Know the difference between strong and show.

Now some of you might be a bit confused by the title while some of you already know where this is going. I am, indeed, talking about muscles.

I am choosing to discuss this because while talking to someone my book and the some of the changes I made they pointed out that while I point out that Patrick was a physically strong and fit man in life(a crusader) I don't mention how defined he is, or rather I point out he isn't that defined save from some in his arms and legs.

It then occurred to me most people don't even understand that most men with those kind of muscles are some of the weakest men you will meet. We, thanks to the media, believe highly defined muscles mean strength.  Which isn't  true.  If you have ever watched a strong man competition or MMA fighting things like that, or oil wrestling, most those men are thick like mountains, but they don't have ripped abs or anything like that.

Why? Simply put, they are not starving their muscles to get that oh so popular tone and defined look.  They are actually strong and have muscles worth bragging about; they are healthy.  Which something most people don't know, those defined muscles are often the result of starving and weakening the muscles.  Thus meaning despite their appearance, their punches wouldn't hurt like you think, unless someone actually showed them how to fight.

Something to keep in mind when you want to have an actual strong character in your story.  They don't have to be ripped, they have just strong like a mountain and just as thick as one.

It's these little things that annoy me about other writers.  Again and as always a little research goes a long way.

Supernatural romance shouldn't be all roses and love triangles.

Now keep in mind this is an opinion, a rather strong one.  But I hate how almost every supernatural romance I am asked to read shares the same basic setup as your typical romance novel that doesn't have a single supernatural element in it.

It's so bad it gets to the point you can easily forget that the supernatural lead (almost always a male mind you) can easily be subbed in for a human and nothing about the story would change.  That's how little the supernatural element really is in these stories.

None of these authors bother to dig into how perverse some of these joinings could be.  Or how they walk the fine lines of actual love, lust and obsession. How dark and dangerous it would actually be.  They do venture to the meat of the relationship instead they throw another supernatural creature into the mix for a love triangle. 

The fact that human is falling in love with something that is normally considered a monster should be the heart of the story.  In truth them having feelings for said monster character speaks in volumes about the characters sanity or lack there of.  How deprived they might even be. When someone loves someone that kills and might even eat people for a living, they are not completely okay in the head.  Loving those kind of people doesn't make them understanding.

However, that would mean the main supernatural character would have to act like they are supposed to even a little bit. Like a vampire actually feeding on people and not deer.  A demon still wanting to give into his urges and doing so.

Supernatural Romance should be what Dark Fantasy is to Fantasy.  I am not saying you shouldn't have a happy ending or a silver lining, but for fuck sake make those characters work for it other than some boring ass love triangle nonsense.  Show us the readers that a monster might merit being loved. 

This song really reminds me of Patrick so I wanted to share it.

There is something about this song that is just Patrick, I can't explain it.

Also I am going to post a ficlet about the jaded vampire having some sexy times.  A friend of mine mentioned she wanted to read something where the vampire gets some.  I finally have an idea in my head for it that isn't breaking his character.

I am going to try my hand at first person and romance. This might kill me.

The valkyrie sat next to me in the tree tops.  Her gaze transfixed on me; while mine was on the ground below.  No words were spoken between us.  There was no need.  This was how things simply were.  It was in our nature to seek each other out and try to destroy one another.  She had found me and there was little more to it.  However, this day was special, a day I had looked forward to for the last fourteen years of my long life.

“Can this wait?  Today is a special day.” I said softly, my eyes not wavering. 

I felt her gaze and sensed her confusion.  That I, a child of the dark, would make such a request; that I chose to speak and not try and rip her throat out.

“Oh?”  Her voice rung of justice even when not speaking of it. 

Something I have always admired about them.  If there were beings who sought justice, it was the valkyrie.

“Someone is coming to visit me.  If this is to be my last day, I would like to see her before I go.” I replied almost musing.

I hear the rustling of leaves under foot, “She is near.  Don’t worry it won’t be long.”

“So who is this being that has ‘The Demon of Backmuir Wood’ so passive?” The amount of curiosity in the valkyrie’s tone amused me a little.

Was it so strange, that something like me could be passive?  To be calm and not raging like a thundering sea in a storm?

There is a small bit of time before she arrived, maybe I could entertain my guest with a story?  Tell her the tale that has given me the smallest of hope.  Perhaps, she would leave and let me see one more year?

So what do you all think of this teaser? Hmm?  Let's see if I can't tackle two monsters at once.

World of Warcraft ficlet.

