I asked this question in the comments section of Julie's post below, but I decided to open up a new topic in case some might not see it because I'm really interested in some feedback. For those of you who have written and read Eclipses, are they also edgier (re: the discussion on the new direction for Intrigues) or more traditionally gothic--the creepy old house, hero in doubt, etc? Are paranormal elements required?
I love gothics, with or without paranormal elements, so I'm thrilled to hear they're so hot right now.
Amanda Stevens
www.amandastevens.com
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I appreciate this ongoing discussion, because I like getting to glimps the thinking of the other Intrigue writers. Oddly enough, I don't think "edgier" and "traditional" are mutually exclusive in an Eclips.
ReplyDeleteIn SPELLBOUND, which was out in February, my hero lives in an isolated house in the bayou. (Just to be different, I made it lovingly restored rather than creepy.) But he was suffering under a voodoo curse and had to change into a jaguar every night and roam the bayou. It was a TRADITIONAL Beauty and the Beast story--because the heroine comes to his house and has to learn to trust/love him enough to help him lift the curse. But I was thrilled that Intrigue let me write a guy who changed into an animal at night. Naturally, his disappearing every night didn't help the trust factor.
The hero's father suffered under the same curse. He was married for a while, but his wife finally left him. The father had a collection of antique erotica in his library. The heroine discovers the collection and looks at some of the books. I was surprised that Intrigue let me describe the pictures--and discuss them with the hero.
I'd call the book edgy--with an interesting combination of traditional and modern elements.
I don't know if paranormal elements are necessary in an Eclips. But they certainly add to the fun of writing the book for me.
Okay, I see I made some mistakes in my post. Is there some way to edit it? I spelled glimpse wrong!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I should have said, "I was surprised that Intrigue let me describe the pictures and have the HEROINE, discuss them with the hero."
I'm actually interested to hear comments on this too. I'm working on a gothic, but I had received an article written by Rita Herron for her RWA chapter in which she talked about writing for the Eclipse subline. She specifically stated that the editors did not want paranormal. Therefore, that aspect of my plot got altered.
ReplyDeleteGiven what I'm hearing, I'm wondering if the use of heavy paranormalelements is reserved for the published authors? Might that have been the opinion of one editor? Or have the guidelines simply shifted over the past few months?
Look forward to hearing what others say.
Patrizia
Oops. That's supposed to be paranormal elements. And I did preview. Go figure. ;-)
ReplyDeletePatrizia
Well, -I- can't answer that because Intrigue has let me include paranormal in my books almost from the first--although the degree varied. My third Intrigue, Whispers in the Night, had a ghost. And that was more than ten years ago. (The ghost was definitely a secondary character--a young woman who wanted the h/h to solve her murder.)
ReplyDeleteYou need some of the newer writers to answer the question. I can ask it for you on the main board.
Your comments about your editor suggesting you write an urban gothic is funny, Patricia. I asked my editor about doing a specific urban setting for an Eclipse a little over a year ago (a fictionalized old, storied hotel in NYC), and she seemed to think I was crazy. So I never wrote the proposal. Maybe it's time to revisit that idea! Maybe now its time has come.
ReplyDelete-Ann Voss Peterson
Hmm. Maybe they look for different things from different authors. They liked my urban Gothic proposal--but then maybe they associate me with urban settings since I do a lot of urban cop stories.
ReplyDeleteThat's not always the case, though. I've done three Montan/rural based continuity series for Intrigue.
I think my Eclipse will be pretty traditional in plot (mad scientist/innocent woman working for him), but the setting and details are definitely modern. And my heroine, while in a vulnerable position, has a modern voice and attitude. I think the spooky, dark Gothic tone is the same as a traditional--though no moors or haunted houses.
Julie Miller
www.juliemiller.org
I got hit with the edit bug, too! How about "Montana" instead of the mysterious "Montan"!
ReplyDeleteJulie Miller
www.juliemiller.org
That's interesting, Julie. I write mostly urban stories, too. It's kind of tough to have a rural legal thriller, you know. ;) And though my editor said she liked the idea, she wasn't sure about a gothic being set in the middle of the city. Now, I never wrote the proposal, so maybe she would have liked it. And this was well over a year ago, and we know how things change. But at that time, I got the feeling she thought the urban setting was kind of out there.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe it was just my description of the idea. I probably should have just written the thing! And maybe I will yet!
-Ann Voss Peterson
I love the idea of an urban gothic! There's a movie coming out soon called Dark Waters (I think) which is set in an apartment building and looks really, really spooky. I can see how an urban setting would work great because you can certainly be isolated in a big city.
ReplyDeleteI've been toying with an urban gothic for a while--set in an old sanitarium converted to apartments. Like Amanda said, a big city can be very isolating, especially to someone who's introverted by nature. Plenty of possibilities for a gothic-style story, I would think.
ReplyDeletePaula
Paula--There's just such a place here in Houston. Jefferson Davis Hospital was condemned years and years ago and for as long as I can remember, it's been rumored to be haunted. It's located downtown and is one of the creepiest, scariest places I've ever been. They're in the process now of converting it into condos. Oh, the story possibilities!
ReplyDeleteDo you think they should be seperating out the term paranormal? Nowadays ghosts hardly seem to qualify--rather it is vamps and weres etc. Maybe when an editor says no paranormal they mean shape shifters????
ReplyDeleteFunny thing about those shapeshifters, Toni. Rebecca York, Patricia Rosemoor and I have a shapeshifting villain in our April Intrigue, DESERT SONS!
ReplyDeleteI think the editors would like to see stories without paranormal elements. But that when they read a great story with paranormal elements, they won't hesitate to buy it. As long as you have a great story that has all the elements of an Intrigue, I think they are open to most things.
-Ann
Ann Voss Peterson
Oh I love where this discussion is going!
ReplyDeleteWhat is even better is that all my favorite authors are doing ECLIPSE!
(((Doing a Snoopy dance)))
Julie, Is it true you are doing an eclipse? Oh the joy:)
Patricia & Patricia - You , too?! (More penny pinching for me - no more ice cream on the shopping list)
I wonder if this means that the Eclipse line is around to stay? I hope so.
Amanda - I read your books from way back when. I loved the Shadows line. Hated to see it go and now w/ eclipses I feel like I got them back:)
Patricia Ann - that story w/ the haunted hospital sounds killer. (pardon the pun) When I was a girl there was a hospital just like that in my small town. It was condemend and reported to have ghosts and strange noises at night, like the moans of the dead that died there. They tore it down and turned it into a geriatric home. Urban legend. (That would make an awesome title)
Oh, can you imagine the storyline. The dead roaming the halls. Hmmm....Okay, maybe I'll write that story. (Going off to plot)
Sasha
Hey Intrigue Author, am I glad I found you. I'm really keen on channelling and found your blog. ECLIPSE--Amanda Stevens certainly got my interest. What do you think of channelling ? Not everyone is as convinced as I am that they are the way forward. Anyway, thanks for your post! Sophie
ReplyDeleteWay to go Intrigue Author, thats awsome! I'm having a real hard time trying to find info about ghost hunters television show and then I found your site. Thank you sooo much! Even though ECLIPSE--Amanda Stevens isn't exactly what I'm searching for, it definitely got my interest. It all makes sense now why I came across your site when I was looking for ghost hunters television show related info. Keep up the good work. I'm always interested in reading more about ghost hunters television show
ReplyDeletegood info
ReplyDelete