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For about nine years now I have been writing a werewolf romance novel that many of you may not know about. The book is finally written and I need help getting the funding together to get the professional editing I need and to get an initial print run of the books. You can read the Summary and the first two chapters on my new website http://www.christygrandjean.com/hunger/ If you like what you read check out my IndieGoGo campaign for my novel "Hunger" and see if you would like to contribute! http://igg.me/at/sate-your-hunger/x/2867520
(will be moved to Scraps later)
(will be moved to Scraps later)
Category Designs / Miscellaneous
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 1400 x 936px
File Size 393.6 kB
Yes! I love romance novels with supernatural elements! I'm reading one right now(though it's about witches, fae, werecats and vampires instead of werewolves). I'd loved your art for years but didn't realize you were a writer too. I'm about to read the first 2 chapters you've put up - so excited! Best of luck with this journey.
That is... Literally every werewolf story I've ever read.
...Well, no, that's not true, it's every werewolf story I've ever hated with a passion.
Could we get any variation on this concept? I'm not against the romance but that is the most generic, samey blurb I've ever read.
Tell me there's some kind of blindingly clever twist and tell me, please God, that it's not saved for the third act because I would rather kill myself than read another book about werewolves that's a romance between a normal girl and a supernatural hunky dude. Or the other way around, or one's a vampire though you don't see that often.
Maybe she kills him or something because the guy sounds kinda evil and not in that likable Loki way.
For that matter, why does being a werewolf make him good looking? I mean, I could understand it making him healthier or something and that tends to make people look better but, like, what if he was born wall eyed or with a cleft lip. Would being a werewolf fix that? And why?
Does it remake him into an ideal beauty for... reasons, and if it did wouldn't it make him the wolf ideal of beauty, not the human ideal?
Here's an interesting idea, if the guy (or girl) was a really impressive and beautiful looking werewolf but a butt ass ugly human. So the girl who falls for him would be into his cool werewolf bod but not his icky human bod. Then you could build a chunk of the plot around the concept of beauty and the whole weird/sexy thing that furries like but normal people don't get.
There's an idea that's rarely confronted in the fandom that could have a broader market. It's not exactly a new concept but it's an interesting one to explore in a werewolf story.
...Well, no, that's not true, it's every werewolf story I've ever hated with a passion.
Could we get any variation on this concept? I'm not against the romance but that is the most generic, samey blurb I've ever read.
Tell me there's some kind of blindingly clever twist and tell me, please God, that it's not saved for the third act because I would rather kill myself than read another book about werewolves that's a romance between a normal girl and a supernatural hunky dude. Or the other way around, or one's a vampire though you don't see that often.
Maybe she kills him or something because the guy sounds kinda evil and not in that likable Loki way.
For that matter, why does being a werewolf make him good looking? I mean, I could understand it making him healthier or something and that tends to make people look better but, like, what if he was born wall eyed or with a cleft lip. Would being a werewolf fix that? And why?
Does it remake him into an ideal beauty for... reasons, and if it did wouldn't it make him the wolf ideal of beauty, not the human ideal?
Here's an interesting idea, if the guy (or girl) was a really impressive and beautiful looking werewolf but a butt ass ugly human. So the girl who falls for him would be into his cool werewolf bod but not his icky human bod. Then you could build a chunk of the plot around the concept of beauty and the whole weird/sexy thing that furries like but normal people don't get.
There's an idea that's rarely confronted in the fandom that could have a broader market. It's not exactly a new concept but it's an interesting one to explore in a werewolf story.
That and I have a special fondness for werewolves who don't like being freaky monsters, but absolutely hate being themselves so the werewolfing comes out as a positive for them.
Like, a homeless guy might not like turning into a werewolf, but it'd be much better than freezing to death in the winter and begging for food, that kind of thing.
Like, a homeless guy might not like turning into a werewolf, but it'd be much better than freezing to death in the winter and begging for food, that kind of thing.
The novel Howling Mad by Peter David (fabulous book, BTW) had a vampire who lived on the streets, and didn't particularly care. The premise of the book is a wild wolf gets bitten by a werewolf, and turns into a big muscular human each full moon. Written long before the current paranormal romance craze.
