If you have been a reader of the blog for a while, you no doubt are aware I am something of a fan of Jessica Bird, a.k.a. J.R. Ward. I happen to think the author is beyond cool. I was blown away by Dark Lover and still to this day am in love with that book as well as Lover Awakened. Hey… everyone has a favorite brother.
When it came time to for Lover Enshrined I thought it would be tres nifty to have her CP, the ever nifty Jessica Andersen do the interview… we got lucky (or they gave in so I would shut up), at the end of the interview you can read how YOU can get lucky *G*
Dr. Jessica Andersen, author of the newly released paranormal Nightkeepers, interviews J.R. Ward, otherwise known as the WARDen, author of the also newly released Lover Enshrined. Read on…
Hey Duckies, author Jessica Andersen here! I don’t know where you all are at, but here in the Northeastern USA it’s hot as blazes. Hello, early heat wave! In an effort to cool things down, I thought I’d keep it light today. I’m joined by my good buddy and critique partner, J.R. Ward, and we’re going to do a little quacking about her awesome new release, Lover Enshrined, the sixth book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.
Jessica Andersen: Hey JR, dude. Thanks for agreeing to do this mini-interview!
J.R. Ward: Actually, thank you for doing it!
JA: Staying on that ‘keep it light and cool’ theory, I thought we could do a ‘these are a few of my favorite things’ list… so here goes. As always in the BDB books, Lover 
Enshrined has got a ton of great zingers and one-liners among the characters. What’s your favorite line in the book, and why?
JRW: Man, there are a number of them! I think my fav is when Wrath is explaining to John Matthew that the last time Lassiter, the fallen angel, was on the planet there was a plague in central Europe. Lassiter’s response: “Okay, that was SO not my fault.”
JA: Building on that idea, what’s your favorite scene in Lover Enshrined?
JRW: Lemme think… the one with John Matthew on page 497 (I’m quoting the page to avoid a spoiler) just tore at my heart, in a good way and a bad way. I also like the one with Phury on page 492… that was just a great scene (it’s the one where he emerges from the Scribe Virgin’s private quarters.) That one also leads up to my favorite line in the book: “He finally felt like the hero he had always wanted to be.” But my absolute favorite scene… was the one at the end when Z comes to Phury, with the Brotherhood. Got me all teary when I wrote it to be honest. It was so great to see the twins reunited and the Brothers all together… and yeah, that’s my fav.
JA: Thinking of the series as a whole, which of the book covers is your favorite, and why?
JRW: You know, I like them all but I think Dark Lover is my favorite. I love the red and the black, plus it was the first one and set the standard for them all. So, yeah, have to go with the king on that one!
JA: Okay, shifting the topic slightly, what’s the funniest thing a fan ever asked you, either online or during a public appearance?
JRW: Actually, I’d have to say it wasn’t a question, but how a question was raised. This lovely woman who always attends the Cincinnati signings, lifted her hand up to her face, putting it on her forehead (to indicate she had something to ask). The thing was, she had her fingers orientated so that it put a loser sign on her forehead as she looked up at me. I busted out laughing and was like, are you losering me at my own signing?! Of course everyone cracked up- she 
handled it very well, though. And she’s still coming to the signings!
JA: What was your favorite song (or songs) to listen to while you were writing Phury? Did you mainline the opera, or was the soundtrack straight up ZeroSum fare, or…?
JRW: Huh… well, I listened to opera a lot, yes. But as always there was rap and hip hop in my ears while I ran during the writing of the book. And when I run I plan a lot so even Phury was touched by the likes of Fifty and Pac and Kanye and Lil Jon and Jay-Z…
JA: When you’re treating yourself, what’s the treat? Chocolate? Massage? White water rafting?
JRW: Right now? Breyers vanilla and coffee ice cream!
JA: And now for the lightning round… please answer the following with a word or phrase only, no explanations:
Favorite DVD? “The Office”, any season
Favorite guilty pleasure on TV? “Flavor of Love”, any season
Favorite guilty pleasure in the fridge? Ice cream, see above
Favorite word for the Chicago Manual of Style? Okay that’s a trick question! LOLOLOL geeee I’d have to go with c***sucker.
JA: And finally, what is your favorite recent release about the Mayan 2012 doomsday and the men and women who are bound to protect us from the apocalypse?
