Mythic Alley

by Vicky Walklate (Guest Author)

“I don’t know what’s happened to me! I’m obsessed!”

A dear friend said that recently in a very bewildered tone, and I couldn’t help but laugh. She’s an avid bookworm but up until now, tended to steer clear of genre romance, especially paranormal.

That all changed when she was gifted a Kindle and read my monster romance novellas. Afterwards, Amazon recommended similar books to her, and she was quickly hooked. Vampires, shifters, orcs, she’s trying them all. Her most recent five star read involved a beast king (yes, I have requested more details!) and her dismay when she found out the next one in the series wasn’t published yet was relatable, to say the least.

So, what is it about fantasy and paranormal romance that puts readers in a chokehold? Part of its charm is its unparalleled ability to depict the sheer scope of human emotion, from the darkest of themes to the funniest, most light-hearted moments. Whatever you’re going through, there will be a
supernatural romance that will help you cope with it, or forget about it, at least temporarily. Whether it’s the adventures of a werewolf motorcycle gang, an ancient vampire falling for the kickass hunter stalking them, a tension-filled wedding in a fae court, a grumpy gargoyle falling for a sunshiny
human, or a demon uttering the immortal line “who did this to you?” – you name it, we’ve got it. And if spice is your thing? Whatever you’re into, I guarantee we can satisfy. Prefer mild heat, or none at all? Don’t worry, we’ve got that too!

Another appealing aspect of monster, paranormal and fantasy romance is the sense of security it invokes. The guaranteed Happy Ever After helps with this, of course, but oddly enough, so do the big bad monsters in the stories. But why? We should be terrified the moment they step on to the page.
Our fight or flight instincts are there for a reason, after all. The monster is the enemy, that terrible thing we fear in the dark. Yet in the stories, we see them desiring the main character, wanting to shield them from danger and gain their love. And when the main character feels safe, so do we, the readers.
We can escape from our world, lose ourselves in one where we’re protected by the monstrous entities we’re supposed to fear, and live the characters’ Happy Ever Afters right alongside them. That sounds pretty appealing to me.

Vicky Walklate writes spicy monster and fantasy romance. Links to her series can be found via her website, https://www.vickywalklatebooks.com/

So, if you have any knowledge of fantasy romance, or fantasy novels in general, it’s not a well-kept secret that some things are a little more tricky than others to enunciate.

When I was more a reader than a writer, I’d often wondered why writers picked names that were so ambiguous. Is it just to sound more fantastical? Or is there something more behind it?

Now, as an author, I have the joy of being the person that puts those names together, (please picture me rubbing my hands together like Monty Burns while I say excellent,) and I have to say I love naming things.

At first I found it very daunting, like naming one of your kids. Here is a thing that is pretty much going to be following you around for as long as you’re alive, what if you grow to dislike the name? What if the name has been used for another character everyone hates? Or linked to something unpleasant that you’ve never heard of? (NB- This was almost the case with my middle child. Hands up if you knew that Regan was the kid from The Exorcist? Just me who didn’t? Cool.) Once it’s out in the world, it’s a very tricky thing to get back.

Then I thought, you know what? So be it. Everything is subjective and I leaned into it. Then I started to love the process. Opportunities open up to you in so many places. Names I’ve loved but could never use for my kids. Names that interlink to your characters personality. Hidden Easter eggs in why a certain place was named what it is. Funky words that you can tweak and make people laugh when they read them. Giving the villain the same name as that one boss you hated, just for a little therapy.

My take home from this is that you should honestly say the names you’re reading however you feel it should be said. There’s nothing that pulls me from a book more than reading a name in a way that sounds weird to me. You do it the way that feels right.

So, if you pick up my book and aren’t sure whether you pronounce Maxim as Max-EEM or Max-IM, I’m fine with either. I just want you to love him and Nyssa, and to keep enjoying what you read.

Jessica’s book Heart of Stone – starring Maxim – is now available! To read more about it/buy links, check out our Books page.

From next week, the coven at Mythic Alley will be brewing weekly blog posts here for your fantasy romance reading delight.

There will be a pinch of behind-the-scenes, a dollop of genre chat, and – once a month, when we can lure them in – a guest appearance by other indie authors who also write romance with a fantastical twist.

Be sure to subscribe to make get your weekly dose of Mythic Alley chat!

And if you are an indie writer with a book, or fantasy romance topic you’d like to write a guest post about for the blog, hit the email in contact us and get in touch. We’d love to hear from you, and still have some spaces available in our 2024 line up!

Or at anytime of day really! As much as we appreciate eBooks and audiobooks, there is something very special about holding a paperback in your hands or finding a place for it on your shelf – you could even read it, too!

Which is why we are delighted to confirm that Jessica’s Heart of Stone is now available in paperback! You can order a copy here.

We are so excited at Mythic Alley to announce that Heart of Stone, is now available in eBook to buy or borrow through Kindle Unlimited! Look at this gorgeous cover:

This is the first book in Jessica Haines’ trilogy – each following one of three gargoyle brothers from the Grotesque family! It’s available in eBook format right now, this very second! You can read more about the action packed romance below and click on the image above to go buy (or borrow from Kindle Unlimited) a digital copy!

HEART OF STONE

Nyssa is a princess, but she’s never lived the privileged life most would expect. Her mother is dead, her father a tyrant, and her homeland a barren landscape destroyed by the very man who should have been its saviour. Her only salvation is her baby sister, Juniper, who brings her light even in the decaying wasteland they call home.

That’s until her destiny comes to call, in the shape of a Gargoyle king betrothed to her in an unseen contract when they were both just children. He wants blood, and only hers will do. And Nyssa will do anything to keep her sister, and her people safe, even if it means sending the infant away and going to the Gargoyle fortress. She won’t go down easily, but will her heart get in the way when it comes to doing what she must.

Maxim Grotesque has lived through enough suffering to let a simple human wife-to-be get in his way. To avenge his mother’s murder, and his father’s last wish, he’ll take his bride, seal the age-old contract, and get the lands promised to them. But he never thought the feisty female would turn out to be a worthy adversary, and perhaps someone who might help ease the sorrow his homeland has been swathed in, if only he can stop his past ruling his future.

It’s a very special day for Mythic Alley as we have our very first cover reveal!

Look at this beauty for Kate Kenzie’s debut novel:

Click on the image to go straight to pre-order it, if that’s all you needed to be convinced, or pop over to our Books page to read the blurb and find out more about this witchy romance full of mystery and mischief!

Congratulations Katie! We hope you have an amazing day celebrating this milestone moment.