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It’s a Persuasion party! Tell your friends!
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A Lady of Persuasion is in stores today! This is the third and final installment in the trilogy that began with Goddess of the Hunt and continued in Surrender of a Siren. It’s the story of Toby and Isabel’s romance, but it’s also a happy ending for an entire group of friends, both old and new. And who better to celebrate that with than you–my friends, both old and new?
You see, when I started writing Goddess of the Hunt, I had this thought that it should feel a bit like the TV show Friends, only set in the Regency. A group of…well, friends…who are at that time in their lives where they’re figuring out their futures and pairing off, who know each other well enough to throw around a lot of witty set-downs and the occasional incisive remark. A group of people who genuinely care about one another, even though they’d sometimes rather not admit it. And it was just so much fun, to write Henry, Toby, Felix, and Jeremy giving each other sh*t in the way guys do.
There are several sections of A Lady of Persuasion where the main characters from all three books are together–sometimes for pleasant reasons, and sometimes not. Don’t get me wrong–I adored Toby and Bel as a couple, and their journey to love was a pure joy to write. But those ensemble scenes were a unique pleasure, because I really believed each of the three (four! shhh.) couples’ happily-ever-afters would be supported and strengthened by this larger circle of friendship and love. And because I just can’t write enough of those guys giving each other sh*t. 🙂
So, here’s how this party works. Any comment will enter you to win a prize (more on those in a bit). We’re just going to play a big long game of “Remember When,” and the theme of the day is friends. You can share a memory about the friends in my trilogy (Remember when Jeremy and Lucy made out under that pear tree? Yeah, that was hot.) or Friends the TV show (Remember Chandler and his ‘nubbin’? Ew.), or our real-life friendships (Remember when went out for that awesome barbecue in Dallas during RWA? Those rolls! Like buttah.). Or if none of those appeal to you, just bring out cocktail party conversation of any variety! Or make something up. (I write fiction; creativity’s encouraged.)
Now, the PRIZES!
They are books, of course. I will give away 3 copies of A Lady of Persuasion, and 1 copy each of Goddess of the Hunt and Surrender of a Siren (all signed, of course). Because she is my friend and she is awesome, I will also give away 2 copies of the recently released The Heart of Christmas anthology, featuring Courtney Milan‘s most excellent debut novella, “This Wicked Gift.”
So that’s seven books — but wait! It’s not! Because if you’re a winner, I will double your prize and send a copy of the same book to a friend of your choosing, with a message that it is a gift from you! Your mom, your sister, your neighbor down the street…a senior center, a teacher, a soldier…anyone you think might enjoy reading one of my (or Courtney’s) books. (Don’t worry–any addresses collected will be used strictly to mail this one prize, then deleted.) Winners will be picked at random from all comments.
As the day goes by, I may have prizes on Twitter as well, if you follow me there. 😉
So…let the fun begin! Thank you all so much for your friendship, readership, and support. I hope you enjoy reading Toby and Isabel’s romance as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Your friend, Tessa
September 29th, 2009 at 12:43 am · Link
Okay, so I will start, of course!
Remember when so many of us met through FanLit? Up at all hours of the night, chatting in the forums. Good times. That’s where it all began.
Remember Marcel, Ross’s pet monkey? I miss him!
September 29th, 2009 at 1:01 am · Link
Happy Release Day, Tessa. I love “Friends” and do remember Marcel. Do you remember when Brad Pitt guest starred in the Thanksgiving episode as Monica’s formerly overweight friend from high school?
September 29th, 2009 at 1:08 am · Link
@Jane: Thanks, Jane! Wow, I had forgotten all about that Brad Pitt episode until you mentioned it! They had great guests on that show.
Remember when they had George Clooney and Noah Wiley guest star as doctors, back when ER was a new hit too?
September 29th, 2009 at 1:40 am · Link
Congrats o n the release Tessa! I’m a new friend and have yet to meet you in person. I loved the show Friends and miss it…still haven’t fond it in reruns.weird.
