The Master Race
Hitler? Germany? Concentration camps? A
superior race? Experimentation? Extermination? A dark time back in the early
decades of the 20th century?
Like me, you might have studied the rise
and fall of Hitler's Regime at high school or university. The images, recounts
and documentaries aren't exactly warm or fuzzy, and they certainly leave an
impression on you. But, as a writer, some of the events and concepts of
Hitler's grand plans make the mind tick over, imagining what if...
What if Hitler's idea of establishing a
Master Race had succeeded? How would it have shaped our world history? What
sort of place would be the world today? Would there be a caste system? Slavery?
Ideologies developed around the superiority of certain genetic traits? Laws
forbidding the mixing of races?
The mind boggles, doesn't it?
One of the questions I get asked a LOT is
where do you come up with ideas for your stories. Well, history tends to be a
good starting point, and to be honest, much of the time I don't realise where
the inspiration comes from until after I've written the book. The subconscious
is a wonderful thing. It can absorb a photo, an event, a fact, or even a phrase
or lyric can and mull it over for days or even years.
I'm now up to book #3 in my Light Blade
fantasy romance series, and I'm only now beginning to recognise and
understanding that some of my plot lines reflect events from human history,
specifically the time of Hitler.
The idea of a master race starts in
VENGEANCE BORN and arcs through into ALLIANCE FORGED and ALLEGIANCE SWORN. A
lot of my world building links to this concept - there are humans, a race of
demons known as the Na'Reish, and a hybrid race of half-human,
half-demons called the Na'Chi. Both human and demon histories regale
their own race as being superior to the other, and both are at war to prove the
point. They also can't stand the thought of a hybrid race, of their bloodlines
being tainted, so laws and actions have been instituted to ensure any such
offspring are terminated, then over the decades the possibility of their
existence relegated to the shadowy realm of mythology.
But, as with any society, what happens
when ideologies break down or beliefs are challenged? Or better yet, proven
wrong?
In VENGEANCE BORN (Bk#1), secrets about
the origins of human and demon history were uncovered, and the fallout of
hundreds of years of corruption, lies and misinformation alters that history
and defies perceptions. ALLIANCE FORGED (Bk#2) propels the characters into a
time of conflict and instability where everyone - humans, Na'Reish
demons and the Na'Chi - struggle to come to terms with the need to
change and what it means for their survival.
What comes to mind when you hear those
words?
Varian and Kymora, the Na'Chi hero
and human heroine, spearhead this life altering change as they try to navigate
the dangerous path of melding two races together, to forge an alliance against
the much stronger Na'Reish - the demons who would see the humans enslaved
and the Na'Chi exterminated. But their efforts are hampered by those who
rebel against the change.
This is the backdrop behind the story and
woven into it are Varian and Kymora's personal trials and their romance. Our
hero seeks a haven for the Na'Chi but fears the humans will never be
able to put aside their mixed blood prejudice, a belief reinforced as he
struggles to control his darker half-demon personality. In her role as high
priestess, and armed with the truth, Kymora fights to unite their two races
while helping Varian to accept his dual nature.
So, will a master race triumph in
ALLIANCE FORGED? Well, I can't tell you, not without spoiling the whole
storyline - sorry! :-) Until you can get your hands on a copy of the book and
find out, here's the back cover blurb of ALLIANCE FORGED, just to whet your
appetite:
ALLIANCE
FORGED
(Book
#2 of the Light Blade series)
There
is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and
conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a blind
priestess lays claim to a half-breed warrior, body and soul…
Hunted
and marked for death by Na’Reish demons for their half-blood heritage,
the Na’Chi are searching for a new home—something an alliance offered by
the human leader could provide. With both races divided by prejudice, when
Light Blade rebels brutally attack the Na’Chi, the alliance seems doomed
to fail.
Varian,
leader of the Na’Chi, a hybrid race of gifted warriors, is cursed with
the darker impulses of his demon heritage. Controlling the part of himself that
craves the high of the battle is a struggle he’s afraid he’ll lose—until he
meets Kymora Tayn, a priestess driven to serve her deity. While he’s unwilling
to trust anyone outside his people, he finds himself drawn to Kymora’s strength
and passionate nature, and discovers she has the power to calm the darkness
inside him.
When
the Na’Reish raid human territory for blood-slaves and kickstart a war,
the key to the survival of both races—Na’Chi and human— is an alliance.
However, when Kymora is kidnapped, pitting human against human, Varian realizes
he must embrace his darker half, not only to save the alliance…but also the
woman he loves.
If you'd like to know more about Varian
an Kymora, you can visit my website to read an excerpt
(http://www.kyliegriffin.com/AF_Excerpt.html).
Kylie Griffin’s obsession with all things paranormal/fantasy started at an early age, when she used to imagine the jacaranda tree in her front yard was a spaceship used to defend the world from invading enemies. Writing stories seemed a natural extension to her childhood adventures.
Today, she’s a primary school teacher sharing her love for the written word with young children. In her spare time, she writes and reads all things paranormal.
Kylie lives in a small rural village in outback New South Wales, Australia, where she volunteers in a number of emergency service organizations in her local community. Visit her website at www.kyliegriffin.com
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30 comments:
Woot! Varian is nearly here! Can't wait to have him on my bookshelf, Kylie. Luck, luck, LUCK with the release!
