NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS

A group blog featuring an international array of killer mystery, suspense, and romantic suspense writers. With premises and story lines different from your run-of-the-mill whodunits, we tend to write outside the box. We blog several times a week on all topics relating to romantic suspense and mystery, our writing, and our readers. We welcome all comments and often have guest bloggers. All our authors can be contacted separately, too, using their own social media links.

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Monday, February 6, 2012

Supernatural Stakes

I've just started adding something extra to my romantic suspense work-in-progress. I set the book in the world of witchcraft. The addition of the occult setting is a game changer, both for the reader and for the author.

As readers, as soon as we learn that a story contains elements of anything supernatural, we know all the rules have changed and we can't possibly know what the new rules are. Best of all, neither do the characters! The rug can be pulled out from under any character at any time, and thus, it can shake up the reader and add dimension to the experience of the book.

As a writer, giving my story an occult spin makes me an all-powerful god of sorts. Not only can I manipulate the characters and the situation, but I can manipulate their total reality. I can turn up the evil in villains and the heroism in the protagonists. 

I'm having fun with my heroine, the witch character. After a hard bump on her head, suddenly her powers have increased and her magic is now on overdrive. And the villain? She's even more fun with a dash of black magic. 

What about you? Do you enjoy reading books with paranormal elements? Do you love it or hate it when the author pulls the rug out from under you?

15 comments:

Maureen A. Miller said...

Sometimes I like it when things get spiced up. I start reading, expecting one thing, and I think, "Whoah...lookee what we have here!"

I'll definitely be interested in reading your foray into the paranormal.

Rita said...

I think we all have a sixth sense and physic ability to a degree. I love it when an author uses it to surprise me. can't wait to hear more about the WIP

Marcelle Dubé said...

Your story sounds pretty cool, Wynter. I look forward to reading it. Yes, I *love* it when the writer pulls the rug out from under me... but it has to make sense in the story. I love it when I didn't see the surprise coming, but realize I should have.

Toni Anderson said...

I like witches. And psychics :) My poor heroine in STORM WARNING went through this but there was no one to guide her through it. Very odd happenings. I think adding a touch of magic is perfect to your story, Wynter :)

Anne Marie Becker said...

I enjoy stories that involve witches or psychics. Not too keen on vampires or shape-shifters. I hope to include a psychic in one of my future books. And I could see where one of the villains in my books could be involved in the occult. Lots of interesting possibilities when you open your mind to ideas like that! :)

Dee J. said...

It sure sounds fun to write! Pulling the rug out is great as long as we don't anger the readers. I love those, "No way!" moments. (As opposed to the "No way, the-writer-thinks-I'm going-to-buy-that" moment. LOL.

Wynter said...

Maureen - yeah, I love that game changer moment, too!

Thanks, Rita, I agree. I wish my sixth sense was as developed as my character's.

Wynter said...

Marcelle - yes, it's the best when the rug comes out from under us in a story!

Toni - I love psychics, probably because I always wished I could read minds. Oh - yeah - I do read my kids' minds;-)

Wynter said...

Anne Marie - I'm not a huge fan of vamps, either. I'm gradually warming to shifters, mostly because one of my crit partners writes them.

Good point, Dee. We never want to make the reader toss out the book!

Kathy Ivan said...

Oh, I do love a bit of paranormal thrown into the mix. I do it all the time.

I think we always need to have those Ah Ha! moments when we are reading, where the author give a moment of unexpectedness that leads to bigger and better surprises. I'll definitely be looking forward to this one.

Shelley Munro said...

I've always liked paranormal stories, so yes for me. I'll read anything paranormal.

Wynter said...

Thanks, Kathy. I'm becoming more and more of a fan of paranormals.

Wendy Soliman said...

I dallied with the idea of writing a historical novel touching on the occult. Read lots of research on the subject and then got so depressed by all the narrow-minded treatment of women who were 'different' that I shelved the idea.

Perhaps...

Wynter said...

Wendy - 'different' is a good description. Those who had knowledge of healing herbs and wise words were often persecuted even though they helped their neighbors. My witch is more a traditional Wiccan than a fictional 'Bewitched' witch.

Unknown said...

Paranormals must be huge fun to write. I must admit that I've read several lately and I'm loving them. I love to be surprised when I'm reading.

Can't wait to hear more about the WIP!

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