by Ashlyn Chase, guest blogger and author of Strange Neighbors
I’m so glad to have an opportunity to explain how I deal with my very human characters falling in love with shapeshifters and other paranormal creatures. Thank you for asking me to write an article on this for your blog!
Imagine dating a wonderful stranger. The attraction is undeniable and mutual. Passion ignites, love grows. Now, imagine this amazing, brilliant, handsome, loving, special person telling you he's even more 'special' than you could ever have imagined. He isn't human!
Gulp. NOW what?
Now the fun begins. To make a human being in this situation realistic, he or she must question his or her own sanity. The world you thought you knew is suddenly a much larger, scarier place. If a human can change his shape into an animal, what else exists? Vampires? Fairies? Dragons? Mermen? Elves? Hey, someone check my temperature. I must be hallucinating!
In my 'world' there's always a touch of magic. A relationship between a human and a were usually comes with a 'sign' that these two seemingly mismatched halves are indeed the only combination that will achieve the perfect whole.
In my vampire stories, they find their 'beloved.' In werewolf stories, it's their 'mate.'
So what kind of sign do I give these couples? It varies, but my most frequently used device is telepathy. The ability to communicate wordlessly develops between true mated couples. I'm not talking about spouses finishing each other’s sentences. I'm talking about actually hearing the other person's voice speaking in the character’s head! So, naturally, the more right you are as a couple, the crazier you'll seem to yourself.
But one or both can't give up. Usually it's the paranormal character who knows the lore and legend behind their particular condition, then they have to convince their partner that, “no, they're not losing their minds,” and “yes, this is meant to be.”
Why doesn't the human simply run off screaming into the night, never to be seen again? Well, that's where love comes in. Love is its own form of insanity. My characters have to fall "madly in love." It can happen at any stage of the relationship. Sometimes they’re friends first (as in the third book of the Strange Neighbors series.) Sometimes they get off on the wrong foot (as in Vampire Vintage and book two of the Strange Neighbors series.
In Strange Neighbors, book one, there’s no real device. The heroine has to rely on her feelings for and belief in the goodness of her special man. And even though his fate is sealed once he’s made his choice, he still allows her free will to commit or walk away, knowing his heart will be forever broken. That, folks, is mature love. When you want the other person’s happiness as much or more than your own and are willing to sacrifice for them—or as one adorable cartoon illustrated it once; Love is letting your spouse have the last cold tablet.
STRANGENEIGHBORS BY ASHLYN CHASE—IN STORES JUNE 2010
He’s looking for peace, quiet, and a little romance…
There’s never a dull moment when hunky all-star pitcher and shapeshifter Jason Falco invests in an old Boston brownstone apartment building full of supernatural creatures. But when Merry MacKenzie moves into the ground floor apartment, the playboy pitcher decides he might just be done playing the field…
A girl just wants to have fun…
Sexy Jason seems like the perfect fling, but newly independent nurse Merry’s not sure she’s ready to trust him with her heart…especially when the tabloids start trumpeting his playboy lifestyle.
Then pandemonium breaks loose and Merry and Jason will never get it together without a little help from the vampire who lives in the basement and the werewolf from upstairs…
About the Author
A multi-published, award-winning author, Ashlyn Chase specializes in characters who reinvent themselves, having reinvented herself numerous times. Among her many day jobs, she has worked as a psychiatric nurse, run blood drives for the Red Cross, and now uses her degree in behavioral sciences to avoid writing exhaustive character sketches. She lives with her true-life hero husband in beautiful New Hampshire. For more information, please visit http://ashlynchase.com/.
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21 comments ↓
I saw this book on another site. It sounds like a great plot for a whole series. I love all the cooky neighboors thing. Can’t wait to give it a whirl!
Thanks, Danielle!
It’s going to be a series of three books. At least that’s what we’re planning at the moment. It could go on forever since anyone who moves into apt 1B finds the love of their lives immediately–and moves in with them after that, leaving the ‘love shack’ as they call it, free for the next lucky tenant. (grin)
Ash
Hi Ash! Fantastic post, enjoyed it very much! As a reader, I agree with you: we love reading about fate and couplas destined to be together, and it seems paranormal couples always have this certainty, this supernatural way of knowing for sure that they are meant to be. Oh, telepathic communication? That sounds interesting! Can’t wait to read Strange Neighbors, it sounds fantastic!
ps. Please don’t enter me as I live outside the US.
Strange Neighbors is my type of book. I love Shapeshifters! Each time I read a book about them, one more of the many questions I have(about shapeshifters) is answered. Plus, I get to read a really good book.
mom1248(at)att(dot)net
Hi Ash!!! I loved your article. I was so hooked on my husband when he was my boyfriend he could have told me he was a vampire and I’d still love him. I so agree with everything you said.
I’m also so Happy for you. Your books a hit and your soon to be series is going to be amazing!!!
When is the next book do out and which one are you working on now, or is that a secret?
Much Love!! Christine
No secret, Christine. Feel free to tell the world!
Feb is the release date for The Werewolf Upstairs and I’m working on The Vampire Next Door now.
1/2 way through!
I’d love to read this. I’ve lived in apts. where even though you aren’t friends with your neighbors, you still end up knowing more about them then their own families do, so using that as a setting for a paranormal romance is a great idea.
Hi Ash, great article. You explained exactly what we are thinking when we’re reading. I should tell you, i’m just waiting for my Vampire soul mate to come find me, turn me, and we live forever and ever, LOL.
Regardless love your stories and the paranormals you create, I just began Strange Neighbors, and I no I won’t be disappointed =D
Thanks for your interest and encouragement, everyone!
And thank you to Love Romance Passion for having me guest blog today!
Ash
Well, I’m looking for a mature love.
lbcanton@verizon.net
Fantastic way of explaining it, and you just hit on all my favorite points in PNR! I’m getting this one as soon as am done writing here.
I hope you do more than 3 books, ME LOVE SERIES!LOL
Thanks for the great interview. This book sound great.
Can’t wait to get my hands on it.
Hope you have a good week
This sounds like such a fun read! I can almost picture it as a tv show.
It’s funny you should say that, Anna,
A Hollywood producer asked if the film rights were still available (they are) and she requested a copy. Of course my agent sent it!
Ash
Interesting post! This series sounds like a blast of pure awesomeness!
Hi, Ashlyn, I’ve been reading a lot about this book on other sites, as well, and I am intrigued by it. I do have to say that I am partial to the Boston setting, being from Massachusetts myself (not a lot of books set there). What made you decide on Boston for a setting and what elements did that city add to your story?
Margay
I’ve been looking forward to reading Ashlyn’s novel… love the plot, the characters and the title!
I always enjoy books that have a focus on characterizations. These books sound like the characters would be a lot of fun to read. I’m definitely puting this book on my TBR list!
I love the characters you have created and the concept of reinventing themselves is cool. It’s not a concept you usually see in novels. To me, it makes the character more “real”.
Thank you for spending your time with us.
Fallon
I am so glad Strange Neighbors will be a series of at least three books. I have to read this!
mom1248(at)att(dot)net
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