Guest Post: Stephany Simmons, Author of the Lian and Figg Series

Bending the Rules

What I like most about writing Urban Fantasy is the opportunity to bend the rules, to warp, but not break the stereotypes. Had I decided to write Fantasy and started mucking around with elves and dwarves, I’m sure that an angry, pitchfork and torch bearing mob would have been knocking on my door, but with UF, I think readers are more open.

So, I didn’t worry too much when most of my primary characters were unconventional. My hero, Lian Cairn is not exactly the standard alpha male. Nor was my female lead a woman who needs saving. Though I was a little worried when I started writing the primary vampire character for Vampire Blues.

Skip is not sexy… unless you like them short, round and nerdy.

In current fiction, vampires are usually super sexy, sometimes sparkly, or total monsters. I took issue with that. In my mind, an immortal version of Einstein would be infinitely more valuable than an immortal Brad Pitt. In Lian and Figg’s world vampires are as individual as the humans they once were. None of them fit the stereotype, except maybe the one who is a dead ringer for Barnabus Collins.

You can visit Stephany at her website, on Facebook, GoodReads and on Amazon. She is currently working on the third book in the Lian and Figg series.