When I ran the Kickstarter for my novel, a big chunk of the funds went to a professional editor who specialized in SF/Fantasy. That was invaluable for getting a unbiased 3rd party opinion, who was able to point out a lot of trouble spots and inconsistencies. It was a brutal process (who wants someone going over their manuscript and pointing out everything wrong with it?) but the book is definitely better for it.
When I ran the Kickstarter for my novel, a big chunk of the funds went to a professional editor who specialized in SF/Fantasy. That was invaluable for getting a unbiased 3rd party opinion, who was able to point out a lot of trouble spots and inconsistencies. It was a brutal process (who wants someone going over their manuscript and pointing out everything wrong with it?) but the book is definitely better for it.
Agreed.. it sounds like a dime romance novel, only with werewolves. EveryWoman protagonist has a completely normal boring life until Mister Sexy-but-Secretly-Evil-Badass comes and ignites her passion for penor, thus fulfilling her purpose as a female.
I'll probably read it; I love Goldenwolf's work. But.. at the moment it's sounding kinda like werewolf Twilight.
I'll probably read it; I love Goldenwolf's work. But.. at the moment it's sounding kinda like werewolf Twilight.
It's worse when a story presents the female protagonist as strong and independent (another thing in the blurb that's super generic), but later she needs help from everyone else to do anything and/or constantly gets captured/beat-up/incapacitated.
That's what I always hated about Anita Blake, 90% of the time she wins not because she's tough, cleaver, or even stubborn, but because everyone is stupid and underestimates her cause she's a "woman". After five books you'd figure someone would be more cautious around her, maybe not put her in a Bond style death trap and leave the fuggin' room.
Hell, I just read one of the Siobahn Quinn novels and figured, since the main character was an unlikable, self absorbed bitch that she had to at least be sorta capable- nope, nope, double nope.
She literally solves nothing herself throughout the entire book, all while bitching in the most entitled self involved way possible. Of course the idea is everyone in the story is equally pointlessly awful, as the book goes out of it's way to make you sympathize with absolutely no one and wish they'd all die. Also Quinn's a heroin addict who acts like what a totally sheltered person must imagine a drug addict acts like.
...And that was a tangent.
That's what I always hated about Anita Blake, 90% of the time she wins not because she's tough, cleaver, or even stubborn, but because everyone is stupid and underestimates her cause she's a "woman". After five books you'd figure someone would be more cautious around her, maybe not put her in a Bond style death trap and leave the fuggin' room.
Hell, I just read one of the Siobahn Quinn novels and figured, since the main character was an unlikable, self absorbed bitch that she had to at least be sorta capable- nope, nope, double nope.
She literally solves nothing herself throughout the entire book, all while bitching in the most entitled self involved way possible. Of course the idea is everyone in the story is equally pointlessly awful, as the book goes out of it's way to make you sympathize with absolutely no one and wish they'd all die. Also Quinn's a heroin addict who acts like what a totally sheltered person must imagine a drug addict acts like.
...And that was a tangent.
*shrugs* I didn't set out to write a gritty, totally new, different take on the werewolf. It's a werewolf romance in my own style, targeted to women. It is what it is. I don't make any promises about this book to anyone. I have no idea if it's good or not, I have no idea if I am a good writer or not, I just had to write it for my own sake. I'm not out to make a huge pile of cash on this thing (which I doubt I will). I am only asking for money now so I can afford the editing and buy a few printed copies for myself.
If you don't like it, or don't agree with it, that's fine. It's not going to appeal to everyone, and I absolutely realize that, and it's totally okay.
That's all I'm going to say about it.
If you don't like it, or don't agree with it, that's fine. It's not going to appeal to everyone, and I absolutely realize that, and it's totally okay.
That's all I'm going to say about it.
Oh dear God stay away from the grit, werewolves are an inherently gritty concept, doing a gritty reboot would be even more ridiculous than gritty reboots already are.
And yeah, I understand that whole preference towards writing in the comfort zone, there's no real need to be experimental and crap when you'd rather write a good, simple story.
But the question you should be asking yourself, the question your editor is going to ask, is why should we care? What makes these characters compelling? What motivates them? What problem are they trying to solve, what goal are they accomplishing?
And again, how can you make the reader care? How can you make yourself care? Because the most important part of the story is it needs to interest you most of all. No one ever finished a story that bored them.
