Elemental Attraction: History & Politics

This is post #2 for the World Building blogfest hosted by Sharon Bayliss.

Today I'll be discussing history of the three major countries in the world of Elemental Attraction, and the political structure of each country.

I colored the map from yesterday to better illustrate the borders in the past mentioned in the stories and the current borders.

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As I mentioned yesterday, there are three major countries in Water Waltz and Fire Tango, but there a time when Bretagne did not have as much land as it does now.

Loire was once under Spezia rule and devils lived there. Now it's a city under Bretagne, but both devils and demons call it home. It's only the only region known to have demons with a bond with the earth element.
Bretagne also pushed back the border between them and the devils when taking Loire.

The current map (bottom) display just how far Bretagne has expanded its borders. It's not hard to understand why Spezia and Hendola would hold a grudge and both races have a strong dislike for both demons and angels.

Without firearms, demons from Bretagne hold all the power. The demons with elemental bonds fought the prior wars and decimated the devils and human armies. In Water Waltz that power is tested and proven futile for what the future of human technology has in store.

Before the Wars

Current borders

The political structure are different for each country. 

I'll do a quick over view of the basics to keep it simple.

The royal family in Spezia passes leadership to the first-born son if married at the time of the king's death. If the eldest is single, the crown passes onto the son who is married. Fire Tango visits this tradition when the leads travel to the devil country. With devils, they see and sleep with many others (often at once) until finding one they love and beginning a lifelong marriage. This tradition ensures the son has settled down from courtship so he may run the country without distraction.

There's also a king in Hendola. The crown passes to the eldest son without another tradition added to the mix. This comes into play in Water Waltz when a murderous plot threatens the quiet life of Varun and Triste.

Bretagne is a bit more complicated with layers of leadership voted in by the citizens. At the top of power is the Head of State. Directly below him is the Chancellor, followed by the Vice-Chancellor. The Chancellor is a character in Water Waltz who goes to Varun for help sniffing out a murderer. Their power is vast but for a limited amount of years.

Snowden is there in the corner being secretive. Faeries are ruled by a single family, but their country has not  made an appearance in Elemental Attraction yet.

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If you're curious about the world of Elemental Attraction, I've written a few posts about the location names (and why I picked them) and character names. 

FireTango and Water Waltz are both available now.

Elemental Attraction: World Map

This week I'm joining many other authors in the World Building Blogfest hosted by Sharon Bayliss.

Today I'm sharing a map* of the world in Elemental Attraction series and explaining a bit about each country.

Click to enlarge!

On the right side, we have  the country of humans, Hendola.
To the west of humans is Bretagne, the country of demons and angels.
Bretagne's neighbors are the devils from the country of Spezia.
At the bottom and secluded is Snowden, the county of faeries. (they haven't played a major role as of yet.)

Also shown is North Bretagne and Francilly. Neither has been spoken about in length in a book yet. North Bretagne is, of course, a part of Bretagne. And Francilly is a country of only pale-type angels. (It's the reason Amer and Sucre speak French.) The northern countries have snow icons because it's cold up there.

In Water Waltz, Varun and Triste live in Fenian and visit Senac. In Fire Tango, Leandre and Fremont live in Fenian and travel to Foxwood. As a devil, Fremont is originally from Spezia but calls Bretagne home despite the prejudice he receives. Loire is mentioned in Fire Tango but not visited. (Riston and Pekelo are originally from Loire.) I'm working on a third book which takes place in Loire, so I'm getting to really build the world more as I expand into the southern area.

Almanor, Fenian, and Senac have similar climates with four seasons. Snow is common in the winter. The summers are humid and warm, but cooler than the southern cities of Loire or Dreedle. Snow is rare for Loire  and Snowden in winter.

Come back tomorrow when I discuss the history and politics of the Elemental Attraction world. I'll have another map to illustrate the borders before Bretagne took land from Spezia and Hendola through war.

(*I used Celianna's world map maker found here to create my map.)

Elemental Attraction: Not your usual devils

There are five races in the Elemental Attraction world: demons, angels, humans, devils, and faeries. The first pages in the novels give a brief explanation of the races. I’ve received reviews and emails from readers surprised that I took creatures with established mythology and changed it. My version of angels is not that from the bible. Demons and devils are different species. Faeries aren’t the ones in any Disney movie.

