Coming out to play
Okay, it is a testament to how pathetic my life is that I’m sitting here watching the history channel do a two hour program on dragons. I consider it research, because I have a dragon theme that will run a thread through my urban fantasy series. it is a reminder that there is a long period in which most writers who write paranormal must build the mythology.
In Shaking off the Dust, I built a ghost mythology, certain rules that applied in order for them to become real to the reader. If you consider the more popular vampire and werewolf novels that are selling like a pancake breakfasts, they have a unique way to explain the creatures who inhabit their world. There are so many Vampire books out there that it is hard to come up with a different twist.
I have been working on the basics of this series for a couple of years now. The mythology is substantial. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I haven’t created languages for the different peoples of my Outsiders’ series. Wouldn’t that be cool though?
I do know several of the characters and their history so well that they have become very familiar. When writing they’ll say things that make them unique and me laugh. I’ll think…”Oh that’s perfect for Lucien” or “only Alistair would say something like that.” The reason it’s taken me so long to get the novels done is because they all want me to tell their story first. I have to take time to structure each novel in a way that they are true to the world and yet not give away too much. Some days it feels as though I started out with a 500 piece puzzle that multiplied to three times that amount and I forgot my glasses. Okay, I’m may be exaggerating a tiny bit. J
I do love to hear what readers want to read. What kind of story just does it for you? Are you reading paranormal, or historical or contemporary? Do you want something light and funny or serious? If I were to write the perfect book for you what would it have in it?
No, I’m not going to write a book to order. My imagination is very much my own and what I want to write is personal. I like formula stories, but I would want to find my own unique twist on it. Then again, I’m not above wanting something that I write to be what you, the reader, want to read.
As for this blog…ugh. My characters’ keep calling and asking me to come out to play. So, if there is a topic you would like me to write a few choice words and my opinion on, let me know. I love hearing back from you guys.
Rhianna
Hey Rhianna… did you finally get out to play? I love how the characters become very much individuals… and that they’re clamouring to each have their stories told. Even knowing that makes a book that I’m going to read even more ~ well, immediate’s not really the word that I was looking for ~ but something like.
As for what I like? Hmmm… to be honest there’s not much that I Don’t like; humour, romance, suspense, adventure, light-heartedness, seriousness… pretty much the only thing not on my list is horror and gore.
I like characters ~ aka H’s and h’s ~ that like each other and respect one another… lots of bickering and I-hate-you-I-love-you gets on my nerves.
Sometimes I want humour that fills the whole story, sometimes a glimpse here and there is perfect. As for contemporary, historical or paranormal? I’ve got favourites from each: right now, though, I’m reading more paranormal and romantic suspense type stories as well as romantica.
See, I’m all over the place.
And boy, there’s no way that I could come up with any ideas of what I’d like… my brain just doesn’t work in a story-way.
But if you write it, I’ll read it!
Comment by KathyK — June 29, 2008 @ 4:04 am
Hi Kathy,
I like a lot of teasing between my hero and heroine. Not so much I hate you as I’m going to pretend I don’t need you when all I can think about is you. My favorite characters are loconic. They don’t say much, but when they do it’s pretty much to the point or teasing. they make great secondary character until you get ready to tell thier story.
In the historical I am working on, the male charater starts out gruff and perhaps arrogant, but as you read you learn that underneath that exterior he is a man lost until he can reclaim his heart.
Damn, I may use that as part of the blurb when it’s ready to send out.
Rhianna
Comment by Administrator — June 29, 2008 @ 6:02 am
“What kind of story just does it for you?”
What stories are floating YOUR boat these days?
“As for this blog…ugh.”
Maybe you should let the blog go for a while if it’s interfering with your writing, especially if it’s a drag. Writing is more important. And “no one” will bug you about, I’m sure.
Currently, I don’t care about the genre except that I’m kind of off of vampire/shifter stuff. Zzzzzz… I like to read them all and switch them up. I never know, really, what will do it for me until I read a book. And it’s always something different. I like to be surprised. At the moment though, I’m more into the darker, intense stories and characters. And not necessarily the traditional romance.
I can read anything as long as the characters are respectful to each other. That is a must.
A deal breaker for me is the hero who constantly pushes the heroine away until the end. Makes want to blow my brains out and smack him around. I dislike constant misunderstandings and vague innuendos. Argh. Just talk people and get on with it. And I really dislike TSTL heroines and alphas that are overbearing.
Of course, I will read anything and every thing you write.
