Thursday, March 26, 2015
Why paranormal?
Although I'm not totally paranormal author, I'm published in historical romance and am trying myself in suspense romance, people often ask why I write paranormal.
The main reason is, when I write paranormal, I resurrect a local legend. And there are no shortage of them from my native Croatia. With such rich and long history, things were bound to happen, and among aristocracy free love between young people was rarely allowed.
In those days marrying off for a title or better social status were main reasons to tie a knot. Only peasants down on the ground married for love. But that doesn't mean that love among aristocrats didn't happen. It did. However, it was a forbidden love and often ended tragically.
One such tragic love from the later part of 17th century is a base for my newest release titled "Rose of Crimson". It's often referred to as Croatian Romeo and Juliet. Only in this love from Renaissance times, the lovers' family did not kiss and make up at their children's funereal.
I kept this story as it was retold through the centuries, but I had to make a small change to bring the main characters back to life. I had to make them immortal. Or it would be yet another retold story many heard of over and over again.
This new twist gave the story a much needed fresh breath. I've also added a character who is fascinated with the story and would do anything to hear every detail of how it played. Kate gets her wish, but in the process pays with her heart.
The main reason is, when I write paranormal, I resurrect a local legend. And there are no shortage of them from my native Croatia. With such rich and long history, things were bound to happen, and among aristocracy free love between young people was rarely allowed.
In those days marrying off for a title or better social status were main reasons to tie a knot. Only peasants down on the ground married for love. But that doesn't mean that love among aristocrats didn't happen. It did. However, it was a forbidden love and often ended tragically.
One such tragic love from the later part of 17th century is a base for my newest release titled "Rose of Crimson". It's often referred to as Croatian Romeo and Juliet. Only in this love from Renaissance times, the lovers' family did not kiss and make up at their children's funereal.
I kept this story as it was retold through the centuries, but I had to make a small change to bring the main characters back to life. I had to make them immortal. Or it would be yet another retold story many heard of over and over again.
This new twist gave the story a much needed fresh breath. I've also added a character who is fascinated with the story and would do anything to hear every detail of how it played. Kate gets her wish, but in the process pays with her heart.
My Bio: A
member of the Romance Writers of America and its chapter Kiss Of Death, as well
as Savvy Authors, Zrinka Jelic writes contemporary fiction—which leans toward
the paranormal—and always adds a pinch of history. Her characters come from all
walks of life, and although she prefers red, romance comes in many colors. Given
Jelic’s love for her native Croatia and the Adriatic Sea, her characters usually
find themselves dealing with a fair amount of sunshine, but a little fall of rain
is unavoidable in everyone’s life.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Spooky Symphonies
I love music.
Music helps with those everyday things that need to
get done, like housework and laundry. With Bruno Mars singing “Uptown Funk”
loudly in the background, the dull and dreary chores aren’t so bad.
I find listening to music when I write sets a certain tone
and gets my muse going. Dave Matthews is always good for a softer or love scene
as is some hard rock for an action scene.
My newfound obsession on Pandora is Spooky Symphonies. I’ve
discovered some wonderful music. We all know the ‘one’ famous song from Alfred
Hitchcock’s Psycho, but the whole soundtrack, written by Bernard Herrmann is beautifully haunting and creepy.
The Exorcist, also well known for ‘one’ song, is a great
eerie soundtrack written and performed by different composers.
BTW, these are two of my favorite movies!
I recently wrote a short dark fiction story while listening to the music from the 1992 movie, Dracula, written and
performed by Wojciech Kilar. Atmospheric and dramatic, it helped me create an
unsettling mood and up the tension in my story. I hope so, anyway!
Dick Clark once said, “Music is the soundtrack of your
life.”
Spooky Symphonies have become the soundtrack of my
character’s lives.
Do you have a favorite spooky song?
Do you have a favorite spooky song?
********
Debbie Christiana writes paranormal romance, dark romantic fiction and short dark fiction.
You can find her:
Website: www.debbiechristiana.com
Facebook: Debbie Christiana, Author
Twitter: @DebChristiana
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