Today Simply #5 is out and its hero, Lord Minshom, is a man who has already stirred some controversy among my readers. Several people have written to me asking why I decided to write about him, or would want to!
When I was writing ‘Simply Wicked’ I realized well before the end of the book that Lord Minshom was going to let Anthony get away from him and this interested me-a lot. Once I had that thought in my head, it was easy to write Lord Minshom’s book, (which continues just 4 weeks after the end of ‘Wicked). And, as soon as Jane, his wife, appeared and demanded that he listen to her and come home, I knew there was a lot to discover.
It was a hard book to write because of the subject matter, but I wanted to show how Minshom’s past affected him through our modern understanding all of the long lasting effects of any kind of abuse. But while showing us that, I didn’t want him to change or make him a victim. And, of course, he doesn’t do pyscho-babble or believe that he can do anything but simply endure and get through it.
Some reviewers haven’t liked him-even at the end. For me, he came to represent some very heroic characteristics. He learned to love again, he let go of his anger and he refused to carry on the cycle of abuse-and that for me, was a very big thing.
Let me know how you liked the book 🙂
I’m giving away 3 copies today to blog commentators.
Comment below for a chance to win and tell me about villains who get their own books-love them or hate them?
I’ll announce winners here next Tuesday, May 4th
p.s. and while you are here, go check out the ‘coming next’ page on my website for a glimpse and an excerpt of the first Tudor Vampire book “Kiss of the Rose”l
I am so excited and can’t wait to read it!
me too!
I have not read any of this series as of yet but would certainly love to…like the cover and I loved this line in your commentary
“He learned to love again, he let go of his anger and he refused to carry on the cycle of abuse-and that for me, was a very big thing.” Sounds very interesting to me
I’m excited too!
oops wrong comment- I meant to say that I hope you get a chance to read this and let me know what you think 🙂
I love books where the villain is the main focus of the story. I think they add something unique to the plot by delving into their minds, seeing what makes them tick, what makes them who they are, and what has shaped them into the person they have become.
Love your books, Kate! 🙂
Cia
Thanks Cia!
My copy has shipped! I’m so excited!
(don’t enter me in the contest, as you might have guessed.)
Thanks Victoria 🙂
I love villains who get their own stories — but only if their motives and redemption is properly explained. If you discover that their villainy has its roots in the desire to do good, that helps a lot, too.
I’ll be interested to see what you make of this one then 🙂
I haven’t read that many actually but I’m really looking forward to finding out how this will play out…Lord Minshom is a very difficult person to like and I’m curious as to how you’ve de-villanified? him (lol created a word) and made him into an appealing character.
I hope he is appealing by the end-but let me know what you think 🙂
I’m glad you chose to write about him because of the difficult subject matter. I don’t believe romance has to be about a man or woman with redeeming qualities. I believe there are enough readers who would enjoy the challenge of allowing Lord Minshom to redeem himself.
Me and my mother in law went out and bought it today at borders we where there at noon and there sat two copies on the shelf like they were just calling our names! I have all the simply series and cant wait to dig into that book tonight after I put the kids to bed!
I just love the idea of you two reading my books together 🙂
We love reading your books together we race to see who can finish it first but then we cant wait till the others one is done so that we can talk about it lol I know we are nuts
Books where a villain in one becomes the hero (or at least heroic…) in another:
o One of the paranormal dragon books, author and title escaping me at the moment
o Skylark DuQuesne by EE Smith, quintessential space opera, purple prose included, written as the final book in a series from originally the 1930s in the pulp magazines.
There are strains of plots in romance or SF/F with major romance subplots, particularly, where the romantic leads are enemies at the start of the story–Linnea Sinclair’s novels Gabriel’s Ghost and Games of Command, Lois McMaster Bujold’s Shards of Honor, various Catherine Asaro Skolian/Trader Empires novels and pair-bonded by the end.
