I suppose every author eventually hears this question. I’d love to say that my plots appear to me in a blinding flash of light. Unfortunately, they don’t. So where do they come from? The simple answer is: they come from everywhere, from various bits of information I’ve collected and stored away until the moment I need them for a new story.
When my editor suggested that I come up with a series to alternate with the humorous paranormals I’d been writing for the last few years, I rooted through my mental pile of topics that interested me and pulled one out. I often enjoy listening to Coast to Coast AM, a late night talk show that explores a variety of subjects including the paranormal. I’d heard several discussions about the coming end of the Mayan long count calendar on December 21, 2012. There were many theories about what would happen on that date-apocalyptic destruction, a higher level of human consciousness, or…nothing. For the sake of my story, I came down on the side of death and destruction. This would be my “ticking clock.” If my heroes and heroines didn’t defeat the bad guys by that particular date, then humanity would cease to exist.
Next, I had to create heroes powerful enough to save the planet. I’d used vampires as heroes in previous books, but since this was a new series I decided that I needed someone new, someone more dangerous than a vampire. This would be tough. What could be scarier (or sexier) than a vampire? I’d been checking out what was on TV when I paused on Jurassic Park. In my mind, I pictured a vampire racing toward me, fangs bared. Then I pictured a T. rex doing the same thing. Hmm. Vampire. Human size. Big fangs. T. rex. Massive. Really big fangs. No contest. The T. rex was a lot scarier. So my heroes became men with the souls of ancient predators.
But dinosaurs aren’t sexy, you say. Right. I had to make sure my heroes in their human forms were as hot as I could make them so that they could compete with all the sensual vampires out there. Only my readers can decide if I succeeded.
I’d also listened to several shows on Coast to Coast AM that dealt with numbers. Since the Mayans believed in the power of numbers, I used numbers to define Fin, the enigmatic leader of our heroes. He doesn’t refer to the immortals who are threatening Earth by name, but instead calls them by numbers. In my May release, Eternal Craving, our hero and heroine stalk the dark streets of Philadelphia in search of Eight.
And so was born my Gods of the Night series. But sexy, powerful and dangerous heroes wouldn’t be very interesting without strong, sensual women to love them. Keeping with the number theme, each woman has an affinity for the number needed to banish an immortal villain from Earth.
When I’d finally finished planning, I realized that these wouldn’t be humorous romances. So I took a giant breath and leaped into the deep end of the dark paranormal pool.
I thought I’d end with a question. I’m always looking for unique heroes. What paranormal entity would you like to see as a hero that you haven’t seen in a romance so far? I’m open to vampires, demons, the Fae and others as long as they have something that makes them completely different from the way they’re usually depicted. And no, your suggestion won’t shock me. I mean, my heroes are dinosaurs.
I’d like to thank Marisa for inviting me to blog today. It’s been fun. Now get moving and give me some great future heroes.
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Cory
on May 20th, 2009
@ 9:39 am:
Well, I must say that you have done a fantastic job with your new series so far! I love how it is centered around the end of the Mayan calendar. As for the question about a hero, I’ll have to think on that one. I’ve read a lot of stuff, and there have been a lot of different paranormal entities. I haven’t read about many dragons as heroes though…
Maria Lokken
on May 20th, 2009
@ 9:57 am:
Hi Nina – I enjoyed finding out how you’re new series came about.
As far an entity I haven’t seen in paranormal romance before – I’m stumped. They seem to come in all shapes, sizes, colors and entities. I guess off the top of my head it would have to be a hero who shape shifts into a household object – so when he wasn’t off saving me and the world, or being sexy he’d become a vacuum cleaner, a frying pan, a duster, and a washing machine. In his off time, he’d shape shift and clean my house.
Nina Bangs
on May 20th, 2009
@ 10:46 am:
Thanks, Cory. Yes, I find the conjectures that swirl around the end of the Mayan calendar fascinating too. The Maya had a rich and complex culture, and I’ve incorporated a few of their beliefs into my Gods of the Night series. And as for dragons, I’ve read all of the books in Katy MacAlister’s dragon series. Love those dragons.
Nina Bangs
on May 20th, 2009
@ 10:49 am:
Maria, what an awesome idea. lol The perfect man. When you find one, let me know.
Marisa
on May 20th, 2009
@ 11:31 am:
Hi Nina, thanks for joining us today. I’m right in the middle of Eternal Craving and I’m having a hard time putting it down to get any work done. Its so interesting where people get their ideas from. Overhead conversations, a tv show, a magazine article, both the most amazing and mundane things can spark creativity.
