>I saw this on Jill’s and Gena’s blogs, and though I wasn’t tagged, it looked like fun. So, in the spirit of making fun of myself, which I can’t seem to resist, here we go!
- First person POV. I actually can write in third. Did it all the time in college. But so far, all of my novels (seven of them, to date) have come out in first person.
- Heroine with an attitude. Sometimes (like with Faythe, in the werecat books), that’s because she still has a lot to learn, and she has no idea how difficult she’s being. Or she does, but doesn’t care. Then, sometimes it’s because a heroine has earned her attitude (like the MC in Book on Spec.). But mostly, that’s just the way they come out.
- Heroine carries no purse. This is because I don’t carry a purse (except at conferences, because most of my slacks don’t have pockets), and have no idea what to put in them. The one time I wrote a purse for a heroine (in my very first, never-even-queried novel), it was so she could carry a knife, with which to kill the bad guy. And I had to call a friend to find out what else to put in it. Seriously.
- Men are beautiful, but troubled. Marc was orphaned early. Jace has daddy issues (to be seen in Pride). And it goes on, in books/series you guys haven’t seen yet.
- The book is long. Can’t help it. I’ve learned how to cut and tighten dramatically, starting with Rogue, but so far, nearly every book I’ve ever written has come out very long in the rough draft. And the one that didn’t is growing during the re-write.
- People die. Not just one person. People. And in all but one book, the deaths have been violent and very unpleasant.
- Girls have guts, and know how to fight. And if they don’t, they learn.
- Things “apparently” happen. Just ask Rinda. I’m more aware of my over-use of that word now, and am trying to curb it.
- Guys are very well-built. Because it’s fantasy, people. Come on!
- A happy ending is not guaranteed. Because even fantasy novels have to relate to real life somehow, and in real life, there are few happy endings. So my books have real endings, because the characters are usually willing to sacrifice their own happiness for the greater good. (Yes, Stray ended with most people happy, but that was only the beginning of the series. Mwa ha ha ha!)
>What I enjoyed about “Stray” was exactly the POV. It fitted “Faythe” perfectly and it told the story best and made me laugh at time, because I love the spunky replies. Besides having women fight has been exhilarating for me since the days I played Mortal Combat.I have a BIG question!! I know your fantasy world revolves around werecats and that is great, because they get under appreciated, but do you plan to include spell casters?I am just curious, because I am obsessed with magic.
>Hi, Rachel! Looks like you have the good cover luck, too. Although I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a lot of bad urban fantasy covers.Thanks for joining in. I found the beginning of this meme in a two year old draft on my blog and thought what fun it would be, apparently all over again. Heh. I use that word a lot to, now that you mention it.Anyway, it’s a great way to find new authors to add to the to buy list. Your books sound like something I’d enjoy, so, glad you did this!
>When you find out what is really necessary in a purse, let us in on it.
>Fun meme! I enjoyed reading your calling cards. (uh, and your book!)
>I liked that Faythe kept taking her close off to morph/change –errr… Uh. Hmm.”Girls have guts, and know how to fight. And if they don’t, they learn” – Kick ass females ROCK!”Men are beautiful” – easier for me to identify with the male characters this way.”Heroine carries no purse” – If you figure out why most women DO carry purses, please share. What goes in there besides wallet and keys?
>”Apparantly,” I’m the more girly of us… I’ll give up the secrets.
Wallet, keys, cellphone, sunglasses,lipstick,hand lotion,checkbook, business cards, small thing of Tylenol, IPOD, uh… a feminine packet and as a writer, I keep a small notebook and several pens. I used to keep a Pocket Vocabulary book in there, but enough is enough, right? 
My husband says I’m a strange woman because I don’t carry makeup or a brush but I’m never without something to write on or with.
>In my front pockets, I carry my cell phone, keys, and a powder compact.In my back wallet, I carry my wallet. I’ve never really needed anything else. I hardly wear lipstick anyway, and would certainly never need to reapply it. And these days, I take notes on my phone, which is actually a very handy Pocket PC.
>That’s so weird. In my front pocket I also have a cellphone, keys and powder compact. Though I moved my wallet to my other front pocket since it is bad posture to sit on a thick wallet.
>Ha! Fortunately (or rather, unfortunately) my wallet isn’t very thick.
And, obviously, I meant that I carry my wallet in my back pocket, not in my…wallet.
>I must have some sort of lip thing to reapply at all times. Dry lips get on my nerves. Dry hands come in second. Guess I’m the sluttier one, too since my jeans are too tight for wallets and other bulges. (snerk) I want a pocket pc! Probably still have to carry the purse since I have eyeglass and sunglass prescriptions and I’d lose one or the other without a case in the purse.
>I have both a pocket PC(iPaq) and a windows mobile phone. I got the phone because I never had the iPaq charged or with me when I wanted to use it. But the phone just plain suxes… Kinda bummed about that.
>Oh, I love mine! But I’ve never heard of an iPaq.
>Yeah, I’m going to steal this from you. It’s absolutely awesome. Although, I don’t think I’m as self-aware about my writing as you are. You really have it all thought out, real professional like!
>Mine’s older. It’s just like your phone except it doesn’t have a phone in it. Basically, an iPaq is a PDA. It is the HP brand name for them. http://www.ipaq.com/Here's a bad photo of Mine. I was trying to use it with a portable keyboard as my writing computer, for a while.http://biiisskuit.wordpress.com/2007/02/22/my-portable-non-internet-computer/Makes more sense to get it with a phone, I just didn’t do enough research on my phone before buying it. And my portable keyboard doesn’t work with my phone either…