Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Oh the Places I've Been...

Oh the places I’ve been…

Hard to believe it’s been over a year since I wrote my first blog for PR. We’ve had some major changes, some bloggers coming, some bloggers going. All in all, I have absolutely adored everyone who has been or is currently with us!

Down below you will see a copy of the first blog I wrote on Paranormal Romantics, well, the first one I wrote after our initial introductions.

So here’s the deal. Read the Blog below and answer my initial question…Do you like Dragons in your books?

Then beneath it, please leave me your e-mail address and tell me which book from my collection, the entirety of my published books can be found on my website www.rebeccaroyce.com , you would like to win a copy of.

In other words your comment should look something like this:

Comment on Dragons…

Name

E-mail Address

Your choice of book.

And don’t forget, even if you don’t win today you are being automatically entered to win our grand prize at the end of the month.

Shall I tell you what I’ve entered in the big drawing….

Nah, I’m going to make you wait…

Suspense is good for the soul!!

Best

RR

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2009

For the love of a Dragon

Let me digress from the start and congratulate Sandra Sookoo for being the top seller in May at Desert Breeze Publishing (http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/StoreFront.bok) Her book Winner Takes All, is not paranormal, but it is fabulous and we are so proud of you, girl.

Now onto other things.

Let’s talk for a moment about Dragons.

I know, this seems like a strange discussion considering that I write about wolves, wizards, and space creatures, but I will admit that I have a strange fascination with all things Dragon. Which, if I’m honest, is probably why I don’t write about them because I know that’s why I don’t write about Vampires…but more on that another day.

The first time I can remember being aware of the Dragon was when I was a child watching the movie The Never Ending Story.

You all remember this movie, don’t you?

It’s the story of Bastian, who is basically friendless and alone and then finds the key to enter this amazing fantasy world through a book that whisks him away to another land where he gets to save everyone by giving the Childlike Empress a name. (On a side note here, I have never been able to understand him when he shouts out the name, if anyone happens to know what name he actually chose, I would appreciate being informed, thanks.)

Anyway, at the end of this movie, when he can choose anything he wants, he chooses to ride a Dragon. This always seemed so cool to me. What child doesn’t want to ride on a Dragon? (This from a person who white knuckles the armrest every time I fly in an airplane but we could go on for hours about that.)

So how does it happen? How does a character, admittedly a mythical being often portrayed as the bad guy in literature—let’s face it, they are always burning down a village, kidnapping a princess, guarding the potion that the hero needs to save the princess—go from being a thing of horror or a children’s fantasy to a romantic hero in the lexicon of the paranormal romance genre? *

For me, it was an easy transition. Okay, so in these books some of the time the dragon is green and scaly. Other times, usually, he is able to transform himself into a really hunky guy with a bad temper and our heroine (and yes, I know sometimes this can be reversed, it can be the heroine who is occasionally green and scaly but hey aren’t we all?) has to first learn to accept that it possible for the hero to be both and then learn to love him despite his lizard-like tendencies.

And isn’t that the point of all Paranormal Romance? We take what is inherently scary and we twist it up. What was frightening is charming. The bad guys are really good at heart and it only took the right woman to know this about them. And I think as a hero, the dragon is actually pretty benign. Wolves have their problems, if they’re of the Were variety, they have to shift every full moon with no memory of what they’ve done...or at least no control over it when it is happening…the shifters have to live with the animal inside of them. Watch out for the Vampire, even though he loves you, ladies, he wants to eat you too and he is very possibly soulless. But the dragon…I guess you could get swatted by him if he’s not careful.

Am I alone in this? Or does anyone else ADORE a really good dragon-hero in his or her paranormal romance books? And if you’ve read any really good ones, shoot their titles my way, I’m always looking for a new read.

Best,

RR

*For the record, I am talking about making the dragon the hero, not the books where the dragon carries the hero around. In that case, and I still love those books, the dragon is really a smarter version of a horse. I love horses and I love dragons in those books but that’s not what I’m talking about here.

!!My very darling husband has just e-mailed me, after reading this post, to inform me that had I read the book version of The Never Ending Story, of which I claim to have been ignorant to the existence of, I would know that he shouts out Moon Child as the Childlike Empresses' name. Thank you sweetheart. I love you!!

