tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50061520252801412462024-03-16T14:00:31.636-04:00Supernatural UndergroundUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1008125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-69501179816675089212024-03-16T14:00:00.001-04:002024-03-16T14:00:00.124-04:00Choose Your Weapon - the Perfect Storm Blurred Lines by Yuumi Art - This image reminds me of Hina Amano an Anime character known as a "sunshine girl." She can stop a downpour, but at a great sacrifice to herself.Hello everyone! Today we continue the exploration of weapons in Fantasy Fiction through the power of the Perfect Storm. What do I mean by that exactly? Perfect Storma) a particularly violent storm Kim Falconerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697828711081399249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-66335375208707362702024-03-09T03:47:00.000-05:002024-03-09T21:56:03.528-05:00From The Backlist: "Modern Day Faery Tales Drawn From Fantasy and Folklore" .We love this post from one of Supernatural Underground's founder authors, the great Terri Garey.It's a wonderful exploration of the origins and unique characteristics of the awesome that is paranormal urban fantasy. We love what Terri has to say even more! So here goes:Urban Fantasy: Modern Day Faery Tales Drawn From Fantasy and Folklore by Terri GareyAs an author with an SUAdministratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05318014534706169025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-13010153575789677482024-03-01T04:01:00.000-05:002024-03-01T05:51:45.599-05:00The Year of the Villain #2: Ursula Le Guin & Earthsea .(Warning: this post does contain a spoiler regarding the outcome of A Wizard of Earthsea. I'll alert you again once we get there.) Otherwise, welcome back, gentle readers, to the Year of the Villain in our own, much loved, Fantasy fiction.If you're a regular here, you may be thinking, "Hey, doesn't Helen always go from Tolkien to Ursula Le Guin?"In which case, although it's by no Helen Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00509185824465377150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-16670900354912322992024-02-23T18:47:00.001-05:002024-03-01T18:44:52.148-05:00From the Backlist - What Would Your Echo Be? Hello Everyone!It's time to explore the awesome backlist at the Supernatural Underground! Today we are sharing a post made on February 23, 2011 by the bestselling author Kimberly Derting. She has some fabulous new releases out now, but these oldies but goodies are based on a beautiful, eerie premises: What Would Your Echo Be? Check this out!By Kimberly Dering, Feb 23, 2011In THE SUAdministratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05318014534706169025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-61458297529188183372024-02-16T02:00:00.001-05:002024-02-16T02:00:00.129-05:00Choose Your Poison Weapons in Fantasy Fiction - Part 1Magical Potion Shelves by FiuloWelcome to my 2024, mini blog series on Weapons in Fantasy Fiction. Examples will include a range, from magical staffs, blades, bows and arrows, daggers, war dogs/horses, shapeshifters, curses and bare hands. In the case of Urban Fantasy and SteamPunk, a plethora of firearms enter the arena. There are hundreds of types Kim Falconerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697828711081399249noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-66981279867321579552024-02-10T19:35:00.004-05:002024-02-10T19:41:56.267-05:00From The Backlist: "What Happens When Writers Can't Sleep" .Merrie DestefanoToday, we're excited to refeature another fabulous post from our Supernatural Underground backlist -- an intriguing insight into what happens when writers can't sleep, from the wonderful Merrie Destefano. Merrie shared this post in February 2011, but we think you'll enjoy revisiting it today, with a link through to the original for the full context, including SUAdministratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05318014534706169025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-44650170333714738352024-02-01T05:21:00.000-05:002024-02-01T05:21:54.894-05:00The Year of the Villain #1: "The Lord Of The Rings" Pantheon .Tis a truth universally acknowledged that an aspiring hero in possession of an excellent quest-adventure must be in want of an antagonist.And not just any antagonist, but a rip-roaring, no-holds-barred bad guy -- so welcome, gentle readers, to the Year of the Villain in our own, much loved, Fantasy fiction.Sauron in "The Lord of the Rings" filmsWe have it on good authority that the place Helen Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00509185824465377150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-48981770067659703892024-01-24T23:00:00.004-05:002024-01-25T03:55:33.014-05:00From the Backlist: Never Give Up! Never surrender! It's time again to explore the awesome backlist at the Supernatural Underground! Today we are sharing a post made on January 25, 2011 by the spectacular writer Kerrelyn Sparks. It's relevant to us now as she asks how we are all going with our New Year resolutions. Good Question?Kerrelyn also shares how she didn't give up, back in the day, an attitude that shot her to the New York Times Best SUAdministratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05318014534706169025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-5073578070654670432024-01-15T20:00:00.019-05:002024-01-17T19:26:04.874-05:00Romance in Fantasy FictionEpic Quests Manga Wallpaper @wallpapersWe all know there are certain tropes, certain themes in genre fiction. It's basically how we categorize them as well as what we come to expect as readers. One fairly new expectation is that of strong romance themes in Fantasy Fiction. After all, the gold standard for a long time has been Tolkien and he never overplayed the intimacy side, no matter how the Kim Falconerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697828711081399249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-67892301440333039422024-01-10T17:23:00.004-05:002024-01-10T17:23:37.842-05:00From The Backlist: "Stealing From the Ancients: Weaving Mythology into Your Fiction" .Here on Supernatural Underground blog we have an awesome backlist, so one of our 2024 resolutions is to share more of it with you. In this very week, way back in 2011 (oh my!) the fabulous Tera Lynn Childs posted on Stealing from the Ancients: Weaving Mythology into Your Fiction.We think it's just as relevant today as it was then, so for those who missed it the first time, here's an SUAdministratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05318014534706169025noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-58036242644483087432024-01-01T04:06:00.000-05:002024-01-01T04:06:11.164-05:00Happy New Year: Ushering In 2024 .And here we are -- 1 January 2024, with a whole year of possibility stretching before us. . Southern hemisphere daybreakIf best wishes can make it so, then you have all of mine for hoping that 2024 will bring positives in abundance.In terms of what I've planned for the first of every month, over the past few years I've covered:Romance (2019)Worldbuilding (2020)Magic Systems (2021)Heroes (Helen Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00509185824465377150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-17004858410796562652023-12-18T19:14:00.002-05:002023-12-18T19:14:48.458-05:00Go for the Unrealistic - Tips for the New Year! Jinx isn't afraid of the 'impossible' - WallPapers.comI want to wind up 2023 with a meaningful idea, and the topic that comes to mind is What's Next? It reminds me of a piece I wrote a few decades ago after hearing Will Smith talk about doing the impossible. I've tweaked it to fit the NOW. Hope you enjoy, and have a wonderful holiday season, and New Year 2024.Will Smith said in an interviewKim Falconerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697828711081399249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-13633132398836809212023-12-01T04:00:00.000-05:002023-12-02T00:09:36.000-05:00Bromance & The Band -of-Brothers in "Daughter of Blood" by Helen LoweA classic theme for '23 .Phew, made it to December 1 and the final post in m'2023 blog series -- and with three weeks in hand until the full festive-palooza kicks in! Awesome: high fives all round!!For the past few years I've been blogging to a theme and this year's has been the "band of brothers" trope in fantasy fiction, right alongside it's joined-at-the-hip sibling, the bromance. (The Helen Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00509185824465377150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-34767207478885051742023-11-16T23:32:00.011-05:002023-11-16T23:36:27.309-05:00Three Fabulous Reasons To Love Kim Falconer's Books .Kim FalconerKim is currently recovering from a hospital visit -- and although she will be back very soon, I'm standing in for her today. And can think of no better topic than 3 fabulous reasons I love her books. Reason 1: WorldbuildingWhether you know Kim as Kim Falconer or AK Wilder, I think there can be no question: from her Quantum Enchantment and Quantum Encryption series, through The Helen Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00509185824465377150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-15521694801678398172023-11-01T06:00:00.003-04:002023-11-01T06:02:14.689-04:00The Band-of-Brothers in Helen Lowe's "The Gathering Of The Lost" .So here we are, November 1 (eek!), with Halloween just behind us, Guy Fawkes immediately ahead, and Thanksgiving and Christmas hoving-to in the near-distance.If you feel breathless reading that, I can assure you that I felt exactly the same as my fingers flew over the keyboard! Still, when the year is fleeting by and all the festivals and end-of-year commitments snowballing, what better Helen Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00509185824465377150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-74107223458878516472023-10-16T19:41:00.003-04:002023-10-16T19:41:52.840-04:00Get a Spectacular Mar Fix While You Wait Ava Sykes - before she discovers what she is For those of you waiting for book three of the Amassia Series, but still want an instant Mar fix, I thought to bump this post so you could take a look at another kind of Mar...Enjoy!:) Kimaka AKWWilderExcerpt from the novel, The Blood in the Beginning. AvaSykes.comPublic speaking sucks. It's mandatory for final year medical scienceKim Falconerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697828711081399249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-21018784050297722352023-10-01T03:00:00.002-04:002023-10-01T05:53:53.439-04:00The Band of Brothers