Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy discussion
General Discussion
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Introductions!

Thanks, TDF, for this topic and the folders. What fun to get to know everyone through an introduction!
Many of you know me, because I have been at Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ since June, and I'm an avid fan of urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels. That's because those are the genres my novels fall into. Over 35 of my novels and poetry books have been published in the 20 years that I have been a fulltime writer. I started out in this business as a poet, and my short stories and poems have appeared in over 1000 magazines worldwide. I've also won lots of awards and been nominated for the "Pulitzer Prize" as well as receiving seven "Pushcart Award" nominations.
I am a Wiccan Faery Witch, Empath, and Psychic. I've also been involved in feral cat rescue for 30+ years.
My latest series is "The Witchery Series." The first novel in that series was published in October and is called "The Witches of Dixie." You can check it out on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ and see what people here are saying about it. Right now I am in that crunch zone all novelists face once or twice a year, where we are working like crazy to meet the deadline for our next novel. For me that would be "What Witches Want," the second novel in this series, which is definitely a paranormal romance novel, and was great fun to write. I should be finished with the final edts in the next few weeks, and then it is off to my publisher and editor for more edits. It should be published in May of 2008.
I had to laugh, TDF, when I read your comments about soulmates. I haven't come across that yet in any of the novels I have read, however I did address that subject in my latest novel "What Witches Want." I am an old soul with many past lives, reaching back several thousand years. So far in this lifetime I have run into two of my soulmates from the core group I travel with from lifetime to lifetime. If you are a magickal person and meet a soulmate it is an experience you will never forget. It literally takes your breath away when you are in the presence of that person, simply because your soul recognizes the soul of the other and gets very excited (grin). So I thought it would be fun to explore that in a novel.
As many of you know, I love to read series (especially vampy ones). My favorite urban fantasy authors are Tanya Huff, Jim Butcher, Lilith Saintcrow, Jeanne Stein, and Charlaine Harris. As for paranormal romance I love Katie MacAlister, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and J.R. Ward. These are my favorites so far, but I'm always adding to my TBR list and reading like crazy!

TDF, I also am an X-Men fan and have quite a collection from the mid-90's (I'm old-school). I read Manga as well. I've been working on a superhero-style comic for over a decade, and it is packed to the gills with romance storylines.
I've written three novels, but have just realized I want to completely rewrite them. People kept telling me they were great romance novels, and this was while I was still pooh-poohing the genre, so of course, I changed them. Into horror stories. *sigh.* Now I need to relearn how to write romances. I think it'll be a fun project! I have a few sci-fi romances in the works and would like to read more to see how these work.
I've been reading lots of Maggie Shayne, though the soulmate angle bugs me. I specialized in Irish Folklore in my undergrad degree, so I enjoyed Karen Moning's interesting take on the Sidhe in "Darkfever". I loved the C.L. Wilson book TDF mentioned in another thread. I plan to read more Christine Feehan since the buzz on this board is generally positive. I'm also going to give Sherrilyn Kenyon another shot (the Dark Hunter series). My sister is helping me explore more of the romance genre, as she's been reading it forever. And of course, you are all helping me with this as well!
Pleased to meet you all :)

If a book has aliens, vampires, fairies, elves, or whatnot... all the better for my reading pleasure!
Former journalist, dancer, current blogger, homeschooler, writer, photographer, host parent to a foreign exchange student, and book-a-holic; I bring myself to all of you.
Nice to meet you all!
--Lady O

I work at an electronics manufacturing business as an stockroom/receiving assistant .
Pets: None at the moment. But I love cats!!!
Favorite Books & Authors: Paranormal Fantasy/Romance/Erotica. The first two authors that got me corrupted were - The Dark Ones series by Katie MacAlister and The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. Besides my top 2 favorites I have 14 other authors that I keep up to date. O yea, the classic stuff too from the likes of Jane Austen, The Bronte sisters � Charlotte, Emily, & Anne, and Charles Dickens etc.
Favorite Movies, Stars & Directors: Any period piece movies like Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, etc. Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, Geraint Wyn Davies, Nigel Bennett (the last 2 are from Forever Knight the tv series)
Favorite Music & Artists: New Age, Celtic, Classical, (Any thing really except country, rap, or hip-hop.) Mediaeval Baebes, Loreena McKennitt, Enya, Cusco, Blackmore’s Night, John Whelan
Favorite colors: Jewel tones � greens, blues, purples, etc.
Oh yea, I'm a Pisces.
There’s a lot more, I could fill volumes {snicker}, but this is stuff just off the top of my head while typing.