I took my artistic license and changed the terms to my liking. That’s what’s so great about fantasy. Angels don’t have to be the same creature in every story. Yes, my angels have weaker bones, but that doesn’t make them weak. Demons have horns, faeries have insect-like wings, and devils have tails. Physical characteristics separate the creatures from the humans, but it doesn’t link them to any set law of fantasy creatures.

Initially I wasn’t going to have devils or faeries. But as I wrote Water Waltz and thought to the future of the world I was creating, I knew I needed to have other countries with other races. And Fremont was just too flirtatious to be a demon.

The creature races also have cultures dividing them. In Fire Tango, how devils view sex differs greatly of how demons and angels do. Devils are viewed negatively because of their more accepting nature to sex and physical desires. But devils view how demons and angels hide sexual desires as strange. Neither is in the right or the wrong, but their cultures clash over just the one thing.

Do you prefer reading the known and loved lore of fantasy creatures, or new versions of angels, demons, and the like?

FireTango and Water Waltz are both available now.

Fire Tango excerpt one

Fremont rested on his back with his hands folded behind his head, patiently studying the ceiling. He could hear guards speaking to each other, but the discussion didn’t include his fate. He hadn’t been told anything, but he was fed and treated well, which was all he could ask for. Fremont had also been given an empty cell in an empty room. The privacy only gave him a sense of dread. To be separated from others couldn’t be a good sign.

“I had expected an arrest for lewd behavior, Fremont.”

Fremont recognized the voice and sat up. “Varun.” He smiled as relief swept into his being. “What brings you here, doll?”

“I had to see it myself,” Varun teased, approaching the cell. “Did they really restrain your tail?”

Fremont carefully got to his feet and turned to show how the guards had taped the appendage to his leg in three areas. “It’s uncomfortable and throws my balance off. What did they expect me to do with it, steal the keys and flee?”

“Probably.” Varun motioned for Fremont to step closer. He squatted down near the bars and reached inside with a pocketknife to cut the tape away. “I vouched for you, so don’t plan any escape with my honor on the line,” he warned halfheartedly.

Fremont smiled. “Have you been told why I’m here?”

“Murder. Such a ghastly mark, Fremont. You couldn’t have been framed with something with less shock value?”

“You say I was framed?”

Varun closed his pocketknife and put it away. “You’re not the murdering type.”

“What did they tell you about the murder? What evidence is there that I’m to blame here?”

“It looks bad for you, Fremont. They’ve linked this incident to one from Foxwood.”

Fremont backed away from the bars, studying Varun in a manner he hadn’t seen before. He would have guessed Fremont suddenly feared him. “What were you told, exactly?”

“I won’t repeat a word, Fremont. What was told to me is not mine to repeat.”

Fremont’s heart fell. He lowered to his knees and stared at the concrete floor. He had spent ten years hiding, and now the past had found him. He had never wanted Varun, or anyone, to know.

It was a long time before he could lift his gaze back to Varun’s face. “I didn’t do it,” he whispered.

FireTango and Water Waltz are both available now.

Elemental Attraction Series

Water Waltz is a political thriller with countries set against each other. The two lead characters, Varun and Triste, move along with the plot they help shape. Fire Tango is a murder mystery with characters set against each other. The murders and Fremont himself move the plot. The two stories are similar and share the world introduced in Water Waltz, but politics do not come into play for Fire Tango as they do in Water Waltz.

The story starts a year after Water Waltz. The demons are cracking down on human trade, and all crimes against humans are now handled exclusively by STAR. Fremont is accused of murdering a human, and the ordeal forces him to face his past. Despite wanting to see to it himself, Leandre joins Fremont in his journey to the devil country of Spezia where everything falls apart.

I didn’t originally set out to write Fire Tango as a murder mystery. In my first outline, Fremont’s past was going to spur more political movements, but it just didn’t feel right. Stepping away from world building gave me a change to further develop characters and character relations. I also think a murder mystery is a tad more fun than bickering countries.

The romance in Fire Tango is also very different than the one in Water Waltz. Fremont and Leandre have an established relationship that’s put to the test. Fremont struggles with his belief that he’ll lose Leandre if Leandre gets to know him too well. It’s a fear I’m sure a lot of readers understand. Letting another person know you as you know yourself can be terrifying.

They also face outside sources of difficulties. The world plot comes into play when devils and demons are two races not allowed to fall in love. Hard choices come into play for Leandre and Fremont, and bring up the question of whether or not the love will survive. But don’t worry. The question is answered by the end.

What do you like in your fantasy books? Some epic worlds or some epic adventure?

FireTango and Water Waltz are both available now.

Picking Location Names to Confuse Everyone!

