Hello and welcome to the virtual book tour for Damned If You Do! I’m JL Merrow, and our lovely host has been kind enough to interview me today. I made sure to bring along a giveaway—leave a comment below by 11:59pm on 6/28/13 and you’ll be entered in a week-long contest to win a $10 gift certificate to Riptide! Follow the tour all week for more Damned If You Do celebrations, including more interviews, thoughts from editor Sarah Frantz, and, of course, more chances to win.
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Hi JL! Congratulations on your new release with Riptide!
Tell us a little about yourself. Which do you read on: Nook, Kindle, Kindle Fire, iPad, Paperback, or Hardcover? Why?
None of the above – I have a Kobo Glo. I absolutely love e-readers, and am on my third one now. Why? Well, for one thing, I’m a fickle reader. I generally have several books on the go at any one time, and read them according to the mood I’m in. I just love being able to take ALL of them with me whenever I go somewhere. Plus, there’s the dictionary features – particularly useful if you read in a foreign language – and all the free out-of-copyright books you can get from places like ManyBooks.
If I absolutely have to get a dead tree book, I’ll buy paperback. I’ve never been a fan of hardbacks. Reading is supposed to build up your brain, not your muscles!
How big is your personal library? What genre do you read/collect the most?
This is the wonder of ebooks—I never have to admit to how many I’ve bought! These days, I generally read m/m or LGBT fiction, and within that genre, I’m very partial to a mystery. I also like paranormals. I used to read a lot of mainstream urban fantasy, but I don’t have so much time for it now I’m writing myself. I still enjoy classic, Golden Age mysteries.
Which authors have influenced your writing the most?
Without a doubt, Sir Terry Pratchett. His books are a masterclass in comedy. Also Jim Butcher. The Dresden Files are a perfect example of a strong first-person narrative.
Okay, last question—If you were stranded on an island with one book and one object, what would they be?
Preferably some kind of escape craft. And the instruction manual. Roughing it is not my favourite pastime. And I burn in the sun, and dislike eating fish.
Thanks for coming by, JL!
Thanks for having me!
Blurb: Sexy male succubus Rael has an insatiable appetite for men that gets him into all kinds of trouble. And he’s just found his favorite flavor: hunky blond detective Lars Thornsson. When those cool Nordic looks combine with Rael’s smoldering dark charms, all Hell could break loose.
Lars’s job at the Paranormal Enforcement Agency means he’s supposed to be policing demons, not falling in lust—or love—with them. But there’s something about this feisty little sex demon that hits all his buttons.
With no shortage of deadly sinners in his city, from serial-killing succubi to drug-dealing demons, all Lars can do is try to keep his private life from interfering with his work. But Rael has a knack for getting mixed up in cases that threaten both their domestic harmony and their lives.
Damned If You Do can be purchased from Riptide here.
About the Author: JL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea. She read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where she learned many things, chief amongst which was that she never wanted to see the inside of a lab ever again. Her one regret is that she never mastered the ability of punting one-handed whilst holding a glass of champagne.
She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and the paranormal, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novella Muscling Through is a 2013 EPIC ebook Award finalist. She is a member of the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.
Find JL Merrow online at: http://www.jlmerrow.com, on Twitter as @jlmerrow, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jl.merrow.
Thanks for having me here, guys! Now, I realise my desert island answer was a bit of a cheat. I’d love to hear from readers what they’d choose to take with them to a desert island, and why! ;)
Welcome, JL! I’m so excited to have you here with us today. Erm…did you happen to bring Al with you? Because I love him. There, I said it. :)
The only thing I’d want on a desert island is books-all the books I could carry and wouldn’t mind reading over and over again. It’s not original, but it’s the truth.
Hi, Lisa – thanks for the warm welcome! And I’ll give Al your love, although I’m afraid he only has eyes for Larry. ;)
And oh, no – you’ve just given me a fresh nightmare: just imagine being stuck on a desert island with a fully loaded e-reader – and no way of charging it!
I guess the old fashioned sort of book is best in some situations, after all! ;)
Thanks for coming here! The book sounds interesting and yes, your desert island choice is a bit of a cheat. I’d also like to bring books — or a hot guy. Or both. :D
Hi, Lawless – good to hear from you!
Actually, the hot guy might be more useful than the books, thinking about it. After all, someone has to build the shelter, construct a signal fire, find something edible and cook it… ;)
Then again, the books would help pass the time while waiting for him to get on with it! (Lazy? Moi?)
Welcome to The Novel Approach JL. Thanks for taking the time to visit with us today!
Thanks, Tina Marie. It’s been great to get such a fantastic welcome! :)
Well, we could take the guys in the banner up top with us, since they’re already at the beach anyway.
Although, we’d likely be relegated to just watching. ;-)
Watching can be good too… ;P
Hahaha! Great interview and fabulous answer! LOL If I were on a deserted island, I would want my Kobo and a solar charger for it.
