Escapism

Lately, I’ve become fond of saying “I don’t write realism, I write escapism that’s mostly realistic”. I’m thinking of getting a banner done.

But I’m actually serious. The Dark Elves series is blatant fantasy, of course, and the Leashed series is fantasy, but I like to think that the characters in those series act in a realistic fashion. They’re people. They make mistakes. They break and persevere. They hate and fall in love and don’t trust each other and cause problems. I try not to do “perfect” people because, personally, I find perfect people dreadfully dull. But what I’m really getting at is that Heaven Sent is fantasy too. As is Snagged and Tech Support. Heck, even Bye, Bye Skyler is fantasy. They’re contemporary stories, sure. They take place in “real” environments. The characters don’t do magic–well, okay, the Heaven Sent boys are kind of magical, but that’s a different kind of magic–and there aren’t any elemental forces rising up to tear them apart. They’re going through “real” situations with “real” problems… with a twist. I mean, come on, fate’s just a tad too kind to these guys. All four very gorgeous, very great members of this successful rock band turn gay? Not likely to happen. They all stay friends forever and get along great? Uh-huh. But it makes for good reading. Or so reviewers and reader comments have told me (bless you all!!)

I’m not the only author who does it by a long shot. This I realize. To a certain extent, all fiction is fantasy isn’t it? So here’s where the escapism comes in. Definition: “The tendency to escape from daily reality or routine by indulging in daydreaming, fantasy, or entertainment.” Yeah! That’s what I’m talking about. What I want for readers who delve into my worlds is to give them someplace else to be for awhile. I want to give you a world or a surrounding that’s so “real” that you can forget your troubles for awhile. I, personally, like that. I love being a fly on the wall or riding some character’s shoulder as they ride into adventure or even, hell, venture out to the grocery store. Okay, as long as there’s something more exciting happening in and around the grocery store other than buying potato chips. Cheetos. Yum! Sorry, I digress. Where was I? Oh yes, take you somewhere else. I want to let you visit a world very different or not so different than your own.

That’s what I’m talking about. I’ve been indulging in escapism all my life. Now, I share.

*tries to get Cheetos off mind*

Written by Jet Mykles

Jet is a writer of sexual fantasy with a firm belief that all men are at least partially gay, that vampires are just people with a liquid diet and shapeshifters live on every block.
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