Escape into Fantasy

I'm a firm believer that everybody needs a little bit of fantasy in their lives. It doesn't matter if you're a writer, reader, or TV watcher. Anything that allows us to escape from our immediate reality into another is a form of fantasy, at least to me.

Take TV shows for instance. Some are sitcoms, others sci-fi, fantasy, or horror (and so many more I haven't named). But no matter the genre or plot line, if you become absorbed in the show, you're temporarily stepping out of your comfy slippers and into the heads of the characters on-screen. Same for reading and writing--and maybe for most any activity where you get that 'flow' going.

Hmm, I think that may be why music speaks to so many of us. Even if we're not stepping into someone's life, we can mentally put ourselves in the same situation whether we've lived through a similar experience or not.

So even if you've never liked fantasy, I believe with my definition, everybody loves a little of it! Of course, I also love the fantasy genre, but that's a discussion for another post!

What your favorite escape from everyday life?


Now on to a little bit of blatent self-promo. This Feb, Bound by the Mist, a full-length fantasy romance, is coming out! I'm self-publishing this one. I'm just waiting to get my hands on the cover art, and then I'm good to go!

Bound by the Mist is a story I truly love, and I hope that any who read it will agree. Realistically, I know that's not possible, but I can dream, right? To learn more about the story and to read snippets and excerpts, drop by http://lisakumar.blogspot.com/ or http://lisakumar.com

Before I go, I'll share the blurb:

A magic that's fading

Relian has lived a life that hasn’t changed in millennia, and he likes it that way. As Prince of the Erian people, he has his conscripted duties. And a human, even one as desirable as Cal, does not fit into them. But as the enemy darkindred knock on the borders and the magic of his people fades, he might just have to find room.

A love that's binding

College Student Cal Weston spends a good portion of her time trying to keep people from thinking she's crazy, including herself. And with good reason. But her carefully constructed reality is turned upside down when she discovers that Relian, the seductive Elvin prince who has been starring in her sensuous fantasies, isn’t merely a myth and his magical kingdom really exists. Now she’s bound to an elf and stuck in a land where no one, least of all Relian, is willing to spill any answers about the truth of her arrival.

Two people, two worlds meet in the mist

Even as love grows between them, can they lay aside their differences to embrace a life together? 

Thanks for stopping by!

~Lisa~

A Lying, Cheating...Hero?

While browsing for books on Amazon, I’ve come across a few customer discussions that never fail to grab my attention. These discussions sound so delightfully guilty and sinful, I just have to take a look. You may be asking, “What’s she talking about?”

The answer: betrayal of the worst kind, the death knell that makes me hurl a book across the room--a lying, cheating hero, or in some cases (though it seems far rarer), a heroine. To take a look, visit: don't shoot me!!! 2. From there, you can visit the other discussions that spawned this one.

I abhor these kinds of books, yet I stay plastered to the screen reading about them. I guess they speak to the realistic part of me, the part that says fidelity isn’t always a given. It can sneak into even the fantasy that is the romance genre. While romance reading is an escape, there’s a demand from some for hard-hitting reality, and I think the cheating hero fills part of that space. Who can’t name at least one or two people in real life who’ve experienced this sort of betrayal? I’m sure you can, whether you have direct experience or just second-hand knowledge from a close friend or relative.

I’ll readily admit that I like my hero faithful from the moment he knows he has the “hots” for the heroine. But I can see the allure of wrapping up a harsh reality in the fantasy of romance books, all happy endings guaranteed. And that—a happy ending—so often lacking in real life, always awaits us at the end of a romance.

~~Lisa~~

Escape into Fantasy

A Hero—He Either Has It or He Doesn’t

My post is going to piggy-back ride on Casea's Oct 14 post about knights in shining armor. As a romance writer, I spend a lot of time thinking about what makes the perfect hero.

When I’m reading for pleasure, either a hero ‘has it’ or falls way short. It’s not always a quality—or three—I can define. But I do know I want that character to thrill me, make me sigh. Basically, I need a hero who can make me feel. And yes, that includes the lows, as well as the highs. If he can take me on that rollercoaster ride of falling in love, I’m his.

When I’m writing my heroes, they do change according to the book and the heroine involved. But one thing remains—he’s crazy in love with her. This means he’ll do what’s in her best interest, no matter the cost to him, at least toward the end of the story. Heroes who can’t make that kind of sacrifice just don’t cut it in my eyes.

What makes or breaks a hero in your book? When a hero ‘has it’, what’re the qualities that shape the almost mythic vibe that our dream heroes emit?

Photo: Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What's in a Character--Part One

Developing a well-rounded character can be a challenge. In my opinion, a recipe for good characterization includes dialogue, actions, thoughts, and emotions.

Is this list comprehensive? I'm sure it isn't, and I look forward to hearing how you make your characters come alive.

