This is the 15th day of the A to Z Challenge.
P is for Paranormal Worlds
Paranormal romance touches on themes ranging from horror, fantasy and science fiction while keeping a darker Gothic feel to the story. The characters may range from human to vampires, ghosts, werewolves, shifters, witches, demons and fallen angels. Even time travel, ghosts and aliens may fall under this genre. Paranormal romance is stepping into another world to enjoy the magic of legends—new and old.
Create a Believable Paranormal World
If you’re creating a world from scratch, you’ll need rules for your preternatural beings to follow. Research legends, folklores and mythologies, to help inspire your muse. For your paranormal world to work you’ll want to create a convincing mythology to go with it. You may take an old mythology and expand upon it or you may want to rewrite your own and only touch on some of the traditional lore. Either way is fine.
It’s a great idea to keep a journal of the world you created. This is especially helpful if you’re going to write a series. The rules in your world must be followed. You don’t have state all the rules on page one of your story. You can pace and reveal throughout the tale. The important thing is to be consistent.
Here are some examples to keep in mind for your character building:
Where did they come from?
Do they have powers?
Are they soul survivors of a species?
How have they learned to live among the humans?
What laws do they have?
Do they have an enemy that could destroy them?
Again, consistency is crucial. Establish the rules and stick with them. Building your paranormal world is the fun part. Keep it fresh and reveal your secrets gradually. It’ll give your characters a chance to grow and it will give the readers a reason to keep reading.
A few of my paranormal tales:
Fallen Angels
Eli: Warriors for the Light
Ol’ Hallow’s Eve is the day the veil between worlds are thin. It’s the only day out of the year the preternatural beings are allowed to walk among the humans as their true selves. With Eli’s wings bound and his glamour stripped, the Elders send him back in time before Ryden O’Sullivan knew the truth about him. If she is truly his soul mate, then her heart should recognize him.
There are those among the Watchers who are afraid Eli might succeed in his quest for love. If he does, everything will change within the brethren. Hashasheen demons, assassins for hire are sent to take out Eli and Ryden. Eli is a warrior and will fight to keep Ryden safe, but time may be his biggest enemy. The Elders gave him until the end of Ol’ Hallow’s Eve. Ryden must fall in love with him by then or his life will be forfeited.
Lucca: Warriors for the Light
Lucca Marlowe is half human, half angel, one of the Nephilim. Banished for crimes against one of his fellow brethren, the elders bind his glamour and wings, casting him to the human's realm. He'll either learn to respect his human side of existence or live out eternity trying.
Lucca does not live a mundane life. Angels and demons demand he do their bidding. His estrange father resurfaces after centuries of being absent and he's brought a friend from Hell.
To make his life more complicated, he fears he found his soul mate in a human female. Only Juliet Romeo has a secret that will bring the wrath of Heaven down upon their heads.
It's a race against time to find out who will end up with his soul.
Shapeshifters
Destiny's Prerogative (Werejaguar/shapeshifter)
"Destiny's Prerogative the Lovers, is a thrilling, beautifully written, romantic tale. Gabriel is a very noble and charming character. Shay is independent, strong and brave. When you have three gorgeous brothers, one strong, intelligent lead woman and throw in a mysterious figure threatening everything you come up with one breathtaking, fast paced romance story." Paranormal Review
The Magic of the Loch (Shapeshifter/Loch Ness Monster)
Michaela Grant travels to Scotland for a holiday, knowing this vacation is her last. A medical condition threatens her life and any chance of a future—until she meets Alan MacLachlin, a man forced to exist between two worlds.Alan is the legendary Loch Ness Monster. Once every fifty years he returns to human form in search of his soul mate, the one woman who can break his curse. He believes he has found forever with Michaela, but to claim it he must figure out how to save her life.
Michaela and Alan vow to take what time has to offer, but another threat looms. A sinister shape shifter with a vendetta against Alan is making Loch Ness his personal hunting ground. Now he’s threatening Michaela. Alan must discover who the shifter is and stop him before it’s too late.
Historical Time Travel
Creighton Manor (Time Travel)
The last thing Gillian Metcalf remembers before she passes out is being aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California, where she witnesses a dog disappearing as if it were a phantom. So how did she end up in 1870 and in a man's room aboard the Ida Belle, traveling down the Mississippi?Zachary Creighton, a gambler with one goal: to win back Creighton Manor. Marriage is not part of the plan, but since he is found with Gillian in his room, reputations are at stake, his included.To keep peace with his reluctant bride, he makes a bargain with her. He needs a tutor for his nephew Tyler, and she needs a roof over her head until they can annul their sham of a marriage. However, Zachary finds himself falling for Gillian's oddly charming ways despite the fact the woman claims to be from the future.
The gamble is trust, but will the stakes prove too high for Zachery to risk it all and win Gillian's heart?
Thank you so much for visiting. Come by tomorrow for Q is for Queen Mary. Here's the list to the other A to Z Challenge participants. Have fun hopping!!
Writing isn’t just writing is it? There’s lots of research too!Very interesting.
Jen,
There is a lot of work creating a convincing story. You want your characters and the place where they live, work and love to be believable. If they aren’t then no one will care about them. No writer wants that to happen. lol
Great post! I’m world building now for a paranormal. I think I need to invest in a huge dry erase board because my post-its and printouts are all over the place! What do you use to keep your notes all together, Karen?
Niecy,
I use notebooks. I make a page for each of the characters, listing their hair and eye color, how tall they are, etc. I also put down if they use catch phrases, or if they lift a brow or anything that makes them stand out to who they are. I jot down things that I feel are important and might need to refer back to.
Karen, that’s an excellent idea! I once had a freelance editor who who also taught workshops on character building and she told me to write 100 things about each character, including personality traits, vices, appearance descriptors, motivators, goals, flaws, etc. A spiral bound notebook would be the perfect place for me to keep these kinds of notes so I’m not shuffling around my desk looking for them! I have NO CLUE why this has never come to me before, ha! I also can’t wait to read your novel, Magic of the Loch. So excited for this one!
Niecey,
I can imagine you shuffling around your desk for notes. I’ve done that myself. lol
So glad you can’t wait to read Magic of the Loch. You’ll have to let me know how you like it. 🙂
You’re so right about keeping a journal or notebook of the rules and specifics of the imaginary world. Without guidelines and rules the story would be inconsistent and unbelievable. I sketch out each of my characters what they look like, what they fear, what they want, strengths and weaknesses. If they have a pparticular gesture or phrase they use consistantly, I keep a record of that, too.
I have all of your books except one and I’m looking forward to the day when you publish Gideon’s story.
All the best…
Sarah,
Thanks so much for stopping by! I want to finish Gideon’s story. I promise I will. 🙂
Great tips on world building. I am obsessed with angels, demons, and nephilim. Many people have such different takes on these beings that I am left with many decisions concerning rules that govern them.
DL,
I love researching angels, demons, and nephilim. If the history channel is featuring a show about them, I’m glued to the television. lol I have books, and notes with different takes and beliefs on these beings. I can’t get enough. So glad to meet someone else with the same passion. 🙂
I had never read much in the realm of fantasy until a couple of years ago. Writers do build a whole different world, I hadn’t thought of that before. For it to be believable there are so many things to create. I enjoyed reading about how you give birth to your fiction.
I am visiting with A-Z.
http://agutandabutt.blogspot.com/
Betty,
So glad that you enjoyed the post. Thanks so much for stopping by. 🙂