Today we have bestselling author Jennifer Estep here with us. Her latest release, Venom
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Greetings and salutations! First of all, I want to say thanks to the folks at the Book Binge for having me on the blog today. Thanks, guys!
Some of you might know me as the author of the Elemental Assassin
urban fantasy series. The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.
The first two books in the series are Spider’s Bite
. Venom
, the fourth book, will be published in May 2011, while the fifth book (untitled) will be released in October 2011.
I’ve also sold a young adult urban fantasy series called Mythos Academy. The first book is called Touch of Frost and will be out in August 2011. The books focus on Gwen Frost, a Gypsy girl who has the gift of psychometry, or the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. After a serious freak-out with her magic, Gwen finds herself shipped off to Mythos Academy, a school for the descendents of ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, and more.
So today, I thought I would talk about books – namely, all the ones that I enjoy reading. My mom used to take me to the library every Saturday when I was a kid, and that’s how I fell in love with books and reading in the first place.
Despite my attempts to whittle it down, my to-be-read pile stays at about 20 books. Every time I go to the bookstore for my local book club meeting, I vow that I’m not going to buy anything … but of course, I always end up coming home with at least one book. What can I say? The pretty, shiny covers get me every time. 😉
Anyway, here are some of the authors that I’ve got in my TBR pile and others whose books that I’ve been enjoying:
Contemporary romance: I enjoyed Something About You
by Julie James
Also, I am desperate to get my hands on Lisa Kleypas’ new contemporary, which comes out in late October. Her Travis books are some of my favorites.
Fantasy: I read a lot of fantasy books, including urban fantasy authors like Jim Butcher and Kim Harrison. I also like Lisa Shearin’s Raine Benares series – that’s one of many series that I need to get caught up on. As far as epic fantasy goes, I also like Alex Bledsoe and Scott Lynch.
Paranormal romance: I enjoy Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series
– I think she writes really strong heroines. I also like Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series
Thrillers/mysteries: Over the summer, I’ve been catching up on the Jack Reacher series
Young adult: I’ve been reading more and more young adult books lately. I’ve got a YA anthology, Kiss Me Deadly
, to read, as well as Beastly
by Alex Flinn. I love different takes on the Beauty and the Beast fairytale, and I’ve heard a lot of good things about Beastly.
Two of my absolute favorite recent reads are The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins and Graceling
by Kristin Cashore. I thought both of those books were just excellent, and I’m looking forward to reading the other two books in the Hunger Games trilogy. They’re waiting for me in my TBR pile. Now I just have to find the time to read them – and everything else! 😉
What about you guys? What are some of the books and authors that you like? Which books are you looking forward to this fall?
By night, Jennifer Estep is an author, prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.
By day, Jennifer is an award-winning features page designer for a daily newspaper with a wide range of media and journalism experience. She’s also a certifiable fangirl and an authority on fantasy literature and culture. Jennifer is a member of Romance Writers of America, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and other writing groups.
Jennifer’s books have been featured in Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, Southern Living, and a variety of other publications_______________________________
Thanks so much for being here today, Jennifer. I love that we love so many of the same books.
Would you like to win a copy of Venom
I definitely like urban fantasy, which is the genre most of the books I am most excited about are in. Though I do read a lot of other genres, this is the one I have been reading lately with some YA mixed in. Besides Venom, I am also dying to get my hands on Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews, Heaven’s Spite by Lilith Saintcrow, Alpha by Rachel Vincent, and Siren Song by Cat Adams.
Sorry it posted before I could put my name…
I like contemporary authors.
Am looking forward to Deb Macomber’s upcoming releases.
And I would like to win this book for a friend.
Helen L.
We share some of the same favorites in Thrillers/Mysteries. Are you up-to-date on the Reacher series? 61 Hours left quite a cliff-hanger, so I am very anxious to read Child’s newest, Worth Dying For, in October. I also am looking forward to your Venom and Carolyn Crane’s Double Cross.
Candace — Have you read Saintcrow’s Dante Valentine series? It’s pretty good, although it’s more sci-fi than fantasy.
Anonymous — Macomber is another author that I’ve been meaning to try …
LSUReader — Almost. I just read Nothing to Lose, so I need to read Gone Tomorrow and then 61 Hours and I’ll be caught up. I heard about the cliffhanger at the end of 61 Hours so I was waiting until the next one came out. I’m glad to hear that it’s in October.
Also, Donald Westlake/Richard Stark is another one of my fav mystery authors. He wrote comic crime capers as Westlake, and the gritty Parker novels as Stark. He’s definitely worth checking out.
I really enjoyed Mira Grant FEED, it was a fantastic read.
