Web Serial Review - Worm by Wildbow

As I may have mentioned, I write a pair of web serials, Blue Bloods and Blank. I've actually become fairly fond of the format. It means if I like a series, instead of waiting a year for a sequel I get more every week, sometimes more than once a week.

With that in mind, I've been reading a few of them. The best of the lot I've found so far is a superhero story called Worm, by Wildbow. As a quick aside, that link goes to the first chapter, not to the current one. Serious spoilers if you go to the main site, because the main site is also the current chapter, and the series is almost completed.

In the case of a normal book, that might mean there are, perhaps, fifty to one hundred fifty thousand bits of wordy goodness to read. For Worm, however, it means a lot more than that. Wildbow has been writing two chapters a week since the middle of 2011. He breaks it up into major storylines, each with a name (like 'Gestation', 'Parasite' and 'Monarch') and a number. The current storyline, which is purported to be the last, is arc number 29, "Venom". Overall each one is the length of a medium length novel.

But enough about format. If Worm were a traditional format print novel or an ebook, I'd be just as addicted to it, I'd just have to wait longer for installments. You want to know about the story!

Worm centers on Taylor Hebert, a high school girl with a secret: she has the ability to control any arthropod within a several block radius. In a world where super heroes and heroines have been around since the mid seventies, this gives her two options. She can use her powers for personal gain becoming a super villain, or she can use them to protect others and become a hero. She wants to be a heroine, but not too many people can see the heroism in calling swarms of creepy crawlies to stop bad guys, mostly because they're all shrieking and going squick.

The thing I love most about Worm is the characterization. Taylor is the target of an organized bullying campaign, and Wildbow nails it on every count. The methods of the bullies, the reactions of various bystanders, and the abortive attempts of the school administration to deal with it are all so startlingly true to life I'd almost guess Wildbow has studied his Olveus.

It's not just Taylor who gets that level of detail, though. Every character on the page is fleshed out and unique, whether it's Lung's warlord mentality, Imp's reaction to being a neglected child, Legend's constant struggle to balance work and family, or Rachel's fumbling attempts to deal with a world which mystified her before she got powers. What's even more impressive is that Wildbow even manages to put solid characterization into super-powered serial killers and a sentient AI.

Despite being a story about superheroes, Worm has less action than you might think. That said, when Wildbow does an super-action scene, he does it right. When the supers start swinging, buildings shake and shatter, Skitter's swarms fill the sky, and Grue's darkness blankets the land.

Did I mention Wildbow has some fantastic geek-culture references worked in, like the cape who can create and manipulate darkness who calls himself 'Grue'? It's the icing on the fantastic layer cake of characterization, subtle world building and action that is Worm.

Anyone who likes superheroes, action, or tales with some grit in them should give Worm a read. It's definitely worth the time. Do note that Worm is a bit on the dark side, and isn't recommended for children or folks who want to avoid possible Triggers. As Wildbow puts it, 'it's easier to list the triggers Worm doesn't have than the ones it does'.

Give it a try, let me know what you think in the comments, and I'll see you next month!

EDIT - As noted in the review, the actual title of the web series is 'Worm'. bit of a faux pas to name the character rather than the book in the title, I know. Sorry about that!

Cover Me

The new blog admin suggested that I write a post on doing my own covers. My policy on that is that a prudent person doesn't say no to the boss without cause, which I don't have.

So, first a tiny bit of personal bio. I started out with brush and canvas as a hobby then moved into computer assisted graphic arts when I began illustrating Seasons of the Witch calendars and planners in 2000, which I still do, by the way.

Everything you've ever heard about the importance of cover is true.

In July of 2012, I met Mark Coker, founder and CEO of Smashwords, at the RWA convention in L.A. He showed how a book that was practiclly lying dormant spiked way up on the charts after being pulled and reintroduced with a sexy, shady new cover. Nothing about the book had changed. Just the cover. That made a huge impression on me.

I think the latest research shows that we have something like seven seconds (max) to capture a potential reader's attention. So, does cover count? Oh, yeah.

When I'm designing a new cover, I test it visually for a range of different factors including how well it stands out as a thumb nail. You know the Amazon best seller and also-bought lists? It's important that my cover draw the eye and that's not usually a problem.

