.
When
I started out, our Supernatural Underground theme was “Books That Go Bump In The Night”, which felt quite deliciously
magical and maybe just a tad spooky. Now we’re all about “Fiction That Makes The Heart Beat Faster” – which I sure hope
yours may have done when reading some if not all of the books featured in our
side bar. J
Over
the past few years, I’ve been very impressed by Amanda Arista’s fabulous post
series that focus on a theme for the year, such as #YOLA, the Year of Living
Authentically and last year’s Year Of The New.
Nine years (the magical “three times three”) seems like an excellent time to mix things up a little, so I’ve decided to try out Amanda’s theme-for-the-year approach.
That decision made, I then had to put on my thinking cap, to find a theme to resonate with “Fiction That Makes The Heart Beat Faster.” (And if I can touch on “Books That Go Bump In The Night” as well, then all the better!)
As a starting point, I thought I’d best stick with Fantasy, since that’s the fiction I write (and generally adore.) I then reflected that the Supernatural Underground’s origins were strongly grounded in Romance, particularly the Paranormal Urban kind – and when all’s said and done there are few things that make the heart beat quite so fast as romance…
So
this year, dear Supernatural Undergrounders, I’m going to focus on Romance In
Fantasy, trying to hone in on a distinctive form of fantasy (e.g. epic fantasy)
and/or style of romance (e.g. “star-crossed”) with each post. It will not be
exhaustive (or, I hope, exhausting!) in any way shape or form, just a fun look
at books I’ve found interesting and at how romance figures – or mostly doesn’t
figure, The Lord of the Rings I’m
looking at you! – in the story.
 |
| There's this kiss -- but when it comes to romance in the book, I'm not so sure... |
Sadly,
I will almost certainly not feature all your favorites. L Quite probably, I will overlook what you believe to be a definitive
book. L L This is because, as you have probably realized by now, I am a
deeply flawed “ ‘uman bean.”
 |
| Undying love -- but one sided? |
But
(great big “but” – huge, in fact!) I do aim to have fun with the Year of Romance
and I hope you will, too. And, taking a leaf from Amanda’s book, I’m even going
to use a hashtag. Yep, you guessed it, it’s #YOR! (Said with a roar [winks.]) But wait there’s moar – I may even have a second hashtag:
#RIFF – Romance In Fantasy Fiction. ;-)
See
ya next month with #RIFF #1 for #YOR. J
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.
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Helen Lowe is a novelist, poet, and blogger whose first novel, Thornspell (Knopf), was published to critical praise in 2008. Her second, The Heir of Night (The Wall Of Night Series, Book One) won the Gemmell Morningstar Award 2012. The sequel, The Gathering Of The Lost, was shortlisted for the Gemmell Legend Award in 2013. Daughter Of Blood, (The Wall Of Night, Book Three) is Helen's most recent book and she is currently working on the fourth and final novel in The Wall Of Night series. Helen posts regularly on her “…on Anything, Really” blog and is also on Twitter: @helenl0we
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