Aminah Iman's Blog - Posts Tagged "lillith"
Embodying the Queen
While doing research for my book, "The Changing", I ran into a few brick walls. For one, this particular queen did not have a lot of information available online or in books for that matter, about her, for two she was a very mysterious person. Now I absolutely Love research, the digging in deep of learning something new and exciting, the hours of reading and cross referencing, everything. Research is my best friend, but when you don't have a lot to go on it can be frustrating, especially for someone like me, but I persevered.
The wonderful part of Historical-fiction is the fictional part, the part you get to embellish on, and believe me when I tell you it was my saving grace! I loved all of the information I found out about this character, but the part I seriously sunk my teeth into was where I got to create for her. How she grew up, the conversations she had, the people she met, etc.. I enjoyed having her meet Lillith and the bond they formed. How Lillith molded her throughout her mortal life and was her one constant.
If you enjoyed Lillith:My Genesis and The Queen you'll enjoy this as well seeing as it runs in the same vein. Every one of Lilliths "ladies in arms" will get their own novella so don't worry, this one just spoke to me as the story that needed to be told at this time. Its scheduled to be released in June and I can't wait for you to read it!
Until next time Loves, I wish you all Happy Reading!
The wonderful part of Historical-fiction is the fictional part, the part you get to embellish on, and believe me when I tell you it was my saving grace! I loved all of the information I found out about this character, but the part I seriously sunk my teeth into was where I got to create for her. How she grew up, the conversations she had, the people she met, etc.. I enjoyed having her meet Lillith and the bond they formed. How Lillith molded her throughout her mortal life and was her one constant.
If you enjoyed Lillith:My Genesis and The Queen you'll enjoy this as well seeing as it runs in the same vein. Every one of Lilliths "ladies in arms" will get their own novella so don't worry, this one just spoke to me as the story that needed to be told at this time. Its scheduled to be released in June and I can't wait for you to read it!
Until next time Loves, I wish you all Happy Reading!
My obsession with research
When I start a new project, one of the first things I do is research. It doesn't matter if it is a historical fiction book or a book on the supernatural, I look up any and everything I can on the subject. The funny thing is, I enjoy the research as much as I do the actually writing. To learn about the subject that I'm about to spend months of my life with is important to me. To learn of different cultures or myths and legends is wonderful, to read the different ways a single subject can be written about is amazing.
When I was researching Lillith I found everything from religious references to witches and cults. I found so much information it took months to cultivate through it all, to decide on what to use. I knew what angle I wanted to go in, I knew that I was going to go with Lillith being the first wife of Adam and that after she was banished from the Garden of Eden she was changed. Once I was clear on the path I wanted her to take I did more research. It wasn't enough to learn about Lillith, I then had to research vampires. I had to research how they came about, the etymology, the myths and legends. I didn't want to learn only about the "new age" vampire, I wanted to know about the first. I wanted to learn why some say silver will kill them, why others think garlic won't work. It all had to fit into my story, my path for Lillith.
I do the same for each and every book I write, I usually take the road less traveled, the myth that is used the least because I like the challenge of creating their world myself. I like finding an old piece of writing that's been discarded or forgotten about and breathing new life into it, creating the fiction from the facts.
I hope this gives you a little insight on why I love research so much, why I think it is imperative that in writing a book you must do whatever is necessary to create the best story you possibly can. Have a great week and as always, I wish you Happy Reading!
When I was researching Lillith I found everything from religious references to witches and cults. I found so much information it took months to cultivate through it all, to decide on what to use. I knew what angle I wanted to go in, I knew that I was going to go with Lillith being the first wife of Adam and that after she was banished from the Garden of Eden she was changed. Once I was clear on the path I wanted her to take I did more research. It wasn't enough to learn about Lillith, I then had to research vampires. I had to research how they came about, the etymology, the myths and legends. I didn't want to learn only about the "new age" vampire, I wanted to know about the first. I wanted to learn why some say silver will kill them, why others think garlic won't work. It all had to fit into my story, my path for Lillith.
I do the same for each and every book I write, I usually take the road less traveled, the myth that is used the least because I like the challenge of creating their world myself. I like finding an old piece of writing that's been discarded or forgotten about and breathing new life into it, creating the fiction from the facts.
I hope this gives you a little insight on why I love research so much, why I think it is imperative that in writing a book you must do whatever is necessary to create the best story you possibly can. Have a great week and as always, I wish you Happy Reading!
The end of an era...
I am about to release my last Vamperial book on 12/31/2016. This is bittersweet for me because Lillith: My Genesis was the first book I ever written and published. I was so terrified and nervous. Would it be good enough, would people like it, could I actually publish it, and how was I going to promote it?
