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Introducing: Author Melissa Lopez

Behind the creation of Netherworld

I’m celebrating the recent release of my first novel titled Dark Sentinel a paranormal romance. And the launch of my series site Netherworld, the back drop for Dark Sentinel. While Netherworld offers a new romance with every installment it’s a dark, foreboding world. I mixed a little horror and urban fantasy elements into the series.

Sometimes authors have real clear ideas of what’s in store for their characters and worlds. Other times details come more slowly.

Netherworld sparked to life with a whispered word. Redemption. What’s necessary in the process of redeeming? What kind of act would redemption take? This led to my central concept. The forsaken. The forgotten. And with that concept I just knew I wanted a world with multi dimensional layers like that of the Dark-Hunter world of Sherrilyn Kenyon. I wanted a world I could build on and expand as the series unfolded.

For a more in-depth inspiration, I was struck by one of my early college classes and one of my very favorite pieces of literature. Dante’s Inferno. This story is truly a masterpiece! I read it three times before the semester was up. The premise of Dante’s Inferno stuck with me from the first reading. Truly fascinating! Imagine circles in Hell. As I was toying with Dark Sentinel’s premise another story came to mind. One written by Kate Hill centered on a demon. Demons! Yes! I needed demons! I wanted lots and lots of demons. I nearly flipped my computer chair over when Pinhead from Cliver Barker’s Hellraiser popped into my head for a visit. Truly, this is not a character you want to know intimately. And neither is my Dark Prince. Seriously a purely evil being. My muse was in Heaven as the bits and pieces of Netherworld started falling into order.

Once I had a partial done for Dark Sentinel, Netherworld literally split wide opened while I was in a Ohio hotel in June of 06. Working with pen in paper story plots poured out. I honestly didn’t see the dark world coming until it was there. The next day, I had an impulsive pitch to Samhain Publishing. I still remember my Netherworld unfolding during my live pitch to Christina Brashear nearly two years ago. Christina was absolutely fabulous while I was absolutely nervous!.

Now thanks to Samhain, Netherworld has come alive for you. So do you believe in redemption?

Read more about Dark Sentinel here. The sequel,
Dark Chance will be released on June 18.

Thanks so much for having me, Dionne!

Note: Please leave a comment for a chance to win a free download of Dark Sentinel.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 26th, 2008 at 9:13 am and is filed under Guest Author. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

20 Responses to “Introducing: Author Melissa Lopez”

  1. azteclady
    Posted: Mar 26th, 2008 at 9:31 am
    1

    :pouncing: mine, mine mine!

    :ahem:

    :waving: Hi, Melissa :grin:

  2. Sarai
    Posted: Mar 26th, 2008 at 10:12 am
    2

    WOW that sounds interesting. I can’t wait to pick up the series. Thanks for sharing with us your creative process! Good luck ;)

  3. Jambrea
    Posted: Mar 26th, 2008 at 10:47 am
    3

    Oh no…we might have a fight on our hands here. :) Good thing it’s random.

    Every time I read about this book I want it more. :)

  4. serasonho
    Posted: Mar 26th, 2008 at 11:26 am
    4

    add me to the list too! sounds so interesting.

  5. Bonnie Dee
    Posted: Mar 26th, 2008 at 11:37 am
    5

    You have been blessed with some truly beautiful covers. The series sounds fascinating.

  6. Karen B
    Posted: Mar 26th, 2008 at 11:55 am
    6

    Wow just went and read up on this book at your website. The story sounds fascinating, nice and dark like I like them. Thanks for sharing with us and I’ve added both to my “to buy” list.

    Oh yes, please add me to the drawing.

  7. HelenKay Dimon
    Posted: Mar 26th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
    7

    Someone in the art department loves you. The covers are fabulous. The DARK SENTINEL guy has that carefree hair-down-on-the-forehead hottiness. The DARK CHANCE dude is adorable. Husband, what husband?

    Yeah, I’m getting these. Will even fight azteclady over them. I can take her…

  8. SweetNSourGirl
    Posted: Mar 26th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
    8

    Oooh! Sounds vivid and fascinating! Gonna have to track down a copy.

  9. Melissa Lopez
    Posted: Mar 26th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
    9

    Hiya, Azteclady. :)

    Thanks, Sarai!

    Nice seeing you Jambrea. :)

    Nice to meet you, Serasonho.

    Anne Cain is a cover goddess. I owe her BIG time. Thanks, Bonnie Dee.

    Wonderful to hear Karen B! Thank you!

    Lol… Honest, I have a saying when it comes to the fabulous Anne Cain. She just doesn’t create bad covers. I love all of mine she’s done. The guys are all dreamy. Anne did my Boomerang Love cover too. :) Thanks a bunch, HelenKay!

    Thanks, SweetNsourgirl!

    ~Mel

  10. azteclady
    Posted: Mar 26th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
    10

    HelenKay, we both know you can take me with a hand tied behind your back. So I’ll just crouch reeeeeeally low to the ground and whine conciliatorily :wink:

  11. Kimberly B.
    Posted: Mar 26th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
    11

    This series sounds so good! I’d love to read it!

  12. Katie Ann
    Posted: Mar 26th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
    12

    It’s been so long since I’ve read anything so dark, it would almost be refreshing (ha) after a few fluffy Regencies. Sounds neat!

  13. Rakasha
    Posted: Mar 27th, 2008 at 12:23 am
    13

    I love how stories just kinda gloop togther like that

  14. Moira
    Posted: Mar 27th, 2008 at 1:36 am
    14

    Wow, this appears to be right up my horror and romance loving alley! And I also love the covers.

  15. kardis
    Posted: Mar 27th, 2008 at 6:55 am
    15

    This series sounds so cool, I’d love to be entered in the drawing!

  16. deemer
    Posted: Mar 27th, 2008 at 8:24 am
    16

    I love the premise! And now I’m itching to read Dante’s Inferno again.

  17. Melissa Lopez
    Posted: Mar 28th, 2008 at 3:26 am
    17

    Glad to hear it, Kimberly.

    Thanks, Katie Ann!

    Appreciate it, Rakasha

    Thank you, Moira.

    Thanks, Kardis!

    Wish I had time to reread Dante’s Inferno. I’ve not read it since college. Thanks, Deemer.

    ~Mel

  18. Melissa Lopez
    Posted: Mar 28th, 2008 at 3:32 am
    18

    Winner! :)

    HelenKay won a download of Dark Sentinel. :) Please e-mail me at mel @ melissa - lopez .com (no spaces) with your choice of e-format.

    Thank you to everyone who commented.

    And thanks again Dionne for having me.
    ~Mel

  19. azteclady
    Posted: Mar 28th, 2008 at 5:52 am
    19

    *chuckling*

    Congrats, HelenKay! Thank you, Melissa!

  20. HelenKay Dimon
    Posted: Mar 28th, 2008 at 9:14 am
    20

    Yay!!!! And now I don’t have to arm wrestle azteclady for it… :)

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