Dragons and Cowboys and Jason Bourne, Oh My!

 

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Administrators Indies Unlimited

Virginia McKevitt

That got your attention didn’t it, but the topic really is about crossing genres; can you, should you and if you do, can you pull it off. This coming from a fantasy, mystery, thriller, romance, action, eh, novelist (try slinging that out there when someone ask you what your book is about).
Someone once told me fantasy has rules. I agree, its magic, you can do anything: pigs can fly, cows can talk, a kiss can wake a princess, but wizards always have to carry a staff. No I’m serious. I was told never to break that rule. It has to do with quantum physics and pole shifts. Serious stuff that could change our world as we know it.
All kidding aside, every genre has rules that have been bent over the course of time. Plato or some famous cartoon character (Pluto, I think) divided literature into three classic genres: poetry, drama and prose but somewhere back in the 1900′s all hell broke loose. In 1898 H. G. Wells wrote a science fiction novel, War Of The Worlds, that spawned widespread panic in 1938, when it was aired on Halloween, by actor Orson Welles as a news bulletin. People actually believed the world was being invaded by aliens.
That is power people! Ah, but I digress. Back to the present. Today we are bombarded with creatures and human beings who are brought together in every imaginable way; love, or friendship, or even in a common goal, to save the world, and we do it by mixing genres. Case in point: Romance is supposed to be happily ever after with a strong emphasis on, well romance. With Fantasy, one designs the world’s geography, race and magic, with good verses evil. Westerns should have a hero in conflict. You get my point.
Jump to the present; rules are made to be broken and so they are. Today’s readers expect more. Romance doesn’t always end with the lovers riding off into the sunset. They do eventually; they just go kicking, screaming and fighting first. Sometimes the evil sorcerer wins, and we get a certain amount of satisfaction from that. Oh, and the hot guy in the cowboy hat? He runs off with the beautiful lonely widow’s brother.
For god’s sake people just make it believable! If you don’t your reader is out of here and them babies are hard to get back. How do you do that you ask? Do a little research on your subject matter. Know the basic structure of the genre you are writing in. What makes it work and why readers like it, then stretch it.
I know, I know. You have to write it for you. Well if that’s the case then you shouldn’t be disappointed if only you read it. The little lady down the hall ain’t going to be happy if Jack and Jane don’t make it. That’s what makes her read romance, because in spite of it all, they will be together. If Johnny expects his assassin to be like Jason Bourne, give him a little romance, but don’t have him cutting out hearts or humming the theme from Barney. Wait, that sounds creepy. It might work, she thought.
Ahem… So, write your paranormal romance about Jack the vampire, who lives a tortured existence because his mother was an alien who came here from that planet no one can pronounce, and then one day he falls in love and marries a half human history teacher who figures it all out, and then they ride off into the sunset in her time travel machine to live happily ever after. All in one breath.
See how easy that was.

Mixing Fantasy and Romance and Making it Work

      There are many challenges in mixing genres, especially fantasy and romance. How can beings from different worlds become romantically involved and even be believable? I hope I can shed some light on that very subject because that is what my novel, FRACTURE The Secret Enemy Saga stands on; two people from different worlds, fighting in the same cause and falling in love. That's a mouthful!
      How can I make that believable you ask? Next time you go to the mall look around you. The couples holding hands and shopping are as diverse as you can get; different nationalities, different shapes and sizes, even different beliefs, yet they seem to make their relationships work. How?
      The Asian man with the American wife are from worlds so different they might as well be from Mars and Jupiter. What about the Italian woman or the French man? I could go on and on. The cultures and beliefs that separate us everyday are broken and shattered by one simple need, to be loved and accepted by another.
      How far off am I that someone from another world could actually fall in love with someone from this world and vice versa? Not far at all. Take those two people, throw them into a conflict that threatens both their worlds and fill it in with a little magic and mayhem, friends and family and who knows. You might have a winner.

