http://blogfloggery.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] blogfloggery.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] lkh_lashouts2015-05-28 07:27 pm

Blogflog - Dead Ice: Nicky

Link: Dead Ice: Nicky
Disclaimer: This blog entry is verbatim, as originally posted on LKH's blog. Copyright belongs to Ma Petite Enterprises.

We’re only two weeks away from Dead Ice’s publication. This blog will be the first one that doesn’t have a graphic novel image to go with it, because Nicky is one of several major characters that didn’t appear in the early books which were later turned into graphic novels. I’m trying to get images to go with Nicky and the rest, but for now his traditional lion form stands in for the other two forms.



Did you know that Nicky was going to be a major character when you created him?

Answer: No.

Secrets to Share: I didn’t expect to ever see him again because I thought Anita was going to have to kill him. He was just another sociopathic bad guy when he walked on stage from my imagination. I had no idea we were keeping him around until the very last minute and even then I had no idea that he would be in almost every book from that point on. Even keeping him, I didn’t know Nicky would go from bit player to supporting character to main character.

Question: Why did you do the rough bondage scene with Nicky and Anita in Affliction?

Answer: Because they are lovers, and both of them enjoy rough sex and bondage with each other.

Secret to Share: Nicky was fast becoming a fan favorite until I wrote that particular scene in Affliction. After the scene, a lot of the women fans disliked or even seemed to hate him. I was totally surprised by the reaction. Anita and Nicky had had rough sex before on stage, but some fans thought this scene was too much. Why? We’d had Anita tied up during sex before, and I believe that Nathaniel was even part of that scene, too, just as he was with Anita and Nicky in Affliction. So why the negative reaction? And none of the fans are angry with Nathaniel, just with Nicky, again why? The only difference I can see is that it’s a more serious breath play scene, which Nicky enjoys giving, and it was his suggestion to add that to the scene. I was very careful and very clear to have Anita and Nicky discuss what she was comfortable with beforehand. Nathaniel was there as an extra safety monitor and not just as an extra lover. I talked about safety issues, because breath play of any kind is edge play, which means it can be more dangerous. I did my due diligence on paper and Nicky and Nathaniel both watched over Anita to make sure she was all right. I talked about it, rather than just glossing over the possible problems. All three of them care for each other, and they all enjoyed the scene and the sex, so why did some people freak about it and start hating on Nicky? I don’t know, I honestly don’t, but some people who were fans of his are now literally haters of his, so apparently the scene hit issues for people.

Question: When will see Nicky interact with more of the local werelions?

Answer: In Dead Ice.

Secrets to Share: My research into real lions helped me shape Nicky taking over the local pride and how he runs it in Dead Ice. Contrary to the old idea of male lions as the “King of the Beasts” presiding over their territory and their harem of lionesses all by themselves, it’s rarely just one king. One lone male lion would be hard put to defend against all commers, most prides are run by a coalition of male lions. More detailed DNA testing has disproved another well loved theory in that the coalitions were genetically related, brothers, or at least cousins, but DNA proved that some weren’t related at all. Male lions are kicked out of the home territories as they come into sexual maturity, so they won’t compete with their father, or mate with their mother, or siblings. Theories are that the young male lions kicked out of their home territory meet up in their wanderings and find that hunting in groups helps them stay fed. They also fight as a group and that is a big plus among lions. In fact, prevailing theory is that the reason lions are social and live in groups is primarily to protect themselves from other lions. Also, if your lionesses like the lions in charge they will join the fight against intruding males. There have even been cases of lionesses banding together and fighting off males, so that they are a power unto themselves. It’s not common because the males are bigger, heavier, and just have more muscle to throw around, but the lionesses do most of the hunting. Males only usually come into their own on hunts when really big game is the main food source for the pride, like water buffalo, giraffe, and even elephants, on occasion. Real animals, and real science, helped me understand that Nicky was the muscle, but as a sociopath he emotionally couldn’t run a pride, so another male lion that was physically less able, but very good socially, joined him as part of his leadership coalition. By end of book we’ll add another, so he’s Rex, but it’s a three-for-one, not related to each other, just like a lot of real lion coalitions.

Sneak Peek from Dead Ice:

Nicky asked, “Do you mean you have pictures in your head of what you want to do to us?”

”Yes.”

”Are they your thoughts, or is someone putting them in your head?”

