Storytelling, Sarcasm and Steam
Now that I’ve been writing for a few years I’m discovering more and more that definitions are far too fluid to be able to set in stone. What one person considers terribly racy and suggestive barely makes another person yawn. With the recent increased exposure for erotic stories, I’m still thinking about this—what makes one person say that a book had “oh my gawd hawt sex” and the next person simply says “meh”?
Expectations have a lot to do with it. If I hear something is awesome, great, incredible, I’m going to compare to what I’ve already experienced that meets that criteria for me. And then I’m going to make a judgment call. Bottom-line, it still comes back to OUR expectations, and our past experiences. Which means the old axiom of “You can’t please everyone” still remains truth.
So, in a seemingly total change of topic—but not really—what do you think about paranormal stories? I ask because here too there are expectations and past experiences that colour our thoughts. I will admit it: I’m not a vampire fan. I’m also a wimp, and dark, frightening stories put me off. So for many years when people talked about loving a paranormal series, I didn’t pay any further attention. I’d TRIED reading a paranormal. Someone got killed in the first three pages, their soul sucked away to the eternal abyss of pain, and the hero was wiping blood from his mouth and—**shudder**
Okay, let’s think about rainbows and ponies for a while. Better? Me too.
Not that dark books are bad—they can be beautifully written, with exquisite plotting and character development. But they aren’t for ME. And that experience coloured all my thoughts of paranormal. Until one day…
I read a Shelley Laurenson book.
Paranormal? Yes. Well written? Yes. But most important to me, it was funny as spit. I got kicked out of bed for giggling so hard I was shaking the bed and woke my husband. That book changed the way I thought about paranormal series, because while some are dark and full of vamps, some are sheer out fun and full of people I’d like to meet in real life.
Just like the steam level in sexy books can will be judged on what you’ve already read, there are a wide variety of paranormal stories that have different elements. Darkness, sexy alpha males, complex world building. Or…there’s the Takhini Wolves and Granite Lake Wolves, my version of stepping into the ‘other’ side. Shifters with sarcasm and steam. Also powerful Alphas, but they’re more likely to be involved in a bar brawl after shooting moonshine than a bloodletting.
Next Tuesday SILVER MINE releases. If you’re not a huge paranormal fan… (because the darkness scares you? You’re not into weird world rules?) …this is a different kind of book to try.
Who knows? You might find something totally unexpected. You will find sex—although of what heat level, you’ll have to be the judge.
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Silver Mine:
Takhini Wolves, Book 2
If a tree falls in the forest, duck…
Life in isolation is the safest place for Chase Johnson, a crossbreed who doesn’t know which form he’ll assume next—cougar or wolf. Once a year, his unelected position as spokesman for the Yukon outcasts forces him to visit civilization. This time he runs across someone unexpected. She’s not his mate, but she pushes all the right buttons.
It’s taken years for Shelley Bradley to gather the courage to return to her home pack. In spite of being the lowest of the low—a shifter who can’t shift—she’s determined to make a place for herself as the Whitehorse locals’ new vet-slash-doctor.
There’s definite electricity between her and Chase, but sex with fellow shifters and the inherent mind games got old a long time ago. Ignoring him seems best. When he shows up at her office with a wound that won’t heal, she’s stuck—yet drawn to solve this medical mystery.
As they journey deep into outcast territory in search of answers, their powerful sexual attraction crumbles her resistance. But time is of the essence. If a cure can’t be found before his human and cougar succumb to his injury, he—and others like him—will die.
Warning: Contains a silver-tongued, hairy-chested, lean-muscled Alpha who’s got what it takes to lead in the wilderness and in the bedroom. Yeah, I know…not really much of a deterrent, is it? Throw in continuing territorial wars and a domestic cat. Stir and enjoy the chaos.
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Vivian Arend in one word: Adventurous. In a sentence: Willing to try just about anything once. That wide-eyed attitude has taken her around North America, through parts of Europe, and into Central and South America, often with no running water.
Her optimistic outlook also meant that when challenged to write a book, she gave it a shot, and discovered creating worlds to play in was nearly as addictive as traveling the real one. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of both contemporary and paranormal stories, Vivian continues to explore, write and otherwise keep herself well entertained.