Colleen Hoover Climbs Self-Published Bestseller List - GalleyCat

Colleen Hoover Climbs Self-Published Bestseller List - GalleyCat

The Art of Lying

 Fiction writers are the best liers in the world. They have to be or they would never sell a book. You name it, a good author can write a story about it. Does it mean we are experts on our writing subject. Probably not (have you seen any vampires or dragons running around lately), but with imagination, research and good old lying a writer can transform a stack of dead trees into a world of fantasy, fear, science fiction, or romance, and readers everywhere want to believe it.
   That is what writing is all about. Taking those pages of lies and transforming them into believable bits of time that takes a reader away from their everyday lives and on a journey. That is what reading is all about. Every genre has a different set of lies. Some lies are based on real life situations, others on the utterly fantastic (there's that dragon again).
   Do you have a pack of lies you would like to share with world? Get started before the zombies get you.

Paranormal Romance~What makes It Hot?

   Paranormal Romance is one of the hottest genres (actually a sub-genre of fantasy) on the market today. The titles and book covers alone can make one break out in a sweat, but what is it that makes you want to read about romantic encounters with beings from other worlds or vampires and werewolves? Is it the old concept of forbbiden love or the thrill of the bad boy (or girl) image mixed up with fangs and wolf fur?
   Dragons and wizards are sitting on the back burner while muscled bodies and creatures who howl at the moon warm the beds of the humans we write about. Steamy romance, whether implied in Ya or graphic in Paranormal erotica, has encreased by leaps and bounds since the e-book revolution and now knows no boundaries.
   Don't get me wrong, sex sells in any format but you have to have a good story to back it up. There still needs to be adventure, a plot, somewhere that this is all going. Without a good story line its just porn on paper.
   Fantasy, as wild and imaginative as it is, still has rules. If your reader does not find your characters and story believable you will lose their interest. Make the relationships between your human and non-human characters real. Give them a cause they both have a stake in (no pun intended), especially if its for different reasons. Obstacles that strengthen real life relationships are everywhere. Just give them a little  twist.
   So, what makes it hot? Dark and dangerous delivers whether you dash it with a little pepper or turn on the hot suace. Romance appeals to the heart and the paranormal infuses it with the thrill of the fantastic, something we all want a little bite of (I just can't help myself).
  
  

My Love For Writing

   One of my earliest memories as a child was the Book Mobile. A great big panel truck from the local library that would come rolling down our streets in the summer carrying adventures, fantasies and places far away. The sides were painted in bright colors and a cheerful voice would announce its arrival over a loud speaker. (I think that lumbering elephant drew more kids than the ice cream truck.)
    My sister who was ten years older than me would run to the curb with me and my younger brother and sister in tow. She loved to read and she passed it on. Hot summer nights would find us falling asleep to the likes of Gulliver's Travels or Swiss Family Robinson.
    My imagination ran wild at that age and never quit. I love the fantastic. One can go anywhere and do anything and so I did. The move from the world inside my head to the pages of my first novel was only a matter of time.
    The first person to read my finished work,   Fracture The Secret Enemy Saga
was my husband who reads like most people eat. I'll never forget what he said when he turned the last page, "I feel like I've been on a journey that I didn't want to end. Don't stop."
Those words have pushed me onward and there is no turning back. I wrote this as a Q and A  post origionally at Goodreads to see what other writers had to say but the reach continues onward. So I ask,why do you write?

The Devils in the Details

   Do you have fight scenes in your book? What does your character used to defend him or herself; a gun, a sword or even his bare hands? How much do you know about how to use a weapon or use your hands as a weapon?
   My protag is a muscle bound assassin who is feared in his world but when he has to come to ours he is on unlevel ground. He's suppose to come here, find his prey and leave without being known but he gets found out by a young woman who will be his partner throughout the rest of the story.
   The young woman, Kristina is the key to the story. She has abilities she is only just learning about, but she also has fighting skills. Her parents sent her to self defense classes blah, blah, blah. How do I convey that in my writings?
   I have some knowledge of martial arts. Not much. I am a brown belt. Like I said, not much, and I didn't want Kristina's fight scenes to look orchestrated, so what did I do? I studied hand to hand combat and martial art videos and read articles from well known people in the martial arts arena. I even watched myself in a mirror with a weapon to see how to make it look real.
    My assassin's skills and even the marine in my novel had to feel real and I hope that I have accomplished that with what I have learned, and there is magic in my book also.
   Alas! that is another story. Study your characters abilities. Try to make them as real as possible. Research is the key, so don't treat it like poison ivy.
  
