Tes Hilaire | Prince of Darkness
December 12, 2013
I can't believe it's already been over a week since PRINCE OF SHADOWS came out!
I always get so excited during this first month. My blog tour is taking off,
the reviews are pouring in, and I can't contain the excitement I feel whenever I
walk into a bookstore to see that they actually have my book on the shelf!
Squee! Three books into the Paladin series now and it all still seems so surreal. You know what else is surreal? Hearing others talk about my book. I mean, it's
been such a personal part of my life for so long now, from conception, to first
drafts, to rewrites, to page proofs, that it seems both weird and exciting to
see my "baby" out there in the world. One of the things I always find astounding
when I read little snippets of reviews is commentary on my world build. Words
like creative, vivid, fresh, interesting are often repeated. And I think, huh,
really? That's cool, because in the very beginning, back at its inception, I did
not actually set out to create a vivid paranormal world. I set out to write a
love story. The world was secondary, and something that arose out of necessity
rather than excruciating planning. Not that research and planning wasn't involved. When I sat down to write the
first book, DELIVER ME FROM
DARKNESS, I had no idea that my main character was a Paladin. I knew he was
a vampire, that he hadn't always been so, and that he considered the state a
curse rather than a blessing. I also knew that he once fought against such
creatures. But it wasn't until I'd written the first few chapters—with the
unknowns of his history nagging at me the entire time—that I really got
series about building my world. I won't go into the boring details, but a good
dollop of research, a little imagination to make my chosen mythology my own, and
VIOLA! I had the basis of my mythos. Better yet, I knew I'd gotten it right when
the story started flowing, my characters' lives unfolding on each page without
too much angst (on my part, not theirs...this is a romance, after all, and I do
so love to torture my protagonists before they can have their HEA). What came next was the harder part: writing the second, and then the third,
novel. That overactive imagination which was so vital in creating my paranormal
world now became a detriment. Each new protagonist and side character that I
incorporated into my novels needed their own story. Something unique and
original that would make them stand out just as much as Roland and Karissa did
in Deliver Me from Darkness. I kept on coming up with new ideas, thinking "oh
wouldn't it be cool if," and "I want to incorporate that myth too." New fresh
ideas area always great, right? Well, maybe... as long as it fits upon the
foundation you've built already. Balancing the core of the paranormal world I
had already created with my overactive imagination became my greatest challenge. A good rule of thumb I've learned to know if I've hit that balance is that if it
feels right, the pages flowing seamlessly, then probably on the right track.
It's when things begin to bog down, the story feeling more like a jigsaw puzzle
than anything else, that I have to wonder what I'm doing wrong. A good example
of this is my protagonist in book two. Jessica, from DELIVER ME FROM TEMPTATION,
as a werewolf just didn't fit. When I think about those couple of chapters I
tried to write (try being the optimal word) with her as a were, I practically
collapse in fits of laughter. How silly, and how "not right." I'm not saying
there will never be a were-like creature in my novels, but the traditional
werewolf mythology is not a good fit for the mythology I've established. Not to
mention that Jessica was not the protagonist to try to force the myth on. Her
story was a totally different story than what would have been required if she'd
had such a paranormal heritage. And Logan's story would also have been hurt
because of it. The steam of all his fears was losing his mate. And to fully
achieve the true depths of his fear, and the eventual moment when he overcame
them, he needed a human mate. Not someone with supernatural powers or even
longevity. Book three, PPRINCE OF
SHADOWS, was a much easier world to write. Both my protagonist had already
had their histories ironed out when I wrote Deliver Me from Darkness, and the
groundwork for many of my secondary characters had grown throughout the series.
The greatest challenge I had was nurturing those seedlings of ideas I'd planted
in the first couple novels, and revealing some of the story arcs that I had been
toying with since the beginning in an organic way. If you head over to my website, I'd like to treat you all to a deleted scene,
that although did fit into my mythos, did not make it into the actual book. It
was a good scene, but a bit too dark for the opening. Not to mention that I was
able to reveal the information throughout other ways in the novel that kept the
focus on Valin and Gabby and their love story. I hope you enjoy it! And
remember...stay out of the shadows! Best, Tes Hilaire PRINCE OF SHADOWS BY
TES HILAIRE - IN STORES DECEMBER 2013It's Forbidden for a Warrior of the Light to Love a Creature of the Dark... Valin has never quite fit in with the rest of the Paladin warriors. His power to
manipulate shadow has always put him at odds with their purpose of using
heavenly Light to eradicate evil. His warrior brothers have no idea how close he
is to being lost to his dark nature. But Maybe He Was Never All That Light to Begin With... When Valin meets the vampire Gabriella, she awakens within him something he
thought long buried. But as he watched Gabriella's need for vengeance to drag
her down into the same dark hell that he's living, he knows his only chance at
redemption is bringing her out of the dark... ABOUT THE AUTHORDaphne Award-winning author and former Tennessee native Tes Hilaire doesn't
remember how old she was when she wrote her first story, but she's pretty sure
it had something to do with a boy and a girl and a happily ever after.
