I’m excited to have Joan Swan here today, telling us a little bit about the first installment in her Phoenix Rising series, FEVER. FEVER had me hooked from Chapter 1, the hero and heroine have so much drama and danger swirling around them I couldn’t wait to find out how things would resolve. As my ARC arrived today, I’ll be heading to the couch to satisfy my curiosity once I click “Post”. Enter to win your own copy of FEVER below, or if you’re not the gambling type, pre-order a copy for March 1. After reading Joan’s interview, my finger is itching to pre-order BLAZE as well.
ATUF: I have been excited to read FEVER from the moment I saw the excerpt. Does the Chapter 1 that I read bear any resemblance to where you first started the story? What character or concept was the seed that got you started on FEVER?
Actually, the story always started here—in the hospital exam room where the hero, a convicted murderer, takes the heroine, a doctor filling in for an absent sonographer, hostage. That scene was the beginning of the idea for the book and everything else in the story stemmed from there.
Some elements of the scene changed from the original version because I first wrote Fever as a straight romantic suspense. So when I rewrote, Teague’s paranormal ability and Cassie’s reaction to it had to be included.
ATUF: You and your heroine share a similar professional background and your husband and Teague are both firefighters. Are there any parts of FEVER that readers would be surprised to hear came from real life experiences?
The idea for the Fever developed from a “What if..?” in my daily work life. I’ve been a sonographer for twenty years and one of the hospitals where I worked gained a huge prisoner clientele over a year’s time span. I went from scanning two or three prisoners a week to scanning five to eight prisoners every single morning. I spent half my day surrounded by guards and inmates and it didn’t take long to wonder, “What if a prisoner took someone hostage in an escape attempt?”
I think a lot of readers would actually be shocked to discover how easily an inmate situation could go bad in the hospital setting. Something as simple as a tip off from a hospital employee to a prisoner’s family or one officer off his game that day has the potential to tip security off balance.
My coworkers and I were exposed to numerous unsafe situations. Most of those risks resulted from short staffing due to budget cuts, though there were several occasions when guards negligently left me alone or unobserved with prisoners, some restrained, some not. Mind you, all prisoners were from high security facilities—including two for the criminally insane, which houses sexual offenders.
Ninety percent of the time, the officers in CDC were friendly, professional and competent. I have great respect for the difficult work they do. I can’t even imagine living with that stress day in and day out. Just as with any profession, there will always be a few members who let things slide or get lazy.
In relation to Teague and my husband, the only similarities come in the form of hazmat firefighting. (Except for the cover, which DH insists he posed for.)
ATUF: Your bio mentions that you enjoy romantic suspense, what inspired you to include paranormal aspects in your Phoenix Rising series?
The market.
I had completed and polished Fever as a straight romantic suspense and submitted to about a dozen agents. After receiving as many rejections, and before I sent it out to another dozen agents, my critique partner told me that the reason it wasn’t getting picked up wasn’t the story or the writing, but the genre. I was submitting Fever during the downturn of romantic suspense in the market and she told me that if I added a paranormal element to the story, I would have more success.
She and I brainstormed what type of paranormal element fit the idea I already had constructed and what type of paranormal I’d be comfortable writing. I was immediately excited about the way the story took on depth and knew that my CP had been right. (And she’ll NEVER let me forget it.)
I took the leap. It took two months to rewrite the manuscript, started submitting again and had two offers of representation from fantastic agents within a month.
ATUF: The next book in your Phoenix Rising series, BLAZE, is due out in October of this year. What do you think readers of FEVER will enjoy in BLAZE? What will they be surprised by?
I think readers will love seeing Teague and Alyssa from FEVER as secondary characters in BLAZE. As a reader, I always wanted to know what characters’ lives looked like after The End of a novel, which is why I’m a fan of epilogues. With BLAZE, it’s really fun to see how Teague and Alyssa are faring after their ordeal and how their relationship has grown.
Another thing that’s really fun about BLAZE is that the reader gets to meet a lot more of the firefighting team involved in the original hazmat fire and see how that has affected all their lives. This group functions like any family of siblings, complete with deep friendships, arguments, unconditional love and
lots of good natured bitching and sniping.
BLAZE turns up the heat on the series, and in rereading the manuscript I realized how much sexier this book is, which might surprise readers.
I also feel my writing skill deepened between FEVER and BLAZE, and I hope readers will find that a pleasant surprise.
ATUF: If FEVER were ever made into a movie, who would your dream, or to keep things interesting, nightmare cast be?
If you’d asked me that about BLAZE, I could have rattled off an actor and actress’ name. FEVER is a little tougher. I’m a visual writer, so I choose images of people who look like my H/h in my mind, but I chose the characters for FEVER during revision, not prior to writing, so somehow they didn’t fit quite the
same.