Speaking of vamps, now you know I'm a vamp lover from way back too. In fact my next paranormal romance novel series is going to be a vamp one, to be published in 2009. Big fun!
"Sex and the Single Vampire" by Katie MacAlister is still one of my favorite vamp romance novels. I fell totally in love with Christian. Just like I did with Henry Fitzroy in Tanya Huff's "Blood Books." Love those guys!
The 60s were crazy, fun times, weren't they? I always consider myself to be blessed to have been a kid then...Laugh-In, Flower Power, Woodstock, The Monkeys TV show (awful, but we loved it), "You Bet Your Bippy"....I'll stop right here before I get carried away (grin)!
At any rate, I knew we had a lot in common as far as reading tastes, but I love knowing we are close to the same age too. My way of saying I'm glad we're Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Friends (big smile)!!

That's a big YES!! I saw the first one in the theatre, but I don't remember the second one showing up around here. Thank the goddess for DVDs, cuz now I have'm both. {grin}


I'm from Georgia and find paranormal romance set in the South especially entertaining. The Sookie Stackhouse series in particular amuses me because I find myself going "Yep, I know people like that" every few pages (even if they're set a few states away).
I started with Laurell K. Hamilton's Cerulean Sins (one of the more recent ones) when I was a teenager and went from there. I read all of Hamilton's books and branched out. I love paranormal romances that are based around a mystery, as many are. I guess I also like "urban fantasy," as many of the books I like have been genre-ed that in this group.
I actually watched the 80's remake of Dark Shadows when I was a little kid. My mom watched the original (and I've seen all the reruns), so when she watched the remake, I did too!
I really harbor love for all things fantastic; I love science fiction (raised watching Star Trek: The Next Generation and X-Men), fantasy, vampires, werewolves, fairies...everything, I suppose.
I'm enjoying the group discussion and have already read a new-to-me book because of a suggestion on here (Karen Chance).

I admire people who can write fiction. I write well, but just never had a creative streak, so the newpaper business was a good fit for me.
I have always enjoyed time-travel (Sliders and and Quantum Leap rocked!) and love Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. I think I got into the paranormal genre through the Anita Blake series, although I can't really remember.
And I can write with distractions all around (must be a throwback from the newroom), but I have to read in complete quiet unless it's a very special story that has me totally absorbed.
I finished Sookie's latest adventures about midnight last night, so getting to work today was a little bit of a challenge.
Nice to meecha!
Karen J.

Anyway, I was dunked headfirst in the world of reading by an amazing 1st grade teacher and I've read everything I can get my hands on since. Hmmm, what else...
I've lived in the same house in Montgomery, Alabama since I was born, I have one younger sister who HATES to read, two dachshunds and a beautiful tabby cat who seems to like to read as much as I do.
Whenever I have spare time I like to head over to the gym. Exercise is great "me" time, I can just revert to the inside of my head and think.
I have a boyfriend, we've been together for 5 years, so we are high school sweethearts, and I seriously picture myself marrying him. He loves to read too! But he's more into the typical male books, anything by Chuck Palahniuk, Robert Jordan, and occasionally a nonfiction book about some physics or economics topics (boooooringggg!!) I get most of my books from bookmooch.com, and I also send out alot, so if you haven't joined you should look into it! My book buying ability has been drastically reduced since I decided to quit a very well paying job and take a very fulfilling internship, and bookmooch has kept me in a ready supply of books to read!
I think that's all I got! Nice to meet you all :)

I love reading. It is a new passion of mine. I used to read when I was a kid and somehow it got lost in the shuffle of life. I am so glad I have started again because since I have I have met some amazing people. I have swam with mermaids, had lunch with vampires, and made hot, steamy love to some beautiful men and of course I have met some real people here on goodreads. My favorite genres are paranormal romance (of course) and mystery. I LOVE Charlaine Harris, MaryJanice Davidson, and J.K. Rowling. I haven't read the Aurora Teagarden series, so if anyone has - let me know what you think! I adore the Sookie series, as Summer said I knew a lot of people like that when I lived in Louisiana. Also the Lily Bard series and Harper Connelly series are amazing. The Potters are my favorite books.
My life goal is to be a special effects makeup artist. I am currently in school for graphic art (which will come in handy since some effects are now made on the computer) so that I can save up to move somewhere and get an internship. I would love to move to London and be a makeup artist there and eventually maybe work with Rob Zombie. Oh... did I mention I wish BIG.
Okay I have gone on for far too long.
Nice to meet everyone! :]


