Did you get a kindle or other eBook reader this holiday season? Whether you treated yourself or someone treated you – congratulations! I was the happy

recipient of a kindle last year and I’m just as thrilled with it today as I was then.

(Shameless Plug: if you’d like to load up your new eBook reader with a few great paranormal romance novels, look for Regan Black titles on kindle, Smashwords, or AllRomanceEbooks!)

The best part of an eReader, in my opinion, is the fabulous world building you can do – by building your own library.  The instant availability of so many books, in any genre, is beyond compare. Some libraries are even working with eBooks now – which is terrific news for readers!

Plus, with an eReader, you can take the world building you love with you wherever you roam.

Got a collection of favorite paranormal romance novels by any number of paranormal romance writers? You can have them all at your fingertips, to suit your reading mood from one moment to the next. Some days I’m in the mood for paranormal romance by Kresley Cole, other days I need a dose of sexy, historical romance from Sabrina Jeffries.

Of course, the world building I do with my kindle covers a wide range of indie authors as well as traditionally published authors and I hope you’ll find the same true of your experience with kindle or any other eReader.

The longer I have my kindle, the more helpful and useful I find it. I uploaded my own books – not to be narcissistic, but resourceful!  When I need to verify a description or a reference from any novel in the Shadows of Justice series, I can open the book and do a search. It’s great – and usually easier than pulling the paperback off the shelf, or wading through my file of notes and notebooks.

I believe the kindle and other eReaders have created a wonderful opportunity for paranormal romance writers and readers alike. Enjoy the journey through the vast and available world building now at your fingertips!

Live the adventure!

I read a lot of books packed with magic, creatures of legend and myth, as well as historical and contemporary stories with and without romance and I set some of my own paranormal romance novels in the future.

All my reading and writing has led me to appreciate the many ways authors use and account for magic, psychic, creature legends, and super powers in paranormal romance novels as well as other genres.

For instance, the magic in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series isn’t dissected and analyzed about how much a certain spell drains a wizard’s power. The necessary control and skill is shown through the efforts of the students and the limitations set by the ‘wizarding world’ to keep them safe as they grow.

Simply put, Rowling’s world has rules, but she doesn’t interrupt the adventure to explain them.

I’ve read authors who spend so much time telling me the cost of the magic or power, that it feels intrusive – or worse – that the magic is truly impossible to attain. For me as a reader that makes it harder to stay in the story.

I prefer to dive in, to wallow in the story itself, to enjoy every facet of the author’s paranormal romance world building, without ‘seeing’ the individual bricks of the foundation.

Yes, there should be pros and cons of any magic or gift – it helps build tension and conflict necessary to every good story. But I like it when the good and bad consequences are shown through action or choices made by the characters.

Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark paranormal romance novels feature all sorts of factions of mythical creatures and the gifts and skills inherent to the ‘species’ as well as to the individuals.

It’s fun to escape with her paranormal romance novels because the of the excellent world building. The layers and details within each faction add to the worries and hopes within the specific romantic relationships.

I’ve never felt lectured about a werewolf’s change or a vampire’s preferred method of blood consumption in Cole’s paranormal romance novels because she lets the characters show me how it is and why they do it.

Live the adventure!

“Life is luck. Make it.“  – Mother Theresa (1910-1997)

This quote really speaks to me as an author, particularly as a paranormal romance writer, because it’s not pot o’gold type luck that brings the elements of a paranormal romance novel together to make a great story.

It takes daily effort and determination to write any kind of novel, and when you’re looking for how much of any one element for a paranormal romance novel to add in, you have to make your own recipe.

If you’re a paranormal romance writer -or reader – you know there are countless elements of a paranormal romance novel.

The element can be subtle, like a ‘lucky’ ring that brings marriage to the bearer, as Karen Hawkins did with her Talisman Ring series. These were fun, witty, historical romances that were traditional in every way except the ‘paranormal’ ring.

Or the element of a paranormal romance novel can be an all consuming setting, like an entire subculture of immortal or nearly immortal beings living alongside us in this very world.

