Welcome back! Today, my regularly scheduled blogging day, I’m focused on how reading leads to writing…because the theme for the next few days is all about the amazing blog hop event hosted by Nurture Your Books Tourz!

The Nurture Your Books Celebration to promote global literacy is important to everyone – especially authors. Based on a completely random and possibly sketchy survey, I conclude most paranormal romance authors came to writing because they were avid readers.

That’s how it was for me anyway. I’ve loved books my whole life, thanks to parents who read to me constantly. Naturally, I turned into one of those kids who slept with a stack of books under her pillow and I got busted more than once for reading with a flashlight under the covers when I should’ve been sleeping.

Ridiculous as it might sound, I’m thrilled to tell you both of my kids are the same way. Avid readers, sneaking around with flashlights just so they can finish the chapter… But as a bonus, I’m proud to say they are both talented writers too.

They have different voices and different genre preferences, but that’s just part of the fun. Persuasive essay or fictional narrative, both of our teenagers boldly jump into writing assignments and (not sure how this happened) they both crave constructive editorial advice.

It’s amazing what reading can do.

My children both read for information as well as entertainment and they can both analyze plot, character growth, symbolism, and motivation with enough intensity to frighten me at times. (especially when it’s one of my books they’re going after).

Which brings us to this timely reminder: Prize Package 1 includes a Tracking Shadows t-shirt, and one ebook edition of each of my five novels: Justice Incarnate, Invasion of Justice, Veil of Justice, Tracking Shadows and The Matchmaker’s Mark.

Entering for any of the FIVE prizes I’m offering is easy:

Step one: You must leave a comment to be entered. Just comment on any one of the NYBCelebration posts telling me your favorite genre for escape reading. Be sure to include your email address so I can notify you if you win.

Step two. For a bonus entry you can sign up for my Join the Adventure newsletter. (As always when a giveaway is hosted here at reganblack.com, current newsletter subscribers are already entered).

To clarify: If you are already part of “Join the Adventure” when you leave a comment you will have two entries for the prizes. If you are not already a subscriber, you have one entry when you leave a comment and will have a second entry for prizes if you choose to sign up for the newsletter.

For the full list of prizes I’m offering, visit the first NYBCelebration Blog Hop post here on my site. And be sure to visit the rest of the bloggers on the hop!

So have a wonderful time on the blog hop, good luck in the giveaways and always…

Live the adventure!

As a paranormal romance author I’ve learned a great deal from well crafted movies in the fantasy, sci fi, and romance genres. If you’re a fan of movies or television and, like me, you’re a fan of fantasy, you probably know new shows Once Upon a Time and Grimm have been out a couple weeks.

If you haven’t seen these shows yet and you do enjoy reading fantasy, romance, light horror, or otherwise paranormal stories, these shows will surely appeal to you.

Personally, I adore the rich and detailed world building they’ve done with Once Upon a Time. No, this adventurous fairy tale storyline is not strictly limited to the romance of Snow White and her Prince Charming, and it weaves other fairy tales into the large cast of characters.

The writers have done a fabulous job bringing it together, giving everyone detailed and believable motives and background and then carrying it forward (thanks to a nasty curse courtesy of the evil queen) into the modern era. And the world building details just make it all the more enjoyable.

Once Upon a Time shows it is possible to put a terrific new spin on the old classics and they pay homage to those classics with the flashbacks to the fairy tale world itself. It’s the blend of old and new, the layers of world building in both settings that makes this such a special show.

So how can that translate to paranormal romance writers or authors of any genre?

First of all the incredible scenery and costuming, along with the multi-layered characters, feeds an author’s creative side. There’s nothing cookie-cutter about this shadowy modern town. It’s a way to give back to yourself after all those hours at the keyboard.

Second, you can learn a lot about throwing your reader expected and unexpected twists and surprises along the way. Just when you feel hope blossom, the wicked queen (mayor of the modern setting) out maneuvers the good guy. This past episode, my romantic side thought they’d make a giant leap forward, and they did, but the writers promise it won’t be easy.

Cool- because the best triumphs never are.

Third, this show can really teach you about theme, if you let it. (It’s okay to just enjoy it, btw). Hope is a theme of fairy tales, and the writers have done an excellent job of translating that to the modern side without letting it get hokey. And the best part, for me as a paranormal romance author, is the way they’ve managed to vary that theme as it ripples out to the other characters.