And yeah, I understand that whole preference towards writing in the comfort zone, there's no real need to be experimental and crap when you'd rather write a good, simple story.
But the question you should be asking yourself, the question your editor is going to ask, is why should we care? What makes these characters compelling? What motivates them? What problem are they trying to solve, what goal are they accomplishing?
And again, how can you make the reader care? How can you make yourself care? Because the most important part of the story is it needs to interest you most of all. No one ever finished a story that bored them.
If I was only doing this for, I dunno, egoistic gratification, or some pie-in-the-sky hope that I was gonna make a mint off this, then the story would be crap. I can tell you that now.
But this thing has me by the proverbial balls, and has for nine years now. The characters, and the story, just will not go away. Not until I am done writing about them. I've tried denying the story for about the first seven years, telling myself it was crap, no one would read it or care, so why bother writing it? The story didn't listen, it just kept being insistent that I write it, and when I did start working on it again it turned into a fervor of creation, and grew in ways I hadn't anticipated or expected.
Have you ever had your Muse roar at you? Overwhelm you? Drive you with an intensity that borders on madness? Well that happened to me when I picked the story back up last year. So to say that this story "interests" me is an understatement. This thing is getting written whether it's good, bad, funny, sexy, utter shit, cliche, boring, or brilliant. It doesn't matter. Only the story matters to me. I have been so consumed by this, worked so hard for it (especially over this last year) that I know I must do everything to get it out there, because it will not let me rest until it is published and out in the world. I owe it to my Muse to do this right, and to make the best story, the best book, the best product of this that is in my power to manifest. So I am going no-holds-barred on getting it published, and doing it professionally.
Once I get an editor (which is why I am doing a campaign right now), I will trust their judgement on how to make it the best it can be, for what it is. Then I will release it into the world and, well, come what may. I have two more books worth of this story to write, and write them I will regardless of how "Hunger" does. Because my Muse has me by the balls, and there is nothing else I can do but surrender.
I do have my first two chapters available on my website to read for free, if you are curious. Understandable if you are not, I am just offering since you seem to be interested in what I am doing: http://www.christygrandjean.com/hun.....hunger-sample/
Thanks for your feedback, and for being civil :) I appreciate it!
But this thing has me by the proverbial balls, and has for nine years now. The characters, and the story, just will not go away. Not until I am done writing about them. I've tried denying the story for about the first seven years, telling myself it was crap, no one would read it or care, so why bother writing it? The story didn't listen, it just kept being insistent that I write it, and when I did start working on it again it turned into a fervor of creation, and grew in ways I hadn't anticipated or expected.
Have you ever had your Muse roar at you? Overwhelm you? Drive you with an intensity that borders on madness? Well that happened to me when I picked the story back up last year. So to say that this story "interests" me is an understatement. This thing is getting written whether it's good, bad, funny, sexy, utter shit, cliche, boring, or brilliant. It doesn't matter. Only the story matters to me. I have been so consumed by this, worked so hard for it (especially over this last year) that I know I must do everything to get it out there, because it will not let me rest until it is published and out in the world. I owe it to my Muse to do this right, and to make the best story, the best book, the best product of this that is in my power to manifest. So I am going no-holds-barred on getting it published, and doing it professionally.
Once I get an editor (which is why I am doing a campaign right now), I will trust their judgement on how to make it the best it can be, for what it is. Then I will release it into the world and, well, come what may. I have two more books worth of this story to write, and write them I will regardless of how "Hunger" does. Because my Muse has me by the balls, and there is nothing else I can do but surrender.
I do have my first two chapters available on my website to read for free, if you are curious. Understandable if you are not, I am just offering since you seem to be interested in what I am doing: http://www.christygrandjean.com/hun.....hunger-sample/
Thanks for your feedback, and for being civil :) I appreciate it!
Jeeze, I wish I had that kind of compulsion! I lust after that kind of feeling, the desire to write till my fingers fall off, to the exclusion of all other things.
But no, I don't know what that's like. I started writing out of sheer hatred from most of the werewolf stories I read. Well, most of the books I read period.
I worry, I've done some beta reading before and it always breaks me a little to see someone put a lot of time and effort into a story, passionate work, and it just falls apart on any logical level. Characters we're supposed to like turn out hateful, characters we're supposed to dismiss enrapture you and you're angry when they leave, that sort of thing.