You mentioned mermaids, have you read The Last Mermaid by Shana Abe? I think you'd like it a lot. :)

Paranormal romance is a pretty recent addition to my reading list, and all because of Twilight! I wanted to read about more sexy vampires (I've always "pooh-pooh'd" the romance genre too), and started reading Lynsay Sands' Argeneau series, J.R. Ward' Black Dagger Brotherhood, Christine Feehan's Carpathian books (they're not so good, they read a bit repetitive and tacky but I still keep reading them!) and so on. I never used to be interested in vampires at all, but I'm impressed with all the variations authors have.
I've always been a huge fan of fantasy, not so much sci-fi, and I read a lot of YA, general fiction, post-apocalyptic fiction and classics as well. My favourite author is Isobelle Carmody - who, sadly, I don't expect you to have heard of unless you're also from Australia - and I love books that get their emotional claws into me, like Outlander and The Time Traveler's Wife
I love superheroes as well, mostly because abilities like telepathy etc. tie in with Isobelle Carmody's work, and she's the one who got me started on fantasy in the first place. My favouite X-Men character is Gambit - how much sexier could you get? - and I was really disappointed he wasn't in the movies!
Nice to meet you all too! (People are starting to be familiar, which is nice :) )

Whee, Gambit fans! I'm partial to Wolverine myself, but Gambit's a close second. ;) And I'm convinced that Josh Holloway (Sawyer on Lost) would be a great Gambit if they ever get the poor guy on screen.

I am an Information management and Tech manager. How I ended up working in info systems is a bit of a mystery because my degrees are in English Textual Studies and Film Theory.
I was a bit precocious and learned to read really well by the age of 5. My earliest memories are of reading the sunday comics before my fifth birthday. However, I do believe that reading for personal pleasure didn't come about til I was about 13. I started out with Harlequin Romances. I completely grew out of those when Janet Dailey started writing mass market and I discovered Kathleen Woodiwiss. That was back in the 80s.
I branched out into Sci-fi/fantasy a few years later and while my romance novel reading had narrowed to just a few authors that are on my autobuy list, my sci-fi/fantasy reading had bloomed. It is now my first love.
My first paranormal book would probably be the original Dracula by Bram Stoker that I read for an English lit class my Sophomore year in college. But Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series is what prompted me to start really reading the genre.
I tend to be a genre fiction reader, so I read romance, mystery, sci-fi/fantasy and horror.
And in the X-men, I am all about Logan. I write Ororo/Logan fan fic (RoLo baby!!)
It's so cool to find fandoms in common in groups like this! I'm a Redshipper myself and write Logan/Jean fic as often as I can get the muses to cooperate. :)

I haven't read that one but I will def check it out! Thanks. I am currently reading Swimming with the Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson. I love Fred the mermaid she is really awesome :]


I am glad that they are worth the read though!

I'm still mad about the last movie. They had such a wonderful storyline already, why did they have to change it so much?!

The first paranormal romance I can remember reading was a series called The Vampire Diaries by L. J. Smith. There are four of them, and I read a couple on our 8th grade trip to Washington DC. I can remember being the only person awake on the bus one night because I just couldn't put my book down. I read Dracula in high school (not really romance, but definitely paranormal) and then started on Anne Rice. I read a little bit of other paranormal romance genres, but mostly vampires. Not sure why, but I love vampires.
Feel free to peruse my bookshelves. If you have questions about anything I've read, or would like to know more about a book I didn't write a review for, feel free to ask me. (I don't write reviews for everything I read because I'm lazy. Ha ha!)
Nice to meet you all, and happy reading!

