Book Chick City: All Hallow's Eve Guest Post & Giveaway: Why Urban Fantasy by Lilith Saintcrow [NOW CLOSED]

All Hallow's Eve Guest Post & Giveaway: Why Urban Fantasy by Lilith Saintcrow [NOW CLOSED]

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 | Posted by Book Chick City |

It's hard to say why I started writing urban fantasy. I'm an urban creature—you won't ever find me camping unless forced to. (For one thing, I love indoor plumbing too much.) I guess as far as that goes, it's a case of writing what you know.

There is wonder and terror in the city. It is a wilderness all its own.

Witches, werewolves, shapeshifters…these are all metaphors that hold a great deal of resonance. I've met people who feed on other people, people who show different faces at different times, women of great power. The metaphors survive because they are, on some level true. I've always found them to be deep and resonant, and lots of fun to play with. There seems to be a real hunger now for them.

I think that hunger springs partly from the fact that we're always searching for ways to explain the world to ourselves. Supernatural fiction, like science fiction, has always been a way to examine some very basic human questions. Because these things are "unreal" or "speculative," they're not as dangerous or frightening as their real-world counterparts. Inside the world of a book, they have well-defined powers and limitations, as well as a beginning, middle, and end. This makes them safe to explore and identify with. Sometimes you can try on a supernatural creature and find out more about what makes you human. Sometimes the fantasy element is a refuge from the real world as well.

There's also the lure of scary stuff. Human beings love to scare themselves. The horror industry and Halloween are proof. Making these scary things into stories where they are contained and controlled, where you can get the jolt of fear without really being in peril, puts the reader in control. That feeling of being in control is valuable, especially in a modern world where people feel so much is out of their control.

It felt incredibly natural for me to start writing in this vein. These were the books I wanted to read, with magic, suspense, sometimes romance, ambiguous moral and ethical decisions, and plenty of excitement.

The excitement is key. I love action movies, and writing action into the books just felt very natural to me. I very much view my fight scenes as a healthy way to get rid of stress and aggression, both for me and the reader. They're a way to get that adrenaline rush without hurting anyone or yourself. There are, of course, people who take it to a dark place or use it inappropriately. But those are the same people who will take anything to a dark place or use it inappropriately, it's not the fault of the books.

I am also fascinated by extreme conditions and how someone functions under those conditions. Exploring how someone begins to break down, or how someone copes in the middle of awful situations is just fascinating to me. It's been a way for me to explore some of the parts of my own past, especially the more painful ones.

In short, I write urban fantasy for a variety of reasons, even though I didn't know what I was writing had such a label. I was kind of amazed to find out there was a publishing term for it. I thought I was just branching out from paranormal romance, which is popular right now for some of the same reasons urban fantasy is. I didn't think I was a trailblazer, but I wasn't aware of a lot of the other authors out there doing the same thing. I'm glad there are--these are books I love to write, and I love to think of them really coming into their own.

Website: www.lilithsaintcrow.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/lilithsaintcrow

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/131208.Lilith_Saintcrow

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Okay, on to the CONTEST!

Thanks to Lilith, you have the chance to win a SIGNED copy of Nightshift and a SIGNED copy of Strange Angels. All you have to do to win this amazing prize is:

• Follow this blog

• Follow me on Twitter (use link on sidebar)

• Leave a comment with an email address so I can contact you.

Open to US residents only. Contest ends 31st Oct. Winners will be announced 1st Nov.

GOOD LUCK!

Labels: All Hallow's Eve 2009, Giveaways, Guest Author, Lilith Saintcrow

53 comments:

Zia said...: Great post! Would love to enter.

I'm a follower.

Zia
ziaria(at)gmail(dot)com; 21 October 2009 06:48
Park Avenue Princess said...: Hello Carolyn! I LOVE the Blog Look! SO SO CUTE!

If you're counting US entries, I haven't gotten to read either of these books, so I'd LOVE IT!

I Follow your blog
I Follow you on Twitter as well!
I'm @APrkAvePrincess!

Thanks SO much!
Park-Avenue Princess

(Oh..make sure you watch for my Kindle Giveaway, it's WORLD WIDE!!) YAY!!

IAmHiMaintenance@aol.com

Hope you're well!; 21 October 2009 06:49
TJ said...: I follow you on both and would love to enter!

I've been lusting after both of these books forever--and signed! D:; 21 October 2009 07:13
Kimberly B. said...: +1 I follow your blog.
+1 I follow you on Twitter!
Thanks for the terrific giveaway!; 21 October 2009 07:19
natalierenae said...: I haven't gotten around to reading anything by this author yet, but I've heard a lot of good things about her!

I'm a follower of your blog and on Twitter (mindfulmusings)!

