Stories of Mythological Proportions by Elisabeth Naughton
April 29th, 2010 | 
Author: Thanks so much to the Romance Novel Sluts for having me here today! If I can’t be at RT (sob!), hanging out with all of you is the next best thing.
My first paranormal released this week. Marked—book one in my new Eternal Guardians Series—is loosely based on Greek mythology and is centered around a race descended from the heroes of Ancient Greece. I love pulling from mythology, building on the old stories and twisting them around to fit my plots. But mostly I love twining the powers of the gods and heroes with my modern day characters and seeing where it takes me.
There are so many books and stories that have influenced me and this series. The Iliad with its backdrop of the Trojan War and its focus on the struggle between Agamemnon and Achilles; The Odyssey which describes Odysseus’s epic journey home after the fall of Troy; The play The Medea, which chronicles the witch Medea’s broken heart when the hero Jason abandons her for another woman; and Dante’s Inferno which takes you through the seven levels of Hell (Okay, this one isn’t Greek, it’s Roman, but the Greek and Roman myths were closely intertwined).
That’s not to say modern stories and authors don’t influence me as well. I LOVE Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. And I could watch the movies again and again. (My poor husband gets really tired of the movies, but I’m in bliss when I’ve got an entire Saturday to do nothing but watch one after the other.) C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe was probably one of the first fantasy novels that captivated me, and since then I’ve been sucked into series like JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark Series and Larissa Ione’s Demonica books. I love adventure and danger, other-worlds and epic battles. But if a story has a strong central romance, then I’m in heaven.
For me, characters really are story, so every book that calls to me isn’t just a fabulous tale of heroic wars and fantastic quests. They’re filled with relationships that don’t let go even when the story is through—between friends, between lovers, between parents and children. Those are the elements of a story I remember long after the last page is turned. The paranormal/fantasy elements are really just the window dressings that make the story that much more interesting. And seriously, what’s not more interesting than seven foot seething daemons and snarky conniving gods? Hopefully readers think nothing. Because that and more is what you’ll find in MARKED. (Along with a steaming hot romance, of course.)
What’s your favorite fantasy/paranormal book or story? And are there any classics that call to you?
I’ve got a copy of Marked to give away to one lucky commenter today. And if you want to learn more about me, Marked and all my other books, visit me at www.ElisabethNaughton.com.
-Elisabeth
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There is just something about Greek Myths? Heroes! Monsters! Distracting covers!
This type of story intrigues me. I read all types of books, except mysteries. I really have to be engaged to want to read a story. This book looks wonderful. I went to your website and found out more about you. I think I will have to add this book to my TBR list and have bookmarked your website. Thanks for you excellent blog.
My love for books started with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Loved all of the books in the series and it was my first memory of loving to read. I love the Anita Blake series and Darkness Chosen series. I’ve also been trying out new authors and really liked Fallen & The Dark Devine.
I have always been fascinated by Greek mythology. Marked sounds great. I love the cover.
I have always read historical romance and contemps but I just started reading paranormals. I started reading Christina Dodd’s Darkness Chosen series and her Chosen Ones series. I kinda got hooked and started reading a few others like Barbara Bretton’s Casting Spells and Kerrelyn Spark’s Love at Stake series. I have a whole list now of other paranormal romance authors like you now, thanks to all the wonderful SLUTS. Thanks for joining us today. Your book looks good. I will be adding it to my list!
Sarah – Distracting covers…LOVE It! My romantic suspense covers are all split couples/settings. When I got the cover for MARKED, my husband did one of those one-eyebrow-raised things and said, “THAT’s gonna sell books? Seriously?” (I had to remind him he is not my intended target audience. LOL)
Carol – thanks so much! I’m glad you like the sound of MARKED and I hope you enjoy it once you read it. It’s definitely a fun series to work on. I’m having a blast with this world and these “guys”.
Tanya – a girl after my own heart! One of my most fun “parent” moments was introducing The Lion, The Witch & the Wardrobe to my daughter. She has the entire series now and has been loving them as well. Thanks for the comment!
Crystal – thank so much!
Johanna – it’s addictive, isn’t it? I was the same way. For the longest time I was a strictly contemporary reader until a friend introduced me to vampires and shape shifters. Then I was hooked. I hope you enoy MARKED! Thanks for adding me to your TBR list!
