Starting Out in the
Paranormal Genre
By Natalie-Nicole Bates
If you asked me two years year ago what I write, I
would have told you without any hesitation, I
write contemporary romance.
Indeed, my first novel sale was a contemporary romance called Change of Address.
A while back, I won an auction where the prize was
a three chapter critique of a current work-in-progress by an established editor.
The who and where the editor works is not important, it was the results of the critique.
The first thing that caught my attention was that the editor told me to watch
the fantastical elements of my hero, that they weren’t really suited for
contemporary romance.
This comment got me thinking. I always was the kind
of writer who liked the more unusual aspects in a hero—ethereal eyes, long
hair, tattoos, body piercings, killer chin beards. But somehow my hero had
transcended the contemporary and was what? I wasn’t so sure. Then it hit me:
Maybe it was time to try writing paranormal.
I have always been drawn to
the allure of the paranormal genre. But as a book reviewer, I have seen it
all—vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters. With the influx of television shows
such as The Walking Dead, even
zombies were turning up with alarming regularity. The paranormal genre has
always been popular, but has literally exploded over the last few years.
Writers are writing it well, too. While I felt an inclination towards the
genre, I knew that if I wanted to write paranormal, I was going to have to
conceive a new twist on it.
I found my inspiration
quickly.
I am an avid collector of
Victorian and Edwardian-era photographs. To me, there is much beauty in these
black and white stills. This past spring, I found a photograph from an online
seller that completely captivated me. The size of a postcard, but printed on a
much thicker stock was the image of a funeral home (I come from a long line of
folks in the funeral care business). Outside, a very handsome man stands proudly
with his hands clasped in front of him, most likely one of the owners at the
time. Although the photo is slightly faded, you can still clearly make out the
reflection in the glass of a black funeral carriage tied with elaborate
ribbons. The back of the photo reads in very elegant script, Week of Oct-11-1896.
Although the photo was
pricy, I splurged and bought it for myself.
When I finally held it in my
hands, I was in love. I then wondered, was it possible to use my love of
Victorian photography as a way to put a new spin on a paranormal character?
It was then that an idea
occurred to me. What if a very lovely
lady who is just starting out in the funeral business buys this particular
funeral home, determined to restore it to its former glory. And what would
happen if one night this woman was visited by the very handsome man in the
photo who claims to still own the funeral home?
To me, the idea seemed like
a good one. Adam wasn’t a ghost or a vampire, although readers have speculated
that he is a vampire because of his magnetism. I love that the story has
sparked debate! The closest I could describe him is as a dybbuk. In Jewish folklore, a dybbuk is the wandering soul of a dead
person that enters the body of a living person and controls his or her behavior.
But even a dybbuk isn’t quite accurate.
So, Antique Charming
was a success. But it was a short story. Would it be possible to write
something longer?
Once again, I returned to my
photographs. I had recently bought a Carte de Viste (1860’s) of a beautiful
little girl about age 3, her photo surrounded by a memorial wreath. In my mind,
Baby Charlotte was born.
SEE ME begins in 1896, where
we meet sixteen year old Charlotte. Charlotte always knew she was special, but
never knew why. She believed it all stemmed from a near drowning incident when
she was three. An incident her family members refused to speak of.
Her hunch comes true one day
in 1896 during a lumber yard fire when her true powers reach fruition.
One very small photograph
from the 1860’s suddenly became one huge idea for a novella.
I then went in search of my
Daniel Tremont, the hero of SEE ME. Daniel’s inspiration is a magnificent
1860’s Daguerreotype of a young man. The matt on this photograph is purple,
which is usually the colour of significance for mourning, which means this
young man probably passed away young. He was perfect.
Sometimes what you know well
can be a powerful ally. In writing, this is so true. I took my love for
Victorian photography and turned it into a plot for a novella that combines
romance, paranormal, and a touch of my beloved horror.
I hope you will read SEE ME,
now available at Leap of Faith Publishing. To view the photographs that
inspired both SEE ME as well as Antique Charming, visit my new blog Ghosts and
Phantoms at: http://ghostsandphantoms.blogspot.co.uk/
October 15 promo
Sapphyria's Steamy Book Reviews:
October 16 Guest blog
Kacey's Konnections - Supporting Author Book Tours
October 18 Guest blog
Carly Fall - Where Fantasy Meets Romance
October 19 Guest blog
October 20 Interview
Roxanne’s Realm
October 21 Guest blog
Mila Ramos, Paranormal & Contemporary Romance
October 22 Guest blog
SEE ME
by Natalie-Nicole Bates
Description:
Carly Anders is hearing voices in her head. Another one of her kind is trying to contact her. She knows of the malevolent freaks—others who are eternal like her and seek out the weak to inflict pain upon. For years, Carly has held up huge protective walls to keep herself and her secrets safe. Now, physically and mentally exhausted, Carly needs protection and rest.
She accepts the invitation to visit an internet friend who needs help appraising a collection of antique photographs. The situation is not ideal, but Carly hopes a male presence in her life will deter the determined suitor who haunts her thoughts and dreams.
Daniel Tremont is not what Carly is expecting.
The former funeral director has a secret of his own. Not only is he eternal like Carly, he is her creation from all those years before—her abomination she thought she killed.
Daniel has been searching for Carly for years. He knows she is the piece of his life that he has been missing for so long. Now that he has found her, he has no intentions of letting her go.
About the Author:
Natalie-Nicole Bates is a book reviewer and author.
Her passions in life include books and hockey along with Victorian and Edwardian era photography and antique poison bottles. Natalie contributes her uncharacteristic love of hockey to being born in Russia.
She currently resides in the UK where she is working on her next book and adding to her collection of 19th century post-mortem photos.
Visit Natalie online at www.natalienicolebates.com
Twitter: BatesNatalie
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