Giveaway (US/Int): Felicity Heaton on writing a hero and heroine at war with each another
It’s fantastic to be here at GraveTells for the next stop on the book tour for my new vampire romance, Masquerade. Masquerade is the tenth book in my ongoing Vampires Realm romance series. Don’t worry if you haven’t read the others, as Masquerade does stand alone.
Today, I’m going to talk about what I went through when writing Masquerade. It isn’t often that I write a book that starts out with a hero who is at loggerheads with the heroine, or a novel that contains a cast of over 30 supporting characters, but that is exactly what I set out to do with Masquerade.
[floatquote]Sophis, the heroine, is at war with Vivek, the hero, because he is hell-bent on getting her kicked out of the guard, and the guard means everything to her.[/floatquote]Masquerade features a hero and heroine who were once very close, possibly on the verge of taking their friendship to the next level, but who are now at war with each other. It wasn’t easy writing this book because of that fact alone. Normally romances start out with a heroine and hero who might resist each other in some way but who ultimately are attracted to the other character. In Masquerade, there is an underlying attraction and a lot of sexual tension between Vivek and Sophis, but neither of them are thinking about falling into bed with each other against their better judgement. Not at all. Put simply, Sophis, the heroine, is at war with Vivek, the hero, because he is hell-bent on getting her kicked out of the guard, and the guard means everything to her.
It’s not to say that Vivek is a bad man. He has his reasons for wanting Sophis off the guard and they come out during the course of the story, and I’m sure readers will come to understand and forgive him for the way he acted.
It did make writing Masquerade difficult though. I constantly wondered what readers were going to make of Vivek, and questioned whether I was taking the right path with the book. I even mentioned several times at my blog that this was one book I was worried about this year because I really wasn’t sure how people would react to it. Romance novels where the hero starts out as something resembling the villain are few and far between, but Vivek assured me that this was who he was and I knew he was set to redeem himself. I had to have faith in him and in the story, and I’m glad that I did. I never expected the reception that the book has received so far, with many readers of the Vampires Realm series claiming that this one is now their firm favourite out of all ten books.
[floatquote]Romance novels where the hero starts out as something resembling the villain are few and far between, but Vivek assured me that this was who he was and I knew he was set to redeem himself.[/floatquote]As a writer, sometimes it’s more difficult to keep the faith and resist changing something you fear readers may not like than it is to cave and make those changes. It’s hard to stick to your guns, but every time I read the book during editing it, I came away feeling that readers would forgive Vivek for his actions, and would love the book if they gave it a chance. It was important to me that I left it as it was, because that was exactly how I had envisaged the book. Changing Vivek’s behaviour in the first half of the book would have meant changing the history between him and Sophis, and their whole dynamic. It would have taken some of the sexual tension, emotion and intensity out of the book.
Masquerade wasn’t difficult to write just because of the hero though. The book is set during a ball, where important members of every vampire bloodline in Europe gather in one mansion. This meant I was going to be seeing many old faces, which meant I had my work cut out for me. Writing characters from previous books in the series meant reading enough scenes from their stories to bring them back to life in my mind. I had to delve back into a large number of characters to refresh my memory of their mannerisms, way of speaking, physical attributes, and other things. It was tough work but it was fun too. It revived my love of the series and even inspired me to scribble down notes on future books. I only hope I captured the characters as readers remember them!
Masquerade may have been a tough book to write, but it was rewarding and fun, and now I can’t wait to write the next book in the series. I’m sure readers who are new to the series and those who love it and have read every book will get something out of Masquerade, whether it’s a new world for their imagination to run wild in or catching up with familiar faces.
If you would like to find out more about Masquerade or the Vampires Realm series, you can visit the official Vampires Realm website at http://www.vampiresrealm.com
[floatquote]Masquerade may have been a tough book to write, but it was rewarding and fun, and now I can’t wait to write the next book in the series.[/floatquote]I would also like to take this moment to mention that there is a grand giveaway running throughout the whole of the Masquerade Book Tour. The top prize is a KINDLE TOUCH plus bundle of Vampires Realm series ebooks 1-9 (doesn’t include Masquerade), and it’s open internationally. You can find all the details at the Masquerade Book Tour page: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/masquerade-book-tour.php
Masquerade is available now at Amazon Kindle stores, Smashwords and All Romance eBooks. It will soon be available for Nook, Apple devices, Sony Reader, and Kobo Books, but you can get it in epub from other retailers like Smashwords and my own website.
