On Writing

So after the last post, Edie wanted to know the following about my Assassin books: 

First, what does Gin use to get the food stains off her clothes? Second, will your assassin books be darker than your Bigtime books? Urban fantasy usually is dark, but “Southern noir” is an … er, unusual pairing, I’m wondering if it will be more of a quirky noir. I’d love that! You could be starting a new subgenre.

I thought I’d answer Edie’s questions and share some more info about the Assassin books in this post. As for the food stains, Gin uses soap, water, and a washing machine just like everyone else. It’s a very contemporary urban fantasy. 😉

The Assassin books will be darker than the Bigtime books. Gin is an assassin, after all, and she does kill people for money. But Edie’s right in that it will be a quirky sort of noir. Bad things happen, but Gin manages to keep a sarcastic sense of humor throughout it all. We’re not talking major angst here like you get in some urban fantasy books. You guys know how much I dislike an overabundance of angst. Ugh.

Also, the Assassin books are urban fantasies, while the Bigtime books are paranormal romances. What’s the difference? Well, Gin is the main character of the Assassin books. They’re all going to be told from her point of view, whereas I focus on a different heroine in each of the Bigtime books. Also, Gin won’t get her romantic happily ever after in the first few books. She’ll get it eventually (I promise!), but that will be one of the ongoing plot threads, along with Gin tracking down who murdered her family. There will be a resolution of the main plotline at the end of every Assassin book, but there will be stories that carry over into the next book.

As far as the magic/world goes, the big powers are elementals, who can control ice, air, fire, or stone. Gin’s a strong Stone elemental and has the ability to control ice as well, although her magic in that area is far weaker. There are also dwarves, giants, vampires, and regular humans. Runes are also commonly used for a variety of things.

Overall, the Assassin books will be a lot like Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden series or even Veronica Mars — but with a heavy Southern flavor. I’m a Southerner, and I thought it would be fun to create this Southern fantasy world, based on things I know.

Or let’s compare it this way. If the Bigtime books are as light and campy as The A-Team, then the Assassin books are more action-packed and a little more character-oriented like Magnum, P.I. or Miami Vice. 

Or let’s compare it to James Bond movies. If the Bigtime books are in the vein of The Spy Who Loved Me, then the Assassin books are more in line with Casino Royale.

Okay, I’ll stop with the analogies now.

The Assassin books also contain all my usual elements — a strong heroine, a detailed fantasy world, even some wink-wink names with a Southern twist. For example, there’s a nightclub called Northern Aggression. My agent said the first Assassin book is a fast, fun read. A fun, sexy fantasy — that’s what I think a Jennifer Estep book is and that’s what I strive to give to you guys every time. :ww:

Any more questions about the Assassin books? I’ll answer what I can in the comments.

As I was reading the Veronica Mars essay book, I started thinking about my own books, specifically the Assassin urban fantasy series that I’m working on right now.

The Assassin book, titled Gin on the Rocks, is about Gin Blanco, an assassin who moonlights (daylights?) as a cook at a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit. When Gin is double-crossed during a job and her mentor/handler is murdered, she goes looking for the people responsible.

Why did the VM book make me think about Gin? Because it made me realize I’m writing a form of Southern noir. VM, of course, is California noir, with movie stars and millionaires and the ocean. My book? Well, it’s set in a fictional city called Ashland, which sprawls over the spot where Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia meet. Instead of a California landscape, I’ve got barbecue joints and debutantes and antebellum mansions. And corruption, of course. It’s not noir, unless there’s corruption. 😎

The essay book also made me think about other similarities between VM and Gin — and why I like VM so much. Both feature strong heroines with troubled pasts. Veronica’s friend was murdered; Gin’s family was murdered when she was 13. Veronica wants justice for herself and Lilly; Gin wants justice for herself and her mentor.

Don’t get me wrong. My book isn’t a VM rip-off. Quite the opposite. My book has magic and giants and dwarves and runes. I wasn’t even thinking about or watching VM when I wrote it. And Gin is very, very different from Veronica. For one thing, she prefers to kill first and ask questions later.

But the essay book really made me think about and examine what elements appear in VM and my own books. What sort of themes I use over and over. The big stuff, so to speak.

A strong heroine is a must for me, whether I’m the author or the reader. I hate silly, weak characters, especially ditzy women who can’t take care of themselves. As far as getting revenge or justice, it’s a great way to motivate your character and drive your plot. Carmen Cole, anyone? 😎

I also like using symbols and symmetry. Often, my characters end up in the same place they started out from, albeit with a completely different perspective. Like Karma Girl opening with Carmen’s wedding — and Hot Mama doing the same.

And I really enjoy giving my characters little quirks, like Carmen always wearing jeans and cutesy T-shirts. Or Fiona Fine eating everything in sight and wearing zebra stripes with hot-pink polka dots.

As far as the Assassin book goes, Gin almost always wears long sleeves (the better to hide her knives). Gin also loves to cook, so most of her shirts have some sort of food item on them, like blackberries or tomatoes or key limes. She’s also enjoys watching the Food Network, and she shows her love for the few people she cares about by cooking for them.

Okay, I’ve rambled long enough for one post. What are some of the things you enjoy about VM, the Bigtime books, or your own writing? What kind of themes and characters do you like to see? Share in the comments.