Today, we have a terrific guest post from Jeri Smith-Ready. I had the pleasure to first meet Jeri at the RWA National Conference in Atlanta back in (jeez…what was that?) 2006. Jeri is an absolutely wonderful lady–and a fabulous writer. She has a new book on the shelves now–WICKED GAME (a brilliant new twist on vampires). If you haven’t read this book, I would highly recommend putting it on your TBR list!
Welcome, Jeri!
* * *
Hi, everyone! Thanks to the Bradford Bunch and especially Cynthia Eden for inviting me to come and yak about the process of writing my new release, WICKED GAME (Pocket Books, May 13).
I’ll be giving away one signed copy of the novel–to enter, just post a comment. A name will be drawn at random after 11:59 Eastern time Wednesday, June 4.
Stranger Than Fiction – The Pleasures and Pitfalls of Research
Authors often discover fascinating (and disturbing!) facts while researching our books. For me, that’s one of the most fun parts of writing—encountering new worlds, exploring their nuances, and eventually pillaging them for my own purposes.
I thought I’d share a few tidbits I learned while writing WICKED GAME, and how they each affected the writing process.
But first, La Blurb:
* * *
Late-night radio you can sink your teeth into
Recovering con artist Ciara Griffin is trying to live the straight life, even if it means finding a (shudder!) real job. She takes an internship at a local radio station, whose late-night time-warp format features 1940s blues, 60s psychedelia, 80s Goth, and more, all with an uncannily authentic flair. Ciara soon discovers how the DJs maintain their cred: they’re vampires, stuck forever in the eras in which they were turned.
Ciara’s first instinct, as always, is to cut and run. But communications giant Skywave wants to buy WMMP and turn it into just another hit-playing clone. Without the station—and the link it provides to their original Life Times—the vampires would “fade,” becoming little more than mindless ghosts of the past. Suddenly a routine corporate takeover becomes a matter of life and un-death.
To boost ratings and save the lives of her strange new friends, Ciara re-brands the station as “WVMP, the Lifeblood of Rock ’n’ Roll.” In the ultimate con, she hides the DJs’ vampire nature in plain sight, disguising the bloody truth as a marketing gimmick. WVMP becomes the hottest thing around—next to Ciara’s complicated affair with grunge vamp Shane McAllister. But the “gimmick” enrages a posse of ancient and powerful vampires who aren’t so eager to be brought into the light. Soon the stakes are higher-and the perils graver-than any con game Ciara’s ever played…
* * *
So my three major areas of research were:
Vampires
Con artists
Rock ‘n’ Roll
“Real” Vampires – Most vampires in my book don’t kill people—at least, not on purpose. Instead, they form relationships with willing ‘donors,’ who give them blood in exchange for money, sex, or the thrill of the bite itself.
After watching Shane drink from a donor (one who likes it enough to try to pay him for the privilege), Ciara asks him, “How do you find these weirdos?”
He answers:
“Anymore, it’s easy, thanks to the internet. Type ‘mortals seeking vampires’ into any search engine, and you’ll see what I mean.” He glances back at the street we just left. “This one moved from Baltimore to Sherwood to be closer to me. That and the better school system.”
Shane’s not kidding. A Google search on “Mortals Seeking Vampires” brings you to a classified ad page where people can plead for a vampire to show them the ways of the night. Some are just looking for information, some want to be tasted, and some want to be ‘turned.’
Reading this page and others like it, I discovered the subculture of ‘real’ vampires—people who believe they need to drink human blood. They call themselves ‘sanguinarians.’
From the sanguinarians I learned many helpful tips about safe blood drinking. Then I had to lie down until that swishiness in my head went away. (I’m probably way too squeamish to write about vampires. Let’s not even discuss what I learned about decapitation.)
Change Raising – a classic con game, depicted in movies (THE GRIFTERS, PAPER MOON), television shows (HUSTLE), and now, in WICKED GAME.