I’m trying to think of a paranormal entity I haven’t read in a book lately and with your Trex – I mean what is left? I guess I’d like to see a paranormal entity with the ability to leap from the pages and visit with me for a while. Yikes if that happens call Dr. Phil.
Lillie
on May 20th, 2009
@ 6:29 pm:
Hi Nina. I absolutely love Gods Of The Night. Can’t wait for the next one!
I think I would like to see a fallen angel hero. I’ve read a couple of books with them in it, but always as side-kicks. Fallen angels need love too! *g*
Erika
on May 20th, 2009
@ 6:55 pm:
Wow Nina – I have to say, I reeeally like Lillie (above)’s idea about a Fallen Angel. There used to be a webcomic, Fallen, by Aido – she discontinued it years ago but I loved the character. I think he was an angel of death… the darkness to semi-light is kinda you’re thing right?
But then again…..we do have Finis/Edge from the Castle of Dark Dreams, and he is the Angel of Death, if I recall correctly. And you already promised to do a story about him……so….now that I think about it, that’s kinda already in the works?
Hm… random babbling. Whatever you decide, I’m sure it’ll be sexy, exhilarating, and fun!
Tom
on May 20th, 2009
@ 7:00 pm:
I love the new book, and so does my mom. I like it that you added emotion to Fin even though he already is great without emotions. I had a dream about 4 years ago about the part where Jenna calls the cops and hangs up to get rid of the vampires and ease the situation. My mom and me are both really questioning who the next book is about. Keep up the great series. The next book I’ll try to buy before my mom and read it without her knowing I have it until I’ve read it. She keeps telling me about the book as she reads so this time I want to read it without any clues to what will happen other than who the book is about. We are also wondering if you could say what your email is so my mom can comment on the books too.
Rebecca
on May 20th, 2009
@ 8:26 pm:
Hi Nina,
I know the new books are not as comedic as your previous series, but they still kick major butt and I have to say that I was very hesitant when I read the first one, but had the second one on my calendar release list as soon as the date was posted
. It is a testament to your writing ability that your Gods of Midnight series is that easy to “buy” into. 
Bravo!! As a side note, however, I will always be crazy about the others and how much they make me laugh out loud as well.
As to other types of heroes, I really couldn’t think of anything that hadn’t been done although I am fairly certain that there have not been any dino romance before now either soooo, I am sure there are ideas floating around out there
. My only off the cuff idea was for a group of heroes who are completely normal (within reason 
) living in a paranormal world. Like a group of geeks or nerds who always go to DragonCon etc… But in amongst all the fantasy, are real supernatural forces working to harm and this group could be what stand against it. No SUPER powers but brains in general, although I could also see adding a supernatural being or two to the group just to make it interesting…. well anyway, I was just rambling and thought I would throw that out there 
Becki
Jan
on May 20th, 2009
@ 8:53 pm:
Aloha Nina,
I would say I love the idea of Transformers but it’s not one that I have seen as a hunky hero. Now Alice Gaines of Changeling Press does an awesome Mannhof series with the heroes shifting into motorcycles. But I always thought that it would be cool to merge the idea of Transformers (cars chaning into robots) merging with romance would be a cool idea.
Takes the whole Clark Kent/Batman man in disguise to a whole other universe. Lol! But hey, your Gods series does just that.
By the way, my mom is such a fan of Coast to Coast as well.
Mahalo (thank you) for all the awesome books/journeys you’ve taken us on!
Nina Bangs
on May 20th, 2009
@ 10:43 pm:
I’m thrilled to be here, Marisa. Leaps from the pages? I’ve read a few books with heroes who could leap off the page any old time they wanted to, and I’d be waiting with open arms. lol And if that happened, you wouldn’t need Dr. Phil because you’d be having too much fun.
Nina Bangs
on May 20th, 2009
@ 10:45 pm:
Hi, Lillie. I could go for a fallen angel, beautiful but dangerous. Sounds yummy. And thanks for your kind words for my Gods of the Night series.
Nina Bangs
on May 20th, 2009
@ 10:56 pm:
Hey, Erika. Thanks for stopping by. Yes, the fallen angel concept is intriguing. I tend to love heroes who have not only the capability for great good in them, but also the capability for evil. It makes them so much more dangerous (read fascinating).
