Dark Night Reads : Author Dianna Hardy: Mary and Gwain

Believing in Intensity

by Dianna Hardy

www.diannahardy.com

One of my greatest challenges when writing The Demon Bride, was making the intensity of the relationship between Gwain and Mary believable, given that in “real time” they had only known each other a few weeks.

When writing Karl and Elena, it wasn’t an issue – they had known each other for years and years; the intensity made sense. For Amy and Pueblo, it was all about lust, so the intensity also made sense. I needed something to make Mary and Gwain make sense – I knew what that something was, but I needed to make sure it unfolded in a way the reader would understand (which is half the reason this book is twice as long as the others, lol).

Their connection with each other became strongly apparent in the second book, The Sands Of Time, but as is the nature of this series, things are revealed at lightning speed and BAM, the story is laid out in front of you.

Gwain and Mary’s relationship had to be intense by the very nature of what they mean to each other, and how they support each other. It couldn’t be any other way (wow, it’s actually hard to write this post without spoilers, lol…).

So how do you make “intensity” believable? I don’t think there’s one way. I concentrated on writing from deep (subjective) third person point of view (POV), as with the whole series, and I made sure I got into everyone’s heads so you get a very rounded view of what is happening, and so I could fit a lot of story into a 70,000 word novel.

When we are with Gwain and Mary specifically, the first half of the book concentrates on their scenes from her point of view, and the second half (after a crucial turning point for them) is told from his. By the very end of the book, we’ve come full circle, and we’re back in Mary’s head for one more chapter.

And don’t forget all the other characters…

Things happen fast in The Witching Pen world – in a matter of a few days at the most, but usually, over a 24-hour period. The depth of what these characters have has to come through in that short space of time in as believable way as possible.

I think I succeeded, but you will be the judge of that – for now, I am done J The Demon Bride was the last instalment in The Witching Pen series, and it will be followed, in the latter half of 2013, by one urban fantasy spin-off novel called The Last Dragon. After that, I have no plans to continue with these characters, although I never say never… at the end of the day, it’s the characters that decide.

The Witching Pen Novellas are available in digital and paperback format. All info and buy links can be found on the series website The Witching Pen Novellas.

And thanks so much to Amy and The Book Diaries for taking the time to read and review this series J

Dianna Hardy is a multi-genre author of paranormal things, dark things, poetic things, sexy things, taboo things, and sometimes funny things. She writes about witches, demons and angels. All info about her books can be found on her website DiannaHardy.com