This month, TRRC is very pleased to welcome New York
Times and USA Today Bestselling author Celeste Bradley.
Ms. Bradley has gained a loyal following among readers
who have enjoyed THE LIAR'S CLUB series, THE ROYAL FOUR
as well as other titles. March 2008 saw the release of
DESPERATELY SEEKING A DUKE, the first installment of the
Heiress Brides trilogy. The next month, April 2008,
treated readers to the second book, THE DUKE NEXT DOOR.
The third book in the trilogy, DUKE MOST WANTED is a new
release for May. Each captivating story features
Grimm's fairy-tale themes, vibrant characters and
intensely passionate romance!
MF: Congratulations on the back-to-back release of THE
HEIRESS BRIDES! I must say that I love all of the
elements of the fairy tale themes, including the big,
bad Wolfe and the Fairy Godfather. The heroes,
especially Rafe and Calder, were perfect in their
imperfections and I greatly admired how each heroine was
able to achieve their goals, in such captivating ways,
by stepping outside of the roles dictated by their
flawed family. Could you share with our readers a bit
about how this series came together? What or who was the
initial inspiration for THE HEIRESS BRIDES: DESPERATELY
SEEKING A DUKE, THE DUKE NEXT DOOR, and DUKE MOST
WANTED?
CB: Thanks! It's been a real treat to see readers'
responses. When I was deciding on my next project I
remembered that I love folklore from all cultures. The
recurring themes of "good vs. evil" and "love wins out"
resemble the fulfilling nature of modern romance.
Grimm's is an example of how people will always be
people, whether they wear lederhosen or Armani suits.
When I decided to use the classic fairy tales, I had to
face the fact that it had been done before. The only way
to make them my own would be to use my slightly
left-of-center humor and a large cast of quirky
characters to bring the stories alive.
MF: A back-to-back release seems an extra special treat
for readers. Was this your original goal or something
your publisher suggested? On a similar note,
approximately how long was the gestation period for
these books (from inspiration/conception to today)?
CB: A back-to-back release is an unusual opportunity and
can only come about with a great deal of publisher
support. Writing the trilogy was intense and sometimes
panic-inducing, but also liberating. Keeping three books
in process at once allowed me to come up with an idea
for book 3 and still have time to foreshadow it in book
1. The entire process took a little under two years.
Living in such immersion really deepened my
understanding of my world and my characters. Still, it
required a great deal of caffeine and phones calls to my
friends who had to periodically scrape me off the
ceiling.
MF: For THE HEIRESS BRIDES, you have brought three
well-known and loved fairy-tales to life as never
before: Sleeping Beauty (DESPERATELY SEEKING A DUKE),
Beauty and the Beast (THE DUKE NEXT DOOR), and
Cinderella (DUKE MOST WANTED). Are there any other fairy
story themes you would have liked to explore, had there
been more installments for this series?
CB: I love Hans Christian Anderson. I can see "The
Little Mermaid," "The Ugly Duckling"--which I did manage
to work into Duke Most Wanted--and even "The Princess
and the Pea!" And Grimm's certainly has more to offer. I
could have a lot of fun with "The Twelve Dancing
Princesses!"
MF: From reading your delightful website (http://celestebradley.com/)
I understand that you welcome contact from your readers.
How important is it for you, and authors in general, to
be accessible to your audience? Is there ever a point
where the accessibility becomes intrusive?
CB: Are you asking if I have any stalkers? Not really.
All I've encountered are enthusiastic readers and
writers and booksellers who enjoy my stories and want to
express their appreciation. And a few
people who think I need to develop a more personal
relationship to Jesus. I tell them that Jesus and I are
doing fine but I'll pass on their regards. :)
MF: At what age did you start to consider a career as a
writer? Did you write as a child? Have you kept or used
any of your early ideas? If, however, you had to choose
an alternate career what would you choose? Do you have
any other interests or hobbies which you indulge in when
not writing?
CB: I didn't truly and seriously consider becoming a
writer until my first book sold. Until then it was an
experiment of sorts. I've always written bits and
pieces, angsty teen poetry and short stories, but it
was simply something on my life-list. "Write a book"
came somewhere after "Have Babies" and "Go Skydiving." I
still haven't gone skydiving. I did recently find a
couple of stories I wrote in high school and I have to
say, they were pretty bad--but I could still see
potential in them. Even then I had fun characters. One
is a pretty distinct ripoff of My Friend Flicka and the
other one is a quirky fantasy story oddly similar to
Spiderwyck, only twenty-five years earlier. As for other
careers, I always wanted to be a singer.
