Everyone needs a framework, whether it’s building a house or doing the world building for paranormal romance novels. Readers need a reference point, a way to relate to both the setting and the story the characters are venturing through.

When you pick up a sci-fi novel, you expect it to show you brand new devices, far-off foreign places, and unique characters and creatures. An author has no limits, as long as the reader can relate and ‘see’ the situations, equipment, etc. That takes a deft hand and much behind the scenes world building to pull it off seamlessly in the story.

When you’re using a real-world setting, you can definitely take liberties, but you also have a responsibility to work within the framework of reality. (beyond just sticking with the laws of nature)

In The Matchmaker’s Mark, the first of my new paranormal romance series set in Charleston, South Carolina, I took some liberties within the city setting, but I worked to make it resonate with people familiar with the area.

One of my favorite comments from readers is that they recognized the Mexican restaurant where Lily and her brother Cade confronted a werewolf. It makes me happy to know that while I renamed the actual restaurant, the locals knew just where I was talking about.

Named Mama Rita’s in my fictional world, the massive burritos, layout of the place, and glowing reputation is all very much the same as it is in the real world.

Authors do that all the time -in every genre of writing – taking a real place and moving their characters through it. After all, the reality we’re living in is the most familiar framework available to us personally or through extensive research. The goal is that our characters add richness and depth to an area readers know well or can experience vicariously.

When I use real places in my futuristic Shadows of Justice series or in the contemporary Matchmaker series, I do it for myself – as a framework – but also for the reader. That familiarity is both a touchstone and a springboard for my imagination and the adventure that follows.

Live the adventure!

As a paranormal romance author I like to think of world building for a paranormal romance novel as a process of adding in the extra spark, giving the reader a pleasant jolt or dark surprise.

As a fan of Nora Roberts, I have to bow to world building so effective it makes me change my routine. You may think that sounds silly, but it’s true!

Usually when I’m working on one of my paranormal romance novels, I read either historical romance or I re-read favorite books that have become like old friends.

Lately Nora’s Bride Quartet (Vision in White, Bed of Roses, Savor the Moment, and Happy Ever After) fit the bill perfectly.

So how can the world building Roberts applies for her popular contemporary romance novels actually change my real world routine?

I believe it’s because she does such a fine job with the details. A reader gets swept away until you can see the sparkle on the gowns, feel the happy buzz of champagne, and catch the scent of lilies and freshly baked cake in the air.

More, Roberts’ makes you feel it – in your heart – and an engaged reader just sort of slips into her well-crafted fantasy. Even the workout habits of the four are part of the world building. And if you’re not careful, a reader could actually pick up some good advice along the way.

We all need fresh air, close friends, and exercise. As I read about Parker encouraging Mac to add cardio to her fitness routine, I think, ‘yeah me too’. Fictional Mac might be preparing for her fictional wedding, but in reality fitness matters and she makes it seem manageable and almost appealing.

When Roberts incorporates something so simple, and incorporates it so smoothly, you almost don’t realize you’re getting tips, much less expert world building for the novel itself.

I believe writers should follow that same example and look for opportunities to add the details to the world building for paranormal romance novels – or any genre – so the story will come alive for the reader.

The workout room is part of the routine of the foursome in the Bride Quartet, but it’s more than that. It gives that added layer, provides another glimpse into each character’s development, as well as their relationships with the other characters.

It’s lovely really. And re-reading the Bride Quartet while I use my stair machine and let my own story percolate in the back of my head means my thighs should be in great shape by the time my next paranormal romance novel comes out this spring.

Live the adventure!

With each new book I release, I like to think I get a little better with the process. The writing production, the editing, the beta readers, the editing, the proofreaders, the editing, the cover art, the editing, the beta reviewers, the line editing, and finally the formatting.

It’s hysterical that I often think I don’t spend that much time in edits because I edit quite a bit during my writing process. But I think that’s simply a delusion I’ve built into the world building for my paranormal romance novels.

New paranormal romance novel Shadows to Light now on Kindle!

Not only do I build worlds for my characters to play in, but I’ve spent time world building in my office environment so I can keep up the creative energy. Perspective (like editing denial) is vital for authors these days. Perspective and knowing what works for us as we create.

