Monday, April 28, 2008

Dark Dreams.

What evil lurks in the hearts of men?

Hard to say. It is dark out. The rain drips down, steadily and inexorably. There was a sound before. A gutteral,grunting sound. What creatures prowl the dank, damp night? Is there a world that we of the daylight do not know? Where the bent and wizened travel and commune?

The tales tell of gnomes and dwarves, elves and gypsies. Giants and monsters, vampires, werewolves, and demons of hell.

Have you seen one? What was that flashing in the corner of your eye tonight as you slid the key into the lock and let yourself into the safety of your house?

Beware. You may not see them.

But they are out there.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

What's Your Favorite Monster?

Romance novels these days - and don't get me wrong, I'm a romance author and I embrace all genres - seem focused on the weres and the vamps. But I'm noticing an influx of devils, demons, gargoyles, incubi, succubi, gods and dreamers, angels and dragons and it's all good.

I've been happy to see that whenever the genre starts to head into the territory of tired, tried and true - some funky author comes up with another twist on the old standard. Had enough of the brooding vamps? Let's have a Vegas Vamp with a sense of bling and humor. Had enough of the dark and dangerous female heroine of the night? How about a lonely Succubus?

This is what makes the genre great. New ideas. New blood (sorry). New heroes and heroines.

I have to give a round of applause to the ladies (OK, OK, and I'm sure there's a gent or two out there writing .... Jim Butcher notwithstanding) who won't knuckle under when they hear the words "paranormal is fading". Or fantasy is passe. Or occult is done. Or the vampire novel is losing ground.

Does the expression, "takes a licking and keeps on ticking" mean anything?

Keep up the good work, ladies!

There's no such thing as too many paranormal/fantasy/occult novels - especially when you look at the real world around you! Trust me - there's nothing like escaping the everyday world with a little apocalyptic mayhem and armageddon madness!