Determination and training couldn't make up for my lack
of real talent. I can get by at a campfire singalong,
but I'm no Celine Dion. Still, I fantasize about
faking an ID and trying out for American Idol!
MF: There can be no doubt about your success as an
author but, would you consider yourself to be a
disciplined writer? Do you have a set schedule for
writing (daily or weekly) or do you work better under
the pressure of a deadline?
CB: Nothing fires the flames of creativity like pure,
unadulterated panic. I always try to be organized and
write steadily but it always seems like the last third
of the book is completed in a blaze of
caffeine and sleep-deprivation while my editor bangs on
the door.
MF: At some point you conclude whether a story has the
requirements to make it to submission/publication or
not. What are some of the indicators for you during this
process? At what point do you start a new project? Do
you sometimes have more than one active story in
progress?
CB: I have hundreds of stories in progress! More occur
to me every day. Ideas I've got--time and opportunity
are the problem. I know I have a great idea when I get
prickles on the back of my neck and . . . well, other
places. There is always a moment where pondering a story
tips into writing it and that's an exciting time. I
write hard at first, pouring out fifty pages nonstop,
setting up lots of situations
and introducing lots of character. At some point, I
usually find I've painted myself in to a bit of a corner
and have to stop and plot. Then I do an intricate
flowchart of scenes that covers a strip of paper
about fifteen feet long. I'll use that to complete the
book and to revise it as well, scribbling all over it to
make changes and move scenes around. If I'm lucky, it's
the story I'm supposed to be working
on. If I'm not, well, refer to the answer to the
previous question!
MF: In your website FAQ you state that "I don't really
read fiction anymore. I don't have time to read for
pleasure. And writing can sort of ruin reading for you."
::GASP!:: Still I must ask, what is the
title of the last book you read for pleasure? Do you
have a favorite book/author? Who, if anyone, has been
the biggest influence on your writing? What are some of
your favorite sources for research?
CB: It's true. I rarely read fiction anymore. I'd love
to, but it becomes so difficult to find work that really
lets you lose yourself once you are a writer. You keep
thinking that you could have done it better or
worse yet, that the writer is so much better than you
are! The last book I consumed voraciously was "Eat,
Pray, Love" which wasn't fiction. I think before that I
read "The Tipping Point" and "Julie and Julia."
When I must escape I turn to sci-fi/fantasy. There are
only two authors on my bookshelf that I must own. CJ
Cherryh and Lois McMaster Bujold. I've read them so many
times I've had to buy new copies. Others that I enjoy
are Jo Clayton, Orson Scott Card and Robert Heinlein. I
haven't read anyone new in years.
For research I have a few books I turn to again and
again. Ackroyd's LONDON: THE BIOGRAPHY is probably my
favorite. I use the internet a great deal, although I
try to back up what I learn from other sources as well.
MF: If you could only choose just one of your books to
be made into a big budget Hollywood movie, which one
would you choose? Who would you cast in the leading
roles? Who would you get to direct? And would you handle
the transition from book to screenplay yourself?
CB: In my fantasy, it would be TO WED A SCANDALOUS SPY
and it would star the couple from The Mummy and The
Mummy Returns. Brendan Fraser would be great as
Nathaniel and Rachel Weisz would be adorable as Willa. I
think Nora Ephron should direct it--wouldn't it be fun
to see her do a quirky period piece? And I would happily
hand over the work of transitioning to someone else and
sit back with my popcorn!
MF: Ms. Bradley, I would like to thank you so much for
your time! Is there anything else you would like to
share with our readers? What can they look forward to
from you in the future?
CB: I am currently developing a new trilogy that I just
contracted for. I can't divulge too much but it is
inspired by a beloved '80s movie (you would know it if I
named it!) I've set it in my usual Regency world and
have an entire new cast of characters. It's going to be
enormous fun and soooo sexy!(Click for a review of
DUKE MOST WANTED)
(Click for a review of
DESPERATELY SEEKING A DUKE)
(Click for a review of
THE DUKE
NEXT DOOR) |
