“Inspirations and Influences” is a series of articles in which we invite authors to write guest posts talking about their…well, Inspirations and Influences. The cool thing is that the writers are given free reign so they can go wild and write about anything they want. It can be about their new book, series or about their career as a whole.
Today’s guest is Urban Fantasist & Romance author Jennifer Estep. Jennifer is the author of paranormal romance series Bigtime (Karma Girl, Hot Mama, & Jinx), but this year she has thrown her hat into the Urban Fantasy ring with her Elemental Assassin series. The first book in this new series, Spider’s Bite follows Gin Blanco, known better by her assassin moniker, Spider – she’s the best at her job in all of Ashland, and has the ability to work magic in the elements of stone and ice. The second book in the Elemental Assassin series, Web of Lies his stores next week on May 25th!
To celebrate the upcoming release, we have invited Ms. Estep to talk about her writing, influences and inspirations for her Elemental Assassins series. (Plus, we also have a giveaway)
Please give a warm welcome to Jennifer Estep!
Greetings and salutations! First of all, I want to say thanks to the Book Smugglers for inviting me to guest blog today. Thanks so much!
As some of you may know, I’m the author of the Bigtime superhero paranormal romance series – Karma Girl (2007), Hot Mama (2007), and Jinx (2008). I also write the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series and have three books coming out in that series this year – Spider’s Bite (which came out in February), Web of Lies (which debuts on May 25), and Venom (October).
The Smugglers asked me to talk a little bit about my writing inspirations and influences today, and one of the topics that they suggested was what got me interested in writing urban fantasy since I had previously written paranormal romances. So why did I switch to urban fantasy?
Well, the short answer is because I like kick-butt heroines.
I’ve always loved books, movies, and TV shows where the heroine is just as strong – if not stronger – than the guys around her. Buffy Summers, Sydney Bristow, Wonder Woman – these are the kinds of female characters that I admire, girls who are just as comfortable dressing up to go to a party as they are diffusing a nuclear bomb or saving the world from vampires, aliens, and other creepy crawlies.
Don’t get me wrong. I think the heroines in my Bigtime paranormal romance books are pretty kick-butt themselves, especially Fiona Fine, the star of Hot Mama. But I had been wanting to write something darker and grittier with an even tougher heroine for a while. I’ve also always liked reading about assassin characters in fantasy literature, and I figured that urban fantasy was a genre that would let me combine all these things at once. Plus, there are so many great heroines in urban fantasy, folks like Rachel Morgan and Karen Murphy, and I wanted to add my own character to the mix.
So I came up with my toughest heroine yet – Gin Blanco, an assassin known as the Spider. Gin makes no bones about the fact that she kills people for money, something that she’s very, very good at. I figured that if I was going to write an assassin character, I might as well go big or go home. There’s nothing worse than a whiny assassin. 
As much as I like shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, it seems like vampires are everywhere these days, and I knew when I started writing Spider’s Bite that I wanted to have some different kinds of magic/creatures in my books as well. So I decided on vampires, giants, dwarves, and elementals, or folks who can control one of the four elements – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.
For the record, Gin happens to be a Stone and Ice elemental, meaning that she can control both of those elements. But she’s just as happy to introduce you to the sharp end of the five silverstone knives that she carries with her at all times as she is to blast you with her magic. Like Gin says, there are dozens of ways to help people quit breathing, and she doesn’t need her magic to help her with that.
I’ll admit that it’s been a bit of a challenge to write such an unapologetic assassin character like Gin and make her likable at the same time. Gin isn’t your typical hero – she’s not inherently good like a Sydney Bristow or Buffy Summers is. But you know what? Bad girls always have more fun anyway. I think Faith on Buffy is a prime example of that.
So there you have it. Some of my inspirations for my girl Gin Blanco and the Elemental Assassin series. Writing Gin’s adventures has been a blast so far, and I hope that folks have as much fun reading the books as I do writing them.
What about you guys? Who are some of your favorite heroines, urban fantasy or otherwise? Share in the comments.
About Jennifer:
By night, Jennifer Estep is an author, prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.
By day, Jennifer is an award-winning features page designer for a daily newspaper with a wide range of media and journalism experience. She’s also a certifiable fangirl and an authority on fantasy literature and culture. Jennifer is a member of Romance Writers of America, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and other writing groups.
Jennifer’s books have been featured in Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, Southern Living, and a variety of other publications.
You can read more about Jennifer on her website, or catch her on her blog.