But yeah, I'll read the chapters, I'm always interested in a story. I'll get back to you on it, a note maybe.
And thanks for being civil in return, a lot of people aren't, so this is a nice change of pace, thanks.
But no, I don't know what that's like. I started writing out of sheer hatred from most of the werewolf stories I read. Well, most of the books I read period.
I worry, I've done some beta reading before and it always breaks me a little to see someone put a lot of time and effort into a story, passionate work, and it just falls apart on any logical level. Characters we're supposed to like turn out hateful, characters we're supposed to dismiss enrapture you and you're angry when they leave, that sort of thing.
But yeah, I'll read the chapters, I'm always interested in a story. I'll get back to you on it, a note maybe.
And thanks for being civil in return, a lot of people aren't, so this is a nice change of pace, thanks.
Well gosh when you put it that way, that makes me want to give this book a shot even more. I've been a fan of your art since I was in middle school (26 years old now) and as thrilled as I am to see you finally coming out with a novel, I was honestly skeptical due to the premise as I've seen it done before. Alas, the passionate need you seem to have to just want to get this story finally done, that speaks to the writer in me and my own Muse as well, so I support you 100%.
Keep going strong, girl!
Keep going strong, girl!
Some of you people are WAAAAY over doing it. Why are you complaining? All romantic novels have the same base of a woman meeting a man, forbidden love, ext. If they didnt, they wouldnt be a great romantic novel!
This book looks awesome! Its nice to see the writer and illustrator being the same person! The story looks like a great romantic novel should. I am way excited for the book and for you Goldie!!!!
This book looks awesome! Its nice to see the writer and illustrator being the same person! The story looks like a great romantic novel should. I am way excited for the book and for you Goldie!!!!
That's not usually the issue, the issue is it needs to be more than that. Even Romeo and Juliet isn't just about two teenagers hooking up. A romantic plot doesn't happen in a vacuum, it's about disparate lives combining and jostling together to achieve equilibrium between parties. A good romance should be about that struggle to align, to mesh lives and situations that do not necessarily want to mesh.
Pure romance is a hard sell, that's why most pure romances, just stories about two people trying to hook up, are romantic comedies. Jokes and hijinks keep the audience entertained while the plot evolves.
Part of the reason people hate Twilight is that it just meanders around for a long time and nothing really happens apart from Bell trying to get in Eddy's pants, and not in the funny or sexy way. See what I mean?
Pure romance is a hard sell, that's why most pure romances, just stories about two people trying to hook up, are romantic comedies. Jokes and hijinks keep the audience entertained while the plot evolves.
Part of the reason people hate Twilight is that it just meanders around for a long time and nothing really happens apart from Bell trying to get in Eddy's pants, and not in the funny or sexy way. See what I mean?
Oh absolutely! I SO agree. For the record I -loathe- Twilight (AND 50 Shades) with a burning hatred. I had started writing my novel in 2006. I don't think I heard about Twilight until 2008 or something. I read the first Twilight book to see what the hype was all about. OMG it almost made my eyes bleed and I was SOOOO BOOORED. So not, I did not "rewrite" Twilight. My book has nothing to do with that garbage. This first book is is very much a romance, but in the second book shit gets real, and I very much delve into relationship issues. There will be relationship dramas, oh yes. The conclusion to this series will not be what my readers are expecting.
Anyway, just my .02 :3
Anyway, just my .02 :3
I am absolutely excited to read this, Goldie! I've been an avid follower of you since my early teens and I can't get enough of your art. It's so inspirational and hearing you of finally finishing your first book is yet another reason push for me to finish my own. I've been trying to write my own novel pertaining to dragons the last 6 years. Alas, days when I feel most motivated, I later on tend to think it's not good enough or no one will like it. I know that shouldn't matter. Writing at least a single book has been one of my life long goals and it should only matter that I would like to write it out of the pleasure for myself, but my inner, second thoughts like to be a big fat bully. XP
Anywho, I am super excited to see this will soon be released! Come first paycheck, I will be tossing my contribution. :D
Anywho, I am super excited to see this will soon be released! Come first paycheck, I will be tossing my contribution. :D
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