Can I get suggestions from the audience?
Hero: White male, 34yo, ripped, intense, dark (personality, not looks).
Heroine: Japanese American (or Hawaiian or Italian or … ) female, 28yo, strong personality.
ATUF: In advanced of reader comments, here’s my vote! Michaela Conlin plays Angela on Bones, and I’m a huge fan of her performance. Joe Maganiello is giving me a new appreciation for Alcide on True Blood. I saw Maganiello in person at DragonCon this past year and he stopped me in my tracks. The man is a one person parade float of sexy. Growl, indeed…
ATUF: What are some of your favorite titles/authors in the paranormal genres?
Elisabeth Naughton – Eternal Guardians (and not because she’s my CP)
Dean Koontz – What the Night Knows
Kalayna Price – Grave Witch
Oooo, so many more, but I’m blanking….
ATUF: Thanks so much for stopping by, Joan. Come back anytime!
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About the author:
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Joan Swan is a triple RWA® Golden Heart finalist and writes sexy romantic suspense with a paranormal twist. Her debut novel with Kensington Brava, FEVER, releases February 28, 2012. Her second novel, BLAZE, follows in October, 2012.
In her day job, she works as a sonographer for one of the top ten medical facilities in the nation and lives on the California central coast in beautiful wine country with her husband and two daughters. |
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Visit Joan Swan online: |
Giveaway provided by the Author.
One copy of FEVER by Joan Swan.
Available on March 1, 2012 from Brava.
Description:
When Dr. Alyssa Foster is taken hostage by a prison inmate, she knows she’s in deep trouble. Not just because Teague Creek is desperate for freedom, but because the moment his fingers brush against her skin, Alyssa feels a razor-sharp pang of need…
A man with a life sentence has nothing to lose. At least Teague doesn’t, until his escape plan develops a fatal flaw: Alyssa. On the run from both the law and deadly undercover operatives, he can only give her lies, but every heated kiss tells him the fire between them could be just as devastating as the flames that changed him forever…
Read an excerpt|Our review coming soon!
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96 Responses to Interview and Giveaway: Fever by Joan Swan
I am terrible at coming up with actors to represent book characters! My mind just blanks so I will just have to go with the two you suggested. Joe is certainly a one man float of smexy (that was a good one by the way).
Kelly Hu cause she seems strong and I can't come up with any man better than Joe Maganiello. I love that "one person parade float of sexy".
I like the choices ATUF came up with !!!
I felt bad for not giving Alyssa more love, but once Joe popped into my head all I could think about is Teague. Mmm, mmm, mmmm, Teague.
Mistress Pearl, great suggestion, Anne! Joe Maganiello stopped me in my tracks, it was unreal. He has some kind of magnetism, even in a room full of other celebs. The other phrase that comes to mind is "jungle gym".
Thanks for the fantastic post and giveaway! I've had book lust for this title, not just b/c of the title
, for the premise! So original!
I'm bad at "casting" books too. Especially since I haven't read it
Ummm… I love Ryan Reynolds and since he's so Hawt, he'd fit well into *any* role
For the woman, I like Kelly Hu too and/or Grace Park (had a girl crush on her from Battlestar Galactica).
Happy Valentine's Day
I'm bad at casting so I'll go with the two ATUF mentioned.
ooohh how about david boreanaz!! he can play the dark broody ones.. not sure how i would go for the heroine though i do love the actress in the tv show the finder – Mercedes Masöhn… not Japanese though.. i hope this is open to us in canada!
Oh my goodness.. I can't get past Joe Maganiello. Soooo Yummy!
I'm so, SOO bad at picking actresses/actors for characters cause there will never be anyone quite as perfect as the image of the characters in my head. Hehe. But if I did have to pick for Alyssa…….I think I'd go with Zhang Ziyi? Haha, thanks for this giveaway anyway!
I don't think I can improve upon what you suggested. Thanks for the giveway!
Awesome choices for your book characters! Love the actress who plays Angela on Bones. I would love to win a copy of Fever! It has been on my TBB list for quite sometime. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
I have to agree with Joe. He is my go to for most any character of a book. I love him on True Blood. I love the character of Alcide from the books, and when they cast Joe they made a perfect choice. He is in a new movie coming out called Magic Mike-about male strippers. YUMMY. I think a good choice for Alyssa they could use Katie Leung(Cho) from Harry Potter. She is asian, beautiful and a good actress.
This book sounds great and would love to win and read. Love the cover. Thanks for the chance to win.