I like a lot of Anne McCaffrey’s books, and I love Kresley Cole’s IAD series, but I’ll have to say that it all started with Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series and Christine Feehan’s Carpathians. Now, I can’t stop reading paranormals! =/
This looks like an interesting book. I have different interests, so I try and change up what I’m reading so I don’t get burned out! I’ve read some Karen Marie Moning books, but would love to read some paranormals. Sounds fun!
I love the Avalon series by Marion Zimmer Bradley and the Lord of the Rings. But there many others fabulous fantasy and paranormal books. I’m very curious about yours!
Thank you!
Giada M.
fabgiada @ gmail.com
Julie – Christine Feehan’s books are addictive, aren’t they? So good.
Dee – fabulous! I hope you give MARKED a try!
Giada – that’s what I love about this genre – so many great authors and different perspectives to try.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Elisabeth! My first intro to Greek gods was in a romance book I read, A Greek God at the Ladies’ Club by Jenna McKnight. It was a humorous romantic read! I then wanted to find more and found some with small pubs with the ebooks and I keep a look out for these along with mythology and legends within the romance books. I’m so fascinated by them! I learn more of the mythology and legends by reading them in the romance books! And I so get hooked into the series and love a number of them! I too love Nina Banks-Gods Of The Night series (This is a 2012 series that the Gods of the Night protect humanity from the end of the Mayan Calendar)
When you did this series, did you plan out all the parts (culture, rules, etc) before you write or did most come when you were writing it?
cathiecaffey(at)gmail.com
Thank you for your post, Elisabeth. I too am a big mythology buff.
My favorite examples of modern fiction that utilize Greek mythology are several novels and short-fiction collections written in the 60s and 70s by Thomas Burnett Swann. Though typically classified as fantasy, most have strong (and unconventional) romance elements.
Also worth mentioning in this regard are the fantasies of C. L. Moore, even though she’s usually thought of as a science fiction writer; and H. Rider Haggard’s “She”, the prototypical fantasy revolving around a strong, passion-driven heroine.
Like you, I love Tolkien’s works and their film adaptations. I’m a bit out of the target readership for C. S. Lewis, and I haven’t read the more recent titles you listed.
I’ll confess I’m pretty peculiar in my paranormal romance tastes. Vampires, werewolves, and demons aren’t my cup of blood. Paranormal romances with themes I like are rarely published nowadays. That’s why your new novel looks interesting. Your hero isn’t a nasty creature the heroine must somehow save.
Keep up the good work!
I really like the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. It has every kind of paranormal elements you could ask for. My favorite myth would have to be either Hercules or Pegasus.
My favorite paranormal story (actually stories) are Keri Arthur’s Riley Jenson series.. I love her kick ass action heroine who also has a soft side when it comes to trying to find a mate and wanting to have a family. I enjoy stories based on old mythology, whether it be the Greek, Roman, Viking gods, or some other myth that’s traveled down through history. To see an author take some of an old myth and spin that into a whole new mythology is always fun.
It’s hard for me to state that I have a favorite. I have enjoyed the works of J.R. Ward, D.N. Simmons, Angela Knight, and Ginn Hale.
I’ll definitely have to check “Marked” out. Being of Greek descent, I’m rather fond of the Greek myths
As for favorite fantasy/paranormal series, I’d have to say C.L Wilson’s “Taerian Soul” series and Gail Z. Martin’s “Chronicles of the Necromancer” are my current faves. Then again, I’m still discovering new paranormal authors all the time, so the list will no doubt be growing.
My favourite fantasy/paranormal series is The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. Who doesn’t love a PI wizard who gets into constant trouble?
Hi Elisabeth, my favorite fantasy book is The Hobbit, love this series.
caity_mack(at)yahoo(d0t)com
Hi Elisabeth, congratulations on the release of Marked!!
My favourite paranormal books are the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong, a must read! and the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, both series are fantastic!
Hi Elisabeth,
I am huge fan of paranormal books and I especially like it when mythology is involved in the stories
Winner Drawn! Congrats to Lisa G. You won a copy of Marked by Elisabeth Naughton!