Read GraveTells’ review of Masquerade here!
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Ten years have passed since Sophis and Vivek, two vampires of the Venia bloodline, came close to death at the hands of twin hunters Aleksis and Izabella Romanov. The events of that night turned Sophis and Vivek against each other, shattering their close friendship and driving them apart.
Now, on the eve of a centenary Creator Day masquerade and at a time when things between them are dangerously close to separating them forever, they uncover a small army of vampire hunters in Saint Petersburg, led by their nemeses, Aleksis and Izabella. With the safety of the rulers of the seven pure vampire bloodlines in their hands and their chance for vengeance hanging in the balance, can Sophis and Vivek face their past and overcome their differences? Will they realise their true feelings for each other before it’s too late or will the hunters finally claim their lives as their deadly plot to destroy the bloodlines unfolds? |
Also by F. E. Heaton
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Born with powers similar to a vampire’s, Lilith has spent her life hunting demons for Section Seven. On the same night as she watches a vampire kill her best friend, she is faced with her worst nightmare—a client who is not only attractive but a vampire.
Lincoln is a powerful pureblood with a problem. He’s caught up in a prophecy and has little time left to unravel the mystery of the contract between his lord and the Devil before he dies. When witches foretell that a vampire hunter will save his life, he’s prepared to work with his most hated enemy, but he isn’t prepared for the forbidden desire he feels when he meets her. Their mutual attraction becomes difficult to deny as they work together but when Lincoln reveals the truth about her powers, will Lilith find the strength to embrace a side of herself that she wished didn’t exist? And when they discover Lilith’s role in the prophecy, how far will Lincoln go to save her? |
| Dark, sensual and fast-paced, Seventh Circle is a story of forbidden love so strong that it will save the world. | |
About the author
| Felicity Heaton writes passionate paranormal romance books as Felicity Heaton and F E Heaton. In her books she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons!
If you’re a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too. |
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| If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, Felicity Heaton’s best selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series she writes as F E Heaton or any of her stand alone vampire romance books she writes as Felicity Heaton. Or if you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try Felicity Heaton’s new Vampire Erotic Theatre series (see the GraveTells’ reviews for Covet and Crave here).In 2011, four of her six paranormal romance books received Top Pick awards from Night Owl Reviews, Forbidden Blood was nominated as Best PNR Vampire Romance 2011 at The Romance Reviews, and many of her releases received five star reviews from numerous websites.
If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:
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Giveaway (US/Int)
Ms. Heaton is offering a giveaway of a signed, personalized copy of Seventh Circle plus signed swag to one commenter on today’s tour stop! To enter, leave a comment on this post then fill out the Rafflecopter below. What do you think of the idea of a hero and heroine at war with each other?
Don’t forget to leave your comment in the Comments area of this post, not in the Rafflecopter itself! If you can’t see the Comments area and are viewing this page from our main Feed, click the post title then scroll to the bottom.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I love Felicitys books and think she is one amazing author.
they’re at war with each other? it’ll make the story much more interesting of course. i expect lots of fights and a hot make-up :))
Let the sparks fly I say. How delicious!!!
I love when the main characters don’t like each other in the beginning it makes for a better story sub plot and you know the author has his or her work cut out for them to make it good. Also makes for better love scenes.
Sometimes the struggles make the end result that much sweeter. Good for you sticking to your guns with Vivek. Redemption is very powerful. I really need to hurry up and catch up in the series.
Mel
Felicity: Do you ever find that your character just doesn’t want to have their story told? They don’t make it easy for you to get it down on paper.
Lynn
lareynolds0316@gmail.com
Lynn,
Sometimes they don’t like to behave as I had intended. It’s normally the heroes who decide they want to play a different role to the one I’ve imagined for them, or want to do things differently. Venturi in the Prophecy Trilogy is my best example. He was meant to be a wedge driven between Prophecy and Valentine, a little something to add tension, but he ended up becoming a secondary hero because he had a different idea about who he was and the role he had to play!