While I’m separating these four factors into their own category, each is inter-tied and can’t, or at least, shouldn’t exist without the others. Originally I was going to post this article as one entry, but it became too long and unwieldy. So I’m separating it into two parts:

Part 1 -- dialogue, actions, thoughts

Part 2 -- emotions

Now on to the fir

st part!

Dialogue

Dialogue helps define your characters’ personality. How they talk clues us in to a lot of details -- a general location of where they may have grown up, how educated they may be, what they’re feeling, and so on.

Each character should have a distinct talking pattern. As we all know, a person growing up in Ireland sounds different than a person who was raised in the States. Even within one country, though, there are so many different dialects associated with geography and socio-economics.

Actions

I’m not talking about fight scenes. Any movement or action that places our character in the world outside her mind is enough to fulfill the criteria. We need action in our stories to ground the character in her surroundings.

Otherwise, every scene might as well just take place in a giant white room. Setting the mood and tone with the character’s surroundings is a beneficial tool in characterization. I go more into this below in the Thoughts section, so read on!

Thoughts

Thoughts are a front seat to the character, as they illuminate emotions and what the character plans to do next. The downfall with thoughts, though, is when a writer stays too long in a character’s

mind without letting the reader see the fictional outside world.

To avoid this, we need to add in some kind of movement or action. Have the character notice and interact with his surroundings in a way that reflects his mood. If he’s happy, he might notice and admire the bright sky while walking outside. If angry, the same bright sky may annoy the heck out of him. Or you may choose to echo his mood with black clouds roiling overhead. Also, if the character isn’t alone, have him strike up dialogue.

Do you have any ‘favorite tricks of the trade when it comes to weaving in dialogue, actions, or thoughts to character development? If so, share them

here!

Please join us for the second part next month.

Now for a little self-promo. I just released a short fantasy romance that's a good read for Halloween. Read on to learn more!

Here's the blurb:

Nora Barrons has experienced increasingly sensual, life-like dreams of a Sidhe male after his appearance to her at the fabled Hollow Hills as a teenager. That autumn encounter left her fey marked--and violently sick whenever she attempts to be intimate with any man. Now, seven years later, she arrives at the Hills to search for the mysterious Fae and end his hold over her once and for all.

But what Nora finds there threatens to rend the very fabric of her life. With his potent allure, Tillon is hard to resist, and so is his reason for fey marking her. She'll have to decide whether she can accept the mark or turn away from it--and Tillon.

Links:

Amazon

B&N

Promo done!

Thanks for reading!

Food, Sex, and Violence--Does Your Character Need Some?

I had an interesting discussion with a friend about what usually makes for a riveting story. On some group or another, she came across the comment that sex, food, and violence are often woven into story lines, albeit in differing measures and proportions.

This made sense to me, as they're all basic drives and speak to the human condition. What gets more primal and raw than sex and violence? They're definitely attention grabbers. Even if these happenings make us uncomfortable, we often can't look away, at least for long. They grip us and hold us in thrall.

And food? Not only do we need it to live, but food can be highly sensual, say, in a romance or highly disturbing in a horror flick.

For romance readers and writers, the most important basic need is undoubtedly love. But other primal drives add conflict and richness to a love story that would otherwise be lacking.

Because ultimately, we humans always want something, and our fiction should portray that. I guess it really does come down to GMC (goal--what the character wants; motivation--why character wants it; and conflict--what's stopping the character from having it).

So everyone go pick up a good book and get your drive on!

Lisa Kumar

http://www.lisakumar.com/

Boxing Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Couple eating apple: Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

E-Book Giveaway

To win all you have to do is join the blog and answer the following questions and email them to me at tabithablake@ymail.com But please be sure and leave a comment for the authors and let them know how much you appreciate their generosity. Winner will be picked tomorrow at midnight central time. 


Unfortunately blogger erased my original blog and I had to redo it. Now it won't let me load pictures. Sorry about that. I  really wanted to post the cover art but you can see the cover art on the author's websites. I apologize for this inconvenience. 


This contest is open to everyone. One winner will walk away with all five books. Good Luck!


Lisa Kumar
Will be giving away an e copy of Through the Rabbit Hole.
Where did Lisa grow up? You will find the answer on her website in Lisa's about me section.
www.lisakumar.com


Renee Rearden
Will be giving away an e copy of Moonlight Bleu.
What does Renee do for a living? You will find the answer on Renee's website in her about me section.
http://www.reneerearden.com


Daryn Cross
Will be giving away an e copy of Millicent, Frozen Assets or Full Moon Rising. Winner's choice. 
What is the name of the family in The Cash Chronicles? You will find the answer on Daryn's website on the home page.
http://www.thecashchroniclesseries.com/


Bobbye Terry
Will be giving away an e copy of Rose.
What is the name of the book she has coming out in June? You will find the answer on Bobbye's website on the home page.
www.BobbyeTerryRomance.com


Stormy Knight
Will be giving away an e copy of After Midnight.
What is the name of the book Stormy has coming out in June? You will find the answer on Stormy's website on the home page.
www.StormyKnight.net


Happy Reading and Writing,
Tabby