Monday May 31, 2021
Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:
PG Forte writes magickal tales of love from yesterday, today, tomorrow. A little steampunk, a little supernatural, a little sci-fi...and a whole lotta heat!
Monday May 24, 2021
Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:
Tuesday May 18, 2021: Author Deborah Bailey discusses the importance of conflict to your story and your characters.
Thursday May 20, 2021: Summer vacation coming up? Author Maureen Bonatch has your vacation reading needs covered with her new story, Curses, Cats and Corpses coming soon!
PG Forte writes magickal tales of love from yesterday, today, tomorrow. A little steampunk, a little supernatural, a little sci-fi...and a whole lotta heat!
Conflict is necessary for a story. That's a big reason why the "enemies to lovers" trope is very popular. The point where the "enemies" realize they have more in common than they thought is the basis for many books (as well as movies and TV shows).
There's something about the conflict that's exciting. We want to see the characters lower their guard and fall in love.
But stories can't just be the main characters fighting with each other. Or breaking up because they failed to have one conversation. After a while that's not going to be much fun to read about.
The problem might be that authors may not be sure what the real conflict is. Here's an example of what I mean. If your hero has been hurt and is afraid to be open, is that really a conflict? Sure, it can lead to conflict. But that isn't the one reason why the characters are in conflict with each other.
Instead of focusing on the hero's broken heart, how about going deeper? Maybe his issue isn't because the other relationship failed. Perhaps there were other factors that led to the failure. Maybe he had a loss of confidence due to other life experiences. If the hero's real conflict is within himself, his growth within the story can work for him. He can have the happy ending and fall in love again.
Of course, during this journey there will be conflict between him and his significant other. And that character will have their own growth as well. Both main characters will have to do the work to be ready to have the HEA or HFN that comes at the end of the story.
If the conflict is just the main characters making up to break up over relatively minor issues, it's may become boring. There should be more going on underneath - more conflict within the characters and more opportunities for them to grow.
When your story has romantic elements (but isn't a romance) you can make the same choices. Their relationship may not be the main event in a story like that, but it shouldn't be an afterthought.
The main characters may be in conflict because they're working together to solve a mystery or go on a quest. They'll have conflict and may even go their separate ways (temporarily). That's to be expected. But you can bring them back together to reach their shared goal while keeping the romantic conflict going.
For instance, in a mystery maybe your characters are chasing a criminal because they work together to solve crimes. They disagree over the next action to take and they split up. Conflict between them - and their methods - breaks them apart. Their romance would add another level of conflict for them.
They'll have to deal with it on both the personal level and the professional level. That can make for a very exciting story as emotional sparks fly while they pursue their quarry. In this case the conflict might be even better because they have to actively work through it, while reaching their shared goal.
The inner doubts and fears and the outer obstacles will force characters to grow. No matter the trope or the genre, conflicts are necessary and make a story worth reading.
Writer, podcaster and author of fiction & non-fiction books.
DBaileyCoach.com/Brightbooks
Monday May 17, 2021
Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:
It didn't come because of man's inhumanity to man. It didn't come from bombs, or plague, or even from aliens descending from outer space. In fact, no one knows what triggered it. And even if they did, there was no way to turn back time.
Only one thing was certain. One evening the sun had grown unexpectedly bigger and hotter, and heat and radiation unlike anything ever experienced washed over the Earth, bathing it in searing rays that devoured over three-quarters of the world's population.
Now the sun is smaller, and it doesn't radiate as much heat as it used to. The world is colder. Food is scarce, and people are fighting to stay alive.
Andrew Michael Tollson, aka "The Silent Wraith", was a man who roamed from settlement to outpost to city, offering his protection from scavengers and renegades. Years ago, right before the sun had exploded, when he had been a boy growing up in a small Texas town, he had felt his first crush for the little tomboy he knew as Jo. Now, as a grown man, he has finally made his way back to his boyhood home to see if Jo is still alive, or if she has been a victim of the Apocalypse. He has to know if the dreams and memories he has harbored were mere fantasies, or if the infatuation he'd felt then has grown into something else, something stronger and more tangible.
JoBeth Wythe was a member of The Triad, three leaders who protected their little settlement, and tried to recall the carefree days before the Apocalypse. All they wanted was the chance at a decent life, with enough food, some shared warmth, and a little hope for the future. She had never forgotten the pudgy little kid who had followed her around when she was growing up, the little boy she called Mikey. Every time she thought of him, it only brought back pain and a wistfulness for a past that no longer existed.
For Drew and Jo, it was only a matter of time before they would be reunited to fight together. To survive together. And to discover that the innocent kisses they had shared as children had grown into a love that would overwhelm them with desire.
Warning! Contains permanent extreme cold, love everlasting, survivalists, separation, a legend in the making, a brutal mass murder, childhood friends to lovers, and the end of the world as we know it.
PG Forte writes magickal tales of love from yesterday, today, tomorrow. A little steampunk, a little supernatural, a little sci-fi...and a whole lotta heat!It didn't come because of man's inhumanity to man. It didn't come from bombs, or plague, or even from aliens descending from outer space. In fact, no one knows what triggered it. And even if they did, there was no way to turn back time.
