Regan Black

In the publishing industry, creating characters of sports star and rock star status are often frowned upon. But as an element of the paranormal romance, feats of superior physical or mental strength and ability are encouraged.

What would a Kenyon Dark Hunter be without the cunning and skills to defeat the dreaded Spathi?

As the elements of paranormal romance novels go, the character is often the ‘it’ factor. As well it should be. Super-natural speed, strength, and agility are powerful and exciting and intriguing. A beyond the norm story requires a larger than life character.

Any character – heroes, villains, even sidekicks -  can have understated (or undervalued) skills that add an extra element to the paranormal romance novel.

Looking at the extraordinary feats Olympic athletes are making everyday during the Winter Games can be an inspiration to developing the stand out character element in your paranormal novel.

Whether dealing with injury, emotions, or circumstance, these athletes overcome the obstacles and leave their best effort on the track, mountain, or rink.

It’s amazing. It’s this type of heroic effort that can lend the perfect element to your paranormal romance novel – whether the character is normal or super natural; an alpha male or alpha female.

Again, how much of that paranormal element you include is up to you. You don’t want to overpower the story – and you’d better have a good reason why a ski-loving vampire doesn’t go poof on a sunny downhill run…

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Writing paranormal romance leaves the page wide open for all kinds of fun. Paranormal romance writers can take liberties other authors might shy away from and the layers and intricacies of the paranormal elements can be bold or subtle.

Take setting for example. An ‘other’ world can be a place of discovery for both characters and readers. Or spinning known landmarks and cities into a clever new look or purpose can spark passion that resonates with paranormal romance readers.

The Olympic venues (beyond the skating rink) are often foreign territory to the average reader and viewer. Think what a paranormal romance writer could do with that!

Those places known and loved, or as yet undiscovered can be either big or subtle elements of the paranormal romance novel. In the forests surrounding the venues of Vancouver, I can see the characters of Lori Handeland’s Night Creature novels having a grand adventure.

Setting can be a powerful element of the paranormal romance novel, whether it’s a shining city like New Orleans, a pristine forest, a mountain staked for Super G, or a bumpy moguls course.

It’s not so odd for a paranormal hero or heroine to enjoy adrenaline-inducing sports. The Olympic Village could be it’s own element in a paranormal romance if the hero is tracking a villain disguised as an athlete – or coach.

Visions of James Bond racing onto the ski cross course are one thing, but what if it was Kenyon’s Acheron – even better!

In other words, look at settings you know and love, as well as settings that intrigue you. Then fold it in to the fabric of your story to create a memorable – big or subtle – element of your paranormal romance novel.

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You’ll find books and articles galore as well as writers of paranormal romance novels who give workshops on world building (Sherrilyn Kenyon does a great one) so a short blog post might not be all you’ll ever need, but hopefully it can be a good start.

There are many factors to consider when you’re world building for a paranormal romance novel and I’ve covered a bunch of them in previous posts.

But at some point you have to wonder…does size matter? Is bigger the best way to go when you build a world for your paranormal romance novel? Should you go all out and make the world bigger than life?

Only if it’s necessary.

No that isn’t a cop out. When you read your favorite paranormal romance writers, is the setting – the world – the key ingredient? Think about it. It’s a backdrop and the best authors in the business make it as big a factor as it needs to be.

I recently read a paranormal romance set in post apocalyptic Chicago. I didn’t even know the city name until the second chapter – and that was fine, the focus was on the action and immediate conflict.

Even after I knew where (and when) they were, I didn’t see much of the city – didn’t need to. There were a few clues, enough to keep the story grounded, but more of the time element came from the characters and plot conflict.

It was ideal – to read only what mattered and advanced the plot. The author did a masterful job keeping the spotlight where it needed to be for the genre: on the characters involved in the paranormal plot and romantic plot.

That’s not to say I don’t enjoy seeing more of the world – when it makes a difference or has an impact on the choices characters make in the novel.

I can assure you, the author knew every nuance of the world her characters played in – that’s why it felt so seamless as a reader when she showed me only what I needed to see to enjoy the current story.

So while you have to do the background and research for world building no matter when or where you set your paranormal romance novel, you don’t have to feel obligated to include daunting passages of big description.

The detailed world building of your paranormal romance novel shouldn’t overshadow the excitement, fun, and romantic adventures of your characters.

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