Author Patrice Michelle on Free Will vs Destiny

Does prophecy equal destiny? Patrice Michelle talks about her SCIONS trilogy from Silhouette Nocturne and how it explores the notion of predestiny versus free will…

By Patrice Michelle, author of Scions: Insurrection

The definition of “Prophecy” is as follows: Prophecy is the prediction of future events or the speaking of divine words (divine Revelation) through chosen human messengers (prophets).

When I sat down to write my Scions trilogy, each story was intended to stand alone, but I wanted to make sure all three stories were also tied together, not just through the characters’ interacting in their own story and then returning to play roles in future books, but through unveiling bits and pieces of an underlying prophecy that comes to light as each story progresses. Not only does the prophecy act as a running subplot to the overall trilogy story arc, but what I liked about working with a prophecy goes back to the definition I gave above.

Once the characters in book one, Scions: Resurrection , discover the prophecy’s relevance to them, it’s now up to the characters in book two, Scions: Insurrection, to work their way through the meaning behind the prophecy as it relates to them.   In writing these two books and then the final one in the trilogy, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed exploring the concept of destiny versus will.

What do I mean by that? Well, a prophecy is a prediction of the future, but does that mean that the outcome is predestined? Does one have a choice? Or do the people, who are flawed and fallible, with their own motivations and desires, bend the prophecy to their will by their own perceptions and ultimate actions? Or is it a combination thereof?

That’s what the underlying core of my SCIONS trilogy is about–not only are these books action-oriented, sexy romances with a mystery to solve, but they’re about how following one’s strong beliefs and “desire” to make things happen collides with the normal course of nature. The result is a learning curve of collaboration and cooperation, where the characters are forced to make choices and decisions that will hopefully leave them in a better place at the conclusion of their own personal stories as well as the over-arching trilogy storyline once it’s finally revealed in the third book SCIONS: REVELATION.

I hope you’ll check out my books and follow my characters’ adventures, discovering the answers to life and love in their dark, dangerous and seductive SCIONS world right along with them.

All the best, Patrice Michelle

Author Michele Hauf’s Sexy Familiar Meets Hot Werewolf

What is a familiar, and why would she fear having sex with a werewolf? Michele Hauf, launch author for Nocturne Bites, explains…

By Michele Hauf, author of Racing the Moon

My latest short story, Racing the Moon, features a sexy alpha werewolf on a desperate race against the full moon to put himself safely away from anyone who could be harmed when the beast inside him emerges. Unfortunately — or rather, fortunately for romance fans — his car breaks down and he’s stranded alone with a sexy familiar who would love to help him keep the werewolf at bay with a little sexual healing, but she doesn’t want to release deadly demons in the process.

Sound interesting? Confusing? What the heck is a familiar, you ask? And why the demons?

My concept of familiars begins with the age-old myth of a cat being a witch’s familiar. Centuries ago, women suspected of being witches were often accused of being in league with the devil if they had a pet cat. They were hung for the offense, and the cat could even be burned alive or strangled.

Whew! I’m glad I didn’t live hundreds of years ago. I love my two cats (Sebastian and Toast). And even though there are days when I suspect they may be in league with the dark forces, I feel privileged to have them in my life.

So I took the cat as familiar idea and morphed it into a shape-shifting human (most often females) whose main purpose is for bridging demons from the dark realm into the mortal realm. How is that done, you wonder? Well, the familiar (in human shape) must be receptive to allowing the demon to come through her body and manifest — which means that familiar needs to be completely and utterly sexually sated. Are you beginning to see where major complications could come into play when the familiar finds a man she really loves and wants to have sex with him? 

It would be cruel of me to curse my familiars with this awful side effect all the time. So naturally a familiar has nine lives. The first life is all about learning to master the bridging. By about life number three or four, they’ve become experts at controlling their craft, and sex doesn’t have to result in the sudden appearance of a horned nasty thing. But the heroine of Racing the Moon is still experiencing her first life, and she hasn’t mastered the art of bridging demons.

Do you think a werewolf will be scared off by a few demons? Heck, can a wolf even get along with a cat? I hope you’ll check out the story to learn more!

So what kind of paranormal heroines would you like to see that haven’t been done yet? Have you read about familiars before? If you’re curious, I’ve an excerpt of the first chapter available at my website. Also look for updates and upcoming releases at my blog.

