Confessions of a Paranormal Romance Writer by Maya Preisler
A guest post today from author Maya Preisler, author of The Laws of Entanglement: A True Love Story.
What if your thoughts really do determine your reality and true love is stronger than death?
Kara Riordan was fifteen when she met her soulmate. Unfortunately, he was already dead. Convinced their relationship was a product of her imagination, she moved on. Twenty years later, she is still haunted by the memories of a love she cannot forget. Determined to find peace of mind and uncover the reason a dead man was her destiny, Kara embarks on a journey which will require her to confront her past, her inner demons, and the gods themselves.
Confessions of a (Paranormal) Romance Writer
Throughout the process of writing my first novel I’ve worn a variety of hats: writer, editor, reader, publicist… each was a necessary step in the process. Now, in the promotion stage, I find myself wearing the hat of psychologist. All the marketing blogs say I should find my tribe and make friends with them. But in order to know who my people are, I have to know myself. That’s where the psychoanalysis comes in. We all know romance writers project their idea of a perfect partner into their love interest, right? So if you’ve ever wondered what goes on in the head of a romance novelist, sit down with me while I pick my brain to discover what my book says my top ten non-negotiable traits in a romantic partner are.
Consensual: I’m a survivor of childhood trauma. I need a partner who insists upon seeking my consent because that’s what it takes for me to feel safe. I want to be able to relax with my partner and trust them completely.
Intelligent: I’m a nerd. Intelligence is a must-have for anyone, of any gender. I need people who can understand my vocabulary and get my (frequent) pop-culture references. I want someone I can talk to about everything and anything until I’ve completely lost track of time.
Inquisitive: I love to learn new things. I’m always changing and growing. People with an inquisitive intelligence are incredibly attractive to me. I want someone who loves puzzles just as much as I do.
Playful: When I’m at my best, I’m a human Pinkie Pie. At my worst, I’m an anxiety-ridden Arya Stark. I need someone who can interrupt my anxiety, self-deprecation, and other bad moods with a moment of humor. I want someone who makes me laugh so much my sides hurt, someone who can make even the difficult moments in life seem like fun.
Insightful: I am a total turtle when I’m upset. It is known. I need a partner who is aware of my mood changes and can call me out when I’m not being forthright and honest. I want someone who understands human nature and can reach past my prickly defenses.
Compassionate: Deep inside my Slytherin exterior, I have the heart of a Hufflepuff. I need a partner who understands why I want to feed stray animals and become a foster parent. I want someone capable of responding to a temper tantrum with love instead of anger.
Philosophical: As someone who has been told far too frequently that I “think too deeply” about things, I want a partner who can have deeply philosophical discussions with me. My spiritual/philosophical outlook on life is the bedrock of who I am and I want someone to share that equally with me.
Creative: I’m an artist of life who cannot be constrained to a single type of creative act. I am most inspired by other creatives who play and build with me. I need a co-creator with passions of their own, someone to grow and make with.
Adventurous: I’m the grown-up version of the kid who fed bears, crossed streams, climbed mountains, and nearly fell into the Allegheny River one day. I’ve been known to do some pretty crazy things in my pursuit of excitement. I need a partner who can keep up with me and help pull me back when I fail my dexterity roll.
Romantic: I’m a child of the eighties and nineties. I was raised on Buttercup and Westley, Han and Leia, Molly and Sam. I need someone capable of following me on crazy adventures and take turns rescuing each other. I want that epic movie, “cross the multiverse to find you” kind of love.
We could learn a lot of other things about me by psychoanalyzing my novel, but I wanted to keep this short and (mostly) funny. If you’re interested in that sort of thing (or other geeky stuff), come find me on social media. Let’s be friends! What about you? What does your ideal partner look like?
The Laws of Entanglement: A True Love Story
(paranormal, magical realism)
What if your thoughts really do determine your reality and true love is stronger than death?
Kara Riordan was fifteen when she met her soulmate. Unfortunately, he was already dead. Convinced their relationship was a product of her imagination, she moved on. Twenty years later, she is still haunted by the memories of a love she cannot forget. Determined to find peace of mind and uncover the reason a dead man was her destiny, Kara embarks on a journey which will require her to confront her past, her inner demons, and the gods themselves.
Book Trailer:
Maya Preisler has been creating art and telling stories since she was old enough to hold a pen, writing and illustrating her first science fiction novel at age eight. Her art has been featured on book covers, convention badges and in numerous art shows. She recently published her first novel: The Laws of Entanglement. She currently works as the social media and marketing person for Mocha Memoirs Press. Learn more at www.mayarenee.com and www.mayapreisler.com
Author Links:
- www.mayapreisler.com
- https://twitter.com/mayapreisler
- https://www.facebook.com/mayapreisler
- https://www.instagram.com/mayapreisler
- https://www.amazon.com/Maya-Preisler/e/B083DHY1LN
And for a chance to win Maya’s print art, simply comment on this post!
