Romarin Demetri's Blog, page 6

Blond without the “e”: describing hair in writing. Show don’t tell.

Today’s entry is about writing mechanics, and even though I am well into my Dear Author blog series, it’s always good to share and exchange information with others about the writing process.

This morning (or when I started writing this post) while I was making coffee I ended up watching a video about Madonna’s hairstyles. Facebook is a time-sucker. They interchanged “blonde” and “blond” in the text, so it was time for me to share what my editor explained to me.

Hair is important, and not just when you’re Madonna. It’s the first thing and sometimes the only thing casting directors pay attention to when choosing people to play younger versions of a protagonist (mismatched eyes in flashbacks are a huge pet peeve for me).

http://jamsessionmb.tumblr.com/post/139489877820/reference-to-james-mcavoy-as-prof-x-in-the-movie

I’m not alone.

New Release: Immortal: The Protector

 

Romarin supports other Indie Authors, and would love for you to check out the books that might tickle your fancy! Your new favorite author could be waiting…

Release Date: October 21, 2016

Title: Immortal: The Protector

Author: Terra James

Genre: YA Fantasy

Series: Immortal Series

#ImmortalSeries #TerraJames

When James is taken captive and the Fae King is killed, Aubree is left to put the broken pieces of the fae realm back together again. She has to rescue James, travel to the Unicorn Kingdom to ask for their most prized possession to try to heal her father bringing him back from the dead, help with Chosen ceremony, and defeat the evil vampire and witch coven that’s hell bent on dying. No big deal, right?

Meanwhile, the ultimate Five are in disarray, Sadie lies unconscious, a captive James waits to be rescued, Dravon tries to no avail to comfort a worried Emmaline, and Molly appears to be holding it together by a thread.

Will the Fae be able to assist the ultimate Five while they also race against time to save their King?

Buy Links:

Amazon US

Smashwords

Kobo

Barnes and Noble

iBooks

Goodreads

Excerpt:

I shake awake from a nap. I hadn’t even realized I had fallen asleep. Apparently, the medicine they are giving me is making me drowsy and causing hallucinations because I can swear that there is a spirit at the foot of my cot. I rub my eyes and look again and sure enough, there is an apparition just sitting there. I rub my eyes again in confusion because I don’t know what else to do at this point. I look again because I just know that I can’t be seeing this.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake boy!” I jump when I hear the voice and fall out of my cot onto the floor. I bump my head and sit up looking around with wide eyes. Oh sweet baby Jesus, it spoke to me. My eyes and ears are both deceiving me now. What on earth are these idiots giving me? I think to myself, as I push myself into a sitting position.

“Shit,” I say as I get myself seated rubbing the tiny knot on my head, and I see him out of the corner of my eye.

“Watch your mouth, son.” He says. Yes, I say to him because the spirit is the apparition of a man. I start to yell for Bethany because I know I need help. This potion has done something to me. He must see the decision written on my face because he just keeps talking like I am not freaked out.

“Don’t scream for the wicked witch. Haven’t you learned your lesson yet? Jeesh, back in my day, we learned the first time something happened to us not to repeat the mistake,” He says. Oh my, God, I have taken a right turn and ended up with the wacko’s, wackaloons, or whatever Sadie and Em call them. Okay, this is some trippy stuff. What does one say to a voice no one else can hear? How does one get to this point in their life? Is there a mental illness on my side of the family? How should I know? I just met some of them. All these thoughts keep bombarding me and I am overwhelmed.

“What?” I stutter because it is the only word I can manage to say in my confusion. I was trying to get out what the hell is happening to me but didn’t quite manage it.

“Jaivon Malcolm Peyton at your service, it is nice to meet you. I am your grandfather from many moons back. I would shake your hand but I need all the strength I can muster to get your massive butt out of here. Now get a hold of that girl, and tell her to send a transport as soon as we get out of here,” He says sitting there looking at me like I am the crazy one. I just sit there and stare at him in utter shock. “I don’t have all day son. Hop to it,” He says again. He sure is quite bossy.

“Emmaline, I fell asleep from the medicine, potion, or whatever she calls it. They are giving it to me to keep me from being able to change into my wolf form. Ask my dad if he knows a grandfather of mine named Jaivon Malcolm Peyton? If not, then whatever they are giving me is making me hallucinate too.

Please, for the love of all that is holy, tell me I am not losing my mind. I am about to panic here. He can even talk to me because he said to tell you to get a hold of someone to transport us after he gets my massive butt out of here. I think I have finally lost my mind. Jesus, what else can happen? Oh no, I shouldn’t have asked that question. I have just jinxed myself.”

