Natural History Museum
This, for me, is where it all started. I probably wouldn’t have written my Enemy series of zombie books if I’d never visited the place. When I was a kid I loved coming to London for visits, and I have very vivid memories of going to the Natural History Museum. My father tells the story that he took me on an outing to the museum when I was very young and lost me. After a couple of very anxious Read More »
Note From the Editor: This is the first installment of an ongoing series of articles on the Steampunk genre and what it means to different authors, artists and readers. Today’s guest blog is from author Lisa Falkenstern. I hope you will all give her a warm welcome and answer some of the great questions she has posed.
I know I am trespassing here, as this is a blog dedicated to authors. I am an illustrator by trade. I have painted book covers for many years, so perhaps not trespassing, but living next door. I am now an illustrator and author since I have written and illustrated two children’s books. The latest book is an alphabet book done in steampunk, Professor Whiskerton Presents Steampunk ABC.
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When thinking of YA books that have been turned into movies, the obvious the first thoughts are usually Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, or perhaps the recent Divergent – all of which are series that are packed with action and adventure. One doesn’t necessarily think of a touching dark comedy about a pair of teenagers who meet in a cancer support group when they imagine the next great YA success, and they certainly wouldn’t register a film like that as a “must see” summer movie for most of us. However, Read More »
Editor’s Note: Welcome to the final installment in the “What is Urban Fantasy? series of guest blogs. Stay tuned for our next series “Defining Steampunk” coming in June.
Many writers offer the advice to “Write what you know.” Let’s be honest. The real world we know and live in is boring. We see it every day, and all too rarely does it ever change. This simple fact is what makes urban fantasy so exciting.
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The Cityscape of Fantasy
If a book or story started with: “With no moon, the night was blacker than a crow’s wing. As discarded newspapers scuttled down the dingy sidewalk, my breath quickened. I glanced at a puddle at my feet, and saw the flickering neon sign behind me swallowed by a dark form. It was Read More »
Kill your darlings.
Those words have a lot of different interpretations. Most writers take them to mean something more figurative—find your favorite phrases, words, those little quirks in your writing, and cut them. Slash away at those gems you believe are so wonderful. Leave them on the editing Read More »
Friends To Lovers and all the Hoopla In Between
One premise I’ve always loved in romance novels is the friends to lovers scenario because the connection is so obvious and yet the hero and heroine are so oblivious. The reality is there’s no one that knows you better, has already disregarded your issues, big and small and still Read More »
Subgenres within genres can often blur the lines even more than their main genre counterparts do. Where it’s usually easy to tell the difference between science fiction and fantasy, things can get murky when trying to figure out if a story is an Urban Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, or a Paranormal Romance. The reason being is you can find elements of all three within each Read More »
I tend to be invited to do “guest appearances” for a number of blogs aimed at writers, but when Rachel and I first decided I’d pop in here for a chat, she told me, “Be sure to aim your post at readers not writers.”The Murky Waters of Defining Urban Fantasy
I still remember reading my first urban fantasy, Blood Price by Tanya Huff. The heroine homicide detective Vicky was okay, but I was fascinated by the vampire, Henry Fitzroy. I’d always loved fantasy, but other than Dracula, I’d never read any vampire fiction. I was hooked.
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Read the next installment in this series with author Ally Shields by clicking here.
I was first introduced to Urban Fantasy in the form of Lilith Saintcrow’s Dante Valentine series. I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. It featured a hardcore, gritty, in-your-face heroine who could easily kick ass and take names, even when dealing with the devil himself. After that I went on to read Saintcrow’s Jill Kismet series and my love for her work was cemented. To me, Urban Fantasy means an inner-city setting for at least part of the book, characters that could be just Read More »
Urban Fantasy…so is that like Lord of the Rings?
As one who writes in Urban Fantasy, you would not believe how many times I’ve actually been asked this question. Every single time, I try not to heave a huge sigh or roll my eyes, because that’s just mean. My answer…”No, it’s fantasy in a modern, urban setting.”
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Urban Fantasy a combination of the ordinary world with the extraordinary world. It’s a blend of elements that we’re familiar with, the small town, the large city, the school prom, the detective dressed in a duster, or even the subway system.
Have you ever wondered what it might be like to go to school with a wizard? Might liven up math class, right? Or if you had a coworker who was a vampire? Imagine if he asked you to go out after work for a drink or a quick bite to eat.
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Magic and Witchcraft in Glamour
I’ve always been really interested in witchcraft for some reason, so it’s not surprising my first published novel would deal with witches. When I was a child, I used to go to the library and read everything I could on the European and Salem witch trials. I remember sitting in the kid’s section hiding low down in the stacks and surreptitiously reading about thumbscrews and the rack. When you’re six or seven years old and you’re reading this stuff, it sort of sticks with you. Read More »
Fans have been delighted with the Game of Thrones television show. In fact, up until the moment of the Red Wedding, during which many threw up their arms in shock, or just plain disgust, most readers had given the series’ television adaptation the nod of approval. Visually speaking, the show has successfully brought to life George R. R. Martin’s intricate worlds. Read More »
Once upon a time, romance was the genre that kept us going through long days of work and long nights of waiting for Prince Charming. Women were committed to that Disney-fueled dream of finding happily ever after with the man of their dreams and this was reflected in the novels we chose to read. While love is still all-powerful, we are seeing a new heroine emerge in the guise of urban fantasy and I, for one, welcome the change.
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Books have been turning into movies since the earliest days of the silver screen, so it’s no surprise to see so many books-turned-films today. This year, many fantasy books are slated to become new movies — but before you take in this year’s upcoming flicks, why not read the version that came first? Here’s a look at some of the key book-based fantasy films coming soon:
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The line between urban fantasy and paranormal romance is thin—sometimes too thin. The two genres share a number of characteristics—supernatural creatures, dangerous situations, and fantastical settings. Where the two differ, at least in my opinion, is their approach to relationships and violence.
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Thank you Rachel for having me at Bitten By Books today! I am thrilled to share information about my upcoming novel, Turned! It is the first book in my new paranormal romantic suspense series, The Belladonna Agency.Her hand shot up from the back of the audience.
My co-author and I had just completed a reading of gothic poetry when the Q/A had begun. Half way through the queries on our histories as authors, a slight woman, with curly rusted hair, threw a hesitant hand upward. Read More »
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