Beauty Like the Night — Joanna Bourne

Anne here, interviewing Jo Bourne about her long-awaited new book, Beauty Like the Night, the latest in her acclaimed "Spymaster" series. For those who might be wondering, the title comes from Lord Byron:


She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies,
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meets in her aspect and her eyes;

The reviews are glowing: All About Romance gave it their coveted "Desert Island Keeper" rating, a glowing review, and summed up thus: "a great read and a terrific addition to what is easily one of the finest series of historical romance novels around." 
Romantic Times gave it a "Top Pick" and said: "A grand mistress of romantic espionage returns! With a powerful, suspenseful plot and unforgettable characters, this Spymaster chapter grips you from the opening line with its tale of murder and treason."

Anne: Having read it myself, I heartily concur. Jo, congratulations on the publication of Beauty Like the Night. Readers have been waiting for this for a long time. You must be thrilled to have it out at last.

Jo: I feel good, finally laying this book down. I hope folks are going to like it.
Y’know, the length of time it takes to write a book and how good it is are only somewhat distant relations. It’s like those cousins you have where you call in Aunt Fedora to work out just where you meet on the family tree. (Here's a photo of Jo taken by PJ Ausdenmore at the recent RWA conference)

Anne: Your heroine in this book is Séverine de Cabrillac, whom we first met in The Forbidden Rose, when she was a very young child caught up in the terror of revolutionary Paris. She's had a remarkable life since then — and she's a remarkable heroine. Tell us about Séverine.

Jo:  Séverine – I hate to admit this – Séverine began life as a plot moppet. In Forbidden Rose I needed to make my character Justine suffer just a leeetle bit more than she already was. I wanted to make her vulnerable. So I gave my Justine a younger sister to care for and care about. That was Séverine.

But a good plot moppet isn’t a sweet thing, so I have Séverine borrow Hawker’s knife to gouge out lines in the wood flooring. Now, I don’t have her sing the dirty songs she overhears from the whorehouse parlor below – I wish I’d thought of that – but she does make clear that at three or so she knows exactly what goes on in the bedrooms.

Séverine is the kind of a girl who’d come from that childhood and grow up in Doyle’s household, among spies and the refugees of war. Fast forward a decade and a bit, we see this young woman running off to do some serious spying of her own in the many-sided struggle in Spain. Another decade and she’s home from the wars, older, tougher, wiser, and wounded in ways that don’t show. 

That’s where the story starts, with Séverine having made her peace with the past. Having settled into a safe routine that doesn’t need any man to disrupt it.

Anne: And then along comes a man to disrupt it. (heh heh) Your hero is also a man of many parts—and many faces. Tell us about Raoul. (I have a theory about every Raoul hero in a romance, that they all stem from Mary Stewart's Raoul, in Nine Coaches Waiting.)

Jo: (Jo shuffles her feet and tries to look as if that weren’t exactly where the name came from.) There was maybe a wee tad of Nine Coaches Waiting about Raoul.Or maybe more than a wee tad.

Raoul is half-French and half-Spanish, both halves aristocrat as heck. He was at school when Spain got pulled into the fighting and he went off to seek private vengeance among the general mayhem. He’s a jewel thief, a Spanish patriot, a guerrillero, a fighter and somewhat of a lover of women.

Sévie doesn’t trust him as far as she can throw him.

Anne: Your readers will also be pleased to meet up with a number of characters from previous books — even the mysterious Lazarus. 

Jo: Raoul runs into Lazarus briefly in this story. I mean – professional jewel thief going about his ordinary business. King of London’s underworld who collects payment from anyone who steals in ‘his’ city. What could be more natural than that they meet?

Mostly, though, it’s Doyle and Hawker who make significant appearances in the book. They’re Séverine’s family, and this book is about family, really.

Anne: Beauty Like the Night is the sixth book in the fabulous "Spymaster" series. Is it true that it will also be the last in that series?  

Jo: I think BLTN is probably the last full-length novel in the Spymaster series. It’s not that I’ve run out of things to write about. It’s that I’m reluctant to embark upon another love story for the Meeks Street crew. I can see lots of stories for these folks, but not necessarily courtship stories.

So I’m setting this fictive world aside for a while. I might do some novellas ...  
 

Anne: I love your minor characters, particularly the young ones — possible future heroes and heroines. I'm talking about Pilar, and young Bart, descendant of spymasters.

Jo: Pilar is one of those characters—you know the ones I mean – who have this little role all set out for them and then suddenly they turn out to be a bit more interesting than you’d expected.

Man, she is fierce.

Anne: Would you care to share a short excerpt from Beauty Like the Night, please? 

Jo: Sure ‘nuff.

