Life with Wings

It’s no secret I love writing winged creatures, angels being my current winged thing. Thinking how they might use these extra limbs as part of their everyday lives, what movements would be natural to them, what kinds of gestures and phrases would come from owning a pair of them launched some very interesting side trips into creativity.

Evangelos is my angel in Embracing Eternity, and his wings sparked an unplanned nervous habit. When he’s tense, he preens. It’s an interesting visual, this beautiful creature, a bit off-balance, trying to get himself centered, so he pulls one of his wings forward, curving it around his body, and he begins tending his feathers. I can see him stroking them, one at a time, in long even movements, letting the details of getting them just so focus him on the moment at hand.

I can see preening as an intimate act between angels, something lovers would do for each other, but poor Evan is alone. Something that would normally promote loving atmosphere is instead something he has to do for himself, a temporary fix that might force his nervousness back, but not really eliminate it.

The addition of wings definitely added a special dynamic to Evan’s scenes and gave me a chance to show his vulnerable side.

What kind of mannerisms might you have if wings were a part of your everyday life? Tell me and you can win a copy of Embracing Eternity, the third book in the Heavenly Lovers series, available November 2 from Ellora's cave publishing. 

Evangelos has loved Philomela since before time began. He’s dreamed of having her in his arms and his bed. But she never once looked his way. Instead, she chose a Fall that transformed her into a monstrous creature. He never forgot the one he loved, and he’s determined to bring her back home.

Cut off from the power that fed them, Meela and the other Fallen angels became demons, thriving on vice and preying on Creation. Hell holds too much pain and Meela wants nothing more than to give in to the temptation Evan offers. But a demon has no place in the arms of an angel.

Meela knows Evan’s determination to save her will be his downfall, because Lucifer wants to feast on the power of angels—and she’s the perfect bait.

Miss the first two books? Risking Eternity and Forsaking Eternity are available in a single print volume. Heavenly Eternity, available November 2 from Ellora's Cave Publishing.

Voirey Linger

Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | Ellora's Cave

What's so sexy about angels?

I'll be the first to admit that angels, God and heaven aren't usually what you'll see in erotic romances. But I've never been good at paying attention to rules, so when I sat down to write, I jumped right into the middle of all those no-nos.

There is an unwritten rule that angels have to be kinda bad boys and demons have to really be the misunderstood good guys when it comes to angel stories. There should be a distinct divide between the angel and any real hints of heaven and hell, and if heaven or hell is mentioned, it's not like we humans think it is.

Yeah, I missed those rules too.

Here's the thing, I love the stark and unmistakable dynamic of good against evil. There is no mistaking what is bad and what is good in my stories. The teams and field of play are clearly defined. It's everything else that gets confusing.

Enter the fallible character, the angel forced to test the boundaries, throw away the rulebook and fight for what he knows in his heart is right, even when everyone around him is telling him he's wrong.

To me, this is when things really get interesting. Just because the heroes are angels doesn't mean they are perfect. Their uncertainty, the struggle to find their way out of a confusing situation and possible repercussions that are far worse than just dying bring the tension up and make my brain go into overdrive.

But why angels and demons?

It probably has a lot to do with a very religious upbringing. I learned to read by following congregational songs in the hymnal, and I'm pretty sure I was reciting Bible verses before I knew my alphabet. But as I grew up, I also learned to question what I was told was right and wrong. Once I was old enough to reason things out, I was encouraged to think for myself instead of blindly following what someone else told me was right.

I value that lesson more than any other. It's one thing to know the legalities of right and wrong, another entirely to understand the morality that makes something truly good or evil.

In the end, that is the lesson I most wanted my angels and demons to learn. Something isn't right or because someone else says it is, or because you can get away with it. It's right because it at its core pure and generous, with no greater purpose than to make the world a better place for someone else.

Are you an angel fan? I'd love to hear what you like about them.


The third book in my Heavenly Lovers series is coming soon from Ellora's Cave. Watch for it!

 

Voirey