Giveaways Guest Review Joint Review Smuggler Specialties Watchmen Weekend

Watchmen Weekend: She Said/She Said by Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittredge

Our wonderful, pimptastic, official Honorary Smuggler Karen Mahoney strikes again! When we decided to have this Watchmen Weekend, Karen mentioned that two of her fellow writers, fellow Deadline Dame Jackie Kessler and way-popular Urban Fantasy author Caitlin Kittredge, have an upcoming book about superheroes called Black and White and that they would most likely be down with doing a guest blog.

Naturally, we jumped at the opportunity and were ecstatic when both Jackie and Caitlin agreed! Since the book is written from two different characters’ points of view (with Jackie writing the superhero character and Caitlin writing the supervillain), for their guest post we Smugglers decided to ask the two main characters of Black and White a few questions.

What’s more is, Jackie and Caitlin have graciously offered to give away an ARC for Black and White! Details follow at the end of the post.

Ladies and gents, we proudly give you…

She Said/She Said, Superhero-Style
By Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittredge

In June 2009, a new book hits the shelves: BLACK AND WHITE. Once best friends at an elite superhero training academy, Iridium and Jet are now mortal enemies. Jet is a by-the-book hero, using her Shadow power to protect the citizens of New Chicago. Iridium, with her mastery of Light, runs the city’s underworld. For years the two have played a dangerous game of cat and mouse. But now playtime’s over. A looming evil threatens both them and the world they share. As Jet works with a “normal” man who has an extraordinary ability to make her weak in the knees, Iridium teams with a mysterious vigilante called Taser. Both Jet and Iridium are convinced that the other woman is the key to a catastrophe of apocalyptic proportions. And one of them is right.

Forget the old formula of hero versus villain, because in a world where both the bad guys and the good guys are cloaked in shades of gray, nothing is as simple as…BLACK AND WHITE.

Jackie Kessler writes in the POV of Jet; Caitlin Kittredge writes in the POV of Iridium. Yes, Jackie is the tortured hero, and Caitlin is the evil genius. Guess who gets all the great lines?

And now, Jet and Iridium answer your burning questions.

THE BOOK SMUGGLERS: What makes a Villain or a Hero – Why do you do the things you do?

JET: All extrahumans train diligently at the Academy from the time they are twelve. And that’s after receiving an excellent Corp-sponsored education that provides the basics on heroing, right and wrong, the ethics of power, and branding. Not everyone is cut out to become a Squadron soldier, of course. But all extrahumans give their best to protect the citizens of New Chicago and the world. Duty first. Always.

IRIDIUM: Yes, she really speaks like that in public. Sad, isn’t it?

JET: [SNIFFS] Instead of criticizing me, why don’t you answer the question? Why are you a villain, Iri?

IRIDIUM: Listen, the world isn’t going to do you any favors. People don’t want heroes, not really. They only have extrahumans to look up to so that they have someone to tear down later on. My father taught me that.

JET: Along with how to pick locks.

IRIDIUM: And he also taught me that sometimes the world doesn’t need heroes at all. It needs villains.

JET: [SIGHS] I wouldn’t expect anything else from someone who cheated in the ethics classes.

IRIDIUM: [GRINS] The ones I didn’t ditch, anyway. Advanced Weaponry was my class.

THE BOOK SMUGGLERS: Vigilantes – Use ’em or lose ’em?

JET: Lose them. Any extrahuman who doesn’t follow the strict codes of Corp-Co doesn’t deserve the mask she wears. Operating outside of the law means breaking the law. And that’s inexcusable.

IRIDIUM: Some people don’t sleep with a code of conduct under their pillow, Jetster.

JET: The law is the law for a reason, Iri. Without it, we’d have anarchy.

IRIDIUM: A little anarchy is healthy. And fun!

THE BOOK SMUGGLERS: Values – The Greater Good vs. Moral Righteousness: which prevails?

JET: I don’t understand the question.

IRIDIUM: [ROLLS EYES] That’s because you’re a hard-wired do-gooder. The question is, do you kill a few, even innocents, to make the world a better place?

JET: Of course not! You can’t kill people — innocent or guilty! What sort of question is that?

IRIDIUM: One that a puppet like you couldn’t begin to understand. Sometimes, the ends justifies the means.

JET: Don’t go quoting Machiavelli at me. It’s not about ends and means. It’s about right and wrong. Killing is wrong.

IRIDIUM: You never could see the big picture. But then considering you’re not trained to think for yourself, I’m not surprised.

JET: You should hear what I’m thinking right now.

THE BOOK SMUGGLERS: Costumes – Who has the better wardrobe? Villains or Heroes?

JET: In terms of style? Villains. In terms of practicality? Heroes.

