Meet the author: SPICE author Jodi Lynn Copeland

Hi Lorie! :D

I dropped by earlier and saw where it said the 22nd, so I thought maybe we were a day behind. Very great to see you out and about, though! RT sounded like a blast again. I was able to make RT a few years ago, but so far haven't gotten back. One day... :)

Being a part of SPICE's first anthology has been a blast! I am aware of a historical anthology out later this year, that sounds great, as well. The best part of writing for SPICE is that I get to do first person. I never thought I would enjoy reading it, let alone writing. Finding out I love to do both was just a huge treat!

I look forward to spending the next days with you and everyone here at eHarlequin.

~ jodi

Hey Jodi!!...Great to see you here. Love the title of the anthology. Can you share a bit about the Vegas aspects? I'm one of those readers who is ALWAYS fascinated by stories set in Vegas...

 And I love reading first person. Laura Caldwell's Burning the Map must be one of my all time first-person favs. But how did you find writing first person in love-scenes?

Tessa 

Thanks for dropping by, Tessa!

 It's funny, because as noted I never thought I would write first person. Oddly, though, I find it's often my natural voice. Writing love scenes in first person comes almost easy to me--at least, when compared to writing them in third person.  Even though I am writing with the use of "I," I don't feel myself being put into that character's shoes. I just feel like I know them so much better from the get go.

The hardest part is going from writing 1st to 3rd, and vice versa.  I also find that if I am tired, I lapse into 3rd person. I had a nice long laugh the other day when I opened my WIP to find an entire late-night composed scene written in 3rd. Whoops!

Great Q, Tess!

In the first Vegas anthology, the central theme that ties each together is a casino called The Liege. At least some small part of each story takes part in the casino. I also noticed most have a bit of a poker or blackjack, etc. theme. Also, the heroines or hero from each have a tie with the casino, or another on the strip.

In my story, Hot For You, my heroine starts out as a cocktail waitress in The Leige tequila bar. Another of the girls is a burlesque dancer and so on. There are other elements of Vegas captured, as well. My hero is a firefighter, so there are a couple glimpses at the Vegas firehouse and then the surrounding landmarks.

Each story definitely has a great variety, though, so you get to see Vegas in all its many angles.

Hiya Kim!! Thanks so much for coming over for a visit. :) And for checking out Body Moves. That one will always be near and dear to my heart.

Writing for SPICE is just plain fun! The general feel of the story is similar to what I write for other houses, but changing my point of view from third to first really helps it feel fresh and new.

Hi, I just want to say that I am really enjoying ALL the spice books that I have read so far and can't wait to read "what happens in Vegas."  Also, enjoying the Blaze line, finally something different. ksmith

Kate and Lori -

I haven't read a Spice I didn't like either! The Spice authors rock!

Several of you asked about the inspiration behind Hot For It and the Vegas anthologies. With a lot of books I am hit with inspiration and just get to writing. These ones began as a break from harsh reality.

Well, maybe not quite so harsh, but reality anyway. I had written 3rd person for years and was coming off a long writing spell with numerous deadlines. I needed a break bad. So I started to tinker with a 1st person story. It just came to me almost from word one. The only thing I really knew going in was that the story (Hot For You) would start out with a Poker game and that I wanted a hunky firefighter as the hero. The next thing I knew Carinna had this attitude and I had no say in what was said. Jack was just as bad. Yes, my characters possess me with regularity.

As for the setting, since I knew I wanted the poker tie-in, the setting was either going to be Vegas or Atlantic City. I have never been to Atlantic City. I have been to Vegas and love the appeal, and the whole "Sin City" label. It really worked well having this setting in the third story, Hot For Revenge, as well. And, yeppers, the characters in that story possessed me , too. 

That is so funny, Lorie! I should call all my kids and pets Fred. As it is, I go outside at midnight and yell for my two year old instead of my dog. Strangely, neither responds. LOL!

The unifying themes of the Vegas anthologies has made for a great connection. In the second anthology, the casino from the first story is mentioned quite a bit, but the unifying theme is a club for supernaturals across the street.

I actually just reread most of the first anthology the other day. Nothing quite as exciting as getting to read the stories in paperback after seeing them in eformat for so many months.

Now that the Spice line has been around for a while, do you see a pattern or theme emerging from the stories? And is there any story or theme you would like to see represented that hasn't been yet? As noted, I am working on getting out  new proposals, so I would love to see what you all are in the mood for from future Spices.

cool thanks, yes th efood is great , great nice restuarants. last tim e i went jan, saw mley cyrus, hannah.

Oh, Blaze, that sounds great! I really like Miley. How was the concert?

Hi, My ONLY complaint is I wish they would put more books out in the Spice line.  Also, I have just started reading the Blaze books and have a few authors I really enjoy and would like to read some of their prior books,  but can't find them on the eharlequin web site.  I wish there was a place on the site to buy the previous books by favorite authors, although it does keep me coming back to look for books by my fav's every month!  KatieSmith

Yeah! My agent said the same thing the other day, that soon there will be more. Personally I can't wait. A lot of the erotic and erotic romances publishers are putting out several a month, so I think that SPICE can definitely get away with at least one a month.

Oh My! A guided tour of my very own. How should I act? lol

I'd love a guided tour and will shoot you an email very soon. I think I am really going to enjoy the new format. Our very own "page" is tres kewl. lol

Thanks for the offer, Lorie. You're the best!

Thanks for the kudos, Tess. I am in a sort of limbo right now, waiting for new contracts and trying out some different angles in the meantime. It's nice to not have deadlines but, as you can imagine, a little stressful, too. I am actually trying out a proposal in the niche I began in and would still love to find a home, so all well wishing is fine by me!

Wasn't this just the worst winter for sickness? My daughter and I were sick all but a few weeks from October to April. I got really behind for a long time, which makes the lull in contracts that much sweeter. Sure do hope you are feeling better now, hon.

Hugs,

~ J

I read the note about upping the output of Spice books...is that just the books, or will they be putting out more Spice Briefs each month?...because I can read those a lot faster, LOL!

Funny, when the question was asked about what readers would like to see more of, I personally just thought, well, more!  I'd like to see more stories (e-books especially)!  That said, a truly original premise gets me every time, something fresh and tantalizing.  When the blurb is just like, "hey, these two people get together and have sex" I'm like, well, duh.  But I want something that's going to fuel my own fantasies, you know!

Thanks for doing this!  Great Qs & As!

I am like you, Olivia, I like the fresh stories with something different. Of course, those can be hard to keep fresh, but definitely make for a great read. I would be interested on hearing about the Spice Briefs, too. I was actually surprised only 2 released in April, a normally they do 3. I love the looks of the new Egyptian one for May. Great cover! :)

Thanks to everyone for making me feel welcome, and Lorie for arranging the week. I will try not to be a stranger around here. :)

 ~ jodi