As far as friends(not the show) go, I never had very many. I keep a small number of close friends….too afraid of getting hurt. But those in that circle are probably the ones that would do anything to help a friend out, no matter what.
Hope you enjoy your release day to the fullest!
September 29th, 2009 at 2:00 am · Link
Congrats on Release Day!!! I can’t wait to read ALOP!
Remember when Pheobe and Rachel tried to get Monica and Chandler to fess up to being a couple???
“They don’t know we know they know we know!”
September 29th, 2009 at 2:02 am · Link
Congratulations on your new book release day!
Friends was a great show and I remember so many great shows. I really enjoyed their Thanksgiving episodes because whatever crazy stuff happened they ended up celebrating together.
September 29th, 2009 at 2:16 am · Link
Congratulations on your new release!
Wasn’t a huge fan of Friends but DID tune in to the Super Bowl special episode ’cause it had Chris Isaak *sigh* as a librarian who romances Phoebe.
Total win with Isaak & the librarian thing.
Full disclosure: I’m a librarian & Isaak has been my adult crush for years!
September 29th, 2009 at 2:49 am · Link
Remembers when Ross makes a list of Rachel’s pros and cons and she’s offended by the “chubby anckles” entry. Too funny for words…
Congrats Tessa. Toby is one of my favorite character, I’m very impatient to read his story.
September 29th, 2009 at 3:39 am · Link
Congrats Tessa. Can’t wait to read ALOP! I, like some others was not a huge fan of Friends when it originally aired but have come to love it in the reruns. Loved when Phoebe married her beau with all the friends around.
September 29th, 2009 at 5:22 am · Link
Remember Lucy’s attempt at watercolors? That whole scene was one of my favorites.
September 29th, 2009 at 5:27 am · Link
Congratulations Tessa!! “Persuasion” looks fantastic. The others have been extremely enjoyable and I’m excited to see the advancement of the story.
I enjoyed Friends…Rachel was my fav character!
September 29th, 2009 at 5:41 am · Link
Congrats Tessa! Can’t wait to pick up Surrender of a Siren and A Lady of Persuasion! I’ve been trying to get my TBR piles shorter… but I’ll be adding these 2 shortly.
I’ve always loved the show Friends. I have most of the seasons on DVD and it feels like visiting old friends each time I watch an episode. I think my fav would be the one where Monica and Rachel bet Joey and Chandler on who knew the other better. I’m smiling now thinking about how no one knew what Chandler’s job was.
September 29th, 2009 at 5:57 am · Link
Hi Tessa!
Congratulations on the release of your new book, they all sound so good I love the covers too.
Have a great day, Penney
September 29th, 2009 at 6:05 am · Link
A personal story of friendship…
In high school I didn’t have many friends, just a few very good friends. When I was a senior there was a new girl in school (MJ) and we hooked up and became fast, best friends. Those last few months of high school were the best, she was like a sister. I graduated and went off to college, the following year she graduated and went off to Boston to be a nanny. School, jobs, kids, marriage… life happened and we grew apart. This past spring I was “introduced” to FaceBook by a (much) younger, tech-savvy co-worker. I have hooked up with old friends but the best part is that after all these years, I hooked up with MJ! We e-mailed for about 2 months and when we finally talked on the phone I think we spent the fist 10 minutes crying, both so happy we had found each other again. Things have changed but one thing hasn’t… our friendship. Even after all these years I still consider her my best friend. 🙂
September 29th, 2009 at 6:12 am · Link
Hey, everybody! I’m here, I’m here! Darn West Coast time means I’m late to my own party. And now I need to get my darelings up and ready for school, but I am reading and loving all of these and will come comment on them more later!
TrishD, isn’t it amazing how the Internet can connect you with old friends and new? What a great story!
And Stephanie, thanks for mentioning Lucy’s attempt at watercolors. 🙂
Remember when Lucy when visiting tenants with Hetta, and the children ran from her in fear? 😈
September 29th, 2009 at 6:20 am · Link
Oooh, I’m so looking forward to Lady of Persuasion!