Felicity
Thanks for hosting the giveaway and it was really nice to read what Felicity had to say about her experience while writing the book as an author. I am completely intrigued by the idea of the hero and heroine being against one another. You barely get to read such different stuff! I haven’t read the Vampire Realms series, since this is the first time that I read and heard about it. And now, I am really looking forward to reading it! Everything sounds so intereting. I wish Felicity all the very best and am really looking forward to reading her books. 😀
I love Felicity’s books. I’m following along on this hop =) Im hoping to win….fingers are crossed. She is an amazing author…I can’t quit saying that…lol…but she really is. Thanks for all the awesome reads Felicity.
I look forward in continuing this series. The other books were great!
I want reading more!! Love Felicity’s books and looking forward to read her new work 🙂
Sounds really good! Thanks for the chance to win!
I think a hero and heroine at war with each other is very intruiging because its not the way a typical romance would begin but i think its really good its a different aspect to a relationship you don’t usually see and i think would make for a great romance story . The hero and heroine against one another would also build up some tension and the romantic part of it is if they have underlying feelings for one another there is no one else they’d rather fight with i think, it would be a very interesting couple who are not afraid to say when the other is doing something wrong
amiee.ryan@yahoo.com
Very nice post. I’d like to read more about these characters. The book sounds good.
Felicitys books rock shes such an amazing author
flanagan@Mebtel.net
Some of my favorite couples are those who were at war with each other. I’ve seen the hero act pretty badly but often it’s forgiveable because he learned or was doing it for the heroine’s own good.
this looks like an awesome read and a unique story line
vmkids3 at msn dot com
Thanks for having me here at Grave Tells. I really enjoyed writing this post and venting all my feelings about Masquerade, and the troublesome hero. It’s fantastic to read the comments and see that there is appeal in a hero and heroine at war!
Felicity
I Love It OMG Both Male and Female Hero At War With Each-other Wow That Will Be A Great Read Cant Wait.
April Alvey
butterfli262002@yahoo.com
Great post! I am new to the series but Masquerade sounds really good and I really like the characters.
Thank you for the giveaways!
The fact that the hero and heroine were at “war” with each other was so much fun and refreshing. I love stories like that. Loved this book!
Thank you for the giveaway!
I think a hero and heroine at war with each other is really good difference to a love story because its not the way a typical romance would begin I agree with the tension part it would build which i can’t wait to see the outcome 🙂 they probably wouldnt be the typical hero or heroine because theyd be more like the villain to one another but with a couple like that it would be interesting to see them build as a couple when they recognise the feelings they have for one another
amieesnow@gmail.com
I think conflict is important in any story and the conflict between the two main characters will help build tension as they work to resolving the conflict. Many thanks for making this international.
I love it , there are lots of fireworks. Love her book Thanks for the giveaway crystaley73 at yahoo dot com
I would love to read her book. My question for her is, during writer’s block, how does she cope with it or get over it? Thanks.
msbookworm22(at)yahoo(dot)com
Maly,
I do get writer’s block sometimes. It’s quite a rare instance and normally it’s caused by one of two things. Either I haven’t planned a particular scene well enough (I’m a serious plotter, and sometimes outlines for my books reach 20,000+ words) or I’m having my doubts about the quality of the story. Issue 1 is fixed by sitting down and thinking over the scene and what I want to happen, and writing it out so I can then follow it as I write the scene. Issue 2 is fixed by reading back what I’ve written so far. Yes, all of it. Sometimes I have to read back 60,000+ words and it’ll take me over a day, but it almost always reassures that worried part of me and allows me to regain my flow.
Hope this answers your question.
Felicity
I am just starting the FIRST book. I have purchased the first 3, and cannot wait to read all 9. 🙂 Loved Covet and Crave, and all of Felicity’s work!! xxoo
and by first book, I mean in the Vampire Realm series 🙂 I am reading Prophecy: Child of Light
I love when the hero and heroine are at odds with each other at the begining of a book. It makes for more tension and interest in the story.
I will have to persuade my husband to let me buy some more books, these look rather intriguing!
Very nice post. How do you decide which characters are good for each other?
I’d really like to read Masquerade.
