Magic Thursday with Jess Anastasi

Why I’m a Shipper & Fangirl and How it Helps My Writing

My name is Jess Anastasi and I’m here to admit today that I am a shipper and a fangirl, and I will own up to my addiction.

For those of you not familiar with the terms, a shipper is someone who obsesses with a particular relationship on a TV series, but can also apply to books, movies and other types of couples. This from Urban Dictionary: “The term "shipper" comes from supporting a (relation)ship. To ship something means a person wants two characters to get together and/or shows support for two characters already together. The term "ship" came from the X-Files fandom, when fanfics were written about Mulder and Scully. The fans then called themselves shippers. It quickly spread and is now the title a person gives themselves if they believe two characters should or will be together (The characters can be from anything: Books, Movies, Television, Video Games, and even Actors/Actresses). It is not limited to the couple actually happening, a person can ship something just because they enjoy the possibility of them getting together or even just because they think they would look good together.”
 

As for being a fangirl, that kind of explains itself, but from Urban Dictionary: “A rabid breed of human female who is obsessed with either a fictional character or an actor. Similar to the breed of fanboy. Fangirls congregate at anime conventions and livejournal. Have been known to glomp, grope, and tackle when encountering said obsessions.”

I have never used livejournal, been to an anime convention or had the opportunity to groped the object of my obsession interest, but there are definitely a few characters on TV I am big fan of. 

As an example, it’s well known among my friends that I’m a Dean-girl. I still remember the first episode of Supernatural I saw on TV. I was addicted straight away and knew it was going to be something really special. Ten seasons later, their story is sadly coming to an end, but obviously things can’t last forever. 
 
Dean is a complex character and his relationship with his brother Sam is a thorny web, borderlining on unhealthy fixation. I am seriously not a fan of Wincest, but can see why people ship Destiel. I guess it also doesn’t hurt that Jensen Ackles is easy on the eye.

As for ships, the number one on my list at the moment is Oliver and Felicity on Arrow. There is lots of heated internet debate about these two. In the original comics, Oliver/The Arrow ends up with his ex-girlfriend, Laurel, who also becomes the Black Canary. Unfortunately for Oliver and Laurel on the TV series, they were totally lacking any believable chemistry. And then along came Felicity. Her character was meant to be an occasional regular, but she and Oliver worked off each other so well, and fans loved her so much that the creators decided to make her a main character. In recent months, Oliver admitted he loved

Felicity, but did the old “its safer for you if we’re not together” thing.

The heated internet debates come in because many die-hard old-school comic fans believe that Oliver and Felicity’s relationship is doomed, because eventually he’ll end up with Laurel, as per the comic books. However, the other half are arguing that the TV series is an entirely separate entity that clearly doesn’t need to follow the comic book canon (as highlighted by Felicity’s permanency in the team and on the show) therefore Oliver and Felicity clearly belong together forever and ever and ever. The end.

So, what does this have to do with anything, you might be asking? Because I think most of my obsession comes down to dissecting these characters and their relationships, examine what works, what doesn’t, and why, to file away for future reference when working on my own books. I love getting into the nitty-gritty emotional stuff and watching the way these characters face up to their challenges. But I also love the quiet moments, or the humorous moments. When balanced together in story arc perfection, that’s when you’ve got something people will connect with, something that people will keep coming back to.

As authors, how do we translate this into our books? That’s something I’m still trying to work out…

Available now from Entangled Publishing...

 

Escape Velocity

Ilari, Brannon System, 2436

At first, Dr. Sacha Dalton is simply curious about the prisoner of war admitted to her med-lab...until she sees who it is. For Commander Kai Yang—the commander of the battleship Valiant Knox—has long been thought dead. Killed in action. But after almost a year and half, he's returned home. Returned to her.

Kai is recovering from his ordeal and under the watchful care of Sacha, his childhood friend and the widow of his best friend. Only now, their friendship has grown and deepened into something far deeper, and far more complicated. Yet as Kai's body recovers, his psyche remains broken. How could he ever be the man he was, and the man Sacha deserves? But an intergalactic war has a way of forcing a man to be the hero he was always meant to be...

