Friday, April 8, 2011

No Warm and Fuzzies for These Witches: Guest Blog & Giveaway with Linda Wisdom

Thank you Fang-tastic Books for having me here today to talk about my witches’ sidekicks!

Most people envision a witch dressed in a shapeless black gown standing over a hot cauldron with a black cat sitting sedately by her side.

When Jazz, my first witch, popped into my head I saw her standing in front of a microwave oven wearing a tank top, pj pants with coffee cups on them, and wearing bunny slippers that sport razor sharp teeth. Ironically, their names are Fluff and Puff, prefer licorice root or chocolate over carrots and tend to get into trouble at the drop of a hat.

Perhaps it says something that their original names were Doom and Destruction before Jazz rescued them from an evil sorcerer. From the beginning of 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover Fluff and Puff took on a life all their own.

I write a lot of short stories featuring them on my blog and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say they inhabit my personal bunny slippers. Perhaps I shouldn’t have named them or have them tattooed onto my ankle. The tattoo artist even went so far as to add blood splatter around their fangs. Even then, I consider them my good luck charm.

When I moved onto to Stasi in Wicked By Any Other Name, I used my beloved Chihuahua/Yorkie, Bogie, as her dog adding that he floated more than walked and could disappear. But I also threw an eight-inch gargoyle named Horace into the mix. Horace isn’t just mischievous. He’s politically incorrect, loves the ladies, and why he was cursed by a troll. Never fool around with a troll’s wife. Even though he hangs out in Stasi’s lingerie boutique dressing rooms, watches way too much adult pay-per-view, he is loyal to Stasi and Blair, as long as it means he can create a lot of mayhem. Horace excels at that. And maybe that’s why he’s tattooed on my other ankle. I felt he was a perfect fit for soft-hearted romance loving Stasi and he does provide a great balance.

Since Blair in Hex in High Heels and Stasi share an apartment, it was natural they share Horace. Scary to think it takes two powerful witches to keep one gargoyle in line, doesn’t it? As I said, he’s also helpful and with Blair gifted in revenge spells, Horace was perfect to help out when need be. Who else could she call on to set out bags of flaming poop? But Blair also has Felix, a Kit-Kat clock, who can’t leave Blair’s shop, but soaks up gossip like food. I’ve always loved those clocks and knew one had to show up somewhere. With Blair owning a shop selling retro items, it was perfect to have Felix there.

And on to Demons Are a Girl’s Best Friend, and Maggie’s diamond-covered black widow spider tattoo sidekick, Elegance. Elle for short. It seemed appropriate for a kickass witch to have a tattoo and why not one who’s a black widow spider from France? Whose web is the softest of silk, who spends her free time surfing the World Wide Web searching for the perfect spell to keep her lovers alive for longer than one night of sexy, but also has the power to put down even a half fire demon if he gets out of line.

Sometimes I think it’s more fun to create the creatures than the characters. Possibly because they can get away with more than the characters can. I can throw them into situations that sound totally implausible, but they can carry if off.

They all have their own forms of magick, all with different personalities, and at least in my mind, are very real. They’re not pets. They’re friends. They have a life.

My agent took Fluff and Puff on vacation with her. I took Fluff, Puff, and Horace to Las Vegas with me. Never again. And I think Elle would be a great shopping buddy with her European sense of style.

I’ll give you a hint of what’s next. In A Demon Does It Better is a cat, but don’t call Cleo (yes THAT Cleo) a familiar or you’ll sorely regret it.

Cleo’s a silver chinchilla colored Persian cat who advises Lili on her love life and can detect old magick. But she can be distracted by the usual tricks to keep a feline entertained.

So don’t mess with me. I have magick bunny slippers that bite, a gargoyle that can create a lot of disaster in your life, and a black widow spider tattoo that can give you a whole new meaning of the word pain.

My question to you is – do you love a main character’s sidekicks? Do you feel it makes the book richer in flavor?

Linda

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Linda Wisdom has published more than 70 novels with 13 million copies sold worldwide. Her bestselling books have been nominated for RT Book Reviews awards and the RWA RITA Award. She recently won the RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award for Hex in High Heels.

Linda lives with her husband in Murrieta, California, where she is working on her next book, A Demon Does it Better, set to release in January 2012.

For more information, please visit http://www.lindawisdom.com/ .

DEMONS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND BY LINDA WISDOM – IN STORES APRIL 2011

A Bewitching Woman on a Mission…

Feisty witch Maggie enjoys her work as a paranormal law enforcement officer—that is, until she’s assigned to protect a teenager with major attitude and plenty of Mayan enemies. Maggie’s never going to survive this assignment without the help of a half-fire demon who makes her smolder…

A Hotter-Than-Sin Hero with an Agenda…

Declan is a proprietor of an underground club and busy demon portal. No way he’ll allow his demon race to be blamed for the malicious acts of some crazy evil Mayans. But he’s already got his hands full when the sexy witch offers him a challenge he can’t refuse…


Would you like to win a copy of Demons are a Girl's Best Friend?


