It is always a pleasure to introduce new authors to our Plotmonkey readers, but it is always doubly exciting when the author has published her VERY FIRST BOOK! So it is with great enthusiasm that I introduce you all to ERICA RIDLEY! Erica’s first book, TOO WICKED TO KISS, is a gothic historical romance and Erica, well, Erica is about one of the coolest people I know. So without further ado…please give a warm, jungle welcome to Erica!
One of the challenging things about writing historical romance is finding the balance between not over-describing historical elements to readers well versed in the genre, while also not confusing or alienating readers new to the genre who don’t yet know a squab from a scabbard.
I recently experienced a more contemporary breakdown in communication just a few months ago. I was in England for the summer, and talking on the phone to my boyfriend. (He’s from Latin America, which means he’s even further removed from the US/UK cultural divide.)
His irreverent commentary and pet cultural rants are often hilarious in their own right, but one rainy day in London, he called me from Florida with the following announcement:
Boyfriend: I don’t like Starbucks right now because their coffee isn’t from Costa Rica.
Erica: Ohhh, coffee… How I would kill for a good cup of coffee…
Boyfriend: Then go get one.
Erica: I would, but there is no coffee here. Anywhere.
Boyfriend: There’s coffee everywhere!
Erica: Okay, no good coffee. Why would there be? Nobody here drinks it.
Boyfriend: Then what do they drink?
Erica: Tea.
Boyfriend: That’s a lie! Nobody would pick tea over coffee.
Erica: They do in Asia.
Boyfriend: Then Asians aren’t human.
Erica: I guess Brits must not be, either.
Boyfriend: Everybody drinks coffee in America. Meaning the continent, not just your country. The whole continent. Which is one thing and not split into North and South America. It’s just America and it means everything.
Erica: Er, right. We’ve discussed that. Settle down. And actually, did you know we didn’t used to drink much coffee in the US?
Boyfriend: What?!? When?
Erica: Ever. It was all tea, all the time, until the Boston Tea Party. [Enter long-winded historical explanation.] And from then on, goodbye tea, hello coffee.
Boyfriend: Well, gum was invented in Mexico. Did you know that?
So there you go. LOL. Those conversations make me want to return to my laptop and the familiar world of Gothic 1813…
How about you? Have you had any real-life conversations go off-kilter because of a cultural divide? And for those of you who read historical, paranormal, or fantasy: what’s your preference with regard to description? Do you prefer books with explanations and lots of detail, or are you more of a just-give-me-the-story sort? And most importantly: what’s best, tea or coffee?
Answer one or more of Erica’s questions…and you might just win a copy of her new historical, TOO WICKED TO KISS!
Get to know Erica at:
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold over forty books to four publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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Hi Erica! I’ve added your book to my tbb list. And must follow you on Twitter :)
I can’t recall having such a conversation with someone of a different background. I do like historicals, and I personally like the detailed info, but I think it almost works best in a series vs. a one book deal. You can disburse the information over time in a series to keep it from being overwhelming and too much “telling” vs. showing.
And coffee baby! That’s my drink of choice (though not a huge fan of Starbucks).
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Okay, I meant to say paranormals not historicals, though I do like those too(yikes I need coffee).
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Hi Stacy, and thanks! I agree about paranormals (and fantasy, for that matter) often working great as a series. And yay, team coffee!
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Welcome Erica and congrats!!
Give me my Dunkin Donuts over Starsucks any day!!
I don’t mind detail- if it gets to be too much, I just skip it. However, there sometimes has to be enough to set the scene or explain what is going on. It’s a very fine line.
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True, when it comes to the right balance of detail, it’s definitely a fine line. As to coffee (mmm, coffee…) I don’t live near a Dunkin Donuts, but I did meet a friend there recently. I tried some sort of iced caramel latte (although it was called something else) and it was delicious!
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Just enough detail to set the story works for me. Congratulations on your new release!
I’ll take tea any day, thanks. It’s finally looking like spring around here, so I can have it iced.
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Thanks, Gillian!! Are you a tea fan in the sense of the fancy loose teas? I have two friends who are crazy for tea, and although I don’t know much about it, I let them talk me into going out for lunch every once in a while in the cute little tea places, and we always have a blast.
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Hi Erica, welcome to the jungle. Congrats on the release of your debut novel. I don’t recall any breakdowns, such as you described above. I thought the conversation was pretty funny btw.