     

Bringing Your Words to Life

     I have a very vivid imagination, so when I read a book I see everything that's happening; the action, the character, even the scenery. How does a writer convey that to his or her readers? I put myself into the story. I touch the rocky wall, feel the sand under my feet and then I put it into words.

     Example: Jenny and Mica were laying on the beach. He kissed on the forehead and smiled. This would be a day she would never forget.

This is much better: Jenny felt the scratch of wet sand against her back. She opened her eyes. Micah was smiling. His blue eyes as turbulent as the sea they had just come from. He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. A delicious shiver went down her spine. This would be a day she would never forget.

    Even that can use improvement but I think you get the idea. Where are they? What are they doing? You tell me.
   

Snippets from FRACTURE The Secret Enemy Saga

Tegrin waited until midnight before he slipped into the caves and through to the other side, wanting to avoid humans at all cost. Darkness would be the best cover. He did his best hunting at night.

       He thought his knowledge of this place was very good but he did not expect the beauty that surrounded him. It could almost be home if he did not know better. His catlike eyes adjusted well to the dim light of a half moon. Tegrin’s excellent hearing picked up even the tiniest sounds.
       He sniffed the air, taking in every smell around him. Small rodents and birds nested close by. His eyes narrowed. Another scent filled his nostrils. The one he was looking for.
      The Couton, and they were heading towards the lights of a city. Urgency gripped him as he headed for the town below. He stayed in the brush along the road to conceal himself and tried to work on a plan of capture.
      Just before dawn he came across a cold, lifeless dwelling. He sniffed the air and the smell of death filled his nostrils. Tegrin circled the building, listening and sniffing the air, but found no life was present. He walked up the steps pushing the door open. Inside were two bodies, one male and one female, both had been murdered. He knew by the scent that the Couton had been there.
      The hair on his arms stood up. He was not alone and knew it. A young woman lunged from the shadows, a knife in her shaking hand.
      “You killed my parents!”
      Moonlight reflected off the long blade of a Bowie knife slicing through the air. Tegrin was too fast for the hand that wielded it.
      He deflected the knife, pulling her close to him. She had a whiff of something strange before darkness enveloped her. A deep voice faded away.
      “I did not kill your parents,” Tegrin whispered.
      He carried her back to the caves. This was a complication he did not need. “By the Throne of Patwain, what am I to do with this human?”
      He studied the woman for a long time. She looked to be about nineteen, maybe less. Long fiery red hair fell across her face. Quite pretty, he thought, in an unusual way.
     Those green eyes, he sighed, they had been filled with hatred for him before she blacked out. The wait for her to regain consciousness chewed at him. He knew he would have to tell her the truth.

Women Writers and Their Share of the Market

    Three of the most popular women writers of all time are; J. K. Rowling (450 million books sold in the Harry Potter series + movie rights), Danielle Steel (800 million books sold (best seller of all time in Romance genre), and Stephanie Meyer (100 million for her Twilight series + movie rights). What makes them special? They are all different in their style of writing, yet they draw a huge audience.
    I believe what sets them apart is the connection they all have with the readers who chose their books. People want to escape from the real world for a variety of reasons, so they delve into magical places or romantic lives of imaginary people. When a writer can bring the pages of a book to life, and readers can go beyond the paper its written on, then you have a winner.
    These women have not only cornered the market with their great stories, they have overcome a market that was at one time predominately a man's world. The writing world is changing. The ebook market has hit the world by storm, but you still need to have a great story that people will want to read.
    Watch the newcomers like Amanda Hocking (420,000 sold and counting) and Alice Sebold (118,583 sold) and see where they are headed. Alice is just behind John Grisham in sales with her book Lovely Bones. The writing world is changing faster than speed of light and women writers are ready for the challenge.