Kresley Cole with her Immortals After Dark series, has gifted readers with deep characters and amazing stories, without forgetting the romance element of a paranormal romance novel.

Whether the element of a paranormal romance novel is light luck, or dark subcultures, the romance has to be there.

With enough bad news and unfinished endings in my real world, I like to read – and write – paranormal romance novels with a happy-ever-after. I like spending my work hours or down time with characters who grow together to become stronger people who make their own luck in life.

Live the adventure!

So which element of a paranormal romance novel matters the most to you? The unnatural, supernatural, or happy ending?

I love to read! For as long as I can remember I’ve loved genres from fantasy to nonfiction. I go through phases like any reader, but paranormal romance novels have been a staple on my keeper shelf.

Unless there’s no romantic element in a book touted as paranormal romance. Then I get a little grumpy…until I remember that leaves room for the next great novel in the to-be-read pile.

But I digress.

I’m a firm believer in romance – as a genre and as an important real life factor. If someone sells me a novel, claiming it’s paranormal romance, I want to see, feel, and enjoy the element of romance in that novel.

Of course, as an author, I understand how some novels cross over several genres. I think that’s a good thing, and it’s often particularly true for paranormal romance writers (like me!)

And every writer has a unique view of how to balance the scale between those two elements in their paranormal romance novel. Each story will need different degrees of paranormal adventure and romance.

The element of romance is different from merely the element of physical attraction and personal conflict.

Sure conflict drives the plot and pushes the characters apart and/or together, but when I share a story I loved with another reader, I’m usually focused on the relationship element of a paranormal romance novel.

The creatures and excitement are extremely important, but when I’m reading romance, I’m reading to escape, to get my fix of adventure amid another routine day of school, work, house- and zoo-keeping.

So, for me and my keeper shelf, the romance has to be a significant element of a paranormal romance novel. There are so many authors who’ve delivered delightful stories with varying elements within their paranormal romance novels.

My keeper shelf features books by Nora Roberts, Karen Hawkins, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lori Handeland, Kresley Cole, and Jayne Ann Krentz (aliases included) just to name a few. All of them write books with strong romantic elements sizzling within action packed paranormal novels.

Live the adventure!

Kresley Cole, Lori Handeland, and Sherrilyn Kenyon write wildly different stories using settings within the ‘real’ world we know and recognize. All three of these talented paranormal romance authors have done the research that makes readers feel as if they’ve traveled along with the characters.

Still other authors use an entirely different world for their paranormal romance novels. While this may seem more challenging at first glance, there’s an infinite amount of freedom in the approach.

How do you convince a reader there’s life on the moon? Like maybe a werewolf colony that’s managed to hide themselves from every lunar landing and exploration. Building a brand new world for your paranormal romance can be fun.

The imagination is boundless! Other planets, lost cities, alternative histories and potential futures actually give authors plenty of new, undiscovered blocks to build the special world for their paranormal romance. As long as they stick to the rules of the world they create.

For example, if gravity’s important, explain how creatures cope or defy it. If you introduce a fuel cell, be sure your heroine doesn’t fill up the tank with unleaded on her way to catch the bad guy.

When you’re considering what sort of world to build for a paranormal romance novel, think about the specific strengths and weaknesses of your characters and/or creatures.

Build them a world that will challenge and surprise, as well as assist and comfort them on their journey through the story.

Also, writer know thyself. Consider the things you’re good at. Think about the voice that comes most naturally to you.

Do you have a penchant for the dark and angsty, or would a battle between good and evil land on the page sounding more like a walk through Central Park on a balmy June day?

Whether you’ve got supernatural creatures romping through the this world or humans trying to navigate an otherworld environment, there’s plenty of room for putting your own spin on the world you build for your paranormal romance novel.

Use your innate storytelling strengths as you build the right world for your paranormal romance. It’ll be more fun in both the writing and editing process and your readers will thank you later!

Live the adventure!