For other authors, I do subscribe to the branding approach to covers. If you can find one cover artist and stay with them it would be good, because a consistent look promotes your brand as a writer.

As it turns out, my readers like my covers as a rule. In fact signed prints of the covers are popular prizes for giveaways.

What's next?

On December 8th, the box set of Books 1-6, of the serial saga, The Order of the Black Swan, will release at limited, introductory pricing. It will be available for preorder on B&N, Apple, and Smashwords by mid November. The set will include previously unreleased BOOK SIX.

 

 

Seasons of the Witch can be found at http://www.7th-house.com

 

 

Victoria Danann

WEBSITE: http://www.VictoriaDanann.com

BLOG: http://VictoriaDanann.me

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/vdanann  

TWITTER: @vdanann

Best-selling ROMANCE with Paranormal, Sci-fi, and Fantasy Flair.

 

Halloween Curses and Samhain Ménages

I love this time of year, it gets cooler, the air is crisper, it's sweater time and the perfect excuse to indulge in hot tea or hot chocolate. Other than have apple and pumpkin tastes everywhere it's a wonderful time of year. Don't get me wrong, I love apples and pumpkins are awesome but sometimes it can be much. Of course stores don’t care that it's Halloween/Samhain time, they've already moved onto to Thanksgiving and Christmas if they already haven't. As much as I love this time of year where there seems to be magic in the air, I only have two Halloween/Samhain oriented stories. I really would love to write more of them. There's something so mysterious and enchanting and yet there are shadows and a haunting sense that there something more in the atmosphere. Why wouldn't you get inspired? And there's also that naughtiness right around the corner when you add in candy and costumes.  

Here are my additions to the season. Have a Happy and Safe Halloween/Samhain but don't forget to add in the sexy and naughty. 

Lonely No More is my first and only Ghost story. It was difficult to write there was so much to consider. I'm not sure if I'd write another Ghost story but I'd love to give it a try if the right plot bunny came hopping along. 

Lonely No More 

Excerpt Rating (PG-13): Could She? 

Blurb: 

Five years ago on Halloween, author William Moore carelessly broke up with a witch. Needless to say, she didn't take it well. Cursed to a lonely non-life as a ghost, trapped in his own home, he never expected to do more than exist in the world his ex had created. Except now he's got a new roommate in the form of fellow author, Alyssa Washington, and he doesn’t anticipate his strong attraction to her. As their simmering emotion sparks life within, he yearns to become mortal once again. 

Can his newfound feelings give him what he wishes for most? 

Buy Links: 

Publisher Link   ARe 

Excerpt: 

“So what’s up? What’s with all the questions all of sudden? Normally we talk about your latest masterpiece, business, and my lack of a love life while eating, and then we part ways.” 

William shrugged. He didn’t know why he wanted to know all these things. Normally, he had no interest in anything but himself. If he were honest, his encounter with the woman earlier left him craving some sort of human contact; a reintroduction to being a social creature, if you will. He had sensed the same loneliness in her that had gnawed at him his whole life. If it weren’t for Deacon he would truly be alone. “I don’t know. Something about that woman calls to me,” William said softly. 

“How so?” 

“I guess I see a bit of my loneliness in her. Things have become so monotonous. Write, scare people, write some more, not eat dinner with you, then go back to write or watch TV. That’s my day in a nutshell. The days just blend together. She’s like me, at least, I think she’s like me.” 

“You like her,” Deacon teased. 

“I never said that,” William said defensively. 

“You’re attracted to her.” 

William crossed his arms over his chest. “I am not.” 

“Look at you. You’re attracted to her and acting like you’re five.” Deacon laughed. 

“I don’t even know her and I’m not acting like I’m five.” 

“Yeah, but you said she calls to you,” Deacon teased again. 

“Shut up. So how are things in the banking world?” William asked, trying to change the subject. 

“Same as they were the last time you asked. So, what are you working on?” 

“I’m struggling. I need a sounding board. I’m not sure how this book is going. I like the storyline but it’s very different from what I usually write.” 

“Do you want me to read it? I could read it but I’m not sure if I could help,” Deacon pointed out. 

“Thanks, but I know you’re busy. Sometimes, I read it over and I start thinking the premise is horrible. That maybe it reads like porn,” William said, disgusted. 

