Christine Feehan's Blog - Posts Tagged "dark-magic"
30 Books of Dark
Dark Carousel is the 30th novel in my Dark series, also called the Carpathian novels. I wrote the first in the series, Dark Prince, in the late 1990’s during a very difficult time in my life. I’d lost my son and writing became a sort of anchor for me. I’d always written, even as a child, but this time I wanted to write about warriors who couldn’t die, and who would save the world. And in return, if the warrior was honorable, he stood the chance of finding the greatest gift there is; love.
It didn’t occur to me that Dark Prince would be published. My best friend, Kathie, encouraged me to turn it in and I relented. I can honestly say that I was shocked when I received a call from Dorchester Publishing in New York offering me a contract.
My next book, Dark Desire, was published not long after and there began my journey as a career novelist. I realized I had more stories about this amazing race and I knew I could write in this world without ever tiring of it.
Each novel in the series meant something to me. They were characters I wanted to give life to and wanted people to care about. Dark Gold was next, and by this time I was hearing back from readers on what they loved and how they felt about the book, the world, the characters. So many readers were interested in a character who’d shown up in the previous books; Gregori. Gregori was, at the time, a very dark and foreboding character. He still is, but he’s mellowed a bit with marriage, like so many of us do. Lol I also realized how important hearing from my readers was to me.
Dark Magic won many awards and hit several bestseller’s list, though not the New York Times. But, readers loved it and so I kept writing. It would be Dark Fire, the 6th book in the series that would make it onto the NY Times bestseller list first. Since that time, Dark Prince was reissued and hit the NY Times list, as did Dark Dreamers, and all those that came after.
It’s always a challenge to evolve such a long-running series, but if you love it and you’re committed to it, you find a way. Writers have a big imagination, so the opportunity for growth was infinite. We started with our Carpathians nearly extinct, then found a conspiracy as to why, the series went from primarily paranormal romance with an edge of urban fantasy to paranormal romance having dragons and mages and eventually lycanthropes.
With Dark Carousel I introduce something new to the picture, and something old-made-new again. We deal with magic and curses and threats to Carpathians and humans alike. But, what is constant is the promise I make with each of these novels; a happily ever after ending where love triumphs and heroes are rewarded with the love they fought so hard for.
Dark Prince
Dark Magic
Dark Carousel
If you would like to discuss any of of my novels I do hope you'll join my online community where thousands of readers come to talk about the stories they enjoy.
Feehan Community
It didn’t occur to me that Dark Prince would be published. My best friend, Kathie, encouraged me to turn it in and I relented. I can honestly say that I was shocked when I received a call from Dorchester Publishing in New York offering me a contract.
My next book, Dark Desire, was published not long after and there began my journey as a career novelist. I realized I had more stories about this amazing race and I knew I could write in this world without ever tiring of it.
Each novel in the series meant something to me. They were characters I wanted to give life to and wanted people to care about. Dark Gold was next, and by this time I was hearing back from readers on what they loved and how they felt about the book, the world, the characters. So many readers were interested in a character who’d shown up in the previous books; Gregori. Gregori was, at the time, a very dark and foreboding character. He still is, but he’s mellowed a bit with marriage, like so many of us do. Lol I also realized how important hearing from my readers was to me.
Dark Magic won many awards and hit several bestseller’s list, though not the New York Times. But, readers loved it and so I kept writing. It would be Dark Fire, the 6th book in the series that would make it onto the NY Times bestseller list first. Since that time, Dark Prince was reissued and hit the NY Times list, as did Dark Dreamers, and all those that came after.
It’s always a challenge to evolve such a long-running series, but if you love it and you’re committed to it, you find a way. Writers have a big imagination, so the opportunity for growth was infinite. We started with our Carpathians nearly extinct, then found a conspiracy as to why, the series went from primarily paranormal romance with an edge of urban fantasy to paranormal romance having dragons and mages and eventually lycanthropes.
With Dark Carousel I introduce something new to the picture, and something old-made-new again. We deal with magic and curses and threats to Carpathians and humans alike. But, what is constant is the promise I make with each of these novels; a happily ever after ending where love triumphs and heroes are rewarded with the love they fought so hard for.
Dark Prince
Dark Magic
Dark Carousel
If you would like to discuss any of of my novels I do hope you'll join my online community where thousands of readers come to talk about the stories they enjoy.
Feehan Community
There's Something About Gary
Some of this blog has spoilers in it and I’ve tried to identify for you which books the blog may have spoilers for. So you’ve been forewarned! Read at your own risk!
SPOILERS FOR DARK BLOOD/DARK PROMISES
Gary Jansen, the American scientist who we meet in Dark Magic, eventually becomes Gary Daratrazanoff when he is converted in Dark Blood. So, Gary has been with the series for a long time. And he’s been through a lot, earning the loyalty of the Carpathians, so he’s become a much-loved character with readers. We find out he is Human/Jaguar and we think his lifemate will be Gabrielle, but when the ritual binding words don’t work between them they know their feelings as humans has changed and as Carpathians they can only be friends.
Gary’s story has progressed so much and a lot of what’s happened to him has endeared him to readers and often surprised readers. The fact he was converted, that he’s now a Daratrazanoff, his human love interest was NOT his lifemate, he kept the memories of the Daratrazanoff line and is a great healer, he lost his ability to see in color all at once and with Dark Legacy we find out another surprise about Gary that may have readers discussing this character for a while.
SLIGHT SPOILERS FOR DARK LEGACY
So much has changed for the Carpathians. We find out in Dark Legacy that there’s more to lifemates than people may have realized, those some readers did catch it, and this new information may cause an epiphany for some readers/Gary supporters.
We also find that Tariq is Mikhail’s chosen leader in the United States, and as Tariq builds his own team and fights his own battles, he is in need of a Second in Command. And a great healer. Someone preferably from the Daratrazanoff line. Yes, you guessed it, Gary is going to be Tariq’s second just like Gregori is Mikhail’s.
Gary’s life has been turned upside down in just about every book in which he appears. But, if you think Dark Promises was surprising, just wait until Dark Legacy.
SPOILERS FOR DARK BLOOD/DARK PROMISES
Gary Jansen, the American scientist who we meet in Dark Magic, eventually becomes Gary Daratrazanoff when he is converted in Dark Blood. So, Gary has been with the series for a long time. And he’s been through a lot, earning the loyalty of the Carpathians, so he’s become a much-loved character with readers. We find out he is Human/Jaguar and we think his lifemate will be Gabrielle, but when the ritual binding words don’t work between them they know their feelings as humans has changed and as Carpathians they can only be friends.
Gary’s story has progressed so much and a lot of what’s happened to him has endeared him to readers and often surprised readers. The fact he was converted, that he’s now a Daratrazanoff, his human love interest was NOT his lifemate, he kept the memories of the Daratrazanoff line and is a great healer, he lost his ability to see in color all at once and with Dark Legacy we find out another surprise about Gary that may have readers discussing this character for a while.
SLIGHT SPOILERS FOR DARK LEGACY
So much has changed for the Carpathians. We find out in Dark Legacy that there’s more to lifemates than people may have realized, those some readers did catch it, and this new information may cause an epiphany for some readers/Gary supporters.
We also find that Tariq is Mikhail’s chosen leader in the United States, and as Tariq builds his own team and fights his own battles, he is in need of a Second in Command. And a great healer. Someone preferably from the Daratrazanoff line. Yes, you guessed it, Gary is going to be Tariq’s second just like Gregori is Mikhail’s.
Gary’s life has been turned upside down in just about every book in which he appears. But, if you think Dark Promises was surprising, just wait until Dark Legacy.