At the time, I had just learned that I would not be able to return to work, I had a surgery that left me pretty messed up and going back into the workforce was not an option. I loved my career, I was great at what I did, and darn it I had just paid off all my student loans. What was I to do for income? How could I maintain the life style in which my family and I had become accustomed to? I worried long and hard over this and then I prayed. I had a talent, a God given talent, that being unable to go back to work was of no consequence... Writing. So I wrote.
As many of my fellow authors can attest, my book did not take off right away. It took what felt like forever. I did research on marketing & promotion. I asked a billion questions, I cried A Lot, but eventually I got my first review and... it was not good. My heart broke a little, but I refused to give up. I wrote another book & another, & so forth & so on. A hand full of years later I received an invitation to be apart of a gala where I received an award for Lillith. Heart repaired!
Some years after that I put together a small group of young brilliant authors together & we formed Red Ink Publications and I haven't looked back. One of my brilliant young authors had an amazing idea to give all of Lillih's queens their own novella. From there I wrote Revelation & the end of this year Apocalypse comes out. It is an end of an era. It is the end of what started it all for me, so it is bittersweet.
I can look back now and say not being able to go back in my chosen field was one of the best things that could have happened to me. It gave me Lillith & the courage to follow my true dream. When a window closes, a door truly opens.
At the time, I had just learned that I would not be able to return to work, I had a surgery that left me pretty messed up and going back into the workforce was not an option. I loved my career, I was great at what I did, and darn it I had just paid off all my student loans. What was I to do for income? How could I maintain the life style in which my family and I had become accustomed to? I worried long and hard over this and then I prayed. I had a talent, a God given talent, that being unable to go back to work was of no consequence... Writing. So I wrote.
As many of my fellow authors can attest, my book did not take off right away. It took what felt like forever. I did research on marketing & promotion. I asked a billion questions, I cried A Lot, but eventually I got my first review and... it was not good. My heart broke a little, but I refused to give up. I wrote another book & another, & so forth & so on. A hand full of years later I received an invitation to be apart of a gala where I received an award for Lillith. Heart repaired!
Some years after that I put together a small group of young brilliant authors together & we formed Red Ink Publications and I haven't looked back. One of my brilliant young authors had an amazing idea to give all of Lillih's queens their own novella. From there I wrote Revelation & the end of this year Apocalypse comes out. It is an end of an era. It is the end of what started it all for me, so it is bittersweet.
I can look back now and say not being able to go back in my chosen field was one of the best things that could have happened to me. It gave me Lillith & the courage to follow my true dream. When a window closes, a door truly opens.
Past characters
Hey Loves, it’s time for another blog post! This week I decided to do one on a favorite character of mine, Candace from The Vamperial. When I was writing my novellas of the Vamperial queens, Candace didn’t get one. That always troubled me because she was one of the strongest and most noble. She was adamant on never hurting an innocent no matter the battle, she made sure that her kingdom was well taken care of before joining Lillith, and she was always there for her Vamperial family.
I was wondering what Candace would be doing now seeing as her and the remaining queens were on a sabbatical and this is what came to me.
She made her way to the garden, her long black hair loose and flowing. Her brown skin held a glow from the inside out, her hazel eyes as sharp and bright as the sun. She wore an opened cream-colored shirt over a black tank and cream-colored cotton pants. Her feet and face were bare. Her natural beauty only paled in comparison to the scene around her. Flowers from all over the world surrounded her. Roses, lilies, hydrangeas, all in different colors and hues. Lillith had once said she wanted to make another Eden, she had indeed in Syria.
Candace stood with her hands on her hips, looking around, contemplating. Where was my niece and nephews, where was the Order, were any of them in danger?
“I can hear you thinking from inside. What is it little one?” Cleo touched her sisters shoulder.
“I am not sure. Just uneasy I suppose.” She smiled back at her.
“You were never one to be steal. Always the strategist. Come, sit with me.” Cleo took her hand, led them both to a bench.
“It seems to me that we left too soon. We didn’t make sure all was well and now our young ones are out in the world.” Candace shook her head.
“They are hardly young Love.” She laughed.
“You know what I mean. Are they safe sister?”
“If it were only my brats, I’d question it, but Solomon will let no harm come to them. You know that.”
“I know, but… Anyway, I’m sure that is not why you came looking for me. What is it.” She looked at Cleo.
“You have a visitor.” Cleo diverted her eyes.
“What the hell does he want!” Candace yelled.
“You I suppose.” She laughed, “He is the only being on earth that can get this reaction from you. Speak to him Love, see what he wants.”
“I might just kill him.” Candace whispered.
“Not my problem” She stood up, “I’ll go fetch the brave soul.”
“The bastard you mean.” She yelled behind her sister.
He walked towards her and her heart nearly stopped. His long blond hair in a bun, his skin kissed by the sun. He wore a pair of faded ripped jeans and an all-white tee. Her heart gave betrayers skip. He stopped a few feet away from where she was sitting.