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Comment on Dragons: I ADORE dragons. I have a bit of a collection of dragon statues. I love reading stories with dragons in them. Dragon shifters are sexy...hehe!!!

valb0302@yahoo.com

I'd like to win Simon's Fate. I read the blurbs on your books and this one looks really intersting.

Valerie
in Germany

Rebecca Royce said...

Valerie--FYI, I will be thrilled to give you Simon's Fate if you win but it's not out yet. I don't have a release date, we just finished the edits. Would you like something else or I can hold onto your e-mail address if you win and send it when it releases...

Sandra Sookoo said...

LOL Love dragons. Have written about them twice now. They're...different than other paranormal beings.

Congrats on your success!

Book of Secrets said...

Yes, I adore dragons! I first fell in love with them (as a shifter paranormal romance hero) when I read Gena Showalter's Heart of the Dragon. I recently read Shadow of the Vampire by Meagan Hatfield which is full of sexy dragon-shifters. Great book!

Diana at Book of Secrets
bookofsecrets(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'd love a chance to win Summer's Wolf!

Anonymous said...

Hi again,

Oh!!! Well, then, the first of your Westervelt Wolves would be awesome too! That would be, Her Wolf. Aslo looks like a great story. I like the premise, that he is trapped in his wolf form. I'm interested to see how he gets out of that predicament.

Valerie
in Germany
valb0302@yahoo.com

JeanMP said...

I enjoy reading stories with dragons in them, especially the ones with the dragon turning into the hunky guy who saves the day and the girl and makes everything all right. I find that they are more intriguing.

My book choice would be "Her Wolf"
Jean
skpetal(at)hotmail(dot)com

DanielleQ.Lee said...

I like dragons. Their ancient and magical. :D

I would like to start your series, so Her Wolf.
Danielle
dlee0614@yahoo.ca

Have a wonderful day!!

Sweet Vernal Zephyr said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sweet Vernal Zephyr said...

I gobble up anything to do with dragons... and if they are shifters too? Awesome! Makes me think of some Lex Valentine novels... I think. Man my memory is shotty today!

Oh, and I was soooo in love with Jonathan Brandis from The Neverending Story (II ?)

Miranda

mdwartistry @ yahoo dot com

Yes, Captain

Cathy M said...

Love dragons as the heroes.

Cathy M

caity_mack at yahoo dot com

would love to read Summer's Wolf

Ari Thatcher said...

Can you believe it's been a year? And what a year it's been! Lets hope the next year offers twice as many releases.

SiNn said...

Iloveee dragons in books im a huge fan of dragons as main charactor sseconddary just in general even in the scenery id love them


mortalsinn@yahoo.com

Id love to read Her Wolf


cantbeleiev its beena year but a wonderful year !

Laurann Dohner said...

I love shifter stories and dragons are just... cool so I love stories with them.

I am glad it's been a great year for you!!!

LaurannLoves2write at gmail dot com

If I win I'd love to read Her wolf.

J Hali Steele said...

WHEW! wiping my brow--I'm not telling what I'm putting in the basket either. *evil grin*

And, oh, I love dragons and hope to get a tat of one soon!

LORETTA CANTON said...

I love dragons maybe because they are so big and they can fly. I really like G.A. Aiken's dragons.

lorettaC

lbcanton@verizon.net

I have all of your Wolves series so don't put me in the contest.

Rebecca Royce said...

Loretta, you can win one of my other books from The Outsiders or non-series, if you'd like!!

katsrus said...

I love dragons but; have not read a dragon book yet. I would love to read Summers Wold.
Sue B
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

The Scarf Princess said...

I love the exoticness of dragons and their magical abilities. They give extra excitement to any story.

joder

joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com

Behind the Scenes, is the book I'd like if I win.

s7anna said...

I adore dragon shifter romances...one that comes to mind is the Aisling Grey series by Katie MacAlister.

I'd love to read Her Wolf - the first in the Westervolt Wolves series in .pdf format.

*hugs*
Anna
s7anna@yahoo.ca

Rebecca Royce said...

Congratulations to Miranda. My husband picked her number out of a hat last night and she has won a copy of Yes, Captain. Her choice book. Keep commenting on our blogs to win prizes and don't forget the grand prize at the end of the month!

More from me next week!
Rebecca