Interview: Jodi Ellen Malpas, author of 'One Night: Promised'

Paste BN and No. 1 New York Times best-selling author Jodi Ellen Malpas, whose One Night: Promised is out today, joins HEA to chat about what readers can expect from the new series, how she describes herself in "ish" words and must-visits for first-time travelers to London.

Joyce: Welcome back to HEA, Jodi! Please tell us about the new series, One Night.

Jodi: Thank you so much for having me again! One Night is a whole new story, with new characters and new intrigue. I'm very excited to bring my readers something entirely different, but with all the qualities I strived to achieve in This Man. For me, One Night holds a certain sense of mystery over This Man. Jesse Ward was so expressive and bullish. M, on the other hand, makes my mind race with questions and offers intrigue on an entirely different level. Coming from the person who created him, I can only conclude that that's a good thing for my readers.

Joyce: What can readers expect from the other books in the trilogy?

Jodi: Unlike This Man, both the hero and heroine in One Night have a mysterious history. Promised sets up the story. We learn about Olivia, who has ostracised herself from a world she deems cruel, and a little about M, who spikes too many questions to possibly write the story in one book. Hence, One Night: Denied was born. In the second installment, my readers will learn who he is and what he stands for, and they will take that journey with Olivia. Just like her, I'm certain my readers will find the revelations difficult to deal with. The third and final book is everything from Promised and Denied that come together collectively and explodes. Not even I was prepared for book three. :-)

Joyce: You've been called the Queen of All Things Ish. What "ish" words would you use to describe yourself?

Jodi: Ha! I have. I quite like it. :-)

Sassy-ish

Funny-ish

Cheeky-ish

Lovable-ish

Joyce: You recently spent some time in NYC. Did you hit any touristy spots?

Jodi: Yes! I've been in New York too many times to remember now, but this time I took my friend, my sister (also known as The Keeper of All Things Important) my mum and aunt. We had the best time. We did all of the usual things you'd expect first-time visitors to NY would do, but for me, personally, I was determined to make it to Ground Zero this time. In all of the times I've been in NY, I've run out of time and never made it there. This time I did and it was the most moving experience I've ever had.

Joyce: What three must-see places would you send London first-timers to?

Jodi: Only three?!!!

That's a ridiculously silly question! But if you insist ...

There's a spot outside Buckingham Palace that looks through the trees, down The Mall to the horse guards. It's magical anyway, but the fact that it's in the centre of London makes it all the more special. You could be in a mythical land, it's that beautiful.

You should eat at The Wolseley. They do the most delicious Pimms sorbet with champagne drizzle. Yum!

Just lay on your back in St. James's Park. Obviously, this is better on a sunny day. I'm a people watcher. Any of the royal parks are a winner for me, but something about St. James's does it.

Joyce: You had such phenomenal success with your This Man trilogy. Any performance anxiety with this new series? : )

Jodi: God, yes! One Night is totally new. Many are screaming for more This Man, but I think I ended Jesse and Ava's story too perfectly to toy with it. Of course, that's my opinion because every author loves their story. BUT, I never say never. Maybe one day I'll revisit The Lord, but for now, I have other stories to tell and I don't want to be known only as the author of This Man or the creator of The Lord.

Joyce: Read any good romances lately?

Jodi: I hardly ever read for pleasure anymore, which is something I miss incredibly, but I did read Emma Chase's Tangled on a flight recently, and Christina Lauren's Beautiful Bastard. Both brilliant!

Joyce: Is there anything you'd like to add?

Jodi: Only how excited I am to bring something new and fresh to my readers. I'm as much in love with M as I am with Jesse. Both men are intense, dominant characters, but in very different ways. I can't wait for my readers to meet M, and I hope they become as consumed by him as I am.

Joyce: Thanks, Jodi!

Find out more about Jodi and her books at www.jodiellenmalpas.co.uk.

HEA curator and contributor Joyce Lamb is a Paste BN best-selling author of romantic suspense and three-time RITA finalist and has been a professional journalist for 25 years. You can reach her at jlamb@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter (@JoyceLamb). You can also follow HEA on Twitter (@HEAusatoday).