Next time, I’ll tackle Grimm – just for all the action lovers out there!

Live the adventure!

If writing the book were all that mattered, most paranormal romance authors would find sheer joy in the process. Or at least a small measure of peace. One can hope anyway…

But writing as a career, to make a living, means letting people know a paranormal romance novel, or any other book, is available and worth the reader’s investment of time and money.

I’m often the person, either in an online class, interview, or writer’s conference reminding others that we all have unique talents and skills. From writing non-fiction to paranormal romance novels, from organization to finance, from art to counsel, everyone has individual strengths and skills.

When I play to my strengths, crafting novels like Tracking Shadows, I don’t worry overmuch about what I know is required upon publication. (I only impair my progress when I get too far ahead of myself). Of course I knew promo would be necessary, but I also knew there was time to develop it once there was a novel to promote.

For me, with Tracking Shadows, it has boiled down to world building for a paranormal romance novel book tour.

Who did I want to work with? How could I get the news out to paranormal romance and urban fantasy readers? Most importantly, how did I want to connect with bloggers, reviewers and readers?

Fortunately, I found The Bookish Snob Promotions. This is a woman with the superb organizational and promo skills that I needed to build a great blog tour and let readers know about Tracking Shadows. She has a time frame, a system, and connections with bloggers that make it all work.

After reviewing the comprehensive promo packages, I made a decision and put myself and my new novel in her hands and WOW- I’m so glad I did.

When she emailed me with the line up (something that came together much faster than I’d anticipated) I was floored by the response.

She’s done the blog tour world building and my paranormal romance novel and I am  going to have an awesome time gallivanting around the Internet, meeting readers and giving away prizes.

Readers, prepare for a great ride and it all starts on June 10th!

Live the adventure!

Signs “The End” the end is near – at least as the term applies to writing paranormal romance novels.

When I’m drafting a novel, I cycle through the typical highs and lows of a writer’s life. I’m convinced it’s all crap, then thrilled when I nail a tough scene. Then I worry that there isn’t enough plot or conflict to flesh it out. I start dreaming of the amazing success that the next book will be. I even dawdle in deep analysis of my current sales. Often as I approach ‘the end’ I’ll indulge in rich fantasies of of writing historical romances ala Eloisa James or Sabrina Jeffries.

But I know I’m close to putting a wrap on a novel when I have to fight intense urges to clean closets, do yard work, remodel the kitchen, or paint.

All these bubbling distractions and emotions present a clear and present danger of quitting the book, possibly even abandoning writing for-ev-er! Or at least until the next sunrise.

My support network is patient as any contact, calls, emails, and lunch dates are usually chock full of whining and possible brainstorming (from me). Friends and family have learned to simply smile indulgently and ignore any and all of my rants about fiction, industry, and writing skills.

Apparently this is all part of my process. It’s gotten better (as in less pronounced) with every book I create, but it’s still there.

There’s something about the final stage that always gets me. It used to be centered around my insecurity that I wouldn’t find a new story, new characters in conflict when I typed ‘The End’ on the current work.

Now my insecurity seems to revolve around marketing questions. When the book is done – edited, cover art, formatting, etc. – how do I let readers know about it? As troubles go, being prolific and asking questions about how to improve my craft and business model are good problems to have.

Even if it drives my family and friends batty.

In case you weren’t sure, Tracking Shadows is nearly complete, and will be posted right up through “The End” on the Regan Black, Author page on Facebook! For other novels and short stories I’ve managed to wrap without permanently alienating my loved ones, visit Amazon, All Romance Ebooks, or Smashwords today!

Live the adventure!

It’s a world gone mad, I tell you!

It can sure feel that way to paranormal romance authors and writers of every genre who yearn to achieve that traditional dream of seeing their shiny new hardcover novel front and center in every bookstore across the nation. I certainly don’t encourage or condone panicked thinking that books and bookstores are at an end – they’re NOT – but let’s be honest, publishing as we knew it, is in a state of flux.

So what?

Honestly, it’s been decades since publishers accepted a manuscript, paid the huge advance, handled all the publicity, and scheduled the national book signing tour so the author could sit back and focus only on answering fan mail and writing the next book.

It’s time to revamp the dream!

There are more options than ever for a paranormal romance author willing to produce a quality manuscript, take the time and care to edit it, and then get creative about marketing that book to publishers and readers.

