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A reader’s expectations, or: “None romance! NONE!”
Beloved readers,
The Monster’s Daughter is not paranormal romance.
Until yesterday, I failed to understand why people would buy my first novel expecting romance. After all, nothing in the title, cover, nor description hints at romance. See the description:
Ginny Connors doesn’t believe in vampires. There’s totally a rational reason her dad is a lot more bloodthirsty and a lot less interested in food than he used to be. Still, she hangs a cross on her bedroom door. Just in case.
When Ginny discovers people aren’t the guests but the main course at her father’s New Year party, she wishes she could save the day with garlic pancakes. Instead, she must face the limits of her daydreams, and attempt to stop the monster her father has become.
Vampires: check. Dads: check. Daydreams: check. All present. Romance, though? Romantic love? Smoochie-face? Gaga-eyes? Infatuation? These guys had other places to be. Read more…
Another YA author’s take on the indie-traditional debate
I stopped reading debates about the merits of indie publishing versus traditional publishing a long time ago. I don’t think in straight black and white whether the subject is publishing or what’s for lunch, so I was turned off by how many writers sat squarely in one camp and totally decried the other. I needed a little more nuance and a little less outrage from my readings, but I was hard pressed to find it.
When YA author Annie Cardi pointed toward a blog she said “gives credence to both sides,” my curiosity was piqued. I trust Annie, and welcomed the thought of a balanced assessment vetted by her. I followed the link to Livia Blackburne’s post and was indeed delighted by what I found. I was so delighted, I typed out a long, thoughtful comment . . . which my iPad then devoured. Sigh.
Instead of typing another comment there, I opted to link up here and share the gist of my thoughts: Read more…
A WIP blog chain, or: “I am not a fish!”
Chain letters usually go straight to my spam filter, but when I received an invitation to participate in a chain blog, my curiosity was piqued. Its sender was Sara Burr, a writer and blogger who captivates me with her eloquence and thoughtfulness. I haven’t had a chance to read her first novel yet, but you can bet I’m looking forward to it!
With two days of editing my newest book under my belt, this chain blog was perfectly timed to get me thinking both about what it is and what I want it to be. It’s also got me wondering. I know we’re not supposed to play favorites with our children, but is it OK to favor certain of our books over others? Because it’s possible–not certain, mind you, just possible–that I enjoy this one a heck of a lot more than the ones that preceded it. Maybe. A little.
What is the working title of your book?
Elelu. It’s not the most descriptive working title, granted, but I’m still early in the process!
Where did the idea come from for the book?
It came from my idea box from younger years. I had a night dream that jarred that old idea loose and got to daydreaming up what the story would look like if I wrote it today. Then, without too much delay, I got to writing.
What genre does your book fall under?
Urban fantasy. I’d also classify it as Young Adult, but my fiancee, Ba.D., is fighting me on that one: “Everything is YA right now! It’s a meaningless classification. Just go with what it really is.”
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
I’m way too early in the process to start playing that game! Right now, I want to stay true to my characters as they are instead of envisioning who else they might be.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
When the sole survivor of mermaid genocide lands in her lap, loner Abigail must decide not only what she believes in but how far she’s willing to go to save someone else.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Independently published. Although there are pros and cons to each, I’m much more interested in creative control than traditional publishing at this point.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
About four months, excluding the month I took off.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
This question had me stumped until I started reading Necromancing the Stone last night. So far, it’s similar to that book’s predecessor (Hold Me Closer, Necromancer) in tone and pacing.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
My fiancee inspired me. When I had the dream that got me thinking about writing my old story, I described that dream in depth to Ba.D., who told me that sounded like a book he’d love to read. Over the next couple of weeks, I told Ba.D. what I was thinking and asked for his input when I encountered any logic or plot hurdle I couldn’t seem to jump by myself. With his encouragement, I moved from thinking about the story to actually writing it.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
I grew up poor, but not so poor that my mom couldn’t cough up gas money to take one of her barely-running cars to the Oregon coast every year or two. Those coast trips brought me a sense of possibility. In Elelu, I’ve captured the feelings of hope and home that imagining the ocean continue to evoke in me. I’ve done this within an exciting story full of characters you might not always agree with but whom I think you’d probably enjoy grabbing a cup of coffee.
Click here to learn a little more about Elelu. Otherwise, please mosey on over to visit the next link in the chain, my friend E.L. Farris. Her heartbreaking yet inspirating first novel, Ripple, will hopefully be out in time for Christmas.
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