“Maybe this woman came at the right time. Maybe she’ll give you some of the insight you need.” 

“I don’t know. I have to figure out how to interact with her first.” 

Deacon shrugged. “Very true.” 

William sighed. “I’m going back up to work on the story some more. I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

“And I’ll clean up. Good luck with the book.” 

“Thanks.” William pushed back his chair and walked away. 

Six hours and many starts and stops later, William gave up. He just wasn’t sure what he was doing or if it was any good. He went to his bedroom, shut the door, undressed, got into bed and flicked on the TV. He zoned out after five minutes, his thoughts drifting to his soon-to-be roommate. Deacon’s words echoed around his head. Could it be? Can she help me? 

This next offering is from my Dragon New Year series. It's a mini story that fulfills Carissa's fantasy that was mentioned in Dragon Ugly. I loved bringing back the pairing of Brent and Carissa and Fletch. Take a sneak peek. 

Excerpt Rating (PG-13),   

Blurb:  

It’s Samhain and Brent wants to fulfill Carissa’s fantasy of sex in a bookshop while it’s open. With help from Fletch he’s going to make it a hot, steamy night she’ll never forget.  

Carissa only wanted to spend more time with her mate she didn’t know what to expect when they arrived in the mountains to visit his parents. After dressing her as a French maid, him as Highway man and their friend Fletch as Zorro, she’s pretty sure that he’s taken her fantasy to a whole new level.  

Samhain has always been a magical time, now it’s about to get a whole lot hotter.  

Author Note: This story comes after Dragon Ugly.  

  

Buy Links:  

ARe    Amazon   Barnes & Noble 

Excerpt:    

Carissa’s heart thudded against her ribcage as she allowed Brent to guide her past the shops declaring Halloween and Samhain sales and discounts. Children dressed up in various costumes rushed past them, chased by harried parents. None of that really registered. Brent’s solid, roughened palm against hers, the heat rolling off his body in waves, the aura of sexual determination and arousal coming from him wrapped around her. Her own desire pulsed between her thighs; her nipples tightened and ached for his touch. He’d dressed her tonight in a sleeveless French maid costume with crotchless panties and no bra. Cool night air brushed against her overheated sex, teasing her throbbing clit.  

Fletch trailed behind them in a Zorro costume, complete with cape and mask. Brent had decided that the Highwayman costume was more to his liking, complete with a cape and mask of his own. Both men looked dashing and dangerous. A thrill raced down her spine as she glanced back at Fletch, who’d decided to go the scruffy route with a bit a coppery colored beard on his jaw. Brent’s darker five o’clock shadow made him look just as fierce. He had insisted that during the fantasy her wrists would be bound behind her back and she would be blindfolded so she wouldn’t know who was doing what. Carissa hadn’t thought that far for her fantasy, all she’d known was she wanted to fuck in a bookstore. Brent had taken it to a whole new level.  

She’d even overheard them talking of using nipple clamps to help increase her pleasure. None of that mattered as much as being with the man she loved, her mate. Her wolf was just happy for a change in scenery. At the end of the night, when the clock struck Midnight, they would all shift, Brent and Fletch into dragons and Carissa into a wolf. According to Brent’s parents, it was a way to welcome Samhain in your purest form. New place to explore, and a new experience to add to the ones that Brent had brought into her once boring life.  

They continued on down the block, passing more kids and parents and dodging late night drunks who were leaning on each other for support as they walked down the sidewalk. The air was filled with softness and anticipation, as if the world was holding its breath for the Witch’s New Year, when the veil between man and the dead was the thinnest. Or in this case, when the veil between mortals and the paranormal blended together to become one.  

Tension shivered along her muscles as her arousal and excitement blended together. She hid her eagerness to act out this fantasy and move on to the next. Brent led the way, and she rushed to catch up with him.  

“Whoa there, lover,” Carissa called out. “We have time, there’s no rush.”  

“He’s just impatient,” Fletch said as he caught up. “Slow down man, I don’t want to look suspicious to the cops.” He nodded his head toward a man dressed as a British Bobby.  

Brent grumbled something that Carissa didn’t catch, but she was relieved when he slowed his pace to a relaxed walk. Her muscles ached as she matched his speed. They had been walking over uneven cobblestone, up and down hills, for the last half hour.  