Paranormal romance authors have always been ahead of the curve when it comes to thinking outside the box and morphing the norm in order to set imaginations free on the page. Now paranormal romance authors can apply those same outside-the-box skills to reaching readers.

It’s a world wide open!

Right now, in this amazing time of connectivity, we have the opportunity to listen to our readers and meet them where they are! With tools like blogs, forums, and social media, we can interact with readers and authors. With informative resources at sites like Amazon and Smashwords, paranormal romance authors can learn the technical skills to put the best books into the market.

There’s plenty of room in this new era of publishing for paranormal romance authors to achieve whatever they’re dreaming of – both on the page and in the market.

Live the adventure!

And just to put a wrap on National Book Blitz month, I’ll leave you with all the places you can buy or read Regan Black paranormal romance novels and short stories (in alphabetical order, no less): AllRomanceEbooks, Amazon, B&N,  fReado, Smashwords, and even Facebook!

It seems many authors are asking their fans if they like to read stories set around Christmas or other holidays.  Based on November and December releases, which usually include several novels with holiday elements, I’d say publishers believe readers like themed and well timed stories.

While I don’t mean to jump on a bandwagon, I’d love to hear if you’re yay or nay on the holiday book idea.

Snow Covered Resolutions

Personally I do enjoy reading and writing books with holiday elements of paranormal romance, as well as other genres. In historicals, one of my favorites is Eloisa James duchess series An Affair Before Christmas. To me, it’s a treat to see what holidays were like in a different era.

A quick search for paranormal books with Christmas themes turned up this discussion on Goodreads. And of course Amazon has a search for everything (thank goodness) and here is what turned up.

This is the time of year when I find there’s plenty of inspiration to add some holiday elements to the paranormal romance novel I’m currently working on.

Except my manuscript in progress is set in autumn, in Chicago, about 86 years from today. (More on that next month)

But it’s always entertaining to see how paranormal romance writers layer in different holiday elements of paranormal romance novels. I think paranormal romance writers have the most freedom (as long as we’re true to the key rules and elements of our paranormal romance novels). We can choose from bah-humbug alpha hero vampires to witchy alpha female heroines who go all out decking the halls for children in her family or community, and everything in between!

There’s unlimited potential for holiday elements in paranormal romance novels and I hope you find a few to enjoy this season!

Live the adventure!

World building for paranormal romance novels means engaging your reader, capturing their interest and taking them along from the opening line, through one scene to the next, until they reach that wonderful ending. You want a reader turning pages, forgetting about time. You want them immersed in the world you created.

Think of it like this. A great movie sweeps you into the action with music, vivid cinematography and dialogue (or an appropriate lack thereof) until the credits roll and you realize with a shock you’d forgotten all about the world beyond that silver screen and darkened auditorium.

As a Harry Potter geek and a fan of Rowling’s series, I find pros and cons to the movies. I read the books to my children until they took over the reading on their own; now we discuss and analyze our favorite parts, character developments, conflicts and solutions.

So it’s no surprise we eagerly awaited each movie’s release, including the latest, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1. We all agreed the movie did not disappoint. Not discounting the harsh, edgy ‘realities’ of the story and knowing it was a middle chapter type of film, I couldn’t help but admire the way the film re-produced the world of Rowling’s imagination.

The directors had to make increasingly difficult choices in turning each book into a satisfying movie. While many of the rich details lighting up the pages of each novel don’t make the cut (Peeves, anyone?) the movies still deliver a complete story, with all the fun, thrills, danger, and excitement of the books.

From the chocolate frogs to the Whomping Willow to Hogwarts itself, the cast and crew worked diligently and consistently to recreate every thing from Rowling’s world and show it to the best advantage on the big screen.

World building for a paranormal romance novel requires writing with the same wide-lens dimension. Paranormal romance writers must think and create with the challenges and skills unique to their characters and settings. The same careful attention to small details and sweeping backdrops that showed up in the Deathly Hallows part 1 and the previous six films is necessary to keep a reader turning pages.

Make a list of skills and weaknesses, keep a record of places, or maintain a story calendar…just do whatever works best for you to give your reader the best ride through the world you so carefully built for your characters to enjoy.

Live the adventure!

Thanks to fReado.com you can read excerpts of all the Shadows of Justice novels on the Paranormal Romance by Regan Black page!

