Saturday, March 13, 2010

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Erica Hayes


One thing I love about the current popularity of paranormal fiction is the endless variety. Once upon a time, if a book was about, say, vampires, you knew exactly what you were getting. A vampire was a vampire. No crucifixes, no garlic, no going out in the sun, invite him in the house and you're screwed.

But no longer. These days, vampires can walk in the sun, go wherever they like, munch garlic pizza in church over a stream of running water if they feel like it. Same with werewolves -- some are slaves to the full moon, others fur up whenever they get the urge, and silver bullets aren't always the solution. We're limited only by the author's imagination and skill at making us believe.

And it's the same with fairies. They can be whatever you want them to be. I love the old Celtic mythology, but for the Shadowfae Chronicles I wanted to try something different. The stories are set in the new world – Australia is one of the newest countries on the planet in terms of Western culture. So how did fairies get here? And why did they come? Was it to explore, or to escape? And how have they adapted to their new life?

Well, sadly for them, it didn't turn out too well. The new world attracted far nastier creatures too, and the Melbourne of Shadowfae is owned by a selfish demon lord and his gang of vampire minions. It's a dark, magical, beautiful place, but the fairies are marginalised, treated like scum.

Around here, Tinkerbell would be on her back with her wings pinned to a sheet of cardboard in five minutes flat. To survive, a fairy's gotta be bold, capricious, selfish and tricksy. They don't take orders from any court or queen -- it's every fairy for him (or her) self. And when you could die any moment, what's there to do but party?

But my fairies are far from helpless. For one, they have magic. They hide from human eyes behind dazzling glamour that makes them look ordinary. And they each have their own peculiar elemental powers. Sometimes they're a blessing. Other times… well…

Ice from Shadowglass is waterfae, which means she's attuned to water in all its forms. Steam, humidity, rain and the ocean are all her domain. And her body reacts with water when she's under stress. She floods, drips, sweats rivers at the most inopportune times.

Her best buddy Blaze is a fire fairy. He has natural incendiaries in his fluids that he can ignite at will to attract and mesmerise you. But it's also dangerous -- if he's not careful, he'll burn himself. As usual in the fae world, you get nothing for nothing.

You'll also find earthfae, airfae and bloodfae wandering the pages of Shadowglass. But technology has changed things. The elements aren't what they used to be, and fairies have adapted.

Indigo in Shadowglass is a metal fairy. He's not only got metal in his flesh – his wings are metallic, and his blood's laced with quicksilver, and he'll rust if he doesn't keep dry – but his senses zoom in on metal of all kinds. Hunting for the needle in that haystack? Indigo's your fairy. Of course, his metalsense makes him sick, maybe a hangover from that old-world iron allergy.

He's an unlikely creature, but in a modern world that's made of metal, he makes perfect sense.

And I think that's why we have such variety these days: the world has changed, and the paranormal is changing along with it. I still enjoy the old-style creatures, but I love the new ones too. It's an ever-expanding playground. Let's have some fun!

So what's your favourite new take on an old theme? Is it sparkling vampires? Werewolves in space? Zombie romances? Or do you prefer the critters of old, when the rules were the rules and a crucifix stopped a vampire in his tracks?

I've got a copy of Shadowglass to give away to one lucky commenter.

You can find out more about my books at my website: http://www.shadowfae.net/

Thanks for visiting!


~Erica
Contest Time!

Erica has offered a copy of Shadowglass to one lucky winner.

Would you like to be that lucky winner?


Then just leave a comment on this post (you can answer Erica's question posted above) and be sure to include your email contact info.

Open to International Shipping

Contest Closes Tuesday March 23 Midnight EST

Winner Announced on Wednesday March 24

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48 comments:

mariska said...

I love the new ones, everything seems possible to Vampires, werewolves, shifters, zombies, fairies to do anything that the old theme can't do.
it just like now we can explore more paranormal world with more things to be added :)

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Persephone said...

I believe that if you are going to do a new take on a traditional tale you should take it all the way. Sparkling vamps seems a bit...tame.