”I do not know, but even speaking with you now, it’s as if my pork dinner were talking back. I’d think I was mad, but I still want to eat it.”

”Eat me, you mean?” Nicky said.

”Yes, very much.” The southern drawl was thicker with every word, as if by the time he rushed us, or we shot him, he’d sound like Scarlett O’Hara.

”Interesting, Nicky, but save it,” I said.

”There won’t be a later for asking him questions.”

He was right, of course, but only a sociopath could have stood there this close, watching the process, and asked the questions that might help us understand what was happening. It was good that we had Nicky with us, because I was so spooked my mouth was dry.

[identity profile] shadwing.livejournal.com 2015-05-28 02:03 pm (UTC)(link)

I'm no Professional Domme.  But I do know enough about breath play to know how it was shown in Affliction was WRONG.


Last time I checked it is used for the pleasure of the Sub...you know the person being choked?  The scene as I remember it focused very little on Anita's pleasure and almost entirely on Nicky's pleasure. 


Nicky is a psychopath and a sadist.  An ARC of Dead Ice is out there...and Nicky gets even worse if possible.

[identity profile] guardians-song.livejournal.com 2015-05-29 05:05 am (UTC)(link)
*curious* On the Amazon forums?

[identity profile] shadwing.livejournal.com 2015-05-29 03:41 pm (UTC)(link)

Yup go to the Kindle page for Dead Ice.  The Dead Ice flog should be the top topic.

lliira: Fang from FF13 (Fang2)

[personal profile] lliira (from livejournal.com) 2015-05-29 10:43 pm (UTC)(link)
*looks it up*

Holy retcon, Batman! A cow?

[identity profile] shadwing.livejournal.com 2015-05-30 12:07 am (UTC)(link)
Yeeeeah, that is just the first of many WTF that happens in the book, and the relationship carp, just...UGH it's SOOOOO bad it's hard to get though the flog summaries of it.

[identity profile] openidwouldwork.livejournal.com 2015-05-30 04:32 am (UTC)(link)
Buiatrician here, a cow?!? Have tried searching the flog, but no luck? But I fail to understand how that amazon.com customer discussions format works.
lliira: Fang from FF13 (Fang2)

[personal profile] lliira (from livejournal.com) 2015-05-30 07:26 am (UTC)(link)
Anita has to use a cow as a sacrifice to raise one single solitary zombie. In the last book, she raised a whole graveyard with ardeur-power from making out (and maybe a little of her own blood?) And she never used cows even back when she had to sacrifice animals to raise zombies. She dwells on how she probably didn't need the cow after all, and the whole thing is really confusing. From the flog, I ended up with the impression that Anita just really wanted to kill a cow for some reason.

ETA: Oh, and I forgot! We learn that Nathaniel's afraid of cows because he had an unfortunate run-in with one.
Edited 2015-05-30 07:47 (UTC)

[identity profile] openidwouldwork.livejournal.com 2015-05-30 09:35 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, riiight, she had to use a cow... did she really need 60liters of blood to spill? We are talking about the same necromancer who raised several centuries old cemetaries with the power of her crotch and a papercut before, aren't we?

And don't get me started on the difficulties of handling cows... they are a bit more of a handful than goats and won't fit into your trunk, Ms Blake. Also, proper leftover removal (not that she does that with the goats either, but...) - we are talking about something around 1300pounds of dead matter here, and I don't say 'dead meat' on purpose, because... offal. Huge digestive tract there, filled with gas and fluids... much fun to be had when moving.

And! How the FU** can a street urchin like Nathaniel have had a run-in with a cow?!? Is St. Luis populated by Hindus and there are holy cows ambling about the streets?!? And if he tried to attack one as a bitty kitty and discoverd zomg, there are horns and hoofs attached... well he is an idiotic dick and really deserved to get his belly slit and get the shit kicked out of him, more power to that cow.
Edited 2015-05-30 09:38 (UTC)

[identity profile] dreamstrifer.livejournal.com 2015-05-30 05:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Maybe he ran into one at Grant's Farm on a school field trip (did he even go to school as a kid I don't remember)? I DON'T EVEN KNOW.

[identity profile] openidwouldwork.livejournal.com 2015-05-30 10:45 am (UTC)(link)
No. Wait. Waiiiit. Let. me. guess. Ms Crotch-of-healing learns that Nathaniel once got a boo-boo by a cow, so now she HAS to sacrifice one to heal his emotional trauma.