But they SHOULDN’T be having SEX! And other thoughts that don’t belong in YA novels. With GIVEAWAY!

Okay, so I have to admit, in Steps Before the Fall, Kitt really shouldn’t have been having sex with anyone. Not so much because she’s not even sixteen yet, but she’s doing it for all the wrong reasons. As many young people do, because what exactly is the right reason when you’re at a stage in your life where everything is constantly changing? From one day to the next you might not even like the person you think you’re in love with. And never mind thinking putting out is gonna make the guy stay.

Sounds like a lecture your mom might give you, right? Not so sure I want to read a book where the hero and/or heroine is thinking and acting like a thirty year old.

The interesting thing is, while I started writing Kitt’s story when I was her age in the story, I still knew what she was doing was wrong. You don’t have to be an adult to understand manipulating someone with sex is pretty messed up. Teenagers aren’t stupid and I believe they can take a story for what it is.

Still, writing porn-style sex in a book about teenagers would be kind of gross. So how do you find a good balance?

Well, for starters, your characters just don’t have sex. There are times when getting naked is just out of character or doesn’t make sense because when you’re being chased by zombies you’re raging hormones can’t compete against your survival instincts. Come to think of it, you’re trying to survive and probably haven’t had a chance to wash and neither has that guy you’ve been eying. The mutual stink might cancel out the general nastiness, but…yuck.

Anyway, the plot itself might prevent any bump and grind, which is a very good reason for characters to keep their clothes on. Absolutely no issues with that. There’s also the possibility that the characters themselves just don't wanna go there. I've read some awesome books with characters you can actually believe are tempted, but just ain't gonna go there. Which is fine. Actually, that happens in The Token in a combination of plot and characters driving the story. It's their story, so I'm not gonna argue with them! lol!

But the books that I usually can't finish are the ones so thick with the writer's opinion you can't see the story anymore. You might see some preachy narrative, characters you thought you knew suddenly looking down on their friends for being 'easy', and some real strained dialogue between a couple of seventeen year olds who've decided to 'Wait until they get married'.

Look, I'm cool with suspending belief for most things in books. I won't even complain if your heroine develops convenient super powers in the middle of a fight, or your hero dodges a spray of bullets from a machine gun. But if they both stop in the middle of a chaste kiss to let the reader know abstinence is godliness, I'm probably gonna get pulled out of the story. You might as well have done that incredible awesome thing where authors write themselves into the story. It's my favorite! *rme*

I'd love to know what you all think on the subject, so make sure to comment! Also, check out cool stuff I've giving away to one lucky winner! Fill out the rafflecopter to participate and if there's enough comments I'll pick a couple to receive gift cards!

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Not another brick in the Wall (And what Mommy and Daddy think of their sweet baby girl)

Through a window, maybe, but I'm jumping ahead of myself. ;) But since I've gone there, I should mention I love the Manson version of the song. Here's the vid for your listening pleasure. 

Now, those of you who've read the book might have gotten a chuckle out of the 'sweet baby girl' in the title. Helena K. Sharpe (aka Kitt) isn't your typical heroine. Or really a heroine at all. But she is an important part of where this story started and the reason everything went to hell.

One Amazon reviewer put it perfectly:

"Deadly Innocence,

My final verdict on Helena is that she started out a rather naive teenager whose only thought was enacting revenge for her parents killers not understanding that what she planned would have such an impact until it was too late.

As Helena learned from her mistakes she grew wiser, unfortunately though not wise enough to prevent the loss of several key players in the war which erupts between the vampire factions."

 I don't want to spoil too much, since the book hasn't been out long, but Kitt makes some damn bad choices. Originally, David's POV wasn't in the story, but it was hard to see the impact Kitt was having on others with just her view on things. Honestly, Kitt's often too selfish to see beyond how things affect her.

Seeing the impact on David when he embraces her is pretty cool anyway. He totally sees it coming and there's not a damn thing he can do about it. I'm not sure about the rest of you, but I felt bad for the guy even when he was acting like an idiot.

Recently, I've had a few people ask how Kitt's parents would react to what she's done. Which is interesting, since they're dead. Sad and all, but they have a unique perspective since, if they're watching over her from the beyond everything is playing out in front of them.

Let's see what Mrs. Sharpe had to say first:

"My baby is so alone and I've been afraid for her for so long. I wish I could be there to protect her, but she's been very strong despite everything she's gone through.

Is it horrible to say I'm just happy she's alive? Many bad things have happened, and maybe she's partially to blame, but she's a survivor. In the end, that's all that matters to me. That she has a good life and that hopefully one day it gets easier for her."

Well, that didn't surprise me too much. Kitt's mommy didn't know much about the supernatural world before she died and maternal instincts and all...

But what I'm really curious to see is what her father thinks. He sacrificed his life, in part, to protecting the very thing his daughter's actions has threatened.

Is he proud of his darling little girl?

"I should wonder where I went wrong, but instead, I regret not having taught her more. She's been taken advantage of in so many ways and it makes me rethink dedicating so much time to helping maintain the sanctuary.

The existence she's chosen is a harsh new reality I'm not sure I could have prepared her for. I can only pray Charlie honors the promises he made to me. That he understands that she will need him to guide her.

If only he wasn't so lost himself."

 Hmm...all right, not what I was expecting. I guess it makes sense that her parents are glad she's not dead yet. But his comments did make me think of this scene. Check it out and let me know in the comments if you have any questions! <g> I'll be doing a few posts, and one AWESOME giveaway, so make sure to subscribe to the blog so you don't miss anything! 

The low hum of the warehouse fan filled the length of silence between them. Hands shoved in his pockets, shoulders hunched, Charlie did his very best to look everywhere but at her. “I swore I’d look out for you and your brother. Actually, your father brought it up just days before he was murdered. I should have known…”

“Wow.” Her lips slit into a smile and she tongued a fang. “You’re good—I’ll give you that. ‘I swore I’d look out for you and your brother’. Funny that, for all we know, Toby is dead.” She brought up the gun and aimed at his head like he’d suggested. “And you ended my life.”

Running his tongue over his teeth, Charlie shook his head, then laughed. “It would have served you right if I’d left you with Axel, let you deal with the consequences of your half-assed plots. There was no way to save you without embracing you—you made sure of that. Don’t bitch ’cause you got what you wanted.” He gestured at her, at the gun. “Especially when you’ve come so far.”

She shrugged. “Won’t be as pretty as I pictured it, I always thought fire would be nice and efficient, but whatever gets the job done.”

“Yes, well I supposed I should be grateful you’ve got a gun and not a knife. I heard about the hack job you did on Andrew.” The desk creaked as Charlie braced his hands behind him on the cluttered surface. A shadow eclipsed the sheen of his eyes, turning the iris black. “He wasn’t a bad kid, but he was weak. I can’t imagine he went quietly.”

A shudder went over her as she recalled Andrew’s begging. “He got what he deserved.”

“Did he?” Charlie pushed away from the desk and approached in a casual saunter that was much more familiar than the defeat or regret he’d shown so far. His eyes were hooded, mocking, despite the barrel pressed up under his chin. “You still telling yourself he tore Tar open? The same boy who cried while you chopped him up? Does it help you sleep at night?”

 

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