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Tura Lura said...

Love Christine Feehan's vampiric Carpathians. That's got to be my favorite new interpretation. ^_^

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cait045 said...

I like the good old vampires and werewolves. I do like fairies and angels.

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tetewa said...

Enjoy both the old and new, vampires are my favorites! This is my faovrite genre to read and I'm always looking for new authors and series to read. This sounds like my kind of read! tWarner419@aol.com

Lori said...

I think all are pretty cool as long as the story is good. Old, New, As long as thier is a romantic element, I am all for it...well maybe not zombies..they kinda creep me out.


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Anonymous said...

I love both the old and the new vampires and werewolves. But the whole zombie romances thing I just don't get it. They eat flesh and brains! How are you going to kiss a zombie without fear of it chewing your face off? And what about if he goes down on you, would you really trust that? Ouch! I gave myself unplesant thoughts. *shudders*

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Sherry said...

I love all kinds of paranormal books but I enjoy the newer versions a little bit more. My favorite is shifters though I love a good shifter story whether it's wolf, dragon or big cat.

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Kelsey said...

Although the Twilight phenomenon has gone a little too far, I love the way things are going in the paranormal. Vampires can be hot, and a lot of authors have taken advantage of that and wrote many books, of which I am grateful for! I like either direction of vampire books: love them or stake them. Zombie romances, though, are not my cup of tea.

Thanks for the awesome contest! I'd love to read and review Shadowglass on my blog! I am a Google follower and a Twitter follower.

I tweeted: http://twitter.com/Door2Wonderland/status/10432942801.

I included the link to this contest on my blog's right sidebar: www.thedoortowonderland.blogspot.com

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Unknown said...

One of my favorite things about Anne Rice books is how she had the vampires having special abilities and powers. I also like how Lestat could walk in the sun after taking the elder's blood. Anyway, I like taking the old and adding some new in there. Makes it interesting.

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Patricia Altner said...

I like vampire heroes and heroines of all kinds, even if they sparkle. Same for most other paranormal creatures. The one exception - zombies! I cannot get past the mental picture of a walking, talking, rotting corpse.
Would love to have this book.

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Excellent post!

D Q said...

I like both the old and the new. I love vamps, shifters, werewolves, fairies, etc. Zombies are the only ones I just can't get into.

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Estella said...

I enjoy both old an new.

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YzhaBella's BookShelf said...

I'd have to say I'm partial to the new form of supernatural. No particular reason, mostly just because I've not read enough of the "older" versions. Great interview/event! Thanks for having it!

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Reading said...

I kind of like the old rules. But one thing I do like is when the vamps have a way to go out into the sunlight. It just adds more to the story.

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vvb32 reads said...

ooo, this sounds wonderful with all kinds of fae folk to encounter!
my interest is peaked with werewolves in space. how would that work?
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Van Pham said...

I love both the old and new.

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Barbara E. said...

I love paranormal stories, especially vampires, any way I can get them, as long as it's a good story. The old mythology is tried and true, but some of the new takes on them are fabulous as well - such as Lara Adrian's spin - her vampires are a hybrid alien race. Or Gail Carriger's Steampunk vampires and werewolves - who are part of English society.

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redbaronsg said...

I'm just now getting into paranormal books, but I like vampires (old and new), fairies and shapeshifters or werewolves. This book sounds really interesting and something that I would like as I'm looking for new series and authors to read.

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elaing8 said...

I like the new take on things,whether werewolf,vampire,fairy,shifters..etc.

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Cherry said...

I generally like werewolves and vampires anyway you paint them. What makes the difference for me is the story-telling quality. If the story-telling quality is a 5 out of 5, it does not matter how the werewolf or the vampire is painted in the story :)

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throuthehaze said...

Right now I am really into demons who are actually the good guys :)

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Wicked Walker said...

I love the fallen angels...I think they are the "new vampires" lol

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CrystalGB said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
CrystalGB said...

