2/03/2011

Courtney Milan!

Get Lost in This Story…





Ash Turner has waited a lifetime to seek revenge on the man who ruined his family, and now the time for justice has arrived. At Parford Manor, he intends to take his place as the rightful heir to the dukedom, and settle an old score with the current duke once and for all. But when he arrives, he finds himself drawn to a tempting beauty who has the power to undo all his dreams of vengeance.…

Lady Margaret knows she should despise the man who’s stolen her fortune and her father’s legacy—the man she’s been ordered to spy on in the guise of a nurse. Yet the more she learns about the new duke, the less she can resist his smoldering appeal. Soon Margaret and Ash find themselves torn between old loyalties—and the tantalizing promise of passion….


I am thrilled to host historical author Courtney Milan on the blog today.  If you haven’t been introduced yet, you’re in for a treat.  Her latest novel “Unveiled” released this week, and you’ll want to look for “Unclaimed” in October.

Courtney is the author of one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 2010, a RITA® finalist, and an RT Reviewer’s Choice Nominee for “Best First Historical Romance.” She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, a well-trained dog, and an attack cat. Her husband attempts not to kill people for a living. In exchange, Courtney attempts not to do the dishes. It works out well.



Heather:  How often do you get lost in a story? 
Courtney: I get lost in everything—parking lots, cities, forests, buildings, deserts, the wasteland of my imagination…. I get lost in stories, too, but it’s not really a unique accomplishment. I figure I get lost five or six times a day.

Heather:  What’s the first book you remember reading?
Courtney: You don’t want to know that. The answer is actually Roots, by Alex Haley, and it traumatized me. I was six. It was not the first book I read, but it’s the first one I remember reading. And oh, do I remember it. The rape scene. The scene involving circumcision. The cock-fighting. I understood about 20% of it, and what I understood gave me nightmares.

Heather:  Where do you read and how often?
Courtney: Anywhere I can, and everywhere I can! I have read in the following completely ridiculous places: while walking home. In the bathroom. In the bathtub. In the shower (yes, in the shower—you have to hold it outside the shower curtain with one hand, and be very careful). While driving. (At red lights. Also, at red lights that just turned green, with people honking in the background).

Heather:  Be honest, when reading 1st person...do you miss the hero’s POV?
Courtney: Who says you can’t get the hero’s POV in first person? I submit to you Sarah Rees Brennan’s brilliant The Demon’s Lexicon, which is from the point of view of a boy (albeit not first person). I submit to you Brenna Yovanoff’s The Replacement, which is also from the point of view of a boy. I submit to you Simone Elkeles’s fabulously romantic Perfect Chemistry, which splits first-person viewpoint between a boy and a girl.

Boys have points of view! I hear that they even use the first-person singular pronoun to refer to themselves.

Heather:  What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?
Courtney: Usually, I sleep. Then I wake up and say, “Yay, it’s done!” to my husband, who is very grateful, as he doesn’t get to see me towards the end. And he says, “Yay!” And then I pout and I say, “It sucks. It’s the worst book ever. I don’t know what I’m doing. How will I fix this one?”

The euphoria, it lasts about ten minutes before the neurosis takes over.

Heather:  What question are you never asked in interviews, but wish you were?
Courtney: Oh, that’s a great question. “Here, Courtney. Can you ask yourself a question?” There are lots of questions I wish people asked me. “Courtney, how did you get to be 100% awesome?” Or: “Courtney, why must you be so cool? You are casting me into disrepute!” Nobody ever asks these questions, for obvious reasons.

I’ll settle for, “Courtney, what did you do with the tea?”

Heather:  Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?
Courtney: Yes. Yes. And yes, sometimes, if they’re right. I have never read a review that is as scathing as my own worst thoughts about my book. Sometimes I read a review and say, “enh, she just won’t like my books.” Sometimes I say, “Yes, this is true, and I will try to do better next time.”

Heather:  Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?
Courtney: Tea. I take it often and black.

Heather:  What does it mean to love someone?
Courtney: Loving someone means never having to do the laundry. (I have to admit I am writing these sitting next to Mr. Milan, and he doesn’t think that one was very funny.)

Heather:  Which is your favorite language other than your native language?
Courtney: Perl.

Heather:  How much money does it take to be happy?
Courtney: One cent more than you need to cover your bills.

Heather’s GOTTA ASK – Courtney’s GOTTA ANSWER  J

Heather:  So, I noticed on your website that you give code-names to your books as you write them.  Tell us a little about the code name for “Unveiled”, and do you give any code-names to other things/people in your life?

Courtney: Unveiled’s codename is “Bigamy,” because Ash Turner discovers that Margaret’s father is a bigamist. When he discloses that evidence, it results in her being declared a bastard. I only give embarrassing code-names to books—but in this book, my hero has a code name, too! “Ash” is actually not his real name. His real name is…well, I would tell you, but his name really embarrasses him, so you’ll have to read and watch for it.

Come to think of it, I give embarrassing codenames to my brothers and sisters, too. If you check out my dedications to my books so far, a few of them are to brothers and sisters, and they all have codenames. The next book out is for Wathel.


GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

What’s the most embarrassing code-name (or nick-name, or unkind moniker) that you’ve ever had bestowed on you?

WILL YOU HAVE A DRAWING FROM THOSE LEAVING COMMENTS?**

Yes—I’ll give away a copy of both UNVEILED, my latest release, and TRIAL BY DESIRE, my release from last year.

Thanks so much for being with us today, Courtney!  Where can your fans learn more about you on the web?




**Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North American addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

Come back again tomorrow, when Cat hosts Tessa Radley!

19 comments:

  1. Don't really have a "code-name" or nick name except Junebug

    This book sounds really good....I love stories where one of the characters has done something bad to the other yet they end up together....and the cover is great...very eye catching.

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  2. Hi Courtney! Congratulations on Unveiled. I thought This Wicked Gift was one of the best Christmas stories I've ever read, and can't wait to read Ash's story (and Unclaimed this fall. The premise is wonderful.)

    My well-known nickname in grade school was Bigfoot, given to me by my best friend, who happened to be a boy and was as geeky as I was. I wore size 10 shoes by third grade, and was tall and clumsy and had thick glasses and a Dorthy Hamill shag haircut. The nickname didn't bother me at all, but I went to a small school and no one was cruel about it. It just fit.

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  3. Ugh! My high school nickname was Morticia. I am super thin, pale Irish skin, very long & straight dark brown hair. I pretty much look the same now. For a while in college I dyed my hair red because I thought it went better with my pale skin. Now I am comfortable with my Adams Family look! LOL

    Congratulations on Unveiled!

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  4. Welcome, Courtney! And what a fabulous interview.

    My favorite was:
    Heather: Which is your favorite language other than your native language?
    Courtney: Perl.

    Snorted coffee. Me? I'm kind of old school and would answer COBOL. (Not really...)

    I also liked your answer to the 1st person question. I've been lobbying to have that one extricated from the legion of questions our blog sends out. :)

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  5. Oh, and I forgot the question. I've had a lot of bad ones. Bean and Mogulina come to mind.
    But the worst (and best in a way) was when my niece was too little to pronounce my name and it came out: Annie Mean (instead of Auntie Maureen) But she said it with such love. :)

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  6. Hi Courtney! Thanks so much for coming by the blog today. Your interview was great fun :)

    I laughed throughout, but the hardest at places you've read. I am guilty of much the same...I'm so glad for the easy accessibility of audio books for the car these days. Although I must admit to listening to the end of "The Time Traveler's Wife" in a parking lot waiting for my husband to join me for dinner after work. He walked up to the car window and saw me in tears and freaked out, thinking someone had died in our family. Best audio book ever.

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  7. Courtney, what adorable answers, and I'll bet a stack of thousand dollar bills that I don't have that your mind is anything but a wasteland. Your book sounds fabulous, and imagine being declared a bastard after years of believing you're nobility. What a conflict you have written. Well done.

    Gosh, as for code names and nick names, my first name's pretty unusual for a woman *Donnell*, When I worked a utility company many years ago some creative soul replaced my nameplate and put "Donnell Duck" on my desk. People got a kick out of it, but one person who didn't know me thought it was my real name and asked if my father was Daffy ;)

    Great post Heather, thanks for joining us Courtney.

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  8. Courtney Milan is here! *quiet squee* Maybe some of her writing talent will rub off on the rest of us.

    The worst nickname I've ever had... well, think of it. My name is Simone. What do you think the twelve year old boys called me? It has to do with male, er, liquids, if you need a hint.

    Amazon delivered my copy of Unveiled the other day. Exciting!

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  9. I just love blogs.... I love that you introduce me to so many new authors.. Thank you so very much. I have now added Courtney to my list of books that I need to read.
    Thank you for a chance to win,
    Kelly M

    crazybookfairy@gmail.com

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  10. I love your books, Courtney! I can't wait to read UNVEILED!!! Thanks for the giveaway.

    I got tagged as Jennifer of the Jungle in elementary school, which happened to be a character on the kids show ELECTRIC COMPANY. I'm so grateful the nickname didn't stick too long because I hated it.

    romancejunkie@live.com

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  11. Hi Courtney,

    Unveiled sounds like a great read. Love a strong, sexy hero with an embarrassing, hidden moniker!

    Jilly Bean and Stoney were the cute ones as I recall. There were a host of others from junior high that I have put out of my mind for good reason!

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  12. Hi Courtney,

    I love your books and can't wait to read Unveiled and am looking forward to Unclaimed being released in October.

    I was always the shortest girl in my class so the nicknames were probably the usually ones for the late 40's/early 50's - like shrimpboat and short stuff. The only time I didn't mind being so short was in high school when we would go sking and I could get in for under 12 when I was 16 so it cost me less than anyone else. I didn't lie - I looked 12 years old! Of course when I went to get my license they didn't believe my birth certificate so there is always a payback.

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  13. OOOh I'd love to read this one! I'm not one who had any nicknames... perhaps my friends didn't like me enough to find one (shrugs). My mother called me "Nena" as a child, but it wore off with age.

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  14. Did not have nickname. Love the cover of this book. Sounds like a really good story

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  15. I actually finished Unveiled last night and thought it was great. When I read the children's naming, I was amused because I actually know a woman who, along with her two siblings, were all named Hebrew biblical phrases.

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  16. Love it! I wish I could get paid to read these types of books. I would be rich!!

    Congratulations on Unveiled!
    Can't wait to read it front to back!

    I really didn't have a nickname. I have a terrible last name that said it all as a child. Grew up tough. And kicked a lot of butt...

    Thanks,
    Mary

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  17. Hi Courtney and thanks for spending the day at GLIAS. Awesome interview. I'm a huge fan. My favorite part was your code names. Very cool.

    Can't wait to read Unveiled.

    ~~Angi

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  18. Congratulations, Mary! You are the winner of our drawing!

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  19. Thank you!!!!!! I can't wait to read it!!!
    I am super excited!

    Thank you so much!!!

    Mary

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