“What do you want Zander?” She said dismissively.
“You. I want you Candace.” He said almost pitifully.
“Is that all then. Well, let me just go pack a bag and we’ll be off.”
“I mean it Candace. I want you.”
“Well, I want you to go to hell, but seeing as some dumbass decided to make you immortal then…”
“You were the only one able to conquer me, I was the conqueror of all lands. Alexander the Great. You stopped me with one look. I never forgot that.” He sat next to her.
“But when I would not marry you, when I would not give myself to you, you left me. Fuck you Alexander, get out.” She turned her back as tears threatened to come.
“I was young and foolish, I am no longer.”
“Well good for you, I never was. Why are you here.” Candace nearly sobbed.
“Please,” He turned her to face him, “please, can I stay, can we work on us. Once and for fucking all. We never had a chance, you never let us.”
“If I do and you hurt me, I will rip you heart out. I swear it Zander.”
“You won’t have to. Cleo already swore it.”
“As long as you know.” She kissed him lightly on the cheek. “Have one of the servants pick you out a room. I need some time alone.” She stood to walk away.
“Thank you.” He said simply.
“Do not thank me yet. This little experiment of yours may just cost you your life.” She left him sitting on the bench.
Will they ever get it together? I’m not sure, but I’d love to find out! Thanks for tuning in this week to Inside the Nation. As always, I wish you Happy Reading!
I was wondering what Candace would be doing now seeing as her and the remaining queens were on a sabbatical and this is what came to me.
She made her way to the garden, her long black hair loose and flowing. Her brown skin held a glow from the inside out, her hazel eyes as sharp and bright as the sun. She wore an opened cream-colored shirt over a black tank and cream-colored cotton pants. Her feet and face were bare. Her natural beauty only paled in comparison to the scene around her. Flowers from all over the world surrounded her. Roses, lilies, hydrangeas, all in different colors and hues. Lillith had once said she wanted to make another Eden, she had indeed in Syria.
Candace stood with her hands on her hips, looking around, contemplating. Where was my niece and nephews, where was the Order, were any of them in danger?
“I can hear you thinking from inside. What is it little one?” Cleo touched her sisters shoulder.
“I am not sure. Just uneasy I suppose.” She smiled back at her.
“You were never one to be steal. Always the strategist. Come, sit with me.” Cleo took her hand, led them both to a bench.
“It seems to me that we left too soon. We didn’t make sure all was well and now our young ones are out in the world.” Candace shook her head.
“They are hardly young Love.” She laughed.
“You know what I mean. Are they safe sister?”
“If it were only my brats, I’d question it, but Solomon will let no harm come to them. You know that.”
“I know, but… Anyway, I’m sure that is not why you came looking for me. What is it.” She looked at Cleo.
“You have a visitor.” Cleo diverted her eyes.
“What the hell does he want!” Candace yelled.
“You I suppose.” She laughed, “He is the only being on earth that can get this reaction from you. Speak to him Love, see what he wants.”
“I might just kill him.” Candace whispered.
“Not my problem” She stood up, “I’ll go fetch the brave soul.”
“The bastard you mean.” She yelled behind her sister.
He walked towards her and her heart nearly stopped. His long blond hair in a bun, his skin kissed by the sun. He wore a pair of faded ripped jeans and an all-white tee. Her heart gave betrayers skip. He stopped a few feet away from where she was sitting.
“What do you want Zander?” She said dismissively.
“You. I want you Candace.” He said almost pitifully.
“Is that all then. Well, let me just go pack a bag and we’ll be off.”
“I mean it Candace. I want you.”
“Well, I want you to go to hell, but seeing as some dumbass decided to make you immortal then…”
“You were the only one able to conquer me, I was the conqueror of all lands. Alexander the Great. You stopped me with one look. I never forgot that.” He sat next to her.
“But when I would not marry you, when I would not give myself to you, you left me. Fuck you Alexander, get out.” She turned her back as tears threatened to come.
“I was young and foolish, I am no longer.”
“Well good for you, I never was. Why are you here.” Candace nearly sobbed.
“Please,” He turned her to face him, “please, can I stay, can we work on us. Once and for fucking all. We never had a chance, you never let us.”
“If I do and you hurt me, I will rip you heart out. I swear it Zander.”
“You won’t have to. Cleo already swore it.”
“As long as you know.” She kissed him lightly on the cheek. “Have one of the servants pick you out a room. I need some time alone.” She stood to walk away.
“Thank you.” He said simply.
“Do not thank me yet. This little experiment of yours may just cost you your life.” She left him sitting on the bench.
Will they ever get it together? I’m not sure, but I’d love to find out! Thanks for tuning in this week to Inside the Nation. As always, I wish you Happy Reading!
