Samhain Publishing Ltd Weblog

I Write Normal

“What do you write?” could be heard around every table at a writing conference I attended a couple weekends back. A great question, but it always left me with a grin. We’d go around the table — historical with paranormal elements, sci-fi romance, vampires, erotic paranormal, werewolves, dragons, paranormal thriller…and then they’d all be looking at me. “I write normal.” It gets a laugh, which I tend to go for in my books too, but it’s the truth!

I love to read paranormal stories, but my brain doesn’t work that way. I’ll leave it to those who understand the history of vampires…and dragons (who knew there was so much to know about dragons? The conference had a whole class on them.) Me, I’m sending people to yoga and out for doughnuts.

People often ask where a writer gets their ideas. We don’t know, so it’s hard to answer. Everywhere, I think is the common response. But really, a writers stories are just there, twisted in their mind until they unwind themselves onto the page. My stories are classic romance themes with a modern twist (I’m quite excited that my Pride & Prejudice meets Beauty & the Beast story, Pride & Passion, was just contracted!)

I love the indulgence of traditional romance, spiced up but not taken seriously. Hence why I write about Cinderella and unrequited lust. This time of year I am always tempted to write some kind of ghost story, but I resist the urge. Someday I might dip my toe in the paranormal pond, but for now, I write normal.