in "The Heir of Night" .Intro2023 has been my Year of the "Band of Brothers" in fiction, and the Fantasy genre in particular. The CrowsFrom King Arthur and Robin Hood, to The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, or Leigh Bardugo's Crows and The Them in Good Omens, I could -- and do ;-) -- say that the "band of brothers" is to fantasy what flowers are to spring. :DThe ThemIn addition to the band or company, Helen Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00509185824465377150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-41011303529816942442023-09-16T06:50:00.003-04:002023-09-16T07:03:54.436-04:00Book Review: "Curse of Shadows" by AK Wilder.IntroductionKim Falconer is taking a well-deserved break this month, but here at Supernatural Underground HQ we're keen to celebrate her wonderful writing. So although Kim will be back with her "More Than Meets The Eye" post series (which we've all been loving!) today we're featuring a review of Curse of Shadows, the recently released second novel in her Amassia series..Book Review: Curse SUAdministratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05318014534706169025noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-7349456810740825192023-09-01T01:26:00.002-04:002023-09-01T06:34:04.001-04:00The "Band of Brothers" -- A Few More Fantasy Favorites! .So far this year I've talked bands of brothers -- and sisters -- and how they lie at the heart of the Fantasy genre, as well as scooby gangs, the much-loved bromance, and sister acts. Last month, I also honed in on when brotherhoods and bromances go bad -- and although not nearly so many, they're definitely there in the genre.Brothers in armsThis month, I'm going to share a few more Helen Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00509185824465377150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-35619150024778908712023-08-16T09:00:00.001-04:002023-08-16T09:00:00.137-04:00Gossip - More Than Meets the Eye “You do not know me, and rest assured, you never shall.” — Lady Whistledown in Netflix BridgertonToday I want to examine gossip by exploring its link to storytelling. Yes, even Fantasy Fiction can utilize this age-old human proclivity to talk about others behind their backs. Some novels even have plots that revolve solely around the revelation of such unverified "truths".For the purpose of Kim Falconerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697828711081399249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-64770939367740858072023-08-01T01:30:00.001-04:002023-09-01T01:34:25.499-04:00When Bands -- & Bros -- Go Bad .This year, I've been honing in on the importance of "bands of brothers" and Scooby Gangs in the Fantasy genre and storytelling, along with their natural subsets, the bromance and sister acts.The archetypal "band of brothers"Today, though, my focus is when bands go bad and found "brother-or-sister-hoods" can't survive the pressures of time or subsequent events. (By way of shorthand, I'm Helen Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00509185824465377150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-19342315741328831592023-07-16T06:00:00.001-04:002023-07-16T06:00:00.139-04:00Desire - More Than Meets the EyeLucifer asks what we truly Desire. Goals, Motivations and ConflictsYou've probably heard about character goals, motivations and conflicts, or GMCs. They are the cornerstone of strong writing, making the story ring true no matter the genre - Fantasy, Historical Thriller, Romance, Crime ... We are told that each main character, be they 'good' or 'evil' should have solid and Kim Falconerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697828711081399249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-67936860666743391412023-07-06T04:49:00.000-04:002023-07-06T04:49:49.534-04:00Styling Characters in “The Gathering of the Lost”.Last week, inspired by Kim Falconer’s recent More Than Meets the Eye: Styling Characters post, I took a closer look at styling characters in The Heir of Night (Heir).The premise of Kim’s post is that a character’s depiction through “style”, whether clothing or arms, can provide insight into their personality, as well as their part of the story’s narrative arc, or their current mood and Helen Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00509185824465377150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-19626859840029611672023-07-01T06:00:00.003-04:002023-07-01T08:57:16.307-04:00Sister Acts: From the “Band of Sisters” to True Sisterhood .<!--[if gte mso 9]>
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Helen Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00509185824465377150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006152025280141246.post-29963554373799573372023-06-24T16:47:00.000-04:002023-06-25T16:47:49.578-04:00Styling Characters in "The Heir Of Night" .Kim FalconerI loved Kim Falconer’s latest “More Than Meets The Eye” post on Styling Characters so much I asked her if she would mind if I did some spin-off posts on styling characters in my own The Wall Of Night series. And was even more thrilled when she said “yes”!The Styling Characters premise is that a character’s depiction through “style”, whether clothing or arms, can provide insightHelen Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00509185824465377150noreply@blogger.com0