By purchasing a small-cost item (<$1) and then making change in a series of rapid maneuvers, a con artist can turn ten dollars into twenty without the cashier ever knowing what happened. The key is to do it too quickly for the sucker to follow and to make distracting small talk.
At WVMP’s big debut party, Ciara plays this trick on her boss Franklin. Not your average chump, Franklin is a shrewd, suspicious salesman—a con artist of a different sort. In a new twist, she even tells him it’s a trick, but he still falls for it.
The change-raising routine is so confusing (to us non-grifters), every time I edited or proofread this scene, I felt certain I’d screwed it up. So I’d pull out actual money and go through the con step-by-step from the text. It worked every time. Sometimes I resent Ciara for being smarter than I am.
“Drain You” – I wanted Shane to play this Nirvana song for Ciara when he takes her on their first real date, an intimate Fourth of July picnic. (Food and music—my ultimate romantic fantasy, and if my husband is reading this, yes, it’s a hint!)
It was important to me that readers unfamiliar with the music in the book could still get a feel for the way the songs sound and their emotional meaning to the characters. For a human/vampire relationship, a title like “Drain You” holds a pretty clear message.
Problem was, I couldn’t find a single video on YouTube of someone playing it on an acoustic guitar. It finally occurred to me, the non-musician, that not every rock song can be translated to acoustic. Finally I sought the opinion of my own guitar man, my husband Chris. His answer (paraphrased):
An unusually talented guitar player could probably figure out a way to rearrange the song to make it sound decent on acoustic. I am not an unusually talented guitar player, and obviously neither are those guys on YouTube. But maybe Shane is.
And that was how I decided that once upon a time, Shane had gotten a scholarship in music theory to Ohio University (which he never finished, but that’s another story). He’s not someone who just dorks around on a guitar now and then to impress the ladies. He knows his stuff, which of course makes him a great DJ as well.
I hope these examples shed a little light on how research can affect everything from worldbuilding to characterization and even the editing process itself.
And of course, I hope it makes you want to read more about Ciara and Shane in their first book, WICKED GAME!
I’ll be out of town Saturday, but will catch up on comments and questions when I come home Sunday night. Thanks for stopping by, everyone!
Jeri
May 31st, 2008 at 7:22 am
Hi Jeri,
I love to read about vampires and love your title “Wicked Games”, it could go either way and I do plan to read it, but to win it would be even sweeter.
Enjoy your weekend.
May 31st, 2008 at 8:07 am
Hi, Jeri!
What your husband said about adapting all sorts of music to acoustic guitar is true–particularly for folks who have studied acoustic seriously. Way back when coughmumblelotsayearsmumblecough* I knew this guy who studied classical guitar and who could adapt pretty much any song from a variety of musical genres, and make it sound great.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
May 31st, 2008 at 8:14 am
Hey Jeri! That change con…when I worked at a bookstore we had a few people come in who were infamous for it. LOL< they would come in and try it on new staff. So we made a policy of not giving out change. LOL
Can’t wait to read Wicked Game. Don’t put my name in the draw. I already have it on order and it should be to me any day now.
May 31st, 2008 at 8:36 am
Hi, Jeri! Thanks so much for guest blogging with us today! I loved Wicked Game–such a wonderful story!! Got hooked right away.
May 31st, 2008 at 9:20 am
Okay, that’s it… by the time I got to the end of this post, I KNEW I had no choice but to put Wicked Game on my “Constant Cravings” list. The fact that there is a chance of winning a copy is just icing on the cake, because “different” gets me every time and this one sounds oh so enjoyably different!
Much success with this one, Jeri!
May 31st, 2008 at 10:04 am
Hi Jeri!
Wicked Game sounds fantastic! I love the cover, very eye catching! I’d love to be entered in this contest.
May 31st, 2008 at 10:32 am
May 31st, 2008 at 10:48 am
Glad to see you here today, I’m looking forward to reading this one! I’m an avid reader of Paranormals, with vamps being my favs! Thanks for the opportunity of winning.
