I have a really fun, talented author guest blogging with me today. She’s Leslie Langtry, the creator of the Bombay Family of Assassins, and she writes very funny romantic suspense.
Leslie has a brand new book out, and she’s here to tell us all about it. Take it away, Leslie!
I’ve finally written a book my mother can’t read. Well, it’s not that she can’t read it – it’s that I hope she doesn’t. I’m not naïve; I know my sister and I weren’t the result of immaculate conception. But knowing that she’s reading these love scenes makes me itchy. Is it possible to get a rash from embarrassment?
I’m talking about my newest book – up today for the first time ever: THE ADULTERER’S UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO FAMILY VACATIONS, A Novel. I had to add “A Novel,” I was told by many who know. Apparently, there are some people out there who would take the title literally and think I wrote some sort of handbook. And while I like weird, I don’t think I’d want to meet these, um, folks.
How did I get the idea for this book? Not through experience, if that’s what you’re thinking. (And some of you are thinking that I’ll bet.) Actually, this book, the most emotional and spicy of all my books, came from a clinical idea. I read a story in the newspapers. That’s it. There’s no little Danny DeVito-esque fairy muse fluttering about in my head (although that would be cool). I get a lot of ideas from newspapers.
Anyway, this particular story was a year after 9/11. According to the article, this major event caused people to rethink who they dated. Men and women were frightened by what they didn’t know. So there was a move to look up old high school and college sweethearts to see what they were up to – if they were single – and interested. All across the country, singles were hooking up with their past. It made them feel safer – more secure – like dating your past. At the same time, Facebook was starting to make such things possible. It was unprecedented – needing to look into your past and actually having the means to do so.
I’m also very much a “What If” writer. Remember that bit on SNL in the ‘70’s – “What if Spartacus Had a Piper Cub?” I loved that idea. So I took the fact that people were engaging in past relationships and plugged it into my favorite vacation destination on Earth – Disney World. What if a man and a woman, ditched by their spouses for the big family vacation and trapped in crumbling marriages, found themselves next door to their first love? How would they react? Would the attraction they once had still be there?
Turns out, the attraction was there – hence the mom-inducing embarrassment rash I mentioned earlier.
Not all my ideas come from the newspaper (or sometimes, NPR). The idea for my Bombay Assassin Series came from a dream I had, where a widowed soccer mom is involved in the family business – which has been assassination for two millennia. She has to bake cookies for the kindergarten Halloween party, start a Girl Scout troop, dodge the sinister PTA president and kill the naughty terrorist. Gin Bombay and her family came to life in my dream and wouldn’t shut up until I sat down to write their story. The result was the first book I sold to a traditional publisher – ‘SCUSE ME WHILE I KILL THIS GUY. The rest – as they say – is history.
For those who comment today – I’d like to give away a signed copy of one of my Bombay books – I SHOT YOU BABE! Also, THE ADULTERER’S UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO FAMILY VACATIONS, A Novel – is going to be only 99cents for Kindle and Nook for this week only – so download your copy now! For those who want a paperback – I’m hoping to get that up in April at Amazon.com.
Let me know your thoughts and you’ll be in the running for I SHOT YOU BABE!
Vanessa, here. I love Leslie’s covers and I LOVE her high concept for these books? How about you, readers? Don’t you think romantic suspense with an element of comedy is a great idea? Let’s talk about that, and if you have some other favorite romantic suspense authors, tell us about them. One person who comments will win a copy of Leslie’s book.
And don’t forget to check Leslie’s website and blog for all her latest news and info about her books!
I love these title ! The books sound fabulous !!! Thank you very much for the interview and for the giveaway !
Desere
This sounds so great. I love humor with my romantic suspense. 🙂 Can’t wait to read this.
Thanks! I’m thrilled to be here today!
Leslie, thank you so much for guest blogging with us today! And can I tell you how much I love your covers? Gorgeous!
Thanks Vanessa! When I got my rights back – I did them myself – including the three posted here!
Yes,yes, yes. I love suspense and comedy. What a combo. Can’t wait to read.
Carol – you’ll have to let me know what you think!
Haven’t read any yet but look good…thanks
Leslie – haven’t read any of your books – YET! Your titles are very intriguing though. Will have to go to Amazon very quickly! Thanks.
Thanks Sue and Linda! I hope they make you laugh!
Funny, but I would worry about my daughters and son reading my books. My mom passed away many years ago, but I think that would bother me too. I was named after a nun and treated like miss innocent even while in college. I was handing out posters for a Red Cross motorcycle road rally the other day and my son had a fit. Where do bikers hang out? Biker bars and some strip joints as well as local diners. “You can’t go in there!” was my 29 year olds response when I asked directions for a couple of them. Where does he think I have been all these years? As you said, we didn’t come from immaculate conception and neither did our children. That still doesn’t mean I want them peaking at my thought processes and more.
Maybe I do want to perpetuate that nun image.
That’s hilarious! My kids know if they read my books – they’d be grounded…from life.
I love The Bombay Family of Assassins series, I’ve read the first two books and they are fantastic. The rest are on my TBR pile.
Sounds terrific! I love reading Julie Garwood supsense novels… She’s terrific…
Those sound like great titles and I’m sure they’re even greater books. I can’t wait to read them!
I love romantic suspense and comedy, it makes it so much more enjoyable!
I like the titles and inspiration for your books. Suspense and comedy is a great idea.
I love the mix of comedy and suspense… thanks for a great giveaway… Off to buy more books…
Oh my. I have never seen this author. But these covers would make me stop and take a look. Nice pics and clever terrific titles!! Love that. The old saying about judging a books cover does not fly with me. I always judge books by their cover! haha