Hi Kat – great solution! Actually, come to think of it, why don’t e-readers come with solar panels as standard? After all, considering how many of us like to read on the beach… :)
I have been saying that for awhile now! Nobody listens though. ;-)
I love Rael and Lars , but I have to admit to holding a torch for Al too.
I would take flares, a toothbrush and books with me. And yes, I know that’s more than one thing, but I do hate to limit myself. ;)
Hi, Mandy! ::hugs::
I’m getting to know Lars and his saucy and sassy little demon right now. :)
Heh, I’ve never mastered the art of packing light, either! I can never go away anywhere without at least one spare pair of shoes and some emergency extra outfits! :)
And yes, toothbrush – good idea. After all, when you’re rescued from your island by the dashing ship’s captain, you don’t want to put him off with bad breath! ;)
Packing light is a foreign concept for me.
I’m hoping the flares are going to get the yummy captain to me sooner.
Thanks for coming by, JL! Love your books :)
Thanks, Marymary! I’ve had a great time here today. :D
Great interview :) Difficult question…would have to say that I’d have to take a hot, clever, practical, builder, chef, writer guy lol! That way I’d have something pretty too look at, someone interesting to talk to, someone to build me a shelter, someone who could cook and someone to tell me stories…perfect!! :)
LOL! Rachel, I think you’ve got all the bases pretty well covered, there!
And of course, once you’ve been rescued, your writer guy could make you both a fortune writing a bestseller about your “ordeal” – that’s if you’d ever want to be rescued, of course! ;)
Oooh I didn’t think of that! See that’s why you’re a writer and I’m not, there’s a plot for a story….oh damn…just change Rachel to Roger :) I’d read it! lol!
Heh, the wheels of fiction are turning already…
And, of course, it’d be vitally important to book a research trip somewhere sunny and secluded! I’m sure the tax man will understand. ;)
This book collection is definitely on my to-buy list ^_^
I have always had a fondness for demons – and adding a big, dominant Scandinavian cop to the mix, it almost feels like home. ;o)
Yes, there’s just something about a naughty little demon! But don’t let Lars fool you. He may like to think he’s the alpha male, but Rael has him right where he wants him! ;)
I have no doubt about that. ;o)
We all know it’s the cute ones, who are the true devils inside, after all !
Thank you for dropping by and I cannot wait to read the collection. ^^
I’m in the UK too so when you head off to that faraway place…stick me in your suitcase lol!
Ooh, are you coming to UK Meet http://ukglbtfictionmeet.co.uk/ ?
I really wanted to but I can’t make it, I’m so gutted, if it had been August I’d have been there with bells on, there’s so many fantastic authors going and I have friends coming over from the States to go too but :(
Tink, maybe we’ll see you next year? We’re still in the very early planning stages, but we’ve got a fantastic venue in Bristol in mind. :)
Oh next year I’m there for sure, only started reading this genre earlier this year after reccomendations from friends and now its the primary genre I read…and Bristol…well that’s half an hour away from me and btw has the biggest Primark in the UK lol!
Fantastic! Jo Myles and I were in Bristol just last week, checking out venues, and it’s a great city,isn’t it? Fabulous street art, and the harbour area is lovely. :)
Its certainly an interesting city, I’m very excited about you being there next year! Are you going to be anywhere else in the UK this year?
g I imagine I’ll be in the UK pretty much all year, but if you mean appearances at writerly events, no, I don’t have anything else planned.
If you’re going to be anywhere in the UK this year I’d be interested…have messaged you on FB lol! :)
How do you like the Kobo Glo? I have the Kobo Touch and have been quite happy with it, but there will come a time for upgrading. :) I must tell you that “Muscling Through” remains one of my favourite m/m ‘s ever! And, of course, have “Damned if You Do” on my wishlist. :)
I’m quite fond of my Kobo Glo – the screen resolution is great, and of course the light is brilliant, after struggling to manage with clip-on things with my sony reader. Where it’s not so great is all the faffing about to put books onto it, although of course, if I bought everything through Kobo that’d be greatly simplified. It’s noticeably heavier than my sony pocket 350, but then again, I can read it without squinting. ;) And if you’re going from the Kobo touch, it’s exactly the same weight but better screen res. Plus,it’s still lighter than the Kindle Paperwhite, with the added advantage of being less Big Brotherly.
Not, you know, that I’ve made a study of all this. And I definitely don’t have a spreadsheet… ;)
Glad you liked Muscling Through! :D
I’d take a very comfortable sun lounger with me to the desert island, which could also serve as a bed at night. And what’s that fallen down between the cushions? A fully-loaded, solar-charging, e-reader! Now I have everything I need, lots of books to read and a comfortable place to read them.
LOL! You’ve got it sorted! ;)
Can’t believe I haven’t read any Pratchett or Butcher…I need to rectify that. Roughing it is not my choice either…yikes.
vitajex(at)aol(dot)com
Trix, you’ve got a treat in store! There are 39 Discworld novels to enjoy, and 14 Dresden Files books so far! :D