JRW: OMG, it’s totally Nightkeepers by Jessica Andersen! Have you ever heard of her? Fabulous writer, wicked sense of humor… and excels at fondue. You.are.welcome.
JA: And there you have it, Duckies! Straight from the WARDen herself, a little light fun on a hot day.
Loved LEn and love those questions and answers Doc Jess and J.R.!
Hey WARDen!!!
i absolutely love the BDB series…and i really like Phury and Cormias story…and i just wanted to say that you are an amazing author!!! 😀
i have a question that i have been wanting to ask you since LEn came out…
so i must say that i wasnt much of a fan of Rehv…but after reading LEn… i am hooked on him and i can’t wait for his story…what i want to know is will we see him acting as Uncle Rehv to Nalla in his book? will we get to see his soft side when hes with her?
I LOVED LE. the twins have always been my favorite but I must say that John is right there with them.
I have 2 question which i am sure you have already answered numerous times.
Which brother/book is your favorite? ( i know its like picking your favorite child and you should never favor one child over the other but you know it happens anyway 🙂 )
And who’s book are you most looking forward to writing next?
I LOVE the books and can’t wait for the next one so please keep them coming.
I had to ask when or if I was getting my mitts on the Compendium soon. And YAY! But until I do….
What should we expect from it? Did you do all the writing for it? If I recall correctly… didn’t you say something about a novella or so in it? 🙂
AND can you tell us a lil about January’s book? I know it is hardcover and about my current favorite pimp (cuz omg there are so many romantic hero’s that are pimps you know *eg*). But… anything else? throw us a bone….
Another thing I have been wondering is you seem to be moving more and more from Paranormal Romance toward Urban Fiction. Is that something that surprised you or you knew along would happen?
Lovely interview ladies. I have a question for JR and that is
How and why did you decide to add the ‘h’ into the names? I know a lot of people seem to find it irritating but I personally find it more intriguing and have wondered why and how 😀
J.R.
Absolutely my favorite series!
I loved the scene between Qhuinn & Blaylock when he told Blaylock how he felt about him and the “you know what” happened. It made me cry.
I’ve always thought it must be hard on an author when it takes you months and months to write a book and the readers devour it in hours and start demanding more! But, that won’t stop me from saying I’m ready for the next one!
Best wishes!
Hi from far away:-).
My favorite books of the series are the first 3, I really LOVE them(and they are very worn of all my repeated reading:-). Lover enshrined was good(actually I liked the scenes between JM and Cormia, lol) and I cannot wait for the next book(s)!!!
Hey WARDen! GREAT job with Phury’s story. Thank you for curing my withdrawal from the brotherhood for about a week *grin*. Then again, I keep re-reading them all any way so never a true withdrawal. This is truly the best storyline ever. Phury has always held a special place in my heart too, so reading his story was worth waiting for. Rock on sister and keep our Brotherhood’s story coming!
From the wilds of Maine where your books help me endure the wretched winters 🙂
Hey JR….fun interview!!
The Lassiter quote was funny but I loved Butch’s Coppertone line as well. Butch gets all the best one liners!!
Loved LEn…can’t wait for the compendium. And Doc Jess…I’ve got Nightkeepers on it’s way…if FedEx can ever get their act together and find my house! LOL!!
Thanks much to both of you!
I just love all your books, WARDen, but I think I might have to buy stock in Kleenex and an Xlrg freezer or an ice machine…MAN!! They keep getting better, but Z is my boy. Love that male =)
DocJess..WoW!!! NightKeepers was Awesome!!!! Cant wait for the next one, I just added it to my amazon pre-order list with the WARDen’s Compendium =)
thank you Warden for your book i must say that i do like them but my favorite was the first three
i have a question for you : why is there a glossary infront of the book and nothing on the acronyms that you use in the book?
cuz for a french speaking person for whom english is a second language those acronyms are sometimes tricky is all am saying,
feel me
Hi! First of all, thank you to Sybil and all the folks here at The Good The Bad and The Unread for having me. I always have such a great time and Doc Jess and I had a BLAST doing this interview!
Becky Jean- The vampire culture doesn’t have ‘God-parents’ so to speak but yes, I guess you could say that Phury and Cormia are the equivalent. As for the other questions? *clears throat* KEEEEEEEEEEEEEP REEEEEEEEEEEEADING! 😉
((((CC)))) Thank you so much, Baby Girl!
