Guest Blog by Jillian Stone - We call him sleuth, detective, private eye...

Please welcome Jillian Stone to The Qwillery as part of the 2012 Debut Author Challenge Guest Blogs.

We call him sleuth, detective, private eye, spook,  
investigator, gumshoe, dick, and he just might 
be our favorite hero!

What is it about Detectives? Certainly they're wicked smart, and who doesn't find a brilliant mind sexy? Often these men have a dark past, and a tough exterior, but somewhere underneath that broad, hard chest is a soft heart. They are also Dudley do-righters, adventurous heroes who are just a bit...untamed. There are so many reasons to love them, and they are hands down my favorite heroes to write!

I'm blogging today about two of my favorite characters, because I wrote them! First, let me tell you about Zeno Kennedy, the man who puts the dash in the dashing Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series and the hero of AN AFFAIR WITH MR. KENNEDY. (debut novel releases January 31). Here's a quickie-quick blurb: Beneath gaslit streets, anarchists with bombs plot a deadly attack on Victorian London. Scotland Yard detective Zeno 'Zak" Kennedy's investigation leads him into the arms of free-thinking impressionist painter Cassandra St. Cloud, whose connection to the terrorists catapults their passionate affair into perilous adventure.

My other favorite character is the hero of THE SEDUCTION OF PHAETON BLACK. Phaeton's prodigious gifts as a paranormal investigator are as legendary as his skills as a lover, his weakness for wicked women as notorious as his affection for absinthe. But when he's asked to hunt down a fanged femme fatale who drains her victims of blood, he walks straight into the arms of the most dangerous woman he's ever known, the very capable cajun beauty, America Jones. This is a super steamy Steampunk mystery romance, set in late Victorian London (releases this April 3rd).

There have been so many wonderful detectives written over the years, from Rick Deckard, the replicant hunter/detective of Blade Runner/Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, to David Addison the fast-talking, fun-loving private eye from Moonlighting. And who could forget Mike Logan, the short-fused Sergeant Detective of Law & Order? Remember Captain John Brook, the tough Philadelphia cop in the movie Witness? Or how about Thomas Magnum, Private Investigator?

Any list of detectives would not be complete without Sherlock Holmes. Which Holmes is your favorite? Basil Rathbone? Christopher Plummer? Robert Downey, Jr.? The modern day Sherlock played by Benedict Cumberbatch? Perhaps the best Holmes of all will always be the original written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and pictured in the mind's eye! So the question for the day is: Which Sherlock is your favorite?

To inspire comments I have a giveaway: One commenter will receive their choice of a signed ARC of either AN AFFAIR WITH MR. KENNEDY or THE SEDUCTION OF PHAETON BLACK.


About the Novels

An Affair with Mr. Kennedy

The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard 1
Pocket Books, January 31, 2012
Mass Market Paperback, 400 pages

London, 1887. Part stoic gentleman, part fearless Yard man, Zeno “Zak” Kennedy is an enigma of the first order. For years, the memory of a deadly bombing at King’s Cross has haunted the brilliant Scotland Yard detective. His investigation has zeroed in on a ring of aristocratic rebels whose bloody campaign for Irish revolution is terrorizing the city. When he discovers one of the treacherous lords is acquainted with his free-spirited new tenant, Cassandra St. Cloud, his inquiry pulls him unexpectedly close to the heart of the conspiracy—and into the arms of a most intriguing lady. Cassie is no Victorian prude. An impressionist painter with very modern ideas about life and love, she is eager for a romantic escapade that is daring and discreet. She sets her sights on her dour but handsome landlord, but after she learns their meeting was not purely accidental, she hardly has a chance to forgive her lover before their passionate affair catapults them both into a perilous adventure.

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

The Seduction of Phaeton Black

Phaeton Black, Paranormal Investigator 1
Brava, April 3, 2012
Trade Paperback, 320 pages

In the gaslit streets of Victorian London, phantoms rule the night, demons dance till dawn, and one supernatural detective dares to be seduced by the greatest power of all…

He’s The Man With The Magic Touch

A master of deduction, seduction and other midnight maneuvers, Phaeton Black is Scotland Yard’s secret weapon against things that go bump in the night. His prodigious gifts as a paranormal investigator are as legendary as his skills as a lover, his weakness for wicked women as notorious as his affection for absinthe. But when he’s asked to hunt down a fanged femme fatale who drains her victims of blood, he walks right into the arms of the most dangerous woman he’s ever known…

She’s The Devilish Miss Jones

Pressing a knife to his throat—and demanding he make love to her—Miss America Jones uses Phaeton as a willing shield against the gang of pirates chasing her. As deadly as she is, with a derringer tucked in her garter, Miss Jones is not the vampiric killer he’s been staking out—but she may be just what Phaeton needs to crack the case. As the daughter of a Cajun witch, she possesses uncanny powers. As a fearless fighter, she can handle anything from Egyptian mummies to Jack the Ripper. But when an ancient evil is unleashed on the world, she could be his only salvation…or ultimate sacrifice.

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

About Jillian

In 2010 Jillian Stone's Victorian Romantic Suspense novel AN AFFAIR WITH MR. KENNEDY won the Golden Heart and sold to Pocket Books. Her sexy, supernatural Steampunk novel, THE SEDUCTION OF PHAETON BLACK, won the 2010 Romance Through The Ages Erotica category and sold to Kensington Brava. Jillian lives in California and is currently working on the next adventures for both series.

Website
Twitter
Facebook

Jillian has a blog tour giveaway as well**:

All commenters today will be entered in a special giveaway promotion: Jewelry inspired by the romantic notion of recapturing lost time as the French title ‘Le Temps Perdu’ A Steampunk watch necklace from the Time Travel Collection by Yolanda Pang. Cyber travel to Poetic Designs and see for yourself just how whimsical this watch necklace is Link: http://www.etsy.com/listing/86157293/le-temps-perdu-ii-steampunk-watch. Each time you visit a different blog and leave a comment your name gets entered again! For a schedule of my interviews and blogs go to contact/press on my website. Good luck everyone!

The Qwillery Giveaway

THE RULES

What:  One commenter will win his/her choice of a signed ARC of An Affair with Mr. Kennedy or The Seduction of Phaeton Black.

How:  Leave a comment answering the following question:

Which Sherlock is your favorite?

Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You may receive additional entries by:

1)   Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2)   Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

3)   Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.

There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. In addition please leave a way to contact you.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Thursday, January 26, 2012. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*

** The Qwillery is not affiliated with Jillian's blog tour giveaway and is providing this for informational purposes only. Please follow Jillian's rules to enter to win the ‘Le Temps Perdu’ A Steampunk watch necklace.