“Trying to get me to lose five pounds?” she teased, knowing that wasn’t the case.  

“You know I love your curves, honey.” Brent leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Sorry for the rush, just wanted to get there as fast as possible in case they changed their mind.”  

Fletch laughed. “Fat chance of that, they’ve done this type of thing before. Tor arranged for it last month when he brought Louisa with him on a visit to his parents. So no worries.”  

Carissa didn’t comment, she just kept walking. At least she knew that this would be a safe place to fulfill this type of fantasy.  

New Contributor Onboard

You may have caught previous posts by other new contributors introducing themselves, so I thought I’d take their leads and do the same. I’m excited about participating with such a diverse and interesting group of writers on Paranormal Romantics.

I write as Mimi Sebastian, but my real name is Noemi Ghirghi. Mimi is actually my childhood nickname, and Sebastian came from a place we used to fish when I was a kid growing up in Florida called Sebastian Inlet on the Atlantic Coast. I spent some great times with family fishing and camping on the coast and definitely miss the ocean. I spent entire days with my brother floating on a raft out past the breaking waves, and now I live in the desert. Not sure how that happened, but here I am in Phoenix, Arizona with my family, working my day job in addition to juggling this writing gig.

Before coming to Phoenix, I lived and worked in Brazil, and before that, I served in the Peace Corps in West Africa. I love immersing myself in other cultures. It’s an amazing world with amazing people. I often include little tidbits from my travels in my stories. A short story that I’m going to release this month, based off my Necromancer Series, is set in Brazil where I worked. The story, titled The Werewolf’s Devotion, focuses on one of the minor characters, a werewolf named Brandon.

I’m pretty much a geek, and aside from coffee, have a serious addiction to movies, fantasy, sci fi, comics, and the paranormal. I have always loved a good atmospheric horror story or movie. Before cable tv, I used to watch these crazy horror movies on Saturday mornings after the cartoons on the local non-network channels. I’d close myself off in our guest room and watch them while gnawing on my fingernails.

I’m drawn to the paranormal because we know very little about our world, and maybe I watched too much Scooby Doo and read too much Nancy Drew, yet we’ve only scratched the surface of understanding about this planet and the greater universe. Animals have senses that we don’t have and can see the world differently. (I have this fantastic Amazon parrot and she has this sixth sense about things.) Mysteries about our planet are fascinating. (Remember In Search Of??? Leonard Nimoy!!) What are UFOs? What are ghosts? What do these mysteries tell us about our world? These questions inform much of my writing.

Since I can remember, as a kid, I always wrote in journals, wrote short stories, and always had movies playing out in my head. I guess it was inevitable that I’d eventually write out one of those stories and that it would involve the paranormal. I didn’t think I’d write about a necromancer, but as Ruby, the necromancer, spoke to me, I found her and her power intriguing. Her power almost has a mind of its own and influences her in negative ways. And there are definitely limits set, lines that a necromancer should never cross, because it warps them, so it’s fun to explore what happens to her when she crosses those lines. In my mythology, without giving too much away, necromancers were born from the interference of the demons in the human realm and have the ability to reanimate the dead, create zombies and revenants.

In addition to demons, witches, and zombies, the series also involves vampires. I wanted to include them because they form part of that greater mystery, that creepiness, but also represent dangerous passion. Look at how Bram Stoker wrote Dracula, Bela Lugosi’s portrayal, and Anne Rice’s Lestat. (I also love the original Fright Night movie!! Chris Sarandon is awesome as the vampire Jerry Dandrige.) They were dangerously attractive to both their male and female victims. I don’t like how some modern interpretations have stripped them of this primal passion, which stems a lot from the blood drinking, stealing that vital life force. When you take away the blood drinking, you take away part of what makes a vampire dangerous and primal.

However, I don’t write only paranormal. In between the necromancer books, I’m trying to fit in a pirate historical, titled Devil’s Island. I can’t wait to get it out because it was such fun to write. In addition to watching scary movies, I also loved the Errol Flynn and Tyrone Powers pirate movies, which spurred my imagination for romantic adventure. The more I read about pirates, the more intriguing they become. They were the rebels of their age, and I tried to bring that out in Devil’s Island.

So that’s me in a nutshell, I guess :). Oh, I’m also a Romance Writers of America member, belong to the local Desert Rose chapter, and the Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal chapter. Thanks for spending these few moments with me and I look forward to engaging with this great group of writers and with readers who stop by!

From the Archives: Broom Lore: How much do you know about your broom?

Veronica Scott sez: We thought you might enjoy this post from our archives!

With Halloween just around the corner, I thought I'd share some interesting broom lore. Some of the lore I've heard of, and some are new to me.

• Two brooms crossed and hung on a wall or nailed to a door, or a broom placed on the ground by the main door is a sign of protection. 
• Brooms should be placed bristle up, not only to help them last longer, but also for good luck. 
• People place brooms outside their main door to ward off evil. 
• Placing a small broom under your pillow will keep away nightmares. 
• Yorkshire belief states that if a young girl accidentally steps over a broom handle, she will become a mother before a wife. 
• If you drop a broom, you will have company. (I've heard this for dropping cutlery, too.) 
• To bring rain, stand outside and swing a broom around your head. 
• It is bad luck to loan your broom to anyone, even friends. 
• If you place a broom on the floor with guests over, it indicates they have been there long enough. Yet if you sweep right after they leave, it will bring them back. 
• It is bad luck to move a broom. A new house requires a new broom. 

Do you know of any other broom lore, or wives tales that I've missed??

"Indeed, most magicians catch the bug as kids. My first audience was my family in Long Island. My first 'assistant' was my mother, whom I levitated on a broom in our living room."
Criss Angel 

"A new broom sweeps clean, but the old broom knows the corners” Old Irish Saying Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I always go all-out with my costumes. Ginnifer Goodwin (Snow on Once Upon A Time)

Author Bio:

Jessica Subject started writing to encourage her daughter to read. Now she writes to keep herself grounded. Although she reads many genres, she enjoys writing Science Fiction Romance the most and believes everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after. She lives Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids and loves to hear from anyone who has enjoyed her stories.

Website/Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Amazon

Mapping Imaginary Worlds

by Jeffe Kennedy

This is a map that I drew for my upcoming Twelve Kingdoms trilogy. It's on my mind because I just returned from a conference that my editor for this trilogy (Peter Senftleben, Kensington Press) also attended. Not only dig he take me and the hubs out for an amazing seafood dinner, but he also told me they want to include the map in the books.

So very, very cool!

It's funny because, whenever I mention that I had to draw this map - at Peter's request, because it was in my head, but apparently no one can see inside there - people get all excited. And then they tell me the first book they ever read with a map in it. Most of the time it's either Tolkien or Anne McCaffrey. But they all - readers, writers, agents, editors alike - get this gleeful look in their eyes, talking about their first "map books."

What is it about those maps? Because, oh yes, I absolutely spent my time poring over the maps of Pern, Middle Earth, and Terre d'Ange. Clearly I still do, as you'll note the Jacqueline Carey's world was not part of my youthful reading. There was something magical about studying a map of an imaginary world that made it more real. It seemed somehow, that if I could follow a Rand McNally road map from Colorado to New Mexico, then surely I could travel from my world to theirs. It's as if the map provides a gateway, portal to entering that world the book offers.

What do you all think - what was your first "map book"? What makes those maps so magical?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jeffe Kennedy is an award-winning author with a writing career that spans decades. Her fantasy BDSM romance, Petals and Thorns, originally published under the pen name Jennifer Paris, has won several reader awards. Sapphire, the first book in Facets of Passion has placed first in multiple romance contests and the follow-up books, Platinum and Ruby, are climbing the charts, with Five Golden Rings coming out in November. Her most recent works include three fiction series: the fantasy romance novels of A Covenant of Thorns, the contemporary BDSM novellas of the Facets of Passion, and the post-apocalyptic vampire erotica of the Blood Currency. The first book in Covenant of Thorns, Rogue’s Pawn, has won numerous awards and the highly anticipated sequel, Rogue’s Possession, just released. She is currently working on Master of the Opera and The Twelve Kingdoms, a fantasy trilogy.


Jeffe lives in Santa Fe, with two Maine coon cats, a border collie, plentiful free-range lizards and a Doctor of Oriental Medicine. Jeffe can be found online at her website: JeffeKennedy.com or every Sunday at the popular Word Whores blog.

She is represented by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg of Foreword Literary.