IRIDIUM: I’ve got a one-word answer for this one: me. I mean, look at me.


THE BOOK SMUGGLERS: The Love Life – Who gets more action? Villains or Heroes?

JET: [SIGHS] Who has time for a love life?

IRIDIUM: [SIGHS] Who has time for a love life?

THE BOOK SMUGGLERS: What do super villains and heroes do when they’re not destroying/saving the world?

JET: When I have down time, I like to curl up in my favorite rocking chair and read romance novels. It’s nice to read stories where love conquers all and there’s always a happily ever after. Real life so rarely ends well.

IRIDIUM: I catch up on my favorite cryptozoology reality show, Mysterious Chicago. Sewer mutants and monsters in Lake Michigan. Can you stand it?

JET: Sewer mutants? Really, Iri.

IRIDIUM: Hey, you never know.

THE BOOK SMUGGLERS: Jet, would you date a villain? Iridium, would you date a hero?

JET: Light, no. The whole “attracted to the bad boys” thing? Ludicrous.

IRIDIUM: Would, and did. Been there, done that.

JET: Seriously? Who?

IRIDIUM: [GRINS] I don’t kiss and tell.

JET: Not unless there’s a profit in it…

Jackie Kessler is the paranormal author of the Hell on Earth series. You can visit Jackie online at the Deadline Dames or at her website and blog.

Caitlin Kittredge is the dark fantasy author of the Nocturne City series and the upcoming Black London Adventures. You can visit Caitlin online at Fangs, Fur and Fey, The League of Reluctant Adults, or at her website.

A big THANK YOU again to Jet and Iri (and Jackie and Caitlin)! We cannot wait for Black and White, out this June.

Giveaway Details

Jackie and Caitlin have generously offered ONE ARC – Advanced Reading Copy – of their upcoming book, Black and White! In order to enter, all you need do is leave a comment here answering this question: Superhero or Supervillain — which would YOU rather be?

The contest will run until Sunday March 8 at 12 noon PST. We will randomly select and announce the lucky winner then. Good luck!

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51 Comments

  • Karen Mahoney
    March 6, 2009 at 3:18 am

    AWESOME post, ladies. 🙂

    And great pics, too – good job on that, my Book Smuggling friends.

    (Much as I want to win this ARC, don’t enter me for the contest. I just wanted to say ‘hi’! And let you know my new web address, which should include my blog as well now. *g*)

    *runs back to work*
    *ninja*

  • Jackie Kessler - Insert Witty Title Here
    March 6, 2009 at 4:18 am

    […] of BLACK AND WHITE? Come to The Book Smugglers today and read Caitlin’s and my guest post: http://thebooksmugglers.com/2009/03/watchmen-weekend-she-said-she-said-jackie-kessler-caitlin-kittre…. You get to meet the stars of the novel, Jet and Iridium, as they answer questions about what it is […]

  • Christina Cross
    March 6, 2009 at 5:18 am

    What a great interview!! Superhero or Supervillain, hmmmmmm, hard question. Supervillains get to have more fun, break the rules, and have all the same great superpowers. Heroes while being generally looked up to, have to always think about how what they are doing effects others, the greater good, etc.

    Yep, gotta go with Villain!!! And I think they have better outfits too. Better fashion sense FTW. :mrgreen:

  • MarnieColette
    March 6, 2009 at 6:10 am

    Great interview. It is a tough question on Superhero or Super villain. I would go with a Villain because you can be all nasty but people can deal with a softer you if you want. A hero has to always be a hero!

  • Rinda Elliott
    March 6, 2009 at 6:10 am

    It is a hard question. Supervillains have less to worry about, more time for fun. Superheroes would have all that responsibility to save. Everyone. At least I would as one. I want to say supervillain, but I have trouble killing spiders, so I have to go with superhero.

  • Christine Moore
    March 6, 2009 at 6:41 am

    Super villain for sure! There are no rules! You can be as bad as you wanna be!

  • Maya M.
    March 6, 2009 at 7:00 am

    *snerk*
    I’ve been visiting the Deadline Dames blog for a little while now, and never even realized what that black and white icon I kept seeing was all about! Maybe I missed the post that explained what all the Dames were currently working on? Maybe the Dames are inherently modest and didn’t tout their own supervillainous horns?

    Whatver the case: FAB, FAB, FAB concept. Unlike the Smugglers (hee!) I loved the dual protagonist storytelling in ‘Melusine’, so the idea of seeing something like that again makes me happy. 😀

  • Julie D
    March 6, 2009 at 7:22 am

    I think I’d be a Super villan. They just have that much more fun 😉

  • azteclady
    March 6, 2009 at 7:39 am

    Oh man this is GREAT!!!! wow! Me, want! 😀

    Let me see… superhero or supervillain?