“Yes, he is your grandfather James. Please, calm down. Get a grip man.”

“Okay, I will let you talk to a spirit next time and see if you can keep a grip on reality.

How about that? Is Sadie alright?”

“No need for attitude, you are being a butthead. We will talk when you get here. I will send Aryanna as soon as you give me the go ahead. I can only hold the line open for so long.”

“I will accept that answer for now. Why are you lying to me?” I have a sneaky suspicion that something is wrong with Sadie. I wait for an answer but I don’t receive anything, so I decide to do just what Em instructed. I try desperately to get a get a grip on what is happening.

I almost forget that my grandfather is sitting on the bed waiting on me to relay a message. I guess I shouldn’t be shocked by anything that has gone on in this crazy world recently, but damn if I am not flabbergasted. I stare at the floor trying to decide whether or not I should talk to him. He doesn’t wait for me very long, though.

“Well?” He asks.

“The message has been relayed. She said she will send a transport as soon as we give her to go ahead,” I say still in shock.

“Then what are you waiting for, an invitation, move it. It ain’t like I have all the time in the world,” He says to me and I see a solid hand appear out in front of him. “Hail the taxi, son,” He says as he goes to work at picking the lock. Where did he get the tools? I think to myself. “Now,” he whispers shouts at me. I am being bossed around by a man that I can walk through. I almost laugh at the hilarity of the situation, but I am afraid I will get scolded again. I hold back the laughter because at this point I think it would be hysterical laughter anyway. How do I get myself in these situations?

“Where did who get tools? What situation? James, are you alright?”

I hear the panic in Em’s voice and I think to myself, “Who’s losing their grip now?”

“Haha, very funny.” Em, replies.

“My grandfather has the tools. The situation of talking to my dead grandfather. Yes, I think I am alright. I am not sure if my sanity is going to hold up until I get out of here, though. He said hail the taxi.” I chuckle to myself after relaying the message to Em. I finally let loose and just accept what is happening. It is what it is.

“Finally, I mean seriously James. There isn’t anything that should shock you considering what we’ve been through already. I’m on it. Tell me where to send her.” That is the only response I get from Em and I don’t have a chance to respond back before the door clicks open.

Buy Links:

Amazon US

Smashwords

Kobo

Barnes and Noble

iBooks

Goodreads

New Release: Seraphine’s

Romarin supports other Indie Authors, and would love for you to check out the books that might tickle your fancy! Your new favorite author could be waiting…

 

Which room holds your dirty desire?

***THIS IS YOUR TRIGGER WARNING* *There are scenes that may be sensitive to some readers. Please be advised*

Seraphine knows what she wants and will do whatever it takes to claim it as hers. Her inability to love has kept her safe from the heartbreak of her past. After inheriting the motel, she built the most successful brothel in the middle of nowhere. Seraphine’s thrives on the dirty secrets and deadly desires that inhabit the darkest part of humanity. Her motel is the perfect place for sinners to sin and saints to repent. She had everything, until one of her possessions was at risk of being lost. Ivy ran from her past while doubting her future. When she arrived at Seraphine’s, she had nothing she wanted to remember and everything she wanted to forget. She knew what situations to avoid and when her limits were exceeded. Seraphine kept her protected; safe. Can Seraphine break the walls down surrounding Ivy? Will Ivy succumb to her expected fate? What neither of them anticipated was a reservation, one that could destroy them all.

Book link

Authorvirginiajohnson.com

Just Another Personality Test?

If you know me, you’ll know I loved abnormal and personality psychology. I loved it as much as someone who drove 50 mins one way to get to school and sat in the front row could.

I took the Big Five personality test during school, and am obsessed with the BBC’s ongoing longitudinal research called Child of Our Time. I took the original quiz that measured by Openness , Conscientiousness , Extroversion , Agreeableness, and Neuroticism .  Turns out, all of my traits were unusually high (except my neuroticism was low), which meant that i was able to measure that I was different than most people for the first time in my life. As an eccentric who sometimes goes against the norm just to say she can, it made me realize that my path could be different than I planned, or unconventional. The Lab changed the quiz over the past few years to tell you where’d you be the happiest in GB, and that link is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3g487h.

While I love the OCEAN personality (The Big Five) test, and how generalizable it is to other cultures, I kept hearing about Meyers-Briggs and the letters, and decided to take it after Pinterest kept recommending me pins for INFJ (I think this is because of Yves) .

Yes, at home personality tests aren’t in a controlled environment, and might not be as accurate, but if you try to be as truthful as possible, your results should make sense.I took The 16 personalities test! The order of the letters determine your personality by your “Jungian preferences”.

