H.M. Ward's Blog, page 44

Dystopian Hoopla

While the picture is very funny, it does not define dystopian literature.  So here is a definition.

DYSTOPIAN: an often futuristic society that has crashed into a repressive and controlled state, often pretending to be utopian or perfect/ ideal.

Really, it's the ultimate fool-you! in government schemes, as they repress their citizens into extreme poverty, kill their children, and strip all freedoms from citizens with a Nazi-like military waiting to off anyone who speaks out.

Dystopian movies are: iRobot (still surprised the Roomba company was okay with that title) and I am Legend.  Now that you know what I'm talking about, let's jump into it!

Apparently, I'm not the only one scratching my head, wondering what the big draw is to dystopian young adult literature.  I just read an article to see some very whacked responses to why kids are attracted to this genre.  Some of the responses were so far off base that I'm not sure if we live on the same planet.

Assumed reasons ranged from: corrupt government disillusioning our youth, to environmental effects threatening our planet, to the average kid is only average and cannot possibly handle the pressures of trying to be exceptional. Yup, too much peer pressure to be awesome and you all freaked out!  Yup, that's gotta be it!

In my quest for understanding the draw to dystopian, guess how many times kids have told me these assumed reasons for their dystopian-love?

NONE.

That's right, none of the kids said anything about any of that crap.  Doesn't mean it's not there or not a concern – it means its not the reason you all picked it up.  But, when asking today's YA (young adult) readers (kids ages 13-17) why they like it – most don't even realize they are reading it. They picked it up because they liked the sound of the plot.

THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy is a current popular example. In most current dystopian novels, the future is royally messed up, and the hero/ heroine pretty much has to fight to survive.

I'm gonna take a wild guess and suggest that contemporary dystopian isn't about the message – it's about the emotion and sitz in leben (situation in life) of the hero.  It's about kids that have truly screwed up lives.  Their homes are broken, authority figures have failed them, and they have been thrust into situations that are over their heads.  It's about kids that have suffered and survived.  They don't know what'll happen next.  They are oppressed and have no/ little choice about their lives.

Hello?  Sound familiar?  What teenager doesn't feel like that?  Of course it's appealing!

Dystopian is speaking directly to them.  Being a teenager is friggin hard.  They don't have the freedom to decide things about their own lives.  If they do, it was thrust on them with little to no warning.  Everything is so raw and hurts like hell.  Idealism and reality are clashing, and have often exploded into a shattered mess.  Teens have to do something with all the pieces.

These dystopian books show average kids, putting the pieces back together again.  They show the creation of the hero through their trials and failures.

Heroes aren't born with capes afluttering in the breeze.  Awesomeness can not be canned, and handed over on a silver platter with a can opener.  You have to suffer greatly to get it.

And the reader can see the cost and what it's doing to the hero in the book.  The idea that bravery has a steep price is realistic.  The idea that being half dead also means you're half alive is hopeful.  The characters are flawed, and sometimes it helps them, while other times it totally screws them over.

The dystopian genre is weaving a web of fantasy that echoes closely the trials of being a teenager.  It's that echo that demands their attention.

And you may ask: Is DEMON KISSED dystopian?  Ummm…since there is no Sublime Romantic category – yeah, probably so.

Awesome stuff

So, there has been some awesome stuff going on.

I had several agents request my full manuscript a few weeks ago.  They all asked for it back to back.  It was like BAM!  I got their attention.

In the end, I was offered representation by more than one agent.  And a few days later, I have my very own super agent.  Not only does she think I'm funny, but she totally gets DEMON KISSED.  Dude, it's a sublime.  Of course it is!

So that was the first bit of awesomeness.  It's always nice to know you don't suck.  I'll keep you posted on stuff as it progresses.

And you may be wondering what's up with the pic.  It's awesome.  What can I say?  Puppies plus awesomeness are just fun.