Displaced at an early age to "the north country," her stories turned darker as
she started creating whole new worlds to escape the harsh, upstate NY winters.
Now back in the South, her stories remain edgy, exciting, and bring a hint of
dark fantasy to paranormal romance. Best of all, no one ever has to shovel snow.
For more, visit her
website, follow her on Twitter,@TesHilaire, and find her on Facebook.
Comments
20 comments posted.
Re: Tes Hilaire | Prince of Darkness
sounds really good thanks so much for the chance to win (Denise Smith 12:10pm December 12, 2013)
Love the sound of this thank you (Chris Lewis 3:53am December 12, 2013)
Ooooh! This sounds very good! Thanks so much for the contest! (Linda Townsend 7:11am December 12, 2013)
Oh WOW love that cover and love paranormal romances!!!! This one is on my list!!!! (Bonnie Capuano 7:49am December 12, 2013)
After reading your posting, I can see how much thought, care, and heart you've put into your books. I've yet to read a Paranormal Romance, but will have to give your books a try. The cover looks very inviting, too!! They did a great job on it, which is going to get you some new readers. Congratulations on your book, and have a great Holiday!! (Peggy Roberson 9:50am December 12, 2013)
Congrats on the new release! I hope to get the chance to read it. :-D (Karin Anderson 11:21am December 12, 2013)
Hello all! Thanks so much for stopping in and checking out the Paladin Warriors! I'm so excited to share them with you, and, like Peggy and Bonnie, doubly excited about the awesome cover. He is hot, isn't he?
I'll be stopping by a few times today to answer any questions, talk books, and just say Hi to all you awesome readers. Thanks so much for keeping me company!
Best, Tes Hilaire (Tes Hilaire 11:24am December 12, 2013)
This sounds like a bookI would enjoy during the winter months. (Victoria Kondovski 11:28am December 12, 2013)
You are a new name for me... going to visit your website... thanks for sharing! (Colleen Conklin 12:12pm December 12, 2013)
The book sounds great and thanks for the contest! (Dee Rossler 12:38pm December 12, 2013)
Sounds great! Thanks for the chance to win! (Michelle Schafer 3:07pm December 12, 2013)
Thanks for the giveaway. Would love to win your book. (Yaritza Santana 5:33pm December 12, 2013)
Sounds great! Can't wait to read it. (Jennifer Richardson 6:31pm December 12, 2013)
Wow, Congrats on your new book: PRINCE OF SHADOWS. I love the book cover too! I love stories about Vampires and Warriors and I would love to win and read your new book this Christmas. Happy Holidays and Thank You very much. Cecilia CECE (Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 7:27pm December 12, 2013)
Sounds amazing. Congratulations on the new book. I'm sure the readers will take good care of your "babies". (Annetta Sweetko 9:01pm December 12, 2013)
Can't wait to read the new book. Congrats on PRINCE OF SHADOWS....love the cover. I love stories like this and can't wait to read it. (Peggy Allen 10:56pm December 12, 2013)
By the way, thanks for making your book, The Hunger Chronicles: A collection of shorts, free on Amazon. Logan, Roland, Calhoun, now Valin. I would love a book about Bennett, by the way, with him being an empathic warrior. I have loved the Paladin warrior books (read them more than once) and can't wait to read this one. (Peggy Allen 11:09pm December 12, 2013)
This series is new to me. I love reading anything that has a myth element to it. (Kai Wong 1:38am December 13, 2013)
Great post. I've heard from other authors that the follow up books are harder too, you're not alone in that ;-). Thanks for letting us know more of the series and good luck with the release! MERRY CHRISTMAS and thanks for the giveaway (Lenna Hendershott 3:27pm December 14, 2013)
This series & book sounds fabulous. (Mary Preston 5:43am December 15, 2013)
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