I blog frequently about how wonderful it is to write at my grandma’s desk. Let me assure you, Shadows to Light wouldn’t be available today without the mysterious miracle of productivity that occurs at Grandma’s desk. There’s one picture of her there and when I’m lost or discouraged, I look up and remember one of her motivational sayings. Like, “perfection may be impossible, but you should always strive for it!”

Intimidating? Somewhat, I admit. But it’s true. And it is so her. And the best news is, I don’t get hung up on perfection in the creative process anymore. See, more of that perspective that develops when you take the time to do a little world building to support your writing process.

The sheer willpower and determination my grandma applied to every aspect of her life are now a touchstone in the world building for the paranormal romance novels I create. To the point that I reframe the dreaded editing process to keep myself sane. LOL

But seriously, Grandma’s life example is an inspiration to me to make each book better than the last for my readers and each release  event a bit less stressful. (Pipe dreams are still dreams, right?)

Live the adventure!

How exciting to bring you an interview and giveaway from Diana Duncan today! Especially in conjunction with the Nurture Your Books Celebration to promote global literacy! I’m a fan of Diana’s books and she’s recently launched two wonderful new titles sure to make you swoon!

First some background on Diana:  When her dreams of becoming a ballerina were quashed by early-onset klutziness, Diana Duncan took up the safer vocation of writing. Her first thrilling masterpiece—written in orange crayon—was titled “Perky the Kitten,” and became an instant bestseller with her grandparents.

Guest Author Diana Duncan

Her childhood growing up as a military brat gave her ability to leap into a conversation with anyone, anywhere, anytime…and she always discovers a new friend in the process. This gift of gab perfectly equipped her for a career that involves making stuff up.

Di is famous for using seven words when one will do. She wields smart-assery like a samurai sword, and will be the first to volunteer in a catastrophe. Of course, she was probably the one who caused the catastrophe. She’s fiercely loyal to her friends and family…but in the event of the upcoming zombie apocalypse, she won’t hesitate to use them as human shields.

She loves her job as an author, and claims writing is the most fun she’s ever had while wearing her sock monkey pajamas. She also enjoys gardening, cooking, and adopting abandoned curbside furniture to refurbish into treasures.

Diana published six award-winning books with a traditional print publisher before going rogue with Indie publishing.

And now, she’s answered a few questions for you!

Diana, what is your favorite ‘place’ in the world you built for Sword of the Raven?

Oooo… Archer’s Nightclub, “Starry Night!” Archer is one of Delaney (the heroine’s) best friends, and he’s not at all what he seems. In fact, he’s not even human, but she’s unaware of that. When the story begins, Delaney doesn’t realize the Supernatural plane exists.

Starry Night sits over the underground labyrinth of Portland, Oregon’s infamous Shanghai Tunnels, which are real—and reported to be haunted. Built in the 1800’s, the dark web of interconnecting tunnels led from the basements of many downtown hotels and bars to the waterfront of the Willamette River.

Trap doors, called “deadfalls,” in the floor of these establishments allowed unsuspecting patrons to be dropped into the tunnels below, where they were dragged to waiting ships and forced into slavery as laborers and prostitutes.

Tours of the tunnels are now available where you can still see the bone-chilling sight of mountains of shoes taken from the captives, leaving them shackled in cages in their bare feet—because the human traffickers strewed the tunnels with broken bottles in case their prisoners attempted escape.

In my book, the tunnels’ centuries of clashing energies have created a strong Power Node of Magic. Unbeknownst to anyone, Archer is running a covert “underground railroad” out of his club to aid fleeing Supernaturals. A lot of this is not revealed in this story, but is alluded to. As the series progresses, we’ll learn more. So you now know insider secrets nobody else does!

Aboveground, Archer’s club is spectacular. I’ll let you experience it from the heroine’s point of view:

From outside the club, a throbbing base beat pulsed through the double glass doors. Delaney pushed them open, nodded to the duo of security guards, then ascended a spiral chrome staircase and strolled into Starry Night, letting the music and mystical atmosphere wash over her. Wash away fear and doubt.

