***
Why we love super heroes
After I’d
written Birthright, it dawned on me that I’d created a new breed of super hero called
beacons. I didn’t set out to. I just wanted to explore these interesting people
who popped into my mind, and happened to have abilities beyond our own.
The story started
with my favorite question – what if? What if you had the ability to see
anything you wanted to see? Instead of wondering how your parents or friends
were doing, you could extend your special senses and “see” what they’re up to.
Or see inside someone’s purse, very revealing. What if you had hearing that
defies logic? Just by wanting to, you can tune in to a conversation in the next
room, or listen to space and the music of the solar winds. What kind of people
would have such powerful sight and hearing? Are they human? Where did their
powers come from? How do they use their abilities? I won’t spoil the book by
answering here. But I can tell you that finding out the answers was one of the
most satisfying experiences of my writing career. After 70 books and millions
of sales, that’s saying something.
I think we love
super heroes because they represent the secret side of us nobody else knows about.
Sure, we might be timid and ordinary-looking in real life, but inside lives the
beautiful, powerful part of us; our brave, successful dream self. Many super heroes have bumbling alter egos who
may represent the “us” the world sees. But step into the phone booth or spin
around at super speed and the “real us” appears to save the world. I guess that
means the beacons are what I’d most like to be.
If you had a
free choice, what would your super power be? One comment will win a download of
Birthright for Kindle or Nook, with a personalized “authorgraph” to make
it…er…super special.
Valerie Parv is one of Australia's most
successful writers with more than 29 million books sold in 26 languages. She is
the only Australian author honored with a Pioneer of Romance award from RT Book
Reviews, New York. With a lifelong interest in space exploration, she counts
meeting Neil Armstrong as a personal high point. So it's no wonder she's taking
romance to the stars and beyond In Birthright, her most ambitious novel yet.
She loves connecting with readers via her website valerieparv.com, blog valerieparv.wordpress.com,
@ValerieParv on Twitter and on Facebook.
About Birthright Former police officer turned deputy governor, Shana Akers, is used to handling high-stakes situations. But after learning that a space shuttle mission about to be launched from her island home may have a shocking secret agenda, she must turn for answers to the man who has challenged her mind and emotions for years.
Scientific genius and space center director, Adam Desai, is a truly self-made man. Found adrift at sea as a baby, he knows nothing about his origins until two VIPs attending the launch force him to confront the truth about his past, changing everything Adam has ever believed about himself.
Faced with a danger that threatens the entire world, can Adam and Shana find the strength to trust not only each other, but the mysterious VIPs whose unusual abilities defy logical thinking? Especially when it becomes clear that they'll need all of their combined resources to reclaim humanity's BIRTHRIGHT.
Published by Corvallis
Press USA 2012.
***
Super heroes are tons of fun! I think I'd choose super travel powers (like beaming!) to visit all the places in the world I'd love to see! How about you?
