The Amazing Tool that is Fan Fiction

Yes, I’m one of those people. I love fan fiction. Hell, I write fan fiction (not that I’ll share those stories any time soon). I came in at time when fan fiction wasn’t accepted by the mainstream, back when it was a deep, underground movement within fandoms. Tumblr, Wattpad, FanFic.net, AO3 (my personal favorite), they weren’t places you shared with your friends without a certain type of trust.

Now, fan fiction is everywhere! It’s accepted, loved, and people can even make a living off of writing it! Many authors will share stories of how their novels started out as fan fiction, but I don’t think any less of them for it. (Looking at you, Christina Lauren! Keep doing what you're doing!)

When you think about it, almost everything is fan fiction, especially in romance. Is that hunky main character of yours based on a sexy celebrity? There’s such a thing as real person fan fiction and if your story was on a different platform, you would fit that category. Fan fiction is not only a great place to draw inspiration, it is also a tool to help you write better!

When you already have an established world, complete with thought out characters, you can take them and just focus on the story! Now, I've seen plenty of people look down on fan fiction. Some see it as theft, others as laziness. But, if done the right way and with the right motives, I believe it can help authors really find their own voice and learn how to weave a story. It’s so much easier when you’re not having to look too closely into character arcs and continuity.

Fan fiction is not going away anytime soon. And, it may very well be the thing we need in the writing community to explore our own potential as authors!

The Paperback Stigma

For those of you who don’t know, I work in a library. We have all genres of books carefully filed, but, hidden against the back wall of our fiction section, are the shelves of paperbacks. When I’m looking for something to read, I always migrate back there. I have always been and will always be a lover of classic paperbacks (especially the ones with Those Covers).

Just the other day, a man came to me saying that he knew we had a particular mystery novel, but he couldn’t find it on the shelves. I looked it up and, sure enough, it was categorized as PB. Paperback. When I told the patron where he could find his book, he looked at me with disbelief.

“Back there?” he asked with his eyebrows halfway up his forehead. “You’re sure?”

He’s not the only one. At least once a week I hear something like this. But, here’s the thing: There are a lot of books that come out as mass marketed paperback! They’re not all trashy romance novels! (Not to dis on trashy romance novels at all, mind you!)

I just don’t understand why paperback books are synonymous with something to be ashamed of. I hope my book comes out as a paperback, complete with Shirtless Hunk and Swooning Lady. Those are the books that inspire me, that made me want to become an author in the first place.

This is only my two cents, but I really hope we can reach a point where paperbacks are just as accepted as other books, not looked down upon by readers! In the meantime, I will continue collecting my paperbacks and displaying them proudly!

An Introduction...

Hello, everyone. My name is Lori Fayre and I have never blogged before. I find that interactions like this, the more personal ones, are hard for me to put on the page. But, I want to let you guys in on my journey and share my opinions on things, so here goes!

I guess the most important thing for you to know is that I am a soon to be published author of historical romance. How did I get here? Well, it started over ten years ago. I read my first paperback historical romance, A Kiss to Remember by Teresa Medeiros. After that, I started reading Harlequin romances like Harlequin Presents and Love Inspired, but I always gravitated to books set before 1900.

Now, here I am releasing my first novel, The Devil’s Maverick, set in 1790 aboard a pirate ship. So many interests and events in my life have led me up to this point. It would take more than one post to get all of that out of my system, so I’ll just leave it at that.

I will tell you the reason I write, though. Back when I was in middle and high school, there was a lot going on in my life that made things difficult. It wasn’t the easiest time, but I always had a book. To me, books were an escape. I gravitated to sci-fi, fantasy, and (yes) romance because it was my way of leaving the world for a few minutes and feeling true happiness.

I want my stories to do the same for others. I picture a woman coming home, tired from a long day at work, and curling up on the couch with my novel. I want my words to transport someone away, to take them on an adventure.

Anyways, a little more about me as we continue, just so you can get an idea of what lies ahead. I am twenty-four years old, but an old soul on the inside. I come from a very small town with very specific views, but I would like to refrain from bringing religious/political views into my work (both here and in my books). Speaking of work, I am employed at my local library, so I will have plenty of books to review for this blog!

On a more personal note, I am engaged to the love of my life and a mother to the sweetest little Yorkie to ever exist.

I hope you keep reading and follow me through this journey! Be sure to let me know the kinds of things you’d like to read about on here.