“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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I really like Mercy Thompson (Patricia Briggs) and Rachel Morgan (Kim Harrison).
I badly want this book. A female assassin? How awesome is that.
Some of my favorite heroines are:
Kate Daniels – Ilona Andrews
Mercy Thompson – Patricia Briggs
Eve Dallas – JD Robb
Max – Bitter Night by Diana Pharaoh Francis
Anya – Gena Showalter
Alanna- Tamora Pierce
Elena Deveraux- Nalini Singh
Lyra- Philip Pullman
And of course, Buffy
Jennifer, thanks for this opportunity to get to know you better. You are definitely now on my radar.
I have to say that Buffy is the hero that opened the doors for me to all things urban fantasy/supernatural. After watching that show, I hungered to read/watch more having to do with the paranormal. I haven’t looked back since.
I suppose ATM my favorite heroine is Katniss (from Hunger Games). All time favs are anyone Joss Weadon created (Buffy, Faith, Zoe, River, etc).
I’d have to say I like Phedre no Delaunay from the Kushiel series, Elena Michaels from the Otherworld series, Joanne Walker from the Walker Papers series.
I’ve put your books on my must-read list, Spider’s Bite sounds great.
I have Spider Bite, and can’t wait to get Web of Lies!!!
Favorite heriones:
-WOnder Woman
-Buffy
-Xena
Books:
Rachel & Ivy- Kim Harrison’s Hollows series
Lizzie – Angie Fox’s Demon Slayer series
Anita Blake – LKH
Amanda – Mark Henry
heatwave96(at)hotmail.com
Cordelia from Lois McMaster Bujold’s Cordelia’s Honor.
My favorite heroine of all time has always been catwoman. The lady knows what she wants, then she GETS what she wants. She’s unrepentant about kicking ass and taking names, and the few times Batman’s managed to mess up her schemes, she still gets a hot date out of it. Me-oww!
My favorite is Eve Dallas from NR’s In Death series.
my favorites are:
1. buffy
2. 7 of 9
3. caprica 6
I just read Spiders Bite a few weeks ago and couldn’t put it down, I’m very excited for Web of Lies.
My fave heroines are:
Gin Blanco of course,Cat Crawfield, Rachel Morgan, Madison from Kim Harrison’s YA series, Georgina Kincaid, Sophie Garou ( Tales of an Urban Werewolf from Karen MacInerney), Lily Yu (from Eileen Wilks werewolf series and Mira (from Jocelynn Drake’s Dark Days series). I love girls that kick butt in case you couldn’t tell.
I adore beyond all reason: Amelia Peabody (Elizabeth Peters), Helena Justina (Lindsey Davis), Lady Julia Grey (Deanna Raybourn)and Flavia de Luce (Alan Bradley). All supersmart and unique.
Some of my favorite heroines are Sookie Stackhouse from Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series, Cat from Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series, Alexis Macon from Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series, and Riley Jenson from Keri Arthur’s Riley Jenson series.
Jane Yellowrock by Faith Hunter and Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs
My favorite is Katniss Everdeen, all the way:)
Thanks so much for this contest!
Buffy Summers, Katniss Everdeen (Hunger Games) and Jane Yellowrock (Faith Hunter’s UF series)
My two favorite herorines are Cat Crawford by Jeaniene Frost and Mercedes Thompson by Patricia Briggs, and lastly but not least Rose Hathaway by Richelle Mead.
Nix from IAD Series, she’s hasn’t had her own book yet but she’s awesome!
Any one of the heroines from a Georgette Heyer’s novel (What can I say, I’ma sucker)
and last but not least Alexia Tarabotti, she’s hilarious.
Great giveaway! My ALL TIME FAVORITE is Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I also love Rose Hathaway from the Vampire Academy Series. Anita Blake, Elena Michaels, Chloe Saunders and of course Hermione Granger.
Take Care Smugglers!
I loved Spider Bite and cant wait for Web of Lies!!! Fav heroines…Anita Blake….Keira Kelly….Merry Gentry. There are so many to choose from!!! Thanks for a great giveaway!!!
I love any of Robin McKinley’s heroines (Rae/Sunshine from her vamp book Sunshine is my fave currently). I think I identify with them more than most of the heroines I read of. The factor of seeing some of myself in these beloved characters makes me like them just a bit more than the average heroine.
I’ve read some of your books and they are awesome.
Though I’m not sure I completely understand to the difference between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance yet:? some of my top heroine faves are:
-Jane Yellowrock from Faith Hunter’s series
-Mercy Thompson from Patricia Briggs
-Mac from Karen Marie Moning
-Elena Deveraux from Nalini Singh
-Cat Crawfield from Jeaniene Frost
I’m hoping to win those books and have a good day
I would have to say Elena from Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter novels. Not only badass but she has this inner strength or so I saw that in her that made the book really believable and made her a great heroine.
My favorite is Lieutenant Eve Dallas in the J.D. Robb death series.
Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
Some of my favorite heroines are Kate Daniels of the Magic series by Ilona Andrews, Del from the Sword Dancer series by Jennifer Roberson and Holly Barker of the Orchid series by Stuart Woods.
Some of my favirotes are,
Mercy Thompson from Patricia Briggs
Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games
Cat Crawfield from Jeaniene Frost
Georgina Kincaid from Richelle Mead
Kate Daniels from from Ilona Andrews
but I could go on and on and on..lol
Two favorite non-fictional heroines are Mary “Mother” Jones and Joan of arc – one very young, one very old, both kick ass.
A current fave fictional heroine is Eve Dallas from the JD Robb series
My favorite heroine of all time is Scarlett O’Hara.
I don’t read much UF or watch much tv, so my favourites will probably be somewhat different from most of the others mentioned, but off the top of my head here are a half dozen of my current favs:
Sally Lockhart from Philip Pulman
Cassandra Mortmain from I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Harriet Vane from Dorothy Sayers
Sophy from Georgette Heyer’s The Grand Sophy
Veronica Mars
Marlys and Arna and Maybone (but especially Marlys) from Lynda Barry’s comics
I don’t read much UF or watch much tv, so my favourites will probably be somewhat different from most of the others mentioned, but off the top of my head here are a half dozen of my current favs:
Sally Lockhart from Philip Pulman
Cassandra Mortmain from I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Harriet Vane from Dorothy Sayers
Sophy from Georgette Heyer’s The Grand Sophy
Veronica Mars
Marlys and Arna and Maybone (but especially Marlys) from Lynda Barry’s comics
For me its definitely
1) Kate Daniels (Kate Daniels)by Ilona Andrews
2) Cat Crawfield (Night Huntress)by Jeaniene Frost
3) Eugenie Markham(Dark Swan)by Richelle Mead
4) Mira (Dark Days)by Jocelynn Drake
5) Rose Hathaway(Vampire Academy) by Richelle Mead
6) Anita Blake(Anita Blake VH)by Laurel K Hamilton
7) Merit (Chicagoland Vampires) by Chloe Neill
All mah favs r above ^^ LUV THEM!!!!
LUV SMART MOUTH, KISS ASS, FUNNY HEROINES