Smart Girls Read Romance -- so do the bestselling and award-winning Authors who write this blog.
Join them as they dish about Books, Romance, Love, and Life.






Tuesday, July 30, 2013

PARANORMAL IS MY NORMAL

By Kathy Ivan

Thanks so much for letting me spend the day with you.  I'm thrilled to be a part of Smart Girls Read Romance. 

Let me be honest.  I love the paranormal worlds in romance fiction.  Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, psychics and zombies, I love 'em.  When “The Walking Dead” is on, I'm glued to the screen.  Give me a paranormal romance and I'll devour it faster than you can blink.  It's definitely one of my favorite genres to read.  Throw in some steamy romance and I'm a goner. 

"The Walking Dead" TV Show


Never thought I'd write it, though!

Romantic suspense—that's what I write.  The mystery, developing the plot.  Having the heroine and the hero race against the bad guy, overcome all the obstacles thrown in their way, follow the clues, have lots of sexy times along the way, figure out the who/when/why/how, defeat the villain, profess their love and live happily ever after.   Whew, it can be a roller-coaster of a ride! 

Story after story, this was my premise, my formula.  The problem—something was always missing.  I didn't get the satisfaction, the extra oomph I'd get from reading all those paranormal romances with their otherworldly specialness.  So I decided to go for it and combine the two genres I loved, romantic suspense and paranormal romance. 

Voila!  DESPERATE CHOICES was born.  Theresa, my heroine, is a psychic living and working in the French Quarter of New Orleans.  Max, her ex-beau, is a private investigator who comes asking for her help.  His godson is missing.  And the story was off and running.  It unfolded with just enough of a paranormal element added into the suspense that it was believable and the readers loved it as much as I did. 

New Orleans French Quarter evening photo

DESPERATE CHOICES became my first published book (from Carina Press) and it won the 2012 OKRWA International Digital Award for long suspense. 



SECOND CHANCES is a paranormal romance, introducing you to the world of Destiny's Desire Lodge in the Colorado Mountains.  It's the first in a series, uniting soul mates destined to be together, separated—usually due to outside influences.  Sometimes the couples have already met and need to be reunited.  Other times, they need a little "extraordinary and magical" assistance.  They're brought together with a little help from Quinton Chase, the Fate-Keeper, who runs this special resort, Destiny's Desire.  The first novella is available now and book two is finished and will be out soon. 



For some people normal is normal and that's perfectly okay.  I've learned the hard way when it comes to me and my writing world, paranormal is my normal. 

DESPERATE CHOICES:  http://www.amazon.com/Desperate-Choices-ebook/dp/B0041KLBG2/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1374938095&sr=1-2&keywords=kathy+ivan

SECOND CHANCES:  http://www.amazon.com/Second-Chances-Destinys-Desire-ebook/dp/B00A4FNA0S 



About the Author

An avid reader of all types of romance, Kathy writes romantic suspense and paranormal romance.  She makes her home in the heart of North Texas doing her best to deal with the Texas heat.   She's a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA) and the Dallas Area Romance Authors (DARA). 

New Orleans Photo, Wikipedia commons


Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

33 comments:

  1. Caroline ClemmonsJuly 30, 2013 at 6:09 AM

    Kathy, thank you for posting here. I'm looking forward to reading your new paranormal series. I've heard good things about your writing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy IvanJuly 30, 2013 at 7:59 AM

      Thanks, Caroline, what a lovely thing to say. I'm so happy you asked me to spend the day at your blog and to share a bit about myself with your readers.

      Delete
  2. Barb HanJuly 30, 2013 at 8:13 AM

    It's so great getting to know you a little bit better outside of DARA, Kathy. Congrats on your 2012 OKRWA International Digital Award win! Looks like I have 2 new books to add to my tbr pile.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy IvanJuly 30, 2013 at 8:37 AM

      Hi Barb, It was awesome getting to spend some time with you at RomCon. And thanks. That award was a total shock but I love that book so much. And thanks for adding me to your TBR stack. Let me know what you think of them. :-)

      Delete
  3. Michelle MilesJuly 30, 2013 at 8:22 AM

    Sign me up! Love me some paranormal romance. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy IvanJuly 30, 2013 at 8:38 AM

      Michelle, a girl after my own heart. I love writing paranormal, adding just a touch of something a bit different to a story. The whole book doesn't have to be all woo-woo but just have a hint and I'm good with that. LOL

      Delete
  4. Pamela StoneJuly 30, 2013 at 8:31 AM

    Hi Kathy, great blog. I'm not sure what my normal is. People who know me may say I don't have a 'normal'. Ha. Your books sound really cool. I don't typically write paranormal, but I do have a ghost who appears in each book in a trilogy I'm working on though. He's certainly not the main character, but he does drive the stories. Does that count?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy IvanJuly 30, 2013 at 8:39 AM

      Your normal is whatever you want it to be. :-) I never thought I'd write suspense, yet here I am, doing just that. Paranormal just slid naturally into it and it felt right. As long as it's integral to the story, a ghost works just fine with me. I saw you go for it.

      Delete
  5. Karilyn BentleyJuly 30, 2013 at 8:43 AM

    Hi Kathy,
    You are a girl after my own heart! I love paranormal too. A story just isn't a sorry without a pinch of woo-woo. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karilyn BentleyJuly 30, 2013 at 8:43 AM

      Oops! Not sorry, story. :)

      Delete
    2. Kathy IvanJuly 30, 2013 at 9:16 AM

      Good morning, Karilyn. Don't worry, I've got fumble fingers this morning, too. I love that about you, that we both get a kick out of the paranormal. Thank you for stopping by and visiting with me today.

