Bethany Averie and her Man-Beast take over my blog!

Today I’d like to welcome Bethany Averie. Bethany is a gem. She’s always promoting our local Northwest Houston RWA chapter writers on her blog (and at the library, grocery store, local bookstore) and I wanted to feature her, and thank her, for all she’s done for me...and so many others.

 Welcome Bethany, wonderful to have you with us.

            Thank you, Tess, for giving me this opportunity to guest post on your blog. It’s pretty exciting. If Tess didn’t tell you, we’re actually critique partners. SURREAL (my fantasy romance with paranormal elements) is a better novel, thanks to her help, comments, and brainstorming.

            Writing fantasy and/or paranormal isn’t much different from writing any other novel. The difference, there’s generally an element of the otherworldly in it and, if that’s the case, you have to define the parameters of the world. In SURREAL, my hero, Monroe, is a Man-beast lion--a type of shape shifter. Since such a being doesn’t exist in the real world, I had to define what a Man-beast Lion was (he’s fully human in his human form and maintains some human abilities in his beast form. He can still talk like a man, although his voice is deeper).

            Readers also need a clear picture into Monroe’s world, because he doesn’t live in the human world. He lives in The Third Realm--a world that parallels the human world, except it has magic. Plus, there’s mythical and paranormal creatures with an old fashioned element due to years of traditions passed down from one generation to the next.

            In my writing, I tend to gravitate towards what generally only exists in the imagination. I enjoy stretching my “what if” to the very limit and then pushing past it. I have a lot of fun and I’m delighted when others have fun reading my stories.

            At the moment, none of my stories are published, however, I do have a blog, which you can find at http://writebybethany.blogspace.com/ . I hope I’ll find people who wish to help me achieve publication in the near future.

 For fun, Bethany’s done an interview with her favorite character.

INTERVIEW WITH A MAN-BEAST (shape shifter)

            Welcome to my head, well the imagination side of it. Don’t mind all the clutter, I have a lot playing around there.

            “You should have Ayres clean this place out,” a disembodied voice growls.

            Sighing, I peer into the darkness. “Monroe, come out where everyone can see you.”

            Muttering, a tall, over six foot figure steps forward. Long blond hair is pulled back in a queue with a black elastic, and he’s dressed in a white button-down shirt, open at the collar, black pants, and shiny black dress shoes. Sitting down in a wingback chair across from me, he scowls, his golden hazel eyes flashing.

            “Hello, Monroe, how are you?”

            His fingers tap the arm of the chair. “I’d be better if you left me alone.”

            “I could say the same thing about you. But, never mind. Please tell readers about yourself.”

            He shifts uncomfortably in his chair. “My name is Monroe Dubay. I’m a man-beast lion. What you humans would call a shape shifter. Except, unlike your shape shifters I don’t rely on any moon phases. I can turn into a lion anytime I please, unless I’m in the human world.”

            “Tell them where you live.”

            “Why don’t they read my story?”

            “It’s not published, yet, remember? I got that last-minute polishing left before I send it out.”

            “Exactly why isn’t that done?”

            “There’s been a lot going on in my life. You know that.”

            He folds his arms. “You just had to have that jewelry giveaway on your blog.”

            “Oh come on, one of the sets was in honor of you and Sasha.”

            His face softens. “So, they know me and Sasha’s story exists?”

            “Of course they do. I’ve mentioned it on my blog. Plus, you know Tess St. John is my critique partner.”

            “Right.” His lips quirk into a vague smile. “Tess is all right. The only thing I hold against her is she likes Bast.”

            “He’s your best friend.”

            Monroe’s lips twitch. “He’s a pest.”

            “Aw, be nice. How’s Sasha?”

            He smiles a real smile. “She’s fine. Although, I think you got me in trouble with her. She doesn’t like it when I growl at you.”

            I smile back. “What else can you tell us about her?”

            “Besides the fact she’s perfect?”

            “See, Monroe? I knew you were an ole pussy cat.” I nudge his arm. 

            He pulls his arm back. “Am not! I’m a lion.”

            I roll my eyes. “Yeah, yeah, hear you roar. So what are your hopes for when people do get to read you and Sasha’s story?”

            He folds his hands, resting his ankle on his leg. “That they’ll like her as much as I do. Perhaps you’ll let me see what you have planned for the other stories? There’s glimmers of them all over the place. They’re very distracting when Sasha and I are trying to have a conversation.”

            I grin. “Nope! Unlike Sasha, I won’t let you in to rummage around my consciousness. You’ll just have to find out when everyone else does.”

            “All the more reason for me and Sasha’s story to hurry up and get out there.”

            Standing, I offer my hand to him. “Well, these things take time. Thank you for dropping by.”

            He gives my hand a light shake, his grasp firm. “Thank Sasha. She’s the one who said I owed it to you.”

            “Be sure to tell her I said thank you. Have a nice day, Monroe.” I wave as he disappears, around the corner, to another part of my imagination.

Bethany, thanks so much for visiting today and giving us a glimpse into your life and your writing!