Jill Myles and the Year of the Succubus

Could 2010 be the year of the succubus? Jill Myles hopes so! Jill arrived on the scene a few short weeks ago with the book, Gentlement Prefer Succubi (Pocket) and is all over the blog world! Her book is sexy and hilarious about her heroine, Jackie, who becomes a succubus who now has to choose between two men- The adorable fallen angel, Noah or the sexy and smoldering vampire, Zane. Readers have also picked teams for who Jackie should be with. I think she should have both!

I met Jill back in 2008 at RWA Nationals in San Francisco, CA. Since then she has been a fountain of knowledge, as well as a fun loving, wacky and overall lovely lady. So, you knew I was going to ask her for an interview!

KB: What made you decide to write about a succubus heroine? Can we say she is the ultimate Duchess of Slut then because of her sex itch?

Jill: I don't know that she'd be the duchess. No higher than a minor baronetcy, I'm thinking. And I'm not sure why I wrote about a succubus heroine (wow, there's an awesome answer, right?). I think Jackie appealed to me because of the nature of her transformation - I wanted to take the heroine that had a really humdrum and mundane existence and flip it on her, and see how she'd react.

KB: If you went on a road trip with either Noah or Zane, who would be more fun in the car?

Jill: I think both of them would be equal parts annoying! I mean, the guy with the coat would be hogging the back seat and smoking his cigarettes behind your head, and I'm pretty sure Noah would be a back-seat driver. He gives off that sort of vibe. I'm going to vote for Remy instead - she looks like she plays a mean game of license plate bingo.

KB: Is it possible for Jackie to juggle both Noah and Zane or do you think your readers prefer her pick on man to be with?

Jill: I'm not sure what the readers want - I know I've heard a lot of feedback and it's definitely skewed in favor of one guy. But I like them both, so much that it's hard for me to choose, myself. There's a definite storyline I'm following, though, and it'll lead them where it'll lead them. Which is all vague and author-speaky but I don't want to come out and say how it all ends in the wash, because I think half the fun is guessing!
I do think it's possible for her to be with both men, though. Maybe even at the same time! It's the men that aren't too keen on the concept. ;)

KB: How long did it take you from the point you started writing Gentlemen Prefer Succubi to when it was released by Pocket?

Jill: I wrote GPS in 2005. Revised it, and sent it out very very late in the year and got an agent in early 2006. It took a year to sell - March 2007 is when we had our first offer. Most books don't take that long to get on the shelf, but my editor suggested a format change (and I jumped at it) which meant rescheduling. It was worth it, though!

KB: Trying to get published for an aspiring writer can be stressful. What advice would you give to those who want to throw in the towel? What are the pros and cons of being a published author?

Jill: Acquire a taste for Pepto Bismol. I kid, I kid. I think being a writer (published or not) is all about tackling small bits at a time. The big picture seems pretty overwhelming, but take it in bite-sized nibbles. If it fries your brain to think any further than the 4 pages you have to write that night, then just think about those 4 pages. As long as you're making progress, it doesn't matter how big or small.

For those that want to throw in the towel? It's hard for me to relate - I never wanted to quit. To me, it was just a really cool job to work toward as I worked at the job that paid the bills. If I got somewhere?Awesome. If not, well, I just needed to work a little harder. Don't get emotional over it. I queried for well over a year (and got frustrated many, many times) but I never wanted to quit. Maybe it's me, but I don't like being told no. So I just figured I'd work a little harder and try one more time, until I got that "yes." I got lucky and got it relatively fast.

Pros of being a published author? Walking into Wal-Mart and seeing your book! That was my big big dream (more than hitting a list). Now I need to think of a bigger goal!

Cons of being a published author? Co-workers at my day job that snigger when they hear I write 'Fabio Books'. This is why they don't know my pen name.

KB: What tropes are you sick of seeing in genre fiction? Do you think vampires will ever grow old and die out (haha on pun) where the reader won’t want to read them anymore?

Jill: I am probably the WORST person to ask about tropes because I love all the super-tired, ultra-cliched tropes. Soulmates? MY FAVORITE. Wounded heroine who must be rescued by the rough and tumble hero? AWESOME. Marriage of convenience? Yes please!

I don't know if there's a particularly 'trendy' trope that I'm not a fan of - there are elements that I don't enjoy. I don't like stories about wizards (no idea why), or lots of baby-related storylines (not maternal in the slightest) or reunited lovers. But other people love 'em, so it's more me than them.

As for vampires, pfffft. They never get old. I actually really enjoy the whole "tortured, cursed immortal" thing they have going on. You don't have to give them guns or bling bling! Just emo, soulful eyes and a coffin to sleep in and I'm good, thanks.

KB: What were you favorite authors to read while you were growing up? What authors would you still like to read that you haven’t gotten around to?

Jill: I loved Laura Ingalls Wilder SO much when I was growing up. And Anne McCaffrey. And Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. I read a lot of fantasy in my formative years. Oh my gosh, and the Choose Your Own Adventure romance books put out by TSR! Do you remember these?

http://www.gamebooks.org/show_item.php?id=1288 -- so awesome. I own the first 4 still. :)

As for who I'd still like to read that I haven't gotten to yet...good question. I can't think of any! Oh wait, maybe Anne Stuart. People keep telling me she is amazing but I haven't cracked one of hers yet.

KB: What does the future hold for Jill Myles? What genre would you like to write for if you’re given the chance?

Jill: Lots and lots of cats. I'm kidding, so kidding...sorta. The future? Hopefully publishing more books. I'd love to do well enough to quit the day job, but I'm a pragmatic sort, so if it doesn't happen, well, there's always my cubicle at work (weep). As for genre...I LOVE writing paranormal and I hope it never goes away. But if I'm branching out...I would love to write fantasy romance. Or time travel romances. Or historical romances. Or young adult. I read everything and so I kind of fall in love with everything. Don't make me choose!

KB: So, would you ever think of adding a demon sheep character to join Jackie along on her adventures? I can loan you Mho Fho if you want? He keeps bugging me to get him into a book.

Jill: I don't know...he's a bit of a scene stealer! He might be too innocent to hang out with a pair of wild succubi.

And don't forget to keep an eye on the upcoming sequel- Succubi Like It Hot (Book #2 of the Succubus Diaries. It comes out tomorrow!

Could this be either Noah or Zane?

Synopsis: With a flirtatious new figure, her dream job as an archaeologist, and two gorgeous boyfriends to scratch her seductive Itch—an angel and a vampire—Jackie Brighton is totally getting the hang of life as a succubus. Then her need for sex spirals out of control, and she accidentally knocks the pizza guy unconscious with her touch. Great, she’s cursed. Unfortunately, neither of her jealous lovers is exactly talking to her right now. So after Jackie strikes a deal with a crafty demon, she and her best friend Remy take a cross-country road trip to deliver a cryptic message to the nation’s oldest succubus (who doesn’t look a day over eighteen.) Their journey gets weirder with every mile—demonic possession, a charming stalker, a deadly hotel room warning—but when they get to New Orleans, Jackie discovers a dangerous catch to her supernatural bargain. Someone wants her dead (again), but has she been sleeping with the enemy?

Or do the forces of evil think they’re some kind of match for a vixen in a miniskirt?