Remember when, at RWA 2009, the fire alarm went off forcing everyone out of the building? (and the Smart Bitches’ Digital Publishing workshop continued regardless, just outside the Marriot?)
September 29th, 2009 at 6:22 am · Link
Congrats! Gotta love release day!
My favorite friends episode was when Rachel made a trifle for dessert but the pages of the cookbook stuck together and she ended up putting ground beef in it…yack! Everyone gagging trying to eat it but telling her how great it was. Now that is a FRIEND.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:23 am · Link
Hi 🙂
Congratulations on release day for PERSUASION!
Remember when Lucy went to Jeremy’s room the night before the wedding?
*fans self*
🙂
Remember Phoebe singing “Smelly Cat”?
🙂
Love & Best Wishes,
RKCharron
xoxo
September 29th, 2009 at 6:28 am · Link
Hi, Tessa! This is such an exciting day! I loved the other 2 stories and am looking forward to LOP:!:
Remember when we connected first on the EJ/JQ BB and I found out you lived in Wmsburg, IA at one time? Bet we could compare notes, especially about eating at the Ox Yoke. Yum!
I’m glad we’re friends on FB, too.
Take care.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:33 am · Link
Remember when Jeremy tells Lucy they need to be together, not because he can’t be without her, but because he won’t, and all the I love Yous that follows…*sigh* 😳
September 29th, 2009 at 6:35 am · Link
Remember when Joey showed Phoebe he could drink a gallon of milk in 60 seconds… I was litteraly in pain from loughing 😉
September 29th, 2009 at 6:45 am · Link
Happy release day Tessa! I hope you see stellar sales for the third installment in your series:)
September 29th, 2009 at 6:49 am · Link
Happy release day! I enjoyed GotH but haven’t read SoaS yet. Now I have to catch up so I can read ALoP.
Remember that backyard BBQ where the dog was drinking out of Mikie’s cup and he didn’t know? Good times!
September 29th, 2009 at 7:00 am · Link
Happy Release day.
Zomg, what a fun fun way to celebrate release day!! I still haven’t read GotH yet – I better get a move on.
Do you remember when Joey (on Friends) had to ‘fashion’ something out of baloney for an audition that required him to be erm, how do I put this….complete down there!
It feel off in the middle of the audition! LMAO, ahh those were the days. Shame Friends ended, a laugh a minute.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:04 am · Link
@Joanne K: How did I miss that episode??? No, I don’t remember that. OMG 😯 So Joey.
@Emmanuelle: Oh, yeah. I remember that. I remember writing it, too. I love, love, love writing the mushy stuff at the end.
Must say, one of Toby’s lines at the end of ALOP is, I think, the most romantic line I’ve written. I’m probably the only one who’d think that, though. 🙂
Back soon!
September 29th, 2009 at 7:04 am · Link
Yay for release day! I’m off to the stores this afternoon. I can’t wait to read ALOP! And see Toby’s HEA. And Bel, of course.
All I can say is ‘We were on a break!’
Best wishes!
September 29th, 2009 at 7:07 am · Link
Can’t wait to read the final book!
Do you remember when Joey had to speak French for a role, Phoebe tried to teach him, and hilarity ensued?
September 29th, 2009 at 7:19 am · Link
Remember when the bestest friends in the whole wide world threw me a puppy shower at RWA Nationals in San Francisco, and everyone bought me (and my soon-to-be puppy) presents!?
In related news, remember when Phoebe was considering being a surrogate mom and she gave away someone else’s puppy?
September 29th, 2009 at 7:20 am · Link
Speaking of friendship and surrogacy, by the way, for those of you who haven’t read this story about Sara Megibow, one of the agents in the Nelson Agency: http://www.boulderweekly.com/20090507/coverstory.html
September 29th, 2009 at 7:29 am · Link
Cannot wait to read about Toby and Bel 🙂 I have so enjoyed the books and love it all the more b/cse I remember the craziness of FanLit and I was just watching from the sidelines….
