I recently saw a post about how romance was ruining urban fantasy. What's your take? Do you like a little romance in your urban fantasy? Or would you prefer it straight up?
I'm about 10k into what I think is an urban fantasy, but I'm on the fence about the romance part. I'm actually leaning toward leaving out the romance, especially if it turns out this could be the first of a series. Would a romance muddy it up? If there's a romance, should it continue throughout the series? Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!
Wow, I love this review. It's especially gratifying when the reviewer "gets" your work, which is absolutely the case with this BookWenches review of Surfacing:
There is something about mermaids that tickles our imagination. Many of us loved the Ron Howard movie Splash when it came out in the 1980s, and the tale (and ‘toon) of The Little Mermaid has enchanted countless little girls. These mythical creatures resound with romance and whimsy, and if you're as fascinated by them as I am, then I’ve got a treat for you: Cate Masters’ novel Surfacing. This is a very well-written and involving story that features a young man who has lost his sense of direction in life but who regains his self-esteem, his family, and his future when he meets and falls in love with a mermaid.
Ms. Masters’ writing style is smooth and effortless in Surfacing, providing a comfortable and enjoyable read. I found myself drawn to her characters and their world almost immediately, and within a few pages I became completely lost in the story. Not only are her characters well-rounded and believable, but so is the setting.
Ms. Masters has a knack for well-executed yet understated emotion; I found watching AJ and his grandfather bond to be quite moving.
Surfacing is a delightful, entertaining, and touching read that will have readers rooting for the young hero and hoping that somehow fairytales can come true. This is more than a romance: it is a coming-of-age story that will linger in my memory. I truly enjoyed every page, and I think that if you decide to read it, you may as well."
The Book Boost kindly opened their blog to me today. I'm discussing how to build a character from the inside out. How do you construct your characters? Come over and share your secrets!
Woot! My fantasy novel, Surfacing, is now available in ebook format from Whiskey Creek Press. A print edition will be available soon.
I finished this trailer over the weekend. It's one of the shortest I've created, but I think it does the job well. What do you think?
Here's an excerpt: “Look out!” a woman screamed as the gator closed in. Something slammed into his stomach and whooshed him beneath the water. A second slam, more like a thud, and he thought it was all over. For both of them. The thing gripped him without hurting him somehow, but moved so fast, AJ thought his body might break from the pressure of the speed. It felt like hurtling through the canal on an underwater express train, rolling as they went. As his lungs felt near to bursting, they slowed and surfaced. Whatever held him released him by propelling him face-down onto a grassy bank. Gasping for air, he scrambled up the side to escape it, but his arms and legs flailed, more spectacle than anything. “What were you doing?” a girl’s rich, full voice asked. He glanced over his shoulder, still grasping at the bank for leverage. He fell to the grass, stunned. Instead of the ugly head of an alligator leering at him in a crocodile smile, the girl, even more gorgeous up close, leaned her hands on the bank and lifted herself up. Her wet hair clung to her chest and waist. Too many questions flew through his head at once. “What?” he managed. “You could have been killed. Why did you do that?” Her green eyes sparkled like emeralds flecked with onyx. Her long dark hair framed her porcelain face and rosebud lips. His chest heaved. “You’re kidding, right? I saved you.” She burst into laughter. Like bells tinkling, like music. Fascination turned to irritation. He risked his life for her. “What? That alligator would’ve killed you.” This made her laugh all the harder, her laughter like a melody he couldn’t quite place, though familiar. The alligator drifted toward them on its side, like a log. Unmoving. Unconscious. She giggled. “It won’t hurt you now.” AJ glanced downriver to where the boat should have been. “What happened? Where’s the boat?” He held a hand to his head. He wished she’d stop laughing. The sound got inside his brain, jumbled his already knotted thoughts. And every time she looked at him, her eyes hypnotized him—their whites so clear and bright, the green shone like gemstones. Like no other eyes he’d ever seen. Glancing upstream, she smiled. “Right where you left it.” “No. I left it right there.” He still couldn’t catch his breath. Or his mind. She twisted up and sat on the bank. “No, you left it around the bend. Remember?” As she turned her head, her hair shifted, revealing the curve of a breast. AJ blinked, thinking his eyesight might have been affected by the impact. But he could see as clear as ever. The old biddy was right. “You’re not wearing clamshells.” Her glittering eyes snapped to his. “What?” His mind raced. If this girl was what he thought she was, he wanted to get closer. He slumped on the bank, letting his feet slide closer to her. “What are you doing out here? You’re not with the show.” She tossed her head, and her hair swirled across her like a glossy curtain, tantalizing him. She edged toward the water. “No.” The end of her tail rose, then swished beneath the canal. For a moment, he’d caught sight of it, the colors exactly as Grandpa had described: iridescent, ever-changing, like rich silk. He shifted closer for a better view. The transformation from skin to tail was seamless. Undetectable. It was no costume.