May 31st, 2008 at 10:57 am
Hi Jeri,
Wicked Game sounds very good and I love the cover. I would love to be entered for the giveaway.
Thank You,
Hugssss
LindaH
May 31st, 2008 at 11:44 am
Loved it, loved it, loved it. And wasn’t unhappy about paying for it, either! So don’t pick me. I have already been there, and am looking so forward to a sequel! (no pressure, none at all…)Oh, and I am obsessed with Monroe. Totally think he’s the most compelling character in the book. Rock on!
May 31st, 2008 at 11:50 am
Hi Jeri,
I loved the vampire DJs and each being caught in their own era. This was a wonderful book!
I hope you have a great weekend.
May 31st, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Well you know I read WG and adored it so I don’t need to be entered into the contest. But I just wanted to pop in to say hello and to let you know, just in case and all, if you say, wanted an early read/opinion of the next book, I’m your girl. Just sayin.
May 31st, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Now you are just teasing me because you know I haven’t got the book yet, I have been trying but my library hasn’t got it yet. I would love a signed copy from you.
I do have a question for you though. What do you do when your characters go on vacation? I have started writing my own book and had really good ideas charters name and basic outline, they were talking like crazy then they stop. What do you do?
May 31st, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Jeri –
Hello! I planned to buy WICKED GAME, because it’s your book, and I like you. :-))) THEN — I read the excerpt from WICKED GAME on your web site and HOT DAMN, it’s excellent!
I loved every word, every nuanced glance, every pitch-perfect dialogue line punched up with a powerful paralanguage cue. (How’s that for alliteration!)
Jeri - since you’ve taken my editing courses, you know how high I set the writing craft bar. You cleared it by a mile. Stellar writing. And the story and characters became real to me, vampires and all. I’m so in. :-)))
After reading your excerpt, I e-mailed your web site link to my daughter and 5 of my friends. I told them they HAD TO BUY WICKED GAME. That’s how good it is.
Jeri — Wish you could release the books from this series monthly!
May 31st, 2008 at 2:43 pm
May 31st, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Wicked Game sounds very good!
May 31st, 2008 at 2:52 pm
I love how original WICKED GAME sounds. What a great take on the vampire genre. The blurbs sounded so interesting that I went to your site and read the first chapter. Now I gotta find out the rest of Ciara’s story.
Please put me in the drawing so I don’t have to buy another book (my bookstore receipts are cringeworthy).
May 31st, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Jeri, I was so relieved to hear your difficulties figuring out the change raising scene. I had to keep reading it over and over to make sense of what was going on, not just because it’s such a clever con, but also because it was so well written!
May 31st, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Hey Jeri!
That change switching con? People used to try it on me when I worked in retail and that was like, 20 years ago.
Distraction is definately the key!
I really liked the premise of WICKED GAME, and I can’t wait to read it!
May 31st, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Wicked Game sounds great!
May 31st, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Hi Jeri! I do have this down on my shopping list. I remember when I read my first Luna, your book, EYES OF CROW and I just got so into the world you made with those books. I too love vampires, and this does sound so unique! I’d love to be in the contest for it. I hope this is a start of more related books, such as a series, and the same characters for the other books if I read it right, right? Love it already. Thanks for all the peeks into WICKED GAME.
May 31st, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Thanks for the insight into your book. The buzz on ths book sounds great. I have added it to my wishlist. Really would love to win a copy.
May 31st, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Its always interesting to read the background behind how a book came about. The concept of it sounds really intriguing. I can’t wait to read it!
May 31st, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I liked the way you gave your character the ability to play that song acousticly. Looking forward to reading this book! Congratulations on it’s release.
May 31st, 2008 at 10:37 pm
I am so happy someone recommended Wicked Game to me. I went right out and got it last night and am almost halfway through I think. Actually I just put it down right at the 4th of July picnic scene to come and check out the WVMP website. I am kind of sad I got it so soon though, since it will be SO LONG before the next one comes out!