Well beside bouncing up and for Carolyn Crane Double Cross, and your Venom. Marta Acosta Haunted Honeymoon and the rest of Zoe Archer’s Blades of the Rose series.
I love Nalini Singh, her Psy/Chang series is great. I also like JR Ward (BDB series) and Jeaniene Frost. I just stared reading the Downside Ghosts series by Stacia Kane. It’s been great so far.
Thanks!
I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on Pale Demon by Kim Harrison. The hollows series just gets better and better. Nalini Singh’s Psi Changeling series is so clever and wonderful I just cannot wait for Play of Passion to be released.
Shelly Laurenston/G.A. Aiken is always making me cry laughing to the point my husband asks if i’m well. Her females are like none other i’ve read and so tough they frighten me. Big Bad Beast just feels like such a long wait.
I also cannot go without mentioning the awesomeness that is Ilona Andrews and Maggie Stiefvater. They make me work harder at writing because when I grow up I want to be like them.
I’m not going to suck up but I did really enjoy Spider’s Bite. I love the world, it’s so different from anything i’d read.
As for the fall I’m not up to date with what is out and I have 300 books on my shelf to read so dh probably won’t let me buy more. I sneak them in grocery shopping. shhh don’t tell.
Ruth — Zoe Archer’s series looks really good. I was eyeing the first book the other day in the store.
Kelly — I’ve heard a lot of good things about Stacia Kane’s series. That’s one that I need to try too.
Manicnancy — I love all the Clint Eastwood movies titles that Kim Harrison has for her books, and I love me some Jenks. I need to get caught up on that series and Nalini Singh’s books as well.
And that’s so nice of you to say. I hope you enjoy WEB OF LIES and VENOM too. There are also several free Elemental Assassin short stories on the Excerpts page of my website that you may want to check out. 😉
I have a tendency towards dark urban fantasy and hot menages… that leads right to … I love the Anita Blake series but I have a while to wait for a new book because the last one just came out in February.
I also enjoyed the first two Gin Blanco books, and have been exploring UF lately. Was drawn into Ilona Andrews ‘Edge’ world, Stacia Kane’s ‘Unholy Ghosts’, and Claire Delacroix’s ‘Republic’ series due to creative worldbuilding.
I’m looking forward to ‘The Iron Duke’ right now, and the next installment of ‘Wheel of Time’. Hooray fantasy, urban and high!
alyssa day, warriors
gena showalter , lords
and im looking forward to taking my 5yro granchild out to trick or tweat, she is old enough to enjoy this yr
blackroze37@yahoo.com tamibates
SVZ — I’ve been meaning to try her Merry Gentry series for ages now …
M — How was the last Wheel of Time book? I haven’t read it yet. I know that one was written by the new guy from Jordan’s notes.
Anonymous — What’s your grandkid dressing up as? Something fun, I hope.
I like Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling series, Christine Feehan’s Carpathian series. and anything by Maya Banks.
I am not sure what is releasing this fall,so don’t know what I’m looking forward to.
kissinoak at verizon dot net
I love suspense books, particularly love Stuart Woods and Jan Coffey, so really any and all suspense books coming out I would love to read. I would love to try one of your books too, Jennifer. Looks like the heroine won’t take any you know what from anyone. LOL.
Natalie’s Mama
Estella — I’ve been hearing good things about Banks’ books too …
Anonymous — Have you tried Jan Burke? She writes a good series about a newspaper reporter named Irene Kelly.
Yep, Gin is definitely a heroine who doesn’t take any you know what. 😉
I loved Spider’s Bite so I’m looking forward to picking up Web of Lies and Venom for sure. Besides those books, I’m looking forward to Ann Aguirre’s Killbox, Laura Bickle’s Sparks, Nicole Peeler’s Tracking the Tempest, Zoe Archer’s Warrior and Meljean Brook’s The Iron Duke.
It’s great too know that authors like you are reading some of my favs like Lisa Klepas and Linda Lael Miller. I enjoy reading all genres of romance. Paranormal, historical, contemp and suspense Some of my other favorite authors ar Jayne Anne Krentz and Christina Dodd. I’m really looking forward to Kerrelyn Sparks new one, in her Love at Stake series. Eat Prey Love! Thanks for sharing today!
I am so looking forward to your venom, Rachel vincent Alpha, Ilona Andrews bayou moon, and anything by Nalini Singh. Lots of great books still coming this year. Loved the first two in this series.
I just read Spider’s Bite and loved it! Can’t wait to read Web of Lies and Venom, but I’m sad that the next book won’t be out till May 2011.