Comment by MB (Leah) — June 29, 2008 @ 10:25 pm
It’s not that the blog is a drag, as much as not knowing what would be interesting to talk about in a few breif paragraphs. I love the commentaries and feed back. I’m just so blank when I sit down to write the blog. So throw me a few ideas.
I just got back from seeing Wanted with Angelina Jolie and the young male lead from Atonement, James MacAvoe(sp?). Very bloody. I was expecting some violence, but not the unrelenting blood spewing that occurred. I think the special effects were good, but dang, a little less in your face gore. I had to make sure I wasn’t watching a Tarantino film. I didn’t think the male lead had the chops to carry off the part. He is very ernest, but they needed someone who was more ingenous. The actor fits very well into an upper crust aristocratic role, but not the kind of action film this one needed. Now the guy he was hunting down, he was very cool. I’d give it a 3 out of 5 for story, a 5 out of 5 for special effects.
Where are the young alpha males? Heath Ledger was on his way to being great. Christian Bale is very hot and talented and Johnny Depp is untouchable, but not getting any younger. Brad and George are fun and good at action films, but again…where are the young alpha males. (let me qualify that I’m not young either, but damn, I like to see yummy things) I haven’t seen Orlando Bloom in a non franchise movie that has caught fire. I like him and believe he has the chops, but he needs to find his Tim Burton or Speilberg. (Don’t we all wish we could find a great director/producer to hook us up?)
So, I just needed to see a movie to blog.
Oh and Leah, I appreciate your willingness to read anything I write. I hope one day for a A+ review from you. It is my goal.
Mauuaahhahaha!
Rhianna
Comment by Administrator — June 29, 2008 @ 11:06 pm
“It’s not that the blog is a drag, as much as not knowing what would be interesting to talk about in a few breif paragraphs.”
Why don’t you just blog when you feel inspired then?
In general, I don’t like really violent or graphic films, but Tarantino? Love Him! DH and I have watched the Kill Bill movies many times and saw them in the theater, which says something since we rarely go.
In the Jolie-Pitt household, I’m pretty sure I know who the alpha is. *snort* I choose her! LOL
I agree, there aren’t really any good young actors who are good as alphas. But then again, I haven’t been paying attention much lately. I think the last ones that I considerer really good alphas are Harrison Ford and Al Pacino, but they are way long in the tooth now. Whoo-aah!
Collin Farrell comes to mind as a young’n who can be really alpha, but he hasn’t been in anything for a while it seems. I like Matt Damon and I love Hugh Jackman and Denzel Washington. But they are older as well. And, of course, there are bunch of Asian actors that are very hot and alpha-ish.
“I hope one day for a A+ review from you”
OK, I’ll try.
Sorry if there are html marks, I’m testing if your blog takes them and there is no preview option.
Comment by rdwar119@yahoo.com — June 30, 2008 @ 4:52 pm
I think Tarantino pulp fiction and reservoir dogs are classics. I liked Kill Bill, but there was something cartoonish about all the gore in that one. The bloodiness of the other two were graphic, but important to the story. Kill Bill was just a fun romp. I used him because of the gore factor. In general I like him a lot. But I also know what I’m getting when I go into his films, whereas, I wasn’t expecting the amount of blood in wanted. Silly me.
In the Jolie-Pitt household, I’m pretty sure I know who the alpha is.
That relationship they are both ball bearing, though I do respect the fact that they have taken responsibility for children and have given a much better life, even if it’s a bit public. I would expect some humanatarians, teachers, physicians and decent actors to emerge from thier brood.
Do you recommend another blog product that give me more imput and is beyond being screwed up? I have a rare talent for that.
Rhianna
Comment by Administrator — July 1, 2008 @ 12:11 am
“Do you recommend another blog product that give me more imput and is beyond being screwed up?”
Umm.. huh?
Are you referring to my comment about the HTML tags? If so, you see they worked! I used them and I was able to italicize your comments, which makes it easier to see that it’s not my sentence. Since you don’t have a preview option, I didn’t know if it would show up with the HTML tags or actually change the sentence. I don’t know about WordPress, how it works, so I can’t help you if that’s what you are talking about. If you are talking about something else, then I’m clueless.
Comment by MB (Leah) — July 1, 2008 @ 2:33 am
Yea, that was what I was referring to. There’s not a lot of diversity in what I am able to get from wordpress. I just type and load, it’s easy, but also generic. The Shades of Susense which is the group blog that I do with other suspense authors with Samhain allows a bit more variety and it also easy to use. I have considered using it.
I am not HTML trained and my head might fall off if it is required to hold even one more peice of information before I finish my novella. Soon, very soon.
Rhianna
Comment by Administrator — July 1, 2008 @ 2:56 am