Marriage vs. Status Quo in romantic fiction and The Artist’s Inheritance
(This is another old post "From the Vault" about my urban fantasy novel, The Artist's Inheritance, published back in 2013--if I'm not mistaken. On Stella Ex Libris' blog. Thanks to Stella for hosting me back then)
Marriage vs. Status Quo in romantic fiction and The Artist’s Inheritance
I have a question for my readers: What do you know about your beloved? Is it enough to save him when the gods take out after him?
I posed that question in my debut novel The Artist’s Inheritance.
Subverting the Romance Status Quo in Urban Fantasy
Romance authors are sort of squashed into a certain format—boy meets girl, boy and girl face obstacles on the road to happily ever after, heck, maybe at first they don’t even want HEA with each other. Eventually they jump over all those hurdles and make it to the altar, or at least broach the subject of marriage.
It’s such an ingrained format most of us can sing it in our sleep.
But when I sat down to write my novel The Artist’s Inheritance, that format didn’t work. Caitlin, my main character, knew far too much about her beloved. She knew that his brother and sister were artists, she knew that his mother had gone missing, she knew that the brother and sister both committed suicide. Being realistic and rational, these are not things one usually brings up to a girlfriend in the opening stages of a relationship. I contemplated the reunion format but, at the time, they weren't my favorite types of books either.
(*edited 2026 to add: They are now.)
Why a Married Protagonist Changes the Witch Fantasy Dynamic
What to do then? Caitlin had an answer: She insisted they were married. “I have to see what he does in those off hours to see this weird thing he’s creating in secret, don’t you think? I have to live with him, at least. It’s all about his family, sister!” Trust me, a wife just knows things about her man that a starry-eyed girlfriend/potential girlfriend can’t.
So, what else could I do? Marriage of Convenience maybe? Since it’s set in Present Day Florida and the characters are not of a culture that might choose that for their children, that didn’t work either. Nor did Caitlin like the idea of a shotgun wedding, so to speak.
High Stakes and Witchy Fantasy in Present-Day Florida
I had no other choice.
I had to start the story after Caitlin and her beloved Trevor married and I ask you, what’s more romantic than a man or woman willing to fight imps and gods bent on your family or your beloved’s destruction?
I hope you will give The Artist’s Inheritance a chance, and like what you see.
Would you like to read more about it? Here’s the synopsis:
The balance between good and evil can be an art… or a curse.
Newlyweds Trevor and Caitlin thought their biggest challenge was navigating the art world. Then a tragic family inheritance changes everything, bringing a centuries-old Welsh curse straight to their doorstep in modern Florida. With Trevor facing a desperate descent into madness, Caitlin refuses to watch him slip away.
To shield her husband from the ancient forces targeting his mind, she must look beyond the physical world. By unlocking her inner strength and embracing her true path as a New Age witch, Caitlin discovers that light, intuition, and ancient wisdom are the only weapons strong enough to break the cycle.
The Artist's Inheritance delivers a thrilling, action-packed twist on traditional paranormal romance. Perfect for fans of dark urban fantasy and atmospheric witchy fantasy, it explores the incredible power of love, intent, and a woman stepping into her true magical destiny.
Step Into the Magic: Grab Your Copy Today.
Want a sneak peek first? You can read a free sample of The Artist's Inheritance right here on my site to meet Caitlin and Trevor before you buy!