Entangled Publishing

Amazon

My Website 

Enchanted Orb - Supernatural Secret Agents by C.T. Green

Inspiration from  paranormal romance author C.T. Green. Here's an insight into where C.T.'s stories come from and what she loves about them. Take it away, C.T.!

Supernatural Secret Agents by C.T. Green

What does Jason Bourne have to do with

paranormal creatures? Well, scenes from the movie trilogy inspired, The S.E.R.A. Files.

As with most of my work the first story in this anthology developed from a vision that popped into my head and I just knew it involved supernatural secret agents.

Picture this…A young woman sits at a table sipping a latte and watching a gorgeous guy walk past. Except my heroine, Callie, is an agent with The Supernatural Entity Recovery Agency and not just any agent, but a Fairy Godmother, tasked with handing out wishes and deporting paranormal creatures.

And the hot guy? An angel called Gabriel, on the loose and causing problems – mainly for Callie!

S.E.R.A. is a big place and it wasn’t long before more agents were lining up to tell me their stories. Each short piece had to have steamy sex and a happily ever after, but what’s a good love story without obstacles? The second work, ‘Handling Mercury’ promised lots of snags. 

In case you didn’t know mercury is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature and it’s not safe to touch. Mercury absorbs instantly into skin, it sticks to clothing and is absorbed by hair and nails, so you don't want to poke it with a finger or wipe it up with a cloth. Among the nasty things it can do to your internal organs you can end up with permanent neurological damage.

What would happen when a vampire called Mercury was about to become dangerously unstable—how would his Fairy Godmother partner, Elizabeth deal with the new side revealed by a seemingly harmless wish?

As I finished Handling Mercury other paranormal creatures emerged, all with fascinating tails…er tales. My next couple were werewolves; Navarre is the director of S.E.R.A. and determined not to fall in love again. I relished the challenge of changing his mind and writing about a paranormal creature I’d never worked with before and my first m/m. Absinthe was next and found herself caught between two sexy, irresistible men, one of whom she hates. Love triangle and a half? You bet! 

The final story is about Sin. The only male Fairy Godmother, who’s in deep trouble for his short temper. Jane is his polar opposite…how would these two ever get together? I loved how they resolved their differences and the embarrassing wish that led to their happily ever after. There are more stories to come from the S.E.R.A. Files, with Vol. II and III in the works. So I’d like to say thank you Mr Bourne and secret agents everywhere!

- RECOVERING GABRIEL -

Angels are trouble. But a Fairy Godmother is The Law.

Can Callie find the courage to be the one to grant Gabriel’s deepest wish? What will happen when she finds out his secret?

- HANDLING MERCURY -

Vampires go for the throat. But a Fairy Godmother aims lower....

Can Mercury and Elizabeth’s perfect partnership stay that way when a wish granting turns up the heat between them?

- FINDING NAVARRE -

A lone wolf is about to find out old dogs can learn new tricks.

Navarre isn’t willing to take another chance on love. Can Tor convince the stubborn wolf that two is always better than one?

- TASTING ABSINTHE -

Two’s company, will three prove too much of a crowd?

Absinthe hates werewolves. Bryce loves Absinthe. But he also loves a werewolf. What will it take to turn hate into love?

- CHASING SIN -

A good SERA Agent knows there’s only one Sin that matters.

Jane must make sure Sin sticks to SERA’s rulebook. But what happens when these two opposites stare attraction in the face?

Available at Amazon

About C.T. Green

Before becoming a writer C.T. Green worked in advertising for ten years. She also completed a Bachelor of Arts with majors in communication and literature.

C.T. Green now lives in regional Australia with her husband, children and extensive collection of animals - amongst which are the world's bossiest two goldfish.

In between writing, i.e. arguing with her characters and occasionally posting to her blog, she reads, drinks vanilla coffee, kid wrangles, enters writing contests and avoids the goldfish.

Website: http://www.ctgreen-author.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/C.T.GreenAuthor