-Michele

 

Author Bertrice Small’s Wild and Sexy Faeries

Paranormal romance meets fantasy when author Bertrice Small shares her thoughts on creating the world of Hetar…

By Bertrice Small, author of The Sorceress of Belmair

Several years ago my agent said to me, “Do you think you could write something paranormal? I suspect it will be the next hot trend.” I told him I wasn’t into wolves or vampires. What did he think of a faerie tale?

I’ve made my reputation writing good historical romance novels with accurate history, a good story, and characters that readers seem to like. It wasn’t that I was getting bored, but I really was ready for a challenge. And so The World of Hetar came into being. Hetar, as many of my readers have figured out is an anagram for earth. But whose earth? And earth in a far distant past? Or an equally distant future? Even I can’t tell you the answer to that.

I have had, am having a great deal of fun creating this world, and the characters who people it. LARA, the first book in the series, began it all. It is the story of a young woman’s adventures as she pursues her destiny. Lara is the daughter of a mortal man, and a faerie woman. In Book II, A DISTANT TOMORROW, Lara continues on her mystical path, now widowed, and the mother of two children. She remarries the ruler of Terah, and finds herself involved in the politics of Hetar.

With Book III, THE TWILIGHT LORD, Lara suddenly finds herself unable to use her faerie powers, and at the mercy of a powerful lord who rules the dark side. Of course she triumphs. And now we come to Book IV, THE SORCERESS OF BELMAIR in which Lara’s eldest son, Dillon, now grown and a great sorcerer, is called to Belmair, a distant world from Hetar. Belmair’s great dragon, Nidhug, has chosen Dillon to be Belmair’s new ruler, and the dying king’s daughter, a sorceress named Cinnia, will be his wife.

The characters who people these books are such fun to write. Ilona, the queen of the Forest Faeries who is Lara’s mother. The great Shadow Lord, Prince Kaliq, a sexy, mysterious man who is Lara’s mentor. Lara’s talking horse, Dasras, her singing sword, Andraste and the staff she carries with an elderly spirit named Verica. There is a proper villian in Gaius Prospero, a great Hetarian merchant lord, and his ambitious wife, Vilia. Not to forget his duplicitious secretary, Jonah. Lara’s husbands, Vartan, the great chief of the Outlands, and Magnus Hauk, the Dominus of Terah. Lara’s father, John Swiftsword. But right now I would have to say my favorite is Nidhug, the great dragon of Belmair who has a taste for gourmet meals, and great sex with her lover, Lara’s half-brother, the faerie prince, Cirillo.

If you like wild and sexy faerie tales you are really going to enjoy the books in The World of Hetar. I am having one helluva time writing them. And as I begin Book V it would appear the ride isn’t over yet.

-Bertrice

Free Werewolf Story: Nocturne Bites launches!

By Jenny B, Digital Content Manager

The first Silhouette Nocturne Bite, Racing the Moon by Michele Hauf, is on-sale now and a number of fellow bloggers are featuring it in their posts today.   Midnight Moon Cafe has an interview with Michele Hauf, and Dear Author is offering readers a chance to win a free copy of this eBook! Vampire Wire has a great roundup of blogs that author Michele Hauf will be guesting at, and the eBook has been reviewed by the Smart Bitches as well!  Also eHarlequin’s eBookstore has the eBook on sale for just 89 cents — in case you don’t win a free one. 

 

Writing Opportunity Update: Tips From the Editor!

Interested in writing for Nocturne Bites? Thinking of submitting your story? Read this first! Associate Senior Editor Ann Leslie Tuttle shares her list of the most common writing problems and reasons that submissions don’t make the cut.

By Ann Leslie Tuttle, Associate Senior Editor, Silhouette Nocturne and Silhouette Nocturne Bites

Nocturne Bites provides us with a wonderful opportunity to showcase exciting new talent while building our existing Nocturne series authors. I’m constantly scouring our electronic slush pile for that great voice and story to present to our readers. And I want to thank all of you who have submitted to Nocturne Bites.

