Friday 17 October 2003

Pic of the day: Another romance novel. Because demons need love too. Or perhaps they don't, but nobody told this lady.

AMOR ILIMITADO SOLAMENTE

In preparation for the NaNoWriMo, I have bought and consumed yet another book by Margit Sandemo. This book is called "Demonens Vinger" (Norwegian for "The Demon's Wings"). And yes, it is exactly the same pun in Norwegian: If you read it out loud, it sounds like "the demon swings". Which I guess he does, in a manner of speaking. I am not sure the pun is intentional, though. One of the two demons in the book actually has beautiful wings, in a reptilian sort of way, and he uses them to hide the girl who loves him. Except at that time she does not know that he is a demon - she thinks he is an ordinary young man. Of course the truth comes out eventually, but the pious young girl finds out that she still loves him. Shock! Big surprise!

Well, unless you have read some of the approximately 100 earlier books by Margit Sandemo. Demons, angels, spirits, homicidal maniacs and aliens: They all need a woman's unlimited love. At least it is generally a new woman each time...

***

By the time I started to make this entry in my head, I still did not remember that I wrote about pretty much exactly the same thing one year ago to the day. Funny? Creepy? Or perhaps it simply comes from the fact that this is the second year I plan to participate in the National Novel Writing Month project. NaNoWriMo is all about writing a story of 50 000 words during November. Quality doesn't matter; in fact, quality is slightly frowned upon. There are 11 other months in the year in which you can aspire to fame and fortune and saving the world. November is for quick and dirty improvised novel writing. And guess what makes me think of quick and dirty improvised novel writing? Fantasy romance novels by Margit Sandemo! As I said, she must have written at least 100 of these by now. She hasn't won any literary prize that I know of, but she sells like hot buns. In fact, I bought this book at the small supermarket where I also buy my buns. Sandemo, and her angels and demons, have become a part of the literary diet here in Scandinavia. Her books are also translated into several European languages, but not English as far as I know. Of course English has its own trashy romance novels, although I have only read a few. I generally don't read romance novels unless there is magic in them. I feel emotionally much more comfortable with magic than with romance. (If you have read my archives, I think this will make perfect sense...)

Last year when I attempted to write a novel in November, one of my main characters was a succubus. This was great fun, for the first week. But as the story progressed, I got cold feet, and they grew colder and colder until I stopped. In all fairness, there were other reasons too; first among them my hand. I have upgraded my speech recognition software since then (I am using it to dictate this entry) and downloaded a free program "Break Reminder" to make sure I remember to take breaks. But none of this will do me any good if I don't like the story I am writing. Last year, there was just too much pre-marital temptation; my muse and my conscience got into a big fight. Of course it was all just for fun, but there was just too much of it. Seduction of the innocents is considered one of the greatest sins in Christianity. (It is evidently also very popular as a literary device, but I think I would choose to stick with my religion if it comes down to a choice.)

After failing NaNoWriMo last year, I decided to try again next year with a sweet and decent story. As you can see I have backslid a little; the paladin has been replaced by a quarter demon or alien or Planeswalker or somesuch. (I still don't know exactly which, and neither does anyone in the story as far as I know.) The setting has changed from medieval fantasy to contemporary Norway. Of course this makes it a completely different story, but it is still reasonably innocent. Then again, it hasn't really started yet... Traditionally I allow my characters to influence the story. But this year I have spent so much time with my characters before the novel starts, I feel reasonably sure that I can trust them.

Anyway, my story is not the same as this "demon wings" story. My character is not an actual demon; he may have some nonhuman genes, but he is a human at heart: Born of a woman, raised among humans. He is just not a normal human, and society has taught him that abnormal is a synonym for evil. He needs someone to accept him as he is, but how can that happen when he can never show himself as he is? I don't really know, but I have some ideas. The rest I trust to the characters. It is their story, after all!

***

Oh, and the title of this entry: "AMOR ILIMITADO SOLAMENTE" is supposedly old Spanish and means "love without limits only". It is an expression that shows up from time to time in this latest series of novels by Sandemo. It is the key to lifting an ancient curse from several of the characters, but first they have to find a magic place or artifact or somesuch in the Spanish wilderness. When pronounced while displaying a certain sign it can also destroy evil. Now in my opinion loving demons is a bit too "ilimitado"; but loving people who are afraid of their own evil seems like a good idea. I will continue working on that idea during November... God willing.