Vampire Book Club

As readers, it’s easy to take for granted how easily the point of view can shift in a novel. We flip from hero to heroine, and (in good writing) never think about the fact the author may be a woman diving into the male mind. Adrian Phoenix, who writes from both the male and female perspective in her Maker’s Song series, was kind enough to lay out how she learned the way men think so she could give us honest characters.

And, after you laugh your way past the ways she learned about how things feel to guys, we’re offering up four (!) copies of her latest Maker’s Song book, Etched in Bone, compliments of Pocket Books.

FLIPSIDE: WRITING FROM THE MALE POINT OF VIEW
by Adrian Phoenix

Guys think differently from women, No denying it. I’ve raised two sons and have witnessed their peculiarities—to females, anyway—time and again with utter fascination (and occasional irritation).

Belladonna Brown, a voodooienne in my Hoodoo series, has this to say about the general helplessness of the male of the species in Black Heart Loa (Pocket, July 2011): “Falling into pits. Knocking their thick skulls against, from, on or off all manner of hard-add things. Hurling themselves out of objects moving at high rates of speed and/or altitudes. Poking sticks at things they shouldn’t. Without us . . .”

Given all the various trips to the emergency room for stitches and casts—You what? Why the hell would you use a knife as a screw driver? No, I don’t think bottle rockets lashed to the wheels of your skateboard was an innovative idea—as my sons were growing up, I say give me an amen.

Plus, just what is it about farts and fart jokes that provide them with endless amusement, even as adults? The conspiratorial glances and endless snickers. Every woman alive knows that farts are to be ignored. Ahem.

And sex is definitely regarded in a different light: most females see it as a promise, most males as skin-on-skin fun. (Note: I say “most” not “all.”)

But despite the differences in perceptions, our emotions (hidden or on our sleeves), our hearts, how we fall in love, how our hearts are broken, is the same, no matter the gender.

I love writing from a male POV. I write from the POV of female leads too, of course. In the Maker’s Song books, I show the story from Dante’s perspective and from Heather’s; from mortal viewpoint and from those of vampire and Fallen—but while I can use my imagination for nightkind and fallen angels, the male characters need to be real no matter their species—mortal, Fallen, and vampire.

I believe I have a good handle on emotions and perceptions and attitudes—in some ways, we’re not all that different—but male sexual habits, how they feel during sex, the process? I was in the dark. Sure, I could imagine, base it on my experiences with men, but that wasn’t enough. I wanted to know so I could completely envision what my male characters felt when gripped by lust or caught up in passion or horny and alone. Click to continue reading Adrian Phoenix Guest Post & Giveaway: Writing from the Male Point of View