Only one thing was certain. One evening the sun had grown unexpectedly bigger and hotter, and heat and radiation unlike anything ever experienced washed over the Earth, bathing it in searing rays that devoured over three-quarters of the world's population.
Now the sun is smaller, and it doesn't radiate as much heat as it used to. The world is colder. Food is scarce, and people are fighting to stay alive.
Andrew Michael Tollson, aka "The Silent Wraith", was a man who roamed from settlement to outpost to city, offering his protection from scavengers and renegades. Years ago, right before the sun had exploded, when he had been a boy growing up in a small Texas town, he had felt his first crush for the little tomboy he knew as Jo. Now, as a grown man, he has finally made his way back to his boyhood home to see if Jo is still alive, or if she has been a victim of the Apocalypse. He has to know if the dreams and memories he has harbored were mere fantasies, or if the infatuation he'd felt then has grown into something else, something stronger and more tangible.
JoBeth Wythe was a member of The Triad, three leaders who protected their little settlement, and tried to recall the carefree days before the Apocalypse. All they wanted was the chance at a decent life, with enough food, some shared warmth, and a little hope for the future. She had never forgotten the pudgy little kid who had followed her around when she was growing up, the little boy she called Mikey. Every time she thought of him, it only brought back pain and a wistfulness for a past that no longer existed.
For Drew and Jo, it was only a matter of time before they would be reunited to fight together. To survive together. And to discover that the innocent kisses they had shared as children had grown into a love that would overwhelm them with desire.
Warning! Contains permanent extreme cold, love everlasting, survivalists, separation, a legend in the making, a brutal mass murder, childhood friends to lovers, and the end of the world as we know it.
Every Thursday night at 9:30pm I gathered with friends in
the student center at Ithaca College. Seats went quickly, so you had to get
there early. Some camped out as early as 4:00pm to make sure they had seats.
Others grabbed comforters and pillows from their room and claimed their space
on the floor. The show was wildly popular, stretched the imagination, and
captivated viewers (well at least the college crowd where I was). We all waited
for those iconic words and the host Rod Serling as he introduced, Twilight
Zone.
"You're traveling through
another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind; a
journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's
the signpost up ahead is our next stop,
the Twilight Zone." — Rod Serling
We were fortunate at Ithaca College. Rod Serling taught on
campus, screening his own work and mentoring students. He provided feedback on
student scripts and projects and every once in a while appeared in their films.
After his death, his wife donated some of his work to the
college and resulted in the Rod Serling Archives at Ithaca College. This is the
largest single collection of his television scripts and screenplays. The college
is the proud custodian of his six Emmy Awards.
Today, May 11th we celebrate Twilight Zone Day. The episodes
were mysterious, weird, surreal and perhaps a little scary. His stories made
social and political statements relevant for then and scarily so today. Judge
for yourself with this, the closing epilogue for the “The Monsters Are Due on
Maple Street.”
“There are weapons that are
simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices, to be found only in the minds of men.
For the record, prejudices can kill, and suspicion can destroy.”
Twilight Zone Day was a quick pleasant remembrance of being away at school, being with friends I haven’t seen for many years, and having a fan girl moment with an imaginative creator.
* * * *
The Guardian’s Witch
by
Ruth A. Casie
"Ruth A. Casie has woven an extraordinary story of a brave
knight, a beautiful heroine, a King, a mysterious crest, and [magical] visions.
Oh mercy! What more do you need??? Absolutely nothing! Don't miss this
journey!!" ~ L. Cook
England, 1290
Lord Alex Stelton can't resist a challenge, especially one
with a prize like this: protect a castle on the Scottish border for a year, and
it's his. Desperate for land of his own, he'll do anything to win the
estate—even enter a proxy marriage to Lady Lisbeth Reynolds, the rumored witch
who lives there.
Feared and scorned for her second sight, Lisbeth swore she'd
never marry, but she is drawn to the handsome, confident Alex. She sees great
love with him but fears what he would think of her gift and her visions of a
traitor in their midst.
Despite his own vow never to fall in love, Alex can't get
the alluring Lisbeth out of his mind and is driven to protect her when attacks
begin on the border. But as her visions of danger intensify, Lisbeth knows it
is she who must protect him. Realizing they'll secure their future only by
facing the threat together, she must choose between keeping her magic a secret
and losing the man she loves.
Buy Link: Amazon
Ruth A. Casie is a USA Today bestselling author of
historical fantasy and contemporary romance. She weaves exciting and
beautifully told legendary tales that are both rich and engaging. Her stories
are full of, ‘edge of your seat’ suspense, mind-boggling drama and a
forever-after romance.
Monday May 10, 2021
Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:
Thursday May 6, 2021: Author nicole Luiken discusses the pros and cons of series recaps.