Water Waltz is an expanding fantasy world. In the first book I introduced the three main locations but focused on only two—the human country and the demon and angel country. In this entry I’ll do a run-down of the location names, offer some pronunciation guides, and explain where each location is on the map. (Also name the faerie country that is introduced in Fire Tango.)

I've been told it was hard to keep the city and country names separate and I understand. I promise I didn't purposely pick difficult words. Maybe if I had named them all with the same starting letter or stick with one language for one country it would have been easier to pair up...too late now. 

 Demon and Angel:

Bretagne (bruh-tah-nyuh): The country of demons and angels. (French  for Brittany—Bretagne is an actual place but has no special meaning to the story: )

Fenian (fee-nee-uhn): The capital city and where most of the action takes place. (An Irish word I pulled from Irish mythology with there’s no special meaning for Water Waltz.)

Loire (lahr): A major city in Bretagne that plays a broader role in Fire Tango as the home to most earth demons. (A French location & river )

Location of Bretagne:

The west borders Spezia—the country of devils.

To the east is Hendola’s border—human country.

The major city Loire is to the south of the capital and through a mountain pass.

To the north and on the other side of a strip of ocean is Northern Bretagne—which is a territory of Bretagne.

Human:

Hendola (Hen-dol-a): The country of humans. (It’s a street name in my city. I don't know the origin.)

Senac (Sin-ack): The capital city where the king resides. (It’s another local street name.)

Location of Hendola:

Hendola is up against a mountain range to its east. (On the other side of this mountains is another country of devils which has not been mentioned in the stories yet. The mountains are considered impassable so the two countries do not interact. Yet.)

To Hendola’s north is the ocean and across it is Northern Bretagne territory and a country of angels we’ve yet to meet.

Beneath Hendola to its south is a smaller mountain range separating the south of Hendola from the rest of Bretagne.

Devil:

Spezia (spe-tsee-ah): The country of devils. (An Italian  area from a favorite book of mine—Catch 22)

Almanor (Al-Manor): the capital of Spezia. (It’s a little place in California with a population of 0.)

Foxwood: a small town visited in Fire Tango. (I picked this name randomly to sound like a small town nestled in the forest.)

Location of Spezia:

To the north and west of Spezia is ocean.

Bretagne lies to the east.

To Spezia’s south is Snowden, the country of faeries. Spezia and Snowden have a strong alliance since both countries are small and ostracized by Bretagne and Hendola.

Faerie:

Snowden (snow-den): The country of faeries. (This is a character from Catch-22)

Dreedle (dree-dle): The capital and major city. (This is also a character from Catch-22. I must have been in a Catch-22 mind-frame when I named these.)

Location of Snowden:

North of Snowden is a boundary of mountains before reaching Spezia.

To the west and south is ocean.

To Snowden’s east is a passable mountain range into Loire, Bretagne.

Snowden’s borders are the ocean and mountains so it’s secluded. The land is rich in minerals densely dominated by forests.

Water Waltz (the first in the Water Waltz Series)
is now available from Dreamspinner Press.  
Fire Tango (The sequel) will be released November 2012.

The Fun behind Character Names

My mom is reading Water Waltz and is having a hard time with many of the names. She's asked me where I got the names from so I figured I’d write it down for my readers as well. (Charlie Cochet blog has a post about naming her characters and I suggest reading that as well. Just don’t compare mine to hers—she’s got the blogging thing down to a smashing success.)

Varun is a water demon so I wanted a water name. I admit I wasn’t too unique with the names of my element demons. I went to my favorite site when looking up names by meanings or words in the description: thinkbabynames. The name Varun is Hindi in origin and means “water god” so I felt it appropriate. Varun has a bit of a god complex...a small one but it’s there. Varun is pronounced vah-run.  (Va-rune is acceptable too, mom.)

Triste is the leading angel in the story. For angels I decided to use French words as names even though it’s a bit odd for them to name their kids French words since some of the angel class also speak French. (It’s equivalent to naming your child Apple, I suppose.) Triste means sad in French. He’s a bit sad in Water Waltz so his name fits the mood.

Side note: Varun has a driver named Amer. In French, Amer means "bitter" and his mate is Sucre which means "sweet." See what I did there? Oh, I try to be clever.

Varun’s rival is a wind element demon named Zephyr, and yes, his name means wind. It’s also a name I particularly like to say. Zeph-fur. It’s just fun. The Greek god of the west wind is Zephyrus and in western tradition, zephyr is a favorable wind from the west. (I think it brings summer...don't hold me to that.) Varun would disagree that this demon is favorable, but Zephyr doesn’t see Varun as a god so they’re even.