While it’s been exciting to see such an enthusiastic response to the line, it’s also been disappointing to have to pass on so many projects by obviously talented writers. Fortunately, Michele Hauf’s Racing the Moon (available May 1st) will soon provide an example of exactly what editorial we’re seeking–and I might add set a high standard in the process. But it’s our hope that this brief overview of some of the most common writing problems I’ve seen in the Bites we’ve passed on will better acquaint potential writers with our acquisition needs.

Tone. These are dark romances about characters realizing their love while they face and overcome larger-than-life situations. It’s high drama and, as the conflict escalates, so do the emotional tension and sensuality. Unfortunately, some of the recent submissions I’ve rejected have been too light in tone and more reminiscent of paranormal chick lit by bestselling writers like Mary Janice Davidson. Last Wolf Watching by Rhyannon Byrd or Scions: Insurrection by Patrice Michelle–both of which are available in Nocturne this month–are great examples of the type of editorial we’re seeking.

Plotting. Just as the word “bites” implies, these are short paranormal romances for the busy reader. But they still need to pack the full flavor of a Nocturne. Within the space of 10,000 to 15,000 words, writers face what seems to me a daunting challenge of setting up a special world, introducing readers to their protagonists, and outlining both the emotional and external conflicts. By the novella’s conclusion, the skilled writer has tied up all the loose ends and made sure there is sufficient basis for the protagonists to realize their love. And she’s certainly won my admiration in the process! Reunion romances can work well since the protagonists have a past. And for paranormals, the sense that the heroine is the hero’s destined mate and/or the strength of the attraction they feel can make the declaration of love at the end highly believable.

Characterization. The Nocturne Bites hero reminds me of a Medieval warrior. He’s pure Alpha and, although he can be demanding, arrogant and mysterious, he’s commanding, worthy of respect and impossible to resist. The Bites heroine is strong but she possesses a certain vulnerability. And, although she may have special powers that actually make her more powerful than the hero, it’s the hero who helps her recognize and accept her abilities. Both characters should be well developed and sympathetic to readers.

Sensuality. These romances can be highly sensual, but the story should not be all about their lovemaking and short on actual plotting and character development.

Pacing. Because these stories are action-packed and mission oriented, there is not much room for much extensive scene setting, introspection or interaction with secondary characters. The opening will ideally hurl the reader right into the heart of the story and take her on a whirlwind ride until she reaches the breathtaking conclusion in which the protagonists confess their love and the threat they are facing is overcome. It’s important that the writing not become episodic as the author tries to make too many leaps to move the story forward.

Point of View. Lastly, these novellas should provide both the hero and heroine’s POV. However, you might watch that it doesn’t become too formulaic with each chapter ping-ponging between the hero and heroine’s POV. And, just to make an obvious point, their POV should ring true to their character and his/her experiences.

Since the large volume of submissions we’ve received has not permitted me to personalize our rejection letters, I hope this overview will enable you to tailor your novella to meet our needs. I’m constantly looking through our submissions and hope that I will soon be working with some of you. In the meantime, I wish you all the best with your writing careers!

 -Ann Leslie Tuttle

Author Sharon Sala’s Healing Dreams

What inspires an author to write a paranormal plot? Bestselling author Sharon Sala talks about the dream and the love that were her inspiration for the paranormal elements in her latest novel, The Healer. 

By Sharon Sala, author of The Healer

The Healer was a dream. It started with a wolf bringing a baby into an Alaskan hunting camp. I wish I could tell you why and where these “dreams” come from, but I can’t. All I know is that I’m forever grateful for them.

My fiance, Bobby, who died in June of 2005 used to talk about Alaska all the time. He, along with thousands of other men back in the 1970s, helped lay the Alaska pipeline. His stories about the tundra and the hardy people who called it home were fascinating to me.

He used to say he was going to take me back to Alaska some day and show me all the places he’d come to love. He was Native American of the Muscogee (Creek) Indians and told me so many things about the Inuit people of Alaska that he identified with.

His stories and my dream became one book, The Healer. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I loved writing it.

-Sharon Sala

 

Werewolf Lovers: Check This Sexy Cover!

By Jenny B, Digital Content Manager

Into sexy werewolves? You’ll love this!  In case you haven’t already seen it on Michele Hauf’s website, here’s a sneak peek at the first Nocturne Bites cover, on sale May 1st:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isn’t it gorgeous??  I love how the hero is captured mid-transformation, and manages to look both hunky AND tortured — every muscle rippling as he fights with every ounce of his being against his curse…

Yum!

