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Monday, March 3, 2008

Welcome Guest Bloggers Lena Matthews & Liz Andrews

Hi all, It’s Lena Matthews and Liz Andrews coming to guest blog with the Divas of the Dark. When we first received an invitation to blog we weren’t so sure if we’d fit in. Then it occurred to us, we both act like Divas and one of us is Dark. Eureka!!! We were made for this blog. So thanks to other wonderful Divas for the invite.



We dipped our toes into the paranormal pool a year ago January with our release of Myth of Moonlight with Ellora’s Cave, and promptly decided the water was mighty fine. So fine in fact we followed up with Shadow of Moonlight in September and are currently writing Guardian of Moonlight, the third story in our Werewolf series.

Was it as easy as that? One day write story, the next publish a story and then everyone lived happily ever after. HELL NO. Writing a paranormal story turned out to actually be....wait for it...work.

We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into when we decided to write the first book in the Moonlight series. Paranormals should be easy, we thought. World building, peshah. It’s our world we can do whatever we want in it. Man, were we wrong.

Paranormals are probably the hardest stories to write because when you build a world you need to incorporate elements you may never need. But if you forget them, guaranteed you will need them eventually. We discovered, much to our chagrin, we needed make rules for our world and then stick to them.

Looking back on it now it was actually kind of funny when our editor asked us how the Were government worked. We both scratched our heads in bemusement. The government?? How the hell did we know...wait...we wrote it...right.

To add to our problems we decided to have an ongoing mystery weaved through all the stories in the series. Thankfully, this has proved to be one of the favorite elements of readers and one of the hardest to incorporate. We have to stay consistent and remember stuff. We can’t remember which one of us is Liz and which one of us is Lena half the time, how are we ever going to remember who is framing who?

Despite all the drama (mainly from us) we are very proud of the world (as shaky as it is) that we’ve created. And even prouder to announce that Ellora’s Cave has put the first two stories of the Moonlight series into a one yummy bound book entitled Myths and Shadows.

So to all the readers out there, what elements are your favorites in paranormals? What do you like about the worlds authors have built? Let us know what you think. If you post you’ll be entered into a drawing for one free download or one free print copy of one of our books.

Peace and Blessings,

Lena Matthews
When you crave something more
www.lenamatthews.com

and

Liz Andrews
Beyond romance, beyond fantasy, beyond your wildest dreams
www.lizandrews.net

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13 Comments:

Blogger Emma Petersen said...

Welcome Liz and Lena! Congrats on the print antho. Love the cover.

Looking back on it now it was actually kind of funny when our editor asked us how the Were government worked. We both scratched our heads in bemusement. The government?? How the hell did we know...wait...we wrote it...right.
Rofl!

We can’t remember which one of us is Liz and which one of us is Lena half the time, how are we ever going to remember who is framing who?
Hehe.

So to all the readers out there, what elements are your favorites in paranormals? What do you like about the worlds authors have built?
Hmmm...you know before you guys asked I never really thought about it. I do know I have several favorite paranormal authors but I never thought about their world building. Heck, I barely think about my own world building. Hehe.

March 3, 2008 at 3:31 AM  
Blogger Rebekah E. said...

My top favorite element in paranormals would have to be the worlds. I really enjoy the one where there is a portal. It is not just earth but walking through a portal and your in for example a fairy world. One of my favorites is Laural K hamilton's Merry Gentry series. The way she describes the seelie and unseelie courts are amazing. The imagination it takes to make these worlds are mind boggling. What I truely enjoy is when an author is so good at painting the picture of these worlds they create. And as your reading the book it is like you are standing in that world.

March 3, 2008 at 7:24 AM  
Blogger Laura K said...

My favorite paranormal creature is the vampire. Can't beat those blood suckers. Something is so erotic about that for me. I bet I'm not the only one, since vamps are so popular! I'm not gonna stick my neck out....unhuh...no way...well maybe I will!

I also agree with Rebekah who says the "worlds" are her favs. Yes, I do think paranormal authors have great latitude with creating fantasy worlds, rich with characters and tension. Yummmmm

March 3, 2008 at 8:39 AM  
Blogger Pamk said...

I love all types of paranormals and my favorite type of world buildilng is essentially where the paranormals are there in our world but even though norms are oblivious to them. Their world makes sense, is believable, and could actually happen. That could be cause I would love to have my very own vamp or kitty shifter.

March 3, 2008 at 9:25 AM  
Blogger Cathy M said...

Just disappeared into the world of Eileen Wilks, with her new release, Night Season, and love the world that she created for this series. It's basically still a human world, though magic has been poured into,so we get dragons, shifters, elves, gnomes, and people with unique psi abilities. If she ends up throwing vamps in there too, I wouldn't mind at all, her word building is totally fascinating.

I haven't started your Moonlight series yet, but I really liked the excerpts you have up for both books.

March 3, 2008 at 9:31 AM  
Blogger lrhubble said...

Congrats on the release.

I love paranormals because in respects an author can go farther than other genre and still be believable. I love how it gives your imagination flight. I read all different types of paranormals and for me it is fun to see what different authors do with the same types. It keeps the paranormals fresh.

March 3, 2008 at 2:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi all, just got off work so this is the first chance I've had to come post. Thanks to Emma for having us guest blog today.

Rebekah - 1) LOVE the spelling of your name and 2) I am a big fan of the Merry Gentry series as well

Laura - I've thought about a vamp series as well, but I love my wolfies.

Pam - Kitty shifter, now there is an idea worth exploring, hmmmmm...

Cathy - So glad you liked the excerpts, I hope you enjoy the series.

Irwirum - I agree, our imaginations are pushed to the limits with our paranormal series.

Liz

March 3, 2008 at 3:04 PM  
Blogger Savanna Kougar said...

I'm a sucker for any paranormal/fantasy world, and luv creating them. It's such a joy to see how authors individually create their worlds.
Have to be in luv with those kitty and wolfie shifters, since I write about them.
Thanks, for sharing Lena and Liz.

March 3, 2008 at 3:31 PM  
Blogger Lauren said...

Hey Liz and Lena,


I agree about how hard it is to write paranormal worlds. You really do need to think of every detail and have them straight in your mind because eventually, whether in the book or its sequels, you will need them. I think that's part of the fun of writing them though. Please enter me in the contest for one of the books. Thanks!

Warm regards,
Michelle Lauren

March 3, 2008 at 3:49 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Mystery, intrigue, investigating the unknown and finding out that it's actual real and that some of them are sexy to book (vampires, werewolves)shifters. I like Kerri Arthur's world and am really enjoying Tracey Kitts "RED" each of these arthurs allows the readers to grow right along with the characters in their stories and we "the readers" begin to "speak" to them as though we really know them taking an interest into their decisions and choices...rooting them on or trying to caution them...at least in our minds.

Mona

March 3, 2008 at 4:56 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I love paranormals. I love reading about vamps, weres, witches, psychics, dragons, elves,and ghosts. I do love the worlds that the author creates with these books.

March 3, 2008 at 7:43 PM  
Blogger Tawny Taylor said...

Hi Liz and Lena! First, welcome. And second, I want that book! I love, love, love reading series with continuing story lines. Congratulations on the new release!

March 4, 2008 at 6:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Divas of the Dark Blogs - I heartily apologize for our late post, but the winner of our contest is Mona. Congratulations and thanks again for all the comments.

Liz

March 5, 2008 at 5:53 PM  

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