Taylor Keating is here today to celebrate her latest release. And to tell you how you can get into her next book. Ready. Set. Chat! And click the book cover to read more about Fair Game and find the buy links!

When people find out I write, I’m usually asked one of two questions—sometimes, both.

“Where do you come up with story ideas?” and my favorite, “Am I going to end up in one of your novels?”

I write paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and fantasy, so the answer to the first question is really quite simple. I read a lot, both fiction and non-fiction, and I have an overactive imagination. A degree in social anthropology helps.

All I do is take a piece of information and then I make s!#t up. To me, it’s fairly straightforward.

As for how to end up in one of my novels, that question’s a little trickier. As I said, I write paranormal and fantasy. You’d have to lead an unusual and interesting lifestyle to end up in one of my stories. I’m sorry, but getting drunk at a party isn’t all that out -of-the-ordinary. Funny as hell sometimes, but not really book-worthy (unless you’re Prince Harry, whooping it up in Las Vegas).

Therefore, I’ve compiled a list of things the true attention-seeker desperate to become an integral part of my next plotting session can do. If you’ve accomplished any of the following feats, I truly wish to hear from you. (As will the National Enquirer, People, and Us magazines.)

So here they are:

1. Become a demon hunter—or better yet, a demon
Women love, love, love men who are “larger than life.” If you’re a woman, other women love to read about kick-ass heroines. As an FYI, however, in real life demons and demon hunters don’t seem to attract as large a following as one might expect.

2. Invent a role-playing video game that operates by magic
In real life, that would read “operates LIKE magic.” Not in my stories. So if you can create a video game by using your latent Fae magic, and have the government hot on your tail to confiscate it, then you are most definitely going to end up in my novel. In fact, you may already have.

3. Come in contact with a human virus that can mutate and cross with a computer virus to create an hallucinogenic disease
You may need your latent Fae magic for this one, too.

4. Build an entire world that runs on technology
And when I say build, I mean that. Literally.

5. Build an entire world that runs on magic
Same as above.

6. Destroy an entire world that has become a battleground for immortals—in fact, be one of the occupying immortals
While being immortal sounds attractive, I’d like to point out that it rarely turns out well for characters in stories. It makes them the targets of mortals who want to prove they aren’t invincible, or of other immortals who want to cut off their heads and claim their abilities. I doubt if they get much sleep. I’d only consider this if I were an insomniac. And destroying the world would seem counter-productive to most immortals. Where are they supposed to live? But I guess being an immortal means you really don’t have to be good at planning ahead.

7. Become an evil Dark Lord
This one sounds like a lot of fun. But again, the world seems to be against you. If you aren’t overly concerned about popularity, then this is a good choice. Otherwise, you may be better off as a demon. A “good” demon—the misunderstood kind.

8. Create a virtual prison for evil Dark Lords
Systems developers and analysts are in hot demand in paranormal and urban fantasy fiction. If you’re a systems developer and analyst, and you have latent Fae magic, you don’t need to be in one of my novels. You need to take over the world.

9. Chase monsters through abandoned subway systems
There’s not a lot of difference between this one and becoming a demon hunter, except for the prey. There can be creepy s!#t in abandoned subway systems. In a pinch, abandoned mines also work well. For that one, you may want to develop an ability to pass through solid rock as a safety precaution. No one wants to be trapped underground in the dark with monsters. Although come to think of it, I’d be willing to include you in one of my stories if you’ve ever been trapped with monsters in an underground mine.

Write me.

10. Walk through fire—without protective fire-fighting gear
Unless it’s part of your anatomy, Firefighters need not apply. If you have a thick exoskeleton that’s impervious to hellfire, however, I’m interested.

This isn’t an exclusive list by any means. And of course, I’m always willing to talk about writing. Therefore, if I meet you at a party and you have an awesome ability, or an evil tendency to take over worlds with your superpowers, please feel free to discuss it with me.

I will gladly put you in my next novel.

Paula Altenburg, one half of Taylor Keating is currently writing as dystopian demon westerns for Entangled Publishing.
Visit her at www.paulaaltenburg.com and www.taylorkeating.com

The other half of Taylor Keating also writes as Cathryn Fox and Cat Kalen.

Visit her at www.cathrynfox.com and www.catkalen.com.