Hello hello hello! We’ve got double the troublefun visiting with us today ;). Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick! (I think both might actually be ALBTALBS first timers! Whee!) And another slightly new thing … NA. (Not my particular genre. So many … kids.) But I’ve started this book – so if anyone has already finished it feel free to discuss! 😀

And … I’m not quite sure how this keeps happening, this blog tour thing but … :X Yeah.

Why NA and not [straight] adult? What made you pick this particular genre?
Jess: Originally the idea was to have a hitman in college (DON’T LAUGH, it was my idea). Jen talked me out of it! But Jen is a NA writer and her books are awesome. And I’ve written a lot in first person before, so it seemed natural to set it in new adult vs contemporary adult. That being said, we’re SO not good with staying in the box, and I’ve had a lot of comments that it’s not very ‘new adult’ either. So it’s like a strange creature that straddles both lines?

Jen: I’m pretty juvenile? I think Jess’ voice is perfect for a New Adult book and I’ve been bugging her relentlessly to write one for me. She came up with this hitman in college idea and I was stunned by the brilliance of it that I begged her to write it. But she wouldn’t. And like a relentless stalking hero, I kept at her until she gave in. Then I rewarded her with punishing kisses.

What gave you the idea for this story/premise?
Jess: Spitballing, really! I think Jen and I were talking via email about dark heroes. And I said, well, okay, now I want to write a hitman book. And Jen was all DO IT DO IT. And I was too chicken unless she partnered with me. J

Jen: It was Jess’ idea first and then I kind of shoe horned my way in by writing the first scene from Nick’s point of view. She wanted to know more I guess but I would only tell her if she wrote some for me.

How many books do you have planned and where do you see this series going?
Jess: We knew going in that we wanted to do Daniel’s book, and Vasily. I think we’d like to do more, provided we’re not sick of them and the general reaction isn’t OMG HITMEN EW NO. Because it’s so fun to write heroes that have NO boundaries.

Jen: Three for now and then who knows. Jess was talking about a post apocalyptic book and since I’m a secret doomsday prepper at heart I think that sounds perfect.

The characters – what are Nikolai’s favorite color, favorite food, and favorite song? And Daisy’s favorite color, favorite food, and favorite song?
Jess: Since Jen is the expert on Nick, I’ll let her answer those (but my guesses would be black, Daisy, and Wagner). For Daisy, her favorite color would of course be yellow (it’s happy), her favorite song would be ‘Walking on Sunshine’ (it’s happy) and her favorite food would be EVERYTHING NEW.

Jen: Ha ha ha. Yes, Nick’s favorite thing to eat is Daisy. (Is that too racy for an interview?) Nick’s favorite color is whatever Daisy is wearing at the moment. His favorite song is whatever she is listening to. See a pattern here?

Getting to know the authors! What are your favorite color, food, and songs, Jessica and Jen?
Jess: I don’t really have a favorite color as much as I have favorite color combinations! Black and pink! Or black and teal. But never teal and pink. My favorite food is either pumpkin everything (fall) or cream cheese (every season). And I have shitty taste in music, as is evidenced by my eternal love for Ace of Base.

Jen: My favorite color is black because I have a kid and black is pretty durable even with sticky fingers and dirty hands. My favorite food is caramel. I love caramel. And my taste in music is largely influenced by my daughter. I listen to a lot of Radio Disney. It’s not very edifying. Can’t wait until she gets older and we start listening to something else.

Did you have nicknames for the characters while writing the book? (Or do they have nicknames for each other?)
Jess: Well, Daisy was ‘Polly’ for Pollyanna, originally. And I think we referred to Nick as ‘SEXY BEAUTIFUL BROKEN HITMAN’ repeatedly when we were being silly.

Jen: Our manuscript was a Google document for the longest time and we would periodically add adjectives to the title. Nick calls Daisy котенок which is kitten in Russian.

How successful do you think you would be if you were a hit[woman]?
Jess: Terrible. I’m a huge wuss and don’t even like speeding. I so could not do something illegal that involved violence. Big ol’ NOPE on this end.

Jen: I’ve fired several guns before and it is a powerful feeling and I’m fairly good at planning but when it came to pull the trigger to end someone’s life? I just don’t think I could do it.

Which character are you more like/who inspired what?
Jess: Oh jeez. I don’t know that I’m like either one. I’d say Jen is like Nikolai. Bitch is fierce and will cut a girl. Trust.

Jen: If I’m Nikolai then Jess is Daisy although based on Jess’s emails she’s a hell of a lot more knowledgeable than Daisy is, in all things.

Everyone’s favorite television show – and … go!
Jess: Um, I think everyone has guessed that by now I love reality TV. All flavors of it. If I have to pick a non-reality TV, I am currently loving It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Nick’s favorite show would probably be some true crime stuff (to pick up tips) and Daisy would probably like the Bachelor, because she is naïve like that and would probably really think it was a happy ever after.

Jen: No, Nick would love Bob Ross! And, of course, anything that Daisy would like. Although if they were watching Bachelor together, then Nikolai would be fantasizing about how best to kill all the men so that Daisy would not gaze upon any other’s form but his.

Describe the perfect day. (It can be as you, the characters, or a mix.)
Jess: For me right now? I wake up early, have two or three cups of delicious, delicious coffee, don’t get out of my jammies, write 10,000 words in my book LIKE MAGIC, lose 5 pounds overnight by doing nothing, eat pumpkin pie for dinner, and Jen calls me and says “Oh hey, we just sold ten thousand copies of our book today.” Yeah, that’d be pretty sweet.

Jen: My perfect day would be waking up and then going back to sleep. And then waking up and going back to sleep. If I didn’t have to get out of bed to go to the bathroom, all the better. Oh, and having Jess text me that we sold ten thousand copies of our book.

And because I know everyone always loves book information…

Nikolai

I have been a contract killer since I was a boy. For years I savored the fear caused by my name, the trembling at the sight of my tattoos. The stars on my knees, the marks on my fingers, the dagger in my neck, all bespoke of danger. If you saw my eyes, it was the last vision you’d have. I have ever been the hunter, never the prey. With her, I am the mark and I am ready to lie down and let her capture me. Opening my small scarred heart to her brings out my enemies. I will carry out one last hit, but if they hurt her, I will bring the world down around their ears.

Daisy

I’ve been sheltered from the outside world all my life. Homeschooled and farm-raised, I’m so naive that my best friend calls me Pollyanna. I like to believe the best in people. Nikolai is part of this new life, and he’s terrifying to me. Not because his eyes are cold or my friend warns me away from him, but because he’s the only man that has ever seen the real me beneath the awkwardness. With him, my heart is at risk..and also, my life.

A note from Jess and Jen: Last Hit will be available at the introductory price of $3.99 for the rest of 2013 as a thank you to our fans. In 2014, the book will return to the regular retail price of $4.99. And what fun would this be without a giveaway?

a Rafflecopter giveaway