It was like walking into a Techno vision of Heaven. The huge dance floor was made of the same thick, clear glass as the viewing platform over the Grand Canyon, and suspended a third of the way up between three open stories—giving the feeling of floating mid-air in a vast starlit universe. An acrophobic would freak out, but Delaney loved it. Twinkling crystal lights studded midnight blue walls above and below the floor, where hidden fog machines billowed vaporous clouds. Round glass pedestal tables with clear Lucite chairs bordered the room, each table topped with frosted light pillars of varying heights.

She wove through the undulating crowd to the bar, a gravity-defying sculpture of wavy lit glass and chrome, and smiled at the bartender. “Hey, Natiri. How’s it going?”

Wow, that sounds fantastic, I love it! Would you please tell us why you write your specific genres of romance?

I actually write in 3 different subgenres: Paranormal Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Romantic Comedy. But my characters share certain similar traits. My heroes are flawed, have well-developed senses of humor, are protective of the heroine without smothering her, and always consider her their equal. My heroines are strong, smart, snarky, and always willing to kick the hero’s arse when he’s acting like one. <grin>

You will never, ever see one of my heroes behaving like an overbearing, manipulative jerk, or one of my heroines sniveling in a corner while waiting for the hero to rescue her. I write them because those are the types of people I love to read about myself, and because over the long months of crafting a book, my characters become beloved friends. Who wants to hang out with jerks and wimps? LOL

Diana, do you have a playlist or sound track for each book or to help your writing process?

Always! Music totally puts me in the mood for the story I’m creating. For Sword of the Raven, I had something completely different planned…haunting and ethereally Celtic. Until Delaney ambushed me with her love of 80’s tunes.

About the 3rd time she busted out humming or singing an 80’s hit, I finally caught on to her penchant, and made myself the appropriate soundtrack. You’ll see 80’s music pop up throughout the story, with Bon Jovi’s “Blaze of Glory” playing a surprising, pivotal role. <grin>

Rowan and Delaney’s song turned out to be U2’s “With or Without You.” There’s a scene in the book where that song brings me to tears, and I’ll never hear it again without thinking of it.

Oh, I love that song – brings back all kinds of memories! Can you please tell readers what amused you or scared you most while you were writing this book?

My characters do what they want, regardless of what I think. Rowan constantly amused me with his droll humor and matter-of-fact acceptance of Delaney’s sass and strength. For a really Alpha guy, he never reacted the way I expected him to when she challenged him. The more she got in his face, the more he admired her.

What scared me most about this book was I had no idea where I would market it when it was done. It’s the book of my heart, and the thought of it being rejected over and over terrified me. But I couldn’t not write it. I was compelled to write it.

What did you love, hate, or find most challenging with the characters of this book?

This whole book was so far out of my comfort zone, I was terrified the entire time I was writing it. I had the initial idea years and years ago, but I never thought I had the chops to pull off such a complicated story. So I’d set it aside for “some day.” When “some day” arrived, it was scary as hell.

It was challenging in so many different ways, but the most challenging was the fact that Delaney and I share a background of childhood abuse. I ended up opening my soul and pouring it out onto those pages. I cried more writing this book than any other. Delaney’s ultimate triumph over her past was also my triumph. It truly was a labor of love.

Your ability to put that emotion on the page is one thing I love about your books and your writing. Is there any one question you wished people would ask about your book?

Yes! “Who did your cover?”

Because then I could say, “My oldest daughter! Isn’t she talented?” *VBG* And in a terrific new development, she’s decided to write Young Adult novels of the Supernatural world she helped me brainstorm when I was writing Sword of the Raven. So we’ll be working together!

Oh, that’s wonderful news for readers! 
Regan, thank you so much for graciously hosting me on your blog today. I LOVED answering your thought-provoking questions.

My pleasure, Diana! Thanks for taking the time today to give us some insight into your writing process and your books.

Here’s more about Sword and the Raven:

When destiny calls, you don’t hit ignore…

Delaney Morgan’s ho-hum life begins to fray around the edges when her cop brother is framed and imprisoned. Determined to exonerate him, she starts poking her nose where it doesn’t belong. Things go from extra-ordinary to extraordinary with her discovery of Mr. Tall, Dark, and Naked washed up on a deserted Oregon beach.