I read just about any kind of book. When it comes to historicals, I love a lot of detail, but it depends on the time period. As long as the details are interwoven well within the plot of the story, I don’t mind them at all. If it is a time period, I studied, then I might get a little disgruntled, but I can excuse that if the story just takes me away.
I am a big tea drinker. I just never got into coffee, though I do love the smell. Hazelnut smells devine; I tried and hated it, but I still love the smell of it.
I hope you have a blast swinging with us today. I will check back in later.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Conversations with him are almost always hilarious! Which makes it almost impossible to get upset with him for any length of time, because it’s hard to argue while you’re trying not to burst into laughter. (Heyyy… maybe he does this on purpose!)
You know, I’m another one that think hazelnut is one of the most amazing smells ever, but as a flavor, it leaves me wanting. I just tried a hazelnut coffee yesterday when I went out for breakfast. It was OK, but when it came time for refill, I returned to my old standby: French Vanilla. Mmmm…
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After posting, I thought about French Vanilla too. I love the smell of that one too.
It looks like you are having a blast today. I hope you enjoy it enough to pop in a visit with us every now and then.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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I’m having a great time–and I’ll definitely be back! =)
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Hi Erica! Welcome to the Jungle! Congratulations on the release of your first book.
I have a dear friend in Australia. We’ve never actually met face to face but I’ve known her for years. Sometimes in an e-mail she will use an Australian expression and I have to ask her what it means.
As far as detail it depends on the author’s voice. If I love, love, love their voice the more the better. If they have an okay voice but the story is compelling, I skim the detailed parts. I do love history so I especially love all the historical facts as long as they don’t detract from the story.
I don’t drink coffee, but I love to smell it brewing. I’m a tea drinker.
Cher
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Are you a “regular” tea or a “fancy” tea person? (And *that’s* all I know about the different kinds of teas. Pitiful, I know.)
I lived in London for a little while, and one of my flatmates was from Australia. Between her slang and my slang and the British slang of our other flatmate, I think the word we most used in conversation was, “…What?” LOL
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LOL Too funny, Erica. I drink English Breakfast or Irish Breakfast tea primarily. During the day I drink Lipton iced tea or water.
Looking forward to reading your book
Cher
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I had no idea Irish Breakfast tea existed! (I *did* know about English breakfast, so at least that’s something.) I’ll have to find some and try it!
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I like tea best, I love the smell of coffee I just never really acquired the taste for it.
I read all kinds of genres but lately I’m into paranormals.
I have had a conversation go off kilter because of a culture difference but it was something silly and would be too much to type
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Is there a particular paranormal author or subgenre lately that’s caught your interest?
Most of my cultural divide stories are extremely silly, too… I think that’s what’s so funny to me about them, that there’s this big breakdown in communication over something really everyday and basic. =)
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Welcome to the jungle, Erica! Huge congrats on your debut release! If the book is a stand alone, I like having lots of detail. If the book is in a series, I like the details to be given over the length of the series.
I’m not a big tea drinker, unless it is iced tea with sugar. I like coffee, but only drink it a couple of days a week. I will say I really miss my McDonald’s sugar free vanilla iced coffee(gave it up for Lent) and can’t wait to have one again on Easter morning.
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Being Southern, I’d be concerned if you didn’t like SWEET ICED tea.
I think it counts as it’s own food group. And I’m with you, that’s the only way I’ll drink tea too – unless I’m sick. Then I’ll fix tea and doctor it up a little. 
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I moved to the South from the Midwest, and remember being amazed to discover that all restaurants either: a) carried both regular tea and sweet tea, or b) just carried sweet tea!
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Thanks, Liza! And, mmmm, vanilla coffee… one of my (many) weaknesses!
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Welcome Erica!
I am definately a just-give-me-the-story sort. I’ll accept more description in historical romances, but if it’s over a paragraph I’ll usually skim over it.
And re: coffee….shshsh…don’t tell your boyfriend. I don’t drink it…..except when I got out to dinner and I order it with a shot of Baileys!!!
Good luck with the book! I’d love to win a copy!
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Well, everything goes better with Bailey’s, right? LOL. I’ll keep your secret! ;-)
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When I was in Australia, I used to ask a million questions about what they were saying…..even though it’s the same language, there are different expressions.
I prefer a tell it like it is approach.
