Thursday, March 17, 2011

Talk about mixed up!

Today we get to have fun with my guest blogger Danica Avet. She likes to put a little spice in your life, Cajun style.

Thank you so much Danica for taking time out from your writing to share with us. 




Succubus: In folklore traced back to medieval legend, a succubus (plural succubi) is a female demon appearing in dreams who takes the form of a human woman in order to seduce men, usually through sexual intercourse. The male counterpart is the incubus. Religious traditions hold that repeated intercourse with a succubus may result in the deterioration of health or even death. (Wikipedia)

When I started world building for my Veil series, I threw in every single race from games I’ve played, books I’ve read, and things that I found myself interested in. As a result, the Veil is populated by vampires, werefolk, demons, angels, succubi, incubi, dwarves, Amazons, and everything in between. 

Then came the actual writing. I looked over all of the races and my eyes stopped on the succubus. As you can see by the definition above, they weren’t considered benign women. I suppose this has a lot to do with historical man’s fear of a woman’s power and I decided then and there that I had to write a book about a succubus. I like taking creatures of myth and legend and tweaking them. Why should a succubus be a demonic female? Oh, sure, she still has to feed off of male lust, but why couldn’t she take just enough to survive? Once I had that idea, I had to go further because my heroine couldn’t be just any succubus; she had to be different. I’m a big fan of different.

Piper Foxgrove isn’t just a succubus, she’s also part weretiger. In the world I built, succubi can only have succubi daughters. Any sons they have would be the same as the father’s race. So how did Piper end up both? Well, that’s a genetic mystery, but I knew she was going to be more than special. She wasn’t just going to be an anomaly in the Veil; she was also going to be an anomaly in her family. How? Well, unlike her mother and sisters who are full-blooded succubi, Piper wants to save her virginity for a man who’ll become her mate. Yes! She’s an old-fashioned girl who wants courtship, love, children, and that white picket fence. 

I liked the idea of taking the big, bad supernatural wanton and making her a shy virgin who wants to fall in love to the exasperation of her family. Piper was a lot of fun for me to write and I hope she’ll be a lot of fun to read as well.

How about you? What’s your favorite supernatural/mythological creature and how would you change them if you were writing about them? I’ll be giving away a prize, so be sure to comment!














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11 comments:

LaTessa said...

Hi Danica!

My fav supernatural beings are werewolves. Why, you may ask? Because in my mind they're hawt! I mean who doesn't want a strapping alpha that'll stop at nothing to protect his family & to please you? Plus, wolves mate for life, I love that soft side to their otherwise bad ass demeanor.

I actually am writing about a werewolf now and I'm currently working on ways to not only make the species different, but to make him an anomaly among his kind. So I can't give out my secrets just yet ;-).

But in general, one element I'm working on in my series is making my wolves really dependent on the pack bond in a way they've not traditionally been in a lot of Urban Fantasys.

Danica Avet said...

I like werewolves as well, LaTessa! Okay, so I like cat shifters too...what can I say? I'm a cat person! I agree with you about the mate for life idea behind wolves. It's terribly sweet and adorable, really.

I'm intrigued about how you're going to change the werewolf! I suppose I'll have to wait until your book comes out to find out how you're planning to do it! ;)

Pat said...

I would like to read your book, I love the different, makes it more fun to read!!

Danica Avet said...

That's how I feel, Pat. Different is good, not bad :)

Pat said...

Danica, I just bought Ruby on my kindle, can't find Piper. I really love my kindle, I have a lot of pain in my hands and arms and the kindle is almost pain free to read. Is Piper going to be on kindle? Please say yes!

Danica Avet said...

LOL, yes it will. Piper's story just came out March 8, so it won't be out on Kindle until sometime in April (and by that time the 3rd book will be out I hope). I keep my readers posted on my website, so be sure to check back in about three weeks :)

Amber said...

I really love mythological creatures of all kinds. As I read the post I thought it would be interesting to write a story, or even a series about mermaids. They are intriguing in their beauty and mystery.

Maybe there could be all kinds of them, differing in appearance and personality, much like humans.

Hmm, now I want to go get to research and writing! Thanks for the inspiration! ;) Oh, and I really want to check out your work now, also. :)

Danica Avet said...

LOL, so glad I could help! For the underwater world, I was more entranced by selkies and kelpies. It's the shifter thing, I think, LOL

Good luck with your writing!

MM, Queen of English said...

Hi, Danica, do you remember when we were critiquing each other's book? This was all just a dream. I am so happy for you that you are living your dreams.

MM

MM, Queen of English said...

To answer your question: I would make vampires an alien race who has been here longer than mankind has been. They are still searching for a way home to their planet.

I would make werewolves less bound by the only-one-mate-forever plot device. I know it's a romantic idea, but all the books are pretty much the same -- werewolf finds mate, can't go on without her, she doesn't have a clue, but by the end of the book, you still have your HEA.

Danica Avet said...

MM, changing that werewolf mating rule would certainly shake things up! Vampires as aliens...definitely could see that in a story. I promise, I'm not using any of these in my stories! LOL