RubyRed- JM is going to be SO worth the wait! Trust. Me. MUAH!
Ivette- Right now the series is open-ended and God-willing there will be many more stories to come!
Hi Jens! Qhuinn has got a lot of stuff to do before he gets his own story so KEEEEEEEEEP REEEEEEEEEADING!
Man, You guys have gotten TWO already! LOLOLOL
Hello ladies!
I finished Lover Enshrined Thursday night and I’m still trying to process the events and moments of this incredible book. I love the Brothers and this series is my absolute favorite. I would save these books from a fire! (After I grabbed the hubby of course)
I’m in the process of reading The Night Keepers and I’m super excited about how much I’m loving it! Kudos Doc Jess 😉
Just comments from me…with lots and lots of love…and thanks of course!
Cye
Just have to say I love these guys and hope they never stop talking to you!
Give V a big hug for me!
Catherine
Hi Warden, love the interview and of course I LOVE the books. I have pimped the brother so many times all my friends keep calling me asking me if I’m done yet and when can we all get together to dish about the book. “Of course I’m done!! We can dish anytime.”
I have read this entire series FOUR times, waiting for Phury!
I finished his book in one night – as with all of your books!
Yes…I’m a hopeless addict!
My question here is just how far is NY allowing you to take this series?
Eternity would be nice, *wink* but thats not always how they play.
And second question, or rather a plea! – PLEASE don’t let these characters fall into the hands of television production without FULL control! I couldn’t handle the devastation!!! *weeping*
Thank you so much for this wonderful world of the Brotherhood. I really enjoyed LEn even more than I anticipated. I love the brotherhood but Phury has never been one of my favorites. I still don’t love him, but I really appreciate the way this story unfolded and his oh, so importance to evolving world of the BDB. Now I’m really looking forward to learning more about the smpath society. Please keep them coming…. every book just adds to my admiration expotentially. After reading each book I love the BDB more whether the main characters are my favorites, or not. Each book advances the story and for that I am grateful! Thank you, again for sharing this wonderful world with us.
I can only say (outside of it being a nice interview :)) that I enjoy the series very much – keeps improving with each book.
Hey, Warden, great interview as usual 🙂 LOved Phury, JM/Blay/Qhuinn (OH, especially Blay and Qhuinn!!!!) Also can’t get enough of Rehv. Thanks for the tip on the Nightkeepers series, always looking for something new!
Soooo…I’ll probably get a KR on this, but I was wondering, now that you’ve revealed Rehvs mate’s identity, can you tell us if she has any sympath blood, or is she pure vampire?
Thanks so much!
I love your books, you’re a great writer. Keep up the good work… Can’t wait for the next fix…LOL I’m an addicted to your books.
I have a really big Vampire fettish and these books help my addiction. They are so real I get lost in the books and then when I’m done, I’m left wanting more. The last book, LEn, was so action packed and so much happening, it was AWESOME! Thank you so much for helping me to support my habit. ^_^
Man I so anticapting Rhevenge now. 11 months to go. And are you releasing the Cermony in book form? Would so love a copy 🙂
(((((Joie_De_Vivre Linda K SarahT & ToLee)))) Thank you so much and I’m so glad you liked Phury!
songlessrobin- I LOVE The Office! I swear I could watch that show for hours and hours on end!
I love all the Brothers, but I have to say that I will always hold a very special place in my heart for Zsadist.
Sara- KEEEEEEEEEEEEEP REEEEEEEADING on that! 😉
Vicki- Nightkeepers is AWESOME! You’re gonna love it!
I LOVE THE BOOKS, I just finished Lover Enshrined and cant wait for Rhevs book. I loved all the things in the book ,but i can’t wait to see if Butch gets to take Lash out.
keep up the Great work
Just a tidbit, “Dark Lover” caught my eye one day. After I finished it I ran out and bought the next three, Vishous came out soon after. I let one of my co-worker read an excerpt from LE and she was hooked. She read DL and it was passed on to another co-worker, then another, then another, took off like wild fire. The BDB is all the buzz on the floor I work on at our local Hospital. I thought it was cool that I could share my addiction for these books with the girls at work. Oh, bye the way, I absolutely loved LEn. YOU ROCK!!!!!