I love my mocha (but had to give it up for my diet) and usually during the winter, I’ll drink decaf tea, but I haven’t this year. It’s not been cold enough (I know, you poor East Coasters have gotten it bad this year). We had it tough last year, so I can relate!
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I was surprised how differently Australians say what I had considered to be totally normal, non-slang expressions. My Australian roommate had something different for “go shopping” and “clean up” and it always made me smile every time she said it. I’m sure she did the same when I talked!
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Hi Erica,
I drink tea but the rest of my family drinks coffee. I like some description in my historical stories. The setting is important and I appreciate the detail the author provides. There is a balance though and I do get pulled out of the story when descriptions continue on for pages with no dialogue or action.
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I agree, I prefer descriptions that are integrated with the story, rather than pages of description alone with no action or dialogue. How did you get to be the rogue tea drinker in a family of coffee drinkers?
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Give me my coffee in the moring and my tea at night. I need my coffee to help get me going in the morning but at night I like to relax with a nice cup of hot tea.
I love details in a story as long as they don’t drag on for so long I forget what the “story” is about. I want to be able to picture and see what is happening in the story but I also don’t want the story to get lost in those details. I hope that makes sence.
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Definitely makes sense! I don’t want to wonder where the characters are and what they’re doing during their conversation, either. I remember reading a story once, and suddenly the character opened a door or leaned against a tree or something of that nature, and I was like, “Wait… that’s where they are?” LOL. I had to flip back and see if I’d missed it. (I had, somehow.) It can be hard to draw the exact perfect line!
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Welcome Erica and congrats on your release !!
I love descriptions too, especially in my historical romances. I just don’t want them to distract me from my main interest : the hero, his heroine and their HEA ;-)
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“I just don’t want them to distract me from my main interest : the hero, his heroine and their HEA”
Extremely well said! That’s definitely my main focus, too. =)
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I’m sure ! It’s also part of the reason why I prefer romance over regular fiction ;-)
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Hi Erica. Congratulations on your debut release. Sounds great. I like detail in a story if it makes the story better.
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Thanks, Crystal!!
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Welcome Erica and a huge congrats on your release!!
I can’t think of any conversations that have gone off-kilter because of a cultural difference, but I have conversations that go waaaaay off-kilter all the time with my teenager. It might as well be a cultural thing and sometimes, I’m absolutely convinced, we’re speaking two different languages!
I don’t mind detail. Like others have said, if it gets to be too much, I’ll just skip over it. Writing detail, is my biggest challenge. I never know when I’ve gotten it just right and seem to constantly receive critique feedback on that. I’ve either given too much or too little. Never just right!
Oh, and I don’t drink tea (unless it’s sweet ice tea), nor do I drink coffee.
I hope it’s a great day for everyone!
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LOL re: cultural differences with a teenager. But I actually think you’re onto something there!
And what do you mean you don’t drink coffee OR tea? ;-) A friend of mine doesn’t either, but she does have a healthy Dr Pepper addiction…
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Hi Erica. Congrats on the book.
I am a give me the story kind of gal. Coffee or Tea neither.
Just give me a great big diet coke.
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Thanks! Do you drink Diet Coke first thing in the morning, or do you wait until later in the day for your caffeine kick?
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the best tea is made on the british isles – mine never tastes as good. must be the water. and i’m a dunkin donuts coffee drinker – i buy it by the pound at my local DD – not the grocery store where they overcharge big time. but back to your original question – most of my conversations are circuitous meaning they tend to meander all over the place until i get to the main point. i lose most of the riff raff on the way so only the astute get to enjoy my POV!! haha
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“i lose most of the riff raff on the way so only the astute get to enjoy my POV!! haha” – LOL!!
Do you think it’s really the water, or do you think they save the best tea leaves to be sold locally and then export the rest? (I always wonder about things like that!)
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G’morning, Erika, and welcome to the Jungle! Give me coffee! Intravenously if possible.
I can’t imagine starting a day without it.
While I don’t normally read “historicals”, sometimes one catches my eye and I have to admit, your title and cover had me scrambling to get more info. Definitely adding it to the list. I write time-travel/reincarnation paranormals so I have to walk that same fine line. How much is too much? I want to draw my reader in with vivid descriptions (and a few well-placed explanations) without bogging down the action and dialogue with narrative. Personally, I like some explanation. If I have to keep checking the dictionary, I’m going to lose interest fairly quickly. Good luck on your release!
