As a reward to myself from myself for completing and submitting my new manuscript I took a week to read, read, read! Several of my favorite authors came out with new releases this year and I hadn’t had a chance to read any of them. So as soon as I hit “Send” and that story was on its way to my editor, I rushed to Books-A-Million, snatched up my books (hey, I only body-checked that sweet old lady! She’s fine!) , and raced to the Checkout counter with all haste. Slightly out of breath, too, because I’ve been working so hard on that manuscript I haven’t had time for anything else…that’s my story for not working out and I’m sticking to it!
Out of the three books I bought, two were paranormal romance. Kresley Cole’s Pleasure of a Dark Prince and Nalini Singh’s Archangel’s Kiss. Can you say, Great Caesar’s Ghost!! They are two different books but sooo wonderful! The characters. The world-building. The love story…*sigh* Just wonderful. Believe it or not, this blog isn’t to extol the virtues of both books…but Kresley Cole and Nalini Singh, if you have Google Alert and you read this by chance…I’m extolling your virtues…I meant that in a totally platonic-number-one-fan-but-not-in-a-Stephen King’s-Misery sorta way.
As I finished Archangel’s Kiss and placed it on my bookshelf I realized most of the books there are paranormal. I am a lover of paranormal! Vampires. Werewolves. Angels. Valkyrie. Creatures of myth do it for me! Fantasy worlds with superhuman beings that speak languages I need a glossary to decipher curl my toes. Sets me to drooling. Okay, you get it. The thing is though, I write romantic suspense. Writing paranormal is like me having a ménage: dream about it but so not gonna happen.
Now I can issue up a psycho that would make Lizzie Borden look like a Girl Scout. But to conjure up an imaginary world with its own government, mores, customs and language? It wows me. Don’t get me wrong. I love writing romantic suspense. But one of my first—and favorite—movies was Clash of the Titans. And one of my firs
t—and favorite—books was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. So I’ve always been hooked on fantasy for, uh…let’s just say a lot of years. The only thing is…writing paranormal is beyond me. I don’t know if my imagination has an Off switch or if I don’t have enough patience to create the intricacies involved with a new world and race. Oh but if I could…one day I’m going to write my dream book. A paranormal with an ass-kicking heroine, a delicious Alpha male who is her equal in attitude, skill and strength in a mythical world that encompasses all manners of races from Harpies to mermaids to Centaurs to Amazons. And since it is my book I can still have a homicidal psycho…he’ll just be horned and winged.
Okay, I shared the genre I love but don’t write…for now. What’s yours? Is there a genre you dream of penning one day but presently write something different? Share it…no seriously. Why are you still reading? This is the end. Go comment!
11 comments:
Go for it, Naima! I think my bookshelf looks a lot like yours. I do write both fantasy and erotic romance as of now, so you should get on board immediately writing your dream. The only thing I haven't written is sci-fi, which I also love. Yes, Bound Odyssey is futuristic, but not in the space faring way. I'd love that challenge, although I'm not particularly optimistic about my abilities in that department. Catherine Asaro and Linnea Sinclair are top of my list in that department.
Who knows what the future will bring.
Hi Naima,
Same here n books on the bookcases. I picked up a few (ok it was 10) at Borders and most of them were either paranormal (Nalini Singh's archangel kiss was one of them) to Urban Fantasy to Fantasy. I love a good futuristic and there have been a few (R. Garland Gray is awesome as is Brent Weeks for Fantasy).
I bet you could do a great story with all you enjoy and I would love to read it. *grins*
See no pressure?
Dawn
Like you, I don't write some of my favorite genres. I love women's fiction and chick-lit and used to write both, but I no longer do. I've written so many genres, but now I'm only doing hot contemporary romances. Kresley is terrific - and I jut want to hate her, but I can't, because not only is she talented, she's gorgeous and very funny in person.
I've never read either of those authors but since our reading is so in sync I'm going to try Singh....plus she's been on my TBB list foreva, lol ;) Which book of hers would you recommend the most?
For me, I love sci fi erotic romance but don't think I'll write it in the near future! Maybe one day.
LOL!We just watched Clash of the Titans last weekend, for like the fifth time. OK, so the kids watch it to make fun because let's face it, it doesn't hold up for graphics, etc., and is now super-cheesy, but laugh tho they may, they watch it! And they are remaking it. Can't wait.
My secret writing endeavor? YA. Yep. Someday I'll tone it down enough to write one.
Hi, Michelle!
See? I want to write something like Bound Odyssey one day. Oh. Your world is so awesome...I want that imagination to transfer over into writing--why yes. I am pouting! LOL! I believe I'm going to write that paranormal one day. You can read mine and I can read your sci-fi! Deal?
Ten books?? Wow!! LOL! Dawn, you are my saving grace! I'm going to show my husband your comment and say, look! She bought 10. Now don't my 3 seem like a steal?? *high five* You're my girl! LOL!
Read Archangel's Kiss!! *sigh* Between her angels, the double story line and the love story...I'll definitely be reading it over again. Love it! Oh...and I'm not feeling any pressure *circling collar with forefinger* No pressure at all...LOL!
Hi, Wynter!
Chick-lit. Now there's a genre. I'll read it but writing it? Umm. Not so much. But I give all the credit in the world to those authors that do. It's such a challenge!
Like you, I too would love to do the MEOWR-cat-claws at Kresley Cole but alas I can't. Her books are amazing! Hilarious, sexy, fun and nail-biting. If she's half as funny in person as her characters I bet she's really cool! Nucking Futs Nix! HAH! I love her!!
Definitely read Nalini Singh, Savannah! I mean we already share a voracious lust for Vin (I'm still warning you off him though!) so trust me that if you pick up one of her books you'll be hooked!
Ooh which one? Which one? Her Psy/Changling series is WONDERFUL!! The love stories are sigh worthy. Two of my favorites in that series are Caressed by Ice and Mine to Possess. But I also am a fast fan of her new Guild Hunter series. You just can't go wrong with her!
Oh and of course...did I warn you off Gerard Butler yet? Just making sure...Hee-hee!
LOL!! Dalton, what a coincidence! That was the movie though, wasn't it? I've been waiting on the remake of Clash of the Titans like I did 300!! It looks awesome!!
But hey, back in the day, Clash of the Titans was ahead of its time in special effects! LOL! I don't care! Medusa is still as scary today as she was the first time I saw her!! I can watch it over and over again...
YA? Wow! You know, one day we're all going to look back at this...after we have our paranormal, sci-fi erotic romances, chick-lit and YA books out and say I did it!!
Hmmm ... I would have to say writing in the paranormal genre. I've written one short ghost story, and it was alot of fun, but I haven't mustered up the courage to try it again. Maybe some day. Great post, Naima! :)
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