Hey WARDen!! I was very pleased with LEn. And I can’t wait to meet you tomorrow!!
I love the series and am looking forward to LEn as soon as my brat of a sister finishes with it. Hadn’t heard of the Nightkeepers, but will definitely look the series up.
BTW Jessica Anderson: Suzanne Brockmann was raving about your book on her BB. : )
JR, as I have said before, I loved Lover Enshrined. I was wondering about the logistics of the Chosen being on This Side: who do they feed from? Or do they just pop back to the Other Side and get replenished?
Also, as Phury gets to know them individually, is he becoming good friends with them, confidantes and buddies, or is he maintaining some distance? I love the idea of him as a big brother to them, someone who will love them, protect them, and want what is best for them.
And Doc Jess, you know this already ’cause I’m on your message board, but Nightkeepers was awesome! Can’t wait for Dawnkeepers. 😀
P.S: WARDen, thanks for spilling the beans on Rehv’s mate. Can we get an itty bitty tidbit, like her favorite hobby or if she already has her eye on a certain amethyst-eyed male? 😀
*waves* Hi WARDen!!! Hi DocJess!!!
This is for both of you. Do you guys have a favorite HEA that you gauge all current- and to-be-written-HEAs against? And if so, whose HEA is it?
WARDen – you know I’ve got mad love for ya. Thank you for the gift that is LEn.
DocJess – I quite literally finished NK this very moment. OMGGGGGGGG!!!! Fast-paced, heart-wrenching, with a karmically-balanced ending… I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED IT!!! Can’t wait for the next installment!
Okay, I’ll admit this. I was a Jessica Andersen fan first. I have read all of her Intrigues. When I read that she was coming out with a single title Night Keepers I new I had to get it. I’m reading it now and enjoying it very much.
So I did a little more re-search on Jessica Andersen and found out that she and Jessica Bird/JR Ward were CP. So then I became interested in Jessica Bird/JR Ward. I bought Dark Lover it’s in my TBR file and I’ve also found two of Jessica’s SSE’s. Her very first one and her last one.
I would like to know how did you two meet. Is there a site where fans could find both of you together?
Love, love, loved the book!!!!
Wrath blew my mind. He is the greatest. Loved The Boys and Cormia!
Their growth and changes in the book were great.
I love the Brotherhood – is there really much else to say?
But I must admit that Vishous is by far my favorite!
For all those that are asking about the Compendium, it’s coming out in October of this year. It’s filled with all new interviews with the Brothers, a short *cough*124 page*cough* story wit Z, Bella, and Nalla, dossiers on all the Brothers, and much more! I really hope readers enjoy it!
It’s my JM! (((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))) So glad you stopped by!
Lorraine- I wouldn’t leave you hanging! There’s actually a glossary of abbreviations in the Compendium.
Lora- Rehv is coming out in May of 2009. Unfortunately I won’t be out in San Fran this year for RWA because I suck and won’t get on a plane. 🙁 But I hopefully will be attending RWA next year!
Cindy- JM, Qhuinn, and Blay are just transitioned so they are in their mid twenties? As for the other two questions- KEEEEEEEEP REEEEEEEEADING!
I figured on that but thought maybe there could be a hint 😉
The line when Z tells Phury “Get off the cross someone else needs the wood.
I thought that just about summed up how low Phury had sunk. He was bottoming and didn’t know it. Phury had become whiny and self-pitying and poor me.
In the end JR salvaged this twin and made me love him, because he had truly become the hero that he had always been and was meant to be.
Did I mention I loved this book?
Especially, Qhuinn/Blaylock, JM/Xhex. I can’t wait to read about Rehv and his HEA. I am looking forward to more on the symphath and on Lassiter and how he fits in with the Brothers.
My question is can we expect to see any births for any of the other brothers? I’d love to see the King with his young.
Keep Writing and I’ll Keep Reading.
Hi WARDen!
Again another wonderful interview! Props for creating one of the BEST paranormal series I have ever had the pleasure to read!
My question: Are you planning any signing dates in Canada for the near future? You have a ton of fans north of the border as well!!
And to Doc Jess, Nightkeepers is next on my list of TBR!!
Thanks again WARDen!
Love, love, love the series. Loved, loved, loved, LEn.
That’s all and thanks for sharing your stories with us all!
