Combining Regency with Paranormal—why it works!
When we first started talking about this series, it seemed really easy to write Regency gentlemen as Lycans, mainly because they share a lot of characteristics already. Regency gentlemen are, by their very nature, larger than life, domineering, handsome as can be, and they are a bit growly, simply because they often get what they want and it gives them a sense of entitlement, not to mention a attitude when things don’t go their way. Lycans are very much the same in our minds.
Being a Lycan in those early books (A Certain Wolfish Charm, Tall, Dark and Wolfish, The Wolf Next Door, and The Taming of the Wolf) was simply a deterrent to bringing the hero and heroine together. In Wolfish Charm, Simon wouldn’t reveal who he was to Lily because he felt like he could never be worthy of her if she knew what he was. In Tall, Dark and Wolfish, Ben’s lady love knew what he was, but she was also a witch, so that made their relationship easier, but even he wouldn’t be around her during a full moon since he wasn’t sure he could control himself. In The Wolf Next Door, we’re still keeping the hero and heroine apart using their Lycan traits. And Dash in The Taming of the Wolf had so many issues with being a Lycan that their love affair seemed doomed. It worked as a stall tactic, the fact that they weren’t human. It was one more reason to delay the happily-ever-after.
That’s why Lycans in the Regency work well. Regency men and Lycans have so much in common. However, in these new books, it’s not nearly as much of a deterrent to their love affair as their Regency standing is. In The Wolf Who Loved Me, Weston Hadley is a penniless son of a peer who hasn’t a shilling to his name. He also has a penchant for causing trouble. Madeline Hayburn is the daughter of a duke with a sense of entitlement. She knows she’s meant to marry a peer, a man she doesn’t love. But fate has a way of intervening when Madeline catches Wes shifting into wolf form on the night of the full moon. At that point, he has no choice but to marry her so she’ll be forced to keep his secret.
These next three books about the Hadley brothers still have the touch of the paranormal, but what keeps the hero and heroine apart is more often class, rather than Lycan traits.
What’s your favorite paranormal creature to read about in books? And do you see a parallel between what they are in “real life” and what their paranormality forces them to be?
About The Wolf Who Loved Me
The Wolf Who Loved Me
Sourcebooks, April 3, 2012Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 384 pages
Regency England Has Gone to the Wolves!
Lady Madeline Hayburn Has Money Problems...
Specifically, she has so much of it that she's dogged by fortune hunters, including her bewilderingly attractive, penniless neighbor, with his wild nature and uncouth manners...
Weston Hadley Has An Identity Crisis...
Specifically, he's just turned into a wolf while Madeline was watching. Now it's up to the regal lady to tame the wild beast... if she can...
About Lydia Dare
Lydia's Links:
Website
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The Giveaway
THE RULES
What: Two commenters will each win a copy of The Wolf Who Loved Me from Sourcebooks! US/Canada Only.
How: Leave a comment answering the Lydia's question:
What’s your favorite paranormal creature to read about in books? And do you see a parallel between what they are in “real life” and what their paranormality forces them to be?
Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.
You may receive additional entries by:
1) Being a Follower of The Qwillery.
2) Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter and/or your blog/website. Even if you mention the giveaway on Twitter and Facebook, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times. Please note that the blog or website must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.
There are a total of 3 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter and/or and personal blog/website mention (+ 1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.
Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. You MUST leave a way to contact you.
Who and When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a US or Canadian mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Monday, April 16, 2012. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.
*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*
I like to read about wolves, and I do like it when the paranormal creatures share traits of the actual animals. I think that can create some interesting conflict with human characters, especially in romance.
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+1 tweeted (https://twitter.com/#!/RebeLovesBooks/status/189352160302071808)
rwschwarz11ATgmailDOTcom
I like reading stories about wolves. I think that they do share similar traits. Like they have a alpha male characteristic, they are strong fighters, and they are beautiful. I also think they are fierce lovers.