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I love Joe he's dreamy…(i hate using that word, but i literally have dreampt of him! Almost as good as a young Treat Williams!(Everwood, and when young, HAIR)
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I'm so bad with casting suggestions. Characters in my head never look like real people. So I'll go with your suggestions–they're both fine actors and both very very sexy.
I think Chris Hemsworth will make a great male lead because he looks so hot! He looks like the perfect alpha male.
I really suck at picking people to cast. For Teague how about Hugh Jackman (Love him!) For Alyssa, the only one I can think of is the girl on Hawii 5-O.
I sooo agree with June M. for Teague – Hugh Jackman is quite the hottie! And for Alyssa, maybe a young Michelle Yeoh?
I really suck at picking people to cast. so I agree with ATUF!!
Oooh, I googled him, excellent choice.
Me too Sharon – but Julia did an AMAZING job!!
Oh, Anne, I did see Kelly Hu's image when I was looking — I just couldn't decide! LOL, nice choice!
Ditto!!
Ryan Reynolds can play very fierce characters and he's got a nice pack of abs — he'd do nicely. And I like the many looks Grace Park can have as well! Great choices!
Thanks and hope you love FEVER!
Agreed Sandy, Julia made nice choices
Ah, Mr. Bones
And Mercedes would work nicely as well. One of the things about Alyssa is that she's mixed heritage and while one of the prisoners pinpoints her Asian lineage, Teague thinks she looks more Hawaiian or Italian or … he doesn't know. He's not racist, so he's not as sensitive.
YES!! Very!!
I agree – you have to simply get close. I love the many looks Zhang Ziyi can create. She is stunning!
Julia did make nice suggestions! Good luck!
Thanks Barb, good luck in the giveaway! Lots more chances to win in the upcoming months on the blog tour!
Hey Chris! I'm not a True Blood fan, but I AM a Joe fan
. And I haven't seen Katie on Harry Potter, but she's a doll!
I actually like the word dreamy…when used for the right man…which Joe is
.
Well said, Niko!
Oh, yes! You know what makes him a little closer to Teague for me? It's the deviant look he can have. The combination of the widow's peak and the narrowed light eyes–definitely Teague.
I do love Hugh. I don't watch Hawaii 5-0, but when I first chose an image of Alyssa, I chose a well known female Hawaiian surfer.
Michelle's a nice choice! And would make a nice pairing with Hugh
Julia did a great job choosing!
Joann, I already love your choices. I don't know of many Japanese heroines but yours look like a good fit
"…a one person parade float of sexy." Love it!!!! Thanks for sharing such a great review. Definitely excited to give a look-see to this book!
I don't watch much TV or even movies so I don't know many actors names but I think Chris Hemsworth (Thor) would be a great Teague and the girl from the TV Terminator show that was the cyborg (no idea what her name is) would be a great Alyssa.
Thanks Na!
Great! Thanks DB!
I saw Chris…but I don't know the girl…
Thanks for coming by Victoria!
I second Hugh Jackman or Joe Maganiello as Teague. For Alyssa, I love Michaela Conlin, too, and maybe also Dichen Lachman from Dollhouse, although she's Tibetan not Japanese. Or maybe a young Maggie Q, because she's just awesome in everything.
I love Zhang Ziyi! She would be perfect.
I think Joe is a great choice for Teague. Joan, have you ever seen Moon Bloodgood from Terminator Salvation? She would make a good Alyssa too. Great interview and I can't wait to read Fever in a couple of weeks.
I have a hard time casting characters but Hugh Jackson would be good for any hero. I don't pay a lot of attention to actors to remember who they are. Dean Koontz is also one of my favorite authors. I've read his book, Watchers, so much I could almost quote it.
Joe Maganiello would be a great choice. I enjoyed your interview.
For Teague I'd choose Alex O'Laughlin and for Alyssa I'd choose Grace Park or Michaela Conlin is a great choice too.
I'm with Barbara E. Alex O'Loughlin's name started going through my head immediately aaaaand then my mind went blank when I saw the picture of Joe. For the woman, they're both older than 28, but I like Maggie Q and Christina Chang, so, anyone younger who might be similar to either of them.
I cant even begin to make a suggestion. I have a horrible time picking one actor/actress for a part in books. I always want a mix to make the characters I am reading about.
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Mm, dang it would be hard choosing the right actress and actor to play Teague and Alyssa. Though I do have to agree with Michaela Conlin she could possibly play Alyssa.
But actually.. I could see Fever being a movie. It does have all the elements to make a good action-pack show with good romance. I could actually see my hubby liking it.
Realllllly anticipating Blaze… Is it time yet? LOL
OMG, I'm all over Maggie Q! She's nearly perfect!
Jennifer, no, I haven't.
Thanks!!