So, now I'm sitting here in duck slippers waiting for the sun to go down so I can go look at Christmas lights.  I love looking at lights.  It's fun.  Driving around with hot cocoa, even if it isn't freaking freezing out.  I admit, sometimes I do the cocoa in the summer.  I'm not really a coffee person.  I tried, I swear I wanted nothing more than to look like a respectable adult – or any adult – when I was 16 years old.  But its just nastiness in a cup.  If you have to add more sugar than coffee, it means you don't like it!  Bleck!  So, I shove my hot cocoa in a coffee cup and it looks like coffee (instant adulthood), but its not gross.  lol.  Add caramel and its even better!

Anyway, I'm wondering who's gonna pass out first tonight – me or the dude filibustering?  Old people rock.  It's neat when that happens.  I hope someone brings him some cake, and that he actually likes coffee…or Red Bull.

The sun is almost down…almost.  Here are a few of my favorite things!

(Insert singing nun here).

Fav classic Christmas song: Carol of the Bells.  No it's not creepy!  Friggin Gremlins creeping out a beautifully sublime song.

Fav pop holiday song: Christmas Wrapping by the Waitresses.  You mean you forgot the cranberries too!  Its awesome in a can!

Fav holiday TV show: Mickey's Christmas Carol.  What's not to like?  Goofy is an awesome Marley.

Fav holiday cookie: Fudge & Milk.  You gotta have MILK!  It makes the fudge better.  And my fav fudge comes from Disney World.  Somehow it's always perfect, real fudge.  Not that fluff made stuff.  I almost killed the cat making fudge one year, but that's a different story.  The point being, Holly should buy her fudge.

Last awesome thing for the night – Duck Slippers!  Mike couldn't wait to give me a Christmas present.  (Mike is awesome!  We suck at not gifting our presents early.)  Anyway, they are fuzzy on the inside and awesome on the outside!  Quack!  Quack!

And the sun is almost down.  Off to make hot cocoa!

Interview with HM Ward – the author of Demon Kissed

I recently gave a interview, and thought I'd share the questions and responses about DEMON KISSED.  This is the guts of the "interview."  It was done with Breanna, and she asked GREAT questions!

Thanks so much for asking Breanna!!!  You did a stellar job!!!

Breanna H.: Im turning 14 in June! I get to do a report on an Author? May I use you for my essay?

Holly: Awh! You are so sweet!…I would ♥ that.

Breanna H.: So, do you mind if I ask some questions?  What inspired you to write?

Holly:  Life.  I have to write. It's an innate need – good for the soul.

Breanna H.: Very excellent!

2. What gave you the idea of writing your upcoming novel? Basically, how did you know this idea would eventually become your upcoming book – Demon Kissed.

Holly:  Good question!

I hadn't written any fiction for a long time and wanted to start writing again. When I started, the only thing that I knew was that I wanted the heroine to be a 17-year-old INFJ (Myers-Briggs personality), and to string …together three things: Theology, Folklore, and Life. Demon Kissed was the result.

Breanna H.:  That's exactly the kind of writer I like, I love dark novels like Vampire Diaries, Harry Potter, Demon Angel, and now Demon Kissed.

I love Books and I would love to interview an author. It's the coolest experience ever. Like interviewing a movie star, because after all books are like movies in your head!

3. The Main Character, how did you design her personality? The first chapter starts out so exciting…I know most of us aren't too sure about her personality yet, but that she was with the demon kissed guy (Valefar) for a couple of months. How do you make her develop through the story?

Holly: I wanted the main character to be normal…well, normalish. Not a movie star, not a super model, not perfect – just normal. Ivy is intuitive, sensitive (though she tries to hide it), caring, complex, and a classic control freak. Ivy has a past, and she has to deal with it like everyone else. It's the events of her life that throw her into chaos and propel her through the book.

Breanna H:  Oooo! Sounds very interesting. So I'm assuming we will see some of her own life as well in the book?

What would be the main theme of the book Good Vs Evil? or is there something more? Or what experience would you like your readers to have when reading the book?

Holly:  Yes, the reader will see more of Ivy's life, and her past, as the book goes on.

It is a good vs evil as the primary conflict, with secondary conflict threaded throughout. Secondary conflict example: Ivy vs herself, as she deals with internal… turmoil of her past and her future.