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Amen to the intravenous coffee! LOL. I’m inhuman until I’ve had at least a cup. I agree with you about description… I don’t want to be overwhelmed with information, but nor do I want to feel completely lost. It can be tricky to find that middle ground!
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Congrats on your first book!!!!
I like books with descriptions and details, but not so much that it pushes me away from the book…
No coffee or tea, not my thing…
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Thank you!! If you’re neither a coffee nor tea person, is there a drink you do prefer? Or are you blissfully unaddicted to anything? (Is that possible?? LOL)
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Some details with some explanations but more of the story itself. I love TEA!!! Coffee but so much.
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I am trying to talk myself into loving tea… it’s a process. Are you a hot tea person? A cold tea person?
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Ericka–I’ve noo recent off-kilter cultural conversations to report (though yours was quite amusing.) I like a good bit of description in all my books–I enjoy the opportunity to learn something about locations, time periods, etc., even when I’m reading for pleasure. On beverages, it’s no contest–Coffee, coffee, coffee!!!
See, even this smiley face agrees–it’s nickname is “coffee” not “warm beverage” and certainly not “tea!” Thanks for visiting.
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LOLOLOL, even the icon is part of Team Coffee! Love it!!!
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Hi Erica,
I’ve found that there doesn’t have to be a cultural divide to find yourself in
some really off-the-wall “conversations”! Just being man and woman can
get you into some doozies! Over our almost forty-nine years as a married
couple, Honey and I have had quite a few! They almost always end with a non-related change of subject: “Oh, did you realize that we haven’t done anything about the garage door?”
As to my favorite historical romances, give me lots of description! It makes
me feel and “see” the situation and setting of the story more easily!!
Pat Cochran
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LOL, very true… I’ve probably had more conversations break down due to male/female communication differences than to cultural ones!
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Well I am a coffee person, i have to have that one cup in the mornings! I like some detail in my books without going into great detail because what I am after is the story mainly. You just got to have some detail to make the story real! Your book sounds fabulous and I would love to read it!
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Like you, I cannot function without at least one cup of coffee. I tried to give it up once and I was totally miserable. Even when I don’t need the caffeine, I totally love the smell of fresh-brewing coffee. (And am even a fan of coffee-flavored ice cream!)
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Erica, that conversation made me laugh. Thank you for sharing it. And, yes, I have had quite a few conversations that have gone off-kilter because of cultural differences – and then take a while to get back thanks to all the explanations necessary.
As for tea or coffee? I’m all about tea for drinking, though I do enjoy the smell of coffee.
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I’ve had some conversations get so off-track with the necessary side explanations that we ended up never getting back to (or forgetting altogether) the original point! LOL. But sometimes those lead to the best discussions!
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Erica your boyfriend sounds great, but alas the only cultural divide I can think of in my life is my grandmothers 1950′s idea of a wife and mother and my own 21st century mentality. LOL My husband doesn’t mind not having dinner on the table when he gets home and when I don’t have make-up on he doesn’t even notice.
I love historicals and like some description but not pages of boring details.
Good luck with your sales. What age range do you recommend for this book? I have a teenage daughter who loves just this type of book, however I am a nervous mom when it comes to too much detail.
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“My husband doesn’t mind not having dinner on the table when he gets home and when I don’t have make-up on he doesn’t even notice.” — he sounds perfect!!
Age range… considering the stuff I used to read when I was a teenager (VC Andrews, anyone?) mine is probably tame in comparison, LOL. I would definitely have loved a book like this at that age.
If you’re concerned about sensuality, you should know that the book does contain a love scene. I leave it up to you!
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Congrats on your new release!
I’d rather have coffee.
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Thank you! (And me too!!)
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Hello, Not much of a coffee or hot tea drinker, I prefer ice teas regular and flavors. As for description in books, a little goes a long way. I don’t care to be lectured at long length, it tends to get boring. But I do enjoy reading about the facts that inform the reader about certain time areas.
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What kind of ice tea flavors do you like? Pretty much the only one I’ve regularly seen is in restaurants is raspberry. Maybe I would be a bigger tea fan if I tried more flavors!
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Erica — welcome to the jungle. It’s a real pleasure to have you here. And a big, huge CONGRATUATIONS on having your first book published! What a thrill!
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Thank you!!! I am soooo excited… it still feels a little surreal at times!! =)
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Coffee, always!
