www.PaulaMillhouse.com
Stories where fantasy, romance, and suspense collide.
Fantasy Romance – Blending fiction genres and pushing boundaries
Kort lunged forward and threw out his arm at Magnus, his finger accusing. “You stay off that damn dragon until he learns how to land … hell, until he learns how to fly!”
Mia stomped forward, the challenge clear in her eyes. “How the hell’s he supposed to learn those things if I don’t show him?”
“That’s not your job!”
“He’s my dragon. It is my job! If you think for one minute I’m going to let you keep me from him–”
“You could have died, Mia!” She was so beautiful like this, hot, angry, and full of life. In one breath Kort wanted to turn her over his lap and spank her supple little ass, and yet in the next he wanted to take her into his arms, comfort her, and tenderly tell her of his concern, of his love for her. Hell, she infuriated him, and left him speechless. He heaved in deep breaths conflicted with what to say to her next.
My snippet is from my novel Chalvaren Rising, coming this summer from Boroughs Publishing Group.
Fantasy Romance
Sometimes I feel like a Reader without a country. Most of the fantasy works out in the world of fiction don’t have enough romance for me. Maybe it’s the world building that takes too much of the page? Then, on the other hand, most of the romance I read lacks that fantasy touch I crave.
Blending Genres
What’s a girl to do? I decided to write the book I wanted to read. I created a new fantasy realm, The Kingdom of Chalvaren, and I infused it with the sort of romance I want. Kort and Mia have found each other in this new world, and watching them navigate their way through it while building their romance makes for some heated exchanges.
Pushing Boundaries
I’ve been reading on the web there’s an upturn in Intelligent Readers who crave this genre – #FantasyRomance – and I’m thrilled. Honestly, it seems like the perfect marriage of story to me. Dragons, magic, sword & sorcery, and a couple on a quest to show me they know their love’s worth fighting for – Yeah, now we’re talking, folks. That’s the kind of story I want to read.
#8 Sentence Sunday – Check out all the cool writers over at the Weekend Writing Warrior’s blog. You just might find your perfect story over there. Share this: #8Sunday #SnippetSunday
I hope she is going to be the one spanking him. Bad idea to come between a girl and her dragon, hihi.
LikeLike
Thanks, Linda! Yeah, Mia loves that dragonlet.
LikeLike
Genre mixing is fun, says the person who wrote a science fiction novel with elements of paranormal M/M erotic romance.
Is he going to scold the dragon, too?
LikeLike
Nice. Thanks for stopping by, PT Wyant.
LikeLike
Emotion packed snippet. Well done!
LikeLike
Iris, I’m glad you got a chance to stop by.
LikeLike
I think he ought to just flip a coin to figure out which way he should react. LOL. Love the inner turmoil, great job portraying that and I love the connection it makes. Excellent snippet, I’m intrigued.
LikeLike
Thanks, Daelyn – I appreciate your input.
LikeLike
Thank you, Paula. I too love to read and write fantasy romance. Which isn’t easy to find.
There are thousands of romances about sex with vampires, werewolves, demons, and the like. Very few are about love, real love, in heroic/legendary high-fantasy settings. I hope I can help redress that imbalance.
Good luck with your current and upcoming releases.
LikeLike
Hey Mary Anne,
What I see lacking in so many stories today is valiance. You know, that principle where heroes (and heroines) give all of themselves for the greater good, yet wind up winning in the end because they did. There’s a lot of popular fiction out there that doesn’t capture that principle of valiance, and for me, it’s just got to be there for the story to resonate. I hope my characters accomplish that too, Mary Anne.
Thanks so much for stopping by to comment.
Paula
LikeLike
Great excerpt! Love that you are willing to make the time to mix the genres. You know what they say, if you can find what you want to read, then write it!
LikeLike
You’re right, Dani. I wrote the story I wanted to read.
Thanks for chiming in!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor Kort, seems he’s got to be the responsible one and therefore come off as a meanie. Enjoyed the excerpt, love dragons!
LikeLike
*Gushes and smiles* Thanks for stopping in today, Veronica. Kort’s got his work cut out for him managing these two Newbies to Chalveren. Good thing he comes from good stock.
LikeLike
Sounds like Kort wants to “train” Mia, along with her dragon. 🙂 Your snippets are always so dynamic- love them!
LikeLike
Hi Christina! Thanks for the kudos and yes, Kort has a few things he needs to show Mia in Chalvaren Rising. Thanks so much for stopping by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, gee, he’s got it bad for her. Love it!
LikeLike
Elaine – you have no idea…
I’m glad you picked up on their romantic tension. I appreciate the feedback.
LikeLike
Mia’s as spunky as her dragon, while poor Kort is stuck with the thankless role of naysaying responsibility.
LikeLike
Kort’s got a dynasty to build, Ed. Good thing for him Mia and Magnus are there to start him off in the right direction. Thanks for stopping by today. Magnus says “Hi!”
LikeLike
I love mixing genres, Paula. The hardlines of “genres” are for… well, basically sales convenience. Actually read a really cool article/interview yesterday on the topic by Neil Gaiman and Kazuo Ishiguro (link: http://www.newstatesman.com/2015/05/neil-gaiman-kazuo-ishiguro-interview-literature-genre-machines-can-toil-they-can-t-imagine).
Basically… write what you’d want to read… there are readers out there now. Write your story… and make sure that dragon gets the training he needs before Mia and Kort are too involved with each other to make sure the beast doesn’t break a castle on his next landing 😀
LikeLike
Thanks so much for the link, Eden. I couldn’t agree more. When Magnus makes his debut this summer and flies off into the land of published fiction I’m hoping everyone is rooting for him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fine snippet here full of fire and love. And a dragon who needs training. There’s the rub.
LikeLike
Hi Charmaine,
I’m glad Kort & Mia’s passion is coming through on the page. Magnus gets plenty of type too. Silly dragonlet.
LikeLike
Wow, there was a lot of energy in that little snippet. And I agree with you, fantasy and romance are the perfect blend of story. (and dragons!)
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by, Alexis? This story was fun to write.
LikeLike
Looks like romance to me! And we love dragons.
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by, Aurora. Dragon love all around.
LikeLike