Michelle
Hello, ladies,
It always seems that a master race comes with master arrogance and ego. Actually the term 'master race' seems to be a bit of an oxymoron. To really be superior a race must be imbibed with compassion and mercy, thus, in some eyes, making them less superior.
Right, somehow yesterday got away from me, so now I'm off to EC to get me a bit of Renate. :)
Hi Mel and Kylie :)
Why is it that some people's ego's are so overly inflated that they believe the crap they do?!!
Are they deluded, mentally challenged or simply monsters?
Who knows, but I cant wait to read all about your villains vain and monstrous attempts at a master race in AF real soon!!
Great blog post :)
Hi Michelle
- same here!! Really looking foward to their story =)
I agree Sandy - and well said!
And hope you enjoy Renate too =)
Hi Cath!
It does make you wonder doesn't it? Mind you - fun to read in fiction! lol
Great blog post, Kylie. History is a rich minefield! Congrats on the release of ALLIANCE FORGED, I'm so looking forward to reading Varian and Kymora's book!
And Mel, huge congrats on the release of GALACTIC INFERNO! Another one for my trusty iPhone!!!
Mel, I second Christina's good wishes - hoo-yah on GALACTIC INFERNO's release! I love that we've released a book around the same time.! :-)
Yep, it's good to see Varian almost out there, Michelle. It's a bit scary but a lot exciting to think people will be reading his story shortly.
I wonder if the nerves get any better the more books you publish? LOL
Compassion and mercy?
Well, Sandy, Hitler and the Na'Reish certainly failed in your definition of being a 'master race' big time!
And you're dead right about those qualities being seen as a failing by some. I know the Na'Reish consider anything other than total dominance and control as a weakness to be exploited.
Thanks for dropping in! :-)
Cath, I think you hit the nail on the head with 'deluded, mentally challenged or simply monsters' - anyone who holds the belief that they belong to a master race are probably all three!
I loved the twist of how humans and demons once used to coexist peacefully and that certain elements/characters in the series have tried to erase this from memory.
The idea that history can be so easily corrupted when someone has the motivation and resources to do so, makes me wonder how much of our known history has been doctored or altered into what we believe today.
I'm not an avid follower of politics or the goings on in government (in fact I'm quite happy ignoring most of it), but creating the intrigue that can surround such institutions was/is a lot of fun in fiction! :-)
Christina, great to see you here! I thought you were in the edits cave - but then I've lost track of time I'm afraid. :-)
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the second installment in the Light Blade series! Varian & Kymora's story was so much fun to write.
Loved the post Mel & Kylie. That's a fascinating concept Kylie and I hadn't thought about the Light Blade series from that perspective. Though the clash of cultures/races even sexes is one that's played out regularly throughout the world. I suppose it's not surprising then that it finds it's way into popular culture. Can't wait to get the first two books in the series and get a peek at the third!
LOL, CT, as I said the parallels of what I write about & human history aren't immediately obvious to me but I love looking back and working it out.
Have fun reading the series! ;-)
I just started reading Vengeance Born & it's awesome! Didn't want to put it down. & of course I can't say enough about that glorious cover. Alliance forged is definitely in my wishlist & all & every other Kylie Griffin book!
Very interesting post, Ladies! Amazing how much we can mine from history. And I can't wait to read about Varian. Not long now...
Hi Christina =)
I'm with you, I've been really looking foward to book 2!
And I hope you enjoy Galactic Inferno too =))
Hi miss C.T Green,
great to see you here!
Kylie brings up an interesting topic - and yes, you really must read the books! (just one more to shuffle under your couch! LOL)
Hi Linda!
It's a great book isn't it =)
Now just for the next installment *drums fingers*
Hi Kylie
The past is quite a scary place when you think about it from Kylie's context! And here we thought post apocolpytic was bad...
Linda, you have made my night - thank you! I'm very happy you're enjoying VENGEANCE BORN!
Gene Mollica is my cover wizard - he will have done all three in the series - haven't yet seen Bk#3's cover but I have confidence he'll work his magic again. :-)
Kylie, only 18 days until Varian comes calling! LOL
Hi Mel,
wow.. i love your blog design :)
Hi Kylie,
Just found that BD had sold vengence born with cheap prize but omg i should wait till what 292 days to get it, dillema
btw congrts on the release and i saw that third book will be release too :)
Fascinating blog post, Kylie. Thanks and have fun on your blog tour.
Hi Eli,
so glad you like the look of my blog =)
And not long till A.F's release!
Thanks for dropping by Eleni =)
Funny how our subconscious works. I totally see the relationship to a superior race now you pointed it out, but I wasn't thinking history when I read Vengeance Born.
Hi Eli! great to see you here.
Yes, VENGEANCE BORN is being released as a mass market paperback (cheaper price compared to the trade size) in April 2013 - wonderful news, just sad readers have to wait so long to get their hands on it! :-(
And ALLEGIANCE SWORN will be released in trade size the same month, doubly good news! Much to celebrate then!
Hi Eleni - thank you, I will! :-)
Lexi, as I said, neither did I until it came to writing guest posts/interview for people. Some of the questions that tend to pop up are 'where did you get the idea for this series" or "what inspired this book/series" or "can you write about the world-building" - those sorts of things.
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