44
Nov232011
Guest Author & Giveaway: Amanda Bonilla "Why I Write Urban Fantasy"
by Carolyn • Posted in Uncategorized
Welcome to Amanda Bonilla’s ‘Shaedes of Gray’ Blog Tour!
Amanda Bonilla lives in rural Idaho with her husband and two kids. She’s a part-time pet wrangler, a full-time sun worshipper, and only goes out into the cold when coerced. She loves the outdoors, black clothes, pink appliances and thinks junk food should be a recognized food group. In the summer, she can be found sitting by the lake, enjoying the view from her dock.
| 
| 
Amanda Bonilla Online
Why I Write Urban Fantasy
by Amanda Bonilla
I’d like to start off today by thanking Book Chick City for hosting me on my tour today. You guys rock!
The book that changed my outlook on reading was LIGHTNING by Dean Koontz. I read it when I was fifteen or sixteen and for the first time, it wasn’t something I’d been forced to read as part of a curriculum. I read it cover to cover in a couple of days and it was the first book I’d ever read that had paranormal elements. The next year I started reading historical romance. My first experience with the genre was SHANNA by Kathleen Woodiwiss. I loved the strong heroine, the sardonic hero, the action, adventure. Oh, and did I mention the steamy sex scenes? Yeah, I liked those too. I read across the spectrum: historical, romance, fantasy, and the occasional YA. But I love urban fantasy and paranormal romance. My bookshelves are stacked with Kresley Cole, Patricia Briggs, Jeaniene Frost, J.R. Ward, Lillith Saint Crow, and Richelle Mead, just to name a few.
I’m the type of person who will stop everything I’m doing to look at a butterfly. I frequently drag my family outside to look at the moon, and once a large dragonfly got caught in our greenhouse, and by the time I could catch him and take him outside, I had an entire story about him floating around in my head. Writing fantasy was a pretty natural direction for me. I like to wonder…what if? What if that fluffy insect floating by is really a faery in disguise? What if the coyote trotting across my field is really a shifter? What if the gravity of the moon controls more than just the tides and people’s emotions? (That last part is true. I used to work customer service and I could ALWAYS judge the moon phase by how people behaved.)
To write fantasy, I think you have to have the “Sure, why not” attitude. Could that creepy guy you work with be a vampire? Sure, why not! And what about that disembodied shadow you thought you saw in the alley. Could it have been something more than just your imagination? Sure, why not! If a writer doesn’t believe, just a little bit, that there’s more to our world than meets the eye, there is no way she’ll convince an audience to become invested in her story and suspend their disbelief.
I write romantic subplots into my stories because I’m fascinated by the complexity of human emotions. Longing, in particular. Everyone has experienced that feeling: the pure physical reaction that comes from an entirely emotional place. The hollowness that pierces your chest and you know that if you could make that one person yours, you’d feel full. Everyone needs companionship. It’s only human to want to feel cherished, understood, connected to another human being. I use romantic subplots in urban fantasy as strings to anchor the readers to the story. A reader may not be able to relate to how it feels when a character sheds its corporeal form to become a shadow, but she sure as hell can relate to how it feels when that character’s heart is broken.
Fae creatures and romance aren’t the only elements that draw me to urban fantasy, though. The action/adventure element plays an important role as well. I’m a sucker for a great fight scene. Urban fantasy allows my inner tom-boy to come out and play. I get to write characters that aren’t afraid to say what’s on their mind, throw a punch, or jab someone in the ribs with a dagger. I get to exercise my impressive imaginary sword fighting and street brawling skills. I get to pretend, for a while, that I’m a bad-ass on a mission. A super-human, romantically entangled bad-ass who gets to save the day. And the best part? I get to take readers along with me for that ride. Is there anything better?
What’s your favorite aspect of paranormal/urban fantasy? Is it the world-building, the romantic sub-plot, or the action?
GIVEAWAY!
Amanda is kindly giving away a copy of “Shaedes of Gray” to one lucky winner!
This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL and ends 30th November 2011
To enter please follow instructions below
GOOD LUCK!
RafflecopterSettings = { raffleID: ‘N2IzMWJiODBhMGNkMTE0NzEyZjI0YzM1YThmZDY2OjMw’ };
DUE TO NEW ENTRY SYSTEM PLEASE VISIT BOOK CHICK CITY TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY
44 Comments
I would choose: The Romantic sub-plot, because although author's put new twists on their stories, books in the same genre stay the same in most ways.
It's mostly the romance between the leads that gives fire to a book. Well for me anyway. Sometimes a book can be classified as the best out there, but I don't finish it because of the crappy romance scenes, etc. e.g. Poor written love triangles.
Reply
There are two aspects: the action and a kick-ass heroine. Everything else is a bonus
Add great world-building, clever male lead and humor without TSTL situations, and you'll get my perfect combination for a favorite book. Thank you for this giveaway! This book has been on my wishlist for ages.
Reply
My favourite aspect of paranormal/urban fantasy is the interesting world building and the romantic sub-plot.
Reply
Definitely the setting and world-building – I mean could it get any more creative? Even science fiction (which I love) has to consider some basic (scientific) facts, but here … everything goes!
Reply
I am quite new to urban fantasy ( and I blame Carolyn and Sarah from Feeling Fictional for introducing me to it!) but I have always loved paranormal. I would say the world setting definitely appeals to me the most.
Reply
Seattle is on my list of places to visit – until I make it the chance to read about somewhere that can have me looking at a city in a different light when I get there is fine by me!