I read LE in two days, it could easily have been in one, but had to do some fam stuff. The problem was I knew I would be sad when it was finished. It’s like a drug, my very own little wizard dude, walking in my head, telling me, you’ll be sorry if you finish it too soon, but you can’t put it down, now can you.
Truly, I love them all. Loved what you did with this book as well. So many things happened to lead to so many more things coming.
It occured to me, although Lash is what Lash is, there is still the little part of him, that feels. It’s small, but it’s there. Makes me wonder, what will happen with that. And when he and John really confront each other, what will he feel?
Can’t wait to see you in SF!
Hi all!
This interview was funny!
I’m still waiting to read Phury (Itay is sooo far away)!
I’m curious about Jessica’s book, I think I’ll read it!
Byeeeeee
Hi J.R.! LOVE the BDB – it’s my favorite books series EVER! I’m partway through LEn – and my question is: Do we find out WHAT the symbols on the door that Quinn sees when he’s in the Fade mean?
Again, I can’t write enough compliments about this series – they have taken on a life of their own for me and I have “shared” the BDB with everyone I know!
Is John Matthew really Darius reincarnated?
serious? Did that get pushed back or did I dream it was being released in January? Too many books…. I tells yah.
I WANT. And who the hell is his mate? I haven’t made it off the blog this month. A guest or more a day is a bitch on the blog hopping.
Milena and Susan- Thanks for maybe checking out NK! There’s more info and an excerpt here at TGTBATU, and more on my website. Hope you’ll give it a try and let me now what you think!
Christy- hi back atcha!
Droushie, Cye and CourtneyLee- thanking you kindly for the props!
Courtney Caroll- Suz rocks. She’s been an inspiration to me for a long time, and it was a total moment when she finished NIGHTKEEPERS and had a fangirl moment directed at me. It was like backwards world or something… but in a very cool way!
Ventrue- thanks for loving it! And karmic balance is a great phrase. Hmmm… I can’t say I’ve got a favorite HEA, as I’m not a big one for re-reading, and I’m really easy when it comes to movie HEAs. I think for me what I strive for is the lift in my belly and the creepy-crawling goosebumps I get when I read (or write) an HEA that really works on a visceral level.
Greta- Hey! The WARDen and I will occasionally do stuff together (like this). We’ve got a dual chat coming up, I’ll post the deets over at my site tomorrow; they may already be up over at hers, not sure. Thanks for asking!
Hey!!Just wanted to say Hi again. Didnt we just do this yesterday????
Loved LEn, cant wait for compendium, will all the brothers be in it?????
Doc Jess…Enjoyed your book very much cant wait for more
Stay cool!!
Kath
So of course like most bibliophiles i stayed up until the wee hours finishing the latest fab book. So i’m too exhausted to write lol. But i have to tell you….READ IT, READ THEM ALL!!!!!
speaking of brockmann anyone here beside me read Into the Fire yet… it is my first Troubleshooters book and I gots questions.
Hats off to you Warden! I’m not a person that reads a whole lot, but when I read Dark Lover, it totally made me want to read more and more. I absolutely love your books, especially LAw & LEn. The twins are my favorites. You inspire me to keep reading. One thing that’s been eating at me though is what did Qhuinn see at the Door!!! Thank you and keep these great books coming.
OMG, I’m LOVING all these live chats, and the interaction b/w JR and Doc Jess is terrific!
Question to the WARDen: Is there any chance of you ever being close to Louisiana for a signing? Cause, straight up, getting the chance to meet you would be killer!
Now, BDB question: How many bedrooms are there at the mansion? LOL! It’s just, a post at the Cell got me, and others, thinking, what with all the peeps living there now. Although, I’m positive that makes Fritz extremely happy! ((((Fritz))))
And,
How many hours a day do you actually devote to writing? I can’t imagine how busy your days must be!
Thanks!
Robin
J.R. (WARDen)-
Love all the hype going on – so well deserved for this series because I remember a time when it wasn’t so. Now I have all my friends reading the BDB.
The new boys coming up have finally become more real to me, so I can’t wait for each and every one of their stories too.
My question would be now that the BDB is so popular will we be seeing the rest of the Jessica Bird books anytime soon? Especially for those off times when were trying to patiently wait for the BDB to release. ((*U*))
Keep doing that thing you do so well.
Hugs
Lauriekap