Then life intervened. Sales were slower than we expected (considering the amount of time I was putting into marketing and events). My dad died and my husband was deployed for 18 months.  As a suddenly single mom, I struggled (and failed) to keep promoting and writing the rather dark world of my 2096 novels.

My publisher (Echelon Press) understood, keeping me engaged as a paranormal romance writer with a couple of anthology projects (set in 2096 Chicago) and further supporting my choice to delve into a more lighthearted YA fantasy eBook series. Initially designed to release every 8-12 weeks, there are just five stories out at the moment, but the Hobbitville saga is gaining steam.

As a paranormal romance writer (who learned the hard way to follow my ‘voice’) the YA shorts let me explore a fun landscape and feel as if I can ‘finish’ a project in a timely manner. While my life slowly settled, I played with other ideas running around in my head and eventually finished Veil of Justice to my satisfaction.

But the timing was off, my momentum was gone. Here I was, a paranormal romance writer, but my audience had moved on.  Then my rights reverted on the anthologies. It was time to adapt and develop a better plan.

Looking at the new landscape of publishing, I took these titles (From the Ashes, Dream Works, Breaking New Ground, and Veil of Justice) straight to the reader via Kindle and Smashwords. So far, I’ve been pleased with the results. I’ve even got a giveaway going on Goodreads. Yup, that’s it right there. –>

As much as I resist change, even as a paranormal romance writer, adapting is the only way forward. And it’s worked beautifully. I’ve learned to blog, present workshops, and interact with peers and readers on social media. I’ve even managed a You Tube search story!

So I encourage you as a reader or writer, don’t be afraid of what’s looming on the publishing horizon for paranormal romance or any other genre. Do your research, learn the new advantages and keep your mind open to the next great book you can sample on your computer, ereader, tablet, or phone.

Live the adventure!

Taking that initial place, time, or structure in which your characters will play and layering in the details to amp up the mood will only help you with the world building for a paranormal romance novel. As readers and writers of paranormal romance novels, we expect and enjoy those layers and details that make it more than the average escape reading.

I thought of this layering theme frequently while packing and unpacking as we moved the brilliant daughter back into her dorm room for her senior year. (yes having a high school senior is classed as paranormal activity in my opinion – I swear she was starting kindergarten just last week!) But I digress.

As we dumped boxes in a dorm with the most basic, bare furniture, it was merely the foundation, just a place to keep some stuff. She could make her bed, put her clothes in a drawer, and plug in her laptop and it would start to serve her needs, but it still wasn’t comfy or stylish. So we unpacked and layered a carpet, bedding and shams, closet organizers, bulletin boards and decor, extra lighting and finishing touches, and gradually it became her home away from home for the next school year.

My Shadows of Justice series is set in Chicago, in 2096. But the timing is just the foundation. The story is unwrapped, embellished and highlighted in the layers and details as the characters interact with both the elements of the future and each other.

Find Invasion of Justice in E.J. Steven’s Friday the 13th Monster Giveaway Prize Pack 2!

Don’t forget to register to win the latest Shadows of Justice novel, Veil of Justice, from Goodreads! (details on the right)

Of course you can buy the rest of my books in your preferred format at Amazon or Smashwords today!

Live the adventure!

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!

Paranormal romance writers aren’t the only creative people who know how much blood and sweat go into that ‘lucky break’ when a book or series breaks through and connects with readers.

Anyone who aims to turn a creative bent into a career knows it takes hours of ‘toil’ to make create anything fortune might smile upon.

Just because paranormal romance writers enjoy putting characters, creatures, and ‘other’ worlds on paper doesn’t make it less of an effort.

Like any artist, paranormal romance writers put in the hours of toil to make the final work shine for readers.

Efforts of creativity, from haiku to towering sculpture, take something out of the artist. Something that the reader or viewer will then pick up, carry forward and enjoy.

When I’m reading a paranormal romance novel that carries me seamlessly into an adventure packed with emotional and physical challenges it’s pure escape, pure delight to ride along with the characters.