Reply
I love UF for a lot of reasons, but the two main ones are the wonderfully exciting worldbuilding and the kickass, independent and strong heroines! I love how UF characters are always take charge brave ones, even if they are vulnerable or insecure, they have an inner strength of character I admire and love!
Thank you for the generous giveaway, would love to read Amanda's novel, had it on my wishlist for some time now
stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com
Reply
I like the world building; the thought of other sub-cultures existing outside our own.
SHAEDES OF GRAY looks amazing.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Reply
The worldbuilding is what really attracts me to a novel.
I feel this is central to a good fantasy.
Thanks for the giveaway and for opening it to worldwide entries.
Carol T
buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
Reply
i would say the romance sub plot. I love the world building too but at the moment i think i need romance more
thank for this opportunity to discover a new author and new book and for making the giveaway international
isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com
Reply
I get really excited when i read about a completely unique and intriguing world, sometimes UF and PNR can get a bit predictable, so even the slight differences are refreshing!
There almost always has to be a romantic aspect…what can i say, im a romantic at heart;)
holz_twilight@msn.com
Reply
I enjoy the world-building. When an author can skilfully create their own world it is excellent. @RedRoseMummy
Reply
I think all three are important. It's when an author successfully manages to give us the right amount of world-building, romantic sub-plot and action that paranormal/urban fantasy works for me.
Reply
My internet was acting up, so I ended up entering the Leave a Blog Post Comment entry twice (I signed under my name Angela Guilherme). Just wanted to explain it and I hope it's ok.
Reply
I like how most Urban Fantasy is set in a world that is recognisable to our own but with that paranormal twist. Traditional fantasty with quests and long jouneys over mountains never appeal to me as much as a chase through an alley but something non-human!
Reply
I definitely enjoy the action in the new worlds. I also like the characters because they are usually pretty badass.
Reply
For paramormal fantasy, it's always the action that pulls me in (with a side of romance). I love the romantic parts, but there has to be more than romance to make me enjoy the book.
Reply
Thanks again for hosting me today! I have to say, tough alpha females are my favorite! And like most of you, I also like my settings to be recognizable.
Reply
What I love about Urban Fantasy is that it's the real world with a twist. It's a world that i would recognize except there are these layers of existence that most of us know nothing about. And I love that most of the women in these books tend to be strong, smart and kick butt.
The book sounds great. Definitely added to my TBR pile.
Reply
my favorite part it's the romance happening between the scenes of action in the new world
Reply
I think it's the action. No matter what kind of supernatural beings are in the story it is always a pleasure to discover how are they involved in the action.
Reply
Personally I love the modernesque world building and the strong kick arse characters who are not afraid. UF/PN has been a fav genre for me and I love all of the book coming out recently!
Reply
My favorite of the three would be the action, but the best urban fantasy novels are a combination of all three of those in equal measure!
Reply
My favorite part of urbain fantasy is the world building with all the different race.
Reply
My favourite part is the world building – in fact that aspect is the reason I read science fiction and fantasy too
ilona
felinewyvern at googlemail dot com
Reply
I would have to go for the romantic sub-plot, altough the action is very important too.
Thanks for doing this international giveaway!
Jenny
jennybuijs@hotmail.com
Reply
Sweet giveaway! Thank you for hosting!
I love the romance – just a sucker for romance!
Gena R
robertsongena@hotmail.com
Reply
thanks for this giveaway.
My favorite thing… I think it's the kick ass heroine, who finally are also vulnerable. It's always interesting to see the characters evolve in the world that the author has constructed. Of course Action is also important to have a good story and so a good rhythm.
Reply
My favorite aspect of paranormal/urban fantasy is all of it – I love the world-building, the romance, and definitely the action – the whole package.
Reply
For me it's the mix of the realistic setting with the very unrealistic fantasy twist.
Reply
For me it's the mix of the realistic setting with the very unrealistic fantasy twist.
Reply
I think it is the world building and the action. I also love it when there are snarky characters too.
Reply
My favorite aspect would be the unique portrayal of the supernatural creatures. Combining that with human feelings and it makes for interesting reading.:)
Reply
I'm definitely a world building kind of gal. I like stories that I can get so immersed it that it feels like I could walk right into book and live there. That kind of goes for any book really, but paranormal/urban fantasy is an interesting genre because the world shown are usually half-ours, and half not. There has to be a balance there, and that really makes or breaks a novel for me.
Reply
I actually like all of those pieces. I love the world building, I love escaping to the parrallel world that is very similar to mine own except for some type of paranormal feature. The action keeps the story moving and the romance/love just sweetens the story.
Anne
Reply
The world-building but I do want interesting characters as well.
Reply
World building is the most important element for me, that is why I read also science fiction and epic fantasy.
Robi
Reply
I really like the world building aspect. If the world building doesn't hold together, then the story falls apart for me. And I also read science fiction and fantasy, and the same holds true there as well.
Reply
Definitely the world-building. For me, that's one of the most important aspects in UF/PF
Thanks for the giveaway!
Reply
The world building by all means. I love the often familiar taste of the world and the unique things that writers do to make it all theirs.
Reply
I think a good PF/UF would give you a little of all. A fresh take on a paranormal world with some romance thrown in and it has to have the action of course : ) But for me i order to make a good book all those elements should be present.
Reply
Very much world-building. I also like to see different author's takes on the 'rules' for the different supernatural races.
b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com
Reply
I have to agree with everyone. I'm a sucker for good world-building!
Reply
The world-building is a huge part of this genre for me. I like to see creative spins on "supernatural" beings as well.
Reply