Fremont is everyone’s favorite devil in Water Waltz. (Okay, the only devil in Water Waltz) His name has no special meaning to the character and I didn’t pick it based on the name’s meaning. I picked the name from Fremont Street in Las Vegas. The history of Vegas fascinates me and I like the word Fremont. Is the character special to Vegas? No. I think he could fit in and make it big in the glamorous days of old Las Vegas but that's unrelated to the Water Waltz world.

Side note: Fremont’s close friend, Fitzgerald, in Fire Tango is named after a favorite author of mine, but on a 2011 trip to Las Vegas I found the Fitzgerald’s Casino (recently renamed to "The D") on Fremont Street across from the Fremont Casino. Coincidence or my mind connecting knowledge subconsciously...there’s no way to tell. 

Varun’s student’s name, Nolyn, means “champion”—which is what I wanted Nolyn to strive for since he’s a bit of a butt-head. He gets better before the end of Water Waltz and is still heading in the right direction in Fire Tango (book 2).

Leandre is a fire demon but yet his name has nothing to do with fire. (what!) It’s Greek and means “lion man” which is perfect for his lion-heart. He shows little concern when facing down possible death—that’s just not his style. He’s also exceptionally brave in Fire Tango despite the possibility of losing his lover.

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Well, that’s the boys from Water Waltz. Next week I’ll post something about those damn country and city names. (I couldn’t have picked harder names, now could I?) The use of capital cities and countries had most readers confused so I’ll explain what city goes to what country and how I keep it straight in my pea-brain (other than with notes). 

Thanks for reading! 

You can purchase Water Waltz from all the usual sites: Dreamspinner Press store, Amazon, Barnes and Noble...etc

Reinventing Long-Loved Fantasy Elements

I'm a gay romance author and I recently broke an unwritten golden rule of fantasy I wasn’t aware existed. I wrote a gay romance novel called Water Waltz and gave angels hollow bones for flight. Angels are referred to as weak because of their bones, but they do have rejuvenating blood so it evens out in their favor. And while they are weaker than the others in the world of Water Waltz, they are not pushovers. I’ve received a review or two and a few emails about how readers disagree with my take on angels.

There’s no actual rule in fantasy. That’s what makes the fantasy genre evolve and gives it that special something that brings readers back. (All my personal opinion, of course.) I “reinvented” demons, angels, devils, and faeries for the world in Water Waltz and removed biblical ties. My angels are not angels of old. I might as well have just borrowed the term for a man with wings. I took liberties with the term devil and demon as well, making it separate races with different strengths and weaknesses.

Changing classic creatures is a not new practice. Vampires tend to evolve with each new adaptation. I do remember a backlash about sparkling vampires so maybe certain aspects really are untouchable...

I enjoy taking fantasy elements and changing them to fit my imagination. I also enjoy reading fantasy with a new take on classic ideas—especially with gay romance tied into it since that seems to be all I’m reading lately. Fantasy creatures don’t come with strict guidelines. That freedom makes fantasy fun and only bound by one’s imagination. Do you have a favorite fantasy novel that "broke the mold" of its time?

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Water Waltz is available now from Dreamspinner Press:

In a land where humans are enslaved as sexual toys, angels and demons are in constant conflict with their playthings. The demon Varun works with STAR, an organization devoted to human liberty, and it’s a never-ending battle.

Two years ago, the angel Triste broke Varun’s heart by choosing to be his butler instead of his beloved, giving Varun no explanation and no hope. However, that doesn’t mean that Triste will simply sit back and watch as Varun takes the human Elden under his protection, and Triste’s secret investigation will unearth terrible secrets, including the kernels of a pernicious plot.

Despite appearances, Triste and Varun are still in love, and Varun may well risk everything to protect Triste and discover why the angel left him heartbroken. But a still worse danger hangs over them as they seek to calm the threat of a catastrophic war.

Water Waltz excerpt - Romance

Water Waltz is a mix of genres. It has fantasy aspects (demons, angels, a devil), a hint of thriller genre with political espionage, and a touch of a historical novel. The main romance between Triste and Varun is caustic and they two spend much of the story apart--in love but unable to be together. They've been separated for two years. Varun picked up a lover that's strictly physical and carries the same need of a loving touch without emotional involvement. Triste is swayed back into an ex-lovers arms for the same relief from heartache.