ReplyDeleteLydia is a new author for me and would love to win and read this book.
christinebails@yahoo.com
I like shifters, wolves, lions, cougars, whatever. I've noticed that a lot authors make the characters stick to the real traits of their animal forms. About the same size, hearing, smelling etc. No flying wolves or ability to climb walls like spiders :) I think that gives them a bit more credibility and believability then the usual paranormal creature.
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+1 gfc: erin
efender1(at)gmail(dot)com
I love to read about shifters, specifically wolf shifters. Most of the heroes I am attracted to (shifter or not) are very Alpha and rough around the edges. I have the same taste in men in the real world but a little less gruff.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the new release, ladies!
geishasmom73 AT yahoo DOT com
+1 comment
+1 Twitter follower @GeishasMom73
I tend to go with shifters. I think they do carry their paranormal characteristics into their human form most of the time. Loyalty, strength, and intelligence :).
ReplyDeleteTweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/Jovial_1/status/189437314601205761
GFC - Victoria Sloboda
vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com
I love them all, but if I have to choose, I think it would be the vampire. I see a parallel between what they were in "real life" and what they've become, especially when they try to use their new abilities for good, and try to be even better than they were before.
ReplyDeleteBarbed1951 at aol dot com
GFC follower: Barbara E.
Right now I am into shape shifters of any kind. I like alpha men, paranormal or real. I love paranormal and historical combined.
ReplyDeletedebby236 at gmail dot com
follower
I like to read about ghosts and wolves. Ghosts because I find them interesting...do they really exist or not? Wolves because I've always loved wolves.
ReplyDeletecsolinda(at)hotmail(dot)com
My favorite paranormal creature is the vampire. Generally in their "real life" they are loners because they are a bit tortured by their existence. Good post-I hadn't really given it much thought previously.
ReplyDeleteGFC: ML
Tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/Rogue237/status/189514435856052225
mljfoland AT hotmail DOT com
My fav paranormal creature is the shifter and mostly the big cat kind. There is definitely a parallel in what they are in real life and then in the paranormal world. I really enjoy when the author gives them the most attributes of their animal along with dominant human traits. It's extremes all around, but it makes a great story!
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+1 Follower of The Qwillery
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yadkny@hotmail.com
Vampires would probably be my favorite paranormal creature. They were the ones that started my love for the genre. I enjoy books more if there are both good and evil ones in their "real lives" to match the real world. They also do tend to be loners in their "real lives", caused by the need to keep their secrets, etc.
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+1 GFC follower: June M.
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manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com
I like reading about vampires. I see what they use to be as humans coming out in them as vampires. Their goodness. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI love werewolf shifters. For me, it's about family and the protections offered by pack-mates. And the females are allowed to kick the males butts to prove that they are equal to the task.
ReplyDeleteI like other creatures as well: dragons, griffins, and selkies. I'll read just about anything. Including those sometimes annoying cat shifters. I'm much more a dog person than cat person.
Don't enter me in the contest. I already have my copy. I don't stalk certain werewolf writing Regency authors...nope not at all. Not me.
I enjoy reading about vampires more but I do like shifter stories. I like the dark fantasy of a vampires life that most humans would secretly want. Living forever, beauty, strength, being a awesome lover, ect. Thanks for sharing with us.
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+2 follower
evjochum[AT]aol[DOT]com
Great interview!
ReplyDeleteI particularly enjoy reading about vampires and shifters. The first because I've always been fascinated with vampires as the idea of immortality appeals to me. I also love to read how each author has different take on the "creature of the night". I especially love wolf shifters for many reasons: being part of a pack where there's an alpha, second in command, omega; the dual persona animal/human; the values they stand by and would fight to the death for; the love, passion and loyalty they give willingly to their loved-ones.
Thank you for the giveaway.
hai-yen.huynh@sympatico.ca
I've always enjoyed reading about vampires. In a way they are a lot like humans except they require a different life force and have enhanced powers. I think their cicumstances forces them to be go into hidden and choose their prey or choose who to turn carefully.
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Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com
I like reading about werewolves. I think they're powerful and alpha in real life and while they're werewolves.
ReplyDeleteI follow the blog.
Thanks for the giveaway.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com