Blog Post By Pippa J Green.

Blood and Ink – Writing Tattoos

When I started looking into publication for Keir, and at the titles that were around at the time, I noticed a heavy preference for tattoos, especially in the current trend of paranormal titles. Now when I first ‘saw’ Keir in my head, I’d covered him in tattoos. Not because that was the trend or the preference. Not even because I was a fan of them. I didn’t even have one myself, or really know anyone else with one either.

So one thing I did want to know was – how does it actually feel to have a tattoo? I’d considered it as a teenager, but back then the prospect of marking my own skin for the rest of my life just seemed too daunting. I’d already had my ears pierced three times each side, and felt that was enough. However, a few months after writing Keir and with my 40th birthday looming, I decided to be bold. I’d rather regret doing something than NOT doing it.

Even when I booked it, I don’t think my husband really thought I’d go through with it. I’m not good with pain (apparently that’s partly down to being a redhead – there’s scientific evidence that we have more pain receptors than other hair colourings – truly!) and I was afraid that the first stab of the needle would send me screaming for the door.

I’m not going to lie – it hurt. Not quite as I’d imagined it. Like cutting yourself and getting lemon juice in the cut. I had a celtic butterfly done on the top of my right wrist, and the tattooist swore over the delicacy of it. Bizarrely, I’m quite willing – keen in fact – to have another done when funds permit, so it can’t have been that bad.

 

So I did my ‘research’. I know what it feels like to have a tattoo. I could extrapolate the pain of that one into a body’s worth and imagine the effect that might have on a young boy (yeah, I’m cruel!). But Keir’s appearance left me with another problem. I had very specific ideas of the kind of tattoos he should have. Do you know how hard it is to find stock images that come anywhere near?! Try it. It drove me insane!

It also gave my publisher some trouble. Although I loved my cover when it first arrived in my inbox, the complete lack of tattoos was an instant shock. They’re such an important part of the story – of Keir himself. But the publisher said it would be difficult to put them on and have them look effective.

After some discussion between publisher and editor and me, and a couple of trial mock-ups, Keir got some tatts. Okay, they might not be the ones described in the book, but at least he has them. A token gesture.

 

So if you’d like to know exactly how Keir came by his tattoos and what they really look like, I have a free e-book up for one random commentator (please leave your e-mail address in the comment, and all prizes will be drawn after midnight BST on the 14th May at the end of the tour). Just tell me if you have a tattoo, or what you might have done if you decided to go ahead and get one.

There’s also a special swag bag up for grabs on my blog here from the 7th May to celebrate the official release day.

Keir – a science-fiction romance available 7th May 2012 from Lyrical Press Inc:

http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=81&products_id=513

Blurb:

Outcast. Cursed. Dying. Is Keir beyond redemption?

For Keirlan de Corizi–the legendary ‘Blue Demon’ of Adalucien–death seems the only escape from a world where his discolored skin marks him as an oddity and condemns him to life as a pariah. But salvation comes in an unexpected guise: Tarquin Secker, a young woman who can travel the stars with a wave of her hand.

But Quin has secrets of her own. She’s spent eternity searching through space and time with a strange band of companions at her back. Defying her friends’ counsel, Quin risks her apparent immortality to save Keir. She offers him sanctuary and a new life on her home world, Lyagnius.

When Keir mistakenly unleashes his dormant alien powers and earns instant exile from Quin’s home world, will she risk everything to stand by him again?

Book trailer:

 

BIO:

A stay-at-home mum of three who spent twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals and Minerals laboratory, Pippa Jay bases her stories on a lifetime addiction to science-fiction books and films. Somewhere along the line a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to leave. Between torturing her characters, she spends the odd free moments trying to learn guitar, indulging in freestyle street dance and drinking high-caffeine coffee. Although happily settled in historical Colchester in the UK with her husband of 18 years, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.

LINKS:

Blogsite: http://pippajay.blogspot.com/

Twitter:  @pippajaygreen   http://twitter.com/pippajaygreen

Facebook:  Keir – Beyond Redemption (book page) https://www.facebook.com/pages/Keir-Beyond-Redemption/114058821953752

Pippa Jay (profile) https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001581482219

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5054558.Pippa_Jay