Vivian Arend: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
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Question: DO you like paranormal books? If you do, what kind is your favourite? If not, what’s the one issue you dislike about them? I have an ebook copy of the 1st book in the Takhini Wolves, BLACK GOLD, for one commenter, (or if you don’t like paranormal, winner’s choice of a backlist contemporary ebook. Because fair is fair. 😉
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OMG. How can anyone NOT love PN and those hot, hunky, sexy shifters??? 😳
PN is one of my very favourite genres. I think Alpha-Were’s would by my 1st choice with Alpha-Vamps almost neck-in-neck. Hard to chose between the two! 😈
Gayle
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Yes, I like paranormal books. Paranormal romance is definitely my favorite genre. I love stories about shifters, vamps, demons, and angels. I don’t really have a favorite because I enjoy all of them so much.
danni0113@gmail.com
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I admit to being a paranormal junkie who reads anything within that genre, but I will also read any kind of romance book as well. I have to agree with you on the Shelley Laurenson books though, because she happens to be an absolute favorite of mine. She is an amazing writer, and her shifter world of characters are awesome. I don’t think I’ve ever found a book that has made me laugh quite like her books do, and yet still have the steam factor I’m looking for as well.
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I love PN. For me, they are the adult equivalent of fairy tales because the author isn’t limited by reality and can let their imagination fly.
Shelley Laurenson makes me laugh out loud, all the time. The interaction between the female characters Dee Ann, Cella and Dez is tears streaming down your face funny more often than not. I adore Nalini Singh and her Psi/Changling series as well as her Guild Hunter books.
Vivian is one of my favorites! Her shifter books are fabulous and those characters stay with you.
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Oh dear lady I love your books. I have been collecting Wolf Lake, and love each and every one. Re-read them too. I love paranormal books. Will be looking into the Silver Mine when it comes out. I love they way you tell your stories. I must admit I love Shelly too! That girl can really make you laugh. Too many times I feel like shes talking about me!
You keep writing, I’ll keep buying! Thanks for all the good reads. 😉
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I have not had the privilege of reading any of your books but, after all I have read on here your books are right up my alley.The next stop I make will be to the book store to pick this series up!!!! 🙂 😛
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Already in the TBR pile
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Yep! Paranormal is on my read list. Can’t say I have read Shelley Laurenson yet… but will be looking into this author. I find Mary Hughes very entertaining and funny. Her “Bite” books made me roar with laughter. I have also read your books, Vivian. You have been on my read list for awhile. I like any book that is well written whether just romance or paranormal. A paranormal erotic romance, well then we cover a lot of bases. I just love to read, and I read a bit of everything. Keep writing. I enjoy reading! Thank you.
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I got started on them and got hooked. Now it seems like I cannot get enough…This one has now been added on my need to get pile… 😆
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I love paranormal books. All kinds and types. There is so much variation in them and that they allow that the stories are just endless.
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I recently finished reading Black Gold and I loved it. I read paranormal because it is not everyday life. I like that anything goes. Thanks for the giveaway! jepebATverizonDOTnet
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I love PNR and have read and loved all the Granite Lake books & the first Takhini Wolves book. I do love the sexy alpha guys of paranormal books (also the Betas, Omegas, and other hotties 😉 ) Anyone who has not read these books needs to do it now if you like some hot shifters.
Congrats on the upcoming release. It is already on my must buy list!
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I love paranormals any and all kinds but lately my favorites are shifters. Love your other wolves and would love to win the first in this series.
scrtsbpal at yahoo dot com
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I did not like paranormal books until I read read books by Kate Douglas and R E Butler. Now, just love reading them, and always on the look out for authors writing paranormal. Vivian,s book Silver Mines looks terrific.
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Currently reading How to Drive A Dragon Crazy by SL and have the worst time trying to stifle the laughter–but on my morning commute on the subway, laughing by yourself is kind of okay!
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I LOVE paranormal books – vampires – werewolves – werewhatsis. what I DON”T get is urban fantasy – talk about dark & depressing. I’ve tried several — I LOVE the authors but just can’t get INTO those. 👿
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I SO love paranormal books! My Nook and my bookshelves carry mostly paranormals. LOVE them!!!! Hubby has threatened to howl just to get my attention. :p
This series sounds wonderful!!! I am going to have to search it out.
Stacy Wilson
dragn_lady at yahoo dot com
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Hmm, I’m still contemplating ‘funny as spit’…interesting concept, lol. I will have to add both your books and Shelley Laurenston’s to my teetering TBR pile. I don’t mind giggling while I am reading although my hubby does give me the strangest looks sometimes but I don’t like reading vivid descriptions of blood and gore! I do love paranormal romance, not as crazy about urban fantasy although there are a few series that I follow. Thanks for visiting, sounds like a great read…especially since I am not used to reading about cougar shifters!