The book was created so that the reader will feel Ivy's experience as Ivy lives through it. It was crafted so they feel what she's feeling – not just thinking. For people who like literature that evokes emotion – they'll really like this.

Christine Daae is Not a Ninja

There has been lots of chatter recently about the need for strong female characters.  The idea of a damsel in distress needing some guy to save her (think Lois Lane) is no longer thought to be the best type of heroine.

Okay, I have to agree there.  No strong minded, independent young lady says I want to be Lois Lane when I grow up.  Or better yet – no girl wants to be that chick that gets tied to the train tracks by the masked villain sporting a foot long mustache and a cloak.

The damsel in distress is the antithesis of a strong female character.  If a hero is required to save the chick, she's considered weak.

So what is a strong female character?  I've read all sorts of stuff, including some amusing flow charts, about strong female characters.  Generally speaking, a strong girl is someone who can take care of herself and is flawed.

One of the most striking articles I came across was how Hollywood perceived the need for strong women.  They responded by making GI Jane and other ass-kickers, assuming that making a masculine woman is what it meant to be strong – and what we wanted.  Yeah, um – not so much.  That lost most of it's realism as most women don't want to be navy seals, shave their heads, or be masculine buff and totally man-like.

Um, might I suggest that most woman want some curves, and to retain their feminine attributes?  And be strong the way they are?  That idea still seems to be out there.  So let's put off my crazy suggestions and first see what characters are generally agreed upon as being strong female characters.

Two strong female characters that come up over and over again are Princess Lea (Star Wars) and Elizabeth Swan (Pirates of the Caribbean).  They are still feminine, but they have an ability to take care of themselves.  They can handle guns, run through sewers, and swing a sword.  They don't run screaming from the action, waiting for tall-dark-n-handsome to rescue them – they jump in defending the things they care about.

So here is my crazy suggestion for a strong female character.  Christine Daae from Phantom of the Opera.

Yup, I know what you're thinking.  The Phantom kidnaps her three times, and Raoul is trying to save her through 2/3 of the show.  She even has the look that suggests we just tie her to the train tracks, and see who will show up to save her.

There is no question, no lurking suspicion, that suggests that she might secretly harbor ninja skills, or suddenly shave her head and blow up the theater.

No, her character is more refined.  She embodies a feminine character with real flaws and weaknesses – but she also possesses great strength.

Due to Raoul's (her fiance) crappy plan to save her , Christine is kidnapped by the Phantom and whisked away before anyone can do anything.  He takes her below the theater, holding her there.  In the past, Christine had felt compassion for the tormented Phantom, but she's pissed after he crashes the chandelier and kills a bunch of people.  She doesn't hold back her thoughts, she tells him that he's twisted, and that she hates him.  Okay, that was slightly brave, not sugar coating things when a nut has you locked in a sewer, waiting to kill you – or worse.  That took guts.

Now Raoul shows up, trying to save the day again – the doof – and it's clear that he is really the damsel in distress.  Frail Christine looks at her knight in shining armor as he's strung up and the phantom is ready to hang her true love.  Raul says sorry, and has to wait for someone to untie him (note: there are no train tracks, but an iron grate is close enough).

If Christine chooses the Phantom, he will free Raul.  If she doesn't, the Phantom will kill him.  It looks like a no win situation for her.

Ninja skills would have been valuable, but she's a ballerina – what can a ballerina do?

Only the bravest thing possible.  She does not verbally choose, but walks to the Phantom (in the sewer), strokes his scarred face, and kisses him.

You might be thinking so what?  Think it through a little bit more.  First, she thought the Phantom was a ghost, then realized he was real, then realized he was killing people so she could sing, then he kidnapped her, tried to kill Raoul, and the list keeps going.  He's totally unpredictable and unstable. She kisses the kidnapper, killer, psychotic lunatic that has her lover in a noose.  That took guts.

Her actions save both men.

And the thing that saved them wasn't a masculine skill or physical strength – it was compassion – compassion for someone who didn't deserve it.

That makes her one of the strongest female characters in my book, because she didn't betray who she was.  She overcame her fear, dealt with her tormented past, and released the ghosts that haunted her to protect the ones she loved.

