, most recently, used her expertise to help dozens of authors develop the social media platform needed to succeed in today’s fast evolving publishing world. She owns Bakerview Consulting and is the only reviewer on this blog.

Previous Post: « The Rogue Pirate’s Bride by Shana Galen
Next Post: Winner of A Dash of Scandal by Amelia Grey »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Msrtha C.

    February 9, 2012 at 3:47 am

    I enjoy reading the interviews on an author

    • Jillian Stone

      February 9, 2012 at 8:53 am

      Msrtha C,

      Thanks for stopping by!

  2. Wanda

    February 9, 2012 at 4:37 am

    Wow. Sounds so interesting. I’m looking for a great new book.

    • Jillian Stone

      February 9, 2012 at 8:41 am

      Hi Wanda! AN AFFAIR WITH MR. KENNEDY runs the sub-genre gamut of historical romance, mystery and suspense. If you like the idea of reading several sub genres at once this is the book for you! Lol!

  3. Chris Bails

    February 9, 2012 at 6:50 am

    Great interview. I am like you I don’t have just a favorite book, I have hundreds. Now I do have favorites by authors, but no one single fav. Great blurb and love the cover-very sexy couple. Thanks for the chance to win.
    christinebails(at)yahoo(dot)com

    • Jillian Stone

      February 9, 2012 at 8:46 am

      Hi Chris,
      I don’t know how people can choose one favorite book. And yes the cover gods did smile on me! RT Book Reviews recently ran a Cover/Celebrity feature and compared Mr. Kennedy to Matthew Fox from LOST…not bad! 😉

  4. CYP @ A Bookalicious Story

    February 9, 2012 at 7:09 am

    Wow, great interview! I love how mysteriously badass/romantic/mysterious the cover is, and IT SOUNDS SO INTERESTING!! I wanna read it!! Haha. Thanks for this giveaway!

    • Jillian Stone

      February 9, 2012 at 8:49 am

      Hi CYP, I love the deep shadows and the intensity of Mr. Kennedy. The cover designer really captured the character in the book!

  5. Celine

    February 9, 2012 at 7:10 am

    Love the interview! I’ve been very interested in this book (: It has everything I love, from the historical London setting to an intriguing couple. Thank you for the giveaway!

    Celine ~ Nyx Book Reviews
    nyxbookreviews(at)gmail.com

    • Jillian Stone

      February 10, 2012 at 2:03 pm

      Celine, See my answer below!

  6. Cori C

    February 9, 2012 at 8:29 am

    I can’t wait to read “An Affair With Mr. Kennedy”! It’s one of the books I’m most excited about this year! 🙂

  7. Jillian Stone

    February 9, 2012 at 8:52 am

    Thanks Celine,

    Sounds like AN AFFAIR WITH MR. KENNEDY is your kind of read! It’s edgy/gritty for a historical romance!

  8. Julie Witt

    February 9, 2012 at 10:24 am

    Hi Jillian!! I’ve heard great things about this book and would LOVE to read it for myself! Thanks for the fun interview and the awesome giveaway:)

    • Jillian Stone

      February 10, 2012 at 1:57 pm

      Hi Julie,

      Always happy to hear good things about Mr. Kennedy! Lol!

  9. Andrea I

    February 9, 2012 at 1:22 pm

    I enjoyed the interview and also found another book to add to my TBR list.

    ainfinger@comcastDOTnet

  10. Mary Preston

    February 9, 2012 at 3:19 pm

    AN AFFAIR WITH MY KENNEDY looks amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed the interview thank you.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

  11. Barbara Elness

    February 9, 2012 at 4:08 pm

    I enjoyed the interview and love this cover! I can’t wait to get my hands on this book – I know I’m going to enjoy the story. I’ve already got it, as well as The Seduction of Phaeton Black on my wish list.

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

    • Jillian Stone

      February 10, 2012 at 2:09 pm

      Thanks Barbara,

      Two detectives, same time period, but very different men! Hope you get a chance to enjoy both!

  12. Mariee

    February 9, 2012 at 4:47 pm

    Great interview. And thanks for a great giveaway, I can’t wait to read this book!

    marieimy (at) gmail (dot) com

  13. Diane Sallans

    February 9, 2012 at 5:09 pm

    This steampunk genre is a really interesting style – I’ve enjoyed it in movies and would love to try reading it.

    sallans d at yahoo dot com

  14. bn100

    February 9, 2012 at 6:27 pm

    What a great interview! The book sounds very good.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

  15. Jillian Stone

    February 10, 2012 at 2:12 pm

    To all of you who have stopped by, thank you so much for your interest. No matter who wins a copy of Mr. Kennedy or the Steampunk watch necklace, I hope you all get a chance to read the books!

  16. JenniferK

    February 12, 2012 at 1:07 pm

    I adore books that take place in 19th century London and I have been keeping my eye of this one for a while now. Do you have a specific writing schedule? Do you find that you are more creative in the morning or as a night owl?

    jcalvert719(at)yahoo(dot)com

  17. Prangon- The Nerd In Heels

    February 15, 2012 at 6:45 am

    I am really intrigued by the book cover also the first two words from the blurb London, 1887 definitely sold it.
    Thank you for the giveaway 🙂

    thenerdinheels@gmail.com

    • Jillian Stone

      February 15, 2012 at 4:06 pm

      Nice change of pace on the date, huh? Late Victorian is the timeframe for both the Scotland Yard detective series and my Steampunk Paranormal Investigator Phaeton Black (releases in April).

  18. Jillian Stone

    February 22, 2012 at 11:15 am

    Congratulations Mariee!

    You have won a singed copy of An Affair with Mr. Kennedy! I will be contacting you by e-mail soon.

    Everyone else, thanks for commenting! You are still in the running for the Yolanda Pang Steampunk watch necklace. I will announce the winner first thing Friday morning, February 24th on http://getlostinastory.blogspot com and my website: http://jillianstone.com.

Primary Sidebar

Follow Me

Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinrss

Subscribe to Blog on Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 16,653 other subscribers

Available Now on Amazon

Available Now on Amazon

Do you need a primer?

Do you need a primer?

Need help with your website?

Need help with your website?

Are you listed?

Book BLogger list 250

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

2021 Reading Challenge

2021 Reading Challenge
Barb has
read 0 books toward
her goal of
100 books.
hide

0 of 100 (0%)
view books

Archives

Footer

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023