Yes, Edge is my cosmic troublemaker in charge of death. In my October book, My Wicked Vampire, I introduce three new heroes from the Castle of Dark Dreams. Each of them will have a story. Edge is one of them.
Nina Bangs
on May 20th, 2009
@ 11:06 pm:
Hi, Tom. I’m so glad that you and your mom enjoyed Eternal Craving. Thanks for letting me know. You had a dream about that scene four years ago? Wow. Interesting. The next book is Utah’s story. And I’m happy that you noticed Fin’s emotion. He might claim not to care about anyone or anything, but he has a lot bottled up inside him. My e-mail address is: Ninabangs@aol.com. Take care, and thanks for stopping by. Oh, and say hello to your mother for me.
Nina Bangs
on May 20th, 2009
@ 11:16 pm:
Becki, I’m happy that you’re enjoying my Gods of the Night series. I thought long and hard about making men with the souls of dinosaurs as the heroes. I was tempted to play it safe and write about the vampires I know (not literally, of course) and love. And no, I’m not giving up Sparkle and Ganymede. My October book, My Wicked Vampire, takes place at the Castle of Dark Dreams, and our two cosmic troublemakers are once again cooking up chaos.
I’ve always liked to read about regular humans dealing with the paranormal world. For example, I love Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse because even though she can read thoughts, she’s pretty much an ordinary person coping with extraordinary situations. Thanks for the idea.
Take care, and thanks for stopping by.
Nina Bangs
on May 20th, 2009
@ 11:22 pm:
Hey, Jan (waving madly). Thanks for stopping by. Interesting concept. One I never thought of. I mean, could it be any tougher than creating dinosaurs as heroes?
Your mom listens to Coast to Coast? Tell her we both have good taste in late night listening.
And thanks for your kind words. I appreciate them. Take care.
Caitlin Kraska
on May 20th, 2009
@ 11:58 pm:
Well there is one mystical creature that is rarely depicted as a hero. Other than probably Lord of the rings. I’ve read plenty of paranormal romances and none have a dwarf hero in them. Vampires, Demons, Fae, and Dragons I have read. But No Dwarves. It’d be interesting to depict a dwarf race that completely bygoes the original status of them being grumps and colonial. Perhaps a rare breed of a dwarf race that is by far magical and can do more than is normally depicted.
Or how about a Pan? Centaur? Very rarely are these creatures depicted as heroes. Well..maybe the centaurs are. But rarely Pans. I read plenty of books but these suggestions would be really interesting to read Especially with an author’s mind like yours Nina.
Jan
on May 21st, 2009
@ 12:19 am:
*Waving madly back* *grinning*
Aloha again, Nina!
She loves Coast to Coast! And she has asked me about the Mayan calendar. She’s legally blind so the show was a godsend when she was bedridden due to fractures she suffered after falling off our mango tree. She was bored out of her mind and there’s no tv in her bedroom so she found Coast to Coast and has been a fan ever since.
And I think it would be very challenging to have machine/man shifter. Not quite Ahnold’s Terminator, but sort of like that morphing Terminator that Robert Patrick played tho. Hmmm…
It could be like a whole society/species, one group shifting into trucks, another into sports cars… lol.
Yup, you just got a glimpse into the wacky Jan brain.
Love all your books both the funny and the more dark series. You are one heck of a writer. So happy your books caught my eye.
Mahalo again!
Nina Bangs
on May 21st, 2009
@ 2:02 pm:
Thanks for the suggestions, Caitlin. The dwarf angle is interesting. I think you’d have to completely change the parameters of what a dwarf is perceived to be in order to make him hero material. It has been done before. I know that my perceptions of the Fae did a major shift after reading what some talented authors did with them. I think my favorite take on the Fae comes from Karen Marie Moning.
Nina Bangs
on May 21st, 2009
@ 2:07 pm:
Hi again, Jan. Does your mother listen to audio books? Isn’t technology wonderful? I think for the machine/man shifter concept to win over romance readers an author would have to emphasize the emotion of the man and his conflict with the lack of emotion when in his machine form. Readers, myself included, love a tortured hero.
Jan
on May 21st, 2009
@ 9:39 pm:
Hi Nina,
I think you are very right. The angst and dilemmas between the human form and the metal form would be really interesting and cool to watch it unfold. Yes, my mom does the audio books too. But she likes listening to the interation with the audience on Coast to Coast. Sometimes audiobooks put her to sleep. Lol.