    My first–and obvious–answer is “hero” but if the big picture is beyond them, where’s the conflict? *thinking Dark Knight here*

    So I’ll be the very reluctant supervillain who saves the world 😀

    What? The rules don’t say I can’t! *pout*

  • azteclady
    March 6, 2009 at 7:41 am

    Oh and hi, Ms Kessler! *waving*

  • Ruth
    March 6, 2009 at 8:01 am

    I am such a goody-goody girl that I would need to be the hero. I can guilt myself so easily that I would be in a permanment depression as a villian.

  • Ana
    March 6, 2009 at 8:04 am

    I am loving reading everyone’s comments! Keep them coming!

    I think I would have to be a Superhero too, only because I couldn’t live with the guilt. But I would always envy the superfun the supervillains seem to have.

  • Teresa W.
    March 6, 2009 at 8:09 am

    I’d rather be a super hero, to try to get rid of the bad stuff in the world.

  • Susan G.
    March 6, 2009 at 8:34 am

    My first response is Supervillain, but I know I would be horrible at it, so…*sigh*… I would be a Superhero (who envies supervillains).

    Jackie – you rock (Daunuan is my favorite)! Caitlin – I just started your series, only 1/2 way through, but so far I’m liking it!

  • Links, and TGIF
    March 6, 2009 at 8:45 am

    […] Book Smugglers interview Jackie Kessler and I (well, our characters) about Black & […]

  • shannon martinez
    March 6, 2009 at 8:53 am

    super villan…conflicted of course but the bad stuff is so much fun!

  • Dan
    March 6, 2009 at 9:15 am

    I’ll go with superhero.
    Although having a power to influence random number generators would be pretty tempting, probably more on the villain side of things.

  • Zee
    March 6, 2009 at 9:49 am

    Supervillain, for sure. Better lines and clothes? Case closed.

    This book sounds awesome. I’ll have to check out some of the other works by the authors; I like their style!

  • Tiah
    March 6, 2009 at 10:13 am

    I’m loving these interviews with the book character’s!

    I would choose super villain. Coming from a family of law enforcement, it would be a refreshing change of pace for me! he he he

  • Donna S
    March 6, 2009 at 11:16 am

    Great pics and it sounds like its going to be a great book. I would pick superhero.

  • Caitlin F
    March 6, 2009 at 11:49 am

    Supervillain, definitely. Superheroes are too clean-cut most of the time, the villains are often more morally gray, and that’s very appealing. 😀

  • Megan
    March 6, 2009 at 11:53 am

    Supervillain. They’re not bogged down by rules or laws and it’s not like they die when the super heroes capture them, that’s against hero rules. So they have the opportunity to escape prison and continue with their very free lifestyle. Lol. Definitely Supervillain.

  • Toni
    March 6, 2009 at 12:08 pm

    Supervillian, of course! Good girls (and guys) always finish last….

  • Natasha A.
    March 6, 2009 at 12:19 pm

    This sounds like a most awesome book and I am so going to have to look for it!

    I would be a superhero….cause that is just how I roll 🙂

  • Hope
    March 6, 2009 at 12:23 pm

    Supervillain. Supervillains have more fun! 😈

  • Jackie Kessler
    March 6, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    Hi, everyone!

    So you know how Caitlin and I chose which POV to write, don’t you? For Caitlin’s first solo series, her main character is a cop werewolf, and for my solo series, the main character is a demon. We both thought it would be fun if Caitlin got to write the “bad gal” POV for a change and for me to write the by-the-book “good gal” POV. Heh.

    So…just saw WATCHMEN. 🙂

  • Ashley Madden
    March 6, 2009 at 12:59 pm

    I’d be a superhero. A supervillain might have more fun, but I couldn’t hurt people or anything like that. I hate conflict, so I’d try to stop it. So a superhero would be a better fit 🙂

  • Cari Quinn
    March 6, 2009 at 1:17 pm

    Great interview! Is there any choice, really? I’d rather be a Super-Villain. Super-Villains get all the best lines. 😉

  • Danielle
    March 6, 2009 at 1:44 pm

    Awesome post. I love the Hell On Earth series, Jackie!!

    SIGN ME UP, BABY!

  • Karin
    March 6, 2009 at 2:14 pm

    I would much rather be a superhero. While superheroes have a ton of responsibility because of their abilities, I’d rather have that than a guilty conscience because of villainy, though I doubt many supervillains feel guilty about their actions. 😉

  • Melissa
    March 6, 2009 at 3:53 pm

    SuperVILLIAN, hands down. Evil genius, no conscience, no responsibilities – and bad girls always have the BEST costumes!

