During my recent trip to Scotland I had an unusually spooky experience. I was traveling with my good friend Meg, her husband Terry and their daughter Hannah who is 15. Hannah was my travel buddy on this trip and we shared a room in two of the three hotel/guest houses along the way. Hannah is a delight, and charged as I was with looking out for her when separated from her parents, I took my job seriously. Continue reading “Gretchen’s Ghost Story”
Our encounter with some spirit orbs
We had a quinceañera party (the Cuban equivalent of a Sweet Sixteen) at a very old inn. When we downloaded the photos, we noticed orbs in a number of photos. When we got back the photos from the camera with film, we also had more orbs. I decided to do some research and found out that people thought these were spirit orbs. Continue reading “Our encounter with some spirit orbs”
A Very Special Week – Ghost Stories
Last week I hosted Henri, the star of The Search for the Million $$$ Ghost. We had so much fun talking about ghosts and ghost stories, that I’ve decided we’re going to have a week long Ghost discussion and mini-contest starting TODAY! Continue reading “A Very Special Week – Ghost Stories”
Wicked Wednesday – Wicked Ghosties Again
You all seemed to love Henri’s visit, so I’ve decided we are going to have a week long Ghost discussion and mini-contest starting on June 25th. Prizes will include autographed copies of the latest releases from Eloisa James and Lois Winston! What do you need to do to win? Starting Monday, June 25th, just leave a comment on one of the Ghostly Blogs. It could be just a “Hello” or your own account of a ghostly happening. Continue reading “Wicked Wednesday – Wicked Ghosties Again”
Thoughtful Thursday – Do you believe in ghosts?
Today’s Thoughtful is all about ghosts and quite frankly, I don’t know what I’m doing here.
I’m Stacia, a two thousand year old vamp and I’ve had my share of supposedly wrathful wraiths who could barely cause a goosebump. But Caridad asked me to visit this little inn to meet a new friend of hers – Henri de Montmorency, the Ghostest with the Mostest. Normally I’d be disinclined for such a meeting, but it was Caridad who asked and while I am nearly invincible over most immortals and humans, for Caridad I’d do anything. After all, she is the one who created me – Stacia – and has promised to give me yet another interesting adventure next year. In Miami no less. After experiencing the passion of one particularly intriguing Cuban, I can’t wait to go south and see what Caridad plans for me. Who knows, I might finally meet a man who is a worthy match for me.
Continue reading “Thoughtful Thursday – Do you believe in ghosts?”
Brainy, Butt-Kicking & Beautiful!
Anita Blake. Eve Dallas. Buffy Summers and last but not least, Diana Reyes. What is it about these heroines that appeals to modern women? How do you create such a sometimes perplexing heroine and once you do, what do you do with her?
A good tool for developing such a heroine is the Archetype. Archetypes analyze the various aspects of a persona and what happens when someone either achieves balance or goes to the “Dark Side”.
The archetype that best matches our concept of the empowered heroine is the Diana Archetype which is named after the goddess in Roman and Greek mythology.
Diana is the goddess of the moon. She is often portrayed as a protector and nurturer. These traits began early in life, when Diana helped her mother give birth to her Diana’s twin — Apollo. Diana is always ready to assist others, but vulnerable herself. She does not have good relationships with others. In particular, she does not interact well with men, often being competitive and challenging. Diana even killed her one great love — Orion — in an act of rashness when Apollo challenged her to shoot an arrow at a distant object which later turned out to be Orion.
The traits exhibited by the goddess Diana (and attributed to her archetype) are personified in many of today’s more popular butt-kicking heroines. These traits are:
1. Self-confident and Independent
2. Protective and helpful to others
3. Motivated and able to accomplish her goals
4. Competitive
5. Equates physical strength with mental fortitude
(hence the kick-butt attitude!)
All of the above traits appear to be good ones, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. If the Diana heroine cannot find balance, the above traits will lead to someone who:
1. Suppresses her emotions, thereby appearing cold or distant
2. Is not a nurturer and cannot handle passive or clingy people.
3. Allows her single-mindedness to damage or hurt
others as she strives to reach her goals.
4. Can’t deal with competition, especially men.
5. Is contemptuous of vulnerability which makes her
appear inhuman when faced with someone weak.
Many of the Diana heroines with whom you are familiar exhibit the above negative traits. In fact, it is typical to see Diana heroines regularly battling these darker aspects. This battle appeals to readers. Who hasn’t experienced puzzlement at why a Diana heroine pushes away a powerful and very sexy alpha hero? Think Eve and Roarke. Buffy and Spike. Diana and Ryder.
This struggle in the Diana heroine is what compels us to become involved. It is what makes us root for them since we know that once they achieve that balance, they will triumph in love or in battle.
To grow as an individual, Diana must discover that the love and trust of another person are special to her. She needs to learn to be vulnerable and understand that exhibiting such a trait does not make her weak. Often, this happens to a Diana heroine after she has failed to reach a goal or is tired of the fight. At that point, Diana may look inward to reflect on what is important.
By achieving balance, the heroine will be able to move ahead and find peace in her life. But even this peace is temporary since Diana will always battle the doubt within her. When another challenge arises in her life, she will again need to tackle all her issues in order to maintain equilibrium and remain a hero.
Definitely alpha males. Diana’s lover is physically and/or mentally strong. He is sometimes wounded in some way, which reaches past the shell Diana has placed around her heart. His combination of strength and weakness will challenge Diana’s view of herself.
Diana’s relationship with the hero may start off as true lust. After all, Diana is not afraid to go after what she wants and if the hero will satisfy a need, she will use him for satisfaction. But if she finds balance and the hero is strong enough to break through her shell, not only can true love ensue, it is generally a very powerful love.
But remember, Diana is ever-doubtful so don’t be surprised that as the next challenge arises, the hero will once again need to remind Diana that what they have is special.
Because Diana heroines are ever-doubtful, they are great characters if you plan to create a series. With each story, a new challenge will arise and require our brainy, beautiful butt-kicker to commit herself to that new challenge and her hero!
Fashion Friday – What the Well Dressed Dominatrix Wears!
What does the well dressed Dominatrix wear? Black leather is required. Maybe even black vinyl. Stilettos or sexy thigh high boots. Chains, handcuffs, whips . . .
Did that wake you up this Friday morning?
Continue reading “Fashion Friday – What the Well Dressed Dominatrix Wears!”