No flashy titles this time. Only a book I offer you, which is very special to me, and I truly hope One Hundred Refusals , my romantic fantasy novel will find a home in your hearts.
Today I stand before you naked. Because that’s how an artist feels when displaying their work in public. Whether it be a painting, or a book. With one condition – if it comes from the heart.
I just made you cringe, didn’t I?
Because talking about “heart” or “coming from the heart” has been used, and overused, and subverted, inverted, dissected, decolonized, desecrated, decomposed, dead.
Nihilism dances on the grave of everything that once was beautiful and sacred. No, no, my cynical friend. Not “considered” beautiful and sacred. It was, in fact, objectively, beautiful, and sacred. There had been a couple of instances the humanity was able to come to a consensus.
It seems we live in a time of murky ugliness. Beauty is mocked while ugliness praised (body positivity, anyone? No, we don’t do that anymore. We have Ozempic.).
Humor is called violence, while news has become laughable (“gunperson”? Really?).
So, in this time of nihilism’s dark triumph, I’m giving you an antidote to the raunchy dirt they call romantasy today.
Did I lose you on the “romantasy”? Don’t be hasty to judge, my cynical friend. My first novel-length book is, indeed, a romantic fantasy BUT. The readers of the first draft have praised this story not only for the classic fairy tale feel but also for the original use of romantasy tropes, also it’s a game of wit and intrigues, not dark and hopeless like modern fantasy stories tend to be. Not subversive.
This story has it all – damzels, warriors, good, evil, nature, beauty, sensuality, passion, magic, hope, and very morally grey protagonists, who find their way to each other’s heart at the end. Yes, it’s a happily ever after.
Did I make you cringe again? With all the talking about “hearts” and “happily ever after”? Yeah? Oh, no, you’re not getting away that easily. We’re not done yet.
Is this ‘chick-lit’? Not at all, as it turns out. I did intend it as a delightful little tale for the ladies but many of the first readers were men! They read it. Voluntarily. Some even became the most devoted “fans” of the story, to my great surprise. Because the story is not overly feminine. It’s fun. A bit silly. When I first started writing it, I decided to give myself complete freedom. Just, go nuts, Kathrine! And nuts I went. Completely and utterly.
How did I come up with the story? It began as a joke but as I wrote, I fell in love with the characters, with the setting, and with the irresistible lightness of this tale. It’s not grimdark, although there are some dramatic moments. Also, some soulful paragraphs. This story gave me something I desperately needed – a light romantic adventure filled with humor, and hope. A smart tale balancing on the edge of action and sensuality.
Is it spicy? Romantasies tend to be smutty, you might say. Not this one. There are spicy bits, of course, but they only add a bit of flavor, rather than burning one’s tongue.
I digressed. This book began with the title. Yes, yes. I was lying awake at 3.00 am one night, thinking about all the trad pub rejections I had received. I aimed to get 100. Just for a laugh. So, the next brilliant idea was – I should write a story about it. One Hundred Refusals, because Rejections doesn’t sing… What could this story be? Of course, my beloved fantasy. What kind of a fantasy? Whatever-the-fuck-pops-into-my-head fantasy. Yes, I gave myself the freedom to be cringe. To write about cringey themes, like love, adventure, hope, sensuality, dirty flirting, boyish bickering, heroism, swashbucklin’ sword fights, good old romance in a fantasy setting. And, yes, it has a dragon.
This is where I’m supposed to write the short description or the blurb of the book, but you know what? Fuck that. I don’t want to.
In short, it’s a story about princess Geminaris (or Gema) getting one hundred noble men to propose to her in three years time, because only collecting 100 proposals will set her free from a curse cast upon her by Lord Ashier (or Ash). She refused his proposal, belittled and humiliated him, not knowing he’s a young sorcerer. Three years of intrigues, seductions, and schemes culminate in this book, with Gema and Ash playing their flirtatious games on the background of war and treason, because, of course Gema had refused some very powerful men… when the dashingly handsome Lord Valeur arrives in Gema’s court, she hopes he’ll be her knight in shining armour but will he save her?
My first novel One Hundred Refusals is a damn fun fantasy for smart readers. Is it for you? Definitely. You are reading this, aren’t you? My readers are smart readers. Period.
One Hundred Refusals, a romantic fantasy novel is available to purchase HERE . You can read a prequel short story (to get a taste of what is in the book) HERE
*I have published two short novellas prior to this book, however One Hundred Refusals is the first proper novel I have published.
But the novellas are fairly good. Dark stuff but full of hope. Check them out!
My copy arrived a couple of days ago, and I'm halfway through. Of course I read it here already, but the story goes down nicely for a second reading... and I love good old fashioned books. Lord Trousers is still one of my favorite characters, maybe you can tell us about his youth someday? Congratulations, Kathrine! You did good! (oh, and happy Valentine's day to you)
Congratulations on your book launch!