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I just discovered this forum and have enjoyed reading the various posts. I’m hoping for some feedback to two questions:
1.) Does anyone know anything about the possible Tor line of paranormal romances? I’m a published writer of historical romances, and am interested in writing fantasy, with romance as a subplot. I’ve begun work on my idea, but I feel as though I’m forcing the mystical elements into the mortal world I’ve created. Which leads to my second question; 2.) Any suggestions on what books I should be reading? My world-building skills need improvement. Ellen Kushner’s book, THOMAS THE RHYMER, sparked my interest in writing fantasy.
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The July/August issue of ByLine magazine has an article by Beth Fowler entitled, "Inside Information on Writing for TOR Books Paranormal Romance."
Posts: 1810 | Registered: Jun 2002
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Jayne Ann Krenz has some books out that I think are good. You will find them in the Mystery section of second hand book stores, but they are fun and combine romance in them in addition to the paranormal side. - she also writes under a few other names, like Jayne Castle, and I believe Jayne Krenz.
I think Laurel K Hamilton does a great job also.
Also, Harlequin is starting a line for paranormal romance, I believe, you might want to check them out.
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Anne McCaffrey is also my recommendation. Her first novel, "Restoree", is a sf/romance. Her Killashandra books (starting with Crystal Singer) have already been recommended. Her Dragonriders of Pern books also have romance woven in (the first three would be great - Dragonflight, Dragonquest, The White Dragon), and they are more "fantasy" oriented than sf, though as you read more of them the sf comes in. Actually, alot of her sf/f books have some level of romance - her newer Freedom series, as I recall the Powerlines series... you get the idea. She is great at world building. She has also done strict romance, so you could say she is a great example of a cross-genre writer, regarding romance, sf and f!
I'm sure I could think of others - if you are looking for straight fantasy (magic, not spaceships, for example), I will have to think harder...
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Your replies have inspired me - thanks much! The only writer of these that I've read is Jayne Krentz, but only her Amanda Quick books. Will definitely be checking all of these out, plus the BYLINE magazine, that's a new one to me, too. Didn't know P.K. Dick's work inspired BLADE RUNNER & TOTAL RECALL. What an imagination! And L.K. Hamilton's Merry Gentry series totally intrigues me (I like when first chapters are posted on the Net). Again, thanks!
Posts: 87 | Registered: Sep 2003
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Well, I think you might want to try anything that involves fantasy/scifi. You obviously already know the romance side of books, so it would seem to me that some true fantasy or scifi would be just as valuable.
Tolkien would be one that has went to extremes of world building.
Nivnen Ringworld series is quite a concept as well.
OSC has many good books, I would suggest "Treason" and "Enchantment" which are incredible also. "Ender's Game" is very good, but OSC does do other books that are just as good.
Weis & Hickman do quite good work, as well as R.A. Salvator.
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To Lord D. - thanks for this! Tolkien and OSC I've read, but the others I've not. I'm new at all of this and appreciate the names of writers and the feedback.
I'm wondering what the greatest strengths of these writers is in the world building part.
Plus, how do these writers seemlessly transport characters from one world to the other?
Also, what is the consequence of moving from one world to the other...or does there even *have* to be a consequence?
In writing my own story, I'm thinking that there has to be a consequence if, say, a Light Elf moves into the mortal world to enact a change.
Again, I guess this is the "world building" stuff that I need to focus on...
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talking about world building... Asimov's books are great... especially if you read all of them, because although they don't seem to go together, they really all do. - strange though that was to find out.
Another one to read as far as a good world built which includes time travel is Diana Gabaldon. - not sure where you will find her in the bookstore, since it seems that no one can figure out where she really belongs, and she is hard if not darned impossible to find in second hand bookstores.
Also some others for world building that I think are good are: David Drake, David Weber, John Ringo, Elizabeth Moon, and the more traditional Arthur C. Clark, Robert Heinlein. HG Wells and Jules Verne also did great jobs at world building, though their approaches were very different.
Robin Hobb does a good job, and her books are thoroghly enjoyable, but I'm not sure what I would put her in a level of "great". - as far as I recall, she has romance, but no sex in one book, the others don't have romance... but they are great books anyway.
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Actually, you might want to start with "how to write fantasy and science fiction" by OSC.
I think it might answer a few questions about how you go about it. And some of the ways that can help in determining what you need to write it. Tolkien needed a complete history of the world, as well as unique languages, and complete maps. If most writers today went through all that trouble we would have a serious lack of new books.