Natalie @ Mindful Musings
n_monzyk_27@yahoo.com; 21 October 2009 07:26
Pam P said...: Lilith, I read to escape and agree that the appeal is that we can experience the excitement and danger, explore the unreal, and feel safe doing it as opposed to our reality. Great post.

Google follower

pambook or alt pamreads@mail.com; 21 October 2009 07:54
Catherine Miller said...: Great idea!

Just signing up to be a follower and will follow on twitter @katylittlelady

katylittlelady(at)hotmail(dot)com; 21 October 2009 08:38
Ros Marshall (@cookinmummy on twitter) said...: Loving the giveaway and I'm a follower of everything ;-)
x

rosclama(AT)googlemail(DOT)com; 21 October 2009 09:09
kittyism said...: Excellent contest! I'm following both and would love to enter.

Thanks.

kitty
rekitty96(at)gmail(dot)com; 21 October 2009 10:24
Scott Romanski said...: Great contest. Following you on both!(@truedeadman)

lastrideusa AT yahoo DOT com; 21 October 2009 10:52
GFDesignz said...: I am a blog and twitter follower. :)

girlfrienddesignz(at)gmail(dot)com; 21 October 2009 10:57
BreiaB said...: Great post. Please enter me .
I am a follower here and on twitter- @bbricke; 21 October 2009 11:43
Wendy said...: Hi, Lilith!

I love reading Urban Fantasy! Ever since I started reading Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series or Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson books, it has easily become one of my favorite genres!

Wendy - thebooklush at gmail dotcom; 21 October 2009 13:10
Serena said...: I love that she says action in books is essential. I agree. I do like character-driven novels, but there must be some action involved or it gets tedious.

Great guest post.

I follow as well.

savvyverseandwit AT gmail DOT com; 21 October 2009 14:08
cait045 said...: Enter me in. I love Lilith Saintcrows books

Follower of blog
Follower on twitter
usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom; 21 October 2009 14:17
elnice said...: • Follow this blog
• Follow me on Twitter
Please enter me. I have not read any Lilith Saintcrow yet. Thanks for the chance.

Elie (Ellz Readz)
zenfoxflowerATyahooDOTcom; 21 October 2009 14:36
Jamie said...: Enter me please I am a follower of both your blog and twitter. Thank you so much!!

jbbird AT duo-county DOT com; 21 October 2009 14:40
Stacy said...: I have been wanting to read these books! I am following your blog and twitter (raycee3).

stacy.walker03 AT yahoo DOT com; 21 October 2009 14:49
Debbie F said...: Count me in!
+1 I'm a follower!
+1 I follow on twitter (@dcf_beth)
thanks
dcf_beth at verizon dot net; 21 October 2009 14:51
GMR said...: Hi, there! I really enjoyed the interview! I was wondering what the "urban fantasy" genre was really made of...thanks for clearing that up! (I was just going with the more broad spectrum YA or FICTION, etc..)

Great contest too! Count me in! I've had my eye on Strange Angels for a while now....

Follower of blog AND on Twitter (@GRgenius).

grgenius(at)go(dot)com; 21 October 2009 15:16
Anonymous said...: I'm a follower!
I'm already a proud owner of a signed copy of Strange Angels and had the awesome opportunity to meet Lilith in Palo Alto, CA!!!!

I would love to win the Night Shift since Lily is becoming one of my favorite authors.

Good Luck to me!!
dulcearmendariz@gmail.com
can't sign w/my google act; 21 October 2009 17:40
Rosie said...: What a great post from Lilith. Especially loved her first comment about being an urban creature and not camping. I can so relate! LOL.

I'm a new follower, just have never posted before today. I'm not on Twitter.

rosie0512 @ hotmail . com; 21 October 2009 17:59
Bella said...: Thanks Lilith and BCC! Great giveaway!

I am a blog follower and a twitter follower (@b42bella)

b42bella AT gmail.com

Thanks!; 21 October 2009 18:21
lingeorge said...: OK, I love your blog -- I follow the blog and on twitter troublelore@gmail.com; 21 October 2009 19:29
joder said...: +1 I'm a blog follower
+1 I follow you on twitter (jone402)

+1 I'm so glad UF has become so popular. I love the grittiness and action of this genre. I also enjoy that the women in them know how to kick butt.

joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com; 21 October 2009 20:32
BrigidsBlest said...: • Follow this blog

Done!

• Follow me on Twitter (use link on sidebar)

Done!

• Leave a comment with an email address so I can contact you.

Hi! It's BrigidsBlest@yahoo.com !

Done!

(I also added you on GoodReads, because, cool!); 21 October 2009 23:07
donnas said...: Please include me. I want to read both of these.

