Tina Glasneck, USA Today Bestselling Author

Enter the story world of dragons, magic, and romantasy

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Developing Characters: Why I ask what if!

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I write from my experiences

It is a truth that all creatives dig deep into their life’s fodder—be it true to life experiences, or even the emotions the experience produced.

Life is the best teacher of writing.

It is through those experiences that I can draw on to help spice my narratives.

Currently, I am working on a short story with my newsletter subscribers, showing the process of how I create.

Although a story plot is essential, characters are what readers want, a connection that draws them into a story and makes them care.

For my current work-in-progress, I am writing a short story, and the story goal is simple: How does character A defeat character B? This is the main gist of the story, but not the main plot. This thread of storytelling must be braided with the actual external plot that thrust the reader into the story.

The premise doesn’t have to be complicated, but an open question that causes one to ask ‘what if’ and dig deeper into options.

So, for this question, this what-if, we start with plot vomit! This means we free write ideas of what we think might could happen. All thoughts are welcomed at this stage.

What if the villain isn’t the real villain?

What if magic causes the villain and hero to switch roles?

What if the villain and hero must join forces to defeat and even the worst option?

What if the villain was an automaton, and a henchman was operating him?

What if the hero is placed under a love spell and goes to the dark side?

What if the hero’s lover dies, and it serves as a path for the hero to not only defeat the villain but to become the new villain?

The more questions you ask, the more your imagination starts to churn and think. There are no incorrect questions to ask. Here we are only trying to find the character’s goal for this story, as in how we see the character at the beginning and how they will be at the end.

By starting your writing process with such, it guarantees that the story will also have a significant character arc and change.

Representation Matters

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Today, while talking to kidlet#1, we discussed politics. Here in Virginia, the democratic primary was being held, and with many on the ballot, and as she looked on and wondered as to who I might vote for, I had to pause.

In the voting booth with both children, this was a teaching moment: a moment where I showed in real life, and not through a text book how our voices matter.

Not only in politics, but in everyday things: our voices indeed matter and as a parent, I need to support the diverse voices to counter that of racism, classism and sexism for society and for my children’s future (not even to mention ableism).

I am a 1980s child, and I knew nothing about any of those things. I grew up black, impoverished and unluckily a female (according to some). But in my neighborhood, race wasn’t an issue– I grew up with friends of all colors and nationalities. It wasn’t until my family relocated to the Deep South that I came to understand that being black came with its own stigma.

I’ll never forget the day – I was riding with my grandmother as we headed to Pulaski, Tennessee, and as we rounded the courthouse, I watched men in sheets chant epithets and spew hate. I asked my grandmother about it, and she told me to ignore those fools.

But what is known cannot  be unknown or forgotten.

Only after this fierce and blatant experience was I forced to face that European beauty standards  would dictate my own beauty. My lips and nose were considered too wide; my derriere too round; my laughter too robust; my hair too curly.

I was supposed to cower in the background, and be okay with it, but  I wasn’t.

Instead, I sought to create my own path, and strengthened by the tenets of my faith, and family, and embraced by a high school where we were all eclectic, different and thriving on this difference, I pursued excellence. 

I tried out for plays; studied hard, acted, travelled, and never let anyone put me in a corner because of what they expected me to be like. (Another reason I write about dragons and waifs turning into warriors.)

Luckily in the 80s, I grew up with television characters that reflected my world, such as The Cosby Show and A Different World, followed in the 90s by In Living Color, Family Matters, Martin and Livin’ Single.

Diversity in pop culture and media are important.

The media and entertainment industry play an important role in race relations, as many people only know of certain ethnicities based on the image as produced through Hollywood’s lenses.

Stereotypes that are visually reinforced, and without basis.

We’ve not yet moved to a society where all are embraced, but maybe this can be the beginning of it. Maybe through diverse fiction, and the telling of tales that move the masses, others can embrace stories that star members of differing ethnicities, genders and sexual orientations.

Diverse fiction doesn’t mean that everything is about race relations or some huge historical struggle. A story by an African American author doesn’t have to include narratives about slavery. A romance doesn’t have to be about race any more than a children’s cartoon. Were the Huxtables any less relatable because they were a black family?

Instead, this and representations of diverse mediums reflect the diverse community we are, as well as helps to build bridges – removing the sense of otherness, and instead recognizing that the stories we tell are those of the heart – the same boy meets girl love stories, travel adventures, war stories, heck, even horror.

By building those bridges we help to eradicate the growing chasm of hate which we find ourselves wallowing in. 

So, instead of just deferring to a homogeneous or default representation in fiction, I’m happy to be part of a forthcoming boxed set that reflects the world in which I live.

My America is composed of several races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and genders. And there is room in fiction for all of us.

Let’s embrace diverse fiction because we are living in a grand diverse world!

#diversitymatters #representationmatters

Story Is More Than A Plot

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This is my professional opinion: story is more than just a plot.

What if I told you that the secret to a good story is finding the topic that intrigues you, personally?

It is no secret that I enjoy researching subjects that interest me, be it the humanities, history, or even mythology, every story that I create has a starting point, a spark of ‘what if’ interest.

Here is where I find a minute interest, can form a question, and then dive more into that topic.

When I wrote A Dragon’s Destiny, my first fantasy novel after transitioning from the darker crime fiction, I wanted to dive into what I knew from my good ole days of theology—no not liturgy, but the church history behind much of what shaped western society.

