Other Uses for STRENGTH & FAQs!

Dear family and friends,

I am touched that so many of you have expressed your desire to support me, even though NA paranormal romance isn't exactly your thing. Thank you so much! To help you out, I have created this list of other uses for the paperback. :)

* E-books will go live on Thursday.

FIVE NON-READING USES FOR STRENGTH:

5. Use it to level furniture.

4. Use it as a doorstop.

3. Sleep with it.

2. Put it on your brag shelf—a.k.a. your "People I Know" shelf.

1. Give it to someone as a gift! There are only 295 days until Christmas...

Oh! And while I have you here, I should probably answer a few of your questions... 

 FAQs

Q: I saw a piece on your category the other night while I was watching Nightline. Is it true that NA is YA erotica?

A: No, it's not true.

I mean, no offense to the people who put this story together—because I'm thrilled NA is finally being acknowledged by the media—but they simply cannot make statements like this one: "Now there's a new genre, mixing erotic fiction with the young adult fanbase." That's ill-informed, sensationalist journalism, and I think Nightline is above that.

Let's take a second to connect the dots.

• Nightline is a news broadcast from ABC.
• ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is a part of the Disney-ABC Television Group.
• The Disney-ABC Television group owns Hyperion Publishing.

Wouldn't you think they'd have access to better information? *Sigh* Oh well. I've always said the best way to combat misinformation is to offer an equal (or greater) amount of accurate information. So, in that vein, I'll make two points:

1. Most people consider NA a category—not a genre.
2. Not all NA is erotica.

Next question, please! :)

Q: Is that guy (on the cover) wearing pants?

A: Yes, I can confirm that he's wearing pants/shorts.

Q: Is paranormal romance about ghost sex?
A: You would be surprised how many times I've gotten this question! No, paranormal romance isn't about ghost sex—though, I suppose it could go in that direction. Let's take a look at the official RWA definition:

"Two basic elements comprise every romance novel: a central love story and an emotionally-satisfying and optimistic ending. [Paranormal romance is a sub-genre] in which the future, a fantasy world, or paranormal elements are an integral part of the plot."

So, basically, you have what I'd call a supernaturally-charged love story. :)

Q: Is Strength, like, some fantasy of yours?

A: Well, it is fiction. So, I guess you could say it stemmed from a fantasy or a daydream. But if you're talking about the other kind of fantasies, well... you're going to be disappointed.

In case you're wondering, my fantasies usually involve explosions and epic fight scenes. :P

Q: Is Rena based on you?
A: No. If Rena were based on me, Strength would be a short story called, "Wallace Gets a Restraining Order".

Q: So, none of this is based on real life?

A: Every author uses fragments of his or her previous experiences to envision new things, but that's usually the extent of inspiration. This isn't a memoir.

I wouldn't mind if it were a memoir, though. Have you seen the cover? *grins*

Q: So, are you rich now? Any chance I could borrow some money?
A: No and no. I still eat ramen noodles and dart into traffic for loose change. If you want me to reach money-lending status, you'll have to help me sell some books. ;)

And there you have it! If you still have questions, please feel free to contact me. I love hearing from you all. :) Have a wonderful week, and I hope to see you back here on Thursday. Three days until STRENGTH's release! ♥