There were four possible pairs of personality traits:

Introversion (I) or Extraversion (E)
Intuition (N) or Sensing (S)
Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)
Judging (J) or Perceiving (P)

I am…

The Commander  ENTJ

ENTJs’ intelligence, strong will and logical reasoning skills are a force to be reckoned with. Be it a minor obstacle or a seemingly impossible task, ENTJs will find a way – or make one. This fearsome determination and intellect allow ENTJs to overcome many challenges.

ENTJs are natural-born leaders. People with this personality type embody the gifts of charisma and confidence, and project authority in a way that draws crowds together behind a common goal. But unlike their Feeling (F) counterpart, ENTJs are characterized by an often ruthless level of rationality, using their drive, determination and sharp minds to achieve whatever end they’ve set for themselves. Perhaps it is best that they make up only three percent of the population, lest they overwhelm the more timid and sensitive personality types that make up much of the rest of the world – but we have ENTJs to thank for many of the businesses and institutions we take for granted every day.

I agree with the results, but they do nothing to mention how empathetic and agreeable I am, and the result of ENTJ downplays the emotional intelligence I have (Ha, it sounds like an ENTJ to say that!).  According to the pairs, it would be possible for me to be an ENFJ as well, but the test decided I was more “thinking” (probably my ability to see the viewpoints of others) than “feeling”, and I have more of a need to do the right thing than make people feel better. Curiously enough, according to 5 point scale of The Big Five personality test, I am .01 more conscientious than I am agreeable, so in that respect, ENTJ is valid. That .01 percent changed one letter because my traits are extremely high.

It was a fun test! Go take it!

The 16 personalities test

 

Love personality science? You might like my other posts:

Self-described “empaths” blogging in the real world

 

New Release: Walk the Walk

Romarin supports other Indie Authors, and would love for you to check out the books that might tickle your fancy! Your new favorite author could be waiting…

Though she tries to experience the world through her poetry, Luna Morrow caves to conformity rather than allowing her creativity to soar. Pampered and passionate, fashion designer Owen “Blake” Blakeney knows he found his muse when he spots a gorgeous, alternative waitress at the Club 73. After a wanton tryst, Luna disappears, leaving Blake following a trail of clues to find her. With his sights set, he sets out on a quest to locate his mystery girl and convince her to walk in his fashion show. He never expected her to walk into his heart.

 

 

 

Book link

http://www.kimcarmichaelauthor.com

Blog Hop Hunt Stop: Virtual Fantasy Con 2016!

Hi, I’m Romarin Demetri author of The Supernatural London Underground (A Mirror Among Shattered Glass and The Frost Bloom Garden) and I’m your host for this stop in the Hunt.

If you would like to find out more about the Hunt, please click here – http://vfcscavengerhunt.weebly.com/

Somewhere on this page is a hidden number. Collect all the numbers from all the authors’ posts, and then add them up. Once you’ve added all the numbers, and if I am your last author, please head to the official website and click on the ENTER HERE page to find the entry form. Only entries will the correct number will qualify to win.

 

The author I’m pleased to be hosting for Virtual FantasyCon’s Blog Hop Hunt today is Lily Luchesi, author of the Paranormal Detective Series.

 

Love In Horror

 

Over the release of my first two novels in the Paranormal Detectives Series, I found that many of my readers who picked up the book specifically for the horror elements were surprised but pleased with the romance I featured between my two main characters, Danny Mancini and Angelica Cross.

 

Theirs is a love that spans a century, a connection of the soul that can’t ever be broken, even by death. Danny was once a vampire hunter named Jonathan Price who met the vamplet Angelica while they both attempted to rescue an innocent victim from a hungry vamp in Chicago, early twentieth century.

 

 

Danny became reincarnated and the two met once again in 2014, once again while fighting a rogue vampire. If I am being completely honest, I never planned on a romance. I never even planned on a series. The first book was supposed to end bloody and unhappy, but as the love between the characters blossomed, and I learned more of their story as I wrote it, I knew one book would not be enough to tell their love…or their woes.

That brought this question to my mind: does love really belong in a horror novel? And what is the cut off? Can you ever have too much? I decided that that answer is yes. You never want to take away from the creepy aspect of your story by making two characters be extremely mushy with each other all the time. There must be balance.

 

That being said, let me say that I am not very good with the whole “emotions” thing. In fact, I’m terrible with it. So it scared me when reviews came in, saying the readers wanted more romance between the two after they read Stake-Out.

Somehow, I managed to write the first real romance scene of my life in book two, Miranda’s Rights. And you know what? I liked it. Me, the girl who rolls her eyes watching romantic comedies on HBO, who wishes Pet Sematary had more bloodshed. My readers helped me want to delve deeper into a wide spectrum of emotions, not just romantic ones.

