Sophie Jordan's "Paranormal Heroines vs. Paranormal Heroes": From The Backlist

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Sophie Jordan first posted Paranormal Heroines vs. Paranormal Heroes as a guest of the equally wonderful Kerrelyn Sparks -- and we're thrilled to feature it again today. 

Especially as Sophie has an exciting new book, A Fire In The Sky (tagline: Magic lives...) due out on September 24!

Coming very soon!

But here's what Sophie posted when her Firelight trilogy (recently released with new covers) was new-out: enjoy!

Paranormal Heroines vs. Paranormal Heroes

As we slip into fall and near Halloween, nothing excites me more than talking about the paranormal!

Recently on tour for my latest novel, FIRELIGHT, a reader brought to my attention the fact that my heroine in FIRELIGHT is the paranormal “figure” in my book -- not the hero as is the usual case. Yes, I know this, of course, but I hadn’t really considered it very hard. Before now (see me tilting my head thoughtfully here).

Those new covers!

I started mentally checking off a lot of paranormal books – many favorites of mine – and realized the observation in point is rather true. I’m not saying there aren’t books with paranormal females in them, but so many books feature the male figure as the paranormal figure while the heroine is simply human. Why is that? I’m not saying one is better than the other … but I’m interested in your opinion today. Do we, as readers, simply want our male heroes more feral? More dangerous? Does making our heroes into a paranormal creature accomplish that? What does that say?

The original

In Firelight, my heroine Jacinda is a draki, which is a species that has evolved from dragons. She’s the only one of her kind that can still breathe fire. She’s a very strong female, and being so “unique” opens up a world of conflict for her. And what would a book be without conflict? Jacinda is constantly surrounded by danger because of what she is. Since I wrote the book solely from her POV, I had fun with this. It wouldn’t have been nearly as fun to write had she been the human and Will, her love interest, the draki. But that’s just my take. What’s your take?

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To read the full post, including some great comments, click here.

To find out more about Sophie Jordan, click here.

Writing Amid the Holidays - eep!

(posting for Sophie Jordan again)

This is the time of year when - before I became published - my writing faded to nonexistence. As a wife and mother … um, as a member of the human race, I was simply too busy. Too busy cooking, baking, decorating the house, sending off Christmas cards, shopping, shopping, shopping, wrapping, wrapping, wrapping. Oh, and the travel -- the fun driving across the state to events and gatherings hosted by both sides of the family.

Of course, none of this has come to an end. It still goes on as life tends to do, but this time I am a contracted author that can’t take a month off. So, I’ve come up with some survival tips. Well, really one critical survival tip. Never schedule a delivery date in December. Believe it or not I have done this very thing for the last three years! For the first time, I don’t have a book due in December this year. Whew. The relief! I didn’t know how tranquil things could be. I’ll never schedule a December delivery again if I can help it.

And yet that doesn’t mean I’m commitment free. What I’ve done is plan for the “lighter” albeit necessary writing chores this month. For example, I have an outline due. It’s something kind of fun actually. Amid the chaos, clutter and stress, I’ve got a notebook open that serves as a beacon of escape. I’ll dive into it and jot down scene notes and let the vision of the story unfold without a lot of worry about whether that word is right or wrong. Every writer needs time to breath, decompress … to just let flow what flows naturally. Basically, this month I’ve give myself permission to do that. I hope you’ll do the same … take a moment to enjoy yourself, eat a few cookies (in my case a few dozen!), relax (ahem, read a few good books) and look around yourself, take in everything that you most appreciate in life and simply exhale. That’s my plan! Happy Holidays!

Happy reading,
Sophie Jordan

Happy Halloween!

(who vows to help Sophie break into Blogger before her post next month)

*** Contest is over and the winner is: Jolene Alcock and Family ***

Oooh, Scary

How many of you are like me right now? Full of excitement and awe during this time of year? I don’t think there is any better time to be an avid paranormal writer/reader/film goer!

This is the time of year when it’s expected to let ourselves wander strange and creepy paths. Not only can we dress up as our favorite paranormal creature (cough … dragon), we can put tombstones in our yards, get our fill of creepy movies, listen to spooky music on the radio, and wear t-shirts with skulls on the front and not get a funny look! Right now I have two ghosts hanging from trees in front of my house, casting eerie shadows through the stained glass of my front door. LOVE!

I can promise the weekend will not pass without at least three horror movies. As far as reading goes, several books wait on my bedside table to satisfy my Halloween spirit. Vampire novels mostly, maybe even a zombie book or two.

The Prize

So what about you? What are your Halloween plans? And what do you think is the best paranormal creature to dress up as? I’m still all for the dragon. Just plop on a red wig, a pair of wings, play with your make-up and wamo! You have Jacinda!

In the spirit of Halloween, here’s a TREAT:

One commenter will win a signed copy of my paranormal YA debut, FIRELIGHT. Be sure to check back and see if you’ve won.

Again, Happy Halloween!
All best,
Sophie Jordan

“Releasing” the Book

(actually, NOT by Tera Lynn Childs, who is posting this because Blogger hates Sophie)

[ETA: The winner of the ARC of Firelight is ... I read banned books-Jen! Send your address to sophie(at)sophiejordan(dot)net so she can get your prize in the mail.]

With the release of Firelight only days away, there’s little else on my mind. I mean I take care of the usual business calling for my attention, but other than my two high-maintenance kids who have a serious set of windpipes, most of that business right now involves Firelight -- getting blog posts and Q&As completed, answering emails, getting swag packs out the door for Team Draki members (btw, you can learn about that on my website), getting ready for the book tour HarperTeen’s sending me on, making certain my website is up to date with all the latest information, and planning last minute details for my big book launch on September 10th.

The term release day is very apt because on the dawn of September 7th, the moment that my creation bursts free into the world, I will feel a sense of immense release – release from all those lurking anxieties, from the pent-up tension that this day would never arrive. I'll breathe again. And probably laugh. And cry. Firelight will finally be set free! Readers will shout their reviews from the blogosphere (not that they haven’t already). My inbox will see a little more activity. All the hard work and love I put into creating Firelight culminates in this single day ... which is amazing when I think about how it started with a vague desire to write a young adult novel with a paranormal element that touched on the myth of dragons. If you read my blurb, you can see how that idea exploded for me:

Summary:

A HIDDEN TRUTH

MORTAL ENEMIES

DOOMED LOVE

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet of her kind, she nearly pays with her life, only to be spared by a beautiful stranger sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki--a descendant of dragons whose ability to shift into human form is her best defense.

Forced to flee into the mortal world, Jacinda struggles to adapt. The one bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irrestibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away - if it dies she will be left a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

From the kernel of an idea … to a proposal … to a book deal. Almost two years later, it’s finally here. It never ceases to amaze me! Just one more week, and it will finally be here, finally be real. Feel free to leave a comment. One lucky poster today will win an arc of FIRELIGHT! Be sure to check back tomorrow and see if you’ve won! *(US and Canada residents only)

Happy reading,
Sophie Jordan