Shadowglass sounds great. I like both the old and the new. Paranomals are one of my favorite genres.

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aurora M. said...

I love the fact that vampires can now have expanded powers.....unique to each individual vampire....why should they all be the same.
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whitewolfreads said...

I do enjoy some of the new takes on the creatures of old (such as those portrayed in Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series), however I also find some of the new ones ridiculous. I'm not a fan of sparkly vampires and zombies will always be rotting corpses that have only the need to feed or are at the mercy of the Necromancer that raised them.

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EVA SB said...

I love the new variations and writers using and abusing the old rules but I do like them to have a certain logic in their own canon and to be true to it.

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Unknown said...

Vampires for ever.. Eternity seems pretty sweet to me to be with the one you love forever !!! or just to be fast, swift, sexy and youthful what more could one want.. But I must say I love the books with absolulty everything in them from fairies to guardian angels.. Anything paranormal .. for me xo
OOh the new book looks fab.. so ok.. I am a fang-tastic book follower
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Cybercliper said...

I enjoy both the old favorites and the new twists that are being added. I'm a huge science fiction fan so add outerspace, aliens, and some romance and I'm a fan - anhonATaolDOTcom

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Sweet Vernal Zephyr said...

I like when the authors mix things up a bit with the paranormal rules. Makes it less likely that I will guess the next plot twist!

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cindyrella64 said...

I would love to win this!

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halukacy said...

I love the cover! It really draws you in!

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Faith said...

I like the new takes on old themes, but as long as the "new" takes aren't contrived in any way. I've read a few books where it seemed like the author was being different just for the sake of being different, and it felt "off". But when it works... it really works!

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Diana Dang said...

I prefer the old stuff but the new stuff is just as good!


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Unknown said...

hum, werewolves in space sounds interesting. How would shifting be controlled if it's tied to moon cycles?
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Amanda Leigh said...

I love a lot of new things out there, and there are so many I can't begin to think of them all. It's great that so many authors are trying out new and different ways. With that said, every now and then I still enjoy a little of the old as well.

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Unknown said...

Thanks for making it international!

I don't mind when authors introduce some new powers or characteristics to already established universes, but I find the idea of glowing vampires ridiculous!

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Gaby G said...

Sparkling vampires I accept. Werewolves in space...umm..dont think so. Zombie Romance?!!?! YUCK, noooo!! Sorry, I think I'm old school.

But I agree with you when you say the world have change. Indeed, it has!! Thats why I'm trying to read different stuff...but definitely not zombie romance, not for me.

I read about your fairies and let me say something: ORIGINAL! Wow! I like the idea of the elements. Specially the metal fairy. Just love it!

I think thats because i love fairies, and wolves too...but there are many books about them and sometimes I just want to read something new.

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doreen lamoureux said...

I like the sparkling vampires alot on dark sides and ramanitc surprises. Oh wait. I thought we were talking about my guy..lol

I love how each group...shifters etc. have their own rules to live by.

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Anonymous said...

I just flat out love all the variety that authors have come up with to keep the genre going strong! I can buy the sparkling vampire theory. Werewolves in space...not so much, unless someone comes up with a really good reason/theory about why they would be out there. I am most definitely not a fan of Zombie Romance. There is NOTHING sexy about a sentient rotting corpse that eats brains or human body parts. Blech!

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Marsha A. Moore said...

I enjoy the new twists with paranormal abilities, to liven things up.

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Unknown said...

please enter me





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Erica Hayes said...

Hey, thanks so much to everyone for coming by :) seems like we love the old as well as the new... not too many zombie romance fans, though...

How about a zombie that doesn't eat brains? That could be fun. Vampires are dead, after all, and they're hot...

heatwave16 said...

I do enjoy a new take on an old legend, but boo on the sparkly vampires. I like the story, but not big on the sparkles.


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rose said...

I pretty much prefer the newer versions of vampires but it doesn't matter actually, as long as the book is good and interesting =)

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Cherry said...

OMG!! OMG!! Thank you!!!!

 
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