By
Daryl Devore (Guest Blogger)
How
it was written. I ignored two conventions of romances. First – Love
My Fate was written with three
distinct sections (acts). A lot of romances have the idea of three
acts, but they are not so obvious. The story flows seamlessly from
the sweet meet
to the happily ever after.
Nothing wrong with that. But, I like trying things outside the box. I
know I’ll get grief from some readers. Some people do not
handle/accept deviation from the norm. Others will find it unique.
Happily
ever after just doesn’t happen.
Events have to come together to get the two to meet. Both people have
background, baggage, quirks and foibles which affect the development
of the relationship. Instead of just focusing on the romance, this
story focuses on the lives of the two people who are in the sights of
Cupid’s arrow.
I
let my characters tell their story and this is how Love
My Fate came about.
Act
1 – Capri
Meet
the female MC (main character)
Capri
is a business executive with a crazy-ass friend, Kat. They have been
best friends since elementary school. While Capri has grown into her
mature, responsible corporate persona, Kat is still the wild child.
Kat
orders tickets to a sex toy convention and drags Capri to the event.
After several glasses of champagne, which Capri needs to bolster
herself, she tours the event.
A
voice whispers in Capri’s ear – buy
something fun, something erotic and something dangerous.
Capri dismisses it, thinking she overheard someone else’s
conversation until the voice continues to follow her around the
event.
Then
it follows her home. Crazy sexiness happens, but Capri can’t cope
with the fantasy. She needs stability and reality in her life. She
tells the voice to leave. It does and she immediately regrets her
decision.
Act
2 – Thall
Meet
the male MC.
Thall
is the youngest son of one of the three Fates.
The
Fates control our life. They are who are called upon when a human
says – oh, let the Fates decide.
Clothos, Atropos and Lachesis are the three main ones with children
taking over part of their job as the world’s population has
exploded.
Thall
has been the overseer to Capri since she was born. He watched her
grow up, graduate from university, fall in love, get married and
suffer through a soul-crushing divorce. Then something unexpected
happened; he fell in love with her. Fates are not human. They have no
emotions. Thall couldn’t understand why he felt this way. None of
his thousands of siblings or cousins has a ounce of emotion, yet he
craves to be with Capri.
In
a conversation with Lachesis, his mother, and Xyno, his sister, he
confesses he is in love. The women conspire to grant Thall his desire
and let him become human so that he may love Capri.
Atropos,
his aunt, is furious. It is wrong for a Fate to love a human.
Act
3 – The Romance
This
is where it all happens. And no, I’m not going to tell you.
Second
convention I broke - Act 1 and 2 are written in first person POV –
to really let you get into the heads of the characters. Act three –
Takes a step back to third person POV and let’s the reader watch
the action.
Numerous
people told me I couldn’t/shouldn’t write the story this way. I
ignored them. Hey, if I’m wrong – I’m wrong. But what if I’m
right?!?!
Everything
evolves. What if Love My Fate
is the start of a new trend in writing? Who knows.
Other
romance conventions were adhered to. There is suspense – action –
oh, and yes – some romance (and a lot of hot sex). The action
involves a crash landing – a komono dragon - a run from a tsunami –
a man with a knife – a car crash and corporate espionage. Wow – I
hadn’t realized how much I put these two through.
One
last comment – if you like a book filled with high drama and angst
– then this NOT the book for you.
Blurb
What's
a woman to do when a voice follows her home and makes mad, passionate
love to her?
Daryl
Devoré’s latest is a quirky paranormal urban fantasy – Love
My Fate.
Corporate
businesswoman, Capricious Gray, is dragged to a sex toy convention by
her best friend. After a mysterious disembodied voice helps
her
with her purchases, it follows her home. Passion
ensues, leaving Capri torn between lust for her fantasy lover and the
desperate need for reality in her life.
Thall,
son of one of the Fates, harbours the irrepressible need to be with
the woman he's desired from afar for years. In order to make her his,
once and for all, he must help Capri get past her fears, including
the fear of what he represents - a fantasy.