Giveaway Details:
We are giving away TEN AUTOGRAPHED copies of Spider’s Bite and Web of Lies to ten lucky winners! The contest is open to residents of the US and Canada only and will run until May 29 at 11:59 PM (PST). To enter, leave a comment here answering Jennifer’s question – who are some of your favorite heroines, fantasy or otherwise? Only one entry per person please! Good luck!
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133 Responses to Guest Author & Giveaway: Jennifer Estep on Inspirations & Influences
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Let’s see…I like Talia from the Valdemar books, for overcoming so many problems to be Super Important. Also, the Supergirls from the Wheel of Time can be enjoyable (not all of the time, mind you), but Egwene has recently shot ahead in my esteem. I’m positive I missed someone, but that’s all I can think of right now.
I admit, I do like Buffy, but I always preferred Faith. Faith didn’t make any excuses for the way she was – she was sexy, kick-ass, tough, and funny. It always seemed to me that Buffy could get a little whiny, which is why I liked Faith more.
Actually, one of my favorite kick-ass females is Sonja Blue from Nancy Collins’ books. She’s not really a heroine — she’s a vampire (with extra mojo), and she kills bad guys. But, she’s got a really dark side to her, as well, so I’m not sure if she’d really count as a heroine. However, I’ve read The Sonja Blue Collection about 10 times, just because I like her so much.
I second Scarlett O’Hara – GWTW is one of the best romances ever, and Scarlett is quite a kick-ass heroine. A recent urban fantasy read by Susanne McLeod called The Sweet Scent of Blood had an excellent female lead named Genny, too.
Thanks for the giveaway – this series has been on my radar for a while now!
johnrj@mail.com
One of my faves is Charlie Madigan from the Charlie Madigan series by Dakota Banks. She is a strong women in a scary world
Shoot, I don’t even know who my favorite heroine is! Sophie from Howl’s Moving Castle comes to mind. I’m usually attracted to understated heroines. I don’t identify well with kick-butt heroines
so it’s a different reading experience.
I did buy Spider’s Bite after reading the prequel story.
That should redeem me, right?
My favorites are Electra, Laura Croft and recently I discovered Evangeline Stone from Three Days to Dead by Kelly Meding!
Favorite heroines? Let’s see…
Phedre from the Kushiel books, Mercy Thompson, Elizabeth Bennet are some from literature. Detective Becket from Castle, Dr Brennan from Bones, the chicks from Firefly/Serenity: Zoe, Inara, River and Kaylee are some from TV. I’m sure I’ll think of some more as soon as I post this. I think it’s great there’s so many to choose from!
favourite heroines
Claire Randall by Diana Gabaldon
Eve Duncan by Iris Johansen
Anne Shirley/Blythe L.M. Montgomery
I love JR Wards heroines, Gena Showalter’s, kerrelyn Sparks’, Cindy Miles, and Cythia Eden’s! They all have really strong female leads, even when the female’s in question don’t know it!
It’s not very paranormal, though it IS urban, but I really like Detective Beckett, from Castle.
I tend to adore snarky, or even just people who can keep up with snark. OH, and also Zoe, from Firefly. One of the very few terse characters who I like, but she’s so badass I am just in awe. River isn’t badass so much as not in the same reality as everyone else, so I think I must skip her. And one more, hmmm, how do I pick… Mrs. Pollifax. The original fluffy little old lady spy. Who is awesome beyond count. ^_^ (Also I heart Mary Russell VERY hard, and Sister Magdalen from Brother Cadfeal.)
Probably, my most favorite is Eve Dallas from JD Robbs’s “In Death” series. Not paranormal but definitely urban fantasy. And after that JR Ward’s BDB, all those guy’s are extra special.
Favorite heroines are: Detective Becket-Castle t.v. series, Eve Duncan-Iris Johansen,Eve Dallas- J.D. Robb and Xena: Warrior Princess
Great post.I’ve read great reviews for this series.some of my favorite heroines
Cat Crawford-Night Huntress series
Riley Jensen (series)
Rachel Morgan-Hollows series
Elena Michaels-Women of the Otherworld
Faythe Sanders-Shifters series
First of all, let me say that I loved Gin Blanco. I had a really hard time putting it down and read it (mostly except for those darn interruptions from the kid) in one fell swoop. I’m really looking forward to Web of Lies.