That segues into thinking about “redemption”–the romance plot of e.g. the rake turning into the devote husband. While the character is NOT the same–the name is similar but different, the villain of Heyer’s novel The _Black Moth_, the Duke of Andover, corresponds very close to the lead male in _These Old Shades_, the Duke of Avon, who starts off the novel as a quite depraved sort, the first chapter title is, “His Grace of Avon Buys a Soul.” His reasons are not charitable ones, either.
Now These old Shades? One of my all time favorite bad boys turned good and so convincingly too 🙂
Heyer had a number of them–Avon, the lead male in The Convenient Marriage, the lead in _Devil’s Cub_, in Venetia, in … but she also had heroes who were NOT bad boys or even ragmannered “alpha” louts, too–the male leads in _The Foundling_ whose disappearance on an adventure was completely out of character for him (as opposed to his cousin, whom I suspect Lois McMaster Bujold’s Ivan Vorpatril in large part was patterned after), _A Civil Contract_, _The Tollgate_, _The Quiet Gentleman_ _The Grand Sophy_ and even _The Corinthian_
Oh yay! Congrats!
As for villains — How about Hannibal Lecter? He’s my favorite villain / hero.
Congratulations Kate! You know I love your Simply’s, you were a huge influence on me! I say good on ya for redeeming the villian. They are usually the most interesting and complex characters a writer ever builds, so why not take it that step further? I’m looking forward to SI–I know it’ll be fabulous as always! 🙂
The Villains always need their own story! Ten to one they have a super interesting past that lead them to be the evil person they are today 🙂 I can NOT WAIT to read this!!!!!!!
Sign me up! I love, love, love books whose heroes were villains in previous books. There is always a backstory and a depth of character that intrigues– plus, I have a weakness for bad boys who end up on the right track!
ok one word, no three words to desribe Mr. Blaize…DIRTY,HOT AND MMMMMM, he is so cocky(pun intended) that you have to love him good, bad and worst. (I’ll will before Amanda,LOL)
you read it already!! Wow! And yes he is a very dirty sexy man LOL
You’ve really got me intrigued. Villains certainly make the most interesting characters. Yours is fantastic, I have no doubt. Gotta read…
I think villians who get their own books make the most interesting heroes. Because we can then try to understand why they do what they do, but also gives them a chance to redeem themselves or grow at least in some small way. Lord Minshom sounds intriguing and I would love to win his story!
Dang….I’m late….but wanted to say Congrats to Kate and I can’t wait to read this next book. You are the best!!!!
Don’t enter me in the contest, I’m ordering it on Amazon today. Congratulations on another fabulous book, Kate! I can’t wait to read it 😛
I think reformed rakes are hot and a reformed villian would be even hotter! As long as the writer creates a believable event(s) as the catalyst for the change of heart.
Hey Kate,
I haven’t read book 3 yet (bookstore hasn’t had it in stock), however, ‘Simply Insatiable’ is my favorite so far!! Loved it! I love a “bad” guy with depth. Great job!
Thank you,
Susan
Oh.
My.
Gawd.
This was friggin awesome.
I have never read your books before, but sistah, I’m hooked. 😉
By the way…..Fell in love with the bad/good guy.
Welcome to the dark side
I haz series you know?? lots of books for you to read 🙂
I’m gonna be so buried in your books, Jack will forget what I look like. LMAO
Well…..my face, anyway. *snicker*
Make sure you read peters story cuz aint no story like peters he is oooo so hot and it makes u sad that his story ends!
LOL!!
Both of you!
btw-Peter’s book is Simply Sinful, but start from the beginning with Valentin and Simply Sexual 🙂
THANK YOU! for doing something with Lord Minshom. Redemption is great. I haven’t read Simply Insatiable yet but I’m reading that Minshom has a heart. Love your House of Pleasures series. I love the regency dialect spoken back in those days. 2 Questions: Will Lisette and Christian get a book because I Simply (pun intended) love their antics? And you new Tudors vampire series will it be erotica as well? Hope so. Love you Kate! 😀
Hi Sonya!
Lisette’s book is already written-it is called Simply Forbidden and it will be out in Feb 2011. I hope to write Christian’s book next year 🙂
The Tudor Vampires are hot paranormal romance rather than erotica-but I hope you’ll give the first one a try!