Now presenting...

This is a brief introduction to the five stories that I am currently trying to wrangle with. All of these characters and ideas have been in development for at least two years or more. It is an attempt to formally organize their structures, with the goal in mind to actually complete something (maybe I should begin a writing rotation...?)

DONAHUE

      Genres: urban fantasy, romance

      Paranormal Element: fairies (aka fae), banshees, vampires, werewolves, etc. - I'm pulling out all the mythological stops with this one! ;-)

      Description:
      Donahue's story is actually planned as a series of three books - when she first popped into my head, and I began to delve deeper into her life and her world, I just knew that one book wouldn't do it justice. Now I just have to figure out all the tangled plotlines...

NIA

      Genres: high fantasy, slightly militaristic fantasy, mystery, romance

      Paranormal Element: elves, fairies, and one very annoying vampire

      Description:
      Nia began life, like most of my characters, from a piece of art that I found on the internet (and now I cannot find it again for the life of me - argh!). The character, the woman portrayed, was dark-haired, staring at the viewer as she wiped the blood from her sword. Something about that glaze drew me in, and I drew together the strands of her life, slowly at first, through scenes and interactions with other characters. She gathered a family - distant parents, adoring grandparents, and two beloved younger brothers (one of whom hero-worships his sister, despite his own rise to prominence) - and eventually, a partner.

      Nia has so many stories to tell that I'm not quite sure which one to write about. Though the arrival of Mac (her partner) in her life is quite important, that's not what her character wants to reveal.

SOLACE

      Genres: paranormal, romance

      Paranormal Element: trickster character, psychic powers

      Description:
      The Solace storylines were conceived from the desire to try and write a Harlequin (aka: a traditional romance). I've developed the characters (there are six-ten pairings) and a history of the town; at one point, I was even flirting with the idea that it could be condensed into a book of short stories. Currently, this project is stashed away...

KEE

      Genres: paranormal, romance

      Paranormal Element: Witches, werewolves, vampires, magic

      Description:
      Kee is unusual - her story does not follow the usual romance guidelines:

"To be considered in the romance genre, a novel should adhere to the following criteria:

* the story must contain a relationship and romantic love between two people
* the story must have an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending."
[from "Romance Genre" article on RomanceWiki; italics my own]

      While I'm no way arguing that Kee does not (and will not!) have "...an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending" (she does; I've written half of it! ;-) she does not have one partner - she has two.

      Kee's story is about her relationship with her two mates (they're werewolves) and her development from a crippled outcast who has retreated from the world into a strong, protective woman who finally accepts her life - and her heritage; it is neither erotic romance or erotica, both of which often focus on multiple partners (among other things...).

      It just happened that Kee's life is with her mates - both of them.

THE DRAGON LORD

      Genres: high fantasy, romance

      Paranormal Element: dragons, magic, sorcery, shapeshifters

      The dragon lord's story evolved from a Dungeon and Dragon's inspired backstory about a sorceress turned wandering scholar. Slowly, the story's focus has shifted from her to him. He is a reluctant hero; only desiring his solitude, his rescues unwillingly, only to be pulled (kicking and screaming) into the world beyond his home.

      Both the dragon lord and his sorceress are (still!) unnamed.