I've been reading romance since I was about 9 when I started sneaking my mom's V.C. Andrews books from high on the shelves in the laundry room! As for paranormal romance, other than the occasional Ann Rice book and Bram Stoker, I'm a bit of a novice.
However, I just voraciously plowed through the Sookie Series (join my Sookie Stackhouse Book Club group on goodreads!) by Charlaine Harris and I'm hooked! Last night I read the first chapter of the next book (printed on paper - it's only available on her website) and I can't wait for it's May release.
I look forward to reading S. Kenyon's books and some of the other's that you all have mentioned.

Yes, I am a big Sookie fan too, and just gave that series to my husband to read this week.
Also, there is a Sookie story in the anthology "Many Bloody Returns." It is a hoot, and I loved it.
You will LOVE Sherrilyn Kenyon's "Dark Hunter" series and J.R. Ward's "Black Dagger Brotherhood" series. If you want to know those series in order, so you can read them that way, send me a message, and I'll list all of them for you. Awesome series....some of the best out there in paranormal romance IMO.



Obviously, I love reading and, recently, the Paranormal Romance genre has become a top favorite for me. I'm a fan of JR Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lara Adrian and Christine Feehan and have recently discovered the talents of Sydney Croft, Alyssa Day and Jacquelyn Frank as well. I'm always looking for new series to delve into and I've found that I prefer those stories that have a more urban setting as opposed to historical, etc.
Anyway, I'm also a fan of SciFi/Fantasy, Horror and Graphic Novel books and adore such authors as JRR Tolkien, JK Rowling, Philip Pullman, Frank Miller and Darren Shan.
And seeing as everyone seems to be listing off their favorite X-Men characters, I will too! My favorites are Nightcrawler, followed closely by Phoenix. Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner) is just the sweetest person ever, plus his ability to teleport is so very cool! ;-)

I love reading (like most of you) Sherrilyn Kenyon (who is a total hoot in person and talks just like her characters do), JD Robb (oh, I so lust for Roarke!), Colby Hodge, Catherine Asaro, Susan Grant, Robin D Owens and tons of others.
I'm also a long time Trekker and fan of BSG, Star Wars and Serenity/Firefly.
So greetings from Paradise Central (Naple, FL), where my huz and I are owned by two cats. By the way, one of my cats is actually on the cover of GAMES OF COMMAND! That was a huge thrill for me. So I guess when I do book signings he can do.... PAW-tographs?
Looking forward to chatting at you, ~Linnea

hhhmmm... I'm not that good at introductions, but I guess the types of books that I like are sci-fi/horror/fantasy.
my favorite aurthors are Brian Jacques (redwall) Stephenie Meyer (Twilight) Erin Hunter (Warriors) Sarah Ash (Tears of artamon) and so many more (alot of them including paranormal things, and many of then have romance included).
I love animals, and I get obssessed pretty easily. my current obsessions are Avatar: the last airbender (TV) Twilight (book) and +anima (manga)
If you've read all the way down to here, then you're probably bored out of your mind, so I'll stop here.
can't wait to chat with you all!
~nightfure

I work in technology sales, and am living in Texas, with our beautiful 60 degree winters. I'm originally from Kansas, and am a huge Jayhawk fan (rock chalk!). I also read a lot of young adult fiction, and am a devout fan of Tamora Pierce. I love manga/graphic novels, and am currently collection Lone Wolf & Cub, a samurai series, and the Gunsmith Cats re-release, which is about two kick ass female bounty hunters.
I prefer my television rather mindless, with the exception of House and the Office. I'm a huge fan of Project Runway because I love watching creative people be creative.
But back to Paranormal. While I've pretty much given up on anything that Hamilton writes, I love the Sookie Stackhouse series, and am always looking for more recommendations (yay for goodreads!). I eventually plan on writing my own little vampire pulp novel.

I like most of the well known para authors. My newest favorite is Nalini Singh.

Currently we're living in Maine, but in a mere 5 weeks we'll be on the road to OK thanks to the US. Navy.
My reading interests are all over the place - lots of mysteries, suspense/thrillers, some romance and lately I'm enjoying plenty of paranormal stories.
I'm a big fan of books in a series so I can keep reading about the same character..lol. I'm also pretty fanatical about reading them in order.
Heard about this place on paperbackswap. Heard about this group from my friend Andie. She & I seem to like to read a lot of the same things. Thank goodness we'll be closer to each other again soon so we can go back to sharing books!