    She said, “Everything you’ve done since then is to find out if I’m a killer and kidnapper.” 
    “I thought you might be.” She had been—she was—a woman of some ruthlessness. That knowledge lay between them, almost toothed in its intensity. She put her fists, the tight knuckles of them, to his chest and pushed. He stepped back at once. 
    She said, “I’m not an innocent white lamb. Distrust me if you want, but don’t kiss me again.” Robin Carlington had begun the job of humiliating her. Raoul Deverney had finished it, and his work was infinitely more skilled. “You didn’t have to make a fool of me.” 
    She shouldered past him and started toward the door of the stable. 
    “Nothing we’ve done makes a fool of you,” he said.
 She wasn’t the only angry person in the stable this afternoon. “Do you know how dangerous you are to me? Do you think I’d toy with someone protected by the British Service if I were sane? Do you imagine I sat down one morning over coffee and decided to walk into a den of lions?” 
    “I think you came to Carlington House to stir up the hornets’ nest and see what would fly out. A waltz with me was a good way to do that.” 
    “You give me undeserved credit. I’m not nearly that cunning.” 
    “I think you are.” She turned away. “The last time we met you almost got yourself hanged. Take it as a warning.” 

There's another excerpt here. (Click and scroll down)

Anne: So what's next for Joanna Bourne?

Jo: I might try something with a bit of a paranormal or fantasy element to it -- but still historical. I love to read books like these. It’ll be interesting to see if I can write them.

Anne: I'm sure you can, and I think your readers will follow you anywhere. I certainly will. Thanks, Jo — I'm sure Beauty Like the Night is going to fly off the shelves. As well as e-book and paperback, there's also an audio edition, which you can get here.
There's another, more detailed interview with Joanna here.

Jo is giving away a book (any one of her books & no geographical restrictions) to someone who leaves a comment or an answer to this question: What's a quality you really value in a heroine?

 

 

Comments

[Quantum]

Jo, I have seen very good reviews of the spymaster series and the interview with Anne reinforces that. On visiting Audible UK my pulse rate rose as I saw that the first three books are available. Then my rate dropped as I realised that the audio was in German! I can get English audio at Amazon, but only in expensive CD format. Can you say when/if the series will be available as MP3 downloads?

I like a heroine who thinks and behaves outside of the box, presenting real challenges and irresistible attractions for the hero ..... especially the latter. *G*

[Larisa]

Love when heroines are multifaceted, with strengths, weaknesses, quirks, nuances...some of which they're unaware of in themselves. Sometimes they rescue the hero, sometimes he saves her from an internal peril.

All your heroines are smart, have regrets, have complicated familial relationships, careers, challenges, a past, complex present life, options for future that don't include the hero, and still true to historical period. I'd want to have them over for tea.

Thank you for hours and hours of entertainment!

[Mary Jo Putney]

At last, at last! Another Joanna Bourne tale of fierce women and equally fierce men. I'm saving my copy until my own book is done so I can have proper time to savor it.

[Amy H.]

I value a strong sense of purpose and self in a heroine. Also a sense of humor. The ability to take responsibility and ownership for her own actions and emotions.

[Joanne Bourne]

Okay.
(jo rolls up her sleeves and dives in.)

All the audiobooks AFTER Spymaster's Lady were done by Tantor Audiobooks. You can buy them at Tantor and I think that includes the MP3 download.

For instance, here's My Lord and Spymaster at Tantor.

https://tantor.com/my-lord-and-spymaster-joanna-bourne.html

Tantor can probably tell you about the technical specs of the download, but I imagine it is straight MP3. I do not know, and have no easy way to find out, how well Tantor handshakes with a UK ISP.

Looks like you can buy Spymaster's Lady MP3 download at

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/301661/the-spymasters-lady-by-joanna-bourne/9780425236215/

Let me know if this doesn't work, okay?

[Joanne Bourne]

Hi Larisa --

That's the definition of a good heroine IMHO. You'd like to have them over to tea, even though they're probably a bit exhausting to be around.

(jo fans herself gracefully)

[Joanne Bourne]

Go thou and finish that book. We are all waiting with bated breath.

[Joanne Bourne]

Hi Amy --

Isn't that one of the prime characteristics of a true adult? Taking responsibilities for one's actions?

I do admit I prefer a Romance where the heroine decides "This is what I'm going to do, even if I admit it may not be wise," rather than "I'm not responsible. I got swept away by emotion."

[Patricia Franzino]

I enjoy and identify with a heroine who has the determination and self-possession to live her own life as she sees fit no matter the time in which she lives or the family circumstances in which she is raised.

She works around the restrictions of any particular set of circumstances to bring forth her desires and gifts to fruition as much as she possibly can without ever giving up.