In book three, Life Sentence, I bring in two new characters, also lovers, and their connection will parallel Danny and Angie’s for some time. For a girl who only wanted Danny and Angelica to be lovers because it suited her murderous agendas, this was quite a feat.

Which brings me back around. Can love and horror be a good mix? Yes. But you’ve got to be careful you don’t go from Stephen King to Nicholas Sparks.

 

The best thing about writing horror with a romantic subplot it that is makes for more intense fight scenes. The characters have a lot to lose both professionally (if they lose in the Paranormal Detectives Series, mortals would be in grave danger), and personally, because they are fearful not just of losing the fight, but of losing each other. It adds another level of urgency, or fear. It makes yet another thing to fight for.

A lot of people assume, since I write paranormal and horror, that I would have automatically added in a lot of sex and love. As I have had to frequently remind people, paranormal creatures are not romantic figures whatsoever. Angelica is an exception, because she is part human. 12 Vampires lust for blood, not sex. Werewolves want to eat your beating heart right out of your ribcage, not frantically kiss you beneath a full moon. Those are lines I did not want to cross, and they are lines I hope I never cross in the future.

You don’t have to sacrifice fear for love. Romance can be used as a weapon, as a tool for the dark side, and that is how I use it. For readers who pick up the Paranormal Detectives Series, I hope you’ll find a good sixty-forty mix of horror and heart. I want you to gasp and sigh, cringe and cry.

http://amzn.to/2dChJ0x

 

I hope I succeeded, reader. If I gave you even one ‘feel’, I will consider my job done.

Find the Paranormal Detectives Series (ebook and paperback) on Amazon: http://smarturl.it/ParanormalDetectives

Purchase the Paranormal Detectives Series paperbacks on B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/lily+luchesi?_requestid=83243

Find me online: http://lilyluchesibooks.wix.com/lilyluchesi

http://facebook.com/lilyluchesi

http://twitter.com/LilyLuchesi

Did you find the number? If you did, then click Lily Luchesi’s link – http://susan-stuckey.storytellersinn.com/blog/ to continue Virtual FantasyCon’s Blog Hop Hunt.

 

Free Short Horror Story

Download for free!

I am now out and about on Smashwords! My former prologue and short story is up for free and can be yours!

Once upon a chilling evening, a maiden working in a castle owned by Countess Bathory stumbles upon on hideous hidden chamber , and rumors spring from the shadows to come alive. The maiden can either keep a promise or run for her life, but either choice has unforeseen consequences, and what she has seen will forever haunt her waking moments.

This short story was released in celebration of Halloween, 2016. It was formerly the prologue of “A Mirror Among Shattered Glass”, book one in The Supernatural London Underground Series. Because the short story takes place in 1590, and the novels are set near present day time, the story was a fun exercise that acquiesced to exist on its own. We will never have Countess Bathory’s own account of what happened at her castle, but one thing is for certain: There is no getting away with murdering hundreds of girls without a few rumors being started.

Happy October, everyone!

Cover for The Frost Bloom Garden!

Here is a big version of this beauty:

On Amazon for pre-order: http://amzn.to/2cUi8Yk

 

Which is quite different than the first book:

 

 

But, she hasn’t changed her hair, so how much of a crisis could Row really be in?

Let’s hope she’s as good at getting out of trouble as she is getting into it!

The Frost Bloom Garden: As if the Supernatural London Underground couldn’t open up any further, Romarin is immersed in different cultures, struggles, and factions— including the revelation of her first dangerous foe—that make the hidden world what it is: treacherous. As a detective in pursuit of a Jack The Ripper type killer, Romarin’s sole purpose is to destroy evidence of their secret world, reminding her of how blurred all of their roles are, and that the price for that could very well be one’s life. With rumors of a safe haven, an island where people like her can go to be free and understood, perhaps she won’t need the cure she vehemently seeks. A cure for a broken heart however, that’s another story. And then a cure for a burning heart? That’s just impossible.

I am happy to announce that book 2 is coming out in December! I am VERY EXCITED to share this book with you, because now that Romarin is more at home in London, anything can happen, and will happen, and when there is a semi-impulsive heroine calling the shots, “anything” is an ominous word!

Stay tuned!

We aren’t shallow; We just like to take pictures to remind us of our endless depth (My story of being accosted by a Class of ’96 reunion goer).

Just because we take a lot of pictures and are in communication with hundreds (if not billions) of people instantly, doesn’t mean that our language is narcissism, and we should be given more credit for the conversations we have before a stranger eavesdrop and decide that they know our life stories.