Can
fantasy become a reality for these two lovers?
Note:
This book was previously published by New Dawning Bookfair under the
title Capri’s Fate.
The edition has a new title, new cover and has restored previously
deleted scenes.
Excerpt
By
the time Kat and I left Patsy's Party, I had a bustier and a glass
dildo. Three display areas later, I owned a bottle of lubricant—'A
water-based warming gel that gently heats on contact to improve
mind-blowing sexual satisfaction.'
Who
writes the blurbs for these things?
My
fingers hovered over a pair of red, fuzzy handcuffs, having noticed
cuffs like these around Valentine's Day and thought they'd be a
giggle to own. But could I? I'd never be able to trust a man enough
to let him cuff me to… well to anything. Still, I wanted them.
Really wanted them. And I kind of would like to find the man who
could do the cuffing. Someone mysterious, adventurous and have
incredible eyes. Hmph, I'm at a sex toy convention and I'm thinking
about eyes. I gave myself a little shake and turned away.
Noting
that my inhibitions had taken a vacation, I followed Tee to the next
display area, side by side with Kat. The neon pink sign above the
display read Adam and Eve.
Adam's other job was probably male stripper or porn star. It had to
be. Real men just don't look like that. You know that tingle that
starts in your crotch when male heat walks into the room—well—hello
Adam!
He
talked about a five-function clit massager. My knees went weak and my
jaw dropped open. By the time he got to powerful,
easy to use and comes with multiple adjustments,
perspiration trickled down my back and my panties were wet.
Did
he stop there?
Nope!
On to the latest and the greatest in spanking toys.
He
stroked my behind with a long, black stick. "Do you like to be
tamed? This is a stiffening crop." He gave my backside a slight
slap.
I
almost ripped his shirt off.
"You
can turn it on low and be teased by your partner. Or turn to four…"
"And
what?" Kat's voice was breathless.
He
brushed my cheek with the crop. "It's best to save number four
for a very naughty partner."
Yes,
I bought it. As we left the display stall, my fingernails dug into
the flesh of my palms from the vice-like grip I had on my purchases.
"I need a drink."
Tee
checked her watch as she led the way. "We'll go back to the VIP
area. There'll be a demonstration on the main stage in about ten
minutes."
I
kept pulling Kat out of displays as we walked back. I think she
wanted to purchase one of everything in the building.
"Very
good choices, so far," the deep male voice breathed in my ear.
"But you still need one more item—something erotic."
Something
erotic? I've got a glass dildo, warming lubricant, a red bustier and
a riding crop. That's not erotic enough?
"No."
Can
you hear my thoughts?
"Yes."
Trying
not to think anything—or pee my pants—I reached for Kat's elbow,
but my hand moved and I grabbed an object in the display beside me.
The label proudly read The Nipple Tickler. Vibrating nipple clamps?
Tee
stepped next to me. "I have a pair of those. I just love them."
I
stared at my hand. Every time I tried to open my fingers to release
the package, the muscles and nerves ignored my command.
Erotic
enough for you? Voice. Person. Thing?
A
hot breath passed over my ear. "Delightfully erotic."
I've
got sex toys in my hands and a horny voice in my head. Oh, happy day.
About
the Author
Two
writers in one. Daryl Devoré
writes hot romances with sexy heroes and strong heroines. Victoria
Adams is Daryl's alter ego when she's
inspired to write sweet romances with little to no heat.
Daryl
(@daryldevore)
lives in an old farmhouse in Ontario, Canada, with her husband, two
black cats - Licorice and Ginny-Furr Purrkins - and some house
ghosts. Her daughter is grown and has flown the nest. Daryl loves to
take long walks on her quiet country road or snowshoe across the back
acres, and in the summer, kayak along the St. Lawrence River. She has
touched a moon rock, a mammoth, and a meteorite. She’s been deep in
the ocean in a submarine, flown high over Niagara Falls in a
helicopter, and used the ladies room in a royal palace. Life’s an
adventure and Daryl’s having fun living it.