  • Aymless
    March 6, 2009 at 6:39 pm

    SuperVILLIAN because I want minions!!! You know the ruler of all that I see! Muuuuhaaahaaa

    Superheros just don’t have those minions, just side-kicks.

    And besides, minions are dime a dozen and side-kicks have that annoying tendency of going out and set up shop for themselves.

  • bridget3420
    March 6, 2009 at 8:13 pm

    I’d definitely be a superhero.

    :mrgreen:

  • KMont
    March 7, 2009 at 6:53 am

    Jackie, did you enjoy WATCHMEN? Hubbster and I see it this afternoon and I am SO excited. 😀

    Your’s and Caitlin’s book sounds very interesting. I haven’t read a graphic novel in so long – I think I’m missing out. 😉

    As for the contest Q, I know I just appeared as Towel Girl yesterday, ready to kick some evil butt, but I think I’d like to portray a villain too. Not sure why unless it’s simply my inherently evil nature. I get told all the time how mean I am, lol – so why not channel that into a villain? 😀 Just imagine all that angsty angst built up from years of being preached to about being baaaaaaad.

  • RachaelfromNJ
    March 7, 2009 at 8:35 am

    Hi Jackie and Caitlin!
    OMG I want to read this book so bad!! It sounds so awesome!! Hmm I would want to be a super hero because I would love to wear the cute little red tights and super hero outfit that comes along with being one. It’s also nice to help people who are in trouble. 🙂

  • Paula
    March 7, 2009 at 8:54 am

    That was fun to read, thanks!

    I’m not quite supervillain material, so I’d be a vigilante superhero.

  • edifanob
    March 7, 2009 at 11:13 am

    Great interview.
    Superhero or Supervillain? First thought that came up in my mind: THE DARK KNIGHT. Is Batman a Superhero or not?
    Anyway I would be a Supervillain because the world isn’t black and white. That means also a Supervillain can save the world by doing evil things.

  • carolyn jean
    March 7, 2009 at 11:44 am

    Super cool interview! How perfect for this special weekend. I’m not entering, Not that I don’t think the book sounds cool, but my TBR pile is too high to R an ARC before the release.

  • Lethe
    March 7, 2009 at 12:06 pm

    How about a villainous superhero? Or a heroic supervillian? If you have split personality then you could be both! No? Hmmmm…I guess I’d go with superhero then. Because then people love you ^_^

  • Cate Masters
    March 7, 2009 at 12:39 pm

    Wow, it’s about time we had a female superhero (and super villain!) Can’t wait to read it! And the dark side always seems to have more fun, for some reason. Maybe because perfect and good so often equate to boring? Hmm, maybe it’s time to break that stereotype too! Best of luck with the release, Jackie and Caitlyn!

  • I heart book gossip
    March 7, 2009 at 2:28 pm

    Superhero baby. I’d save the world ina blink of an eye.

  • Anita Yancey
    March 7, 2009 at 6:21 pm

    I’d rather be a Superhero. It would be so much fun helping people. Thanks for having this giveaway.

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

  • Nicole H.
    March 7, 2009 at 6:35 pm

    Supervillian. They’re always so cool.

  • Kate A
    March 7, 2009 at 10:30 pm

    Super villain or super hero? Either way you end up being super so i wouldn’t care all that much:D

    …But if i had to choose i think i’d go with hero. They’re almost always more memorable to me than the villain…Of course the villain does have more fun

    Do I have to choose?

  • Renee
    March 7, 2009 at 10:52 pm

    I can’t wait for this release!
    While I think it would be much more fun to be a supervillain, I would be a superhero.
    Thanks for the great interview. 🙂

  • Sue
    March 8, 2009 at 7:22 am

    Oh! Sounds awesome! I would rather be a supervillian! Superheroes need supervillians to keep them on their toes. Besides, it is so fun to try to defeat the superheroes.

  • Lori T
    March 8, 2009 at 11:30 am

    Great interview!

    I think that I would have to go with the supervillian too. They seem to have more fun and obviously better outfits and lines. I think that the superhero has to spend too much time worry about the choices they make and the image they present.

  • Christine
    March 14, 2009 at 1:03 pm

    I loved this interview and can’t wait to read the book! It sounds really fantastic.

    I know I’m beyond late for the contest, but I thought I may as well answer that I’d be the superhero due to my strong conscience to always try to do the absolute right thing. But I’d secretly long to be the cool supervillain. Yeah… it would totally drive me to therapy, I think.

  • Morganne
    July 16, 2009 at 6:22 pm

    I want to be a super villan with moral issues who ends up saving the world. That way i get awesome lines, an awesome costume, and I save the world too!!! 😈

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    November 8, 2010 at 2:54 pm

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