The Moonstone and Miss Jones
Book Two in the Phaeton Black,
Paranormal Investigator Series
By Jillian
Stone
Genre: Paranormal
romance with steampunk and erotic elements
The Moonstone and Miss Jones is the dark and sexy sequel to The Seduction of Phaeton Black. Phaeton
returns to England in time
to help Doctor Exeter and the mysterious deadly Nightshades rescue London once again––this
time from Professor Lovecraft's destructive tinkering.
As the threads of existence begin to unravel, the eccentric scientist
attempts to save his son’s deteriorating condition by replacing body parts with
mechanical apparatus. Ah, but how to power them? The near mad professor
believes he has found a way to unleash the arcane energy inside
the Moonstone and he needs Phaeton Black to help him do it.
When Phaeton is shanghaied in Shanghai,
America Jones
assumes the worst––that he has abandoned her in the Orient. An angry Miss Jones
returns to London,
where their spirited partnership takes an unexpected turn––a new business
venture MOONSTONE INVESTIGATIONS. No uncommon psychical disturbance
refused.
Well, why
not mix business with pleasure?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mixing business with pleasure is what BBL does best, or at least we like to think so. Which is why it is our pleasure to bring you, our loyal readers, the exclusive interview with Miss Stone.
1. When did you start
writing and what was the first thing you wrote? I started writing a
historical fantasy romance set in medieval France fifteen years ago. In fact, I
carried it around uploading the word file from computer to computer, and over
the years, never deleted it! I shelved it for the last time after I had written
180,000 words--at least two volumes worth!
2. Where do you get your ideas on what you
write?
As a writer I’m always thinking of new story ideas, in fact, they flow through
my brain with some regularity. Some of them I toy with for hours, days or
weeks. The better ones I begin to write notes on, see where the storyline goes
and if the characters are intriguing/compelling enough. Writing a book is a
hard, long process––I have to really like the characters and the story!
3. What are some hobbies or things you are
into that you do when not writing? I love the outdoors: horseback riding,
skiing, snorkeling/swimming. These past two years I’ve been locked in my
writer’s cave writing to two contracts, but I plan to take it a bit easier 2013,
hopefully.
4. Have you ever been so engrossed in writing
a book that you have gone out in public in your pajamas or slippers without
realizing it? Well, not to Target or anything, but I have definitely spent
whole days writing in my pajamas. One of the great perks of working at home!
5. Can you tell us about any challenges you
met getting your first book published? The first book I actually completed, was a
Late Victorian historical romantic suspense called The Yard Man. The hero is a
detective for a special branch of Scotland Yard. When I began to market to
editors and agents I also entered quite a few RWA chapter contests. If your
entry (about the first 30 pages) finals in those contests, your manuscript is
sent to editors and agents for judging. If they happen to really like your
entry, they ask for the complete manuscript. The manuscript began to final in
several contests and so on the strength of those wins I entered the 2010 Golden
Heart and was shocked when the manuscript finaled! In the eight months or so I
spent marketing The Yard Man, I
completed a second historical, with steampunk, paranormal and erotic elements called
The Seduction of Phaeton Black which
I began to contest. I entered the Romance Through the Ages RWA contest and
finaled. The manuscript went to Audrey LaFehr at Kensington Brava who requested
a full manuscript.
To
make a long, fairy tale story short, I received an offer from Kensington for The
Seduction of Phaeton Black. I received the call from Audrey the Dallas airport,
on a layover waiting to go to Orlando for the RWA Nationals/Golden Heart The
Yard Man went on to win the Romantic Suspense category of the Golden Heart. I also
met my agent, Richard Curtis, at the conference. Once the sparkly magic dust
settled, Richard took over the marketing of both manuscripts and within about a
month or so, I had signed two contracts, one from Pocket Books, for The
Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series (title of GH winner was changed to An Affair with Mr. Kennedy) and the
other was from Kensington Brava for Phaeton Black, Paranormal Investigator
series.
6. What has been the toughest criticism/best
compliment given to you as an author? Any criticism is hard to listen to,
especially if it is delivered in a snarky review. On the other hand, a review
that praises my writing can really lift my day. Lol! I try not to let any of it
get into my head too much. The negative stuff can be toxic to a writer, but I
think it is just as dangerous to believe the praise. My advice is to keep your
head screwed on right and keep writing!
7. Who is
your favorite immortal? M-mmm, I tend to enjoy the darker, more complex
souls. There are several vampires that come to mind, as well as super heroes. The
main protagonist in The Moonstone And Miss Jones, Phaeton Black, is named after
the Greek demigod, son of Helios. As the myth goes, Phaeton begged his father
to let him drive the sun-chariot. He quickly lost control, drove too close to
earth and scorched the plains of northern Africa creating a massive desert!
Needless to say Zeus was appalled and Phaeton paid the price. After his death, he
was transformed into the god of the
star which the Greeks called Phaethon, which turns out to be the planet Jupiter
or Saturn. The name Phaeton means "the shining" or "radiant one."
8. Light or dark chocolate? Definitely dark.
9. Favorite
color? Asking me to pick a favorite color is like asking me to pick a
favorite novel or piece of music. I can’t do it! I will say that I am currently
partial to a very pale, ice blue color.
10. Tea or coffee? Both. Green tea and
very dark roast coffee.
11. What is your current project and when is
your next release? My next releases: November 6: A Lesson in Chemistry with
Inspector Bruce, Pocket Star eNovella, and November 27: A Private Duel with
Agent Gunn, Pocket Books. I am currently writing book #3 in the Phaeton Black,
Paranormal Investigator series, The Miss Education of Doctor Exeter.
