Exploring Hidden World Building in BAD BLOODS

If you’ve been following me for a while, then you already know my young adult series BAD BLOODS is a dark fantasy that hinges on the outcome of a polarizing and violent election–an election primarily focused on the rights of others. 

I actually err on the side of caution when promoting this series because so many of the topics within my series were inspired by the painful parts of history…many of which we are seeing repeated today.  

For example, the sequel duology–July Thunder/Lightning–was largely inspired by Hurricane Katrina and the AIDS epidemic. Now we are in the throes of climate change and COVID. That said, in order to make room for some very heavy subject matters, I ended up cutting explanations for some of the lighter aspects of the world building. Of all those cuts, two parts of the first duology (November Rain/Snow) always stayed with me. 

The reason the election takes place at the end of November instead of the beginning: I always pictured this happening in the dystopian future because an election became so volatile (such as through an assassination of a candidate) that the election was postponed and later kept at that date. (It also gave me the entire month of November to use as a “ticking clock” storytelling device rather than just random days on a future calendar–hence why the original publication in 2007 was titled November Snow.) I also cut this bit of information because I was planning on covering a presidential assassination in Ami and Skeleton’s story in October Blood & Bone, which would’ve been the third duology in the series, so I didn’t want the information to feel repetitive. (A small part of me hopes that Ami and Skeleton get to tell that story one day, but for now, I’m okay with it sitting on my laptop.)Though the first duology takes place in November, there’s no Thanksgiving. In a society where parents sacrifice their own children to the streets–whether through radicalization or feeling like they do not have a choice–I couldn’t imagine families coming together anymore. Even the found families–the “flocks”–can’t come together safely because it risks their lives, much in the same way congregating becomes illegal when ruled by a police state. That said, I never mention this outright because I didn’t think Daniel and Serena (the two POVs) would even be aware of these holidays. The country is already so far gone by the time they are born that it didn’t feel natural for them to linger on old traditions they wouldn’t have had connections with, especially since both of them weren’t even raised by adults who could’ve explained it to them. 

Both of these world building aspects technically exist but are not outright stated, though a reader might wonder why the election is later in the book or why holidays are never mentioned. 

Sometimes I wish I had room to mention them. Sometimes I think about how I would write this book differently if given another chance. 

But maybe that’s a post for another day. 

When you’re considering which parts of your world building matter, I highly suggest being character-forward. What matters most to them? What is at the front of their minds? What’s true to their POV?

You, the author, have a birds’ eye view, but your protagonist does not.

It may hurt to cut or be subtle about an aspect you’ve put a lot of work into, but trust me, sometimes that what makes it feel more real. Besides, you can always use the information as extras (just as I’m doing now).

Anyway, elections always remind me of this series…now more so than ever. 

If you’re in the states, I want to take this moment to ask you to make sure you get out and vote tomorrow. Vote.org is an amazing resource to get all the information you need. 

Are there any world building aspects you have in your work that you don’t outright state but is still present? Why did you decide to handle it the way that you did? 

~SAT

If you’re interested in reading Bad Bloods, November Rain is free!

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Smashwords, Goodreads

Quick peek: 17-year-old Serena is the only bad blood to escape execution. Now symbolized for an election, she must prove her people are human despite magical abilities before everyone is killed and a city is destroyed. 

Tropes: Wrong side of the tracks romance, star-crossed lovers, multi-POV romance, guardianship, childhood trauma, and “hurt her and die.” 

The Bad Bloods series is a dark romantic dystopian fantasy series (and the series is complete, so no waiting for the next book!) 

Content warnings: childhood trauma, death, gun violence.