My friends had the idea to find a patio while the weather was still nice, and even though it was humid and rainy (and the winter heat lamps were on under the bar making it even hotter) we went outside. We do this thing in which we try and fix our hair in the bathroom, maybe so it won’t engulf our faces for a few more minutes outside. My hair will get twisted in a ball on the top of my head when it gets too hot, no cares given.

I say, “I didn’t realize it was so humid,” out loud, backing away from the mirror.

“Even with my frizzy hair and acne those guys still wanted to take a picture,” says a friend, talking about a bachelor party group who were posing in front of a large beach chair with us strangers.

We are about to leave the bathroom, and abruptly, a class of ’96 reunion goer from the room reserved above the bar says:

“There is so much negativity in here. ‘My hair looks bad,’ that girl’s a slut’. Listen to us. Where did we learn it?”

We? To which one of my friends issues, “magazines.”

I’m convinced this woman is after Leslie Mann’s next movie role.

Then, she with the nametag, stuck upstairs in the party room  in a weird vortex of a class reunion , tells us that we should like who we are, and compliments our various body parts and clothing before walking out. And I quote, “look at those boobs.”

???

One of my friends comments how she wants to go back and dance now.

I don’t think simple observations to our closest friends about humidity and a stress zit make us hate who we are. If we didn’t want to be out, we wouldn’t be out on the patio in the rain. We’re clearly comfortable despite the hot weather.  I think we’re comfortable when we speak with our friends, and if we wanted a motivational speech we would have gone to see a speaker, not a DJ.

Thirty-eight year old stranger seems to think that being self-indulging narcissists will help with the “negativity” of the world, and that we can validate ourselves based on shallow appearances. To her, we’ve adapted to a culture of selfies and phrases like “Look at those boobs”, take the place of “I like the top you’re wearing, that’s a great color on you”. Thirty-eight year old stranger thinks she’s talking our language to reach out and mentor us, but in reality, we’re kind of confused. When we first met up that night, my three friends and I exchanged compliments about our outfits and jewelry, but the class of ’96 seemed to miss it, because it wasn’t exactly their conversation. We are about 10 years younger than the woman who accosted us, and she’s not giving us enough credit for liking who we are, and many people our age probably get a bad rap. Taking pictures of ourselves to remember events or just the day doesn’t mean we are egocentric and only respond to narcissistic statements.

I also don’t think that complimenting our appearances to make up for accusing us of calling other girls “sluts” (in which I didn’t, I don’t.) in conversations that aren’t our own is an acceptable trade off. It was the strangest conversation I’ve ever had with a stranger if Jessica from French class doesn’t count.

It’s a great reminder that there are many things that happen in a conversation before you get there.  You shouldn’t feel entitled to teach someone else a life-lesson if they aren’t asking for it.

“I like your shoes,” though, that can brighten someone’s day.

I hope to remember both things when I turn thirty-eight.

Book Review: Crystallum

As of 8/19/16 this book is FREE for Kindle. Always check a price before you download.

I found Crystallum in an amazon giveaway while researching authors for my Fantasy Character Cotillion. I always try to review books I received for free.

I work on a five star system, but rarely does a book get 5 stars, so 3 and 4 stars are a compliment.

On the cover: This book looked historical. It is not. It is present day.

This book is about kids in high school (I’m so happy it’s senior year) and there is typical high school drama, as to be expected. It’s been a long while since I’ve read something about high school aged characters.You were warned in the blurb (somehow I forgot), so no complaints. There is more than an occasional peppering of Latin throughout the novel. This reader earned a Magna Cum Laude on the National Latin Exam, so while that pleases me, I am in agreement that it was a whole lot of Latin (and I am not sure if the word order was sorted) and the history was so rich that it was a little hard to follow. The reason no one speaks Latin anymore is because word order, gender, and ending need to match the part of speech something is in a sentence. Can you imagine speaking that way fluently? Eek. Much harder than English (which is messed up anyway).  I’d love to see an acknowledgement in which McMann gets Cole-like and says “I slaved over this Latin so you better enjoy it!”

I liked: The supporting characters’ twists, relationships, and personalities. Diverse and beautiful.

I wanted: A prologue that explained the alternate plane more. I’m still not sure what’s happening, but McMann will clue us in.

You will like this book if you like: Smart and cocky characters. They are intelligent, well-read, Shakespeare-quoting characters at the top of their class. You will also like it if you enjoyed “The Mortal Instruments”, because there are demons and shadows, and a hidden plane only Kade can see in a night club.

Remember: This is the first book in a series, which means you need to read #2 before you form a concrete decision about the series as a whole.