Rowan MacLachlan’s no ordinary man. He’s a semi-Immortal Highlander. A Water Mage, a Supernatural Enforcer…and since the slaughter of his entire family, Chieftain of his Clan. Recently escaped from the clutches of the Sorceress Cearde, he’s drawn to Delaney’s intense, newly awakening Powers. She learns her brother possessed similar Powers, and his “situation” is entangled with the magical forces he tried to shield her from.

Pulled into an epic battle of light and dark…with a kick-ass pair of boots and a Bon Jovi inspired battle cry…Delaney vows to help Rowan avenge his family, and free her brother from the dark forces holding him captive. First, Rowan must teach her to control and wield her new Magic.

When passion flares between mentor and student, so do their Powers. With Delaney’s help, Rowan plans to vanquish the evil bitch who killed his family. Even if it means betraying the woman he’s come to love.

One of them may be required to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Can love really conquer all? Betrayal. Evil. Even death?

Delaney’s about to find out. Because she’s destined to be the Sword of the Raven.

And for Diana’s hot new contemporary romance series try Deal with the Devil:

When Irish eyes are smilin’…beware! Because trouble—and love—isn’t far behind!

Paradise for software designer Cynthia Wagner means uninterrupted solitude to invent a brilliant video game, and save her job. But renovations on her city apartment force her to seek refuge in a temporary rental in the ‘burbs.

The promised Paradise morphs into Purgatory when she meets her new neighbor, a deliciously tempting Irish rogue sporting a wicked grin and to-die-for body. Worse, the handsome bachelor has noisy, drooly, havoc-creating baggage on his hands for the summer… rambunctious five-year-old twin nephews, a baby niece, and the kids’ yappy dog. Rory Devlin is a dangerous distraction—and he’s hiding a naughty secret.

Jackhammers and contractors would have provided more peace and quiet.

Stuck in the Suburbs of the Damned with Mr. Uncle-Turned-Mom and his wild menagerie, Cynthia struggles to meet her deadline. But she struggles more with her undeniable attraction to her devlish-ous neighbor.

Could it be that what Cynthia has mistaken for hell is actually the heaven she’s been searching for?

Giveaway Details: Diana is graciously offering one lucky reader a digital copy of Sword of the Raven. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment on this post (be sure to include your email address). The winner will be selected via Random.org on November 21st.

To continue the theme introduced on Tuesday of learning techniques to strengthen your world building skills from current television shows, let’s take a look at Grimm.

This new fairy tale themed show takes a different angle than Once Upon a Time. It’s less about one central fairy tale with a supporting cast and more about the Grimms as mythology investigators, themselves.

The Grimms can see all the creatures who are masquerading as humans and it’s their job to protect humans from the bad ones. Of course, there’s room for interpretation about what equals ‘bad’ Grimm and that allows for a bit more horror, and a bit more humor to balance out their storylines.

They seem to be tackling the premise that not every fairy tale character is pure villain or hero and last week’s spin on Goldilocks was brilliant. I particularly enjoy the reformed werewolf who was pushed ‘a little too far’ in a fight this past week.

One of my readers even told me she thought the Grimm series reminded her of my Matchmaker’s Mark book, but with a darker edge. I thought that was a great honor – Thanks, Melanie!

But as to what tips you can learn from this series to help your writing, the first lesson is one you’re heard (hopefully) countless times already:

No one can write it exactly like you.

Grimm and Once Upon a Time prove there are still fresh ways to retell an old classic. Each storyline has potential as diverse as the authors themselves, so don’t get hung up on what ‘so and so’ is writing or the super-fantabulous world building they did for their paranormal romance novel. None of that. Focus on what you want the reader to get out of your story.

Additionally, when world building for a paranormal romance novel or any other genre, you can look to shows like Grimm for fabulous examples of modern interpretations. I won’t spoil it, but the three bears in the Goldilocks remake weren’t exactly on the same page as to how things should be done in the most recent Grimm episode.

That change up truly affected the story, which is a great visual lesson in how the unique way you perceive even a small detail can make a big difference in the overall effect.

Live the adventure!

It took plenty of trial and error to accept that my strongest writing voice fits best in the paranormal genre. It’s not a big leap then to learn that I prefer the impossible or unknown when it comes to world building for paranormal romance novels and urban fantasy books. But when it’s time to build a future or imaginary world, I look back in time.