I read...and i read a lot...i usually have at least two books going if not more. like melani i like books in series....if there is ghosts, vampires, or witches in the story bonus points!
just finished twilight (in a a day and half...went a got the 2nd book!)

I heard about this on an author's myspace (was it only yesterday?) and am hooked!
I'm also a child of the Dark Shadows generation and the daughter of an English teacher who inherited my mom's love of the language, reading and wordplay, and I totally appreciate the whole flashlight endeavor! When you check out my shelf (what's there so far), you'll see that I enjoy a little bit of everything, some from when I was very small and am now sharing with my own children, right up to the current hits. I also thoroughly appreciated the Sookie series and both of Jim Butcher's series, and this week, er, month - it's vampires all the way! lol
I look forward to many hours of enjoyment from everyone's news and reviews.


My fave type of books are Paranormal romance & erotica. I love a good paranormal romance book that goes into detail on what they are doing. I LOVE a good erotica book. Tho, I've been kinda in slump in the few months, my dad passed away in March 2008 & I've gotten into the mood of reading a good book. But I will soon, when my paranormal romance books come soon from amazon.uk. Im so happy about that.
Well, I hope to talk to you later! Love, Marie


My name is Rowena Cherry, I lurk a lot, I'm an obsessive joiner... like a squirrel, really, in that I forget where I've buried my nuts (or signed up).
My greatest influence is Georgette Heyer's Regency and Georgian Romances, which I re-read whenever I can. I love powerful, well-educated, beautifully spoken heroes and villains!
I also studied Greek Literature in Translation, and thoroughly enjoy the myths, for the immorality and omnipotence of the gods and goddesses... especially nifty super powers!
I turned to futuristics, fantasy, and science fiction romance, because I'm a Historian, too, and I don't like Historicals that defame real people.
It's great to be here!

I love to read and I'm a big re-reader when I find books I really love. I love paranormal and urban fantasy, high fantasy, sci-fi lite, historical fiction, mysteries and some chick lit. I love Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series, Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series, and Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld, especially the books about the werewolves.

I'm Natale Stenzel and I've been a hopeless book addict for most of my life. Started sneaking them from my mom's bookshelves when I was in my early teens and became hopelessly addicted. I've loved Kathleen Woodiwiss, Georgette Heyer, Nora Roberts, Julie Garwood, Linda Howard -- basically all your usual suspects.
Paranormals . . . Loved a Wrinkle in Time when I was a kid and read everything I could find on Stonehenge, ghosts, witches. I'll admit I was a bit squeamish about the vamps and weres, but then I found Feehan -- or was it Kenyon first? -- and now I can't get enough of those either. Dark, funny, light, suspenseful, you name it. Although I'll admit I can't go too gritty and I still want a substantial romance in the story.
Otherwise . . . I have degrees in English lit and magazine journalism, some technical writing (never again!) in my past, and some romance novels of my own making on the bookshelves now. Yes, this means I'm an incurable writer as well as an addicted reader.
So glad I found Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ! I'll look forward to participating in discussion and gathering and giving out book recs!
~Natale Stenzel

Natale
Books mentioned in this topic
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (other topics)The Winter King (other topics)
Dark Desires After Dusk (other topics)
A Discovery of Witches (other topics)
A Vampyre's Daughter (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Karen Marie Moning (other topics)Rick Cook (other topics)
Mercedes Lackey (other topics)
T.S. Joyce (other topics)
Nalini Singh (other topics)
More...
I'm The Discriminating Fangirl, or TDF if you're a lazy typist like me, haha. I live in Texas and am about to start working on my Masters in Literature. I got into paranormal romance two or three years ago after years of pooh-poohing the romance genre. I've got to admit, there are certain conventions of the genre that make me grind my teeth (soul mates, love at first sight, etc), but I love sexy fiction and have been a fan of paranormal fiction since I was a kid. I'm getting into futuristic/sci-fi romance right now, and I'm always on the hunt for good fantasy romance.
I also like reading urban fantasy, high fantasy, young adult lit, and I'm very interested in mythology/folklore/fairy tale studies and other various, nerdy non-fiction subjects. :) I have a weakness for campy vampire movies, love science fiction, and read comic books (favorites include X-Men, X-Factor, and Fables). I write fiction when the urge strikes and I'd love to be published one of these days. Let's see if I can actually finish writing a novel while in grad school, heh.
Tell us about yourself!