Some of my favorite heroines are Patricia Briggs’ (is that the right punctuation? I can never remember) Mercy Thompson and Anna Latham (Alpha and Omega). I also love Nalini Singh’s Elena from the Guild Hunter series. And I really like Michelle Sagara’s Kaylin Neya. Okay, stopping now.
Oh I’ve been dying to read this series!
My favorite heroines? Like a lot of people, I love Mercy Thompson. But in regards to major kick ass heroines?
-Jane Yellowrock from Faith Hunter’s series
-Surreal from Anne Bishop’s Black Jewel Trilogy
-Mariketa from Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series
Alanna from The Song of the Lioness quartet by Tamora Pierce is on the top of my list.
Some of my favorite heroines –
Mercy Thompson – Patricia Briggs
Faythe Sanders – Rachel Vincent
Rachel Morgan – Kim Harrison
Elena Michaels – Kelly Armstrong
Aisling Grey – Katie MacAlister
That is just to name a few.
jellybelly82158 at gmail dot com
Please count me in. One of my favorite heroines is Anita Blake.
Thanks for the giveaway.
lizzi0915 at aol dot
This series sounds fantastic.
My favorite heroines? Riley Jenson, Cat Crawfield, and Mercy Thompson. Kick-ass chicks with tons of personality. My heroines aren’t for the timid.
[...] Jennifer Estep, author of Web of Lies, at the Book Smugglers [...]
well THE all time fav of mine, was scalett ohara!!! i mean really, she so totally rock!!
My favorite heroines are:
Eve Dallas (J.D. Robb)
Mercy Thompson (Patricia Briggs)
Charlie Madigan (Kelley Gay) (just found this author)
Elena (Kelley Armstrong)
I’ve been wanting to read this series for a long time and I would love to get my hands on a copy.
jcalvert719 at yahoo dot com
Favorite heroines:
Merry Gentry
Anita Blake
Lilly Yu (Eileen Wilks series)
Mercy Thompson
Rachel Morgan
Eve Dallas
caity_mack(at)yahoo(dot)com
At the moment I have only two faves: Cat Crawfield from Jeaniene Frost and Mercy Thompson from Patricia Briggs. I love the attitude of both these women. Just this side of smart-aleck, and both place high value on standing on their on two feet. With that they still can allow love into their lives. I welcome the opportunity to add a new favorite to my list.:D
My favorite heroines:
Mercy Thompson- Mercy Thomspson series by Patricia Briggs
Eve Dallas- In Death series by J.D. Robb
Joanna Archer- Zodiac series by Vicki Pettersson
Joanne Walker- Walking Papers series by C.E. Murphy
Rachel Morgan- The Hollows series by Kim Harrison
I’m lucky that I started reading urban fantasy just recently and there are so many great heroines to choose from, but my all time fav is still Buffy. She went through so much in the course of that series and she took it all – no matter what was thrown at her, she never gave up even when she thought it was hopeless.
In books, right now my favorites are Mercy Thompson, and Kate Daniels, although there are so many others I could also name.
A few of my favorites are:
Cat in the Night Huntress series
Elena in the Otherworld series
Mercy in the Mercy Thompson series
Kate in the Kate Daniels series
Eve Dallas in the In Death series
There are so many great ones out there, but my top favorites are Eve Dallas and Anita Blake.
So many good ones to choose from! Some immediate ones that come to mind include Katniss (Hunger Games), Mercy Thompson, Kate Daniels, Alanna (Tamora Pierce), Buffy, Lisbeth Salander (S. Larsson; with reservations, but she can be awesome at times), Viola (the Ask and the Answer), Clary Fray (C. Clare), Kerowyn (M. Lackey), and Lireal (Garth Nix’s Abhorsen).
Hi, everyone! I just wanted to chime back in and say thanks for all the great comments/discussion. You’ve given me tons of new authors to add to my TBR pile. LOL.
And thanks to everyone who mentioned Gin Blanco as a heroine they like. I appreciate all the positive comments that I’ve gotten about Gin and Spider’s Bite, and I hope everyone enjoys Web of Lies even more!
I love strong heroines, some of my favorites are:
Rachel Morgan-The Hollows Series
Mira-The Dark Days Series
Katniss-The Hunger Games
Kaylee Cavanaugh-Soul Screamers
Thanks!
Dottie
Hello all. This is for all fans of Jennifer Estep. If you would like to join in a discussion about her or her books, then please visit my fan page for her at Goodreads.com. (http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/33890.Fans_of_Jennifer_Estep). This is a new group so please join in and start topics of your own. Have fun reading everyone!!!!!