June 1st, 2008 at 1:39 am
I love the storyline. This one is definitely on my wish list here. Congratulations on your newest release!
June 1st, 2008 at 4:29 am
I love the unusual twists you’ve put on the vampires. Plus Ive been hearing rave reviews about it. Cant wait to read it!
June 1st, 2008 at 9:38 am
Hi Jeri, thank you for the terrific posting and your book sounds terrific. Looking forward to reading ‘Wicked Game’.
June 1st, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Hi there Jeri!
Wicked Games sounds fabulous! Great interview! Would love to win a copy!
June 1st, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Hey Jeri!
I always find the research aspect really fascinating!
Thanks for sharing AND for a fantastic novel!
Very plane-worthy!
June 1st, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I would love to win this one. It sounds like a great read. Looking forward to hear more.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:15 am
Cool book! I’d love to read/win this
Woohoo!
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:25 am
Hey everyone! Sorry I’m late–family trip yesterday, a bridal shower with approximately 1,000 guests. (Not mine, unfortunately–I wouldn’t mind having another shower to replace all the wedding gifts I got 14 years ago that have gotten broken or lost.
)
Anyway, thanks for all your wonderful comments! I’ll take them a few at a time so as not to have one ginormous post that will inevitably get eaten.
Dina: Good luck, and I hope you had a great weekend, too.
Azteclady: Oh, good. Nice to know the dh wasn’t just humoring me.
Vivi: That’s so funny. I’m sure I would’ve fallen for it if I’d been a new clerk. Heck, I’d probably fall for it today.
Enjoy the book!
Cynthia: Thanks so much for having me, and glad you liked WICKED GAME!
BevQB: Awesome–yes, I can say without reservation that this one’s definitely different.
Rachaelfrom NJ: Thanks! I’m a big fan of the urban fantasy covers picturing the strong female character and the spooky atmosphere, so I was thrilled with this cover.
TashaT: Thanks–the original title was BAD COMPANY, but the publisher asked me to come up with something stronger. I’ve always loved this song and thought it was perfect for the
book, what with the con artistry and all. Luckily, they thought so, too.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:39 am
I don’t know why the winky face showed up in the middle of the sentence of my last comment. *shrug* Oh well.
TeresaW: Yay, vampires! Sometimes there’s just no substitute.
ReadingIsSoMuchFun: Thanks! I wish I could take credit for the cover, but I can’t even draw a stick figure with the right number of legs.
Christine: Thank you thank you! You’ll be happy to hear that starting at the end of June, I’ll be posting on my website the ‘true’ stories of how each vampire DJ was ‘turned.’ Monroe’s story will be first, of course, since he’s the oldest. Oh, and my newsletter subscribers get to see it a week before the rest of the world.
Lori T: Great to see you! I’m so glad you enjoyed the book. Thanks for stopping by.
Lauren: Hey, I’ll definitely take you up on that! Thanks so much–I’ll be in touch. You’re awesome.
MEME: Good luck finding the book–libraries can take awhile sometimes, but they usually come through. As for your question, I often try to get in touch with my characters through the music they might like or that might describe what they’re going through. It doesn’t have to be music–it could be food or objects that they might treasure. In other words, something tangible that I can relate to, too. Good luck with that!
Margie: That is the highest praise I can imagine! Nancy Haddock just forwarded me your message to your class about including WG in future lectures, and I’m now fanning myself so I don’t pass out.
Seriously, I have you and my terrific editor to thank for helping me whip WICKED GAME into shape. Your classes were SO phenomenal! I tell everyone all the time how much they’ve helped me.
(Nancy, BTW, is giving away a copy of LA VIDA VAMPIRE on my blog this week. Everyone come read her interview and learn about her fantastically fun new series. End plug.)
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:53 am
I just realized I haven’t mentioned the website for the radio station in the book: WVMP The Lifeblood of Rock ‘n’ Roll. It’s got more information about the vampire DJs, including playlists you can actually listen to (full songs and everything!).