I'll never be what you wanted me to be:

"I was supposed to something more than a brute. I was to be a force of nature.

Something I will never be.


I was supposed to go to war with fang and claw, not with blade.


Something I will never learn.


I was to be your pride and legacy. What I became was a shadow that will never compare.


Something I will never be.


I wear the tattoos of a promise lost. A reminder I will never be what you wanted me to be.”


The orc stood ever motionless as he listened the elf’s lament to the stars. Grim would say he would call the Night Elf a friend, but she earned a large degree of respect from him. She often peeked more questions than she offered answers. Though, he was sure he did the same to her.


"I was supposed to be a shaman." Grim said casually as he took a seat next to her.


He wasn’t looking at her face but he could feel the shock of him sharing something so personal radiating from her.


"What happened?" Amondra asked; her eyes still to the stars.


"Power is a tempting mistress and weakness isn’t something the Dragonmaw tolerate." Grim answered.


"I don’t think I have met a shaman who I found to weak." the elf countered.


The orc chuckled, “True, but I was young and blind.”


Amondra merely gave the ‘I know that all too well’ nod. Silence fell between the two. Grim remembered when their silent moments were awkward and full of the unspoken question of ‘why am I not attacking you?’. Now it was filled with the wonder if they could trust each other.


"I was supposed to be a druid of the fang." Amondra finally said.


Grim raised an eyebrow, “Oh? I didn’t know you had any magical ability. You seem the rough and tumble type.”


The night elf let out a boisterous laugh, “Oh no, I have none. My parents thought I would though. 
Both of them were druids, so it only made sense right? No power ever woken in me.”


"You still became a capable warrior! I didn’t think anyone other than an orc could swing weapons around like you do. You are a sight to behold on the battlefield." Grim offered.


"But still not a druid, not what the markings upon my face say I should be." Armonda countered.


"You feel you have failed your parents?"


"I know I have and they will never forgive me."


The orc stood and offered his hand, “Well I forgive you for being an elf, so if I can overlook that for now, your parents should be able to see you make grown men run like children when you unleash your battle cry and charge into the fray.” 


Amondra took his hand and allowed him to help her up, “You have no idea how family works in my culture.”


Grim snorted, “Nor do you know how mine works elf.”

———

It just popped into my head. I know I owe Tyler a few stories, but I just needed to write this. My boyfriend’s orc Warlock Grimblood and my night elf warrior Amondra.

I have a few ficlets of their adventures with their other friend Lim, an forsaken shadow priest.

While my warrior is an orc now, Amondra(now Aestus) was a night elf for five plus years and I continue to write her as such.

Also I just needed to write something not the end of my book.

Oh here is a picture of Grim and Amondra:

This quote pissed me off so much I had to take a shot of whiskey.

"I get further away every day. I am so over it. For me, it’s not a happy place to be."- Stephenie Meyer on Twilight.  I read that and I raged at my computer screen for like ten minutes straight. 

I don't like Twilight, or anything Meyer, but for fuck sake that was one of the biggest slaps to the face someone can do to their fans.

I get wanting to move on, that's all fine and dandy there, but to say something so cold about the series that made your rich and basically it's fans is just... I don't even. 

Also how the fuck is it not a happy place? Because not everyone liked it?  Woman, when Anne Rice first got published a lot of people didn't like her take on vampires.  Shit, Interview with the Vampire was technically a failure.  Does she still talk about those characters from her Vampire Chronicles? Always.  Is she grateful for everything it did end up giving her? Yep.  Those books hold a special place in her heart because she is a real writer.

Also Meyer went on to say that people read books and the characters leave them after...

Has this woman read anything outside of the bible?  Characters from books and movies we love never leave us! We fall in love with them and they take up living space in our hearts.  They are what get some of us through the darkest of times.  How dare she!  

She doesn't even know what power books have on people.  The joy and the pain they bring.

I swear by every god and their mother if Ashes has any success and I get stark reactions like Twilight did I will never say something so cold to my fans, ever!

Oh a happier note maybe? This song really makes me think of Patrick.  I don't know why, but I have been listening to it all through the latest chapter:

Ashes of the Dawn arts!

Pictures people have drawn for me for my book:

Patrick and Cyrus done by this talented woman: here

Anime Patrick!

Patrick Comic style?

I love this picture! Also Pat again. He likes vests, can't you tell?

Aria! A lot of artist like the anime look I have noticed.

Patrick and Cyrus getting read to go to work on something. 

Aria and Pat.  I really think Aria looks cute in this one.