I love Chicago, it’s an amazing city, but I write a Chicago in the year 2096 and it’s a scenario that most likely won’t ever come to pass. (Thank goodness, because coffee is illegal there, which is why Slick Micky, the smuggler, is so very popular).

Urban fantasy adventure!

When I start world building for the urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels I set in my version of Chicago, I look at the city’s history.

That research is often a catalyst for the characters in my stories. In From the Ashes, the Great Chicago Fire plays a role -even though the story is set at the 225th anniversary of that tragic event.

For Tracking Shadows, my heroic smuggler, Slick Micky is descended from a ‘shady’ business family who worked the Levee during the march of evangelist Gypsy Smith.

So as much as I love to make things up as I go along, researching the past is a big part of how I get there. Where we are and were as a society helps me hone the world building. I’m always asking myself what mattered ‘then’ and why or how does it affect what matters now?

We all know how personal baggage can impact our thoughts and choices and I employ the same sort of theory to both community and individuals when it comes to world building for my paranormal romance novels.

As I developed a new series, I found myself repeating the process. This time in Charleston, South Carolina, the setting for the lighter paranormal romance, The Matchmaker’s Mark. Though not quite as obvious as futuristic Chicago, the sense of place and community are shown through both ‘insider’ and ‘outsider’ perspectives as the characters venture through the historical city and the novel.

Live the adventure!

October seems to be the month when everyone delves into world building, not just for paranormal romance novels, but for special, creepy effects. Or maybe it just seems that way to me because I’m a paranormal romance author.

Halloween is what you make of it and who you’re making it for. Decorating, fun, creepy or not at all is an inventive way to show others what you’re into and who your target ‘audience’ is.

In the light of day, it becomes glaringly obvious what sort of mood one’s neighbors are trying to create for the looming onslaught of Trick or Treaters.

Some yards sport smiling pumpkins and zombies, silly monsters and rather friendly looking vampires.

But walk on – if you dare – and you might find a bloody hand reaching up from the next flowerbed, be warned off by glaring jack o’lanterns or turn and run away when you catch a glimpse of glowing red eyes watching from a darkened window.

So are you looking to scare the crap out of a crew of teenagers or do you want to enjoy all that is adorable in the 4-8 year old group? Maybe, on Halloween itself, you’re thoughtful in the way of one of our neighbors and you have a little something to amuse the parents while the kids are scampering to and from the door.

In my opinion they deserve an award every year. They decorate in a not-too-scary theme so little ones feel welcome. Then they put out a cooler of beer and wine coolers for parents to indulge as they walked around. This is a fantastic plan and it really takes the edge off when the whining starts.

Personally, I decorate on the fun side, don my full length black cape, crank up the spooky music through our intercom (dates to the 70s but it still works), and sit in the creaky porch rocker to hand out candy.

Any mysterious effect is muted by the cats and greyhounds watching the procedings through the windows and door, wishing they could personally greet the tiny goblins, NASCAR drivers, princesses and ghosts who dash in and out of view.

Live the adventure!

Have you ever watched a movie or read a book where the author tricked you with the pieces of world building? For me, most recently, Inception comes to mind. As you get swept into the movie you can lose sight of what’s real and what’s constructed, regardless of how closely you watch the story unfold.

The dream within a dream is an amazing illusion, a clever device of the elaborate world building applied to that script.

This illusion within the reality came into play in our real lives as my daughter sorts and packs in preparation for college. As a paranormal romance author and a mom, I’ve been trying to move forward with my writing as I help my daughter think through what she’ll need to move forward into college.

All summer my husband has been looking at what appeared to be a giant pile of stuff she intended to take with her. He could only surmise that the van (with all of us in it) had no hope of transferring such a monumental collection of ‘necessities’. He’s been lecturing her all summer about cutting back, packing light, thinking about the limited space, etc.

But the giant pile was an illusion. Of course it wasn’t intentional. She didn’t set out to fool him, or try and practice anything she might use in world building for a novel. It just sort of happened that while she redecorated her room here at home, everything got shoved into that pile as she sorted -and yes- pared down in preparation for college.