Remember when Chandler had to spend the day in the box after getting together with Joey’s girlfriend OR remember when Chandler’s dream girl online was Janice! OH. My. GAWWWD!
September 29th, 2009 at 7:29 am · Link
I remember when I watched the first episode of Friends. I didn’t think it would last as long as it did. I thought it was rather juvenile. Boy was I proved wrong. I tried not to miss an episode.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:36 am · Link
Happy ALOP Release Day, Tessa!
Remember the Friends two-part finale with Monica and Chandler’s twins and Ross and Rachel’s HEA. Great ending!
And ALOP is a perfect ending to a wonderful trilogy!
‘
September 29th, 2009 at 7:55 am · Link
Happy release day! I’m so happy for your wonderful success!
Remember Lucy and Jeremy’s first kiss? How Jeremy thought that of the many kisses he’d experienced it was “undoubtedly the worst” – yet what Lucy “lacked in finesse she compensated with bold enthusiasm”. And how she’d “kissed him witless”. I loved their kisses, and I always thought of Jeremy (crush-worthy that he is) as a very good kisser. Hee. That scene alone was enough to hook me into reading Goddess.
I loved Friends, and how cool that your trilogy is a sort of Regency homage to that wonderful show. Remember Ross and Rachel’s first kiss? Hot! After they’d argued (“this ship has sailed!” “you can keep your stupid ship”) he storms out, and then he shows back up at the door of the coffee shop. Yowsah!
I only regret I cannot hang out at this party all day – however after I leave work soon I will be busy reading! One must have priorities! But I’ll try to pop in during those infrequent breaks.
Have a great day!
September 29th, 2009 at 8:11 am · Link
@Courtney Milan:
Cool! The author, Pamela White, also writes romance as Pamela Clare.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:12 am · Link
Just as Joey is also known as Dr. Drake Ramorey. 😉
September 29th, 2009 at 8:19 am · Link
Congratulations on the new release. One of the funniest episodes of Friends was when Rachel mistakenly put the layer of meat in her dessert. Joey still ate it.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:21 am · Link
Congrats Tessa on the book release!
My story is actually a combination of new friends and ‘Friends’! I studied abroad in Germany almost 4 years ago and I did not know a single person before I got there. The school had apartments for students, so I ended up living with 4 girls, one of whom (Sarah) I became really good friends with and even went to her wedding 2 years ago.
We had no TV the entire time we lived there (4 months) and Sarah was the only one who had thought to bring DVDs. She had 5 or 6 different seasons of ‘Friends’ with her and we spent hours watching them in the afternoons/evenings when we didn’t have other plans. Some days we’d end up with all 5 of us grouped together on the couch and chairs watching her little computer screen and laughing hysterically. We even got the guys in the apartment above us hooked on the show and sometimes they’d come down to ask if we could watch ‘Friends’.
To this day when I catch an episode of ‘Friends’ on TV, I always remember our fun times in Germany.
Remember when Chandler and Joey were at the beach with Monica when she got stung by the Jelly-Fish? 😆
September 29th, 2009 at 8:22 am · Link
Oh my gosh, this is SO much fun.
Tammy, aren’t first kisses just the best? I do remember that coffee-shop Ross/Rachel kiss very vividly. I was at college, and that was my birthday, so we had a whole gang of people over to watch it. So much fun!
Colleen – JANICE! Oh. my. GAWD indeed. I think she was a great character–I loved the way they gave her depth and even made her sympathetic over time, even though she never stopped being annoying.
Courtney, remember when you flew down to LA just to be there for my first bookstore signing, and brought Sara Lindsey, her mom, and origami goats along for the ride? Yeah, that was AWESOME. I love you.