I haven't read Watchers (I don't think, though I've read so many I could be wrong). I want to read Watchers and Intensity.
Thanks! I agree Joe is a good choice!
Alex is a nice fresh face and wow, Michaela is giving Maggie a run for her money!
LOLOLOL Cheryl! And Christina Chang is beautiful! I like her look.
You're not the only one Donna! It's a tough one!
LOLOL, not quite yet
Thank you though! XOXO
Thank you for this awesome giveaway.
I would love to win and I would say for the role of Teague either: Hugh Jackman – http://bestof.provocateuse.com/images/photos/hugh_jackman_91.jpg
Or Julian McMahon (YUM) – http://img1.tvloop.com/img/showpics/60/ab/l3470bbc40000_1_11504.jpg
- Beckie @ Bittersweet Enchantment
*blinks* I'm sorry, what was the question? I can't stop thinking about that picture of Joe. I think he's probably the best choice, but if he's busy, Karl Urban is pretty freaking hot and I don't know if model David Gandy can act but if he can, he'd have my vote as well.
As for the female lead, Maggie Q is awesome and I think Olivia Munn is gorgeous too.
Oh, I love the sounds of this book! I can't wait to read it!
I think Grace Park (admittedly Korean American) would be a great Alyssa. I loved her on BSG. And I'd cast Matt Bomer as Teague. So handsome!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I agree with you Julia, Conlin's a good choice. She's pretty, seems like a Chinese and I simply love her
Thanks for the giveaway, btw!
How about Ian Summerhalder and Jessica Alba?
seriousreader at live dot com
I like Ian Summerhalder or Alex O'Laughlin or maybe Scott Speedman (he was good in Underworld) for the male part but for the girl I have no idea.
Rachel V
pefrw at yahoo dot com
I am so bad at picking my own choices but I do like the ones picked by ATUF.
Oh Beckie, is that the Nip/Tuck guy? Yeah, he could be very hot!
Mmmm…mmmm…mmmm…mmmm…mmmm…that's all I have to say!
Thanks Jenn. I have to admit, Matt Bomer makes my heart do funny things!!
And I agree with Dusia agreeing with Julia
Hee.
Ooo, Linda! I like the fresh faces!!
Nice choices Rachel!
I agree Susan! Julia did a nice job!
I'm really bad at picking but I do like Hugh Jackman ! I love what ATUF picked! Thanks for the great giveaway and Interview
The interview was awesome. With all the new information I have learned it just re-affirms my need to get my hands on FEVER. Everywhere I go I am going to shout it out that Fever is my must have book of 2012. I am sure once I get to read it I will be saying I need to get my hands on Blaze next….^_^.
skyla11377(At)AOL(Dot)Com
Opps forgot to answer the question….lol. I would pick Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for Teague and for Alyssa I would pick Sandra Bullock. The Rock is HOT and I think he would make for a Kick A$$ hero and Sandra is such an incredible actress she could totally pull off the female heroine.
Yep, that's him. Very hot! Well I think so. hehe =D
Joan did a gr8 job, no one ever remembers that lady from Bones. She is pretty and talented. Or the new Nikita, she would be a good pick, or Nikita's sidekick, Maggie Grace, she's kinda cool too. But I think Nikita would be better than her sidekick.
As for the guy…Hmmm….IDK! Howsabout Rob Pattinson? SIKE!
lolz. Kellan Lutz (with dark hair)? he seems as if he would be good.
Hi! Great post! I think the one who play Alcide in True Blood is a good choice! The girl in Hawaï 5-0 could be a good pick for the female character but I don't know her name…. Jessica Alba seems to be a good choice too! Thanks for this giveaway!
I seriously have no idea. I'm no good at this.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Hmmm I just come up with one actress Lucy Lou. Pretty and tough
, Aretha zhen, aretha_zhen(at)yahoo(dot)com
I agree, after seeing that picture, Joe Manganiello gets my vote.
Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
I would cast Joe in every hot leading male lead out there. He's hotter than sin!
Jess @ Taking It One Book
I'm not good with picking casts but ATUF chose two great ones! Wonderful interview.
Gosh, I wonder if Rob will ever be able to play anything other than a vampire until he's another decade older, he's so well known for that. Kellan Lutz has the cutest dimples!!
I love, love, love Sandra. I've been a Sandra fan for-ev-ah!! I so hope you love Fever when you read it!!
Thanks Latisha!
Yep, nice choices!!
LOL, thanks for coming out anyway!
Lucy was one of the first women who crossed my mind.
He's hard to pass up, especially when you see others on Google!
I believe you're in the majority Jess!
Thanks Leo!
Hmm, maybe a younger Dylan McDermott?
Krista
theangrypollo{ AT }yahoo{DOT }com