This excerpt from Water Waltz is after Triste's ex-lover makes an appearance, reminding Varun that he had lost Triste.

Triste found Varun in the study sitting in the leather chair with his violin in his lap. He plucked at the strings and stared across at the bookshelf without seeing anything. Triste cleared his throat and gained Varun’s unhappy stare.

“What is it?” Varun questioned. “Is my guest here?”

Triste remembered Fremont’s appointment at nine. “No. I’m here to ask about your other guest.”

“The stray is to remain in the guest room until you’re told otherwise, Triste.”

“I know. But this human knows STAR. He refuses to tell me why, but clearly—”

“Do you still love him?” Varun interrupted.

“Who?” he questioned carefully.

“Zephyr.” Varun stood up from the chair and walked around it to the desk where he placed his violin into its case.

“Why would you ask me that?” Triste whispered. “Have I ever betrayed you?”

“I didn’t ask if you would betray me. I asked if you love him.” Varun looked up and caught Triste’s gaze with his. “You and I are over. If you love Zephyr, it isn’t betrayal.”

“You believe I still harbor something for Zephyr. After everything. After staying at your side—”

“Your reason behind removing yourself as my lover was never clear. Maybe you had always wanted Zephyr.”

Triste stared incredulously at Varun. Anger swelled in his chest. “How dare you suggest I longed for my ex-lover during my time with you.”

“Do you love me, Triste?” The latches locking on the violin case seemed to echo in the silence that followed his question.

“Even if I did,” Triste said in a hushed whisper, “it would change nothing.”

“How are you so sure?”

“Fremont should be arriving soon. Shall I show him into the study or bedroom?” Triste asked in a tone far from respectful.

Varun studied him for a moment before replying. “Are you upset I replaced you?”

The question stuck Triste, causing him to take a single step backward. “Is that how you see Fremont?”

“You can leave, Triste. Nothing is holding you here. Is it pride that keeps you at my side?”

Triste knew Varun was aiming to hurt him now. “What makes me remain is the same thing that keeps you from sending me away.” Triste didn’t know what bound Varun to his butler, but it fit his lie well enough. “Now, I came here about Elden. Why are you keeping him?”

“That isn’t something a butler needs to know.” Varun turned his back toward Triste. “Prepare dinner and dessert. Fremont will arrive close to nine.”

Triste bit his tongue. “Yes, sir.”

[Water Waltz available from Dreamspinner Press]

Water Waltz: inspiration from the oddest of places

Inspiration for Water Waltz came from many sources.

I first got a tickle of an idea while watching the animated series, Archer. Yes. That crude show inspired me. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be fun to have a story with an assassin in love with his butler?” The star of Archer (named Archer) has an old man as a butler and is cruel to him on so many levels, so I guess that could explain the terse way Varun and Triste communicate with each other in Water Waltz, but their relationship is a bit more complicated than my need to have characters bicker.

When I write a story I sometimes pick out a song I come across in the writing process that just fits. Once in a while it helps shape the story, and other times it could be a theme song to what’s already shaped. In the case of Water Waltz, I got Panic at the Disco’s new album and fell in love with Trade Mistakes. It’s perfect for Triste and Varun and their story as a whole. Panic at the Disco is one of my favorite bands. I love their style just as much as I love their sound. Bow tie and suspenders on stage? Yes, please, Mr. Fancy-pants. 

Around the same time I was juggling with the idea of an assassin and butler romance, I was also watching classic movies from the 1930s. To narrow it down further: Fred Astaire movies. Yes, I’m young and a fan of Astaire. I can’t say the plot lines for his movies are earth shattering or even remotely good, but I like to watch him dance and wear brilliant suits. So my angel—Triste—became a dancer. In fact, dance was a minor part of the plot but very much there.

This brings me to my final inspiration: surprise. I love when a story can twist in such a way that leaves me shocked but satisfied (because the twist is not far-fetched) by the turn of events. Like in Undercover Sins, I attempt to surprise readers with a twist--or two. I certainly hope I was successful. (read this post for more about the angels, demons, and other races in Water Waltz.)

The time setting in Water Waltz is undetermined (in other words: never mentioned) and since it is a fantasy setting in a fantasy land, I’ve meshed eras together. We already covered how I adore 1930s musicals, so that’s a big part of the world. I also read far too many historical British novels (1890s or so) so that blended into the time period as well.

I’ve created a world for Water Waltz—one I hope to revisit in future novels.

 Water Waltz is now available.