PG Forte writes magickal tales of love from yesterday, today, tomorrow. A little steampunk, a little supernatural, a little sci-fi...and a whole lotta heat!There are many different kinds of series. Some are like episodes of a TV show, with the same cast of characters and a different plot with perhaps some overarching plots. Some are like chains, switching romantic leads every book. Some are like one massive story divided for the convenience of the reader (and the physical limit of paperbound books).
I have some of the massive-story fantasy books on my TBR pile right now. Some of them have been waiting for a while--not because I'm not interested in the story, I am--but because it's been months or years since I read the last book in the series and I'm daunted by how much I don't remember. The main characters, sure, often a few plot events. And many authors are good at dropping in little reminders in the early pages of later books. But the details? (And sometimes those can be vital.) The names of the minor characters and their relationships to each other? Not so much.
My husband has suggested taking notes while reading book one, but that seems like a lot of work, plus I'd need a filing system, so I don't know how practical that is. Plus, it doesn't help with the books in my stack now.
I've noticed a lovely trend with massive fantasy tomes such as Brent Week's Lightbringer series: the recap. At the front of the book there's a section titled What Has Gone Before, that summarizes previous books in the series. I LOVE THIS. Can we normalize this, please? Authors often have synopses already written, just lying about... Or the recap could be on the author's website.
What do you think? Would you read/like a recap for a series, or not? Or just the huge fantasy tomes?
I wrote my first book at age 13 and never stopped. I write SF/fantasy and paranormal for both teens and adults. My latest novel is Feral.
Yes, it's once again time to greet one another with that time-honored greeting: May the Fourth be with you!
I've been thinking A LOT about Star Wars lately--episodes 4 through 6--the ONLY episodes that exist in my world. Because they're so beautifully plotted. Individually they each follow a standard 3 act format, but TOGETHER--they also follow a standard 3 act format. Which is a technique I'm TOTALLY borrowing for my current project; a long neglected story I've titled Love Among the Runes, which features a city cop who's been accidentally possessed by the spirit of an ancient Norse god.
I'm planning on releasing the first act (AKA the first story in the trilogy) in August and I'm soooo freaking excited about it!
Here's a little sneak peek.
What do a Norse god, a Dixie cup and a hot blonde have in common? They're all instruments of one man's destruction.
Meet Officer CJ Maclaine, currently serving a life sentence as vassal to the Norse god Loki. For the past fifteen years, CJ has had one goal in life: find a way to free himself from the trouble-making god who's been making his life a living Hel.
But when he finds himself suspected of murder, and it looks like the next victim might be his partner, CJ realizes there are worse ways to go through life than with a deity on speed-dial.
Officer CJ Maclaine is having a rough week. He's managed to piss off nearly everybody he knows--including his commanding officer, his partner, her brothers AND his favorite bartender. Worse yet, the bully who'd tormented him when they were both kids has just crashed back into his life--and is looking for a handout.
And that's all before the demigod who's taken up residence in CJ's head discovers the dark web and starts using it to trade in cryptocurrencies and illegal drugs.
Some days it really doesn't pay to get out of bed.
Read an excerpt HERE
PG Forte writes magickal tales of love from yesterday, today, tomorrow. A little steampunk, a little supernatural, a little sci-fi...and a whole lotta heat!
Monday May 3, 2021
Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:
Tuesday April 27, 2021: Author Linda Mooney shares an additional scene from her HEARTFAST series.
MATTOX
The D'Jacques Dynasty, Book 3
Futuristic/Post-Apocalyptic Romance
By Linda Mooney
Word Count: 61.4 K
$3.99 e / $9.99 p
Every
five years, Yulen D’Jacques, Battle Lord of Alta Novis, holds a conference to
continue strengthening relations between the Normals and Mutah. Both battle
lords and Mutah councilmembers from far and wide are invited in an effort to
prove how important they could be to each other, and to dismiss any
misconceptions Normals may still have toward the people they once considered
their inferior enemies.
This
time, it’s determined Mattox D’Jacques, Battle Prince of Alta Novis, should
take on some of the responsibilities of running the conference. After all, he
eventually will be the one to take the reins from his parents, but his Mutah
“tell” usually scares people off rather than gains him respect.
Caralas
Edge is the battle princess of Vega City, the biggest compound in the west. But
she doesn’t want to just be a princess, and have someone coddling her because
of her title. She can hold her own. It’s moot anyway. She knows she’ll never
take over Vega City, fearing someone wants to get her father out of the way so
they can claim it for themselves. She’s long had her suspicions, but her father
will hear none of it.
She
and Mattox clash like two swords when they first meet. They’re too much alike
in temperament. But when the red-eyed battle prince saves Caralas’ life, they
discover the danger is not over. It seems someone is interested in the inner
workings of the compound, and it’s more than a little suspicious. But who? With
this many battle lords in attendance, trouble is sure to be found.
A
possible takeover is brewing, but everyone is completely taken off guard when
faced with an enemy no one can fight off. And when it becomes a battle to the
death, Mattox and Caralas discover a deeper connection between them than they
ever thought possible.
PG Forte writes magickal tales of love from yesterday, today, tomorrow. A little steampunk, a little supernatural, a little sci-fi...and a whole lotta heat!