Thanks to Sourcebooks I have 2 copies to giveaway


Open to US and Canada Shipping


Leave a comment on this post answering Linda's questions about sidekicks: "do you love a main character’s sidekicks? Do you feel it makes the book richer in flavor?"

Be sure to include your email


Winner TBA Next Wednesday

45 comments:

Mary Kirkland said...

I love the sidekicks. Sometimes the sidekicks need to get their own book in a series and that makes getting to know everyone in the story even better. I like more in the way of characters because it makes the story really come to life.

miztik_rose AT yahoo.com

SandyG265 said...

I like sidekicks. Sometimes the sidekicks are more interesting than the main character.

sgiden at verizon.net

Sweet Vernal Zephyr said...

Most of the time the sidekick are what make me laugh... and the main character's tolerance of their mischief. I don't enjoy a book half as much when the main character is alone.

mdwartistry at yahoo dot com

LadyVampire2u said...

I like sidekicks. Usually they sneak up on the reader while reading the book and make a place in your heart so that after the book is said and done, the hero and heroine off to relax in each other's company...well your waiting to read book 2 and hoping the sidekick finds his or her own happily ever after.

LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com

Tanya1224 said...

I enjoy sidekick's. They usually lighten up the story. I love Jenks from the Hollow's series and also a read I read a while ago called Bite Me. There is a talking hell hound. Very intertaining. I'd love a chance to win a copy of your book. Thank you.
Tanyaw1224(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anne said...

I definitely thing a book, especially a series, is improved by a variety of sidekicks. The series I love best and which have lasted (Briggs' Mercy Thompson, Harris' The Southern Vampire series, Ilona Andrews Kate Daniels series, Estep's Gin Blanco series) have lots of secondary characters so it's not all focused on the romance between the main characters and the storyline tends to be more varied. Certainly not in Briggs' series were we only got small glimpses of mercy and Adam's relationship until River Marked.

Diana Dang said...

The sidekicks could stand out, blend into the background, or be annoying as hell. Depending on how the sidekicks are portrayed, I may or may not like them. But for the most part, they aren't too bad.

faked_sugartone at hotmail

Roxanne Rhoads said...

I adore good sidekicks. Fluff and Puff are awesome and I hope to see them in a book soon.

Some sidekicks can really make a book shine- Sparky in The Lantern series by Laura Bickle is a good sidekick, and of course, Jenks in Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan (The Hollows) series.

Lynda said...

Hi Linda!

I loved Fluff and Puff and even Horace but there's something about Elle that really draws me. I look forward to seeing Cleo. Great post!

cait045 said...

Sidekicks can add so much to a book that pushes it from a good book to a great book. One of my favorites is Jenks from The Hollows series. Even though he is a partner in the firm not a sidekick.

usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom

Linda Wisdom said...

Mary, Some sidekicks do get their own books. My creature sidekicks at least get their short stories to keep them happy.

SandyG265, Very true!

SweetVernalZephyr, It does something extra, doesn't it?

LadyVampire2U, My sidekicks are more creatures that tend to go off and create their brando of mischief.

Tanya1224, I adore Jenks too along with his family.

Anne, I've always liked adding add'l characters to my books for those extra flavors.

Diana Dang, Think of them as something fun.

Hi Roxanne! Fluff and Puff are sure a law onto themselves. I'd still love to work up a graphic novel with them.

Hi Lynda! Probably Elle's quest for that perfect hex.

Cait045, Plus I think Jenks is a nice balance for Rachel and Ivy.

RFTC Blog said...

I like sidekicks. They just bring a little something to the book. Sometimes they are more interesting the character.

iqb99@yahoo.com

Linda Wisdom said...

Danielle, That's very true!

Linda Wisdom said...

I'd also like to add if you haven't tried my series yet, the first book in the Hex series, 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover is now a free ebook for Kindle, Nook, etc.

booklover0226 said...

I find some sidekickes an absolute hoot! They can be a great stress reliever when a particular scene becomes intense.

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com

Sharon S. said...

There has to be a side kick to play the straight or the comedian in the dialog . I love witty banter and the perfect side kick can facilitate this .

Unknown said...

I do love sidekicks, particularity ones who bring humor to the story. I am always looking for the next book wit the sidekick as the main character.

robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com

Rosie said...

I love books with sidekicks, especially the ones that make you laugh out loud! I love Fluff and Puff!!

Thanks for the contest!

rosie0512 @ hotmail . com

Judy said...

I really enjoy sidekicks in novels. You need extra characters to make the novel more interesting. They definitely add flavor to the novel..


Judy
magnolias_1[at]msn[dot]com

Barb P said...

