Rebecca Hamilton on Genre Writing
What makes a writer choose the genre they do? For me, it was all about writing what I loved. The stories I'd like to read, but didn't exist yet. Since I was young, I loved creepy stories, paranormal happenings, and fantasy. I've also always enjoyed a dash of romance. So then, is it any wonder most of my stories are paranormal fantasies with both creepy and romantic elements (hopefully not too often at the same time...)?
We're often asked, as writers, which authors or books have inspired us. I think inspiration comes in many forms. I doubt many writers read a book or see a movie and think, "I want to write almost the exact same thing!" but often, we might see a small flash of idea and a whole world of possibilities that book or movie never touched on. We might ask ourselves how things could have gone in another direction. In fact, there may be books or movies that we didn't like at all, yet which still inspired us. My biggest inspiration in terms of technique is Nancy Pickard. I also admire, a great deal, Lucy Maud Montgomery. Another inspiration of mine is Marisa de los Santos. None of these authors write in the fantasy genre, yet they've all inspired my writing.
Story-wise, I've always wanted to write stories like Anne Rice. I know I follow a long long of authors who can't (in my eyes) fill her shoes, too: Stephenie Meyer, Charlaine Harris, Karen Marie Moning and more--each with an awe-inspiring fan base of their own. Write about the paranormal, and you're bound to have your stories compared to any one of these iconic authors. But that's what genre writing is. You're taking ideas that have been done before and doing them in new ways, taking them in new directions . . . making them, well, new again. That is where an author will find success as a genre writer, and where readers will find new passion for a genre they've always loved.
Her Sweetest Downfall is a short story/novella of 30,000 words. This is not a novel/full-length read, but works as a companion novel to THE FOREVER GIRL, Rebecca Hamilton's bestselling paranormal fantasy debut.
Ophelia's been successful at hiding her true identity, until the mark of the serpent appears on her neck—a death sentence, should it be seen by anyone in her town. Hiding the mark might save her from falling victim to the witch hunts of her era, but the scorching sensation it carries can’t be ignored.
When the mysterious Ethan is sent to collect her for a life of something more, she learns concealing the mark is the least of her worries. She’s destined to don a new mask—to join a dark, supernatural world and protect the future of people she may never meet.
What she doesn’t know—what she learns too late—is that her initiation won’t be complete until she kills the man she loves.
Set in an alternate Regency England, "Her Sweetest Downfall" is a standalone novella in the "Forever Girl" series, written as a gift to fans of the Forever Girl series.
HER SWEETEST DOWNFALL will appeal to lovers of paranormal romance, fantasy, and vampire fiction.
The Forever Girl
The Forever Girl by Rebecca Hamilton
"Whatever you do, fight."
Sophia's family has skeletons, but they aren't in their graves.
At twenty-two, practicing Wiccan Sophia Parsons is scratching out a living waiting tables in her Rocky Mountain hometown, a pariah after a string of unsolved murders with only one thing in common: her.
Sophia can imagine lots of ways to improve her life, but she'd settle for just getting rid of the buzzing noise in her head. When the spell she casts goes wrong, the static turns into voices. Her personal demons get company, and the newcomers are dangerous.
One of them is a man named Charles, who Sophia falls for despite her better judgment. He has connections that might help her unveil the mystery surrounding her ancestor's hanging, but she gets more than she bargains for when she finally decides to trust him.
Survival in his world, she learns, means not asking questions and staying out of the immortal council's way. It's a line she crossed long ago. If Sophia wants to survive the council and save the people she loves, she must accept who she is, perform dark magic, and fight to the death for her freedom.
The Forever Girl is a full-length Paranormal Fantasy novel that will appeal to lovers of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, witches, vampire fiction, ghost stories, paranormal mystery, and paranormal horror.
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