Guest Post: Susan Illene author of Darkness Haunts and Darkness Taunts

Darkness Haunts
The Sensor Series 
Book One
Susan Illene

Genre: Urban Fantasy

ISBN: 1481861182
ASIN: B00B0RSNG0

Number of pages: 387 pages
Word Count: 92,000 words

Guest Post by Author Susan Illene: Romance in Urban Fantasy

One of the biggest dilemmas an urban fantasy writer can face is how much romance to include in their series.  It isn’t required of the genre, but many readers expect some type of intimate relationship to develop.  A segment of fans want to see strong romantic elements and others want the bare minimum (if any at all).  No matter which direction the author goes, not everyone will be happy.  Actually, even I was guilty of being upset if a series didn’t have the right level of romance for my liking.

When I began writing The Sensor Series I went in the direction I preferred (naturally, I have to like the story I’m writing or it wouldn’t be any fun!!!).  I enjoy slow-burning romances that don’t develop too rapidly, but also doesn’t take too many books before they really get good. 

For the first novel in my series, Darkness Haunts, I chose to focus on developing the main characters and the world.  The tension is there between the heroine, Melena, and some of the males she interacts with, but I let the plot hold the focus.  In the next book, Darkness Taunts, I allowed the romance to develop in the midst of all the other events going on in the story.

I’m not going to give away who she ends up with for readers who haven’t picked the books up yet, but for those who prefer stronger romantic elements they will get their fix in the second novel.  They will also continue see more in future books as the relationship progresses, but there will always be a strong plot to take center stage. 

For the UF readers, what is your preference?  Do you like to see romance develop quickly in urban fantasy or think it should be drawn out over the course of many books?  Or maybe not at all?  I’d love to hear what others think!

Book Description:

Melena Sanders faced her fair share of danger with insurgents and terrorists when she served in the U.S. Army, but now she is about to go up against a new threat. Her best friend, Aniya, has disappeared while on a trip to Fairbanks, Alaska—a supernatural haven. Most humans have no idea darker races lurk amongst them. Mel knows better. If she wants to get her friend back, she’s going to have to go in alone—but not unarmed.

Melena has a few special skills the Army didn’t provide, but the odds are still against her. She’s got to come up with a plan fast that doesn’t involve her, or her friend, dying. But danger likes to play it rough. A war for power is about to rise in Fairbanks and if she wants to get Aniya back, she’s going to have to step right into the middle of it.

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Darkness Taunts
The Sensor Series
Book Two
Susan Illene

Genre: Urban Fantasy

ASIN: B00DTQP4GM

Word count: 101,000 words (approximate)

Book Description:

Melena Sanders has managed to avoid all things inhuman for most of her life, but after coming to Fairbanks, Alaska to rescue her best friend from supernaturals she hasn’t been allowed to leave.  That is, until her long-time nemesis comes to collect a favor she owes him.  Lucas might be half angel, but he’s all bad as far as she’s concerned.

Paying him back might get her out of town for a while, but her new destination will be anything but enjoyable.  Mel’s got to help the nephilim take care of a demon possession outbreak in Juneau.  Although something like this hasn’t happened for thousands of years, Lucas is certain Melena’s rare abilities are the key to solving the problem.

With violence in the capital city growing, she’s going to have to figure out how to stop it fast before the trouble spreads to other places.  Not only that, but working closely with Lucas is changing the dynamics of their hate-hate relationship—worrying her even more than the demons.  Getting back to her captivity in Fairbanks never looked so good.

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About the Author:

Instead of making the traditional post high school move and attending college, Susan joined the U.S. Army. She spent her eighteenth birthday in the gas chamber...an experience she is sure is best left for criminals. For eleven years she served first as a human resources specialist and later as an Arabic linguist (mostly in Airborne units). Though all her duty assignments were stateside, she did make two deployments to Iraq where her language skills were put to regular use.

After leaving the service in 2009, Susan returned to school to study history with a focus on the Middle East. She no longer finds many opportunities to test her fighting abilities in real life, unless her husband is demanding she cook him a real meal, but she's found a new outlet in writing urban fantasy heroines who can.

Website- www.darknesshaunts.com

Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/SusanIllene1

Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/Susan_Illene

Twitter- https://twitter.com/susan_illene