12. Do you have any message to the readers? Yes! I do hope you
give the Phaeton Black or The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard books a try, and good
luck in the contest! And thanks to
Bitten by Love for the interview!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Short
Excerpt:
A lone gaslight sputtered
above the stair landing. America
steadied herself and waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness below. The
hansom ride from the Docklands to the West End had been one of the most
harrowing in her life––with the possible exception of a rickshaw pulled by Zulu
in Durban, South Africa.
She squinted and a few
details emerged from the flat below, including a shadowy figure in the
overstuffed chair. A soft snore rumbled its way up the stair––it was Phaeton,
all right. She ventured further into the room for a better look.
He lounged in the chair with his pelvis
forward, legs spread. America
angled her head, studying him. There was a rough of whiskers on his chin; could
he look anymore dashing? She exhaled a sigh. Only if he opened those liquid
brown eyes.
“A little lower,
darling.” He mumbled, still asleep. It suddenly hit her. He was safe. He was
healthy. The bilge rat.
“Darling, is it?” she
whispered. Her gaze trailed down his open waistcoat to the buttons on his trousers.
As if in answer to her own lascivious thoughts the buttons began to open.
She grinned at first––was
this some new kind of power emerging? Something ancient and primal fueled by
lust? She had noticed a marked increase in her abilities these last few months,
there was no question they were getting stronger. She reached out and her hand
was slapped away––by what she had no idea. She tried again and was flung across
the flat onto the lumpy old chaise longue.
America sat up
and stared. Something tugged at Phaeton’s trousers––something powerful enough
to manipulate the physical world and yet remain unseen. Rising to her feet, she strode
across the floor and slapped Phaeton hard across the face.
He groaned, still in a
deep trace. “Just the tip, Georgiana.”
She slapped him again.
“Snap out of it!”
Jarred awake, Phaeton
pushed away from her and blinked––several times. She slapped him again. This
time he rubbed his jaw and his eyes watered. “America?” Gradually, between
squints and blinks, he came around.
Her fists landed on her
hips. “Who is Georgiana?”
Phaeton eased back into
his chair, though he regarded her with some wariness. “A rather persistent
succubus. And you certainly aren’t one of those––thank God.” If it was possible
for a man to have sultry eyes, Phaeton
had them. He tilted his chin and studied at her. “Though, I must admit the
nasty little vixen has me in some discomfort––would you mind?” He gave a nod to
the bulge in his trousers.
“Stuff it, Phaeton.”
“Exactly.” A slow grin
twitched on the devilish mouth. “I’m just asking.”
“Goodness––separated for
less than two months and I had already quite forgotten how exasperating you can
be.”
“You followed me––rather
sweet of you. I wasn’t sure you would. I thought you would think I jumped ship
and sailed off––abandoned you.”
America’s eyes
narrowed into cat slits. “According to your wire, which I received just
yesterday, you were shanghaied––in Shanghai.”
Phaeton shrugged. “Old
joke, not particularly amusing anymore.”
She stared at him. “You
must trust me when I say, it was never comical––in the least.” America shook her head and moved to
the pantry area of the flat. She braced herself against the table edge. “I
chased you halfway round the world, Phaeton. I want the truth this time, and
not a crafty as you please answer.” She swept an errant curl back into her top
knot. “I believe I’ve known eels less slippery.”
Phaeton wore that
cajoling half smile. “You’re angry with me.”
“Mad at you? No Phaeton,
I’m not angry with you. I’m...I’m furious.” America choked on her own words, or
was it the painful and growing lump in her throat that stifled her breath? “I
searched for you for in every opium den and every back alley of Shanghai. Only after a
great deal of money changed hands was I able to find out you’d cut and
run––aboard the Boomerang. Do you have any idea how I worried?”
“I’ve caused you great
torment, but I swear to you none of it was my doing. Yes, I was on that
ship––in leg irons for more than half the voyage. I was cracked over the head
in Blood alley, stuffed in a sack and taken aboard ship. “Phaeton rolled his
eyes a bit. “Turns out the captain was a regular chap, with a good supply of
whiskey––nightly
card play.”
America shook
her head. “How lovely for you. I don’t suppose there was any chance to
escape––or any way to get word to me?”
“But I did get word to
you, love––darling––” Phaeton appeared rather stricken.
The tears that had welled
up, were streaming now. “And while we were separated did you…think of me?”
Phaeton rose from the
chair. “Every minute.” He strode toward her slowly. “Of every hour.” He caught
her up in his arms. “Of every bleeding day.” His gaze fell to her mouth, and
her lips parted. Good God, what a hussy––she was sending him an invitation.
“Have I ever told you I
love you––outside of the throes of passion?”
America shook
her head.
“I love you.”
America pressed
her hands to his chest. “Too late, we’re in the throes of passion.”
Author Bio:
In
2010, Jillian won the RWA Golden Heart for An
Affair with Mr. Kennedy and went from no agent or publisher to signing
with Richard Curtis and being offered a three book contract by Pocket Books.
That summer, she also won the erotica category of the 2010 Romance Through the
Ages contest for The Seduction of Phaeton
Black and was offered a three book contract by Kensington Brava. Needless
to say, she has been busy writing books this past year and a half! Jillian
lives in Southern California and is currently
working on the third book in the Phaeton Black, Paranormal Investigator series,
The Miss Education of Dr. Exeter.
Author web
links: (web, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads, etc)
Twitter: @gJillianStone
GIVEAWAY:
