Guest Blogger, Hywela Lyn - Romance That's 'Out Of This World'...

As the title says ... 'Romance That’s ‘Out Of This World’ - that’s what I love writing – romance set on or in another world, sometimes a different planet, sometimes the vastness of space, and sometimes a world that might be our own, but in the future, or the distant past. The phrase was coined for me by fellow author, Cindy Spencer Pape,  some time ago, and I’ve used it ever since as my ‘tagline’. 

I suppose all writers find themselves ‘out of this world’ in a way, by the very process of writing. One creates characters, places and situations which might be similar to our own, in a familiar location and a contemporary setting or, conversely, completely different, in another age and surroundings we’ve never actually seen in ‘real life’. While we are writing, however, we ‘live' in that other world. experiencing its influence on our characters as we live, suffer and love with them.

My first attempts at ’serious’ writing as a teenager, were westerns, a way of transporting myself back into the world of the Old West, which fascinated me, not least, because I am a passionate horselover and, strong, goodlooking cowboys and their beautiful, faithful horses were a way to indulge my fantasies. As I matured, I realised there was more to it than horses and hunky cowboys, however. Brave men and women in an untamed land, working with nature and often having to fight to survive. Unknown dangers and undiscovered wonders, the exploration of a new frontier, all these combine to make up the romance that is the Old West of countless books and films.

So why do I write fantasy and futuristic if I’m so fond of the western genre? I hear you ask. Good question. The night sky has always fascinated me, all those stars, each one a sun, circled by its own planets. What would it be like to travel the stars and explore new worlds? What is life like on other planets? (I can’t believe that none of all those myriad stars out there don’t have planets that support life – beings who live – and love – as we do.) The concept of exploring space is pretty much the same as the opening up of the West. Explorers setting out on a journey into the unknown and facing dangers never before encountered, and occasionally being rewarded by something amazing that makes it worth all the risks. For me there is something inherently romantic about  this.

Romance. That’s the ‘keyword’, isn’t it? It took me a while to realise that every story I wrote had a strong love interest that was the core of the story. I’d never specifically thought of myself as a ‘romance writer’ but as soon as I admitted it to myself, I realised the truth of it. I’m at heart a ‘romantic’, therefore it’s only logical that I write romances, be they of this world or other, purely imaginary ones!

Even imaginary worlds have to be logical though, and based in reality.  However amazing or weird they are, they must seem to the reader to be possible, or she will throw the book down and read something less ‘far fetched.’  Many of my futuristic worlds are inspired by places I’ve actually seen, usually in my beloved Wales.  For instance, I incorporated several Welsh myths and legends in my story for the ‘Song of The Muses’ anthology ‘Dancing With Fate’, set against a background of the Welsh Mountains where I spent most of my life.

In ‘Starquest’ I have a scene on the snowy planet of Niflheim (itself based on Scandinavian landscapes and mythology) with mist drifting  across the mountains and  falling as pink snow.  This was based on an actual incident in Wales where I looked across at the hills from my home, and saw what I thought was  the mist rolling in and then realized it was not mist but drifting snow.  I’d read somewhere a long time ago, that in some parts of the world, minute plant forms drift down with snowflakes and turn it pink or green, and so my planet with pink snow was born.

Niflheim, planet of telepaths, takes up only a small part of the original story in ‘Starquest’ , but I became fond of the misty world and her people, especially Tamarith, who becomes a good friend of the heroine, and I ended up writing a sequel, entitled Children Of The Mist, which is mainly set on Niflheim and takes place about six years after the first book ends.

I really enjoyed writing both these books.  Starquest is that cliche ‘the book of my heart’ and I had such fun writing Children Of The Mist and learning more about the beautiful, misty planet of Niflheim.   Surprising what can spring from something as simple as watching the weather over the mountains!

Here’s the blurb and a short excerpt: from 'Children Of The Mist'

Two minds united against a common foe. Two hearts afraid to show their love: Long ago Tamarith fell in love with a man she can never have, and is convinced she will never love another. However, she cannot help but be intrigued by a handsome stranger whose psychic powers exceed even her own. Vidarh seeks only to find his true purpose in life and to win the regard of his father, who eschews his son’s psychic abilities.

Thrown together by a common threat to their planet, then torn apart by an evil greater than any they could have imagined, can Vidarh save the lovely Nifl woman who has captivated him, before it is too late? Will Tamarith and Vidarh overcome the deadly enemy who threatens to destroy all they know and love?

Will they find the happiness they both seek? Or are they fated to live their lives alone?

***

EXCERPT:

Tamarith stopped and gazed for a moment  across the water. The G-type sun, now fully risen,  caused the lake to shimmer like a veil of golden silk, with scarcely a ripple disturbing its calm. The  pastel-colored walls of the graceful buildings on the  shore reflected the glow of both suns. In the distance, the mountains encircling the settlement  reached high into the cerulean sky. The swirling  mist that hid their summits was as much a part of  Niflheim as the earth upon which she and Vidarh  stood.

She sensed his mind discreetly touch hers and realized he was staring at her keenly. She turned  back to face him, returning his questioning glance and studying him in turn.  Taller than average, and broad-shouldered,  today he wore a sleeveless, belted leather shirt over thick breeches, with long,  icecat-wool lined boots.  His upper arms were well muscled, his skin tanned as if he were used to working outdoors. His curly,  dark auburn hair, kept away from his face with a plain leather band, reached almost to his shoulders.It caught the sun’s rays and gleamed like the polished dark red wood of the trees that flanked the feet of the mountains.

She took in his clear, hazel eyes, with their  friendly twinkle, the long, straight nose, strong jaw  line and smiling mouth. He would have been  fighting off the local unattached young women if the  situation they found themselves in were not so  serious.  Not that she was particularly interested in his looks, or those of any other man, for that matter.

No, something else about Vidarh of Ragnak excited her curiosity.

  

If you’d like to find out more about my books, you can do so by visiting any of  my sites 

or you can email me at Hywelalyn@hywelalyn.co.uk

My WEBSITE  is http://www.hywelalyn.co.uk
I also contribute to several blogs, including my own, hywelalyn.blogspot.com
My books can be purchased HERE

where you can also download my fantasy short story 'A Bargain With Death' for free. It's set in mediaeval England and is much lighter than it sounds.

If Only...

Many people are closet writers. Some could be published authors—if only. If only I had more time. If only I knew the right people. If only I didn’t have to keep my day job. If only I had no kids underfoot. If only I didn’t have to care for my ill parents. If only…

If you have a dream (it doesn’t have to be writing), write an If Only list. Now look closely at each item on that list. I guarantee that for every item on the list, you can find an example of someone with more If Only’s who succeeded at your dream. Paraplegics have climbed mountains and run marathons. A single mother with twelve children wrote a bestseller. A man who worked two jobs and wrote only during his lunch break completed seven novels. If they did it, so can you.

So what’s really stopping you? Most of the time, it’s not your circumstances, it’s fear. Fear of rejection, fear of success, fear of change, fear of what others might say… Spend some time identifying the fear (or fears) holding you back. Those are your REAL If Only’s. Put them on your list.

You can find ways to reach your dreams. But you have to be willing to face your REAL If Only’s first.

For me, keeping my dreams alive while raising five children and holding down a full and a part time job seemed impossible, but I did what I could. I wrote magazine articles after they were in bed at night. I’ve now had more than 850 magazine and educational articles published. It took me almost twenty years to get my first book published, but I held onto that dream and kept working. On May 22 this year, that work bore fruit. Two books from two different publishers came out on the same day!

Now If Only I could figure out this marketing stuff…

I'm giving away a copy of Summer Lovin' to one commenter on this blog. See the excerpt and blurb below. Check back on Wednesday, June 3 after noon to see who won. If only you all could win...

Laurie J. Edwards is the author of “Summer Storms” in the anthology Summer Lovin’ from The Wild Rose Press and Rihanna (People in the News) from Lucent. She is a regular contributor to educational and business publications and is a freelance editor for both fiction and non-fiction publishers. Find out more about her at http://lje1.wordpress.com/ and http://twrpclimbingrose.blogspot.com/. If you are interested in contacting her for freelancing editing, she can be reached at LaurieJEdwards at gmail dot com.

BLURB:

SUMMER LOVIN’ is a collection of love stories by six Climbing Rose authors about life on a ranch, summer jobs, sandcastle competitions, the tragedy of a flood, and falling in love with a rock star. My story in the anthology is "Summer Storms": Sixteen-year-old Paige nearly drowns trying to rescue a Pomeranian trapped in floodwaters that sweep through her town. Chase, the hottie who saves her, wants to help her and her mother, but Paige won’t accept charity. And can she risk him unmasking the family secret she’s kept hidden?

EXCERPT (Paige and her mother are trying to escape the flood sweeping through town. Waves have just smashed the branches of an uprooted tree through their window):

Picking her way over the broken glass, Paige lunged for the uprooted tree. Icy water soaked her sneakers and jeans. The suitcase banged against the trunk and almost slid from her grasp. Her fingers raked down the rough bark, tearing her palms. The tree bobbed up and down as water assaulted it.

Paige climbed on and wrapped one arm around an upright branch. Staying seated was like riding a bucking bronco. She wedged the suitcase between two branches and then leaned forward to extend a hand to Mama, who was scrambling for balance.

As she got Mama situated, another wave rocked the tree. The suitcase slid. Before Paige could grab it, it plunged into the water below. What had they lost? Her mind was a blur. But Mama was safe. That was the important thing.

She wrested the other suitcase from Mama’s grip and slid the handle over an upright tree branch. Mama clung to another branch as the tree shuddered. As long as the tree didn’t roll, they could float to safety. She hoped.

Wood cracked and splintered. Only a bit more and the branch would break free. Then they’d be at the mercy of the river.

A tiny yip caused Paige to turn. A Pomeranian paddled furiously in the sludge between their house and the one next door. Its fur slicked tight to its head, the dog panted as it struggled to keep its head above water. The tree had dammed the floodwaters between the buildings, but once the dog reached the rushing water, it would be doomed.

Paige clutched the branch with one hand and leaned back until her muscles screamed in agony. The dog struggled closer, but she couldn’t reach it. She gripped the trunk between her legs and let go of the branch. Still, the gap was too great.

Mama screamed, “No, Paige, no!”

But Paige ignored her. She inched backward and reached for the dog. With a great rending sound, the branch holding the tree in place tore free of its mooring. And with a sucking sound, the tree shot into the raging current.