      Delete
  6. UnknownJuly 30, 2013 at 8:52 AM

    Kathy,

    So excited to see you on Smart Girls Read Romance! Yes ma'am, you are a smart girl.

    I believe a part of love is a mystery to us all, so each love story needs a mystery.

    Loved your blog today!

    Hugs,
    DeLaine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy IvanJuly 30, 2013 at 9:18 AM

      Hi, DeLaine. Yes love is a mystery in and of itself, one we all hope to solve in our lifetime and find that special somebody. Take that romance and throw in a good mystery and a bit of paranormal and it's the perfect read.

      And I've very happy to be invited to be with the Smart Girls today. :-)

      Delete
  7. chris kenistonJuly 30, 2013 at 9:26 AM

    I love the line paranormal is my normal - how clever! - but then again a wonderful imagination is what makes great authors!

    Looking forward to more!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy IvanJuly 30, 2013 at 10:53 AM

      Well, Chris, you know me. I'm a little quirky like that so "Paranormal is my normal" just fit. I'm writing away on my next romantic suspense right now. LOL

      Delete
  8. UnknownJuly 30, 2013 at 9:46 AM

    Hi Kathy, so glad you're visiting us today. What an awesome post. I love Paranormal, and what would anything be without a little Romantic Suspense?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy IvanJuly 30, 2013 at 10:54 AM

      Hi Mary. I love throwing a bit of an unexpected twist into my romantic suspense so paranormal just feels right. And live without romantic suspense -- the thought just boggles the mind.

      Delete
  9. Vicki Batman, sassy writerJuly 30, 2013 at 9:58 AM

    Hi, Kathy and all the Smart Girls! I think I know most of you. Kathy is a fab writer and I've been lucky to read her work. Second Chances' end blew me away. Hugs, GF!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy IvanJuly 30, 2013 at 10:55 AM

      Ah, Vicki, thank's sweetie! Vicki always gets to read my stuff before it comes out, so she's clued into all my little quirks and catches all my goofs! Thank goodness for friends like you!

      Delete
  10. Liz LippermanJuly 30, 2013 at 10:47 AM

    Since I loved Desperate Choices, I know I will also love this one. It's waiting to be read, as we speak. I confess to not reading much paranormal, although my CP writes it, but what I do read I love. Mystery and paranormal--what could be better?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy IvanJuly 30, 2013 at 10:56 AM

      Liz, I'm glad you loved Desperate Choices. That book will always be special to me since it was the first book I every finished from beginning to end. Hope you like Second Chances, too. It's a quick read (only 20,000 words). Book #2, Losing Cassie, will be out soon. :-)

      Delete
  11. AlishaJuly 30, 2013 at 3:22 PM

    I love your writing, Kathy! You know how to suck a girl into a great book! Great post! Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Kathy IvanJuly 30, 2013 at 4:27 PM

    Wow, Alisha, what a sweet thing to say. I appreciate so much the support you've shown me on my journey and wishing you great success with your new release today, too!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Carra CopelinJuly 30, 2013 at 4:46 PM

    Kathy, So nice to meet you today. Thanks for being with the Smart Girls and giving us an insight into your paranormal personality. I'm intrigued and can't wait to sink my teeth into your stories!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy IvanJuly 30, 2013 at 9:20 PM

      Thanks, Carra, and it's great to be at Smart Girls blog today too. Paranormal is one of the aspects of my personality that most people wouldn't guess I'd have, at least until the get to know me better. LOL I hope you enjoy my stories as much as I enjoy writing them.

      Delete
  14. SylviaJuly 30, 2013 at 7:43 PM

    Kathy, you know how much I enjoyed Second Chances. I'm eagerly waiting for the sequel.
    Sylvia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy IvanJuly 30, 2013 at 9:21 PM

      Sylvia, thanks. You are such a doll!

      The sequel to Second Chances, Losing Cassie, is finished and will hopefully be out soon. Stay tuned for more information (Hopefully really, really soon!)

      Delete
  15. Lyn HornerJuly 31, 2013 at 10:46 AM

    Kathy, your book sounds like a great read. Love the cover and that photo of the French Quarter!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy IvanAugust 1, 2013 at 11:23 AM

      Thanks,Lyn. I love the covers too. I've been very fortunate with them. And who doesn't love a story set in the French Quarter!

      Delete
  16. Beth TrisselJuly 31, 2013 at 11:47 AM

    Fascinating post, and books, Kathy. I also love paranormal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy IvanAugust 1, 2013 at 11:24 AM

      Beth, I've always tended toward reading paranormal, and when you throw in romance, it's the perfect combination. Thanks, again for letting me visit with your group.

      Delete
  17. Paty JagerJuly 31, 2013 at 12:09 PM

    Your paranormal sounds like the kind I like. I don't read vampires. werewolves, demons but I "get" physic and ghosts. And I like suspense! So these sound like great reads. Wishing you many sales!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy IvanAugust 1, 2013 at 11:25 AM

      Thanks, Paty! I love all types of paranormal, but the psychic story just "worked" and I love seeing a ghost in a story who can interact with the characters in a real way. And thanks for the well wishes on the sales.

      Delete

Thank you for commenting on Smart Girls Read Romance. We love readers and love their comments. We apologize that due to a few unethical spammers we've had to institute comment moderation. Please be patient with us... we DO want your genuine comments!

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)