FRACTURE The Secret Enemy Saga

Genre Anyone?

   Does your novel or story cross the genre lines? Is it something like this; my book is a contemporary paranormal romantic young adult thriller fantasy. Phew! Say that three times fast.
   Todays modern novels do not fit into the simple guidlines of yesterday. There is still the basics, but then you have a vampire who is from another world, who falls in love with a human being who finds out she can use magic and they fight the zombies and the mafia together.
   Catagory my dear? Who knows. I'm going to bed.  

from Shellwy Hitz's Self Publishing Coach blog

FRACTURE The Secret Enemy Saga by Virginia McKevitt

by Virginia McKevitt
(Georgia, USA)

Hi Shelley,

Thank you for the opportunity to talk about my book marketing strategies.

First of all, I am new at this game, so reading what other authors have done to market their books and make them successful was critical for me. Sites like yours and other experienced writers have been a tremendous help to someone such as myself. That said, here is what I have learned:

The internet is a virtual marketing smorgasbord avenue. I have put my book and myself on every social media site I can find; Facebook, twitter, Goodreads, She Writes, and the list continues on and on. I feel the best of these however is Google+ and Facebook. There seem to be a wider audience for me there.

I haven't stopped there though. I have created a blog and even a book trailer for my marketing campaign, and am now hunting reviewers with a rabid zeal. I connect with other bloggers and new writers whenever I can and try to pass on what I have learned.

It's hard work because you don't have the backing of a big house on your side, but you do have the satisfaction of knowing you are doing all you can to get your book, and really you out there.

FRACTURE The Secret Enemy Saga has had three 5 star reviews at Amazon.com and is waiting review currently on several sites. The challenges are huge, but I'm confident that I can meet them, after all I just published my first book.

Thanks again, Shelley

That Book Cover-how important is it, really?

   There are plenty of post out there on this subject and here's one more. If you don't think your book cover is important then you are selling yourself and your book short. I went back and forth over simple or striking for days, probably weeks before I decided what route to take.
   I knew what I really wanted. I wanted that reader to look at my cover and say WOW! So what was the next step. Do it myself? Maybe, but that's not what I decided. It took me awhile but my search was worth it. After perusing the internet I discovered Deviantart (great place) and found my cover artist, Char Marie.
   After a few emails and chats we were on the same page and the results were amazing. What a great person to work with. The cover has drawn so many to my book that it is amazing. I have even had people who don't read fantasy tell me the cover peaked their interest and once inside the pages they were glad it did.
   So, how important is that cover? It might be the most important step you take, second to writing your book. If you would like that kind of interest go see what Char has to offer.
   http://www.wix.com/wicked_art/wicked-cover-designs

OMG a mispelled word!

   Ahhh, the book is finished. You can relax now, the hard part is over. Don't believe that for a second! Now the real work begins. Now it's time to edit that bad boy. You go through it. Your spouse goes through it. Your friends, the guy across the street, and even the cat if he could read.
  Then it goes to the copy editor. The guy you pay to check your work. Now you can relax. Not so my friend. Even the person who is paid to edit books can miss something and they often do.
   I regress. The mail man rings the bell (what mail man does that anymore) and there is your proof. You are so excited. You read through it one more time. The cat still says no, and off it goes to the printer.
   Now it's out there in all its glory for the world to see. You run in to B&N and grab one off the shelf. Horror (music from Pyscho plays in the background), fifth chapter, page sixty. There's a word missing and one misspelled What do you do?
   Take a deep breath and try to remember how many times you found the same thing in another author's pride and joy. It happens. It's a fact of life, a right of passage and it happens to everyone. Human error, spellchecker and the guy with the shingle over the door, we all missed it.
   What you didn't miss was the five star review.