Right now, other than Venom, I’m eagerly awaiting Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews (the Kate Daniels series is also one of my favs) and the newest Jill Kismet by Lilith St Clair at the end of Oct. I also love both of Patricia Briggs werewolf series and if you are in the mood for a humorous paranormal mish-mash, the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger – Victorian manners coupled with werewolves and vampires.
I loved “Something About You” by Julie James as well! But I think I prefer Kleypas’ historicals to her contemps.
I’m still not willing to read “Mockingjay” just yet. I enjoyed the first two, but after reading all the reviews, I think I may wait until I’m interested in a depressing YA read (a la “The Dead-Tossed Waves” or “Tender Morsels”) again.
My reading of the Raine Benares series is spotty at best (especially now that Raine made her choice, or does she?) and I’m waiting for the next Harry Dresden book to be out before I read “Changes”.
The problem with series books for me is that I may forget the previous books by the time I read one. Still, it’s all good.
I don’t know if I have any books I’m truly looking forward to since my TBR pile is too high already.
ironss[at]gmail.com
i like all genres and heat levels in romance! I do tend to read a bit more UF/Paranormal, but only slightly ;).
Aside from Venom, looking forward to Sins of the Flesh by Eve Silver, Sin Undone by Larissa Ione, Darkest Hours by Maya Banks to name a few.
Pam S
pams00 @ aol.com
Hi Jennifer!
I just started with Spiders and I already love it and can’t wait to read on – the world you created is fantastic!
books I’m looking forward to: Riding the Night by Jaci Burton (yeah, it’s already on the way to me), Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden and Dark Slayer by Christine Feehan…
wish you all the best, Ina
I need to catch up on Sherrilyn Kenyon too. I’m looking forward to Carolyn Crane’s latest release, Double Cross, and Lauren Dane’s Inside out. Also waiting (seems like it will never get here) for Karen Marie Moning’s Shadowfever. I prefer PNR and contemp romance.
bookaddictpatti at cox dot net
Why? because I’ve heard so many great reviews about this series and have not yet tried it out! Please, fix my ignorance lol
midnite [dot] fantasy [at] gmail [dot] com
Barbara — Thanks! I appreciate that. Everyone seems to be raving about how good Archer’s new series is …
Johanna — Kleypas and Miller are two of my favs. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Sparks’ books too …
Pam — Thanks! I appreciate that. And you’re right — it’s a great time to be a fantasy fan right now.
Jen — Thanks! I appreciate that. There are several free Elemental Assassin short stories on my website, if you haven’t checked those out yet.
I need to try Carriger’s books too. They look really cool …
Sheree — I thought Something About You was a lot of fun. I plan on reading the rest of James’ books. I’m way behind on the Dresden Files — I’m only on White Knight right now.
Pam — I’ve seen lots of good reviews for Ione’s books. Need to add her to my TBR pile …
Ina — Thanks! I appreciate that.
Patti — I am sooo far behind on the Dark Hunter series. Sigh. I could spend just a month reading trying to get caught up on those books!
Camille — I hope you enjoy the books when you try them.
this series has me wanting!
My Faves are so hard to pick,
Kenyon for sure!!, Larissa Ione, Sharie Kohler, Cheyenne McCray, Laurell Hamilton, Kim Harrison, Kresley Cole, Lara Adrian, JR Ward, Katie MacAlister and Janet Evanovich (not paranormal but hysterical)
Books I am looking forward to this fall is yours of course! Some others that comes out on the same day that I want are:
Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews
Alpha by Rachel Vincent
Siren Song by Cat Adams
I love paranormal, fantasy, contemporary and have even been known to read some historical and time travel. I dip into a little of each, kind of like my music. If I like it, I like it and make no excuses 🙂
I am looking forward to Susan Andersen’s latest and Robyn Carr’s anthology – Celebration.
Mickey Mac
Hi Jennifer, I see you mentioning some of my favorite authors – Kresley Cole, Lisa Kleypas (love her historicals, too), Jeaniene Frost, Julie James. Also, love Nalini Singh and Patricia Briggs.
I really have quite the list – Jeaniene Frost, Nalini Singh, Julie James, Brenda Novak, Heather Graham, Nora Roberts, Stephen King. And I could keep naming. A few upcoming books I am really looking forward to are: When Pleasure Calls by JK Beck, Venom, Last to Die by Kate Brady, Alpha by Rachel Vincent are a couple.
I am most looking forward to reading Megan Hart’s, Selfish Is The Heart and Meljena Brook’s, The Iron Duke.
I’m really looking forward to The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook, Play of Passion by Nalini Singh & Imdulgence in Death by JD Robb.