Hi Linda! I think that the sidekicks are very important! The sidekicks give the main characters a seperate focus other than the love interest etc. Also the sidekicks often end up being a main character in a follow up book of their own. Love your books and can't wait to start the new series. bpatrick64113@sbcglobal.net

Stacey Smith said...

I Love sidekicks they bring life and humor to a book.

sasluvbooks(at)yahoo(dot)com

Dawn Embers said...

Those all sound like really awesome sidekicks. I haven't written one like that yet but the one I remember reading is actually from YA. The typical cat but it worked so well is The Song of the Lioness series. Alanna has a cat who sits on her shoulder and really fits in the plot though not quite as active as yours listed. I would be fun to have a sidekick like the ones you write.

DawnEmbers(at)ymail(dot)com

Barbara E. said...

I love it when the main character has a sidekick, usually they're comic relief, or help the character in some way. I think it definitely adds to the story, and gives the main character someone to talk to, bounce ideas off of, bicker with, or just snark at.

Barbed1951 at aol dot com

Mariee said...

I love sidekicks! Sometimes I even like them more than the hero/heroine. My favorite books are always the once with great secondary characters.

marieimy (at) gmail (dot) com

Wenj said...

Sidekicks rule! They add a gret dynamic to the lead character allowing them to actually be their true selves and often they add some much needed humor or insight into the story as well. I definitely think that they add to the world builiding helping to develop characterization and often times the sidekicks often become my favorite characters!

blacklagoon.wenj(at)gmail(dot)com

Estella said...

I love sidekicks! they are the perfect foil for the main character.

kissinoak at frontier dot com

Sherry said...

I love reading books that have sidekicks. I've read some that I've laughed so hard when reading them.

sstrode@scrtc.com

Linda Wisdom said...

I love it that you all enjoy sidekicks.

I enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them. Plus, those who know Fluff and Puff know that it wouldn't be any other way. And yes, they won't be going to Vegas with us next time!

Jen B. said...

Sidekicks can be very tricky. When they work, the dance and sing and hit the reader up side the head. A very good thing for the reader. But when they don't work, it can be so painful and wrong. I have stopped reading a couple of books because the sidekick was so bad. Please enter me in the contest.
jepebATverizonDOTnet

Johanna J said...

I love sidekicks. I sometimes get to caught up in them though wishing they had their own story.

evjochum[AT]aol[DOT]com

Julie S said...

I definitely think sidekicks are important. They help create the story line and give you more characters to get to know.

juliecookies(at)gmail.com

Andrea said...

I like sidekicks. They can enhance a story.

lillieblue613(at)gmail(dot)com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I do love sidekicks and writers have to be very careful not to allow them to upstage the main character. they often add a touch of humor that makes the story that much more enjoyable.

(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Debby said...

I love the titles of your books! I also love sidekicks. I think they make the story richer in many ways. Main characters do not live in vacuums. Later on they can have their own story and then you can see what happened with the first.
debby236 at gmail dot com

Linda Wisdom said...

I like to think my sidekicks offer some humor and can do what the main characters can't do.

I think that's why I use the creatures for sidekicks.

Unknown said...

I love sidekicks. They make the book more interesting but they should have their own story line at some point. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. Tore923@aol.com

Martha Lawson said...

Love sidekicks in a book! Think it really adds to the book.

follow on gfc

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

wanda f said...

I do love sidekicks they do the book richer in flavor.I always end up hoping that they will get their own books .

flanagan@mebtel.net

Linda Wisdom said...

This is why I love discussions. We writers love our work and it's always good to see what the readers enjoy in a book and hopefully it's what we write. :}

Juli D. Revezzo said...

I agree with SandyG. Sometimes, the sidekicks are far more interesting than the main characters. A lot more often than the main characters. I don't quite understand that phenomena, so I thought it was just my little quirk. *laughs* Good luck with the new release, Ms. Wisdom.

Anonymous said...

I like it when the main character has a sidekick. It adds depth to the character when we see who their friends are, some of their interests and what makes them tick. Thanks for the contest. lisa gk at yahoo dot com

lindalou said...

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. In some series, the sidekicks have gotten their own stories told in sequels... in others, it's a relief to have them go away... LOL!
lindalou@cfl.rr.com
Linda T.
USA

Amy said...

I love a good sidekick. They usually make the story richer and more full of life. I like the comic relief, but I also like how they balance out the protagonist.

angeldream3[at]gmail[dot]com

Megan@Riverina Romantics said...

I love most sidekicks. Lula in the Stephanie Plum books is funny as hell.

rootml1{at}hotmail{dot}com

Unknown said...

I do love sidekicks and most secondary characters for that matter if they are interesting and/or funny or bring something into the story. So yes, I do feel that these characters make the book richer in flavor.

chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

 
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