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Amen! =)
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Hi Ericka! I prefer coffee from Gloria Jean coconut creme is my weakness. I like comptempary but am willing to try anything I will look for your book when I go to borders tomorrow with my coupons…lol Good luck with your new book
Donna :Irish2:
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Mmmm, coconut creme sounds delicious… I don’t think I’ve ever had it, but I’d definitely like to give it a try!
I hope you love Too Wicked To Kiss!!
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Do you prefer books with explanations and lots of detail, or are you more of a just-give-me-the-story sort? And most importantly: what’s best, tea or coffee?
it depends on the genre i guess, for me. if it’s mystery or suspense i need details of background so i know what’s going on.
if it’s only other than that. the short story will be nice
i love iced jasmine tea ! it helps when we’re in
weather !
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Excellent point! For me, too, my expectations change depending on the genre.
And jasmine tea–that’s another one I haven’t tried! I’m not even sure where to find it, but it sounds refreshing!
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I love historicals. When I’m reading anykind of book, I love a lot of descriptions, it makes me feel as if I’m there!!I can’t wait to read your book. It looks awesome. Congratulations.!!
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Thanks, Martha! I hope you enjoy Too Wicked To Kiss!!!! =)
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Thanks for being here today! Most Important I love Tea!! Hot, Cold, Black, Green, Red but mst importantly with sugar!! I love my teas!
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Weirdly, I don’t think I’ve ever tried hot tea with sugar… but I do love to add a dollop of honey! Oh, and one time I used one of those rock candy sticks… might’ve been sugar overload, but it was sure tasty!
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Erica, thanks so much for being here today! I lol’d about your convo with the b.f. How much was cultural divide and how much the sexual one? lolol! Men sure do have some strange ideas!
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Hey Les, I didn’t think to look at it from the sexual angle…definite re-read needed. LOL!!!!
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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But I get it because I’ve had many strange conversations JUST like that!
I have a lot of friends who are deaf and sometimes I’ll mention something and one friend in particular will say,”that’s not true; and I’m older than you so I know”. It’s a Deaf/hearing culture divide that can be sometimes frustrating but mostly amusing for us both
I like both tea and coffee but being from the south, there’s nothing better than a big glass of sweet ice tea
As for the books? I think I prefer the descriptions so I know for sure what’s going on, but just so long as it doesn’t take a paragraph to describe every single frikkin thing,
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Hi Erica, I’m late to the party but… have to go with tea. I don’t drink coffee, but I’m quite fond of tea.
As for the cultural “divide” um, actually, yes, sometimes. But that’s not so much the hurdle to conversations as my utter randomness and lack of attention span. :X Probably 90% of the people I talk to have told me at some point I’m crazy, and that they’re confused. I like to think of it as a gift.
Congratulations on the new book! I’ve heard great things about it :)
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And, duh – forgot about the details thing. I like enough, so I can picture the scene/setting and everything… but not so much that it becomes pedantic. I’m a picky reader
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I love descriptions in a story, it gives me a chance to visualize what is going on in the story. Coffee or tea? Neither – don’t like the taste of either one.
I’m looking forward to Too Wicked to Kiss, sounds like a great story.
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That conversation was just hilarious to read! And I actually prefer detail in books and I’m a coffee girl!
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Hi Erica,
I love descriptions they help me picture the rooms and it’s contense but the main thing still is the romance between the H/H. Congrats on your realease, it’s sounds like a great story that I would love to read.
Take care, Kirsten
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Coffee – freshly ground and brewed and served black!
I love the details. The more I hear, the more I get into the characters and the story. Just give me the story doesn’t work for me. If I don’t care for the characters, there isn’t a plot that would save the book for me.
I’ve been hearing about your book and it sounds wonderful!
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Hi Erica!
I really like the plot and setting of your new book “Too Wicked to Kiss”. I love psychic/soulmate-type books, gothic books, and sexy books set in England!
I’ve mentioned before on Plotmonkeys of how much I would love to visit England.
I’ve never had any real-life conversations go off-kilter because of a cultural divide, but I do love some words and phrases the English use, like “knickers”, “telly”, “arse”, “jumper”, “fag”, etc… Our differences are humorous!
I really hope to win your book since it looks great and I wish you luck with it!
Sandra
p.s. I prefer coffee!
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Hi Erica,
Congratulations on the release of your new book. It sounds terrific and I’m looking forward to reading it.
I like detail in books I read but not too much. If the author goes over-board with details, I tend to lose interest. So I guess I really prefer just the story and nothing but the story!