Author Merline Lovelace’s Telekinetic Mind Games

What if your true love could read your thoughts? Known to romance fans for her action-packed, sizzling romantic suspense, former Air Force officer Merline Lovelace tackles telepaths and telekinesis in her newest paranormal romance novel from Silhouette Nocturne, Mind Games…

By Merline Lovelace, author of Mind Games

Mind Games, my April release for Silhouette Nocturne, is a little different. I got the idea after reading a book called Men Who Stare At Goats. It’s about the US Army’s experiments in the early sixties with psychokinesis — aka telekinesis and remote influencing. The military hoped to find a way of getting into the enemy’s head. I know, I know! It sounds really whoo-whooy and far out. But then again…

The more I researched psychokinesis, the more fascinated I became. Especially when I discovered that one of my alma maters had set up an institute to study just this kind of psychic-related phenomena.

Yep, the revered, ivy-covered Princeton University, which I infiltrated as a subversive female several years before it officially went co-ed, funded an interdisciplinary group of scientists and engineers to study mind over matter.

So of course I had to make the hero of Mind Games a Princeton professor. The heroine is his former graduate lab assistant, now a USAF undercover operative. She’s not real thrilled about having to work with the man she believes used his psychokenetic skill to seduce her. Throw in a half-wolf, half-dog, a missing scientist, and a megalomaniac billionaire, and the fun begins.

I hope you enjoy reading Mind Games as much as I enjoyed writing it!

-Merline

 

Werewolves or Werecats: Who’s Your Mate?

By Jenny B

We’ve been paying a lot of attention lately to were-creatures like werewolves and werecats in Rhyannon Byrd’s and Rachel Vincent’s books, and that got me to thinking: who would my ideal paranormal romance hero (or heroine) be — a werewolf or a werecat?

What would you choose?

NYT Author Rachel Vincent’s Rogue WereCats

Are you a werewolf lover? Prolific paranormal romance author Rachel Vincent’s latest novel, Rogue – which just debuted on the New York Times bestseller list! — features a different breed of paranormal protaganist: WereCats!

By Rachel Vincent, author of Rogue and Stray 

In Stray, my first release, I wrote about Faythe Sanders, a young, passionate werecat who still had a bit of growing up to do. In that first book, she learned what it truly means to be independent, and how freedom isn’t really free. It comes with a lot of responsibility, and a duty to help those who can’t help themselves. Of course, in Faythe’s case, it also came with an opportunity to kick some serious bad-cat tail in the name of her Pride.

In Stray, we saw Faythe make a couple of very important choices, one regarding her career, the other involving her personal life. So what can we expect from her in Rogue, the second book? I’m glad you asked…

Faythe has promised to serve as an enforcer for her father for two and a half years, and she takes both that promise and her new job very seriously. And as it turns out, she’s pretty good at what she does. She’s now working alongside her brothers and fellow enforcers–yes, including Jace!–trying to figure out who’s killing tomcats, and how those murders are connected to a string of missing human women. Fortunately, she’s a fast learner.

As for her love life…well, that’s a little more complicated.

We all make mistakes when we’re young, and Faythe is no exception. But in her case, one of those past mistakes is intruding on her present and making a real mess of both her job and her personal life, leaving Faythe to try to fix things before anyone else pays to right her wrong.

Faythe and Marc truly love each other, but as their job gets hectic and difficult truths come to light, they begin to wonder if love will be enough to hold them together. Because this time, taking responsibility for her past might just derail Faythe’s entire future. She has a choice to make, and it won’t be easy. But then again, for Faythe Sanders, nothing ever is…

Things are getting tense in the werecat world, and we’ll see even more of this in Pride, the third installment. Faythe is in the unique position to change her world for the better, but like all great changes, this one will come at an immense personal cost. A revolution is on the horizon, and Faythe will be leading the charge-if she lives long enough to see it.

I love seeing the world through Faythe’s eyes, and every time I finish writing one of her stories, I can’t wait to dive into the next one. So if she sounds like someone you’d like to get to know, I hope you’ll pick up Stray and Rogue.

And for those of you who already have… Welcome to the Pride…

-Rachel

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://rachelvincent.com/

http://www.urbanfantasy.blogspot.com/