::Blog Chain:: ‘Masquerade’
I missed last months Absolute Write blog chain simply because …. I was too busy. π But I’m back this month and participating in one ‘run’ by my writing buddy, Claire Gillian. π Can’t miss that now, can I? I mean, geez, we ‘met’ on Absolute Write!
Now that the admissions are made, let’s get on with the chain.
Before me went Hillary Jacques and after me will go Ralph Pines. As always, I encourage you to sneak a peek at their musings on the title ‘Masquerade’ as well as the rest in the chain, but at least, goodness, read mine! π
Masquerade
According to dictionary.com, masquerade means “false outward show; faΓ§ade; pretense”
Now, I find this interesting that it would be the topic of choice for October (aka the Halloween month) and that it would fit so well with EVERYTHING that I write.
Everything I say? Yes. Surely I don’t mean that. Yes, yes, yes I do. And I live it, too.
I write paranormal romance. That means my characters have something ‘hidden’ about them. We’re not talking a secret like what you did on your 16th birthday and never told your parents. No, I’m talking about a life-altering, life-agendas that humans SHOULD never know about.
One is a shape-shifter. Another is a vampire (but only one, I couldn’t stomach writing a whole slew of them). Another is a god (yes, lower case). My favorite character can disappear. Another, coupled with her mate, look/act/are exclusively human but when apart from each other, everything ELSE in the worlds goes to pot.
I have 5 completed novels that work off this premise, that behind the outer facade of what the world sees is something completely different.
Don’t we all do that though? I didn’t come up with this particular theme because it’s out of this world new … we ALL hide behind *something*. The Internet gives us a chance to be someone other than ourselves and only when we get comfortable with a set of people do we branch out and perhaps get more personal.
Take me for example. Aimee Laine is not my real name. I use it professionally as a photographer and for writing paranormal romance that will cover your glasses in steam when you read it. π Aimee Laine, by the way, is part of my real name, just not the one on all my tax records.
To take that one step further, in the writing industry, it’s not particularly good to ‘cross genre’ with the same pen name, nor to switch writing-person. I currently write 3rd, by the way.
Since I’m going to add YA paranormal romance to my plate (in 1st person) and will be keeping my content on the gray-side of exhilarating (ie I’m not going to cross the 3rd base line and slide into home), then I need to separate me from … well … me. So, I’m going to write as Emi J. Gayle, which just so happens to be a combo of my children’s names.
Emi … or rather my … blog comes as I dive into the NANO season. My first story as Emi : First Kiss(es) is ready to write, I just chose to wait until November to do it (so I could get a pretty badge in the process).
There are a few writers and loads of photography customers who know me for me … the real me. The messy, pull my hair out kind of girl I am, but to everyone else, my persona is there and there it will remain, waiting for the day that the mask is pulled off and the man (or in my case woman) behind the curtain walks out and introduces herself.
Or not. π
Read on!
Auburn Assassin
Hillary Jacques
Aimee Laine <-- Me!
Ralph Pines
Veinglory
Laffarsmith
PASeaholtz
Madelein.Eirwen
Amy Doodle
Aheila
CScottMorris
Orion_mk3
Dolores Haze
FreshHell
IrishAnnie
Lilain
Semmie
Great post, Aimee / Emi or whatever the hell your name is! LOL Good luck with the first person POV. I look forward to reading your first YA and first person foray.
(OK, damn your spam thingy…it REALLY hates me now because I have absolutely no idea what the first word is.)
Haaaaahahahaha, Claire. You got through JUST fine. π LOL And you know you’ll see the fruits of my effort, wether good or sucky! LOL
Five completed novels! Wow, you work hard. Best of luck with them. And thanks for the interesting post!
“And I live it too”. You are a woman of mystery, and many names which start with vowels. A new kind of project for NaNo sounds like fun!
Switching to 1st person pov to write about your younger characters is a genius move, IMO. You know that’s my personal preference, anyway. But I’m presuming you plan to revolve this YA around teenagers, and I have to say, giving yourself the freedom you get with 1stppov to get inside the character’s emotions can only be a wise move.
Back to topic, though. I use my own name for my UF and regular writings. What can I say? I like the recognition π However, I DO use a pen name for my erotic romance, because it is poles apart from my preferred genre π
Cool post π
Thanks Diane and yep … 5! A 6th by end of year (under my pen name). π
Hillary … mystery is fun! π LOL Thanks for popping in!
Julie … No reason NOT to use your name … especially when you have a really cool on. π Mine, on the other hand, I have to spell my first name AND my last name for EVERYONE, so it was much easier to switch! LOL
Nice! You have your own personal and very real masquerade to bring to the table! I think that meta-masquerade brings things to a whole other level π
Thanks orion_mk3! π
[…] and direct link to her post Aimee Laine http://www.aimeelaine.com/writing/blog and direct link to her post Ralph Pines http://thewonderingswordsman.wordpress.com/ Veinglory http://erecsite.blogspot.com/ […]
I think the novels I like best are the ones in which something is hidden from others. It’s finding out what that is that makes the story so enjoyable to read.
I agree, FreshHell. π I love the secrets and devious hidden info and then the finding out. π
You make me want to analyze myself and everything I do. Good luck with Nano!
Analyze away, Madelein! π LOL It’s fun! π
Interesting. Then again once you delve into the paranormal, it is always about what lays hidden beneath the surface.
Good luck on NaNo.
You’re right about the Internet; it allows all of us to have multiple personalities. Without the need of expensive psychotherapy!
Rafael : Oh yeah. The beautiful part of paranormal is what’s hidden beneath. π
Amy : I’m so happy not to have to go through psychotherapy! LOL
[…] Aimee Laine […]
[…] Aimee Laine http://www.aimeelaine.com/writing/blog and direct link to her post […]
[…] (direct link to the relevant post) Hillary Jacques (direct link to the relevant post) Aimee Laine (direct link to the relevant post) Ralph Pines (direct link to the relevant post) Veinglory (direct link to the relevant post) […]
Cool, I love how you added the dictionary definition in for better comparison!
It sounds like your books are very interesting. π
I also love the two last paragraphs, deep but still lighthearted. π
Thanks, Aidan for the nice comment! π
I think having an alternative name for the 1st person YA writing is also a good way to compartmentalize. It’s like putting on a new hat, becoming someone else, when you write in that genre. Hopefully, it’ll help prevent the slip and slide that could happen between the two POV. I know I have trouble getting my POV to stick when I write and usually the biggest challenge comes from not having a firm seat in a specific POV.
I love how you consider the “hidden” aspects of your characters too. All characters, not just the paranormal ones, have elements of themselves that aren’t revealed to the world at large. Just as people have hidden facets and private aspects our characters hide parts of who they are. It’s fascinating as a writer, and as a reader, to peel back the layers and discover these intricate people.
Thanks Rebecca! And yeah, switching to 1st person … the new ‘name’ is a necessity. Question is … can I pull it off. LOL I LOVE using 2 POVs, so we’ll see if I can make it stick, too! π
Ahhh, YA paranormal romance. I devoured that stuff not too many years ago. Great post and good luck with the new POV!
Thanks, Betty!