Fantasy Books

   I am a writer of fantasy books. Even though I have been writing for a long time I have just become published. Most would consider me a new author, a newby and most new authors seem to struggle needlessly in the deep waters surrounding book reviews and recognition.
   We all look for that ray of sunshine that will set our book apart. Whether it be vampire novels, the romance novel or just fantasy, we live and breath it as if it were alive.
    Don't give up hope. The best fantasy books out there began at the fingertips of a new writer and in the heart of romance author. Someone, somewhere had to pick up that first book and say, "Wow what a great story!"

FRACTURE The Secret Enemy Saga

Update! FRACTURE  is now available at Amazon.com. Please check it out and tell me what you think. Thanks V.

The Social Network

     You've written your book, it's published. Now what? Do you sit around and wait for readers to find it? I hope not. There is a vast resource out there for you and it's sitting at your fingertips. Social Networking. It is the life blood of aspiring authors everywhere. You say you don't know anyone.
     Step into cyberspace. There is Facebook, tell everyone you think you know. Join twitter and follow those who follow you. Join writing groups like Goodreads and She Writes. Go to Google+ and Stumbleupon. There is a platform almost anywhere you look. You just have to look.
     Good luck and happy writing.

Rights of Writers: Can I Mention Brand Name Products in My Fiction?

Rights of Writers: Can I Mention Brand Name Products in My Fiction?

Snippits for my novel FRACTURE

     Tegrin waited until dusk before he slipped into the caves and through to the other side. He wanted to avoid humans at all cost. Darkness would be his best cover, and besides, he did his best hunting at night.

Getting Ready to Publish

     It's almost that time. Putting your masterpiece out there for all the world to see. What route will you take? How many potholes will you encounter? I am on that journey. This has been a learning experience from the very beginning and I am enjoying the ride. Check out the scenery along the way and stop to take in the sights.

A New Day For Aspiring Authors

   E-publishing has created a host of outlets for new authors today. The years of waiting patiently (hardly for a traditional publisher to probably reject your hard work have come to an end. Is that a good thing? Some people don't seem to think so. Only the best should be published. I disagree. How many times have you seen a review about a movie or novel that was negative, then when you decided to see that movie or read that novel, you were pleasantly surprised. Each of us sees the world through rose colored glasses. Have you ever counted how many different color roses are in the world? Judge for yourself, and if that book or movie wasn't what you expected, no worries, sometimes wine improves with age.

FRACTURE release

     My new fantasy novel is in the final edits. I hope to be released sometime late January or early February. An assassin from a world of kings and magic is set on a collision course with Kristina. A strong willed young woman, from our world, whose murder of her parents puts her on a path that will change her life and his forever.                                                                            

Kill Em Off!

     Killing a character off. How and when do you decide to 'eliminate' a character in your story? Was the decision hard or easy? Did you grow to love or hate him or her? Drop me a line and tell me your thoughts on the subject.  

Imagination: Fuel for the Fire

     I have always had a vivid imagination. Fantastic worlds and beings have followed me since my childhood, and I think that most fantasy and sify writers are like me. Ask me to describe any character in my stories and I can tell you in detail, everything about them. How they look, what they think, how they feel, and even who they love or hate. Write that world on paper and they live on forever. Maybe even longer than the writer.

Life in the Author's Seat

     You 're finished. The feeling you get when you type those last two words is unbelievable. The End. Now you're ready to publish. Not so fast buddy. Now you have to promote this baby. Facebook, Twitter, Blog, and the list goes on and on. It can be overwhelming. I know because I am new to this game too. I'm taking one day at a time. Setting up scheduled task like a secretary so I can promote my blood, sweat and tears to the world. Is it worth it? You bet it is. Watch the face of someone who is reading what took you months, maybe years to accomplish. See that smile. Yes, it's worth it.