Choosing that prefect setting
Hello! Thank you Dawn for having me over today. I’m so excited about my upcoming release, Ravished Before Sunrise, a Decadent Publishing 1Night Stand story. It’s my first published story and loads of fun to write.
When I start a new story, I always flesh out my characters. I have to know who they are. But that’s the easy part, at least for me. The main reason being it is the characters that come to me first and tell me what they want. Then we talk about the setting. Where will this story or adventure take place? The scenery and landscape is important and very much a part of the story.
Ravished Before Sunrise came at me full force. Emalee, heroine, came to me and said she needed an adventure and wanted to stalk a vampire. She’s an avid reader and loves paranormal romance novel and thought it would be fun to role player a huntress. Her boring not so human life made her long for some excitement.
So, what better way to have her fantasy vampire hunt than with a one-night stand? But where would it take place?
Ema wanted a natural setting, somewhere secluded. My first thought was the mountains, because they’re beautiful. So I searched the web and did some brainstorming until finally picking the French Alps.
Not all settings come to me so easily. I had stories sit for months because I’m not sure on the setting. For me, it has to feel right and fit the characters. I’ve learned not to force it. My muse keeps me busy with story ideas, so it’s okay to let one sit until the perfect setting comes along.
*************************************
Ravished Before Sunrise
Lia Davis
Blurb:
Born with the unusual ability to see what truly lies in the shadows, Emalee Black is stuck between two worlds, the paranormal and the human. Neither one accepts or understands her and she's forced to live a quiet, boring life in hiding. When her best friend mentions 1Night Stand dating service, Ema chooses a role-playing adventure straight out of her romantic fantasies. She's to hunt her very own vampire and have her wicked way him.
Vampire Darian Wyman is surprised when his daughter signs him up for a one-night stand with an exclusive matching agency. At first he's appalled by the idea, but as he reads the details of the date he becomes intrigued. For one night he will get away from the life he has long grown tired of to be hunted and captured by a would-be huntress. But he has plans of his own for his little vixen.
However, when Darian discovers the truth about Ema's inhuman abilities, the date could end before it gets started.
Excerpt
Emalee’s pulse raced as she drummed her fingers on her desk and searched the website. A giddiness she hadn’t known since senior prom ran through her. The site claimed unlimited possibilities, a chance for adventure. Could they mean it? Because she’d already seen things beyond what humans deemed possible. Hell, her whole existence was unimaginable.
Her life had taken a lonesome turn when a friend she hadn’t seen since high school noted how much younger than the rest of her classmates she looked. Her long-lasting youth had become a liability. Drawing too much attention to her unusual gift wouldn’t prove wise. In some cases, it could get her killed. With no alternative, she’d closed the door on her life among humans and moved into the local witch coven, where everyone was different.
“What will you do?” Her best friend since preschool, a coven member in good standing, sat next to her for moral support and encouragement. Ema didn’t need much encouragement. The second Beth had mentioned a one-night stand, she’d been hooked. And Madame Eve’s dating service would save her from dying of boredom, at least for one night.
But could she go through with it? A wicked smile tugged at her lips and her inner voice said, “Hell, yeah.” Human strangers gave her a sense of safety. They knew nothing about her past or her unusual abilities.
“Just one night?”
Available May 1, 2012 at Decadent Publishing.
*************************************
About Lia
Lia Davis is a mother to two young adults and two very special, equally different kitty cats. She’s a wife to her soul mate, who drives her crazy during editing/revisions. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers. But it’s her home and she loves it!
An accounting major, Lia has always been a dreamer with a very activity imagination. The wheels in her head never stop. She only recently became serious about publishing her work and loves it more than she imagined. Writing is a stress reliever that allows her to go off in her corner of the house and enter into another world she created, leaving the day job where it belongs.
Her favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties.
Thank you so much for having me today.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you - flesh out the character first. The French Alps sound like a great setting :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sheri!
DeleteI believe fleshing out the characters is one of the most important aspects of writing. I will know my characters inside and out before I even know how the story will play out.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brenda!
DeleteGreat post. Ravished Before Sunset sounds captivating. I'm definitely putting it on my to be read list when it's released.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Janna!
DeleteThe story sounds awesome, Lia. Can't wait to read it. And congrats on the release.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Melissa, Christine, Maggie, Daryl, Jennifer, Victoria and Casea! I am very excited about the release.
DeleteI agree Lia, I have to have the characters first then once I get to know them the setting just seems to fall into place...and like you, sometimes it sits for awhile before it works itself out!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your book...very exciting!
Love the premise of this story.
ReplyDeleteI consider knowing my characters name having fleshed them out. I try to plot and plan but I end up writing the story instead.
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt. The French Alps - awesome choice.
Wonderful interview! Great cover! I always flesh out my characters before I write, at least as much as I can, but they always surprise me on paper! Can't wait to read this one!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview. My characters live in my head - so I know them pretty well.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, Lia! Can't wait fo this story to be released! Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteGreat insight Lia. Congrats on the upcoming release.
ReplyDeleteNikki
Thanks, Nikki!
DeleteGreat post. It's funny how the characters sort of take over. That is usually how it goes for me except when I'm traveling, then the setting pops up foremost in my mind... a bit of inspiration I guess. Congrats on your upcoming release!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Toni!
DeleteThanks for stopping by Lia and Congrats on the upcoming release!! You are always welcome back whenever you'd like :) xoxo
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome and thank you for having me!
DeleteI think it's great how you can go from one story to another. I think I'd get my plots/characters confused. Thanks for sharing your tips on scene.
ReplyDeleteMost my notes are hand written in notebooks for each story. That way I have them in front of me as I write. My writing partner has turned me on to OneNote and spreadsheets. It helps to keep everything organized. Thanks!
DeleteLove the excerpt Lia! Great interview, can't wait to read the book. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Krystal
Thanks, Krystal!
Delete