The reality is barely half of the now infamous pile will be part of the world building for her dorm room. In reality, her going-to-college pile was on top of a large trunk that is merely part of the normal storage/decor in the guest room. The trunk isn’t going, but it created the illusion of more stuff as she piled what is going on top and around it.

To better prepare, my husband ordered a roof top carrier to cope with all the ‘stuff’. We might use it, but I’m not so sure. As she sorts and stacks, and properly packs her belongings into boxes, I’m more convinced there will be room in the van for all four of us, her mini fridge, and the belongings that are not nearly as cumbersome as he once thought.

I think he’ll be a bit mystified when everything fits with no real trouble, and no need for the roof bag. But he had fun shopping for it and it made him feel more useful during this process of our daughter’s world building for her future.

Live the adventure!

I get my hair colored tomorrow, but that’s probably not why you checked in. This is supposed to be a world building day… although hair color can be vitally important to the real world we build for ourselves. But, I digress.

As a paranormal romance author, I’ll admit, hair color is something I often have to go back and double check as I’m crafting my novels. My beta readers are even warned to watch for it.

In short stories I usually keep pertinent details together without a cheat sheet, but for whatever reason, in the process of writing my paranormal romance or urban fantasy novels and learning more and more about my characters, the hair color changes (often without warning).

Sure, as the author you’d think I’d naturally be in charge of things like that. Unless you’re also an author, in which case you probably understand how myriad details can get blurry as the story charges forward and attempts to take over. Writing Trina, the alpha female assassin in Tracking Shadows, was a recent exception. I never once forgot she was a sultry red head.

Years ago while reading an epic romance novel, no matter how the author described the heroine’s hair, I pictured the woman as a blonde. It still throws me when I re-read that fabulous romance, or the other novels where that dynamic woman makes a cameo appearance, that the author insists she’s a brunette.

But I didn’t build that world or those characters…

When world building for a paranormal romance novel, authors often have other things on their mind. Setting and circumstance and other elements can seem far more important to the story than hair color. But hair color is an important world building element of any novel, simply because it helps your reader identify with and create a mental image of your characters.

It’s a detail, sure, and it doesn’t have to come into play or be mentioned in every scene, but you want the reader to have the best possible experience as they read your books.

World building for a paranormal romance novel encompasses everything from vivid characters to anything-goes settings. As trivial as it might sound, hair color is a part of that.

And who knows, maybe coloring my hair will inspire me to write boldly in new directions or even build new worlds.

Live the adventure!

Nothing irks me more than when I’m reading, happily lost in wherever the author has carried me, and I come across a word or phrase that doesn’t fit the moment. I’m all about reading to build vocabulary, that’s not what I mean. I mean those moments when the prose is too twisted, a bit too clever maybe, or even just out of character.

How characters think and speak is an integral part of world building for a paranormal romance novel – or any genre. It helps weave the spell that keeps the reader immersed in the fantasy or romance or thrill ride.

As an author I’m guilty of it too, and it’s one thing I ask my beta readers to look for when they read for me. No, you can’t please everyone all the time with every phrase. But I try. If several beta readers get stuck on the same thing, I know something needs to change. I want to be sure that when readers open my novels, every possible aspect of the world building keeps them in the adventure.

Harsh, unexpected, or ill-fitting jargon is as troubling as finding Cleveland’s restored’57 Chevy (from the Shadows of Justice series) cruising through the streets and terrifying the horses and populace of of early 18th century London.

There’s a fun (distracting) site my web team pointed me to called Dack.com and it’s a BS generator. Which means you can play around taking a simple word or term and making it too complex for the moment.

For example, collaborative becomes “embrace interactive convergence” and engineer (since I live with so many analytics) becomes “benchmark efficient infomediaries”.

You can just imagine paging through a book, glued to the anticipation of a collaborative effort, only to read how your hero will “embrace interactive convergence” to catch the villain. Really? As a reader, that sort of jargon hiccup would bump me out of the carefully crafted world an author built for me to enjoy.

Dack.com is pretty much a fun exercise in time-killing. Unless, of course, you need help developing the vocabulary and speech patterns for an ultra techno-introvert or conversely, an obnoxious, extrovert dictionary salesman. (I think I sense a short story here…)

Hey, you’ve gotta use whatever works when it comes to world building for a paranormal romance novel.

Live the adventure!