Syrie’s Comments (group member since Jan 19, 2011)

Syrie’s comments from the Q&A with Syrie James group.

Amber wrote: "Oh Syrie...so difficult to put into words! Here are my initial thoughts. True Love: when 2 people understand each other inside & out better than anyone else in the world, when every moment you spen..."

What lovely sentiments. I so agree! I would add: You are each other's best, most trusted friend, as well as lovers. You balance and complete each other. You love, admire, respect, and appreciate each other, and fully support each other's needs and dreams. You are both willing and happy to put the other's happiness and well being first. You know that you can count on each other to always be there in time of need.You are successful as individuals, but happier together than apart. Your affection and passion for each other are so strong, you can't imagine spending the rest of your life without each other.

I know from personal experience that deep, profound love can blossom in a short span of time, as long as the couple really talk to each other and reveal their true selves. That period of initial communication and discovery between new lovers is something I find thrilling, and I put great emphasis on it in all my novels.

Writing NOCTURNE has got me thinking about the essence of true love and what it means. Have you found true love? If so, how do you define it?

I fell in love with Michael and Nicole while writing "Nocturne." They became so real to me, that I almost believe Michael's beautiful house really is sitting up on that Colorado mountaintop, nestled in the pines. Questions, thoughts, comments about the book? I'm here to answer.

And please check out my guest interview on My Jane Austen Book Club. Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Nocturne!
http://thesecretunderstandingofthehea...

Megan wrote: "I would also love to read much more about Michael and Nicole.

So who do I need to badger with my "request"?? ;-)"

Dear Megan,
Thank you so much for your enthusiasm and support! You may feel free to write to the publisher:
Vanguard Press
The Perseus Book Group
387 Park Avenue South, Floor 12
New York, NY 10016

However, writing and posting reviews on Amazon, B&N, Borders, Goodreads, and anywhere else on the internet you choose may be more effective... and incredibly appreciated. In the publishing world, as everywhere else, it's all about sales figures!

Josephine wrote: "Hello Syrie:

Ever since reading "The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen" you have become one of my favorite authors. I absolutely loved that book and recommended it to many friends and family. If you lov..."

Thanks, Josephine. I look forward to chatting with you!

Thanks Eela, for that fantastic link (w/in your great review) to the song A RED, RED ROSE by Robert Burns (the theme song of NOCTURNE) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBCQMW...
I loved listening to it. The song breaks my heart, too!

You asked about music within the novel. It was always my intention to make music a major part of the story. For a brilliant man like Michael, who's lived for eons in solitude, it made sense to me that he'd become an accomplished musician (among other things.) Giving similar skills to Nicole was another way for them to bond, and I felt it appropriate to use music as a way for both characters to express their emotions. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

Eela wrote: "It would have been easier for us readers to have a happy ending because the actual totally is heartbreaking. But the strength in it is the realism it gives to the story and also a great lesson : sometimes love is about letting people go... "

I did not want this to be a typical romance novel, but a true Love Story. I felt that "Nocturne" could only end this way... that is, this book (when Nicole and Michael first meet and fall in love.) As I said in my Author's Note at the end, however, in my mind, their story is far from over. I believe there is far more to the tale, and that love will find a way. Many readers have asked for a sequel, and I'd love to write one!

Amber wrote: "Hi Syrie, What are your favorite books by each of these ladies?"

Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre. I have read each one at least a dozen times. They are both perfectly constructed, absolutely timeless, with fabulous characters and stories... unforgettable!

Amber wrote: "How long were you on your Jane Austen Tour of England for? Was it something that you put together yourself? "

I did put the tour together myself. We spent three weeks in England and half of that time was spent visiting all the Jane Austen sites including her home at Chawton Cottage (where you can see her writing desk), 3 lovely days exploring Bath, an afternoon at Netley Abbey (featured in my novel), the spot in Southampton where her house used to be, walked the Cobb at Lyme Regis, visited her grave at Winchester, and were allowed an amazing private tour of Godmersham Park in Kent, her brother Edward's gorgeous estate. (It's privately owned now and leased as a optometry college; we were so lucky to be invited for a tour as part of my research.) I'd love to write another Austen novel based at Godmersham.

We took a similar tour to research my Charlotte Bronte novel... such unforgettable experiences!

Jana wrote: "I found it interesting that Michael could communicate with his horses, but am curious as to why he could not communicate with other animals as as well. What was your thought process that led you to that decision?"

I loved it that Bram Stoker's Dracula was able to communicate with horses, and wanted to focus on that exclusively in this book. I didn't want to turn Michael into Dr. Doolittle. For the climax to work, it's important that he can't communicate with certain other animals (if you know what I mean!) I hope readers will find Michael's relationship with horses very special and kind of magical.