Julianne,
I don’t really make those decisions. It will sound weird, but the characters decide. I’ve had characters who have changed their roles, have decided they were someone different to who I said they were, and I can’t really deny them when they do that. Normally heroes come to me first. They’re often in control of my stories, rather than the heroine. It’s rare for a heroine to come to me first and tell me their story. I get to listen to the guy, and then the girl will eventually make herself known. It probably sounds strange but I don’t tend to sit down and try to draw a character out of me.
If the plot idea comes first, I’ll scribble notes for it until the characters eventually make themselves known. I’ve never sat down with the intent of coming up with a character. They just come to me.
Felicity
Wow, I think I like (hate?) Vivek! Tension between characters is a must, you need that so when they finally give in it makes falling so much better =)
Love all of Felicity’s books but I think my favorite is the Vampire Realm series
Hi, Felicity. Congrats on Masquerade! Did you get my tweet in response to my comment on not buying any books over .99 cents? I hope so because I really don’t want you to think that I don’t value any of the wonderful authors that I’ve been reading over the past year. My comment was made as a result of the financial difficulties I am having at the moment, ut I fully support all authors in that they should always be paid for their work!!
All the best,
MJB
msmjb65 AT gmail DOTcom
Felicity is one of, and has been for a while, one of my favourite paranormal romance authors. Keep up the wonderful work!
Sorry, keep forget to leave my email! Becky Johnson beckyhjohnson79@yahoo.com.au
I love Her Angels series! I look forward to reading the Vampires Realm Series soon! Thank you for sharing your talent with us!
I like the idea of the heroine and hero being in war with each other. It makes the story more intense and interesting!
Thank you for a Great giveaway!
Love this author and cant wait to read this series!
BeckyLoves2Read(at)gmail(dot)com
With a series like this, with so many books already, I think it’s okay that the hero and heroine are not falling into bed with each other. Perhaps one day their relationship can be resolved but at this point, it’s not necessary to get to the HEA so fast. They have to take this journey that they are on. Looking forward to read Masquerade.
Pam
p.s. I keep singing the song Masquerade from Phantom of the Opera in my head while visiting the sites on this tour. LOL
Would love to win the books..have not read the series but am looking forward to it.
Yvette
yratpatrol@aol.com
Contest is reopened again. We’re still seeing entries come in for the tour, so I figured it’s worth giving everyone a shot at these awesome prizes!
It’ll be open til the end of the tour this time. =)
Wonderful interview again Felicity! I already read the book and give it 5 stars one of my favorites in the VR series! loved how I got to revisit some of my most beloved characters from past VR series books!
awesome interview..
felicity is one my fav author, cant wait for reading antoniene and sara story.. wohooo ^^
i subscribe via email : sunshine_pinkystar(at)yahoo(dot)com
It would make the plot a whole lot more interesting. Thanks for the amazing giveaway! 😀
I am working my way through the series and looking forward to this installment. Thank you for taking the time to share with us today and I wish you well on the new releases! I have noticed the cover art is changing and have noted a trend recently for long running series to re-release the series with new cover art to help promote sales for the older books. Do you see this in your future ?
it makes the book a bit more spicy and a lot more interesting after all love is learning to know the other and we can learn a lot while fighting ^^
all the best
isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com
I love this series and I think it by far my favorite book/series of hers to date. I love when there is tension between the male/female at the beginning, it make the story more sexy and hot!
I love that you let your characters speak for themselves.
I have read all the books and love them all, I can’t wait for the next one to be released. I am addicted to these books.
I have thouroughly enjoyed reading about Felicitys books and interviews. Up until the last few days, I didn’t know about this author or these books (sad, huh?). The books and the storyline sounds awesome and they are now on my list of books to read.
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity and the opportunity to know the author more. 🙂
I have not yet read the series, but I have a few of the books and will be moving them up my TBR. This one sounds very intriguing because I really like to read about difficult heroes sometimes. Its a change of pace. 😉
Thank you for sharing part of your journey with us.
Love the interview and i can´t wait to read this, it sounds awesome. I´m a sucker for UST and capable women standing up for them selves + alpha males wanting to protect *happy sigh*
best wishes, Linda xo
Congratulations to Fiery Na on winning the signed copy of Seventh Circle!
Thanks so much to Felicity for having us on her tour, and thanks to all of you for participating! <3