Blogflog - Dead Ice: Nicky
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lkh_lashoutsLink: 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.
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.
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no subject
Date: 2015-05-29 12:20 am (UTC)Stuff like this really bothers me. I've got a personality disorder (although not APD) that, if I wasn't mindful of my responses and vigilant about how I handle my emotions, could make life miserable for the people around me, as well as being difficult to handle myself. A lot of personality disorders are very hard to deal with, both for the people with them and the people who know the people with them, and having them boiled down to "lol sociopaths are so darkity dark" is actually kind of offensive to me.
no subject
Date: 2015-05-29 12:24 am (UTC)I've known a couple people other than my uncle who have personality disorders who refused to seek treatment. It's not fun, it's not badass, it's not a quick shortcut to drama. I get the feeling LKH uses mental illness as a shortcut to drama and character development while cutting out all the stuff that people will these illnesses deal with. God forbid she actually has real consequences for these characters "darkity darkness". It's extremely offensive. She gives absolutely no thought to the fact that real people suffer these real diseases and it's not fun times.
no subject
Date: 2015-05-29 02:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-05-29 08:06 pm (UTC)I've had a lot of other people just dismiss my mental health. I've people tell me, "Just smile and that will make you feel happy," or "depression is a fake illness, there wasn't any depression 40 years ago." Things like that. LKH strikes me as a person who thinks that my hang ups are there for attention, or aren't real. She seems like a "just get over it" person with her limited understanding of mental issues. She probably would fall into the idea that my cutting was just for attention, and not a just a dangerous coping mechanism for emotions too strong for me to deal with.
no subject
Date: 2015-05-29 09:39 pm (UTC)I've had doctors tell me I just needed to start thinking positively (using magic I guess) and then everything would be better, even for physical stuff. And pretending the physical stuff was due to my not thinking correctly, as if bad vibes are what broke my spine. People do not want to admit that "mind over matter" is bunk, let alone that the mind is made of matter too.
no subject
Date: 2015-05-29 10:53 pm (UTC)"Yeah I mean its almost as if this an integral part of my emotions and thinking. Who would've thought that something mental could affect the brain?"
no subject
Date: 2015-05-30 08:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-05-30 10:58 pm (UTC)"how can I do mind over matter, if my mind is the problem."