Christine Daae is not a ninja, but she totally kicks ass as a strong female character.

Submit Your Demon Kissed Inspired Art, Music, & Writings

Fan inspired art, music, writings – I've had several people contact me about DEMON KISSED inspiring them to make/write/paint something awesome. Yes, I wanna see it!

I'm collecting DEMON KISSED inspired fan work. You can share your awesome drawings, lyrics, poems, etc with me and over 16,000 fans. The only requirement is that it's inspired by DEMON KISSED (chapter 1 or the posted artwork). Your work may be posted on this blog or the Demon Kissed facebook fan page.

Email it to me at hmward @ demonkissed.com – put FAN ART in the subject line.

A note about the email address: Remove the spaces surrounding the @ when you enter the email address.  I had to type it like that so my inbox isn't flooded with junk from spammers.

Wahoo! 15,000 Demon Kissed Fans!

We just passed 15,000 facebook fans for Demon Kissed! You guys are amazing!

And lots of folks have already read chapter 1 and commented.

Here are some of the fan reviews of Chapter 1:

"Very intense.  A page turner for sure!" -Sybil J.

"I was cooking dinner while I was reading it, and I couldn't even focus on the cooking part. Someone else had to take over because I was too into the chapter!  It's fantastic!" -Apryl G.

"It's so vivid that I felt like I was there.  Intense.  I can't wait to read the rest!" -Christina L.

"I loved it!  I couldn't put it down." -Isabelle W.

"It was awesome.  I can't wait to buy the book once it comes out." -Mandy P.

"OMG That chapter was EPIC!!! I am buying this when it comes out! I can't wait!" -Alexandrea H.

"LOVE IT!" -Desiree E.

"I'm…totally obsessed!…Best first chapter EVER!" -Grace M.

"OMG!  That chapter was so EPIC!!!  I LOVED IT!!!  I'm so buying the book once it comes out!" -Toni M.

"I absolutely loved the first chapter of Demon Kissed!! I can't wait until it comes out!!" -Alison V.

"Wow that was good…Everything around me was a blur…I felt like I was Ivy." -Tatiana T.

"HYPNOTIZED!" -Zena B.

"Epic…I can't wait to buy it."  -Marissa B.

"It grabs hold of you and make you want more! Now I'm dying to finish reading it. I want to know the end , and who was the hot hero. H.M. Ward is an incredible author! I love her way of writ(ing). I would defiantly advise a lot of young adult readers to keep up with this book, and get it when it comes out!" -Danielle T.

"I loved it and can't wait to read more!!!" -Heather N.

"That was amazing!! I can't wait to get the book!! I am so OBSESSED now!! The best chapter ever!!" -Envy O.

"Epically good." -David M.

"Amazing!" -Emily R.

"Loved it!" -Sherilann R.

Go check it out Chapter 1 right now!

http://www.demonkissed.com/downloads.htm

Sneak Peak @ Chapter 1 of Demon Kissed!

It's finally here! You can get a sneak peak at Chapter 1 of Demon Kissed!

Just follow this link and download: http://www.demonkissed.com/downloads.htm

Have a great weekend!

Tips For Young Writers

I've had a lot of fans asking me questions about writing.  I thought I would take some time to post info on here, so I can go into more detail than on my facebook fan page for DEMON KISSED.  There isn't much room to write a response over there.

Personally, I write because I have to.  It's a means of expression.  It's the same reason why some people paint, and others sing, or play an instrument.  Creative expression is a do-or-die thing for me.

I've been writing stories since I was ten-years-old.  They mirrored folklore when I started, and slowly developed into fantasy.

When I was younger, I would hand write my stories.  They grew from a few pages to several hundred.  I didn't edit much then.  I wrote to write, and for no other reason.  I followed one storyline, that I loved, and the stack of papers grew.  I kept them in a Robert Frost folder that I got from my middle school.  I still have that stack stored in there today.  It's fun to go back and see what the mind of a child came up with.  Some stories were so imaginative, that I surprised myself when I went back to read them later.