With this being fantasy, I knew that I had to take a look into how magic was perceived. Yet, even more, I wanted to make more of a critical view. Many books propagate the stories of the new religion and how it paved its way through Europe and then the world, but not much is shared about the pagans or followers of the more traditional religions. I chose Norse mythology due to my interest in this subject.

History is filled with –isms (racism, sexism, classism, to name a few), and many novels dive into those topics. For me, I wanted to deal with that of misplaced fear and prejudice, prejudice based on that of magic (magic-users versus those who regarded it as evil).

Having found a premise, and a subject of interest, I then dove in like I was rewriting my thesis work. Much of what I uncovered never ended up in the series. It helped me to world-build. It helped me to shape the secondary characters along the way.

Much of my world creation is based on history, mythology, and mixed with my colorful imagination, whereby I can touch on topics, and maybe leave a breadcrumb or two to lead you, the reader, to ask more questions about history, humanities, and mythology, too.

For me, before I can truly begin to create, I have to ask my story questions, figure out my why of the story: why is this story important? Why does it need to be shared? Why are these characters perfect for this plot? Why does this topic speak to me, and what is it trying to get me to deal with on a personal level?

When I can answer these questions, even on a subconscious level, I know that I can then begin the process of meeting and interviewing my characters, crafting them, and listening as they reveal themselves to me.

Yes, for me, a story is so much more than a plot. It all starts with the research.

New genre trend: Supernatural Prisons

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Don’t follow the pack; be a trendsetter!

I woke up with this resonating loudly in my ears. I bounded out of bed and raced down to write today’s email. Yes, I am ecstatic to have such good news to share.

I’m EXCITED to announce that I’ve joined with a group of authors to create a new genre trend—supernatural prisons.

Coming from a legal background (as a former paralegal, I’ve definitely spent my share of hours in prisons, around prisons, talking about prisons and prisoners), and as my world continues to grow, it just made sense to create this part of it.

We’ve come together to form the boxed set called Hexes and Handcuffs. The goal is to help each other by promoting this new content. And the best part is we are doing it for our readers, like you, who love our worlds and how they’ve developed and continue to grow and change.

As a huge thank you, we’ve set this amazing set of stories to free for you to devour, share with your friends and family, share with the world if you’d like, and help us find new readers who might enjoy supernatural prisons.

Get hexed, handcuffed, and held prisoner!

For my tale, Captive Souls, I’ve taken us back to the Hell Chronicles World, when the gods come to town and wreak havoc. This story is set in the five year time game between Hellbent and Helltown.

Here is the blurb for Captive Souls:

Captive Souls, as a solo title, will be released at a later date, once the next book in its series is ready!

The gods are real, and they don’t care about us!

Kristen should be enjoying her final year in college, but everything changed when the dark elves invaded. The invaders destroyed the world as she knew it. America fell, and the magical occupiers now rule with an iron fist.

Caught up in the rebel factions, Kristen is captured when a mana shipment meant for the sick and injured freedom fighters runs afoul.

Kristen must keep her wits about her to handle her entrance into the Supernatural Prison, and a strong right hook to ensure she survives to fight another day!

Escape into Captive Souls by USA Today bestselling author Tina Glasneck, a Hell Chronicles story from the series readers are calling “riveting.”

Download Hexes and Handcuffs, widely available, for FREE, for a limited time. This is a limited time edition and set!

#1 New Release Three Little Words!

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It is always exciting to bring something into the world, and Three Little Words being embraced by readers has me super happy!

Today, I thought to ask a poignant question: Are Vampires the new heroes?

When you think of vampires, what comes to mind? Are you thinking the handsome men with leather coats, thinking of Spike here from Buffy, or even the dashing Eric from True Blood? Maybe you’re even thinking of the daywalker, Blade?

For me, an 80s child, vampires walk this great line of sex appeal and pure danger. After all, the vampires of my generation would be more of The Lost Boys, From Dusk ‘Til Dawn, and even Vampires (starting James Woods).

These movies have walked with me, and even been a part of my life’s soundtrack.

Then the game changed with the likes of Underworld!

We had a vampire that was all of those great things and completely kick-butt! I mean, I don’t know about you, but I’d love to have the ability to leap off of skyscrapers and have black leather flutter around me.

Selene was completely lethal, but also had heart. I wanted someone who was strong, like Pam from True Blood or even Tera. There is something about when a person comes into their own.

Vampires have existed in folklore worldwide for centuries, but for most of us, vampires bring with it images of castles, bats, red satin-lined black capes, and Dracula.  (I mean, King James — yes, that one connected to having his own version of the Christian Bible, wrote a dissertation on vampirism, connecting it to demon possession in 1597; and even most recently, there are people who identify as vampires, who drink human blood and declare that their bodies need it).

The thing about vampire stories is that we often enter their world after they’ve lived a very long time, and everyone knows the myth of creation, but maybe like Sookie Stackhouse we could discover this world alongside our characters, where a mystery is afoot, the supernatural world is hidden, and bam! What do you have to give up to become a vampire? What do you gain? Is being part of this elite group all unicorns and endless possibilities?

This was the forefront of my mind when creating the Order of the Dragon series. I wanted a character that would grow, but also reveal a hidden supernatural world, where magic is real, dragon-shifters lead the Order, and a rogue group wants to topple them all.

This week marks the release of the 4th book in this dynamic, and series that continues to grow, Three Little Words, and I am overjoyed that you love this series just as much as I do.

I can’t wait to discover what magic is heading Leslie’s way next!