Do try one of Nivnen's books, don't go for the Kizinti ones since he only edits thoughs. Try ringworld, or even "Legacy of Herrot". Then read "The forever war" by...Haldeman. And read a good 10 different authors so you can see how unlimited the potential is. Some authors create their universe, at least in terms of commonalities and rules. They apply them to a large majority of their books even though the books are not closely related or part of a series. Andre Norton did this quite a lot in her scifi books which were all mostly stand alone novels. There is no real rules for creating your story world other than make some rules and stick with them.
I remember reading in a Notes section of the only fantasy book Nivnen wrote. He said that he had a hard time writing fantasy since he could not grasp a world of magic. He could grasp allot in space and planets.
So determine what style you can most relate too in your mind. You might do well with both scifi and fantasy.
When it doubt, read another book by another author.
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Hey don't forget Minority Report - Philip Dick at it again. He died penniless and basically pyschotic. Wonderful writer, absolutely fab.
As for Orson Scott Card and Tolkien, equally fab authors, but their works tend to not have as strong romantic themes. Will agree that they do world-building well.
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Another recommendation for Card's "How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy" (copyright 1990) is he gives you what amounts to a starter's reading list, which he admits is incomplete, but not a bad place to start. It is of course a little dated - he includes William Gibson as one of a group of writers who are so new they only have a handful of titles...
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Jane Ann Krentz writes all her paranormal romances under the Jayne Castle pen name. Orchid is good. Others are not -- Crystal Flame <shudder> I don’t know how many romances I’ve read that try to be science fiction/fantasy that are horrible.
It should work! As a writer of historical romances, I would think you’ve already got a foot in the door to transitioning to a fantasy setting. You’re used to working in a world not quite like our present one, with it’s own rules and expectations. For fantasy, you’ve just got to make your own rules.
As a fan of both genre’s, I think you're on the right track with focusing on the the world building and the application of that world building. Coulpe of things I've seen in the Romanace novels with SF/F that ruined them for me: Not everything is about the sex/Male-Female relationship with regards to the world building, and it seems that gurp syndrome is rampant (If it’s a rabbit, call it a rabbit, not a gurp). It usually seems that the worst sorts of SF clichés are dug up as well. (Sorry, bit of a rant there from someone who has been disappointed more than a few times. I'm very excited to see what TOR is going to do with their line, since they are Fantasy at the base.)
Examples of Romance Novels that I think got it Right: Jude Deveraux -- Knight in Shining Armor (Time Travel), Wishes (Fairy Godmother) – she’s also got some other’s with a paranormal slant I haven’t read. Seems like Christian Dodd had some decent ones too, but I can’t really remember too much about them anymore.
Examples of Romance Novels that did NOT get it Right for me: Crystal Flame, The Wizard of Settle
Some Fantasy books you might enjoy: The Kushiel Trilogy, by Jaqueine Carey (First book is Kushiel’s Dart) -- an epic alternate history, with several romance/dark erotic elements. Also published by TOR, so would give you an idea of what at least the main line is interested it.
Robin McKinley -- The Hero and the Crown, The Blue Sword, Beauty are all stunning (If you can’t find them in the SF/F area, try YA, but don’t let that dissuade you.) Strong fantasy stories, all have a romantic element to them.
Stephen R. Donaldson -- Mirror of her Dreams and A Man Rides Through. Modern woman drawn into well-thought out fantasy world. Romance part of plot.
Science Fiction: I second (third?) the recommendation about Anne McCafferty’s books –Dragonflight and the rest of the Dragon Rider’s of Pern trilogy along with the Harper Hall books, and Crystal Singer and its sequels especially.
Connie Willis -- Doomsday Book, Passage, To Say Nothing of the Dog – Smart, witty, highly researched science fiction with historical settings, often a touch of romantic character interaction.
Frank Herbert -- Dune Space Epic, highly developed world, lots of character interaction.
Some great "How-To" for SF/F: How to Write Fantasy and Science Fiction – Orson Scott Card. The "Writing the Craft" Articles as www.sfwa.org
Gina
[This message has been edited by GZ (edited September 14, 2003).]
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This is all great stuff - thanks so much! I spent my day first at a bookstore looking for the books and authors mentioned, and then online doing the same. Am poorer now, but oh, so much richer! There are nuggets of wisdom in all of your replies and I'm copying and pasting as I read through them. Am definitely jazzed by all of your inspirational help. What a truly giving forum this is! I even wrote more of my synopsis this evening and am feeling better about melding the magic with the mortals...though I *clearly* have lots of reading and thinking to do. (I like the advice of reading at least 10 authors' works.) Thanks again. And do know that if anyone is seeking advice on writing romance, I can help - or at least offer my thoughts. As for P. Dick dying penniless and psychotic, what a shame. Here's hoping some ancestor somewhere is reaping royalty checks from the works that he spun oh-so-long-ago and have been such hits in movie theaters.
Posts: 87 | Registered: Sep 2003
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