My first and foremost tip is this -  Write.

Write because you love it.  Write because you have to.

I had no intention of seeking publication with my early writings.  I did them for me, and no one else.  That type of writing is important, and will foster a sense of self that you can't get any way else.

When I was in 10th grade, I wanted to write poetry.  I sucked at it.  I remember sitting on my bed, trying to spill my feelings onto the page in a few eloquent words, and finding I filled up both sides of the page.

It looked like a story, not prose.  I forced myself to slash down the words, choosing more vivid images, and stronger words to tell the story.  Eventually my poems became what I wanted – a reflection of my soul.

In college I had no trouble writing papers.  None at all.  While other kids thought writing a 10 page paper sucked, I totally thought it was fine.  I still remember getting the assignment for my first 30 page paper.  The entire class looked ill.  I thought about it for a second, and knew I could do that.  No problem.

I have a secret for you:  The people who write, just to write, have a much easier time writing when writing's required.  I think the longest paper I had to write for my masters work was 75 pages.  By then, I thought 30 pages was fluff.

Natural writers have a very unfair advantage, because we have been using words, molding them to our will, long before someone told us we had to.  We think it's fun.

And dude, it totally is!

So, onto how do you keep the storyline straight in your head, work out the plot, and subplots.  Several of you asked me about this, and different writers do it different ways.  For DEMON KISSED I utilized several methods.  First, I collected my ideas, having a general idea of the flow, but unsure of the secondary conflicts.  I made outlines.  That helped me see how the story was progressing.  The only bad thing about sticking to an outline is that ideas come to me while I'm writing, so I'd abandon the outline.  So it's there to help, as a guide, but if I want to go off-roading, I do that too.

At one point, I tried making a storyboard.  That's where you take index cards and write out your storyline, and post it on a cork board.  This works really well for linear thinkers.  I mapped out my main story line at one point, but the secondary plots that wove in and out were more difficult to capture on cork.

Personally, I think very abstractly, so linear isn't my thing.  My cork board now holds notes I make to myself.

Notes were the best thing I did to keep the plot moving forward, and keeping things straight.  It's not like I'd forget huge things, but I found little details (that help tie the whole story together) would come to me at odd times and be quickly forgotten.  Now, I jot down whatever I'm thinking and stick it on the board.  When I adapt the idea into the novel, I toss the note.  That was a HUGE help.

The most challenging thing I've encountered, so far, is having enough guts.  Yeah, I wrote the entire novel before I told anyone.  I sat down one day and decided to write.  My storyline formed and I just kept going.

For me, telling people that I did it was the hard part.  I write, paint, sing, play the cello, so it's not like it's a shocker to anyone that I'd do something that I love.  At the same time, it's like learning to fly by jumping off a cliff.  You'll find out if you can't do it when you hit the bottom.  That's a pretty brutal way to learn, but you'll learn über fast.  That is the Holly way of learning things – things that weren't covered in school.

Have a good week!  And remember, its SNEAK PEAK WEEK!  That means you get to read Chapter 1 of DEMON KISSED on Friday!!!

New Demon Kissed Website!

We updated the Demon Kissed website for my novel. When you get a chance, check it out!

www.DemonKissed.com

Sneak Peak @ Chapter 1 of Demon Kissed!

Thousands of people have been patiently waiting to read my novel Demon Kissed, so we are releasing an early sneak peak.

You can be one of the lucky few who gets to read it!

Chapter 1 of Demon Kissed be posted for a limited time, starting next week on October 29th.  You have until November 5th to download it (free), and check it out.

If you have been dying to read a sample of this book, make sure you don't miss this.  If you don't want to forget, make sure you sign up for the reminder.  You can add your email address to our mailing list. We'll email you the download info when it's time.

You can join our e-newsletter list by using the sign up box below.  You'll also get updates on the book and any upcoming Demon Kissed promos.

Thank you so much to the 12,000+ fans who support this project!  You guys are amazing!  And your posts are awesome!

Much thanks to the beta readers who helped me out!  They totally loved Chapter 1, and I know you will too!

Have a great weekend everybody!!!

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