Publishing, like so many local businesses and global industries, is changing. If you’re a reader of paranormal romance novels, literary fiction, newspapers, or blogs you’re an eyewitness to the odd blend of chaos, uncertainty, and hope that surrounds every discussion of ‘the future of publishing’.

A self described alpha female who likes to write strong, willful leading ladies, uncertainty and chaos as it pertains to my career path aren’t things I find soothing.

Publishing is a subjective sort of industry – one bad lunch can lead to a host of rejection letters – and while it sounds like an oxymoron,  authors and readers don’t have that much control over what hits the shelves.

Traditional publishing is a hurry up and wait business. Writing, editing, submitting…waiting for rejection or contract…revisions, releases and publicity…is a rather vicious and often discouraging cycle. But now, paranormal romance writers as well as authors of every genre have another option.

At Smashwords.com Mark Coker has created an opportunity for writers to reach readers directly.

Check out the Introduction to Smashwords – Ebook Publishing and Distribution Made Easy slide show!

Through sampling, blurbs, author pages, and personal online libraries, it’s a community for readers to discover new authors as well as new genres. Readers can try before they buy, they can review and recommend, and publishers and authors can get paid for their work in a timely manner.

As I’ve uploaded both my back list and newer works, I’ve become rather addicted to the independent Smashwords ebook career model: Write, edit, send to beta readers, revise, send to cover artist, then format and upload to Smashwords.com.

Smashwords offers this alpha female author a sense of control over my career, especially the timing, that I didn’t have just five years ago.

Live the adventure!

Find the entire Shadows of Justice series, all the current Hobbitville stories, as well as the ever popular (and FREE) Famous Last Words ghost story when you visit Smashwords.com

There have been outstanding alpha female characters in fiction (commercial and literary) since the dawn of time. But I happen to believe this is a great time in the commercial fiction world to develop and craft outstanding leading ladies.

In fiction – especially romance- we’ve heard the term Alpha Male for years. It usually refers to the male lead (hero) who is an opinionated, take charge, ‘my way or the highway’ sort of character. He knows what he wants and (he thinks) he knows how to get it. He expects people to fall in line with his plan or suffer the consequences of opposing him. He often rides in on a white horse or gleaming motorcycle and saves the day.

So that must mean that an alpha female character is simply the same, minus the boy parts. Not so fast!

Though alpha females occur in every genre, with the continuing swell of paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels authors and readers get to explore what it means to be an alpha female character. This is fabulous news for everyone involved, as alpha female characters boldly define and redefine the term ‘feminine strength’.

Alpha female characters can be warriors or administrative assistants. They can be human or paranormal. In  any form in any genre, these leading ladies have a distinctive world view and it takes a great deal of evidence and drastic circumstance to get them to reconsider or revise that view.

This can lead a reader on amazing adventures, from lighthearted to intense, whether the alpha female does her best work in an office or a dark alley (like Jaden of Justice Incarnate).

In Nora Roberts’ latest contemporary quartet, four independent (alpha female) women refused to compromise their dreams as they found their life partners. Jayne Ann Krentz (and all her pen names) always features women determined to reach the goal despite social mores or personal obstacles. Sabrina Jeffries has me captivated with her latest historical series – Hellions of Halstead Hall – so far the heroines aren’t close to ‘missish’ and in the January release, the heroine is taking interviews for her husband. Definitely not what proper English society expects!

Live the adventure!

I love the holidays and not just because of the treats that start at Halloween and the feasting that continues through New Year’s Day. This time of year is for family and fun and simple relaxation. At least for me.

I’ve had to make a lot of changes this year and one of the keys to maintaining my sanity through the stupid back injury and prognosis has been to adjust my priorities and expectations. This occasionally works and translates into me enjoying life more and stressing out less!

With so many new limitations, I’ve been living vicariously through my characters, writing more than ever these past months. I need to thank my readers and fellow authors for the consistent encouragement and motivation you’ve expressed with your kind words, fun words, and constructive words.

To all of you who have discovered and read my books and short stories this year, I say a wondrous and joyful thank you!

At my core I’m a paranormal romance writer, and I’m happiest when I’m letting the words flow onto paper or computer screen. But without readers to follow the books, stories, and blogs it would merely be a collection of ramblings on a hard drive.

Readers keep authors in business and I’m forever grateful for the readers who seek out my entertaining paranormal romance novels and short stories. Thanks so much!!!

Live the adventure!

Check out this great new cover for the second edition of Justice Incarnate: