Day #5: Grand Finale of Gaelen Foley's "Guys As Gifts" Week

By: GaelenFoley
June 25, 2010

And so we arrive at the big finale of our weeklong celebration of Christmas-in-July at Avon Books, celebrating great summer reads. What fun it’s been!

There’s still one more day left to win, and today’s prize is a signed Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) of MY DANGEROUS DUKE. (These are very rare! The book doesn’t even go on sale until TUESDAY of next week—June 29! Squeee! I’m so excited!)

The premise of MY DANGEROUS DUKE is what inspired me to ask readers and some of my fellow authors who they’d want if they got a hot guy for a gift. This is because the warrior hero, uber-alpha male Rohan, the Duke of Warrington, is given a gift of our spunky heroine, Kate. (Check out the video above or read an excerpt here!)

So, you’ve got the gist of this game by now, I’m sure:

If someone gave YOU a hottie of the opposite sex, who would you want to be given, and what’s the first thing you’d make him do?  

Leave us your answer below and you’ll be automatically entered in the drawing for the signed ARC of MY DANGEROUS DUKE.

And now…for our special guests today! I promised you guys a surprise, and here they are! Publishing people!

LOL, yes, they’re people, too, fair reader. But you already know from reading this blog what a lovely and intelligent group of women run Avon Books.

First give a round of applause for Publicity Department maven, Christine Maddalena, ((((applause!))) without whom this Pre-Launch event would not have been possible.

Christine, thanks for all your help organizing this week! So, tell us who you want Santa to leave in your stocking for Christmas in July?

Christine: Hands down, without a second thought, I’d ask for Ethan Hawke. (Think early 90s, circa Reality Bites, before he married his nanny.) He would take me on a loooong vacation to Barcelona and we’d lay out on a beautiful, perfect, beach together.  He’d read me his favorite poetry (which is TS Elliot. Don’t ask how I know) and write me love songs and play with my hair. Sighhhhh. Fun times

Gaelen: Ah, a woman who definitely knows what she wants!! LOL. True, he is adorable. Thank you, Christine. J

Next up, one of Avon’s star romance editors!!! Welcome, the one and only Esi Sogah! You got to meet some of Esi’s authors earlier this week. Esi, you obviously have great taste in books, and with all the dreamy heroes your authors create, I’m guessing you have excellent taste in man candy, too. *g* (Sorry for that term, but someone used it here the other day and I think it’s hilarious. Why did I never hear this before? I must have been in Regency-Land.)

So, what’s your poison?

Esi: Hmm. Well, since I just introduced my roommate to Doctor Who and therefore found myself watching episodes over, I’d have to pick Christopher Eccleston. I’d probably make him fix something, since that’s what the Ninth Doctor seems to do best and it would have the added benefit of making him bend over a lot. BUT I’ve just finally starting watching Buffy, so this could change very soon!

Gaelen: Oh, yeah, he is definitely Mr. Charisma! Thanks, Esi!

And now, everybody, I’d like to introduce…drumroll…my agent, Nancy Yost! She’s the Yost with the Most. *g* Nancy, you represent so many fabulous authors in romance (and other genres) that I know that you, like Esi, must have a clear idea of what sort of guy you want Santa to bring you.

What do you think?

Nancy: Oh, these posts are so…inspiring, yes, that’s what I’ll call it.  

Well, I have to say I’m a sucker for accents and guys who look like they’ve amassed a bit of experience (that’s what I’m calling it), so, in no particular order:

Javier Bardem (NOT the bad haircut moment, please!) 

Julian Sands (in A Room With A View)

Jude Law in The Talented Mr. who??– it was all about the glorious Dickie Betts, dorky name notwithstanding

Daniel Day Lewis in Last of the Mohicans– come on, now, you know he was looking at you, Miss!

Then there’s Damian Lewis  Is he a geek or a stud?  who cares?!

And there’s the ultimate cheezoid fantasy, Rutger Hauer in LadyHawke, possibly Blade Runner, and maybe a a little in NIghtHawks…)

Ready for a little walk on the freaky side?  Paul Bettany

Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Notkevincostnerham, see R. Hauer, above.

And finally, will someone just tell Hugh Grant to embrace his dark side; we know you, Hugh–it’s time.

Wait! I seem to have amassed a harem here. As to what I’d do with my man-posse Well, maybe they can alphabetize my overloaded bookshelf in their spare time….

Gaelen: A man harem!!! WOW. You go, girl. They really do think big in New York, LOL. Dittos on all of the above. I think by this time in the week, we’ve left no man-stone unturned. (Heh, get it?)

Can I just agree with you that Paul Bettany is great. He certainly gave me a whole new appreciation for Chaucer when he was walking down the road naked in A Knight’s Tale (or whatever it was called). And you’re so right, Hugh Grant does need to quit pretending he’s the perfect gentleman. Come on, Hugh, nobody’s buying it. Let your freak flag fly, my brother! *g*

Well, readers, it’s your last chance to join in! For the last time (sniff!):

If someone gave you a hottie of the opposite sex, who would you want to be given, and what’s the first thing you’d make him do?  

(And we’re trying to keep it clean, ladies! Also: Husbands and boyfriends don’t count. We all know they’re our real heroes.)

Thanks so much for joining in. I hope you’ve had as much fun this week as all of us here have had. It’s been a great kick off to the summer, methinks, and a nice little break from everyday life.  

Remember, the new crop of July books goes on sale this coming Tuesday, June 29!

(My Dangerous Duke sightings and shelf reports are welcome!) If you pick it up and give it a read, I’d love to hear  from you. You can write to me any time thru my website at www.GaelenFoley.com and register there for more fun events, e-newsletter, etc. In the meantime…

Enjoy!