Back to the comments:
AprilS: WICKED GAME will have at least one sequel: BAD TO THE BONE, coming out May 1, 2009. Plus, as I mentioned above, starting at the end of June, I’ll be posting on my website the ‘true’ stories of how each vampire DJ was ‘turned.’ That’s to tide readers over until next year.
Beyond that, I hope there’ll be more books in the series. It will depend on how well WICKED GAME sells in its first few months and on how much my editor likes the sequel. *is incredibly nervous*
Estella: Thanks and good luck in the drawing!
Stacie Mc: I know the feeling about the bookstore receipts. It’s scary how much I spend on books. But it keeps me out of trouble and off the streets.
Kimberly B: Yep, Ciara doesn’t like to give too much away. I went back and forth about how much to explain in the scene, but every time I tried to be more explicit about how the trick worked, it just felt info-dumpy.
Angie-la: It’s amazing how such a simple trick can work so well–with most con jobs, it seems unbelievable that anyone would fall for them. But it’s all in the execution and distraction and emotional/mental manipulation. Like a magic trick, but with money.
Amy S: Thanks for commenting, and good luck in the drawing!
Caffey: Hey, I remember you from the Luna boards!
Glad you liked EYES OF CROW. Yep, this will be a series (at least one more book, BAD TO THE BONE, next May), and Ciara will be the main character in each book, with all her friends at the station making repeat appearances. I could not let these characters go. 
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:05 am
Pamk: Thanks, that’s great to know! Good luck in the drawing.
VirginiaHendricks: I really enjoy giving a bit of ‘behind the scenes’ action. Glad you liked it!
Brandy: Well, Shane’s not an old enough vampire to be able to lift Mack trucks above his head or anything. Playing a mean guitar helps make up for it.
Amy: Woo-hoo! Glad you’re enjoying WICKED GAME. See the previous comment for news on the sequel and tie-in short stories coming soon.
April: Thanks so much! Good luck in the drawing.
Michelle: Ooh, that’s great to hear. I don’t go looking for reviews (makes me so nervous I actually get queasy) so I like hearing ‘reports’ of people liking it.
Shari: Thanks so much for having me–I’ve really enjoyed this guest blog. It’s fun to meet new folks.
Ruth: Thanks, and best of luck in the drawing!
Theresa: Thank you so much–I definitely know what it’s like to need to lose yourself in a book on a bad flight.
Amelia: Thanks for stopping by, and good luck in the drawing!
bunny: Thanks for commenting! And of course, good luck!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:50 am
Jeri, here’s wishing you the best of luck with Wicked Game, and more books in that world for us readers.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Jeri,
Can’t wait to read Wicked Game! Shane sounds wicked hot.
Cari
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Azteclady: Thanks so much!
Cari: Heh. Well, I think he is, but I’m biased.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:02 am
Ok the book rocks anyone who mentions Nirvana in their book instantly becomes like one of my fave writers if you already weren’t one! Then the whole vampire, rock n roll, radio DJs; I was hooked. I usually finish you books pretty quickly because I can’t put them down but this one was a record time and my boss knows to expect me to have a few “sick” days when one of your books come out. So now I can expect a sick day in November for the next aspects of crow book YAY and another in May double YAY…YAY YAY! lol
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:12 am
Casse: Thank you so much! I am definitely in favor of playing hooky. One of my favorite movies is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Here are a few other books I can highly recommend that mention Nirvana prominently:
Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane. This is one of my FAVORITE books of all time. It’s a hilarious romantic comedy and definitely one for music lovers.
Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield. Not a novel but a touching memoir about a man and his wife and their relationship and how music was a big part of it. It made me cry but also laugh when I remembered the mix tapes I used to make.
I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert, a YA novel (but very adult-friendly) coming out in July. It’s about a girl and her punk band and her search for the mother who abandoned her when she was just a few weeks old. Awesome–be sure to look for it.
