MIXED SOUP by author V.S. Nelson
These days I tend to write what is more commonly known as cross genre, or, what I dub as mixed soup.
My series, Sekhmet’s Guardians is just that — a mixed soup with flavors ranging from paranormal romance, urban fantasy, sci-fi, suspense, drama, horror and mystery.
The series anchors itself in paranormal romance but I find it fascinating and almost impossible not to blend these other genres into the mix. You could compare it to your evening meal. While there’s nothing wrong with eating broccoli soup by itself, day after day you might find it a bit tastier to add a little something to the table or to the mix.
Therefore, I’ve add a little spice to the soup and to the table;
Broccoli (paranormal romance),
cheese (mystery),
milk (sci fi),
onion (urban fantasy),
chicken broth (drama),
butter (suspense).
Garlic powder (sex or erotic elements)
To make things just a tiny more tasty lets serve your soup with some fresh bread (horror) and a nice glass of wine (hunky heroes)
To compare Sekhmet’s Guardians to our evening meal lets take a look at the components within the series.
The Wine & our Hunky Heroes: Seven stepped forward on that day so long ago.
The Milk & Sci Fi: They came to Earth to protect her inhabitants.
The Onion & Urban Fantasy: Today they operate Guardians Inc, a world renowned protection agency based in modern day Chicago.
Broccoli & Paranormal Romance: Each book centers on a different Ancient and his quest for true love.
Cheese & Mystery: Questions rise in book one, who and what is Jennifer? In book two, where is Jessica? (and so on)
Butter & Suspense: The war between the Guardians and Set’s Legions escalates…
Chicken Broth & Drama: Women and children are disappearing around the world.
Fresh Bread and Horror: What Sets men do to them is unthinkable.
Garlic Powder and Sex: It never hurts to heat up the romantic encounters between couples. Behind closed doors sex went out a long time ago for this author.
And there you have it; my recipe for Broccoli Soup and my series.
I’m sure you have read great stories by others that brought some if not all of these ingredients. I know I have. Sadly, they usually get classified as one category for sales purposes. Maybe someday a new multiple-genre tag will be born. After all, paranormal romance is still a fairly young genre and is ever growing.
Series Title: Sekhmet’s Guardians
Titles: Eternal Lovers (1/2/2013) Eternal Nights (5/1/2013)
Author: V.S. Nelson
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Blurbs:
Book one – Eternal Lovers:
When two hidden worlds collide near modern day Lake Michigan, Jennifer, a young Native American, is confronted with the reality, not everything is as it seems and things do go bump in the night. The questions she has long since asked are answered in this epic tale of self discovery when she meets Gabriel; the director of Guardians Incorporated.
Born in New Tuat, Netchkhet, now known as Gabriel, came to Earth some five thousand years ago to protect the human race. Disillusioned because of an unfulfilled prophecy, he has become cold and distant — even from those of his kind. Secretly, he waits for his enemy to take his head so he may leave this world for good.
Can a tiny Selkie melt his hardened heart and restore his faith in a power far greater than himself? When history repeats itself, can he save her from death’s embrace or will they be robbed of a future again?
Book Two – ETERNAL NIGHTS:
With each passing day, Jessica’s consciousness grew stronger. For twenty years, she was content to remain as she was—trapped inside another. The life she led came to an abrupt end the moment she laid eyes on Raphael. At first, she suspected they were destined to be together–his gentle touch confirmed it. Although he didn’t know it, he ignited waves of a fiery passion that burned deep into her soul. It became brighter every day, giving her the strength she needed. Somehow she would find a way to free herself from her grandmother’s powerful magic.
Raphael thought he was going mad? Hearing the wolf’s thoughts was one thing but what he experienced at night when he slept was all together different. He accepted the simple fact, most men at one time or another would have a wet dream. But come on, the same woman for months. Give a guy a break, will ya?
[divider]
Author BIO: Being a Native American woman and a Scorpio, author V.S. Nelson has always had a fondness for history, mythology, the occult, and the unexplained events which have occurred on this world we call home. It was no wonder she found herself writing a paranormal series.
Raised on authors like H.G. Wells and Jules Verne and coming from a long line of oral storytellers, Ms. Nelson work has been defined as innovative and fresh. She will take you by the hand and lead you into the depths of her imagination as if you are sitting next to her on the couch one minute and alive within her fantasy world the next.
She has always enjoyed reading stories with strong relationships and happy-ever-after-endings and it is reflected in her work. Even her commercial fiction, Sins of a Man, the Memoirs of a Mafia Hit man, is layered with romantic elements. I’ve heard her say she is in love with love more than once and that too is echoed in her stories.
Landing in Arizona, after an exciting teaching career, which took her to the Middle East for several years, she lives in Arizona where she spends most of her time making love to her computer while writing, editing or researching, seven to ten hours a day. The days she’s not writing, you will find her with her critique partners, attending or presenting a workshop or at a RWA (Romance Writers of America) meeting. She’s extremely active in three RWA chapters in addition to her other associations.
She enjoys hearing from readers, fans and people with similar interests. They are more than welcome to contact her through her website http://www.authorvsnelson.com
[divider]SNIPPETS
Eternal Lovers:
He grabbed a bag of blood out of the refrigerator and headed down to the shooting range. He knew sooner or later he would hear from Raphael. He just had to find things to do in the mean time.
He hated the fact that they required blood to remain on Earth. You’d think after all this time, he would have grown use to it–but he hadn’t. Damn Sekhmet anyway. When she led the seven of them through the portal in New Tuat, into ancient Egypt, he never expected to remain on Earth that long or for her to grant them immortality. But she did.
Sekhmet was from his ancestor’s original home land, Tuat–a dying planet. The leaders of their race created New Tuat, a parallel dimension to Earth, where they lived their lives, away from the undeveloped human population of Earth. The elders of their race soon learned that those who were born in New Tuat didn’t possess the gene that granted them immortality.
After leading them through the portal to ancient Egypt, Sekhmet offered her blood and immortality to them. It was days later when he and the others learned in order to remain on Earth they would need human blood to survive. He didn’t know all the genetic details and frankly he didn’t care–he did what he had to do in order to get the job done. At least times had changed and blood was easily available, especially since G. I. owned and operated several blood banks.
Eternal Nights:
“Here, let me help you. I’ll take you to the hospital” he said as he helped the injured man into his car.
The injured man tried to say something but only garbled sounds came out of his throat.
His vocal cords must be damaged, the student thought as they sped away towards the nearest hospital.
“It’s ok. Don’t try to talk. I will have you there in no time.”
The man’s throat was bleeding profusely as blood soaked down onto his cloth upholstery. He would figure out a way to get it out later, what mattered was getting him to the E.R. before the man died in his front seat.
He pulled into the hospital back entrance and headed for the parking spaces which were full of ambulances. He finally found a parking space close by. He parked the car and ran around to the passenger’s door to help the man out of his car.
When he opened the door, the wounded man grabbed onto his shirt and pulled him back into the car. What the fuck? The next thing he knew, he felt a sharp pain on the side his neck. It felt as if someone had stabbed him. He heard a sucking sound, like a baby sucking on a bottle. Trying to pull away from the man’s deadly grip, he found he couldn’t move.
For a moment he thought he was dreaming. Maybe he’d fallen asleep watching that newly released horror movie.
Fear rose in him once he realized what was happening to him. That was the last thing he consciously thought as his body began slipping into the abyss of the unknown.
When the vampire finished draining him all but his final drop of blood the injured man stood up, tossing him back into the front seat and said, “Thanks for the lift.”
The creature stretched his shoulders, closed the car door and ran into the night.