I love Claire Randall, Rachel Morgan and Mercy Thompson.
audie(at)wickerness(dot)com
Great question! I love Cat(Night Huntress), Mercy Thompson, Katniss (Hunger Games), and Mac (KMM’s Fever series).
Thanks!
Some of my favorite heroines include:
Flavia de Luce (from The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie)
Katniss (The Hunger Games)
Buffy (of Vampire Slayer fame)
Hermione (gotta love Harry Potter)
Sabriel (from the Abhorsen Trilogy)
Lyra (from His Dark Materials)
Thanks again!
Right now I’m reading Rees Brennan’s Demon Lexicon and I am loving Mae. She is awesome, brave, smart, and loyal.
Harry from the Blue Sword was pretty amazing, too.
Katniss from The Hunger Games.
Those are just the ones off the top of my head.
I feel like the obvious favorites are getting overly exposed….
Granny Weatherwax (Terry Pratchett)
Sunshine (Robin McKinley)
Andrea Cort (Adam Troy Castro)
Theodora (Doris Egan)
Sonja Blue (Nancy Collins)
Favorite heroines…
MacKayla Lane – Fever Series
Elena Devereaux – Angel’s Blood
Rachel Morgan – The Hollows
Kate Daniels
Of course I’ll always love Buffy and Faith, but I have a special place in my heart for Scarlett O’Hara.
bethsbookreviewblog2 AT gmail DOT com
Not to be too much of a nerd, but I’ve always loved Dana Scully and Kathryn Janeway. I also like Karen Murphy from The Dresden Files and Rachel Morgan.
Dorina Basarb, Rachel Morgan, Mercy Thompson, Anita Blake, and Riley Jensen still top my list
dukesangel002(at)yahoo(dot)com
Like everyone has said there are so many great female characters. My favorite ones from books are Kate Daniels, Harper Connelly and Harper Blaine.
Thanks!
Katie
Tough question!
I think I can narrow it down to:
Eve Dallas by J.D. Robb
Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs
Anita Blake by Laurell K. Hamilton
-Lashawn
Wow, I love your books!!!
Some of my favorite heroines…hmm (too many to choose from). Ok, here goes.
Mercy Thompson (Patricia Briggs)
Cat Crawfield (Jeannine Frost)
Elena Deveraux (Nalini Singh)
Kate Daniels (Ilona Andrews)
Jane Yellowrock (Faith Hunter)
Eve Dallas (J.D. Robb)
Jaenelle Angelline (Anne Bishop)
Lady Cassidy (Anne Bishop)
Wow, I’ve heard such awesome things about this series!
Thanks for hosing the giveaway, ladies.
Two of my literary heroines would be: Elena Michaels from Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld series and Mercy Thompson from Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series.
I’m still all about Buffy. She’s my favorite heroine. That her huge heroic act is that she ends up sharing her powers and empowering other young women? That always warms my heart.
Also, there’s Roslin and Starbuck and Athena from BSG, and book-wise, Eve Dallas takes the cake.
Great event! I’m totally in agreement with Renee! (2 posts up) Elena (from Otherworld) and Mercy (from Mercedes Thompson Series) rock as heroines! They are both strong, independent women and can kick some serious butt! But, they have that soft side too. Prefect!
mleger0546(at)rogers(dot)com
Spider’s Bite sounds really interesting! Thanks for having this giveaway. Some of my favorite kick-ass heroines are:
-Mercy Thompson from Patricia Briggs
-Dorina Basarab from Karen Chance’s Midnight Daughter books
-Rachel Morgan from Kim Harrison’s Hollows series
-Lisbeth Salander from Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
-Kaylin Neya from Chronicles of Elantra series
One of the things I think is really great about urban fantasy is all the strong heroines, like all the ones that folks have mentioned.
And I can’t find the post right now, but I want to give a shoutout to whoever mentioned Mrs. Pollifax. I LOVED those books. I read the whole series one summer. I really need to go back and reread them …
My favourite heroines include:
CAT CRAWFIELD (Night Huntress series, Jeanine Frost)
ROSE HATHAWAY (Vampire Academy series, Richelle Mead)
MACKAYLA LANE (Fever series, Karen Marie Moning)
MERIT (Chicagoland Vampire series, Chloe Neill)
…. I probably forgot a few, but there are so many strong heroines out there in the fiction universe these days! Thanks for this contest.
mcdonaldrenee1 [at] gmail [dot] com