Jana wrote: "I absolutely loved Michael Tyler and enjoyed reading through his character development. Was his character inspired by someone in your life?"

Michael was inspired by my love for Mr. Darcy! Admittedly, he does share a few of my husband's traits, but mainly it was me conjuring up the type of man I'd fall madly in love with, if I was snowbound with him for four days.

Jana wrote: "I've been dying to ask you this, Syrie! In your author's note at the end of the book, you said, "... But I’ll tell you a secret: in my mind, Nicole and Michael’s story is far from over." Are you planning a sequel? Please, PLEASE be planning one! Do you have any other books in progress?"

I'd love to write a sequel to NOCTURNE. It will depend on whether readers and the publisher request it, so we'll have to wait and see!

My next book (just turned in the final draft) will be published by HarperTeen in early 2012. It's a YA novel that I cowrote with my son Ryan (tentatively titled FORBIDDEN) about a teenage girl who discovers she's half-angel and that her very existence is forbidden. She falls in love with the new, gorgeous guy at school who's... (wait, that would be telling!) It's based in reality, yet we had to create an entire new paranormal universe for the novel. I'm very excited about it.

Jana wrote: "Nocturne is the only book I've ever read with so few characters, and I really felt like I got more attached to them for that reason. Was it difficult writing a story with only two characters, or did you enjoy being able to focus more on each one individually?"

I LOVED writing about just two characters. As a reader, with many books, I become so interested and invested in the main characters and their stories, that I'm tempted to skip all the scenes with minor characters and just get to the main plot. I've felt that way as a writer, too. I thought, what if I just write a book about the two main characters? Could I do it? The challenge was to make them complex enough to keep the sexual tension and the twists and turns of the plot going. I hope you enjoyed the result.

Jana wrote: "Hi Syrie! What made you choose Steamboat Springs, Colorado? I've never read a book that took place there, or even near there. Steamboat holds a special place in the heart of my family..."

While doing research for this novel, to make my plot work, I needed to find a very remote spot where a reclusive person could own a fabulous spread and beautiful home, yet was not too far from a ski resort ... and where it was believable that Nicole could actually be snowed in there for four days. For some reason I just knew it had to be in Colorado. An expert on all things Colorado (my cousin, in fact) suggested that particular location, and I am so grateful. I thought it worked perfectly.

Jana wrote: "I loved the conversations that Michael and Nicole had. I think I fell in love with him through their conversations. What made you decide to have him be an author? I loved that his occupation broke the ice and caused them to dive into even deeper conversations later on. "

Jana, I made Michael an author (of historical fiction in particular) because it's a very solitary occupation (which fit with the character's reclusive habits, and his experience with history) ... and because I wanted to create an instant connection between him and Nicole, based on her love for his work.

Let's chat about two of my favorite authors. It was such a thrill and honor to research and write from the POV of these two remarkable women!

If you have questions or comments about my books about Jane and Charlotte, fire away!

And please check out my guest interview on My Jane Austen Book Club. Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of my novel, Nocturne!
http://thesecretunderstandingofthehea...

Amber wrote: "I never did until recently but I whole heartedly do now & reading about Jane & Mr. Ashford's initial exchanges completely reminded me of my own experience. All of the wondering, longing, & anticipa..."

I, too, especially love that initial period of intense discovery between new lovers. I call it "falling in love through conversation," and it's so important to me that I have placed great emphasis on it in every single one of my novels.

Megan wrote: "I do. It happened to me. Both my dear husband and I had broken up with other people and were not looking to get involved with anyone, possible ever. We met and BAM that was it. 33 years later, it i..."

Congratulations! I had a similar experience. My husband and I got engaged after 3 weeks, and married 8 months later. We just celebrated our 35th anniversary!

I love “good vampires,” creatures with a heart, soul, and conscience. It’s very compelling to me to write about characters who were good when they were human, and who remain good after they've been changed—but wage a battle every day to restrain their primal urges.

I'm especially a fan of dashing, charismatic, passionate, highly intelligent, accomplished men (Mr. Darcy types)-- and making them a reluctant vampire who falls in love with a mortal woman adds something thrilling and delicious to the mix!

What kind of vampires do you like to read about?

If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Want to chat about my version of Dracula, or Michael Tyler in Nocturne? Have at it!

Megan wrote: "Hello Syrie!

My question is one of your settings - does that house/estate/retreat/paradise really exist in the Colorado mountains or was it the invention of your imagination? (Either way - it is a..."

I love this question! My publisher asked the same thing when I turned in the manuscript for NOCTURNE!

Michael's Colorado estate/retreat is entirely a figment of my imagination. But the story, characters, and setting have become so real to me, that I "almost" believe it really happened, and that Michael’s beautiful house really is perched up there high in the Rockies on that bend of on Highway 40, nestled between the pines.