And I thank the paranormal romance writers who are brave enough to give a story all they’ve got, to put in that ‘toil’ so I can have savor that wonderful escape.

Live the adventure!

Which paranormal romance writer has you laughing and crying along with the characters?

Often people (silly as they can be)  claim paranormal romance writers only end books one way or we’re too predictable with all the happy ever after stuff.

But I like the happy ever after stuff…

both as a reader of many romance sub-genres and as a paranormal romance writer. Through many a manuscript and critique partner experience I’ve learned a few things about crafting solid, surprising endings for your paranormal romance novel.

Here are 3 quick tips:

1. Keep the action on the page. Don’t pull punches or that ridiculous ‘it was all a dream’ nonsense. You’ve been building up to this, let the reader enjoy every punch to the gut – literal and emotional.

2. Readers love to worry, and  they read to experience the world of the character in paranormal romance novels. At the crucial moment, make sure your reader can feel the intensity along with the character.

The old rule of thumb is if you didn’t cry writing it, your reader won’t cry reading it. So pull that box of tissues closer to your keyboard and give your ending every emotion it needs.

3. Last, but never least, don’t leave your reader wondering ‘what’ or ‘why’. Whether you’re writing in a series or stand alone, resolve, resolve, resolve.

Loose ends will frustrate a reader faster than missing pages and as a paranormal romance writer your goal is to build that precious relationship with the reader.

So be sure if you introduced something that you’ve wrapped it up by The End. Even in a series, there should plenty of subplots to wrap in each paranormal romance novel to make it feel complete even as you move the overall conflict into the next book.

Live the adventure!

What was the best twist you never saw coming from your favorite paranormal romance writer?

So thanks for dropping by.

As a paranormal romance writer, I always hear about the pitfalls of  predictable happy endings. Happy endings are part of the definition of the paranormal romance novels – that ‘ah’ factor is part of the romantic escape for readers.

Happy endings don’t have to be predictable.

Just because a paranormal romance writer (and the readers who love them) crave a happy ending it doesn’t mean said ending must be predictable.

There are a billion different ways to tell a story, and a billion more variations when you throw in that ‘extra’ element of paranormal romance novel.

Think about it…

How does an immortal show a lifelong commitment? In which form will your shape shifter propose to his/her mate? What sorts of things matter most to your subculture of demigods?

All of those ‘what if’ factors mean paranormal romance writers can deliver -and their readers can appreciate – a paranormal romance novel with a tidy and twisted, happily ever after.

Live the adventure!

Are happy ever afters a requirement in your paranormal romance novel?

Paranormal romance writers tune in Wednesday for three quick tips on crafting that perfect happy ending!

A book about vampires – no matter what the age, issues, or plot line can fall into myriad categories that may or may not be romantic. For horror, sci-fi, or urban fantasy readers that can be just fine.

But for paranormal romance writers – and readers – the romance is a key element of a paranormal romance novel.

So when stakes are high (vampire pun intended) how does the threat of a broken heart make it more substantial for fans of paranormal romance novels?

No, I’m not just talking about the physical elements of a paranormal romance novel. Not just physical intimacy, but real, all emotions engaged romance. Love and the happily ever after element is what takes a novel from any other sub-genre of paranormal to paranormal romance.

Personally, I love to see romantic elements in my paranormal romance novel – and in most everything else I read. The emotional impact is just as vital to me as a vivid plot line.

I think love and happily ever afters are important elements that depict hope and promise – no matter the genre.

Alternately, I’m disappointed when I pick up a paranormal novel and the romantic elements aren’t there. Or they aren’t quite there. I’m a sucker for a love story – clearly I’m not ashamed to admit it.

It’s just one reason why I love writing in the paranormal romance genre.

And while the shadowy, mythical dangers, fight scenes, super talents and other extreme elements (both light and dark) make that paranormal novel a good book, it’s the romantic element of a paranormal novel that puts it on my keeper shelf.

No matter what types of creatures, or souped-up humans populate the story, I like to see they’ve got a heart and that that heart has a soul mate. For me, as a reader and paranormal romance writer, the romance is a key element of the paranormal romance novel!

