Monday, April 20, 2009

It's a Wrap: Ann Aguirre's Reader Blog Tour and Contest

Blue Diablo by Ann AguirreAnn Aguirre - Blue Diablo, Corine Solomon book 1

Yes, that's right, in between her world travels and calls to the gas company, Ann Aguirre has been doing a whirlwind Reader Blog Tour that ends right here before she jets off to RT Con in Orlando.

Ah well, last week I finally gave up and cancelled my hotel reservations for RT Con (I had reserved suites at two different hotels just in case I ended up going). So, since I won't be meeting Ann in person after all (or you either, AZL), I'm at least lucky enough that she's stopping by today to share a bit of warm Chocolate Lava Cake... à la Mode... sprinkled with nuts (Yep, it's that good).

Read on to find out how you can also be lucky enough to enjoy a copy of Ann's urban fantasy, Blue Diablo, or if you've already read it, watch for Ann's alternate prize.

But first, Ann dishes about Corine's sex life
(note Ann's casting choices that I want to disagree with SO badly)...

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By now, many of you will have read Blue Diablo. (If you haven´t, what are you waiting for?!) That means I can discuss the book in a bit more detail than I have done previously in the tour. Yippee!

Christine Hendricks, Ann's Corine SolomonSince this is Bev´s blog, I´m going to talk about sex and relationships, or vice versa, maybe. [Bev: Whatever could you mean? ::bats eyes innocently::] In Blue Diablo, I explore the trope of lovers reunited or star-crossed lovers, if you will. That´s Corine and Chance.

She broke up with Chance eighteen months before the start of the book, believing he didn´t love her as much as she loved him. She felt as if he only maintained a relationship with her because it was convenient, and he wanted to profit from her gift. So she left him in the middle of the night, after an accident that nearly cost her life.

Cha Tae-hyun, Ann's ChanceChance represents many things to Corine: adventure, danger, excitement, potent sexual attraction. Blogger Katiebabs did a great job of describing him, in fact. Let me quote her briefly: ¨Chance is that seductive type of guy a woman would do anything for... a slick guy...¨

YA author Stacey Klemstein, also known as Stacey Kade, had the following to say about the book: ¨It was so REFRESHING to read something different but still an urban fantasy, if that makes sense. Also? Chance is HOT. His ability in particular or his luck, however you phrase it, was particularly intriguing because it was like nothing I'd ever heard of before. I'm totally 100% Chance. I like Jesse, too, don't get me wrong, and he's probably a better long term relationship choice, but...I have a thing for bad boys. Not that Chance is bad exactly, just more dangerous somehow.

I LOVE that about these characters too. Corine's gift is a gift but it hurts her and leaves her with physical marks. That, too, is something I'd never read before. And Chance is dangerous, not because you could get your heart stomped on, which is the usual kind of danger, but with his luck, you could end up being a victim. Basically, loving him could kill you.¨


She has totally hit the nail on the head, regarding the conflict inherent in their relationship. It´s not just that they have communication and trust issues (and they do). There are also real concerns about his gift. He nearly got Corine killed once before because of his luck, and it doesn´t have an off button. (You´ll need to read it to understand, and if you´ve already read it, good for you!)

Olivier Martinez, Ann's JesseAs for Jesse, he represents safety and securty, home and earth. With Jesse Saldana, Corine could realize her dream of being normal, marrying into a family of ¨Gifted¨ humans, who have known about their abilities for many generations. She would have extended family, inlaws, cousins. This is stability. He represents everything she´s ever wanted. But is that what she wants, really? Should she make the safe choice?

Chance, on the other hand, has only secrets he hasn´t shared, including his real name and the identity of his father. He has a mother who is nearly as mysterious as he is, but with him, Corine will never have the sense of community and belonging she so fiercely desires. Is passion enough? Chance also has difficulty communicating and suffers from an inability to give of himself fully. In Blue Diablo, we see him struggle with that, and we see Corine´s reaction to his failure to meet her needs. But he loves her, desperately. It´s intense and bittersweet and heartbreaking at times.

As for sex, that will be handled differently in this series. Corine is a highly sexual woman, but she has enjoyed a series of one-night stands in Mexico, men she didn´t bother to get to know, and who fulfilled a physical need but not her emotional ones. Before she gives of herself again, she wants to know she´s found the person she can build a life with. That means she won´t be jumping in and out of bed, however much she may want to. No spur of the moment flings. She wants it to mean something, this time. She wants to be sure. That means there will be massive sexual tension before this thing is resolved and her heart is won.

Readers are asking me who she will choose. I honestly don´t know. A few them are surprising me by naming Kel or Booke as possible love interests. Well, I never intended that, but I honestly don´t know how her story ends. That´s part of the joy in writing: finding out.

What do you guys think? I invite you to speculate on who she might end up with and argue for your favorite. If you haven´t read it, you can pick someone at random. A random commenter will win a copy of Blue Diablo (if the winner hasn´t read it yet.) If the winner has read it, I´ll buy them any paperback they want that also costs $6.99.

And chat on!


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Contest RulesContest Rules:
Leave a comment INCLUDING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS to have a chance at winning.

Contest lasts 24 hours and the winner will be randomly selected and announced here on this post tomorrow. Winner will also be contacted via email, and a valid email address must be provided for the comment to be entered in the giveaway. Good luck!!

