Thursday, October 18, 2012

Jennifer DeLucy, Circle of Light

by Jennifer DeLucy

Omnific Publishing - October 2012

A wonderfully talented writer and friend, Jennifer DeLucy, is stopping by today to chat with us about her latest book, Circle of Light.  This is the final book in The Light Series triology.   I'm so glad to be able to support her as I've been a fan of her work for years.

But first, here's a summary of the story.  


Empath and Pathcrosser to the dead, Lillian Hunt has finally come into her own as a Sentient being. All seems well in her brave new world...that is, until a tragic turn sends her tight knit Sentient group on a rescue mission through lore-infested Europe. Their goal is to save the love of Lily's life—vampire Sentient, William Maddox — from both the prejudice of their own society and the dark intentions of ancient vampires. But how will they keep hope alive, even as time runs out?


Jen, a lovely musician in her own right, weaves music into her work.  I've asked her to talk about the importance of music in her writing.  I've also asked her (since I'm always curious about how authors face their laptop or pad of paper or what have you each day) about how she goes about the writing process.


Sarah asked me to describe the importance of music to my writing process, and this is a pretty personal thing, because I'm also a musician, so I don't just make up playlists for each novel I write (though I definitely do that, as well). For some reason, from the beginning of the Light Series, I felt compelled to write a song for each book. It started with "Lily's Song" for Seers of Light, then "Free Me" for Whisper of Light, and then "Circe of Light" (for the book with the same name.) It just kind of became a thing where I had to write music for each book trailer that corresponded with the feeling of the novel. I couldn't even help it. It was a compulsion after a while, which doesn't surprise me, because ever since I was a little girl I've loved music and story writing equally and always insisted I wanted to somehow do both. So...how convenient for me! *wink*

You can actually listen to (and download) the Light Series music from my reverbnation musician page here. At the moment, it's free. :)


You can also check out the complete playlists for all three books on the Light Series page of my website:


As for the second part of this post--whether my writing process is more organic or more organized--the answer is definitely organic.

My first novel was written completely unplanned but for a few key points that jumped out at me, like little inspirations to remember for later. Once Seers of Light was finished, I utilized a really generalized outline for Whisper, but everything was always in flux, flexible, changing according to what the books taught me and how they guided me along. I can absolutely go into something believing things are going to happen one way and then learn that, in fact, they are not. And I'm always pleasantly surprised by this. I love it.

Stephen King describes novel writing as something akin to digging up the bones of a dinosaur. He says that you can't dig up the entire thing at once...you have to uncover one bone at a time and the whole thing will reveal itself eventually. It's more exciting for the author, and the reader can sense that, as well.  
I hope that gives you an idea of how I write and the ways I use music to express a novel more fully. Thanks to Sarah for hosting!

xo
Jen




Jen, thank you for being so generous with your time and talent.  Good luck on your continued success.  Now all of you go out and buy the series!! 

Sarah


Thursday, October 11, 2012

Other Sherlocks who thrill

Yes, while I love the BBC rendition of the man, Brett was a scrumptious Holmes.  Exactly as I believe ACD envisioned him.  Just the perfect level of "not good."  As if you aren't dealing with a human being at all --- just a controlled madman genius.   Click the caption to view his best quotes.


His best moments

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Scary stories at My Book Blog



Grave Refrain makes an appearance at Day 6 of the 31 Books of Halloween.  Stop over, curl up with your laptop, and prepare to be scared.  Much thanks to the incredible Lacey for all her support.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Sherlock, friendship and sex

You can't swing a cat these days (turn of phrase, just a turn of phrase, folks) without smacking into another rendition of the great detective's life.  Movies, the BBC, and now CBS (although the BBC is far superior to everything out there, sorry, but it's true) have all tried their hands at Sherlock Holmes.  Even before this latest round, 221B's most famous resident has been portrayed on the page and on screen more than any other fictional character. 

Regardless of the incarnation, I am a ardent fan -- a Sherlockian, if you will.  The brain of the man, his deductive skills, his robot like chill and suave exterior, are all thrilling to read or watch.  But it's the heart of the enigmatic sleuth that draws me in.  A heart that even Watson doubted the existence of for much of the stories. 

For those of you not in the know, there exists a huge fanbase in the blogosphere clamoring for more than a bromance between these two men.  A forest of fics have popped up detailing what happens once those 17 steps have been climbed.  Why had this occurred?  Perhaps it's the current upsurge of erotica. There exists, my right hand to God, one publisher who focuses exclusively on sexing up the classics --- Clandestine Classics or some such other title.  Jane Eyre with whips and chains, Emma with a dog collar -- who knows?  The lustier, trashier, edgier, more pornographic the better -- right?

As if without sex, a relationship is somehow not complete. 

I'm confused.  First I think the classics are fine without crotchless panties.  And as far as Sherlock goes, there is a world of intensity to wallow in without condoms and lube.  What isn't compelling about a lifelong, utterly devoted friendship --- one of the greatest in literary history -- the bromance of all bromances if you will?  These men would die for each other, they basically live as a happily married couple with their domestics and quiet contemplations and laughter.  They complete each other as no one else can.  Isn't that more profound than a good shag?  Not that I'm against a good shag, mind you.

Now, I'm a strong supporter of same sex equality in all things -- especially marriage.  And I have read and enjoyed my share of M/M fiction.  But before we even contemplate who tops whom in any of these stories, can we talk about devotion.  I think it's a forgotten word nowadays.  It's quiet and constant; it doesn't throb or thrust or moan loudly.  Devotion transcends time and age and the battles waged just to get through life.  There is a charge to it that can fuel passion if passion is there, yet it can fuel courage and nobility and joy as well.  But most of the time it stays silent by.

This devotion is what affects me most about the Sherlock stories.  Holmes and Watson are each incredibly broken in their own way.  One is an unappreciated and often spurned genius, the other is an emotionally and physically crippled veteran.  The dynamic of those men healing each other -- of coming to need each other -- is staggering.  Do I need to see them hop in the sack --- I'm not against it, but it's not in their nature to do so.  If I were to read a series that had those elements with a different set of men, would I be intrigued -- of course -- but I don't think Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ever envisioned handcuffs lined in mink.  Still I would challenge anymore to watch the end of the last episode of this season's Sherlock and not feel it deep in your gut.

In that way, Arthur Conan Doyle did, I believe, craft a love story.  One in which two halves are made whole.  The making of a great man by the devotion of another.