Deb, remember Iowa summers full of sweet corn and ripe tomatoes and endless zucchini? Of course you do, because you still live there. Lucky.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:29 am · Link
@Angelique: What a great story! Friends bringing friends together. 🙂
@Kim: What’s amazing me is that this conversation is bringing up episodes I somehow missed. Like, i have no recollection of this meat dessert. Must find the DVD!
But do you remember when Rachel wanted Ross to drink the fat? “It’s just a chocolate milkshake…”
September 29th, 2009 at 8:31 am · Link
Remember when Chandler and Joey were at the beach with Monica when she got stung by the Jelly-Fish?
OMG, I had to comment on this one, it’s so memorable, Joey admitting he peed on Monica: “That’s right, I stepped up. And if I had to, I’d pee on any one of you.” Ha!
September 29th, 2009 at 8:33 am · Link
@Jennifer: French lessons are ALWAYS a good starting point for hilarity. 🙂
September 29th, 2009 at 8:34 am · Link
@Tammy D: LOL. How can you not love Joey? Remember when he couldn’t grasp the concept of air quotes? Look man, I’m “sorry”.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:40 am · Link
My 2 best friends in the whole world are my two beautiful daughters, Hally and Virginia. Whenever I am down in the dumps, or upset about anything, they can be counted on to give me love and support. I don’t know how I would survive without their love and friendship. They have helped me more than they will ever know!!!!
😆 😀
September 29th, 2009 at 8:40 am · Link
Hi Tessa.
Remember when I tweeted you about the opening pages of GOTH cracking me up? The rest of the book entertained just as well. I’m ready to read SOAS and ALOP, and hoping for more of the same.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:46 am · Link
Goodness, I’m late and this place is rocking.
LOVED Friends. So many funny moments already mentioned. Remember the time Joey and Chandler were fighting so Joey went and put all of Chandler’s clothes on. He stormed in doing his best Chandler imitation. “Could I be wearing anymore clothes?!”
And where would we all be without the “going commando” bit? LOL!
For ALOP, remember when….oh, I probably shouldn’t go there. LOL! I can’t wait to get my hands on this book and read about Toby again. I need to dig out that I *heart* Toby shirt. 🙂
September 29th, 2009 at 8:50 am · Link
Congratulations Tessa on the release of your new book! Your quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Already looking forward to the release of your upcoming new series.
Loved the show Friends. Some of the episodes I liked were when Brad Pitt was on and when Christina Applegate played rachels sister.
Best wishes, Amber
September 29th, 2009 at 9:54 am · Link
Hey Mel – I’m in Va Beach!
Remember another Friends moment. Remember when Monica and Rachel decided to teach Chandler about how to please a woman and Monica got herself all worked up thinking about it? LOL!
Remember at RWA 09 when Santa and Jennifer Haymore met? I met Santa and Jennifer will never forget it.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:57 am · Link
Dear Ms. Dare –
Many congratulations on the third in your trilogy. Seems like all cyberspace is abuzz with these charactrers! I’m not quite up to speed, still being in the middle of GOTH, but I love the idea that I’ll see Sophia (great name, BTW – and I’m not at ALL biased by the fact that it’s my baby girl’s) again shortly, and then again with Lucy & ‘Jemmy’ in #3. I also adore later epilogues and prologues and am guessing that one will involve the infamous “I was almost shot by the object of my infatuation” scene. Right? RIGHT??
Friends? I’m going to say the doctors played by Anthony Edwards and George Clooney on early seasons of ER (OK, I realize that dates me). They were at loggerheads as often as on the same page, but when the chips were down, there was never any question about whether they’d support one another. Loved that, and cried during the episode when they moved away so as to accomodate Clooney’s rocketing movie career.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:05 am · Link
Yay for ALOP!!!
HEY! How come I didn’t get to go out for BBQ in Dallas? LOL
Remember when Rachel was babysitting Marcel and he pooped in her shoe? “Marcel, did you poop in the shoe?” HA!
Courtney-I remember your puppy shower! That cake was to die for.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:08 am · Link
This is SO great. I’m about to go around signing bookstore stock, but please keep the memories coming!