VS Note: So pleased to have Krista here today to talk about writing pets in romance. I have a few books with pets myself and was a co-founder of the USA Today Best Selling Pets in Space™ anthology so it’s a topic dear to my heart. Plus I enjoy Krista’s books! I think her post is quite insightful…

KL: Writing Pets, with a Focus on Romance

I adore writing pets and animal friends, and every one of my books has them. They serve lots of different functions within the story, and I’ll highlight a few benefits before diving into one thing to keep in mind.

Pros to adding pets:

My heroines tend to be fish-out-of-water, needing to adapt to a new world. A pet adds an instant dose of affection and companionship and makes the situation less frightening. If the pet is alien or fantastical, warming up to the pet also helps the heroine start to accept this strange new world she finds herself in. If you have a talking pet, they can also explain a few basic things to her, all based on their level of understanding. Or take it a step further! The fully sentient dragon, Drake, gives the heroine flying lessons to help her learn her new witch powers. (Bound to the Orc Warlord)

Even if your characters remain in their home world, they might still be outsiders who need to gather a found family over the course of a series. Such outsiders often start out socially isolated and alone. A pet gives them an early source of love and belonging, which can add a softer note to what might otherwise be a sad origin story. It can also act as foreshadowing of the found family and acceptance to come.

The next way pets aid a story is they allow one character to see a hidden side of the other character. This is especially useful in romance. The hulking warrior hides behind a tree to watch the heroine, who’s his enemy. She’s playing with her cat, and he’s caught off guard by the beauty of her smile, which he’s never seen before. The sound of her laugh haunts him for days. (Possessed by the Alien King)

A specific use of this comes into play when you write grumpy/distant heroes who hide hearts of gold under a gruff exterior. Pets provide the heroine—and readers—with a glimpse of that heart early in the story. You can give him a literal “save the cat” moment. The huge warrior who cradles an orphaned wolf pup to his chest, promising to hunt for it? Instant “aww.” (Possessed by the Alien Prince)

Finally, pets offer a way to add moments of playfulness, humor, and fun. These can be used to offer some variance in tension and/or tone at different parts of a story. Have a tense meeting of rebels gathered in the back of the village pub? Are they talking around in circles unable to decide on a plan, for which they won’t get any new information for another chapter? You can make the pets dash in from outside, demanding attention and/or doing something cute that breaks the tension for the rest of the scene. That way, you can ramp it right back up in the next scene, but the reader got a little break that makes the new tension hit harder.

Something to consider:

If there’s one caveat to writing good pets, it’s to make them as fully realized as any side character. Animals have distinct personalities, even while those of the same species may share certain drives or traits.

They should also have character consistency. The talking dog who’s the ship’s first pet who gets jealous the second another pet arrives? He remains a bit jealous and grandstanding for the rest of the series as more pets get added to the found family. They’re his new friends, but he’s also quick to remind everyone that “he was there first” and to try to outdo the others via playful antics. This personality trait remains constant across all five books he’s in, and readers often remark on how much they enjoy it. (The Fated Mates of the Zaarn Series)

In summary:

I’ll leave you with one of the biggest reasons to add animal friends to stories: Readers adore them. For every book, I get multiple comments about my pets. Readers want a pet like the one I wrote, or a personality trait of the pet reminds them of one of theirs, etc. Pets offer readers emotional connections to your world and characters, adding a richness of feeling and an additional layer of complexity to your world building.

So what are you waiting for? Go write a pet.

In case you want any of this:

Author bio:

Krista Luna writes steamy scifi & fantasy romance featuring otherworldly warriors and the strong heroines they can’t live without. She loves combining sizzling romance with pulse-pounding adventure.

She wants to leave her readers breathlessly turning the page, eager to see what’s next as danger closes in, but love—and a kick-ass couple—ultimately conquers all.

When she’s not writing, you can find Krista reading or watching her latest scifi or fantasy favorite, all while eating chocolate. Because there’s always chocolate.

Amazon author page:

https://amazon.com/author/kristaluna

Website:

http://www.kristalunaauthor.com/

Links to all social media:

http://linktr.ee/kristalunaauthor

Krista’s Latest Book:

BOUND TO THE ORC RENEGADE (BRIDES OF THE MOON BLADE CLAN BOOK TWO)

Ooops! That orc I just knocked off his feet is my “married at first sight” husband.

If someone told me I’d land in a fantasy world and meet my seven-foot husband by literally knocking him off his feet, I’d have laughed it off as a joke. I’m tiny. But it turns out I’m a witch with hidden powers! I can move things with my mind!

Krivoth’s one of the first things I “move.” Ooops. But the gorgeous orc warrior doesn’t hold it against me. In fact, he’s thrilled I’m so powerful.

He also says I’m his. As in his bride, already goddess-matched and married.

But I know marriage is an empty promise, no matter how much Krivoth’s tempting touch makes my pulse flutter.

Enemies want me for my magic, and I need to learn my powers fast. The more my practice sessions throw me into the safety of Krivoth’s strong arms, the more I fall for him. But who’s going to protect my heart?

Bound to the Orc Renegade is a steamy fantasy monster romance featuring a grumpy orc warrior who falls fast and a sunshiny heroine eager to level up. Welcome to the Moon Blade Clan, where heart-melting romance, toe-curling steam, magic, and adventure combine into stories you’ll devour.     AmazonKU