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Thank for visiting, Ann, and thanks to the wild and glue-crazed Azteclady for arranging your visit. For what it's worth, I'm not sure who I think Corine should end up with (although, based on your casting pics, Jesse wins hands-down). You've left everything so deliciously open-ended. You gave us enough resolution to be satisfied for now, but I can't wait for Corine to let me back into her world. So, how long DO we have to wait anyhow?!

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'd like to enter; my e-mail is 'minowa429ATyahoo.com' changing the AT to @.

I haven't read the book yet, but from what was said here, Chance sounds hot! Maybe I have a thing for bad boys too. xD

Kat at Book Thingo said...

Team Chance! I think we should have badges. But only for our side.

And it's not fair. Jesse's pic has man titty. How are we supposed to win against that???

Uncommon Jen said...

Ann posted your link on Twitter. I haven't had a chance to read the book yet, but everyone I've talked to about it just loves it! Would love to win a copy. schallerjen @ gmail.com (remove the spaces, of course)

Thanks for the contest!

Anonymous said...

Got to be Chance. He has the ability to grow, change and learn if he really wants to have her. Sounds like he might be trying. Plus, he definitely will keep her from being bored!

Haven't read the book (have the two sci-fi books by Ann though) and am now curious about it. Very curious.

e-mail is smtbdb @ yahoo dot com (with no spaces obviously as I am trying to keep the spam bots away)

KT Grant said...

I think Corine will end up back with Chance or things will be left open between them.
Not sure about Jesse yet. Perhaps he would be better suited with another woman? Perhaps a spin-off series with him?
I have the book so let another lucky person have a go at winning :D

Bev(QB) said...

"And it's not fair. Jesse's pic has man titty. How are we supposed to win against that???"Blame ANN!! That's the only pic of Chance (Cha Tae-hyun) where he didn't look like a 12 year old! SOOOO not how I pictured him, but I can't argue with the author, now can I?! After all, he does live in HER head! lol

Ann Aguirre said...

There is a LOT of support for team Chance. My editor is even pulling for him.

Ann Aguirre said...

You can argue with me!!!! I actually went off a headshot of him. You can find that one on Book Binge.

I wanna see YOUR pics, Bev. Post, post, post!

Bev(QB) said...

It's also YOUR fault, Ann, that I can't decide which team I'm on, dammit. Everytime I think it should be one guy, you make me change my mind and root for a different one-- NO FAIR!

There IS an actor who popped in my head that Chance looks like. But he's a minor actor and I absolutely cannot think of what he's been in or what his name is. When/if I come across him again, I'll let you know.

LVLM(Leah) said...

I'm one of those who hasn't read the book yet. *gasp*! LOL

I know, I know, what the hell am I waiting for? Actually I got pissed off when B&N chastised me for trying to take a pic of it and I left pissed off and haven't returned yet.

I will though. Bastages have me by the short hairs since I need my books.

Put me in the contest though, I still don't have it yet and am drooling.

rdwar119(at)yahoo(dot)com

Where you been QB? We misses you. :D

Kristen - Seeing Night said...

I have to go for chance though I havent read the book yet. all the reviews I have read and the story line I am going to pull for him.

HockeyVampiress said...

I am another that has only been able to read the exerpts so far. I wanna think that I want Chance to come out ahead though.

Ann Aguirre said...

If you want the truth, that actually wasn't my first choice for Chance. I picked that guy because he was Korean and I was afraid I'd get flak if I admitted my mental picture actually came from an actor of Japanese descent. (ie, no I do not think all Asian men look alike).

This is Chance.And him too. In my really private thoughts.

But Daniel Henney isn't bad either. *g*

Kat at Book Thingo said...

Ann, that first alternative picture is pretty close to how I pictured him. (And in case the email address doesn't show up via Blogger, it's kat at bookthingo-com-au.)

Bev(QB) said...

I'm with Kat, that 1st alternate pic is SO much closer to my vision of Chance, although mine is a bit older and more seasoned or harder looking.

BTW, ANN, who's pulling the winner's name, me or you?

azteclady said...

Bev, Ann is traveling to FL right now, but I think it's okay if you chose the winner.







By the way, whaddayamean, crazy glued? ;-)

Vincent Copsey said...

Well, I'm late to the party and I haven't read the book, but if Chance looks like Takeshi Kaneshiro I'm voting for him. Yum! :)

Sara M said...

I'm a little over half way through the book, and right now I'm undecided on Chance and Jesse. I don't really know which one I like more yet, let alone which one I like more for Corine.

e-mail: silentalibis(at)yahoo(dot)com

Bev(QB) said...

Okay, I'm going to do this live using Random.org and the numbers 1 though 18. As long as a comment is dated April 20th or 21st I'm calling it eligible because I really don't want to try and ferret out the precise timestamp.

So...

drum roll please...

and the number is 11So the winner is KRISTENKristen, your email isn't in your comment, which technically doesn't follow da roolz, but Ann is out of touch in Orlando and her favorite glue-sniffer, number one fan, and right-hand assistant has given me the following instructions:

"they need to contact me at azteclady1 at gmail dot com, sending me their physical address so I can mail their book."So KRISTEN, email her ASAP, okay?!

And thanks to all who stopped by to enter despite the fact that I have been such an absentee blogger lately.

Bev(QB) said...

For the record, I DID have blank lines in there, but Blogger has been doing goofy shit like that a LOT lately in both Vista and XP Pro.

azteclady said...

(Blogger = le suck)