[Shannon]

I'm in the midst of Beauty Like the Night. You do realize that I debated between cursing you for writing a good book that I didn't want to put down, or to bemoan the fact that I'm
not independently wealthy so I can read all day, have a housekeeper, cook, and gardener.I'm too old to read all night and work on 2 hours of sleep.

No need to enter me. I own all of your books. Some of them on Kindle and in print.

I want a heroine to be able to feel a range of emotions: not just like, lust, and love. I wanther to know pain, distrust, confidence, regret, accomplishment, and then apply either
intelligence or common sense to dealing with the feelings that come from the push-pull of life.

[Joanne Bourne]

Good point. And there have ALWAYS been folks who managed to do this under the most difficult circumstances.

[Joanne Bourne]

You have described what all writers want to do with their characters. We want to let them be full-spectrum humans.

Sometimes folks simplify the human spectrum down and pick a few salient emotions they want to work with. When I'm reading I watch how they do that, what they pick, how they highlight this or that.

Always interesting.

[Misti Pett]

I always like heroines who are loyal and try to do the right thing, especially when "regular" or "normal" women get to show how strong and resilient they really are.

[Mary T]

I like a heroine who is kind and has a generous nature. Loyalty is important and a sense of humor is always a plus. It doesn't matter to me if they are beautiful or not so beautiful, young or not so young, smart or only average.

I like variety, so there is no one specific type. The only type of heroine who gets on my nerves is the smart one who does dumb things - usually repeatedly (smile).

[Joanne Bourne]

It's one of the things women do well. They stand by their principles. They protect the vulnerable.

[Joanne Bourne]

So many kinds of heroines. I'll go for most any character who's well written.

I DO get weary of heroines who don't seem to learn from their mistakes ...

[Anne Gracie]

Quantum, sometimes US publishers don't think outside the US box and don't sell rights to the UK or elsewhere. After some complaints from UK readers about the unavailability of my audio books, I contacted my editor who passed the concerns onto the rights department, and they fixed it. So if you still can't get audio through Jo's suggestions, let us know. Jo and I have the same publisher, and it might be the same relatively easily-fixed issue.

[Carrie Nichols]

I love heroines who don't back down and don't take any sh*t from the heroes. :)

[Molly R. Moody]

I love a heroine who shows her strength early on and and also isn't afraid to show a softer, caring side.

[Sue McCormick]

I will agree the above poster about what makes a heroine into a friend to be revisited. However, I would like to offer one point.

Someone above said "Young or not so young." It is surprising how young they all are getting as I approach 90!

[Julie]

I need smarts. Bonus points if they think things through out loud.

[Vicki L.]

Totally agree with the characteristics mentioned above - any mix of them make for a good h/H. Though I do especially like those full of quirks and snark.

I can tell you what I don't like...characters who never wise up. Characters that whine, whine, whine and who think everything revolves around them. The ones who feel the world owes THEM because of some trauma in the past. The ones who never see past the small petty stuff.

In other words grow up...be an adult. Try hard to see the other side of the situation (though I admit...that isn't so easy to do.)

[Mary Drake Turner]

I'm not fond of the silly and fluffy heroines but I require that they grow. My preference is for her to have or gain integrity. But mostly I want her to grow in some way, usually in response to some test. And learn something about herself that I can relate to. That's what makes them heroines, isn't it?

No matter how many times they may have balked at their hurdle in the past, when we meet them, they choose to face it and risk the jump. Previous failure is a plus for me as it makes her so much more human. So I'm more interested in experience, and while that is usually correlated with age in the modern world, it's certainly not always true, then or now.

[Annie]

I wish I had Shannon's discipline. I admit I stayed up way too late reading and then took time away from work the next day, vowing to work extra hard once I'd finished Séverine's story.

I love your heroines for all the reasons mentioned, especially their strength, desire to make a difference, and compassion. I also like that the men in their lives--not just the heroes—respect them enough not to try and rein them in. Even Doyle and Adrian, the most protective of chaps.

A big shout out to Pilar, who is so wonderful she received the ultimate compliment from Lazarus!

[Quantum]

Hi Jo and Anne

Buying direct from Tantor or Audible US would require paying the 'regular price' of around $30 (=£23) even if downloads to the UK were allowed (they don't seem to be). I only buy audio books from Audible UK (owned by Amazon) where I have an account. If I could do likewise with Audible US I certainly would as the audio selection is much greater but alas downloads to the UK are restricted, even for e-books.The publishing industry seems to me to be completely nuts and needs to move into the modern world!

As a member of Audible UK I buy one credit each month for £8 but I can also buy additional credits three at a time for £6 each. One credit can then be exchanged for any audio book so I pay perhaps £7 for an audio book which I consider very competitive and great value.