I am a blog follower

I am a twitter follower

bacchus76 at myself dot com; 22 October 2009 01:57
Cherie J said...: Would love to be entered in the drawing. I have been wanting to try her writing.

I am a follower.
I follow on Twitter. (cherierj)

cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com; 22 October 2009 03:29
cfisher1504 said...: I love Ms. Saintcrow's books.
I am a follower. Please count me in..cfisher1504 at gmail dot com; 22 October 2009 18:13
CrystalGB said...: Great post. I would love to read these books.

I am a follower.
I follow on twitter.

Crystal816(at)hotmail(dot)com; 22 October 2009 18:20
throuthehaze said...: Count me in please!

I follow your blog
following on twitter @throuthehaze

Raelena
throuthehaze at gmail dot com; 23 October 2009 16:47
Casse AKA Catholic Kittie said...: I follow the blog

Casse
cassanrose(at)gmail(dot)com; 25 October 2009 01:21
WilowRaven said...: Please enter me :)
I'm a follower of your blog and on twitter

WilowRaven[at]yahoo[dot]com

Thanks!; 25 October 2009 03:31
Jaime said...: I'm a follower
copperllama at yahoo dot com; 25 October 2009 07:44
Josef13 said...: I'm a follower of the blog, and follower for Twitter~!

makotolightning (at) hotmail (dot) com

Thank you!!; 25 October 2009 19:43
Mitz said...: Would love to win either of these books...

follower

misty_labean@yahoo.com; 26 October 2009 03:31
Bethie said...: They both look so good. Please enter me.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com; 26 October 2009 04:05
lag123 said...: I am a new follower of your blog and on twitter. Please enter me @lag32583

lag110@mchsi.com; 26 October 2009 11:11
Jamie said...: Thanks for the chance to enter!!

follower on both

jbbird AT duo-county DOT com; 26 October 2009 15:18
Shadowofwonder47 said...: These both sound like absolutely awesome books! Please enter me.

Became a follower on blogger.

Became a follower on twitter.

Shadowofwonder47[at]yahoo[dot]com; 26 October 2009 16:01
robin_titan said...: Oh amazing!!

lcintocable{a}gmail{d}com

New follower of your blog and Twitter. Username is the same :); 27 October 2009 00:36
~Jennifer~ said...: +1 I follow your blog.
+1 I follow you on Twitter! @JennSicu

jennsicurella at verizon dot net

Jennifer @ Reading with Tequila; 28 October 2009 01:26
Deb K said...: I Follow this blog{Deb K]

I Follow you on Twitter{Deb55106}

Thanks for the chance to win~I would love to read these books!

deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com; 28 October 2009 06:12
The Bookologist said...: Great post! Please enter me in the contest!

I'm a follower and I follow you on twitter as well. (@thebookologist)

Thanks!
bookreviewsya[AT]yahoo[DOT]com; 28 October 2009 11:58
The Pink Spyder said...: Did all the follows and would love to have the books. Title of Strange Angel intriques me greatly!!

donnell
donnell(dot)e(at)cox(dot)com; 28 October 2009 16:49
alterlisa said...: Would love signed copies of these books. Just realized that the St Crow and Saintcrow books(which I love) were by the same author(thumping my forhead)
alterlisa@yahoo.com

I'm a follower; 28 October 2009 17:21
Ryan G said...: What a fantastic giveaway!

I'm a follower on Google Friend Connect

I'm a follower on Twitter @Ryan_Groff

fforgnayr@yahoo.com; 29 October 2009 13:51
Sab H. said...: Yay! Thanks for the giveaway I follow you here and twitter! (SabriHorande)

crystalreviews[at]gmail.com; 29 October 2009 19:51
Indigo said...: Wicked Cool! Please enter me in this drawing. Thanks! Indigo

I follow and following you on Twitter @sageraven.

ravensquietscreams@gmail.com; 30 October 2009 23:59
Shawna said...: Shawna L
weloveourdogs@juno.com

I follow you on twitter & I also follow your VERY cool Blog!!!

Thanks so VERY much for the chance to enter into this amazing giveaway!! I hope you have a Fun Halloween :o.); 31 October 2009 04:50
thetruebookaddict said...: I follow

I follow on Twitter @truebookaddict

miller4plusmore(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Thanks!; 31 October 2009 10:10
K A K A R I said...: Following you on Twitter and Blogspot. =]

Happy Halloween!

kakari89(at)hotmail(dot)com; 31 October 2009 20:43
booklover0226 said...: Thanks for the contest. The books sound great.

I am a follower (booklover0226)
I follow on Twitter (bl0226)

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 AT gmail DOT com; 31 October 2009 22:20