I’ve also heard that About a Boy by Nick Hornby talks about Nirvana, too, that the title is a play on the Nirvana tune “About a Girl.” That’s on my TBR list.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:15 am
Wicked Games sounds great.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:56 am
Jeri, I just had to pop back in and tell you how excited I am about the WVMP website!! It will make the book interactive! Now I REALLY cannot wait to read it because I think I would have missed a lot of the atmosphere if I wasn’t familiar with some of the songs. In fact, I think I’m going to move it from my Constant Cravings wish list up to my Insatiable Lusts booklust list.
BTW, shouldn’t Shane’s playlist include Nirvana’s Drain You? You know for… um.. people that… um… maybe aren’t familiar with the song because Nirvana was AFTER their time? Just sayin’ ::whistle’s innocently::
And, HEY! Shane is from my little corner of the Land O’ the Grey! Most of us don’t admit it.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Flip: Thanks! Good luck in the drawing!
BevQB: Woo-hoo! The playlist or “soundtrack” for the actual book (which the DJs don’t know about
is on the WICKED GAME music page on my own website. There you’ll find “Drain You”, among many others. The playlist (which is found at the beginning of the book) is a list of songs mentioned in the story itself (like maybe a song that’s playing in the background). So yeah, you can read the book with the music playing in the background. 
Also, each chapter is named after a song title, and that playlist is there as well. And there are also links to the DJs Pandora stations. (Wonder what that is? Click the link!)
You’re from Youngstown? Yay! So are you a Steelers fan or a Browns fan? (Shane’s a “Stillers” fan all the way–but I still like him, anyway.
)
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Great post.
I’d sooooo love to have a copy of Wicked Game!
-Breanna
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Jeri,
I can’t wait to read the latest addition to your fantastic writing! But to win a signed copy would really sweeten the read. Even if I don’t win- keep writing for all us fans-no taking a break-lol!
Vicki
June 4th, 2008 at 10:28 am
“You’re from Youngstown? Yay! So are you a Steelers fan or a Browns fan? (Shane’s a “Stillers” fan all the way–but I still like him, anyway.)”
Closer to Warren, near the airport, but still within the Youngstown-Warren mini-metro area… aka The Mahoning Valley.
I am sooooooo not a sports fan-ANY sports! However my husband is a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan, which makes for some loud snarkin’ back and forth between him and his Browns Backer buddies. Eclipsed only by the smack generated when the two branches of my family— Northeast Ohio and Pittsburgh Area– get together! OY, what a NOISE!
BTW, I checked out the playlists and can’t wait to listen along as they are mentioned in the book.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Breanna: Thanks so much, and good luck in the drawing!
Vicki: A break? What’s that?
Bev: Ooh, that gives me an idea: maybe I should make a third playlist that combines the two playlists in chronological order, for listening while reading. Or maybe I’m becoming addicted to playlists.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Good morning, everyone!! Jeri has selected the winner of her contest–and the winner is…Theresa W! Congratulations, Theresa!
And thanks to everyone for the great comments!
(And thank you, Jeri!)
June 5th, 2008 at 7:55 am
Teresa, I apologize–I misspelled your name. The winner is Teresa W (commenter #8).
June 5th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Congrats, Teresa W! and thank you, Jeri and Cynthia!
June 5th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Congratulations Teresa W!
June 5th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Congrats Teresa! Thanks so much to Cynthia and the whole BB for having me. And especially thanks to all the commenters–y’all made me feel right at home.
June 6th, 2008 at 12:42 am
I have this book on my tbr read pile and other books keep getting in the way of me reading it! I am sick at home so I hope to get to it this weekend but I have only heard great things!
I would love to win an signed copy!
June 7th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Well, I actually just started reading this book, but would absolutely love to win a signed copy!!!!!!!
I’ll hopefully be doing a review soon!
July 7th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
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July 25th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
[...] time she is over at Love Romances talking about her new novel, Wicked Game. She’s also at The Bradford Bunch talking about all the fun stuff she learned while researching for Wicked [...]