Live the adventure!

You’ll find the oddest stuff in novels of any genre. Contemporary, historical, science fiction (well that was a gimme)…but not all of it qualifies as elements of paranormal romance the way we define it in the romance genre.

Science Fiction is a spring board. SF novel settings are usually far from normal with premises packed with adventure and danger. But the elements of a paranormal romance novel differ because they go beyond technology, creatures, and setting to include the love story.

Some paranormal romance novels are all about the romance and love story and less about the paranormal element. It depends on the author’s strengths and preferences when writing that particular paranormal romance novel.

Die hard Star Wars fans would scream if I cataloged that amazing ongoing achievement of George Lucas as a paranormal romance. But if you look at the many threads and elements of that story line, you can make a case to support the classification.

Disclaimer: I AM a huge Star Wars fan!

With so many story lines and relationships that ebb and flow within the Star Wars saga it’s pretty easy to point to the many elements of paranormal romance hidden behind blasters and warring factions.

Recently, I’ve been watching the Clone Wars collection with my son and it’s become obvious how important relationships of every kind (political, romantic, friend, etc.) are to the writers of the stories.

Hey, it’s the human condition!

An engaging love story is a key element in any paranormal romance novel. (or sweeping, generation-spanning space saga). It seems obvious but that doesn’t make it easy to write.

So while plenty of novels have odd elements, it takes careful planning to make sure the elements of paranormal and romance are balanced in the novel.

Live the adventure!

This is an amazing quote to keep in mind while building the world of any romance novel, but particularly a world of paranormal romance.

As paranormal romance writers, we can ‘live’ in a world full of beauty and charm or danger and shadows, but always full of adventure! And the best part is, we can create it ourselves.

We can mold the world for our characters to give the best story to our readers. World building is really a vibrant way to bring out the universal truth about the story paranormal romance writers (or other authors) want to tell.

Jawaharlal’s quote is particularly important for writers who are world building for a paranormal romance novel series. It’s a potent reminder that the adventures can be unlimited in a particular setting, or with a particular group of characters.

We just have to keep our eyes and hearts open to the stories within that want to be told.

Sometimes that’s the real challenge, letting the story unfold within the world we’ve built for our paranormal romance. But if you’ve put in the time to create it, be sure you let your characters – and yourself – enjoy it!

Live the adventure!

You have only to look at the phenomenal popularity of the Dark Hunter novels by Sherrilyn Kenyon to see a prime example of how world building can lead to so much more.

Not only has she created spin off story lines with the Dream hunters, but she’s got her own conference as well as a series of graphic novels. Can the movies be far behind?

Oh! I hope not.

Did Kenyon do this on purpose? It’s a question only she can answer, and as a paranormal romance writer, one can only hope to achieve the same fan following that’s pushed her into the stratosphere.

My opinion is the effort she put into the world building for her paranormal romance novels, combined with distinct voice on the page and rich story lines earned her the fans and success that demanded more and more outlets for her characters.

Do World Building and Marketing have to go together?

It’s probably not a requirement- but why would you want to rule it out? Every author needs a hook – in the story, at the book signing, and for the future.

Doesn’t matter if it’s theme, characters, voice or setting. All of it can lend to the power of marketing the paranormal romance novel. If you’ve set your novel in a popular destination city (like Kenyon did with New Orleans) you’ve already upped your marketing potential.

It’s obvious in Kenyon’s books how she loves the historic city – so it serves her well and satisfies her readers to have her characters play there.

Is there a theme or symbol in your story, characters, or setting that readers can emotionally or mentally tie to your books? If so, capitalize on it and make it work for you.

My Justice Incarnate cover featured a scales of justice figure and I use a small scale at book signings to spark attention in my display. (it gives kids something to play with while I tell their parents about my books too).

It’s a small detail that I’ve capitalized on to break the ice and market my work. Has it made me a household name – not yet – but I believe I’ll get there, one well-balanced step at a time.

Live the adventure!