Much appreciate your efforts Anne which have allowed me to get to know those loveable Chance sisters. :)

[Anne Gracie]

"The publishing industry seems to me to be completely nuts and needs to move into the modern world! "

Too true. It seems ridiculous but is true that self-published authors seem to be able to do a number of things that major publishers claim they can't.

Best of luck finding audio versions of Joanna's books -- you won't regret it

[Barbara Monajem (@BarbaraMonajem)]

Novellas in the Spymaster series would be awesome. Or any novellas, for that matter. Novellas are (in theory, anyway) less stressful for the author and delightful bites of story for the reader. (I've been reading the Penric novellas by Lois McMaster Bujold, and although I love her full-length stories, the novellas are perfect for an evening read, but not so long that you stay up half the night.)

Jo, I sure hope you'll try something with paranormal or fantasy elements. Ages ago, in a blog about some aspect of writing, you gave an example of something in a couple of paragraphs that looked like part of a medieval fantasy or historical paranormal... I was dying to know what happened next, but alas, you said it was just an example... Argh! One or two paragraphs, and I was already hooked!

[Karin]

I love heroines who are clever and brave, and rescue the hero, which happens in several of Jo's books. I will be treating myself to a bookstore visit to pick up BLTN in a few days, after my husband leaves on a business trip and I can read to my heart's content, with no annoying interruptions like meals!

[gamistress66]

for me I guess it's not so much what the heroine is as isn't as I enjoy heroines with different personalities, traits, skills etc. each unique in their own way which helps make them perfect in their story. what will turn me away are those that are too stupid or selfish, overly naive, conceited or full of themselves and their own importance/brilliance. I'd say one trait that all my favorite heroines have is they aren't perfect, cause perfect would be kinda boring :) love your heroines so please keep doing what you're doing :)

[SusannahC]

Brains. Smart, clever heroines are more attractive to me than dumb ones.

[Anne H]

I value an intelligent, perceptive and self - sufficient heroine who also has some compassion. If she has a problem arising from her past, she must grow and make an effort to overcome the obstacle without endless whining. She definitely cannot put herself in stupid situations repeatedly.
All of your heroines meet my requirements.
I was introduced to your Napoleonic spy stories in a novella in an anthology, and then sought out all of the full length books that were in print then.

[Anne H]

I like an audiobook version that I can 'own' without relying on Amazon's proprietary system (Audible). I have been seeking out MP3 CDs or downloads for the Spymaster series.
The first 5 can be downloaded through AudiobookStore.com. I know I can do that from Canada, but I don't know about the UK.
So far, the only place I can get Beauty Like the Night on MP3 CD is from Amazon. It's expensive, but I've ordered it, as I wish to listen to it on a road trip at the end of the month.

[Karen Markuson]

I admire many qualities in a heroine. I think that a heroine should be brave and loyal. She should be a hero's equal without losing her devotion to family, her gentleness, and her femininity. She should by no means be perfect. Perfection is boring and I'm yet to meet a perfect person.

[Patricia Barraclough]

Strength. A woman needs to be strong in her heart, if not in body. She needs to be
prepared to face anything, be it a man with a knife or a child waking with nightmares.
She needs to be able to face hardship and the rigors of everyday life in primitive conditions
as well as the dangerous environs of high society, be it modern day or the Ton. She must
have the strength to know when to lean on someone else and to trust enough to give her
heart to another for safe keeping.

[Quantum]

Thanks for that Anne.
I checked with AudiobookStore.com and unfortunately none of the Spymaster books can be downloaded to the UK ..... Damn!!

[Cheryl C.]

I just finished this book, and it is wonderful. My only complaint is that Maggie and Justine were not in the book. They are examples of the type of heroines I like. If you do a novella, please feature them so we can catch up with them.

[Serena]

Never giving up. Someone else may rescue her from something, but she would already have started to rescue herself, no matter how long it would have taken.

[prema]

Loved Beauty like the night. Another winner in the series Jo! Have been waiting an age to hear Severine's story and it did not disappoint. Raoul though not my favorite character. No worries there were plenty of old friends to pepper the story. Doyle is a favorite and that rogue Hawker!!

[Kareni]

I'm coming to this post very late as I was away from home for a number of weeks. (My mother broke her hip.) I'm happy to say though that I bought Beauty Like the Night and read it with pleasure on my cross country flights. I was eagerly anticipating the book and it more than lived up to my hopes. Thanks for a fun interview.

One quality I value in a heroine (in a hero, too) is a good sense of humor.

[Kim]

Your heroines are strong and just as competent as their male counterparts, yet still retain just a hint of vulnerability. I've really enjoyed this series, especially The Forgotten Rose & The Black Hawk. I look forward to reading your latest.